Integrative Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis for Understanding Plant Responses to Environmental and Developmental Conditions

Over millions of years, higher plants have evolved and adapted to exhibit intricate responses to environmental changes and developmental signals, which are manifested through shifts in metabolism and gene expression. The secondary metabolites in higher plants are biosynthesized to address various biotic and abiotic stresses, aiding in adaptation to environmental and developmental challenges. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, along with their integration, can delve deeply into the physiological adaptations and survival strategies of plants, helping to identify suitable varieties to cope with biotic and abiotic stress. Understanding of metabolomic intrinsic roles in plants and their application to crop management and improvement are as-yet unexploited areas. For instance, examining the response of Adiantum to varying water conditions and the impact of red light on secondary metabolites in Huangjinya green tea highlights the utility of comprehensive data to enhance plant resilience and performance.

This research topic seeks to apply integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches to uncover the complex responses of plants to environmental and developmental stimuli.

The goal is to decipher the biological processes that underpin plant adaptability and growth, ensuring resilience under harsh climatic conditions while meeting the increasing demands for high-quality food and feed.

To gather further insights into this critical area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Analyzing metabolomic profiles altered due to environmental and biotic stresses.
• Exploring transcriptomic shifts during developmental phases to underpin the metabolomic influence for adaptation.
• Understanding the relationship between metabolomic and transcriptomic dynamics.
• Unravelling the mechanisms that control secondary metabolite biosynthesis regulation and biofunction.

We aim to translate these insights into practical strategies for improving plant adaptability, quality, yield, and agronomic traits in constant dynamic challenges.