The impact of environment on genetic and epigenetic variation inTrifolium pratensepopulations from two contrasting semi-natural grasslands

Abstract

Central European grasslands, such as calcareous grasslands and oat-grass meadows, are characterized by diverse environmental conditions and management regimes. Therefore, we aimed to determine potential differences in genetic and epigenetic variation patterns between the contrasting habitats and to identify the drivers of genetic and epigenetic variation. We investigated the genetic and epigenetic variation of the ecologically variable plant species Trifolium pratense L. applying amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses. We observed low levels of genetic and epigenetic differentiation among populations and between habitat types. Genetic and epigenetic variations were not interdependent. Thus, genetic variation was significantly isolated by habitat dissimilarity, whereas epigenetic variation was affected by environment. More specifically, we observed a significant correlation of epigenetic diversity with soil moisture and soil pH (the latter potentially resulting in phosphorus limitation). Genetic variation was, therefore, affected more strongly by habitat-specific environmental conditions induced by land use-related disturbance and gene flow patterns, while epigenetic variation was driven by challenging environmental conditions.

Comparative epigenetic and genetic spatial structure in Mediterranean mountain plants: a multispecific comparison

“…This piece of information is especially relevant given the effect that environmental distance can have on the spatial distribution of epigenetic variants (Herrera et al 2017). In any case, our findings are in line with previous findings in which a decoupling of the genetic and epigenetic variation are accompanied by a correlation of epigenetic variation with environmental conditions (Lehmair et al 2022) and highlight the importance of such in determining the spatial template of genetic and epigenetic variation.…”

“…However, in most studies where there is higher epigenetic than genetic differentiation among populations, the former is associated with environmental factors. Among these studies, it is worth highlighting those that show an association with population soil variables such as moisture, pH or chemical composition (Lira-Medeiros et al 2010; Shen et al 2021; Lehmair et al 2022), which together with experimental studies controlling for soil variables (reviewed in Alonso et al 2019), add to the evidence of the ubiquitous effect of soil characteristics and habitat features on epigenetic variation (see also Paun et al 2010, Schulz et al 2014). In our study, endemic species are characterised by having a narrow niche breath which is sparsely distributed in space and that determines the patchy distribution of these species.…”

“…In addition, recent studies support that plants can react to external environmental factors through epigenetic marks and alter phenotype without showing changes in their DNA sequence (e.g. Lira-Madeiros et al 2010; Herrera and Bazaga 2011, 2016; Zhang et al 2012; Latzel et al 2013; Wu et al 2013; Nicotra et al 2015; Wilschut et al 2016; Lehmair et al 2022). Epigenetic changes are therefore an additional source of variability to the spatial template of plant phenotypic variation upon which selection acts (Herrera et al 2016, 2017), and may play an important role in the fate of populations, especially in harsh environments.…”

Inter‐ and intraspecific phytochemical variation correlate with epiphytic flower and leaf bacterial communities

“…For analyses of surface sugars, VOCs, and 16S rRNA metabarcoding, separate samples of the same individuals were taken from 43 plots (SCH: 21 plots; HAI: 13 plots; ALB: 9 plots), with three individuals per species and plot at ≥3 m distance between the sampled individuals. Due to the limited availability of suitable inflorescences and leaves per plant (49% of all samples), very close neighbours of T. pratense were considered as the same individuals or at least as individuals with little differences in genotype (Bataillon et al, 2022; Eilers, 2021; Keefover‐Ring, 2022; Lehmair et al, 2022). This plant species mostly propagates vegetatively via rhizomes (Cumming, 1959).…”

Multidimensional trait variability in a widespread, Paleoarctic macrophyte: functional, spectral and genetic drivers

“…In fact, as spectral traits may integrate wide aspects of plant phenotypic variability (Kothari and Schweiger 2022), they can be valuable in advancing functional plant ecology and biodiversity studies across spatial scales (Abelleira Martínez et al 2016, Cavender‐Bares et al 2022, Castellani et al 2023a, b2023b) – especially when joined with commonly measured functional traits. Besides, determining whether and to what extent environmental gradients influence genetic differentiation in populations is a key aspect of understanding patterns of trait variability (Lehmair et al 2022).…”