Transgenerational effects in asexually reproduced offspring of Populus

PLoS One. 2018 Dec 6;13(12):e0208591. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208591. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The response of trees to a changing climate can be affected by transgenerational phenotypic plasticity, i.e. phenotypic variation that is conserved and transferred to the offspring. Transgenerational plasticity that is influenced by epigenetics (heritable changes in gene function that do not result from changes in DNA sequence) during both sexual and asexual reproduction are of major relevance for adaptation of plants to climate change. To understand the transgenerational effects on the responses of vegetatively propagated poplar (Populus deltoides and P. trichocarpa) ramets (cuttings) to a changing environment, we tested whether the temperature and photoperiod experienced by the mother trees (genets) persistently affects the phenology of the cuttings grown in a common environment. We weekly monitored the bud phenology of the cuttings collected from the parent trees that have been growing across Europe along a >2100 km latitudinal gradient for at least 18 years. In addition, we asked whether there was variation in DNA methylation as measured by Methylation Sensitive Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (MSAPs) in the clones due to the different environmental conditions experienced by the parent trees. Our results indicate a transgenerational effect on bud phenology in the asexually reproduced offspring (vegetative cuttings). The temperatures experienced by the parent tree clones (from different geographic regions) altered the bud flush of the cuttings in the common garden. However, no significant epigenetic variation was detected in the cuttings of the parent trees within single genotypes growing under different climates. In sum, our results show that trees have the potential to respond to rapid climate change but the mechanism behind these changes needs to be further investigated by more powerful molecular methods like whole-genome bisulphite sequencing techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Biological*
  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis
  • Climate Change
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenomics*
  • Genome, Plant
  • Genotype
  • Photoperiod
  • Populus / physiology*
  • Reproduction
  • Reproduction, Asexual
  • Seasons
  • Temperature

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) under the project FORBIO Climate-Adaptation potential of biodiverse forests in the face of climate change via the BRAIN-be programme to Kris Verheyen. Kris Verheyen was also supported by the European Research Council through the PASTFORWARD project (ERC Consolidator Grant 614839). Pieter De Frenne was supported through the FORMICA project (ERC Starting Grant 757833). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.