Nowadays, abiotic and biotic stresses not only constantly affect plant growth, development, and productivity, but also directly impact the frequency and severity of plant pathogen attacks. Over the past few decades, extensive works have been conducted to expand our knowledge of how changes in various abiotic and biotic conditions (such as viruses, bacteria, oomycetes, fungi, CO₂ levels, temperature, water deficit and excess, circadian clock, and nutrient status) affect plant-pathogen interactions, including plant disease incidence and severity, and host immune response and resistance.
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN), such as root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and cyst nematodes (Heterodera spp. and Globodera spp.), are important biotic stressors for many crops worldwide and are expected to be among the greatest threats to global food security in the future. Tremendous progress has also been made in understanding nematode pathogenesis and plant resistance, whereas there has been limited exploration of whether the fluctuations in abiotic and biotic factors may produce a dominant influence on plant-nematode interactions in agricultural systems. Only spotty evidence showed that some environmental changes, such as high temperatures, can decrease the capacity of R-genes (Mi) in resistance to root-knot nematode. Others, such as the elevated CO₂, can influence the induced defense of host plant against RKN by modulating the contents of secondary metabolites and defense signaling. Therefore, more focused research is needed to better understand how abiotic and biotic conditions affect plant-nematode interactions, which is crucial in predicting disease outbreaks, creating eminent crop plants, and designing effective control strategies with increased resilience to current and future climate change.

This Research Topic aims to highlight the latest research findings in understanding the mechanisms by which different abiotic and biotic factors influence plant-nematode relationships. We welcome the research articles, reviews, and novel viewpoints/hypotheses to provide comprehensive information about the potential impact of abiotic and biotic stresses upon the alterations in host physiology, metabolism, molecular process, resistance to nematode infection, as well as nematode behavior, virulence, incidence, and severity. The roles of phytohormones in these interactions will also be of research interest.

We welcome submissions on the following subthemes and other relevant topics:
• Physiological, molecular and metabolic characterizations of plants in response to PPN infection under abiotic and biotic stresses
• The effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on plant immunity against PPNs
• Roles of plant hormones in coordinating responses to PPN attacks and abiotic and biotic stresses
• Impacts of climate change on PPNs virulence
• Breeding strategy of simultaneous nematode and abiotic and biotic stresses resistance of crops
• Genetic engineering for nematode and abiotic and biotic stresses stress resistance in plant

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Frontiers in Plant Science

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