Phenotypic Plasticity in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> Is Fitness‐Neutral, and Costs Are Lacking Across Experimental Environments

across multiple environments, asking whether accessions with high plasticity across eight traits have low plasticity in seed output. In addition, we examine if phenotypic plasticity is adaptive, neutral, or maladaptive and test for costs of plasticity. We found no significant relationships between trait plasticity and either seed output or plasticity in seed output, indicating that plasticity is neutral for the traits and environments examined. We also found no evidence of costs of plasticity. We found that plants that exhibit plasticity in the number of rosette leaves when fertilized had higher seed output under control conditions. Given that phenotypic plasticity in the number of rosette leaves is present in accessions with high seed output, phenotypic plasticity in this trait may be affiliated with other traits under strong selection rather than under direct selection itself. Results of this study contribute to our understanding of the frequency of neutral plasticity.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ecology and Evolution
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73427
Primary Topic
Seed Germination and Physiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Phenotypic Plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana Is Fitness‐Neutral, and Costs Are Lacking Across Experimental Environments

Kenneth D. Whitney, Maya L. Shamsid-Deen
Ecology and Evolution
Seed Germination and Physiology
article

Phenotypic Plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana Is Fitness‐Neutral, and Costs Are Lacking Across Experimental Environments

Kenneth D. Whitney, Maya L. Shamsid-Deen
article en

Abstract

across multiple environments, asking whether accessions with high plasticity across eight traits have low plasticity in seed output. In addition, we examine if phenotypic plasticity is adaptive, neutral, or maladaptive and test for costs of plasticity. We found no significant relationships between trait plasticity and either seed output or plasticity in seed output, indicating that plasticity is neutral for the traits and environments examined. We also found no evidence of costs of plasticity. We found that plants that exhibit plasticity in the number of rosette leaves when fertilized had higher seed output under control conditions. Given that phenotypic plasticity in the number of rosette leaves is present in accessions with high seed output, phenotypic plasticity in this trait may be affiliated with other traits under strong selection rather than under direct selection itself. Results of this study contribute to our understanding of the frequency of neutral plasticity.

Ecology and EvolutionVol. 16(4)
University of New Mexico (US)
Biology Graduate Student Association, University of New Mexico, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Seed Germination and Physiology
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