Drought soil legacy overrides maternal effects on plant growth.

ABSTRACT: Maternal effects (i.e. trans-generational plasticity) and soil legacies generated by drought and plant diversity can affect plant performance and alter nutrient cycling and plant community dynamics. However, the relative importance and combined effects of these factors on plant growth dynamics remain poorly understood.We used soil and seeds from an existing plant diversity and drought manipulation field experiment in temperate grassland to test maternal, soil drought and diversity legacy effects, and their interactions, on offspring plant performance of two grassland species (Alopecurus pratensis and Holcus lanatus) under contrasting glasshouse conditions.Our results showed that drought soil legacy effects eclipsed maternal effects on plant biomass. Drought soil legacy effect

SUBMITTER: De Long JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6767434 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature