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Research article2018Peer reviewedOpen access

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition on petals enhances seed quality of the forest herb Anemone nemorosa

De Frenne, P.; Blondeel, H.; Brunet, J.; Caron, M. M.; Chabrerie, O.; Cougnon, M.; Cousins, S. A. O.; Decocq, G.; Diekmann, M.; Graae, B. J.; Hanley, M. E.; Heinken, T.; Hermy, M.; Kolb, A.; Lenoir, J.; Liira, J.; Orczewska, A.; Shevtsova, A.; Vanneste, T.; Verheyen, K.

Abstract

Elevated atmospheric input of nitrogen (N) is currently affecting plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The growth and survival of numerous plant species is known to respond strongly to N fertilisation. Yet, few studies have assessed the effects of N deposition on seed quality and reproductive performance, which is an important life-history stage of plants. Here we address this knowledge gap by assessing the effects of atmospheric N deposition on seed quality of the ancient forest herb Anemone nemorosa using two complementary approaches. By taking advantage of the wide spatiotemporal variation in N deposition rates in pan-European temperate and boreal forests over 2years, we detected positive effects of N deposition on the N concentration (percentage N per unit seed mass, increased from 2.8% to 4.1%) and N content (total N mass per seed more than doubled) of A.nemorosa seeds. In a complementary experiment, we applied ammonium nitrate to aboveground plant tissues and the soil surface to determine whether dissolved N sources in precipitation could be incorporated into seeds. Although the addition of N to leaves and the soil surface had no effect, a concentrated N solution applied to petals during anthesis resulted in increased seed mass, seed N concentration and N content. Our results demonstrate that N deposition on the petals enhances bioaccumulation of N in the seeds of A.nemorosa. Enhanced atmospheric inputs of N can thus not only affect growth and population dynamics via root or canopy uptake, but can also influence seed quality and reproduction via intake through the inflorescences.

Keywords

Latitudinal gradient; nitrogen deposition; nutrient stoichiometry; seed provisioning; seed quality; sexual reproduction; wood anemone

Published in

Plant Biology
2018, Volume: 20, number: 3, pages: 619-626
Publisher: WILEY

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Botany

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12688

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95039