Size-dependent sex allocation in a monocarpic perennial herb, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cardiocrinum cordatum</Emphasis> (Liliaceae) |
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Authors: | Guo-Xing Cao Gaku Kudo |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, 625014, China;(2) Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan |
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Abstract: | The size-dependent sex allocation model predicts that the relative resource allocation to female function often increases
with plant size in animal-pollinated plants. If size effects on reproductive success vary depending on the environmental conditions,
however, the size dependency may differ among populations. We tried to detect site-specific variation in size-dependent sex
allocation of a monocarpic hermaphrodite with reference to light availability. Multiple flowers and fruits were sampled from
the individuals of Cardiocrinum cordatum, a monocarpic understory herb, and pollen, ovule and seed production were measured with reference to the plant size in two
populations. Furthermore, frequency and foraging behavior of pollinator visitation was observed. Ovule production per flower
increased with plant size in both populations, while pollen production per flower increased with size only in the population
under sparse canopy. Therefore, proportional allocation to male function decreased with plant size in the population under
closed canopy, but did not change in the population under sparse canopy. Pollinators usually visited only one flower per plant,
indicating the negligible geitonogamous pollination in this species. Although seed production under closed canopy was lower
than that under sparse canopy, seed-set rate per flower and seed mass per fruit were independent of plant size in either of
the populations. Size-dependent sex allocation in this species was site-specific, suggesting that not only resource storage
before reproduction (i.e., plant size) but also resource availability of environment throughout the reproductive process (i.e.,
light availability) affect reproductive performance in this species. |
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Keywords: | Gamete production Light availability Monocarpic hermaphrodite Plant size Pollination Seed production |
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