Recent Advances in Plant Cell Wall Research for Emerging Climate Change Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and pests are becoming more frequent every day, making the global food system a victim of climate change. The vulnerability of crop yields due to global warming is an urgent issue that must be addressed without delay. Among all species of agricultural interest, the presence of the plant cell wall (PCW) is a common denominator with several essential functions throughout plant development. PCWs are complex matrices composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin, among the most representative components. PCW properties rely on different cell wall composition and matrix structure, and determine the shape of the plant body, providing protection and stability to the plant cell. Far beyond being rigid cages, PCWs are highly dynamic structures that modify their structure and composition to adapt their properties throughout the life of the plant, either during development or in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Therefore, research on plant cell walls has the potential to identify solutions to adapt crops to increasingly frequent extreme conditions under the current global warming scenario.

Another aspect that underlines the importance of plant cell walls is their use as a primary source to produce a wide range of materials, either from their matrices or from their individual components (wood, textiles, dietary fiber, biodiesel, gelling agents, etc.). In this sense, PCWs are perfect assets for a more sustainable future based on a circular economy, as they are the main natural carbon sink in addition to being a source of biodegradable materials with low impact on the environment. Different approaches have been developed to analyze PCWs, or the interaction between their components, to tailor their properties depending on their biotechnological or industrial purpose. These analysis methods include atomic force microscopy, immune-based techniques using monoclonal antibodies against the cell wall, or various spectroscopy-based techniques (infrared, mass or Brillouin scattering, etc.).

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together new knowledge on plant cell wall research focusing on potential applications and solutions to mitigate negative impacts of climate change on plant-based products as a basic primary source of food and materials. Contributions from different viewpoints will be addressed, including research on plant cell wall composition, structure, function, biosynthesis, plant physiology, molecular biology, synthetic biology and the role of the plant cell wall in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Original research articles, methods, reviews and mini-reviews, and perspectives are welcome.

Dr. Candelas Paniagua
Dr. Sara Posé
Dr. Elena Palomo-Ríos
Guest Editors

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