Regulatory Layers Shaping Plant Adaptation: Epigenetics, Non-Coding RNAs and Beyond

Plants, as sessile organisms, have evolved intricate regulatory systems to adapt to dynamic and often adverse environmental conditions. Beyond traditional genetic mechanisms, recent research has highlighted the significance of epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in orchestrating plant responses and long-term adaptation. Epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, enables plants to modulate gene expression in a reversible yet heritable manner. Similarly, ncRNAs—including miRNAs, siRNAs, and lncRNAs—play pivotal roles in regulating gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Together, these regulatory layers contribute to plant resilience, development, and stress memory.

This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge studies that explore the multilayered regulatory mechanisms shaping plant adaptation, with a strong emphasis on epigenetics and non-coding RNAs. By gathering diverse contributions, this Research Topic will provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms that fine-tune plant responses to changing environments. We invite researchers investigating plant molecular biology, genomics, and epigenetics to submit their work and advance this evolving field.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address but are not limited to:

• Epigenetic reprogramming in response to biotic and abiotic stresses

• Functional roles of small and long non-coding RNAs in adaptation processes

• RNA-directed DNA methylation pathways and their impact on genome regulation

• Chromatin architecture dynamics under stress conditions

• Crosstalk between epigenetic regulation and hormonal signaling

• Bioinformatic and multi-omics approaches for decoding regulatory networks

• Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and evolutionary implications

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Regulatory networks, Gene expression, Plant adaptation, Stress response, microRNAs, lncRNAs, Chromatin remodeling, RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM)

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.