The Effects of Light Environment and DNA Methylation on Phenotypic Plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
DNA Methylation, Phenotypic plasticity, Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change its phenotype (expressed characteristics) in response to its environment. For example, plants with the same genotype may respond differently to shading stress due to variation in expression of shade tolerance genes among individuals. These variations in gene expression may be controlled by DNA methylation. The effect of DNA methylation on phenotypic plasticity is poorly understood. Understanding how DNA methylation affects plant response to the environment is important because it has far reaching consequences for plant adaptation to new environments and implications for crop improvement. In this study, we examined how DNA methylation affects plant phenotypic plasticity to different shading environments. We treated lines of Arabidopsis thaliana plants with a de-methylating agent (5-azacytidine), and then grew treated and untreated (control) individuals under two light conditions: 1) simulated foliar shade (green lighting filters); and 2) neutral shade (white lighting filters). After flowering, DNA extractions were conducted to gather DNA in order to quantify the amount of methylation present in plants across light treatments and methylation groups.
Recommended Citation
Walters, Rachel and Marrese, Anthony, "The Effects of Light Environment and DNA Methylation on Phenotypic Plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 56.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/56
Poster Number
28
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
The Effects of Light Environment and DNA Methylation on Phenotypic Plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana
SURC Ballroom C/D
Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change its phenotype (expressed characteristics) in response to its environment. For example, plants with the same genotype may respond differently to shading stress due to variation in expression of shade tolerance genes among individuals. These variations in gene expression may be controlled by DNA methylation. The effect of DNA methylation on phenotypic plasticity is poorly understood. Understanding how DNA methylation affects plant response to the environment is important because it has far reaching consequences for plant adaptation to new environments and implications for crop improvement. In this study, we examined how DNA methylation affects plant phenotypic plasticity to different shading environments. We treated lines of Arabidopsis thaliana plants with a de-methylating agent (5-azacytidine), and then grew treated and untreated (control) individuals under two light conditions: 1) simulated foliar shade (green lighting filters); and 2) neutral shade (white lighting filters). After flowering, DNA extractions were conducted to gather DNA in order to quantify the amount of methylation present in plants across light treatments and methylation groups.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dechaine, Jennifer