title: Phenotypic plasticity and similarity of DNA among genotypes of an annual plant.
abstract: When measured directly, rather than inferred from pedigree analyses, the relationship between similarity in phenotype and similarity in DNA sequence was detectable at the level of members of a single population and strongly depended on the environmental context. Genetic divergence among 27 co-occurring genotypes of Abutilon theophrasti, a common annual plant, was less than 5 per cent as revealed by RAPD-PCR analysis based on over 400 bands per genotype. Nevertheless, within this narrow range, there was a positive correlation between genetic similarity and similarity in the performance of genotypes on temperature and moisture gradients, suggesting that plasticity itself has a genetic basis. No relationship was detected, however, when the phenotypic plasticity was expressed in response to gradients of light intensity or soil fertilization, indicating a weaker genetic basis, or suggesting possible involvement of a few genes of major effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. mjasiens@oeb.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jasienski
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bazzaz
mesh_terms: D018744:DNA, Plant; D004777:Environment; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008027:Light; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant