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The dataset consists of three comma-delimited plain text files corresponding to (i) Epigenotypic data of maternal modules, (ii) phenotypic data of maternal modules, and (iii) phenotypic data of the subprogenies obtained in the greenhouse, for different modules from adult, wild-grown, field-sampled plants of the shrub Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae). Five modules, each consisting of a terminal branchlet bearing one inflorescence and its subtending leaves, were collected from each of 15 wild-growing L. latifolia plants from a large population growing near Arroyo Aguaderillos in the Sierra de Cazorla (Jaén province, southeastern Spain; geographical coordinates 37.96157 N, 2.88389 W). Each module was characterized epigenotypically by the methylation state of methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (MS-AFLP), and phenotypically by fecundity-related traits (inflorescence length, and size, number and mass of seeds produced). Seeds from the different modules were sown in the greenhouse and resulting ‘subprogenies’ characterized phenotypically (germination probability and time to emergence, seedling size, susceptibility to fungal disease). For MS-AFLP data, each column refer to a specific (although anonymous) marker, identified by primer combination and size (base pairs)., This dataset includes three files containing (i) Epigenotypic data of maternal modules, (ii) phenotypic data of maternal modules, and (iii) phenotypic data of greenhouse subprogenies for different modules of 15 adult, wild-grown, field-sampled plants of the shrub Lavandula latifolia., Partial support for this study was provided by grants PID2019-104365GB-I00 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spanish Government) and P18-FR-4413 (Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, Andalusian Government)., Five modules, each consisting of a terminal branchlet bearing one inflorescence and its subtending leaves, were collected from each of 15 wild-growing L. latifolia plants from a large population growing near Arroyo Aguaderillos in the Sierra de Cazorla (Jaén province, southeastern Spain; geographical coordinates 37.96157 N, 2.88389 W). Each module was characterized epigenotypically by the methylation state of methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (MS-AFLP), and phenotypically by fecundity-related traits (inflorescence length, and size, number and mass of seeds produced). Seeds from the different modules were sown in the greenhouse and resulting ‘subprogenies’ characterized phenotypically (germination probability and time to emergence, seedling size, susceptibility to fungal disease). For MS-AFLP data, each column refer to a specific (although anonymous) marker, identified by primer combination and size (base pairs). Further details can be obtained in Herrera, Carlos M.; Medrano, Mónica; Bazaga, Pilar; Alonso, Conchita. 2022. Ecological significance of intraplant variation: epigenetic mosaicism in Lavandula latifolia plants predicts extant and transgenerational variability of fecundity-related traits. Journal of Ecology (in press)., Peer reviewed

Intraindividual epigenetic mosaicism is probably widespread among long-lived plants, yet its ecological significance as a potential source of variation in fitness-related traits in plant populations remains virtually unexplored. This paper examines the hypothesis that extant epigenetic variation within plants can have both current and transgenerational fecundity correlates which could eventually translate into fitness variations among different parts of the same individual and their respective offspring.
Five modules, each consisting of a terminal branchlet bearing one inflorescence and its subtending leaves, were collected from each of 15 wild-growing Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae) plants. They were characterized epigenotypically by the methylation state of methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MS-AFLP) markers, and phenotypically by fecundity-related traits (inflorescence length, and size, number and mass of seeds produced). Seeds from the different modules were sown in the greenhouse and resulting ‘subprogenies’ characterized phenotypically (germination probability and time to emergence, seedling size, susceptibility to fungal disease).
All plants sampled were internally heterogeneous with regard to the methylation state of 1%–13% of MS-AFLP markers. Predictable relationships were found between epigenotypic and phenotypic variation across the extant modules of individual L. latifolia shrubs. Phenotypes of subprogenies from different modules of the same plant grown under homogeneous conditions in the greenhouse were predictably related to the epigenotype of the maternal module which produced the seeds.
Synthesis. The variable epigenotypes of different modules in the same plant not only predicted extant phenotypic variation among the modules themselves, but also phenotypic differences among the subprogenies produced by different modules. These relationships linking intraplant epigenotypic mosaicism with both extant and transgenerational heterogeneity in fitness-related traits support the ‘epigenetic mosaicism hypothesis’ for plant variation, and also suggest hitherto unexplored ecological consequences of epigenotypically enhanced variation in the context of plant populations and communities., Partial support for this work was provided by grants PID2019-104365GB-I00 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spanish Government) and P18-FR-4413 (Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, Andalusian Government)., Peer reviewed

