IngentaConnect The Relationship Between Achene Weight, Embryo Weight and Germina...

Authors: TWENEY J.; MOGIE M.

Source: Annals of Botany, Volume 83, Number 1, January 1999 , pp. 45-50(6)

Abstract:

Apomicts provide the opportunity to investigate the variation in achene size and performance that is due to factors other than genetic differences between achenes. Achene characteristics of a single capitulum from each of 15 biotypes of apomictic Taraxacum were investigated. Within a capitulum, achene fresh weight ranged from 4.45-fold to 13.74-fold. Overall, 59.8% of achenes germinated. The probability of any one achene germinating was influenced both by its source and by its weight and ranged from 0.049 to 0.902 between capitula and from 0.028 to 0.873 between weight classes. An investigation of the relationship between achene parts in three biotypes identified a linear trend for embryos to acquire a greater proportion of total achene weight as achene weight increases. Although the heaviest achenes showed the best germination, it is predicted that, for a given investment of maternal resources, seedling number would be maximized by producing achenes of a single intermediate weight. Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: Centre for Mathematical Biology, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom:

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The Relationship Between Achene Weight, Embryo Weight and Germination in Taraxacum Apomicts