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Kin selection or resource partitioning for growing with siblings: implications from measurements of nitrogen uptake

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Abstract

Aims

Kin selection and resource partitioning have been proposed to explain interactions between plants growing with siblings (from the same mother). These mechanisms have been examined by measurements of fitness, phenotype or allocation traits, but have seldom been tested with N acquisition traits.

Methods

We determine if kin selection and resource partitioning are occurring using two annual species (Sorghum vulgare and Glycine max) with a short-term 15N experiment. A mixture of ammonium, nitrate and glycine (1:1:1) was injected into soils around plants after they grew for 47 days. Only one nitrogen (N) form was 15N labeled in each labeling solution.

Results

S. vulgare increased root allocation when growing with strangers (from the different mother), but not increase their N uptake. Although G. max strangers did not increase their root allocation, they significantly increased uptake of total N and the most abundant N form (nitrate) and decreased uptake of the least abundant (glycine).

Conclusions

G. max siblings reduced competition due to chemical resource partitioning while S. vulgare showed kin selection. We concluded that processes related to kin selection and resource partitioning can occur simultaneously, resulting in different competitive ability. These findings can improve our understanding of plants growing with siblings or strangers.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Douglas Schaefer and Sina Adl for language improvements. This study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (31470560).

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

      Li Zhang, Qianyuan Liu, Xingliang Xu & Hua Ouyang

    2. State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China

      Yuqiang Tian

    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A, Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China

      Li Zhang & Qianyuan Liu

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    1. Li Zhang
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    2. Qianyuan Liu
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    5. Hua Ouyang
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Xingliang Xu.

    Additional information

    Responsible Editor: Jeffrey Walck.

    Qianyuan Liu contributed equally to this work.

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    Zhang, L., Liu, Q., Tian, Y. et al. Kin selection or resource partitioning for growing with siblings: implications from measurements of nitrogen uptake. Plant Soil 398, 79–86 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2641-z

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