Genetic Rescue of Endangered Medicinal Plants for Climate Resilience: Integrating Conservation Genomics and Sustainable Restoration

Medicinal plants are considered extremely important globally in the field of medicine, pharmacological studies, and biodiversity preservation. Climate change, however, is leading to severe habitat loss and environmental disruption, making several species even more vulnerable. The genetic structure of small populations is characterized by low genetic variability and inbreeding, which makes it difficult for them to adapt to new environmental conditions. Current advances in the fields of conservation genomics, landscape genetics, seed conservation, assisted migration, and ecological restoration, however, can improve the ability of endangered medicinal plants to adapt to adverse conditions. However, studies linking genetic rescue and climate change adaptation are few, and the knowledge obtained must be translated into conservation practices. Multidisciplinary research will contribute to the conservation of genetic resources in medicinal plants.

Medicinal plants provide valuable materials for healthcare and medicine. However, many plant species are now in danger of extinction because of climate change, habitat loss, and many other negative factors. Climate change has many negative effects on these plants, such as droughts, high temperatures, wildfires, and more. Genetic rescue has emerged as a solution, providing new possibilities for increasing the genetic diversity of these plants. The purpose of this Research Topic is to focus on new scientific approaches toward the creation of climate-resilient plant populations. It aims to use genetic rescue, assisted gene flow, and recovery strategies for the conservation and enhancement of medicinal plant populations.

This Research Topic invites submissions of original research articles, reviews, mini reviews, perspectives, methods, and policy papers on innovative methods for conserving endangered medicinal plants affected by climate change. We welcome contributions in areas such as conservation genomics, population genetics, adaptive genetic variation, assisted gene flow, climate-resilient restoration, habitat connectivity, seed banking, cryopreservation, tissue culture, botanical gardens, ecological restoration, landscape genomics, computer-aided conservation planning, and community-based conservation. Studies on any medicinal plant species from different geographical areas (such as tropical, temperate, alpine, arid, island, and coastal ecosystems) are encouraged. Special interest will be given to interdisciplinary studies that combine genetics, climate adaptation, restoration ecology, ethnobotany, biotechnology, and conservation policy, with a focus on practical solutions for the preservation of medicinal plant diversity.

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, Genetic rescue, Endangered medicinal plants, Conservation genomics, Climate resilience, Assisted gene flow, Plant biodiversity, Restoration ecology, Seed banking, Sustainable conservation

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.