The Effect of Exposure to Thuricide on DNA methylation patterns of Fragaria ananassa

The purpose of this study was to analyze how exposing Fragaria ananassa DNA to Thuricide for different periods of time would impact methylation patterns. It was hypothesized that the Thuricide, which is made with B. thuringiensis, will not have a significant impact on the methylation patterns of F. ananassa, making it safe for regulated use. DNA from Fragaria ananassa was extracted using a basic extraction method, then exposed to Thuricide for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The exposed DNA went through bisulfite sequencing using the Zymo Research methylation kit, then digested by the hpaii enzyme. The newly digested DNA was analyzed using a fluorometer to determine fluorescence values, which indicated methylation levels. The mean fluorescence values across all groups are unexpectedly similar, with averages close to -0.0056. The control group has the lowest mean fluorescence (-0.0061), while the 48-hour group has the highest (-0.0051). Based on the Kruskal-Wallis test that was ran at an alpha value of ��=.05, the results of this research were sufficient enough to reject the null hypothesis. It was later found in a Post-Hoc Mann-Whitney U Test with Bonferroni Correction that there was a significant difference between the 24 hours and 48 hours. It was concluded that Thuricide did have a slight, but not majorly significant impact on the DNA of F. ananassa, suggesting that it could be used and regulated as a valid replacement for synthetic pesticides in agriculture.