The 120-yr period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment

After 120 yr of burial in moist, well-aerated sand, 23 seeds of Verbascum blattaria and two seeds of a Verbascum sp. germinated and produced normal plants (50% germination for Verbascum). After a 6-wk cold treatment, a single seed of Malva rotundifolia germinated also, producing a normal plant (2% germination). Plants were grown to maturity in a greenhouse, and flowering was induced by exposure to a 6-wk cold treatment. Flowers were artificially pollinated to produce seed of both Verbascum blattaria and Malva rotundifolia. The Verbascum sp. failed to set seed. Collected seeds were subsequently germinated, producing normal plants. F(1) seeds of V. blattaria had a germination of 64%. Seeds (6%) of M. rotundifolia germinated after a cold treatment.     

THE NINETY-YEAR PERIOD FOR DR. BEAL'S SEED VIABILITY EXPERIMENT

In 1879 Dr. W. J. Beal selected seeds of 23 different species of locally common plants, mixed 50 seeds of each species with moist sand in unstoppered one-pint bottles, and buried the bottles in a sandy knoll to be unearthed and the viability of the seeds tested periodically. The year 1970 marked the ninetieth year the seed had been buried, and the thirteenth bottle was recovered to test for seed viability. Of the three species which had germinated in the 1960 test (curly dock, Rumex crispus; evening primrose, Oenothera biennis; and moth mullein, Verbascum blattaria), only V. blattaria had viable seed with 20% germination. No other species germinated. All ten seedlings of V. blattaria were grown to maturity, and seeds were then harvested to study the possible deviations from normality and the requirements for seed germination. All seedlings emerging from the first progeny seed appeared normal. The most prominent requirement for germination was light, and this is a possible explanation of why the seeds had remained viable but dormant for so long a period. One-third of the freshly harvested seed germinated in darkness and, furthermore, redrying of dark-moistened seed in the absence of light induced additional germination. Germination of dark-moistened seed was not completely restored when the still moist seeds were subsequently exposed to light. However, when dark-moistened seeds were dried and then remoistened in the light, germination was about 95 %. About 5 % of the seed did not germinate under the conditions used. We find that 5 % of the population of V. blattaria seeds are dormant for unknown reasons, that 30 % will germinate if supplied only with moisture, and that 65 % are inhibited and require light and moisture simultaneously for germination. Supplying this 65 % of the population with moisture in darkness results in the development of a second type of inhibition which is no longer light reversible. It appears that the simultaneous requirement for light and moisture is an important factor in permitting V. blattaria seeds to remain dormant during prolonged burial.     

Large African herbivores,bruchid beetles and their interactions with Acacia seeds

This study investigated the interactions of large African herbivores and bruchid seed beetles with Acacia seeds. The germination of bruchid-infested and uninfested seeds was compaed. The effects of pod consumption by large herbivores on bruchid infestation and seed germination was also assessed. Bruchid-infested seeds did germinate, and the germination of bruchid-infested and uninfested A. tortilis, A. nilotica and A. hebeclade seeds did not differ. Pod ingestion by large herbivores lowered the bruchid infestation of consumed and defaecated seeds compared to uningested seeds. Uninfested, ingested and voided A. tortilis seeds germinated seeds. Furthermore, infested A. tortilis seeds egested by giraffe, kudu and ostrich germinated better than infested, uningested seeds. Pod ingestion by large herbivores may reduce bruchid infestation, increase Acacia seed germination and therefore increase potential Acacia seedling recruitment.     

Body size determines rates of seed dispersal by giant king crickets

New Zealand is home to giant king crickets called weta, which are the only insects known to consume fleshy-fruits and disperse seeds after gut passage. Although they disperse seeds in viable condition after consumption, their importance as seed dispersers is unknown. We conducted a series of field observations and laboratory experiments to investigate intraspecific variation in the capacity of Wellington tree weta (Hemidenina crassidens) to disperse seeds of tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). We asked three questions. How frequently do weta disperse fuchsia seeds? Do seed passage rates differ between sexes and different-sized weta? Might weta select for particular seed sizes via differential seed mortality after ingestion? A total of 2,272 F. excorticata seedlings germinated from 241 scats (i.e., faecal pellets) that were collected from the field. Experimental results showed that, on average, 15% of seeds ingested by weta successfully germinated, whereas 75% germinated in control trials. Larger weta dispersed greater numbers of seeds in experimental trials, while no differences in dispersal rates were observed between sexes. Regardless of sex and size, weta preferentially dispersed larger seeds. When interpreted collectively, results indicate that (1) weta are frequent seed dispersers of F. excorticata, although many seeds are destroyed during ingestion, (2) larger-bodied weta consistently disperse greater quantities of seeds, which is unusual in seed dispersal mutualisms, and (3) weta preferentially disperse larger seeds, suggesting that they might interact evolutionarily with New Zealand plants.     

