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Phenotypic plasticity early in life constrains developmental responses later
1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. cweinig@brown.edu
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|June 30, 2001
Summary
Early plant stem elongation in response to light signals reduces later growth adjustments. This finding suggests a trade-off between early plasticity and future responsiveness, impacting plant adaptation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Plants exhibit plastic stem-elongation in response to red:far-red (R:FR) light ratios to adapt to competitive environments.
- Early-life stem elongation can influence later developmental plasticity due to effects on resource allocation and structural integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if seedling responses to R:FR light ratios affect biomass allocation, accumulation, and subsequent plasticity.
- To determine the consequences of early stem elongation on later responsiveness to R:FR cues.
Main Methods:
- A common-garden experiment using Abutilon theophrasti seedlings.
- Seedlings were exposed to low R:FR treatments to induce elongation.
- Compared growth and plasticity of elongated versus non-elongated individuals.
Main Results:
- Seedlings stimulated to elongate by early low R:FR treatments showed reduced responsiveness to subsequent R:FR cues compared to non-elongated seedlings.
- Early plasticity in response to R:FR light signals negatively impacts later responsiveness to the same cue.
Conclusions:
- Seedling plasticity to R:FR light influences subsequent responsiveness, indicating a life-history constraint on the evolution of plastic stem responses.
- Reduced responsiveness in elongated seedlings may stem from structural feedback mechanisms, suggesting environmental support can mitigate the cost of early elongation.