Gene discovery in cereals through quantitative trait loci and expression analysis in water-use efficiency measured by carbon isotope discrimination

Drought Stress Tolerance in Vegetables: The Functional Role of Structural Features, Key Gene Pathways, and Exogenous Hormones

The deleterious effects of drought stress have led to a significant decline in vegetable production, ultimately affecting food security. After sensing drought stress signals, vegetables prompt multifaceted response measures, eventually leading to changes in internal cell structure and external morphology. Among them, it is important to highlight that the changes, including changes in physiological metabolism, signal transduction, key genes, and hormone regulation, significantly influence drought stress tolerance in vegetables. This article elaborates on vegetable stress tolerance, focusing on structural adaptations, key genes, drought stress signaling transduction pathways, osmotic adjustments, and antioxidants. At the same time, the mechanisms of exogenous hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ET) toward improving the adaptive drought tolerance of vegetables were also reviewed. These insights can enhance the understanding of vegetable drought tolerance, supporting vegetable tolerance enhancement by cultivation technology improvements under changing climatic conditions, which provides theoretical support and technical reference for innovative vegetable stress tolerance breeding and food security.

QTL and Candidate Genes: Techniques and Advancement in Abiotic Stress Resistance Breeding of Major Cereals

At least 75% of the world's grain production comes from the three most important cereal crops: rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays). However, abiotic stressors such as heavy metal toxicity, salinity, low temperatures, and drought are all significant hazards to the growth and development of these grains. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) discovery and mapping have enhanced agricultural production and output by enabling plant breeders to better comprehend abiotic stress tolerance processes in cereals. Molecular markers and stable QTL are important for molecular breeding and candidate gene discovery, which may be utilized in transgenic or molecular introgression. Researchers can now study synteny between rice, maize, and wheat to gain a better understanding of the relationships between the QTL or genes that are important for a particular stress adaptation and phenotypic improvement in these cereals from analyzing reports on QTL and candidate genes. An overview of constitutive QTL, adaptive QTL, and significant stable multi-environment and multi-trait QTL is provided in this article as a solid framework for use and knowledge in genetic enhancement. Several QTL, such as DRO1 and Saltol, and other significant success cases are discussed in this review. We have highlighted techniques and advancements for abiotic stress tolerance breeding programs in cereals, the challenges encountered in introgressing beneficial QTL using traditional breeding techniques such as mutation breeding and marker-assisted selection (MAS), and the in roads made by new breeding methods such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, and meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis. A combination of these conventional and modern breeding approaches can be used to apply the QTL and candidate gene information in genetic improvement of cereals against abiotic stresses.

Natural alleles of the abscisic acid catabolism gene ZmAbh4 modulate water use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination in maize

Altering plant water use efficiency (WUE) is a promising approach for achieving sustainable crop production in changing climate scenarios. Here, we show that WUE can be tuned by alleles of a single gene discovered in elite maize (Zea mays) breeding material. Genetic dissection of a genomic region affecting WUE led to the identification of the gene ZmAbh4 as causative for the effect. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ZmAbh4 inactivation increased WUE without growth reductions in well-watered conditions. ZmAbh4 encodes an enzyme that hydroxylates the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and initiates its catabolism. Stomatal conductance is regulated by ABA and emerged as a major link between variation in WUE and discrimination against the heavy carbon isotope (Δ13C) during photosynthesis in the C4 crop maize. Changes in Δ13C persisted in kernel material, which offers an easy-to-screen proxy for WUE. Our results establish a direct physiological and genetic link between WUE and Δ13C through a single gene with potential applications in maize breeding.

Different avenues for progress apply to drought tolerance, water use efficiency and yield in dry areas

Drought tolerance, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield in dry areas are often considered as synonyms. However, they correspond to markedly different suites of physiological mechanisms, based on combinations of alleles constrained by evolution into consistent strategies. Improving (i) drought tolerance, sensu stricto, involves extreme conservative strategy with protection and repair mechanisms; (ii) WUE most often results in small plants but avenues exist with lower penalties for growth, that is, by reducing night transpiration; (iii) yield for drought prone areas involves both constititutive traits (e.g. phenology or plant architecture), favourable for most environmental scenarios, and adaptive physiological traits whose effects suited to a given scenario. Genetic improvement of the latter would requires identification of scenario-dependent combinations of alleles, involving phenomics, modelling and genomic prediction.

