Biology subjects

Pico, F. X.

Publications and source records attributed to Pico, F. X..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Conserved herbivore-induced volatile signalling despite divergent VOC-life-history associations in two locally adapted Arabidopsis thaliana populations

O_LIVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) mediate plant-plant signalling and may contribute to phenotypic differentiation among populations. However, the extent to which VOC-mediated signalling varies among locally adapted populations, and how VOC traits relate to major fitness-related traits, remain poorly understood. C_LIO_LIWe conducted a greenhouse experiment using two genetically and phenologically divergent Iberian populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants were exposed to herbivory by Spodoptera exigua, after which we quantified herbivore-induced VOC emissions, VOC-mediated signalling effects on neighbouring conspecifics, and relationships between VOC traits, flowering time, and seed germination. C_LIO_LIHerbivory altered VOC composition, but overall VOC profiles remained broadly similar between populations despite strong divergence in life-history strategies, constitutive resistance to herbivory, and genetic structure. In contrast, correlations between VOC traits and fitness-related traits differed between populations and herbivory treatments. Nevertheless, receiver plants from both populations exhibited reduced herbivore damage after exposure to herbivore-induced emitters, indicating conserved VOC-mediated signalling. C_LIO_LIOur results suggest that herbivore-induced volatile signalling may represent a relatively conserved component of plant defence across locally adapted populations. In contrast, relationships between VOC traits and life-history variation may reflect population-specific integration of defence and fitness-related traits. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Natural variation in root exudate composition in the genetically structured Arabidopsis thaliana in the Iberian Peninsula

O_LIPlant root exudates are involved in nutrient acquisition, microbial partnerships, and inter- organism signaling. Yet, little is known about the genetic and environmental drivers of root exudate variation at large geographical scales, which may help understand evolutionary trajectories of plants in heterogeneous environments. C_LIO_LIWe quantified natural variation in chemical composition of Arabidopsis thaliana root exudates in 105 Iberian accessions. We identified up to 373 putative compounds using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. We estimated broad-sense heritability of compounds and conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) study. We associated variation in root exudates to variation in geographic, environmental, life history, and genetic attributes of Iberian accessions. C_LIO_LIOnly 25 of 373 compounds exhibited broad-sense heritability values significantly different from zero. GWA analysis identified polymorphisms associated to 12 root exudate compounds and 26 known genes involved in metabolism, defense, signaling, and nutrient transport. The genetic structure influenced root exudate composition involving terpenoids. We detected five terpenoids related to plant defense significantly varying in mean abundances in two genetic clusters. C_LIO_LIOur study provides first insights into the extent of root exudate natural variation at a regional scale depicting a diversified evolutionary trajectory among A. thaliana genetic clusters chiefly mediated by terpenoid composition. C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2016

Geographical restructuring of Arabidopsis thaliana’s genetic makeup in the Iberian Peninsula due to climate change based on genetic cluster membership

AimTo assess the effects of climate change on genetic lineages of Arabidopsis thaliana at the admixed population level by directly modelling genetic cluster membership values to predict potential genetic cluster memberships across the Iberian Peninsula.\n\nLocationIberian Peninsula\n\nMethodsWe used a dataset of 274 accessions structured in four genetic clusters as inferred from 250 nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms with Bayesian clustering methods. We predicted the change in percentages of genetic cluster membership at a population level and the changes in potential suitability across the study area by combining parametric (Beta regression) and non-parametric (Recursive trees) methods.\n\nResultsClimate change will affect genetic lineages of Arabidopsis thaliana differently. Genetic clusters GC1 and GC2 will suffer a substantive reduction of their respective suitable areas while GC3 and GC4 will expand northward. At the population level, except for GC4, the rest of the lineages will undergo a genetic turnover for many of their populations.\n\nMain conclusionsA. thaliana in the Iberian Peninsula will undergo a major internal genetic restructuring and range change due to climate change. Genetic lineages of Arabidopsis thaliana in the Iberian Peninsula will be affected differently which reinforce the need for taking into account intraspecific genetic variation when modelling species distribution. Despite limited predictive power of individual statistical models, the combination of distinct models can compensate this shortcoming.

ecology↗