SP1 - Epigenetic acclimation to abiotic and biotic stress in clonal oaks.

气候变化和全球物种灭绝是未来几十年对人类福祉的主要环境威胁。然而，尽管有200多年的有组织的林业和研究，关于(1)林木的表型可塑性，(2)关于树木与其微生物共生体的相互作用，以及(3)这些相互作用如何促进基于树木和/或其共生体的遗传变化的适应(调节变化)，仍然缺乏一些基本知识。在PhytOaketer中，我们试图了解树木的驯化和适应(A&A)的模式和机制，重点是一个完整的树木模型。在子项目1-克隆橡树对非生物和生物胁迫的表观遗传驯化中，我们研究了橡树克隆DF159在干旱和草食处理下甲基化的变化和转座元件(TES)的激活。具体地说，我们试图了解在随后的应激事件下甲基化模式和TE激活的动态。克隆DF159特别适合于这样的研究，因为没有遗传变异，可以针对随机和环境诱导的表变。这三个实验平台将使我们能够在高度受控的自然条件下研究甲基化和TES的激活。最终，我们寻求联合分析我们的数据以及关于基因表达、代谢组变化和生理特征的数据，以了解不同细胞组织层的反应是如何协调的。此外，为了更好地了解橡树克隆系统，我们将研究侧芽和顶芽的克隆繁殖以及嫁接橡树无性系中接穗和砧木之间的串扰。总体而言，SP1试图在甲基组和转座元件(TES)的激活水平上加强我们对树木如何响应胁迫的理解，以及这些变化如何影响植物对后续胁迫的S反应。

Climate change and global species loss are the major environmental threats to human well-being in the coming decades. However, despite more than 200 years of organized forestry and research, some fundamental knowledge is still missing about (i) the phenotypic plasticity of forest trees, (ii) about the interplay of trees with their microbial symbionts, and (iii) about how these interactions may facilitate acclimation (regulatory changes) and adaptation based on genetic changes of trees and/or their symbionts. In PhytOakmeter, we seek to understand patterns and mechanisms of acclimation and adaptation (A&A) in trees focusing on of a holobiont tree model. In Subproject 1 - Epigenetic acclimation to abiotic and biotic stress in clonal oaks - we investigate methylation changes and the activation of transposable elements (TEs) in the oak clone DF159 in response to drought and herbivory treatments. Specifically, we seek to understand the dynamics of methylation patterns and TE activation under subsequent stress events. The clone DF159 is particularly suited for such research since the absence of genetic variation allows targeting stochastic and environmentally induced epimutations. The three experimental platforms will allow us to investigate methylation and TEs activation under highly controlled to natural conditions. Ultimately, we seek to jointly analyze our data together with data on gene expression, metabolome changes, and physiological traits to understand how responses are coordinated across different layers of cellular organization. Moreover, to better understand the clonal oak system, we will investigate the effect of clonal propagation from lateral vs. apical buds as well as the crosstalk between scion and rootstock in grafted oak clones. Overall, SP1 seeks to enhance our understanding of how trees respond to stress at the level of the methylome and the activation of transposable elements (TEs), and how these changes impact the plant´s response to subsequent stresses.