Genome-wide analyses of four major histone modifications in Arabidopsis hybrids at the germinating seed stage. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Anyu; Greaves, Ian; Dennis, Elizabeth; Peacock, W.
• Is Part Of: BMC genomics. Volume 18:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Heterosis -- Hybrid vigour -- Histone modification -- Epigenetics -- Seed germination -- Gene expression; Genomes -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Base Sequence -- Periodicals; Chromosome Mapping -- Periodicals; Genetic Techniques -- Periodicals; Sequence Analysis, DNA -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3542-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2164

Abstract

Abstract Background Hybrid vigour (heterosis) has been used for decades in cropping agriculture, especially in the production of maize and rice, because hybrid varieties exceed their parents in plant biomass and seed yield. The molecular basis of hybrid vigour is not fully understood. Previous studies have suggested that epigenetic systems could play a role in heterosis. Results In this project, we investigated genome-wide patterns of four histone modifications in Arabidopsis hybrids in germinating seeds. We found that although hybrids have similar histone modification patterns to the parents in most regions of the genome, they have altered patterns at specific loci. A small subset of genes show changes in histone modifications in the hybrids that correlate with changes in gene expression. Our results also show that genome-wide patterns of histone modifications in geminating seeds parallel those at later developmental stages of seedlings. Conclusion Ler/C24 hybrids showed similar genome-wide patterns of histone modifications as the parents at an early germination stage. However, a small subset of genes, such asFLC, showed correlated changes in histone modification and in gene expression in the hybrids. The altered patterns of histone modifications for those genes in hybrids could be related to some heterotic traits in Arabidopsis, such as flowering time, and could play a role in hybrid vigour establishment.