Article

Progressive erosion of genetic and epigenetic variation in callus-derived cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plants.

Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University Penglais, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK.
New Phytologist (impact factor: 6.64). 06/2010; 186(4):856-68. DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03242.x pp.856-68
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT *Relatively little is known about the timing of genetic and epigenetic forms of somaclonal variation arising from callus growth. We surveyed for both types of change in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plants regenerated from calli of various ages, and also between tissues from the source trees. *For genetic change, we used 15 single sequence repeat (SSR) markers from four source trees and from 233 regenerated plants. For epigenetic change, we used 386 methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) markers on leaf and explant (staminode) DNA from two source trees and on leaf DNA from 114 regenerants. *Genetic variation within source trees was limited to one slippage mutation in one leaf. Regenerants were far more variable, with 35% exhibiting at least one mutation. Genetic variation initially accumulated with culture age but subsequently declined. MSAP (epigenetic) profiles diverged between leaf and staminode samples from source trees. Multivariate analysis revealed that leaves from regenerants occupied intermediate eigenspace between leaves and staminodes of source plants but became progressively more similar to source tree leaves with culture age. *Statistical analysis confirmed this rather counterintuitive finding that leaves of 'late regenerants' exhibited significantly less genetic and epigenetic divergence from source leaves than those exposed to short periods of callus growth.

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    Article: Methylation changes associated with early maturation stages in the Atlantic salmon.
    Paloma Morán, Andrés Pérez-Figueroa
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    ABSTRACT: Early maturation in the Atlantic salmon is an interesting subject for numerous research lines. Prior to sea migration, parr can reach sexual maturation and successfully fertilize adult female eggs during the reproductive season. These individuals are known as precocious parr, mature parr or "sneakers". Reasons for early maturation are unknown and this transitory stage is usually considered to be a threshold trait. Here, we compare methylation patterns between mature and immature salmon parr from two different rivers in order to infer if such methylation differences may be related to their maturation condition. First we analyzed genetic differences between rivers by means of AFLPs. Then, we compared the DNA methylation differences between mature and immature parrs, using a Methylation-Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP), which is a modification of the AFLPs method by making use of the differential sensitivity of a pair of restriction enzymes isoschizomeres to cytosine methylation. The tissues essayed included brain, liver and gonads. AFLPs statistical analysis showed that there was no significant differentiation between rivers or a significant differentiation between maturation states in each river. MSAP statistical analysis showed that among the three tissues sampled, the gonads had the highest number of significant single-locus variation among populations with 74 loci followed by brain with 70 and finally liver with only 12. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the MSAP profiles revealed different profiles among different tissues (liver, brain and testis) clearly separating maturation states in the testis tissue when compared to the liver. Our results reveal that genetically-similar mature and immature salmon parr present high levels of DNA methylation variation in two of the three analyzed tissues. We hypothesize that early maturation may be mostly mediated by epigenetic processes rather than by genetic differences between parrs. To our knowledge this is the first study that attempt to link phenotypic plasticity in salmonids and epigenetic changes.
    BMC Genetics 01/2011; 12:86. · 2.47 Impact Factor
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Keywords

'late regenerants' exhibited
 
*For genetic change
 
15 single sequence repeat
 
233 regenerated plants
 
386 methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism
 
callus growth
 
culture age
 
epigenetic
 
epigenetic change
 
epigenetic divergence
 
epigenetic forms
 
leaf DNA
 
Multivariate analysis
 
regenerants occupied intermediate eigenspace
 
short periods
 
slippage mutation
 
somaclonal variation
 
source trees
 
Theobroma cacao
 
various ages
 

Carlos M Rodríguez López