Stomata are essential structures for gas exchange and water regulation in plants. Their development and movement are controlled by complex signaling networks. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade serves as a central hub, integrating endogenous and exogenous signals to regulate both stomatal development and aperture dynamics. This review summarizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying MAPK cascade-mediated stomatal regulation. It highlights the dual roles of the MAPK networks in development and stress adaptation across Arabidopsis thaliana, grasses, and woody species. Understanding MAPK-mediated stomatal control provides valuable insights for engineering climate-resilient crops with enhanced stress resistance.

The overall function of an ecosystem is determined by the richness of its biodiversity and the complex interactions formed between the different species that inhabit it. Understanding how global change factors (including climate change), and their combinations, are affecting the intricate species-to-species relationships formed within different ecosystems and agro-ecosystems is becoming therefore increasingly important to our future. Here, we discuss how improved plant-to-plant and plant-to-microbiome signaling, achieved via research, intervention, and altered practices, can be used to form resilient plant communities that will help us shape our environment and successfully address some of our current and future anthropogenically generated critical challenges.

Genome editing is a technology that enables targeted mutagenesis. Notably, site-directed nucleation (SDN)-1 genome editing, which does not involve the incorporation of foreign DNA sequences and can introduce the same mutations as naturally occurring mutations, is not subject to genetically modified organism (GMO) regulations in many countries if transgenes are segregated out. This makes it an attractive strategy for crop improvement. Multiple DNA double-strand breaks introduced via genome editing may lead to inversions or translocations. If these genomic alterations involve promoter regions, a promoter/enhancer replacement may occur, thereby altering target gene expression as desired. Because conventional SDN-1 genome editing primarily induces loss-of-function mutations, promoter/enhancer replacement by genome editing (PERGE) represents a new paradigm in genome editing for crop improvement.

Glucosinolates (GLS) are key defense metabolites in brassicaceous plants, but major anti-nutritional (especially goitrogenic) factors in Brassica oilseed crops. In the 1970s, breeding of ‘double-low’ rapeseed cultivars with canola-quality seeds low in erucic acid and GLS resulted in feed-quality press cake but limited genetic and GLS diversity of the crop. To develop the press cake into protein food, seed GLS levels must be further reduced. Targeting recently identified transporters in Arabidopsis thaliana with key roles in GLS seed loading prevented GLS accumulation in seeds without altering their presence elsewhere in the plant. Transport engineering has potential as a novel breeding approach to decouple seed and leaf GLS, broaden genetic diversity, and improve both seed quality and pest resistance in Brassica oilseed crops.

Sulfur, often regarded as a pollutant, is an essential macronutrient for plant immunity and stress responses in all studied plant families. Declining atmospheric sulfur deposition via pollution-controlling may weaken tree defenses, leading to increased disease vulnerability, especially under increased climate stress. While sulfur is known to enhance crop resilience, its role in forest ecosystems remains poorly understood. Limited field data and challenges in extrapolating from agriculture highlight the need for targeted research. Understanding sulfur’s potential to enhance forest health via sulfur-induced resistance could provide new strategies for managing forest stress. In this opinion article we outline sulfur’s shifting role in forests, from curse to blessing, and depict the need for targeted, interdisciplinary research to determine its potential contribution to climate resilience.

The canonical mechanism by which the phytohormone auxin regulates transcription has been one of the cornerstones of plant signaling. The recent unexpected discovery of cyclic AMP (cAMP) as a second messenger in this pathway has revised its foundations while leaving many open questions and gaps in our understanding; these will be discussed in this forum article.

Phenolamides are specialized plant metabolites with important roles in plant disease resistance and stress tolerance. They serve as biomarkers and effectors of oxidative stress. Moreover, they enhance plant metabolic diversity and potential for acclimation to stress. In this opinion article we focus on recent progress in phenolamide research, including phenolamide biosynthesis, decoration, and transport mechanisms, and we highlight the important role of technological advances in the discovery of new phenolamides and the identification of their biosynthetic genes. We also discuss phytohormone-regulated phenolamide biosynthesis networks and their multifunctional roles in environmental adaptation. We posit that a deeper mechanistic understanding of phenolamide biology will be essential for leveraging these molecules to develop high-value phytoprotectants and advance sustainable agriculture.

Three recent studies, by Zhu et al., Klymiuk et al., and Hu et al., identified paired nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) in wheat against different pathogens, providing new insights into the genomic organization, domain architecture, and function of plant NLR pairs. Another study, by Du et al., showed that cross-species transfer of NLR partners confers resistance, highlighting the translational potential of NLR pairs in crop improvement.

The plant vascular system, a cornerstone of terrestrial adaptation, enables the long-distance transport of water, nutrients, and signaling molecules and provides mechanical support. Its anatomy also underpins stress resilience; yet, how environmental cues regulate vascular development remains poorly understood. In this review, we synthesize recent advances in molecular mechanisms underlying vascular plasticity in response to abiotic and biotic stresses, including temperature, light, drought, salinity, mechanical forces, nutrient deficiencies, and pathogens. We highlight conserved and species-specific pathways and discuss unresolved questions, such as how plants integrate multiple stressors to optimize vascular development. Finally, we propose applying single-cell omics and genome editing to decode these adaptive strategies with potential implications for crop resilience and sustainable biomass production.

Plant taxonomy underpins biodiversity research and conservation, but global disparities in training and resources hinder progress, especially in biodiversity-rich regions. Through a global survey of taxonomists and trainers, we reveal that 48% of countries have fewer than ten active plant taxonomists, and that there are stark regional gaps in access to basic tools and infrastructure. A 'limitations index' highlights Angola, Benin, Botswana, Colombia, Sierra Leone, and Venezuela as facing the greatest challenges. To address these imbalances and build crucial taxonomic capacity, we advocate for inclusive and regionally adapted programs with improved access to infrastructure, engaging teaching methods, cascading mentorship, and stronger collaboration. Strategic investment in plant taxonomy training is essential to realizing the full potential of global plant diversity.

Deep-rooted plants (DRPs) are vital ecological engineers in arid regions, combating desertification through distinctive adaptations such as rapid root growth and hydraulic lift. By tapping into groundwater beyond a depth of 5 m, they stabilize soils, sequester carbon, and support biodiversity, while delivering socioeconomic benefits. Despite their resilience, DRPs are increasingly threatened by climate change and pressure of human activities such as overgrazing. In this feature review we consolidate the vital roles of DRPs in ecosystem services and land restoration, advocating for conservation strategies that integrate drip irrigation, rotational grazing policies, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) targets. We highlight the potential of DRPs to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) and urge prompt research and management actions to safeguard these keystone species in our climate change adaptation toolkit for drylands.

Woody biomass is a vital carbon sink and biofuel feedstock, but lignocellulosic ethanol production faces cell wall recalcitrance. miRNA-mediated cell wall bioengineering presents an efficient and promising approach to address the high costs associated with biofuel production. In this review, we examine the critical role of miRNAs in plants, with a particular focus on woody species. We systematically analyzed the internal factors influencing biofuel production from an integrated perspective of plant science and chemical basis. Notably, we proposed a schematic framework for miRNA-mediated cell wall engineering, to reduce lignocellulosic recalcitrance and enhance biomass accumulation. Finally, we highlight key questions and suggest potential procedures for the manipulation of miRNAs to facilitate the efficient utilization of forestry-derived biofuels.

The growing human population is intensifying agriculture, often resulting in overuse of agrochemicals and widespread soil acidification. This increases the solubility of toxic metals like aluminum (Al) and manganese, harming root growth, disrupting microbial communities, and limiting nutrient uptake, ultimately reducing yields and threatening food security. Soil acidity management is key to soil health and long-term sustainable crop productivity.

In this review, we explore pathways of coupling between microscale metabolic engineering with macroscale bioprocess design to transform microalgae into intelligent carbon management platforms, focusing on strategies that enhance CO2 fixation capacity, including synthetic enhancement of carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) and metabolic reprogramming. The integration of microalgae with microbial consortia further stabilizes carbon flow and supports system resilience under environmental fluctuations. Emerging hybrid cultivation systems – powered by renewable energy and guided by artificial intelligence (AI)-based modeling – enable scalable, adaptive, and cost-effective CO2 removal. These innovations are framed within circular bioeconomy models, where microalgae convert waste carbon into bioenergy and bioproducts. Coupling of molecular, ecological, and engineering advances can overcome current deployment barriers. We propose new directions for future research that prioritize feasibility, sustainability, and multifunctionality.

