Interspecific and Intraspecific Competition Affects Raphanus raphanistrum (Radish) Average

Plant Height and Does Not Affect Zea mays (Corn) Average Plant Height

Heather Braden
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Abstract

Different species of plants have varying levels of tolerance for inter- and intraspecific

competition. Both Zea mays (corn) and Raphanus raphanistrum (radish) tolerance for

competition was tested by measuring the mean plant height. Plots of soil with different amounts

of corn and radish seeds was used to simulate this test. It was hypothesized that due to high

levels of genetic engineering, corn would not be affected by intraspecific competition but would

be affected by interspecific competition. In addition, it was also hypothesized that the robust

radishes would not be affected by interspecific competition but would be affected by

intraspecific competition Testing showed that the average corn plant heights were not affected by

either interspecific competition nor intraspecific competition due to having tolerance for both.

The average radish plant heights were only affected by intraspecific competition due to only

having a tolerance for interspecific competition. Farmers can use this data to discover effective

planting methods and natural de-weeding methods.

Introduction

Competition occurs between individuals when a finite amount of resources is available.

Between the need for space, light, water, food, or other necessities, plants undergo both

interspecific and/or intraspecific competition. Interspecific competition is the competition

between two differentiating species for the same resources. Interference is a type of interspecific

competition in which two species use direct methods to deal with tension. For example, black

walnut trees secrete toxins around themselves that prohibit other plants from growing there

(Gilad 2008). Exploitation is a more indirect method of interspecific competition where a species

uses up the resources in a specific space so that competitors cannot. Intraspecific competition,

however, is a competition within the same species for resources and reproduction. An example of
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intraspecific exploitation competition would be the competition for sunlight in a population of

trees by some trees growing taller than its neighbors, restricting its access to light (Gilad 208).

The nature of Zea mays (corn) and Raphanus raphanistrum (radishes) will display the

affects of interspecific and intraspecific competition in plants. As a result of genetic engineering

in plants, corn (Zea mays) has become increasingly resistant against intraspecific competition as

displayed in the increasing corn population density in corn fields. In the 1930s, an estimated

7,000 corn plants can be planted in a 100-acre plot of land whereas current the 2012 estimation

has increased to 56,000 corn plants per 100-acre as a direct result of this intraspecific tolerance

(Williams and Boydston 2013). However, genetic engineering and hybridization of corn plants

produce corn that do not have equal amounts of tolerance for crop-weed interspecific

competition. It is reported that there are around 50 species of weeds and grass that are

problematic to corn plants and although this corn hybridization reduces the effect of intraspecific

competition, effects of interspecific competition are dependent on the hybrid. A study that

observed 25 different corn hybrids reported data that crop-weed interspecific competition

reduced the corn ear mass between 24 to 82% based on the hybrid (Williams and Boydston

2013). With the help of technological advances and genetic engineering, corn has become

tolerant of intraspecific competition, but interspecific competition tolerance is dependent on the

type of corn hybrid planted.

Radishes (Raphanus raphanistrum) are fantastic natural method of loosening the soil for

future crops, and a weed suppressant as opposed to using an herbicide. There is a positive

correlation between radish crop density and weed growth. The wild radish is known to be a

highly competitive weed that has aggressive interspecific competition tactics against other weeds

and major field crops. Due to this tactic, radishes are used for weed suppression and a natural
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method of tilling land. The large holes in the land produced by uprooted radishes prevent weeds

from setting seeds (Gieske et al. 2016). A study regarding interspecific competition between

wheat (Triticum aestivum) and radishes entail a decrease in radish reproductive activity and

population size with the increase of wheat population size and production. Increasing the wheat

population size from 100 to 300 plants/m2 decreased the radish population down to half the

original size . However, population of weeds were also heavily decreased (Eslami et al. 2006).

This shows that radishes are known to be less aggressive when surrounded by differentiating

major crop populations but thrive in interspecies competition between other weeds. Due to the

large, robust root reserves, radishes are more resilient to competition and better at suppressing

weed growth, even if reproduction rate is diminished (Gruver et al. 2012).

This experiment will manipulate the ratio of corn seeds (Zea mays) and radish seeds

(Raphanus raphanistrum) to test the toleration of interspecific and intraspecific competition in

these species. Six pots of soil will be used during the study. Two pots will be used for each

species individually as the control, two will test the intraspecific toleration by using multiple

seeds of each individual species in the pot of soil, and the last two will test the interspecific

tolerance by having different amounts of both corn and radish seeds in each pot. Due to the

genetically engineered properties of corn and its high tolerance of intraspecific competition, it is

hypothesized that there will be no difference between intraspecific competition groups (no

competition effect) but there will be a statistical difference between interspecific competition

groups because it is less tolerant of that competition. It is also hypothesized that because of the

robust, resistant nature of radishes, and its high tolerance of interspecific competition, there will

be no difference between interspecific competition treatment groups and will have statistically

significant difference between intraspecific competition treatment groups.

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Methods

Six pots were filled with soil approximately 1 cm from the top of the pot. Each pot

received the correct amount and type of seeds dependent on the treatment labelled. One pot

received one corn seed, another one radish seed. For the intraspecific treatment, one pot received

four corn seeds, and the other pot received four radish seeds. For the interspecific treatment, one

pot received one corn and one radish seed, and the other pot received two corn and two radish

seeds. The seeds were covered with soil to the top of the pot and each pot received five sprays of

water. The pots were placed on a sunny windowsill for three weeks, each week the pots received

another five sprays of water. Amount of plant germination and plant height measurements (mm)

were recorded on the fourth week. All measurements were compiled and used to calculate mean

growth and 95% CI for a radish and corn bar graph. Two ANOVA tests were run and analyzed

for each species.

