Climate change and plant genomic plasticity

Genomes adapt via mutations, transposable elements, DNA structural changes, and epigenetics. Genome plastic-ity enhances fitness by providing the genetic variation necessary for organisms to adapt their traits and survive, which isespecially critical during rapid climate shifts. This plasticity often stems from genome instability, which facilitates signifi-cant genomic alterations like duplications or deletions. While potentially harmful initially, these changes increase geneticdiversity, aiding adaptation. Major genome reorganizations arise from polyploidization and horizontal gene transfer, bothlinked to instability. Plasticity and restructuring can modify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), contributing to adaptation.Tools like landscape genomics identify climate-selected regions, resurrection ecology reveals past adaptive responses, andpangenome analysis examines a species’ complete gene set. Signatures of past selection include reduced diversity and allelefrequency shifts. Gene expression plasticity allows environmental adaptation without genetic change through mechanismslike alternative splicing, tailoring protein function. Co-opted transposable elements also generate genetic and regulatorydiversity, contributing to genome evolution. This review consolidates these findings, repositioning genome instability not asa mere source of random error but as a fundamental evolutionary engine that provides the rapid adaptive potential requiredfor plant survival in the face of accelerating climate change.