2024/06/01 by William Bezodis, Steven Penfield · 3 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Growth and nutrition in plants #Seed Germination and Physiology #Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0960258524000151
openalex publication_date 2024/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
Abstract The environment experienced by a plant before and after reproduction can have a profound effect on the behaviour of the progeny after shedding. Maternal environmental effects on seeds are important for phenology and fitness in plants, especially for bet-hedging reproductive strategies. Maternal tissues that disperse with seeds are important for dormancy in many species, particularly those with coat-imposed dormancy and those that disperse in indehiscent fruits. Maternal nitrogen status, temperature and photoperiod modify maternal tissues and also influence the developing zygote. During seed development on the mother, the progeny may acquire environmental information directly, but there is also evidence for maternal–filial signalling and the epigenetic inheritance of environmental information through the germline.