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Branching architecture affects genetic diversity within an individual tree
Sou Tomimoto1, Yoh Iwasa2, Akiko Satake2
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|March 15, 2025
Summary
Tree branching architecture influences genetic diversity. Mathematical models show how branch ratios and stem cell behavior impact mutation accumulation, potentially increasing population genetic variation.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Mathematical Modeling
Background:
- Somatic mutations accumulate in trees over time, creating genetic variation within an individual.
- This within-individual variation can be passed to offspring, contributing to population genetic diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between branching architecture and within-individual genetic variation using a mathematical model.
- To understand how parameters like main-lateral ratio (ML) and daughter-mother ratio (DM) affect genetic diversity.
Main Methods:
- Developed a mathematical model simulating tree branching architecture by adding main and lateral daughter branches.
- Modeled somatic mutation accumulation in shoot apical meristem (SAM) stem cells during branch elongation.
- Evaluated genetic variation (Z¯) across tree branches under varying ML and DM ratios, keeping total branch length constant.
Main Results:
- Mean genetic difference (Z¯) increased monotonically with the main-lateral ratio (ML).
- Z¯ peaked at intermediate daughter-mother ratios (DM) when SAM stem cells were genetically homogeneous.
- Z¯ decreased monotonically with DM when SAM stem cells were genetically heterogeneous.
Conclusions:
- Branching architecture significantly influences the storage of genetic diversity within trees.
- The impact of branching architecture on genetic variation is modulated by the genetic heterogeneity of stem cells within the shoot apical meristem.
- This study highlights the importance of branching patterns in evolutionary processes.
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