Summary
Population differentiation in Stellaria media was studied with regard to life-cycle strategy and germination ecology. Two populations were identified in the study area, growing side by side, W1 and W2. The life-span of population W1 is much shorter than that of population W2, especially under summer conditions: 1–2 months versus 4–6 months; the time to flowering differs accordingly. Germination properties of seed produced under summer, winter, and field conditions were studied. Fresh seeds produced at 20° C showed good germination (ca. 75%) over a broad range of temperatures in the case of population W1, but seeds of population W2 showed appreciable germination only at high temperatures (ca. 30%). Seeds produced at 7° C showed very little (population W2) or no germination at all (population W1). To simulate seasonal changes in temperature, a “comprehensive” germination scheme was developed which enabled the response of hydrated seeds to two temperature cycles (cold-warm-cold and warm-cold-warm) to be tested. The two populations reacted differently. At the end of the cycles, only a few seeds of population W1, but about half of the seeds of population W2, remained dormant. The data obtained were used to study the effects of differential germination ecology on the dynamics of the two populations. In a reconstruction of the courses of development, the populations were shown to possess different strategies. Population W1 builds up a uniform seed stock, and population W2 a phenotypically diverse seed reserve. The implications for population dynamics are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C.: Germination of winter annuals in July and survival of the seedlings. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 98, 272–276 (1971)
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C.: High temperature requirement for afterripening in seeds of winter annuals. New Phytol. 77, 619–624 (1976)
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C.: Germination ecology of Sedum pulchellum Michx. (Crassulaceae). Am. J. Bot. 64, 1242–1247 (1977)
Datta, S.C., Gutterman, Y., Evenari, M.: The influence of the origin of the mother plant on yield and germination of their caryopses in Aegilops ovata. Planta (Berl.) 105, 155–164 (1972)
Evans, R.A., Young, J.A., Kay, B.L.: Germination of winter annual species from a rangeland community treated with paraquat. Weed Sci 22, 185–188 (1974)
Grant Lipp, A.E., Ballard, L.A.T.: Germination patterns shown by the light-sensitive seed of Anagallis arvensis. Aust. J. Biol. Sci., 16, 572–584 (1963)
Gutterman, Y.: Differences in the progeny due to daylength and hormone treatment of the mother plant. In: Seed ecology (W. Heydecker, ed.), pp. 59–80. London: Butterworths 1973
Hájková, L., Krekule, J.: The developmental pattern in a group of therophytes. I. Seed dormancy. Flora 161, 111–120 (1972)
Harper, J.L.: Population biology of plants. London-New York-San Francisco: Academic Press 1977
Harrington, J.F., Thompson, R.C.: Effect of variety and area of production on subsequent germination of lettuce seed at high temperature. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci 59, 445–450 (1952)
Hayashi, I., Numata, M.: Ecology of pioneer species of early stages in secondary succession I. Bot. Mag. Tokyo 80, 11–22 (1967)
Heydecker, W.: Glossary of terms. In: Seed ecology (W. Heydecker, ed.), pp. 553–557. London: Butterworths 1973
Hitzer, K.: Die Bedingungen der Blütenbildung von Stelleria media. Flora 129, 309–335 (1934–1935)
Janssen, J.G.M.: Simulation of germination of winter annuals in relation to microclimate and microdistribution. Oecologia (Berl.) 14, 197–228 (1974)
Kanipe, L.A.: The germination of the seeds of Alsine media. Proc. Assoc. Off. Seed Analysts N. Am. 1938, 249–252 (1939)
Kolk, H.: Groningsbiologiska studier på ogräsarter. Växtodling 2, 108–167 (1947)
Kolk, H.: Viability and dormancy of dry stored weed seeds. Växtodling 18, 1–192 (1962)
Koller, D.: Preconditioning of germination in lettuce at time of fruit ripening. Am. J. Bot. 49, 841–844 (1962)
Krug, H.: Beiträge zur Keimungsphysiologie und Bekämpfung von Samenunkräutern. Bot. Arch. 27, 420–518 (1929)
Lang, A.: Effects of some internal and external conditions on seed germination. In: Encyclopedia of plant physiology, 15 (W. Ruhland, ed.), pp. 848–893. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1965
Lauer, E.: Über die Keimtemperatur von Ackerunkräutern und deren Einfluß auf die Zusammensetzung von Unkrautgesellschaften. Flora 140, 551–595 (1953)
Lyre, H.H.: Beiträge zur Biologie und Ökologie der Vogelmiere, Stellaria media (L.) Cyr. Diss., Landw. Hochsch. Hohenheim (1957)
Peterson, D.: Stellaria Studien: Zur Zytologie, Genetik, Ökologie und Systematik der Gattung Stellaria, insbesondere der Media-Gruppe. Akad. Abh. Univ. Lund 1936, 277–419 (1936)
Ratcliffe, D.: Adaptation to habitat in a group of annual plants. J. Ecol. 49, 187–203 (1961)
Reinöhl, F.: Die Variation im Andröceum der Stellaria media Cyr. Bot. Zeit. 61, 159–200 (1903)
Roberts, E.H.: Oxidative processes and the control of seed germination. In: Seed ecology (W. Heydecker, ed.), pp. 189–218. London: Butterworths 1973
Roberts, H.A.: Emergence and longevity in cultivated soil of seeds of some annual weeds. Weed Res. 4, 296–307 (1964)
Roberts, H.A., Feast, P.M.: Emergence and longevity of seeds of annual weeds in cultivated and undisturbed soil. J. Appl. Ecol. 10, 133–143 (1973)
Roberts, H.A., Lockett, P.M.: Germination of buried and dry-stored seeds of Stellaria media. Weed Res. 15, 199–204 (1975)
Salisbury, E.: The variation in the reproductive organs of Stellaria media (sensu stricto) and allied species with special regard to their relative frequency and prevalent modes of pollination. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 185, 331–342 (1974)
Steinbauer, G.P., Grigsby, B., Correa, L., Frank, P.: A study of methods for obtaining laboratory germination of certain weed seeds. Proc. Assoc. off. Seed Analysts N. Am. 1954, 48–52 (1955)
Von Abrams, G.J., Hand, M.E.: Seed dormancy in Rosa as a function of climate. Am. J. Bot. 43, 7–12 (1956)
Wareing, P.F., Staden, J. van, Webb, D.P.: Endogenous hormones in the control of seed dormancy. In: Seed ecology (W. Heydecker, ed.), pp. 145–155. London: Butterworths 1973
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Vegte, F.W. Population differentiation and germination ecology in Stellaria media (L.) Vill.. Oecologia 37, 231–245 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344994
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344994