scholarly journals Crops and the seed mass-seed output trade-off in plants

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Martin

AbstractA trade-off between seed mass (SM) and seed output (SO) defines a central axis of ecological variation among plants, with implications for understanding both plant trait evolution and plant responses to environmental change. While an observed negative SM-SO relationship is hypothesized to reflect universal constraints on resource allocation in all plants, domestication has likely fundamentally altered this relationship. Using a dataset of SM and SO for 41 of the world most widespread crops and 1,190 wild plant species, coupled with observational data on these traits in soy (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays), I show that domestication has systematically rewired SM-SO relationships in crops. Compared to wild plants, virtually all crops express a higher SM for a given SO; this domestication signature is especially prominent in seed crops, and also influences the phylogenetic signal in SM and SO. In maize these traits have become positively related likely due to simultaneous selection for greater SM and SO, while in soy these traits have become decoupled likely due to primary selection for SM only. Evolved relationships between SM and SO in plants have been disrupted by both conscious and unconscious artificial selection, which represents a key aspect of how the functional biology of crops differ fundamentally from wild plants along “universal” plant trait spectra.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Schroeder ◽  
Heather Grab ◽  
André Kessler ◽  
Katja Poveda

In the Anthropocene, more than three quarters of ice-free land has experienced some form of human-driven habitat modification, with agriculture dominating 40% of the Earth’s surface. This land use change alters the quality, availability, and configuration of habitat resources, affecting the community composition of plants and insects, as well as their interactions with each other. Landscapes dominated by agriculture are known to support a lower abundance and diversity of pollinators and frequently larger populations of key herbivore pests. In turn, insect communities subsidized by agriculture may spill into remaining natural habitats with consequences for wild plants persisting in (semi) natural habitats. Adaptive responses by wild plants may allow them to persist in highly modified landscapes; yet how landscape-mediated variation in insect communities affects wild plant traits related to reproduction and defense remains largely unknown. We synthesize the evidence for plant trait changes across land use gradients and propose potential mechanisms by which landscape-mediated changes in insect communities may be driving these trait changes. Further, we present results from a common garden experiment on three wild Brassica species demonstrating variation in both defensive and reproductive traits along an agricultural land use gradient. Our framework illustrates the potential for plant adaptation under land use change and predicts how defense and reproduction trait expression may shift in low diversity landscapes. We highlight areas of future research into plant population and community effects of land use change.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3229
Author(s):  
Mat Yunus Najhah ◽  
Hawa Z. E. Jaafar ◽  
Jaafar Juju Nakasha ◽  
Mansor Hakiman

This study aims to investigate whether the in vitro-cultured L. pumila var. alata has higher antioxidant activity than its wild plant. An 8-week-old L. pumila var. alata nodal segment and leaf explants were cultured onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various cytokinins (zeatin, kinetin, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP)) for shoot multiplication and auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and picloram) for callus induction, respectively. The results showed that 2 mg/L zeatin produced the optimal results for shoot and leaf development, and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D produced the highest callus induction results (60%). After this, 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D was combined with 0.25 mg/L cytokinins and supplemented to the MS medium. The optimal results for callus induction (100%) with yellowish to greenish and compact texture were obtained using 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D combined with 0.25 mg/L zeatin. Leaves obtained from in vitro plantlets and wild plants as well as callus were extracted and analyzed for their antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP methods) and polyphenolic properties (total flavonoid and total phenolic content). When compared with leaf extracts of in vitro plantlets and wild plants of L. pumila var. alata, the callus extract displayed significantly higher antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid content. Hence, callus culture potentially can be adapted for antioxidant and polyphenolic production to satisfy pharmaceutical and nutraceutical needs while conserving wild L. pumila var. alata.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 2362-2377
Author(s):  
Zhanghua Cao ◽  
Xiaodong Ji ◽  
Jue Wang ◽  
Shibing Zhang ◽  
Yancheng Ji ◽  
...  

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Daniel Lizzi ◽  
Alessandro Mattiello ◽  
Alessio Adamiano ◽  
Guido Fellet ◽  
Emanuele Gava ◽  
...  

