This review summarizes current knowledge on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity (PP) in plants – the fundamental ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental variation.
Covering topics from reaction norm analysis and quantitative genetics to the molecular basis of flowering time control and ambient temperature perception, the authors provide a broad overview of how plasticity is studied, quantified, and understood at the mechanistic level. They also highlight how understanding plasticity in crop plants is becoming increasingly important in the face of environmental change and might be key to maintaining stable yields under increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.
This publication reflects the core research questions driving CRC 1644 and demonstrates the collaborative expertise within our consortium.
Read the article: Schneider R, Bäurle I, Nikoloski Z, Lenhard M (2026). Plant Phenotypic Plasticity: From Molecular Mechanisms to Breeding and Climate Change Adaptation. Annual Review of Plant Biology, Vol. 77. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-063025-111942