Environment-specific selection alters flowering-time plasticity and results in pervasive pleiotropic responses in maize

Crop genetic diversity for climate adaptations is globally partitioned. We performed experimental evolution in maize to understand the response to selection and how plant germplasm can be moved across geographical zones. Initialized with a common population of tropical origin, artificial selection on flowering time was performed for two generations at eight field sites spanning 25 degrees latitude, a 2800 km transect. We then jointly tested all selection lineages across the original sites of selection, for the target trait and 23 other traits. Modeling intergenerational shifts in a physiological reaction norm revealed separate components for flowering-time plasticity. Generalized and local modes of selection altered the plasticity of each lineage, leading to a latitudinal pattern in the responses to selection that were strongly driven by photoperiod. This transformation led to widespread changes in developmental, architectural, and yield traits, expressed collectively in an environment-dependent manner. Furthermore, selection for flowering time alone alleviated a maladaptive syndrome and improved yields for tropical maize in the temperate zone. Our findings show how phenotypic selection can rapidly shift the flowering phenology and plasticity of maize. They also demonstrate that selecting crops to local conditions can accelerate adaptation to climate change.

Automated summary

Through experimental evolution in maize, this study investigated the response to selection and the possibility of moving plant germplasm across different geographical zones. The results showed that the flowering time of maize has plasticity, and different selection methods and photoperiods had significant effects on the selection outcomes. This study demonstrated the potential of phenotypic selection in rapidly shifting the phenology and plasticity of crops, and highlighted the importance of selecting crops to local conditions for climate change adaptation.