Widespread vulnerability of flowering plant seed production to pollinator declines

The considerable amount of genetic variability on the basis of GCV and PCV estimates for the traits; days to 50% flowering, numbers of primary and secondary branches per plant, length of siliqua, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant, biological yield per plant and harvest index were found in thirty five genotypes of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss). Heritability and genetic advance were higher for days to 50% flowering, plant height and biological yield per plant. Although, number of secondary branches per plant, seed yield per plant and harvest index had moderately high heritability with moderate genetic advance indicating additive gene effects and selection pressure could be applied on them for yield improvement leads to fast genetic improvement of the materials. Days to 75% maturity, length of siliqua, 1000-seed weight and oil content had low heritability indicating that these traits were under the influence of environmental factors and selection on the basis of these traits could not be effective.

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What determines the number of seed produced in a flowering event? A case study of Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana (Arecaceae)

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt99012 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 659 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Saul A. Cunningham

Keyword(s):

Resource Allocation ◽

Seed Production ◽

Natural Variation ◽

Seed Set ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Flower Production ◽

Number Of Seeds ◽

Female Flowers

Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana Linden ex. H. Wendl. is an understorey palm that occurs at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. In this paper I combine analysis of natural variation and results of experimental manipulations to ask (1) what limits seed production? and (2) what processes cause variation in seed production by C. ghiesbreghtiana? The number of seed produced per inflorescence ofC. ghiesbreghtiana was limited substantially by the loss of female flowers to floral herbivores. Much variation in the number of seed produced perinflorescence of C. ghiesbreghtiana was due to losses of developing fruits to predators. Together these phenomena illustrate the influential role of natural enemies in the reproductive success of this plant. Seed-set efficiency (number of seeds/number of female flowers) was highly variable in this species, and such high levels of variation appear to be common in other species. For species with highly variable seed-set efficiency, the role of resource allocation to flower production in determining differences in seed production among individual plants is likely to be relatively small.

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Inter-annual variation in seed production has increased over time (1900–2014)

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2017.1666 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 284 (1868) ◽

pp. 20171666 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Ian S. Pearse ◽

Jalene M. LaMontagne ◽

Walter D. Koenig

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Seed Set ◽

Global Climate ◽

Mast Seeding ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Subtle Change ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Wide Range ◽

Seed Crops ◽

Over Time

Mast seeding, or masting, is the highly variable and spatially synchronous production of seeds by a population of plants. The production of variable seed crops is typically correlated with weather, so it is of considerable interest whether global climate change has altered the variability of masting or the size of masting events. We compiled 1086 datasets of plant seed production spanning 1900–2014 and from around the world, and then analysed whether the coefficient of variation (CV) in seed set, a measure of masting, increased over time. Over this 115-year period, seed set became more variable for plants as a whole and for the particularly well-studied taxa of conifers and oaks. The increase in CV corresponded with a decrease in the long-term mean of seed set of plant species. Seed set CV increased to a greater degree in plant taxa with a tendency towards masting. Seed set is becoming more variable among years, especially for plant taxa whose masting events are known to affect animal populations. Such subtle change in reproduction can have wide-ranging effects on ecosystems because seed crops provide critical resources for a wide range of taxa and have cascading effects throughout food webs.

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Allelopathic effect of two medicinal plants on seed germination, seedling growth and grain production of purslane (Portulaca oleraceae L.) weed

Acta agriculturae Slovenica ◽

10.14720/aas.2018.111.2.05 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 111 (2) ◽

pp. 293

Author(s):

Seyed Nader MOUSAVIAN ◽

Hamdollah ESKANDARI

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Seed Production ◽

Plant Species ◽

Seedling Growth ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Stem Length ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Allelopathic Effect ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Artemisia Sieberi

