18-BTT: A PATHWAY TO THE EXPLOITATION OF EPIGENETIC VARIATION IN UK, US AND INTERNATIONAL BREEDING PROGRAMMES

Epigenetic modification represents a potential source of variation that can be used in breeding programmes, contributing to trait variation. In wheat, we have evidence for wide spread and stable epigenetic variation across global landraces. However, this represents a source of variation that has not to date impacted breeding programmes. In this project we aim to accelerate the translation of this basic knowledge, investigating variation in DNA methylation over a set of agronomically important genes across a panel of UK, US and CIMMYT derived wheat germplasm. This will uncover important information about epigenetic inheritance, stability and its role in adaptation. We will develop an enabling technology for breeders to track epi-alleles. We will use this technology to track epi-alleles that we identify in genes controlling agriculturally important traits and associate them with phenotypic changes.

Crop breeding is driven by genetic variation. Identifying, understanding and introducing this variation into elite material is critical for the development of new high performance cultivars. There is growing evidence that epigenetic variation presents another important source of variation for breeders to exploit. Epigenetic variation has been associated with agronomically important traits. Our recent work has pioneered the developed methodology for analysing epigenetic variation in hexaploid bread wheat. This has allowed us to uncover a massive amount of untapped and stable epigenetic variation across a diverse collection of wheat.

This two year collaborative EAGER project between the Earlham Institute and Kansas State University offers a breakthrough advance in translation of our fundamental work on DNA methylation to a technology that is transformative, relevant and accessible to wheat breeders for the development of new cultivars. To achieve this we will focus on generating a complete description of the epigenetic state of pathways controlling important adaptive traits relevant to wheat breeders, in material that is relevant to them.

The project will identify 500 wheat genes across pathways controlling adaptive traits relevant to breeders, to design, build and test capture probe sets and investigate methylation state across these genes. The developed probes will be used to characterize methylation state of 500 genes across 288 lines relevant to UK, US and CIMMYT breeding programs. This dataset will be used to address specific biological question: a) Is variation in methylation seen across elite material? b) How is methylation inherited and how stable is it? c) How do different breeding methods and plant biotechnology approaches effect methylation patterns? Then, in collabration with industry, we will develop an assay to track these changes.

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