Transgenerational Genetic Effects Help Explain Latitudinal Variation in Seed Mass and Germination Timing in .

We know little about the underlying genetic control of phenotypic patterns of seed traits across large-scale geographic and environmental gradients. Such knowledge is important for understanding the evolution of populations within species and for improving species conservation. Therefore, to test for genetic variation in , we made reciprocal crosses between northern and southern genotypes that span the species' range in Europe.