Polish scientists reveal rapid plant evolution limits amid climate crisis

Researchers from the University of Warsaw participated in the international GrENE‑net experiment, planting thousands of radish (Raphanus sativus) specimens across 43 garden sites on three continents. The study tracked genetic changes over several generations and showed that evolution can occur within a few generations, especially under similar climatic pressures.

Dr. hab. Maciej Wódkiewicz explained that the goal was to determine whether rapid evolutionary adaptation could help species survive a rapidly changing climate. While the plants demonstrated a high pace of evolutionary change, the results also identified critical climate thresholds beyond which even fast adaptation would not prevent population collapse, highlighting limits to nature's rescue capacity.