Vertically transmitted symbionts as mechanisms of transgenerational effects

A transgenerational eff ect occurs when a biotic or abiotic environmental factor acts on a parental individual and thereby aff ects the phenotype of progeny. Due to the importance of transgenerational eff ects for understanding plant ecology and evolution, their underlying mechanisms are of general interest. Here, we introduce the concept that inherited symbiotic microorganisms could act as mechanisms of transgenerational effects in plants. M ETHODS: We define the criteria required to demonstrate that transgenerational eff ects are microbially mediated and review evidence from the wellstudied, vertically transmitted plant–fungal symbiosis (grass– Epichloë spp.) in support of such eff ects. We also propose a basic experimental design to test for the presence of adaptive transgenerational eff ects mediated by plant symbionts. KEY RESULTS: An increasingly large body of literature shows that vertically transmitted microorganisms are common in plants, with potential to aff ect the phenotypes and fi tness of progeny. Transgenerational eff ects could occur via parental modifi cation of symbiont presence/absence, symbiont load, symbiont products, symbiont genotype or species composition, or symbiont priming. Several of these mechanisms appear likely in the grass– Epichloë endophytic symbiosis, as there is variation in the proportion of the progeny that carries the fungus, as well as variation in concentrations of mycelia and secondary compounds (alkaloids and osmolytes) in the seed. CONCLUSIONS: Symbiont-mediated transgenerational eff ects could be common in plants and could play large roles in plant adaptation to changing environments, but defi nitive tests are needed. We hope our contribution will spark new lines of research on the transgenerational eff ects of vertically transmitted symbionts in plants.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Gundel, Pedro Emilio, Rudgers, Jennifer A., Whitney, Kenneth D.
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Subjects:	INHERITED SYMBIONTS, MATERNAL EFFECTS, EPIGENETICS, EPICHLOË FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES, MICROORGANISMS,
Online Access:	http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=46285 http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=
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