Clonal integration: nutrient sharing between sister ramets of Solidago altissima (Compositae)

• Published in: American journal of botany Vol. 78; no. 11
• Main Authors: Abrahamson, W.G. (Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA), Anderson, S.S, McCrea, K.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.1991
• Subjects: CLONE; CLONES; COMPOSITAE; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; FISIOLOGIA VEGETAL; MULTIPLICATION VEGETATIVE; PHYSIOLOGIE VEGETALE; PROPAGACION VEGETATIVA; TRANSPORT DES SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; TRANSPORTE DE NUTRIENTES
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1991.tb11430.x

To test whether sharing of resources occurs among connected ramets of the tall goldenrod, Solidago altissima, we examined the extent of clonal integration for nutrients. In a greenhouse experiment, two-ramet clones were grown in a triad of connected pots so that nutrients could be supplied to either sister ramet or to their old rhizome (mother rhizome). Mother rhizomes and their associated roots shared nutrients with daughter ramets; however, any nutrient sharing that occurred between sister ramets was too little to significantly affect their growth. In addition, sister ramets not only competed for nutrients through parental connections, but larger ramets inhibited the growth of smaller ramets. We suggest that, for tall goldenrod, a clonal growth strategy in which nutrients are not shared among sister ramets may increase genet fitness by reducing the rhizome production of ramets in poor-nutrient microsites. Consequently, the genet would produce relatively fewer ramets in unfertile areas and make better use of heterogeneous nutrient resources