Abstract
Kin recognition is important in animal social systems. However, though plants often compete with kin, there has been as yet no direct evidence that plants recognize kin in competitive interactions. Here we show in the annual plant Cakile edentula, allocation to roots increased when groups of strangers shared a common pot, but not when groups of siblings shared a pot. Our results demonstrate that plants can discriminate kin in competitive interactions and indicate that the root interactions may provide the cue for kin recognition. Because greater root allocation is argued to increase below-ground competitive ability, the results are consistent with kin selection.
Highlights
The predominant social interaction among plants, other than mating, is competition (Kelly 1996) for light, water and nutrients
We ask if the root allocation response to the roots of neighbours depends on relatedness
Allocation to reproduction responded to the presence of root neighbours but not to relatedness, with the greatest flowering allocation in solitary plants
Summary
Kin recognition is important in animal social systems. Though plants often compete with kin, there has been as yet no direct evidence that plants recognize kin in competitive interactions. We show in the annual plant Cakile edentula, allocation to roots increased when groups of strangers shared a common pot, but not when groups of siblings shared a pot. Our results demonstrate that plants can discriminate kin in competitive interactions and indicate that the root interactions may provide the cue for kin recognition. Because greater root allocation is argued to increase below-ground competitive ability, the results are consistent with kin selection
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