Patterns of variation in Ontario wild rice ( Zizania Aquatica L.).2. Differential responses of populations to varying cultivation conditions

Abstract

Wild rice plants from four seed sources were grown in two greenhouses and one lake that did not previously support wild rice. Morphometric responses of the plants to the varying cultivation conditions differed among the seed sources. One population was particularly sensitive to the different environments, and appeared to have a superior capacity to exploit favourable conditions for improved productivity. It is argued that differential phenotypic plasticity among wild rice populations may be adaptive and related to climatic factors. The implications of the results for breeding wild rice for lake production are discussed.