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C4 anatomy can evolve via a single developmental change

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  • Marjorie Ruth Lundgren
  • Luke T. Dunning
  • Jill K. Olofsson
  • Jose J. Moreno-Villena
  • Jacques W. Bouvier
  • Tammy Sage
  • Roxana Khoshravesh
  • Stefanie Sultmanis
  • Matt Stata
  • Brad S. Ripley
  • Maria S. Vorontsova
  • Guillaume Besnard
  • Claire Adams
  • Nicholas Cuff
  • Anthony Mapaura
  • Matheus Bianconi
  • Christine M. Long
  • Pascal-Antoine Christin
  • Colin P. Osborne
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/02/2019
<mark>Journal</mark>Ecology Letters
Issue number2
Volume22
Number of pages11
Pages (from-to)302-312
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date17/12/18
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

C4 photosynthesis is a complex trait that boosts productivity in warm environments. Paradoxically, it evolved independently in numerous plant lineages, despite requiring specialised leaf anatomy. The anatomical modifications underlying C4 evolution have previously been evaluated through interspecific comparisons, which capture numerous changes besides those needed for C4 functionality. Here, we quantify the anatomical changes accompanying the transition between non‐C4 and C4 phenotypes by sampling widely across the continuum of leaf anatomical traits in the grass Alloteropsis semialata. Within this species, the only trait that is shared among and specific to C4 individuals is an increase in vein density, driven specifically by minor vein development that yields multiple secondary effects facilitating C4 function. For species with the necessary anatomical preconditions, developmental proliferation of veins can therefore be sufficient to produce a functional C4 leaf anatomy, creating an evolutionary entry point to complex C4 syndromes that can become more specialised.