Density-dependent reproductive and vegetative allocation in the aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes (Araceae)

Pistia stratiotes is an aquatic macrophyte that grows in temporary-ponds in the southern Pantanal, Brazil. It reproduces both sexually and asexually and is usually observed forming dense mats on the water surface, a condition favored by the plant’s vegetative reproduction coupled with an ability for rapid growth. In this study we examined the effect of densely crowded conditions on the production of reproductive and vegetative structures. In addition, we verified whether there is a trade-off between clonal growth and investment in sexual reproductive structures, and whether there is an allocation pattern with plant size. Individual plant biomass and the number of the rosettes producing sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures both increased with density. Increase in plant size resulted in increased proportional allocation to sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures. Allocation of biomass to reproduction did not occur at the expense of clonal growth. Thus, the density response appears as a increase of rosettes producing sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures. Therefore, long leaves and stolons may be adaptive under densely crowded conditions where competition for light is intense. An important aspect in the study of trade-offs is the size-dependency of the allocation patterns .Usually, larger plants produce more biomass. Therefore, larger plants can allocate more biomass to both vegetative and sexual reproduction than smaller plants and thus show a positive correlation between both traits rather than the expected negative one

Pistias strariotes es una macrófita acuática que crece en charcas estacionales en el Pantanal sureño de Brasil. Se reproduce tanto sexual como asexualmente y se obsrva generalmente que forma densas parches sobre la superficie del agua, una condicion que favorecida por la reproduccion vegetativa de la planta junto con una habilidad para el rapido crecimiento. En este estudio se examinó el efecto de las condiciones densamente aglomeradas sobre las estructuras reproducctivas y vegetativas. En adicion, se verificó hasta donde hay un intercambio entre el crecimiento clonal y la inversión en estructuras reproductivas, y hasta donde hay un patrón de tranlocación con el crecimiento de la planta. La biomasa individual de las plantas y el número de rosetas productoras de estructuras reproductivas y estructuras de crecimiento vegetativo se incrementan con la densidad. El incremento en el tamaño de las plantas resultó en un incremento proporcional de la asignación hacia estructuras reproductivas y estructuras de crecimiento vegetativo. La asignación de biomasa hacia reproducción no ocurrió a expensas del crecimiento clonal. Así, la respuesta a la densidad parece como un incremento en la producción de rosetas que producen estructuras reproductivas y de crecimiento vegetativo. Por lo tanto, las hojas largas y estolones pueden ser adaptativas bajo condiciones de densamente aglomeradas dond la competencia por la luz es intensa. Un aspecto importante en el estudio de intercambio son los patrones asignación dependientes de la densidad. Usualmente, las plantas más grandes producen más biomasa. por lo tanto, las plantas más grandes pueden asignar más biomasa hacia la reproducción vegetativa y sexual que las plantas pequeñas y así mostraron una correlación positiva entre ambos caracteres

Density-dependent reproductive and vegetative allocation in the aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes (Araceae).

Pistia stratiotes is an aquatic macrophyte that grows in temporary-ponds in the southern Pantanal, Brazil. It reproduces both sexually and asexually and is usually observed forming dense mats on the water surface, a condition favored by the plant's vegetative reproduction coupled with an ability for rapid growth. In this study we examined the effect of densely crowded conditions on the production of reproductive and vegetative structures. In addition, we verified whether there is a trade-off between clonal growth and investment in sexual reproductive structures, and whether there is an allocation pattern with plant size. Individual plant biomass and the number of the rosettes producing sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures both increased with density. Increase in plant size resulted in increased proportional allocation to sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures. Allocation of biomass to reproduction did not occur at the expense of clonal growth. Thus, the density response appears as a increase of rosettes producing sexual reproductive structures and vegetative growth structures. Therefore, long leaves and stolons may be adaptive under densely crowded conditions where competition for light is intense. An important aspect in the study of trade-offs is the size-dependency of the allocation patterns .Usually, larger plants produce more biomass. Therefore, larger plants can allocate more biomass to both vegetative and sexual reproduction than smaller plants and thus show a positive correlation between both traits rather than the expected negative one.