The soil microbial community alters patterns of selection on flowering time and fitness-related traits in Ipomoea purpurea.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Plant flowering time plays an important role in plant fitness and thus evolutionary processes. Soil microbial communities are diverse and have a large impact, both positive and negative, on the host plant. However, owing to few available studies, how the soil microbial community may influence the evolutionary response of plant populations is not well understood. Here we sought to uncover whether belowground microbial communities act as an agent of selection on flowering and growth traits in the common morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea.

Methods

We performed a controlled greenhouse experiment in which genetic lines of I. purpurea were planted into either sterilized soils or in soils that were sterilized and inoculated with the microbial community from original field soil

SUBMITTER: Chaney L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7065020 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature