Phenotypic plasticity and genetic diversity in a polyploid Arabidopsis complex

Polyploid species possess more than two sets of chromosomes and may show high gene redundancy, hybrid vigor and masking of deleterious alleles compared to their parent species. Following this, it is hypothesized that this makes them better at adapting to novel environments than their parent species, possibly due to phenotypic plasticity. The allopolyploid Arabidopsis suecica and its parent species A. arenosa and A. thaliana were chosen as a model system to investigate relationships between phenotypic plasticity, fitness and genetic variation. Particularly, we test if A. suecica is more plastic, show higher genetic diversity and/or have higher fitness than its parent species. Wild Norwegian populations of each species were analyzed for phenotypic responses to differences in availability of nutrient, water and light, while genetic diversity was assessed through analysis of AFLP markers. Arabidopsis arenosa showed a higher level of phenotypic plasticity and higher levels of genetic diversi...