TABLE 1.
Instances of epigenetic regulation in plant species from different ecological communities.
| Plant species (family) | Ecological community type | Inference | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinus sylvestris (Pinaceae) | Alpine vegetation | Global DNA methylation (GDM) levels and expression of DNMT and circadian clock genes indicated that DNA methylation contributes to local adaptation | Alakärppä et al. (2018) |
| Ranunculus kuepferi (Ranunculaceae) | Alpine vegetation | The methylation patterns across two cytotypes (diploid, tetraploid) and three reproduction modes (sexual, mixed, and apomictic) were studied using MSAP. Epigenetic variation reflected an ecological gradient rather than discrete geographical differentiation | Schinkel et al. (2020) |
| Wahlenbergia ceracea (Campanulaceae) | Alpine vegetation | AFLP revealed low but significant variation between low and high-altitude seedlings. There were indications of the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in adaptive responses to temperature stress based on MS-AFLP analysis | Nicotra et al. (2015) |
| Deyeuxia angustifolia (Poaceae) | Alpine vegetation | MSAP and AFLP analysis revealed overall low genetic diversity and epigenetic regulation suggested to be the basis for rapid adaptation to the environment | Ni et al. (2021) |
| Chorispora bungeana (Brassicaceae) | Alpine vegetation | Differential DNA methylation changes were observed due to chilling (4 °C) and freezing (-4°C) stress. Epigenetic variations are proposed as a rapid and flexible regulatory mechanism to respond to cold stresses | Song et al. (2015) |
| Betula ermanii (Betulaceae) | Alpine vegetation | A study of two habitat types, namely alpine and subalpine, from Changbai Mountain, China revealed that the alpine populations exhibited higher genetic and epigenetic diversity in the form of higher degrees of genome methylation than the subalpine populations | Wu et al. (2013) |
| Rhodiola sachalinensis (Crassulaceae) | Alpine vegetation | Four different populations s showed an association of altitudinal gradient and DNA methylation levels, revealing distinct genetic and epigenetic population structures in the analyzed four populations | Zhao et al. (2014) |
| Prunus avium (Rosaceae) | Temperate deciduous forests | In the five natural wild cherry populations analyzed from northern Greece, 97% of the epigenetic variability was observed within the populations. Epigenetic and genetic diversity did not differ significantly and were not significantly correlated | Avramidou et al. (2015) |
| Quercus lobata (Fagaceae) | Temperate deciduous forests | Single methylation variants (SVMs) showed significant association with four climatic variables (mainly mean temperature). SVMs located within or near the genes were known to be involved in responses to the environment | Gugger et al. (2016) |
| Differential CG methylation patterns helped in adaptations to environmental changes | |||
| Populus nigra cv. Italica Duroi (Salicaceae) | Temperate deciduous forests | Sixty Lombardy Poplar epigenotypes unique to each adult clone (with a single genotype), collected from thirty-seven different locations in Europe and Asia, exhibited transgenerational epigenetic variation that had an association with the bud set phenology variation suggesting the contribution of epigenetic signatures in adaptive traits | Vanden Broeck et al. (2018) |
| Populus tremuloides (Salicaceae) | Temperate deciduous forests | Significant epigenetic variability was observed between two coastal Marine stands at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Epigenetic acclimation played an important role in the ecological success of aspen populations | Ahn et al. (2017) |
| Pinus pinea (Pinaceae) | Colder continental and Mediterranean climate communities | AFLP analysis highlighted the absence of genetic variability but MSAP identified significant epigenetic variation | Saéz-Laguna et al. (2014) |
| Fragaria vesca (Rosaceae) | Subalpine Meadows | DNA methylation pattern changes in nine study sites across three European countries: Italy, Czechia, and Norway along the climatic gradient ranging from warmest to coldest mean annual temperatures showed a correlation. With plant response to changed climate conditions. Moreover, it was found that an increase in temperature will probably be the limiting factor determining F. vesca survival and distribution. | Sammarco et al. (2022) |
| Viola cazorlensis (Violaceae) | Grasslands | Methylation-based epigenetic differentiation of populations was found to be associated with adaptive genetic divergence. Epigenetic diversity exceeded genetic variation | Herrera and Bazaga, (2010) |
| Scabiosa columbaria (Caprifoliaceae) | Temperate grasslands | Significant somatic and transgenerational epigenetic variability was observed between French and British populations both in the field and common gardens | Groot et al. (2018) |
| The mean polymorphism observed for genetic bands was 74.8% and 64.2% in the epigenetic bands in the field and 69.4% in common garden plants | |||
| Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae) | Grasslands and mixed open forests | Bayesian analysis showed a significant habitat-related genetic but not epigenetic differentiation. A significant correlation was observed between epigenetic and phenotypic variation. Epigenetic variation complemented with genetic variation to produce functional phenotypic variability for better performance in heterogeneous and diverse populations | Lele et al. (2018) |