Seed Germination Indicates Adaptive Transgenerational Plasticity in a Submerged Macrophyte.

Area of Science:

• Plant evolutionary biology
• Aquatic plant ecology
• Reproductive strategies

Background:

• Adaptive transgenerational plasticity is a key evolutionary mechanism in plants.
• Resource allocation in sexual reproduction influences plant survival and adaptation.
• Understanding plant responses to environmental gradients is crucial for predicting ecological success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the resource allocation strategy in sexual reproduction of Potamogeton maackianus.
• To reveal plant responses to different water depths through in situ seed germination experiments.
• To discuss the biased adaptability to maternal habitat in this aquatic species.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in situ seed germination experiments on Potamogeton maackianus across varying water depths.
• Analyzed resource allocation between sexual and asexual reproduction.
• Assessed seed quantity, quality, and germination percentages in relation to maternal water depth.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation between sexual and asexual reproduction was observed in water depths from 1.0 m to 3.0 m, but not at 4.0 m.
• Potamogeton maackianus produced more, lower-quality sexual units in shallow water and fewer, higher-quality units in deep water.
• Seed germination percentage increased with water depth, with optimal germination occurring when seed collection and treatment water depths matched, indicating maternal effects.

Conclusions:

• Trade-offs between sexual and asexual reproduction are expected in stressful, resource-limited habitats.
• Potamogeton maackianus exhibits adaptive transgenerational plasticity, with maternal environment influencing offspring germination traits.
• This plasticity is vital for evolutionary adaptation to varying water depths and selection pressures.