Genome‐wide analysis of epigenetic and transcriptional changes associated with heterosis in pigeonpea

Sinha, P and Singh, V K and Saxena, R K and Kale, S M and Li, Y and Garg, V and Meifang, T and Khan, A W and Kim, K D and Chitikineni, A and Saxena, K B and Sameer Kumar, C V and Liu, X and Xu, X and Jackson, S and Powell, W and Nevo, E and Searle, I R and Lodha, M and Varshney, R K (2020) Genome‐wide analysis of epigenetic and transcriptional changes associated with heterosis in pigeonpea. Plant Biotechnology Journal (TSI). ISSN 1467-7644

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Abstract

Hybrids are extensively used in agriculture to deliver an increase in yield, yet the molecular basisof heterosis is not well understood. Global DNA methylation analysis, transcriptome analysis andsmall RNA profiling were aimed to understand the epigenetic effect of the changes in geneexpression level in the two hybrids and their parental lines. Increased DNA methylation wasobserved in both the hybrids as compared to their parents. This increased DNA methylation inhybrids showed that majority of the 24-nt siRNA clusters had higher expression in hybrids thanthe parents. Transcriptome analysis revealed that various phytohormones (auxin and salicylicacid) responsive hybrid-MPV DEGs were significantly altered in both the hybrids in comparison toMPV. DEGs associated with plant immunity and growth were overexpressed whereas DEGsassociated with basal defence level were repressed. This antagonistic patterns of gene expressionmight contribute to the greater growth of the hybrids. It was also noticed that some common aswell as unique changes in the regulatory pathways were associated with heterotic growth inboth the hybrids. Approximately 70% and 67% of down-regulated hybrid-MPV DEGs werefound to be differentially methylated in ICPH 2671 and ICPH 2740 hybrid, respectively. Thisreflected the association of epigenetic regulation in altered gene expressions. Our findings alsorevealed that miRNAs might play important roles in hybrid vigour in both the hybrids byregulating their target genes, especially in controlling plant growth and development, defenceand stress response pathways. The above finding provides an insight into the molecularmechanism of pigeonpea heterosis.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Research Program : Genetic Gains
CRP: CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals (GLDC)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Epigenomics, Differentially, Expression Gene, Heterosis, Pigeonpea, Small RNA, miRNA
Subjects: Mandate crops > Pigeonpea
Others > Genetics and Genomics
Others > Legume Crops
Depositing User: Mr Arun S
Date Deposited: 12 Feb 2020 09:16
Last Modified: 12 Feb 2020 09:16
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11367
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13333
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: This project was financially supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)‐ BioCARe, Government of India (No. BT/PR17931/BIC/101/178/2016), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Shenzhen Municipal Government (NO. JCYJ20150529150505656). This work has also been undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals. ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.
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