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Plants depend on epigenetic processes for proper function. Epigenetics has been defined as ‘‘the study of changes in gene function that are mitotically and/or meiotically heritable and that do not entail a change in DNA sequence’’ (Wu et al. 2001). Epigenetic examines proteins' interactions with DNA and its associated components, including histones and various modifications such as methylation, which alter the rate or target of transcription. Epigenetic mechanisms are required for proper regulation while epi-alleles and epi-mutants, much like their genetic complements, describe changes in phenotype associated with distinct epigenetic circumstance. There has been scientific enthusiasm for the study of epigenetics in plants because of their long-standing importance in agriculture. == Background and History== In the past, macroscopic observations on plants lead to basic understandings of how plants respond to their environments and grow. While these investigations could somewhat correlate cause and effect as a plant develops, they could not truly explain the mechanisms at work without inspection at the molecular level. Certain studies provided simplistic models with the groundwork for further exploration and eventual explanation through epigenetics. In 1918, Gassner published findings that noted the necessity of a cold phase in order for proper plant growth. Meanwhile, Garner and Allard examined the importance of the duration of light exposure to plant growth in 1920. Gassner's work would shape the conceptualization of vernalization which involves epigenetic changes in plants after a period of cold that leads to development of flowering (Heo and Sung et al. 2011). In a similar manner, Garner and Allard's efforts would gather an awareness of photoperiodism which involves epigenetic modifications following the duration of nighttime which enable flowering (Sun et al. 2014). Rudimentary comprehensions set precedent for later molecular evaluation and, eventually, a more complete view of how plants operate. Modern epigenetic work depends heavily on bioinformatics to gather large quantities of data relating the function of elements such as intensive looks at DNA sequences or patterns in DNA modifications. With improved methods, flowering mechanisms including vernalization and photoperiodism, Flowering Wageningen, and the underlying processes controlling germination, meristematic tissue, and heterosis have been explained through epigenetics. Research on plants looks at several species. Thees species are apparently selected on the basis of either conventional model organisms status, such as ''Arabidopsis'' with its manageability in lab and a known genome, or relevance in agronomy, such as rice, barley or tomatoes. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Epigenetics of plant growth and development」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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