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Aphid feeding induces the relaxation of epigenetic control and the associated regulation of the defense response in Arabidopsis
Author(s) -
Annacondia Maria Luz,
Markovic Dimitrije,
ReigValiente Juan Luis,
Scaltsoyiannes Vassilis,
Pieterse Corné M. J.,
Ninkovic Velemir,
Slotkin R. Keith,
Martinez German
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.17226
Subject(s) - myzus persicae , biology , dna methylation , epigenetics , arabidopsis , epigenome , arabidopsis thaliana , aphid , genetics , transposable element , abiotic component , methylation , gene , regulation of gene expression , plant defense against herbivory , plant immunity , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , genome , mutant , botany , ecology
Summary Environmentally induced changes in the epigenome help individuals to quickly adapt to fluctuations in the conditions of their habitats. We explored those changes in Arabidopsis thaliana plants subjected to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses, and identified transposable element (TE) activation in plants infested with the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae . We performed a genome‐wide analysis mRNA expression, small RNA accumulation and DNA methylation Our results demonstrate that aphid feeding induces loss of methylation of hundreds of loci, mainly TEs. This loss of methylation has the potential to regulate gene expression and we found evidence that it is involved in the control of plant immunity genes. Accordingly, mutant plants deficient in DNA and H3K9 methylation ( kyp ) showed increased resistance to M. persicae infestation. Collectively, our results show that changes in DNA methylation play a significant role in the regulation of the plant transcriptional response and induction of defense response against aphid feeding.