秦岭山地太白红杉种群种实性状的生态可塑性研究

研究了太白红杉6个种群中13个种实性状的变异情况.结果表明,太白红杉种实性状在种群内和种群间均存在广泛的变异,除种子宽和种鳞宽的差异在种群间不显著外,其它11个性状在种群间差异均极显著;种群间种鳞长、种鳞宽、球果长宽比、种翅长和种翅宽的变异程度比种群内大,其它8个性状在种群内的变异程度比种群间大.海拔对太白红杉种实性状的影响比较明显,其中种子宽、种鳞长、种翅宽、种鳞宽、球果长、球果宽和种鳞数与海拔呈负相关,种子宽和球果宽相关性显著,种鳞长、种翅宽、种鳞宽、球果长和种鳞数相关性极显著;坡度与种鳞长宽比呈负相关;年降水与球果宽呈正相关.种子长宽比和种翅长宽比与海拔呈负相关.     

中亚热带樟科3种植物幼苗叶结构型性状的种间差异及其相关性

为了揭示植物叶功能性状对全球气候变化的响应和适应规律,以樟科3种植物幼苗为研究对象,将其人工采集的种子经低温沙藏并于温室培育,然后将幼苗移栽到野外同质园中自然生长,研究中亚热带樟科植物刨花楠(Machilus pauhoi)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)和闽楠(Phoebe bournei)两年生幼苗生长季节9种叶结构型性状的种间差异及其相关性。结果显示,(1)在3种植物幼苗中,香樟叶面积、叶厚度、叶体积、叶氮磷比最大,叶氮浓度最高,叶组织密度最小;闽楠叶组织密度、叶干物质含量最大,叶磷浓度最高,叶面积、叶体积、比叶面积、叶氮磷比最小,叶氮浓度最低;刨花楠比叶面积最大,叶厚度、叶干物质含量最小,叶磷浓度最低;3种植物幼苗的叶厚度之间均无显著差异。(2)Pearson相关分析和线性回归分析结果表明,樟科3种植物幼苗的叶面积与叶体积间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)、与叶干物质含量间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶组织密度间呈显著负相关(P0.05)、与叶氮浓度间呈显著正相关(P0.05);叶厚度与比叶面积间呈显著负相关(P0.05)、与叶干物质含量间呈显著正相关(P0.05);叶体积与叶组织密度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶氮浓度间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈显著负相关(P0.05);叶组织密度与叶磷浓度间呈显著正相关(P0.05);比叶面积与叶干物质含量间呈极显著负相关(P0.01)、与叶磷浓度间呈极显著负相关(P0.01);叶干物质含量与叶磷浓度间呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。这表明在同质园中生长的刨花楠、香樟和闽楠幼苗的9种叶结构型性状表现出一定的种间差异,不同物种同一叶结构型性状指标的大小顺序、种间差异及其显著性不同;3种植物幼苗不同叶结构型性状之间的相关性及其显著程度也不同。本研究结果为揭示樟科3种植物幼苗叶功能性状对全球气候变化的响应和适应规律提供了基础数据。     

江南油杉(Keteleeria fortunei)种实性状变异及其与环境因子的关系

该研究以广西低海拔盆地向云贵高原过渡的连续地理区域内江南油杉(Keteleeria fortunei var. cyclolepis)林为对象,采用方差分析、多重比较、相关分析、逐步回归分析等方法,对4省（区）9个江南油杉天然种群的16个种实表型性状进行比较研究,探讨种群间种实表型性状多样性及其与地理环境因子的关系。结果表明：江南油杉种实表型性状在种群间存在丰富变异,16个种实性状在种群间均达到显著或极显著差异;9个种群中望谟种群变异最大（2.54%）,16个种实表型性状中种子宽变异最大（9.04%）,种群间种子性状的变异高于球果的变异,说明球果性状变异稳定性高;种实部分表型性状间呈显著或极显著相关,其中种子宽、种子厚、种子长宽比、种鳞长宽比、苞鳞长宽比是较为关键的性状,能在一定程度上反映种实质量;种子性状受地理环境因子的影响比球果大,表现为西部种源种子更趋于圆形,饱满,种翅较长,较宽;地理环境因子中,海拔与多数种实性状间呈显著相关性,是种实表型性状变异的主要来源,因此,海拔是影响种实表型性状变异的主要因素。该研究结果对进一步保护、利用江南油杉种质资源具有一定的指导意义。     

