Nutrient competition between female cones and young seeds in spring affects the physiological dropping and nut-setting rate in Torreya grandis.

Abstract

Physiological seed drop is a recognized phenomenon in economic forest, caused by the abscission of developing seeds due to intergroup competition for resources. However, little is known about the resource allocation dynamics in species exhibiting a biennial fruiting cycle, where interactions occur not only among seeds of the same year but also between reproductive structures from consecutive years. In this study, we explored the dynamics of resource allocation in Torreya grandis, a nut crop with a prototypical two-year seed development pattern. We implemented thinning treatments of 0%, 30%, and 60% on female cones and/or immature seeds during the spring, targeting various stages of development both pre- and post-pollination. Our findings reveal a pronounced resource competition in Torreya, evidenced by a natural seed-setting rate of merely 9.4%. Contrary to expectations, seed thinning did not lead to an obvious increase in nut-setting rates, whereas a substantial increase to 20.5% was observed when female cones were thinned by 60% at 20 days before pollination. The cone thinning treatment appears to have influenced seed development through positive cytokinin and negative abscisic acid effects. This indicates that intergroup competition between female cones and nuts is a more significant factor in seed drop than inner nut competition, and there seems to be an interaction between the two groups. We demonstrate that, in Torreya with biennial seed development, it is the competition between female cones and immature seeds that is important. This insight expands our comprehension of the physiological mechanisms governing seed drop in biennial fruiting species and managing the reproductive organ load to optimize nutrient allocation.