Transgenerational epigenetics inheritance refers to the possibility to inherit epigenetic‐based information acquired from previous generations. The design of experiments that can measure this phenomenon presents complexities. These are related mainly to difficulties in the identification of epigenetic variation components that are independent from genetic variation, and to difficulties related to the time needed to expose genetically stable plants to different environments for several generations. In this study we propose an experimental approach that takes advantage of seed material routinely produced by seedbanks in order to circumvent the above‐mentioned issues. By taking advantage of this freely available seed material, it is possible to evaluate epigenetic differences induced by the environment experienced by previous generations and to evaluate both the extent and the impact of epigenetic variation in crops. Seeds of two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, which were previously multiplied in six different seedbanks located worldwide, were grown in a common environment and the plants were evaluated at a genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic level. Our results indicate that barley accessions multiplied in different environments displayed a comparable level of epigenetic variation, which was, however, greater than the genetic variation. Cluster analysis of methylation differences, likewise DNA differences, split the two cultivars in two distinct groups evidencing a clear link between genetic and epigenetic variation. Nevertheless, the analysis of phenotypic traits and of the CCGG sites that are variable in both cultivars suggests that there might be a possible link between previous cultivation environment and induced epigenetic changes at specific DNA regions.

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用于环境诱导的转基因表观遗传变异性研究的种子库种子：以大麦为例

跨代表观遗传学遗传学是指继承从前代获得的基于表观遗传学信息的可能性。可以测量这种现象的实验设计非常复杂。这些主要与鉴定独立于遗传变异的表观遗传变异成分的困难，以及与将遗传稳定的植物暴露于不同环境数代所需要的时间有关。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种利用种子库常规生产的种子材料的实验方法，以规避上述问题。利用这种可免费获得的种子材料，有可能评估由前几代人所经历的环境引起的表观遗传差异，并评估表观遗传变异在作物中的程度和影响。两个大麦的种子（大麦L.）品种以前在世界各地的六个不同种子库中繁殖，在共同的环境中生长，并在遗传，表观遗传和表型水平上对植物进行了评估。我们的结果表明，在不同环境中繁殖的大麦种质表现出可观水平的表观遗传变异，但大于遗传变异。甲基化差异（同样是DNA差异）的聚类分析将两个品种分为两个不同的组，从而证明了遗传变异与表观遗传变异之间的明确联系。然而，对两个栽培品种中可变的表型性状和CCGG位点的分析表明，先前的栽培环境与特定DNA区域的诱导表观遗传变化之间可能存在联系。