On the Biological Role of Histone Acetylation/Deacetylation in the Process of Plant Germination

Abstract—The transition of embryos in air-dried seeds from a state of dormancy to a state with highly active metabolism during germination is accompanied by significant changes in both spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression and is controlled by multilevel regulatory networks. The character and degree of acetylation of chromatin proteins depend on the transcriptional activity of chromatin and are also associated with DNA replication and the cell cycle. Obtaining a complete picture of the involvement of histone modification in seed germination will be useful for increasing crop yields, as a way to assess the quality and viability of seeds before sowing, and will also allow the development of methods for managing plant genetic potential.