Cinzia Comino
,
DISAFA, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
Gianpiero Marconi
,
University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Alberto Acquadro
,
DISAFA, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
AM Reputo
,
Agris Sardegna - Agenzia Regionale per la ricerca in agricoltura - Servizio Ricerca sui Sistemi Colturali Erbacei, Cagliari, Italy
AB Pisanu
,
Agris Sardegna - Agenzia Regionale per la ricerca in agricoltura - Servizio Ricerca sui Sistemi Colturali Erbacei, Cagliari, Italy
R Pilia
,
Agris Sardegna - Agenzia Regionale per la ricerca in agricoltura - Servizio Ricerca sui Sistemi Colturali Erbacei, Cagliari, Italy
Elisa Cerati
,
DISAFA, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
Ezio Portis
,
DISAFA, Plant Genetics and Breeding, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
Emidio Albertini
,
University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
In this study the methylation profile in micropropagated globe artichoke (
Cynara cardunculus var.
scolymus L.) plants, a diploid species belonging to the Asteraceae is reported. Globe artichokes represent one of the main cultivars of the Mediterranean Basin, and the “Spinoso sardo” is the most economically relevant ecotype in Sardinia (Italy). The “Spinoso sardo”
in vitro propagation has promoted an increasing frequency of “out-types” plants, called “selvatico” because of the presence of highly pinnate-parted leaves and the late budding of the inflorescence, in contrast to the normal phenotype, here called “gentile”. This unpredictable phenomenon may occur during certain phases of the
in vitro culture, as well as after the transplanting in the field, and it is reversible.
In order to understand the causes that trigger the “out-type” phenotype, a methylation profile study has been conducted by sequencing reduced complexity genomic libraries of leaves sampled from plants which presented both the "gentile" and “selvatico” phenotypes. The bioinformatics analyses showed significant differences in their DNA methylation profiles. The functional annotation of the differentially methylated loci made it possible to identify a set of candidate genes involved in: (i) flower development and its regulation, (ii) maintenance of epigenetic modifications and (iii) vegetative development. Target bisulfite sequencing (BS) strategy will be performed in order to elucidate CpG, CpHpG and CpHpH contexts upon the differentially methylated loci selected. Moreover, since methylation influences the regulation of transcription and gene expression, selected candidate genes will be validated by qPCR in the same experimental conditions.
