Epigenetics in Crop Improvement: Safeguarding Food Security in an Ever-Changing Climate

Epigenetics encompasses all changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the DNA sequence. These modifications involve DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNA pathways. Plants have evolved remarkable resilience to environmental challenges mediated by epigenetic modifications rather than genetic variation. Epigenetic variation provides a means for designing crop varieties with enhanced resilience to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. By understanding how epigenetic information systems interact among them and with other canonical genetic pathways, we can develop crops better equipped to withstand the challenges of climate change, ultimately contributing to global food security. Epigenetics in Crop Improvement: Safeguarding Food Security in an Ever-Changing Climate is primarily a comprehensive guide that explores the role of epigenetics in plant growth, development, and adaptation. This book also offers a valuable resource for anyone looking to investigate and develop innovative strategies for enhancing crop resilience and productivity in the face of climate change.

Luis María Vaschetto received his Doctorate in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina). He was a postdoctoral researcher at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and a Research Associate at the South Dakota State University (SDSU). He has been the first author of more than ten academic articles and several book chapters. He also has been the editor of several international books, including three books of the renowned Methods in Molecular Biology series (Springer) and guest editor of several special issues in peer-reviewed journals. His research mainly focuses on understanding the epigenetic mechanisms involved in plant and animal development as well as their effects on human health and diseases. Since February 2024, Dr. Vaschetto has been an affiliated scholar at The Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship (Montclair, NJ, USA).