![Figure 2. Generally, plasticity studies use factorial designs to assess genotype (or alternatively population or line) and environmental effects and their interactions (G E). The interaction term is used to determine whether contrasting genotypes differ in their ability to alter phenotype in response to environmental signals (their reaction norms). (a) A reaction norm plot showing the response of three ‘lines’ (1–3) to two environments (A and B). The lines could be independent clonal genotypes [19], recombinant inbred lines [89], varieties or even populations and species. Line 1 shows the greatest phenotypic plasticity, line 3 the least. (b) An illustration of how an observed plastic response can be the result of active and passive responses occurring at the same time. For example, the passive response can reflect resource limitation, whereas the active response changes allocation to offset loss in fitness in environment B. Adaptive plastic responses are generally, but not necessarily, those that are active and that require a specific signal perception-transduction system allowing plants to change their development (adapted from [19]). (c) and (d) show tests of adaptive plasticity; such data are often analyzed using selection-gradient analyses [3,4,90,91]. In (c), fitness is maximized at a high value of the phenotypic trait in environment A and at a low value in environment B, so that the ability of the genotype to alter its phenotype depending on the environment will itself be adaptive. (d) presents a different approach to assessing adaptive plasticity in which a measure of plasticity (absolute or an index) is regressed against average fitness; the relationship could be adaptive, neutral or even maladaptive (after) [19].](/figures/figure-2-generally-plasticity-studies-use-factorial-designs-1hcvxi8q.webp)
![Figure 1. Anthocyanins are produced in leaves in response to excess light and temperature and osmotic extremes, and serve as a reversible plastic mechanism for the protection of photosynthetic machinery [86–88]. Here, we use an anthocyanin example to illustrate (a) the points in the molecular machinery, which translate an environmental signal (excess light in this case) into a phenotype. (b) In the evolutionary and ecological literature, these responses are commonly presented as reaction norms. Here, the blue and red lines indicate the reaction norms of two different genotypes responding to a change from a low light environment (Env1) to a high light one (Env2). The extent of phenotypic change in response to a signal is its phenotypic plasticity. Asterisks in the panels denote whether there is a significant effect of environment (E) or genotype (G), and whether there is a significant genotype by environment interaction (G E). (c) Likely examples of the mechanisms underlying the cases depicted in panels 1–3 are given separately for each point in the signal pathway. The leaves on the left and right represent the phenotypes in Env1 and Env2, respectively.](/figures/figure-1-anthocyanins-are-produced-in-leaves-in-response-to-d33z4a4x.webp)
Q2. What are the future works mentioned in the paper "Plant phenotypic plasticity in a changing climate" ?
The authors have identified outstanding questions in the field as directions for future research ( Box 1 ). Answers to these tantalizing questions are now relevant in an applied context and are closer to their grasp thanks to exciting new technical progress and the potential for integrative multidisciplinary approaches.
Q3. Why are genetic lines selected for relative yield stability?
Genetic lines selected for relative yield stability could have high phenotypic plasticity because relatively large morphological and physiological changes can underlie yield stability [66].
Q4. What is the role of DGVMs in predicting plant functional types?
Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) coupled to general circulation models are used to predict what plant functional types will dominate at particular locations [51].
Q5. What are the effects of climate change on plasticity?
Plasticity and shifts in the distribution of species and vegetation types under climate change Future changes in climate could result in extinctions, range shifts, changes in major vegetation types and alterations in feedbacks between vegetation and the atmosphere.
Q6. What is the role of climate change in predicting plant distributions?
Plasticity and predicting shifts in vegetation types Climate change is also predicted to affect the global distribution patterns of vegetation types and their feedback on atmospheric CO2 levels and temperatures.
Q7. What is the potential for a halve in seed longevity?
Seed longevity can also be plastic; for example, changes in temperature and rainfall experienced during seed development have the potential to halve seed longevity [44].
Q8. What are the recent examples of mechanistic models?
mechanistic models that incorporate physiological knowledge about variation within a species in response to environment have offered an alternative to purely correlative models [48,49].
Q9. What are the current techniques in molecularbiology and genetics?
Current techniques in molecularbiology and genetics allow for studies of plastic trait responses that scale from a description of molecularmechanism to the assessment of adaptive value under current or simulated future climates [17].
Q10. What is the role of mechanistic models in predicting future species distributions?
Mechanistic models that combine evolutionary genetics, demography and the plasticity of key plant traits (Box 3) will improve their potential to model future species distributions [52].
Q11. What are the cascades of events that mediate cellular responses to external signals?
These are cascades of events that mediate cellular responses to external signals, for example the cascades of protein phosphor-rapid climate change are less important than adaptationylation and second messenger generation following the perception of a signal by a receptor kinase.
Q12. What is the role of phenotypic plasticity in climate change?
the authors argue that, in the context of rapid climate change, phenotypic plasticity can be a crucial determinant of plant responses, both short- and long-term.
Q13. How many species have shown up to 6 km pole-ward migration each year?
the distribution of many plant species has already altered in response to climate change; some species have shown up to 6 km pole-ward migration each year over the past 16–132 years [31].
Q14. What are the main questions that are now relevant in an applied context?
Answers to these tantalizing questions are now relevant in an applied context and are closer to their grasp thanks to exciting new technical progress and the potential for integrative multidisciplinary approaches.