Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2007; 9(1): 109-115
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924524
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Differential Responses of Germination and Seedling Establishment in Populations of Tragopogon pratensis (Asteraceae)

L. D. Jorritsma-Wienk1 , E. Ameloot1 , 2 , J. P. M. Lenssen1 , H. de Kroon1
  • 1Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • 2Present address: Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Catholic University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 17, 2006

Accepted: July 26, 2006

Publication Date:
23 October 2006 (online)

Abstract

The establishment phase is an important bottleneck in the life cycle of plants. It consists of two steps that are rarely separated, i.e., the germination of seeds and the establishment of seedlings. Here we report the results of two experiments in which we independently investigated germination and seedling establishment in the greenhouse, under different grass vegetation treatments representing different regeneration niches. Seeds of Tragopogon pratensis from six populations and two habitat types were studied, three from roadside verges and three from hayfields. Germination percentages and germination speed were higher for seeds from roadside verges than for seeds from hayfields, but were little affected by treatment. In contrast, seedling growth was much lower in the tall grass vegetation, than in the short grass and especially the bare soil treatment. Seedling sizes were generally similar for different populations and habitat types. Our results thus show that the two early steps in the establishment phase of plants may respond very differently to the micro-environment, and may have a different selection history. Insight into the ecology and evolution of life histories may require that germination and establishment are considered separately.

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H. de Kroon

Department of Experimental Plant Ecology
Radboud University Nijmegen

Toernooiveld

6525 ED Nijmegen

The Netherlands

Email: h.dekroon@science.ru.nl

Editor: M. C. Ball