Epigenetic Control of Carotenogenesis During Plant Development

Carotenoids are secondary metabolites synthesized in plastids that function photosynthesis, photoprotection, growth and development of plants. contribute to the yellowish, orange pinkish-red hues leaves, flowers fruits, as well various aromas. They provide substrates for biosynthesis phytohormones cleavable into smaller apocarotenoids retrograde signals and/or mediate intracellular communication regulate gene transcription protein translation. Carotenoid regulation tightly coordinated with tissue-specific plastid differentiation, seedling morphogenesis, fruit development, prevailing environmental conditions such light, temperature mycorrhizal interactions. In last decade, epigenetic processes have been linked carotenoid biosynthesis, accumulation degradation during plant development. Next-generation sequencing approaches shed new light on key rate-limiting steps pathways targeted by modifications synchronize morphogenesis. We discuss how histone (methylation acetylation), DNA methylation demethylation, small RNA silencing can modulate apocarotenoid generation throughout plants’ life cycle: from seed germination This review highlights biogenesis expression sync chromatin alterations skotomorphogenesis photo-morphogenesis. a perspective based upon emerging evidence supports likely role carotenoids contributing programming maintenance plants' landscape.