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Title

Gazing into the anthosphere: considering how microbes influence floral evolution.

Authors

Rebolleda‐Gómez, María; Forrester, Nicole J.; Russell, Avery L.; Wei, Na; Fetters, Andrea M.; Stephens, Jessica D.; Ashman, Tia‐Lynn

Abstract

Summary: The flower is the hallmark of angiosperms and its evolution is key to their diversification. As knowledge of ecological interactions between flowers and their microbial communities (the anthosphere) expands, it becomes increasingly important to consider the evolutionary impacts of these associations and their potential eco‐evolutionary dynamics. In this Viewpoint we synthesize current knowledge of the anthosphere within a multilevel selection framework and illustrate the potential for the extended floral phenotype (the phenotype expressed from the genes of the plant and its associated flower microbes) to evolve. We argue that flower microbes are an important, but understudied, axis of variation that shape floral trait evolution and angiosperm reproductive ecology. We highlight knowledge gaps and discuss approaches that are critical for gaining a deeper understanding of the role microbes play in mediating plant reproduction, ecology, and evolution.

Subjects

PLANT reproduction; FLOWERING of plants; MICROORGANISMS; PLANT genes; BIOLOGICAL evolution; KNOWLEDGE gap theory

Publication

New Phytologist, 2019, Vol 224, Issue 3, p1012

ISSN

0028-646X

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1111/nph.16137