Announcements
4 March 2026
MDPI’s 2025 Best Paper Awards—Award-Winning Papers Announced
7 April 2026
Meet Us at the 16th International Association for Plant Biotechnology Congress 2026, 26–30 July 2026, Saskatoon, Canada
2 April 2026
2026 Tu Youyou Award—Open for Nominations
31 March 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #33 - 2025 Annual Report, Preprints.org, IWD, