Project Detail

Mom knows best: maternal effects in Plantago lanceolata and its potential role in ecological differentiation of natural populations

Name:	Mom knows best: maternal effects in Plantago lanceolata and its potential role in ecological differentiation of natural populations
Researchers:	Latzel Vít (researcher)
Provider:	Grantová agentura České republiky
Realization from:	2010
Realization to:	2012
Summary:	Plants often react to environmental variation by phenotypic plasticity. This plasticity is a functionally appropriate adjustment of the phenotype that acts to enhance fitness under current environmental conditions. In certain conditions, expressed phenotype of mother could be extended to their offspring. This aspect is called maternal effect. Theoretical studies suggest that in case of the maternal effect influence the phenotypic expression of traits contributing to individual fitness and if these traits are genetically based and under natural selection, maternal effect may thus influence the evolution of natural populations. In the proposed project, it will be observed whether maternal effects influence the growth expression, fitness and physiological status of offspring in their maternal as well as non-maternal environments. It will be also tested whether maternal effects could contribute to dichotomy between different regenerative strategies (resprouting vs. seeding) in differently productive environments. Plantago lanceolata will be used as model species.