The influence of plant growth regulator concentrations and callus age on somaclonal variation in callus culture regenerants of strawberry

The effect of plant growth regulator concentrations and ageing of callus on the extent and nature of variation among callus culture regenerants of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Redcoat was examined. Plants regenerated from callus culture had reduced plant vigour, shorter petiole length and smaller leaf size, but more leaves and runners under greenhouse conditions. These responses appeared to be due to a physiological influence of plant growth regulators. No distinct phenotypic variants were observed at plant growth regulator concentrations in the range of 1–10 M each of BA and 2,4-d combination, but the highest concentration (20 M each) of this combination produced a high frequency (10%) of dwarf type variants. The dwarf nature of these variants was maintained in the runner plants produced by the primary regenerants. The plants regenerated from 8-week-old calli did not show any distinct morphological variants. However, a significant proportion of deformed leaf shape (6–13%) and yellow leaf (21–29%) variants was obtained among plants regenerated from 16 and 24-week-old calli. The primary regenerants of the leaf shape variants were established as chimeras. The chimeric plants produced runner progeny with normal plants and plants with completely distorted leaf morphology. Both leaf shape and yellow leaf variants remained stable through runner propagation. Isozyme analysis failed to distinguish any of the variants from the standard runner plants. Flow cytometric analysis indicated the aneuploid nature of leaf shape variants but it could not distinguish dwarf and yellow leaf variants from standard runner plants.     

Zeatin-induced one-step in vitro cloning affects the vegetative growth of cranberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium macrocarpon</Emphasis> Ait.) micropropagules over stem cuttings

Shoot proliferation and rooting of three cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) cultivars Bergman, Pilgrim, and Stevens were obtained in vitro on a modified nutrient medium containing zeatin following a one-step procedure. Bergman and Stevens differed in terms of shoot height, leaf number per shoot, rooting frequency, root number per explant, and root length; this was manifested with various concentrations of zeatin. Shoots proliferated and roots developed best when nodal segments were cultured in the medium supplemented with very low concentration of zeatin (2–4 μM). Such zeatin-induced tissue culture (TC) shoots of Bergman, Pilgrim, and Stevens were rooted ex vitro and compared with those propagated by conventional softwood cuttings (SC) for growth and morphology over four growth seasons. Significant interactions for leaf number per upright were observed among the treatments. The cultivars differed in terms of runner number per plant, upright length, number of leaves per upright, and shoot vigor. The propagation method had an effect on morphology of cranberry plants. The TC plants produced more runners and uprights with more leaves per upright than the conventional cuttings. This increase in vegetative growth of in vitro-derived plants over stem cuttings varied among genotypes. In vitro culture on zeatin-containing nutrient medium apparently induces the juvenile branching characteristics that favored enhanced vegetative growth with more shoots and leaf production.     

Inoculation of commercially grown strawberry with VA mycorrhizal fungi

The effect of inoculation with VA mycorrhizal fungi on the productivity of commercially grown strawberry, cv. Senga Sengana, was studied in a field experiment in southern Finland. Micropropagated certified strawberry plants were inoculated at planting with different strains of Glomus spp. Although none of the inoculants raised the level of root infection above the natural infection level, all inoculated plants produced more runners in the first year than the control plants. Glomus intraradix Schenck & Smith (GI), G. etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann (GE) and Glomus sp. E3 (GF) significantly increased the number of runners by 57%, 69% and 76%, respectively. However, there was no significant increase in runner production in the second year, nor in fruit production in the third year. Of the strains tested, E3 was the most effective, increasing runner production by 30% over the first two years. Plants inoculated with G. mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe (GM) produced fewer but larger runners than the control plants, and had a higher capacity for runner production relative to the plant size.The possibility of establishing mycorrhizal infection in micropropagated strawberries directly after the in-vitro phase under standard nursery conditions was studied in two glasshouse experiments. Three (GE, GF and GM) of five Glomus spp. caused mycorrhizal infection in plants of all four strawberry cultivars studied. In practical strawberry farming greater benefit of the mycorrhizal symbiosis may be achieved by using pretransplant-inoculated plants and adjusting the fertilizer regimes.     

The influence of plant growth habit on calcium nutrition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) pods

In field experiments in India and Niger runner and bunch groundnut cultivars were compared for their pod distribution pattern and its relevance to the calcium (Ca) supply for pod development. Bunch cultivars produced sixty to eighty percent of their pods within 5 cm of the tap root. Runner cultivars explored a radius of up to 30 cm for pod production and exploited the soil area in a more homogeneous manner than bunch types. The available soil volume per pod was 19 to 27 cm³ for bunch types and 43 to 46 cm³ for runner types, varying the potential for Ca competition between pods. Computation of the soil Ca content needed to satisfy pod Ca requirements showed that much higher concentrations were needed for the bunch cultivars than for the runners. No significant differences in Ca content of pods existed between bunch and runner cultivars. However, in the runner cultivars, the Ca content of the more widely dispersed pods in outer zones was greater than that of the more densely populated inner pod zones. Regression analysis of shelling percentage across a range of environments showed that the shelling percentage of runners declined less rapidly than did the shelling percent of bunch types, indicating that runners were more efficient in exploiting Ca at lower soil Ca availability than the bunch types.Approved as ICRISAT Journal Article No. 1372.     

EFFECTS OF POLLEN DONOR IDENTITY ON OFFSPRING QUALITY IN WILD RADISH,RAPHANUS SATIVUS

If pollen donor performance during mating correlates with differences in offspring growth and fitness, processes that sort among potential mates may directly improve offspring fitness. Here seeds sired by three pollen donors on ten maternal plants were grown for eight weeks in the greenhouse. The performance of the pollen donors during pollination and fertilization was known from a previous experiment. There were significant effects of paternity on two measures of early growth: leaf number and plant height. Paternal effects on three measures more closely related to fitness; final plant weight, day of first flower production, and total flower number were also significant. Under the conditions of this experiment, final plant weight was probably the best predictor of fitness. The pollen donor that sired the largest seeds in the previous experiment sired offspring that were largest after 8 weeks of growth. Half of the plants were grown under low-water conditions. Paternal effects on growth were not masked by the environmental effects. In fact, some paternal effects became stronger under stress. This suggests that paternal effects could also be important in the field. Plants sired by donor A bolted very early when water was limited and would probably have an advantage in a season that was very short due to an early and severe drought. During fertilization and seed filling, seeds sired by this donor were more frequent on water-stressed maternal plants than on control maternal plants (Marshall, 1988). The data from this experiment indicate a connection between pollen donor performance during mating and offspring growth. These results suggest that the processes that sort among potential fathers during pollination, fertilization, and seed filling, may improve offspring quality.     

Dose-responses of Bacillus cereus RS87 for growth enhancement in various Thai rice cultivars

To achieve the goal of reducing the levels of chemical fertilizers applied in rice production, there is a need to develop microorganisms with the capacity to enhance plant growth. Previous studies have demonstrated that Bacillus cereus RS87 promotes growth of various plants in greenhouse and field trials. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the efficacy and determine the optimum concentration of B. cereus RS87 to enhance growth of various Thai rice cultivars, (ii) measure the chlorophyll content in leaves affected by strain RS87, and (iii) investigate the capacity of strain RS87 to solubilize phosphate and produce siderophores. Three concentrations of strain RS87 (log 6.0, log 7.0, and log 8.0 CFU/mL) were applied to each rice cultivar. Superior responses (i.e., enhanced development of roots and shoots of all rice cultivars) were observed using RS87 at log 8.0 CFU/mL compared with lower bacterial concentrations and the water-treated control treatment. In addition, log 8.0 CFU/mL of RS87 provided the greatest root length and plant height of all rice cultivars 45 days after planting in the greenhouse. Rice leaves treated with log 8.0 CFU/mL of RS87 yielded the highest total chlorophyll, specifically chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, compared with the control. Strain RS87 also solubilized phosphate and produced siderophores. The results of these studies demonstrate that log 8.0 CFU/mL is the optimum concentration of strain RS87 for growth promotion of various Thai rice cultivars.     

