Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Quantitative Epigenetics: A New Avenue for Crop Improvement

Version 1 : Received: 14 September 2020 / Approved: 16 September 2020 / Online: 16 September 2020 (05:11:28 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 25 September 2020 / Approved: 26 September 2020 / Online: 26 September 2020 (08:08:27 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Gahlaut, V.; Zinta, G.; Jaiswal, V.; Kumar, S. Quantitative Epigenetics: A New Avenue for Crop Improvement. Epigenomes 2020, 4, 25. Gahlaut, V.; Zinta, G.; Jaiswal, V.; Kumar, S. Quantitative Epigenetics: A New Avenue for Crop Improvement. Epigenomes 2020, 4, 25.

Abstract

Plant breeding conventionally depends on genetic variability available in a species to improve a particular trait in the crop. However, epigenetic diversity may provide an additional tier of variation. The recent advent of epigenome technologies has elucidated the role of epigenetic variation in shaping phenotype. Further, the development of epigenetic recombinant inbred lines (epi-RILs) in the model species such as Arabidopsis has enabled accurate genetic analysis of epigenetic variation. Subsequently, mapping of epigenetic quantitative trait loci (epiQTL) allowed association between epialleles and phenotypic traits. Thus, quantitative epigenetics provides ample opportunities to dissect the role of epigenetic variation in trait regulation, which can be eventually utilized in crop improvement programs. Moreover, locus-specific manipulation of DNA methylation by epigenome-editing tools such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) can facilitate epigenetic based molecular breeding of important crop plants.

Keywords

DNA methylation; epialleles, epiRILs; epigenetics; Epigenome-Wide Association Studies.

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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