Liting Wang^{1, 2}

Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 6   
Received: 20 Oct., 2024    Accepted: 23 Nov., 2024    Published: 14 Dec., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This research investigates how epigenetic changes shape key characteristics in maize plants. By analyzing molecular processes like DNA methylation patterns, histone alterations, and non-coding RNA activity, we demonstrate their significant impact on agricultural traits such as crop productivity, root formation, environmental adaptability, and hybrid vigor. Specifically, methylation processes govern seed maturation and stress responses, histone adjustments control genetic switches, while regulatory RNAs manage gene suppression and coordinate epigenetic systems. Notably, external conditions like environmental stresses can trigger adaptive adjustments through epigenetic pathways, with certain modifications potentially affecting multiple generations. The study combines advanced genomic tools including large-scale DNA analysis and population-level genetic mapping to identify valuable epigenetic signatures. These biological markers show promising potential for improving selective breeding approaches, ultimately aiming to boost harvest outputs and strengthen plant defenses against challenging growth conditions. This integrated methodology provides new insights into developing climate-resilient maize varieties through epigenetic engineering.

Epigenetics; DNA methylation; Histone modifications; Non-coding RNA; Breeding