Effects of mycorrhizal infection and soil phosphorus availability on in vitro and in vivo pollen performance in Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae)

The effects of mycorrhizal infection and soil P availability on in vitro and in vivo pollen performance were studied in two cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). In the first study, plants were grown in a greenhouse under three treatment combinations: nonmycorrhizal, low P (NMPO); nonmycorrhizal, high P (NMP3); and mycorrhizal, low P (MPO). Mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions significantly increased in vitro pollen tube growth rates but not percentage of germination. In addition, pollen from NMP3 and MPO plants sired significantly more seeds than pollen from NMPO plants in pollen mixture studies. In the second study, plants were grown initially in a greenhouse under two treatment combinations: NMPO and MPO. After all plants began to flower, they were placed in experimental arrays in the field. Under open pollination, pollen from MPO plants sired significantly more seeds than pollen from NMPO plants. This result was primarily attributed to increased flower production (and thus pollen production) in MPO plants. Thus, mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions can increase pollen quality (in vitro and in vivo pollen performance) as well as pollen quantity, thereby enhancing fitness through the male function. Anthocyanin production (used to determine paternity) also affected pollen performance.     

Comparative analysis of DNA nuclear content by flow cytometry on strawberry plants propagated via runners and regenerated from meristem and callus cultures

ABSTRACT

DNA variation may occur in plant species grown either in vivo or in vitro. In this study flow cytometric analyses were undertaken on Fragaria x ananassa Duch. runner plants, and on plants regenerated from callus cultures of leaf explants and from meristem cultures. Our aims were to investigate DNA variation in runner plants of different cultivars, and to compare DNA content in plants of the same cultivar obtained by different propagation procedures (i.e. from meristems or callus cultures). Plants growing in vitro and in the greenhouse were also compared. A good regeneration ability was observed in all the cultivars, with different percentages of shoot formation. No significant differences were detected in multiplication rate and rooting percentage within cultivars. This work documents the occurrence of DNA variations in strawberry plants in vivo and in vitro. Flow cytometric measurements of DNA content showed the presence of 4C nuclei, besides 2C nuclei, in runner plants of cultivar Pajaro. DNA content variations (2C/4C nuclei) were observed in plants regenerated from callus cultures. These variations were lost after transfer of the plants to the greenhouse, except for cultivar Don. The extent of such DNA variations was influenced by genotype. Our study confirms earlier reports indicating that DNA variation induced by in vitro culture could be lost or retained after transfer of the plants to the greenhouse.     

Effects of mycorrhizal infection, soil phosphorus availability and fruit production on the male function in two cultivars of Lycopersicon esculentum

The effects of mycorrhizal infection, soil P availability and fruit production on the male function of reproduction were examined in two cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse under three treatment combinations: non‐mycorrhizal, low P (NMPO); non‐mycorrhizal, high P (NMP3); and mycorrhizal, low P (MPO). In addition, all treatment combinations were grown both with and without fruit. Fruit production decreased final leaf biomass, flower production and in vitro pollen tube growth rates, often reducing the beneficial effects of increased P uptake. Thus, fruit production diverted resources from subsequent vegetative growth, flower production and pollen development. As the growing season progressed, mean pollen production per flower and in vitro germination and tube growth decreased. Mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions increased final leaf biomass, flower production, mean pollen production per flower (in one cultivar) and in vitro pollen tube growth rates. Thus, mycorrhizal infection and high soil P conditions increased pollen quantity and quality, thereby enhancing fitness through the male function. Similar trends in these treatments suggested that mycorrhizal effects on the male function were largely the result of improved P acquisition.     