The 141-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment: A hybrid surprise

Premise

In 1879, Dr. William Beal buried 20 glass bottles filled with seeds and sand at a single site at Michigan State University. The goal of the experiment was to understand seed longevity in the soil, a topic of general importance in ecology, restoration, conservation, and agriculture, by periodically assaying germinability of these seeds over 100 years. The interval between germination assays has been extended and the experiment will now end after 221 years, in 2100.

Methods

We dug up the 16th bottle in April 2021 and attempted to germinate the 141-year-old seeds it contained. We grew germinants to maturity and identified these to species by vegetative and reproductive phenotypes. For the first time in the history of this experiment, genomic DNA was sequenced to confirm species identities.

Results

Twenty seeds germinated over the 244-day assay. Eight germinated in the first 11 days. All 20 belonged to the Verbascum genus: Nineteen were V. blattaria according to phenotype and ITS2 genotype; and one had a hybrid V. blattaria × V. thapsus phenotype and ITS2 genotype. In total, 20/50 (40%) of the original Verbascum seeds in the bottle germinated in year 141.

Conclusions

While most species in the Beal experiment lost all seed viability in the first 60 years, a high percentage of Verbascum seeds can still germinate after 141 years in the soil. Long-term experiments such as this one are rare and invaluable for studying seed viability in natural soil conditions.     

Seed bank of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. in the Czech Republic,Central Europe: does burial depth and sediment type influence seed germination?

Littorella uniflora (Plantaginaceae) is a scarce and declining aquatic plant in Europe. Its population has been strongly reduced by changes in fishpond management (eutrophication) in the Czech Republic since the 1950s. We studied its seed bank in both recent (n = 8) and historical localities (the last found from 1972 to 2000; n = 10) and tested the effects of sediment type and burial depth on seed germination using extracted seeds from two recent populations. The seeds were found in 60% of the historical localities, mostly in low densities (≤6 seeds per 3.75 l of sediment), and also in 100% of the recent localities in various densities (8–1390 seeds per 3.75 l of sediment); however, low germination rates (0–13.3%) were estimated. The seeds germinated best on wet filter paper, followed by nutrient-rich fishpond sediment, but poorly on sand mixed with different substrates. Burial depth significantly affected seed germination. The seeds germinated only on the soil surface and at the depth of 1 cm but no seed germinated at the depth of 3 and 5 cm. Besides low water transparency, both high rate of sediment accumulation and the absence of summer drainage may endanger L. uniflora populations in fishponds.

     

Seed germination during floatation and seedling growth of Carapa guianensis, a tree from flood-prone forests of the Amazon

Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae), a hard wood tree from the Brazilian Amazon, has large recalcitrant seeds that can germinate and establish in both flood-free (terra-firme) and flood-prone (várzea) forests. These seeds, although large, can float. This study was designed to experimentally examine seed longevity under floating conditions ex-situ and its effects on subsequent germination and seedling growth. Many seeds germinated while floating, and radicle protrusion occurred from 3 to 42 d after the start of the floating treatment (tap water, room temperature 20–30 °C). Shoots of newly germinated floating seedlings may elongate up to 37.0 cm in 20 d without loss of viability. Epicotyl and first leaf emergence were delayed by floating. Seeds that did not germinate while floating were then placed on vermiculite and watered daily, where many seeds resumed germination. Germination during and after floating was affected by the length of the floating treatment: 88% germinated after 1 mo, 82% germinated after 2 mo and 70% germinated after 2.5 mo. These results indicate that Carapa guianensis has physiological variation regarding dormancy in response to seed floatation. The fact that floatation induces dormancy in recalcitrant seeds of this economically important species can be relevant to initiatives of ex situ storage of seeds.     

Propagation of Rare Plants from Historic Seed Collections: Implications for Species Restoration and Herbarium Management

Herbaria are potentially important repositories of living seeds that could be useful for recovery of rare plant species. To examine this capacity, we tested seed germination of rare milkweed (Asclepias) and milkvetch (Astragalus) species representing different collection dates and different herbaria. These groups have contrasting seed characteristics, with greater potential for longevity in the nonpermeable hard-coated milkvetch seeds. Twelve-year-old Asclepias lanuginosa seeds failed to germinate. However, we achieved 45% germination from three-year-old Asclepias meadii seeds, but germination dropped to 0% after ages of four to five years. Astragalus neglectus seeds germinated from 97-, 48-, and 28-year-old herbarium specimens, and Astragalus tennesseensis seeds germinated from a four-year-old collection. Seedlings produced from these experiments were incorporated into ex situ garden populations for recovery or restoration of rare species populations. Different herbarium pest control techniques may have significant bearing on the viability of seeds stored on herbarium specimens. Microwaving can cause precipitous loss of seed viability, while deep-freezing appears to allow some seeds to remain viable. Potentially live seeds of rare species should be stored under conditions that enhance their long-term viability.     

A field study of seed germination in the endangered Trillium reliquum Freeman (Trilliaceae)

Previous studies examining the seeds of most Trillium species have reported double dormancy, a type of seed dormancy where two cold periods and one warm period are needed for complete germination. In the present paper, we describe a field study examining the federally endangered Trillium reliquum Freeman (Trilliaceae) in which moderate to high numbers of seeds germinated after one winter following seed production. Sixteen baskets with seeds were placed in four T. reliquum populations (four baskets in each population) in Georgia, USA, in June 2005. In spring 2006, all seed baskets contained seedlings. Germination percentages ranged from 33.3 to 83.3% across sites with a mean of 56.9 ± 3.9%. Trillium reliquum had higher germination percentages compared with other field‐based germination studies with other Trillium species. Our findings will inform future demographic studies of T. reliquum and suggest that double dormancy in seeds may not be as widespread as previously reported within the genus Trillium.     

Seed bank persistence of clonal weeds in contrasting habitats: implications for control

The ability of weeds to form a seed bank is important for their population dynamics and management because it provides a refuge enabling reinvasion after established target plants have died. However, knowledge of the differential seed behaviour of individual species over multiple years and varying environmental conditions is surprisingly rare but necessary for effective control of diverse weed populations. We established a seed burial experiment in alpine habitats differing in management regime (i.e., forest, hay meadow and pasture) to determine whether seeds of the unpalatable perennial weeds, Veratrum album (white hellebore) and Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian) were able to delay germination and remain viable over 3 years. Our study shows that both species formed a short-term persistent seed bank; in the third-year, the soil seed banks of both species were nearly depleted, having declined to <5% of their original size. Both species had strikingly different germination strategies: G. lutea seeds mainly germinated in their first-year, whilst the majority of V. album seeds germinated in their second-year. The fraction of dormant G. lutea seeds increased with seed age, indicating that seeds remained viable after forgoing germination in the previous year. Habitat-specific differences in seed germination increased with seed age, with germination fractions being lowest in moist hay meadows. This suggests that the negative effects of anoxic conditions became more pronounced as seeds aged in hay meadows. Conversely, seed dormancy was equal among habitats. The absence of a long-term persistent seed bank has important implications for the management of both nuisance and endangered-plant populations. In the case of V. album and G. lutea, re-colonization of habitats from the seed bank is unlikely after established plants have been removed.     

Elevated CO2 decreases seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana

The impact of elevated [CO₂] on seed germination was studied in different genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana from natural populations. Two generations of seeds were studied: the maternal generation was produced in the greenhouse (present-day conditions), the offspring generation was produced in two chambers where the CO₂ concentration was either the present atmospheric concentration (about 350 ppm) or elevated (700 ppm). The seeds were tested for proportion of germinated seeds and mean germination time in both chambers to study the impact of elevated [CO₂] during seed production and germination. Elevated [CO₂] during maturation of seeds on the mother-plants decreased the proportion of germinated seeds, while elevated [CO₂] during germination had no effect on the proportion of germinated seeds. However, when seeds were both produced and germinated under elevated [CO₂] (situation expected by the end of next century), germination was slow and low. Moreover, the effect of the [CO₂] treatment differs among genotypes of Arabidopsis: there is a strong treatment × genotype interaction. This means that there is ample genetic variance for a selective response modiying the effects of high levels of [CO₂] in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. The outcome at the community level will depend on what seeds are available, when they germinate and the resulting competition following germination.     

