The Relationship between Genome Size and Plant Adaptability to the Environment

Abstract

Genome size (GS) can predict the functional shape of plants and is closely related to the adaptability of plants to the environment. GS can also predict the strategy of plant domestication and invasion, but there are few studies on how the size of genome affects the environmental adaptability of plants. This paper analyzes the research on the size of plant genome and temperature, humidity and nutrients. It is found that plants with small GS have stronger adaptability to high temperature and drought environment and nutrient deficient environment, while plants with large GS are suitable to grow in high humidity and nutrient sufficient environment. This paper also analyzed the relationship between plant GS and plant invasion and domestication. Finally, this paper analyzed the relationship between polyploid and GS and its application in breeding, and obtained that the GS can be changed by changing plant ploidy, so as to improve the adaptability of plants to the environment. This provides a reference for future research on the adaptability of genomes and plants to the environment, as well as in breeding. Additionally, the unclear relationship between GS and more environmental factors such as heavy metals and high-altitude pollution remains unresolved. Future research can focus on studying the relationship between GS and more environmental factors, as well as the application direction of gene editing technology in changing GS.