Most current studies on the relationships between plans and engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are focused on food crops, while the effects on spontaneous plants have been neglected so far. However, from an ecological perspective, the ENMs impacts on the wild plants could have dire consequences on food webs and ecosystem services. Therefore, they should not be considered less critical. A pot trial was carried out in greenhouse conditions to evaluate the growth of Holcus lanatus L. (monocot) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. DC. (dicot) exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2). Plants were grown for their entire cycle in a substrate amended with 200 mg kg−1nCeO2 having the size of 25 nm and 50 nm, respectively. nCeO2 were taken up by plant roots and then translocated towards leaf tissues of both species. However, the mean size of nCeO2 found in the roots of the species was different. In D. tenuifolia, there was evidence of more significant particle aggregation compared to H. lanatus. Further, biomass variables (dry weight of plant fractions and leaf area) showed that plant species responded differently to the treatments. In the experimental conditions, there were recorded stimulating effects on plant growth. However, nutritional imbalances for macro and micronutrients were observed, as well.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1298-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. McGinley

Individual seed mass of two seed morphs of Tragopogon dubious (L.) varied among plants and within and among flowering heads within individual plants growing near Salt Lake City, UT. Seeds of the light morph from the center of a receptacle were smaller than outer seeds, suggesting that variation in seed mass within heads was due to position effects. The total seed mass per head, seed number per head, and mean seed mass per head of both morphs declined in most plants over the season. Heads with larger total seed mass contained larger seeds both within and between plants so seasonal patterns in seed mass may be influenced by seasonal variation in the amount of resources available for investment in seeds. Seeds of the light colored morph had a greater dispersal potential than seeds from the dark colored morph because their disk loading was lower. Pappus size (both pappus radius and stalk length) increased with the number of seeds per head which may increase the efficiency of packaging fruits on the receptacle. Heads with a larger total seed mass allocated a smaller proportion of their resources to the dark seed morph which may serve to decrease the level of sibling competition experienced by the less dispersing seed morph. Thus, variation in investment in offspring may arise as a combination of developmental constraints and selection for variable investment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Padma Raj Gajurel ◽  
Tajum Doni

Wild edible plants are found very useful in the fulfilment of food and nutritional requirements. Because of the availibity and cultural preference, the consumption of these plants among the tribes is high. To find out the diversity, utilisation pattern and sociocultural importance of the wild plants, a study was conducted in the state of Arunachal Pradesh selecting the Galo tribe, and accordingly the wild edible plants consumed are documented here. Data were collected through extensive field surveys and interviews with the community in the selected 12 villages in Upper Subansiri and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Overall, 125 wild edible plant species under 99 genera and 54 families are reported. These species are consumed mostly as leafy vegetables, fruits, medicine, spices and condiments and as a substitute to food grains. The Urticaceae with ten species is the most utilised family followed by Asteraceae, Moraceae and Lamiaceae with at least five species in each. Herbs with 47 species were found to be the most dominant growth form followed by trees with 44 species. Based on parts used leaves with 66 species were recorded to be the most used plant parts followed by fruits. The highest edibility index of 50 % was reported in Solanum americanum. The analysis of relative frequency of citation revealed that total 78 species exhibits more than 0.50 relative frequency of citation value with highest value in Pouzolzia hirta (0.95). It has been found that the wild plant resources play a vital role in the socio-economic aspects of the Galo tribe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
Khoiratul Hasanah ◽  
Ari Hayati ◽  
Hasan Zayadi

Wild plants are plants whose presence on agricultural land can reduce crop yields. Losses due to wild plants to cultivated plants vary depending on the type of plant cultivated, climate, species of wild plants and technical cultivation applied. This study aims to determine the diversity of wild plants in the land of maize (Zea mays L.) in Bung-bungan Village Bluto District Sumenep Regency. This method uses a descriptive exploratory method, for each wild plant found in ± 3600 m2 of corn land. Sampling of wild plants using a 4x4 m plot method. The measured data includes the number of species and the number of individuals calculating important values ​​and diversity indices. The results of the study showed that the Shannon-Wienner Diversity Index analysis of the highest value in maize plants in plantations was found in land II, which was 2.678 indicating moderate diversity, categorized as moderate because there were not too many wild plants on maize.  Keywords: Corn, diversity, wild plants,  ABSTRAK Tumbuhan liar merupakan tumbuhan yang kehadirannya pada lahan pertanian dapat menurunkan hasil tanaman. Kerugian akibat tumbuhan  liar terhadap tanaman budidaya beragam bergantung dari jenis tanaman yang diusahakan, iklim, jenis tumbuhan  liar dan teknis budidaya yang diterapkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui diversitas tumbuhan liar di lahan jagung (Zea mays L.) di Desa Bung-bungan Kecamatan Bluto Kabupaten Sumenep. Metode ini menggunakan metode deskriptif eksploratif, terhadap setiap tumbuhan liar yang ditemukan pada lahan jagung seluas ±3600 m2. Pengambilan sampel tumbuhan liar menggunakan metode plot berukuran 4x4 m. Data yang diukur meliputi jumlah spesies dan jumlah individu menghitung nilai penting dan indeks diversitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan analisis Indeks Keanekaragaman Shannon-Wienner tumbuhan liar nilai tertinggi pada tanaman jagung di lkebun terdapat pada lahan II yaitu 2,678 menunjukkan keanekaragaman sedang, di kategorikan sedang karena jenis tanaman liar yang ada pada lahan jagung tidak terlalu banyak. Kata kunci: Jagung, Diversitas, Tanaman liar


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1966-1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christelle Lacroix ◽  
Kurra Renner ◽  
Ellen Cole ◽  
Eric W. Seabloom ◽  
Elizabeth T. Borer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEcological understanding of disease risk, emergence, and dynamics and of the efficacy of control strategies relies heavily on efficient tools for microorganism identification and characterization. Misdetection, such as the misclassification of infected hosts as healthy, can strongly bias estimates of disease prevalence and lead to inaccurate conclusions. In natural plant ecosystems, interest in assessing microbial dynamics is increasing exponentially, but guidelines for detection of microorganisms in wild plants remain limited, particularly so for plant viruses. To address this gap, we explored issues and solutions associated with virus detection by serological and molecular methods in noncrop plant species as applied to the globally importantBarley yellow dwarf virusPAV (Luteoviridae), which infects wild native plants as well as crops. With enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), we demonstrate how virus detection in a perennial wild plant species may be much greater in stems than in leaves, although leaves are most commonly sampled, and may also vary among tillers within an individual, thereby highlighting the importance of designing effective sampling strategies. With reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), we demonstrate how inhibitors in tissues of perennial wild hosts can suppress virus detection but can be overcome with methods and products that improve isolation and amplification of nucleic acids. These examples demonstrate the paramount importance of testing and validating survey designs and virus detection methods for noncrop plant communities to ensure accurate ecological surveys and reliable assumptions about virus dynamics in wild hosts.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bradley Duthie ◽  
Aline M. Lee ◽  
Jane M. Reid

AbstractInbreeding increases parent-offspring relatedness and commonly reduces offspring viability, shaping selection on reproductive interactions involving relatives and associated parental investment (PI). Nevertheless, theories predicting selection for inbreeding versus inbreeding avoidance and selection for optimal PI have only been considered separately, precluding prediction of optimal PI and associated reproductive strategy given inbreeding. We unify inbreeding and PI theory, demonstrating that optimal PI increases when a female's inbreeding decreases the viability of her offspring. Inbreeding females should therefore produce fewer offspring due to the fundamental trade-off between offspring number and PI. Accordingly, selection for inbreeding versus inbreeding avoidance changes when females can adjust PI with the degree that they inbreed. In contrast, optimal PI does not depend on whether a focal female is herself inbred. However, inbreeding causes optimal PI to increase given strict monogamy and associated biparental investment compared to female-only investment. Our model implies that understanding evolutionary dynamics of inbreeding strategy, inbreeding depression, and PI requires joint consideration of the expression of each in relation to the other. Overall, we demonstrate that existing PI and inbreeding theories represent special cases of a more general theory, implying that intrinsic links between inbreeding and PI affect evolution of behaviour and intra-familial conflict.


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