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Ferula huber‐morathii is an endemic and medicinally important plant. This species is distributed in eight Turkish localities, including three newly identified ones. Its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy is determined to be 3963 km2 and 32 km2 respectively. All localities are characterized by East Mediterranean and sub‐Mediterranean precipitation regimes; however, temperatures increase excessively and precipitation decreases during the flowering period of the species. The population sizes are quite small, and the number of reproducing individuals in some populations is below ten. Analyses of ISSR markers showed the percentage of polymorphic loci to be 94% at the species level and 56% at the population level. The level of genetic differentiation (measured by GST) was 0.37 and the estimated level of gene flow among populations (NM) was 0.84. The percentage of variance occurring within and among populations, determined by AMOVA, was 75% and 25%, respectively. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two genetic clusters of individuals with a geographic structure, similar to that found in UPGMA and an ordination analysis. Some populations turned out to have both low numbers of individuals and low genetic diversity. Since many of the populations are subject to anthropogenic disturbance, the species should remain in the EN category. At the same time, it is suggested that a new in‐situ conservation area should be created around nearby dams, situated in the same climate area as the currently known populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli (Capsicum annuum) is an important spice crop in Bangladesh. This crop is very sensitive to waterlogging. Floating agriculture is an innovative system led by the local people of the southern region of Bangladesh, in which seedlings of vegetables are produced in low-lying areas using different aquatic macrophytes. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the viability of chilli cultivation in waterlogged areas, based on physiological and biochemical responses using floating agriculture. Eight different chilli varieties were subjected to floating agriculture in two different agronomic seasons. A soil-based chilli cultivation system was also trialled, to compare the utility of this method. To evaluate the performance of chilli in floating beds, plant water status, photosynthetic parameters, and leaf tissue concentrations of Na+, K+, NO3− and PO43−, chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and proline were assessed. This study shows that macrophytes utilised in floating beds provide favourable conditions for chilli cultivation under waterlogged conditions. Among the different varieties, Sakata 653 in summer and Jhilik in winter responded better than others. As the performance of chilli in the floating agriculture system was satisfactory in comparison with soil-based cultivation, floating agriculture can be an alternative agronomic method for chilli cultivation in waterlogged areas of Bangladesh. Floating agriculture is a promising way of crop cultivation under submergence. Production of chilli (Capsicum annuum), an important spice crop, is greatly affected by waterlogging. In submerged conditions, floating agriculture serves an alternative agronomic means of chilli cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Understanding the genetic basis of population divergence and adaptation is an important goal in population genetics and evolutionary biology. However, the relative roles of demographic history, gene flow, and/or selective regime in driving genomic divergence, climatic adaptation, and speciation in non‐model tree species are not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we generated whole‐genome resequencing data of Liquidambar formosana and L. acalycina, which are broadly sympatric but altitudinally segregated in the Tertiary relict forests of subtropical China. We integrated genomic and environmental data to investigate the demographic history, genomic divergence, and climatic adaptation of these two sister species. We inferred a scenario of allopatric species divergence during the late Miocene, followed by secondary contact during the Holocene. We identified multiple genomic islands of elevated divergence that mainly evolved through divergence hitchhiking and recombination rate variation, likely fostered by long‐term refugial isolation and recent differential introgression in low‐recombination genomic regions. We also found some candidate genes with divergent selection signatures potentially involved in climatic adaptation and reproductive isolation. Our results contribute to a better understanding of how late Tertiary/Quaternary climatic change influenced speciation, genomic divergence, climatic adaptation, and introgressive hybridization in East Asia's Tertiary relict flora. In addition, they should facilitate future evolutionary, conservation genomics, and molecular breeding studies in Liquidambar, a genus of important medicinal and ornamental values. Significance Statement: We assembled a chromosome‐scale genome of Liquidambar formosana and resequenced 160 individuals of L. formosana and its high‐altitude sister species L. acalycina. Benefiting from advanced analytical methods and robust evidence, we found that multiple "genomic islands" mainly evolved as a result of divergence hitchhiking and recombination rate variation, as likely fostered by long‐term refugial isolation and recent differential introgression in low‐recombination genomic regions; and identified some candidate genes associated with climatic adaptation and reproductive isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagerstroemia indica is an important commercial tree known for the ornamental value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lagerstroemia indica "Pink Velour" (Lagerstroemia "Pink Velour") was 152,174 bp in length with a GC content of 39.50%. It contained 85 protein coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNA genes. 207 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 31 codons with relative synonymous codon (RSCU)value > 1 were detected. Phylogenetic analysis divided 10 Lagerstroemia species into evolutionary branches of clade A and clade B. We conducted a comparative analysis of Lagerstroemia "Pink Velours" complete chloroplast genome with the genomes of six closely related Lagerstroemia species from different origins. The structural features of all seven species were similar, except for the deletion of ycf1 nucleobases at the JSA boundary. The large single-copy (LSC) and the small single-copy (SSC) had a higher sequence divergence than the IR region, and 8 genes that were highly divergent (trnK-UUU, petN, psbF, psbJ, ndhE, ndhD, ndhI, ycf1) had been identified and could be used as molecular markers in future studies. High nucleotide diversity was present in genes belonging to the photosynthesis category. Mutation of single nucleic acid was mainly influenced by codon usage. The value percentage of nonsynonymous substitutions (Ka) and synonymous substitutions (Ks) in 6 Lagerstroemia species revealed that more photosynthesis genes have Ka or Ks only in Lagerstroemia fauriei, Lagerstroemia limii, and Lagerstroemia subcostata. These advances will facilitate the breeding of closely related Lagerstroemia species and deepen understanding on climatic adaptation of Lagerstroemia plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the Portuguese maritime expansion (15th century), ships loaded with various goods, including sub‐Saharan enslaved individuals, began to arrive in Portugal. In 2009, osteoarchaeological remains of these individuals were