title: Global 5-methylcytosine alterations in DNA during ageing of Quercus robur seeds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the management of plant growth, development and response to stress factors, and several reports have indicated that DNA methylation plays a critical role in seed development and viability. This study examines changes in 5-methylcytosine (m(5)C) levels in the DNA of seeds during ageing, a process that has important implications for plant conservation and agriculture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in the global level of m(5)C were measured in mature seeds of oak, Quercus robur. The extent of DNA methylation was measured using a protocol based on two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Viability of seeds was determined by germination and seedling emergence tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An ageing-related decrease in total m(5)C during storage of recalcitrant seeds was highly and significantly correlated with a decrease in seed viability, as reflected by a reduction in germination (r = 0·8880) and seedling emergence (r = 0·8269).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease in viability during ageing of Q. robur seeds is highly correlated with a global decline in the amount of m(5)C in genomic DNA, and it is possible that this may represent a typical response to ageing and senescence in recalcitrant seeds. Potential mechanisms that drive changes in genomic DNA methylation during ageing are discussed, together with their implications for seed viability.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland and michalak_marcin81@wp.pl beata-plitta@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland and michalak_marcin81@wp.pl beata-plitta@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Beata P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Plitta-Michalak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosława
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naskręt-Barciszewska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barciszewski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland and.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bujarska-Borkowska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland and.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chmielarz
mesh_terms: D044503:5-Methylcytosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D029963:Quercus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044503:5-Methylcytosine
keywords: 5-methylcytosine; DNA methylation; Quercus robur; dormancy; epigenetics; pendunculate oak; recalcitrant seed.; seed ageing