Epigenetic regulation influenced by soil microbiota and nutrients: Paving road to epigenome editing in plants

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1868; no. 4; p. 130580
• Main Authors: Doddavarapu, Bhavya, Lata, Charu, Shah, Jasmine M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2024
• Subjects: dCas9; Epigenetics; Epigenome editing; Soil microbes; Soil nutrients; Stress; Epigenetics; Soil nutrients; dCas9; Epigenome editing; Soil microbes; Stress
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130580

Soil is a complex ecosystem that houses microbes and nutrients that are necessary for plant development. Edaphic properties of the soil and environmental conditions influence microbial growth and nutrient accessibility. Various environmental stimuli largely affect the soil microbes and ionic balance, in turn influencing plants. Soil microflora helps decompose organic matter and is involved in mineral uptake. The combination of soil microbes and mineral nutrients notably affects plant growth. Recent advancements have enabled a deeper understanding of plant genetic/molecular regulators. Deficiencies/sufficiencies of soil minerals and microbes also alter plant gene regulation. Gene regulation mediated by epigenetic mechanisms comprises conformational alterations in chromatin structure, DNA/histone modifications, or involvement of small RNAs. Epigenetic regulation is unique due to its potential to inherit without involving alteration of the DNA sequence. Thus, the compilation study of heritable epigenetic changes driven by nutrient imbalances and soil microbes would facilitate understanding this molecular phenomenon in plants. This information can aid in epigenome editing, which has recently emerged as a promising technology for plant non-transgenic/non-mutagenic modification. Potential epigenetic marks induced by biotic and abiotic stresses in plants could be explored as target sites for epigenome editing. This review discusses novel ways of epigenome editing to create epigenome edited plants with desirable and heritable phenotypes. As plants are sessile and in constant exposure to the soil microbiome and nutrients, epigenetic changes induced by these factors could provide more effective, stable and a sustainable molecular solution for crop improvement. •Epigenetic modifications caused due to soil nutrient deficiencies/sufficiencies and soil microbes in plants.•Non-transgenic approach to edit the epigenetic marks.•Potential epigenetic marks that can be edited using epigenome editing.•Novel way of inducing epigenome editing in plants.