Effects of competition on the growth of Lotus corniculatus L. seedlings produced by random and natural patterns of fruit abortion

Inflorescences of Lotus corniculatus abort c 1/2 of their immature fruits. Compared to random patterns of fruit abortion, natural patterns of fruit abortion (inflorescences that self-thinned their fruits) produced mature fruits that contain significantly more seeds. Progeny from self-thinned inflorescences had significantly more leaves and significantly greater stem length at 30, 60 and 90 days after germination and they had significantly greater dry weight at 90 days than progeny from hand-thinned inflorescences. Differences in vigor between progeny from hand- and self-thinned inflorescences are probably due to differences in the paternal parentage of seeds. -from Authors