几种牧草幼苗对冷蒿茎叶水浸提液化感作用的生理响应

采用沙培法对草木樨、披碱草、冰草和羊草进行幼苗生长试验,研究了不同浓度冷蒿茎叶水浸提液处理对4种牧草幼苗生长、根系活力、叶绿素含量以及抗氧化保护酶活性的影响,并采用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用技术对冷蒿茎叶水浸提液的化学成分进行了分析。结果表明:冷蒿茎叶水浸提液对草木樨、披碱草、冰草和羊草4种牧草幼苗生长有明显的影响,这种影响效应与牧草的种类及冷蒿茎叶水浸提液浓度显著相关。其中,25mgDw·mL-1的冷蒿茎叶水浸提液均表现出对4种牧草幼苗生长指标有极显著的抑制作用(P0.01),4种牧草幼苗根系活力分别降低了46.7%、65.9%、59.3%和66.7%,草木樨、披碱草和羊草幼苗叶绿素含量分别下降了47.3%、56.6%和46.7%。当冷蒿茎叶水浸提液浓度为10mgDw·mL-1时,对4种牧草幼苗体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性有显著的促进作用;当浓度为25mgDw·mL-1时,对4种牧草幼苗体内SOD、POD和CAT活性有显著的抑制作用,同时使幼苗体内丙二醛(MDA)的含量显著增加。冷蒿茎叶水浸提液有30种化感类次生代谢化合物,主要成分是樟脑(27.6%)、龙脑(10.1%)、蓍草苦素(9.8%)、桉树脑(8.7%)、喇叭烯醇(4.1%)和对-1-薄荷烯-4-醇(4.1%),占总量的60%以上。     

冷蒿挥发性有机化合物主要成分分析及其地上部分结构研究

冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)挥发性有机化合物(volatile organic compounds, VOCs)具有特殊气味, 在植物受损伤时, 此气味会更加浓烈。该文通过对未损伤与损伤冷蒿VOCs成分分析、地上部分结构观察, 初步揭示了冷蒿VOCs释放与结构之间的关系。结果表明, 未损伤冷蒿VOCs主要含有22种化合物, 其主要成分是莰烯(14.27%)、(E)-乙酸-3-己烯酯(10.85%)、对-伞花烃(9.05%)、桉树脑(39.80%)、α-萜品醇(10.04%)、β-萜品醇(2.48%)、樟脑(5.66%)和(R)-(-)-对薄荷-1-烯-4-醇(3.84%)。损伤较未损伤冷蒿VOCs增加了12种物质, 其中相对含量大于1%的化合物分别为顺-3-己烯醛(1.15%)、2-己烯醛(1.34%)、顺-牻牛儿醇(2.66%)、冰片(4.47%)、(1R,4R)(+)-对-薄荷-2,8-二烯(9.15%)、乙酸冰片酯(1.37%)和4(14), 11-桉叶双烯(1.30%)。冷蒿叶片中栅栏组织发达, 叶柄内具有2-3处栅栏组织, 并且栅栏组织中都具有发达的气室, 同时气室与气孔相连。因此, 损伤较未损伤冷蒿VOCs种类和浓度增多的原因可能为: 冷蒿VOCs合成后大量储存于气室中, 当叶片损伤时, VOCs大量释放出来, 同时合成释放一些新的VOCs, 致使损伤冷蒿VOCs种类和浓度增加。     

典型草原常见牧草春季萌动期可溶性糖及内源激素动态研究

在春季萌动期,分别对典型草原几种常见禾本科牧草老芒麦、披碱草、羊草、赖草和克氏针茅的幼芽和地下根系可溶性糖含量及内源激素动态变化规律进行研究.结果表明,高含量的GA和较低含量的ABA是根茎类禾草羊草和赖草春季萌动早的重要调控因子,而根系丰富的可溶性糖为根茎类禾草的萌动生长提供了物质基础;玉米素核苷动态变化趋势与根系可溶性糖含量动态相似,萌动初期呈下降趋势,4月底达到最低值,此后又逐渐上升;而内源激素IAA和GA的含量与牧草幼芽可溶性糖含量的变化趋势一致,均呈逐渐上升趋势;根茎类禾草羊草和赖草与须根系禾草老芒麦和披碱草之间幼芽的GA和ABA水平以及根系可溶性糖含量差异明显.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘9种禾本科牧草光系统Ⅱ特性

