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

Abstract

The aim of the research was to examine the changes occurring during vernalisation in the 5-methylcytosine content of the DNA in a winter wheat variety with a short vernalisation requirement after treatment with 5-azacytidine, and to determine the correlation between the quantity of 5-methylcytosine and flowering. The results indicated that both vernalisation treatment and 5-azacytidine, a compound causing demethylation, reduced the methylation of the DNA in the winter wheat variety Mv 15. The data also proved that although the 5-azacytidine treatment reduced the methylation of the DNA in unvernalised plants, this in itself was not sufficient to induce flowering.