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Published on: October 5, 2016
Vineyard environments influence Malbec grapevine phenotypic traits and DNA methylation patterns in a clone-dependent
Anabella Varela1, Verónica N Ibañez1, Rodrigo Alonso2
1Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Alte. Brown 500, M5507, Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina.
DNA methylation influences grapevine phenotypic plasticity, with epigenetic changes being clone-dependent. This study reveals how environmental factors interact with specific Malbec clones to alter gene expression and observable traits.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Epigenetics
- Viticulture
Background:
- Grapevine cultivars exhibit low genetic variability due to clonal selection and propagation.
- Diverse phenotypes are observed within cultivars, suggesting environmental influences.
- Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a genotype to express different phenotypes in varied environments, is a key area of study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of DNA methylation in phenotypic plasticity in Vitis vinifera cv. Malbec.
- To determine if epigenetic modulation is clone-dependent in grapevines.
- To associate differentially methylated regions with specific genes and phenotypic traits.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of three Malbec clones in two contrasting vineyard environments in Mendoza, Argentina.
- Methylation-Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) markers used to assess epigenetic variability.
- Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) applied to identify differentially methylated regions.
Main Results:
- Significant clone-dependent phenotypic and epigenetic variability was observed between vineyards.
- Twenty-nine differentially methylated regions were identified between the two vineyard environments.
- These regions were associated with genes involved in hormone homeostasis and sensing.
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation plays a crucial role in mediating phenotypic plasticity in grapevines.
- Epigenetic modulation in response to environmental signals is dependent on the specific grapevine clone.
- Understanding these epigenetic mechanisms can inform grapevine breeding and management strategies.
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