Gain-of-function mutagenesis through activation tagging identifies XPB2 and SEN1 helicase genes as potential targets for drought stress tolerance in rice

XPB2 and SEN1 helicases were identified through activation tagging as potential candidate genes in rice for inducing high water-use efficiency (WUE) and maintaining sustainable yield under drought stress. As a follow-up on the high-water-use-efficiency screening and physiological analyses of the activation-tagged gain-of-function mutant lines that were developed in an indica rice variety, BPT-5204 (Moin et al. in Plant Cell Environ 39:2440-2459, 2016a, https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.12796 ), we have identified two gain-of-function mutant lines (XM3 and SM4), which evidenced the activation of two helicases, ATP-dependent DNA helicase (XPB2) and RNA helicase (SEN1), respectively. We performed the transcript profiling of XPB2 and SEN1 upon exposure to various stress conditions and found their significant upregulation, particularly in ABA and PEG treatments. Extensive morpho-physiological and biochemical analyses based on 24 metrics were performed under dehydration stress (PEG) and phytohormone (ABA) treatments for the wild-type and the two mutant lines. Principal component analysis (PCA) performed on the dataset captured 72.73% of the cumulative variance using the parameters influencing the first two principal components. The tagged mutants exhibited reduced leaf wilting, improved revival efficiency, constant amylose:amylopectin ratio, high chlorophyll and proline contents, profuse tillering, high quantum efficiency and yield-related traits with respect to their controls. These observations were further validated under greenhouse conditions by the periodic withdrawal of water at the pot level. Germination of the seeds of these mutant lines indicated their insensitivity to high ABA concentration. The associated upregulation of stress-specific genes further suggests that their drought tolerance might be because of the coordinated expression of several stress-responsive genes in these two mutants. Altogether, our results provided a firm basis for SEN1 and XPB2 as potential candidates for manipulation of drought tolerance and improving rice performance and yield under limited water conditions.

The carbon isotopic signature of C4 crops and its applicability in breeding for climate resilience

KEY MESSAGE

Carbon isotope discrimination is a promising trait for indirect screening for improved water use efficiency of C4 crops. In the context of a changing climate, drought is one of the major factors limiting plant growth and yield. Hence, breeding efforts are directed toward improving water use efficiency (WUE) as a key factor in climate resilience and sustainability of crop production. As WUE is a complex trait and its evaluation is rather resource consuming, proxy traits, which are easier to screen and reliably reflect variation in WUE, are needed. In C3 crops, a trait established to be indicative for WUE is the carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of plant material, which reflects the preferential assimilation of the lighter carbon isotope 12C over 13C during photosynthesis. In C4 crops, carbon fixation is more complex and δ13C thus depends on many more factors than in C3 crops. Recent physiological and genetic studies indicate a correlation between δ13C and WUE also in C4 crops, as well as a colocalization of quantitative trait loci for the two traits. Moreover, significant intraspecific variation as well as a medium to high heritability of δ13C has been shown in some of the main C4 crops, such as maize, sorghum and sugarcane, indicating its potential for indirect selection and breeding. Further research on physiological, genetic and environmental components influencing δ13C is needed to support its application in improving WUE and making C4 crops resilient to climate change.

The Physiological Basis of Drought Tolerance in Crop Plants: A Scenario-Dependent Probabilistic Approach

Drought tolerance involves mechanisms operating at different spatial and temporal scales, from rapid stomatal closure to maintenance of crop yield. We review how short-term mechanisms are controlled for stabilizing shoot water potential and how long-term processes have been constrained by evolution or breeding to fit into acclimation strategies for specific drought scenarios. These short- or long-term feedback processes participate in trade-offs between carbon accumulation and the risk of deleterious soil water depletion. Corresponding traits and alleles may therefore have positive or negative effects on crop yield depending on drought scenarios. We propose an approach that analyzes the genetic architecture of traits in phenotyping platforms and of yield in tens of field experiments. A combination of modeling and genomic prediction is then used to estimate the comparative interests of combinations of alleles depending on drought scenarios. Hence, drought tolerance is understood probabilistically by estimating the benefit and risk of each combination of alleles.

