Changing environments and genetic variation: natural variation in inbreeding does not compromise short-term physiological responses.

ABSTRACT: Selfing plant lineages are surprisingly widespread and successful in a broad range of environments, despite showing reduced genetic diversity, which is predicted to reduce their long-term evolutionary potential. However, appropriate short-term plastic responses to new environmental conditions might not require high levels of standing genetic variation. In this study, we tested whether mating system variation among populations, and associated changes in genetic variability, affected short-term responses to environmental challenges. We compared relative fitness and metabolome profiles of naturally outbreeding (genetically diverse) and inbreeding (genetically depauperate) populations of a perennial plant, Arabidopsis lyrata, under constant growth chamber conditions and an outdoor commo

SUBMITTER: Buckley J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892046 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature