Transgenerational Effects of Kin Recognition in Plants: Soil Conditioning by an Invasive Plant

Abstract

Monospecific stands of invasive plant species are found in nearly all known ecosystems and can cause permanent lasting ecosystem damage via deleterious effects in soils. These deleterious soil effects are a proposed mechanism which drives invasions by plants and are known to be influenced by kin recognition in plants. Uncovering whether invasive species utilize kin recognition to facilitate their own ecological persistence via soil conditioning will allow us to better understand the drivers of plant invasions and help combat them. In my master’s thesis, I examined the role of kin recognition and kin selection on soil effects. I grew groups of Potentilla recta in groups of maternal half-sibs or strangers to condition the soil. I then grew a second generation of plants in that conditioned soil to determine the impacts of soil conditioning effects on plant performance. I found soil conditioning by groups of plants affected the performance of a second generation of plants based on the relatedness of the conditioning plants. Further, these soil effects of conditioning selectively benefit future individuals of a subsequent generation based on their relatedness. Moreover, these soil effects only existed in soil that has not been sterilized, indicating these soil effects depended on soil microbes.