recovered for the first time in Valle da Gafaria, Lagos. Attending to their African origin and given that several studies have shown that the human body generally conforms to Bergmann's and Allen's rules, in this study, the physique of 63 adult individuals from the Valle da Gafaria site is tested against ecogeographical predictions. For that purpose, body shape (assessed by the femoral head diameter to femoral length index) and intralimb proportions (brachial and crural indices) were compared with those of 200 identified Portuguese skeletons. Results showed that the Lagos females' body shape and intralimb proportions differed significantly from those of the Portuguese, being more 'tropically adapted' (i.e., more 'linear' body shape with elongated distal limb segments). For the Lagos' males, the reduced sample size advises caution in the interpretation of the results. Although the specific origin of the Lagos individuals is not yet known, and different individuals may have come from relatively different regions of sub‐Saharan Africa, with specific climatic adaptations, the results generally agree with the ecogeographical expectations. This study not only allows for the first glimpse into the body shape and limb proportions of enslaved Africans arriving in Portugal but also confirms that morphometric analyses of the long bones may be a valuable complement to investigate the latitude origin of an osteoarchaeological assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioscorea remotiflora, a perennial climbing herbaceous plant native to Mexico, produces tubers with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value. However, most ecological aspects of this plant remain unknown, which limits its cultivation and use. This is why the objective of this research was to characterize the ecogeography of D. remotiflora as a source to determine its edaphoclimatic adaptability and current and potential distribution. A comprehensive database encompassing 480 geo-referenced accessions was assembled from different data sources. Using the Agroclimatic Information System for México and Central America (SIAMEXCA), 42 environmental variables were formulated. The MaxEnt model within the Kuenm R package was employed to predict the species distribution. The findings reveal a greater presence of D. remotiflora in harsh environments, characterized by arid to semiarid conditions, poor soils, and hot climates with long dry periods. Niche modeling revealed that seven key variables determine the geographical distribution of D. remotiflora: precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, November–April solar radiation, annual mean relative humidity, annual moisture availability index, and May–October mean temperature. The current potential distribution of D. remotiflora is 428,747.68 km2. Favorable regions for D. remotiflora coincide with its current presence sites, while other suitable areas, such as the Yucatán Peninsula, northeast region, and Gulf of Mexico, offer potential expansion opportunities for the species distribution. The comprehensive characterization of Dioscorea remotiflora, encompassing aspects such as its soil habitats and climate adaptation, becomes essential not only for understanding its ecology but also for maximizing its economic potential. This will enable not only its sustainable use but also the exploration of commercial applications in sectors such as the pharmaceutical and food industries, thus providing a broader approach for its conservation and optimal utilization in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecogeographic trends in the shape of the internal nasal cavity and external facial skeleton were explored in a sample of Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age skulls from Northeastern Europe and the Caucasus and tested against a background of the variation in recent populations from the same area. The volume, surface area, and several linear dimensions of the internal nasal cavity as well as a set of 3D landmarks of the external mid‐face were collected in a sample of computed tomography (CT) scans of 121 adult male skulls from six modern human populations of Eastern Europe, Anatolia, and Caucasus (74 individuals) and seven ancient burial sites (47 individuals). Various measures of the association between nasal cavity morphology and climate revealed moderate to high levels of correlation. The modern populations from colder climates and all but one ancient group display a substantial decrease in the nasal cavity heights and widths, volume and nasal protrusion, a relative narrowing of the nasal cavity, and a substantial increment in length of the maxillary part of the cavity. These groups also exhibit a less protruding external nose, smaller orbits, and a vertically taller zygomatic region. Our results show that the suite of morphological features associated with living in a cold climate is more strongly pronounced in ancient Europeans compared with the Medieval or modern groups of the same continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durum wheat is the second most important crop of wheat and the tenth most important crop in the world, which includes about 6% of the area under wheat cultivation and its annual production is between 37-40 million tons. Countries with Mediterranean climates are the largest producers of durum wheat and the largest consumers of durum wheat products. Historically, durum wheat is well adapted to a dry area with variable precipitation rates and terminal heat stress, such as the Mediterranean basin. In fact, the countries of the Mediterranean basin (Algeria, Turkey, Italy, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, France, Spain, and Greece) account for almost 50% of the world's cultivated area and production of durum wheat. Outside this basin, Canada, Mexico, the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and India are the largest producers of durum wheat, respectively. Durum wheat is genetically, morphologically, and physiologically different from bread wheat, and in terms of chemical compounds, its amount of protein, minerals, vitamins, and carotenoid pigments is higher than bread wheat. Durum wheat with hard vitreous and yellow grains, in addition to providing an important source of energy, possessing a wide range of minerals and vitamins, protein and gluten, beta-carotene pigment (antioxidants and anti-cancer compounds) as well as simple carbohydrates, minerals, and other nutrients compounds that are essential in the human diet. Durum wheat is one of the most important foods with a high percentage of protein (12-14% and sometimes up to 22%) compared to rice (7%) and bread wheat (10 to 12%). In durum wheat, the amount of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and copper is much higher than the amount of these elements in bread wheat and brown and white rice. The high content of these elements in durum wheat grain indicates the importance of the nutritional value of this product compared to the mentioned products that provide a major part of the consumer's food basket. In addition to semolina, which is used in the preparation of paste products such as macaroni and spaghetti, lasagna, noodle, etc., durum wheat is used in the making of other products such as bulgur, couscous, freekeh, durum wheat bread, etc. In this review article, the aim is to study the geographical distribution and production of durum wheat in different regions of the world, to introduce the nutritional value of the products and their products and their preparation, as well as to study the economic value of this valuable product. Moreover, new-released durum wheat cultivars with appropriate agronomic characteristics will be introduced.

Populations from different climates often show unique growth responses to temperature, reflecting temperature adaptation. Yet, whether populations from different climates differ in physiological temperature acclimation remains unclear. Here, we test whether populations from differing thermal environments exhibit different growth responses to temperature and differences in temperature acclimation of leaf respiration. We grew tropical and subtropical populations of two mangrove species (Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle) under ambient and experimentally warmed conditions in a common garden at the species' northern range limit. We quantified growth and temperature responses of leaf respiration (R) at seven time points over ~10 months. Warming increased productivity of tropical populations more than subtropical populations, reflecting a higher temperature optimum for growth. In both species, R measured at 25 °C declined as seasonal temperatures increased, demonstrating thermal acclimation. Contrary to our expectations, acclimation of R was consistent across populations and temperature treatments. However, populations differed in adjusting the temperature sensitivity of R (Q 10) to seasonal temperatures. Following a freeze event, tropical Avicennia showed greater freeze damage than subtropical Avicennia , while both Rhizophora populations appeared equally susceptible. We found evidence of temperature adaptation at the whole-plant scale but little evidence for population differences in thermal acclimation of leaf physiology. Studies that examine potential costs and benefits of thermal acclimation in an evolutionary context may provide new insights into limits of thermal acclimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic basis of pest adaptive evolution and the risk of adaptation in response to climate change is essential for the development of sustainable agricultural practices. However, the genetic basis of climatic adaptation for the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis , the main pest of corn in Asia and Oceania, is poorly understood. Here, we revealed the genomic loci underlying the climatic adaptation and evolution in ACB by integrating population genomic and environmental factors. We assembled a 471-Mb chromosome-scale reference genome of ACB and resequenced 423 individuals covering 27 representative geographic areas. We inferred that the ACB effective population size changes tracked with the global temperature and followed by a recent decline. Based on an integrated analysis of whole-genome selection scans and genome-wide genotype–environment association studies, we revealed the genetic basis of ACB adaption to diverse climates. For diapause traits, we identified a major effect association locus containing a circadian clock gene (period) by analyzing a diapause-segregating population. Moreover, our predictions indicated that the northern populations were more ecologically resilient to climate change than the southern populations. Together, our results revealed the genomic basis for ACB environmental adaptation and provided potential candidate genes for future evolutionary studies and genetic adaptation to climate change, intending to maintain the efficacy and sustainability of novel control techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although ecogeographic variation in human nasal morphology is commonly attributed to climatic adaptation, recent research into the "respiratory‐energetics hypothesis" has suggested that metabolic demands for oxygen intake may influence overall nasal size. Here, we further test the respiratory‐energetics hypothesis and investigate potential interactions between metabolic and climatic pressures on human nasal morphology. Materials and Methods: This study employed computed tomography (CT) scans of 79 mixed‐sex crania derived from an extreme cold‐dry locale (Point Hope, Alaska). In conjunction with basal metabolic rate (BMR, kcal/day) estimates derived from associated femoral head diameter measurements, 41 cranial three‐dimensional (3D) coordinate landmarks and 17 linear measurements were employed in multivariate analyses to test for associations between metabolic demands and nasal/facial morphology across and within the sexes. Results: Overall nasal size was found to be significantly correlated with BMR both across and within the sexes, with higher metabolic demands predictably associated with larger noses. However, associations between BMR and overall nasal size were found to be predominantly driven by nasal passage height and length dimensions, with the Arctic sample exhibiting minimal (non‐dimorphic) variation in nasal passage breadths. Accordingly, significant correlations between BMR and 3D nasal shape were also identified. Discussion: Our study provides additional support for the respiratory‐energetics hypothesis, while providing insights into potential metabolic and climatic constraints on specific nasal dimensions. In particular, our results suggest that climatic pressures on nasal passage breadths for heat/moisture transfers may necessitate compensatory changes in passage heights (and developmentally‐linked lengths) to maintain sufficient air intake to meet metabolic requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the impact of climate change on the wood traits of Cunninghamia lanceolata across various altitudinal gradients, aiming to understand the influence of altitude and climatic factors like temperature and precipitation on key wood characteristics. Employing a comprehensive approach, samples were collected from different altitudes for detailed phenotypic analysis. Methods included Pearson correlation, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and random forest analysis. Results revealed significant variations in wood traits such as heartwood ratio, tracheid length, and width across altitudes. Notably, wood traits in lower- and middle-elevation populations exhibited higher variability compared to higher elevations, indicating greater environmental diversity and genetic adaptability at these altitudes. Climatic factors, particularly temperature and precipitation, were found to increasingly influence wood trait variation with altitude. The research concludes that the adaptation of Cunninghamia lanceolata to climate change is significantly influenced by both altitudinal and climatic factors, highlighting their importance in forest genetic breeding and conservation strategies amidst global climate change.

Dioscorea remotiflora, a perennial climbing herbaceous plant native to Mexico, produces tubers with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value. However, most ecological aspects of this plant remain unknown, which limits its cultivation and use. This is why the objective of this research was to characterize the ecogeography of D. remotiflora as a source to determine its edaphoclimatic adaptability and current and potential distribution. A comprehensive database encompassing 480 geo-referenced accessions was assembled from different data sources. Using the Agroclimatic Information System for México and Central America (SIAMEXCA), 42 environmental variables were formulated. The MaxEnt model within the Kuenm R package was employed to predict the species distribution. The findings reveal a greater presence of D. remotiflora in harsh environments, characterized by arid to semiarid conditions, poor soils, and hot climates with long dry periods. Niche modeling revealed that seven key variables determine the geographical distribution of D. remotiflora: precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, November–April solar radiation, annual mean relative humidity, annual moisture availability index, and May–October mean temperature. The current potential distribution of D. remotiflora is 428,747.68 km2. Favorable regions for D. remotiflora coincide with its current presence sites, while other suitable areas, such as the Yucatán Peninsula, northeast region, and Gulf of Mexico, offer potential expansion opportunities for the species distribution. The comprehensive characterization of Dioscorea remotiflora, encompassing aspects such as its soil habitats and climate adaptation, becomes essential not only for understanding its ecology but also for maximizing its economic potential. This will enable not only its sustainable use but also the exploration of commercial applications in sectors such as the pharmaceutical and food industries, thus providing a broader approach for its conservation and optimal utilization in the near future.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a vegetable with worldwide importance. Its wild or close related species are reservoirs of genes with potential use for the generation of varieties tolerant or resistant to specific biotic and abiotic factors. The objective was to determine the geographic distribution, ecological descriptors, and patterns of diversity and adaptation of 1296 accessions of native tomato from Mexico. An environmental information system was created with 21 climatic variables with a 1 km2 spatial resolution. Using multivariate techniques (Principal Component Analysis, PCA; Cluster Analysis, CA) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the most relevant variables for accession distribution were identified, as well as the groups formed according to the environmental similarity among these. PCA determined that with the first three PCs (Principal Components), it is possible to explain 84.1% of the total variation. The most relevant information corresponded to seasonal variables of temperature and precipitation. CA revealed five statistically significant clusters. Ecological descriptors were determined and described by classifying accessions in Physiographic Provinces. Temperate climates were the most frequent among tomato accessions. Finally, the potential distribution was determined with the Maxent model with 10 replicates by cross-validation, identifying areas with a high probability of tomato presence. These results constitute a reliable source of useful information for planning accession sites collection and identifying accessions that are vulnerable or susceptible to conservation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre‐harvest sprouting (PHS), which reduces grain yield and quality, is controlled by seed dormancy genes. Because few dormancy‐related genes have been cloned, the genetic basis of seed dormancy in rice (Oryza sativa L.) remains unclear. Here, we performed a genome‐wide association study and linkage mapping to dissect the genetic basis of seed dormancy in rice. Our findings suggest that Seed Dormancy4 (Sdr4), a central modulator of seed dormancy, integrates the abscisic acid and gibberellic acid signaling pathways at the transcriptional level. Haplotype analysis revealed that three Sdr4 alleles in rice cultivars already existed in ancestral Oryza rufipogon accessions. Furthermore, like the semi‐dwarf 1 (SD1) and Rc loci, Sdr4 underwent selection during the domestication and improvement of Asian cultivated rice. The distribution frequency of the Sdr4‐n allele in different locations in Asia is negatively associated with local annual temperature and precipitation. Finally, we developed functional molecular markers for Sdr4, SD1, and Rc for use in molecular breeding. Our results provide clues about the molecular basis of Sdr4‐regulated seed dormancy. Moreover, these findings provide guidance for utilizing the favorable alleles of Sdr4 and Rc to synergistically boost PHS resistance, yield, and quality in modern rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Conifers often occur along steep gradients of diverse climates throughout their natural ranges, which is expected to result in spatially varying selection to local climate conditions. However, signals of climatic adaptation can often be confounded, because unraveled clines covary with signals caused by neutral evolutionary processes such as gene flow and genetic drift. Consequently, our understanding of how selection and gene flow have shaped phenotypic and genotypic differentiation in trees is still limited. A 40‐year‐old common garden experiment comprising 16 Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenances from a north‐to‐south gradient of approx. 1,000 km was analyzed, and genomic information was obtained from exome capture, which resulted in an initial genomic dataset of >90,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We used a restrictive and conservative filtering approach, which permitted us to include only SNPs and individuals in environmental association analysis (EAA) that were free of potentially confounding effects (LD, relatedness among trees, heterozygosity deficiency, and deviations from Hardy–Weinberg proportions). We used four conceptually different genome scan methods based on FST outlier detection and gene–environment association in order to disentangle truly adaptive SNPs from neutral SNPs. We found that a relatively small proportion of the exome showed a truly adaptive signal (0.01%–0.17%) when population substructuring and multiple testing was accounted for. Nevertheless, the unraveled SNP candidates showed significant relationships with climate at provenance origins, which strongly suggests that they have featured adaptation in Douglas‐fir along a climatic gradient. Two SNPs were independently found by three of the employed algorithms, and one of them is in close proximity to an annotated gene involved in circadian clock control and photoperiodism as was similarly found in Populus balsamifera. Synthesis. We conclude that despite neutral evolutionary processes, phenotypic and genomic signals of adaptation to climate are responsible for differentiation, which in particular explain disparity between the well‐known coastal and interior varieties of Douglas‐fir.

