Effect of germination season and watering regime on life history traits in a cold desert annual

摘要

Germination season is determined by dormancy-breaking and germination requirements, and seed heteromorphism, i.e. the production on the same plant of seeds/fruits that differ in morphology and ecology (Manddk 1997, Dubois et al 2012). Seed morph and time of germination can affect plant fitness, but few studies have tested their combined effects on flexibility of plant life history traits. We hypothesized that seed morph, germination season and watering regime would influence phenotypic expression ofpost-germination life history traits in the diaspore-heteromorphic cold desert winter annual/ ephemeral Diptychocarpus strictus (Brassicaceae).