Mechanistic Insights into Emerging biostimulants: Regulating Stress Resilience, Metabolic Pathways, and Quality in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Medicinal and aromatic plants are cultivated primarily for their specialised metabolites, including essential oils, phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenoids, which determine their pharmacological, sensory, and commercial value. Although biostimulants are increasingly used to improve plant productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, and tolerance to environmental stress, research in medicinal and aromatic plants has largely focused on established inputs such as seaweed extracts, humic substances, and generic plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Many studies assess growth, biomass, or stress survival without sufficiently linking these responses to metabolite biosynthesis, product quality, or mechanisms of action. Recent evidence from staple and horticultural crops indicates that nanobiostimulants, protein hydrolysates, peptide-based formulations, compost-derived humic-like substances, defined microbial consortia, and insect- or algae-derived extracts can influence nutrient uptake, redox regulation, hormone signalling, gene expression, and secondary metabolism. However, their effects remain insufficiently characterised across medicinal and aromatic plant species, cultivation systems, stress conditions, and target metabolites. A more integrated investigation is therefore needed to distinguish consistent biological effects from crop- and context-specific responses and to support reliable, quality-oriented applications.This Research Topic aims to consolidate original research and critical insights into the precise modes of action of emerging biostimulants in medicinal and aromatic plants. Rather than accepting purely observational or descriptive treatment comparisons, this topic explicitly focuses on studies that decipher underlying physiological, biochemical, molecular, microbial, and rhizosphere mechanisms. Submissions must go beyond reporting phenotypic or yield changes to link biostimulant application to pathway-level regulation of specialised metabolite biosynthesis, stress adaptation networks, essential-oil composition, or product quality. Studies investigating dose kinetics, formulation interactions, and environmental context are strongly encouraged, provided they offer mechanistic explanations for the observed biological outcomesTo gather further insights into the development and application of emerging biostimulants for medicinal and aromatic plants, this Research Topic will focus on relevant plant species, cultivation systems, developmental stages, and environmental conditions, with particular emphasis on links between biostimulant treatments and specialised metabolite quality. We welcome original research and review articles addressing, but not limited to, the following mechanistic themes:o Mechanisms of uptake and signalling: Cellular entry, systemic transport, and primary signaling cascades of nanobiostimulants, nano-delivery systems, peptide formulations, and bio-based inputs.o Pathway regulation of specialised metabolites: Molecular and enzymatic mechanisms governing biostimulant-induced biosynthesis of essential oils, phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenoids.o Molecular and physiological stress networks: Biostimulant-mediated modulation of redox homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, ion transport, and gene expression under drought, salinity, thermal stress, or metal toxicity.o Rhizosphere and endosphere interaction mechanisms: Functional dynamics, metabolite exchange, and signaling within defined microbial consortia and synthetic plant–microbe communities.o Systems biology and biomarker discovery: Application of multi-omics (transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics) and phenotyping to uncover target pathways, metabolic markers, and chemotypic shifts.o Concentration-dependent pathways: Mechanistic impacts of dose optimization, timing, and multi-component formulations on metabolic stability and functional reproducibility across cultivation environments.---------------------We welcome contributions from researchers across the field and are happy to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like initial feedback on whether your planned manuscript aligns with the scope of this Research Topic, please reach out to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. Early input can help ensure your work is a strong fit and save you time later in the process. To take part, click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page, and 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 look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant, cohesive Research Topic together.” Topic editors: Mohammad Mukarram, Biljana Kukavica, Janar Jenis Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85860/mechanistic-insights-into-emerging-biostimulants-regulating-stress-resilience-metabolic-pathways-and-quality-in-medicinal-and-aromatic-plants