The XIV Plant Ecophysiology Colloquium gathered researchers from Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Chile to discuss the latest advances in understanding how plants respond and adapt to environmental stress under a changing climate. Organized by Dr. Marta Pintó-Marijuan and Dr. Melanie Morales (PLANTsynergy, UB), the meeting took place in Guardiola del Berguedà (29, 30 june and 1 july) and featured by scientific presentations, round-table discussions and a field excursion in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees.
The colloquium was officially opened with a keynote lecture by Dr. León Bravo (Universidad de la Frontera, Chile), an internationally recognized expert in Antarctic ecosystems. His presentation addressed how regional warming in Antarctica may affect the vulnerability of the two unique vascular plants, Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, highlighting the ecological consequences of climate change in one of the planet’s most extreme environments.
A central theme of this year’s program was the study of plant resilience to abiotic stress, including drought, extreme temperatures, salinity and nutrient limitations. Researchers presented new findings on desiccation tolerance, freezing resistance, hydraulic functioning, physiological acclimation and adaptive traits that enable plants to survive in challenging environments ranging from Antarctic tundra to Mediterranean shrublands and tropical forests.
The meeting was also showcase research with direct applications for ecosystem restoration, conservation and sustainable agriculture. Topics include improving drought resilience in crops, seed priming technologies, restoration of arid landscapes, beneficial plant–microbe interactions and physiological strategies that can contribute to more climate-resilient agricultural ecosystems.Another highlight of the colloquium was its focus on emerging technologies in plant science.
Last sessions also explored the use of dendrometers, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, metabolomics and artificial intelligence to detect and predict plant stress responses, opening new avenues for monitoring ecosystem health and crop performance.
Beyond scientific presentations, participants engaged in several round-table discussions addressing key challenges facing the discipline, including how to translate large datasets into biological understanding, the societal impact of plant science research, and the future of plant ecophysiology toward 2030 (and more!).
The program also included a field excursion to the Cingles de Vallcebre in the Berguedà region of Catalonia. The route crosses pine forests, mountain grasslands and rocky cliffs, offering participants a unique opportunity to observe ecological gradients and plant communities in a natural setting while fostering scientific exchange beyond the conference hall.By bringing together experts working across scales—from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem processes—the XIV Plant Ecophysiology Colloquium highlights the growing importance of plant ecophysiology in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture.
On behalf of the organizing committee, we would like to thank all the participants for their valuable contribution to the colloquium.
See you in the next edition!
