XVI International Botanical Congess
Hibiscus moscheutos, a wild species native to wetlands of the Southeastern United States was used to compare one- vs. three-year old and two- vs. five-year old seeds. Inbreeding depression was compared between seeds of different ages. Results of this study indicate that inbreeding depression was not constant throughout the fitness components measured. Inbreeding depression was present in seed mass, percent germination, and seedling growth rate. In addition, inbreeding effects varied among individual maternal plants, and between seeds of different ages. Inbreeding depression in percent germination was significantly greater in three- than in one-year old seeds. The results from this study are relevant to conservation efforts as artificially stored seeds are often utilized in restoration projects and long-term seed storage is used as a tool for conserving rare and endangered species.