Results

Radishes did display a statistically significant difference among groups as determined by

one-way ANOVA (F(3,100) = 12.22, p< 0.05). The radish ANOVA test calculated F Calc

(12.21591) > F Crit (2.695534) (Table 1). The highest average plant growth (mm) for radishes is

for the plots that had one radish seed (1R) and one of each species seed (1R+1C). The only

treatment that did not have error bars that overlapped other error bars was the plot with four

radish seeds (4R), all other treatment’s error bars overlapped each other (Figure 1). Corn did not

display a statistically significant difference among groups as determined by one-way ANOVA

(F(3,100) = 2.06, p>0.05). The corn ANOVA test calculated F Calc (2.05833) < F Crit

(2.695534) (Table 1). Average corn growth (mm) peaked for the plot that contained one corn
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seed (1C) and was lowest for the plots with either four corn seeds (4C) or one seed of corn and

radishes (1C+1R). Error bars overlap for all treatments (Figure 2).

Table 1. F Calculated, P-value, and F Critical values derived from corn and radish growth (mm)

data and one-way ANOVA tests.

Species F Calc P-Value F Crit

0.11056 2.69553
Corn 2.05833 77 4
12.2159 7.087E- 2.69553
Radish 1 07 4

60

50
Average Growth (mm)

40

30

20

10

0
1R 4R 1R + 1C 2R + 2C
Treatment

Figure 1. Average radish (R: Raphanus raphanistrum) plant growth (mm) with interspecific and

intraspecific competition with corn (C: Zea mays) and 95% confidence intervals and an alpha

value of 0.05.
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180
160
140
Average Growth (mm)

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1C 4C 1R + 1C 2R + 2C
Treatment

Figure 2. Average corn plant growth (mm) with interspecific and intraspecific competition with

radishes and 95% confidence intervals and an alpha value of 0.05.

Discussion

The radish ANOVA test calculated that because F Calc (12.21591) > F Crit (2.695534),

the null hypothesis is to be rejected and the alternative hypothesis has failed to be rejected (Table

1). The alternative hypothesis for radishes is that due to their robust nature, radish height will not

be affected by interspecific competition, but will be affected by intraspecific competition. This

hypothesis is supported by Figure 1 in which the error bars overlap for the interspecific

competition (1R+1C) and (2R+2C) concluding that there is no statistically significant difference

between the two groups. Having no difference between the interspecific groups means that the

radishes are more tolerant of this type of competition and will not be affected by it. However, the

error bars for intraspecific competition (1R) and (4R) do not overlap, meaning there is a

significant difference between the two groups (Figure 1). This data by shows that the radish

height is less likely to be affected by interspecific competition than intraspecific competition.

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The corn ANOVA test calculated that because F Calc (2.05833) < F Crit (2.695534), the

alternative hypothesis is rejected, and the null hypothesis has failed to be rejected (Table 1). The

alternative hypothesis for corn is that due to genetic engineering, corn height will not be affected

by intraspecific competition, but will be affected by interspecific competition. This hypothesis is

not supported because Figure 2 shows that all interspecific and intraspecific competition

treatment groups have overlapping error bars, thus supporting the null hypothesis that there is no

difference between the groups (Figure 2). If the differences between groups are not statistically

significant, it can be concluded that corn is tolerant of both types of competition and plant height

will not be affected.

Radish tolerance of interspecific competition is supported with a study that measured the

effectiveness of radishes to prevent weeds from growing, a form of interspecific competition

called interference (Gieske et al. 2016). This supports the data recorded in this experiment that

concluded that radishes are best at tolerating (no effect on plant height) interspecific competition.

Williams and Boydston studied corn’s ability to tolerate interspecific and intraspecific

competition and concluded that there was no significant interaction between varying amounts of

seeding levels and weed levels (Williams and Boydston 2013). This is supportive of the data

recorded in this experiment. Errors that could have occurred is the fact that it is impossible to

control germination of radish and corn plants. It is difficult to differentiate the if a plant did not

germinate because it was a dead seed or because the treatment prevented germination. This

inability to control germination and differentiate why a seed did not germinate affects the data

because all seeds that did not sprout was listed as having 0 mm plant growth, thus affecting the

average plant height growth.

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Farmers that use this data can adjust farming schedules to ensure maximum crop

production and prevent competition that plants are not tolerant of. The tolerance of inter- and

intraspecific competition means that corn can be cultivated with other plants that tolerate

interspecific competition or corn can be mass produced in smaller plots of land. The tolerance of

interspecific competition and evidence of interference tactics means that radishes make for a

great, natural method for removing weeds while still producing crops. The results can provide

information to farmers that desire knowing the perfect ratio of corn to radish seeds, so that the

corn can thrive while still having the weed-suppressing benefits of radishes.

Bibliography

Eslami SV, Gill GS, Bellotti B, Mcdonald G. 2006. Comparative growth and competition of wild

radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) interference in wheat. Weed Science 54(04):749–756.

Gieske MF, Wyse DL, Durgan BR. 2016. Spring- and Fall-Seeded Radish Cover-Crop Effects

on Weed Management in Corn. Weed Technology 30(02):559–572.

Gilad O. 2008. Competition and Competition Models. Encyclopedia of Ecology 707-712.

Gruver J, Weil RR, White C, Lawley Y. 2012. Radishes – A New Cover Crop for Organic

Farming Systems. Organic Agriculture 1-14.

Williams MM, Boydston RA. 2013. Intraspecific and Interspecific Competition in Sweet Corn.

Agronomy Journal 105(2):503–508.