Regeneration filters in post-agricultural fields of Puerto Rico and Ecuador

To better understand how rainforest regenerates after agriculture I sampled the seed rain and seed bank, and set out seeds and seedlings, on microsites defined by distance to the forest in fields both in Puerto Rico and Ecuador. I found that (1) total seeds, species richness and life-form richness were twice as great in the Ecuador seed rain compared to Puerto Rico but Puerto Rico seeds were more evenly distributed among species and (2) total seedlings from the seed bank were similar between Puerto Rico and Ecuador, (3) the majority of seeds were lost to predation among all species and study sites, (4) seed disease was absent in P. aduncum and Miconia prasina, and no seeds germinated for Gonzalagunia spicata and P. riparia, (5) in Ecuador pathogenic disease claimed more seeds than germinated for all species, and Solanum ovalifolium was the only species that had seeds germinate but did not lose seeds to disease, (6) also in Ecuador, insect predation was significantly lower in the forest border for P. aduncum, and seed disease was significantly greater at the 10 m micro site for S. ovalifolium, (7) distance has a significant effect on seedling height and basal diameter, (8) losses of leaf area due to herbivory and pathogens were always low and (9) biomass and leaf specific mass were significantly reduced in the border and forest microsites. I conclude that Ecuador fields had more seeds, species, and life-forms than Puerto Rico fields, predation was the most severe post-dispersal seed filter in all fields, seeds that survived predation on Puerto Rico were lost either to disease or germination but to both mechanisms in Ecuador, all three seed mechanisms in Ecuador fields showed distance effects of seedling growth but not survivorship.     

EFFECT OF SEED SIZE ON SEEDLING SUCCESS IN THREE SPECIES OF SESBANIA (FABACEAE)

Variation in seed size may produce variation in seedling fitness, but the relationship is not simple. Differences in seed size within and among species may not have the same effects. We examined effects of differences in seed size within and among three species of Sesbania, S. macrocarpa, S. drummondii, and S. vesicaria, on seedling emergence and growth in the greenhouse and the field. Of the three species, the largest-seeded species, S. vesicaria, produced the largest, longest-lived seedlings in both the greenhouse and the field. Even though plant size differed, annual S. macrocarpa produced the same seed mass as annual S. vesicaria in the greenhouse. Within-species effects were less clear. In the greenhouse, S. vesicaria seedlings grown from large seeds remained largest until maturity, but the other species did not exhibit this effect. Some persistent within-species effects of seed size differences on height were observed in the field in 1981, but not in 1980, suggesting that field conditions increase the importance of seed size differences. Unscarified S. drummondii seeds germinated before seeds of the two annual species. Within species, larger seeds of the annuals and smaller seeds of the perennial germinated first. Differences among the species in the importance of seed size to seedling fitness may allow the species to have different patterns of regulation of reproduction in response to stress. Sesbania vesicaria showed the largest within-species effects of seed size and has the lowest plasticity in seed size, suggesting that patterns of plasticity have been selected such that the most important component of yield varies least.     

Seed germination of the weed Rumex obtusifolius after on-farm conventional, biodynamic and vermicomposting of cattle manure

This study investigated whether composting methods differ in their impact on seed germination of Rumex obtusifolius (broad‐leaved dock). Weed seeds were buried in windrows of cattle farmyard manure, removed at monthly intervals and germinated during the course of 7 months. Composting methods differed in the maximum temperatures reached (63°C for conventional and biodynamic composting and 35°C for vermicomposting), the addition of 1000 m^?2 earthworms (Eisenia fetida) for vermicomposting and the inoculation of biodynamic preparations for biodynamic composting. After 1 month in windrows, germination rate of Rumex seeds was significantly higher in vermicompost (48%) than in conventional (28%) or biodynamic compost (18%). After 2 months in windrows, 26% of the seeds germinated in vermicomposting windrows, while those inserted in conventional and biodynamic windrows showed a negligible germination (0% and 2%, respectively). After 3 and 4 months, only seeds under vermicomposting germinated (22% and 3%, respectively). No germination was determined when seeds were inserted for longer than 4 months in any of the treatments. Seeds stored at room temperature germinated at 89% over the course of the experiment. Results suggest that the maximum temperature reached in windrows is not the single main factor reducing weed seed germination during composting.     

