ena-STUDY-UP-04-10-2016-18:15:53:812-783
Maternal effects on the phenotype, resistance and the structuring of fungal communities of Eucalyptus grandis
• The environmental experience of plants can modulate the development and interaction of the offspring with other organisms. These maternal effects are not related with DNA modifications, but through seed provisioning and epigenetic modifications. This study aims to consider the influence of maternal plants, naturally exposed to abiotic and biotic stressors, on their progeny and its biotic interactions. • Seeds were collected from two Eucalyptus grandis clonal seed orchards, with different abiotic and biotic conditions (2 maternal environments × 3 genotypes × 3 ramets × 90 seeds). Seed and seedling development, and their response to natural pest infection and pathogen inoculation were measured. Finally, foliar fungal communities of the seedlings were assessed using Ilumina Miseq.• Germination and height of seedlings was influence by the maternal environments. Seedlings from one of the maternal environments were significantly more resistance to the pathogen than seedlings from the other. Although not significant, the same seedling response against the pest infection was found. The composition and diversity of foliar fungal communities also differed between the two maternal environments.• We found that the abiotic/biotic differences in the maternal environment affected plant performance and resistance. Moreover, the maternal environment can define the structure of foliar fungal communities in the subsequent generation.
• The environmental experience of plants can modulate the development and interaction of the offspring with other organisms. These maternal effects are not related with DNA modifications, but through seed provisioning and epigenetic modifications. This study aims to consider the influence of maternal plants, naturally exposed to abiotic and biotic stressors, on their progeny and its biotic interactions. • Seeds were collected from two Eucalyptus grandis clonal seed orchards, with different abiotic and biotic conditions (2 maternal environments × 3 genotypes × 3 ramets × 90 seeds). Seed and seedling development, and their response to natural pest infection and pathogen inoculation were measured. Finally, foliar fungal communities of the seedlings were assessed using Ilumina Miseq.• Germination and height of seedlings was influence by the maternal environments. Seedlings from one of the maternal environments were significantly more resistance to the pathogen than seedlings from the other. Although not significant, the same seedling response against the pest infection was found. The composition and diversity of foliar fungal communities also differed between the two maternal environments.• We found that the abiotic/biotic differences in the maternal environment affected plant performance and resistance. Moreover, the maternal environment can define the structure of foliar fungal communities in the subsequent generation.