Translating knowledge about abiotic stress tolerance to breeding programmes

Plant breeding and improvements in agronomic practice are making a consistent contribution to increasing global crop production year upon year. However, the rate of yield improvement currently lags behind the targets set to produce enough food to meet the demands of the predicted global population in 2050. Furthermore, crops that are exposed to harmful abiotic environmental factors (abiotic stresses, e.g. water limitation, salinity, extreme temperature) are prone to reduced yields. Here, we briefly describe the processes undertaken in conventional breeding programmes, which are usually designed to improve yields in near-optimal conditions rather than specifically breeding for improved crop yield stability under stressed conditions. While there is extensive fundamental research activity that examines mechanisms of plant stress tolerance, there are few examples that apply this research to improving commercial crop yields. There are notable exceptions, and we highlight some of these to demonstrate the magnitude of yield gains that could be made by translating agronomic, phenological and genetic solutions focused on improving or mitigating the effect of abiotic stress in the field; in particular, we focus on improvements in crop water-use efficiency and salinity tolerance. We speculate upon the reasons for the disconnect between research and research translation. We conclude that to realise untapped rapid gains towards food security targets new funding structures need to be embraced. Such funding needs to serve both the core and collaborative activities of the fundamental, pre-breeding and breeding research communities in order to expedite the translation of innovative research into the fields of primary producers.

Cytosolic glutamine synthetase is important for photosynthetic efficiency and water use efficiency in potato as revealed by high-throughput sequencing QTL analysis

WUE phenotyping and subsequent QTL analysis revealed cytosolic GS genes importance for limiting N loss due to photorespiration under well-watered and well-fertilized conditions. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) closes its stomata at relatively low soil water deficits frequently encountered in normal field conditions resulting in unnecessary annual yield losses and extensive use of artificial irrigation. Therefore, unraveling the genetics underpinning variation in water use efficiency (WUE) of potato is important, but has been limited by technical difficulties in assessing the trait on individual plants and thus is poorly understood. In this study, a mapping population of potatoes has been robustly phenotyped, and considerable variation in WUE under well-watered conditions was observed. Two extreme WUE bulks of clones were identified and pools of genomic DNA from them as well as the parents were sequenced and mapped to reference potato genome. Following a novel data analysis approach, two highly resolved QTLs were found on chromosome 1 and 9. Interestingly, three genes encoding isoforms of cytosolic glutamine synthase were located in the QTL at chromosome 1 suggesting a major contribution of this enzyme to photosynthetic efficiency and thus WUE in potato. Indeed, Glutamine synthetase enzyme activity of leaf extracts was measured and found to be correlated with contrasting WUE phenotypes.

Natural variation, differentiation, and genetic trade-offs of ecophysiological traits in response to water limitation in Brachypodium distachyon and its descendent allotetraploid B. hybridum (Poaceae)

Differences in tolerance to water stress may underlie ecological divergence of closely related ploidy lineages. However, the mechanistic basis of physiological variation governing ecogeographical cytotype segregation is not well understood. Here, using Brachypodium distachyon and its derived allotetraploid B. hybridum as model, we test the hypothesis that, for heteroploid annuals, ecological divergence of polyploids in drier environments is based on trait differentiation enabling drought escape. We demonstrate that under water limitation allotetraploids maintain higher photosynthesis and stomatal conductance and show earlier flowering than diploids, concordant with a drought-escape strategy to cope with water stress. Increased heterozygosity and greater genetic variability and plasticity of polyploids could confer a superior adaptive capability. Consistent with these predictions, we document (1) greater standing within-population genetic variation in water-use efficiency (WUE) and flowering time in allotetraploids, and (2) the existence of (nonlinear) environmental clines in physiology across allotetraploid populations. Increased gas exchange and diminished WUE occurred at the driest end of the gradient, consistent with a drought-escape strategy. Finally, we found that allotetraploids showed weaker genetic correlations than diploids congruous with the expectation of relaxed pleiotropic constraints in polyploids. Our results suggest evolutionary divergence of ecophysiological traits in each ploidy lineage.

Plant vigour at establishment and following defoliation are both associated with responses to drought in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Periodic drought events present a significant and, with climate change, increasing constraint on temperate forage plants' production. Consequently, improving plants' adaptive response to abiotic stress is a key goal to ensure agricultural productivity in these regions. In this study we developed a new methodology, using both area-based comparison and soil water content measurements of individual non-irrigated and irrigated clones, to assess performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) genotypes subjected to moisture stress in a simulated competitive environment. We applied this method to the evaluation of a full-sibling population from a pair cross between genotypes from a New Zealand cultivar and a Moroccan ecotype. Our hypothesis was that: (i) both leaf lamina regrowth after defoliation (LR) and plant vigour affect plant performance during drought and rehydration; and (ii) quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with plant performance under moisture stress could be identified. Differences amongst genotypes in dry matter (DM) production, early vigour at establishment, leaf elongation rate and LR were measured. LR explained most of the variation in DM production during exposure to moisture deficit and rehydration followed by plant vigour, indicated by initial DM production in both treatments and subsequent measures of DM production of irrigated clones. We identified two main QTL regions associated with DM production and LR, both during drought exposure and rehydration. Further research focused on these regions should improve our understanding of the genetic control of drought response in this forage crop and potentially other grass species with significant synteny, and support improvement in performance through molecular breeding approaches.

The genetics of water-use efficiency and its relation to growth in maritime pine

To meet the increasing demand of wood biomass worldwide in the context of climate change, developing improved forest tree varieties for high productivity in water-limited conditions is becoming a major issue. This involves breeding for genotypes combining high growth and moderate water loss and thus high water-use efficiency (WUE). The present work provides original data about the genetics of intrinsic WUE (the ratio between net CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance, also estimated by carbon isotope composition of plant material; δ(13)C) and its relation to growth in Pinus pinaster Ait. First, heritability for δ(13)C was estimated (0.29) using a 15-year-old progeny trial (Landes provenance), with no significant differences among three sites contrasting in water availability. High intersite correlations (0.63-0.91) and significant but low genotype-environment interactions were detected. Secondly, the genetic architectures of δ(13)C and growth were studied in a three-generation inbred pedigree, introducing the genetic background of a more-drought-adapted parent (Corsican provenance), at ages of 2 years (greenhouse) and 9 years (plantation). One of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identified in the field experiment, explaining 67% of the phenotypic variance, was also found among the QTLs detected in the greenhouse experiment, where it colocalized with QTLs for intrinsic WUE and stomatal conductance. This work was able to show that higher WUE was not genetically linked to less growth, allowing thus genetic improvement of water use. As far as is known, the heritability and QTL effects estimated here are based on the highest number of genotypes measured to date.

Genetic control of water use efficiency and leaf carbon isotope discrimination in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) subjected to two drought scenarios

High water use efficiency (WUE) can be achieved by coordination of biomass accumulation and water consumption. WUE is physiologically and genetically linked to carbon isotope discrimination (CID) in leaves of plants. A population of 148 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of sunflower derived from a cross between XRQ and PSC8 lines was studied to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling WUE and CID, and to compare QTL associated with these traits in different drought scenarios. We conducted greenhouse experiments in 2011 and 2012 by using 100 balances which provided a daily measurement of water transpired, and we determined WUE, CID, biomass and cumulative water transpired by plants. Wide phenotypic variability, significant genotypic effects, and significant negative correlations between WUE and CID were observed in both experiments. A total of nine QTL controlling WUE and eight controlling CID were identified across the two experiments. A QTL for phenotypic response controlling WUE and CID was also significantly identified. The QTL for WUE were specific to the drought scenarios, whereas the QTL for CID were independent of the drought scenarios and could be found in all the experiments. Our results showed that the stable genomic regions controlling CID were located on the linkage groups 06 and 13 (LG06 and LG13). Three QTL for CID were co-localized with the QTL for WUE, biomass and cumulative water transpired. We found that CID and WUE are highly correlated and have common genetic control. Interestingly, the genetic control of these traits showed an interaction with the environment (between the two drought scenarios and control conditions). Our results open a way for breeding higher WUE by using CID and marker-assisted approaches and therefore help to maintain the stability of sunflower crop production.

