Drought poses a significant threat to global food security, and climate change is intensifying its impacts on agriculture, making it essential to understand plant molecular responses for effective mitigation.

DNA demethylases are crucial in regulating gene expression, stress responses, and plant development, which has important implications for crop improvement.

Epigenetic modifications serve as a rapid and non-permanent response mechanism, allowing plants to adapt to stress without altering their DNA sequence.

The study emphasizes the concept of epigenetic memory in drought-adapted plants, providing insights into the transgenerational inheritance of adaptive traits.

DNA methylation patterns established during initial drought stress can persist, influencing future gene expression and stress responses.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally and can interact with epigenetic pathways to influence chromatin remodeling.

Advanced technologies like bisulfite sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9 are poised to provide insights into plant responses to water deficits, aiding in the development of drought-tolerant crops.

A systematic review identified 401 studies analyzing epigenetic mechanisms in plants, with Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa being the most researched species.

The review highlights a significant gap in studies of non-economic and tropical plant species, emphasizing the need for more diverse research.

Most studies have concentrated on economically important species, indicating a bias towards agricultural research.

China leads in the number of published studies on this topic, reflecting strong government support for scientific research.

Research shows a growing trend in epigenetic studies over the past decade, with approximately 90% of the studies conducted recently.

Most studies have focused on plant responses to abiotic factors like temperature, water availability, and salinity, with less emphasis on light.

Protein structure analysis confirmed the presence of conserved domains like Nth and RRM_DME, providing insights into domain A and other conserved regions.

Gene duplication analysis highlighted recent whole-genome duplication events that contribute to gene diversification.

Methylome DNA sequencing is identified as the primary technique for detecting epigenetic interactions in the literature.