以新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲边缘广泛种植的中间偃麦草、新燕麦、无芒雀麦、老芒麦、天山赖草、披碱草、矮生高羊茅、冰草和碱茅等9种牧草为试验对象,测定暗适应20 min后牧草叶片的快速叶绿素荧光诱导曲线,比较光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的特性,分析各牧草对本地区环境的适应能力.结果表明： 天山赖草和披碱草的最大荧光(F_m)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)和单位面积反应中心的数量(RC/CS_o)的值均显著高于矮生高羊茅、冰草和碱茅,而初始荧光(F_o)、单位反应中心吸收的光能(ABC/RC)、单位反应中心捕获的能量(TR_o/RC)、单位反应中心耗散的能量(DI_o/RC)、荧光诱导曲线初始斜率(M_o)值则低于矮生高羊茅、冰草和碱茅;中间偃麦草、新燕麦、无芒雀麦和老芒麦的各值处于中间水平.9种牧草均受到恶劣气候条件的不同程度胁迫,PSⅡ反应中心的活性及电子传递受到抑制,其中,天山赖草和披碱草受到的影响较小,而矮生高羊茅、冰草和碱茅的PSⅡ结构和功能受到比较严重的影响,光合作用受抑制的程度较大.     

氮沉降和降雨变化对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响

以荒漠草原凋落物为研究对象,通过设置自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R) 3种水分处理和0 (N0)、30(N30)、50 (N50)和100 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)(N100)4种氮素(NH_4NO_3)水平处理,用分解袋法,研究内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)、冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)、无芒隐子草(Cleistogenes songorica)和木地肤(Kochia prostrata)凋落物分解过程,旨在阐明荒漠草原凋落物分解过程及其对氮沉降和降雨变化的响应特征,为荒漠草原生态系统物质循环过程响应气候变化研究提供基础数据。结果表明:1)经过270 d分解后,短花针茅、冷蒿、木地肤和无芒隐子草干物质残留率分别为69.95%—78.67%、68.89%—79.89%、64.68%—79.23%、66.89%—79.38%,分解速率为木地肤无芒隐子草冷蒿短花针茅。2)氮沉降和降雨对短花针茅和冷蒿凋落物分解速率产生显著影响(P0.05),其交互作用对这两种凋落物分解速率不显著(P0.05)。氮沉降和降雨以及交互作用均对无芒隐子草和木地肤凋落物分解速率产生显著影响(P0.05)。3)单一水分或氮素的添加均提高土壤微生物量碳氮含量,而水氮交互作用下更为显著。4)凋落物分解速率受生物及非生物因子的影响,相关分析表明:冷蒿、无芒隐子草、木地肤与土壤微生物量碳呈极显著正相关(P0.01);冷蒿、木地肤、短花针茅与土壤微生物量氮呈极显著正相关(P0.01);木地肤和短花针茅与土壤含水量呈极显著正相关(P0.01);冷蒿、木地肤、短花针茅与地上生物量呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。     

冷蒿酚酸及其抗氧化防御酶活性对机械损伤的响应

为了探讨放牧过程中冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)酚酸及其抗氧化酶活性对牲畜采食和践踏损伤的响应,该研究对盆栽冷蒿幼苗枝叶采用不同程度(轻度、中度和重度)机械损伤的方式模拟放牧强度,利用高效液相色谱技术测定了机械损伤处理6 h后冷蒿枝叶和根系9种酚酸含量的变化;同时对多酚氧化酶(PPO)、苯丙氨酸氨裂合酶(PAL)和抗氧化酶活性进行了测定,分析了酚酸含量与PPO和PAL活性之间的相关性。结果表明:轻度机械损伤可以诱导冷蒿枝叶和根系中PPO、PAL和抗氧化酶迅速做出响应,活性显著升高;随着机械损伤强度增加,冷蒿枝叶游离态咖啡酸、丁香酸、阿魏酸和肉桂酸含量显著增加,与对照相比中度损伤处理分别增加了150.4%、93.5%、154.4%和121.7%,与PAL活性呈正相关关系;游离态绿原酸和邻苯二酚含量减少,与对照相比重度损伤处理后降低了91.1%和69.3%,与PPO活性呈负相关关系;与对照相比重度损伤处理下没食子酸和原儿茶酸分别增加了280.6%和215.7%。随损伤强度增加,根系中9种游离态酚酸含量均显著增加,其含量均小于叶片。机械损伤导致冷蒿枝叶中游离态和结合态酚酸总量增加,根系中结合态酚酸减少。上述结果表明机械损伤首先诱导冷蒿体内应激防御系统中抗氧化酶和酚酸合成关键酶活性升高,然后促进抗氧化物质酚酸的积累,调节冷蒿植株内木质素合成以及醌类和单宁形成,增强冷蒿抗机械损伤能力和提高冷蒿的耐牧性。     

