Inheritable variation induced by plant grafting is a universal phenomenon; however, its mechanism has always been a controversial subject. In recent years, research on horizontal transfer of genetic materials between stock and scion has made great progress. The latest studies have found that genetic information in grafted plants is transported through plasmodesma and phloem to modulate the growth and development of the scion plants. Furthermore, non-coding RNAs could induce epigenetic modification, which facilitates plants to adapt to the grafting-caused stress. This article focuses on the review of recent advances in the induction and maintenance of the graft-induced genetic variation and could be helpful in thoroughly understanding the mechanism.
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