Prospects and challenges of epigenomics in crop improvement

The advent of high-throughput epigenome mapping techniques has ushered in a new era of multiomics with powerful tools now available to map and record genomic output at different levels. Integrating the different components of the epigenome from these multiomics measures allows investigations of cis-regulatory elements on a genome-scale. Mapping of chromatin state, chromatin accessibility dynamics, and higher-order chromatin structure enables a new level of understanding of cell fate determination, identity and function in normal growth and development, disease resistance, and yield.

In this paper, the recent advances in epigenomics research of rice, maize, and wheat are reviewed, and the development trends of epigenomics of major crops in the coming years are projected.

We highlight the role of epigenomics in regulating growth and development and identifying potential distal cis-regulatory elements in three major crops, and discuss the prospects and challenges for new epigenetics-mediated breeding technologies in crop improvement.

In this review, we summarize and analyze recent epigenomic advances in three major crops epigenomics and discuss possibilities and challenges for future research in the field.