Epigenetic modifications in microspore culture of Brassica rapa

Stress can induce the transformation of unicellular microspores in plants, shifting their developmental pathway from gametophyte formation to embryogenesis. This process ultimately leads to the production of haploid or double haploid plants. In this study, we explored the effects of heat stress on microspore culture by utilizing two contrasting varieties: the easily inducible K2 and the non-inducible 49 caixin, in combination with epigenetic analyses. We isolated microspores before and after heat stress induction, along with early embryogenic stages (2-, 4-, and 8-cell), to capture gene expression dynamics during this cell fate transitions. Furthermore, to explore the epigenetic basis of transcriptional variability, we profiled DNA methylation and H3K4me3 deposition in microspores before and after induction.