Abstract

Detection of the genomic basis of local adaptation to environmental conditions is challenging in forest trees. Phytochromes (PHY) and cryptochromes (CRY) perceive the red (R)/far-red (FR) and blue light respectively, thus playing a fundamental role in regulating plant growth and development. PHYO and PHYP from conifers are the equivalents of PHYA/PHYC and PHYB in angiosperms, respectively. Norway spruce shows an adaptive latitudinal cline for shade (low R:FR or FR-enriched light) tolerance and requirement of FR light for its growth. We analyzed the exome capture data that included a uniquely large data set of 1654 Norway spruce trees sampled across many latitudes in Sweden to capture the natural clines for photoperiod and FR light exposure during the growth season. Statistically significant clinal variation was detected in allele and genotype frequencies of missense mutations in coding regions belonging to well-defined functional domains of PHYO (PAS-B), PHYP2 (PAS fold-2), CRY1 (CCT1) and CRY2 (CCT2) that strongly correlates with the latitudinal gradient in response to variable light quality in Norway spruce. The missense SNP in PHYO resulting in Asn835Ser, displayed the steepest cline among all other polymorphisms. We propose that these variations in the photoreceptors represent signs of local adaptation to light quality.

Keywords

cline; cryptochrome; missense mutation; photoreceptor; phytochrome; polymorphism; SNP

Published in

Plant Cell & Environment
2023, Volume: 46, number: 8, pages: 2391-2400
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Ranade, Sonali

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Garcia Gil, Rosario

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14638

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122796