Recent Advances in Knowledge of the Ecophysiological and Biochemical Traits of Wild and Horticultural Succulent Plants
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 344
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biodiversity; cacti; conservation biology; ecosystem functioning; functional ecology; global environmental change; natural resource management; plant ecophysiology; plant life cycle; stress tolerance; succulent species; sustainable development
Interests: plant ecophysiology; conservation biology; global environmental change; stress tolerance; restauration; epiphytes; photosynthesis; seed ecology
Interests: cacti; conservation biology; functional ecology; global warming; plant ecophysiology; seed ecology; stress tolerance; succulent species
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Succulent plants are among the most remarkable examples of evolutionary adaptation in the plant kingdom. While widely valued for their ornamental appeal, they are also distinguished by their ability to store water in specialized, enlarged cells. In addition to these structural adaptations, many succulent species have evolved diverse biochemical and physiological strategies that enable them to survive in a wide range of harsh environments. For instance, numerous succulents employ Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), a photosynthetic pathway that enhances water-use efficiency by minimizing transpiration under arid conditions.
In the context of increasing habitat heterogeneity, soil degradation, and climate change, expanding our knowledge of succulent species has become more important than ever. Understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying plant responses to abiotic and biotic stressors is essential for explaining how these plants survive and reproduce under challenging conditions. These insights are fundamental to key life-cycle stages—including seed germination, seedling establishment, growth, reproduction, and survival—as well as to understanding patterns of abundance and geographic distribution.
This Special Issue invites original research articles and comprehensive reviews highlighting recent advances in knowledge of the ecophysiological and biochemical traits of wild succulents and horticultural succulent plants. Contributions may address topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- Climate change;
- Ecology;
- Environmental heterogeneity;
- Functional ecology;
- Plant ecophysiology;
- Plant life cycle;
- Plant phytochemistry;
- Stress Tolerance.
Dr. José Luis Aragón-Gastélum
Dr. Claudia González-Salvatierra
Dr. Joel Flores
Guest Editors
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. Horticulturae 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 2200 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
- climate change
- ecology
- environmental heterogeneity
- functional ecology
- plant ecophysiology
- plant life cycle
- plant phytochemistry
- stress tolerance
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