• Wing size and shape in Triatoma infestans populations varied across geographic distribution. • Wing size varied with latitude, temperature and precipitation. • Wing shape correlated with latitude, longitude, temperature and rainfall. • Geographic and climatic variables modulated wing size and shape in T. infestans. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). One of the primary vectors of T. cruzi in South America is Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834). This triatomine species is distributed across a huge latitudinal gradient, inhabiting domiciliary , peridomiciliary , and wild environments. Its wide geographic distribution provides an excellent opportunity to study the relationships between environmental gradients and intraspecific morphological variation. In this study, we investigated variations in wing size and shape in T. infestans across six ecoregions. We aimed to address the following questions: How do wing size and shape vary on a regional scale, does morphological variation follow specific patterns along an environmental or latitudinal gradient, and what environmental factors might contribute to wing variation? Geometric morphometric methods were applied to the wings of 162 females belonging to 21 T. infestans populations, 13 from Argentina (n = 105), 5 from Bolivia (n = 42), and 3 from Paraguay (n = 15). A comparison of wing centroid size across the 21 populations showed significant differences. Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) revealed significant differences in wing shape between the populations from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, although there was a considerable overlap, especially among the Argentinian populations. Well-structured populations were observed for the Bolivian and Paraguayan groups. Two analyses were performed to assess the association between wing size and shape, geographic and climatic variables: multiple linear regression analysis (MRA) for size and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression for shape. The MRA showed a significant general model fit. Six temperature-related variables, one precipitation-related variable, and the latitude showed significant associations with wing size. The PLS analysis revealed a significant correlation between wing shape with latitude, longitude, temperature-related, and rainfall-related variables. Wing size and shape in T. infestans populations varied across geographic distribution. Our findings demonstrate that geographic and climatic variables significantly influence T. infestans wing morphology. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neandertal and modern human adults differ in skeletal features of the cranium and postcranium, and it is clear that many of the cranial differences-although not all of them-are already present at the time of birth. We know less, however, about the developmental origins of the postcranial differences. Here, we address this deficiency with morphometric analyses of the postcrania of the two most complete Neandertal neonates-Mezmaiskaya 1 (from Russia) and Le Moustier 2 (from France)-and a recent human sample. We find that neonatal Neandertals already appear to possess the wide body, long pubis, and robust long bones of adult Neandertals. Taken together, current evidence indicates that skeletal differences between Neandertals and modern humans are largely established by the time of birth.

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The climate change appears to have accelerated in recent years, and more changes are envisaged in the near future. With this in mind, breeders should consider the choices of materials to be used in breeding for the future to potentially mitigate the impacts of changes. In forage grasses, a special attention has to be paid to drought and heat tolerance. Here, in a screening trial of numerous accessions, we investigated drought tolerance and after-drought recovery rates among the species of the Festuca-Lolium complex, including cultivars and breeding materials as well as various ecotypes of wild species. Experimental trials were done using rainout shelters during three successive years 2017 - 2019. The most drought tolerant genotypes belonged to the species F. glaucescens and F. mairei, followed by F. atlantigena, F. arundinacea, and some genotypes of F. pratensis. These genotypes should be considered as suitable candidates for intergeneric hybridization with L. multiflorum and L. perenne. Our test shows that Festulolium krasanii (L. multiflorum × F. arundinacea) is a good candidate to replace pure tall fescue (F. arundinacea) stands. It has the same or similar drought tolerance and drought recovery as tall fescue and at least some cultivars are known for their high feeding value, unlike tall fescue itself. A large variability for drought tolerance and recovery rates in Fl. braunii (the L. multiflorum × F. pratensis hybrid) and Fl. loliaceum (the L. perenne × F. pratensis hybrid) permit selection of genotypes that can outperform the original L. multiflorum and L. perenne.

Abstract Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. is an important fruit crop of the subtropical region, originating in China. It blooms earlier than other deciduous fruit trees, but different regions have different blooming periods. The time of anthesis is related to the dormancy period, and a certain amount of chilling promotes bud break and blooming. To identify the relationship between blooming time and the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars in China, the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of 19 cultivars from the main cultivation areas of P. mume in China were resequenced. The average depth of coverage was 34X–76X, and a total of 388,134 single nucleotide polymorphisms were located within the coding regions of the gene (CDs). Additionally, the 19 cultivar accessions were divided into three groups based on their blooming time: early, mid, and late. Associated with the blooming time groups, 21 selective sweep regions were identified, which could provide evidence supporting the possible model of P. mume domestication originating due to natural selection. Furthermore, we identified a flowering gene, FRIGIDA‐LIKE 3 (FRL3), seems to affect the blooming time and the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars. This study is a major step toward understanding the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars in China.

Abstract Biological invasions of pests into climatically unsuitable areas can be facilitated by human‐regulated environments, in which case there may be an impact on genetic structure through population processes and/or adaptation. Here, we investigated the population genetic structure of an invasive agricultural pest, Thrips palmi, in China, which has expanded its distribution range through using greenhouses. Early invaded populations showed a relatively higher level of genetic diversity than recently expanded greenhouse populations. Strong population genetic structure corresponded to a pattern of isolation by distance, with no recent gene flow and low historical gene flow among populations, reflecting limited ongoing dispersal. A genetic signature of population expansion was detected in early invaded populations and three northern populations from greenhouses, suggesting that the greenhouse environments facilitated expansion of this species. Redundancy analysis showed that the independent effects of environment and geography could explain 51.68% and 32.06% of the genetic variance, respectively. These findings point to climate‐ and greenhouse‐related spatial expansion, with the potential for adaptation by T. palmi. They emphasize the contribution of human‐regulated environments on the successes of this invasive species, a situation likely to apply to other invasive species that use greenhouse environments.

Background and Aim: Drought is the main abiotic stress affecting Mediterranean forests. Root systems are responsible for water uptake, but intraspecific variability in tree root morphology is poorly understood mainly owing to sampling difficulties. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge on the adaptive relevance of rooting traits for a widespread pine using a non-invasive, high-throughput phenotyping technique. Methods: Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) was used to characterize variability in coarse root features (depth, diameter and frequency) among populations of the Mediterranean conifer Pinus halepensis evaluated in a common garden. GPR records were examined in relation to aboveground growth and climate variables at origin of populations. Results: Variability was detected for root traits among 56 range-wide populations categorized into 16 ecotypes. Root diameter decreased eastward within the Mediterranean basin. In turn, root frequency, but not depth and diameter, decreased following a northward gradient. Root traits also varied with climatic variables at origin such as the ratio of summer to annual precipitation, summer temperature or solar radiation. Particularly, root frequency increased with aridity, whereas root depth and diameter were maximum for ecotypes occupying the thermal midpoint of the species distribution range. Conclusion: GPR is a high-throughput phenotyping tool that allows detection of intraspecific variation in root traits of P. halepensis and its dependencies on eco-geographic characteristics at origin, thereby informing on the adaptive relevance of root systems for the species. It is also potentially suited for inferring population divergence in resource allocation above- and belowground in forest genetic trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on traditionally-constructed urban housing in diverse climates, this article illustrates passive means historically providing comfortable living conditions while minimising technology dependence. This is especially relevant today with a tendency towards high-energy solutions, climate change extreme weather events, and pandemics. Minimising energy demands and emissions requires an understanding of theenvironmental value of historic housing in addition to their heritage value. This, to support their own conservation and contributing to passive contemporary architecture strategies. The global potential for mainstreaming retrofit measures is then expanded beyond a restricted heritage sector together with up-scaling localised construction methods and practices. This research revisits traditional solutions and behavioural patterns in Yazd (Iran), Røros (Norway), Santiago-de-Compostela (Spain), and Paramaribo (Suriname). In hot extremes (Yazd), high mass materials in concert with carefully arranged openings and windcatchers have provided low-energy housing. Whereas, wood construction, whether in the cold (Røros) or tropical zones (Paramaribo), relies heavily on material quality, architectural features, and layout. Temperate areas (Santiago-de-Compostela), adapted to seasonal variations for centuries, can share their dynamic qualities. The tendency in many climates to introduce closed air conditioning systems is counterbalanced by a better understanding of traditional systems for environmental control, contributing to a natural ventilation renaissance.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal urban areas are faced with risks induced by global warming and sea level rise, which puts pressure on regional sustainable development. In particular, land use adjustment is closely related to climate change for a coastal megacity. Coastal wetlands on the edge of the megacity represent a vulnerable ecosystem and a key area in terms of the resilient adaptation strategy. However, the interrelationship between the development of these wetlands and the megacity’s adaptation practice has not been sufficiently analyzed. From a historical perspective, based on document synthesis and field investigation, we attempt in this study to reveal long-term land use stages and driving factors in association with urban marginal wetlands, with a special reference to eastern Chongming Island, Shanghai. On such a basis, the future adaptation strategy of the megacity is evaluated. The analytical results show that this island has witnessed three periods of time for wetland utilization: traditional land use for salt production, fishery and agriculture before 1950, industrialization with rapid reclamation during 1950–2001, and the land use pattern orientated toward wetland ecosystem protection after 2002. The driving forces include sediment budget on the coast, wetland morphodynamic processes, sea level rise, population growth, and resource management policy changes. Transformation occurred between the wetland utilization stages in response to the changes of these forces. Furthermore, facing future climate change, there are different options of adaptation, e.g., retreatment and adherence. It may not be suitable for coastal cities with a large population to take the first option. It will be suitable for coastal communities to adhere to the location, if solutions to the problems of flooding risk, coastal erosion, and the maintenance of coastal facilities can be found. For eastern Chongming wetlands, as a key experimental area for ecosystem-oriented development in Shanghai, the transformation from the reclamation-oriented utilization toward the protection of wetland ecosystems represents the first step toward the latter option. We suggest that the next steps would be to maintain the ecological niche of the wetlands, to create new approaches to coastal engineering with contributions from the ecosystem, and to provide better ecosystem services.

