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. 2021 Jun 16;10(6):1226. doi: 10.3390/plants10061226

Table 2.

Transgenerational/cross-stress resistance development in crop plants through stress memory/epigenetic modifications.

Crop Species Stress Resistance Primary Exposure/Treatment Transgenerational Physical Response References
Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Drought, extreme light adoption β–aminobutyric acid (BABA), dehydration stress, salt and heat stress, short wavelength radiations Descendants exhibit biotic and abiotic stress resistance, phenotypic changes for increased flexibility [5,9,78,96,97,98]
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Drought/salt/heat Terminal drought/water, osmotic and heat priming of first-generation plants Drought memory improved resistance against salt stress and drought, and thermotolerance [67,99,100]
Canola (Brassica napus) Cold/heat/drought Cold acclimation Heat/drought resistance, increased growth and yield [101,102]
Rice (Oryza sativa) Abiotic Heavy metals, sublethal heat exposure, drought Enhanced tolerance through heritable changes in gene expression and DNA methylation [4,92,103]
Maize (Zea mays) Drought/salt Osmotic stress Through epigenetic mechanisms, better response to abiotic stresses [104]
Tomato (Lycopersicon sculentum) Cold Hydrogen peroxide pretreatment of roots, arginase induction by heat treatment of fruit Enhanced oxidative stress response, amelioration of chilling injury, and activation of antioxidant enzymes [105,106]
Turnip/Field mustard (Brassica rapa/campestris) Heat/cold shock/biotic Heat/salinity/drought/biotic Stress-induced transgenerational inheritance and cross-protection [107,108]
Pea (Pisum sativum) Heavy metals Acclimated to low temperature Cold-induced photo-inhibition [109]
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Drought Drought stress/osmopriming Enhanced growth under drought [60]