High-throughput phenotyping to detect drought tolerance QTL in wild barley introgression lines

Drought is one of the most severe stresses, endangering crop yields worldwide. In order to select drought tolerant genotypes, access to exotic germplasm and efficient phenotyping protocols are needed. In this study the high-throughput phenotyping platform "The Plant Accelerator", Adelaide, Australia, was used to screen a set of 47 juvenile (six week old) wild barley introgression lines (S42ILs) for drought stress responses. The kinetics of growth development was evaluated under early drought stress and well watered treatments. High correlation (r=0.98) between image based biomass estimates and actual biomass was demonstrated, and the suitability of the system to accurately and non-destructively estimate biomass was validated. Subsequently, quantitative trait loci (QTL) were located, which contributed to the genetic control of growth under drought stress. In total, 44 QTL for eleven out of 14 investigated traits were mapped, which for example controlled growth rate and water use efficiency. The correspondence of those QTL with QTL previously identified in field trials is shown. For instance, six out of eight QTL controlling plant height were also found in previous field and glasshouse studies with the same introgression lines. This indicates that phenotyping juvenile plants may assist in predicting adult plant performance. In addition, favorable wild barley alleles for growth and biomass parameters were detected, for instance, a QTL that increased biomass by approximately 36%. In particular, introgression line S42IL-121 revealed improved growth under drought stress compared to the control Scarlett. The introgression line showed a similar behavior in previous field experiments, indicating that S42IL-121 may be an attractive donor for breeding of drought tolerant barley cultivars.

Genome-wide meta-analysis of maize heterosis reveals the potential role of additive gene expression at pericentromeric loci

BACKGROUND

The identification of QTL involved in heterosis formation is one approach to unravel the not yet fully understood genetic basis of heterosis - the improved agronomic performance of hybrid F1 plants compared to their inbred parents. The identification of candidate genes underlying a QTL is important both for developing markers and determining the molecular genetic basis of a trait, but remains difficult owing to the large number of genes often contained within individual QTL. To address this problem in heterosis analysis, we applied a meta-analysis strategy for grain yield (GY) of Zea mays L. as example, incorporating QTL-, hybrid field-, and parental gene expression data.

RESULTS

For the identification of genes underlying known heterotic QTL, we made use of tight associations between gene expression pattern and the trait of interest, identified by correlation analyses. Using this approach genes strongly associated with heterosis for GY were discovered to be clustered in pericentromeric regions of the complex maize genome. This suggests that expression differences of sequences in recombination-suppressed regions are important in the establishment of heterosis for GY in F1 hybrids and also in the conservation of heterosis for GY across genotypes. Importantly functional analysis of heterosis-associated genes from these genomic regions revealed over-representation of a number of functional classes, identifying key processes contributing to heterosis for GY. Based on the finding that the majority of the analyzed heterosis-associated genes were addtitively expressed, we propose a model referring to the influence of cis-regulatory variation on heterosis for GY by the compensation of fixed detrimental expression levels in parents.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the utility of a meta-analysis approach that integrates phenotypic and multi-level molecular data to unravel complex traits in plants. It provides prospects for the identification of genes relevant for QTL, and also suggests a model for the potential role of additive expression in the formation and conservation of heterosis for GY via dominant, multigenic quantitative trait loci. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifactorial phenomenon of heterosis, and thus to the breeding of new high yielding varieties.

Stable carbon isotope discrimination is under genetic control in the C4 species maize with several genomic regions influencing trait expression

In plants with C4 photosynthesis, physiological mechanisms underlying variation in stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ(13)C) are largely unknown, and genetic components influencing Δ(13)C have not been described. We analyzed a maize (Zea mays) introgression library derived from two elite parents to investigate whether Δ(13)C is under genetic control in this C4 species. High-density genotyping with the Illumina MaizeSNP50 Bead Chip was used for a detailed structural characterization of 89 introgression lines. Phenotypic analyses were conducted in the field and in the greenhouse for kernel Δ(13)C as well as plant developmental and photosynthesis-related traits. Highly heritable significant genetic variation for Δ(13)C was detected under field and greenhouse conditions. For several introgression library lines, Δ(13)C values consistently differed from the recurrent parent within and across the two phenotyping platforms. Δ(13)C was significantly associated with 22 out of 164 analyzed genomic regions, indicating a complex genetic architecture of Δ(13)C. The five genomic regions with the largest effects were located on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7, and 9 and explained 55% of the phenotypic variation for Δ(13)C. Plant development stage had no effect on Δ(13)C expression, as phenotypic as well as genotypic correlations between Δ(13)C, flowering time, and plant height were not significant. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating Δ(13)C to be under polygenic control in the C4 species maize.

