Maternal effects on early juvenile traits in Iris pumila (Iridaceae)

The variation in the maternal effects on a number of the early Iris pumila seedling traits expressed under high and low light levels in a growthroom was studied. A reciprocal crossing design was used for the establishment of 20 full-sib families. Each family consisted of two maternal groups differing only in genotype used as a seed parent. Maternal variation was estimated from the variance between maternal groups within sibships. Two parameters for maternal variation were computed: the maternal effects coefficient m2 and the coefficient of maternal variation CVM. Maternal effects significantly accounted for the phenotypic variation in seed mass and most of the early seedling traits. Light conditions prevailing during the seedling development markedly influenced overall structure of maternal correlations. Implications of maternal correlations on the integration of juvenile phenotype have also been discussed.