Adaptive value of phenological traits in stressful environments: predictions based on seed production and laboratory natural selection.

ABSTRACT: Phenological traits often show variation within and among natural populations of annual plants. Nevertheless, the adaptive value of post-anthesis traits is seldom tested. In this study, we estimated the adaptive values of pre- and post-anthesis traits in two stressful environments (water stress and interspecific competition), using the selfing annual species Arabidopsis thaliana. By estimating seed production and by performing laboratory natural selection (LNS), we assessed the strength and nature (directional, disruptive and stabilizing) of selection acting on phenological traits in A. thaliana under the two tested stress conditions, each with four intensities. Both the type of stress and its intensity affected the strength and nature of selection, as did genetic constraints among phenolo

SUBMITTER: Brachi B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3293886 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature