Size structure and seed yield over 4 years in an experimental Cassia marilandica (Leguminosae) population

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 1324-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon K. Piper

An experimental population of a perennial species, Cassia marilandica, was monitored for 4 years to examine changes in size structure and seed production over time. Plants flowered and set seed the 1st year and annually thereafter. Plant size, seed mass per plant, and reproductive effort were highest in the 2nd year but declined thereafter. Over the first 3 years, density remained constant, but plant size and yield varied. By the 4th year, density, size, and seed yield all declined, owing probably to combinations of drought and insect herbivory. Mean distance to nearest neighbors was consistently positively correlated with plant size but with seed mass in the 2nd and 3rd years only. Plant size was positively correlated with seed mass in each year, with reproductive effort in the first 3 years, but with relative growth rate in the last 2 years only. Population size structure and lifetime reproductive output were generally positively skewed. Except for a slight effect from the 1st to the 2nd year, no cost of reproduction, measured as reduced growth, reproduction, or likelihood of survival was seen. Key words: Cassia marilandica, cost of reproduction, density, Leguminosae, nearest neighbor, perennial, population structure, prairie plants, seed mass.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 468-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon K. Piper ◽  
Peter A. Kulakow

The Land Institute is developing perennial grains to be grown in prairie-like mixtures. One approach involves the development of a perennial grain sorghum by crossing tetraploid Sorghum bicolor with wild S. halepense to combine high seed yield with overwintering ability via rhizome production. We grew tetraploid S. bicolor, F1 hybrid (BC0), and two backcross generations (BC1 and BC2) in a randomized block design to examine total biomass, seed yield, and allocation to plant parts within and across generations. Root, rhizome, stem and leaf, and total biomass decreased from the BC0 to BC2 to S. bicolor generations, whereas panicle mass, seed mass, and reproductive allocation were lowest in the BC0 generation (p < 0.05, ANOVA). Mean seed mass (g ∙ plant−1) was 39.1 in the BC0, 107.3 in the BC1, 84.1 in the BC2, and 92.7 for the S. bicolor parent, which translated into yields of 171.9, 471.6, 396.7, and 407.5 g ∙ m−2, respectively. Reproductive allocation varied from 14.7% in BC0 to 28.9% in BC2 compared with 33.5% in S. bicolor. Mean allocation to rhizomes was 2.71% in BC0 but negligible in BC1 and BC2. There was no relationship between rhizome mass and seed mass within any generation, but there was a positive correlation between total plant mass and rhizome mass in BC0. We divided the BC0 population into four groups with respect to rhizome production and found no significant differences among the groups in plant size or seed yield. Within each generation, reproductive allocation was inversely related to culm mass. The lack of an apparent trade-off between allocation to rhizome versus allocation to seed within any generation supports the possibility of combining within a population high seed yield and production of perennating belowground organs. Key words: backcross, hybrid, perennial grains, reproductive allocation, rhizome, seed mass, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum halepense.



2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 1109-1128
Author(s):  
John G Hodgson ◽  
Gabriel Montserrat Marti ◽  
Bozena Šerá ◽  
Glynis Jones ◽  
Amy Bogaard ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Plants depend fundamentally on establishment from seed. However, protocols in trait-based ecology currently estimate seed size but not seed number. This can be rectified. For annuals, seed number should simply be a positive function of vegetative biomass and a negative function of seed size. Methods Using published values of comparative seed number as the ‘gold standard’ and a large functional database, comparative seed yield and number per plant and per m2 were predicted by multiple regression. Subsequently, ecological variation in each was explored for English and Spanish habitats, newly calculated C-S-R strategies and changed abundance in the British flora. Key Results As predicted, comparative seed mass yield per plant was consistently a positive function of plant size and competitive ability, and largely independent of seed size. Regressions estimating comparative seed number included, additionally, seed size as a negative function. Relationships differed numerically between regions, habitats and C-S-R strategies. Moreover, some species differed in life history over their geographical range. Comparative seed yield per m2 was positively correlated with FAO crop yield, and increasing British annuals produced numerous seeds. Nevertheless, predicted values must be viewed as comparative rather than absolute: they varied according to the ‘gold standard’ predictor used. Moreover, regressions estimating comparative seed yield per m2 achieved low precision. Conclusions For the first time, estimates of comparative seed yield and number for &gt;800 annuals and their predictor equations have been produced and the ecological importance of these regenerative traits has been illustrated. ‘Regenerative trait-based ecology’ remains in its infancy, with work needed on determinate vs. indeterminate flowering (‘bet-hedging’), C-S-R methodologies, phylogeny, comparative seed yield per m2 and changing life history. Nevertheless, this has been a positive start and readers are invited to use estimates for &gt;800 annuals, in the Supplementary data, to help advance ‘regenerative trait-based ecology’ to the next level.