Comparative performance of δ13C, δ18O and δ15N for phenotyping durum wheat adaptation to a dryland environment

Grain yield and the natural abundance of the stable isotope compositions of carbon (δ13C), oxygen (δ18O) and nitrogen (δ15N) of mature kernels were measured during 3 consecutive years in 10 durum wheat genotypes (five landraces and five modern cultivars) subjected to different water and N availabilities in a Mediterranean location and encompassing a total of 12 trials. Water limitation was the main environmental factor affecting yield, δ13C and δ18O, whereas N fertilisation had a major effect on δ15N. The genotypic effect was significant for yield, yield components, δ13C, δ18O and δ15N. Landraces exhibited a higher δ13C and δ15N than cultivars. Phenotypic correlations of δ13C and δ18O with grain yield were negative, suggesting that genotypes able to sustain a higher water use and stomatal conductance were the most productive and best adapted; δ15N was also negatively correlated with grain yield regardless of the growing conditions. δ13C was the best isotopic trait in terms of genetic correlation with yield and heritability, whereas δ18O was the worst of the three isotopic abundances. The physiological basis for the different performance of the three isotopes explaining the genotypic variability in yield is discussed.

Quantitative trait loci in hop (Humulus lupulus L.) reveal complex genetic architecture underlying variation in sex, yield and cone chemistry

BACKGROUND

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is cultivated for its cones, the secondary metabolites of which contribute bitterness, flavour and aroma to beer. Molecular breeding methods, such as marker assisted selection (MAS), have great potential for improving the efficiency of hop breeding. The success of MAS is reliant on the identification of reliable marker-trait associations. This study used quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to identify marker-trait associations for hop, focusing on traits related to expediting plant sex identification, increasing yield capacity and improving bittering, flavour and aroma chemistry.

RESULTS

QTL analysis was performed on two new linkage maps incorporating transferable Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers. Sixty-three QTL were identified, influencing 36 of the 50 traits examined. A putative sex-linked marker was validated in a different pedigree, confirming the potential of this marker as a screening tool in hop breeding programs. An ontogenetically stable QTL was identified for the yield trait dry cone weight; and a QTL was identified for essential oil content, which verified the genetic basis for variation in secondary metabolite accumulation in hop cones. A total of 60 QTL were identified for 33 secondary metabolite traits. Of these, 51 were pleiotropic/linked, affecting a substantial number of secondary metabolites; nine were specific to individual secondary metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

Pleiotropy and linkage, found for the first time to influence multiple hop secondary metabolites, have important implications for molecular selection methods. The selection of particular secondary metabolite profiles using pleiotropic/linked QTL will be challenging because of the difficulty of selecting for specific traits without adversely changing others. QTL specific to individual secondary metabolites, however, offer unequalled value to selection programs. In addition to their potential for selection, the QTL identified in this study advance our understanding of the genetic control of traits of current economic and breeding significance in hop and demonstrate the complex genetic architecture underlying variation in these traits. The linkage information obtained in this study, based on transferable markers, can be used to facilitate the validation of QTL, crucial to the success of MAS.

Foliar δ(13)C response patterns along a moisture gradient arising from genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in grassland species of Inner Mongolia

Plants depend upon both genetic differences and phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental variation over different timescales. The spatial variation in foliar δ(13)C levels along a moisture gradient represents an overlay of genetic and plastic responses. We hypothesized that such a spatial variation would be more obvious than the variation arising purely from a plastic response to moisture change. Leymus chinensis and Stipa spp. were sampled from Inner Mongolia along a dry-wet transect, and some of these species were transplanted to an area with a moisture gradient. For Stipa spp., the slope of foliar δ(13)C and mean annual precipitation along the transect was significantly steeper than that of foliar δ(13)C and mean annual precipitation after the watering treatment. For L. chinensis, there was a general decreasing trend in foliar δ(13)C under the different (increasing) watering levels; however, its populations showed an irregular relationship between foliar δ(13)C and moisture origin. Therefore, support for our hypothesis was obtained from Stipa spp., but not from L. chinensis.