Plant structural biology: Emerging technologies and future biological insights

Plant structural biology is entering a new era. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy, tomography, and AI-based prediction are making it possible to study plant macromolecular machines at near-atomic resolution, including complexes that long resisted analysis by traditional approaches. Yet, despite these developments, plant proteins remain underrepresented in structural databases, reflecting persistent challenges in sample preparation, in situ imaging, and capturing dynamics. At the same time, plants present unique opportunities for structural biology, from the photosynthetic apparatus and cellulose synthase rosettes to receptor-like kinases, resistosomes, and plastid protein import machinery. Understanding these systems requires not only technical innovation but also conceptual shifts toward structural landscapes that capture molecular heterogeneity across time, space, and environmental conditions. Here, we outline the main frontiers for the field: improving sample preparation pipelines, advancing in situ and time-resolved methods, integrating structural biology with omics, and harnessing computational modeling. We highlight biological questions where structural insights are most urgently needed, including photosynthesis, hormone signaling, cell wall synthesis, organelle biology, and immunity. We argue that investment in infrastructure, training, and collaborative networks is essential if plant structural biology is to realize its potential. By revealing the molecular logic of the green world, the field can contribute solutions to urgent challenges in agriculture, sustainability, and climate resilience.