TY  - JOUR
A1  - De Frenne, Pieter
A1  - Blondeel, H.
A1  - Brunet, J.
A1  - Caron, M. M.
A1  - Chabrerie, O.
A1  - Cougnon, M.
A1  - Cousins, S. A. O.
A1  - Decocq, G.
A1  - Diekmann, M.
A1  - Graae, B. J.
A1  - Hanley, M. E.
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Hermy, M.
A1  - Kolb, A.
A1  - Lenoir, J.
A1  - Liira, J.
A1  - Orczewska, A.
A1  - Shevtsova, A.
A1  - Vanneste, T.
A1  - Verheyen, K.
T1  - Atmospheric nitrogen deposition on petals enhances seed quality of the forest herb Anemone nemorosa
JF  - Plant biology
N2  - 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.
KW  - Latitudinal gradient
KW  - nitrogen deposition
KW  - nutrient stoichiometry
KW  - seed provisioning
KW  - seed quality
KW  - sexual reproduction
KW  - wood anemone
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12688
SN  - 1435-8603
SN  - 1438-8677
VL  - 20
IS  - 3
SP  - 619
EP  - 626
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -