Data from: Inheritance of somatic mutations can affect fitness in monkeyflowers
Data files
Apr 23, 2025 version files 2.92 GB
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10_units_perc_dev_long.txt
1.53 KB
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4_units_all_data_final_transformed.txt
60.60 KB
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fruit_seed_wt_count_paired_all_units_05-06-2024.txt
2.43 KB
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Germination_photos.zip
2.92 GB
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README.md
4.02 KB
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ten_units_drought_survival_biomass_transform_data.txt
74.56 KB
Abstract
Plants have the ability to transmit mutations to progeny that arise through both meiotic and mitotic (somatic) cell divisions. This is because the same meristem cells responsible for vegetative growth will also generate gametes for sexual reproduction. Despite the potential for somatic mutations to contribute to genetic variation and adaptation, their role in plant evolution remains largely unexplored. We conducted experiments with the bush monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus) to assess the phenotypic effects of somatic mutations inherited across generations. By generating self-pollinations within a flower (autogamy) or between flowers on different stems of the same plant (geitonogamy), we tracked the effects of somatic mutations transmitted to progeny. Autogamy and geitonogamy lead to different segregation patterns of somatic mutations among stems, with only autogamy resulting in offspring that are homozygous for somatic mutations specific to that stem. This allowed us to compare average phenotypic differences between pollination treatments that could be attributed to the inheritance of somatic variants. While most experimental units showed no impacts on fitness, in some cases, we detected increased seed production, as well as significant increases in drought tolerance, even though M. aurantiacus is already well adapted to drought conditions. We also found increased variance in drought tolerance following autogamy, consistent with the hypothesis that somatic mutations transmitted between generations can impact fitness. These results highlight the potential role of inherited somatic mutations as a relevant source of genetic variation in plant evolution.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4nf
Description of the data and file structure
Plants can transmit mutations to their offspring through both meiotic and mitotic divisions, as meristem cells responsible for growth also produce gametes. Despite their potential role in plant evolution, the impact of somatic mutations remains understudied. We conducted experiments with Mimulus aurantiacus to assess the phenotypic effects of somatic mutations passed across generations. By comparing self-pollination (autogamy) and pollination between flowers on different stems (geitonogamy), we tracked somatic mutations inherited by progeny. Only autogamy led to homozygous offspring for specific mutations. While most cases showed no fitness impacts, some exhibited increased seed production and drought tolerance, indicating that inherited somatic mutations may influence plant evolution.
Files and variables
File: 4_units_all_data_final_transformed.txt
Description: 5 fitness estimates from the four units analyzed via MANOVA
Variables
- unit: experimental unit
- cross: autogamy (A) or geitonogamy (G)
- days_to_germinate: germination time
- growth_rate_day: growth rate
- drought_b: drought tolerance
- survival_time: survival time (days)
- biomass: above ground biomass (g)
- sqrt_germ: square root of germination time
- log_germ: log of germination time
- sqrt_growth: square root of growth rate
- log_growth: log of growth rate
- sqrt_b: square root of drought tolerance
- log_b: log of drought tolerance
- sqrt_surv: square root of survival
- log_surv: log of survival
- sqrt_bio: square root of biomass
- log_bio: log of biomass
File: 10_units_perc_dev_long.txt
Description: percent deviation in the mean and standard deviation between pollination treatments for each fitness variable in each unit
Variables
- unit: experimental unit
- trait: fitness estimate
- A_mean: mean value from autogamous plants in that unit
- G_mean: mean value from geitonogamous plants in that unit
- perc_dev_mean: percent deviation in the mean fitness between autogamy and geitonogamy
- perc_dev_sd: percent deviation in the standard deviation between autogamy and geitonogamy
File: fruit_seed_wt_count_paired_all_units_05-06-2024.txt
Description: seed count, weight and fruit weight data from all 42 units
Variables
- genet: the genotype of the plant
- pollen_donor: flower that donated the pollen to create the experimental unit
- unit: experimental unit
- A_seed_wt: seed weight from autogamy fruit
- A_fruit_wt: fruit weight from autogamy fruit
- G_avg_seed_wt: mean seed weight among the 2-3 fruits created via geitonogamy
- G_avg_fruit_wt: mean fruit weight among the 2-3 fruits created via geitonogamy
- A_seed_count: seed count from the autogamy fruit
- G_avg_seed_count: mean seed count among the 2-3 fruits created via geitonogamy
File: ten_units_drought_survival_biomass_transform_data.txt
Description: data on drought tolerance, survival, and biomass from all 10 units
Variables
- unit: experimental unit
- cone: individual pot (NA= missing data)
- cross: autogamy or geitonogamy
- drought_b: drought tolerance
- survival_time: survival time (days)
- biomass: above-ground biomass (g)
- log_surv: log survival time
- sqrt_surv: square root survival time
- log_biomass: log biomass
- sqrt_biomass: square room biomass
File: Germination_photos.zip
Description: raw photos taken from each tray (A1, A2, C1, C2) from the four experimental units where germination and growth rates were measured.
Code/software
All analyses conducted in R. The code required to produce the figures and run the analyses of the related paper are uploaded to Zenodod: drought_survival_biomass_anova_code_10_units.txt , fig_2.txt, MANOVA_4_units.txt, paired_t_tests_seed_data.txt, fig_1.txt, logistic_fits_drought_tolerance.txt