熱帯環境への植物の適応を助けるゲノム拡張(Genome Expansion Helps Plants Adapt to Tropical Environments)

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2025-10-30 中国科学院(CAS)

中国科学院西双版納熱帯植物園の研究チームは、六倍体植物イヌガラシ(Rorippa indica)の遺伝子サイズ変異と熱帯環境への適応の関係を明らかにした。952個体・97集団を解析した結果、熱帯系統では45S rDNAやTy1レトロトランスポゾンの増幅によるゲノム拡大が顕著で、温暖安定な環境下で種子生産量が多く適応優位を示した。遺伝子サイズの拡大は熱帯の安定した気候への正の応答であり、地球温暖化下では大きなゲノムを持つ集団が優勢となる可能性が示唆された。成果はPhysiologia Plantarum誌に掲載。

熱帯環境への植物の適応を助けるゲノム拡張(Genome Expansion Helps Plants Adapt to Tropical Environments)
イヌガラシ(Rorippa indica), https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/イヌガラシ

<関連情報>

イヌガラシ(Rorippa indica)の種内ゲノムサイズ変異はゲノム拡大による熱帯適応を明らかにする Intraspecific Genome Size Variation in Rorippa indica Reveals a Tropical Adaptation by Genomic Enlargement

Ting-Shen Han, Quan-Jing Zheng, Jun-Xian Lv, Sisi Li, Zhi-Qiang Du, Yao-Wu Xing
Physiologia Plantarum  Published: 26 October 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.70601

ABSTRACT

Genome size exhibits substantial variation across organisms, but its causes and ecological consequences remain incompletely understood. While interspecific comparisons have suggested selective pressures against large genomes, intraspecific variation has been less explored. Here, we investigate genome size diversity within the hexaploid yellowcress Rorippa indica by integrating flow cytometry, plastome phylogeography, genomic repeat profiling, and reciprocal common garden experiments. Across 192 accessions from 83 natural populations, genome size ranged from 764 to 892 Mb, a 15.8% difference relative to the mean (812 Mb), representing the widest range yet reported within Rorippa. Plastome haplotype analysis revealed that lineages colonizing tropical habitats tended to retain or enlarge genome size, whereas northern lineages exhibited reductions. Genome size was significantly correlated with tropical environments characterized by higher winter temperatures and reduced seasonality. Variation was largely attributable to repetitive DNA, with 45S rDNA and Ty1-copia retrotransposons (Bianca) explaining up to 15.5% and 26.1% of the differences, respectively. Reciprocal transplantation experiments demonstrated that plants with larger genomes had higher fitness in tropical conditions, producing 32% more fruits. These findings indicate that genome size in R. indica is not a neutral trait but is selectively expressed, with both shrinkage and enlargement representing adaptive strategies under contrasting environments. We propose that genome enlargement, driven primarily by specific repetitive elements, constitutes an adaptive response to stable tropical climates. As global warming progresses, species with larger genomes may exhibit slower growth but increased reproductive output, with broad implications for ecosystem dynamics and agricultural productivity.

生物環境工学
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