Epigenetic Mechanisms and Microbiota as a Toolbox for Plant Phenotypic Adjustment to Environment

Nathan Vannier (1) , Cendrine Mony (1) , Anne‐kristel Bittebière (2) , Philippe Vandenkoornhuyse (1)

1 ECOBIO - Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution [Rennes]
2 LEHNA - Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés

The classic understanding of organisms focuses on genes as the main source of species evolution and diversification. The recent concept of genetic accommodation questions this gene centric view by emphasizing the importance of phenotypic plasticity on evolutionary trajectories. Recent discoveries on epigenetics and symbiotic microbiota demonstrated their deep impact on plant survival, adaptation and evolution thus suggesting a novel comprehension of the plant phenotype. In addition, interplays between these two phenomena controlling plant plasticity can be suggested. Because epigenetic and plant-associated (micro-) organisms are both key sources of phenotypic variation allowing environmental adjustments, we argue that they must be considered in terms of evolution. This ‘non-conventional’ set of mediators of phenotypic variation can be seen as a toolbox for plant adaptation to environment over short, medium and long time-scales

Keywords: Phenotypic plasticity; microbiota; rapid adaptation; plant plasticity; epigenetics

Domains: Plants genetics; Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]

Nathan Vannier, Cendrine Mony, Anne‐kristel Bittebière, Philippe Vandenkoornhuyse. Epigenetic Mechanisms and Microbiota as a Toolbox for Plant Phenotypic Adjustment to Environment. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2015, 6, pp.1159. ⟨10.3389/fpls.2015.01159⟩. ⟨hal-01259236⟩