Maintenance of genetic diversity through plant-herbivore interactions

Andrew D. Gloss, Anna C. Nelson Dittrich, Benjamin Goldman-Huertas, Noah K. Whiteman

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Identifying the factors governing the maintenance of genetic variation is a central challenge in evolutionary biology. New genomic data, methods and conceptual advances provide increasing evidence that balancing selection, mediated by antagonistic species interactions, maintains genome-wide functionally important genetic variation within species and natural populations. Because diverse interactions between plants and herbivorous insects dominate terrestrial communities, they provide excellent systems to address this hypothesis. Population genomic studies of Arabidopsis thaliana and its relatives suggest spatial variation in herbivory maintains adaptive genetic variation controlling defense phenotypes, both within and among populations. Conversely, inter-species variation in plant defenses promotes adaptive genetic variation in herbivores. Emerging genomic model herbivores of Arabidopsis could illuminate how genetic variation in herbivores and plants interact simultaneously.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)443-450
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent Opinion in Plant Biology
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Maintenance of genetic diversity through plant-herbivore interactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this