Early growth of chilli seedlings depends on the presence and identity of their neighbour.

Abstract

<p>(<b>a</b>) Seedlings growing next to a fennel (grey solid line and triangles) are marginally significantly taller than those growing next to an adult chilli plant (black solid line and squares; Pair-wise contrasts, P = 0.07) and significantly taller than seedlings in the empty control (black dotted line and white diamonds; Pair-wise contrasts, P = 0.01). The observed differences in above-ground growth among treatments (adult fennel plant, grey solid line and triangles; adult chilli plant, black solid line and squares; empty control, black dotted line and white diamonds) are amplified over time. Only plants that emerged by day 14 are included in these analyses (n = 32 per treatment). Error bars indicate standard errors. (<b>b</b>) Growth differences disappear when seedlings are allowed to grow in the absence of any adult plant after emergence (n = 80 per treatment). Error bars indicate standard errors.</p