Distinct genetic architecture for trait mean and plasticity in chickpea

Crop plants often face rapid environmental changes, and their ability to adapt to novel conditions depends on whether specific traits can adjust to match these changes. This capacity for adjustment, known as phenotypic plasticity, is frequently regarded as a mere “response” rather than a distinct trait with its own genetic basis, particularly in agricultural science. As a result, plasticity is often oversimplified and viewed as an undesirable phenomenon when the goal is to achieve trait stability. In this study, we present a quantitative metric to measure phenotypic plasticity and provide evidence, through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in chickpea, that plasticity is indeed a genetically based trait, comparable to any other agronomic trait. This foundational study paves the way for future GWAS efforts to harness phenotypic plasticity, offering new insights for crop improvement strategies.