Adaptation to habitat in Aquilegia species endemic to Sardinia (Italy): Seed dispersal,germination and persistence in the soil

Abstract

The autecology of the Sardinian endemics Aquilegia barbaricina Arrigoni et Nardi and A. nugorensis Arrigoni et Nardi were investigated. Peaks of anthesis and seed dispersal were recorded for five populations occurring in two distinct habitats, one riparian and one rupicolous. Germination tests were carried out on seed lots belonging to each population by sowing seeds at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 25/15°C. In addition, seeds were incubated for 2 months at either 25°C (summer), 5°C (winter) or 25°C for 2 months plus 2 months at 5°C (summer followed by winter–SW), and then moved to the germination temperatures. Embryo measurements were taken during pre-treatments and germination. Experimental seed burials were carried out for two populations of each species. Both species dispersed in summer. The population of A. nugorensis occurring on rocky outcrops differed in phenology from both the other A. nugorensis population from riparian vegetation and from A. barbaricina. Both species showed morphophysiological seed dormancy, with <50% germination under laboratory conditions. All riparian populations germinated only after the SW pre-treatment, while the rupicolous population germinated at 25°C, without any pre-treatment. Low germination percentages were observed in the experimental seed burials, suggesting the ability for both species to form a persistent soil seed bank.     

Cytokinin treated microcalli of Phelipanche ramosa: an efficient model for studying haustorium formation in holoparasitic plants

The ability of Orobanchaceae to establish a parasitic relationship is based on the development of a specific organ called haustorium. Previous studies in Phelipanche aegyptiaca and P. ramosa have underlined the interest of producing calli from germinated seeds as an efficient genetic transformation system, but they also pointed the need to improve the attachment rate of infectious calli to the host plant as well as the seed yield of the regenerated plants following attachment. It was previously shown that haustorium formation in P. ramosa is triggered by cytokinins. The present work demonstrates that one month-old microcalli produced from germinated seeds displayed a response to c/tZ similar to germinated seeds, as shown by the temporal expression profile of markers genes of cytokinin-related haustorium initiation, including PrRR5, PrCKX2, PrCKX4, PrTRN2 and PrZFP6. In addition, a 48 h treatment of microcalli with c/tZ (10^?7 M) before infestation triggered a 4-fold increase in the attachment rate of microcalli to tomato roots after 18 days in minirhizotrons when compared to untreated microcalli. Finally, it also outlines that increasing the aggressiveness of microcalli with a c/tZ treatment followed by the transfer of parasitized tomato plants into pots significantly improved seed yield of regenerated P. ramosa plants. Indeed, high amounts of viable seeds which germinated at more than 90% in response to GR24 were harvested after a 10 weeks-co-cultivation period. According to these results, cytokinin treated P. ramosa microcalli thus appear to be a good tool for further functional studies in holoparasitic plants, especially on haustorium formation.

     

光质及种子大小对普洱地区14种植物种子萌发的影响

以普洱地区14种常见植物种子为材料,在实验室条件下研究了其在白光、黑暗、红光和蓝光条件下的萌发特性,并分析了种子大小与萌发率、萌发速率、萌发开始时间的关系。结果表明:光质对四方蒿、沙针、尖子木、藿香蓟种子萌发率和萌发速率均有显著影响(P0.05)。光质对大叶斑鸠菊、云南山枇花、臭灵丹、车桑子、光萼猪屎豆、葫芦茶、云南地桃花、西南宿苞豆、岗柃、中国宿苞豆10个物种的种子萌发率和萌发速率均没有显著影响(P0.05),以上物种中除中国宿苞豆外,其他物种种子萌发率均在20%以下,处于休眠状态。四方蒿种子在白光(89.9%)和红光(84.7%)下萌发率最高,红光下种子萌发最快(4.93),蓝光下种子萌发开始时间最晚(11.3 d);沙针种子在白光下萌发率最高(80.4%)、萌发速率最快(2.71),在黑暗和蓝光下萌发率较低(43.9%和38%)、萌发速率最慢(0.73和0.85),白光、红光下萌发开始最早(11 d),黑暗条件下萌发开始最晚(21.7 d);尖子木种子萌发率在白光、黑暗、蓝光下均在86%以上,而红光下仅32%且萌发速率最慢(1.29),在蓝光下萌发开始时间最晚(13 d);藿香蓟种子萌发率和萌发速率在红光下最高(分别为71.3%和6.46),黑暗条件下最低(分别为42.5%和2.62);大叶斑鸠菊萌发开始时间在黑暗条件下最早(6 d),其次是白光下(7 d),蓝光和红光下较晚,分别为8 d和7.7 d。14个物种种子的萌发率与种子大小间均有显著负相关关系;种子萌发速率、萌发开始时间与种子大小间也有负相关关系,但不显著;种子大小与萌发率、萌发速率和萌发开始时间的关系不会随着光质的变化而发生变化。     

