Towards an integrative biology research: a case study on adaptive and evolutionary trends of Miscanthus populations in Taiwan

Abstract

A program of research named Towards an Integrative Biology (TAIB) has recently been promoted by the International Union of Biological Sciences, involving multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. Studies of Miscanthus plants which emphasized the TAIB theme were undertaken. Miscanthus species are the most widely distributed and dominant species in Taiwan, growing everywhere from the coastal to mountainous areas, and from agricultural to polluted land. Particularly, the grasses grow well in habitats under environmental stresses. Physiological and genetic adaptations are fundamental mechanisms for these grasses' survival in stressful environments. Findings based on field measurements and laboratory analyses were able to elucidate some of the mechanisms of grasses adapted to stressful environments. Adaptive radiation occurred when most niches were open during the postglacial periods. Particularly, population discontinuity of the grasses was found on the Orchid and Green islets of Taiwan. Likewise, Miscanthus sinensis var. glaber and var. formosanus occupied lands from low to middle elevations of Taiwan, while Miscanthus transmorrisonensis appeared in the highlands above 2400 m. Phylogenetically, Miscanthus has evolved into various ecotypes, varieties and species in Taiwan as well as in other parts of Asia. The grass then evolved into Miscanthus floridulus, M. sinensis var. formosanus, Miscanthus flavidus, then to M. transmorrisonensis. Furthermore, the phylogeny of the Miscanthus sinensis complex of Taiwan was reconstructed by cladistic analysis on nucleotide sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (nrDNA ITS) region and atpB‐rbcL non‐coding spacer of the chloroplast DNA. Rooted at M. floridulus the monophyly of M. sineneis was significantly supported by molecular evidence. The origin of this complex could be dated to the last glacial withdrawal about 20 000 years ago.

Miscanthus

“…Although most M. floridulus generally populates coastal regions, it also has been found in high-altitude areas [87]. However, Chou et al [88] found that the M. floridulus that are dominant in Taiwan lowlands could not grow well at 2,600 m.…”

Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources

“…It is also found in the boreal zone (northeastern Siberia 50 N) (Scally et al 2001). These features would have represented important advantages, which might have contributed not only to Miscanthus being trialed through the world, but would have facilitated the understanding of genetic  environmental interactions and allowed empirical breeding (Chou et al 2001). These features would have represented important advantages, which might have contributed not only to Miscanthus being trialed through the world, but would have facilitated the understanding of genetic  environmental interactions and allowed empirical breeding (Chou et al 2001).…”

“…The morphological traits of Miscanthus are sometimes unstable for certain phenotypic traits (Lee 1964a, b, c), allowing the International Plant Name Index (IPNI) and taxonomists to wrongly describe and identify plants. Molecular studies and DNA sequencing may contribute substantially to the clarification of genetic backgrounds (Chou et al 2001;Hodkinson et al 2002a, b, c). To prevent confusion in the literature, Hodkinson and Renvoize (2001) have corrected the "name" as M. Â giganteus "Greef et Deuter."…”

Adaptive divergence with gene flow in incipient speciation of Miscanthus floridulus/sinensis complex (Poaceae)

“…Incipient species of Miscanthus floridulus and Miscanthus sinensis are ecologically differentiated but connected by gene flow. Miscanthus species (Poaceae), which are C 4 biofuel plants that grow rapidly and are highly resistant to pathogens (Chou et al ., ; Christian et al ., ; Dohleman and Long, ), display high levels of ecological and morphological polymorphisms. The two species are distributed in East Asia, overlapping in southern Japan, Taiwan, and south‐eastern China (Clifton‐Brown et al ., , ).…”

“…condensatus in saline habitats along the coastline, and M. sinensis var. glaber in soil containing high copper or sulfur levels (Chou et al ., ), represent local adaptation to an extreme habitat. Patches of these locally adapted variants may expand via their rhizomes, partly explaining the ecological abundance of Miscanthus (Wu et al ., ).…”