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Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Donohue, K
Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
April 2009

Maternal effects on seed traits such as germination are important components of the life histories of plants because they represent the pathway from adult to offspring: the pathway that completes the life cycle. Maternal environmental effects on germination influence basic life-history expression, natural selection on germination, the expression of genetic variation for germination and even the genes involved in germination. Maternal effects on seed traits can even influence generation time and projected population growth rates. Whether these maternal environmental effects are imposed by the maternal genotype, the endosperm genotype or the embryonic genotype, however, is as yet unknown. Patterns of gene expression and protein synthesis in seeds indicate that the maternal genotype has the opportunity to influence its progeny's germination behaviour. Investigation of the phenotypic consequences of maternal environmental effects, regardless of its genetic determination, is relevant for understanding the variation in plant life cycles. Distinguishing the genotype(s) that control them is relevant for predicting the evolutionary trajectories and patterns of selection on progeny phenotypes and the genes underlying them.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2970

ISSN

0962-8436

Publication Date

April 2009

Volume

364

Issue

1520

Start / End Page

1059 / 1074

Related Subject Headings

  • Seeds
  • Seasons
  • Reproduction
  • Plants
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena
  • Plant Development
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Life Cycle Stages
  • Germination
  • Female
 

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Donohue, K. (2009). Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 364(1520), 1059–1074. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0291
Donohue, Kathleen. “Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 364, no. 1520 (April 2009): 1059–74. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0291.
Donohue K. Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological sciences. 2009 Apr;364(1520):1059–74.
Donohue, Kathleen. “Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, vol. 364, no. 1520, Apr. 2009, pp. 1059–74. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0291.
Donohue K. Completing the cycle: maternal effects as the missing link in plant life histories. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological sciences. 2009 Apr;364(1520):1059–1074.
Journal cover image

Published In

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2970

ISSN

0962-8436

Publication Date

April 2009

Volume

364

Issue

1520

Start / End Page

1059 / 1074

Related Subject Headings

  • Seeds
  • Seasons
  • Reproduction
  • Plants
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena
  • Plant Development
  • Maternal Behavior
  • Life Cycle Stages
  • Germination
  • Female