Toxic Stress in Plants—Tolerance Mechanisms and Phytoremediation Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing anthropogenic pressure, including the emission of chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and emerging toxic compounds, has a significant impact on the functioning of plant ecosystems. Plant ecotoxicology provides a crucial framework for understanding the mechanisms of environmental stressor effects at physiological, biochemical, and cellular levels. At the same time, plants act as sensitive bioindicators of environmental quality, enabling the development of advanced diagnostic approaches for contamination assessment.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in this field, driven by the intensification of industrial activities, urbanization, and climate change, which increase environmental stressors and necessitate precise toxicity assessment and effective mitigation strategies. This Special Issue aims to present current advances in understanding plant stress responses, from early molecular signaling and metabolic changes, through physiological disruptions, to long-term effects at population and ecosystem levels.

This Issue will highlight innovative monitoring tools, the development of biomarkers and new bioindicators, and the use of plants in bioremediation and phytostabilization. Emphasis is placed on modern research methods, including physiological imaging, biochemical analyses, and integrated approaches combining morphological, metabolic, and structural observations. By promoting interdisciplinary research bridging plant biology, biotechnology, ecology, and environmental sciences, this Special Issue aims to foster sustainable strategies for environmental protection and ecosystem management under global change conditions.

Prof. Dr. Zdzisława Romanowska-Duda
Guest Editor

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