The agriculture sector faces significant challenges due to increasing biotic and abiotic stresses that severely threaten the quality and quantity of crop plants globally, impacting both human livelihoods and economic stability. Traditional agricultural methods often fail to address these multifaceted challenges in a timely and sustainable manner. Recent advancements in metabolic engineering, especially the targeted modification of metabolic pathways, offer promising opportunities to overcome these limitations. In particular, the priming of hormones such as jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid, has been found crucial in modulating plants' physiological and molecular responses to environmental stresses. Despite advancements, further investigation is required to efficiently integrate hormone-based metabolic engineering practices to promote sustainable crop production.

This Research Topic aims to enhance both the yield and quality of crop plants by increasing their tolerance to various environmental stresses. Specifically, the exploration of hormone-regulated pathways is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving this goal, contributing to human welfare. Furthermore, targeted gene modification stands out as a significant strategy in regulating plant stress tolerance, indicating its potential application in future agricultural practices.

To gather further insights in the intersection of metabolic engineering and environmental stress management in crops, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Brief introduction to environmental stresses and their adverse effects on crop yield and quality
• Managing tolerance levels through hormone-based priming via metabolic engineering
• Crosstalk among various hormones and their functional roles in stress adaptation
• Engineering strategies and tools with a detailed description of methodologies
• Emphasis on genetic approaches beneficial for enhancing tolerance levels
• Future perspectives and implications for sustainable agriculture

We encourage the submission of original research, reviews, and case studies related to this Research Topic.

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Enhancing Crop Resilience Through Hormone Priming and Metabolic Engineering Under Environmental Challenges