Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310091
Title: Utilizing intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity to bolster agricultural and forest productivity under climate change

Author
item ASPINWALL, MICHAEL - Western Sydney University
item LOIK, MICHAEL - University Of California
item RESCO DE DIOS, VICTOR - Western Sydney University
item TJOELKER, MARK - Western Sydney University
item Payton, Paxton
item TISSUE, DAVID - Western Sydney University

Submitted to: Plant Cell and Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We have conceptualized the significance of intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity (i.e. G×E) within agricultural and forest species within the context of plant breeding and climate change, and have identified some of the important physiological and genetic factors influencing G×E. Although the ecological literature has recognized phenotypic plasticity as a means of buffering the effects of climate change, studies in agriculture and forestry have generally regarded G×E as a limitation to selecting stable genotypes, thereby overlooking the potential utility of intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity. We stress the need for a more integrated understanding of intraspecific variation in agricultural and forest species responses to climate change. Most importantly, we argue for more explicit testing of genotype plasticity – productivity relationships, and for assessing genotypes based on not only their mean trait values, but also their plasticity. This may be crucial for identifying genotypes of agricultural of forest species capable of increasing or maintaining productivity under more variable climatic conditions.

Technical Abstract: Climate change will likely constrain the ability of agriculture and forestry to meet growing global demands for food, fibre, and wood products. Information gathered from genotype-by-environment interactions (G×E), which demonstrate intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity (the ability of a genotype to alter its phenotype in response to environmental change) may prove important for bolstering agricultural and forest productivity under climate change. Nonetheless, very few studies have explicitly quantified genotype plasticity – productivity relationships in agriculture or forestry. Here, we conceptualize the importance of intraspecific variation in agricultural and forest species plasticity, and discuss the physiological and genetic factors contributing to intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity. Our discussion highlights the need for an integrated understanding of the mechanisms of G×E, more extensive assessments of genotypic responses to climate change under field conditions, and explicit testing of genotype plasticity – productivity relationships. Ultimately, further investigation of intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity in agriculture and forestry may prove important for identifying genotypes capable of increasing or sustaining productivity under more extreme climatic conditions.