Patterns and dynamics of canopy-root coupling in tropical tree saplings vary with light intensity but not with root depth.

Carbon (C) dynamics in canopy and roots influence whole-tree carbon fluxes, but little is known about canopy regulation of tree-root activity. Here, the patterns and dynamics of canopy-root C coupling are assessed in tropical trees. Large aeroponics facility was used to study the root systems of Ceiba pentandra and Khaya anthotheca saplings directly at different light intensities. In Ceiba, root respiration (Rr ) co-varied with photosynthesis (An ) in large saplings (3-to-7-m canopy-root axis) at high-light, but showed no consistent pattern at low-light. At medium-light and in small saplings (c. 1-m axis), Rr tended to decrease transiently towards midday. Proximal roots had higher Rr and nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations than distal roots, but canopy-root coupling was unaffected by root location. In medium-sized Khaya, no Rr pattern was observed, and in both species, Rr was unrelated to temperature. The early-afternoon increase in Rr suggests that canopy-root coupling is based on mass flow of newly fixed C in the phloem, whereas the early-morning rise in Rr with An indicates an additional coupling signal that travels faster than the phloem sap. In large saplings and potentially also in higher trees, light and possibly additional environmental factors control the diurnal patterns of canopy-root coupling, irrespective of root location.

Lack of early inbreeding depression and distribution of selfing rates in the neotropical emergent tree Ceiba pentandra: Assessment from several reproductive events.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Selfing and mixed mating systems are prevalent in many flowering plants. Purging of genetic load can occur in these species, reducing negative effects of selfing. Long-term studies of the temporal and spatial variation of selfing rates and inbreeding depression at the individual level are necessary to understand the forces that maintain selfing as a mating strategy in these species. METHODOLOGY: We used microsatellites to estimate selfing rates in seeds and seedlings over 6 years in a population of Ceiba pentandra in southwestern Costa Rica. We studied the correlation of selfing with early seedling vigor variables to test for inbreeding depression. KEY RESULTS: Selfing rates varied widely among maternal trees. However, we found high consistency of selfing rates for individuals among years. Selfing rate did not influence early fitness traits, suggesting a lack of inbreeding depression at this stage. Maternal effects were a predominant source of variation for early vigor variables. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in selfing rates among trees may be partly explained by genetic variation in a late-acting self-incompatibility system or low, early-acting genetic load in some individuals. This population did not show evidence of early inbreeding depression in traits related to seed vigor probably from complete or partial purging as a result of repeated selfing of a fraction of the population or from strong maternal effects. Expression of genetic load at later developmental stages or in more stressful natural conditions may explain differences in inbreeding levels between seeds and adults.

Long-term effects of habitat fragmentation on mating patterns and gene flow of a tropical dry forest tree, Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae: Bombacoideae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Tropical forest loss and fragmentation isolate and reduce the size of remnant populations with negative consequences for mating patterns and genetic structure of plant species. In a 4-yr study, we determined the effect of fragmentation on mating patterns and pollen pool genetic structure of the tropical tree Ceiba aesculifolia in two habitat conditions: isolated trees in disturbed areas (≤3 trees/ha), and trees (≥6 trees/ha) in undisturbed mature forest. • METHODS: Using six allozyme loci, we estimated the outcrossing rate (tm), the mean relatedness of progeny (rp) within and between fruits, the degree of genetic structure of pollen pools (Φft), and the effective number of pollen donors (Nep). • KEY RESULTS: The outcrossing rates reflected a strict self-incompatible species. Relatedness of progeny within fruits was similar for all populations, revealing single sires within fruits. However, relatedness of progeny between fruits within trees was consistently greater for trees in fragmented conditions across 4 yr. We found high levels of genetic structure of pollen pools in all populations with more structure in isolated trees. The effective number of pollen donors was greater for trees in undisturbed forest than in disturbed conditions. • CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the progeny produced by isolated trees in disturbed habitats are sired by a fraction of the diversity of pollen donors found in conserved forests. The foraging behavior of bats limits the exchange of pollen between trees, causing higher levels of progeny relatedness in isolated trees.

At3g08030 transcript: a molecular marker of seed ageing.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prolonged storage generally reduces seed viability and vigour, although the rate of deterioration varies among species and environmental conditions. Here, we suggest a possible ageing molecular marker: At3g08030 mRNA. At3g08030 is a member of the DUF642 highly conserved family of cell-wall-associated proteins that is specific for spermatophytes. METHODS: At3g08030 expression was performed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR analysis in seed samples differing in their rate of germination and final germination following a matrix priming and/or controlled deterioration (rapid ageing) treatment. KEY RESULTS: The At3g08030 gene transcript was present during the entire Arabidopsis thaliana plant life cycle and in seeds, during maturation, the ripening period and after germination. Matrix priming treatment increased the rate of germination of control seeds and seeds aged by controlled deterioration. Priming treatments also increased At3g08030 expression. To determine whether the orthologues of this gene are also age markers in other plant species, At3g08030 was cloned in two wild species, Ceiba aesculifolia and Wigandia urens. As in A. thaliana, the At3g08030 transcript was not present in aged seeds of the tested species but was present in recently shed seeds. A reduction in germination performance of the aged seeds under salt stress was determined by germination assays. CONCLUSIONS: At3g08030 mRNA detection in a dry seed lot has potential for use as a molecular marker for germination performance in a variety of plant species.

