Integrating Strategies, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Technology within the Area of Omics and Biology for Wild Plant Conservation: Monitoring and Applications

The world’s plant diversity is remarkably rich, thriving with remarkable resilience through persistent growth. However, numerous internal and external factors disrupt normal plant reproduction and forest ecosystem stability, making effective conservation of wild plant species essential for safeguarding global ecological security. Governments worldwide have established policy frameworks and strategic support for plant conservation, integrating ecological and biosafety considerations into national core strategies. Based on current technological advancements and practical applications in plant protection, plant conservation has evolved from mere pest management into a systematic discipline that integrates life sciences, information technology, ecological engineering, and policy governance. This advancement ensures the irreplaceable role of plant conservation within ecological redlines continues to strengthen. Consequently, developing sustainable plant conservation strategies and technological innovations has become paramount.

The purpose of this thematic issue is to solicit articles related to plant conservation through strategies, theories, methods, and practices in omics and biotechnology. The detection of threats through integrated strategies — combining artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and various applicable biotechnologies — as influenced by climate, ecological environment, and biological interactions in wild plant conservation, aims to compile discussions, methodologies, and expertise. For instance, the integration of AI-powered monitoring and big data analysis for the detection of biodiversity patterns and omics data in the area of plant conservation provides robust intelligent support. By combining traditional conservation techniques with advanced biotechnologies — such as gene editing for genetic rescue, microbiome regulation in ex situ collections, remote sensing-based early warning systems for invasive species, and integrated conservation technologies — the transition toward precision conservation is being accelerated. This special issue seeks to offer researchers and practitioners in plant conservation valuable insights for field applications, technological development, and sustainable practices.

The scope of this Research Topic includes studies on the conservation of wild plants from the aspects of conservation theory, methodologies, biological and omics technologies, and intelligent big data detection. Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

- Strategies, technologies, and practical applications for the omics-based and biotechnological conservation of wild plant resources, both indoors and outdoors;
- Integration of biotechniques with big data and artificial intelligence in monitoring, phenological observation, greenhouse cultivation, and early warning systems for invasive species;
- Applications of conservation genomics and gene editing technologies in plant population genetics, species restoration, and the control of diseases and insect pests;
- Migration strategies and ex situ conservation approaches for unique wild plant species, along with habitat restoration methods;
- Preventive conservation biotechniques and omics mechanisms for fostering interactions between wild plant populations and microecological communities;
- Investigating chemical modifications such as histone modification, which affect gene expression levels, DNA replication, and repair, in order to identify methods for detecting plant pathogens and developing protective genes;
- Utilizing genotypic molecular marker technology to investigate the breeding of disease-resistant and protective plant varieties;
- Employing transcriptomic technologies and gene expression profiling to investigate the mechanisms underlying plant physiology and biological protection;
- Utilizing genomics technologies to investigate the interaction patterns between plants and pests/diseases, thereby formulating strategies and practices for plant protection;
- Developing sustainable growth, development, production, and environmental improvement in plant protection through genomics technologies;
- Other topics related to this Research Topic.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... 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
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Climate change, Environmental ecology, Conservation technology, Molecular biology, AI in conservation, Invasive species management, Monitoring and Detection, Omics and Gene Editing, Prevention of Pests and Diseases

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.