Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges
Kin recognition in plants is a debated topic, with mixed evidence on whether plants can distinguish kin from non-kin and adjust their behavior accordingly. Kin selection theory suggests cooperation among relatives enhances fitness, while niche partitioning theory predicts stronger competition due to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Plant Interactions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17429145.2025.2548579 |
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| _version_ | 1849223079837827072 |
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| author | Jan Sher Yu-long Zheng Jean H. Burns Gul Jan Jiao-Lin Zhang |
| author_facet | Jan Sher Yu-long Zheng Jean H. Burns Gul Jan Jiao-Lin Zhang |
| author_sort | Jan Sher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Kin recognition in plants is a debated topic, with mixed evidence on whether plants can distinguish kin from non-kin and adjust their behavior accordingly. Kin selection theory suggests cooperation among relatives enhances fitness, while niche partitioning theory predicts stronger competition due to similar resource requirements. This review critically examines existing literature, highlighting inconsistencies, methodological limitations, and challenges in kin recognition research. We explore behavioral and physiological evidence from various studies, analyzing how competition and cooperation are influenced by kinship interactions and how plants recognize their kin neighbors through belowground signals, which may mediate kin recognition. We also discuss ecological and agricultural implications, including potential roles in crop management. Although interest in this field is growing, consistent and conclusive evidence remains limited due to experimental variability. We recommend future research with standardized methodologies and advanced analytical tools to clarify the mechanisms and ecological consequences of kin recognition in plants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bcd45ca5b1d9462a86d67ddaf705795d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1742-9145 1742-9153 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Plant Interactions |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcd45ca5b1d9462a86d67ddaf705795d2025-08-25T23:37:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Plant Interactions1742-91451742-91532025-12-0120110.1080/17429145.2025.2548579Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challengesJan Sher0Yu-long Zheng1Jean H. Burns2Gul Jan3Jiao-Lin Zhang4Yunnan Key Laboratory of Forest Ecosystem Stability and Global Change, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, People’s Republic of ChinaYunnan Key Laboratory of Forest Ecosystem Stability and Global Change, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USADepartment of Botany, Garden Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, PakistanYunnan Key Laboratory of Forest Ecosystem Stability and Global Change, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, People’s Republic of ChinaKin recognition in plants is a debated topic, with mixed evidence on whether plants can distinguish kin from non-kin and adjust their behavior accordingly. Kin selection theory suggests cooperation among relatives enhances fitness, while niche partitioning theory predicts stronger competition due to similar resource requirements. This review critically examines existing literature, highlighting inconsistencies, methodological limitations, and challenges in kin recognition research. We explore behavioral and physiological evidence from various studies, analyzing how competition and cooperation are influenced by kinship interactions and how plants recognize their kin neighbors through belowground signals, which may mediate kin recognition. We also discuss ecological and agricultural implications, including potential roles in crop management. Although interest in this field is growing, consistent and conclusive evidence remains limited due to experimental variability. We recommend future research with standardized methodologies and advanced analytical tools to clarify the mechanisms and ecological consequences of kin recognition in plants.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17429145.2025.2548579Cooperationcompetitionkin selectionniche partitioningplant signals |
| spellingShingle | Jan Sher Yu-long Zheng Jean H. Burns Gul Jan Jiao-Lin Zhang Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges Journal of Plant Interactions Cooperation competition kin selection niche partitioning plant signals |
| title | Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges |
| title_full | Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges |
| title_fullStr | Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges |
| title_short | Kin recognition in plants-an ecological perspective: an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources, consequences and future challenges |
| title_sort | kin recognition in plants an ecological perspective an overview of plant kin recognition under different resources consequences and future challenges |
| topic | Cooperation competition kin selection niche partitioning plant signals |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17429145.2025.2548579 |
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