Arabidopsisplants grown in the field and climate chambers significantly differ in leaf morphology and photosystem components

Abstract

BackgroundPlants exhibit phenotypic plasticity and respond to differences in environmental conditions by acclimation. We have systematically compared leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown in the field and under controlled low, normal and high light conditions in the laboratory to determine their most prominent phenotypic differences.ResultsCompared to plants grown under field conditions, the "indoor plants" had larger leaves, modified leaf shapes and longer petioles. Their pigment composition also significantly differed; indoor plants had reduced levels of xanthophyll pigments. In addition, Lhcb1 and Lhcb2 levels were up to three times higher in the indoor plants, but differences in the PSI antenna were much smaller, with only the low-abundance Lhca5 protein showing altered levels. Both isoforms of early-light-induced protein (ELIP) were absent in the indoor plants, and they had less non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The field-grown plants had a high capacity to perform state transitions. Plants lacking ELIPs did not have reduced growth or seed set rates, but their mortality rates were sometimes higher. NPQ levels between natural accessions grown under different conditions were not correlated.ConclusionOur results indicate that comparative analysis of field-grown plants with those grown under artificial conditions is important for a full understanding of plant plasticity and adaptation.

Gene Regulatory Variation Mediates Flowering Responses to Vernalization along an Altitudinal Gradient in Arabidopsis

“…Whether the observed association of altitude with flowering time, gene expression, and gene regulation truly reflects adaptation to altitude in our study remains to be tested further under natural conditions in the field, as climate chamber experiments cannot truly substitute for natural conditions (Mishra et al, 2012). However, the observed responses to the different vernalization scenarios revealed consistent results in terms of flowering time, and these could be corroborated in gene expression and gene regulation analyses.…”

Promises and challenges of eco-physiological genomics in the field: tests of drought responses in switchgrass

“…A common finding among such studies is that physiological and gene expression responses to drought vary considerably depending on the severity and temporal dynamics of drying soil (Chaves et al, 2003;Barker et al, 2005;Malmberg et al, 2005;Mittler, 2006;Mishra et al, 2012). Natural soil moisture variation, which has shaped adaptive responses to drought in wild populations, is not necessarily recapitulated by controlled (often, "shock") laboratory experiments.…”

Nordic research infrastructures for plant phenotyping

“…Also light in field conditions has a large impact on plant growth. For example, the model plant Arabidopsis displays changed leaf morphology with altered pigment composition and fitness performance when grown outdoors (Mishra et al 2012). These findings highlight the importance of replicating experiments in field conditions.…”