Non-native mammals are weak candidates to substitute ecological function of native avian seed dispersers in an island ecosystem

Although prominent examples exist of non-native species causing substantial ecological harm, many have neutral or positive effects, including filling surrogate roles once performed by extinct native organisms. We tested the ecological roles of two non-native mammals as seed dispersers or seed predators in Guåhan, which, due to invasive brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis), is devoid of native seed dispersers–birds and bats. We conducted feeding trials with captive rats (Rattus spp.), which are present but uncommon due to predation by snakes, and pigs (Sus scrofa), which are abundant. We examined if and how they interacted with common forest fruits. We then compared how any gut-passed or animal-handled seeds germinated compared to seeds left in whole fruit or depulped seeds. Rats and pigs interacted with most of the fruits and seeds (>80%) that they were fed. Of those, most seeds were destroyed—78% for rats and 90% for pigs, across both native and non-native plant species. Compared to seeds germinating within whole fruits, rats improved germination of the seeds that they handled without ingesting, while pigs diminished the germination of seeds that they handled. The small percentage of seeds (approximately 1.5% for rats and 5% for pigs) that survived gut passage germinated in higher proportions than those in whole fruits. Percentages of seed survival to germination are lower than found in similar studies with native avian frugivores. Our results indicate that pigs and rats have mixed effects on seeds, but are not suitable surrogates for native seed dispersers.     

Dormancy Release,Germination, and Electrolyte Leakage from Apple Embryos during Stratification in the Presence of Sucrose

The dynamics of dormancy release during the stratification of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) seeds was quantitatively described by three characteristics of seeds germination: the percentage of seeds that germinated by the tenth day, mean germination time, and the sum of seeds germinated in each of ten days (Timson's parameter), which allowed the assessment of the viability, the rate of dormancy release, and seed heterogeneity. We showed that apple seeds were characterized by a combined (physical and physiological) type of dormancy, with the seed coat and the embryo envelope being involved in the maintenance of physical dormancy. The addition of sucrose to the stratification medium accelerated the release of seed dormancy and improved all characteristics that determine seed germinability. Electrolyte leakage from embryos hardly changed during stratification, which agrees with the fact that all seeds remained viable throughout the entire period of dormancy. We assume that the release of seed dormancy is not a single-stage process.     

Parasitoid attack of the seed-feeding beetle Bruchus loti enhances the germination success of Lathyrus japonicus seeds

Hard seeds of some legume species can germinate after seed-feeding insects bore through the seed coat and consequently break seed dormancy. Larvae of bruchine beetles are the main seed feeders attacking many legume species. Boring of the hard seed coat by bruchine beetle larvae enhances the germination percentage of legume species, but consuming too much of a single seed may reduce the chances the seed will survive. We hypothesise that the early mortality of bruchine larvae due to parasitism contributes positively to seed germination because larvae are killed before consuming too large a quantity of the seed. Here, we tested this hypothesis using Lathyrus japonicus seeds and Bruchus loti, the main seed feeder attacking this plant. B. loti larvae were mainly parasitised by two species of idiobiont parasitoids—Pteromalus sp. and Dinarmus sp. The seeds from which Pteromalus wasps emerged germinated more successfully than did the seeds from which B. loti adults emerged. B. loti larvae parasitised by the two wasp species consumed the seeds less intensively than did unparasitised larvae. Thus, the results of experiments supported our hypothesis. However, the germination success varied significantly between the seeds from which Pteromalus and Dinarmus wasps emerged. The difference in the size of seeds the two wasp species chose for parasitism may have influenced the germination percentage.