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Genetic and environmental variation in leaf traits and physiology of <i>Ipomopsis</i>

Authors: Crowell, M. D.
Mentor: Diane R. Campbell
Year: 2012
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Keywords: IPOMOPSIS, HYBRIDS, HYBRIDIZATION, VEGETATIVE TRAIT, PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAIT

Abstract

Selection that differs between environments may maintain genetic differences in traits between two closely related species. In a natural hybrid zone, this environment-mediated selection could also prevent hybrids from successfully occupying parental habitats. Environment-mediated selection can act on vegetative and physiological traits. Yet, the relationship between vegetative traits and physiological traits to hybrid fitness has not been described for many plant systems. In this study, we investigated Ipomopsis aggregata and Ipomopsis tenuituba and their hybrids in different environments, which allowed us to determine if genetic, environmental, or genetic x environmental effects were acting on specific traits. We measured vegetative traits and physiological traits (rosette size, specific leaf area, leaf hair density, chlorophyll concentration and intrinsic water-use efficiency) on individuals of Ipomopsis that had been planted in a reciprocal transplant at three different elevations in Poverty Gulch, Gunnison County, CO. Two of the traits were affected significantly only by environment: rosette size at age 5 was lowest at the highest elevation site, and leaf hair density decreased with elevation. Intrinsic water-use efficiency showed only genetic effects in which F1 hybrids with tenuituba as the maternal parent (TA) had higher values than the reciprocal cross (AT). Specific leaf area and an index of chlorophyll concentration showed both genetic and environmental effects. Higher specific leaf areas were found at higher sites and I. aggregata had significantly higher SLAs then I. tenuituba. Chlorophyll concentration increased with elevation, and F2 hybrids had concentrations significantly lower then any other genotypic class. No genetic x environment effects were found for any of the traits.

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