Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>)
During domestication, lineages diverge phenotypically and genetically from wild relatives, particularly in preferred traits. In addition to evolutionary divergence in selected traits, other fitness-related traits that are unselected may change in concert. For instance, the selection of chili pepper...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/22/3062 |
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| author | Carlos Serrano-Mejía Rafael Bello-Bedoy María Clara Arteaga Guillermo R. Castillo |
| author_facet | Carlos Serrano-Mejía Rafael Bello-Bedoy María Clara Arteaga Guillermo R. Castillo |
| author_sort | Carlos Serrano-Mejía |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During domestication, lineages diverge phenotypically and genetically from wild relatives, particularly in preferred traits. In addition to evolutionary divergence in selected traits, other fitness-related traits that are unselected may change in concert. For instance, the selection of chili pepper fruits was not intended to change the structure and function of the leaf epidermis. Leaf stomata and trichome densities play a prominent role in regulating stomatal conductance and resistance to herbivores. Here, we assessed whether domestication affected leaf epidermis structure and function in <i>Capsicum annuum</i>. To do this, we compared leaf stomata and trichome densities in six cultivated varieties of Mexican <i>Capsicum annuum</i> and their wild relative. We measured stomatal conductance and resistance to herbivores. Resistance to (defense against) herbivores was measured as variation in the herbivory rate and larvae mortality of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> fed with leaves of wild and cultivated plants. As expected, the different varieties displayed low divergence in stomatal density and conductance. Leaf trichome density was higher in the wild relative, but variation was not correlated with the herbivory rate. In contrast, a higher mortality rate of <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae was recorded when fed with the wild relative and two varieties than larvae fed with four other varieties. Overall, although domestication did not aim at resistance to herbivores, this evolutionary process produced concerted changes in defensive traits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:04:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8eb653bf79c4073ad573033c8c4449c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:04:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8eb653bf79c4073ad573033c8c4449c2023-11-24T09:39:01ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-11-011122306210.3390/plants11223062Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>)Carlos Serrano-Mejía0Rafael Bello-Bedoy1María Clara Arteaga2Guillermo R. Castillo3Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3917, C.P. Ensenada 22860, Baja California, MexicoFacultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana 3917, C.P. Ensenada 22860, Baja California, MexicoDepartamento de Biología de la Conservación, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Ensenada 22860, Baja California, MexicoFacultad de Negocios Sostenibles, Universidad del Medio Ambiente, San Mateo Acatitlán, Valle de Bravo 51200, Estado de Mexico, MexicoDuring domestication, lineages diverge phenotypically and genetically from wild relatives, particularly in preferred traits. In addition to evolutionary divergence in selected traits, other fitness-related traits that are unselected may change in concert. For instance, the selection of chili pepper fruits was not intended to change the structure and function of the leaf epidermis. Leaf stomata and trichome densities play a prominent role in regulating stomatal conductance and resistance to herbivores. Here, we assessed whether domestication affected leaf epidermis structure and function in <i>Capsicum annuum</i>. To do this, we compared leaf stomata and trichome densities in six cultivated varieties of Mexican <i>Capsicum annuum</i> and their wild relative. We measured stomatal conductance and resistance to herbivores. Resistance to (defense against) herbivores was measured as variation in the herbivory rate and larvae mortality of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> fed with leaves of wild and cultivated plants. As expected, the different varieties displayed low divergence in stomatal density and conductance. Leaf trichome density was higher in the wild relative, but variation was not correlated with the herbivory rate. In contrast, a higher mortality rate of <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae was recorded when fed with the wild relative and two varieties than larvae fed with four other varieties. Overall, although domestication did not aim at resistance to herbivores, this evolutionary process produced concerted changes in defensive traits.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/22/3062<i>Capsicum annuum</i> var. <i>glabriusculum</i>pavement cellsresistance to herbivores<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>trichomesstomata |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Serrano-Mejía Rafael Bello-Bedoy María Clara Arteaga Guillermo R. Castillo Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) Plants <i>Capsicum annuum</i> var. <i>glabriusculum</i> pavement cells resistance to herbivores <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> trichomes stomata |
| title | Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) |
| title_full | Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) |
| title_short | Does Domestication Affect Structural and Functional Leaf Epidermal Traits? A Comparison between Wild and Cultivated Mexican Chili Peppers (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) |
| title_sort | does domestication affect structural and functional leaf epidermal traits a comparison between wild and cultivated mexican chili peppers i capsicum annuum i |
| topic | <i>Capsicum annuum</i> var. <i>glabriusculum</i> pavement cells resistance to herbivores <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> trichomes stomata |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/22/3062 |
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