01/06/2026
How do plants survive changing seasons, extreme weather, and environmental stress?
Researchers have shed light on the diverse ways plants respond and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
The study focused on two liverwort species—Dumortiera hirsuta and Plagiochasma appendiculatum—growing in the same habitat in Meghalaya but separated by evolutionary history. Liverworts, small and often overlooked bioresources, are increasingly being recognised as valuable models for understanding plant evolution and adaptation. The findings show that plants can employ different strategies to cope with stress. Some rapidly reallocate resources from growth to survival, while others rely on gradual, long-term physiological adjustments that help them endure prolonged periods of stress.
These adaptive mechanisms allow plants to balance growth, reproduction, and survival in response to seasonal changes. The research highlights the remarkable flexibility of plant life and provides new insights into how plants naturally respond to environmental challenges. This study opens new possibilities for understanding how early land plants respond to environmental stress could inform efforts to develop climate-resilient crops.
Led by Dr. Yogesh Mishra, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, and Dr. Sushil Kumar Singh, Botanical Survey of India, Uttarakhand, the research has been published in Plant Molecular Biology Reporter (Springer Nature) and the Journal of Bryology. The work was carried out in collaboration with the Botanical Survey of India, North Eastern Hill University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, with support from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Online link of the study:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03736687.2026.2656827
