Conflicting selection on the timing of germination in a natural population of Arabidopsis thaliana.

摘要: The timing of germination is a key life-history trait that may strongly influence plant fitness and sets the stage for selection on traits expressed later in life cycle. In seasonal environments, period favourable total length growing season are limited. optimal therefore be governed by conflicting through survival fecundity. We conducted field experiment to examine effects survival, fecundity overall natural population annual herb Arabidopsis thaliana north-central Sweden. Seedlings were transplanted at three different times late summer autumn covering seed study population. Early was associated with low seedling but also high among established plants. advantages germinating early more than balanced disadvantage favoured germination. results suggest seeds main force opposing evolution earlier should vary space time as function direction strength acting during stages.