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Mineral nutrient concentrations as a function of seed size within seed crops: implications for competition among seedlings and defence against herbivory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1998

PETER J. GRUBB  and
DAVID F. R. P. BURSLEM
PETER J. GRUBB
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.
DAVID F. R. P. BURSLEM
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K. Present address: Department of Plant & Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, U.K.
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Abstract

The intra-crop variation in the concentrations of major nutrients in the embryo-cum-endosperm (EE) fraction of seeds of 12 tree species of SE Asian lowland rain forest was investigated. Increased seed size was associated with a significant decrease in the EE concentration of N in 10 species, P and K in seven, Mg in six, and Ca in four. In contrast, the EE nutrient content increased with seed size, typically by about 1.6-fold where seed mass was 2-fold greater. In three species the allocation to protective tissues decreased with increased seed size. The results are potentially relevant to competition among young seedlings, optimal foraging by predators, allocation to defence by plants, and understanding the controls on filling of seeds.

Keywords

defencemineral nutrientsseedsSE Asiatropical lowland rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , March 1998 , pp. 177 - 185
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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