Background and Aims The persistence of a plant population under a specific local climatic regime requires phenotypic adaptation with underlying particular combinations of alleles at adaptive loci. The level of allele diversity at adaptive loci within a natural plant population conditions its potential to evolve, notably towards adaptation to a change in climate. Investigating the environmental factors that contribute to the maintenance of adaptive diversity in populations is thus worthwhile. Within-population allele diversity at adaptive loci can be partly driven by the mean climate at the population site but also by its temporal variability. Methods The effects of climate temporal mean and variability on within-population allele diversity at putatively adaptive quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were evaluated using 385 natural populations of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) collected right across Europe. For seven adaptive traits related to reproductive phenology and vegetative potential growth seasonality, the average within-population allele diversity at major QTLs (HeA) was computed. Key Results Significant relationships were found between HeA of these traits and the temporal mean and variability of the local climate. These relationships were consistent with functional ecology theory. Conclusions Results indicated that temporal variability of local climate has likely led to fluctuating directional selection, which has contributed to the maintenance of allele diversity at adaptive loci and thus potential for further adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subtropical forest in China has received much attention due to its complex geologic environment and bioclimatic heterogeneity. There have been very few studies addressing which climatic factors have shaped both distribution patterns and niche differentiation of species from this region. It also remains unclear whether phylogenetic niche conservatism retains in plant species from this biodiversity-rich subtropical region in China. In this study, we used geographic occurrence records and bioclimatic factors of Prunus dielsiana (Rosaceae), a wild cherry species, combined with the classical ENM-based DIVA-GIS software to access contemporary distribution and richness patterns of its natural populations. The current distribution of P. dielsiana occupied a relatively wide range but exhibited an uneven pattern eastward in general, and the core distribution zone of its populations are projected to concentrate in the Wushan and Wuling Mountain ranges of western China. Hydrothermic variables, particularly the Temperature Seasonality (bio4) are screened out quantitatively to be the most influential factors that have shaped the current geographical patterns of P. dielsiana. By comparison with other sympatric families, climatic niche at regional scale showed a pattern of phylogenetic niche conservatism within cherry species of Rosaceae. The effect of habitat filtering from altitude is more significant than those of longitude and latitude. We conclude that habitat filtering dominated by limiting hydrothermic factors is the primary driving process of the diversity pattern of P. dielsiana in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Endodormancy and the related chilling requirement synchronize the seasonal development of trees from the boreal and temperate regions under the climatic conditions prevailing at their native growing sites. The phenomenon of endodormancy has been known at the whole‐plant level for 100 years, and in the last couple of decades, insights into the physiological and molecular basis of endodormancy and its release have also been obtained. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown experimentally that subtropical trees also show endodormancy and a chilling requirement. Motivated by the climatic differences between the subtropical and more northern zones, here we address the similarities and differences in endodormancy between trees growing in the subtropical zone and those growing in more northern zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conifers often occur along steep gradients of diverse climates throughout their natural ranges, which is expected to result in spatially varying selection to local climate conditions. However, signals of climatic adaptation can often be confounded, because unraveled clines covary with signals caused by neutral evolutionary processes such as gene flow and genetic drift. Consequently, our understanding of how selection and gene flow have shaped phenotypic and genotypic differentiation in trees is still limited.A 40‐year‐old common garden experiment comprising 16 Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenances from a north‐to‐south gradient of approx. 1,000 km was analyzed, and genomic information was obtained from exome capture, which resulted in an initial genomic dataset of >90,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We used a restrictive and conservative filtering approach, which permitted us to include only SNPs and individuals in environmental association analysis (EAA) that were free of potentially confounding effects (LD, relatedness among trees, heterozygosity deficiency, and deviations from Hardy–Weinberg proportions). We used four conceptually different genome scan methods based on FST outlier detection and gene–environment association in order to disentangle truly adaptive SNPs from neutral SNPs.We found that a relatively small proportion of the exome showed a truly adaptive signal (0.01%–0.17%) when population substructuring and multiple testing was accounted for. Nevertheless, the unraveled SNP candidates showed significant relationships with climate at provenance origins, which strongly suggests that they have featured adaptation in Douglas‐fir along a climatic gradient. Two SNPs were independently found by three of the employed algorithms, and one of them is in close proximity to an annotated gene involved in circadian clock control and photoperiodism as was similarly found in Populus balsamifera. Synthesis. We conclude that despite neutral evolutionary processes, phenotypic and genomic signals of adaptation to climate are responsible for differentiation, which in particular explain disparity between the well‐known coastal and interior varieties of Douglas‐fir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a vegetable with worldwide importance. Its wild or close related species are reservoirs of genes with potential use for the generation of varieties tolerant or resistant to specific biotic and abiotic factors. The objective was to determine the geographic distribution, ecological descriptors, and patterns of diversity and adaptation of 1296 accessions of native tomato from Mexico. An environmental information system was created with 21 climatic variables with a 1 km2 spatial resolution. Using multivariate techniques (Principal Component Analysis, PCA; Cluster Analysis, CA) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the most relevant variables for accession distribution were identified, as well as the groups formed according to the environmental similarity among these. PCA determined that with the first three PCs (Principal Components), it is possible to explain 84.1% of the total variation. The most relevant information corresponded to seasonal variables of temperature and precipitation. CA revealed five statistically significant clusters. Ecological descriptors were determined and described by classifying accessions in Physiographic Provinces. Temperate climates were the most frequent among tomato accessions. Finally, the potential distribution was determined with the Maxent model with 10 replicates by cross-validation, identifying areas with a high probability of tomato presence. These results constitute a reliable source of useful information for planning accession sites collection and identifying accessions that are vulnerable or susceptible to conservation programs.

A diverse Phytophthora community was detected in recent surveys conducted in alpine and subalpine areas, previously considered Phytophthora free. The current study was conducted to determine patterns of Phytophthora species richness and distribution along a steep elevation gradient, and to compare these patterns with those of vascular plant species. Phytophthora and vascular plant species were recorded over a wide range of elevation gradient (410–2125 m) and across a disturbance boundary. Vascular plant species exhibited a monotonic decline with increasing elevation. With the exception of native Phytophthora species isolated by baiting, Phytophthora species richness was invariant in relation to elevation and had higher elevational ranges than vascular plant species. Vascular plants occurred in discrete plant communities with introduced species more frequently recorded in road habitat and native species more frequently recorded in natural vegetation habitat. Both native and introduced Phytophthora species occurred with equal frequency in road and natural vegetation habitat. Phytophthora species were absent from one-third of sample plots and plots with no Phytophthora species were randomly distributed across landscapes. Only two Phytophthora species repeatedly occurred with a particular plant community. Our findings show that Phytophthora species are habitat generalists, being widely distributed across elevation and disturbance gradients, while vascular plant species are mostly habitat specialists, being confined to particular environments within narrow elevation bands. The effect of Phytophthora species on vascular plant species is largely unknown but the fact that Phytophthora species are already present throughout the elevation and disturbance gradients warrants closer examination of plant-pathogen relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurring seasonal changes can lead to the evolution of phenological cues. For example, many arthropods undergo photoperiodic