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INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION AND AGGREGATION IN A POPULATION OF SOLANUM FORSKALII DUNAL IN A SEMI-ARID HABITAT: IMPACT ON REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT, GROWTH AND PHENOLIC CONTENTS

S. SHAHID SHAUKAT, WAQAR AHMED, MOAZZAM A. KHAN AND ATIF SHAHZAD

Abstract: This investigation focuses on intra-specific competition in a virtually pure population of Solanum forskalii Dunal in a semi-arid area. Intra-specific competition was inferred from correlation between nearest-neighbor distances and plant sizes. In addition, the effect of intra-specific competition on number of leaves, biomass, reproductive output and soluble phenol content was also examined. Plant cover, number of leaves, biomass and reproductive output (number of fruits were positively correlated with inter-plant distance indicating that intra-specific competition caused reduction in all these parameters as the distance between nearest neighboring individuals diminished. Soluble phenol content in roots and leaves was found negatively correlated with the nearest neighboring distance between plant pairs. Accumulation of phenols in response to biotic interaction presumably provides a protective mechanism against the biotic stress of intra-specific competition.

Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan