Economic Plant Diversity in the Anthropocene
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editor
Interests: plant population genetics; plant evolution and domestication; in situ and ex situ conservation of plant germplasm; molecular characterization; molecular markers; molecular evolution; plant breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleague,
Economic plant diversity—encompassing crops, medicinal plants, timber species, ornamental plants, and other vital biological resources—faces unprecedented challenges in the Anthropocene. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and unsustainable exploitation are driving genetic erosion, population declines, and even extinctions among both wild and traditionally cultivated species. These losses threaten not only biodiversity but also the foundation of human well-being, from food security to traditional medicine, having a significant economic impact. Understanding and mitigating these impacts requires urgent scientific attention, particularly for economically important species that exist at the critical interface between human utilization and conservation needs.
This Special Issue invites contributions that address three key research priorities: (1) documenting patterns of genetic erosion and vulnerability across species and ecosystems; (2) developing innovative, ecology-based conservation strategies; and (3) applying advanced genomic tools, including phylogeography, landscape genetics, and DNA barcoding, to inform preservation efforts, along with AI and machine learning approaches to manage large datasets and predict physiological responses to environmental stresses. We particularly welcome studies that integrate field ecology with molecular approaches, as well as research bridging traditional knowledge systems with contemporary conservation science. Submissions may include original research articles, reviews, and methodological advances.
We invite researchers from diverse disciplines, including ecology, genetics, ethnobotany, and conservation biology, to contribute their expertise to this important dialogue. Your work will help shape our collective understanding of these pressing challenges and contribute to the development of science-based strategies for sustainable utilization.
Dr. Mario A. Pagnotta
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- economic plant conservation
- sustainable plant utilization
- genetic erosion monitoring
- AI-assisted plant conservation
- medicinal plants
- ornamental plants
- wild crop relatives
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