江南油杉种实性状变异及其与环境因子的关系

该研究以广西低海拔盆地向云贵高原过渡的连续地理区域内江南油杉(Keteleeria fortunei var.cyclolepis)林为对象,采用方差分析、多重比较、相关分析、逐步回归分析等方法,对4省(区)9个江南油杉天然种群的16个种实表型性状进行比较研究,探讨种群间种实表型性状多样性及其与地理环境因子的关系。结果表明:江南油杉种实表型性状在种群间存在丰富变异,16个种实性状在种群间均达到显著或极显著差异;9个种群中望谟种群变异最大(2.54%),16个种实表型性状中种子宽变异最大(9.04%),种群间种子性状的变异高于球果的变异,说明球果性状变异稳定性高;种实部分表型性状间呈显著或极显著相关,其中种子宽、种子厚、种子长宽比、种鳞长宽比、苞鳞长宽比是较为关键的性状,能在一定程度上反映种实质量;种子性状受地理环境因子的影响比球果大,表现为西部种源种子更趋于圆形,饱满,种翅较长,较宽;地理环境因子中,海拔与多数种实性状间呈显著相关性,是种实表型性状变异的主要来源,因此,海拔是影响种实表型性状变异的主要因素。该研究结果对进一步保护、利用江南油杉种质资源具有一定的指导意义。     

烟草不同基因型耐低氮能力差异评价

以单株叶重及其氮素反应指数作为耐低氮能力的评价指标,分析了烟草种质资源的耐低氮能力以及单株叶重及其氮素反应指数与主要农艺性状间的相关关系。结果表明,不同施氮水平下多数农艺性状基因型间差异较大,在低氮水平下表现最大;和其他农艺性状相比,单株叶重在不同氮素水平间平均差异最大。不同施氮水平下,单株叶重均与最大叶叶面积、单株生物量呈显著或极显著正相关;单株叶重的氮素反应指数与单株叶重、生物量呈显著或极显著正相关,且低氮水平下单株叶重的氮素反应指数与上述性状间的相关性比中氮水平下更为密切。在供试的36个烟草品种中,永定400号、金烟6号、红花大金元、G80、Nc82等烟草种质具有较强的耐低氮能力,可以作为氮高效的烟草品种利用。     

不同遗传背景下杂交籼稻功能叶与产量构成因素的相关

为明确水稻功能叶与产量构成因素间的相关性,以不同遗传背景下籼稻的10个不育系和16个恢复系为亲本,按照NCII设计配制两套双列杂交组合,对水稻12个功能叶性状与8个产量性状构成因素进行了相关分析,结果表明：3片功能叶叶长与叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽等性状之间均存在极显著正相关,功能叶夹角之间也存在极显著正相关,但不同遗传背景对夹角性状与9个形态性状之间的相关性则存在明显差异,在第一套组合中,其相关系数均为负值,且相关均不显著;而第二套组合则相反。8个产量构成因素中,单株穗数与平均穗长、着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒数之间存在极显著负相关,平均穗长与穗着粒数、结实率与单株产量呈显著或极显著正相关,遗传背景对产量组成上有较大影响,在第一套组合中单株产量主要由结实率、单株穗数以及穗实粒数等性状决定,而在第二套中则主要由穗实粒数和结实率等性状决定。在功能叶与产量构成因素的相关中,功能叶叶长、叶面积、剑叶宽、倒2叶宽与着粒密度、穗实粒数以及穗着粒数等3个性状之间存在显著或极显著正相关。12个水稻功能叶性状与8个产量构成因素之间的主成分分析表明,在不同的遗传背景下,产量构成因素均主要受叶面积和叶夹角影响,两种不同遗传背景中其累积贡献率分别为69.8%和84.0%。     

