The epigenetic engine : Transgenerational plasticity as a driver of plant climate resilience and adaptation

Abstract We propose that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), the transmission of environmental memories across generations, functions as an epigenetic engine for rapid adaptation to environmental changes. We argue that this engine serves a dual purpose: it acts as a direct, powerful mechanism for phenotypic adaptation to sudden environmental changes and as a transient bridge that maintains population viability, buying time for genetic rescue. We synthesize evidence that small RNAs, D