Summary
In the annual herb Cassia fasciculata virtually every leaf subtends an axillary inflorescence. We examined the degree to which these leaf-inflorescence units (reproductive nodes) were physiologically independent of each other in the production of flowers, fruits, and seeds. Removal of up to 4 of every 5 inflorescences resulted in substantial increases in fruit and seed production by remaining, intact reproductive nodes. These increases nearly compensated for and manipulated reproductive nodes were associated with different vascular strands. When 2 of every 3 leaves were removed, fruit and seed production were reduced at both intact and defoliated reproductive nodes. Taken together, these results suggest that neighboring reproductive nodes in C. fasciculata are not physiologically independent of one another, and that competition among fruits and seeds for parental resources occurs over several reproductive nodes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpert P, Newell EA, Chu C, Glyphis J, Gulmon SL, Hollinger DY, Johnson ND, Mooney HA, Puttick G (1985) Allocation to reproduction in the chaparral shrub, Diplacus aurantiacus. Oecologia 66:309–316
Baysdorfer C, Bassham JA (1985) Photosynthate supply and utilization in alfalfa. Plant Physiol 77:313–331
Bazzaz FA, Carlson RW, Harper JL (1979) Contribution to reproductive effort by photosynthesis of flowers and fruits. Nature 279:554–555
Blomquist RV, Kust CH (1971) Translocation patterns in soybean. Crop Sci 11:390–393
Cockshull KE, Hughes AP (1968) Accumulation of dry matter by Chysanthemum morifolium after flower removal. Nature 217:979–980
Fellows RJ, Egli DB, Leggett JE (1979) Rapid changes in translocation patterns in soybean following source-sink alterations. Plant Physiol 64:652–655
Flinn AM (1974) Regulation of leaflet photosynthesis by developing fruits in the pea. Plant Physiol 31:275–278
Flinn AM, Pate JS (1970) A quantitative study of carbon transfer from pod and subtending leaf to the ripening seeds of the field pes (Pisum arvense L.). J Exp Bot 21:71–82
Geiger DR (1976) Effects of translocation and assimilate demand on photosynthesis. Can J Bot 54:2337–2345
Harper JL, Lovell PH, Moore KG (1970) The shapes and sizes of seeds. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 1:327–356
Hartnett DC, Bazzaz FA (1983) Physiological integration among intraclonal ramets in Solidago canadensis. Ecology 64:779–788
Heichel GH, Turner NC (1983) CO2 assimilation of primary and regrowth foliage of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Response to defoliation. Oecologia 57:14–19
Huff A, Dybing CD (1980) Factors affecting shedding of flowers in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill). J Exp Bot 31:751–762
Jameson DA (1963) Responses of individual plants to harvesting. Bot Rev 29:532–594
Lee TD, Bazzaz FA (1982a) Regulation of fruit and seed production in an annual legume, Cassia fasciculata. Ecology 63:1363–1373
Lee TD, Bazzaz FA (1982b) Regulation of fruit maturation pattern in an annual legume, Cassia fasciculata. Ecology 63:1363–1373
Luthra YD, Sheoran IS, Singh R (1983) Photosynthetic rates and enzyme activities of leaves, developing seeds and pod wall of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.). Photosynthetica 17:210–215
Marshall C, Sagar GR (1968) The interdependence of tillers in Lolium multiflorum Lam.—a quantitative assessment. J Exp Bot 19:785–794
Marshall DL, Levin DA, Fowler NL (1985) Plasticity in yield components in response to fruit predation and date of fruit initiation in three species of Sesbania (Leguminosae). J Ecol 73:71–81
McNaughton SJ (1972) Grazing as an optimization process: grassungulate relationships in the Serengeti. Am Nat 113:691–703
Murray BJ, Mauk C, Nooden LD (1982) Restricted vascular pipelines (and orthostichies) in plants. What's New Plant Physiol 13:33–66
Nagarajah S (1975) Effects of debudding on photosynthesis in leaves of cotton. Physiol Plant 33:28–31
Nyahoza F, Marshall C, Sagar GR (1973) The interrelationship between tillers and rhizomes of Poa pratensis L.-an autoradiographic study. Weed Res 13:304–309
Tamas IA, Wallace DH, Ludford PM, Ozbun JL (1979) Effects of older fruits on abortion and abscisic acid concentration of younger fruits in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Physiol 64:620–622
Thorne JH, Koller HR (1974) Influence of assimilate demand on photosynthesis, diffusive resistances, translocation, and carbohydrate levels of soybean leaves. Plant Physiol 54:201–207
Wareing PF, Khalifa MM, Treharne KJ (1968) Rate-limiting processes in photosynthesis at saturating light intensities. Nature 200:453–457
Watson MA, Casper BB (1984) Morphogenetic constraints on patterns of carbon distribution in plants. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 15:233–258
Wein HC Altschuler SL, Ozbun JL, Wallace DH (1976) 14C-assimilate distribution in Phaseolus vulgaris L. during the reproductive period. J Am Soc Hort Sci 101:510–513
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Scientific contribution no. 1595 from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garrish, R.S., Lee, T.D. Physiological integration in Cassia fasciculata Michx.: inflorescence removal and defoliation experiments. Oecologia 81, 279–284 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379816
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379816