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Transgenerational effects in asexually reproduced offspring of Populus
Sumitra Dewan1, Pieter De Frenne1, An Vanden Broeck2
1Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium.
Plos One
|December 7, 2018
Summary
Trees can pass down climate-driven traits to offspring via transgenerational plasticity. Parental temperatures influenced bud phenology in poplar cuttings, but epigenetic changes were not detected, suggesting further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Transgenerational phenotypic plasticity allows traits to be conserved and transferred to offspring.
- Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial for plant adaptation to climate change via transgenerational plasticity.
- Understanding these effects in trees is vital for predicting responses to a changing climate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate transgenerational effects on poplar cuttings' phenology.
- To determine if parental temperature and photoperiod influence offspring phenology.
- To explore epigenetic variation (DNA methylation) in relation to environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Vegetative propagation of poplar (Populus deltoides and P. trichocarpa) ramets (cuttings).
- Monitoring bud phenology of cuttings from parent trees across a latitudinal gradient.
- Analysis of DNA methylation using Methylation Sensitive Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (MSAPs).
Main Results:
- A significant transgenerational effect on bud phenology was observed in asexually reproduced poplar cuttings.
- Parental clone temperatures influenced the bud flush timing of the offspring cuttings in a common garden.
- No significant epigenetic variation (DNA methylation) was detected within genotypes under different climates.
Conclusions:
- Poplar trees exhibit transgenerational plasticity, with parental climate influencing offspring phenology.
- The specific epigenetic mechanisms driving these transgenerational effects require further investigation.
- Advanced molecular techniques, such as whole-genome bisulphite sequencing, are needed to elucidate these mechanisms.
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