Project description:Despite the importance and wide exploitation of heterosis in commercial crop breeding, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not completely understood. In this study we aimed to understand and quantify the contribution of DNA methylation variation to heterosis in various traits of Arabidopsis. Therefore we created epigenetic hybrid lines from ddm1-derived epiRILs. We performed RNA sequencing on four epiHybrids and their parental lines (epiRILs & Col-wt) in duplicates/triplicates to understand gene expression changes in hybrids genome wide and with a focus on previously mapped QTL regions.
Project description:Despite the importance and wide exploitation of heterosis in commercial crop breeding, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not completely understood. In this study we aimed to understand and quantify the contribution of DNA methylation variation to heterosis in various traits of Arabidopsis. Therefore we created epigenetic hybrid lines from ddm1-derived epiRILs. We performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing on four epiHybrids and their parental lines (epiRILs & Col-wt) in duplicates to understand methylome remodelling in hybrids genome wide and with a focus on previously mapped QTL regions.