Epigenetics Regulation of Abiotic Stress in Crop Plants
摘要
Plants are sessile in nature and develop numerous ways to counter biotic and abiotic stresses. One of the salient mechanisms developed by plants is epigenetics. Epigenetics involves structural changes at the molecular level that can be passed from one generation to another and thus have the ability to form transgenerational memories. Most common methods employed by plant epigenetics include DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA silencing, and some minor modification at posttranscriptional level. Modification at the molecular level not only counters abiotic stress but also promotes immunological memory against biotic stress like pathogens. Epigenetics mechanisms induce modification which allows plants to survive against temperature stress (extreme hot and cold temperatures). Regulation of cold-responsive genes is also very critical; their upregulation and downregulation depend upon the temperature stress induced on plants. The role of abscisic acid is also very critical against abiotic stress.