Dataset Information

Strong stabilizing selection on timing of germination in a Mediterranean population of Arabidopsis thaliana.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Timing of germination can strongly influence plant fitness by affecting seedling survival and by having cascading effects on later life-history traits. In seasonal environments, the period favorable for seedling establishment and growth is limited, and timing of germination is likely to be under stabilizing selection because of conflicting selection through survival and fecundity. Moreover, optimal germination time may vary among genotypes because of inherent differences in later life-history traits.

Methods

To examine how germination time affects survival, fecundity, and the relative fitness of two genotypes differing in time to first flower, we conducted a field experiment in an Italian population of the winter annual Arabidopsis thaliana, in which seedling establishment occurs mainly in November. We transplanted seedlings of the local genotype and of a Swedish genotype monthly from August to December and monitored survival and fecundity.

Results

Only seedlings transplanted in November and December survived until reproduction, and fitness of the November cohort was 35 times higher than that of the December cohort, indicating strong stabilizing selection on timing of germination. There was no evidence of conflicting selection: seedling survival, adult survival, and fecundity were all highest in the November cohort. Moreover, the relative fitness of the two genotypes did not differ significantly between cohorts.

Conclusions

The very narrow window of opportunity for seedling establishment was related to rapid seasonal changes in soil moisture and temperature, suggesting that rate of seasonal change is an important aspect to consider for understanding spatiotemporal variation in selection on phenological traits.

SUBMITTER: Zacchello G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7756891 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Strong stabilizing selection on timing of germination in a Mediterranean population of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Zacchello Giulia G Vinyeta Mariona M Ågren Jon J

American journal of botany 20201014 11

<h4>Premise</h4>Timing of germination can strongly influence plant fitness by affecting seedling survival and by having cascading effects on later life-history traits. In seasonal environments, the period favorable for seedling establishment and growth is limited, and timing of germination is likely to be under stabilizing selection because of conflicting selection through survival and fecundity. Moreover, optimal germination time may vary among genotypes because of inherent differences in later ...[more]

PMID: 33058187

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Project description:BackgroundSeed germination involves progression from complete metabolic dormancy to a highly active, growing seedling. Many factors regulate germination and these interact extensively, forming a complex network of inputs that control the seed-to-seedling transition. Our understanding of the direct regulation of gene expression and the dynamic changes in the epigenome and small RNAs during germination is limited. The interactions between genome, transcriptome and epigenome must be revealed in order to identify the regulatory mechanisms that control seed germination.ResultsWe present an integrated analysis of high-resolution RNA sequencing, small RNA sequencing and MethylC sequencing over ten developmental time points in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, finding extensive transcriptomic and epigenomic transformations associated with seed germination. We identify previously unannotated loci from which messenger RNAs are expressed transiently during germination and find widespread alternative splicing and divergent isoform abundance of genes involved in RNA processing and splicing. We generate the first dynamic transcription factor network model of germination, identifying known and novel regulatory factors. Expression of both microRNA and short interfering RNA loci changes significantly during germination, particularly between the seed and the post-germinative seedling. These are associated with changes in gene expression and large-scale demethylation observed towards the end of germination, as the epigenome transitions from an embryo-like to a vegetative seedling state.ConclusionsThis study reveals the complex dynamics and interactions of the transcriptome and epigenome during seed germination, including the extensive remodelling of the seed DNA methylome from an embryo-like to vegetative-like state during the seed-to-seedling transition. Data are available for exploration in a user-friendly browser at https://jbrowse.latrobe.edu.au/germination_epigenome .

Dataset Information

Strong stabilizing selection on timing of germination in a Mediterranean population of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Premise

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Strong stabilizing selection on timing of germination in a Mediterranean population of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Similar Datasets

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