© 2003 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
The Adaptive Evolution of Plasticity: Phytochrome-Mediated Shade Avoidance Responses1
1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G-W, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Many plants display a characteristic suite of developmental "shade avoidance" responses, such as stem elongation and accelerated reproduction, to the low ratio of red to far-red wavelengths (R:FR) reflected or transmitted from green vegetation. This R:FR cue of crowding and vegetation shade is perceived by the phytochrome family of photoreceptors. Phytochrome-mediated responses provide an ideal system for investigating the adaptive evolution of phenotypic plasticity in natural environments. The molecular and developmental mechanisms underlying shade avoidance responses are well studied, and testable ecological hypotheses exist for their adaptive significance. Experimental manipulation of phenotypes demonstrates that shade avoidance responses may be adaptive, resulting in phenotypes with high relative fitness in the environments that induce those phenotypes. The adaptive value of shade avoidance depends upon the competitive environment, resource availability, and the reliability of the R:FR cue for predicting the selective environment experienced by an induced phenotype. Comparative studies and a reciprocal transplant experiment with Impatiens capensis provide evidence of adaptive divergence in shade avoidance responses between woodland and clearing habitats, which may result from population differences in the frequency of selection on shade avoidance traits, as well as differences in the reliability of the R:FR cue. Recent rapid progress in elucidating phytochrome signaling pathways in the genetic model Arabidopsis thaliana and other species now provides the opportunity for studying how selection on shade avoidance traits in natural environments acts upon the molecular mechanisms underlying natural phenotypic variation.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. J. Vermeulen and H. J. During Genotype-density interactions in a clonal, rosette-forming plant: cost of increased height growth? Ann. Bot., November 2, 2009; (2009) mcp265v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
X. Chen, H. Huber, H. de Kroon, A. J. M. Peeters, H. Poorter, L. A. C. J. Voesenek, and E. J. W. Visser Intraspecific variation in the magnitude and pattern of flooding-induced shoot elongation in Rumex palustris Ann. Bot., November 1, 2009; 104(6): 1057 - 1067. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. P. Murphy and S. A. Dudley Kin recognition: Competition and cooperation in Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) Am. J. Botany, November 1, 2009; 96(11): 1990 - 1996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. J. Vermeulen, J. F. Stuefer, H. J. During, and N. P. R. Anten Leaf Investment and Light Partitioning among Leaves of Different Genotypes of the Clonal Plant Potentilla reptans in a Dense Stand after 5 Years of Competition Ann. Bot., December 1, 2008; 102(6): 935 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Weijschede, K. Antonise, H. de Caluwe, H. de Kroon, and H. Huber Effects of cell number and cell size on petiole length variation in a stoloniferous herb Am. J. Botany, January 1, 2008; 95(1): 41 - 49. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. F. Galloway and J. R. Etterson Transgenerational Plasticity Is Adaptive in the Wild Science, November 16, 2007; 318(5853): 1134 - 1136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. H. Kebrom and T. P. Brutnell The molecular analysis of the shade avoidance syndrome in the grasses has begun J. Exp. Bot., October 5, 2007; (2007) erm205v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Doust Architectural Evolution and its Implications for Domestication in Grasses Ann. Bot., October 1, 2007; 100(5): 941 - 950. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. A. FRANKLIN and G. C. WHITELAM Phytochromes and Shade-avoidance Responses in Plants Ann. Bot., August 1, 2005; 96(2): 169 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. G. Swallow, J. S. Rhodes, and T. Garland Jr. Phenotypic and Evolutionary Plasticity of Organ Masses in Response to Voluntary Exercise in House Mice Integr. Comp. Biol., June 1, 2005; 45(3): 426 - 437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. S. Callahan Using Artificial Selection to Understand Plastic Plant Phenotypes Integr. Comp. Biol., June 1, 2005; 45(3): 475 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|