Chinese scientists have mapped the epigenome of 20 rice varieties to reveal the genome structure of rice, according to a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

Researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University collected more than 500 groups of genome data, covering 20 representative rice varieties, and defined 15 chromatin states in the epigenome maps.

By comparing the epigenomic maps of the rice varieties, the researchers found that epigenetic modification tends to occur in the heterochromatin region of the grain. They also revealed important epigenetic differences between indica and japonica rice.

The study provided important data for the research of variety differentiation and environmental adaptability of rice.