Epigenetic Mechanisms Driving Adaptation in Tropical and Subtropical Plants: Insights and Future Directions

Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and Noncoding RNAs, play a critical role in enabling plants to adapt to environmental changes without altering their DNA sequence. These processes dynamically regulate gene expression in response to diverse stressors, making them essential for plant resilience under changing global conditions. This review synthesises research on tropical and subtropical plants-species naturally exposed to extreme temperatures, salinity, drought, and other stressors-while drawing parallels with similar mechanisms observed in arid and temperate ecosystems. By integrating molecular biology with plant ecology, this synthesis highlights how tropical plants provide valuable models for understanding resilience strategies applicable across broader plant taxa. This review underscores the potential of epigenetic mechanisms to inform conservation strategies and agricultural innovations aimed at bolstering plant resilience in the face of climate change.