GENOTYPE-INDEPENDENT ASPECTS OF SEED ECOLOGY IN TARAXACUM

Taraxacum hamatiforme is an obligate, autonomous diplosporous apomict which produces achenes which are genetically identical but which differ in size. Achene weight had a significant though slight effect on the time taken to germinate but significant and very pronounced effects on the probability of germination and on early seedling growth. A distinct tendency was observed for lighter achenes to germinate shoot first and for heavier achenes to germinate root first. Size rather than genotype appears to be the most important determinant of seed/seedling characteristics. -from Authors