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Abstract
A single genotype can produce different phenotypes in different environments. This
fundamental property of organisms is known as phenotypic plasticity. Recently, intensive
study has shown that plants are plastic for a remarkable array of ecologically important
traits, ranging from diverse aspects of morphology and physiology to anatomy, developmental
and reproductive timing, breeding system, and offspring developmental patterns. Comparative,
quantitative genetics and molecular approaches are leading to new insights into the
adaptive nature of plasticity, its underlying mechanisms and its role in the ecological
distribution and evolutionary diversification of plants.