Open Access

REVIEW

Wild Edible Plants As Overlooked Models for Plant Stress Tolerance: Physiological, Metabolic and Applied Perspectives

Hajiba Benteima^1,2, Mohamed Ezzaitouni^2,*, Tarik Chileh-Chelh², Carlos Galindo³, José Luis Guil-Guerrero²

1 Departamento de Agronomía, CIAMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
2 Food Technology Division, ceiA3, CIAMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain
3 Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

* Corresponding Author: Mohamed Ezzaitouni. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plant Responses to Stress Factors)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2026, 95(3), 6 https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2026.079255

Received 18 January 2026; Accepted 13 March 2026; Issue published 31 March 2026

Abstract

Wild edible plants have evolved in response to persistent and often severe environmental pressures, including salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, high light intensity and nutrient-poor soils. Despite the considerable physiological flexibility and adaptive capacity exhibited by these species, they remain underrepresented in contemporary plant stress research, which has traditionally focused on a limited number of model species and major crops. The present review proposes a conceptual framework that positions wild edible plants as physiological and ecological reference systems for studying naturally evolved plant stress tolerance, rather than as alternative genetic model species. The synthesis of current knowledge on the ecological contexts that shape their stress adaptation is conducted, and the major abiotic stressors influencing wild edible plants across diverse environments are examined. This study focuses on the physiological mechanisms involved in water regulation, osmotic adjustment, photosynthetic performance, and antioxidant defence. The role of metabolic plasticity and stress-induced production of secondary metabolites is also discussed, highlighting how chronic or moderate environmental stress may, under specific conditions, enhance nutritional and functional attributes without necessarily compromising metabolic stability. Furthermore, the potential of wild edible plants as reservoirs of stress-resilient traits relevant to sustainable agriculture, crop diversification, and functional food systems in marginal environments is evaluated. The identification of key research gaps is the final stage of the research process. These gaps include the limited application of omics-based approaches, the lack of standardised experimental methodologies, and the scarcity of direct comparative studies between wild edible and domesticated plant species. The present review underscores the potential benefits and current constraints associated with the utilisation of wild edible plants in promoting plant stress biology and informing climate-resilient agricultural strategies.

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