Climate change and global emissions are among the greatest challenges of our time. The formulation of the "Copenhagen Accord" on December 18th, 2009, highlights the commitment of human beings to take every measure to win the battle. One of the essential steps is to radically transform the current energy systems, which heavily relies on the fossil fuel reserves, to bioenergy, the energy derived from plants. Surely it is an indispensible component of the future energy solution and promises to be a renewable, environmentally friendly alternative energy source.

Bioenergy development and its use is a complex issue. Current bioenergy strategies based on the implementation of the first generation biofuels are still in their infancy and have been criticised for their adverse impacts on environment, food security and land use. The second generation biofuels are now under development from a much broader range of feedstocks based on cellulose. The third generation biofuels are in the agenda for development which aims to design fuels from algae. Thus, bioenergy research continues at an unprecedented rate, and it is essential to make that research communities fully realise the potential of bioenergy.

In attempting to keep abreast the state-of-the-art research and development of bioenergy plants, the JIPB special issue on "Bioenergy Plants" aims to provide a collection of review articles, original research and short commentaries to cover the latest advances in studies aiming at transforming biomass into a global energy resource. We welcome papers addressing the exploitation of the genetic diversity and variation of bioenergy plants, regulation of biomass production and bioenergy traits as well as tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Special attention will be paid to articles on the development of cutting edge technologies in molecular genetics, omics and metabolic engineering for bioenergy research.

The scope of the issue will include, but is not limited to:

●      Development and assessment of plants for bioenergy

●      Biomass production and bioenergy traits

●      Tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresse

●      Genomics of bioenergy plants

●      Molecular breeding and biotechnology

Most of the papers will be invited by our issue editors, but unsolicited papers related to the topic are also welcome. All papers will be initially screened by the issue editors, and then send out for peer reviews in accordance with the procedures of "Journal of Integrative Plant Biology". All articles in this special issue will be published for free and Open Access and hence will benefit from highest exposure. Authors interested to submit to the special issue may consult: www.jipb.net, and to indicate in the cover letter for "Special Issue on Bioenergy Plants".

Journal of Integrative Plant Biology (JIPB) is a monthly peer-reviewed journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. Established in 1952 and sponsored by Botanical Society of China, it reports the latest discoveries in plant biology. JIPB is currently available in over 7,800 libraries worldwide and indexed by 45 databases such as PubMed, SCI, Google Scholar, CA, BA and BIOSIS. The journal has an extensive Open Access policy, which provides free online access to many of the articles published.

Issue editors:
Professor Martin Parry
Head, Plant Science Department
Rothamsted Research
West Common, Harpenden, HertsAL5 2JQ, UKE-mail: martin.parry@bbsrc.ac.uk

Professor Hai-Chun Jing
Centre for Bioenergy Plants Research and Developmrnt
Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan
Beijing 100093, Chin
E-mail: hcjing@ibcas.ac.cn

Important dates:
Expected publication date: January 2011
Submission deadline: August 30, 2010

JIPB issue assistant:
Johan Olausson 
Tel: +86 10 6283 6133
Fax: +86 10 8259 263
E-mail: jolausson@ibcas.ac.cn
http://www.jipb.net/

Contributing authors benefit from:

●      All articles in the special issue will be Open Access

●      All charges (page and color) will be waived by the journal

●      Two free copies

●      A focused topic

If you have any suggestions or comments for the special issue, please feel free to contract us at jipb@ibcas.ac.cn.

We look forward to receiving your submission.

 JIPB Editorial Office