Data from: Transgenerational effects alter plant defense and resistance in nature

Trichomes, or leaf hairs, are epidermal extensions that take a variety of
forms and perform many functions in plants, including herbivore defense.
In this study, I document genetically determined variation,
within-generation plasticity, and a direct role of trichomes in herbivore
defense for (Mimulus guttatus). After establishing the relationship
between trichomes and herbivory, I test for transgenerational effects of
wounding on trichome density and herbivore resistance. Patterns of
inter-annual variation in herbivore density and the high cost of plant
defense makes plant-herbivore interactions a system in which
transgenerational phenotypic plasticity (TPP) is apt to evolve. Here, I
demonstrate that parental damage alters offspring trichome density and
herbivore resistance in nature. Moreover, this response varies between
populations. This is among the first studies to demonstrate that TPP
contributes to variation in nature, and also suggests that selection can
modify TPP in response to local conditions.