Every type of application related to the use of plant organisms, from their cultivation in the field, the cultivation of their cells and tissues in vitro, the utilization of the chemical compounds they produce, to the technology of recombinant DNA, requires a solid background of knowledge related to the effects of stress factors on plant organisms, as well as their responses to cope with stress.

This background also aids in understanding the role of plant organisms on a planetary level, as well as the effects of human activities and the changes they bring to the planet's flora (and consequently to the survival of the human species). Acquiring this background allows for the utilization of plant organisms by knowledgeable individuals who respect the planet that hosts us, rather than by aspiring sorcerers.

The book consists of three sections. Section I refers to abiotic (including anthropogenic) stress factors. Section II refers to biotic stress factors, and Section III includes the interactions of stress factors and biotechnological applications.