A laboratory factorial (2 × 5) experiment was carried out based on completely randomized block in four replications to evaluate the effect of plant species and concentration of their allelopathic extracts on seed germination and seedling growth of purslane weed (Portulaca oleraceae L.). The first factor studied was plant species (Artemisia sieberi and Salvia syriaca) and the second one the concentration percentage of plant ethanol extract (0.0, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 %). The effect of Artemisia on germination reduction of purslane was stronger compared to Salvia. The results indicated that higher extract concentration led to decreased germination percentage, germination speed and seedling growth indices of purslane including leaf length, leaf number, leaf width, leaf dry mass, stem mass and stem length. The effect of Artemisia was higher than that of Salvia. In a complementary experiment, the effect plant residues of Artemisia and Salvia (0.0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g kg-1 soil) were evaluated in a factorial experiment base on completely randomized block design with three replications. The results of field experiment showed that plant residues significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced capsule number per plant, seed number per capsule, seed production and shoot dry mass, while its effect on 1000-seed mass was not substantial. The effect of plant species and the interaction of plant species and their allelopathic extracts concentration had no major impact on the above-mentioned properties. The increase in plant residues in soil, led to the reduction of growth and seed production of purslane induced by plant number per unit area and capsule per plant. Artemisia sieberi Bess. and Salvia syriaca L. residues can be successfully used for non-chemical control of purslane weed.

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The influence of flowering plant isolation on seed production and seed quality in Orobanche cumana

Weed Research ◽

10.1111/j.1365-3180.2010.00817.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 515-518 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M I RODRÍGUEZ-OJEDA ◽

B PÉREZ-VICH ◽

L C ALONSO ◽

J FERNÁNDEZ-ESCOBAR

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Orobanche Cumana

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Dynamics of Subeconomic Threshold Populations of Sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia) in a Peanut-Cotton-Corn Rotation

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500076633 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 364-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

W. Carroll Johnson ◽

John Cardina ◽

Benjamin G. Mullinix

Keyword(s):

Seed Production ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cropping System ◽

First Year ◽

Experimental Site ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Economic Thresholds ◽

Native Populations ◽

Summer Fallow ◽

Rotation Sequence

Studies were conducted from 1987 to 1990 to measure the dynamics of sicklepod established at subeconomic threshold populations in a peanut-cotton-corn cropping system. The experimental site had no native populations of sicklepod prior to initiation of the study. Main plots were crops in the rotation sequence plus continuous summer fallow (no crop). Subplots were: sicklepod established in the initial year of the study, sicklepod established every year of the study, and no sicklepod. Sicklepod was established at subeconomic threshold densities to simulate weed survival and seed production in fields where economic thresholds were the basis for weed management decisions. Sicklepod growing alone in fallow plots produced more seed per plant, resulting in significantly more seedlings throughout the study than sicklepod growing with crops. Sicklepod growing in corn produced the fewest seed per plant. Seed produced from subeconomic threshold densities established only in the first year caused 7-, 21-, and 20-fold increases in sicklepod populations during the next three seasons compared to the nontreated control.

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Andean Lupin Phenology and Agronomic Performance under Different Planting Dates in a Mediterranean Climate

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10122020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 2020

Author(s):

Efstathia Lazaridi ◽

George K. Papadopoulos ◽

Penelope J. Bebeli

Keyword(s):

Protein Content ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Mediterranean Area ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Crude Protein Content ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Yield Production

Andean lupin in Europe has regained interest in recent years due to its high seed protein and oil content and its potential use for food, feed as well as a crop used in biorefineries. A search for suitable germplasm in combination with a determination of appropriate agronomical practices such as planting date are needed for commercial farming in new areas. The current study aims to evaluate the performance of six selected L. mutabilis accessions in a Mediterranean area using two different planting dates for two consecutive experimental years. A split plot design with accessions as subplots and planting dates as main plots was used. Measurements such as days to flowering, plant height, total number of pods and seeds per plant, seed yield and seed crude protein content were taken. All accessions performed better when cultivation started not later than the end of autumn since high temperatures occurred during late spring shortened the growth cycle and reduced yield. Earlier cultivation applied, in the middle of autumn, did not enhance significantly seed yield production. Among the accessions, LIB223 was characterized by the highest seed crude protein content in the early planting treatment, while accessions with prolonged growth cycle (LIB209, LIB214 and LIB223) produced higher seed yield than other accessions and could be further studied as promising breeding material for cultivation under the edaphoclimatic conditions tested.

