The angiosperm family Cactaceae, a member of the Caryophyllales, is a large and diverse group of stem succulents comprising 1438-1870 species within approximately 130 genera predominantly distributed from northern Canada to Patagonia. Four centers of diversity from Central and North America (Chihuahua, Puebla- Oaxaca, Sonora-Sinaloan, and Jalisco) and three centers of diversity from South America (Southern Central Andes, Caatinga, and Mara Atlantica) have played a pivotal role in disbursing cacti around the globe. Mexico is considered the richest area in cacti species with close to 563 species grouped into 50 genera. Approximately 118 species have been domesticated by Mesoamerican people as food crops and for ornamental purposes. Cacti inhabit a wide range of ecosystems and climate regions, ranging from tropical to subtropical and from arid to semiarid regions. Species belonging to the genus Opuntia are the major food crop producers in the family. Cacti have derived characteristics from familial synapomorphies within the Caryophyllales. Reproduction occurs through pollination facilitated by birds, bats, bees, and other insects. Climate variability, whether natural or human-induced threatens global crop production including high temperatures, salinity, drought, flood, changes in soil pH, and urbanization. Cacti have several adaptations that are important for coping with abiotic stresses, such as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM photosynthesis), as well as modifications to root and stem physiological pathways. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of the fruit crops in Cactaceae, including their evolution, worldwide distribution, and the environmental factors impacting cultivation.

Understanding how East Asian subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) have evolved over time is not only vital for biodiversity conservation but also facilitates predictive modeling of ecosystem services under global change scenarios. During recent decades, numerous studies have been devoted to investigating the evolution of EBLFs. However, there are often contradictory interpretations of the different taxa associated with different geological events and environmental backgrounds. Here, we synthesize several key aspects of the spatiotemporal evolution of EBLFs. First, the EBLFs emerged concomitantly with the development of Asian monsoon systems, occurring no earlier than the Eocene. While the southernmost region was inhabited by tropical elements, EBLFs are not the direct relic of boreotropical flora because of the presence of a broad arid belt at that time. Rather, they represent a unique assemblage including boreotropical relics, tropical floras and deciduous broad-leaved forests. Second, the evolution of EBLFs should not be contextualized within an enclave, the adjacent vegetation systems to elucidate the potential connections between EBLFs and other biomes should be considered to avoid an isolated phenomenon. Third, the adaptive response of EBLFs to environmental changes caused by anthropogenic disturbance in subtropical regions remains understudied. Such a knowledge gap must be addressed to develop effective conservation strategies to sustain the ecosystem amid the dual pressure of climate change and human activity in the future. Finally, current research has predominantly focused on the dominant tree species in EBLFs, whereas comprehensive understanding requires expanding the investigation of associated flora, including understory trees and herbaceous plants. This review not only consolidates contemporary perspectives on the evolution of EBLFs but also proposes a framework to navigate the Anthropocene challenges. By bridging historical patterns with future projections, we aim to catalyze transformative research on EBLFs’ resilience and sustainable management, fostering further research and development regarding the resurgence.

The Pan-Himalaya, known as the “Roof of the World”, forms a natural geographic unit covering the entire range of the Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains in addition to Karakorum and the northeastern extreme of Hindu Kush. The region possesses three biodiversity hotspots and harbors a rich and distinctive flora. Here, we review the history of plant diversity surveys and monographic studies in the region. The contributions of outstanding collectors of Pan-Himalaya are also reviewed, as well as the ongoing international project on the Flora of Pan-Himalaya (FPH). As the main concern of the present review, we showed that the development of botanic survey is uneven among different areas in the Pan-Himalaya region, and that a special concern should be given to northern Myanmar and Yarlung Zangbo–Brahmaputra.

Plant miRNAs exhibit a dynamic and complex evolutionary landscape. Despite their rapid turnover, miRNAs play crucial roles in regulating key biological processes, underscoring their functional significance even when evolutionarily transient. This review explores the phenomenon of miRNA turnover through a comprehensive survey of miRNA conservation across land plants. We discuss how de novo miRNAs overcome challenges such as transcriptional activation, structural requirements for biogenesis, and functional integration into gene regulatory networks. Furthermore, we review the mechanisms of miRNA origination, including inverted duplication of target genes, derivation from retrotransposons or DNA transposons, spontaneous evolution, and a newly proposed mechanism through template switching mutations. Duplication of existing miRNAs plays a significant role in miRNA family expansion, driving the functional diversification and strengthening regulatory networks. While the phenomenon of miRNA loss has been preliminarily explored, its mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. To address this, we proposed three detailed steps to advance research into miRNA loss. This review provides an integrated perspective on the gain, expansion, and loss of plant miRNAs, offering insights into their evolutionary and biological significance.