DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtbk
title: Data from: Unravelling the impact of domestication on competitive ability in durum wheat: A phenotypic plasticity perspective

description: The need to address the impact of domestication on plant traits is
 frequently highlighted in modern agriculture. It is often argued that
 domesticated plants have lost competitive ability due to reduced
 phenotypic plasticity. This study examines whether domestication has
 affected competitive ability, functional trait values, and plasticity in
 durum wheat across 39 genotypes representing four key stages of
 domestication, from wild progenitors to modern elite varieties. Plants
 were grown in pots, both alone and in competition with a same neighboring
 genotype. Biomass, and above- and belowground traits were measured at the
 end of the vegetative stage. Our results show that the three domesticated
 groups lost less biomass in response to competition compared to their wild
 progenitors. All genotypes developed thinner leaves and thicker roots when
 grown with a neighbor. While wild progenitors exhibited the highest
 plasticity, this did not translate to a greater competitive ability. These
 findings challenge the theoretical expectation that domesticated plants
 are less suited for competition. Instead, they suggest that domesticated
 plants perform well in competitive environments and question the need to
 reintroduce wild traits to improve competitive ability.
description: # Data from: Unravelling the impact of domestication on competitive
 ability in durum wheat: A phenotypic plasticity perspective
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtbk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwtbk) ## Description of the data acquisition context ``` Data where collected on 39 accessions from the domestication history of the tetraploid wheat: 10 wild emmer accessions of the wild progenitor T. turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (W), 10 accessions of the first domesticated emmer T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum (FD), 10 landrace accessions of durum wheat T. turgidum ssp. durum belonging to the pre-Green Revolution period (DL), and 9 elite accessions of durum wheat registered in Europe after the Green Revolution (DE). Seeds were originally gathered from internationa seed collections (Table 1). To ensure genetic homogeneity of seeds within accessions, accessions were further reproduced by successive self-fertilizations in common gardens by INRAE UMR AGAP, Montpellier, France. ``` ###### *Experimental design* ``` We set up the experiment under outdoor conditions from January to May 2022 (minimal temperature = -3.3°C and maximal temperature = 28.6°C) in the experimental field of the “Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive”, Montpellier, France (43° 63 ‘87’’N, 3° 86’ 26’’E). We performed a complete randomized four-block design. The 39 genotypes were grown in pots (4-L, 18.5 cm diameter; 21.5 cm depth), alone, i.e., one individual per pot, or in competition with four individuals from the same neighbour genotype (Fig. 1). This neighbour genotype is a durum wheat genotype distinct from the 39 selected as focal plants. We anticipated it to be a strong competitor due to its ability to maintain a tall stature from early in the life cycle to maturity. This genotype was also grown alone to measure its traits without competition. This resulted in a total of 324 pots. ``` ``` Pots were placed on a tarpaulin on the ground and were interspaced (~30 cm) to avoid inter-pot competition for light. For each accession, two seeds were sown at the centre of each pot to face potential problems of seed germination. Then the seedlings were thinned at the first leaf stage to keep one plant per position. For the ‘competition’ modality, eight seeds from the neighbouring genotype (two for each position) were sown in the pot to ensure four neighbouring plants per pot. We used local soil from the experimental field, composed of a sandy clay-limestone. We fertilized plants with PK fertilizer (0.32 g per pot in total; P2O5 and K2O) and ammonium nitrate (0.67 g per pot in total). Pots were watered with tap water two to three times a week depending on rainfall to avoid water excess and deficit. At the first appearance of Septoria tritici blotch and aphids, pots were treated, respectively, with Bordeaux mixture (mixture of copper(II) sulphate (CuSO4) and quicklime (CaO)) and rapeseed oil. ``` ### Files and variables #### File: database\_competition\_domestication\_article.csv **Description:** This file contains the trait values of all the individuals studied. ##### Variables * pot_number: ID for each pot * accession_number: ID for each accession * bloc_number: ID for each bloc * treatment: Information about the growth condition (isolated or in competition) * subspecies: Subspecies of the individual * plant_measured: If the measurement have been done on the focal plant or on its neighbour * neighbour_ID: ID of the neighbour  * tiller_number: Number of tiller * aerial_biomass_g: Above-ground total dry biomass in g * root_biomass_g: Below-ground total dry biomass in g * total_biomass_g: Total dry biomass of the individual (above- plu below-ground biomass) * One_Leaf_Area_cm2: Area of the leaf dedicated to traits measurements  * Leaf_Dry_Matter_Content_mg_g: leaf dry matter content in mg/g * Specific_Leaf_Area_m2_kg: Specific leaf area in m²/kg * vegetative_height_cm: Height of the vegetative part of the individual in cm * Specific_Root_Length_m_g: Specific root length in m/g * Root_Diameter_mm: Mean root diameter in mm * Root_Tissue_Density_g_cm3: Root tissue density un g/cm3 * Root_Branching_Intensity_tips_cm: Root branching intensity in tips number by cm * root_shoot_ratio: root biomass divided by aboveground biomass  #### File: database\_competitive\_response\_index.csv **Description:** This file contains the index of response to competition values of all the individuals studied.  ##### Variables * pot_number: ID for each pot * accession_number: ID for each accession * bloc_number: ID for each bloc * subspecies: Subspecies of the individual * tillers_number_Rm: competition response index calculated on the number of tiller  * aerial_biomass_Rm: competition response index calculated on the above-ground dry biomass * root_biomass_Rm: competition response index calculated on the below-ground dry biomass * total_biomass_Rm: competition response index calculated on the total biomass * Leaf_Area_Rm: competition response index calculated on the leaf area * Specif_Leaf_Area_Rm: competition response index calculated on the specific leaf area * Leaf_Dry_Matter_Content_Rm: competition response index calculated on the leaf dry matter content  * vegetative_height_Rm: competition response index calculated on the vegetative height * Specific_Root_Length_Rm: competition response index calculated on the specific root length  * Root_Diameter_Rm: competition response index calculated on the root diameter * Root_Tissue_Density_Rm: competition response index calculated on the root tissue density * Root_Branching_Intensity_Rm: competition response index calculated on the root branching intensity * root_shoot_ratio_Rm: competition response index calculated on the root shoot ratio NA: Not applicable