Genetic Insights Reveal How Plants Adapt to Climate Change

A new study by Liam Dolan and Frédéric Berger at the Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI) of Molecular Plant Biology connects climate data with genetic variation, shedding light on how plants like Marchantia polymorpha adapt to different climate conditions.

Understanding how plants naturally adapt to varying environments is essential for predicting their responses to climate change, which can ultimately aid in developing more resilient crops. Dolan and Berger's research utilized population genetics along with global climate data to identify genetic variants that contribute to climate adaptation in M. polymorpha.

The researchers examined the genetics of various regional subpopulations of M. polymorpha collected from Europe, America, and Japan to create a comprehensive population genomics database. They compared the populations from Europe and Japan and identified genetic variants linked to warmer and colder summer temperatures and variations in summer precipitation. "These adaptations could be crucial for optimizing reproduction under different conditions," said Dolan.

Additionally, the study found that genetic variability varies between M. polymorpha populations. Subpopulations from different regions in Europe were quite similar to one another but exhibited high genetic diversity among individual plants. In contrast, the geographically isolated Japanese populations displayed more uniform genetic profiles, which were distinct from those found in Europe. These patterns suggest that climate adaptation may promote different reproductive strategies in Europe and Japan, especially since M. polymorpha and other bryophytes can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

For more details, read the article on the GMI website.