Exploring Mechanisms and Alleviation Strategies for Ammonium Toxicity in Plants, with a Focus on Abiotic Stress Interactions

Ammonium toxicity is a critical issue affecting plant growth and agricultural productivity, influencing various physiological and molecular pathways. This toxicity can lead to inhibited root development, altered gene expression, metabolic and hormonal imbalance, and disrupted enzyme activity. While significant progress has been made in understanding and mitigating ammonium toxicity—such as using bicarbonate and optimal nutrient management, many questions remain, particularly in how ammonium toxicity interacts with other environmental stress factors.

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, varying light intensities, and heavy metal exposure, are prevalent challenges in agricultural systems and can amplify the effects of ammonium toxicity. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing comprehensive strategies to enhance plant resilience and productivity. This special issue aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of ammonium toxicity and how it intersects with various abiotic stresses, aiming to develop effective strategies for mitigation and improved plant health.

We invite contributions focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The role of different nitrogen forms in plant health and productivity
• Optimal ammonium-nitrate ratios for different crops
• Mechanisms of ammonium toxicity in plants
• Strategies for alleviating ammonium toxicity
• Abiotic stress interactions with ammonium toxicity
-Drought and salinity stress
-Light intensity and stress response
- Heavy metal exposure
-Combinatorial stress management
• Molecular, physiological and biochemical pathways and cross-tolerance mechanisms

Keywords: Ammonium, toxicity

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.