Plant Stress Physiology: A Trait Perspective

Dear Colleagues,

Biotic and abiotic stresses along the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum can affect plant photosynthesis, hydraulics, metabolism, stoichiometry, development, growth, and survival, through modifying traits at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, whole-plant, community, and/or ecosystem levels. Studying the stress-induced modifications of these key traits (e.g., photosynthetic and hydraulic traits, metabolic traits, stoichiometric traits, etc.), and their interrelationships will help us to better understand and predict stress consequences at various levels. It can also help us select suitable plant materials for the success of climate preparedness practices.

For this Special Issue, we welcome submissions of all article types within the scope of Biology journal, including original research and reviews that dissect the plant trait responses to biotic and/or abiotic stresses. We encourage contributions involving experiments conducted both in the field and under controlled environments, as well as work involving modeling, experiment-model integration, and meta-analyses. Both fundamental and applied research papers are welcome, including studies on cultivated crops and agricultural systems. Quantitative studies that report responses of crop growth, yield, or quality to environmental changes (e.g., climate, soil, management practices, etc.) will be considered relevant if they advance our physiological understanding of these responses. Articles proposing novel practices to mitigate the negative effects of stress on plants are also within scope, provided they are supported by a hypothesized and at least partially demonstrated mechanism.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Short-term stress, prolonged stress, and post-stress recovery;
• Above- and below-ground trait responses, their interactions, and coordinated mechanisms;
• Source–sink relationships, carbon and water trade-offs, and the interface between carbon, nitrogen, and other biogeochemical fluxes at various scales;
• Trait-based resource acquisition and investment strategies;
• Trait-based stress resilience to maintain or enhance plant functions;
• Interactions among multiple biotic or abiotic stresses or between biotic and biotic stresses;

Experiment and modelling integration.

Dr. Shuang-Xi Zhou
Prof. Dr. Aoxue Wang
Prof. Dr. Yanchang Wang
Guest Editors

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• photosynthetic traits
• hydraulic traits
• metabolic traits
• stoichiometric traits
• molecular traits
• trait plasticity
• trait adjustment
• stress adaptation
• climate resilience