Sex-Specific Photophysiology: Adapting to Light and Environment in Dioecious Plants

Sex-specific photophysiology in dioecious plants is an emerging area within plant physiology that reveals how male and female individuals develop distinct photosynthetic adaptations. While much progress has been made in understanding general mechanisms of light perception and utilization in plants, relatively little is known about how dioecy—the separation of sexes into different individuals—drives physiological divergence. Current research has highlighted intriguing differences in resource requirements, stress responses, and reproductive strategies between plant sexes, yet the photophysiological underpinnings of these differences remain underexplored. Recent studies suggest that different sexes may optimize their light harvesting and photosynthetic efficiency depending on environmental cues, with implications for their survival, reproductive output, and competitive success.The latest evidence points to sex-based variations in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rates, photoprotective mechanisms, and resource allocation, especially under fluctuating light environments or stress conditions. These adaptations are believed to play pivotal roles in ensuring both successful reproduction and resilience to environmental challenges. Advances in molecular biology, biochemistry, and eco-physiology techniques are allowing deeper examination of these nuanced differences. Despite these advancements, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the evolutionary drivers, ecological consequences, and mechanistic bases of sex-specific photophysiological strategies. A clearer understanding of these phenomena is needed to illuminate how plant populations adapt to changing environments and how sexual dimorphism influences ecosystem function.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the fundamental principles and mechanisms governing sex-specific photophysiological responses in dioecious plants. It seeks to answer which physiological and molecular strategies differentiate male from female individuals in light harvesting and utilization, how these differences influence their fitness, and what evolutionary pressures may be shaping such strategies. By fostering an integrative approach, this topic strives to clarify the links between photophysiology, resource allocation, stress tolerance, and sexual dimorphism.To gather further insights in the domain of sex-specific photophysiology and its evolutionary and ecological implications, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Comparative analysis of photosynthetic traits in male and female dioecious plants- Molecular and genetic determinants of sex-based photophysiological differences- Impacts of environmental stress on sex-specific light utilization- Adaptive significance of divergent photoprotective strategies between sexes- Evolutionary and ecological consequences of sex-specific resource allocation and photosynthetic efficiency- Interactions between light environment, reproductive investment, and survival in dioecious populationsWe welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives. Topic editors: Miroslava Rakocevic, Weverton Pereira Rodrigues Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76486/sex-specific-photophysiology-adapting-to-light-and-environment-in-dioecious-plants