Epigenetic modifications act as conductors of inheritable alterations in gene expression, all while keeping the DNA sequence intact, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping plant growth and development. This review article presents an overview of techniques employed to investigate and manipulate epigenetic diversity in crop plants, focusing on both naturally occurring and artificially induced epialleles. The significance of epigenetic modifications in facilitating adaptive responses is explored through the examination of how various biotic and abiotic stresses impact them. Further, environmental chemicals are explored for their role in inducing epigenetic changes, particularly focusing on inhibitors of DNA methylation like 5-AzaC and zebularine, as well as inhibitors of histone deacetylation including trichostatin A and sodium butyrate. The review delves into various approaches for generating epialleles, including tissue culture techniques, mutagenesis, and grafting, elucidating their potential to induce heritable epigenetic modifications in plants. In addition, the ground breaking CRISPR/Cas is emphasized for its accuracy in targeting specific epigenetic changes. This presents a potent tools for deciphering the intricacies of epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the intricate relationship between epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNA expression, including siRNAs and miRNAs, is investigated. The emerging role of exo-RNAi in epigenetic regulation is also introduced, unveiling its promising potential for future applications. The article concludes by addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by these techniques, emphasizing their implications for crop improvement. Conclusively, this extensive review provides valuable insights into the intricate realm of epigenetic changes, illuminating their significance in phenotypic plasticity and their potential in advancing crop improvement.

表观遗传修饰充当基因表达遗传改变的指挥者，同时保持DNA 序列完整，从而在塑造植物生长和发育中发挥关键作用。这篇综述文章概述了用于研究和操纵作物植物表观遗传多样性的技术，重点关注自然发生的和人工诱导的表观等位基因。通过检查各种生物和非生物胁迫如何影响表观遗传修饰在促进适应性反应中的重要性。此外，人们还探索了环境化学物质在诱导表观遗传变化中的作用，特别关注 DNA 甲基化抑制剂，如 5-AzaC 和zebularine ，以及组蛋白脱乙酰化抑制剂，包括曲古抑菌素 A和丁酸钠。该综述深入研究了产生表观等位基因的各种方法，包括组织培养技术、诱变和嫁接，阐明了它们在植物中诱导可遗传的表观遗传修饰的潜力。此外，突破性的 CRISPR/Cas 因其针对特定表观遗传变化的准确性而受到强调。这为破译复杂的表观遗传机制提供了有力的工具。此外，还研究了表观遗传修饰与非编码 RNA 表达（包括siRNA还介绍了 exo-RNAi 在表观遗传调控中的新兴作用，揭示了其未来应用的广阔前景。本文最后讨论了这些技术带来的机遇和挑战，强调了它们对作物改良的影响。最后，这篇广泛的综述为表观遗传变化的复杂领域提供了宝贵的见解，阐明了它们在表型可塑性中的重要性及其在促进作物改良方面的潜力。