Seed size and seedling ontogenetic stage as modulators of damage tolerance after simulated herbivory in a woody exotic species

LORCA, E. AGOSTINA; FERRERAS, ANA E.; FUNES, GUILLERMO

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Año: 2019 vol. 67 p. 159 - 164

0067-1924

Herbivory is one of the most important threats that plants face during early stages of development. Previousstudies have indicated that seed size and seedling ontogeny strongly influence the response to herbivory at the seedling stage.However, little is known about their interactive effect. We simulated herbivory on seedlings of the exotic Gleditsiatriacanthos L. and evaluated the combined effects of seed size and ontogenetic stage at which herbivory occurred ontolerance to herbivory. Agreenhouse experiment was performed, with three non-overlapping levels of seed size. Seedlingsfrom each seed size were clipped at two ontogenetic stages (two and five leaves). After three weeks, seedling survival,height, leaf number and dry biomass were measured. Damaged seedlings were not able to reach the size of the undamagedones. Seedlings from small seeds showed the lowest values in most of the growth variables. Seedlings cut at two-leaf stageshowed a higher compensation capacity than those cut at five-leaf stage. Seedlings from large seeds cut at ontogenetic stage Ishowed the highest compensation capacity in most of the variables. Partly compensating herbivory at this stage may be anadvantage for the expansion of this exotic species to new areas.