CO2 and nitrogen, but not population density, alter the size and C/N ratio of Phytolacca americana seeds

Summary 1 Plants can provision seeds by optimizing seed size, number and nutrient content to maximize parental fitness. According to the McGinley–Charnov hypothesis, seed size should be determined by the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) available to the plant, with larger seed size correlating with larger C/N ratios and smaller absolute N content. 2 This hypothesis was tested by establishing monocultures of Phytolacca americana L. (Phytolaccaceae) at three population densities under ambient and elevated CO2 environments, with two availabilities of soil N. 3 Elevated CO2 reduced both seed size and N concentration while increasing the C/N ratio; high soil N availability produced the opposite result for N concentration and C/N ratio. Higher planting densities reduced plant biomass, but did not alter seed size. 4 In accordance with the McGinley–Charnov hypothesis, larger seeds had both larger C/N ratios and smaller N content. However, the increase in C/N ratio caused by elevated CO2 corresponded with smaller seeds overall: elevated CO2 reduced seed size, although the seed size–C/N relationship remained positive. 5 These results suggest an alternative mechanism to explain variation in seed size, and suggest that future climate conditions may alter seed quality and plant reproductive behaviour.