Sprouts of Plant Ecophysiology Along 100 Years of Plant Physiology

Plant ecophysiology is the discipline within plant physiology that focuses on understanding how physiological processes in relation to environmental changes occur and how such responses differ among species. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the historical corners that built the foundations of the discipline. Then, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Plant Physiology, we highlight a sample of the key papers published by the journal over a century that have been landmarks in the development of Plant Ecophysiology as the well-structured discipline that it is nowadays. These are discussed within a broader historical and conceptual framework that synthesizes the development of four major research areas: plant growth and survival under environmental constraints, plant water relations and hydraulics, photosynthetic gas exchange, and photochemistry and photoprotection. By doing so, we aim to provide both a historical perspective and an assessment of the current state of the art across these interlinked domains of plant ecophysiology.