陕西洋县药用植物群落土壤种子库特性研究

采用种子萌发法对洋县药用植物群落土壤种子库物种组成、单位面积种子密度、物种丰富度及与地上群落结构的关系进行了研究。结果显示,研究区内共有种子植物50种(包括药用植物21种),隶属于28科47属,其中草本植物45种、乔木5种;不同药用植物群落间土壤种子库种子密度差异显著,从大到小依次为:2年生凹叶厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.subsp.biloba(Rehd.et Wils.)Law)4年生凹叶厚朴7年生凹叶厚朴11年生凹叶厚朴杜仲-凹叶厚朴(Eucommia ulmoides Oliver-Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.subsp.biloba(Rehd.et Wils.)Law)7年生厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.)杜仲山茱萸(Cornus officinalis Sieb.et Zucc.)山茱萸-凹叶厚朴;土壤种子库具有表聚性,土层深度与种子数量成负相关;药用植物群落土壤种子库与地上群落结构相似性普遍较低。低林龄群落的土壤种子库密度大于高林龄群落,因此低林龄群落有利于天然更新,它们在植被恢复和生物多样性保护中的潜在价值更大。本研究结果可为洋县药用植物群落天然更新提供理论指导。     

梭梭不同种源间种子性状和幼苗生长性状与地理和气候因子的关系

对6个种源区梭梭[Haloxylon ammodendron(C.A.Mey.)Bunge]的种子性状和幼苗生长性状进行比较,并对这些性状与地理气候因子的相关性进行了分析,通过聚类分析方法对不同种源进行了评价.结果显示,不同种源间梭梭种子性状和幼苗生长性状存在显著差异,种子的果翅长度、种子千粒重、单株种子质量和种子发芽率的变化范围分别为5.13～7.14 mm、2.21～3.75 g、2.49～53.17 g和24.45%～75.00%,幼苗株高、新生枝长度、幼苗地径和幼苗成活率的变化范围分别为16.67～56.67 cm、14.33～29.34 cm、4.04～8.06 mm和42.56%～84.45%.不同种源梭梭的种子及幼苗生长性状与地理分布有关;单株种子质量、种子发芽率、幼苗株高和幼苗成活率与经度极显著正相关,果翅长度、种子千粒重和幼苗株高与纬度极显著负相关,海拔仪与果翅长度有显著相关关系;单株种子质量、种子发芽率和幼苗成活率的直接影响因子为经度,果翅长度、种子千粒重和新生枝长度的直接影响因子为纬度.气候因子与种子性状紧密相关,而与幼苗生长性状的相关性较差,仅幼苗成活率与1月气温和相对湿度存在极显著相关性;1月气温对果翅长度、单株种子质量、种子发芽率、幼苗株高和新牛枝长度的直接作用最大;年降雨量对地径的直接作用最大,相对湿度对幼苗成活率的直接作用最强.通过聚类分析将6个梭梭种源分为3类,其中内蒙古磴口种源为优良梭梭种源,新疆乌苏种源为较差种源.     

天山云杉种子形态性状的地理变异

以新疆天山山脉从西到东不同经度3个地点(昭苏、天池和奇台)的天山云杉林为对象,沿海拔梯度采集不同地点的天山云杉球果,分析其种子性状(种鳞长、种鳞宽、种鳞长宽比、种翅长、种翅宽、种翅长宽比、种子长、种子宽和种子长宽比)的变化.结果表明: 随海拔的升高,天山云杉种子性状(种子宽除外)总体呈现下降的趋势;除种翅宽、种子宽和种子长宽比与海拔的相关性不显著外,种子其他性状与海拔均呈显著负相关;种鳞长、种鳞宽、种鳞长宽比与经度呈现显著正相关;种鳞长、种鳞长宽比、种翅长宽比与坡度呈显著负相关;除种翅宽外,种子其他性状与坡向相关性均不显著.海拔是影响天山云杉种子的种鳞长、种鳞长宽比和种翅长宽比的主要因子.     

海南岛红毛丹栽培品系资源主要果实性状的比较分析

为明确红毛丹栽培品系果实性状的遗传多样性,本研究对海南省保亭县13个代表性品系的单果重、果肉重、果形指数、可溶性糖、可滴定酸含量等17个果实性状进行测量,并进行性状间相关分析及不同种质聚类分析研究。结果表明,不同性状的品系间变异幅度亦不同,其中果核重变异系数最大(28.83%),可溶性糖含量最小(5.62%)。不同性状指标间存在显著或极显著相关性,单果重与果实横径、果肉厚、果皮重、果肉重呈极显著正相关,与果实纵径、果核重呈显著正相关;果核重与种子纵径和横径呈极显著正相关。果肉重与果肉厚、可食率呈极显著正相关。可食率与可滴定酸含量呈极显著负相关。果实性状聚类分析(平均距离为7.013时)可将13份资源分为5类,第Ⅲ类品系果实各性状综合表现优良,单果重最大,果核小,果肉最多,可直接鲜食,第Ⅴ类品系单果重低,果肉少,可食率较低,酸含量高,口感较其它类较差,适合加工开发利用。研究表明海南省红毛丹栽培品系果实性状存在丰富的多样性,为生产开发、遗传育种等提供了信息参考。     

