The grape berry methylome reveals tissue-specific features associated with metabolism in ripening.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic regulator in plant development, yet its role in grape berry ripening remains poorly understood. Here, we profiled the genome-wide DNA methylation landscapes of two cultivars, 'Wink' and 'Cabernet Sauvignon', across developmental stages and tissues (skin and pulp tissues), revealing widespread DNA hypermethylation during ripening. We observed a progressive increase in global DNA methylation, particularly in the CHH context, across transposable elements, gene bodies, and adjacent regions during ripening. This hypermethylation was conserved across both varieties and was pronounced in both skin and pulp tissues. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) revealed tissue-specific methylation patterns, with skin and pulp exhibiting distinct hypermethylation

SUBMITTER: Kong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12682070 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature