Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses

Abstract

Plants encounter various environmental stresses during their life cycle and have evolved intricate mechanisms to perceive the external signals and respond accordingly. The ability of epigenetic status to alter rapidly and reversibly is a key component in plant responses to the environment. The involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the response to different types of environmental stresses has been documented. Recent studies have shown that the molecular mechanisms driving the responses of plants to environmental stresses often depend on epigenetic changes including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodelling. Understanding how epigenetic mechanisms are involved in plant responses to environmental stresses will contribute significantly to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant epigenetic regulation, which may ultimately be applicable to improve agricultural productivity.