The seed water content as a time-independent physiological trait during germination in wild tree species such as Ceiba aesculifolia.

Seeds constitute a key physiological stage in plants life cycle. During seed germination, there is a spatial-temporal imbibition pattern that correlates with described physiological processes. However, only the moment of testa rupture has been described as a critical, discrete stage. Could a specific relative water content (RWC) value reflect a physiological stage useful for comparisons between seed batches? We tracked seed-by-seed imbibition during germination to homogenize sampling and selected a transcriptomic approach to analyse the physiological transitions that occur in seed batches collected in different years and with contrasting phenotypic responses to a priming treatment. The seed RWC reflected the transcriptional transitions that occur during germination, regardless of imbibition time or collection year, and revealed a set of biological processes that occur in the dry seed and during early germination are associated with the phenotypic response to priming. As climate shifts, so do the timing of developmental events important for determining organismal fitness, and poses another challenge to the comprehension of molecular and physiological processes driving the interaction between organisms and environment. In this study, we demonstrate that the use of physiological traits, specific to a particular developmental stage, is a reliable time-independent approach.

Effects of forest fragmentation on phenological patterns and reproductive success of the tropical dry forest tree Ceiba aesculifolia.

Spatial isolation caused by forest fragmentation and temporal isolation caused by asynchronous flowering of plants have been proposed as important factors that affect the reproduction ofplant populations. In a 4-year study, we determined the effects of forest fragmentation and spatial isolation on flowering phenology and reproductive success of the tropical tree Ceiba aesculifolia ([Kunth] Britton & Rose). We conducted our study in the dry forest of Mexico and compared populations in two habitat conditions based on density and environmental conditions: (1) disturbed habitat (four populations of < or =3 reproductive individuals/ha surrounded by agriculturalfields or pastures) and (2) undisturbed habitat (three populations of groups of >6 reproductive individuals/ha surrounded by undisturbed mature forest). We compared the following variables within these populations over 4 years: flowering overlap, proportion of individuals with flowers and fruit, total flower production, total fruit production, fruit set, seed production, and seed abortion. Little overlap in flowering occurred among the populations in the two habitat conditions. The flowering period of trees in the disturbed habitat initiated between 15 to 20 days before the flowering period of trees in the undisturbed habitat during 3 years. Flowering of trees in the undisturbed habitat peaked at the end of the flowering period of the trees in the disturbed habitat. The proportion of trees that flowered was greater in the undisturbed habitat. Nevertheless, total flower production was greater in the disturbed habitat and these differences were maintained across 3 years. The proportion of individuals that produced fruit did not differ across habitat conditions but did differ across years. Total fruit production was greater in the disturbed habitat, but fruit set and seed production were the same across years and between habitat conditions. Seed abortion varied over years between habitats. We concluded that forest fragmentation does not negatively affect the reproductive success of C. aesculifolia It appears that the highly mobile bat pollinators maintain reproductive connectivity between trees in both habitats.

Effects of self-, chase and mixed self/cross-pollinations on pistil longevity and fruit set in Ceiba species (Bombacaceae) with late-acting self-incompatibility.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Late-acting self-incompatibility (LSI), in which selfed flowers fail to form fruits despite apparently successful growth of the pollen tubes to the ovules, is a contentious and still poorly understood phenomenon. Some studies have indicated pollen tube-pistil interactions, and major gene control. Others favour an early acting inbreeding depression explanation. METHODS: Experimental pollinations, including selfs (in a subsample of which the style was cut before pollen tubes reached the ovary), chase self/cross-pollinations, crosses, and mixed self/cross-pollinations were used to study floral/pistil longevity and effect on fruit set and seed yield in two Ceiba species known to have LSI. RESULTS: Self-pollinations, including those with a cut style, had extended floral longevity compared with unpollinated flowers. Chase pollinations in which cross-pollen was applied up to 3 h after selfing set fruits, but with reduced seed set compared with crosses. Those with cross-pollen applied at 4 and 8 h after self-pollination all failed to set fruits. Flowers subjected to 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 self/cross-pollinations all produced fruits but again with a significantly lower seed set compared with crosses. CONCLUSIONS: Extended floral longevity initiated with self-pollen tubes growing in the style indicates some kind of pollen tube-pistil interaction. Fruit set only in chase pollinations up to 3 h implies that self-pollen tubes either grow more slowly in the style or penetrate ovules more slowly on arrival at the ovary compared with cross-tubes. This agrees with previous observations indicating that the incidence of penetrated ovules is initially lower in selfed compared with crossed pistils. However, the low seed yield from mixed pollinations indicates that self- and cross-pollen tubes arrive at the ovary and penetrate ovules more or less simultaneously. Possible explanations for these discordant results are discussed.