DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79vw
title: Intraspecific seed competition and genetic diversity within the capsule fruits of Aristolochia contorta

description: 1. Genetic diversity and competitive dynamics are crucial in shaping plant
 communities. However, these dynamics have not been examined thoroughly in
 the context of seed position within a fruit. This study integrated genetic
 analysis and seed competition experiments to understand genetic diversity
 and competitive dynamics within Aristolochia  contorta. By
 combining molecular markers and seed competition trials, we aimed to
 deduce the roles of genetic factors and seed position in influencing
 seedling success, facilitating a comprehensive assessment of both genetic
 and environmental contributions to growth patterns in this species. 2.
 Centrally positioned seeds showed superior growth and germination rates
 due to their larger size and weight, providing a competitive edge over
 peripheral seeds, highlighting the influence of seed position on nutrient
 allocation and competition during germination. 3. Regarding fruit
 orientation during sowing, vertically upward-sown fruits showed the
 highest number of shoots per fruit, suggesting that the physical
 orientation of the fruit may influence early seedling growth. This result
 emphasizes the importance of environmental factors (such as light exposure
 and soil contact) in determining the success of early-stage seedlings. 4.
 Genetic diversity was low within and among fruits, with genetic
 differentiation also being low among groups. Most genetic variation was
 observed within individuals rather than between groups, indicating a
 relatively homogeneous genetic structure within the population. The low
 genetic diversity may be attributed to the species' reproductive
 strategies, particularly the low efficiency of pollinators, which
 restricts gene flow and variation. 5. In summary, these results suggest
 that non-genetic factors, such as environmental conditions and seed
 position, play a significant role in seedling success and competitive
 interactions. Our findings provide valuable insights into evolutionary
 biology and conservation strategies of A. contorta. The observed low
 genetic diversity highlights potential challenges for the species in
 adapting to environmental changes. Our findings remain robust despite the
 small sampling size and the use of whole seeds for DNA extraction. They
 emphasize the importance of considering environmental factors and seed
 position in conservation efforts. 
description: # Intraspecific seed competition and genetic diversity within the capsule
 fruits of Aristolochia contorta
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79vw](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79vw) ## Description of the data and file structure This dataset contains measurements related to seed traits, collective and individual sowing experiments, and filtered SNP data for *Aristolochia contorta*. It was collected as part of a study on seed competition and genetic diversity. ### Files and variables #### Files in this dataset * `rawdata_Acontorta.xlsx`: Main dataset containing multiple sheets: * **Seed traits**: Measurements of individual seed traits. * **Collective sowing**: Results from group sowing experiments. * **Individual sowing**: Results from individually sown seeds. * **Individual sowing germination**: Germination outcomes of individually sown seeds. * **Filtered SNP**: SNP data after filtering. ## Variables and Abbreviations ### Seed Traits * `Fruit`: Fruit ID from which the seed was collected. * `Seed order`: Order of the seed within the fruit. * `Seed length(mm)`: Seed length in millimeters. * `Seed weight(mg)`: Seed weight in milligrams. ### Collective Sowing * `Days after germination`: Number of days post-germination. * `No. of shoots`: Count of shoots at each observation time. * `Stem length`: Stem length measured in millimeters. ### Individual Sowing * `Seed order`: Seed order within the fruit. * `Stem length(cm)`: Stem length in centimeters. * `No. of leaves`: Number of leaves observed. ### Individual Sowing Germination * `Seed order`: Seed order within the fruit. * `Germination(1.Yes, 0.No)`: Whether the seed germinated (1 = Yes, 0 = No). ### Filtered SNP * `SNP info`: ID of the SNP. * `pos`: SNP position. * `ref`: Reference allele. * `SNP matrix`: Allele call for different samples. * `Total_allele`: Count of alleles (Reference + Alternative + Heterozygous). * `Major_allele_frequency`: Frequency of the major allele. * `Minor_allele_frequency`: Frequency of the minor allele. * `Heterozygosity`: Proportion of heterozygous sites. * `PIC`: Polymorphic information content. * `Genic/Intergenic`: Whether the SNP is in a gene or intergenic region. * `Flanking sequence`: 600bp flanking sequence around the SNP. ## Code/software ## Software Requirements * The dataset is provided in `.xlsx` format and can be opened with Microsoft Excel, R, or Python (`pandas` library). * SNP analysis may require specialized bioinformatics tools such as PLINK or TASSEL. ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * Not applicable Data was derived from the following sources: * Not applicable