Epigenetics – The Molecular Tool in Understanding Abiotic Stress Response in Plants

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FIGURE 12.4 DNA methylation: its mechanism and site.

12.2 DIFFERENT ABIOTIC STRESSORS

Plants face a gamut of abiotic stresses in the environment, i.e., salinity,

drought, submergence/flooding, extreme temperature (heat and freezing),

UV radiation, heavy metals, etc. Some of the stresses are natural while others

are due to anthropogenic activities. These stress conditions negatively influ­

ence or blocks the plant’s metabolism and growth (Lichtenthaler, 1998). The

environmental stresses are categorized as biotic and abiotic stress, along with

the two the abiotic stress causes major crop loss (Gull et al., 2019). Major

numbers of abiotic stresses are compiled and summarized in subsections.

12.2.1 SALINE STRESS

In many parts of the world, the plant faces major abiotic stress which is

due to the presence of too much amount of salt content in the soil, known