Emerging roles of histone methylation in phytopathogenic fungi
Qi Zhang, Tao Zeng
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi significantly affect crop yield and quality. Understanding pathogenic mechanisms and reducing yield losses from plant diseases are therefore crucial for global food security. Epigenetics has become a central focus in fungal biology research, and recent refinements in high-throughput sequencing technologies have drawn attention to the role of histone methylation in fungal pathogenicity. Due to their diversity and complexity, histone methylations play crucial roles in epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding histone methylation in plant-pathogenic fungi and examine how these modifications influence fungal pathogenicity. Ultimately, we aim to offer insight for creating fungal disease control strategies through the lens of histone methylation.