Phenotypic plasticity is essential for organisms to adapt to local ecological conditions. Little is known about how mutualistic interactions, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, mediate plant phenotypic plasticity and to what extent this plasticity may be heritable (i.e. transgenerational effects). We tested for plant plasticity within- and across-generations in response to AM symbiosis and varying water availability in a full factorial experiment over two generations, using the perennial apomictic herb Taraxacum brevicorniculatum. We examined changes in phenotype, performance, and AM fungal colonization of the offspring throughout plant development. AM symbiosis and water availability triggered phenotypic changes during the life cycle of plants. Additionally, both triggered adaptive transgenerational effects, especially detectable during the juvenile stage. Drought stress and absence of AM fungi caused concordant plant phenotypic modifications towards a stress-coping phenotype within- and across-generations. AM fungal colonization of offspring was also affected by the parental environment. AM symbiosis can trigger transgenerational effects, including changes in functional traits related to resource-use acquisition and AM fungal colonization of the offspring, in turn affecting the biotic interaction. Thus, transgenerational effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis are not limited to plant fitness, but also improve plants ability to cope with environmental stress.

中文翻译：

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菌根共生通过可塑性缓解了植物代内和代间的植物干旱胁迫

表型可塑性对于生物适应当地生态条件至关重要。关于诸如丛枝菌根（AM）共生之类的相互影响如何介导植物表型可塑性以及该可塑性在多大程度上可遗传（即跨代效应），人们所知甚少。我们使用多年生无融合生草本植物蒲公英（Traxacum brevicorniculatum），在两个世代的全因子实验中，针对AM共生和变化的水利用率测试了世代内和世代间的植物可塑性。我们研究了整个植物发育过程中后代的表型，性能和AM真菌定植的变化。AM共生和水的可利用性在植物的生命周期中引发了表型的变化。此外，两者都触发了自适应跨代效应，特别是在少年阶段可以检测到。干旱胁迫和AM真菌的缺乏导致了代内和代间对应激表型的一致植物表型修饰。后代的AM真菌定植也受到父母环境的影响。AM共生可以触发跨代效应，包括与资源利用获得和后代AM真菌定植有关的功能性状发生变化，进而影响生物相互作用。因此，菌根共生的转世效应不仅限于植物适应性，而且还提高了植物应对环境胁迫的能力。后代的AM真菌定植也受到父母环境的影响。AM共生可以触发跨代效应，包括与资源利用获得和后代AM真菌定植有关的功能性状变化，进而影响生物相互作用。因此，菌根共生的转世效应不仅限于植物适应性，而且还提高了植物应对环境胁迫的能力。后代的AM真菌定植也受到父母环境的影响。AM共生可以触发跨代效应，包括与资源利用获得和后代AM真菌定植有关的功能性状变化，进而影响生物相互作用。因此，菌根共生的转世效应不仅限于植物适应性，而且还提高了植物应对环境胁迫的能力。