New Systematic Review on the Impact of Climate Change on Plant Phenology

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new review paper in Frontiers in Plant Science, titled “Investigating the Impact of Climate Change on Plant Phenology.” Led by Juliana Osorio-Marín and Nicolas Cobo from the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco, Chile, a team of researchers including Eike Luedeling and Eduardo Fernandez reviewed the evidence on the intricate relationship between climate dynamics and plant life cycle events.
The team sifted through more than 1700 papers published between 2000 and 2023, finding overwhelming evidence of pronounced shifts in the timing and duration of key plant phenological events in response to changing climatic conditions. Notably, phenomena such as flowering and fruiting exhibit discernible changes, with implications extending to agricultural systems and ecosystem dynamics. Furthermore, the paper discusses the broader implications of these findings for biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices. By comprehensively understanding the mechanisms underlying climate-induced changes in plant phenology, researchers and policymakers can formulate targeted strategies to mitigate potential adverse effects and bolster the resilience of fruit production systems. Research in this area needs to be strengthened considerably, however, for this adaptation process to happen smoothly.
The paper summarizes our understanding of climate change impacts on tree fruit production. It underscores the importance of continued scientific inquiry and collaborative efforts to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and its ramifications for global ecosystems.
The full study, which appeared in Frontiers in Plant Science, can be accessed here.