Estimation of genomic instability and DNA methylation due to aluminum (Al) stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using iPBS and CRED-iPBS analyses

Authors: ARASH HOSSEIN POUR, GÜLLER ÖZKAN, ÖZGE NALCI, KAMİL HALİLOĞLU

Abstract: Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a serious factor restricting crop productivity in acid soil, and Al is the major cause of phytotoxicity. However, the role of Al toxicity in interprimer binding site (iPBS) polymorphism, genomic instability, and DNA methylation has not been fully investigated. In the current study, the effects of different Al concentrations on iPBS polymorphism, genomic instability, and DNA methylation were investigated in seedlings of three wheat cultivars: Haymana 79, Kılçıksız, and Bezostaja 1. A higher aluminum concentration increased the polymorphism rate of the iPBS profile, but decreased genomic template stability in all cultivars . A higher Al concentration was found to cause DNA methylation. Furthermore, the coupled restriction enzyme digestion-iPBS technique was used to detect DNA cytosine methylation level, which could help in understanding the epigenetic mechanism. The occurrence of hypermethylation and hypomethylation was observed with respect to Al stress treatment, and Al was found to cause DNA methylation. Polymorphism in the CRED-iPBS profile and DNA methylation can be correlated to evaluate epigenetic changes under stress.

Keywords: Aluminum stress, DNA methylation, iPBS profile, genomic instability, wheat

Full Text: PDF