Hormonal crosstalk and physiological phenotyping in plant responses to combined abiotic and biotic stresses: a multi-omics perspective

Plants in their natural environments rarely face a single type of stress. Instead, they experience overlapping or sequential abiotic stresses—such as drought, salinity, heat, cold, or nutrient imbalance—and biotic pressures from pathogens, insects, and weeds. These multifactorial conditions trigger complex molecular, hormonal, and physiological networks that can amplify or antagonize one another. Current knowledge of plant stress biology has advanced through studies on individual stressors, yet the integration of concurrent stress signals remains poorly understood. Important discoveries have highlighted the role of phytohormone networks—ABA, JA, SA, ethylene, brassinosteroids, and auxin—in governing both the molecular regulation and the physiological outputs of plant stress responses. How these hormonal axes operate under concurrent stress combinations, and how they manifest as detectable phenotypic traits, remains a critical and underexplored knowledge gap.This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms governing plant adaptation to combined abiotic and biotic stresses through a unified systems approach. It places phytohormone signaling at the center of this effort, using integrative multi-omics and physiological phenotyping tools to resolve how specific hormonal networks mediate cross-protection or susceptibility, and how those molecular signals translate into measurable organismal traits. Contributors are encouraged to explore which regulatory hubs orchestrate tolerance trade-offs and how omics-driven discoveries can accelerate crop improvement. The ultimate goal is to uncover regulatory nodes in the hormone–metabolite–phenotype axis that can be targeted for stress-resilient crop design.This Research Topic focuses on the hormone–metabolite–phenotype axis as a unifying framework, bridging molecular mechanisms and measurable plant traits. It is designed to complement — not duplicate — collections that address microbiome ecology or computational network modeling under combined stresses.To gather further insights into stress integration across scales, this Research Topic will focus on molecular, hormonal, and physiological perspectives in crops and model plants. We welcome research addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:・Hormonal crosstalk and interference (ABA, SA, JA, ET, BR, auxin, cytokinins) in single and combined stress responses・Molecular mechanisms regulating transcriptional, post-translational, and epigenetic control of stress-responsive gene networks・Secondary metabolite reprogramming (phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, alkaloids) driven by hormonal signalling under combined stresses・Physiological phenotyping of hormone-linked stress responses: gas exchange, root architecture, chlorophyll fluorescence, oxidative stress markers, and biomass partitioning under combined stressor conditions・Multi-omics integration (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) linking hormonal dynamics to physiological outcomes・Hormone-targeted breeding strategies and chemical priming for combined-stress tolerance in crops and model species-------We welcome contributions from researchers across the field, and we are glad to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like early feedback on whether your planned manuscript fits the scope of this Research Topic, please write to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. A quick check at this stage helps confirm your work is a strong fit and can save you time later in the process.To take part, click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page, then confirm through the “Participate” link in the follow-up email. This lets us know to expect your contribution, keeps you informed of key deadlines, and gives you access to resources that guide you through submission. We would also be glad to talk with you about possible routes for support with the Article Processing Charge (APC).We look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant, cohesive Research Topic together. Topic editors: Muhammad Junaid Rao, Bingsong Zheng, Qurban Ali Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80689/hormonal-crosstalk-and-physiological-phenotyping-in-plant-responses-to-combined-abiotic-and-biotic-stresses-a-multi-omics-perspective