Abstract:
We investigated aspects of epigenetic regulation to reveal the genetic variation of
Pinus elliottii×
P. caribaea var.
hondurensis. We analyzed the cytosine methylation patterns in
P. elliottii×
P. caribaea var.
hondurensis hybrids and their parents using the MSAP method, and comparatively examined the methylation types and differences between the hybrids and their parents. Our results showed that the relative levels of methylation in the parent and hybrid CCGG were 77.74%-81.75%. The relative level of CG methylation was lower than the relative level of CNG methylation. The relative level of CG/CNG methylation was higher than that in the parents. There was a 1:1 ratio between heredity in hybrid. CG and CNG methylation sites inherited from parents were equal, as were the methylation sites inherited from the female and male parents. The ratio of new methylation to complete demethylation sites was close to 7:1 in the hybrids. This study infers that methylation mutation promoted the growth and development of the heterozygotes.