Population Biology and Mineral Nutrition of Anemone nemorosa with Emphasis on its Parasitic Fungi

Abstract

Summary Fruit production, germination and plant growth were studied in a population of Anemone nemorosa , a perennial rhizome geophyte, in deciduous woods in Northern FRG. Most of the reproductive strategy is directed to vegetative reproduction, less than 5% to generative reproduction. The same tendency is present for the storage of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, which are predominantly accumulated in the rhizome. The leaf rust fungi Ochropsora ariae and Tranzschelia anemones affect leaf performance as well as vegetative and generative reproduction. Ochropsora reduces fruit production for up to 70%, whereas Tranzschelia completely inhibit generative reproduction. The rhizome inhabiting ascomycete Sclerotinia tuberosa strongly affect the mineral nutrition and reproduction of Anemone nemorosa.