2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 1371-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arantzazu L. Luzuriaga ◽  
Adrián Escudero ◽  
María José Albert ◽  
Luis Giménez-Benavides

Several studies have evaluated the effect of population size on plant reproductive output, but there are few studies concerning the effect of other population structure variables on plant reproduction. In this study, we went beyond population size effect and we tested the effect of some population spatial variables such as plant density, plant aggregation, population structure, and population identity on plant reproductive success and fitness in large populations (>1000 individuals) of Centaurea hyssopifolia Vahl., an endemic species of central Spain. We analysed the reproductive output (capitula, flowers, and seeds) and another two components of plant fitness (seed mass and germinability) in 350 individuals from seven populations in 2002 and 2003. All populations were similar in size but differed in other population spatial characteristics (density, plant aggregation pattern, population plant size structure). We used Morisita’s aggregation index to characterize the level of plant aggregation within populations. Population plant size structure variable determined the proportion of different sized plants in a population. We used generalized linear mixed models to model the contribution of these population spatial variables to several reproductive parameters. Our results showed that whereas the aggregation index exerted a positive control on plant seed set, plant density had a negative effect, and plant population size structure did not significantly influence any response variable. Density only exerted a negative effect on seed set. On the contrary, plant aggregation had a positive effect. Seed mass was also larger in more aggregated populations, although no differences in seed germinability were observed. We detected the effect of population attributes on reproduction in terms of seed set, but we did not detect any effect on other overall reproductive variables measured at plant level. To sum up, our results showed that if population fragments were large enough, spatial population attributes became crucial factors for plant reproductive output and fitness. These easily measurable population variables may improve the conservation management of rare plant species.



1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.B. Reich ◽  
J. Oleksyn ◽  
M.G. Tjoelker

Seedlings of 24 European Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) populations were grown in controlled environment chambers under simulated photoperiodic conditions of 50 and 60°N latitude to evaluate the effect of seed mass on germination and seedling growth characteristics. Seeds of each population were classified into 1-mg mass classes, and the four classes per population with the highest frequencies were used. Photoperiod had minimal influence on seed mass effects. Overall, seed mass was positively related to the number of cotyledons and hypocotyl height. Populations differed significantly in seed mass effect on biomass. In northern populations (55–61°N), dry mass at the end of the first growing season was little affected by seed mass. However, dry mass in 9 of 15 central populations (54–48°N) and all southern (<45°N) populations correlated positively with seed mass. Relative growth rate was not related to seed mass within or across populations, and thus early growth is largely determined by seed mass. Relative growth rate also did not differ among populations, except for a geographically isolated Turkish population with the highest seed mass and lowest relative growth rate. After one growing season, height was positively correlated (r2 > 0.6) with seed mass in 15 populations. To check the duration of seed mass effects, height growth of 1- to 7-year-old field experiments established with the same seed lots were compared. Seed mass effects on height were strongest for 1-year-old seedlings and declined or disappeared by the age of 5–7 years among central and southern populations, but remained stable over that time in northern populations.



1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.O. Payero ◽  
M.S. Bhangoo ◽  
J.J. Steiner