Plant metabolic pathways and gene networks involved in the response to herbivory are well-established, but the impact of epigenetic factors as modulators of those responses is less understood. Here, we studied the role of DNA cytosine methylation on phenotypic responses after short-term herbivory in Thlaspi arvense plants with two contrasting flowering phenotypes. We investigated the effect of experimental demethylation and herbivory treatments following a 2x3 factorial design. First, half the seeds were submerged in a water solution of the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine and the other half only in water, as controls. Then, we assigned control and demethylated plants to three herbivory categories (i) insect herbivory, (ii) artificial herbivory, and (iii) undamaged plants. The effects of the demethylation and herbivory treatments were assessed by quantifying genome-wide global DNA cytosine methylation, concentration of leaf glucosinolates, final stem biomass, fruit and seed production, and seed size. For most of the plant traits analysed, individuals from the two plant-types responded differently. In late-flowering plants, global DNA methylation did not differ between control and demethylated plants but it was significantly reduced by herbivory. Conversely, in early-flowering plants, demethylation at seed stage was still evident in leaf genomes of reproductive individuals whereas herbivory did not affect their global DNA methylation. In late-flowering plants, artificial herbivory imposed a stronger reduction than insect herbivory in global DNA methylation and final stem biomass, and induced higher concentration of aliphatic glucosinolates. In early-flowering plants, the effects of herbivory were non-significant for the same traits. Finally, the effect of herbivory on reproductive parameters varied with the level of demethylation and the plant flowering-type. The complexity of our results suggests that the genetic background of experimental plants can affect the responses to treatments and it points towards multifaceted genetic-epigenetic interactions in determining herbivory-induced phenotypic plasticity., This work was supported and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program via the Marie Sklodowska-Curie ETN ‘EpiDiverse’ (grant agreement No 764965) and CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative (Unit of Information Resources for Research). C.A. and M.M. were also supported by the Spanish Government through the Research Project ‘Epinter’ (PID2019-104365GB-I00, Ref.
619 AEI/10.13039/501100011033)., No

Plant metabolic pathways and gene networks involved in the response to herbivory are well-established, but the impact of epigenetic factors as modulators of those responses is less understood. Here, we use the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine to uncover the role of DNA cytosine methylation on phenotypic responses after short-term herbivory in Thlaspi arvense plants that came from two European populations with contrasting flowering phenotypes expected to differ in the response to experimental demethylation. The experimental design followed a 2 × 3 factorial design, that was replicated for each flowering-type. First, half the seeds were submerged in a water solution of 5-azacytidine and the other half only in water, as controls. Then, we assigned control and demethylated plants to three herbivory categories (i) insect herbivory, (ii) artificial herbivory, and (iii) undamaged plants. The effects of the demethylation and herbivory treatments were assessed by quantifying genome-wide global DNA cytosine methylation, concentration of leaf glucosinolates, final stem biomass, fruit and seed production, and seed size. For most of the plant traits analysed, individuals from the two flowering-types responded differently. In late-flowering plants, global DNA methylation did not differ between control and demethylated plants but it was significantly reduced by herbivory. Conversely, in early-flowering plants, demethylation at seed stage was still evident in leaf DNA of reproductive individuals whereas herbivory did not affect their global DNA methylation. In late-flowering plants, artificial herbivory imposed a stronger reduction than insect herbivory in global DNA methylation and final stem biomass, and induced higher concentration of aliphatic glucosinolates. In early-flowering plants, the effects of herbivory were non-significant for the same traits. Finally, the effect of herbivory on reproductive parameters varied with the level of demethylation and the plant flowering-type. Although further investigations with more populations and families are required to confirm our results, they suggest that the genetic background of experimental plants and timing of damage can affect the response to herbivory and point towards multifaceted genetic-epigenetic interactions in determining herbivory-induced phenotypic plasticity., This work was supported and funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program via the Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN ‘EpiDiverse’ (grant agreement No 764965). C.A. and M.M. were also supported by the Spanish Government through the Research Project ‘Epinter’ (PID2019-104365GB-I00, Ref. AEI/10.13039/501100011033)., Peer reviewed