Abstract

Hybrid incompatibility is generally viewed as a consequence of negative epistatic interactions between alleles that do not cause negative fitness effects in their parents. Substantial evidence in support of the model has accumulated over recent years. Nevertheless, there is evidence that hybrid incompatibility can have an epigenetic basis and results from deregulated small RNAs (sRNAs), causing changes in DNA methylation and transposable element (TE) activation. Epigenetically regulated loci can impact on the expression of nearby located genes. Alteration of dosage-sensitive gene expression builds hybridization barriers in the endosperm; however, it may also offer an explanation for transgressive effects in plant hybrids. In this review we highlight recent advances that illuminate the role of epigenetic pathways in establishing hybrid incompatibility in plants.

Published in

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
2015, Volume: 23, pages: 39-44
Publisher: CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD

SLU Authors

• Lafon-Placette, Clément

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Köhler, Claudia

  • Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Plant Biotechnology
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2014.10.006

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66889