transgenerational-inheritance
Transgenerational inheritance refers to the transmission of acquired traits or epigenetic modifications from one generation to the next without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. In plants, this phenomenon is particularly significant because it allows offspring to inherit stress responses or adaptive changes experienced by their parents, such as tolerance to drought, pathogens, or temperature extremes. Understanding these heritable epigenetic mechanisms offers insights into how plants rapidly adapt to environmental challenges and has potential implications for crop improvement and breeding strategies.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Mycorrhizal fungi don't just help plants absorb nutrients — they also alter plant gene activity through epigenetic changes that can persist across generations. This review synthesizes how these underground fungal partnerships leave heritable molecular 'memories' that shape plant resilience and adaptation over time.
Mycorrhizal fungi regulate plant gene networks through epigenetic mechanisms at every stage of the partnership — from initial root colonization through active nutrient and defense signaling.
Epigenetic marks from mycorrhizal symbiosis are better preserved in clonally reproducing and shorter-lived host plants, while sexually reproducing and longer-lived species show partial erasure of these marks between generations.
Mycorrhiza-induced epigenetic inheritance may influence offspring stress resilience, ecological interactions, and long-term evolutionary trajectories — paralleling mechanisms seen in plant-pathogen and plant-endophyte interactions.