Plant Epigenetics: Advancing Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2025 | Viewed by 191
Special Issue Editors
Interests: epigenetic responses of forests to climate change
Interests: epigenetic plasticity; transcriptional reprogramming; gene environment interactions
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The rapidly changing climate poses unprecedented challenges to plant ecosystems, marked by shifting temperature regimes, fluctuating water availability, more frequent extreme phenology events, and rising atmospheric CO2 levels. These environmental stressors not only hinder plant growth and productivity but also threaten biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems worldwide. As traditional domestication and genetic modification techniques often fall short in addressing the rapid pace of climate change, the field of plant epigenetics offers a promising alternative.
Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) allow plants to modulate gene expression without altering their genetic code. This ability to make rapid and reversible changes in traits provides a unique pathway for enhancing resilience and adaptability. Understanding and leveraging these epigenetic responses hold significant potential for developing climate-resilient plants, preserving biodiversity of forest ecosystems, and promoting sustainable agricultural systems. As such, plant epigenetics stands at the forefront of innovative strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change on global plant life.
We invite researchers working in the dynamic field of plant epigenetics to submit their contributions to this Special Issue. We seek to highlight innovative findings, methodologies, and insights into the future directions of plant epigenetics research, particularly in the context of global climate change.
This Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of how epigenetic mechanisms can support plant resilience and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. We look forward to your valuable contributions.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:
- Mechanistic Insights into Epigenetic Regulation.
- Epigenetic Memory and Transgenerational Inheritance.
- Advances in Epigenetic Tools and Techniques.
- Epigenomics and Phenotypic Plasticity.
- Implications for Agriculture and Conservation.
- Tree Epigenetic responses to climate change.
We look forward to your valuable contributions.
Prof. Dr. Qingzhu Zhang
Dr. Shahid Ali
Dr. Bowei Chen
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- mechanistic insights into epigenetic regulation
- epigenetic memory and transgenerational inheritance
- advances in epigenetic tools and techniques
- epigenomics and phenotypic plasticity
- implications for agriculture and conservation
- tree epigenetic responses to climate change
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