Integrating physiological and molecular mechanisms of crop adaptation to abiotic stress

Abiotic stress biology in crops encompasses responses to drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, waterlogging, heavy metals, and nutrient imbalance, either individually or in combination. These stresses disrupt growth, metabolism, reproduction, and yield, while climate change is increasing their frequency, intensity, and co-occurrence. Although advances in plant physiology and molecular biology have revealed important mechanisms of stress perception, signaling, and acclimation, major questions remain about how molecular regulation is translated into whole-plant performance. Recent studies have highlighted the roles of osmotic adjustment, ion homeostasis, antioxidant systems, hormone signaling, root system remodeling, gene regulation, protein dynamics, and epigenetic mechanisms. However, many investigations remain restricted to individual traits, species, stress conditions, or levels of biological organization, limiting the identification of broadly applicable principles. An integrated and comparative approach is therefore needed to connect physiological phenotypes with their molecular determinants and to support the development of climate-resilient crops.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms that enable crops to perceive, signal, tolerate, and recover from single or combined abiotic stresses. It will examine how stress-induced changes in whole-plant function are regulated by gene expression, protein activity, metabolic adjustment, hormone networks, regulatory pathways, and epigenetic processes. Studies may address stress responses across all developmental stages and crop species, including cereals, legumes, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, forages, and industrial crops. Particular emphasis will be placed on research that links physiological measurements with molecular analyses, establishes mechanistic relationships, compares responses across genotypes or species, or identifies processes with potential relevance to stress-resilience breeding and management.To gather further insights into integrated mechanisms of crop responses to abiotic stress across species, developmental stages, stress types, and levels of biological organization, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Stress perception, signal transduction, and regulatory networkso Osmotic adjustment, water relations, and cellular dehydration responseso Ion transport, mineral homeostasis, and nutrient stresso Photosynthesis, respiration, carbon allocation, and source–sink regulationo Antioxidant defense, redox signaling, and oxidative stresso Root architecture, rhizosphere interactions, and whole-plant resource acquisitiono Hormone biosynthesis, transport, crosstalk, and signalingo Transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and multi-omics approacheso Gene regulation, epigenetic mechanisms, and functional validationo Physiological and molecular responses to combined or sequential stresseso Comparative analyses across crop species, genotypes, or stress conditionso Integrative phenotyping and mechanistic modelingo Novel methods connecting physiological traits with molecular processesAppendix: Article types include original research articles, reviews, methods papers, and comparative studies. Integrative experimental designs are particularly encouraged, whereas purely descriptive studies and investigations focused exclusively on either physiology or molecular biology are not prioritized.-------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: Yong Deng, Ziggiju Mesenbet Birhanie, Guoliang Li, Hao Sun Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85202/integrating-physiological-and-molecular-mechanisms-of-crop-adaptation-to-abiotic-stress