Effect of ex situ-cultivation for conservation of endangered species on the species´ epigenetic profile
Abstract
Ex situ-cultivation in botanical gardens may be a possibility to prevent endangered plants from becoming extinct. In this regard it is important that the genetic variation of the plant populations is preserved. Recent studies indicate that ex situ-cultures are depauperate in comparison to their populations of origin; this effect is more dramatic the smaller the number of plants is, with which the ex situ-culture has been established. Moreover, epigenetic modifications of the same genotype can also result in different phenotypes. Epigenetic information contains heritable signals (e.g. DNA methylation), which influence gene expression, but which are not encoded in the primary nucleotide sequence. DNA methylation is a simple chemical modification of DNA, which causes a reduction of the transcription or even a complete shutting down of a gene. Recent studies suggest that plants can adapt to changing environmental conditions faster (within a few generations) through epigenetic changes than through changes of the primary nucleotide sequence. These results suggest that epigenetic changes must be included in the study of adaptive heritable variation. In ex situ-cultures, which exist under conditions that deviate from the natural conditions (e.g. absence of competing species, different spectrum of parasites and herbivores, differences in provision of nutrients and water, etc.), there could be rapid changes in epigenetic signals and thereby in gene expression. These changes could be passed on to the progeny, which in turn could cause that ex situ-cultures lose their ability to adapt to their original habitats. We therefore ask the question within how many generations of ex situ-cultivation plants change their epigenetic profile. Our model plant is the brown flatsedge (Cyperus fuscus) from the sedge family (Cyperaceae), which resides in the diaspore bank of the BOKU. Over the time frame of 4 generations, the epigenetic profile of the cultivated plants shall be investigated. The 4 generations shall also be compared with the original population. We plan to investigate how the genetic and epigenetic differentiation of the ex situ-culture changes in comparison to the original population by means of specific molecular methods (AFLP and MSAP).
keywords Ex situ-cultivation MSAP Epigenetic changes
Publikationen
Fitness und Keimfähigkeit von Cyperus fuscus in naturnahen und sekundären Habitaten
Autoren: Böckelmann, J., Bernhardt, K.-G., Tremetsberger, K.-G.; Šumberová, K. Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Karin Tremetsberger
Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Karin Tremetsberger
karin.tremetsberger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83113
Project Leader
01.12.2012 - 31.12.2014
BOKU partners
External partners
University of Vienna, Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany
Dr. Ovidiu Paun
partner