Variación intraespecífica de los caracteres de semillas, repercusiones sobre las estrategias de supervivencia y competencia.

Abstract

Abstract:The functional traits of seeds influence the ability of a plant to compete and establish itself in certain habitats. In habitats where resources are limited, such as seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF), traits such as the size and shape of the seed take on special importance because the seedlings develop under highly stressful and heterogeneous conditions. We analyzed the intraspecific variation of germination and seedling development patterns belonging to six tree species characteristic of SDTF, and discussed their adaptive implications. Our results demonstrate a significant effect of the shape of the seed shape on germination. The weight of the seeds had a positive influence on the biomass allocation to the radicular part, and those seeds that germinated at a higher speed invested more resources to the aerial part. With the exception of one of the species, the speed of germination, the weight of the seeds and the biomass allocation, influenced the growth of the seedlings, and the effects were dependent on each species.