Exploring the Evolutionary Dynamics and Ecological Roles of Secondary Metabolite Gene Clusters in Non-Model and Extreme Environment Plants

Secondary metabolites play essential roles in plant adaptation, defense, and ecological interactions, yet their evolutionary dynamics and functional significance remain underexplored, particularly in non-model plants and extreme environments. The ability of plants to synthesize a vast array of specialized metabolites has long fascinated researchers, as these compounds contribute to plant resilience against abiotic stresses, pathogen defense, and interactions with mutualists. However, the mechanisms driving the evolution and ecological relevance of secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGCs) in diverse and underexplored plant lineages remain poorly understood.

Recent advancements in genomics and metabolomics have opened new avenues for studying plant chemodiversity across a wide range of ecological settings. In non-model and extremophile plant species, secondary metabolites often exhibit unique structural diversity and adaptive significance, yet their biosynthetic pathways and genetic regulation remain largely unknown. By integrating comparative genomics, molecular biology, evolutionary analysis, and ecological perspectives, researchers are now uncovering how SMGCs evolve, diversify, and contribute to plant fitness in harsh environments. Understanding these dynamics is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, as shifting environmental pressures may influence secondary metabolite production and function, impacting plant survival and ecological interactions.

This Research Topic aims to address the molecular and evolutionary processes shaping SMGCs and their ecological roles in non-model and extreme environment plants. We welcome studies investigating:

- Comparative genomic and transcriptomic approaches to elucidate the evolutionary history and diversification of SMGCs across plant lineages.

- Metabolomic analyses to explore the chemodiversity of secondary metabolites in plants from extreme environments.

- Functional characterization of biosynthetic pathways, regulatory networks, and environmental cues influencing secondary metabolite production.

- Ecological and physiological roles of specialized metabolites in plant adaptation to abiotic stress and symbiotic interactions.

- Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and metabolomics to reconstruct and manipulate plant metabolic pathways.

By fostering discussions at the intersection of genomics, ecology, and plant metabolism, this collection seeks to advance our understanding of how secondary metabolite biosynthesis contributes to plant fitness and adaptation. We encourage contributions from diverse disciplines, including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological advancements, to provide a comprehensive view of the genetic, molecular, and ecological foundations of secondary metabolism in plants.

Authors investigating plant metabolic diversity and its role in adaptation and ecological function are invited to contribute their research and perspectives to this Research Topic. Those uncertain about the suitability of their work are encouraged to contact the editors to discuss potential contributions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: secondary metabolite gene clusters, plant chemodiversity, extreme environment adaptation, comparative genomics and metabolomics, evolution of specialized metabolism

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.