The Role of DNA Hypermethylation in Salt Resistence of Triticum aestivum L.

The content of 5-methyl cytosine in two cultivars of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) exposed to salt stress was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography.The result indicated that the degree of 5-methyl cytosine in the leaf as well as in the root of ’Dekang 961’ decreased after 6 days treatment with 150 mmol/L NaCl,but higher than that of ’Yumai 34’ after 10 days treatment with 150 mmol/L NaCl.We suggested that hypermethylation could be a part of the resistant mechanism of plants to salt.