The effects of six applied N treatments differing by rates and frequencies of application on the yield and quality of pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L. `Anaheim Chili') grown for seed was studied. The timing of N applications was based on crop phenology, leaf petiole nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (NO3-N) minimum thresholds, and scheduled calendar applications of fixed amounts of N. Solubilized NH4NO3 was applied through a trickle-irrigation system to ensure uniform and timely applications of N. Rate of mature (green and red) fruit production was unaffected by any treatment except weekly applications of 28 kg·ha-1 of N, which stopped production of mature fruit before all other treatments. Early season floral bud and flower production increased with increasing amounts of N. The two highest total N treatments produced more floral buds and flowers late in the season than the other treatments. Total fruit production was maximized at 240 kg N/ha. Differences in total fruit production due to frequency of N application resulted at the highest total N level. Red fruit production tended to be maximized with total seasonal applied N levels of 240 kg·ha-1 and below, although weekly applications of N reduced production. Total seed yield was a function of red fruit production. Pure-1ive seed (PLS) production was a function of total seed production. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for red fruit production also decreased with N rates >240 kg·ha-1, but PLS yield and NUE decreased in a near-linear fashion as the amount of total seasonal applied N increased, regardless of application frequency. Season average NO3-N (AVE NO3-N) values >4500 mg·kg-1 had total seed and PLS yields less than those treatments <4000 mg·kg-1. Six-day germination percentage was reduced with weekly N applications of 14 kg·ha-1. Seed mass was reduced with weekly N applications of 28 kg·ha-1. Final germination percent, seedling root length and weight, and field emergence were unaffected by any of the N treatments. These findings indicate that different N management strategies are needed to maximize seed yield compared to fruit yield and, therefore, there may be an advantage to growing `Anaheim Chili' pepper specifically for seed.



Author(s):  
С. І. Силенко ◽  
О. С. Силенко

Доведено, що ступінь фенотипового домінування у гібридів F1 може варіювати від hp > +1 до hp < -1 залежно від компонентів схрещування. Встановлено, що переважна більшість гібридів F1 тривалість веґетаційного періоду та його міжфазних періодів успадковують за типами позитивного наддомінування та позитивним домінуванням. Успадкування висоти рослин відбувається за типами позитивного домінування, проміжного успадкування та за типом негативного домінування. Характер успадкування висоти прикріплення нижнього ярусу бобів у значній мірі визначається поєднанням батьківських компонентів. Так, у першому поколінні у гібридних комбінаціях спостерігається явище наддомінування. За ознаками урожайності та її елементів (урожайність насіння, маса насіння з рослини, маса 1000 насінин, кількість бобів на рослині, кількість насінин із рослини, кількість насінин у бобі) у всіх без виключення гібридів першого покоління спостерігався гетерозис. It was demonstrated that the degree of phenotypic predominance in F1 hybrids can vary from hp to hp < +1 > -1 depending on mating components. The vast majority of the F1 hybrids inherit the length of the growing season and its interphase by type of over& positive dominance. F1 hybrids inherit the height of plants by types of positive dominance, intermediate inheritance and negative domination. The height of the attachment of the lower tier of the beans is largely determined by a combination of parent components. Thus, in the first generation in hybrid combinations there is the phenomenon of over dominance. Due to the yield and its components (seed yield, seed mass per plant, 1000 seeds, number of beans per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per seedpod) in all first generation hybrids heterosis is observed.



The Condor ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay J. Rotella ◽  
Robert G. Clark ◽  
Alan D. Afton

