Conservation and Utilization of Orchids
Orchidaceae, comprising approximately 31,000 species in more than 700 genera, is one of the most diverse families of flowering plants. Orchids are renowned for their extraordinary evolutionary innovations, including highly specialized floral structures, unique life forms such as epiphytism and mycoheterotrophy, and intricate ecological interactions with pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. These remarkable biological features led Darwin to regard orchids as an ‘evolutionary marvel’. Beyond their scientific importance, orchids also possess substantial ornamental, medicinal, cultural, and economic value. At the same time, Orchidaceae is one of the most conservation-concerned plant groups worldwide. The family has long been included in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is widely recognized as a flagship group for biodiversity conservation.
In recent years, major advances in phylogeny, genomics, evolutionary biology, molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying traits, conservation biology, and horticultural utilization have greatly expanded our understanding of orchids. To deepen the understanding of the complex evolution of orchids and to promote their conservation and utilization, we have defined the following themes for this Special Issue and welcome submissions related to these topics.
This Special Issue welcomes submissions related to orchid conservation and utilization, including but not limited to the following topics:
1. Genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolic regulation of Orchidaceae
2. Molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying ornamental traits in orchids
3. Bioactive compounds and the medicinal and edible utilization of orchids
4. Orchid–fungus interactions and mycorrhizal symbiosis
5. Orchid conservation biology, population restoration, and reintroduction
Guest Editors
Dr. Siren Lan, Professor College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China | Dr. Ye Ai, Associate Professor College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China | Dr. Chao Hu, Associate Researcher Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, China |
Submission Deadline
The deadline for manuscript submissions is December 31, 2026, although extensions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. All accepted papers will be published as open-access articles.
Submission Instructions
Please submit your manuscript to Ornamental Plant Research through our online submission system. When submitting, please select the appropriate topic for this Special Issue and indicate in your cover letter that the manuscript is intended for the Special Issue on Conservation and Utilization of Orchids. For further inquiries, please contact the guest editors:
Dr. Siren Lan (lkzx@fafu.edu.cn)
Dr. Ye Ai (aiye@fafu.edu.cn)
Dr. Chao Hu (huchao@csnbgsh.cn)
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