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Early plant growth: identifying the end point of the seedling phase

Early plant growth: identifying the end point of the seedling phase
Early plant growth: identifying the end point of the seedling phase
Despite the importance of seedling establishment in plant biology, there is no consensus on what constitutes a 'seedling'. Here we examined aspects of early plant development that could be used to mark the transition from the seedling to the postseedling phase. Using a hypogeal species (pea, Pisum sativum) and an epigeal species (sunflower, Helianthus annuus), we investigated whether the utilization of cotyledon-stored mineral nutrients coincides with any changes in relative growth rate (RGR). We also examined how the timing of cotyledon removal at different points during early development affected subsequent growth. For both species, the timing of RGR(max), the exhaustion of cotyledon reserves, and the attainment of independence from cotyledons all roughly coincided (though exhaustion of seed reserves was not observed in the epigeal species because the cotyledons absorbed external nutrients). We conclude that because the point of attainment of RGR(max) is a distinctly identifiable event, it is a more reliable marker for defining the end of the seedling stage than either the exhaustion of mineral reserves, or the cessation of dependence on cotyledon reserves.
cotyledon, epigeal, hypogeal, regeneration ecology, relative growth rate (RGR), pea (Pisum sativum), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), douglas fir seedlings, decimel code, defoliation
0028-646X
61-66
Hanley, ME
d0496217-b29a-41a1-b469-b2298116474d
Fenner, M
58f615e2-8a92-4c0f-a1d9-0b9db7df5f51
Whibley, H
6307a703-e860-466a-af96-c94447f41377
Darvill, B
8ed93250-a9e2-49b3-8a43-ee3a88513624
Hanley, ME
d0496217-b29a-41a1-b469-b2298116474d
Fenner, M
58f615e2-8a92-4c0f-a1d9-0b9db7df5f51
Whibley, H
6307a703-e860-466a-af96-c94447f41377
Darvill, B
8ed93250-a9e2-49b3-8a43-ee3a88513624

Hanley, ME, Fenner, M, Whibley, H and Darvill, B (2004) Early plant growth: identifying the end point of the seedling phase. New Phytologist, 163 (1), 61-66. (doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137/2004.01094.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Despite the importance of seedling establishment in plant biology, there is no consensus on what constitutes a 'seedling'. Here we examined aspects of early plant development that could be used to mark the transition from the seedling to the postseedling phase. Using a hypogeal species (pea, Pisum sativum) and an epigeal species (sunflower, Helianthus annuus), we investigated whether the utilization of cotyledon-stored mineral nutrients coincides with any changes in relative growth rate (RGR). We also examined how the timing of cotyledon removal at different points during early development affected subsequent growth. For both species, the timing of RGR(max), the exhaustion of cotyledon reserves, and the attainment of independence from cotyledons all roughly coincided (though exhaustion of seed reserves was not observed in the epigeal species because the cotyledons absorbed external nutrients). We conclude that because the point of attainment of RGR(max) is a distinctly identifiable event, it is a more reliable marker for defining the end of the seedling stage than either the exhaustion of mineral reserves, or the cessation of dependence on cotyledon reserves.

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Submitted date: 12 February 2004
Published date: 16 March 2004
Keywords: cotyledon, epigeal, hypogeal, regeneration ecology, relative growth rate (RGR), pea (Pisum sativum), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), douglas fir seedlings, decimel code, defoliation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24015
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24015
ISSN: 0028-646X
PURE UUID: d11cf145-c8f2-4817-8e6c-2f29797d6666

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Date deposited: 17 Mar 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:51

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Contributors

Author: ME Hanley
Author: M Fenner
Author: H Whibley
Author: B Darvill

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