DNA cytosine methylation dynamics and functional roles in horticultural crops

Abstract

Methylation of cytosine is a conserved epigenetic modification that maintains the dynamic balance of methylation in plants under the regulation of methyltransferases and demethylases. In recent years, the study of DNA methylation in regulating the growth and development of plants and animals has become a key area of research. This review describes the regulatory mechanisms of DNA cytosine methylation in plants. It summarizes studies on epigenetic modifications of DNA methylation in fruit ripening, development, senescence, plant height, organ size, and under biotic and abiotic stresses in horticultural crops. The review provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms of DNA methylation and their relevance to breeding, genetic improvement, research, innovation, and exploitation of new cultivars of horticultural crops.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32270367), the Office of Education of Anhui Province for Distinguished Young Scholars (2022AH020061), and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFA1300401 and NK2022010301).

Author contributions

P.L. and Q.N. prepared the review and wrote the original draft. R.L., Y.X., C.Z., Q.N., and Z.L. conducted the literature review and edited the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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