The potential of plant viruses to promote genotypic diversity via genotype x environment interactions
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The potential of plant viruses to promote genotypic diversity via genotype x environment interactions. / van Mölken, Tamara; Stuefer, Josef F.
I: Annals of Botany, Bind 107, Nr. 8, 2011, s. 1391-1397.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The potential of plant viruses to promote genotypic diversity via genotype x environment interactions
AU - van Mölken, Tamara
AU - Stuefer, Josef F.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - † Background and Aims Genotype by environment (G × E) interactions are important for the long-term persistence of plant species in heterogeneous environments. It has often been suggested that disease is a key factor for the maintenance of genotypic diversity in plant populations. However, empirical evidence for this contention is scarce. Here virus infection is proposed as a possible candidate for maintaining genotypic diversity in their host plants. † Methods The effects of White clover mosaic virus (WClMV) on the performance and development of different Trifolium repens genotypes were analysed and the G × E interactions were examined with respect to genotypespecific plant responses to WClMV infection. Thus, the environment is defined as the presence or absence of the virus. † Key Results WClMV had a negative effect on plant performance as shown by a decrease in biomass and number of ramets. These effects of virus infection differ greatly among host genotypes, representing a strong G × E interaction. Moreover, the relative fitness and associated ranking of genotypes changed significantly between control and virus treatments. This shift in relative fitness among genotypes suggests the potential for WClMV to provoke differential selection on T. repens genotypes, which may lead to negative frequency-dependent selection in host populations. †Conclusions The apparent G × E interaction and evident repercussions for relative fitness reported in this study stress the importance of viruses for ecological and evolutionary processes and suggest an important role for viruses in shaping population dynamics and micro-evolutionary processes.
AB - † Background and Aims Genotype by environment (G × E) interactions are important for the long-term persistence of plant species in heterogeneous environments. It has often been suggested that disease is a key factor for the maintenance of genotypic diversity in plant populations. However, empirical evidence for this contention is scarce. Here virus infection is proposed as a possible candidate for maintaining genotypic diversity in their host plants. † Methods The effects of White clover mosaic virus (WClMV) on the performance and development of different Trifolium repens genotypes were analysed and the G × E interactions were examined with respect to genotypespecific plant responses to WClMV infection. Thus, the environment is defined as the presence or absence of the virus. † Key Results WClMV had a negative effect on plant performance as shown by a decrease in biomass and number of ramets. These effects of virus infection differ greatly among host genotypes, representing a strong G × E interaction. Moreover, the relative fitness and associated ranking of genotypes changed significantly between control and virus treatments. This shift in relative fitness among genotypes suggests the potential for WClMV to provoke differential selection on T. repens genotypes, which may lead to negative frequency-dependent selection in host populations. †Conclusions The apparent G × E interaction and evident repercussions for relative fitness reported in this study stress the importance of viruses for ecological and evolutionary processes and suggest an important role for viruses in shaping population dynamics and micro-evolutionary processes.
KW - Former LIFE faculty
KW - Disease, genotypic diversity, G × E interactions, Trifolium repens, White clover mosaic virus.
U2 - 10.1093/aob/mcr078
DO - 10.1093/aob/mcr078
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21515605
VL - 107
SP - 1391
EP - 1397
JO - Annals of Botany
JF - Annals of Botany
SN - 0305-7364
IS - 8
ER -
ID: 35231583