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Seed traits favouring dispersal and establishment of six epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae) species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2018

Nahlleli Chilpa-Galván ,
Judith Márquez-Guzmán ,
Gerhard Zotz ,
Ileana Echevarría-Machado ,
José Luis Andrade ,
Celene Espadas-Manrique  and
Casandra Reyes-García
Nahlleli Chilpa-Galván
Affiliation:
Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43. Núm. 130. Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, Yucatán, México
Judith Márquez-Guzmán
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Desarrollo en Plantas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, 04510, D.F., México
Gerhard Zotz
Affiliation:
Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Functional Ecology, Box 2503, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany
Ileana Echevarría-Machado
Affiliation:
Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43. Núm. 130. Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, Yucatán, México
José Luis Andrade
Affiliation:
Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43. Núm. 130. Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, Yucatán, México
Celene Espadas-Manrique
Affiliation:
Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43. Núm. 130. Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, Yucatán, México
Casandra Reyes-García*
Affiliation:
Unidad de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43. Núm. 130. Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, 97205 Mérida, Yucatán, México
*
Author for correspondence: Casandra Reyes-García, Email: creyes@cicy.mx
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Abstract

There are a number of studies describing the gross range of morpho-anatomical variability in epiphytic Tillandsia species, but the interspecific variation in seed traits remain largely unexplored, although these play an important role in determining dispersal and establishment success. In order to evaluate interspecific variation in seed morphology, anatomy and germination, we sampled six Tillandsia species from the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, distributed along a precipitation gradient. We studied morpho-anatomical traits (seed length, seed mass, ratio of coma to seed, ratio of embryo to endosperm), seed terminal velocity in still air, and performed histochemical analyses and germination trials under controlled conditions. Tillandsia recurvata differs from the other five species in the structure of the plumose coma; it was the only species lacking an endosperm and showed distinct seedling development. Among the species, bigger seeds were related to longer comas, and had higher germinability. Overall, seed terminal velocity was invariably slow, compared with reports of other anemochorous species, suggesting a high dispersal potential. Taxonomical and ecological implications of our results are discussed.

Keywords

anemochoryBromeliaceaedispersalembryoendospermepiphytesgerminationseed morphology
Type
Research Paper
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , December 2018 , pp. 349 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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