Vernalization and photoperiod-related changes in the DNA methylation state in winter and spring rapeseed

Abstract

Vernalization-induced flowering is an effect of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression through DNA methylation and histone modifications. Vernalizationmediated silencing of a floral repressor through histone modifications was shown in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, for Brassica napus L., the mechanism underlying vernalization is unclear, and the roles of DNA methylation and histone modifications have not been established. This study revealed the profiles of changes in the DNA methylation state during vernalization (after 14, 35, 56 days) and the subsequent growth in long-or short-day photoperiods (after 2, 7, 14 days) in the winter and spring rapeseed using TLC and MSAP techniques. TLC analysis showed a significant decrease in the amount of 5-methylcytosine (m 5 C) in genomic DNA in both cultivars at the beginning of vernalization, but upon its termination, the winter rape showed a reduced level of m 5 C contrary to a significantly increased level in the spring rape. MSAP analysis revealed that winter and spring rapeseed differed in the MSAP loci which were demethylated/methylated in the course of the experiment and presented diverse profiles of changes in the methylation state. The winter rape showed permanent demethylations at 69.2 % of MSAP loci in the course of vernalization that were mostly preserved upon its termination. The spring rape showed similar numbers of demethylations and methylations that were mainly transient. The study provides evidence of the role of DNA methylation in vernalization for rapeseed and for the significant prevalence of demethylations at the beginning of vernalization, which is necessary for the transition to reproductive growth.

DNA demethylation is involved in the regulation of temperature‐dependent anthocyanin accumulation in peach

“…DNA methylation, an important epigenetic modification, plays important roles in developmental events, especially fruit ripening (Zhong et al , ; Cheng et al , ; Huang et al , ), as well as stress responses including cold response (Steward et al , ; Zhang et al , ). Low temperature‐induced DNA methylation changes have been observed in several plants (Guzy‐Wrobelska et al , ; Kumar et al , ). However, methylome‐ and low temperature‐induced DNA methylation changes have not been reported in peach.…”

Global Changes in DNA Methylation in Seeds and Seedlings of Pyrus communis after Seed Desiccation and Storage

“…This method has been already successfully applied for the assessment of DNA methylation in plants [29]. Although it is currently possible to assess global methylation status with HPLC analyses, there are some serious technical limitations to this approach.…”

Adaptation to seasonality and the winter freeze

“…Since most species have not been tested for cold adaptations, absence of data does not necessarily indicate absence of traits. However, since cold climates arose after major radiations in seed plants, presence data (based on Krug, 1991; De la Rosa et al, 2000; Kawamata et al, 2002; Wilson et al, 2002; Karlson et al, 2004; Streck and Schuh, 2005; Lopez and Runkle, 2006; Fausey and Cameron, 2007; Kalberer et al, 2007; Mewes and Pank, 2007; Rohwer and Heins, 2007; Svendsen et al, 2007; Padhye and Cameron, 2008, 2009; Pietsch et al, 2009; Zlesak and Anderson, 2009; Biasi et al, 2010; Byard et al, 2010; Ghelardini et al, 2010; Kaymak and Guvenc, 2010; Kubota et al, 2010; Lenahan et al, 2010; Rantasen and Palonen, 2010; Caffarra et al, 2011; Cave et al, 2011; Charrier et al, 2011; Dogramaci et al, 2011; Lin et al, 2011; Adhikari et al, 2012; Andreini et al, 2012; Bilavcik et al, 2012; Diaz-Riquelme et al, 2012; Nishitani et al, 2012; Sanchez-Perez et al, 2012; Whitman and Runkle, 2012; Alessandro et al, 2013; Guzy-Wrobelska et al, 2013; Jones et al, 2013; Mojtahedi et al, 2013) indicates multiple origins of cold adaptive traits across the phylogeny.…”