Plant cell wall signaling: from perception to adaptive responses

As a fundamental feature of plant cells, the cell wall sculpts plant architecture and governs environmental interactions. The cell wall is a dynamic matrix that exhibits both rigidity and plasticity, not only providing structural support but also serving as a critical signaling hub to regulate plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. Although long underappreciated, the signaling role of the cell wall has been brought to the forefront by recent breakthroughs, which have profoundly advanced our understanding of its importance and regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we summarize recent progress in cell wall signaling, particularly focusing on cell wall-derived signals, cell wall sensing mechanisms, and the functional roles of cell wall signaling in plant vegetative growth, reproduction, and abiotic stress responses.