Metabolic reprogramming in plant defense: linking signaling networks to metabolomics-driven insights

influx, reactive oxygen species, and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades is coupled to transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of both primary and specialized metabolisms. Key metabolic adjustments include reconfiguration of central carbon metabolism, maintenance of redox balance, and induction of defense-associated compounds such as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytoalexins. We further examine the metabolic basis of the growth-defense trade-off, emphasizing the roles of TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) and SNF1-RELATED KINASE 1 (SnRK1) in coordinating energy allocation under stress conditions. Emerging approaches, including targeted and untargeted metabolomics, spatial and temporal profiling, stable isotope-assisted fluxomics, and multi-omics integration, are discussed as key tools for dissecting plant defense metabolism. Despite these advances, challenges remain in linking metabolic changes to causal defense functions and in resolving context-dependent responses under complex stress conditions. Collectively, this review provides a mechanistic and systems-level framework that connects signaling networks with metabolic reprogramming, offering new opportunities for improving crop resilience through metabolic engineering and precision breeding.