An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area
Abstract Premise Few studies have explored competition in fern gametophyte populations. One limiting factor is the tedious measurement of gametophyte size as a proxy for biomass in these small plants. Here, an alternative approach of estimating the number of green pixels from photos was employed to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Applications in Plant Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11466 |
| _version_ | 1817992216842338304 |
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| author | Ondřej Hornych Lucie Černochová Aleš Lisner Libor Ekrt |
| author_facet | Ondřej Hornych Lucie Černochová Aleš Lisner Libor Ekrt |
| author_sort | Ondřej Hornych |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Premise Few studies have explored competition in fern gametophyte populations. One limiting factor is the tedious measurement of gametophyte size as a proxy for biomass in these small plants. Here, an alternative approach of estimating the number of green pixels from photos was employed to measure the competitive interactions among apomictic and sexual Dryopteris gametophytes. Methods We cultivated the gametophytes of two apomictic (diploid and triploid) and one sexual (tetraploid) Dryopteris species in monocultures and in two‐species mixtures in the ratios 1 : 1 and 1 : 3. The total gametophyte cover of each population originating from 20 spores was assessed using Easy Leaf Area. Assessments were performed weekly between weeks 4 and 10 of cultivation. Additionally, during week 5, the cover of each species in each mixture was estimated separately. Results We identified a positive correlation between gametophyte size and ploidy level as well as sexual reproduction. The performance of the tested species in mixtures was dependent on the competitor species identity, indicating the importance of competition between gametophytes. Discussion The methods outlined can be used for a rapid assessment of fern gametophyte cover in large gametophyte populations. Ploidy level and reproduction type seem to play a major role in the competitive abilities of fern gametophytes, but more research is needed on this topic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:23:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6408f0d7c11d457eb196d2102865c85a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2168-0450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:23:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applications in Plant Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-6408f0d7c11d457eb196d2102865c85a2022-12-22T02:20:33ZengWileyApplications in Plant Sciences2168-04502022-03-01102n/an/a10.1002/aps3.11466An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf AreaOndřej Hornych0Lucie Černochová1Aleš Lisner2Libor Ekrt3Department of Botany, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, CZ‐37005 Czech RepublicDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, CZ‐37005 Czech RepublicDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, CZ‐37005 Czech RepublicDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, CZ‐37005 Czech RepublicAbstract Premise Few studies have explored competition in fern gametophyte populations. One limiting factor is the tedious measurement of gametophyte size as a proxy for biomass in these small plants. Here, an alternative approach of estimating the number of green pixels from photos was employed to measure the competitive interactions among apomictic and sexual Dryopteris gametophytes. Methods We cultivated the gametophytes of two apomictic (diploid and triploid) and one sexual (tetraploid) Dryopteris species in monocultures and in two‐species mixtures in the ratios 1 : 1 and 1 : 3. The total gametophyte cover of each population originating from 20 spores was assessed using Easy Leaf Area. Assessments were performed weekly between weeks 4 and 10 of cultivation. Additionally, during week 5, the cover of each species in each mixture was estimated separately. Results We identified a positive correlation between gametophyte size and ploidy level as well as sexual reproduction. The performance of the tested species in mixtures was dependent on the competitor species identity, indicating the importance of competition between gametophytes. Discussion The methods outlined can be used for a rapid assessment of fern gametophyte cover in large gametophyte populations. Ploidy level and reproduction type seem to play a major role in the competitive abilities of fern gametophytes, but more research is needed on this topic.https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11466apomixiscompetitionDryopterismonoculturepteridophytespore |
| spellingShingle | Ondřej Hornych Lucie Černochová Aleš Lisner Libor Ekrt An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area Applications in Plant Sciences apomixis competition Dryopteris monoculture pteridophyte spore |
| title | An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area |
| title_full | An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area |
| title_fullStr | An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area |
| title_short | An experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using Easy Leaf Area |
| title_sort | experimental assessment of competitive interactions between sexual and apomictic fern gametophytes using easy leaf area |
| topic | apomixis competition Dryopteris monoculture pteridophyte spore |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11466 |
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