Recent Advances of Epigenetics in Crop Biotechnology

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Editorial

31 March 2016

Editorial: Recent Advances of Epigenetics in Crop Biotechnology

Raúl Álvarez-Venegas

and

Clelia De-la-Peña

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3

Clelia De-la-Peña

Scientific Research Center of Yucatán (CICY)

Raúl Alvarez-Venegas

Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (CINVESTAV)

Christopher Cullis

Case Western Reserve University

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Epigenetics is a new field that explains gene expression at the chromatin structure and organization level. Three principal epigenetic mechanisms are known and hundreds of combinations among them can develop different phenotypic characteristics. DNA methylation, histone modifications and small RNAs have been identified, and their functions are being studied in order to understand the mechanisms of interaction and regulation among the different biological processes in plants.
Although, fundamental epigenetic mechanisms in crop plants are beginning to be elucidated, the comprehension of the different epigenetic mechanisms, by which plant gene regulation and phenotype are modified, is a major topic to develop in the near future in order to increase crop productivity. Thus, the importance of epigenetics in improving crop productivity is undoubtedly growing.
Current research on epigenetics suggest that DNA methylation, histone modifications and small RNAs are involved in almost every aspect of plant life including agronomically important traits such as flowering time, fruit development, responses to environmental factors, defense response and plant growth.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore the recent advances concerning the role of epigenetics in crop biotechnology, as well as to enhance and promote interactions among high quality researchers from different disciplines such as genetics, cell biology, pathology, microbiology, and evolutionary biology in order to join forces and decipher the epigenetic mechanisms in crops productivity.
We welcome all types of articles (original research, methods, opinions and reviews) describing epigenetic regulation for understanding crop improvement and plant biotechnology.

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Editors

Clelia De-la-Peña

Scientific Research Center of Yucatán (CICY)

Raúl Alvarez-Venegas

Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (CINVESTAV)

Christopher Cullis

Case Western Reserve University

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8,221 Topic views

Published In

Frontiers in Plant Science

Plant Biotechnology

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Plant Biotechnology

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