濒危植物凹叶厚朴的花部综合特征和繁育系统

为了解凹叶厚朴(Magnolia officinalis subsp.biloba)濒危的生殖生物学原因,通过野外观测,运用杂交指数、花粉-胚珠比、花粉活力和柱头可授性观测、人工授粉和套袋实验等方法,对凹叶厚朴种群的开花生物学、繁育系统进行了研究。结果表明:凹叶厚朴单花花期一般为4～5d,单花花期根据形态和散粉时间可分为4个时期:蕾期、初开期、盛开期和凋零期;种群于4—5月开花,一般开花历时30d左右,但不同地点、年份间有所差异;种群无开花高峰,单株平均开花数量为171.4～188.8朵,平均开花振幅为5～6朵·株-1·d-1;凹叶厚朴杂交指数为4,花粉胚珠比为5728.86,结合人工套袋和授粉实验结果可确定,繁育系统为异交,传粉过程需要传粉者;花粉活力较高(94%),且花粉活力可维持至散粉后的第6天。散粉后,柱头可授性显著下降,花粉高活力期与柱头可授期有5～6h的重叠;自然状况下结果率和单果出种百分率低,异株异花授粉可明显提高结果率和单果出种百分率,二者相对自然状况分别提高14.25%和43.66%。表明自然状态下传粉效率低、柱头最佳可授期短、同株自花授粉败育严重是其濒危的主要生殖生物学原因。     

厚朴与凹叶厚朴的抗逆性

本文根据西安夏季高温干旱、冬季严寒的气候特点,采用田间栽培、抗逆生理特性测定和抗旱形态特征比较等方法,对引种的国家三级保护植物厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd.et Wils.)和凹叶厚朴(M.officinalis subsp.biloba(Rehd.et Wils.)Cheng et Law)的抗逆性进行了探讨,并用已适应西安气候多年的辛夷(M.liliflora Desr.)作对照。结果表明:两种植物均能在西安越冬,但只有在供水充足和适当遮荫条件下才能顺利越夏。凹叶厚朴的抗逆性强于厚朴,但它们的抗旱抗热性均较辛夷弱。     

Relationship between population size, allozyme variation, and plant performance in the narrow endemic Cochlearia bavarica

We studied population viability in relation topopulation size and allelic variation in thenarrowly-endemic, monocarpic perennial plantCochlearia bavarica in Bavaria. In 1996,we analysed allelic variation by allozymeelectrophoresis in 24 populations ranging from8–2000 flowering individuals. Fitness-relatedcharacters were investigated in 22 of the 24populations in the field in 1996 (reproductiveand vegetative traits) and 1998 (reproductivetraits only). Differences in allozyme patternwere large between a south-eastern and awestern population group. Genetic diversity,assessed by the Shannon-Wiener diversity index,was low within but high among populations.Small populations had fewer alleles per locus,fewer polymorphic loci, lower observedheterozygosity, and lower genetic diversitythan large populations. Environmentalvariables were not significantly correlatedwith population size or fitness with theexception of light availability, indicatingthat habitat quality was similar for large andsmall populations. Population size showedpositive correlations with number of flowers,fruit set per plant, number of seeds per fruit,and total seed output per plant. Fruit set andnumber of seeds per fruit were positivelycorrelated with the observed heterozygosity andthe proportion of polymorphic loci. We usedpath analyses to study the possible causalrelationships among population size, allelicvariation, and reproductive characters. Thesemodels showed that allelic variation had nodirect influence on reproductive characters,whereas population size did. We conclude thatat present population size reduces viabilityand also reduces allelic variation; but thereduced allelic variation may in the longerterm have negative feed-backs on bothpopulation size and viability.     

