Roles of epigenetic mechanisms in grafting and possible applications
Language
EN
Chapitre d'ouvrage
This item was published in
Plant Epigenetics Coming of Age for Breeding Applications. 2018, vol. 88, p. 203-246
Academic press, Elsevier
English Abstract
Grafting is a technic that allows combining the root system from one plant (rootstock) with the shoot of another plant (scion), with the aim to improve the plant agronomical characteristics. Several steps are required for ...Read more >
Grafting is a technic that allows combining the root system from one plant (rootstock) with the shoot of another plant (scion), with the aim to improve the plant agronomical characteristics. Several steps are required for a successful grafting interaction that involves the formation of a callus followed by the differentiation of vascular tissues that connect the rootstock to the scion. When successful, the rootstock-scion interaction results in a complex exchange of signals between the partners eventually leading to phenotypic variations. Several studies have now shown that in addition to nutritional and hormonal signals epigenetic regulations may also play an important role during the establishment of a successful graft interaction, and contribute to the numerous phenotypic consequences of rootstock-scion interactions. Here we summarize the most recent data indicating that both DNA methylation and siRNAs exchanges are essential components of the epigenetic dialogue between the graft partners, and could be the basis of strategies aiming at generating rootstock and scion phenotypic diversity in plants including those which are mainly clonally propagated.Read less <