低温处理下不同禾本科牧草的生理变化及其抗寒性比较

研究牧草根系抗寒性的动态变化,对寒冷地区的牧草引种筛选意义重大.试验以美国引进的禾本科牧草高山早熟禾(Poa Aalpine)、俄罗斯野麦(Elymus junceus)、无芒冰草(Agropyron inerme)、爱达荷冰草(Agropyron inerme)(品种名Secar)和爱达荷冰草(Agropyron inerme)(品种名Goldar)为研究材料,人工控温进行低温抗寒锻炼、冷冻处理和解冻恢复生长,测定每一阶段下根系中MDA、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖和脯氨酸的含量及SOD活性.结果表明,MDA含量在抗寒锻炼后略有增加,随后维持基本稳定;SOD活性在抗寒锻炼后升高,冷冻处理后显著降低;返青后又显著升高(P＜0.05);可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量在抗寒锻炼和冷冻处理后升高,返青后降低;其中,SOD活性、可溶性糖和脯氨酸的含量随处理不同变幅较大,MDA和可溶性蛋白质的含量随处理不同变幅较小.运用Fuzzy数学中隶属函数法进行抗寒性综合评判,得出抗寒性强弱顺序为:高山早熟禾＞俄罗斯野麦＞爱达荷冰草(Secar)＞无芒冰草＞爱达荷冰草(Goldar).     

冰草属研究进展

冰草属(Agropyron Gaertn.)作为重要的小麦野生近缘属之一,一直受到包括牧草育种家在内的许多学者的重视。冰草属在过去指包括现今形态分类上的冰草属,披碱草属(Elymus L.)和偃麦草属(Elytrigia Desv.),是一个相当复杂的庞大属。现在无论根据形态分类系统或染色体组分类系统,冰草属都已有了明确的概念,是指仅含P染色体组的冠状冰草复合群(crested wheatgrass complex),即包括冰草(A.cristatum Gaertn.),沙生冰草     

浑善达克沙地14种植物热值特征

通过对浑善达克沙地14种主要野生植物根、茎、叶、果实等器官进行取样,测定其热值、灰分、矿质元素,同时对各项指标的相关性进行分析,来探讨浑善达克沙地主要植物作为生物燃料供给料的潜力及植物热值对灰分和矿质元素含量的响应。结果表明:14种野生植物全株热值范围为16.18 MJ·kg-1(猪毛菜)~20.23 MJ·kg-1(小叶锦鸡儿),平均值为18.80 MJ·kg-1,该值高于全球陆生植物平均热值;14种沙生植物的全株热值顺序为:小叶锦鸡儿沙蒿地烧瓜冷蒿木岩黄芪扁蓿豆糙隐子草沙鞭沙芦草叉分蓼冰草细叶鸢尾木地肤猪毛菜;14种植物灰分范围3.98%(沙鞭)~12.18%(猪毛菜),全株灰分含量顺序为猪毛菜木地肤地烧瓜细叶鸢尾叉分蓼小叶锦鸡儿沙蒿冰草扁蓿豆沙芦草冷蒿木岩黄芪糙隐子沙鞭;热值与灰分呈极显著负相关(P0.01),与碳、氮含量呈极显著正相关(P0.01),热值与金属矿质元素呈负相关,与非金属矿质元素呈正相关,但均不显著。浑善达克沙地主要野生植物热值均高于当前主要生物质原材料(柳枝稷、玉米秸秆、王草等),说明该地区植物具有作为能源植物的潜力。     

