Life?history trade?offs and the genetic basis of fitness in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Resources allocated to survival cannot be used increase fecundity, but the extent which this trade-off constrains adaptation depends on overall resource status. Adaptation local environmental conditions may therefore entail evolution of traits that amount resources available individuals (their status or ‘condition’). We examined relative contribution trade-offs and increased condition adaptive in a recombinant inbred line population Arabidopsis thaliana planted at native sites parental ecotypes Italy Sweden 2 years. estimated genetic correlations among fitness components based genotypic means explored their causes with QTL mapping. The ecotype produced more seeds per fruit than did non-local ecotype, reflected stronger differentiation was previously shown number only. Genetic between fruits fruit, were positive, there little evidence seed size number. Quantitative trait loci for these tended map same regions genome showed positive pleiotropic effects. results indicate two focal populations largely reflects ability acquire environment, rather shifts allocation different life-history traits. Differentiation both phenology tolerance cold is likely contribute advantage genotype sites.