Mapping open chromatin by ATAC-seq in bread wheat

Epigenetics and plant hormone dynamics: a functional and methodological perspective

Plant hormones, pivotal regulators of plant growth, development, and response to environmental cues, have recently emerged as central modulators of epigenetic processes governing gene expression and phenotypic plasticity. This review addresses the complex interplay between plant hormones and epigenetic mechanisms, highlighting the diverse methodologies that have been harnessed to decipher these intricate relationships. We present a comprehensive overview to understand how phytohormones orchestrate epigenetic modifications, shaping plant adaptation and survival strategies. Conversely, we explore how epigenetic regulators ensure hormonal balance and regulate the signalling pathways of key plant hormones. Furthermore, our investigation includes a search for novel genes that are regulated by plant hormones under the control of epigenetic processes. Our review offers a contemporary overview of the epigenetic-plant hormone crosstalk, emphasizing its significance in plant growth, development, and potential agronomical applications.

Dynamics of chromatin accessibility and genome wide control of desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis

BACKGROUND

Drought is one of the main consequences of global climate change and this problem is expected to intensify in the future. Resurrection plants evolved the ability to withstand the negative impact of long periods of almost complete desiccation and to recover at rewatering. In this respect, many physiological, transcriptomic, proteomic and genomic investigations have been performed in recent years, however, few epigenetic control studies have been performed on these valuable desiccation-tolerant plants so far.

RESULTS

In the present study, for the first time for resurrection plants we provide evidences about the differential chromatin accessibility of Haberlea rhodopensis during desiccation stress by ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing). Based on gene similarity between species, we used the available genome of the closely related resurrection plant Dorcoceras hygrometricum to identify approximately nine hundred transposase hypersensitive sites (THSs) in H. rhodopensis. The majority of them corresponds to proximal and distal regulatory elements of different genes involved in photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, synthesis of secondary metabolites, cell signalling and transcriptional regulation, cell growth, cell wall, stomata conditioning, chaperons, oxidative stress, autophagy and others. Various types of binding motifs recognized by several families of transcription factors have been enriched from the THSs found in different stages of drought. Further, we used the previously published RNA-seq data from H. rhodopensis to evaluate the expression of transcription factors putatively interacting with the enriched motifs, and the potential correlation between the identified THS and the expression of their corresponding genes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide a blueprint for investigating the epigenetic regulation of desiccation tolerance in resurrection plant H. rhodopensis and comparative genomics between resurrection and non-resurrection species with available genome information.

Unlocking the Secret to Higher Crop Yield: The Potential for Histone Modifications

Histone modifications are epigenetic mechanisms, termed relative to genetics, and they refer to the induction of heritable changes without altering the DNA sequence. It is widely known that DNA sequences precisely modulate plant phenotypes to adapt them to the changing environment; however, epigenetic mechanisms also greatly contribute to plant growth and development by altering chromatin status. An increasing number of recent studies have elucidated epigenetic regulations on improving plant growth and adaptation, thus making contributions to the final yield. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying crop flowering efficiency, fruit quality, and adaptation to environmental stimuli, especially to abiotic stress, to ensure crop improvement. In particular, we highlight the major discoveries in rice and tomato, which are two of the most globally consumed crops. We also describe and discuss the applications of epigenetic approaches in crop breeding programs.