This Special Issue represents a significant advancement in our understanding of plant stress interactions. It successfully bridges the gap between molecular-level mechanisms of biotic and abiotic stress responses and their practical implications for crop resilience and sustainable horticulture. The collected works provide a holistic view, offering novel insights into cross-tolerance, innovative mitigation strategies, and the genetic basis of adaptation. For researchers and industry professionals, this compilation is an indispensable reference that charts the path forward for developing robust crops in a changing climate. I commend the contributors for this relevant and cohesive resource that will undoubtedly inspire future research and application. As a plant scientist, I am thrilled to endorse this essential preprint compilation on horticultural stress. It delivers a timely, integrative analysis of both biotic and abiotic pressures—from pathogen resistance to climate resilience—curated for the research community. The work synthesizes cutting-edge molecular mechanisms with practical management insights, offering a critical foundation for developing next-generation sustainable solutions. This is a valuable resource to accelerate peer discussion and collaborative innovation in our field. I strongly encourage colleagues and advanced students to engage with these pre-publication findings to shape the future of stress-resilient horticulture.

This book is included in DOAB.