Post-pollination capsule development in Eucalyptus globulus seed orchards
S. Suitor A D , B. M. Potts B , P. H. Brown C , A. J. Gracie C and P. L. Gore CA Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, School of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
B School of Plant Science and Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
C SeedEnergy, Pty Ltd, Private Bag 55 Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: ssuitor@utas.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 56(1) 51-58 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT07126
Submitted: 29 June 2007 Accepted: 9 October 2007 Published: 8 February 2008
Abstract
Low capsule set is a major factor limiting seed production in Eucalyptus globulus seed orchards. Trials were conducted in E. globulus seed orchards in Tasmania, Australia, to identify the timing of capsule development and abortion, as well as the influence of pollination type, the number of ovules fertilised and weather events on capsule set. Controlled pollination (CP), mass supplementary pollination (MSP), open pollination (OP) and isolated unpollinated control (UP) treatments were performed on 21 genotypes in an orchard in southern Tasmania in 2004–2005 and on six genotypes in a higher-altitude orchard in north-western Tasmania in 2005–2006. No capsules were set in the UP control treatment, and capsule set was significantly lower following CP than OP and MSP. The major period of capsule abortion occurred between 20 and 80 days after pollination for all pollination methods across both sites, coinciding with the period of capsule growth. A positive correlation between the number of fertilised ovules per aborted capsule and the length of time capsules were held on the tree was recorded. Given that capsule abortion occurred during a period of fruit growth and that capsules with the lowest number of fertilised ovules aborted first, it is argued that fertilisation level and the level of resource competition are major factors determining capsule abortion.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by SeedEnergy Pty Ltd and an Australian Postgraduate Award to S. Suitor. We thank Marion McGowen, Paul Tilyard, René Vaillancourt, Ross Corkrey, Kelsey Joyce and Gunns Ltd for their assistance.
Allen MT,
Prusinkiewicz P, DeJong TM
(2005) Using L-systems for modelling source–sink interactions, architecture and physiology of growing trees: the L-PEACH model. New Phytologist 166, 869–880.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Ayre DJ, Whelan RJ
(1989) Factors controlling fruit set in hermaphroditic plants: studies with the Australian Proteaceae. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 4, 267–272.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bawa KS, Webb CJ
(1984) Flower, fruit and seed abortion in tropical forest trees: implications for the evolution of paternal and maternal reproductive patterns. American Journal of Botany 71, 736–751.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Borralho NMG,
Almeida IM, Cotterill PP
(1992) Genetic control of growth of young Eucalyptus globulus clones in Portugal. Silvae Genetica 41, 100–105.
Burd M
(1998) ‘Excess’ flower production and selective fruit abortion: a model of potential benefits. Ecology 79, 2123–2132.
Dutkowski GW, Potts BM
(1999) Geographic patterns of genetic variation in Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus and a revised racial classification. Australian Journal of Botany 47, 237–263.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ehrlen J
(1990) Why do plants produce surplus flowers? A reserve ovary model. American Naturalist 138, 918–933.
Fishman S, Genard M
(1998) A biophysical model of fruit growth: simulation of seasonal and diurnal dynamics of mass. Plant, Cell & Environment 21, 739–752.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greaves BL,
Borralho NMG, Raymond CA
(1997) Breeding objective for plantation eucalypts grown for production of kraft pulp. Forest Science 43, 465–475.
Griffin AR,
Moran GF, Fripp YJ
(1987) Preferential outcrossing in Eucalyptus regnans F.Muell. Australian Journal of Botany 35, 465–475.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Griffin AR,
Whiteman P,
Rudge T,
Burgess IP, Moncur M
(1993) Effect of paclobutrazol on flower-bud production and vegetative growth in two species of Eucalyptus. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 23, 640–647.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harbard JL,
Griffin AR, Espejo J
(1999) Mass controlled pollination of Eucalyptus globulus: a practical reality. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29, 1457–1463.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hardner CM, Potts BM
(1995) Inbreeding depression and changes in variation after selfing in Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus. Silvae Genetica 44, 46–54.
