Transgenerational epigenetics inheritance refers to the possibility to inheritepigenetic-based information acquired from previous generations. The design ofexperiments that can measure this phenomenon presents complexities. These arerelated mainly to difficulties in the identification of epigenetic variation componentsthat are independent from genetic variation, and to difficulties related to the timeneeded to expose genetically stable plants to different environments for several generations.In this study we propose an experimental approach that takes advantageof seed material routinely produced by seedbanks in order to circumvent the abovementionedissues. By taking advantage of this freely available seed material, it ispossible to evaluate epigenetic differences induced by the environment experiencedby previous generations and to evaluate both the extent and the impact of epigeneticvariation in crops. Seeds of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, which werepreviously multiplied in six different seedbanks located worldwide, were grown ina common environment and the plants were evaluated at a genetic, epigenetic, andphenotypic level. Our results indicate that barley accessions multiplied in differentenvironments displayed a comparable level of epigenetic variation, which was, however,greater than the genetic variation. Cluster analysis of methylation differences,likewise DNA differences, split the two cultivars in two distinct groups evidencing aclear link between genetic and epigenetic variation. Nevertheless, the analysis of phenotypictraits and of the CCGG sites that are variable in both cultivars suggests thatthere might be a possible link between previous cultivation environment and inducedepigenetic changes at specific DNA regions.

Seedbank seeds for the study of environmentally induced transgenerational epigenetic variability: A case study of barley

Floriana Gavazzi;Iride Mascheretti;Dario Panzeri;Massimiliano Lauria
Ultimo
2020

Abstract

Transgenerational epigenetics inheritance refers to the possibility to inheritepigenetic-based information acquired from previous generations. The design ofexperiments that can measure this phenomenon presents complexities. These arerelated mainly to difficulties in the identification of epigenetic variation componentsthat are independent from genetic variation, and to difficulties related to the timeneeded to expose genetically stable plants to different environments for several generations.In this study we propose an experimental approach that takes advantageof seed material routinely produced by seedbanks in order to circumvent the abovementionedissues. By taking advantage of this freely available seed material, it ispossible to evaluate epigenetic differences induced by the environment experiencedby previous generations and to evaluate both the extent and the impact of epigeneticvariation in crops. Seeds of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, which werepreviously multiplied in six different seedbanks located worldwide, were grown ina common environment and the plants were evaluated at a genetic, epigenetic, andphenotypic level. Our results indicate that barley accessions multiplied in differentenvironments displayed a comparable level of epigenetic variation, which was, however,greater than the genetic variation. Cluster analysis of methylation differences,likewise DNA differences, split the two cultivars in two distinct groups evidencing aclear link between genetic and epigenetic variation. Nevertheless, the analysis of phenotypictraits and of the CCGG sites that are variable in both cultivars suggests thatthere might be a possible link between previous cultivation environment and inducedepigenetic changes at specific DNA regions.
2020
Istituto di biologia e biotecnologia agraria (IBBA)
DNA methylation
Epigenetics
Barley
Seed bank
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/422764
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