Research Projects

This project addresses how epigenetic modifications induced by geminivirus infection can influence transgenerational patterns of gene expression in tomato, with a particular emphasis on DNA methylation. Viral infection triggers a cascade of host defence responses, including changes in DNA methylation and chromatin structure. These changes, if heritable, may contribute to hidden heritability—heritable phenotypic variation not explained by DNA sequence alone. Such epigenetic alterations may be selected for or against in breeding programs or natural populations, but because they do not necessarily correlate with genetic markers, their role remains obscure. Specifically, this project aims to uncover: Why certain regions of the tomato genome exhibit differential DNA methylation upon geminivirus infection, and which of these regions are associated with changes in gene expression that can be passed on to subsequent generations. We will also investigate the stability and heritability of these virus-induced methylation patterns, identifying why some epigenetic marks are stably inherited while others are not. Upon completion, this work will clarify the extent to which DNA methylation contributes to transgenerational phenotypic variation following virus infection and will inform future strategies for epigenome-based crop improvement and disease resistance breeding.