SA Graan Maart 2016

FOCUS

Seed

Special

By naturally adjusting plant gene expression without altering the

DNA (genome), epigenetic processes could provide producers

with cultivars that achieve better yields, produce higher quality

food, offer better stability and are more stress tolerant. It is be-

lieved from the literature covered that this may be possible in the

not too distant future and should make an impact for the pro-

ducer in a shorter time, potentially lowering input costs, and is

more environmentally friendly. It has been stated by more than

one world-leading scientist, that ‘in the foreseeable future, epige-

netics should significantly influence not only crop improvement,

but food production, crop nutrition and human health. With the

need for more research, the field of epigenetics may bring to the

table real beneficial results in crop improvement that will help to

match the growing demand for food’.

The researchers and scientists of the ARC-Small Grain Insti-

tute (ARC-SGI) have sat-up, taken note and are well aware of

the findings of these inspirational research groups, whom have

documented some important opinions within this exciting field of

epigenetics and its potential impact on crop improvement in

future. The first step will be for researchers across the ARC, to

identify some key international collaborators to assist us in the

way forward in using epigenetic approaches to better our crop

improvement programmes. Researchers at ARC-SGI are keen

to take up the challenge to make use of these new technologies

to explore and exploit this new area of crop research, especially

for wheat crop improvement. This is just one of

the needed initiatives in an attempt to drastically

improve the current declining South African

wheat industry.

Figure 4: This pathway interferes with the normal functioning of mRNA

resulting in no protein production for that particular mRNA molecule.

Important notice

The opinions stated in this article are largely the opin-

ions of pioneering epigenetic scientists and crop re-

searchers from around the world. The ARC-SGI wanted

to introduce the reader to the newly developing field of

epigenetics and its potential for crop improvement.

The ARC hopes to be able to initiate its own epigenetic

research across different crops in future years.

Epigenetics unlocks

potential

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