Effects of sexual reproduction on growth and vegetative propagation in theperennial geophyte Arum italicum (Araceae)

The influences of sexual reproduction on growth and vegetative propagation were analysed in three populations of the geophyte Arum italicum Miller (Ar aceae). In an observational study using multiple regression, a negative inf luence of reproduction on tuber mass was detected for two populations. In a n experimental study, "control" and "inflorescence removal" treatments were imposed on plants from one of the populations. Tuber growth was significan tly lower in "control" plants than in "removal" plants, indicating the exis tence of a somatic cost of reproduction. The somatic cost of reproduction w as decreased by an increasing degree of temporal coincidence between leaves and reproductive structures on the plant. Neither the observational nor th e experimental studies showed any negative effect of sexual reproduction on vegetative propagation.