Context-Dependent Developmental Effects of Parental Shade Versus Sun Are Mediated by DNA Methylation

摘要: Parental environment influences progeny development in numerous plant and animal systems. Such inherited environmental effects may alter offspring phenotypes a consistent way, for instance when resource-deprived parents produce low quality due to reduced maternal provisioning. However, because of individual organisms is guided by both immediate cues, parental conditions have different depending on environment. context-dependent transgenerational plasticity suggests mechanism inheritance that can precisely interact with response pathways, such as epigenetic modification. We show light (shade versus sun) resulted seedling common annual plant, these were mediated DNA methylation. grew replicate five highly inbred Polygonum persicaria genotypes glasshouse shade sun and, fully factorial design, measured ecologically important traits their isogenic environments. Compared the sun-grown parents, shade-grown produced leaves greater mean specific leaf area, had higher total area biomass. These shade-adaptive pronounced significant seedlings growing shade, but slight generally non-significant sun. Based regression covariate analysis, not changes seed To test role methylation, we exposed shaded fully-insolated either demethylating agent zebularine or control during germination, then raised them simulated growth chamber shade. Partial demethylation no phenotypic effect caused develop if been shaded, larger canopy results contribute increasing body evidence methylation mediate effects, nuanced developmental interactions between