Environmental maternal effects on seed morphology and germination inSinapis arvensis(Cruciferae)

Abstract

Pioneer plants are adapted to grow in unpredictable environments. These plants have evolved several traits related to seed morphology and germination to cope with this unpredictability. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plant identity and maternal environment on seed mass and germination of Sinapis arvensis. This study was undertaken with S. arvensis plants grown in four experimentally manipulated resource availability scenarios: (i) nitrogen addition, (ii) water addition, (iii) nitrogen and water simultaneously added, and (iv) control. Plants grew under field conditions in an emerging plant community. Germination response was mainly affected by maternal plant identity. This reflects not only genotype quality but also phenotypic plasticity, which allows adaptation to habitat conditions. Seed coat colour together with mean seed mass per plant explained significant fractions of the variability in germination rate. Changes in the germination response because of maternal environmental effects were also detected. Germination rate decreased in seeds from nitrogen-enriched conditions; this may be due to the induction of dormancy caused by high concentration of nitrogen in the seeds. Addition of water to maternal environment caused a decrease in total germination percentage and germination rate of seeds. Thus, our results provide evidence for maternal environmental effects on germination under field conditions. Furthermore, changes in germination timing, as detected in our study, may determine plant development and fitness in unpredictable conditions.

Effect of plant density and seed position on mother plant on physiological characteristic of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) seeds

“…The environmental differences experienced by the mother plant during seed maturation can cause differences in the seed germination of weeds within a population (Munir et al, 2001;Luzuriaga et al, 2006). Brainard et al (2005) reported a 40 to 50% decrease in germination of Powel amaranth (Amaranthus powellis) seeds maturing under canopy shade (up to 91 %) compared with those matured under full sunlight.…”

“…The differences in environment experienced by the mother plant during seed maturation can cause differences in weed seed germination within a population (Kigel et al, 1977;Baskin & Baskin, 1998;Kegode & Pearce, 1998;Munir et al, 2001;Luzuriaga et al, 2006). The seed germination response of wild mustard (Sinapsis arvensis) varied with nitrogen and water availability to the mother plants (Luzuriaga et al, 2006).…”

“…The seed germination response of wild mustard (Sinapsis arvensis) varied with nitrogen and water availability to the mother plants (Luzuriaga et al, 2006). Kegode & Pearce (1998) found that field-raised giant foxtail (Setaria faberi) and shattercane [Sorghum bicolor] seeds had higher germination than greenhouse-raised seeds due to higher temperature fluctuations experienced by the mother pants grown in the field.…”

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION OF COMMON TEASEL (Dipsacus fullonum)

“…Seed germination patterns may also respond to the environmental conditions to which the parental plants were subjected to during growth and seed maturation (Luzuriaga et al, 2006). For any given population of a weed, the occurrence of differences in such patterns between years could indicate the existence of a wide phenotypic plasticity, which would allow the weed to invade a broad variety of areas (Beckstead et al, 1996).…”

Flowering times in genetically modified Brassica hybrids in the absence of selection

“…In the northern US, where Brassica spp. may begin flowering early in the spring before the threat of frost damage has passed, days to flowering may be an important determinant of overall reproductive success (Luzuriaga et al 2006). As a result, early or delayed flowering of crops or weeds could promote changes in the frequency of crop/weed hybrid formation and in the fitness of resultant seedlings.…”