Expression and DNA methylation of , , and genes in in vitro cultures of (L.) Mansf.

The process of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration involve changes in gene expression and have been associated with changes in DNA methylation. Here, we report the expression and DNA methylation patterns of - (), (), () and () in meristematic block of newly emerged shoots from rhizome, embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli, prolonged cell suspension culture, ex vitro leaf, and in vitro leaf of regenerated plants of . Among all seven samples, based on qRT-PCR, the highest level of expression of and was in embryogenic callus, while was most highly expressed in meristematic block tissue followed by embryogenic callus. Relatively lower expression was observed in cell suspension culture and watery callus for and and in in vitro leaf for . For gene specific methylation determined by bisulfite sequencing data, embryogenic callus samples had the lowest levels of DNA methylation at CG, CHG and CHH contexts of , and . We observed negative correlation between DNA methylation at the CG and CHG contexts and the expression levels of , , and . Based on our results, we suggest that relatively higher expression and lower level of DNA methylation of , and are associated with somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in .