In a 6-yr study on four farms (36 fields) in Ontario, Canada, we tested the effects of tillage (moldboard, chisel plow, no tillage) and crop rotations (continuous corn, corn-soybean, corn-soybean-winter wheat) on emerged and seedbank weed species diversity and density. Aside from the imposed experimental treatments, all other management was generally consistent among farms. Tillage had the largest effect on weed diversity and density. No tillage promoted the highest weed species diversity, chisel plow was intermediate, and moldboard plow resulted in the lowest species diversity. These results are consistent with ecological succession theory. The increase in weed species diversity resulted from 20 species being associated with no tillage systems, 15 of which were winter annuals, biennials, or perennials. Emerged weed density was affected only by tillage. Over 6 yr, seedbank declined in no-tillage systems from 41,000 to 8,000 seeds m Ϫ3 . Crop yields were not affected by tillage or crop rotation. In practical terms, reduced tillage in combination with a good crop rotation may reduce weed density and expenditures on weed management.Nomenclature: Glyphosate; corn, Zea mays L. 'Pioneer 3902'; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. 'KG 40'; winter wheat Triticum aestivum L.
Outcrossing rates varied from 0% to 69% among Jamaican populations of Turnera ulmifolia. A correlation between increasing herkogamy and outcrossing rate occurred among populations. Predictions from sex‐allocation theory were tested by estimating allocation to reproductive functions. Significant differences in allocation patterns occurred among populations, but they were not correlated with outcrossing rates. The fitness consequences of inbreeding were assessed in high‐ and low‐density greenhouse experiments for nine populations with variable outcrossing rates. No evidence for inbreeding depression occurred in early portions of the life history, but multiplicative fitness functions provide evidence for inbreeding depression. We tested the prediction that selfing populations have lower levels of inbreeding depression than outcrossing populations but found no significant correlation.
Knowledge of pollen dispersal is essential for maximizing cross-fertilization in apples (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) and achieving optimal orchard design. Using allozyme markers, we examined dispersal of pollen from trees of a single cultivar (`Idared') throughout two apple orchards. In each orchard, the percentage of seeds sired by `Idared' was estimated for trees sampled at regular intervals along three transects, extending up to 18 rows (86 m) from the closest donor trees. The percentage of seed sired by `Idared' pollen ranged from 76% to 1% of seed sampled for a row. No differences in pollen dispersal were found among transects, despite differences in proximity to the bee colonies. Variation in `Idared' siring success was attributable to the cultivar of the fruit-bearing trees as well as their distance to the nearest `Idared' tree. Cultivar effects were associated with differences in flowering overlap, but not cross-compatibility with the pollenizer. Furthermore, flowering overlap was a good predictor of siring success only when the flowering times of competing pollenizer cultivars were also considered. The implications for orchard design are discussed.
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