Macroevolutionary patterns in seed component mass and different evolutionary trajectories across seed desiccation...

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Plant sciences
• Ecology

Background:

• Seed coat and reserve mass vary significantly, influencing plant life strategies.
• Little is known about the macroevolution of seed component allocation and its ecophysiological impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model mass changes in seed components across lineages.
• To compare these patterns in relation to seed desiccation responses.
• To understand the evolutionary tempo and mode of seed component mass.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic comparative methods were used.
• Evolutionary modelling approaches were applied.
• Mass changes in seed components were modeled for 940 species.

Main Results:

• Seed component allocation is mainly driven by reserve mass changes, with faster evolutionary rates than coat mass.
• Scaling patterns between reserve and coat mass are similar across desiccation responses.
• Desiccation-sensitive seeds allocate more to reserves and evolve them faster than desiccation-tolerant seeds.

Conclusions:

• Reserve mass is more critical than coat mass in the evolution of plant reproductive strategies.
• Enlarged seed reserves may offer ecological advantages.
• This study provides the first quantification of evolutionary rates in seed component mass, advancing understanding of seed storage and desiccation sensitivity evolution.