AbstractIn birds, larger females generally have greater breeding propensity, reproductive investment, and success than do smaller females. However, optimal female body size also depends on how natural selection acts during other parts of the life cycle. Larger female Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) produce larger eggs than do smaller females, and ducklings from larger eggs survive better than those hatching from smaller eggs. Accordingly, we examined patterns of apparent annual survival for female scaup and tested whether natural selection on female body size primarily was stabilizing, a frequent assumption in studies of sexually dimorphic species in which males are the larger sex, or was directional, counteracting reproductive advantages of large size. We estimated survival using mark-recapture methods for individually marked females from two study sites in Canada (Erickson, Manitoba; St. Denis, Saskatchewan). Structurally larger (adults) and heavier (ducklings) females had lower survival than did smaller individuals in Manitoba; no relationship was detected in adults from Saskatchewan. Survival of adult females declined with indices of increasing reproductive effort at both sites; consequently, the cost of reproduction could explain age-related patterns of breeding propensity in scaup. Furthermore, if larger females are more likely to breed than are smaller females, then cost of reproduction also may help explain why survival was lower for larger females. Overall, we found that advantages of large body size of female scaup during breeding or as young ducklings apparently were counteracted by natural selection favoring lightweight juveniles and structurally smaller adult females through higher annual survival.Sobrevivencia de Aythya affinis: Efectos del Tamaño Corporal, Edad y Esfuerzo ReproductivoResumen. En las aves, las hembras de mayor tamaño generalmente presentan una mayor predisposición a la reproducción, mayor inversión reproductiva y mayor éxito que las hembras de menor tamaño. Sin embargo, el tamaño óptimo de la hembra también depende de cómo la selección natural opera durante otras etapas del ciclo de vida. Hembras de Aythya affinis más grandes producen huevos de mayor tamaño que hembras más pequeñas, y los polluelos provenientes de huevos más grandes sobreviven mejor que aquellos que eclosionan de huevos más pequeños. Consiguientemente, examinamos los patrones de sobrevivencia anual aparente para hembras de A. affinis y probamos si la selección natural sobre el tamaño del cuerpo de las hembras era principalmente estabilizadora (una suposición frecuente en estudios de especies sexualmente dimórficas en que los machos son el sexo mayor), o era direccional, contrarrestando las ventajas reproductivas de un tamaño mayor. Estimamos la sobrevivencia de hembras utilizando métodos de marcaje y recaptura en dos sitios de estudio (Erickson, Manitoba; St. Denis, Saskatchewan). Hembras estructuralmente más grandes (adultas) y más pesadas (polluelos) tuvieron una menor sobrevivencia que individuos más pequeños en Manitoba; no se detectó una relación entre adultos de Saskatchewan. En ambos sitios la sobrevivencia de hembras adultas decreció con los índices de incremento de esfuerzo reproductivo; consecuentemente el costo reproductivo podría explicar los patrones de predisposición reproductiva relacionados a la edad en A. affinis. Además, si las hembras de mayor tamaño presentan mayor probabilidad de reproducirse que las hembras pequeñas, entonces el costo reproductivo también podría ayudar a explicar porqué la sobrevivencia fue menor para hembras más grandes. En general encontramos que en las hembras de A. affinis las ventajas de un tamaño corporal grande durante la cría o como juveniles fueron aparentemente contrarestadas por la selección natural que favorece juveniles de peso liviano y hembras adultas estructuralmente más pequeñas a través de una mayor sobrevivencia anual.



2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. e23069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ziomkiewicz ◽  
Amara Frumkin ◽  
Yawei Zhang ◽  
Amelia Sancilio ◽  
Richard G. Bribiescas


Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasreddine Yousfi ◽  
Ines Slama ◽  
Chedly Abdelly

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of prolonged water stress and recovery on phenology, growth, and seed yield in Tunisian contrasting populations of Medicago truncatula and Medicago laciniata . After ample irrigation for 24 days, the plants of each population were divided into two lots: the first lot was irrigated at 100% field capacity (FC), and the second at only 45% FC. After 24 days of treatment, one lot of dehydrated plants was rewatered at 100% FC, while the other was maintained at 45% FC. Interspecific and intraspecific differences were found in phenological responses to water deficit. All growth parameters were more reduced in M. truncatula populations than in M. laciniata populations. The water shortage tolerance of M. laciniata populations was associated with a lower metabolic impairment of photosynthesis and maintenance of relatively higher leaf relative water content. Seed yield was also more reduced in M. truncatula populations compared with M. laciniata populations. In M. laciniata, seed mass was a compensation mechanism to sustain seed yield under drought conditions. Seed yield variation between populations under water deficit was explained mainly by variation in seed number per plant.



1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Lambert ◽  
Julian J. Dodson

We tested the hypothesis that the species-specific costs of migration differentially affect reproductive effort and somatic cost of reproduction in sympatric anadromous populations of cisco (Coregonus artedii) and lake whitefish (C. clupeaformis) of James Bay. Reproductive effort, which includes the energy cost of migration, is higher for cisco. Female cisco allocate more energy to reproduction than its total energy gain. The energy invested by lake whitefish in reproduction is approximately equal to its seasonal energy gain. Reproduction results in large differences in the energy content of gonads, viscera, and carcass between reproductive and nonreproductive fish of the same length. Neither cisco nor lake whitefish are able to spawn two years in succession. The somatic energy increase of reproductive female cisco is 121% lower than the somatic energy increase of nonreproductive females; similar comparisons are 89% (female) and 103% (male) for lake whitefish. The energy cost of migration is largely responsible for the higher somatic cost of reproduction observed for cisco. These different somatic costs of migration are related to resource accumulation prior to migration and to differences in the aerobic cost of swimming between the two species in combination with the difficulty of the freshwater migration.



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