Plasticity in metabolism underpins local responses to nitrogen in Arabidopsis thaliana populations

Abstract

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is central for plant growth, and metabolic plasticity can provide a strategy to respond to changing N availability. We showed that two local A. thaliana populations exhibited differential plasticity in the compounds of photorespiratory and starch degradation pathways in response to three N conditions. Association of metabolite levels with growth‐related and fitness traits indicated that controlled plasticity in these pathways could contribute to local adaptation and play a role in plant evolution.

Keywords

• Arabidopsis thaliana
• natural variation
• nitrogen availability
• photorespiration
• plasticity