Large seeds provide an intrinsic growth advantage that depends on leaf traits and root allocation

Seed mass and growth rate are important dimensions of plant ecological
diversity, but their relationship remains unresolved. Negative
relationships between relative growth rate (RGR) and seed mass are well
established. However, RGR is size-dependent, so small-seeded species might
achieve fast growth simply because they are initially small. Using a
dataset of unprecedented size, sampling 382 grass species, we investigated
seed mass and growth rate using both RGR and SGR (RGR at a specific size),
accounting for diversity in phylogeny, ecology (e.g. life history,
photosynthetic pathway) and environment (mean annual temperature and
precipitation). RGR and SGR showed contrasting relationships with seed
mass, such that large-seeded species had lower RGR but higher SGR than
small-seeded species. However, the relationship between SGR and seed mass
depended on leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and was only positive in
high-LDMC species. When compared at a common size, the fast growth of
large-seeded and low-LDMC species was associated with greater biomass
allocation to roots in the hot, high-light environment used for our
experiment. Photosynthetic pathway and life history contributed to
variation in SGR, with C4 annuals having higher SGRs than C3 perennials
regardless of seed size. Large seeds therefore afford an intrinsic growth
advantage in species with resource-conserving leaf traits, and may provide
a competitive edge in resource-poor environments. This work advances
understanding of how seed mass and growth rate coevolve with other
ecological factors.