Phenotypic Variation in European Wild Pear (Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd.) Populations in the North-Western Part of the Balkan Peninsula

Antonio Vidaković,Mira Radunić,Daniel Gaunt,Marilena Idžojtić,Igor Poljak,Zlatko Liber,Katarina Tumpa,Zlatko Šatović,Valentino Pintar,Tonka Ninčević Runjić,Marko Runjić,Jakša Rošin

doi:10.3390/plants11030335

Antonio Vidaković, Mira Radunić + Show 10 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030335

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Abstract

Leaves play a central role in plant fitness, allowing efficient light capture, gas exchange and thermoregulation, ensuring optimal growing conditions for the plant. Phenotypic variability in leaf shape and size has been linked to environmental heterogeneity and habitat characteristics. Therefore, the study of foliar morphology in plant populations can help us to identify the environmental factors that may have influenced the process of species diversification. In this study, we used European wild pear (Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd., Rosaceae) as a model species to investigate the phenotypic variability of leaves under different environmental conditions. Using leaf morphometric data from 19 natural populations from the north-western part of the Balkan Peninsula, a high level of variability among and within populations were found. Leaf traits related to leaf size were more variable compared to leaf shape traits, with both influenced by geographic and environmental factors. Consequently, patterns of isolation by environment (IBE) and distance (IBD) were identified, with IBE showing a stronger influence on leaf variability. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that European wild pear populations from the north-western part of the Balkan Peninsula can be divided into two morphological clusters, consistent with their geographical distance and environmental conditions. Our results confirm a high level of phenotypic variability in European wild pear populations, providing additional data on this poorly studied species, emphasizing phenotypic plasticity as a major driver in the adaptation of this noble hardwood species to rapid climate change.

Highlights

IntroductionAs sessile organisms, express exceptional capacity to adjust their phenotypic and physiological characteristics to environmental heterogeneity they are exposed to [1]
This article is an open access articlePlants, as sessile organisms, express exceptional capacity to adjust their phenotypic and physiological characteristics to environmental heterogeneity they are exposed to [1].This environmentally conditioned adaptation occurs through two possible evolutionary mechanisms: local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity [2]
We aimed to examine the phenotypic variability of European wild pear based on leaf material from 19 natural populations from the north-western part of the Balkan Peninsula

Summary

Introduction

As sessile organisms, express exceptional capacity to adjust their phenotypic and physiological characteristics to environmental heterogeneity they are exposed to [1]. This environmentally conditioned adaptation occurs through two possible evolutionary mechanisms: local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity [2]. Phenotypic plasticity is recognized as one of the key mechanisms in plants’ responses to various and fast-changing climatic conditions [1,6], as evolutionary mechanisms cannot always keep up with climate change [4]. Leaf lamina tends to grow larger in lower irradiance, in order to maximize light capture [22]

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