Epigenetic diversity increases the productivity and stability of plant populations

Latzel, Vít; Allan, Eric; Silveira, Amanda Bortolini; Colot, Vincent; Fischer, Markus; Bossdorf, Oliver

doi:10.1038/ncomms3875

Cited by 138 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In addition to genetically related natural variation, epigenetic variability can also contribute to the phenotypic differences found among Arabidopsis ecotypes (Latzel et al, 2013;Silveira et al, 2013;Cortijo et al, 2014). Our results show that ecotypic variation in cell differentiation is influenced by the functional activity of AGO9 and RDR6.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Natural Variation in Epigenetic Pathways Affects the Specification of Female Gamete Precursors in Arabidopsis

et al. 2015

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In angiosperms, the transition to the female gametophytic phase relies on the specification of premeiotic gamete precursors from sporophytic cells in the ovule. In Arabidopsis thaliana, a single diploid cell is specified as the premeiotic female gamete precursor. Here, we show that ecotypes of Arabidopsis exhibit differences in megasporogenesis leading to phenotypes reminiscent of defects in dominant mutations that epigenetically affect the specification of female gamete precursors. Intraspecific hybridization and polyploidy exacerbate these defects, which segregate quantitatively in F2 populations derived from ecotypic hybrids, suggesting that multiple loci control cell specification at the onset of female meiosis. This variation in cell differentiation is influenced by the activity of ARGONAUTE9 (AGO9) and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE6 (RDR6), two genes involved in epigenetic silencing that control the specification of female gamete precursors. The pattern of transcriptional regulation and localization of AGO9 varies among ecotypes, and abnormal gamete precursors in ovules defective for RDR6 share identity with ectopic gamete precursors found in selected ecotypes. Our results indicate that differences in the epigenetic control of cell specification lead to natural phenotypic variation during megasporogenesis. We propose that this mechanism could be implicated in the emergence and evolution of the reproductive alternatives that prevail in flowering plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Natural Variation in Epigenetic Pathways Affects the Specification of Female Gamete Precursors in Arabidopsis

et al. 2015

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“…While adaptation is accomplished by genetic changes through mutation, drift and selection are very slow for some introduced species, so epigenetic mechanisms can provide an alternative source of ecologically phenotypic diversity for rapid adjustment (Medrano, Herrera, & Bazaga, 2014). Epigenetic diversity can generate massive heritable variation of ecologically relevant plant traits such as root allocation, drought tolerance and nutrient plasticity (Zhang, Fischer, Colot, & Bossdorf, 2013), and it appears to increase the productivity and stability of plant populations in Arabidopsis thaliana under artificial conditions (Latzel et al., 2013). An increasing number of studies have also demonstrated the common existence and significant role of epigenetic variation in plant populations of herbs (Foust et al., 2016; Herrera, Medrano, & Bazaga, 2014; Medrano et al., 2014; Preite et al., 2015; Schulz, Eckstein, & Durka, 2014), shrubs (Avramidou, Ganopoulos, Doulis, Tsaftaris, & Aravanopoulos, 2015; Herrera & Bazaga, 2013, 2016), and trees (Guarino, Cicatelli, Brundu, Heinze, & Castiglione, 2015; Gugger, Fitz‐Gibbon, PellEgrini, & Sork, 2016; Lira‐Medeiros et al., 2010; Platt, Gugger, Pellegrini, & Sork, 2015; Sáez‐Laguna et al., 2014) under natural conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and epigenetic changes during the invasion of a cosmopolitan species (Phragmites australis)

Liu

Cuiping

Liu

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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While many introduced invasive species can increase genetic diversity through multiple introductions and/or hybridization to colonize successfully in new environments, others with low genetic diversity have to persist by alternative mechanisms such as epigenetic variation. Given that Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan reed growing in a wide range of habitats and its invasion history, especially in North America, has been relatively well studied, it provides an ideal system for studying the role and relationship of genetic and epigenetic variation in biological invasions. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation‐sensitive (MS) AFLP methods to evaluate genetic and epigenetic diversity and structure in groups of the common reed across its range in the world. Evidence from analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on AFLP and MS‐AFLP data supported the previous conclusion that the invasive introduced populations of P. australis in North America were from European and Mediterranean regions. In the Gulf Coast region, the introduced group harbored a high level of genetic variation relative to originating group from its native location, and it showed epigenetic diversity equal to that of the native group, if not higher, while the introduced group held lower genetic diversity than the native. In the Great Lakes region, the native group displayed very low genetic and epigenetic variation, and the introduced one showed slightly lower genetic and epigenetic diversity than the original one. Unexpectedly, AMOVA and principal component analysis did not demonstrate any epigenetic convergence between native and introduced groups before genetic convergence. Our results suggested that intertwined changes in genetic and epigenetic variation were involved in the invasion success in North America. Although our study did not provide strong evidence proving the importance of epigenetic variation prior to genetic, it implied the similar role of stable epigenetic diversity to genetic diversity in the adaptation of P. australis to local environment.

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“…2012; Latzel et al. 2013; Medrano et al. 2014); and (3) increasing evidence showing that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in phenotypic plasticity (Herrera and Bazaga 2013; Jablonka 2013; Zhang et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and epigenetic divergence between disturbed and undisturbed subpopulations of a Mediterranean shrub: a 20‐year field experiment

Herrera

Bazaga

2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Little is known on the potential of ecological disturbance to cause genetic and epigenetic changes in plant populations. We take advantage of a long‐term field experiment initiated in 1986 to study the demography of the shrub Lavandula latifolia, and compare genetic and epigenetic characteristics of plants in two adjacent subplots, one experimentally disturbed and one left undisturbed, 20 years after disturbance. Experimental setup was comparable to an unreplicated ‘Before‐After‐Control‐Impact’ (BACI) design where a single pair of perturbed and control areas were compared. When sampled in 2005, plants in the two subplots had roughly similar ages, but they had established in contrasting environments: dense conspecific population (‘Undisturbed’ subpopulation) versus open area with all conspecifics removed (‘Disturbed’ subpopulation). Plants were characterized genetically and epigenetically using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and two classes of methylation‐sensitive AFLP (MSAP) markers. Subpopulations were similar in genetic diversity but differed in epigenetic diversity and multilocus genetic and epigenetic characteristics. Epigenetic divergence between subpopulations was statistically unrelated to genetic divergence. Bayesian clustering revealed an abrupt linear boundary between subpopulations closely coincident with the arbitrary demarcation line between subplots drawn 20 years back, which supports that genetic and epigenetic divergence between subpopulations was caused by artificial disturbance. There was significant fine‐scale spatial structuring of MSAP markers in both subpopulations, which in the Undisturbed one was indistinguishable from that of AFLP markers. Genetic differences between subpopulations could be explained by divergent selection alone, while the concerted action of divergent selection and disturbance‐driven appearance of new methylation variants in the Disturbed subpopulation is proposed to explain epigenetic differences. This study provides the first empirical evidence to date suggesting that relatively mild disturbances could leave genetic and epigenetic signatures on the next adult generation of long‐lived plants.

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Epigenetic diversity increases the productivity and stability of plant populations

Cited by 138 publications

References 34 publications

Natural Variation in Epigenetic Pathways Affects the Specification of Female Gamete Precursors in Arabidopsis

Natural Variation in Epigenetic Pathways Affects the Specification of Female Gamete Precursors in Arabidopsis

Genetic and epigenetic changes during the invasion of a cosmopolitan species (Phragmites australis)

Genetic and epigenetic divergence between disturbed and undisturbed subpopulations of a Mediterranean shrub: a 20‐year field experiment

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