少花蒺藜草入侵对沙质草地氮库的影响

以我国北方大面积发生的入侵植物少花蒺藜草为对象,研究了其对科尔沁沙质草地土壤氮库和地上植物氮库的影响,并在室内条件下,以自然生境中少花蒺藜草伴生牧草披碱草和扁穗冰草为对照,利用¹⁵N同位素技术分析了少花蒺藜草的生物固氮能力.结果表明:与对照裸地和本地植物鹅观草样地相比,少花蒺藜草入侵地土壤总氮库分别显著增加47.5%和20.8%,土壤铵态氮库分别显著降低25.6%和25.2%.与鹅观草相比,少花蒺藜草地上部分植物氮库显著降低18.7%.少花蒺藜草的¹⁵N原子丰度、¹⁵N原子百分超、¹⁵N原子加权百分超均显著低于披碱草和扁穗冰草.少花蒺藜草和披碱草的氮肥利用率分别为48.5%和47.0%,差异不显著.与披碱草相比,少花蒺藜草生物固氮率为60.2%Ndfa.少花蒺藜草对氮素高效利用的特征,揭示了其适应沙质草地生态系统并蔓延的一种生态适应机制.     

羽枝青藓和瘤柄匐灯藓对入侵植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

入侵植物会通过化感作用等手段抑制本地种的生存繁衍,但本土植物尤其是地被层的藓类植物对入侵植物有何影响尚不清楚。本文以本土羽枝青藓和瘤柄匐灯藓为供体材料,以恶性入侵杂草稗草和野胡萝卜为受试材料,从藓丛结构特征和化感作用角度探究藓类植物对入侵植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明: 2种入侵植物种子落入藓丛后其发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数均受到显著抑制,抑制效果为藓丛上部>藓丛下部>无藓丛。稗草种子落入藓丛下部会显著影响其根长和根芽比。施加藓类浸提液均显著降低2种入侵植物的发芽率、发芽势及发芽指数,但呈现不同的浓度效应。施加浸提液在一定程度上增加了稗草幼苗芽长、根长和根芽比,但对野胡萝卜无明显的规律性影响。藓类植物对2种入侵植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感综合效应均表现为抑制作用,其中,野胡萝卜的敏感性大于稗草,且高浓度下更加明显。可见,藓类植物对入侵植物种子萌发和幼苗生长具有一定抑制作用。     

植物间挥发物信号的研究进展

植物VOCs信号是植物间进行信息交流的“语言”, 可由多种生物和非生物因素诱导产生。非寄生植物释放的VOCs信号可影响其所在群落中其它植物的种子萌发与幼苗生长; 而寄主植物释放的VOCs信号却是诱导寄生植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的信号物质。VOCs作为植物间的伤害信息可以诱导临近的同种或异种植物做好防御准备, 从而通过主动或间接防御以减少外界的伤害。植物间通过VOCs信号进行信息交流, 从而实现其繁衍与防御。该文通过对VOCs信号的种类、诱导产生因素、传递及作用进行综述, 以期对VOCs信号的研究有所帮助。     

Inhibitory effects of monoterpenes on seed germination and seedling growth

Monoterpenes, the chemical constituents of essential oils found in plants, are known biologically active compounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of 30 monoterpenes including monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes on seed germination and seedling growth of Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album and Rumex crispus under laboratory conditions. The monoterpenes were applied at contents of 10 and 20 microl for liquid compounds and 10 and 20 microg for solid compounds. The results show that most of the monoterpenes significantly inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of the tested plants. Oxygenated monoterpenes including beta-citronellol, nerol and terpinen-4-ol completely inhibited seed germination and seedling growth of all tested plants. Their inhibitory effects were also stronger than that of the herbicide 2,4-D. In general, monoterpenes were less effective against seed germination and seedling growth of C. album as compared with R. crispus and A. retroflexus. Phytotoxic effects of monoterpene hydrocarbons were found to be lower than those of oxygenated monoterpenes. The alcohol derivatives of oxygenated monoterpenes were also found to be more phytotoxic as compared with their acetate derivatives. Based on the present results, it can be concluded that the oxygenated monoterpenes can be used as potential bio-herbicides.     

