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Peer-reviewedCC BYPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

Negative frequency-dependent selection underlies overyielding through neighbour genotypic effects in Arabidopsis thaliana

  • Yasuhiro Sato1,2
  1. 1Hokkaido University 1 , , ,
  2. 2University of Zurich 2 , ,
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Abstract

Negative frequency-dependent selection (FDS) can increase both genetic diversity and population-level mean fitness. While the dual consequence of negative FDS has been theoretically recognized, its genomic basis remains unknown. To explore a genetic link between negative FDS and overyielding, I conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of neighbour genotypic effects on the growth of 98 Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. By incorporating neighbour genotypic similarity, this GWAS analysis detected the most significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the fifth chromosome of A. thaliana, which was 6 kbp from a known locus responsible for indirect genetic effects. I found negative FDS on the most significant SNP, where individual plants increased their biomass in the presence of neighbours with a dissimilar allele. I also observed overyielding in which a biallelic mixture of the most significant SNP showed a 3% increase in biomass compared with monoallelic conditions. Furthermore, I focused on the genomic region near the most significant SNP and found a signature of balancing selection near a negative regulator of ethylene responses, SIRTUIN 2. The present analysis uncovered a quantitative trait locus linking balanced polymorphisms and overyielding in A. thaliana, providing a proof of principle to understand the maintenance of polymorphism and its positive impact on population productivity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Exploring negative frequency-dependent selection across levels: from genetics to ecology and back again'.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{sato2026negative,
  title = {{Negative frequency-dependent selection underlies overyielding through neighbour genotypic effects in Arabidopsis thaliana}},
  author = {Yasuhiro Sato},
  journal = {Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1098/rstb.2025.0179},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2025.0179},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Negative frequency-dependent selection underlies overyielding through neighbour genotypic effects in Arabidopsis thaliana
AU  - Yasuhiro Sato
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/11
JO  - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
DO  - 10.1098/rstb.2025.0179
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2025.0179
AB  - Negative frequency-dependent selection (FDS) can increase both genetic diversity and population-level mean fitness. While the dual consequence of negative FDS has been theoretically recognized, its genomic basis remains unknown. To explore a genetic link between negative FDS and overyielding, I conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of neighbour genotypic effects on the growth of 98 Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes. By incorporating neighbour genotypic similarity, this GWAS analysis detected the most significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the fifth chromosome of A. thaliana, which was 6 kbp from a known locus responsible for indirect genetic effects. I found negative FDS on the most significant SNP, where individual plants increased their biomass in the presence of neighbours with a dissimilar allele. I also observed overyielding in which a biallelic mixture of the most significant SNP showed a 3% increase in biomass compared with monoallelic conditions. Furthermore, I focused on the genomic region near the most significant SNP and found a signature of balancing selection near a negative regulator of ethylene responses, SIRTUIN 2. The present analysis uncovered a quantitative trait locus linking balanced polymorphisms and overyielding in A. thaliana, providing a proof of principle to understand the maintenance of polymorphism and its positive impact on population productivity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Exploring negative frequency-dependent selection across levels: from genetics to ecology and back again'.
SN  - 0962-8436
SN  - 1471-2970
ER  -