DNA Methylation Alterations and Their Association with High Temperature Tolerance in Rice Anthesis

Abstract

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism involved in gene regulation under environmental stresses in plants. However, little information is available regarding its responses to high temperature (HT) and association with HT tolerance in rice. In this study, fourteen rice genotypes were classified into the susceptible, moderate, and tolerant groups by the high temperature susceptibility index (HTSI) after HT treatment. The changes of DNA methylation in rice anthesis under normal and HT30 conditions were investigated using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism31 (MSAP). The MSAP results showed that the DNA methylation level significantly increased in the susceptible rice group and decreased in the tolerant rice group under HT treatment, while no significant difference was observed in the moderate rice group. More hypomethylation events were detected in the tolerant rice group, while more hypermethylation was detected in the susceptible rice group. Forty-four differentially methylated epiloci (DME) were generated under both control and HT conditions, which can clearly distinguish the susceptible, moderate, and tolerant genotypes via PCoA analysis. Approximately 43.18% of DMEs were determined to be tolerance-associated epiloci (TAEs). 63.15% TAEs were sequenced and annotated into 12 genes. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that 12 TAE genes were mainly upregulated in 14 rice genotypes, and their expression levels were related to the HT tolerance of rice. Here, DEGs, generated from a number of genotypes, indicate higher probabilities for association with stress tolerance. Overall, these results suggest that DNA methylation regulation might play a key role in adaptation to HT stress in rice.

Multi-omics revolution to promote plant breeding efficiency

“…Epigenetic research has revealed that drought-tolerant plants exhibited a more stable methylome, with differentially methylated regions (DMRs) linking genes primarily involved in the programmed cell death and stress response in mulberry ( Ackah et al., 2022 ), mungbean ( Zhao et al., 2022 ) and rice ( Wang et al., 2016 ). Likewise, the differentially methylated epiloci (DME) identified 12 stress-related genes in rice genotypes under high temperature treatment ( Li et al., 2022b ). The methylome content of alfalfa plants increased during salinity stress, and 5-AzaC treatment (DNA methylation inhibitor) reduced the salt tolerance ( Al-Lawati et al., 2016 ).…”

Climate-responsive DNA methylation is involved in the biosynthesis of lignin in birch

“…In wheat, DNA methylation of genes involved in carbon metabolism or fatty acid metabolism contributes to male spikelet sterility in a temperature-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) line, BS366, in response to cold (Liu et al, 2021). Further, DNA methylation levels involved in metabolic processes are significantly associated with high temperatures in rice (Li et al, 2022). These results provide the evidence that the regulatory role of DNA methylation in plant adaptation can be mediated by its effects on secondary metabolisms.…”

Warmer temperature during asexual reproduction induce methylome, transcriptomic, and lasting phenotypic changes in Fragaria vesca ecotypes

“…This mirrors the higher phenotypic plasticity we observed in NOR2. In line with this finding, Li and co-workers demonstrated that high temperature sensitive accession of Rice ( Oryza sativa ) showed significantly increased DNA methylation levels compared to temperature resistant accessions [ 69 ]. In contrast, in similar experiments in Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) higher DNA methylation in the CHH context was observed in heat-tolerant accessions compared to heat-susceptible accession upon heat treatment [ 70 ].…”