Effect of vernalisation and 5-azacytidine on the methylation level of DNA in wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Martonvasar 15)

摘要

The aim of the research was to examine the changes occurring during vernalisation in the 5-methylcytosine (5-meC) content of the DNA in a winter wheat variety Mv 15 with a short vernalisation requirement after treatment with 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), and to determine the correlation between the quantity of 5-meC and flowering. The results indicated that both vernalisation treatment and 5-azaC, a compound causing demethylation, reduced the methylation of the DNA in the winter wheat variety. The data also proved that although the 5-azaC treatment reduced the methylation of the DNA in unvernalised plants, this in itself was not sufficient to induce flowering. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 15]