Somatic Mutation Dynamics in Plant Systems

Somatic mutations are changes to the DNA sequence that arise in non-reproductive cells during a plant’s lifetime, generating genetic mosaicism within leaves, stems and roots. In plants, the absence of a distinct germline means that mutations occurring in meristems can be inherited by subsequent generations, influencing breeding, adaptation and disease resistance. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have revealed that most somatic mutations are localised within specific meristematic layers, accumulate linearly with time rather than growth rate in long-lived species and follow branching patterns that reflect the underlying cell lineage. The balance between mutational input and selective processes—such as purifying selection acting on transmitted mutations—shapes the per-generation mutation rate and the extent of intraorganismal diversity. These insights have practical implications for clonal forestry, horticulture and the management of natural plant populations under changing environmental conditions.

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Somatic Mutation Dynamics in Plant Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in somatic mutation dynamics in plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Somatic mutation: DNA alteration occurring in non-reproductive cells, leading to genetic differences among tissues within an individual plant.

Meristem: Region of undifferentiated, dividing cells at the growing tips of shoots and roots where somatic mutations predominantly arise.

Genetic mosaicism: The presence of genetically distinct cell populations within a single individual, resulting from somatic mutations accumulated over time.

Clonal propagation: Vegetative reproduction method that produces genetically identical plants, which may carry forward somatic mutations to new individuals.

Purifying selection: Evolutionary process eliminating deleterious mutations from cell lineages or populations, maintaining genetic integrity over generations.

References

1. The vast majority of somatic mutations in plants are layer-specific. Genome Biology (2024).
2. Somatic mutation rates scale with time not growth rate in long-lived tropical trees. eLife (2024).
3. Modelling somatic mutation accumulation and expansion in a long-lived tree with hierarchical modular architecture. Journal of Theoretical Biology (2023).
4. Do plants have a segregated germline?. PLOS Biology (2018).