Factors affecting pollinator movement and plant fitness in a specialized pollination system

The rate of pollen exchange within and among flowers may depend on pollinator attraction traits such as floral display size and flowering plant density. Variations in these traits may influence pollinator movements, pollen receipt, and seed number. To assess how floral display size and flowering plant density affect parameters of pollinator visitation rate, pollen receipt per flower, seed number per fruit and the between-plant pollinator movements, we studied the self-incompatible plant, Nierembergia linariifolia. Per-flower pollinator visitation rate and bout length increased linearly with increasing floral display size. Pollen receipt per flower increased linearly with increasing flowering plant density. For seed number per fruit, a polynomial model describing an increased seed number per fruit at low density and a decreased seed number per fruit at high density provided a significant fit. Per-flower pollinator visitation rate was not associated with pollen receipt per flower and seed number per fruit. Bees visited plants located near to the center of the population more frequently than plants located at the periphery. Increases in both floral display size and flowering plant density led to an increased chance of a plant being chosen as the center of the pollinator foraging area. These results suggest that even though large floral displays and high flowering plant density are traits that attract more pollinators, they may also reduce potential mate diversity by restricting pollen movement to conspecific mates that are closely located.     

TEMPORAL VARIATION OF FLOWER AND FRUIT SIZE IN RELATION TO SEED YIELD IN CELANDINE POPPY (CHELIDONIUM MAJUS; PAPAVERACEAE)

Ecological and evolutionary studies typically consider variation in single reproductive characters in isolation, without considering how they might be correlated with other reproductive and vegetative characters. In our study, we examined temporal patterns of variation and correlation in flower diameter and fruit length during a reproductive phase in two Massachusetts populations of the herb, Chelidonium majus. We also examined the relationships of such variation to measurements of seed yield components (mean seed weight and number per fruit) and aspects of plant vegetative size. Most of the variation in the sizes of reproductive characters occurred within individual plants, instead of among plants or between populations. Flower and fruit sizes as well as seed number per fruit declined significantly during the season in both populations. Only mean seed size per fruit was relatively stable for individual plants in both populations. Conserving resources by a gradual reduction in the size of reproductive characters over the season may be a strategy for maternal plants to continue seed production. The strong, persistent patterns of correlation between certain characters, such as flower and fruit size, in spite of extensive phenotypic plasticity, was interpreted as indirect evidence for developmental correlation. Furthermore, vegetatively larger plants produced not only more flowers and fruits, but also consistently larger flowers and fruits. The results emphasize that variation in fitness characters, such as seed size and number, should not be viewed in isolation from vegetative characters, flower, and fruit sizes in ecological and evolutionary studies, if the goal is to understand the mechanisms of natural selection in wild populations.     

皂荚南方天然群体种实表型多样性

以系统揭示表型变异程度和变异规律为目的, 对皂荚(Gleditsia sinensis)南方分布区的10个天然群体的11个种实性状进行了比较分析。采用方差分析、多重比较、相关分析等多种分析方法, 对群体间和群体内的表型多样性以及与地理、环境因子的相关性进行了讨论。方差分析结果表明; 皂荚果实、种子等性状在群体间和群体内存在丰富的变异, 11个性状在群体间、群体内均达显著差异; 荚果性状在群体间和群体内的变异均大于种子性状, 11个性状的平均表型分化系数为20.42%, 群体内的变异(32.28%)大于群体间的变异(7.19%), 群体内的变异是皂荚的主要变异来源; 皂荚各性状平均变异系数为11.20%, 变异幅度为4.55%-18.38%。群体间荚果的变异(14.75%)高于群体间种子变异(6.95%), 表明种子变异稳定性高。荚果和种子各性状之间多呈极显著或显著正相关, 表现为荚果越大, 则种子越大, 种子的千粒重也越大; 荚果表现为同地理经度的南北变异, 种子则表现为同地理纬度的东西变异。研究结果为进一步开展皂荚遗传育种、保护生物学研究和皂荚种质资源利用奠定了基础。     

