Common Orchids Exhibit Rapid Adaptation amidst Climate Change

Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew's Jodrell University, have discovered that some plants have the capacity to adapt to climate change in a shorter span of time. Scientists used to believe that adaptation takes hundreds of years, which is too slow to counter the rapid effects of climate change. They have observed this in delicate purple European marsh-orchids, which are of hybrid origin. Although the three orchids have the same genetic heritage, they are considerably different in ecological requirements, morphology, physical characteristics and distribution.

"Our results show the importance of the environment in altering inherited traits in these orchids and also contributing to biodiversity. The epigenetic level of natural variation can be adaptive and has the potential to be rapidly released, in a few generations, in contrast to genetic variation," said Dr. Ovidiu Paun, lead researcher of the project.

Readers can access the complete article at http://www.kew.org/about-kew/press-media/press-releases-kew/orchid-epigenetics/index.htm.