Polyamines in Plant Stress Responses and Development

Polyamines are key contributors to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stresses. Their fundamental roles are well-recognized, yet recent findings suggest they are crucial drivers in the complex molecular networks that facilitate plant responses to diverse environmental challenges. The relevance of polyamines extends across both abiotic and biotic stresses, underlining their importance in the face of escalating climate change and agricultural demands.

This Research Topic aims to delve into the recent advancements in our understanding of polyamines, evaluating their potential in enhancing crop resilience and improving stress tolerance through innovative breeding and biotechnological approaches. By focusing on intricate mechanisms of action and interactions with other molecular signals, this topic seeks to bridge critical research gaps and pave the way for new agricultural applications.

To effectively navigate the complexity of polyamine-related processes, this Research Topic covers a broad spectrum of themes including:

- Polyamine biosynthesis and metabolic pathways.
- Mechanisms of polyamines in abiotic stress tolerance such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures.
- The role of polyamines in biotic stress defense, including pathogen and pest management.
- The contribution of polyamines to plant immune priming.
- Interactions between polyamines and the plant microbiome.
- Cross-talk between polyamines and other key signaling molecules such as ROS and NO.
- Applications of genetic engineering to optimize polyamine pathways for crop improvement.
- Comparative analyses of polyamine functions across various plant species.
- The impact of polyamines on plant developmental stages like flowering and senescence.

These topics aim to spotlight innovative research that enhances understanding of polyamine roles in plant physiology and opens new avenues for the use of these crucial molecules in sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: polyamines, plant stress responses, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), phytohormones, plant-signaling networks

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.