Local adaptation contributes to gene expression divergence in maize.

ABSTRACT: Gene expression links genotypes to phenotypes, so identifying genes whose expression is shaped by selection will be important for understanding the traits and processes underlying local adaptation. However, detecting local adaptation for gene expression will require distinguishing between divergence due to selection and divergence due to genetic drift. Here, we adapt a QST-FST framework to detect local adaptation for transcriptome-wide gene expression levels in a population of diverse maize genotypes. We compare the number and types of selected genes across a wide range of maize populations and tissues, as well as selection on cold-response genes, drought-response genes, and coexpression clusters. We identify a number of genes whose expression levels are consistent with local adaptation an

SUBMITTER: Blanc J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8022924 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature