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Related Concept Videos

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Light Acquisition02:16

Light Acquisition

In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
Transcription01:10

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss01:57

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

Taking Genomics Outdoors: Linking Local Adaptation, Trait Variation and Gene Expression in Grass Ecotypes Across a

Jack Sytsma1, Matthew Galliart2, Kian Fogarty1

  • 1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.

Molecular Ecology
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Understanding local adaptation in Andropogon gerardi is crucial for grassland resilience. Climate-matched ecotypes enhance restoration success by leveraging drought tolerance strategies in dry conditions and growth strategies in wet conditions.

Keywords:
RNAseqco‐expression networksdroughtfunctional traitgrasslandstranscriptomics

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A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Genomics
  • Plant Science

Background:

  • Increasing drought frequency necessitates understanding species' local adaptation and drought tolerance for ecosystem resilience.
  • Andropogon gerardi is an ecologically dominant grassland species in the US Great Plains, making its adaptive capacity critical.
  • Long-term reciprocal gardens provide a valuable platform for studying plant adaptation across environmental gradients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify adaptive traits and gene expression responses in Andropogon gerardi ecotypes across a rainfall gradient and under experimental drought.
  • To test for local adaptation by integrating trait-based analyses with gene expression profiles.
  • To understand the genetic mechanisms underlying drought tolerance and growth strategies in different ecotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a decade-old reciprocal garden experiment with Andropogon gerardi ecotypes sourced from varying rainfall regions.
  • Imposed experimental drought using rainout shelters to assess ecotype performance under water limitation.
  • Analyzed plant traits (biomass, cover) and gene expression profiles, employing co-expression networks to link genetic mechanisms with adaptive traits.

Main Results:

  • Confirmed local adaptation, with ecotypes exhibiting highest biomass and cover in their native "homesite" conditions.
  • Dry ecotypes displayed stress-tolerance traits (shorter stature, water efficiency) and upregulated drought-response genes.
  • Wet ecotypes showed enhanced growth strategies (taller stature, higher biomass) and upregulated growth-related genes, performing best under high-moisture conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Andropogon gerardi ecotypes demonstrate distinct adaptive strategies: dry ecotypes employ coordinated physiological and transcriptomic stress tolerance for drought resilience.
  • Wet ecotypes prioritize growth and resource acquisition, achieving higher productivity only in moist environments.
  • Using climate-matched ecotypes is a promising strategy for improving grassland restoration success and ecosystem resilience in the face of increasing drought events.