Early flowering enhances performance among conspecifics.

ABSTRACT: Timing plays a crucial role in plant survival as it determines the environmental conditions during which each phenophase develops. In Mediterranean regions, with high temperatures and low precipitation during summer, the timing of flowering may impact plant performance. Different species avoid harsh abiotic conditions by flowering weeks or months earlier than others. On a shorter time scale, conspecifics that flower just a few days earlier may also gain biotic advantages, such as reduced competition for nutrients or pollinators. We propose that earlier flowering, whether by days for conspecifics or by weeks to months for different species, allows plants to avoid biotic and abiotic stress, respectively, leading to increased reproductive success and growth. We hypothesize that: (i) earlier-f

SUBMITTER: Moreno-Colom P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846632 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature