| Title: | Gazing into the anthosphere: considering how microbes influence floral evolution |
| Author(s): | Rebolleda-Gomez M; Forrester NJ; Russell AL; Wei N; Fetters AM; Stephens JD; Ashman TL; |
| Address: | "Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1469-8137 (Electronic) 0028-646X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The flower is the hallmark of angiosperms and its evolution is key to their diversification. As knowledge of ecological interactions between flowers and their microbial communities (the anthosphere) expands, it becomes increasingly important to consider the evolutionary impacts of these associations and their potential eco-evolutionary dynamics. In this Viewpoint we synthesize current knowledge of the anthosphere within a multilevel selection framework and illustrate the potential for the extended floral phenotype (the phenotype expressed from the genes of the plant and its associated flower microbes) to evolve. We argue that flower microbes are an important, but understudied, axis of variation that shape floral trait evolution and angiosperm reproductive ecology. We highlight knowledge gaps and discuss approaches that are critical for gaining a deeper understanding of the role microbes play in mediating plant reproduction, ecology, and evolution" |
| Keywords: | "Bacteria/*metabolism *Biological Evolution Flowers/*physiology Models, Biological Phenotype Selection, Genetic anthosphere bacteria floral evolution microbiome multilevel selection nectar yeast pollinators volatiles;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineRebolleda-Gomez, Maria Forrester, Nicole J Russell, Avery L Wei, Na Fetters, Andrea M Stephens, Jessica D Ashman, Tia-Lynn eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review England 2019/08/24 New Phytol. 2019 Nov; 224(3):1012-1020. doi: 10.1111/nph.16137. Epub 2019 Sep 25" |
