J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2019, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (4): 417-432.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12697

Special Issue: Abiotic stress

• Molecular Ecology and Evolution • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Environmental drivers and genomic architecture of trait differentiation in fire-adapted Banksia attenuata ecotypes

Tianhua He1*, Byron B. Lamont1, Neal J. Enright2, Haylee M. D’Agui1 and William Stock3   

  1. 1School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Australia
    2School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth WA 6150, Australia
    3Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup WA 6027, Australia

    *Correspondence:

    Email: Tianhua He (Tianhua.He@curtin.edu.au)
  • Received:2018-02-09 Accepted:2018-07-10 Online:2018-07-11 Published:2019-04-01

Abstract: Trait divergence between populations is considered an adaptive response to different environments, but to what extent this response is accompanied by genetic differentiation is less clear since it may be phenotypic plasticity. In this study, we analyzed phenotypic variation between two Banksia attenuata growth forms, lignotuberous (shrub) and epicormic resprouting (tree), in fire-prone environments to identify the environmental factors that have driven this phenotypic divergence. We linked genotype with phenotype and traced candidate genes using differential gene expression analysis. Fire intervals determined the phenotypic divergence between growth forms in B. attenuata. A genome-wide association study identified 69 single nucleotide polymorphisms, putatively associated with growth form, whereas no growth form- or phenotype-specific genotypes were identified. Genomic differentiation between the two growth forms was low (Fst = 0.024). Differential gene expression analysis identified 37 genes/transcripts that were differentially expressed in the two growth forms. A small heat-shock protein gene, associated with lignotuber presence, was differentially expressed in the two forms. We conclude that different fire regimes induce phenotypic polymorphism in B. attenuata, whereas phenotypic trait divergence involves the differential expression of a small fraction of genes that interact strongly with the disturbance regime. Thus, phenotypic plasticity among resprouters is the general strategy for surviving varying fire regimes.

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