Jin Zhou , Xuemei Liu

Hainan Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0024
Received: 18 Aug., 2024    Accepted: 20 Sep., 2024    Published: 02 Oct., 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.

Zhou J., and Liu X.M., 2024, Wheat epigenetics and its role in crop improvement, Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 15(5): 255-265 (doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0024)

Epigenetics, as a mechanism for regulating gene expression, is showing immense potential in agriculture, particularly in the improvement of wheat traits. This study explores the application and potential of epigenetics in wheat crop improvement, reviewing recent progress in wheat epigenetics research. It provides an in-depth analysis of how epigenetic regulation influences wheat yield, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. Additionally, it summarizes how epigenetic variation can transmit traits through non-genetic inheritance and discusses the prospects of integrating modern breeding technologies such as gene editing. The study highlights the significant role of epigenetics in wheat crop improvement, suggesting that the future of wheat breeding will become more efficient and precise through the application of epigenetic markers, utilization of stable non-genetic variation, and epigenetic plasticity enhancement. The integration of epigenetic techniques with traditional breeding methods, especially with gene editing, is expected to drive the development of precision wheat breeding, addressing the challenges of global food production. Research in this field not only contributes to enhancing wheat stress resilience but also provides new strategies for breeding in the context of global climate change. 

Wheat; Epigenetics; DNA methylation; Crop improvement; Gene editing