Atmospheric nitrogen deposition on petals enhances seed quality of the forest herb Anemone nemorosaShow others and affiliations
2018 (English)In: Plant Biology, ISSN 1435-8603, E-ISSN 1438-8677, Vol. 20, no 3, p. 619-626Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
- Elevated atmospheric input of nitrogen (N) is currently affecting plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The growth and survival of numerous plant species is known to respond strongly to N fertilisation. Yet, few studies have assessed the effects of N deposition on seed quality and reproductive performance, which is an important life-history stage of plants.
- Here we address this knowledge gap by assessing the effects of atmospheric N deposition on seed quality of the ancient forest herb Anemone nemorosa using two complementary approaches.
- By taking advantage of the wide spatiotemporal variation in N deposition rates in pan-European temperate and boreal forests over 2years, we detected positive effects of N deposition on the N concentration (percentage N per unit seed mass, increased from 2.8% to 4.1%) and N content (total N mass per seed more than doubled) of A.nemorosa seeds. In a complementary experiment, we applied ammonium nitrate to aboveground plant tissues and the soil surface to determine whether dissolved N sources in precipitation could be incorporated into seeds. Although the addition of N to leaves and the soil surface had no effect, a concentrated N solution applied to petals during anthesis resulted in increased seed mass, seed N concentration and N content.
- Our results demonstrate that N deposition on the petals enhances bioaccumulation of N in the seeds of A.nemorosa. Enhanced atmospheric inputs of N can thus not only affect growth and population dynamics via root or canopy uptake, but can also influence seed quality and reproduction via intake through the inflorescences.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Wiley-Blackwell, 2018. Vol. 20, no 3, p. 619-626
Keywords [en]
Latitudinal gradient, nitrogen deposition, nutrient stoichiometry, seed provisioning, seed quality, xual reproduction, wood anemone
National Category
Botany
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-138587DOI: 10.1111/plb.12688ISI: 000430010500025PubMedID: 29323793OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-138587DiVA, id: diva2:2904
2018-06-262018-06-262018-06-26Bibliographically approved