冷蒿对三种禾本科植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用

研究了冷蒿茎叶水浸提液及冷蒿斑块土壤对羊草草原3种禾本科植物(羊草、克氏针茅和糙隐子草)种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:冷蒿茎叶水浸提液使受试植物种子的发芽指数降低,平均发芽时间延长.羊草、克氏针茅和糙隐子草幼苗苗高及克氏针茅幼苗根长均受冷蒿茎叶水浸提液抑制;浸提液浓度≥0.075g.ml-1时显著抑制羊草幼苗根长生长,≤0.05g.ml-1时则无显著影响;而茎叶水浸提液对糙隐子草幼苗根长有"低促高抑"的作用.冷蒿斑块土壤抑制受试植物幼苗生长;3种植物对冷蒿化感效应的敏感性依次为克氏针茅羊草糙隐子草,且幼苗根长的敏感性均大于苗高.     

四种苔藓植物提取液对二种蓼科植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究卵叶泥炭藓(Sphagnumovatum),卷叶凤尾藓(Fissidenscristatus),弯叶灰藓(Hypnumcallichroum)和大金发藓(Polytrichumcommune)的水粗提取液对维管植物虎杖和皱叶酸模种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果显示:四种苔藓植物的粗提取液对两种植物的种子萌发率并没有显著影响。然而,弯叶灰藓,、卵叶泥炭藓和卷叶凤尾藓的提取液抑制了皱叶酸模种子的活力指数。除此之外,卷叶凤尾藓还显著地抑制了它幼苗的干重。四种藓类的提取液对虎杖的种子活力指数和干重,但是卷叶凤尾藓的提取液对幼苗的生长有显著的影响。苔藓植物粗提取液对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响的机制并不清楚,有待进一步研究。     

冻融过程对荒漠短命植物种子萌发的影响

荒漠区冻融交替显著改变土壤温度和水分条件,并进一步影响荒漠植物种子萌发。为解析荒漠土壤冻融过程对植物种子萌发的影响,本研究以古尔班通古特沙漠4种典型短命植物[东方旱麦草(Eremopyrum orientale)、卵果鹤虱(Lappula patula)、尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrrhynchum)和条叶庭荠(Alyssum linifollum)]为对象,通过模拟不同温度和土壤水分及冻融循环次数对种子进行处理,对比分析冻融结束后4种植物种子萌发参数(发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、种子活力)。结果表明,温度对4种植物种子萌发参数均无显著影响,而土壤水分和循环次数均有显著影响(水分仅对条叶庭荠无影响),且存在显著交互作用。冻融循环次数增加可促进冻融后的种子活力和种子萌发,尤其是在低水分条件下表现得更为显著。冻融期高土壤水分显著降低东方旱麦草的种子发芽率,对其他物种的影响受冻融次数和白天温度状况的调节。在相同土壤水分条件下,冻融期白天高温可促进种子萌发。总体来看,冻融对荒漠短命植物种子萌发有显著影响并存在一定的种间差异性,这将造成冻融期结束后不同物种的种子萌发和幼苗生长存在差异,进而影响荒漠区植物群落结构。     

Cytokinins contribute to realization of nitric oxide growth-stimulating and protective effects on wheat plants

We investigated effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the donor of nitric oxide (NO), on the growth and hormonal system of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) in normal conditions and after salt stress (2% NaCl). During germination of seeds treated with SNP (50–500 μM), we obtained the SNP concentration (200 μM) optimal for stimulation of seedling growth estimated by increase in seed germination capacity and seedlings' linear sizes and their fresh and dry biomass. A comparative analysis of SNP (200 μM) effects, after seed germination in the medium with SNP or pretreatment of 3-day-old seedlings, showed SNP ability to increase the wheat plant resistance to subsequent effects of sodium chloride salinity at both treatment methods. Protective SNP effects appeared in the reduction of stress inhibitory action on seedling growth rates and significant reduction in the level of lipid peroxidation and exosmosis of electrolytes. An important contribution to realization of the growth-stimulating and protective effects of NO is associated with its ability to influence the state of the hormonal system of wheat plants due to an increase in the concentration of hormones of a cytokinin nature under normal conditions and the prevention of a decrease in their level under stress.     

The Influence of Seed Size Variation on Seed Germination and Seedling Vigour in Diploid and Tetraploid Dactylis glomerata L.

