{"id":95016,"date":"2020-10-22T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T09:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/grafting-with-epigenetically-modified-rootstock-yields-surprise\/"},"modified":"2020-10-22T12:00:05","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T09:00:05","slug":"grafting-with-epigenetically-modified-rootstock-yields-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/grafting-with-epigenetically-modified-rootstock-yields-surprise\/","title":{"rendered":"#Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\n The grafted tomato plants involved in the research produced seed that resulted in progeny that were, on average, 35% more productive. And that growth vigor persisted in the progeny over five generations in the study. Credit: Penn State
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Novel grafted plants\u2014consisting of rootstock epigenetically modified to “believe” it has been under stress\u2014joined to an unmodified scion, or above-ground shoot, give rise to progeny that are more vigorous, productive and resilient than the parental plants.<\/p>\n


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That is the surprising finding of a team of researchers that conducted large-scale field trials with tomato plants at three widely separated locations over multiple plant generations. They contend that the discovery, which came from a collaboration between Penn State, the University of Florida and a small start-up company in Nebraska, has major implications for plant breeding.<\/p>\n

Because the technique involves epigenetics\u2014manipulating the expression of existing genes and not the introduction of new genetic material from another plant\u2014crops bred using this technology<\/a> could sidestep controversy associated with genetically modified organisms and food. That is the hope of research team leader Sally Mackenzie, professor of plant science<\/a> in the College of Agricultural Sciences and professor of biology in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State.<\/p>\n

“Although we did this with tomato, it can be done with any plant,” she said. “We think that this study represents a major breakthrough in showing the potential of epigenetic breeding for crops. And later, it will have major implications for trees and forests in the face of climate change.”<\/p>\n

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\n Xiaodong Yang, assistant research professor of biology (left) and Hardik Kundariya, who recently completed his doctoral degree requirements, led the project in the Mackenzie lab to demonstrate the effects of epigenetic manipulation on plant performance. Here, they are shown evaluating epigenetically modified Arabidopsis plants for changes in growth. Credit: Penn State
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Building on previous research conducted by Mackenzie’s research group at Penn State, the rootstock came from tomato plants in which researchers manipulated the expression of a gene called MSH1 to induce the “stress memory.” That memory is inherited by some progeny, giving them the potential for more vigorous, hardy and productive growth.<\/p>\n

The MSH1 gene gave researchers access to the pathway controlling a broad array of plant resiliency networks, explained Mackenzie, who is the Lloyd and Dottie Huck Chair for Functional Genomics and director of the Plant Institute at Penn State. “When a plant experiences a stress such as drought or prolonged extreme heat, it has the ability to adjust quickly to its environment to become phenotypically ‘plastic’\u2014or flexible,” she said. “And, it turns out, it ‘remembers.'”<\/p>\n

The finding that those “remembered” traits passed from the roots through the graft to the top of the plant\u2014published today (Oct. 22) in Nature Communications<\/i>\u2014is hugely important, Mackenzie pointed out. The grafted tomato plants involved in the research produced seed that resulted in progeny that were, on average, 35% more productive\u2014a stunning outcome, she noted. And that growth vigor persisted in the progeny over five generations in the research.<\/p>\n

The plants are hardier, too, according to Mackenzie. During a component of the study at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in 2018, storms dropped more than 7 inches of rain in August, flooding the tomato fields. The pooled water wiped out plants that were part of other research trials. However, the plants that were the offspring of the grafted plants with the epigenetically manipulated rootstock mostly survived\u2014and then they thrived.<\/p>\n

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\n Setting epigenetically modified tomato plants … Researchers believe this is the first true demonstration of an agriculturally amenable epigenetic breeding method. They say the technology is ready to deployed immedia<\/a>tely by agricultural plant breeders. Credit: Penn State
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The progeny of the grafted plants also showed superior survivability in the other field trials conducted in California and Florida.<\/p>\n

The research is the first true demonstration of an agriculturally amenable epigenetic breeding method, Mackenzie said, adding that the technology is ready to deploy immediately.<\/p>\n

“Everything we’re doing, any plant breeder in agriculture can do, and now we’ve shown on a large scale that it has agricultural value. It’s ready to go\u2014a breeder could read about this and implement the system to improve his or her variety,” said Mackenzie.<\/p>\n\n

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Plants pass on ‘memory’ of stress to some progeny, making them more resilient\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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Citation<\/strong>:
\n Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise (2020, October 22)
\n retrieved 22 October 2020
\n from https:\/\/phys.org\/news<\/a>\/2020-10-grafting-epigenetically-modified-rootstock-yields.html<\/p>\n

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