Yali Tang, Bohao Tan, H. P. Liu, Ying Liu, Liang Zhang, Peng Zhang, Ming Sun
spp.) are globally renowned ornamental plants, with some species also possessing medicinal, edible, and cosmetic value. However, their quality and yield are often negatively affected by various stresses. Conventional breeding methods are often inefficient due to the long juvenile phase, complex genetic background, and large genome size of lilies. While numerous emerging technologies provide opportunities for resistance breeding in lilies, their successful application relies on a thorough understanding of the resistance response mechanisms. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in lily stress resistance research, delineating the physiological and molecular response mechanisms of lilies under abiotic stresses (extreme temperature, drought, high salinity), biotic stresses (pathogens, pests), and continuous cropping obstacles. Furthermore, it discusses current challenges and limitations, and explores the potential applications of emerging technologies in improving the stress adaptability of lilies. These findings provide important insights for advancing stress resistance research and breeding stress-tolerant lily cultivars.