Data from: A reaction norm for flowering time plasticity reveals physiological footprints of maize adaptation

Understanding how plant phenotypes are shaped by their environments is
crucial for addressing questions about crop adaptation to new
environments. This study focused on analyzing the genetic variability
underlying genotype-by-environment interactions and adaptation for
flowering time in maize. We developed the use of a physiological reaction
norm for flowering time plasticity (PRN-FTP) modeled from
multi-environment trial networks, with genotype-specific parameters
putatively linked to different regulatory modules for flowering time. We
show how genotype-specific differences in developmental responses to
temperature fluctuations condition differences in photoperiod perceived
among genotypes. This occurs not only across but also within common
environments, as the perception of photoperiod is altered by variation in
rates of development and durations for becoming sensitized to photoperiod.
Using a new metric for envirotyping sensed photoperiods for maize, it was
found that, at high latitudes, different genotypes in the same environment
can experience up to hours-long differences in photoperiod. This
emphasizes the importance of considering genotype-specific differences in
the experienced environment when investigating plasticity. Modeling the
PRN-FTP for global breeding material of maize showed that tropical and
temperate germplasm occupy distinct territories of the trait space for
PRN-FTP parameters, supporting that the geographical spread and adaptation
of maize was differentially mediated by distinct pathways for flowering
time regulation. Our results have implications for understanding crop
adaptation and for future crop improvement efforts.