Wei Wang , Minghua Li

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang College of Zhejiang AF University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0030
Received: 30 Oct., 2025    Accepted: 16 Nov., 2025    Published: 31 Dec., 2025

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.

Zhu S.J., and Wang W., 2025, Dynamic DNA methylation landscapes in maize roots under salt stress, Maize Genomics and Genetics, 16(6): 325-333 (doi: 10.5376/mgg.2025.16.0030)

Salt stress is one of the main abiotic factors limiting the yield of maize (Zea mays L.), especially having a significant impact on root growth, water absorption and ion homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, especially DNA methylation, play a significant role in plants’ response to adverse stress. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the dynamic changes of the whole-genome DNA methylation map of maize roots under salt stress conditions. This study reviews the physiological and molecular response characteristics of maize root systems under salt stress, as well as the biological functions of DNA methylation in plant stress responses. It introduces the types of methylation and their detection techniques, analyzes in detail the dynamic change characteristics and functional enrichment pathways of methylation profiles under salt stress, and compares the methylation differences between typical salt-tolerant and sensitive maize varieties. It reveals the possible mechanism of epigenetic regulation in the formation of salt tolerance. This study explored the dynamic regulatory mechanism of DNA methylation in maize roots under salt stress, providing a new perspective for a deeper understanding of plant epigenetic responses and also offering a theoretical basis and data support for the development of salt-tolerant maize varieties.

Maize (Zea mays); Salt stress; DNA methylation; Epigenetic regulation; Whole-genome methylation sequencing