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Floral costs in Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae): Compensatory responses to perianth removal

Andersson, Stefan LU (2005) In American Journal of Botany 92(2). p.279-283
Abstract
Because internal resources are finite, it has been assumed that attractive, floral organs represent a significant drain on the energy and nutrient budget of a plant. Despite the broad significance of such trade-offs, in relatively few studies have investigators manipulated floral investments, then evaluated allocation to subsequently produced flowers, fruits, and seeds. In the present study of Nigella sativa, the cost of maturing and/or maintaining perianths was documented after all sepals and nectaries were removed at the bud stage and a significant increase in mean seed mass, the total amount of biomass allocated to seed production, and mean germination rate of the maternal seed crop were measured. The increased biomass, carbon, and... (More)
Because internal resources are finite, it has been assumed that attractive, floral organs represent a significant drain on the energy and nutrient budget of a plant. Despite the broad significance of such trade-offs, in relatively few studies have investigators manipulated floral investments, then evaluated allocation to subsequently produced flowers, fruits, and seeds. In the present study of Nigella sativa, the cost of maturing and/or maintaining perianths was documented after all sepals and nectaries were removed at the bud stage and a significant increase in mean seed mass, the total amount of biomass allocated to seed production, and mean germination rate of the maternal seed crop were measured. The increased biomass, carbon, and nitrogen allocated to seeds were similar in magnitude to the reduction in biomass, carbon, and nitrogen invested in sepals and nectaries after perianth removal. Perianth removal did not significantly affect flower production, maternal fecundity, or progeny seed number. Taken together, these observations indicate the potential for selection-mediated through resource trade-offs with seed mass and time to germination-to cause, or at least facilitate, evolutionary reductions in flower size. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
American Journal of Botany
volume
92
issue
2
pages
279 - 283
publisher
Botanical Society of America
external identifiers
  • wos:000227021400009
  • scopus:13444283897
ISSN
0002-9122
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
52952038-59d1-434c-81a4-1b8d01c53070 (old id 147115)
alternative location
http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/92/2/279
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:56:17
date last changed
2022-04-23 01:32:38
@article{52952038-59d1-434c-81a4-1b8d01c53070,
  abstract     = {{Because internal resources are finite, it has been assumed that attractive, floral organs represent a significant drain on the energy and nutrient budget of a plant. Despite the broad significance of such trade-offs, in relatively few studies have investigators manipulated floral investments, then evaluated allocation to subsequently produced flowers, fruits, and seeds. In the present study of Nigella sativa, the cost of maturing and/or maintaining perianths was documented after all sepals and nectaries were removed at the bud stage and a significant increase in mean seed mass, the total amount of biomass allocated to seed production, and mean germination rate of the maternal seed crop were measured. The increased biomass, carbon, and nitrogen allocated to seeds were similar in magnitude to the reduction in biomass, carbon, and nitrogen invested in sepals and nectaries after perianth removal. Perianth removal did not significantly affect flower production, maternal fecundity, or progeny seed number. Taken together, these observations indicate the potential for selection-mediated through resource trade-offs with seed mass and time to germination-to cause, or at least facilitate, evolutionary reductions in flower size.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Stefan}},
  issn         = {{0002-9122}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{279--283}},
  publisher    = {{Botanical Society of America}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Botany}},
  title        = {{Floral costs in Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae): Compensatory responses to perianth removal}},
  url          = {{http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/92/2/279}},
  volume       = {{92}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}