Metabolomics is an excellent analytical profiling tool to understand the molecular network underpinning the operation of the numerous metabolic pathways present in plants. This review focuses on recent research that employed metabolomics and other omics platforms to obtain a thorough understanding of how plants respond to heavy metal stress and a detailed examination of the metabolic pathways that regulate them. A detailed picture of a cell’s metabolic activities can be obtained via metabolomics, together with information on potential target pathways.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most economically important fruit crops, with a high economic value worldwide. Most vine-growing areas globally are in temperate zones characterised by high temperatures and prolonged dry periods. Phytohormones and polyamines, as important endogenous signal mediators, regulate a plethora of metabolic processes and responses to water stress. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of water stress on hormones and free polyamines in various tissues.

Araucaria angustifolia, also known as Araucaria or Brazilian pine, is a native conifer of economic importance in Brazil. Currently, this species is classified as critically endangered by the International Union of Nature Conservation (IUCN). Global warming represents a new threat to the remaining Araucaria forest. In this study, we evaluated the effects of heat stress on A. angustifolia cell lines with different potentials to regenerate this plant in vitro. Our results may be applied to improve methods of A. angustifolia reforestation, contributing to avoiding its extinction.

In four lentil cultivars, under two phosphorus (P) levels (0 and 26.2 kg P ha⁻¹), in an alkaline, P-poor soil, rhizosphere physiological traits related to P acquisition mechanisms and putative leaf proxies (P, manganese and phenolic concentration) were assessed. Our results indicated that the soil–root complexity in phosphorus acquisition mechanisms cannot be assessed by a single rhizosphere trait nor approximated by a single leaf trait.

‘Canada Western Red Spring’ wheat cultivars are typically grown in rainfed areas with milder climates, but drought is increasing with climate change. Wheat can maintain yield under dry conditions through the physiological mechanism of osmotic adjustment. We show that two of three studied cultivars of ‘Canada Western Red Spring’ are capable of osmotic adjustment, permitting a degree of drought tolerance.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides critically threatens the growth and commercial cultivation of the medicinal plant Sarcandra glabra. We explored the molecular changes during the early stages of this infection through systems biology. This study provides insights into the molecular reprogramming in S. glabra leaves during infection, which lay a foundation for investigating the mechanisms of host-Colletotrichum interactions and breeding disease-resistant plants.

Studies on mechanisms of allelopathy are mainly focused on root secretion, but there are few studies on other pathways of allelopathy. The allelopathic effects of different pathways of wheat and faba bean on Fusarium oxysporum were studied. This study provides a theoretical basis for disease control through intercropping between Gramineae and Leguminosae.

Nickel (Ni) contamination hinders plant growth and yield. Nitric oxide (NO) and thiourea aid plant recovery from heavy metal damage, but their combined effects on pepper (Capsicum annuum) tolerance to Ni stress need more study. Combined use of NO and thiourea alleviates Ni stress effects on pepper by enhancing leaf water, proline, sugar content, antioxidant enzyme activities and Ni distribution. These findings contribute valuable insights for addressing heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils and promoting sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.

This study provides novel insights into the physiological functions of protein phosphatase 2A in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants. The results obtained reveal that the catalytic subunit StPP2Ac2b is involved in stomatal development, senescence induced by water-deficit stress and sucrose export from leaves. Manipulating the expression of StPP2Ac2b has significant effects on these physiological processes, ultimately impacting on important agronomic traits. This work presents valuable information for improving potato productivity by modulating the expression of StPP2Ac2b.