Epigenomic Landscape of Oak (Quercus robur) across Seasons and Generations

By integrating high-resolution WGBS data from mature trees across Spring, Summer, and Autumn, we uncovered a dynamic shift in DNA methylation throughout the growing season, with a pronounced increase in CHH context methylation from Spring to Autumn. Furthermore, seedlings derived from these trees exhibited methylation profiles that closely resembled those of mature trees during the Summer and Autumn.

While seasonal methylation changes in mature trees were primarily associated with transposable elements, differences between Progeny and Parents were enriched in genic regions, highlighting a distinct regulatory logic underpinning early developmental epigenetic programming in oak.