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Genome size of alpine plants does not predict temperature resistance

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Abstract

Main conclusion

Genome size of alpine plants is not related to their resistance against frost and heat.

Abstract

Genome size is a variable trait in angiosperms, and it was suggested that large genome size represents a constraint in stressful environments. We measured genome size and resistance to frost and heat in 89 species of plants from tropical and temperate alpine habitats. Genome size of the species, ranging from 0.49 pg to 25.8 pg across the entire dataset, was not related to either frost or heat resistance in either group of plants. Genome size does not predict resistance to extreme temperatures in alpine plants and is thus not likely to predict plant responses to climate changes.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Data availability

Data generated and analysed in this paper are available as Supplementary Information: Table S1.

Abbreviations

GS:

Genome size

2C:

The amount of DNA in an un-replicated somatic nucleus

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Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (Project No. 17-12420S).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Adam Klimeš

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen, Thormøhlens gate 53, 5020, Bergen, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague, Czech Republic

    Petr Sklenář & Jan Ptáček

  2. Department of Experimental and Functional Morphology, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelská 135, 37901, Třeboň, Czech Republic

    Adam Klimeš

Authors
  1. Petr Sklenář
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  2. Jan Ptáček
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Correspondence to Petr Sklenář.

Additional information

Communicated by Dorothea Bartels.

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Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

425_2022_3935_MOESM1_ESM.xlsx

Supplementary file1 Table S1 List of examined alpine plant species ordered alphabetically within the temperate (coded by 1: Colorado, Krkonoše Mts. and the Alps study sites) and tropical (coded by 2: Ecuador and Bolivia study sites) regions. Genome size, maximum resistance to frost and heat, and growth form classification are provided. (XLSX 17 KB)

425_2022_3935_MOESM2_ESM.pdf

Supplementary file2 Fig. S1 Representative flow cytometry histograms of four selected species. a Erigeron pinnatisectus (Asteraceae, 2C = 4.4. pg). b Caltha leptosepala (Ranunculaceae, 2C = 7.2 pg). c Oritrophium peruvianum (Asteraceae, 2C = 8.8 pg). d Azorella biloba (Apiaceae, 2C = 12 pg). St, standard (a, b, c Solanum pseudocapsicum, 2C = 2.59 pg; d Bellis perennis, 2C = 3.38 pg), s, sample, G2, G2 phase of standard (PDF 430 KB)

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Sklenář, P., Ptáček, J. & Klimeš, A. Genome size of alpine plants does not predict temperature resistance. Planta 256, 18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-022-03935-x

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