2006/08/01 by David J. Susko
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Bioenergy crop production and management #Botany and Plant Ecology Studies #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
paper · doi:10.1139/b06-094
crossref issued 2006/08/01 · crossref published 2006/08/01 · crossref published-print 2006/08/01 · openalex publication_date 2006/08/01 · crossref created 2006/09/29 · crossref deposited 2020/01/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21 · crossref indexed 2026/07/29
I examined the effect of ovule position on patterns of ovule development within the linear pods of black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L. Fruits were sampled from three sites in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Approximately two-thirds of all ovules failed to show visible signs of fertilization or development. Patterns of seed maturation and abortion within fruits were nonrandom and depended on ovule position. The probability of seed maturation within individual fruits decreased significantly from the distal to basal ends, suggesting the existence of a fertilization gradient. Seeds at the basal ends of fruits were also lighter than more distally located seeds. While seed mass did not influence the likelihood of germination, seed mass was positively correlated with seedling size. Hence, ovule position exerts an influence on offspring vigour and has the potential, ultimately, to affect plant fitness.