DNA METHYLATION STATUS IN LEAF, ROOT AND RHIZOME OF Valeriana jatamansi

DNA methylation, an important epigenetic mark is known to play vital role in tuning gene expression in plants. It is also recognized as key regulator for various processes in different tissues. In the present study, changes in DNA methylation pattern of CCGG sites were assessed in leaf, root and rhizome tissues of a medicinally important plant, Valeriana jatamansi using methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) approach. Combinations of eight selective MSAP primers were used to assess DNA polymorphism in terms of methylation. A notable change in MSAP profiles of genomic DNA of this medicinally important plant was found. Highest methylation was observed in root (16.82%) followed by rhizome (15.48%) and leaf (12.37%) tissues. The sequences of five differentially amplified MSAP fragments that exhibit methylation alteration were successfully obtained. More than 15 MSAP bands variants were observed in these three tissues. However, only two differentially amplified MSAP fragments each in leaf tissue (LM-1 and LM-2) and root tissue (RM-1 and RM-2) were sequenced and identified through BLAST analysis. Whereas one differentially amplified MSAP fragment (RHM-1) in rhizome tissue was characterized. Result suggests that differential MSAP fragments in various tissues might be responsible for regulation of physiological response in Valeriana jatamansi.