DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression in biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, a methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analysis was performed to profile DNA methylation changes in seven resistant and sensitive chickpea genotypes following inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. In all, 27468 DNA fragments, each representing a recognition site cleaved by either or both of two isoschizomers, were amplified using nine selective primer pairs. DNA methylation was evaluated in leaves, stems and roots in control and inoculated plants. Extensive cytosine methylation alterations were found in the pathogen-treated genotypes compared with the corresponding control, including hypermethylation and demethylation as well as the potential conversion of methylation types. For all genotypes, the percentage of demethylated sites were more than methylated sites in infected plants compared with the corresponding control. No significant differences were observed for banding patterns in infected and control leaf tissues, while the differences between percentage of unchanged, methylated and demethylated sites were significant in stem and root tissues. The total numbers of methylated polymorphic bands ranged from 137 to 154 bands in Sel95th1716 and Arman, accounting for 36.81%e44.64% of all bands, respectively. Ten fragments that were differentially amplified between infected and control plants were isolated and sequenced in three tissues separately. Most of sequenced fragments showed homology with disease related genes in Gen- Bank. The results suggest that significant differences in cytosine methylation exist between resistant and sensitive chickpea genotypes, and that hypermethylation or hypomethylation of specific genes may be involved in the chickpea resistance to Fusarium wilt.
