Maternal effects on tree phenotypes: considering the microbiome

• Biotic and abiotic effects on mother plants modulate the phenotype of the seedlings.
• Plant–microbe interactions affect, and are affected by, maternal effects on seedlings.
• Maternal endophytic communities are expected to be important mediators of biotic maternal effects.
• Understanding maternal effects, including fungal endophyte effects, offers an opportunity for tree improvement.

The biotic and abiotic environmental experience of plants can influence the offspring without any changes in DNA sequence. These effects can modulate the development of the progeny and their interaction with microorganisms. This interaction includes fungal endophytic communities which have significant effects on trees and their associated ecosystems. In this opinion article, we highlight potential maternal mechanisms through which endophytes could influence the progeny. We argue that a better understanding of these interactions might help to predict the response of trees to stress conditions and enhance the efficiency of tree breeding programs.