RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Lifetime genealogical divergence within plants leads to epigenetic mosaicism in the long-lived shrub Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae) JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2020.12.11.421594 DO 10.1101/2020.12.11.421594 A1 Carlos M. Herrera A1 Pilar Bazaga A1 Ricardo Pérez A1 Conchita Alonso YR 2020 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/12/11/2020.12.11.421594.abstract AB Epigenetic mosaicism is a possible source of within-plant phenotypic heterogeneity, yet its frequency and developmental origin remain unexplored. This study examines whether the extant epigenetic heterogeneity within long-lived Lavandula latifolia (Lamiaceae) shrubs reflects recent epigenetic modifications experienced independently by different plant parts or, alternatively, it is the cumulative outcome of a steady lifetime process.Leaf samples from different architectural modules were collected from three L. latifolia plants and characterized epigenetically by global DNA cytosine methylation and methylation state of methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (MS-AFLP). Epigenetic characteristics of modules were then assembled with information on the branching history of plants. Methods borrowed from phylogenetic research were used to assess genealogical signal of extant epigenetic variation and reconstruct within-plant genealogical trajectory of epigenetic traits.Plants were epigenetically heterogeneous, as shown by differences among modules in global DNA methylation and variation in the methylation states of 6-8% of MS-AFLP markers. All epigenetic features exhibited significant genealogical signal within plants. Events of epigenetic divergence occurred throughout the lifespan of individuals and were subsequently propagated by branch divisions.Internal epigenetic diversification of L. latifolia individuals took place steadily during their development, a process which eventually led to persistent epigenetic mosaicism.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.