PATERNAL EFFECTS ON SEED SIZE IN A POPULATION OF CREPIS-TECTORUM (ASTERACEAE)

An ANOVA on paternal half-sib groups revealed a significant effect of pollen donor identity on seed width and seed weight. Some of the paternal effect reflected differences among pollen donors in the ability to initiate seed development on the recipient heads (% seed set), which was negatively correlated with seed size. This effect was greatest for seed width reflecting strong lateral compression of the seeds in heads with a high seed set. Germinability increased with seed size, while only seed width affected seedling growth. -from Author