Unveiling Nature's Architecture: Geometric Morphometrics as an Analytical Tool in Plant Biology.

IF 4 2区生物学 Q1 PLANT SCIENCES

Plants-Basel Pub Date : 2025-03-05 DOI:10.3390/plants14050808

Federica Spani, Vittoria Locato, Laura De Gara

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Geometric morphometrics (GMM) is an advanced morphometric method enabling quantitative analysis of shape and size variations in biological structures. Through high-resolution imaging and mathematical algorithms, GMM provides valuable insights into taxonomy, ecology, and evolution, making it increasingly relevant in plant science. This review synthesizes the existing literature and explores methodological details, research questions, and future directions, establishing a strong foundation for further study in plant biology. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a rigorous literature search finally identified 83 studies for review. The review organized data on plant species, organs studied, GMM objectives, and methodological aspects, such as imaging and landmark positioning. Leaf and flower structures emerged as the most frequently analyzed organs, primarily in studies of shape variations. This review assesses the use of GMM in plant sciences, identifying knowledge gaps and inconsistencies, and suggesting areas for future research. By highlighting unaddressed topics and emerging trends, the review aims to guide researchers towards methodological challenges and innovations necessary for advancing the field.

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来源期刊

Plants-Basel Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

11.10%

发文量

2923

审稿时长

15.4 days

期刊介绍： Plants (ISSN 2223-7747), is an international and multidisciplinary scientific open access journal that covers all key areas of plant science. It publishes review articles, regular research articles, communications, and short notes in the fields of structural, functional and experimental botany. In addition to fundamental disciplines such as morphology, systematics, physiology and ecology of plants, the journal welcomes all types of articles in the field of applied plant science.