Predictability of parental ultraviolet-B environment shapes the growth strategies of clonal Glechoma longituba

Abstract

Although there is an increasing debate about ecological consequences of environmental predictability for plant phenotype and fitness, the effect of predictability of parental environments on the offspring is still indefinite. To clarify the role of environmental predictability in maternal effects and the growth strategy of clonal offspring, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with Glechoma longituba. The parental ramets were arranged in three ultraviolet-B (UV-B) conditions, representing two predictable environments (regular and enhanced UV-B) and an unpredictable environment (random UV-B), respectively. The offspring environments were the same as their parent or not (without UV-B). At the end of experiment, the growth parameters of offspring were analyzed. The results showed that maternal effects and offspring growth were regulated by environmental predictability. Offspring of unpredictable environmental parents invested more resources in improving defense components rather than in rapid growth. Although offspring of predictable parents combined two processes of defense and growth, there were still some differences in the strategies between the two offspring, and the offspring of regular parent increased the biomass allocation to roots (0.069 g of control vs. 0.092 g of regular), but that of enhanced parent changed the resource allocation of nitrogen in roots and phosphorus in blade. Moreover, when UV-B environments of parent and offspring were matched, it seemed that maternal effects were not adaptive, while the growth inhibition in the predictable environment was weaker than that in unpredictable environment. In the predictable environment, the recovered R/S and the increased defense substances (flavonoid and anthocyanin) contributed to improving offspring fitness. In addition, when UV-B environments of parent and offspring were mismatched, offspring growth was restored or improved to some extent. The offspring performance in mismatched environments was controlled by both transgenerational effect and within-generational plasticity. In summary, the maternal effects affected growth strategies of offspring, and the differences of strategies depended on the predictability of parental UV-B environments, the clone improved chemical defense to cope with unpredictable environments, while the growth and defense could be balanced in predictable environments. The anticipatory maternal effects were likely to improve the UV-B resistance.

DNA methylation variation and growth in the clonal Duchesnea indica is regulated by both past and present lead environments

“…Many studies focused on the same or different environments of clonal plant progeny and parents [ 6 , 7 ], However, clonal plants often face heterogeneous environments in natural environments, while it’s in heterogeneous environments usually tend to perform habitat selection [ 2 , 41 ]. Also, studies have shown that DNA methylation may be involved in the habitat selection behaviour of clonal plants [ 33 , 42 ].…”

Changes induced by parental neighboring touch in the clonal plant Glechoma longituba depend on the light environment

“…Parental environmental signals that can be perceived by clonal offspring via a connected spacer (stolon or rhizome) have been proven ( Liu et al., 2015 ; Guo et al., 2022 ; Tie et al., 2022 ; Xue et al., 2022 ). Moreover, in this study, although touch only took place between parents, its impact was transferred to their offspring, causing the decrease of ramet number, leaf area, leaf biomass and leaf investment (decreased LAR and LMR), but relatively less reduction in stolon biomass (increased S/L).…”

“…The maternal effect and the light adaptation of clonal offspring induced by it have been discussed in many studies. Some documented that the phenotype induced by the maternal effect may facilitate offspring to pre-adapt to a light environment ( Guo et al., 2022 ; Tie et al., 2022 ; Xue et al., 2022 ). The alternative view, however, stated that parental shading effects contributed little to the tolerance of clonal offspring to shading ( Dong et al., 2019 ).…”

“…In the present study, the interaction of parental neighboring touch and shade was explored with the clonal herb Glechoma longituba (Nakai) Kuprian, a “faithful” transmitter of the maternal effect ( Guo et al., 2022 ; Tie et al., 2022 ). Two environmental factors (light and touch) were conducted on the parental ramets.…”

Effects of UV-B Radiation Exposure on Transgenerational Plasticity in Grain Morphology and Proanthocyanidin Content in Yuanyang Red Rice

“…Regarding the kernels, the most significant changes were a decrease in empty grain rate and an increase in thousandgrain weight. In a study on the clonal plant Glechoma longituba L., it was found that the progeny allocated more resources for defense and increased flavonoid and anthocyanin contents under unpredictable UV-B conditions [45]. Overall, after the stressor was removed, rice experienced negative effects due to stress memory, as the growth strategy was to inhibit growth, allocate more resources to defense and offspring reproduction, increase proanthocyanidin content, and produce fewer but larger seeds.…”