Characteristics of strawberry plants propagated by in vitro bioreactor culture and ex vitro propagation method

Reproducible protocol for regeneration of complete plantlets from ‘Bounty’ strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.), using a combination of gelled medium and bioreactor system, has been standardized. Sepals, leaf discs, and petiole halves produced multiple buds and shoots when cultured on semi solid‐gelled medium containing 4 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) for 4 wk followed by transferring in liquid medium containing 2 μM TDZ in a bioreactor system and cultured for another 4 wk. TDZ induced shoot proliferation at 0.1 μM in the bioreactor system but inhibited shoot elongation. TDZ‐induced shoots were elongated and rooted in vitro on gelled medium containing 2 μM zeatin. Such bioreactor‐derived tissue culture (BC) plantlets obtained from sepal explants were grown ex vitro and compared with those propagated by tissue culture on gelled medium (GC) and by conventional runner cuttings (RC), for growth, morphology, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity after three growth seasons. The BC and GC plants produced more crowns, runners, leaves, and berries than the RC plants although berry weight per plant did not differ significantly. BC and GC plants produced berries with more anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities than those produced by the RC plants. However, intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker assay produced a homogenous amplification profile in the tissue culture and donor control plants confirming the clonal fidelity of micropropagated plants. In vitro culture on TDZ and zeatin‐containing nutrient media apparently induced the juvenile branching characteristics that favored enhanced vegetative growth with more crown, runners, leaf, and berry production.     

影响活体内马铃薯晚疫病菌卵孢子产生因素的研究*

研究了不同菌株组合,马铃薯植株茎、叶及接种物中A1和A2菌株孢子囊比例、温度、湿度对卵孢子产生的影响。不同菌株组合产生卵孢子的数量有显著差异;在离体接种情况下,叶片中产生卵孢子数量大于茎中产生卵孢子数量;A1和A2菌株中孢子囊不同比例对卵孢子产生影响很大,当比值为1∶1时卵孢子产生量最大;15℃光照条件下培养,并给侵染叶片持续的水分供应才能产生大量卵孢子;寄主的抗性水平对卵孢子产生有明显的影响,中抗品种上产生卵孢子量最多,高抗品种上产生卵孢子量最少,感病品种上产生卵孢子量居中。     

The Control of Flowering in the Strawberry Fragaria ananassa Duch: II. The Role of Gibberellins

Activity of gibberellin-like substances was lacking in leavesof strawberry plants at time of flower initiation, but peduncleelongation was accompanied by significant activity of two substancesprobably related to GA₃ and GA₇. Exogenous gibberellin (GAS),applied to strawberry plants at the flower-differentiation stage,strongly promoted peduncle elongation, while similar applicationof the growth-retardant (2 chloro-ethyl) trimethylammonium chloride(CCC), an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis, inhibited peduncleelongation. These treatments also affected subsequent runnering,GA increasing the number of runners, as well as their mean individuallength, while CCC caused the opposite effect. Application of gibberellin immediately after flower-bud initiation,but before peduncle emergence, affected the distribution offruit yield. GA-treated plants produced more than untreatedones in the first half of the fruiting season, but the situationwas reversed in the second half of the season—so thattotal yields were unaffected. It was suggested that the exogenousgibberellin hastened yield by anticipating the endogenous gibberellinwhich is normally formed at a somewhat later stage in the plant'sdevelopment. The parallel responses with regard to elongationof vegetative runners and flower peduncles together with thedata of the other experiments seem to indicate that peduncleelongation is a typical vegetative growth response enhancedby gibberellin and checked by substances which inhibit biosynthesisof endogenous gibberellin.     

