Water movement within plants is fundamental to their growth, development, and response to environmental challenges. The ability of plants to transport water efficiently from the roots to the leaves is essential for maintaining turgor pressure, facilitating nutrient distribution, and driving processes like photosynthesis and transpiration. This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of plant water transport through advanced computational and biophysical modeling approaches.

Hydraulic pathways in plants are complex systems influenced by the structural properties of xylem tissues, the physical principles of water potential gradients, and environmental factors such as soil moisture and atmospheric vapor pressure. These pathways determine the efficiency of water movement and the plant’s resilience to conditions such as drought or high transpiration demands. By leveraging quantitative models that simulate water transport dynamics, researchers can explore how internal and external variables interact to impact overall plant hydration and health.

The integration of computational modeling with empirical data offers significant insights into the mechanisms governing plant hydraulics. Models can predict how variations in xylem structure or environmental stressors influence water flow, enabling researchers to assess plant adaptability to diverse climates. Furthermore, such modeling helps elucidate the occurrence and propagation of phenomena like cavitation—the formation of air bubbles that interrupt water flow and compromise hydraulic conductivity—and how plants mitigate these risks through structural and biochemical adaptations.

This Research Topic seeks contributions that advance the field of plant hydraulics through innovative modeling techniques. We encourage submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Development and validation of models predicting water transport within complex plant structures, incorporating factors such as root architecture, xylem vessel diameter, and leaf vein networks.

• Analysis of how hydraulic traits vary among different plant species or cultivars, highlighting implications for crop selection and agricultural resilience.

• Studies that link hydraulic modeling with measurements of water potential, transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance to provide a comprehensive view of plant water regulation.

• Investigations into cavitation processes and plant strategies for recovering hydraulic function post-embolism, using both biophysical and computational approaches.

• Insights into how environmental stresses like drought, heat, and humidity fluctuations impact water transport dynamics and plant physiological responses.

By fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue between biophysics, plant physiology, and computational biology, this Research Topic aims to expand current knowledge of plant hydraulic pathways and their role in adaptation and survival. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspective pieces that contribute to a detailed, mechanistic understanding of water transport and its implications for plant health and agricultural productivity. Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing resilient crop systems in the face of climate change, where efficient water management can mean the difference between thriving and failing harvests.

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Frontiers in Plant Science

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