Whole genome sequencing analysis reveals strong reproductive isolation between two hybridizing Rhododendron species in subgenus Tsutsusi
January 2026
•Whole genome sequencing analysis reveal the first case of natural hybridization in Rhododendron subgenus Tsutsusi in China.•Most examined Rhododendronstrigosum plants (putatively hybrid origin) were...
Root structural remodeling under soil compaction for herbaceous plants
January 2026
Soil compaction often imposes stress on root development and plant survival. However, root anatomical responses that enable persistent root growth and functioning under soil compaction remain unclear....
Complex plastome structural variation caused by intermolecular and intramolecular recombination accounts for leaf variegation in Heptapleurum ellipticum
January 2026
Plastome variation, including single spontaneous nucleotide substitutions and single insertions/deletions, is the major source of leaf variegation in plants. Additionally, one recent study has showed...
Boechera or not? Genomic insights and taxonomic reassessment of the misclassified Asian species B. calcarea (Brassicaceae)
January 2026
The genus Boechera (Brassicaceae) serves as a model system for studying apomictic reproduction and ecological adaptations, with most species occurring in North America. The rare occurrence of Boechera...
Climatic adaptation and phylogenetic history shape the intra-specific variation of CSR strategies in a widespread grass
January 2026
The competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal strategy (CSR) framework has been widely applied to explain ecological processes across species. However, its utility in revealing intra-specific trade-offs...
The advantage of low leafing intensity under water limitation: An illustrative study of Populus euphratica in hyper-arid climates
January 2026
The trade-off between leaf size and leafing intensity (i.e., the number of leaves per unit stem size) is a key axis of trait covariation across the diversity of plant foliage deployment. However, the...
Co-invasion of three invasive alien plants increases plant taxonomic diversity and community invasibility
January 2026
Alien species from the Asteraceae family frequently invade native plant communities. This study aims to determine how the number of Asteraceae species (i.e., Erigeron canadensis, E. annuus, and Solidago...
Mycorrhizal communities in Orchidaceae are likely shaped by plant trophic mode and biogeography but not phylogeny
January 2026
Mycorrhizal symbioses are prevalent in terrestrial ecosystems and play essential roles in plant nutrition and health. However, the relative importance of plant evolutionary history, physiology, and...
Unraveling the invasion patterns of Galinsoga quadriradiata in mountain ranges: Insights from human activities, phenotypic and genetic variations
January 2026
Prevention of biological invasion requires understanding how alien species invade native communities. Although studies have identified mechanisms that underlie plant invasion in some habitats, limited...
Spatially biased collections and the failure to cover all wild genetic clusters in plant populations under ex situ conservation
January 2026
Successful ex situ conservation of plant populations requires a high degree of genetic representativeness. However, spatially biased sampling in ex situ conservation efforts may fail to capture all...
The SLOSS debate in fragmented grasslands: A multi-dimensional biodiversity perspective
January 2026
Conservationists have long debated whether fragmented habitats are best conserved by protecting a single large patch (SL) or several small patches (SS), i.e., the SLOSS debate. Although this SLOSS debate...
Unravelling tree diversity patterns and responses to environmental gradients in a tropical forest landscape of the Western Ghats
January 2026
Understanding spatial patterns of plant species diversity and the factors (e.g., climate and human) that drive these patterns is essential for biodiversity conservation. We used data from 170 0.1-ha...
Divergence of mating systems in Primula oreodoxa: Insights from transplant experiments and mating portfolios
January 2026
Transitioning from outcrossing to self-fertilization is a widespread reproductive strategy in plants, especially in environments where pollination is limited. Despite its prevalence, this transition...
Dendrogenomic resilience mechanisms of two endangered Mexican spruces
January 2026
Forest ecosystems worldwide can be affected by extreme climatic events. Trees respond to these occurrences in multidimensional ways, involving various mechanisms, to deal with the effects and restore...
Dissecting mitogenomic conflict to illuminate angiosperm deep phylogeny: Sequence and architectural evidence
January 2026
Deep relationships in the angiosperm tree of life remain highly controversial. To address this, we first assembled the complete mitochondrial genomes for Ceratophyllum demersum and Chloranthus sessilifolius,...
Integrative analysis of plastome, single-copy nuclear gene Pgk1 and SLAF-seq data uncovers multiple-origin and introgression history in polyploid Agropyron cristatum
January 2026
Elucidating the origins and mechanisms of polyploidization requires tracing the evolutionary history of polyploid species, particularly those with complex origins. Agropyron cristatum, traditionally...
Responses of root exudates to phosphorus-rich patches in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest and their module affiliation in the trait network
Available online 20 January 2026
Root exudation-related traits are crucial for a plant acquiring spatially heterogeneous soil phosphorus (P) resources. Integrating root exudation traits into root trait networks reveals plant foraging...
Stand structural attributes exert stronger and scale-dependent control on forest biomass than tree diversity across typical forest ecosystems in China
Available online 14 January 2026
Understanding how biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships scale spatially and temporally remains critical under global change. Here, using continuous monitoring databases across temperate,...
Resequencing of 284 genomes reveals evolutionary history and hotspot of genetic diversity of the giant bamboos
Available online 8 January 2026
The Dendrocalamus giganteus complex comprises D. giganteus, D. calostachyus and D. sinicus, being the largest known, iconic bamboo species and is economically, ecologically and culturally significant...
Chromosome-level genome assembly of Tadehagi triquetrum provides new insights into genome evolution and biosynthesis of tadehaginoside
Available online 6 January 2026
Tadehagi triquetrum is a leguminous medicinal plant widely used in Lingnan traditional Chinese medicine. Its major bioactive compound, tadehaginoside, shows anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-atherosclerotic...
Humboldtia Vahl – An under-utilised, under-researched, and vulnerable tree genus endemic to the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot
Available online 6 January 2026
•Humboldtia, is a scientifically valuable yet underexplored endemic genus from the Western Ghats – Sri Lanka Biodiversity hotspot.•Comprising just eight species, all of which are under threat of extinction,...
A Palearctic divide, niche conservatism and host-fungal endophyte interactions shaped the phylogeography of the grass Brachypodium sylvaticum
Available online 5 January 2026
Brachypodium sylvaticum is a perennial woodland grass selected as a model species for perenniality, which is widely distributed across the Palearctic. This plant forms a symbiosis with the endophytic...
Distinct intraspecific trait variations in two moss species: Insights from a latitudinal investigation across 66 coastal islands
Available online 2 January 2026
As a non-negligible component of functional trait diversity, intraspecific trait variation (ITV) represents a direct response of local populations to environmental change and significantly influences...
Exploring the evolutionary landscape of mitochondrial genomes in the sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Available online 30 December 2025
Asteraceae, the largest family of flowering plants, comprises more than 26,000 species worldwide, many of which serve as crops, medicinal herbs, and ornamentals. While substantial genomic resources...
Genomic insights into alpine plant adaptation
Available online 26 December 2025
Alpine plants persist in some of the harshest terrestrial environments, where low temperatures, high ultraviolet radiation, and short growing seasons impose strong selective pressures. Recent advances...