Lifetime genealogical divergence within plants leads to epigenetic mosaicism in the long-lived shrubLavandula latifolia(Lamiaceae)

Abstract

SummaryEpigenetic mosaicism is a possible source of within-plant phenotypic heterogeneity, yet its frequency and developmental origin remain unexplored. This study examines whether the extant epigenetic heterogeneity within long-lived Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae) shrubs reflects recent epigenetic modifications experienced independently by different plant parts or, alternatively, it is the cumulative outcome of a steady lifetime process.Leaf samples from different architectural modules were collected from three L. latifolia plants and characterized epigenetically by global DNA cytosine methylation and methylation state of methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (MS-AFLP). Epigenetic characteristics of modules were then assembled with information on the branching history of plants. Methods borrowed from phylogenetic research were used to assess genealogical signal of extant epigenetic variation and reconstruct within-plant genealogical trajectory of epigenetic traits.Plants were epigenetically heterogeneous, as shown by differences among modules in global DNA methylation and variation in the methylation states of 6-8% of MS-AFLP markers. All epigenetic features exhibited significant genealogical signal within plants. Events of epigenetic divergence occurred throughout the lifespan of individuals and were subsequently propagated by branch divisions.Internal epigenetic diversification of L. latifolia individuals took place steadily during their development, a process which eventually led to persistent epigenetic mosaicism.

Plants as epigenetic mosaics: harnessing variability to thrive in a variable world

“…Our understanding of how plants cope with external variability by developing trait variability within themselves – known as subindividual variability – has advanced dramatically over the last decade, thanks in large part to work by Carlos Herrera and colleagues, including the recent article published in this issue of New Phytologist , Herrera et al . (2021; pp. 2065–2076).

‘A key lesson from this research is that plants are more than the sum – or mean – of their parts.

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