Chinese scientists have initiated a groundbreaking international megascience endeavor to sequence the genetic architecture of Earth’s major land plant lineages. The ambitious PLANeT project, formally inaugurated in Beijing this week, represents a collaborative effort between China’s Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen (AGIS), the Botanical Society of China, Peking University, and over 40 research institutions spanning 15 nations and territories.
This unprecedented botanical genomics initiative seeks to address a critical scientific gap: currently, over 99% of the estimated 450,000 land plant species lack high-quality reference genomes. Researchers will employ advanced phylogenomic methodologies to resolve evolutionary relationships and divergence timelines among all major plant groups, ultimately constructing a comprehensive ‘tree of life’ for global flora.
Dr. Wang Li, a principal investigator from AGIS, compared the project’s potential impact to the landmark Human Genome Project of the 1990s. ‘PLANeT shares a similar visionary approach to transforming our understanding of biological systems,’ Wang stated. The project will leverage artificial intelligence algorithms to process massive genomic datasets, enabling machines to identify conserved patterns and decipher what scientists describe as plants’ ‘common language’—the organizational logic of DNA sequences, regulatory elements, and functional modules.
Beyond fundamental scientific discovery, PLANeT promises substantial practical applications. By identifying genetic markers of vulnerability, the project will enhance conservation efforts for endangered species. Additionally, researchers will mine genomic data for genes associated with disease resistance, drought tolerance, and salt tolerance, accelerating the development of climate-resilient crops to address global food security challenges.
The initiative embodies open international scientific cooperation, aiming to reshape paradigms in life science research while delivering tangible solutions for ecological sustainability and human welfare.