Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (532 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Processes orchestrated or driven by a plethora of genes, plant hormones, and inherent biological timing mechanisms facilitated by secondary molecules, which result in the systematic transformation of plants and plant parts, from one stage of maturity to another.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Development, Plant; Developments, Plant; Plant Developments; Plant Morphogenesis; Morphogeneses, Plant; Morphogenesis, Plant; Plant Morphogeneses.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Growth and Development; Plant Physiological Phenomena
- Narrower topics
- Etiolation; Germination; Plant Dormancy; Plant Senescence; Vernalization
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 27,082 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Plant Development” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 8,539 of them (31.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 10,935 records.
Reviews account for 4,422 records (16.3%) and meta-analyses for 99. Randomized controlled trials number 6 (0.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,202 |
| 2000-2009 | 5,406 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,935 |
| 2020 onward | 8,539 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 4,422 | 16.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 99 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 6 | 0.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Plant Development"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molecular Insights into ABA-Mediated Regulation of Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 33 | cc by PMID 40869193 · DOI · PMC12387064 |
| The multifaceted roles of PP2C phosphatases in plant growth, signaling, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 21 | cc by PMID 40652328 · DOI · PMC12447435 |
| Dynamic Coordination: How ERF Transcription Factors Coordinate Plant Development and Adaptive Stress Responses | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 16 | cc by PMID 41897400 · DOI · PMC13024231 |
Molecular Insights into ABA-Mediated Regulation of Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Abscisic acid (ABA) is a central phytohormone that orchestrates plant responses to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, while also influencing growth and development.
- Closing excerpt
- By offering a comprehensive synthesis of recent findings, this paper aims to stimulate further research into the interplay of ABA with other signaling pathways, highlighting its translational potential for crop improvement under changing environmental conditions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (145 words)
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a central phytohormone that orchestrates plant responses to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures, while also influencing growth and development. The regulatory networks underpinning ABA-mediated stress tolerance have been the focus of intensive research, revealing sophisticated mechanisms of biosynthesis, signal transduction, and gene regulation. Recent advances in genetic, genomic, and biochemical approaches have illuminated the complexity of ABA's interactions with other hormonal and environmental signaling pathways, providing a multidimensional understanding of plant adaptation. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on ABA's regulatory frameworks, identifies key gaps in our understanding, and discusses the potential integration of omics and emerging technologies to uncover new insights. By offering a comprehensive synthesis of recent findings, this paper aims to stimulate further research into the interplay of ABA with other signaling pathways, highlighting its translational potential for crop improvement under changing environmental conditions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40869193 · DOI · PMC12387064
The multifaceted roles of PP2C phosphatases in plant growth, signaling, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Abiotic and biotic stresses constitute substantial challenges to global agricultural productivity.
- Closing excerpt
- Deeper insights into PP2C functions may facilitate novel strategies to promote crop resilience and enhance agricultural sustainability.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (219 words)
Abiotic and biotic stresses constitute substantial challenges to global agricultural productivity. Plants have evolved complex regulatory mechanisms to mitigate these stresses, including signaling networks that govern physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. Among these, protein phosphorylation plays a pivotal role in stress adaptation; protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) proteins serve as key regulators across multiple signaling pathways. PP2Cs influence plant stress responses through interactions with various proteins, including SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 2s (SnRK2s), abscisic acid (ABA) receptors, transcription factors, and ion channels, thereby fine-tuning signaling cascades and physiological adaptations under stress conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the PP2C gene family in plants, emphasizing their structural characteristics, regulatory mechanisms, and functional roles in abiotic and biotic stress responses. We highlight the biological significance of PP2Cs in modulating critical pathways such as ABA, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and calcium signaling. Additionally, we explore the roles of PP2Cs in regulating root development, stomatal behavior, ion homeostasis, and immune responses, demonstrating their roles in coordinating plant developmental processes with adaptive responses to environmental challenges, particularly under resource-limited conditions. Finally, we identify current knowledge gaps and propose future research directions to advance the broader understanding of PP2C-mediated regulation of physiological functions, stress responses, and developmental signaling. Deeper insights into PP2C functions may facilitate novel strategies to promote crop resilience and enhance agricultural sustainability.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40652328 · DOI · PMC12447435
Dynamic Coordination: How ERF Transcription Factors Coordinate Plant Development and Adaptive Stress Responses [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- As sessile organisms, plants must dynamically allocate resources between growth and stress resilience.
