Evolution and Ecological Significance of Secondary Metabolite Gene Clusters in Non-Model and Extremophile Plants

Secondary metabolism in plants represents a critical area of research at the intersection of evolutionary biology, molecular genetics, and ecology. Secondary metabolites serve key roles in adaptation, defense, and plant–environment interactions, yet their evolutionary mechanisms and ecological significance remain insufficiently characterized, particularly in non-model and extremophile taxa. While modern genomics has revealed the widespread presence of secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGCs) across diverse lineages, the factors shaping their origin, diversification, and ecological function are still emergent. Recent studies integrating chemical profiling and genomic analysis have exposed novel biosynthetic pathways and structural innovations among plants thriving in extreme habitats, emphasizing the adaptive potential of specialized metabolites under environmental stressors. Despite these advancements, understanding how SMGCs evolve, are regulated, and contribute to plant resilience remains a major challenge, especially given the limited representation of non-model species in current genomic databases and the paucity of integrated eco-evolutionary frameworks.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the molecular, genomic, and ecological principles underlying the evolution and function of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in non-model and extreme-environment plants. It seeks to answer key questions such as: How do SMGCs originate and diversify across plant phylogenies? What selective pressures and regulatory networks drive their evolution? How do secondary metabolites mediate adaptation to abiotic stress and ecological interactions? By combining comparative genomics, metabolomics, molecular evolution, and systems biology, this Research Topic aspires to foster a comprehensive understanding of plant chemical diversity as a driver of ecological success and evolutionary innovation.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses studies on the evolution, regulation, and ecological implications of secondary metabolite pathways in underexplored plant species and environments. To gather further insights into the molecular and ecological bases of plant secondary metabolism, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Comparative genomics and phylogenomics of secondary metabolite gene clusters across diverse plant lineages.- Metabolomic profiling and structural diversity of secondary metabolites in extremophile and non-model plants.- Functional characterization of biosynthetic genes and regulatory mechanisms linking metabolism to environmental adaptation.- Evolutionary and ecological roles of secondary metabolites in plant defense, symbiosis, and stress tolerance.- Computational, synthetic, and integrative approaches for reconstructing and engineering plant metabolic networks.- Effects of climate-driven environmental changes on plant chemodiversity and metabolite-driven ecological interactions.We encourage submissions including original research, reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers that advance the integration of molecular evolution, ecology, and metabolism in plant science. Topic editors: Renata Rivera-Madrid, Gianfranco Diretto, Jose Alberto Narvaez-Zapata Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/70800/evolution-and-ecological-significance-of-secondary-metabolite-gene-clusters-in-non-model-and-extremophile-plants