Increasing Seed Number

Abstract

High correlations are often observed between yield and plant seed number. These correlations are frequently interpreted as indicating a causal relationship between plant yield and seed number. It is assumed to increase crop yield, a greater number of seeds need to be generated by the plant. In fact, close examination of seed set and yield indicate that both are closely linked to resource availability in the plant, whether carbohydrate or nutrients. The dependence of both seed set and yield on resource input explains the correlation between the two variables without the existence of a causal linkage. Further, the dependence of yield on resource availability in the plant can be achieved by trade-offs between seed number and average plant seed mass to achieve seed yield. This trade-off has been labeled as component compensation. The ‘packaging’ of seed yield whether achieved by seed number or seed mass generally does not determine crop yield.