In this study the effects of seed size variation on germinationand seedling vigour have been investigated within and betweenploidy levels of diploid and related autotetraploid Dactylixglomerata. Rates of seed germination and seedling growth werecompared in two contrasting environments using diploid and tetraploidseeds of equal and also different biomass. Within each ploidylevel, seed biomass had no effect on either the overall percentagenor the rate of germination. In contrast, the comparison ofseeds of equal biomass but differing in ploidy level showedthat seeds from tetraploid plants germinated faster and to ahigher percentage than those from diploid plants. With respectto seedling growth, heavier seeds from the tetraploid genotypesgave seedlings of significantly higher biomass than those fromlighter tetraploid and diploid seeds throughout the 2 monthsof study. Interestingly, seeds of equal biomass but from differentploidy levels produced seedlings more similar than those fromthe extreme seed weight categories. These differences were maintainedin two different environmental conditions. These results suggestthat there is a complex interdependance of seed size and ploidyon seed germination and seedling growth but is not a simpleconsequence of differences in seed size between diploids andtheir related tetraploids.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press Dactylis glomerata, polyploidy, seed size, germination, seedling     

Seed enhancement with cytokinins: changes in growth and grain yield in salt stressed wheat plants

Cytokinins are often considered abscisic acid (ABA) antagonists and auxins antagonists/synergists in various processes in plants. Seed enhancement (seed priming) with cytokinins is reported to increase plant salt tolerance. It was hypothesized that cytokinins could increase salt tolerance in wheat plants by interacting with other plant hormones, especially auxins and ABA. The present studies were therefore conducted to assess the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment with varying concentrations (100, 150 and 200 mg l⁻¹) of cytokinins (kinetin and benzylaminopurine (BAP)) on germination, growth, and concentrations of free endogenous auxins and ABA in two hexaploid spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. The primed and non-primed seeds of MH-97 (salt-intolerant) and Inqlab-91 (salt-tolerant) were sown in both Petri dishes in a growth room and in the field after treatment with 15 dS m⁻¹ NaCl salinity. Both experiments were repeated during 2002 and 2003. Among priming agents, kinetin was effective in increasing germination rate in the salt-intolerant and early seedling growth in the salt-tolerant cultivar when compared with hydropriming under salt stress. Thus, during germination and early seedling growth, the cytokinin-priming induced effects were cultivar specific. In contrast, kinetin-priming showed a consistent promoting effect in the field and improved growth and grain yield in both cultivars under salt stress. The BAP-priming did not alleviate the inhibitory effects of salinity stress on the germination and early seedling growth in both cultivars. The increase in growth and grain yield in both cultivars was positively correlated with leaf indoleacetic acid concentration and negatively with ABA concentration under both saline and non-saline conditions. The decrease in ABA concentration in the plants raised from kinetin-primed seeds might reflect diminishing influence of salt stress. However, the possibility of involvement of other hormonal interactions is discussed.     

Irrigation and fertilization effects on seed number,size, germination and seedling growth: implications for desert shrub establishment

Plants with limited resources adjust partitioning among growth, survival, and reproduction. We tested the effects of water and nutrient amendments on seed production, size, and quality in Sarcobatus vermiculatus (greasewood) to assess the magnitude and importance of changes in reproductive partitioning. In addition, we assessed interactions among the environment of seed-producing plants (adult plant scale), seed size, and seedling microenvironment (seedling scale) on successful seedling establishment. Interactions of these factors determine the scale of resource heterogeneity that affects seedling establishment in deserts. Both total number of seeds produced per plant and seed quality (weight and germination) increased significantly in the enriched treatment in a 3-year field experiment. Seedling length 3 days after germination and seed N concentration, other measures of seed quality, were higher for seed from both irrigated and enriched plants than for seed from control plants. Field S. vermiculatus seed production and quality can be substantially increased with irrigation and nutrient enrichment at the adult plant scale and this allows management of seed availability for restoration. However, based on a greenhouse study, seedling environment, not the environment of the seed-producing plant or seed size, was the most important factor affecting seedling germination, survival, and growth. Thus it appears that production of more seed may be more important than improved seed quality, because higher quality seed did not compensate for a low-resource seedling environment. For both natural establishment and restoration this suggests that heterogeneity at the scale of seedling microsites, perhaps combined with fertilization of adult shrubs (or multi-plant patches), would produce the greatest benefit for establishing seedlings in the field.