Genetic and environmental contribution to DNA methylation in intercross populations in Arabiodopsis thaliana

DNA methylation is one of the important epigenetic marks conserved across both plants and animals. Recent work in Arabidopsis thaliana has demonstrated the existence of large geographic variation in DNA methylation, which must reflect genetic differences and/or an epigenetic memory of local environments. Here we investigate the cause of these differences in a genetic cross between a southern Swedish line with low DNA methylation and a northern Swedish line with high DNA methylation, carried out at two different temperatures. Using bisulfite-sequencing data with nucleotide-level resolution on hundreds of individuals, we find genetic and environmental factors regulating DNA methylation variation. F2 intercross design. Plants were grown on soil at 4C and 16C