This review discusses the effects of abiotic stress on plants from a systems biology perspective. Plants face complex abiotic and biotic stresses, and their responses are equally complex. Systems biology approaches allow for a multi-targeted analysis by identifying regulatory hubs in complex networks. These approaches integrate molecular data (transcripts, proteins, metabolites) into functional networks to predict and describe plant responses in different environments. The review summarizes recent research on plant responses to abiotic stresses, highlighting insights from integrated omics data. It identifies knowledge gaps and focuses future crop improvement research. Recent advances in biotechnology have enabled a holistic view of plant cells through transcript, protein, and metabolite profiling. Systems biology allows deeper understanding of complex physiological processes and cellular functions. New models derived from large datasets can generate hypotheses about plant responses to environmental stresses. Understanding gene function is a major challenge in the post-genomic era. While many gene functions are unknown, their roles can be inferred through associations with other known genes. High-throughput omics technologies help identify new genes and their functions. Network reconstructions at the genome scale are key to understanding genotype-phenotype relationships. The review summarizes recent progress in systematic analyses of plant responses to abiotic stress, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and integrated approaches. Due to space constraints, important perspectives from systems biology and omics approaches are emphasized. Plant responses to the environment are complex, with a vast number of cells and intricate cellular interactions. A single Arabidopsis plant can have up to 100 million cells, and a redwood tree can have 70 trillion cells. Cells have complex interactions, including multiple organelles and genetic interactions between nuclear, plastidial, and mitochondrial genomes. Environmental factors can limit crop production by up to 70%. Abiotic stress continues to significantly impact plants, as evidenced by the percentage of land area affected and the number of scientific publications on abiotic stresses. The number of publications on abiotic stress using systems biology approaches has increased exponentially since 2002. Plants require energy, water, carbon, and minerals for growth. Abiotic stress reduces growth and yield below optimal levels. Plant responses to stress are dynamic and complex, involving both reversible and irreversible changes. Responses vary depending on the tissue or organ affected. Water deficit inhibits plant growth by reducing water uptake and altering cell wall properties. It also affects water conductance and cell wall nonenzymatically. Growth inhibition occurs before any inhibition of photosynthesis or respiration. The fundamental nature of newly divided cells encasing the xylem limits growth. These cells act as a resistance to water flow, requiring a larger water potential gradient. Growth is limited by the plant's ability to osmotically adjust or conduct water. Abiotic stress triggers early metabolic responses, including inhibition of protein synthesis and increased protein folding. Energy metabolism is affected as stress becomes more severe. There are gradual and complex changes in metabolism in response to stress.This review discusses the effects of abiotic stress on plants from a systems biology perspective. Plants face complex abiotic and biotic stresses, and their responses are equally complex. Systems biology approaches allow for a multi-targeted analysis by identifying regulatory hubs in complex networks. These approaches integrate molecular data (transcripts, proteins, metabolites) into functional networks to predict and describe plant responses in different environments. The review summarizes recent research on plant responses to abiotic stresses, highlighting insights from integrated omics data. It identifies knowledge gaps and focuses future crop improvement research. Recent advances in biotechnology have enabled a holistic view of plant cells through transcript, protein, and metabolite profiling. Systems biology allows deeper understanding of complex physiological processes and cellular functions. New models derived from large datasets can generate hypotheses about plant responses to environmental stresses. Understanding gene function is a major challenge in the post-genomic era. While many gene functions are unknown, their roles can be inferred through associations with other known genes. High-throughput omics technologies help identify new genes and their functions. Network reconstructions at the genome scale are key to understanding genotype-phenotype relationships. The review summarizes recent progress in systematic analyses of plant responses to abiotic stress, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and integrated approaches. Due to space constraints, important perspectives from systems biology and omics approaches are emphasized. Plant responses to the environment are complex, with a vast number of cells and intricate cellular interactions. A single Arabidopsis plant can have up to 100 million cells, and a redwood tree can have 70 trillion cells. Cells have complex interactions, including multiple organelles and genetic interactions between nuclear, plastidial, and mitochondrial genomes. Environmental factors can limit crop production by up to 70%. Abiotic stress continues to significantly impact plants, as evidenced by the percentage of land area affected and the number of scientific publications on abiotic stresses. The number of publications on abiotic stress using systems biology approaches has increased exponentially since 2002. Plants require energy, water, carbon, and minerals for growth. Abiotic stress reduces growth and yield below optimal levels. Plant responses to stress are dynamic and complex, involving both reversible and irreversible changes. Responses vary depending on the tissue or organ affected. Water deficit inhibits plant growth by reducing water uptake and altering cell wall properties. It also affects water conductance and cell wall nonenzymatically. Growth inhibition occurs before any inhibition of photosynthesis or respiration. The fundamental nature of newly divided cells encasing the xylem limits growth. These cells act as a resistance to water flow, requiring a larger water potential gradient. Growth is limited by the plant's ability to osmotically adjust or conduct water. Abiotic stress triggers early metabolic responses, including inhibition of protein synthesis and increased protein folding. Energy metabolism is affected as stress becomes more severe. There are gradual and complex changes in metabolism in response to stress.