Abstract
Seed production in woodland and isolated
Eucalyptus melliodora Cunn. ex Schauer trees was
investigated. Measurement of physical parameters such as mean capsule weight,
mean seed weight and mean ratio of the weight of the capsule contents to the
weight of the empty capsule showed no significant differences between woodland
and isolated trees. In contrast, reproductive output as measured by mean
number of seeds per capsule, mean number of seeds per 10 g of capsule contents
and mean seed weight as a percentage of the weight of the capsule contents,
was significantly lower (45–48% less) in isolated trees than in
woodland trees. Mean percentage seed germination was also significantly lower
(14% less) in the isolated trees and the mean number of viable seeds
per 10 g of capsule contents was only 38% of the woodland trees. These
results indicate that E. melliodora, like many
eucalypts, has a mixed mating breeding system with preferential outcrossing
but is also capable of self pollination leading to a reduction in seed yield
and viability. The woodland and isolated trees produced a mean of 4.6 and 2.1
seeds per capsule, respectively. It would be relatively easy to collect large
numbers of seeds from isolated trees of E. melliodora
and subsequently propagate potentially genetically inferior plants.
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
27 articles.
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