Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Ecological plant epigenetics: Evidence from model and non-model species, and the way forward

Christina L. Richards, Conchita Alonso, Claude Becker, Oliver Bossdorf, Etienne Bucher, Maria Colomé-Tatché, Walter Durka, Jan Engelhardt, Bence Gaspar, Andreas Gogol-Döring, Ivo Grosse, Thomas P. van Gurp, Katrin Heer, Ilkka Kronholm, Christian Lampei, Vít Latzel, Marie Mirouze, Lars Opgenoorth, Ovidiu Paun, Sonja Prohaska, Stefan A. Rensing, Peter Stadler, Emiliano Trucchi, Kristian Ullrich, Koen J. F. Verhoeven
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/130708
Christina L. Richards
1Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Conchita Alonso
2Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Spain
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Claude Becker
3Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology Tübingen, Germany 72076
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Oliver Bossdorf
4Plant Evolutionary Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Etienne Bucher
5Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, France
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Maria Colomé-Tatché
6European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
7Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Walter Durka
8Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Germany
9German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jan Engelhardt
10Institut für Informatik, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bence Gaspar
11Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Andreas Gogol-Döring
9German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
11Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ivo Grosse
9German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
11Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Thomas P. van Gurp
12Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Katrin Heer
13University of Marburg, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ilkka Kronholm
14University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Center of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Finland
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Christian Lampei
15Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Vít Latzel
16Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marie Mirouze
17Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, Perpignan, France
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lars Opgenoorth
13University of Marburg, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ovidiu Paun
18Plant Ecological Genomics, University of Vienna, Austria
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sonja Prohaska
10Institut für Informatik, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Stefan A. Rensing
13University of Marburg, Germany
19BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Peter Stadler
9German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
10Institut für Informatik, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Emiliano Trucchi
18Plant Ecological Genomics, University of Vienna, Austria
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kristian Ullrich
13University of Marburg, Germany
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Koen J. F. Verhoeven
12Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Growing evidence makes a strong case that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to complex traits, with implications across many fields of biology from dissecting developmental processes to understanding aspects of human health and disease. In ecology, recent studies have merged ecological experimental design with epigenetic analyses to elucidate the contribution of epigenetics to plant phenotypes, stress response, adaptation to habitat, or species range distributions. While there has been some progress in revealing the role of epigenetics in ecological processes, many studies with non-model species have so far been limited to describing broad patterns based on anonymous markers of DNA methylation. In contrast, studies with model species have benefited from powerful genomic resources, which allow for a more mechanistic understanding but have limited ecological realism. To understand the true significance of epigenetics for plant ecology and evolution, we must combine both approaches transferring knowledge and methods from model-species research to genomes of evolutionarily divergent species, and examining responses to complex natural environments at a more mechanistic level. This requires transforming genomics tools specifically for studying non-model species, which is challenging given the large and often polyploid genomes of plants. Collaboration between molecular epigeneticists, ecologists and bioinformaticians promises to enhance our understanding of the mutual links between genome function and ecological processes.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted April 25, 2017.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Ecological plant epigenetics: Evidence from model and non-model species, and the way forward
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Ecological plant epigenetics: Evidence from model and non-model species, and the way forward
Christina L. Richards, Conchita Alonso, Claude Becker, Oliver Bossdorf, Etienne Bucher, Maria Colomé-Tatché, Walter Durka, Jan Engelhardt, Bence Gaspar, Andreas Gogol-Döring, Ivo Grosse, Thomas P. van Gurp, Katrin Heer, Ilkka Kronholm, Christian Lampei, Vít Latzel, Marie Mirouze, Lars Opgenoorth, Ovidiu Paun, Sonja Prohaska, Stefan A. Rensing, Peter Stadler, Emiliano Trucchi, Kristian Ullrich, Koen J. F. Verhoeven
bioRxiv 130708; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/130708
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Ecological plant epigenetics: Evidence from model and non-model species, and the way forward
Christina L. Richards, Conchita Alonso, Claude Becker, Oliver Bossdorf, Etienne Bucher, Maria Colomé-Tatché, Walter Durka, Jan Engelhardt, Bence Gaspar, Andreas Gogol-Döring, Ivo Grosse, Thomas P. van Gurp, Katrin Heer, Ilkka Kronholm, Christian Lampei, Vít Latzel, Marie Mirouze, Lars Opgenoorth, Ovidiu Paun, Sonja Prohaska, Stefan A. Rensing, Peter Stadler, Emiliano Trucchi, Kristian Ullrich, Koen J. F. Verhoeven
bioRxiv 130708; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/130708

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Ecology
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (4384)
  • Biochemistry (9602)
  • Bioengineering (7100)
  • Bioinformatics (24889)
  • Biophysics (12626)
  • Cancer Biology (9968)
  • Cell Biology (14365)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (7966)
  • Ecology (12116)
  • Epidemiology (2067)
  • Evolutionary Biology (15997)
  • Genetics (10932)
  • Genomics (14746)
  • Immunology (9875)
  • Microbiology (23684)
  • Molecular Biology (9486)
  • Neuroscience (50911)
  • Paleontology (370)
  • Pathology (1540)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2684)
  • Physiology (4022)
  • Plant Biology (8669)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1510)
  • Synthetic Biology (2397)
  • Systems Biology (6442)
  • Zoology (1346)