Modeling plant phenotypic plasticity and its underlying genetic architecture: a comparative study
Sebastian Arenas1, Yacine Djabali2, Renaud Rincent2
1DIADE, Université de Montpellier, IRD, CIRAD, 34394 Montpellier, France.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|January 15, 2025
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity aids crop adaptation. Specific plasticity indices, like ratio-based or Finlay-Wilkinson, effectively identify genetic traits for improved crop breeding in changing climates.
Area of Science:
- Plant science
- Genetics
- Agronomy
Background:
- Phenotypic plasticity is crucial for crop adaptation to environmental challenges.
- Identifying the genetic basis of this plasticity is key for crop improvement.
- Existing methods for measuring plasticity have limitations in detecting genotype-by-environment interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different plasticity indices in capturing quantitative trait loci (QTL) with environmental effects.
- To assess the ability of these indices to detect genetic regions associated with genotype-by-environment interaction in maize.
- To identify optimal plasticity indices for genetic analysis in crop breeding.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a multi-trial maize phenotyping dataset focusing on water stress response.
- Calculation of phenotypic plasticity for leaf area, shoot biomass, and water use efficiency using seven distinct plasticity indices.
- Comprehensive genetic analysis to evaluate QTL detection related to genotype-by-environment interaction.
Main Results:
- Not all plasticity indices are equally effective in identifying genomic regions linked to phenotypic plasticity.
- Indices based on environmental ratios or the Finlay-Wilkinson model slope proved most effective.
- These selected indices successfully uncovered the genetic architecture of phenotypic plasticity in response to water stress.
Conclusions:
- The choice of plasticity index significantly impacts the ability to dissect the genetic basis of crop adaptation.
- Ratio-based and Finlay-Wilkinson slope indices are recommended for genetic studies of phenotypic plasticity.
- Improved understanding and measurement of phenotypic plasticity can enhance breeding strategies for climate-resilient crops.
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