Yong Li1, Long-Chen Shi2, Nan-Cai Pei3, Samuel A Cushman4, Yu-Tao Si2. 1. Innovation Platform of Molecular Biology, College of Landscape and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. liyongrui1@126.com. 2. Innovation Platform of Molecular Biology, College of Landscape and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. 3. Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China. nancai.pei@gmail.com. 4. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2500 S. Pine Knoll Dr., Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation is an important emerging topic in molecular ecology and evolutionary biology. RESULTS: Here, we identify the physiological changes and differential expression of genes among different weeping forsythia populations under drought stress in common garden experiments. Physiological results showed that HBWZ might have higher drought tolerance among four populations. RNA-seq results showed that significant differential expression in the genes responding to the synthesis of flavonoids, aromatic substances, aromatic amino acids, oxidation-reduction process, and transmembrane transport occured among four populations. By further reanalysis of results of previous studies, sequence differentiation was found in the genes related to the synthesis of aromatic substances among different weeping forsythia populations. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study supports the hypothesis that the dual differentiation in gene efficiency and expression increases among populations in response to heterogeneous environments and is an important evolutionary process of local adaptation. Here, we proposed a new working model of local adaptation of weeping forsythia populations under different intensities of drought stress, which provides new insights for understanding the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation for non-model species.
BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation is an important emerging topic in molecular ecology and evolutionary biology. RESULTS: Here, we identify the physiological changes and differential expression of genes among different weeping forsythia populations under drought stress in common garden experiments. Physiological results showed that HBWZ might have higher drought tolerance among four populations. RNA-seq results showed that significant differential expression in the genes responding to the synthesis of flavonoids, aromatic substances, aromatic amino acids, oxidation-reduction process, and transmembrane transport occured among four populations. By further reanalysis of results of previous studies, sequence differentiation was found in the genes related to the synthesis of aromatic substances among different weeping forsythia populations. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study supports the hypothesis that the dual differentiation in gene efficiency and expression increases among populations in response to heterogeneous environments and is an important evolutionary process of local adaptation. Here, we proposed a new working model of local adaptation of weeping forsythia populations under different intensities of drought stress, which provides new insights for understanding the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation for non-model species.
Authors: M Sol Schvartzman; Massimiliano Corso; Nazeer Fataftah; Maxime Scheepers; Cécile Nouet; Bernard Bosman; Monique Carnol; Patrick Motte; Nathalie Verbruggen; Marc Hanikenne Journal: New Phytol Date: 2018-01-02 Impact factor: 10.151