title: Role of DNA methylation in hybrid vigor in Arabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: Hybrid vigor or heterosis refers to the superior performance of F1hybrid plants over their parents. Heterosis is particularly important in the production systems of major crops. Recent studies have suggested that epigenetic regulation such as DNA methylation is involved in heterosis, but the molecular mechanism of heterosis is still unclear. To address the epigenetic contribution to heterosis in Arabidopsis thaliana, we used mutant genes that have roles in DNA methylation. Hybrids between C24 and Columbia-0 (Col) without RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) or methyltransferase I (MET1) function did not reduce the level of biomass heterosis (as evaluated by rosette diameter). Hybrids with a mutation in decrease in dna methylation 1 (ddm1) showed a decreased heterosis level. Vegetative heterosis in the ddm1 mutant hybrid was reduced but not eliminated; a complete reduction could result if there was a change in methylation at all loci critical for generating the level of heterosis, whereas if only a proportion of the loci have methylation changes there may only be a partial reduction in heterosis.
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Kawanabe
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Sonoko
authors: S
authors: Ishikura
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Miyaji
authors: Department of Integrated Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan.
authors: Taku
authors: T
authors: Sasaki
authors: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Li Min
authors: LM
authors: Wu
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Etsuko
authors: E
authors: Itabashi
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Satoko
authors: S
authors: Takada
authors: Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan.
authors: Motoki
authors: M
authors: Shimizu
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Takasaki-Yasuda
authors: Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Osabe
authors: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia; jim.peacock@csiro.au leo@people.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors: W James
authors: WJ
authors: Peacock
authors: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Elizabeth S
authors: ES
authors: Dennis
authors: Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Saitama, 332-0012 Japan jim.peacock@csiro.au leo@people.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018533:Biomass; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D006823:Hybrid Vigor; D009154:Mutation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C118957:DDM1 protein, Arabidopsis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C499608:MET1 protein, Arabidopsis; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C499181:RNA polymerase IV, Arabidopsis; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
keywords: Arabidopsis; DDM1; DNA methylation; heterosis; hybrid vigor