The role of abscisic acid and plant growth regulators in tissue culture-induced rejuvenation of strawberry ex vitro

Plant growth regulators applied in vitro affected strawberry plant performance ex vitro for a period of up to 4 months. Benzyl-adenine and gibberellin enhanced juvenile characteristics; in general, more runners and monofoliolate leaves were produced, net photosynthesis was reduced, leaf diffusive resistance was increased and, on occasion, flowering was delayed. In contrast, abscisic acid and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor, paclobutrazol, resulted in a more adult phenotype; specifically, flowering was earlier, net photosynthesis and leaf diffusive resistance rates were equal to those of adult plants, and fewer leaves were monofoliolate. Tissue culture-produced plants reacquire the adult phenotype earlier than seedlings mature. Abscisic acid application to seedlings also resulted in earlier and increased flowering.Endogenous abscisic acid concentrations were greater in adult plants and less in tissue culture and seedling plants at 3 and 7 weeks ex vitro, after germination or after adult runner propagation. No flowering occurred at 3 weeks in any propagation type and only runner-produced plants flowered at 7 weeks. At 15 weeks, no statistical difference in abscisic acid concentrations existed among propagation treatments and all propagation types flowered. The endogenous concentrations of abscisic acid in plants propagated by all three methods were much higher at three weeks compared to concentrations at 7 or 15 weeks.Abbreviations ABA +cis, trans-abscisic acid - BA benzyl-adenine - GC-SIM-MS combined gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry - GA gibberellin A₃ - RS leaf diffusive resistance in sec cm^-1 - MS Murashige & Skoog medium devoid of plant growth regulators - Pn net photosynthesis in mol CO₂ fixed m^-2 sec^-1 - paclo paclobutrazol as 50WP - TC-plants plants produced from tissue culture - Tween20 polyoxyethylene-sorbitan monolaurate - RP runner plants - SDLG selfed seedlings     

COSTS OF INDUCED RESPONSES AND TOLERANCE TO HERBIVORY IN MALE AND FEMALE FITNESS COMPONENTS OF WILD RADISH

Theory predicts that plant defensive traits are costly due to trade-offs between allocation to defense and growth and reproduction. Most previous studies of costs of plant defense focused on female fitness costs of constitutively expressed defenses. Consideration of alternative plant strategies, such as induced defenses and tolerance to herbivory, and multiple types of costs, including allocation to male reproductive function, may increase our ability to detect costs of plant defense against herbivores. In this study we measured male and female reproductive costs associated with induced responses and tolerance to herbivory in annual wild radish plants (Raphanus raphanistrum). We induced resistance in the plants by subjecting them to herbivory by Pieris rapae caterpillars. We also induced resistance in plants without leaf tissue removal using a natural chemical elicitor, jasmonic acid; in addition, we removed leaf tissue without inducing plant responses using manual clipping. Induced responses included increased concentrations of indole glucosinolates, which are putative defense compounds. Induced responses, in the absence of leaf tissue removal, reduced plant fitness when five fitness components were considered together; costs of induction were individually detected for time to first flower and number of pollen grains produced per flower. In this system, induced responses appear to impose a cost, although this cost may not have been detected had we only quantified the traditionally measured fitness components, growth and seed production. In the absence of induced responses, 50% leaf tissue removal, reduced plant fitness in three out of the five fitness components measured. Induced responses to herbivory and leaf tissue removal had additive effects on plant fitness. Although plant sibships varied greatly (49–136%) in their level of tolerance to herbivory, costs of tolerance were not detected, as we did not find a negative association between the ability to compensate for damage and plant fitness in the absence of damage. We suggest that consideration of alternative plant defense strategies and multiple costs will result in a broader understanding of the evolutionary ecology of plant defense.     

RESPONSES OF POPULATIONS OF SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS (COMPOSITAE) TO SALT SPRAY ACROSS A BARRIER BEACH

The responses of four populations of Solidago sempervirens to salt spray at Island Beach State Park, a barrier beach in Ocean County, New Jersey, were examined under both field and greenhouse conditions. At increasing distances from the ocean, these populations were Primary Dune (PD), Dune Hollow (DH), Intermediate (INT), and Bayshore (BAY). Salt deposition on cheesecloth traps was found to drop significantly from PD to BAY. Population responses to the salt spray gradient were monitored by examining leaf stomatal and trichome densities, leaf thickness, and the salt spray tolerance of genotypes established in the greenhouse. No significant differences in either stomatal or trichome density were found among populations in the field. Leaf thickness of field plants at the PD site was significantly greater than the DH, INT, or BAY plants: however, unsprayed plants of these populations in the greenhouse did not vary significantly in leaf thickness, and for sprayed plants, leaf thickness varied only in relation to intensity of salt application. Thus, the differences in leaf thickness of field populations were not genetically based. Both nonexpanded and fully expanded leaves of BAY plants consistently showed the greatest percentage leaf damage following both low- and high-intensity artificial salt spray, indicating possible selection for population differences in salt spray tolerance.     

EFFECT OF NONRANDOM LEAF ORIENTATION ON REPRODUCTION IN LACTUCA SERRIOLA L.

The cauline leaves of an annual, Lactuca serriola L., are naturally oriented vertically with the lamina perpendicular to the east and west. Previous physiological data indicated that this nonrandom leaf orientation should reduce water loss without substantially reducing photosynthesis and could thus influence plant growth and reproduction (Werk and Ehleringer, 1984, 1985). The effect of leaf orientation on flower and seed production was tested experimentally using potted L. serriola grown outdoors. Leaves of half the plants were forced to remain approximately horizontal while the other plants were allowed to orient naturally. The plants with horizontal leaves lost water more rapidly than the plants with naturally oriented leaves. Above-ground weight, below-ground weight, seed weight, and the number of seeds per flower were not significantly affected by leaf orientation. Flower production was a linear function of plant size for both treatments with plants with natural leaf orientation having a significantly greater slope. These results indicate that the nonrandom leaf orientation observed in L. serriola is a morphological character which can enhance reproduction.     

Significance of secondary infections with lily symptomless carlavirus to cut-flower production of Lilium

The commercial significance of secondary infections of lily symptomless carlavirus (LSV) to commercial Lilium cut-flower producers was assessed by comparing growth of plants and quality of blooms produced from bulbs of eight Asiatic and two Oriental hybrid cultivars both infected and free from infection with LSV. In comparison to LSV-free plants, LSV-infected plants grown under Tasmanian commercial cut-flower production conditions had decreased stem length (mean of 8.5% and 10.4% decrease across cultivars in each of two experiments; P= 0.007 and < 0.001) and fresh weight (18.8% and 23.4%; P= 0.008 and 0.004). Bud size was significantly decreased in one experiment (12.3%; P= 0.001), while bud number and vase life were not affected (P= 0.05). LSV-infected plants grown in a temperature controlled glasshouse had decreased stem length (15.8%; P < 0.001) and petal length (8.7%; P= 0.001) but petal width and bud number were no different to LSV-free plants (P= 0.05). The characters considered to be of greatest economic importance to cut flower producers (viz the number of inflorescences per stem, flower quality and vase life) were not or were only mildly affected by LSV-infection in any cultivar and unlikely to be of major commercial concern.     

