Seed Size Variation in Desmodium Paniculatum: II. Effects on Seedling Growth and Physiological Performance

Wulff, Renata D.

doi:10.2307/2260351

Cited by 260 publications

(162 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In the cases of Avicennia and Rhizophora, these larger seedlings also had more leaves than those that developed from smaller propagules. The latter result, that larger seedlings develop from larger propagules, appears quite general (Howe and Richter 1982;Stanton 1984;Wulff 1986b;Moegenburg 1996;Vaughton and Ramsey 1998;Eriksson 1999). However, the effect of propagule size on seedling establishment is more variable; in some cases there is little or no effect, as in our study (Wulff 1986b;Vaughton and Ramsey 1998;Eriksson 1999), but in others, seedling emergence rates are higher for larger propagules (Stanton 1984;Winn 1988).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Propagule size and predispersal damage by insects affect establishment and early growth of mangrove seedlings

2003

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Variation in rates of seedling recruitment, growth, and survival can strongly influence the rate and course of forest regeneration following disturbance. Using a combination of field sampling and shadehouse experiments, we investigated the influence of propagule size and predispersal insect damage on the establishment and early growth of the three common mangrove species on the Caribbean coast of Panama: Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle. In our field samples, all three species exhibited considerable intraspecific variation in mature propagule size, and suffered moderate to high levels of predispersal attack by larval insects. Rates of insect attack were largely independent of propagule size both within and among trees. Our experimental studies using undamaged mature propagules showed that, for all three species, seedlings established at high rates regardless of propagule size. However, propagule size did have a marked effect on early seedling growth: seedlings that developed from larger propagules grew more rapidly. Predispersal insect infestations that had destroyed or removed a substantial amount of tissue, particularly if that tissue was meristematic or conductive, reduced the establishment of propagules of all three species. The effect of sublethal tissue damage or loss on the subsequent growth of established seedlings varied among the three mangrove species. For Avicennia, the growth response was graded: for a propagule of a given size, the more tissue lost, the slower the growth of the seedling. For Laguncularia, the response to insect attack appeared to be all-or-none. If the boring insect penetrated the outer spongy seed coat and reached the developing embryo, it usually caused sufficient damage to prevent a seedling from developing. On the other hand, if the insect damaged but did not penetrate the seed coat, a completely healthy seedling developed and its growth rate was indistinguishable from a seedling developing from an undamaged propagule of the same size. Similar to Avicennia, if an infestation did not completely girdle a Rhizophora seedling, it survived, but grew at a reduced rate. In summary, our experiments demonstrated that natural levels of variation in propagule size and predispersal damage by insects translate into significant differences in seedling performance in terms of establishment and/or early growth. Such differences are sufficiently large that they could influence the intensity and outcome of competitive interactions during forest regeneration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Propagule size and predispersal damage by insects affect establishment and early growth of mangrove seedlings

2003

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“…In general, it is accepted that, relative to large seeds, small seeds usually have reduced emergence (Zimmerman & Weis, 1983 ;Weller, 1985 ;Winn, 1988 ;Tripathi & Khan, 1990 ;Hendrix & Trapp, 1992 ;Rice et al, 1993 ;Prinzie & Chmielewski, 1994), higher mortality (Schaal, 1980 ;Tripathi & Khan, 1990 ;Bonfil, 1998) and lower seedling growth (Wulff, 1986a ;Hendrix et al, 1991 ;Dawson & Ehleringer, 1991 ;Baker et al, 1994 ;Moegenburg, 1996 ;Weiner et al, 1997 ;Vaughton & Ramsey, 1998 ;Bonfil 1998). However, other studies show no relationship between seed size and seedling performance in some species, as described by Cipollini & Stiles (1991), Rice et al (1993) and Vaughton & Ramsey (1998) for seed germination ; Hendrix & Trapp (1992) for seedling survival ; Dolan (1984) and Marshall (1986) for seedling growth.…”

Section: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed mass versus seedling performance in Scots pine: a maternally dependent trait

Castro

1999

New Phytologist

107

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It is generally accepted that larger seeds give rise to seedlings with better performance. On the other hand, the size that a seed reaches is genetically determined by at least two different traits ; the genetic variability of the developing embryo and the genetic variability of the maternal plant. Thus, the relative contributions of these two traits affect seedling performance by influencing seed size. In this paper, I investigate the effect of seed size on seedling performance in the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). From eight maternal plants, 50 seeds were planted in each of two soil types (800 seeds in total), and seedling performance was monitored for 1 yr. Seed mass proved to be highly constant within maternal plants. Soil type influenced emergence and survival ; however, the effect of soil type differed depending on maternal origin. Seed mass was positively correlated with seedling emergence, although this relationship was not found for seedling survival or date of emergence. The initial growth of the shoot was also positively correlated with seed mass. However, after one growing season, seed mass had no effect on seedling performace, which depended exclusively on maternal origin. Nevertheless, the mean mass of seeds produced by plants was positively correlated with mean values of growth parameters. Thus, first-year seedling performance seems to be a maternal trait indirectly associated with seed size.

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“…4 The seed size variation has been shown to have several important ecological implications. It may affect seed germination, 5 emergence, 6 seedling establishment, 7 growth rate and plant size, 8 survivorship, 9 competitive ability and reproductive ability of adult plant. 10 Several studies carried out on weeds and crops have revealed that seedling size is usually directly related with food reserves and energy content of seeds which increases with seed weight.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Several studies carried out on weeds and crops have revealed that seedling size is usually directly related with food reserves and energy content of seeds which increases with seed weight. 8,[11][12][13] However, in the case of tree species similar studies are rather few and scattered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Seed Size Affect Water Stress Tolerance in Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus at Germination and Early Seedling Growth Stage?

Rachita¹,

ey²,

Bargali³

et al. 2017

BIJ

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Effect of seed size on drought stress tolerance of Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus (banj oak) was investigated at germination and early seedling growth stage. Healthy seeds of Q. leucotrichophora were collected and categorized into four size classes (small, medium, large and very large) and germinated in Polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) solutions with initial osmotic potential ranging from 0 to -0.9 MPa at room temperature. Final germination percentages, fresh and dry weight of seedlings were measured. From obtained data, seedling vigor index, response breadth, percent weight reduction, sensitivity and drought stress tolerance were determined for different size classes. In the present study, final germination percentage, fresh and dry weight of seedlings increased with increasing seed size class and decreased with increasing drought stress level, while germination rate showed a reverse trend. Drought stress tolerance indexes in terms of germination and seedling dry weight indicated that large sized seeds were better fitted to germinate under the range of drought stress as compared to small seeds.

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Seed Size Variation in Desmodium Paniculatum: II. Effects on Seedling Growth and Physiological Performance

Cited by 260 publications

References 29 publications

Propagule size and predispersal damage by insects affect establishment and early growth of mangrove seedlings

Propagule size and predispersal damage by insects affect establishment and early growth of mangrove seedlings

Seed mass versus seedling performance in Scots pine: a maternally dependent trait

Does Seed Size Affect Water Stress Tolerance in Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus at Germination and Early Seedling Growth Stage?

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