Phosphorylation networks as regulatory hubs in plant stress signaling: kinase dynamics, crosstalk, and network plasticity.

Agriculture faces significant limitations from climate change, soil degradation, and a wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses that continually threaten global food security. Although transcriptional and hormonal regulatory networks have been extensively studied, post-translational modifications (PTMs), particularly phosphorylation, remain comparatively underexplored despite their central role in rapid stress signaling. In this review, we synthesize recent advances in phosphoproteomics, kinase network mapping, and systems biology to highlight phosphorylation as a key regulatory hub in plant stress responses. Drawing from both model species and crops, we emphasize major kinase families, including MAPKs, CDPKs, RLKs, and SnRK1/TOR, which translate calcium signatures, reactive oxygen species (ROS) waves, and cellular energy status into precise physiological outputs. We also discuss how multi-omics integration, precision breeding, synthetic biology, and microbiome engineering can leverage phosphorylation dynamics to advance climate-smart agriculture. By outlining phosphorylation networks as functional regulators, this work underscores their translational potential for developing resilient crops that can maintain yield under environmental extremes.