- Closing excerpt
- This synthesis highlights specific ERF subgroups as pivotal integrators and future targets for crop improvement.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (168 words)
As sessile organisms, plants must dynamically allocate resources between growth and stress resilience. This review focuses on Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) transcription factors as central regulators of this fundamental balance. We evaluate the molecular basis of ERF function, highlighting their modular structure, dynamic post-translational regulation, and ability to form context-specific protein complexes that integrate diverse signals. While ERF family members show functional redundancy, certain ERF subgroups, such as the ERF-VIIs, exhibit clearer evidence of dual roles in coordinating both developmental programs and adaptive responses to stress. We further elucidate the mechanisms underlying ERF-mediated trade-offs, explaining how these factors direct spatial resource allocation and enable temporal switching between growth and defense states. Finally, we explore how emerging technologies, such as CRISPR-based genome editing and various synthetic biology tools, can harness ERF regulatory networks. These approaches offer promising strategies for engineering crops with precisely tuned adaptive capacity, supporting sustainable agriculture even in changing climate conditions. This synthesis highlights specific ERF subgroups as pivotal integrators and future targets for crop improvement.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41897400 · DOI · PMC13024231
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article A meta-analysis of trait differences between invasive and non-invasive plant species [4]
- Research article Plant-soil feedbacks: a meta-analytical review [5]
- Research article Surviving and thriving: How plants perceive and respond to temperature stress [6]
- Research article Updated role of ABA in seed maturation, dormancy, and germination [7]
- Research article Proline metabolism as regulatory hub [8]
- Research article Seed germination and vigor: ensuring crop sustainability in a changing climate [9]
References
- Khan N. Molecular Insights into ABA-Mediated Regulation of Stress Tolerance and Development in Plants. . 2025. PMID 40869193 · DOI · PMC12387064
- Ghanizadeh H, Qamer Z, Zhang Y, Wang A. The multifaceted roles of PP2C phosphatases in plant growth, signaling, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. . 2025. PMID 40652328 · DOI · PMC12447435
- Wang M, Du P, Xi L, Lin H, Zhang S. Dynamic Coordination: How ERF Transcription Factors Coordinate Plant Development and Adaptive Stress Responses. . 2026. PMID 41897400 · DOI · PMC13024231
- van Kleunen M, Weber E, Fischer M. A meta-analysis of trait differences between invasive and non-invasive plant species. Ecol Lett. 2010. PMID 20002494 · DOI
- Kulmatiski A, Beard KH, Stevens JR, Cobbold SM. Plant-soil feedbacks: a meta-analytical review. Ecol Lett. 2008. PMID 18522641 · DOI
- Ding Y, Yang S. Surviving and thriving: How plants perceive and respond to temperature stress. Dev Cell. 2022. PMID 35417676 · DOI
- Ali F, Qanmber G, Li F, Wang Z. Updated role of ABA in seed maturation, dormancy, and germination. J Adv Res. 2022. PMID 35003801 · DOI · PMC8721241
- Alvarez ME, Savouré A, Szabados L. Proline metabolism as regulatory hub. Trends Plant Sci. 2022. PMID 34366236 · DOI
- Reed RC, Bradford KJ, Khanday I. Seed germination and vigor: ensuring crop sustainability in a changing climate. Heredity (Edinb). 2022. PMID 35013549 · DOI · PMC9177656
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.