Cryptic variation fuels plant phenotypic change through hierarchical epistasis.

ABSTRACT: Cryptic genetic variants exert minimal phenotypic effects alone but are hypothesized to form a vast reservoir of genetic diversity driving trait evolvability through epistatic interactions^1-3. This classical theory has been reinvigorated by pan-genomics, which is revealing pervasive variation within gene families, cis-regulatory regions and regulatory networks^4-6. Testing the ability of cryptic variation to fuel phenotypic diversification has been hindered by intractable genetics, limited allelic diversity and inadequate phenotypic resolution. Here, guided by natural and engineered cis-regulatory cryptic variants in a paralogous gene pair, we identified additional redundant trans regulators, establishing a regulatory network controlling tomato inflorescence architectu

SUBMITTER: Zebell SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12282530 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature