Epigenetic Regulation in Horticultural Crops

Abstract

Epigenetics is defined as “the study of changes in gene function that are mitotically and/or meiotically heritable and do not involve a change in DNA sequence”. Epigenetic modifications include post-translational modifications of histones and DNA methylation. Changes in DNA methylation have been observed in response to environmental factors, with some epimutations being heritable across generations. Such epimutations may lead to alterations in plant traits and could be involved in natural selection or domestication. Furthermore, epigenetic transcriptional regulation serves as a crucial strategy for responding to various environmental conditions, including abiotic and biotic stress. In horticultural crops, this regulation is implicated in diverse biological processes, including agronomic traits such as hybrid vigor/heterosis, flowering time, bud dormancy, sex determination, fruit ripening, and anthocyanin accumulation. Recent advances in methods for analyzing epigenetic states, along with advances in sequencing technology, have enabled high-resolution and genome-wide studies in various horticultural crops. This review highlights the critical role of epigenetic transcriptional regulation in biological processes in horticultural crops and discusses the potential for artificially inducing epigenetic variation to enhance phenotypic diversity in horticultural crop breeding.