山茱萸种质资源数量性状评价及相关性分析

对从全国收集的75份山茱萸种质资源,从叶长、叶宽、果实横径、果实纵径、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、种子含水量、枣皮灰分、枣皮水分、水溶性浸出物和马钱素含量等表型性状,分析其变异系数和各性状间的相关性.分析结果显示,75份山茱萸种质资源在叶长、叶宽、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、枣皮灰分和马钱素含量等性状上的变异系数均高于10％,说明这些性状变化范围较大,个体间性状不稳定,易受环境因素的影响;而果实横径、果实纵径、种子含水量、枣皮水分和水溶性浸出物的变异系数均低于10％,说明这些性状变异较小,表型性状比较稳定.相关性分析结果显示,各性状间都存在一定的相关性,其中果实纵径和果实横径与鲜果百粒重呈显著正相关(0.396和0.312,P ＜0.01),说明果实纵横径是影响果实重量的关键因素;水溶性浸出物大小与果实横径(0.481,P＜0.01)、果实纵径(0.280,P＜0.05)、马钱素含量(0.372,P＜0.01)呈现显著性正相关,表明水溶性浸出物含量的高低与山茱芰有效成分马钱素含量和果实大小及形状密切正相关,这将为种质的筛选、评价和新品种选育提供依据.     

山茱萸种质资源数量性状分析及核心种质库评价

对从全国收集的75份山茱萸种质资源,从叶长、叶宽、果实横径、果实纵径、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、种子含水量、枣皮灰分、枣皮水分、水溶性浸出物和马钱素含量等表型性状,通过分析其变异系数和各性状间的相关性,采用欧氏系统聚类法抽取核心种质,并对构建的核心种质库进行评价。分析结果显示,75份山茱萸种质资源在叶长、叶宽、鲜果百粒重、种子千粒重、枣皮灰分和马钱素含量等性状上的变异系数均高于10%,说明这些性状变化范围较大,个体间性状不稳定,易受环境因素的影响;而果实横径、果实纵径、种子含水量、枣皮水分和水溶性浸出物的变异系数均低于10%,说明这些性状变异较小,表型性状比较稳定。相关性分析结果显示,各性状间都存在一定的相关性,其中果实纵径和果实横径与鲜果百粒重呈显著正相关(0.396b和0.312b),说明果实纵横径是影响果实重量的关键因素;水溶性浸出物大小与果实横径、果实纵径、马钱素含量呈现显著性正相关(0.481b、0.280a和0.372b),表明水溶性浸出物含量的高低与山茱萸有效成分马钱素含量和果实大小及形状密切正相关,这将为种质的筛选和评价提供依据。通过最小距离逐步抽样法抽出22份种质构成核心种质库（占初始种质库的29.33%）,采用欧氏距离聚类对抽样构成的初级核心种质库进行评价,结果显示,各性状均值t检验均不显著,并且极差符合率（CR%= 90.63%）大于80%,说明抽取的初级核心种质库能够很好地代表原有种质,从而达到了提高种质保存效率的目的,这将为进一步研究山茱萸核心种质库构建和其它药用植物构建核心种质提供参考。     

The role of the tolerance–fecundity trade‐off in maintaining intraspecific seed trait variation in a widespread dimorphic herb

Coexistence of species with different seed sizes is a long‐standing issue in community ecology, and a trade‐off between fecundity and stress tolerance has been proposed to explain co‐occurrence in heterogeneous environments. Here we tested an intraspecific extension of this model: whether such trade‐off also explains seed trait variation among populations of widespread plants under stress gradients. We collected seeds from 14 populations of Plantago coronopus along the Atlantic coast in North Africa and Europe. This herb presents seed dimorphism, producing large basal seeds with a mucilaginous coat that facilitates water absorption (more stress tolerant), and small apical seeds without coats (less stress tolerant). We analysed variation among populations in number, size and mucilage production of basal and apical seeds, and searched for relationships between local environment and plant size. Populations under higher stress (higher temperature, lower precipitation, lower soil organic matter) had fewer seeds per fruit, higher predominance of basal relative to apical seeds, and larger basal seeds with thicker mucilaginous coats. These results strongly suggest a trade‐off between tolerance and fecundity at the fruit level underpins variation in seed traits among P. coronopus populations. However, seed production per plant showed the opposite pattern to seed production per fruit, and seemed related to plant size and other life‐cycle components, as an additional strategy to cope with environmental variation across the range. The tolerance–fecundity model may constitute, under stress gradients, a broader ecological framework to explain trait variation than the classical seed size–number compromise, although several fecundity levels and traits should be considered to understand the diverse strategies of widespread plants to maximise fitness in each set of local conditions.