Role of epigenetics in mangroves: recent progress and future perspectives.

This article focuses on the role of epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, in mangrove plants’ adaptation to the fluctuating and stressful intertidal environment. It reviews current research showing that mangroves exhibit differential DNA methylation patterns in response to salinity, UV-B exposure, and transplantation, which may influence gene expression and stress resilience. The article also discusses the interaction of epigenetic mechanisms with transposable elements (TEs), highlighting mangroves’ unique genome size reduction through TE removal and methylation-mediated TE repression. Additionally, it addresses the presence and potential functions of noncoding RNAs in mangrove stress responses and identifies significant gaps in understanding histone modifications and epigenetic inheritance in these species. The authors emphasize the need for comprehensive genomic and epigenomic studies to elucidate how epigenetic regulation contributes to mangrove phenotypic plasticity, adaptation, and transgenerational stress memory.