Adaptive correlations between seed size and germination time

Geritz, Stefan A.H.; Gyllenberg, Mats; Toivonen, Jaakko

doi:10.1007/s00285-018-1232-z

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It has been noted that seed size is positively correlated with GP and seedling growth [27]. However, it was also reported that seed size is not significantly correlated with germination [28].…”

Section: The Influence Of Biological Characters On H Chinensis Seed G...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of Seed Biological Characteristics and Environmental Factors on Seed Germination of the Critically Endangered Species Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. in China

Liu,

Xiao,

Ling

et al. 2023

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. is a Class II national key protected plant and Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations in China. In order to further analyze why H. chinensis is endangered and optimize conservation techniques, we carried out a study on the effects of seed biological characteristics and environmental factors on the seed germination and seedling growth of H. chinensis. The results show that there were no significant differences in seed morphology between four populations in southern China, but there were significant differences in calyx lobe morphology and seed germination. The removal or retention of the calyx lobes or the seed coat had no significant effect on seed germination. The weight of individual H. chinensis seeds was mainly >1.0 g, with small seeds (<0.5 g) not germinating, whereas seeds >2.0 g had the highest germination rate and fastest seedling growth. H. chinensis produces typical recalcitrant seeds, being sensitive to natural dehydration, with dehydration for 8 d reducing seed viability by 50%, whereas dehydration for 16 d resulted in seeds with zero viability. H. chinensis seeds are light-neutral and capable of germination at a temperature of 30 °C and on a substrate with good water retention and aeration. The seeds are not tolerant of drought, salinity, or flooding. In conclusion, the unique biological characteristics of H. chinensis seeds and the specific habitat which they inhabit contribute to a significant loss of viable seeds, which negatively affects the population’s ability to regenerate and achieve maintenance.

show abstract

Section: The Influence Of Biological Characters On H Chinensis Seed G...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of Seed Biological Characteristics and Environmental Factors on Seed Germination of the Critically Endangered Species Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. in China

Liu,

Xiao,

Ling

et al. 2023

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It continues to investigate the correlations between the different indicators that can characterize the quality of the seeds. In adaptive correlations between seed size and germination time [71], present a model for the coevolution of seed size and germination time within a season when both affect the ability of the seedlings to compete for space and show that even in the absence of a morphological or physiological constraint between the two traits, a correlation between seed size and germination time is nevertheless likely to evolve.…”

Section: Adnormentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the Effect of Scarification Process on Papaya (Carica papayaLin.) Seeds Germination

Rodrı́guez¹,

Vargas²,

Hijuelo³

et al. 2020

Seed Dormancy and Germination

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The presence of the aril (sarcotesta) in the papaya causes a slow and low germination, being necessary to break the state of dormancy. Calcium hydroxide that was applied in order to evaluate its scarifying effect was the objective. The sample consisted of 60 randomly selected fruits of hermaphrodite plants in a commercial production batch of approximately 1 ha (2222 plants) showing commercial maturity, of homogeneous size (±2 kg). The treatments were calcium hydroxide Ca(OH) 2 at three doses, dipping the seed for a period of 24 h; the standardized sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 25% with a 15 min immersion time. The highest germination and vigor seeds were obtained applied Ca(OH) 2 with highly significant differences respect to the rest treatment, especially for the dose of 60 g l −1 of water for reasons of diminishing expenses. Significant correlations were found, with direct relations (aril and mechanical damage) and inverse relations (abnormal seeds) between the variables evaluated related to the vigor and germination of the seeds. It can be an ecological and not expensive methodology to improve the germination and vigor of papaya seeds in relation to other chemical compounds to scarify.

show abstract

“…Seed size, similar to other functional traits, affects population persistence and post-germination traits, and has been shown to be under strong natural selection (Larios et al, 2014; Larios and Venable., 2018). Studies on the implications of the variation in seed size have indicated that being larger can result in producing larger and more vigorous seedlings than smaller ones (Geritz et al, 2018), putting large-seeded species at a competitive advantage by preventing the growth of seedlings that emerge later. It has been shown that the fitness advantage of larger seeds over smaller ones is related to a higher likelihood of avoiding unfavorable conditions by lower persistence in the soil seed bank (Leishman et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global patterns in the evolutionary relations between seed mass and germination traits

Maleki,

Vandelook,

Saatkamp

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During stressful climatic periods, plant populations face significant challenges, especially during germination and seedling establishment. Theoretical studies present conflicting findings regarding the relationship between seed size and germination rate. Some analyses suggest that species with larger seeds should exhibit rapid germination, while others point to faster germination in smaller seeds. This discrepancy can, for example, be attributed to the higher vulnerability of larger seeds to post-dispersal seed predation. To assess the correlation between seed mass and seed germination characteristics at a global scale, we performed a rigorous meta-analysis of published data sources, covering a wide range of germination traits across 1877 species with diverse dormancy types and global distribution. Additionally, we investigated the potential relationship between seed mass and dormancy level. Our findings revealed contrasting responses of germination traits to seed mass, suggesting complex eco-evolutionary correlations among these traits. Trade-offs and corelated evolution likely played an important role in the evolutionary history of seed mass, with seed mass displaying notable trait conservation across the phylogeny. Interestingly, our study demonstrated that seed dormancy exhibited trade-offs with post-germination traits and seed mass. The meta-analysis demonstrated that any changes in the relationship between seed mass and dormancy is dependent on dormancy types with physiological dormancy showing lower seed mass while other dormancy types were has a higher seed mass. These results underscore the critical role of seed mass in shaping plant performance and provide valuable insights into plant trait evolution. Our findings clearly indicate that the hypothesis of larger seeds conferring advantages in both pre- and post-germination traits might not be empirically true in all cases as theoretical studies suggest and that this relationship is complex and varies among species and growth forms. We interpret these results within the context of germination strategies and correlated evolution between seed dormancy and seed mass. Considering these traits in future analyses of plant germination strategies and species distributions is crucial. Factors such as lifespan, seed mass, and germination-related traits should be carefully considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of plant adaptation to challenging environmental conditions.

show abstract

Adaptive correlations between seed size and germination time

Cited by 7 publications

References 25 publications

Effects of Seed Biological Characteristics and Environmental Factors on Seed Germination of the Critically Endangered Species Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. in China

Effects of Seed Biological Characteristics and Environmental Factors on Seed Germination of the Critically Endangered Species Hopea chinensis (Merr.) Hand.-Mazz. in China

Analysis of the Effect of Scarification Process on Papaya (Carica papayaLin.) Seeds Germination

Global patterns in the evolutionary relations between seed mass and germination traits

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About