Adaptation and genetic variation of several characteristics of Arabidopsis thaliana

Adaptation and genetic variation for morphological traits, glucosinolates concentration of seed, resistance to specialist weevils including Ceutorhynchus atomus and C. contractus (Curculionidae) were evaluated in Arabidopsis thaliana. Seeds were collected from a dune (3 populations) and inland (2 populations) habitats. Rosettes from these seeds were provided in a growth room and transplanted between two habitats. The experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design with 10 plants in 8 replicates of 5 populations. In another experiment seeds of these plants were used for HPLC-UV analysis. Significant effects of site, genotype and site-genotype interaction were observed for almost all the traits especially for glucosinolate concentration. Dune origin plants had more glucosinolate concentration and had less fruit damaged compared to inland origin plants. Within a habitat differences existed between plants of different origin, pointing to genetic differences in ecologically relevant characters; plants of inland origin grew better in inland and plants of dune origin in dune habitat. At least one population at its home site had the highest fitness, which demonstrates adaptation to local environment.