Perennially young: seed production and quality in controlled and natural populations of Cistus albidus reveal compensatory mechanisms that prevent senescence in terms of seed yield and viability.
The question of whether or not perennial plants senesce at the organism level remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to unravel whether or not plant age can influence the production and composition of seeds. Flower and seed production was examined in 3-, 8-, and 13-year-old Cistus albidus plants growing in experimental plots corresponding to the F2, F1, and F0 generations of the same population. Furthermore, the phytohormone, fatty acid, and vitamin E content of the seeds was evaluated, and their viability was examined. Whether or not age-related differences in seed quality were observed in a natural population in the Montserrat Mountains (NE Spain) was also tested. The results indicate that under controlled conditions, the oldest plants not only produced fewer flowers, but also had higher rates of embryo abortion in mature seeds. However, germination capacity was not negatively affected by plant ageing. Seeds of the oldest plants contained significantly higher salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and vitamin E levels compared with those from younger plants. Despite vigour (in terms of plant growth) being severely reduced due to harsh environmental conditions in the natural population, the oldest individuals produced seeds with no decline in viability. Seed biomass was instead positively correlated with seed viability. In conclusion, increased plant size may explain the loss of seed viability in the experimental field, but older smaller individuals in natural populations can escape senescence in terms of seed viability loss.
Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Maren
M
Müller
Laura
L
Siles
Jana
J
Cela
Sergi
S
Munné-Bosch
D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D029758:Cistus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018525:Germination; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D003517:Cyclopentanes; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D014810:Vitamin E; C011006:jasmonic acid; C030737:indoleacetic acid; D000040:Abscisic Acid; D020156:Salicylic Acid
Ageing; Cistus albidus L.; perennials; seed composition; seed production; senescence; vitamin E.