Heritable genetic variation but no local adaptation in a pine-ectomycorrhizal interaction

Downie, Jim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7175-0533; Silvertown, Jonathan; Cavers, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2139-9236; Ennos, Richard. 2020 Heritable genetic variation but no local adaptation in a pine-ectomycorrhizal interaction. Mycorrhiza, 30 (2-3). 185-195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-020-00941-3

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Abstract/Summary

Local adaptation of plants to mycorrhizal fungi helps determine the outcome of mycorrhizal interactions. However, there is comparatively little work exploring the potential for evolution in interactions with ectomycorrhizal fungi, and fewer studies have explored the heritability of mycorrhizal responsiveness, which is required for local adaptation to occur. We set up a reciprocal inoculation experiment using seedlings and soil from four populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from Scotland, measuring seedling response to mycorrhizal inoculation after 4 months. We estimated heritability for the response traits and tested for genotype × environment interactions. While we found that ectomycorrhizal responsiveness was highly heritable, we found no evidence that pine populations were locally adapted to fungal communities. Instead, we found a complex suite of interactions between pine population and soil inoculum. Our results suggest that, while Scots pine has the potential to evolve in response to mycorrhizal fungi, evolution in Scotland has not resulted in local adaptation. Long generation times and potential for rapid shifts in fungal communities in response to environmental change may preclude the opportunity for such adaptation in this species, and selection for other factors such as resistance to fungal pathogens may explain the pattern of interactions found.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-020-00941-3
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0940-6360
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	local adaptation, ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), Pinus sylvestris, Scots pine, heritability, mutualism
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	24 Feb 2020 17:24 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527023

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