EPIGENETIC EVALUATION IN ALGERIAN OPUNTIA SPECIES UNDER SALT STRESS

Abstract

In this study, we surveyed the epigenetic variations in salt stressed Opuntias belonging to four Algerian species; Opuntia species: O. ficus indica, O. amycleae, O. streptacantha, and O. engelmannii. Plants response to salt stress (0, 200 mM, 400 mM and 600 mM concentrations of Na Cl) was evaluated. Then, RAPD markers were used to apprehend the epigenetic variations at the DNA level. The analyses of the epigenetic variations were conducted using the random primers UBC228, UBC231 and UBC241 that generated 57 polymorphic markers. Results have shown that in comparison to the control plants, 13 markers were lacking in the control but induced by salt stress application. On the other hand, 02 markers were only present in the control plants. Interestingly, some markers were only induced at the highest salinity concentration (600 mM) and two bands were specific of the tolerant species O. engelmannii. In all, the 15 detected specific markers may be strongly involved in Marker-Assisted Selection studies against salt stress in cactus. Therefore, DNA sequencing of these interesting private markers may aid the identification of putative salt resistance genes, and genetic transformation procedures will subsequently facilitate their introgression in Opuntias to cope soil salinization.

Keywords

• opuntia; epigenetic variability; rapd markers; salt stress