Ecological consequences and ontogeny of seed heteromorphism

https://doi.org/10.1078/1433-8319-00021Get rights and content

Abstract

Seed heteromorphism represents the production of different kinds of seeds by a single individual. The morphological differentiation affects either the fruit — heterocarpy — or the seed sensu stricto — heterospermy. In this study the phylogenetic distribution of seed heteromorphism among different families and habitats is investigated for 218 plant species based on existing literature. The ecological consequences of seed heteromorphism are explored as well. Seed heteromorphism is most common in the Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae, suggesting that these families have morphological characteristics favouring the appearance of seed heteromorphism and ecological features that maintain it. Using the distribution of seed heteromorphism within the genus Crepis, the relationship between seed heteromorphism and life cycle and habitats is examined. From this analysis it appears that heterocarpic species are often monocarpic. In contrast, the relationship between heterocarpy and habitats is not obvious. Finally, a synthesis is presented about the ontogeny of heteromorphism and some guidelines are proposed for future research on this topic.

References (220)

  • F.-A. Austenfeld

    Seed dimorphism in Salicornia europaea, nutrient reserves

    Physiologia Plantarum

    (1988)
  • E.B. Babcock

    The Genus Crepis

    (1947)
  • K. Bachmann

    Evolutionary genetics and the genetic control of morphogenesis in flowering plants

    Evolutionary Biology

    (1983)
  • K. Bachmann et al.

    Genes regulating the appearance of two kinds of fruits in Microseris strain B87 (Asteraceae, Compositae)

    Experientia

    (1981)
  • K. Bachmann et al.

    Heritable variation for heterocarpy in Microseris bigelovii (Asteraceae-Lactuceae)

    Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen

    (1990)
  • K. Bachmann et al.

    Variability of the inflorescence of Microseris laciniata (Compositae, Cichoriaceae)

    Plant Systematics and Evolution

    (1979)
  • K. Bachmann et al.

    Genetic components of heterocarpy in Microseris hybrid B87 (Asteraceae, Lactuceae)

    Plant Systematics and Evolution

    (1984)
  • G.A. Baker et al.

    Effects of parent plant density on the production of achene type in the annual Hypochoeris glabra

    Journal of Ecology

    (1982)
  • M.G. Barbour

    Germination and early growth of the strand plant Cakile maritima

    Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club

    (1970)
  • J.M. Baskin et al.

    Germination dimorphism in Heterotheca subaxillaris var subaxillaris

    Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club

    (1976)
  • C.C. Baskin et al.

    Seeds, Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination

    (1998)
  • M.A. Battandier

    Sur quelques cas d'hétéromophisme

    Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France

    (1883)
  • N.C.W. Beadle

    Studies on halophytes I. The germination of seeds and establishment of seedlings of 5 species of Atriplex in Australia

    Ecology

    (1952)
  • W. Becker

    Uber die Keimung verschiedenartiger Früchte und Samen bei derselben Species

    Beihefte Botanisches Centralblatt

    (1913)
  • Bendall GM (1973) Some aspects of the biology, ecology and control of slender thistles, Carduus tenuiflorus Curt. and...
  • A. Berger

    Seed dimorphism and germination behaviour in Salicornia patula

    Vegetatio

    (1985)
  • F. Bischof

    Common Weeds from Iran, Turkey, the Near East and North Africa

    (1978)
  • D.K. Bongard-Pierce et al.

    Heteroblastic features of leaf anatomy in maize and their genetic regulation

    International Journal of Plant Sciences

    (1996)
  • C. Boubes et al.

    Développement de l'inflorescence et des fleurs du Philodendron acutatum Schott (Araceae)

    Canadian Journal of Botany

    (1996)
  • D. Briggs et al.

    Plant Variation and Evolution

    (1997)
  • G.D. Budd et al.

    Vegetative regeneration depth of germination and seed dormancy in Commelina benghalensis L

    Rhodesian Journal of Agricultural Research

    (1979)
  • A. Burke

    Geigeria alata in the Namib desert, seed heteromorphism in an extremely arid environment

    Journal of Vegetation Science

    (1995)
  • B.L. Burtt

    Aspects of diversification in the capitulum

  • H. Callahan et al.

    Phenotypic integration and the plasticity of integration in an amphicarpic annual

    International Journal of Plant Sciences

    (2000)
  • C.S. Campbell et al.

    Cleistogamy in grasses

    Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics

    (1983)
  • P.B. Cavers et al.

    Germination polymorphism in Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius

    Journal of Ecology

    (1966)
  • G.P. Cheplick

    Differences between plants arising from aerial and subterranean seeds in the amphicarpic annual Cardamine chenopodifolia (Cruciferae)

    Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club

    (1983)
  • G.P. Cheplick

    Do seed germination patterns in cleistogamous annual reduce the risk of sibling competition?

    Journal of Ecology

    (1996)
  • G.P. Cheplick

    Cleistogamy and seed heteromorphism in Triplasis purpurea (Poaceae)

    Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club

    (1996)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Convergent evolution of cleistogamy and seed heteromorphism in two perennial grasses

    Evolutionary Trends in Plants

    (1989)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Effects of sand burial on purple sandgrass (Triplasis purpurea), the significance of seed heteromorphism

    Plant Ecology

    (1997)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Amphicarpum purshii and the “pessimistic strategy” in amphicarpic annuals with subterranean fruit

    Oecologia

    (1982)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Quantitative variation of life history traits in amphicarpic peanutgrass (Amphicarpum purshii) and its evolutionary significance

    American Journal of Botany

    (1988)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Effects of maternal nutrient environment and maturation position on seed heteromorphism, germination, and seedling growth in Triplasis purpurea (Poaceae)

    International Journal of Plant Sciences

    (1998)
  • G.P. Cheplick et al.

    Assessing the potential for competition on a coastal beach and the significance of variable seed mass in Triplasis purpurea

    Journal of the Torrey Botanical Club Society

    (1999)
  • K. Clay

    Environmental and genetic determinants of cleistogamy in a natural population of the grass Danthonia spicata

    Evolution

    (1982)
  • K. Clay

    The differential establishment of seedlings from chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers in natural populations of the grass Danthonia spicata

    Oecologia

    (1983)
  • A.D. Cook et al.

    Doves and dove weed, multiple defenses against avian predation

    BioScience

    (1971)
  • L. Corkidi et al.

    Effets of light and temperature on germination of heteromorphic achenes of Bidens odorata (Asteraceae)

    Canadian Journal of Botany

    (1991)
  • C. Correns

    Das Keimen der beiderlei Früchte der Dimorphoteca pluvialis

    Berichte der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft

    (1906)
  • Cited by (274)

    • Evolutionary seed ecology of heteromorphic Amaranthaceae

      2023, Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
    • Ethylene in the regulation of seed dormancy and germination: Biodiversity matters

      2022, The Plant Hormone Ethylene: Stress Acclimation and Agricultural Applications
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text