Experimental Validation of Genome-Environment Associations in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Identifying the genetic basis of local adaptation is a key goal in evolutionary biology. Allele frequency clines along environmental gradients, known as genotype-environment associations (GEA), are often used to detect potential loci causing local adaptation but are rarely followed by experimental validation. Here, we tested loci identified in three moisture-related GEA studies on Arabidopsis. We studied 42 GEA-identified genes using t-DNA knockout lines under drought and tested effects on flowering time, an adaptive trait, and genotype-by-environment (GxE) interactions for performance and fitness. In total, 16/42 genes had significant effects on traits involved in local adaptation or performance responses to the environment. We found that wrky38 mutants had significant GxE effects for fit

SUBMITTER: Luo Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12573728 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature