The effect of within‐genet and between‐genet competition on sexual reproduction and vegetative spread in Potentilla anserina ssp. egedii

Abstract

Summary1 Patterns of biomass allocation to sexual and vegetative reproduction were examined in a perennial stoloniferous clonal plant, Potentilla anserina (L.) Rydb. ssp. egedii (Wormsk.) Hiitonen, in relation to intraspecific competition between monoclonal and multiclonal ramets. 2 We predicted that a lack of competition would generate allocation to rapid, shortdistance spread (vegetative propagation), while the presence of competition would increase allocation to long-distance dispersal (sexual reproduction), and that the allocation shift would be more pronounced where the competing ramets were related. 3 P. anserina ramets were grown in a glasshouse in small pots, either alone (no competition) or with a size-matched ramet that originated from the same clone (within-genet competition) or a different one (between-genet competition). 4 Competition suppressed both growth and reproduction, but there was no treatment response in relative investment at the level of a whole genet, although both mother ramets and their daughters showed clear effects when analysed separately. 5 When experiencing competition, the mother ramet allocated relatively more to flowers, whereas allocation to vegetative growth was more intense when competition was absent. Allocation patterns were independent of the relatedness of competitors. 6 The results imply that P. anserina can modify the allocation of resources to different life-history traits according to competitive stress. Such flexibility is likely to reflect a shift in the optimal allocation strategy during the life cycle of a plant with a guerilla growth form with rapid exploitation of free space in a new patch by vegetative spread favoured. When spread becomes limited by competition, long-distance dispersal in space (seeds) or time (persistence) becomes beneficial.

Biomass production and relative competitiveness of a C3 legume and a C4 grass co-dominant in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China

“…Although many physiological mechanisms have been used to understand the resource competition at the individual (Skeel and Gibson 1998; Rautiainen et al 2004;Niu et al 2006), population (Armas and Pugnaire 2005), or community levels (Crawley and May 1987;Gebauer et al 2002), there is still a lack of clear understanding of the performances of different individuals and populations as mediated by competition (Schwinning and Weiner 1998). A yield advantage of plant mixtures occurs when the component species complement each other, resulting in more effective use of environmental resources, i.e.…”

Trade-offs among growth, clonal, and sexual reproduction in an invasive plant Spartina alterniflora responding to inundation and clonal integration

“…In general, clonal reproduction benefits rapid, short-distance spread, while sexual reproduction increases long-distance dispersal (Rautiainen et al, 2004). The relative importance of these two reproductive modes can vary widely within species in response to ecological factors (Eckert, 2002).…”

“…The relative importance of these two reproductive modes can vary widely within species in response to ecological factors (Eckert, 2002). Such trade-offs between sexual and clonal reproduction have been demonstrated in many species and have been found to be influenced by plant size (Worley & Harder, 1996;Gardner & Mangel, 1999), competition (Rautiainen et al, 2004), nutrient levels , successional stages (Sun et al, 2001;Weppler & Stöcklin, 2005), and population age (Piquot et al, 1998;Weppler et al, 2006). However, they have rarely been quantified for invasive species associated with their favorable environmental conditions (Ronsheim & Bever, 2000;Lui et al, 2005).…”

The effectiveness of asexual and sexual reproduction in clonal species Dianthus superbus L. in different site conditions – the consequences for population development

“…Pluess and Stöcklin (2005) noted that in plants growing in the competition-free habitat the generative reproduction is greater than the clonal propagation, whereas individuals from crowded sites present the opposite tendency. Other findings brought evidence that rising of competition intensity might contribute to suppression of clonal multiplication and seed output (Jurik 1985;Rautiainen et al 2004) or the increase of vegetative proliferation, as well as diaspore production (Coelho et al 2005).…”