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Natural epigenetic variation: a driver for adaptation of wild plant populations?
Sammarco, Iris ; Latzel, Vít (advisor) ; Johannes, Frank (referee) ; Pečinka, Aleš (referee)
A growing body of literature suggests that epigenetic variation might contribute to local adaptation of natural plant populations. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, can in fact quickly alter phenotypes in response to environmental changes. Furthermore, these changes can be inherited across several generations (especially clonal), suggesting that DNA methylation may enable heritable phenotypic variation and eventually contribute to adaptation. However, it is still unclear whether epigenetic mechanisms can have an adaptive potential in plants, or in other words, whether they present variation among natural populations, are inherited across generations and have fitness effects. During my PhD project, together with my co-authors, I tested these conditions on several natural populations of two non-model clonal plant species, the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and the black poplar (Populus nigra). To do so, I used the current gold standard for DNA methylation analysis (Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing), which allowed me to characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation level of individual plants at the single base-resolution. For both species, I found extensive DNA methylation diversity among populations, which was partially affected by the natural climatic conditions of the populations...
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What is the role of secondary metabolites in ecology of Asteraceae species?
Koutská, Barbora ; Weiser, Martin (advisor) ; Latzel, Vít (referee)
Plants have evolved various defence mechanisms depending on the ecological context of their environment. The first part of this review summarises possibilities of plant defence. All types of defence are energy intensive. In most cases, a plant chooses between two strategies: being 'fast growing and non- poisonous' or being 'slowly growing and poisonous'. The next part of the review focuses on chemical defence of the Asterace family. Secondary metabolites of the Compositae are characterized by isoprenoids which cause bitterness of essential oils and latex. This review is mainly about sesquiterpene lactones due to their great role in plant - herbivore interactions and their pharmaceutical potential. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Importance of epigenetic variability in evolution of clonal plants
Mareš, Štěpán ; Pinc, Jan (advisor) ; Latzel, Vít (referee)
Because of their low genetic variability and limited ability to respond to the changing environment, clonal plants are often considered an evolutionary dead end. On the other hand, numerous recent studies showed that clonal plants can react to the changing environment through epigenetic mechanisms, especially through DNA methylation. Moreover, epigenetic information in clonal plants can be transferred to future generations (so-called transgenerational memory). As a result, epigenetics can ensure better fitness of the next clonal generation. The aim of this work is to summarize the knowledge about the role of epigenetic variability in the life of clonal plants performing limited genetic variability. Key words: epigenetics, DNA methylation, epigenetics variation, clonal plants, transgeneration memory
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Ecological determinants of plant clonal growth
Martincová, Nina ; Weiser, Martin (advisor) ; Latzel, Vít (referee)
The aim of this study is to provide a further insight into influence of environment on clonal plants. The study focuses particularly on effects of fertilization level and light availability on production and growth of clonal organs. Three experiments were carried out within the study, targeted to elicit influence of these environmental conditions or clonal interactions on six species of clonal plants. Interspecies dependencies on these conditions was compared, regarding habitat occurrence of these species. A comparison was made also between species producing rhizomes and stolons. The experiments revealed that five of six studied species show significant relationship among at least one environmental condition and parameters of clonal reproduction. Most of the species showed higher elongation and production of clonal organs in relation to fertilization level. On the contrary, only three species reacted significantly to the light availability level by alternation of at least one parameter of clonal reproduction and the light availability level affected each species differently. A strong influence on production and elongation of clonal organs had also a size of a plant. There was not found significant difference in influence of environmental conditions on clonal reproduction among plant families. It...
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What is the role of secondary metabolites in ecology of Asteraceae species?
Koutská, Barbora ; Weiser, Martin (advisor) ; Latzel, Vít (referee)
Plants have evolved various defence mechanisms depending on the ecological context of their environment. The first part of this review summarises possibilities of plant defence. All types of defence are energy intensive. In most cases, a plant chooses between two strategies: being 'fast growing and non- poisonous' or being 'slowly growing and poisonous'. The next part of the review focuses on chemical defence of the Asterace family. Secondary metabolites of the Compositae are characterized by isoprenoids which cause bitterness of essential oils and latex. This review is mainly about sesquiterpene lactones due to their great role in plant - herbivore interactions and their pharmaceutical potential. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Tolerance and resistance of plants to disturbance
LATZEL, Vít
As sedentary organisms, plants have to develop many mechanisms to cope with disturbance events, which are common in most habitats, and occur over a range of intensities and frequencies. Some species are able to tolerate disturbance events by rebuilding their lost parts via resprouting from adventitive or axillary buds, and/or resist disturbances by creating various defense mechanisms. This thesis aims to reveal some aspects of tolerance and resistance of herbs to disturbance on the level of plant individuals as well as entire plant communities.
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