The role of plant epigenetics in biotic interactions

What is it about?

Plants are sessile organisms and have evolved multiple strategies to respond and adapt to external influences. The epigenome, the sum of all chemical modifications to DNA and histone proteins, is a heritable layer of information independent of the genetic code and could mediate rapid response and adaptation. Here, we review our current understanding of how plant biotic interactions (e.g. with herbivores, fungi, bacteria, etc.) change the plant epigenome. We then ask to what extent epigenetic patterns modulate the plant’s response to the interaction, and whether and under what conditions the plant epigenome contributes to adaptation by memorizing past interactions. Ultimately, we discuss strategies and best-practices for future studies aimed at investigating epigenetics in the context of plant-environment interactions.

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