Heritable Epigenetic Changes in Plant Stress Responses: Implications for Crop Resilience
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Abstract
In many parts of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa, farmers face tough environmental conditions that make cultivation difficult. Issues like unpredictable rainfall, poor soils, high temperatures, and salt buildup affect plant growth and reduce yields, adding pressure to already strained food systems. Although breeding programs and genetic engineering have improved stress tolerance in some crops, they do not fully explain how plants respond quickly to stress or pass those responses to the next generation. Recent research highlights epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and small RNAs, as key regulators that help plants adjust gene activity under stress. This review examines how these mechanisms influence plant responses to abiotic stress, focusing on stress memory, distinguishing between stable and temporary changes, and transgenerational inheritance. It draws on peer-reviewed studies from PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, using targeted search terms related to plant epigenetics and stress adaptation. The review evaluates evidence from both model species and crops and considers how tools like epiRILs, epimutagenesis, CRISPR-based editing, and epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) could be used in breeding. It also emphasizes the potential for underused crops and low-input farming systems. Despite recent progress, many epigenetic responses remain difficult to validate outside the laboratory. Efforts should focus on finding practical solutions to meet farmers' needs, especially in producing stress-resilient crops.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Atijosan Oluwabukola Eunice, State University of Ponta grossa, Parana, Brazil.
Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agricultute.
Damilola Elizabeth Fadipe, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA.
Chemical Engineering Department.
Daizy Princess Abdulai, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
Sunday Kaura, Veritas University Abuja, Nigeria.
Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science.
Godson Akpovwovwo Onophurhi, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.
Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences.
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