氮素对日光温室独本菊品种‘神马’干物质分配影响的模拟

 为定量研究氮素对日光温室独本菊(Dendranthema morifolium)干物质分配的影响, 该研究以独本菊品种‘神马’为试验材料, 于2005年10月～2006年7月在北京日光温室内进行了不同定植期和不同氮素水平的栽培试验, 以生理辐热积为发育尺度, 定量分析了氮素对独本菊品种‘神马’干物质分配指数动态的影响, 建立了氮素对日光温室独本菊品种‘神马’干物质分配影响的模拟模型, 并用与建立模型相独立的数据对模型进行了检验。结果表明, 独本菊品种‘神马’叶片累积氮含量最大值出现在现蕾期, 现蕾期叶片累积氮含量适宜值为1.62 g&#8226;m^–2。模型对日光温室独本菊品种‘神马’各器官干重预测结果较好, 茎、叶和花干重的预测值与实测值之间基于1:1线的决定系数分别为0.94、0.97和0.94, 相对预测误差分别为10.3%、5.76%和4.02%。该研究建立的模型可以根据温室内的气温、太阳辐射、日长和现蕾期叶片累积氮含量预测日光温室独本菊品种‘神马’各个器官干重随生育时期的动态变化, 从而为日光温室独本菊品种‘神马’生产中氮素的优化管理提供决策支持。     

Inhibition of flowering of cucumber grafted on rooted squash stock

For the elucidation of the mechanisms of floral transition in indifferent plants, cucumber seedlings ( Cucumis sativus cv. Rennsei or cv. Shimoshirazu-jibai) were grafted onto squash seedlings ( Cucurbita maxima Duchesne X C. moschata Duchesne cv. Shintosa-ichigou) of which the meristems had been removed, and the effect on flower induction on the cucumber scion was examined. In both cultivars, the grafted cucumber bore no flowers, whereas control plants developed flowers above the second to fourth nodes. The inhibition of flower formation on the grafted cucumber scion occurred even when the root of cucumber was left with the squash root on the grafted plant, and flower formation occurred after removal of the squash stock. The inhibitory effect of the squash stock in the presence of the cucumber root was abolished by removal of the squash root. Neither the dry weight of stem plus leaf nor the chlorophyll content of the leaf, as indicators of vegetative growth, were correlated with flower formation on cucumber plants that had been grafted in the presence of cucumber roots on whole, cotyledon-free or root-free squash stock. These results indicate that flower formation in cucumber was inhibited by a factor produced by squash roots, an inhibition probably not involved in the modulation of vegetative growth. The root may control floral transition by the production of inhibitory factors in some day-neutral Cucurbitaceae plants.     

Flower production in relation to individual plant age and leaf production among different patches of Corydalis intermedia

The life history of an organism can be viewed as the combination of allocations made to maintenance, growth, and reproduction. Allocation to these functions are constrained by trade-offs as increased investment to one function may happen at the expense of another. Moreover, because fecundity and survival probabilities are affected by both the state of an individual and by its surrounding environment, optimal allocation to reproduction and growth may vary with both individual size/age and with the habitat in which it lives. In this study we aim to describe how flower production varies with individual plant age and leaf production among different patches of the perennial herb Corydalis intermedia. We take advantage of the construction of the underground storage organ to estimate the age of individual plants which allows us tacitly to relate flower and leaf production to individual age and successional status of the patch. We sampled all individuals present in nine patches from the same forest and estimated their age, flower production and total leaf area. The age distributions showed that each patch was most often dominated by a few and consecutive age classes. In patches where individuals had the oldest mean age, very few or no juvenile age classes were found suggesting that recruitment had ceased. Based on the age distribution of the patches we propose that the dynamics may best be described as metapopulational with colonization of newly formed open forest gaps and a successionally determined extinction as the patch gradually becomes too shaded for recruitment. Both mean flower production, leaf area and age varied significantly among patches. Flower production increased with both increasing age and leaf area. We found no indication of a trade off between reproduction and vegetative growth since flower production showed a positive relation with leaf production even after removing the effect of age. Number of flowers produced by plants of the same age but growing in different patches did not vary indicating that the difference among patches mainly was due to a difference in age distribution. No individuals produced flowers before they reached an estimated age of three years. Production of flowers followed a power function with increasing age. Our data suggests that C. intermedia plants change their allocation strategy with age investing a relatively large amount of energy in flower production immediately after the immature growth phase when recruitment in their patch may be high. Production of flowers then reaches a plateau around the age of 11 years after which number of flowers produced stays constant. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.