diapause, a programmed developmental arrest induced by short autumnal day length. The selective mechanisms that determine the timing of autumnal diapause initiation have not been empirically identified. We quantified latitudinal clines in genetically determined diapause timing of an invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus, on two continents. We show that variation in diapause timing within and between continents is explained by a novel application of a growing degree day (GDD) model that delineates a location‐specific deadline after which it is not possible to complete an additional full life cycle. GDD models are widely used to predict spring phenology by modelling growth and development as physiological responses to ambient temperatures. Our results show that the energy accumulation dynamics represented by GDD models have also led to the evolution of an anticipatory life‐history cue in autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally adapted temperate tree populations exhibit genetic tradeoffs among climate-related traits that can be exacerbated by selective breeding and are challenging to manage under climate change. To informclimatically adaptive forestmanagement, we investigated the genetic architecture and impacts of selective breeding on four climate-related traits in 105 natural and 20 selectively bred lodgepole pine populations from western Canada. Growth, cold injury, growth initiation, and growth cessation phenotypeswere tested for associations with 18,600 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in natural populations to identify "positive effect alleles" (PEAs). The effects of artificial selection for faster growth on the frequency of PEAs associated with each trait were quantified in breeding populations from different climates. Substantial shifts in PEA proportions and frequencies were observed across many loci after two generations of selective breeding for height, and responses of phenologyassociated PEAs differed strongly among climatic regions. Extensive genetic overlap was evident among traits. Alleles most strongly associated with greater height were often associated with greater cold injury and delayed phenology, although it is unclear whether potential trade-offs arose directly from pleiotropy or indirectly via genetic linkage. Modest variation in multilocus PEA frequencies among populations was associated with large phenotypic differences and strong climatic gradients, providing support for assisted gene flow polices. Relationships among genotypes, phenotypes, and climate in natural populations were maintained or strengthened by selective breeding. However, future adaptive phenotypes and assisted gene flow may be compromised if selective breeding further increases the PEA frequencies of SNPs involved in adaptive trade-offs among climaterelated traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological regulation of body temperature, set at a high level, is one of the key features of endothermic homeotherms, such as birds and mammals. However, many mammals and some birds have evolved the ability for temporal down-regulation of core body temperature. We investigated how variation in environment temperature and habitat primary productivity determine variation in daily body temperature down-regulation among mammalian species. Nearly half of the variation in minimum daily body temperature among species was explained by variation in both primary productivity and environmental temperature. Mammals expressing low minimum body temperature inhabited regions of low annual temperature with wide daily and seasonal temperature variation. Simultaneously, those regions were characterized by low productivity and low seasonality in productivity. Furthermore, regions characterized by a high level of amongyear variation in environmental temperature, but not in primary productivity, were inhabited by species with low minimum body temperature, but only by those adapted to relatively humid conditions. Our results suggest that daily heterothermy can be selectively advantageous in the environmental circumstances when high energetic demands for maintaining endothermic homeothermy, physiological regulation of a high and stable body temperature, cannot be supported. The results corroborate the hypothesis that mammals that have evolved daily down-regulation of body temperature may have higher chances of surviving extinction events caused by climatic changes. Therefore, daily heterothermy adaptation in contemporary mammals represents a mechanism for surviving the ongoing global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nighttime stomatal conductance (gsn) varies among plant functional types and species, but factors shaping the evolution of gsn remain unclear. Examinations of intraspecific variation in gsn as a function of climate and co‐varying leaf traits may provide new insight into the evolution of gsn and its adaptive significance.We grew 11 genotypes of Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) representing differing home‐climates in a common garden experiment and measured nighttime and daytime leaf gas exchange, as well as stomatal density (SD) and size during early‐, mid‐, and late‐summer. We used piecewise structural equation modelling to determine direct and indirect relationships between home‐climate, gas exchange, and stomatal traits.We found no direct relationship between home‐climate and gsn. However, genotypes from hotter climates possessed higher SD, which resulted in higher gsn. Across genotypes, higher gsn was associated with higher daytime stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis.Our results indicate that higher gsn may arise in genotypes from hotter climates via increased SD. High SD may provide benefits to genotypes from hotter climates through enhanced daytime transpirational cooling or by permitting maximal gas exchange when conditions are suitable. These results highlight the role of climate and trait coordination in shaping genetic differentiation in gsn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagerstroemia indica is an important commercial tree known for the ornamental value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lagerstroemia indica "Pink Velour" ( Lagerstroemia "Pink Velour") was 152,174 bp in length with a GC content of 39.50%. It contained 85 protein coding genes (PCGs), 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNA genes. 207 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 31 codons with relative synonymous codon (RSCU)value > 1 were detected. Phylogenetic analysis divided 10 Lagerstroemia species into evolutionary branches of clade A and clade B. We conducted a comparative analysis of Lagerstroemia "Pink Velours" complete chloroplast genome with the genomes of six closely related Lagerstroemia species from different origins. The structural features of all seven species were similar, except for the deletion of ycf1 nucleobases at the JSA boundary. The large single-copy (LSC) and the small single-copy (SSC) had a higher sequence divergence than the IR region, and 8 genes that were highly divergent ( trnK-UUU , petN , psbF , psbJ , ndhE , ndhD , ndhI , ycf1 ) had been identified and could be used as molecular markers in future studies. High nucleotide diversity was present in genes belonging to the photosynthesis category. Mutation of single nucleic acid was mainly influenced by codon usage. The value percentage of nonsynonymous substitutions (Ka) and synonymous substitutions (Ks) in 6 Lagerstroemia species revealed that more photosynthesis genes have Ka or Ks only in Lagerstroemia fauriei , Lagerstroemia limii , and Lagerstroemia subcostata . These advances will facilitate the breeding of closely related Lagerstroemia species and deepen understanding on climatic adaptation of Lagerstroemia plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 He, Xu, Cheng, Huang, Dai, Wang, Ding, Xu, Gu, Yan and Wang.)

Geographic variation in body size is common within many animal species. The causes of this pattern, however, remain largely unexplored in most vertebrate groups. Bats are widely distributed globally owing to their ability of powered flight. Most bat species encounter a variety of climatic conditions across their distribution range, making them an ideal taxon for the study of ecogeographic patterns in body size. Here, we used adult least horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus pusillus , to test whether geographic variation in body size was determined by heat conservation, heat dissipation, climatic seasonality, or primary productivity. We measured body mass and head-body length for 246 adult bats from 12 allopatric colonies in China. We quantified the ecological conditions inhabited by each colony, including mean maximum temperature of the warmest month, mean minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature seasonality, precipitation seasonality, and annual net primary productivity (ANPP). Body mass and head-body length, 2 of the most reliable indicators of body size, exhibited marked differences between colonies. After controlling for spatial autocorrelation, the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month explained most of the variation in body size among colonies, regardless of sex. The mean maximum temperature, climatic seasonality, and ANPP had limited power in predicting body size of males or females in comparison with mean minimum temperature. These results support the heat conservation hypothesis and suggest adaptive responses of body size to cold climates in cave-dwelling bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how organisms adapt to complex environments is a central goal of evolutionary biology and ecology. This issue is of special interest in the current era of rapidly changing climatic conditions. Here, we investigate clinal variation and plastic responses in life history, morphology and physiology in the butterfly Pieris napi along a pan‐European