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Analysis of genetic and epigenetic effects of maize seeds in response to heavy metal (Zn) stress

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Abstract

Conditions of environmental stress are known to lead genetic and epigenetic variability in plants. DNA methylation is one of the important epigenetic mechanisms and plays a critical role in epigenetic control of gene expression. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the alteration of genome methylation induced by zinc stress by using coupled restriction enzyme digestion-random amplification (CRED-RA) technique in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. In addition, to determine the effect of zinc on mitotic activity and phytohormone level, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mitotic index analysis were utilized. According to the results, mitotic index decreased in all concentrations of zinc except for 5 mM dose and chromosome aberrations such as c-mitosis, stickiness, and anaphase bridges were determined. It was also observed that increasing concentrations of zinc caused an increase in methylation patterns and decrease in gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin (ZA), and indole acetic acid (IAA) levels in contrast to abscisic acid (ABA) level. Especially increasing of ABA levels under zinc stress may be a part of the defense system against heavy metal accumulation in plants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic, Faculty of Science, Avrasya University, Trabzon, Turkey

    Filiz Aygun Erturk

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey

    Guleray Agar & Esra Arslan

  3. Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Agrı Ibrahim Çeçen University, Ağrı, Turkey

    Gokce Nardemir

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  1. Filiz Aygun Erturk
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  2. Guleray Agar
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  3. Esra Arslan
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  4. Gokce Nardemir
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Correspondence to Guleray Agar.

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Erturk, F.A., Agar, G., Arslan, E. et al. Analysis of genetic and epigenetic effects of maize seeds in response to heavy metal (Zn) stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 10291–10297 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3886-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3886-4

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