The metabolism of tropical plants holds significant importance due to its essential roles in maintaining biodiversity, supporting global ecosystems, and facilitating human socioeconomic development. The distinctive biochemical pathways of these plants enable them to thrive in challenging environments, such as nutrient-poor soils and extreme climates, thereby positioning them as crucial contributors to carbon sequestration and ecological stability. Economically, these metabolic characteristics form the foundation of critical industries, ranging from pharmaceuticals to agriculture. Moreover, the evolutionary advancements of tropical plants serve as a source of inspiration for biotechnological innovations in synthetic biology and the engineering of climate-resilient crops. Consequently, the study of tropical plant metabolism provides valuable insights and solutions for food security, drug discovery, and climate adaptation, while also preserving the genetic diversity of the planet's most biodiverse regions. This special issue will concentrate on the following key aspects:

1. Harnessing synthetic biology to decode and engineer tropical metabolic pathways

2. Elucidating the metabolic mechanisms underlying agronomic traits of tropical plants

3. Exploring bioactive compounds in tropical plants for medicinal use

4. Deciphering the metabolic mechanisms of stress resistance in tropical plants

We look forward to receiving your contributions and further advancing our knowledge involved in tropical plant metabolism.

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Yong Xiao, Hainan University, China

Prof. Dr. Wei Xia, Hainan University, China

Dr. Honglun Yuan, Hainan University, China

Dr. Zhuang Yang, Hainan University, China

Dr. Junjie Zhou, Yazhouwan National Laboratory, China

Submission Deadline

The deadline for manuscript submission is June 30, 2026. However, we can accommodate extensions on a case-by-case basis. All papers will be published as open access articles upon acceptance.

Submission Instruction

Please submit the full manuscript to Tropical Plants via our Online Submission System. All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors for submission of manuscripts is available on the For Authors page.

Additionally, please choose the topic of this Special Issue when submitting, and mention it in your cover letter. For further inquiries, please contact the Guest Editors:

Prof. Dr. Yong Xiao (xiaoyong_coconut@163.com)

Prof. Dr. Wei Xia (saizjxiawei@hainanu.edu.cn)

Dr. Honglun Yuan (yuanhonglun@hotmail.com)

Dr. Zhuang Yang (yangzhuang@hainanu.edu.cn)

Dr. Junjie Zhou (sand_zhou@hainanu.edu.cn)