Research progress on local adaptation in plants

Divergent local adaptation often occurs in spatially heterogeneous environments. Under distinct selective pressure, where a population occurs, local genotypes have higher fitness in their local habitat than individuals from elsewhere, termed local adaptation. The magnitude of local adaptation is determined by interactions among evolutionary forces, such as selection and gene flow. Local adaptation plays an important role in species persistence in the face of rapid environmental change. Thus, studies on local adaptation have become a research frontier and hot topic in evolutionary biology. To understand the hereditary basis of local adaptation, we summarize recent research advances in plant local adaptation, with discussion on the concept of local adaptation as well as its main driving factors, genetic basis, and popular research methods. We also discuss existing problems and future directions for studies on local adaptation.