Plant Phenotypic Plasticity: From Molecular Mechanisms to Breeding and Climate Change Adaptation

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Phenotypic plasticity (PP) is a key plant trait enabling adaptation to environmental variability.
• Genetic variation for PP allows natural selection to shape plant responses.
• PP is vital for plant survival, reproduction, and optimizing performance in diverse habitats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant PP.
• To highlight the significance of PP for crop breeding and climate change resilience.
• To discuss methods for quantifying PP and identifying its genetic underpinnings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current research on PP mechanisms.
• Discussion of experimental approaches for quantifying plasticity.
• Exploration of advances in multisite field trials and genomic prediction.

Main Results:

• PP is crucial for plants to optimize physiology, development, and growth.
• Natural genetic variation in PP is widespread and subject to selection.
• Genomic prediction and multisite trials enhance PP studies in agriculture.

Conclusions:

• Understanding PP's genetic and molecular basis is essential for crop improvement.
• Targeted use of PP can lead to crop varieties with stable yields in variable environments.
• PP offers a promising avenue for enhancing agricultural resilience to climate change.