TITLE:
The Influence of Altitude and Latitude on Breeding of Amomum tsaoko (Zingiberaceae)
AUTHORS:
Yao-Wen Yang, Xiao-Li Liu, Chun-Xia Pu, Zi-Gang Qian, Kai-Yun Guan
KEYWORDS:
Amomum tsaoko; Flower Number per Inflorescence; Reproduction; Trade-Off; Floral Longevity
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.2 No.1,
March
6,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective: To explore the effect of
altitude and latitude on breeding of Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemaire, a flexistylous
ginger, which fruit is used as common materia medica and a food condiment.
Methods: The 7 populations were selected randomly from the three floristic
zones of Yunnan. Adult plants and infructescences were chosen randomly to gain flower
number and fructification percentage per inflorescence, and seed number per
fruit. All date was analyzed by SPSS (13.0 version). Results: As A. tsaoko was
distributed (or transplanted) from a habitat at lower latitude and/or altitude
to a site of higher latitude and/or altitude, the flower number per
inflorescence increased, on the contrary, the fructification percentage per
inflorescence decreased. The competition for reproductive resource was
beneficial to increase flower number and seed production. Conclusions: The
habitats in south of the tropic of cancer were favorable to the reproduction of
A. tsaoko, which reproductive costs were lower and harvest was higher.
Increasing flower number per inflorescence may be a strategy to promote the
plant to distribute into alpine habitats for both female and male reproductive
success.