The article provides a comprehensive overview of plant defense strategies against both abiotic and biotic stresses at various levels, including the apoplastic and symplastic spaces, organ and whole-plant levels, and the ecosystem level. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to overcome or compensate for the negative impacts of these stresses, which often involve trade-offs with growth and resource allocation. The apoplastic space, where plants first encounter stress, relies on antioxidants like ascorbate (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintain redox homeostasis. Defensins and other small peptides/proteins also play a crucial role in defense, while secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provide additional protection. In the symplastic space, enzymatic activities like peroxidases and superoxide dismutase (SOD) further detoxify ROS. At the organ and whole-plant levels, strategies include stomatal closure to reduce water loss and nutrient intake, hypersensitive responses to localized infections, and systemic responses to spread defense signals. At the ecosystem level, root exudates and VOCs facilitate communication and defense against pathogens and herbivores. The review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of these defense strategies, emphasizing the need for further research on the regeneration, transport, and integration of defense compounds and signals.The article provides a comprehensive overview of plant defense strategies against both abiotic and biotic stresses at various levels, including the apoplastic and symplastic spaces, organ and whole-plant levels, and the ecosystem level. Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to overcome or compensate for the negative impacts of these stresses, which often involve trade-offs with growth and resource allocation. The apoplastic space, where plants first encounter stress, relies on antioxidants like ascorbate (ASC) and glutathione (GSH) to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintain redox homeostasis. Defensins and other small peptides/proteins also play a crucial role in defense, while secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provide additional protection. In the symplastic space, enzymatic activities like peroxidases and superoxide dismutase (SOD) further detoxify ROS. At the organ and whole-plant levels, strategies include stomatal closure to reduce water loss and nutrient intake, hypersensitive responses to localized infections, and systemic responses to spread defense signals. At the ecosystem level, root exudates and VOCs facilitate communication and defense against pathogens and herbivores. The review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of these defense strategies, emphasizing the need for further research on the regeneration, transport, and integration of defense compounds and signals.