Jaime Barros

1 Introduction Lignin is a phenolic polymer found in the secondary cell walls of vascular plants, where it provides mechanical support and hydrophobicity critical for efficient water transport and plant growth. It also serves as a physical and chemical barrier against pests and pathogens and contributes to plant tolerance to abiotic stress (Peracchi et al. 2024).

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Highlights Lignin is an abundant phenolic polymer present in plant cell walls that aids water transport and plays crucial roles in protecting plants from environmental stresses. There is a growing interest in lignin as a potential source of sustainable bioproducts, including bioplastics, chemicals, carbon materials, and biofuels.