Microbe interaction not only plays an integral role in plant growth and adaptation, but also may lead to genetic integration. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from microbes occurs in all major plant groups and appears to be frequent in charophytes and bryophytes. Horizontally acquired microbial genes have contributed to major physiological and structural innovations in land plants. This paper discusses microbial interactions and genetic integration, with a particular focus on recent data regarding the role of horizontally acquired microbial genes in land plant evolution. We suggest that microbes are essential resources for plants, both as an ecological component and as a source of novel genetic material, and that plant colonization of land and further diversification represent a process of exploitation of microbial resources.

Protons (H+), commonly measured as pH, represent a fundamental physiological parameter in cellular systems. In plants, cytoplasmic H+ levels are tightly regulated to maintain homeostasis, whereas apoplastic H+ concentrations fluctuate dynamically in response to stress and developmental cues. This review discusses and scrutinizes the roles of apoplastic H+ fluctuations in transmitting stress and developmental cues, focusing on their interactions with established regulatory elements, such as phytohormones, H2O2, and peptide–receptor complexes, as well as other functional proteins, within stress and developmental signaling networks. Recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying apoplastic H+ as a pivotal regulator of plant adaptation and development open promising avenues for future research to enhance plant resilience and productivity under diverse environmental challenges.

Recent advances in plant spatial omics, including transcriptomics and metabolomics, have enabled fine-scale cellular insights by registering spatial information. Combining spatial approaches with droplet-based single-cell technologies has further enhanced our understanding of many complex biological processes. However, the unique features of plants, such as rigid cell walls and size variability, require adaptation of mammalian-derived analytical methods. This review summarizes current strategies for acquiring plant spatial multi-omics data, with a focus on widely accessible commercial platforms. We also outline analysis workflows, from preprocessing to downstream interpretation, and provide a practical tutorial using demonstration datasets. This resource offers researchers a concise guide to experimental and computational approaches for plant spatial multi-omics.

Toxic element contamination poses a serious threat to global food security. However, traditional remediation methods offer only temporary solutions. Emerging gene-editing, synthetic biology, and hybrid technologies now promise transformative, scalable, and permanent strategies to detoxify soils, reclaim polluted land, and secure sustainable agriculture in a rapidly changing global landscape.

We learn early on how to tell trees apart from other plants. However, it has proved hard to distinguish trees from other plants at the genetic level, and it is believed that there are no unique ‘tree genes’. With the rapid increase in available tree genomes, we can perform new comparative and evolutionary analyses of plant life histories and growth forms. Here we provide a fresh perspective on the genetic foundation for woodiness and perenniality in angiosperms by analyzing selection pressures and gene family evolution in the rosids using genomic data. We examine genes distinguishing trees from herbs and discuss future directions for uncovering the genetic factors that define a tree in this new era of tree genomics.

The mechanisms by which plants modulate root morphology, architecture, and the associated molecular pathways to cope with conditions of water deficit remain incompletely understood. Recently, Roy et al. elucidated novel aspects of an adaptive trait, termed xerobranching, which plays a critical role in fine-tuning drought adaptation.

Lignocellulosic biomass offers an abundant and renewable feedstock for sustainable biofuel and biochemical production, but the hemicellulose xylan limits its efficient utilization. Ge et al. present an elegant biomass engineering approach in sweet sorghum by vascular tissue-specific expression of an endo-1,4-β-xylanase to enhance lignocellulosic saccharification to boost the bioeconomy.

Coordination of nutrient signals and stress responses is essential for plant survival. Recently, Ma et al. reported that the nitrate transporter NRT1.1B binds abscisic acid (ABA) and regulates the SPX4–NLP4 module to activate ABA-responsive genes. This represents a potential transmembrane ABA perception mechanism that complements the canonical PYR– protein phosphatase type 2C (PP2C)–SnRK2 pathway.

Plants rely on sophisticated immune systems to defend against diverse pathogens that threaten their growth, development, and global food security. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) are a central component in plant immunity. Innovative NLR engineering may improve plant disease resistance and offer new opportunities for sustainable crop production.

Membrane transporters, including ion channels and carriers, maintain ionic and nutrient homeostasis vital for growth and stress resilience in plants. Their activity is finely regulated, enabling dynamic responses to internal and external signals. Transporters often exist in an ‘autoinhibited’ resting state that can be switched on by post-translational modifications in response to environmental cues. Specifically, protein phosphorylation functions as a molecular switch that relieves autoinhibition of channels and carriers to modulate their activities. We examine the phospho-regulation of exemplary transporters involved in nutrient allocation, stress resistance, and signal transduction, providing a perspective on how plants orchestrate membrane transport processes to sustain ion and nutrient balance and adapt to environmental challenges.