Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants
The term “Geographical parthenogenesis” describes the phenomenon that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives, and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. Several case studies on alpine and arctic plants confirm the geographical p...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:78f403b4545c4ba98ccc864b62dc6456 2023-05-15T15:00:03+02:00 Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants Elvira Hörandl 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040844 https://doaj.org/article/78f403b4545c4ba98ccc864b62dc6456 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/844 https://doaj.org/toc/2223-7747 doi:10.3390/plants12040844 2223-7747 https://doaj.org/article/78f403b4545c4ba98ccc864b62dc6456 Plants, Vol 12, Iss 844, p 844 (2023) apomixis biogeography DNA methylation ecology hybridization polyploidy Botany QK1-989 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040844 2023-02-26T01:28:49Z The term “Geographical parthenogenesis” describes the phenomenon that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives, and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. Several case studies on alpine and arctic plants confirm the geographical pattern, but the causal factors behind the phenomenon are still unclear. Research of the last decade in several plant families has shed light on the question and evaluated some of the classical evolutionary theories. Results confirmed, in general, that the advantages of uniparental reproduction enable apomictic plants to re-colonize faster in larger and more northern distribution areas. Associated factors like polyploidy seem to contribute mainly to the spatial separation of sexual and asexual cytotypes. Ecological studies suggest a better tolerance of apomicts to colder climates and temperate extremes, whereby epigenetic flexibility and phenotypic plasticity play an important role in occupying ecological niches under harsh conditions. Genotypic diversity appears to be of lesser importance for the distributional success of asexual plants. Classical evolutionary theories like a reduced pressure of biotic interactions in colder climates and hence an advantage to asexuals (Red Queen hypothesis) did not gain support from studies on plants. However, it is also still enigmatic why sexual outcrossing remains the predominant mode of reproduction also in alpine floras. Constraints for the origin of apomixis might play a role. Interestingly, some studies suggest an association of sexuality with abiotic stresses. Light stress in high elevations might explain why most alpine plants retain sexual reproduction despite other environmental factors that would favor apomixis. Directions for future research will be given. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Plants 12 4 844 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
apomixis biogeography DNA methylation ecology hybridization polyploidy Botany QK1-989 |
spellingShingle |
apomixis biogeography DNA methylation ecology hybridization polyploidy Botany QK1-989 Elvira Hörandl Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
topic_facet |
apomixis biogeography DNA methylation ecology hybridization polyploidy Botany QK1-989 |
description |
The term “Geographical parthenogenesis” describes the phenomenon that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives, and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. Several case studies on alpine and arctic plants confirm the geographical pattern, but the causal factors behind the phenomenon are still unclear. Research of the last decade in several plant families has shed light on the question and evaluated some of the classical evolutionary theories. Results confirmed, in general, that the advantages of uniparental reproduction enable apomictic plants to re-colonize faster in larger and more northern distribution areas. Associated factors like polyploidy seem to contribute mainly to the spatial separation of sexual and asexual cytotypes. Ecological studies suggest a better tolerance of apomicts to colder climates and temperate extremes, whereby epigenetic flexibility and phenotypic plasticity play an important role in occupying ecological niches under harsh conditions. Genotypic diversity appears to be of lesser importance for the distributional success of asexual plants. Classical evolutionary theories like a reduced pressure of biotic interactions in colder climates and hence an advantage to asexuals (Red Queen hypothesis) did not gain support from studies on plants. However, it is also still enigmatic why sexual outcrossing remains the predominant mode of reproduction also in alpine floras. Constraints for the origin of apomixis might play a role. Interestingly, some studies suggest an association of sexuality with abiotic stresses. Light stress in high elevations might explain why most alpine plants retain sexual reproduction despite other environmental factors that would favor apomixis. Directions for future research will be given. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Elvira Hörandl |
author_facet |
Elvira Hörandl |
author_sort |
Elvira Hörandl |
title |
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
title_short |
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
title_full |
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
title_fullStr |
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
title_full_unstemmed |
Geographical Parthenogenesis in Alpine and Arctic Plants |
title_sort |
geographical parthenogenesis in alpine and arctic plants |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040844 https://doaj.org/article/78f403b4545c4ba98ccc864b62dc6456 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Plants, Vol 12, Iss 844, p 844 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/844 https://doaj.org/toc/2223-7747 doi:10.3390/plants12040844 2223-7747 https://doaj.org/article/78f403b4545c4ba98ccc864b62dc6456 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12040844 |
container_title |
Plants |
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12 |
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4 |
container_start_page |
844 |
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1766332162371485696 |