Editorial: Plant ecophysiology: responses to climate changes and stress conditions

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Introduction In an era of accelerating global climate change, understanding the physiological responses of plants to diverse environmental stresses is pivotal for predicting ecosystem resilience and ensuring sustainable agriculture and forestry practices (Dutta et al. 2020). Climate-driven alterations such as drought, flooding, temperature extremes, and nutrient fluctuations challenge plant survival and productivity, thereby threatening global biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem stability (Altman et al. 2024; Yuan et al. 2024). Given these pressing concerns, research into plant ecophysiology, the study of plant responses and adaptations to environmental conditions within plant ecophysiology framework, has become indispensable. This Research Topic brings together an array of studies that provide novel insights into plant performance under multiple abiotic and biotic stress scenarios. The compiled works illuminate how plants perceive, respond to, and recover from environmental stressors through intricate physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. Spanning a diverse range of species, ecosystems, and methodological approaches, these contributions collectively enhance our understanding of plant stress biology and inform practices aimed at mitigating climate change impacts. The papers included in this issue are structured around different critical themes reflecting contemporary research priorities. Specifically, we present studies focusing on drought and waterlogging stress, temperature extremes, biotic stress interactions, nutrient dynamics, biotechnological strategies for stress mitigation, spatial and temporal climatic effects, and predictive analyses concerning climate change impacts on species distribution (Figure 1). This integrative approach not only provides a comprehensive snapshot of current research trends but also fosters interdisciplinary collaboration crucial for addressing complex ecological challenges. Drought and waterlogging stress Drought and waterlogging represent significant abiotic stressors severely impacting plant health, productivity, and survival. Plants adapt to these conditions through diverse physiological and biochemical responses, as exemplified in this Research Topic by several studies. Zhang et al. explored growth and non-structural carbohydrate response patterns in Eucommia ulmoides under combined salt and drought stress, providing insights into carbohydrate metabolism during dual stress conditions. Cheng et al. used a process-based model to investigate how altered precipitation patterns influence grassland aboveground net primary productivity and precipitation utilization efficiency, underscoring differential ecosystem responses to climatic variability. Zhang et al. evaluated growth, physiological responses, and drought resistance in various flue-cured tobacco varieties, highlighting varietal differences critical for crop improvement under drought conditions. Ge et al. demonstrated how drought stress induces contrasting changes in organ carbon and soil organic carbon, enhancing resistance mechanisms in moso bamboo. Alipour et al. integrated metabolomic, transcriptomic, and phytohormonal analyses in Thymus species under water stress and foliar abscisic acid application, revealing complex molecular interactions involved in drought stress adaptation. Huang et al. investigated the effects of irrigation frequency on root growth, nutrient accumulation, yield, and water use efficiency of Panax notoginseng under micro-sprinkler irrigation, offering valuable strategies for sustainable cultivation practices. Knüver et al. showed that stress dose significantly explains drought recovery patterns in Norway spruce, contributing to understanding tree resilience in forest ecosystems. Finally, Calabritto et al. conducted physiological and image-based phenotyping to assess waterlogging responses in three kiwifruit rootstocks and grafting combinations, identifying rootstock-specific tolerance mechanisms crucial for orchard management under flooding conditions. Collectively, these studies provide comprehensive insights into plant responses and resilience strategies under drought and waterlogging stress, vital for developing adaptive management practices under changing climatic conditions. Extreme Ttemperature stress Temperature extremes, encompassing both cold and heat stress, present critical challenges to plant growth, reproduction, and survival. Plants respond to temperature fluctuations through complex regulatory pathways that involve physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptations, all aimed at maintaining homeostasis under adverse conditions. Zhu et al. reviewed the mechanisms by which plants perceive temperature changes, focusing on thermosensors that mediate stress adaptation responses. This comprehensive exploration highlighted the molecular processes enabling plants to sense and respond effectively to temperature variations, thus underscoring the potential for developing crops resilient to climate change-induced temperature fluctuations. Padhiar et al. investigated the differential resilience of chickpea's reproductive organs to cold stress across developmental stages. By elucidating antioxidant strategies employed to mitigate cold-induced damage, this study offered insights crucial for breeding programmes aimed at enhancing fertility under cold stress conditions. Furthermore, Dong et al. demonstrated that exogenous application of 24-epibrassinolide significantly mitigates damage in grape seedlings exposed to low-temperature stress. The findings emphasize the potential of brassinosteroids in promoting plant tolerance to chilling stress, providing practical implications for improving grapevine cultivation in cooler climates. Collectively, these studies illuminate crucial mechanisms underlying plant responses to temperature stress, revealing opportunities to enhance crop tolerance and productivity amid increasingly erratic and extreme temperature regimes associated with climate change. Biotic stress Biotic stress, involving pathogen infections, pest attacks, and interactions with various organisms, significantly influences plant growth, health, and yield. The ability of plants to effectively respond to these challenges through physiological and molecular adjustments is fundamental to maintaining productivity and sustainability in agriculture and forestry. Negesa et al. evaluated lowland coffee genotypes for resistance against leaf rust and wilt diseases in southwestern Ethiopia. They identified genotypic differences in disease susceptibility, thereby providing essential information for breeding programmes targeting improved disease resistance and enhanced yield stability in coffee cultivation. Shafi et al. employed an integrative approach combining ecophysiological assessments with omics technologies to unravel the complex responses of crops to combined drought and herbivory stress. This holistic methodology revealed novel insights into how plants simultaneously manage abiotic and biotic stressors, offering potential pathways for developing robust, stress-resilient cultivars. These contributions underscore the importance of understanding plant responses to biotic stressors in the broader context of climate-induced challenges, ultimately guiding the development of integrated management strategies that enhance crop resilience and sustainability in agricultural systems. Nutrient dynamics under stress and climate change Nutrient availability is a critical determinant of plant growth, productivity, and ecosystem function, significantly influencing how plants respond to environmental stresses. Several studies in this Research Topic provide insights into plant responses to nutrient dynamics under varying climatic and environmental conditions. Cai et al. explored nitrate nitrogen uptake and metabolism in the invasive species Mikania micrantha, shedding light on the physiological mechanisms underpinning its rapid gro

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