Latest Articles from Plant Ecology and Evolution Latest 2 Articles from Plant Ecology and Evolution https://plecevo.eu/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:50:50 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://plecevo.eu/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Plant Ecology and Evolution https://plecevo.eu/ Dispersal and persistence of cup plant seeds (Silphium perfoliatum): do they contribute to potential invasiveness? https://plecevo.eu/article/104640/ Plant Ecology and Evolution 157(1): 75-87

DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.104640

Authors: L. Marie Ende, Lukas Hummel, Marianne Lauerer

Abstract: Background and aims – The cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is being grown in Germany as a promising new bioenergy crop with an increasing area under cultivation in the last years. Its alien status, its high productivity, and high reproductive potential could carry the risk of this species becoming invasive. The present study investigates the dispersal and persistence of cup plant seeds, to contribute to the assessment of its invasive potential. Material and methods – For this purpose, four experimental studies were conducted in Germany, Central Europe: wind dispersal distance was measured in a field experiment for wind speeds up to 7 m.s-1. The seeds were offered to rodents in different habitats near to a cup plant field. We observed seed persistence and germination over 4 weeks storing in water and over 4 years storing in different soil depths. Key results – Cup plant seeds are dispersed by wind only over a few meters. In the forest, rodents removed 100% of the offered seeds, in open habitats none. Independent of the duration of storage in water, germination rate of the cup plant seeds was constantly high. Most of the seeds already germinated in water in the first two weeks. Stored on the soil surface and at 10 cm soil depth, the seeds germinated already in the first two years. Stored at 30 cm depth, one third of the seeds retained their germination ability over four years. Conclusion – Wind serves as short-distance dispersal vector for cup plant seeds. Rodents remove the seeds, but it is unknown whether they disperse them or just eat them. Water could disperse the seeds, which retain their germination ability, over long distances. The cup plant could therefore spread and possibly become invasive in Central Europe, and therefore measures are suggested to prevent its dispersal and spontaneous settlement.

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Research Article Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:30:00 +0200
Seed morphology of Hamelieae with emphasis on the Deppea complex (Cinchonoideae, Rubiaceae) https://plecevo.eu/article/84486/ Plant Ecology and Evolution 155(1): 51-69

DOI: 10.5091/plecevo.84486

Authors: María Aguilar-Morales, Helga Ochoterena-Booth, Teresa Terrazas

Abstract: Background and aims – The neotropical tribe Hamelieae currently includes 16 genera mainly characterized by raphides, ebracteolate inflorescences, and 4-merous flowers with contorted corolla aestivation. Within this tribe, the circumscription of Deppea has been particularly controversial, as depending on the authors, several morphologically closely related genera are either treated as synonyms or accepted as such. This generic group, hereafter referred to as the Deppea complex, consists of up to 10 genera. Within Rubiaceae, seed morphology has proved to have taxonomic value for generic circumscriptions, however, it remained unexplored for Hamelieae and the Deppea complex.Material and methods – We present a detailed study of the seed morphology of 37 species representing 15 out of the 16 genera recognized within Hamelieae, including all putative genera of the Deppea complex. Using scanning electron and light microscopy, we investigate 16 quantitative and qualitative seed characters that could have taxonomic value.Key results – Our results show that the combination of some seed characters, such as shape and colour, dorsiventral compression, hilum position, and the periclinal microrelief, helps to distinguish some genera and most species, supporting or refuting the current taxonomic circumscription.Conclusion – We conclude that the seed morphology within Hamelieae has taxonomic value but should be combined with other characters to achieve unequivocal delineation of the genera.

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Research Article Wed, 30 Mar 2022 16:30:00 +0300