Dataset Information

Neutral and Climate-Driven Adaptive Processes Contribute to Explain Population Variation in Resin Duct Traits in a Mediterranean Pine Species.

ABSTRACT: Resin ducts are important anatomical defensive traits related to biotic resistance in conifers. Previous studies have reported intraspecific genetic variation in resin duct characteristics. However, little is currently known about the micro-evolutionary patterns and adaptive value of these defensive structures. Here, we quantified inter-population genetic variation in resin duct features and their inducibility in Pinus pinaster and assessed whether such variation was associated with climate gradients. To that end, we characterized the resin duct system of 2-year-old saplings from 10 populations across the species' distribution range. We measured axial resin duct features (density, mean size, and percentage conductive area of resin ducts) and their inducibility in response to methyl jasmonate. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms allowed to account for the population genetic structure in our models in order to avoid spurious correlations between resin duct characteristics and climate. We found large inter-population variation in resin duct density and conductive area, but not in their inducibility. Our results suggest that population variation in the percentage conductive area of resin ducts likely arise from adaptation to local climate conditions. This study highlights the adaptive relevance of resin ducts and helps to shed light on the micro-evolutionary patterns of resin-based defenses in conifers.

SUBMITTER: Vazquez-Gonzalez C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6923275 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Neutral and Climate-Driven Adaptive Processes Contribute to Explain Population Variation in Resin Duct Traits in a Mediterranean Pine Species.

Vázquez-González Carla C López-Goldar Xosé X Zas Rafael R Sampedro Luis L

Frontiers in plant science 20191213

Resin ducts are important anatomical defensive traits related to biotic resistance in conifers. Previous studies have reported intraspecific genetic variation in resin duct characteristics. However, little is currently known about the micro-evolutionary patterns and adaptive value of these defensive structures. Here, we quantified inter-population genetic variation in resin duct features and their inducibility in <i>Pinus pinaster</i> and assessed whether such variation was associated with clima ...[more]

PMID: 31921257

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Project description:BACKGROUND AND AIMS:Flower colour polymorphism in plants has been used as a classic model for understanding the importance of neutral processes vs. natural selection in population differentiation. However, current explanations for the maintenance of flower colour polymorphism mainly rely on balancing selection, while neutral processes have seldom been championed. Iris lutescens (Iridaceae) is a widespread species in the northern Mediterranean basin, which shows a stable and striking purple-yellow flower colour polymorphism. To evaluate the roles of neutral processes in the spatial variation for flower colour in this species, patterns of neutral genetic variation across its distribution range were quantified, and phenotypic differentiation was compared with neutral genetic differentiation. METHODS:Genetic diversity levels and population genetic structure were investigated through the genotyping of a collection of 1120 individuals in 41 populations ranging from Spain to France, using a set of eight newly developed microsatellite markers. In addition, phenotypic differentiation for flower colour was also quantified by counting colour morph frequency in each population, and measuring the reflectance spectra of sampled individuals. KEY RESULTS:Populations in Spain present a sharp colour transition from solely purple to solely yellow. The results provide evidence that genetic drift through limited gene flow is important in the evolution of monomorphic populations. In contrast, most populations in France are polymorphic with both phenotypes, and the colour frequencies vary geographically without any spatial gradients observed. A pattern of isolation by distance is detected in France, and gene flow between adjacent populations seems to be an important factor maintaining populations polymorphic. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, neutral processes contribute to patterns of spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens, but it cannot be excluded that natural selection is also operating. An interaction between neutral processes and natural selection is suggested to explain the spatial variation for flower colour in I. lutescens.

Dataset Information

Neutral and Climate-Driven Adaptive Processes Contribute to Explain Population Variation in Resin Duct Traits in a Mediterranean Pine Species.

Publications

Neutral and Climate-Driven Adaptive Processes Contribute to Explain Population Variation in Resin Duct Traits in a Mediterranean Pine Species.

Similar Datasets

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