Plant Genetic Diversity and Molecular Evolution

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1337

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
Interests: plant genetics; population genetics; molecular evolution; phylogeography; conservation genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
Interests: plant pathology; bioinformatics; mycology; conservation genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Planetarium Complex, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
Interests: plant biotechnology; soil fertility; plant breeding; plant physiology; agriculture; crop science; plant biology; plant tissue culture; abiotic stress tolerance; plant genetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant genetic diversity and molecular evolution are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms that drive adaptation, speciation, and resilience in plant populations. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the genetic and evolutionary processes shaping plant diversity across various ecological and evolutionary contexts. We welcome studies employing molecular and genomic approaches to explore the following topics: (1) the evolutionary dynamics of plant genomes, including structural variations, gene duplications, and adaptive mutations; (2) phylogenetic and population genomic insights into plant diversification, biogeography, and adaptation to extreme environments; (3) conservation genetics and strategies for preserving genetic resources in response to habitat fragmentation and climate change; and (4) the functional and evolutionary significance of genetic diversity in shaping plant traits, ecological interactions, and long-term adaptability. We also welcome contributions beyond these topics, as long as they provide novel insights into plant genetic diversity or molecular evolution. By integrating findings from comparative genomics, phylogenetics, and evolutionary biology, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive view of plant genetic diversity and its implications for biodiversity, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem resilience.

Prof. Dr. Yu-Chung Chiang
Dr. Ya-Zhu Ko
Guest Editors

Dr. Annamalai Muthusamy
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • genetic diversity
  • molecular evolution
  • genome evolution
  • phylogenomics
  • adaptive evolution
  • population genetics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3366 KB  
Article
Patterns of Genetic and Clonal Diversity in Myriophyllum spicatum in Streams and Reservoirs of Republic of Korea
by Eun-Hye Kim, Kang-Rae Kim, Mi-Hwa Lee, Jaeduk Goh and Jeong-Nam Yu
Plants 2025, 14(17), 2648; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172648 - 26 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Myriophyllum spicatum is a globally distributed aquatic plant capable of sexual and clonal reproduction. Despite its ecological importance and biochemical potential, studies on its genetic and clonal structure in freshwater systems throughout South Korea remain limited. We investigated the genetic and clonal diversity [...] Read more.
Myriophyllum spicatum is a globally distributed aquatic plant capable of sexual and clonal reproduction. Despite its ecological importance and biochemical potential, studies on its genetic and clonal structure in freshwater systems throughout South Korea remain limited. We investigated the genetic and clonal diversity of M. spicatum using 30 newly developed microsatellite markers across 120 individuals from six freshwater systems in South Korea. Overall, 148 alleles were identified, with an average polymorphism information content value of 0.530. Clonal diversity differed among populations, with the genotypes to individuals (G/N) ratio ranging from 0.200 to 1.000. Bottlenecks and clonal dominance were observed in riverine populations. High genetic differentiation (mean FST = 0.556) indicated limited gene flow, and STRUCTURE analysis revealed six distinct genetic clusters. No significant correlation was found between genetic and geographic distance, suggesting possible seed dispersal by waterfowl, particularly between adjacent populations. Genetic structure was shaped by habitat type, disturbance intensity, and reproductive strategy. Stable reservoir habitats favored sexual reproduction and higher genetic diversity, whereas disturbed river systems showed clonal dominance and reduced variation. These findings provide essential genetic insights for conservation planning and sustainable management of aquatic plant resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Genetic Diversity and Molecular Evolution)
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19 pages, 5629 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of G3BP Family in U’s Triangle Brassica Species and Analysis of Its Expression in B. napus
by Alain Tseke Inkabanga, Qiheng Zhang, Shanshan Wang, Yanni Li, Jingyi Chen, Li Huang, Xiang Li, Zihan Deng, Xiao Yang, Mengxin Luo, Lingxia Peng, Keran Ren, Yourong Chai and Yufei Xue
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142247 - 21 Jul 2025
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Abstract
The RasGAP SH3 domain binding protein (G3BP) is a highly conserved family of proteins in eukaryotic organisms that coordinates signal transduction and post-transcriptional gene regulation and functions in the formation of stress granules. G3BPs have important roles in abiotic/biotic stresses in mammals, and [...] Read more.
The RasGAP SH3 domain binding protein (G3BP) is a highly conserved family of proteins in eukaryotic organisms that coordinates signal transduction and post-transcriptional gene regulation and functions in the formation of stress granules. G3BPs have important roles in abiotic/biotic stresses in mammals, and recent research suggests that they have similar functions in higher plants. Brassica contains many important oilseeds, vegetables, and ornamental plants, but there are no reports on the G3BP family in Brassica species. In this study, we identified G3BP family genes from six species of the U’s triangle (B. rapa, B. oleracea, B. nigra, B. napus, B. juncea, and B. carinata) at the genome-wide level. We then analyzed their gene structure, protein motifs, gene duplication type, phylogeny, subcellular localization, SSR loci, and upstream miRNAs. Based on transcriptome data, we analyzed the expression patterns of B. napus G3BP (BnaG3BP) genes in various tissues/organs in response to Sclerotinia disease, blackleg disease, powdery mildew, dehydration, drought, heat, cold, and ABA treatments, and its involvement in seed traits including germination, α-linolenic acid content, oil content, and yellow seed. Several BnaG3BP DEGs might be regulated by BnaTT1. The qRT-PCR assay validated the inducibility of two cold-responsive BnaG3BP DEGs. This study will enrich the systematic understanding of Brassica G3BP family genes and lay a molecular basis for the application of BnaG3BP genes in stress tolerance, disease resistance, and quality improvement in rapeseed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Genetic Diversity and Molecular Evolution)
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