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The interplay between ovule number, pollination and resources as determinants of seed set in a modular plant

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5384 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5384 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marina M. Strelin ◽

Marcelo A. Aizen

Keyword(s):

Resource Allocation ◽

Seed Production ◽

Seed Set ◽

Pollen Limitation ◽

Rubus Idaeus ◽

Physiological Integration ◽

Open Pollination ◽

Plant Resources ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Ovule Number

BackgroundA classical dichotomous perspective proposes that either pollination or plant resources limit seed production. However, ovule number could also be limiting when pollination results in complete ovule fertilization and there are more plant resources available than needed to develop seeds. Moreover, this dichotomous view assumes that all flowers of a plant have equal access to a shared pool of resources, although these are frequently compartmentalized within plant modules, for example, inflorescences. How ovule number, pollination and resources affect seed production in physiologically-compartmentalized rather than physiologically-integrated plants has yet to be explored. We used raspberry (Rubus idaeus) to address this question.MethodsWe first assessed if ovule number affected the fraction of ovules that develop into seed (i.e., seed set) and whether this effect related to the extent of physiological integration among flowers within plants. This was achieved by statistically testing predictions on the sign and level of plant organization (i.e., among flowers within inflorescences, among inflorescences within ramets, and among ramets) of the relation between ovule number and seed set given different degrees of physiological integration. We then explored whether the relation between ovule number and seed set was affected by plant age (used here as a surrogate of resource availability) and pollination intensity (open-pollination vs. exclusion).ResultsWithin inflorescences, flowers with more ovules set a larger fraction of seeds. On the other hand, seed set at the inflorescence level was negatively related to the average number of ovules per flower. Seed set increased with ovule number and open-pollination, and decreased with ramet age. However, ovule number explained more variation in seed set than ramet age and pollination treatment. Ramet age affected the strength of the relation of seed set to ovule number, which was stronger in old than young ramets. Pollination did not alter the strength of this relation to any significant extent.DiscussionResults reveal the importance of ovule number as an overriding factor affecting seed set. Within inflorescences, resources appear to be differentially allocated to developing fruits from flowers with many ovules. This is consistent with the fact that in the raspberry a large proportion of the carbon invested in fruit development is fixed by the inflorescence subtending leaf. Differential resource allocation to flowers with many ovules is not affected by pollinator exclusion, being stronger in resource-exhausted ramets. This suggests that the effects of pollen limitation and resource allocation are compartmentalized at the inflorescence level. Consequently, modular plants can be viewed as reproductive mosaics where either ovule number, pollination or resources limit the number of seeds set by different flowers, so that improvements in any of them could increase plant seed production.

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Inheritance of quantitative traits in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr1101113y ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 113-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H.K. Yadav ◽

S.P. Singh

Keyword(s):

Plant Height ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Quantitative Traits ◽

Recurrent Selection ◽

Breeding Strategy ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Plant Seed ◽

Allelic Interaction ◽

Almost All ◽

Capsule Size

Generation mean analysis was carried out using five parameter model on five cross combinations with five generations i.e. parents, F1s, F2s, and F3s randomly selected from partial diallel breeding experiment. The aim of study was to investigate the mode of gene actions involved in the inheritance of quantitative traits viz. days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaves/plant, capsules/plant, capsule size, capsule weight/plant, seed yield/plant and opium yield/plant. C and D scaling test showed the presence of non allelic interaction in the inheritance for all the traits except for plant height, seed yield/plant (ND1001xIS13) and capsule size (NBR5xND1002) which showed non interacting mode of inheritance. In general, the interaction effect together i.e. additive x additive [i] and dominance x dominance [l] found in higher magnitude than the combined main effects of additive [d] and dominance [h] effects for all the traits in all the five crosses. Dominance effect [h] was found pronounced for most of the traits except days to 50% flowering where additive effect [d] was found prevalent. Among the interaction effects dominance x dominance [l] was predominant over additive x additive [i] for all traits in all the five crosses except capsules/plant and capsule size in cross ND1001xNBRI11 and leaves/plant and opium yield/plant in cross NBRI5xND1002. As per sign of dominance (h) and dominance x dominance (l) duplicate epistasis were noticed for all the traits except plant height and leaves/plant in cross ND1001xUO1285. Potence ratio indicated presence of over dominance for almost all the traits. Substantial amount of realized heterosis, residual heterosis in F2 and F3 progenies and high heritability with moderate to high genetic advance in F2 progeny and significant correlation among important traits in desirable direction were observed. A breeding strategy of diallel selective mating or biparental mating in early segregating generation followed by recurrent selection may be used for genetic improvement.

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