gradient by exposing butterflies raised in captivity to different temperatures. We found clinal variation in body size, growth rates and concomitant development time, wing aspect ratio, wing melanization and heat tolerance. Individuals from warmer environments were more heat‐tolerant and had less melanised wings and a shorter development, but still they were larger than individuals from cooler environments. These findings suggest selection for rapid growth in the warmth and for wing melanization in the cold, and thus fine‐tuned genetic adaptation to local climates. Irrespective of the origin of butterflies, the effects of higher developmental temperature were largely as expected, speeding up development; reducing body size, potential metabolic activity and wing melanization; while increasing heat tolerance. At least in part, these patterns likely reflect adaptive phenotypic plasticity. In summary, our study revealed pronounced plastic and genetic responses, which may indicate high adaptive capacities in our study organism. Whether this may help such species, though, to deal with current climate change needs further investigation, as clinal patterns have typically evolved over long periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchid species Dactylorhiza majalis is endangered by continuing habitat destruction and fragmentation. This requires more detailed information with respect to its sexual reproduction, which is especially relevant for Germany, where from 10 % to 30 % of the world-wide remaining populations grow. In the present study, we determined both the numbers of growing and flowering individuals per stand with regard to D. majalis at 12 localities of Upper Lusatia, Saxony, Germany, during the season 2014. For up to 25 plants per stand, sexual reproduction was assessed by checking over the numbers of blossoms and fruits per inflorescence and by calculating percentages of seed fertilities from embryo-viability stains. Applying pair-wise statistical analyses, we found correlations between two of the above-mentioned traits as well as among the above-cited population-specific reproduction parameters and four out of six Ellenberg's indicator values, which have been calculated to characterize local site conditions. We furthermore recorded both very poor and enhanced seed fertilities, clustering into two groups which were associated with the Ellenberg's indicator value thermal continentality. Lower seed fertilities were generally detected in the northern lowlands, whereas D. majalis is probably able to compensate the unpleasant environments of the southern highlands by bearing more fertile seeds. Conducting genetic inventories with three nuclear microsatellites, the sampled seed-producing mother plants of both fertility groups differed by the opposite frequency distribution of two prominent genotypes DD and EE at locus ms14. These findings indicate a genetic selection due to adaptation to climatical stresses. Based on the additionally detected aberrant megasporogenesis, we propose that mother plants of homozygous genotype EE and their germ-cells are less affected by both aneuploidy and large deletions on the remaining chromosomes, and we assume that a linkage disequilibrium exists between such advantageous karyotypes and the studied microsatellite locus. Regarding the challenges of global warming, repeated inventories are finally recommended at all 12 stands in order to validate the long-term indicative properties of the discovered findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees growing at high altitude or latitude have to be adapted, among others, to the lower temperatures, a shorter vegetation period, heavier snow load, and frost desiccation. Association between molecular genetic markers and climatic variables may provide evidence for the genetic control of climatic adaptation. With increasing genomic resources, several genes with importance to climatic adaptation are identified over a wide range of tree species. Commonly, circadian clock genes are linked to the adaptation to lower temperatures and especially to a shortened vegetation period, as they are regulating metabolic and phenological processes in the day–night shift and seasonal change. Potentially adaptive "candidate" genes associated with latitudinal and elevational gradients were identified in several Picea spp. Before molecular markers became available to study climatic adaptation and phenotypic traits measured in natural populations, and/or common garden studies were used to search for their association with climate variables. In Norway spruce, the crown architecture is the most noticeable trait associated with altitude and the related environment. The mountainous narrow-crowned morphotype is characterized by superior resistance to snow breakage in regions with heavy snowfall. In total, the crown shape was assessed in 765 individual trees from mountainous regions in the Thuringian Forest, the Ore Mountains (Saxony), and Harz Mountains (Lower-Saxony/Saxony-Anhalt), and they were genotyped at 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 24 adaptive trait-related candidate genes. Six SNPs in three genes, APETALA 2-like 3 (AP2L3), GIGANTEA (GI), and mitochondrial transcription termination factor (mTERF) were associated with variation in crown shape. GI has previously been identified in angiosperms and gymnosperms to be associated with temperature and growth cessation. Our results showed that crown morphology in Norway spruce is associated with genetic markers which are putatively involved in the complex process of genetic adaptation to climatic conditions at high altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. is an important fruit crop of the subtropical region, originating in China. It blooms earlier than other deciduous fruit trees, but different regions have different blooming periods. The time of anthesis is related to the dormancy period, and a certain amount of chilling promotes bud break and blooming. To identify the relationship between blooming time and the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars in China, the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of 19 cultivars from the main cultivation areas of P. mume in China were resequenced. The average depth of coverage was 34X–76X, and a total of 388,134 single nucleotide polymorphisms were located within the coding regions of the gene (CDs). Additionally, the 19 cultivar accessions were divided into three groups based on their blooming time: early, mid, and late. Associated with the blooming time groups, 21 selective sweep regions were identified, which could provide evidence supporting the possible model of P. mume domestication originating due to natural selection. Furthermore, we identified a flowering gene, FRIGIDA‐LIKE 3 (FRL3), seems to affect the blooming time and the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars. This study is a major step toward understanding the climatic adaptation of P. mume cultivars in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms by which weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) has adapted to endure low‐temperature stress in northern latitudes remain unresolved. In this study, we assessed cold tolerance of 100 rice varieties and 100 co‐occurring weedy rice populations, which were sampled across a broad range of climates in China. A parallel pattern of latitude‐dependent variation in cold tolerance was detected in cultivated rice and weedy rice. At the molecular level, differential cold tolerance was strongly correlated with relative expression levels of CBF cold response pathway genes and with methylation levels in the promoter region of OsICE1, a regulator of this pathway. Among all methylated cytosine sites of the OsICE1 promoter, levels of CHG and CHH methylation were found to be significantly correlated with cold tolerance among accessions. Furthermore, within many of the collection locales, weedy rice shared identical or near‐identical OsICE1 methylation patterns with co‐occurring cultivated rice. These findings provide new insights on the possible roles that methylation variation in the OsICE1 promoter may play in cold tolerance, and they suggest that weedy rice can rapidly acquire cold tolerance via methylation patterns that are shared with co‐occurring rice cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change appears to have accelerated in recent years, and more changes are envisaged in the near future. With this in mind, breeders should consider the choices of materials to be used in breeding for the future to potentially mitigate the impacts of changes. In forage grasses, a special attention has to be paid to drought and heat tolerance. Here, in a screening trial of numerous accessions, we investigated drought tolerance and after-drought recovery rates among the species of the Festuca-Lolium complex, including cultivars and breeding materials as well as various ecotypes of wild species. Experimental trials were done using rainout shelters during three successive years 2017 - 2019. The most drought tolerant genotypes belonged to the species F. glaucescens and F. mairei, followed by F. atlantigena, F. arundinacea, and some genotypes of F. pratensis. These genotypes should be considered as suitable candidates for intergeneric hybridization with L. multiflorum a nd L . perenne. O ur test s hows that F estulolium k rasanii (L. multiflorum × F. ar undinacea) is a good candidate to replace pure tall fescue (F. arundinacea) stands. It has the same or similar drought tolerance and drought recovery as tall fescue and at least some cultivars are known for their high feeding value, unlike tall fescue itself. A large variability for drought tolerance and recovery rates in Fl. braunii (the L. multiflorum × F. pratensis hybrid) and Fl. loliaceum (the L. perenne × F. pratensis hybrid) permit selection of genotypes that can outperform the original L. multiflorum and L. perenne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]