Henton SM,
Piller GJ, Gandar PW
(1999) A fruit growth model dependent on both carbon supply and inherent fruit characteristics. Annals of Botany 83, 509–514.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hingston AB, Potts BM
(1998) Floral visitors of Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus in eastern Tasmania. Tasforests 10, 125–139.
Hingston AB,
Potts BM, McQuillan PB
(2004) Pollination services provided by various size classes of flower visitors to Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 52, 353–369.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jordan GJ,
Potts BM,
Kirkpatrick JB, Gardiner C
(1993) Variation in the Eucalyptus globulus complex revisited. Australian Journal of Botany 41, 763–785.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lloyd DG
(1980) Sexual strategies in plants. 1. An hypothesis of serial adjustment of maternal investment during on reproductive session. New Phytologist 86, 69–78.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lopez GA,
Potts BM,
Dutkowski GW,
Apiolaza LA, Gelid P
(2002) Genetic variation and inter-trait correlations in Eucalyptus globulus base population trials in Argentina. Forest Genetics 9, 223–237.
Marcelis LFM,
Heuvelink E,
Hofman-Eijer LRB,
Den Bakker J, Xue LB
(2004) Flower and fruit abortion in sweet pepper in relation to source and sink strength. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2261–2268.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Medrano M,
Guitian P, Guitian J
(2000) Patterns of fruit and seed set within inflorescences of Pancratium maritimum (Amaryllidaceae): nonuniform pollination, resource limitation, or architectural effects? American Journal of Botany 87, 493–501.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Patterson B,
Gore P,
Potts BM, Vaillancourt RE
(2004a) Advances in pollination techniques for large-scale seed production in Eucalyptus globulus. Australian Journal of Botany 52, 781–788.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Patterson B,
Vaillancourt RE,
Pilbeam DJ, Potts BM
(2004b) Factors affecting variation in outcrossing rate in Eucalyptus globulus. Australian Journal of Botany 52, 773–780.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pigeaire A,
Seymour M,
Delane R, Atkins CA
(1992) Partitioning of dry matter into primary branches and pod initiation on the main inflorescences of Lupinus angustifolius. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 685–696.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Potts BM, Marsden-Smedley JB
(1989) In vitro germination of Eucalyptus pollen: response to variation in boric acid and sucrose. Australian Journal of Botany 37, 429–441.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pound LM,
Wallwork MAB,
Potts BM, Sedgley M
(2002a) Self-incompatibility in Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 50, 365–372.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pound LM,
Wallwork MAB,
Potts BM, Sedgley M
(2002b) Early ovule development following self- and cross-pollinations in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. ssp. globulus. Annals of Botany 89, 613–620.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Ruiz R,
Garcia-Luis A,
Monerri C, Guardiola JL
(2001) Carbohydrate availability in relation to fruitlet abscission in citrus. Annals of Botany 87, 805–812.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stephenson AG
(1981) Flower and fruit abortion: proximate causes and ultimate functions. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 12, 253–279.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor JE, Whitelaw CA
(2001) Signals in abscission. New Phytologist 151, 323–339.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Trindade H,
Boavida LC,
Borralho N, Feijo JA
(2001) Successful fertilization and seed set from pollination on immature non-dehisced flowers of Eucalyptus globulus. Annals of Botany 87, 469–475.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wardlaw IF
(1990) Tansley Review No. 27—the control of carbon partitioning in plants. New Phytologist 116, 341–381.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weijers D, Jurgens G
(2005) Auxin and embryo axis formation: the ends in sight? Current Opinion in Plant Biology 8, 32–37.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Wesselingh RA
(2007) Pollen limitation meets resource allocation: towards a comprehensive methodology. New Phytologist 174, 26–37.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams DR,
Potts BM, Black PG
(1999) Testing single visit pollination procedures for Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens. Australian Forestry 62, 346–352.
