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The role of stress memory in the adaptation of plants to drought stress conditions: molecular approaches and perspectives
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Rasmieh Hamid    , Fatemeh Saeidnia * |
| Agricultural and Horticultural Science Research Department, Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center , f.saeidnia@areeo.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (646 Views) |
Environmental stresses, resulting from climatic anomalies and environmental changes, often have detrimental effects on plant growth, performance, and survival. These effects include reduced growth, decreased productivity, irreversible damage, and even plant death. However, under specific conditions, stresses may enhance certain plant traits, particularly in response to drought stress. Plants respond to stress through a series of morphological, biochemical, physiological, and metabolic changes that enable adaptation and survival in challenging conditions. One of the most significant mechanisms is "stress memory," which equips plants to respond more rapidly and effectively to recurrent exposure to similar stresses. Stress memory arises from intricate molecular and epigenetic regulations, encompassing alterations in the expression of coding and non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and adjustments in phytohormone levels. Stress memory manifests in two primary forms: (1) sustained activation or repression of genes even after the stressor is removed, and (2) enhanced and modified transcriptional responses to repeated stress events compared to unprimed plants. This study explores the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in establishing drought stress memory and somatic priming. It examines the epigenetic regulations, transcriptional adjustments, and metabolic adaptations in plants subjected to repeated drought stress. The objective of this research is to provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying drought stress memory and to evaluate the potential applications of these insights in crop improvement programs for enhanced drought tolerance. This knowledge can facilitate the development of genetic tools and effective breeding techniques to improve plant resilience to environmental fluctuations. |
Article number: 12 |
| Keywords: Priming, stress memory, drought, chromatin, DNA methylation. |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Plant
Received: 2024/04/16 | Accepted: 2024/09/13 | Published: 2024/09/19
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