Enzymatic DNA demethylation enables the formation of stable epimutations in tomato

DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification in plants that regulates gene expression, silences transposable elements (TEs), and supports proper development. Traditionally, heritable epimutations in plants have been generated using genetic mutants or chemical inhibitors, but these approaches often lack precision or stability. In this study, we investigated the effects of globally altering DNA methylation in tomato, a species with a large, TE-rich genome, through the ectopic expression of the catalytic domain of the human DNA demethylase TEN-ELEVEN TRANSLOCATION3 (hTET3cd). We found that TET3-mediated demethylation-induced stable hypomethylation at CG and CHG sites and that these changes were inherited across multiple generations, including in non-transgenic siblings. Interestingly, demethylation in heterochromatic pericentromeric regions was often accompanied by gains in CHH methylation, suggesting the compensatory activation of the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. Differentially methylated region analysis revealed that CG and CHG methylation loss was widespread, while CHH differentially methylated regions showed complex patterns of gain and loss, particularly near gene-rich regions and TEs enriched for 24 nt small RNAs. Transcriptomic analyses showed distinct gene expression profiles in both TET3 and non-transgenic progeny, with altered expression of TEs and associated genes. These findings demonstrate that enzymatic manipulation of the methylome via hTET3cd can generate stable, heritable epigenetic variation, and highlight the dynamic interplay between targeted DNA demethylation and endogenous mechanisms that act to restore epigenetic homeostasis.