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Morphological canalization, integration and plasticity in response to population density in Abutilon theophrasti: influences of soil conditions and growth stages
  • Shu Wang,
  • Dao-Wei Zhou
Shu Wang
Guizhou University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Dao-Wei Zhou
Northeast Institute of Geology and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Phenotypic integration and developmental canalization have been hypothesized to constrain the degree of phenotypic plasticity, but there is little evidence for the relationships among the three processes in different environments, especially for plants under natural conditions. To address this issue, we conducted a field experiment by subjecting plants of Abutilon theophrasti to low, medium and high densities, under infertile and fertile soil conditions, measured a variety of traits and analyzed canalization (coefficient of variation [CV]), integration (coefficient of integration [CI] and the number of significant correlations of a trait with other traits [NC]), and plasticity (REL RDPIs and ABS RDPIs) in these traits and their relationships at two stages of plant growth. Our results showed an increase in mean CV, NC and ABS RDPIs of traits with density, and the positive correlations between trait NC and ABS RDPIs became stronger with higher densities but weaker over time in fertile soil, while correlations among trait CV, NC and ABS RDPIs became stronger over time in infertile soil. Results suggested shared or cooperation mechanisms among phenotypic integration, canalization and plasticity. Soil conditions and growth stage may affect responses of these correlations to density via modifying plant size and competition strength. The attenuated canalization and enhanced integration may be helpful for the production of plasticity, especially under intense competition.
14 Jun 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
15 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
15 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
22 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Jul 20211st Revision Received
10 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
10 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
10 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept