The influence of gametophytic competition on sporophytic quality in Dianthus chinensis.

Pollinations were made on either the tip or the basal portions of the stigmatic surface in Dianthus chinensis. These two treatments provided, respectively, either good or modest opportunity for pollen tube competition. The pollen used came from a single clone. Technical and statistical methods were used to reduce greatly the influence of variation in seed weight. Seeds resulting from the two contrasting treatments were planted, and it was found that there were statistically significant differences in germination time and seedling weight between treatments. These results suggest that the quality of the F1 generation can be significantly modified by competition between pollen tubes from a single plant.