Data from: Interacting effects of genetic variation for seed dormancy and flowering time on phenology, life history, and fitness of experimental Arabidopsis thaliana populations over multiple generations in the field

• Major alleles for seed dormancy and flowering time are well-studied, and
can interact to influence seasonal timing and fitness within generations.
However, little is known about how this interaction controls phenology,
life history, and population fitness across multiple generations in
natural seasonal environments. • To examine how seed dormancy and
flowering time shape annual plant life cycles over multiple generations,
we established naturally dispersing populations of recombinant inbred
lines of Arabidopsis thaliana segregating early and late alleles for seed
dormancy and flowering time in a field experiment. We recorded seasonal
phenology and fitness of each genotype over two years and several
generations. • Strong seed dormancy suppressed mid-summer germination in
both early- and late-flowering genetic backgrounds. Strong dormancy and
late-flowering genotypes were both necessary to confer a winter annual
life history; other genotypes were rapid-cycling. Strong dormancy
increased within-season fecundity in an early-flowering background, but
decreased it in a late-flowering background. However, there were no
detectable differences among genotypes in population growth rates. •
Seasonal phenology, life history, and cohort fitness over multiple
generations depends strongly upon interacting genetic variation for
dormancy and flowering. However, similar population growth rates across
generations suggest that different life cycle genotypes can coexist in
natural populations.