Review article

https://doi.org/10.37427/botcro-2025-004

Connecting the dots: Epigenetics, ABA, and plant stress tolerance

Miran Grgić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Sandra Vitko ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Josipa Drmić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja Leljak-Levanić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Horvatovac 102a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Extreme changes in environmental conditions are the main cause of abiotic stress and pose a major challenge for plant survival. In addition to controlling stress-related gene expression through a signal transduction cascade, epigenetic regulation plays an important role in orchestrating rapid and precise responses of plants to dynamic changes in environmental conditions. Complex mechanisms such as DNA methylation, especially via the de novo pathway, and histone tail modifications such as methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation are involved in plant stress responses. In addition, histone variants and chromatin structure contribute to the dynamic regulation of chromatin state and determine whether it remains open or closed. Here, we summarise the complex combination of epigenetic modifications and factors that together regulate plant response to climate stress, focusing on the interplay between epigenetic mechanisms and the phytohormone abscisic acid.

Keywords

ABA; DNA methylation; histone modifications; histone variants; plant stress response; RdDM; small non-coding RNA

Hrčak ID:

317844

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/317844

Publication date:

1.10.2025.

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