The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv
Tetracentron sinense Oliv., an endangered relict species from the Eocene, primarily relies on self-pollination in nature. However, the impacts of self-pollination on seed quality, seedling viability, and population renewal remain unclear. In this study, we applied four pollination treatments (self-p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002288 |
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| author | Hongyan Han Yang Chen Zheng Yang Xuemei Zhang Yonghong Ma Xiaohong Gan |
| author_facet | Hongyan Han Yang Chen Zheng Yang Xuemei Zhang Yonghong Ma Xiaohong Gan |
| author_sort | Hongyan Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tetracentron sinense Oliv., an endangered relict species from the Eocene, primarily relies on self-pollination in nature. However, the impacts of self-pollination on seed quality, seedling viability, and population renewal remain unclear. In this study, we applied four pollination treatments (self-pollination, geitonogamy, xenogamy, and natural pollination) to the inflorescences of T. sinense. Subsequently, seeds from each treatment were collected and evaluated for their phenotypic characteristics and germination traits. We then conducted a five-month continuous monitoring of seedling survival, assessed their initial growth, and established a dynamic life table to track their development progress. Our findings revealed that self-pollinated T. sinense seeds exhibited inferior phenotypic traits, including decreased length, width, thickness, and 1000-grain weight, as well as lower germination rates and germination indices compared to seeds from the other pollination treatments. Furthermore, self-pollinated seedlings displayed shorter stems, smaller cotyledons, and reduced dry weights, but had longer taproots than cross-pollinated seedlings. They also showed lower survival rates and higher mortality rates than cross-pollinated seedlings. Analysis of the mortality density and hazard rate functions revealed a significant mortality peak and the highest failure risk at the two-month stage in T. sinense seedlings, indicating potential challenges during this period. In conclusion, our results indicate that self-pollination poses a significant threat to the survival of T. sinense by reducing seed genetic quality and seedling viability. Consequently, enhancing the genetic quality of T. sinense seeds through artificial cross-pollination could be a crucial strategy for promoting population renewal and supporting conservation efforts in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb605f456c4749b3bab54b2d72f9bf6a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb605f456c4749b3bab54b2d72f9bf6a2025-08-20T03:13:08ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-08-0160e0362710.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03627The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense OlivHongyan Han0Yang Chen1Zheng Yang2Xuemei Zhang3Yonghong Ma4Xiaohong Gan5Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, ChinaAgriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Wusheng County, Guangan 638400, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China; Liziping Giant Panda’s Ecology and Conservation Observation and Research Station of Sichuan Province, Nanchong 637009, China; Correspondence to: College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China.Tetracentron sinense Oliv., an endangered relict species from the Eocene, primarily relies on self-pollination in nature. However, the impacts of self-pollination on seed quality, seedling viability, and population renewal remain unclear. In this study, we applied four pollination treatments (self-pollination, geitonogamy, xenogamy, and natural pollination) to the inflorescences of T. sinense. Subsequently, seeds from each treatment were collected and evaluated for their phenotypic characteristics and germination traits. We then conducted a five-month continuous monitoring of seedling survival, assessed their initial growth, and established a dynamic life table to track their development progress. Our findings revealed that self-pollinated T. sinense seeds exhibited inferior phenotypic traits, including decreased length, width, thickness, and 1000-grain weight, as well as lower germination rates and germination indices compared to seeds from the other pollination treatments. Furthermore, self-pollinated seedlings displayed shorter stems, smaller cotyledons, and reduced dry weights, but had longer taproots than cross-pollinated seedlings. They also showed lower survival rates and higher mortality rates than cross-pollinated seedlings. Analysis of the mortality density and hazard rate functions revealed a significant mortality peak and the highest failure risk at the two-month stage in T. sinense seedlings, indicating potential challenges during this period. In conclusion, our results indicate that self-pollination poses a significant threat to the survival of T. sinense by reducing seed genetic quality and seedling viability. Consequently, enhancing the genetic quality of T. sinense seeds through artificial cross-pollination could be a crucial strategy for promoting population renewal and supporting conservation efforts in the future.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002288Tetracentron sinense Oliv.Endangered plantConservation strategySelf-pollinationCross-pollinationSeed genetic quality |
| spellingShingle | Hongyan Han Yang Chen Zheng Yang Xuemei Zhang Yonghong Ma Xiaohong Gan The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv Global Ecology and Conservation Tetracentron sinense Oliv. Endangered plant Conservation strategy Self-pollination Cross-pollination Seed genetic quality |
| title | The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv |
| title_full | The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv |
| title_fullStr | The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv |
| title_full_unstemmed | The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv |
| title_short | The reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self-pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv |
| title_sort | reduction in genetic quality of seeds resulting from self pollination acts as a pivotal factor limiting the regeneration of the endangered plant tetracentron sinense oliv |
| topic | Tetracentron sinense Oliv. Endangered plant Conservation strategy Self-pollination Cross-pollination Seed genetic quality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425002288 |
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