Vicia faba plants show polymorphism to cobalt (Co) excess, expressed by a different degree of chlorophyll morphosis (CM)-from normally green (N) to yellow (Y) seedlings. For superoxide dismutase (SOD), the high V. faba polymorphism was revealed and increased by Co stress. Epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in both phenomena. For such reasons, we investigated the effect of 5-azacytosine (AzaC) and Na butyrate (NaBut) on CM induction, SOD polymorphism, and DNA methylation-demethylation events in Co(NO(3) )(2) affected plants, without or with AzaC or NaBut. CMs were induced after treatment of seeds for 8 h with 7.5 mM Co(NO(3) )(2) plus 12 h with H(2) O or 8 h with H(2) O plus 12 h with Co(NO(3) )(2) . In the same order AzaC and NaBut were applied in concentrations equimolar to Co(NO(3) )(2) . SOD isoforms were investigated electrophoretically, and for DNA methylation-demethylation events the Aina [Aina et al. (2004) Physiol Plant 121:472-480] system was applied upon using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method employing restrictases MspI and HpaII. The effect of AzaC and NaBut on CM induction in combination with Co was unclear. Posttreatment with Co was more effective than Co-pretreatment. SOD polymorphism was significantly strengthened by NaBut. Detection of DNA methylation-demethylation events depended on the primers used for RAPD analysis. With AP5 and MP4 primers, DNA demethylation was observed in N-seedlings after exposure to Co, AzaC or NaBut applied separately. With primer A6, only DNA methylation events were determined in N-seedlings from seeds exposed to Co or Co-AzaC, and in Y-seedlings after Co-AzaC or Co-NaBut treatment. UPGMA grouping of the results showed that all N-seedlings comprised one common cluster after Co exposure, independently of treatment combinations (Co alone, Co with AzaC, Co with NaBut). On the contrary, no significant differences were determined in SOD polymorphism among the most resistant N-seedlings and the most severely affected Y-seedlings.

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