Unraveling Molecular Mechanisms of Surface Lipid Biosynthesis for Enhanced Plant Stress Resistance

Plant biology has long recognized the significance of surface lipid barriers—namely cuticles and suberin—as fundamental adaptations for terrestrial life. These hydrophobic layers not only minimize transpirational water loss but also play critical roles in protecting plants from environmental stresses and establishing seed dormancy. While decades of research using model species such as Arabidopsis, tomato, and rice have led to the identification of numerous genes implicated in the biosynthesis of waxes, cutin, and suberin polyesters, many questions remain regarding the underlying pathways and regulatory networks, particularly in lesser-studied species that produce unique classes of these compounds. Key gaps in knowledge involve both the biosynthetic mechanisms specific to certain taxa and the fine-tuned responses of these pathways to external stressors. Recent studies employing biochemical, genetic, and omics strategies are beginning to unravel these complexities, but a comprehensive understanding—and cross-species perspective—remains elusive.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the biosynthetic origins of key, species-specific, or novel constituents of plant surface lipids, and to uncover the dynamic regulation and metabolic cross-talk that governs their assembly. Central objectives include mapping the complete metabolic routes for wax, cutin, and suberin production, discovering the regulatory circuits controlling lipid biosynthesis in development and stress adaptation, and identifying how these processes vary among plant lineages. By integrating state-of-the-art functional genomics, biochemical analyses, and high-throughput phenotyping, we seek to provide insights that can inform crop breeding and genome-editing strategies aimed at enhancing the protective functions of plant surfaces under diverse environmental pressures.To gather further insights into the metabolic, evolutionary, and regulatory diversity of plant surface lipids, the scope of this Research Topic encompasses all terrestrial plants and encourages studies beyond widely used model species. Arabidopsis, crop, and horticultural species are welcomed, but special emphasis is placed on xerophytes, halophytes, and plants with unique surface lipid compositions. We are particularly interested in:• Discovery of new or unique wax, cutin, and suberin compounds and their biosynthetic genes• Mechanistic studies on the regulation of surface lipid metabolism in response to abiotic and biotic stress• Comparative omics and phylogenetic analyses of surface lipid biosynthetic pathways• Development and application of novel tools to profile dynamic changes in surface lipids• Functional validation of candidate genes through gene-editing approaches (e.g., CRISPR-Cas)• Translational studies for breeding or engineering crops with improved surface lipid barriers and stress toleranceWe welcome original research articles, reviews, methods, and perspective pieces addressing these themes. Topic editors: Xianpeng Yang, Yiqun Gao, Fuqiang Cui Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76744/unraveling-molecular-mechanisms-of-surface-lipid-biosynthesis-for-enhanced-plant-stress-resistance