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Resource allocation to vegetative growth and reproduction at shoot level in Eurya japonica (Theaceae): a hierarchical investment?
Author(s) -
Suzuki Arata
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.0028-646x.2001.00251.x
Subject(s) - shoot , biology , japonica , reproduction , vegetative reproduction , botany , shading , horticulture , ecology , art , visual arts
Summary• A previous study suggested that Eurya japonica , a dioecious woody plant, made a hierarchical investment; that is, this species only invested in reproduction resources surplus to its requirements for functions associated with survival, such as growth. If so, it was predicted that between‐year fluctuation in flowering intensity (number of flowers) should be much greater than that in shoot length. • Examinations of between‐year fluctuations of shoot growth and flowering intensity were made on E. japonica trees, during 1997 and 1998, in an experimental forest in Japan. • Between‐year fluctuation was found to be significantly greater in flowering intensity than in shoot length. Furthermore, between‐year fluctuation in flowering intensity of the female was stronger than that of the male. Relationships between shoot growth and flowering intensity were examined for each order branch and the results compared with those from a previous study. For the same‐order branches, the length of the current‐year shoots was found to be independent of flowering intensity for both sexes in both studies. • The results reported here support the hierarchical investment hypothesis.