Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39301881›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2025

Latitudinal trends in an invasive plant: genetic differentiation, phenotypic plasticity, and the effects of heavy metals and herbivores on growth, defence and reproductive characteristics.

Zhisen Yan, Yue Zhou, Yuxin Lai, Yunshan Liu, Yulin Li, Yan Wang, Bo Li, Yi Wang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of botany, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zhisen YanMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yue ZhouMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yuxin LaiMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yunshan LiuMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yulin LiMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yan WangMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Bo LiMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.
Yi WangMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco Security of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650504, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1851-8994

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2022YFC2601100National Natural Science Foundation of China U2102218Postgraduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Yunnan University KC-22221423
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsInvasive species usually demonstrate remarkable adaptability across diverse environments, successfully inhabiting a wide variety of regions. This adaptability often links to genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity, leading to latitudinal trends in phenotypic traits. In this study, we collected seeds of the invasive plant Phytolacca americana from different latitudes and planted them in homogeneous gardens to investigate the latitudinal variation of P. americana phenotypic traits and to evaluate the effects of herbivory and heavy metals on plant growth, defence and reproductive characteristics.

methodsPhytolacca americana seeds from different latitudes were planted in a homogeneous garden. For the experimental treatment, the seeds were divided into four groups: a heavy metal treatment group and its corresponding control group, and a cover treatment group with its corresponding control group. After the fruits matured, their growth, reproduction and defence indicators were measured. KEY

resultsSignificant latitudinal trends were observed in P. americana's growth and defence characteristics, including changes in branch number, underground biomass, total biomass and leaf tannin content. Compared with previous field surveys on P. americana, our study found that the latitude trends in growth structure and defence traits were consistent, but the latitudinal trend of reproductive structure was different. Moreover, heavy metals and herbivory substantially influenced the plant's growth, reproduction and defence mechanisms, further shaping its latitudinal patterns.

conclusionsThe observed phenotypic variations in P. americana across latitudes can be largely attributed to the synergistic effects of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variation. At a broader geographical scale, adaptations to heavy metal stress and herbivory pressure among different P. americana populations involve distinct trade-offs related to growth, reproduction and defence strategies.

Indexed as

HerbivoryIntroduced SpeciesMetals, HeavyAnimalsBiomassGenetic VariationPhenotypePlant LeavesReproductionSeedsTanninsMetals, HeavyTanninsadaptive evolutionheavy metalherbivorelatitudinal gradientphenotypic plasticityPhytolacca americanaPlant invasion

Identifiers

PMID39301881
PMCPMC11897597

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.