Epitaxial oxide plugs are described for imposing strain on a channel region of a proximate channel region of a transistor. The oxide plugs form epitaxial and coherent contact with one or more source and drain regions adjacent to the strained channel region. The epitaxial oxide plugs can be used to either impart strain to an otherwise unstrained channel region (e.g., for a semiconductor body that is unstrained relative to an underlying buffer layer), or to restore, maintain, or increase strain within a channel region of a previously strained semiconductor body. The epitaxial crystalline oxide plugs have a perovskite crystal structure in some embodiments.