Abstract:
Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of organisms to respond to
environmental changes. Understanding and leveraging crop phenotypic
plasticity is crucial for mitigating the threats caused by climate
change. Here, we assessed phenotypic plasticity in multi-environment
trials over 4 years, covering a wide geographical area, using 505 inbred
lines from a Brassica
napus genetic diversity panel. The observed phenotypic variation for
seed oil content (SOC) was influenced by three environmental indices
(precipitation, diurnal
temperature range, and ultraviolet B) during the flowering or
pod-filling stage alongside five plasticity genes. Leveraging this
information with climate records, we developed a predictive model to
estimate SOC for various planting dates in seven major production
regions, and validated the accuracy of our predictions in new
environments. With the quantified plasticity conferred by genetic
variation in the five plasticity genes, we identified an optimal
haplotype for each production region for adaptability to future climate
projections. This study offers valuable insights and selection of
materials to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on
agriculture.
Keywords: phenotypic plasticity; climate change; plant
breeding; planting date; germplasm; haplotype