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Potential preadaptation to anthropogenic pollution: evidence from a common quantitative trait locus for zinc and cadmium tolerance in metallicolous and nonmetallicolous accessions of Arabidopsis halleri
Author(s) -
Meyer ClaireLise,
Pauwels Maxime,
Briset Loic,
Godé Cécile,
Salis Piétro,
Bourceaux Angélique,
Souleman Dima,
Frérot Hélène,
Verbruggen Nathalie
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.14093
Subject(s) - quantitative trait locus , arabidopsis , cadmium , biology , locus (genetics) , population , botany , genetics , gene , mutant , chemistry , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
Summary As a drastic environmental change, metal pollution may promote the rapid evolution of genetic adaptations contributing to metal tolerance. In Arabidopsis halleri , genetic bases of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) tolerance have been uncovered only in a metallicolous accession, although tolerance is species‐wide. The genetic determinants of Zn and Cd tolerance in a nonmetallicolous accession were thus investigated for the first time. The genetic architecture of tolerance was investigated in a nonmetallicolous population ( SK 2) by using first backcross progeny obtained from crosses between SK 2 and Arabidopsis lyrata petraea , a nonmetallophyte species. Only one significant and common quantitative trait locus ( QTL ) region was identified explaining 22.6% and 31.2% of the phenotypic variation for Zn and Cd tolerance, respectively. This QTL co‐localized with HEAVY METAL ATPASE 4 (Ah HMA 4 ) , which was previously validated as a determinant of Zn and Cd tolerance in a metallicolous accession. Triplication and high expression of HMA 4 were confirmed in SK 2. In contrast, gene duplication and high expression of METAL TOLERANT PROTEIN 1A ( MTP 1A ), which was previously associated with Zn tolerance in a metallicolous accession, were not observed in SK 2. Overall, the results support the role of HMA 4 in tolerance capacities of A. halleri that may have pre‐existed in nonmetallicolous populations before colonization of metal‐polluted habitats. Preadaptation to metal‐contaminated sites is thus discussed.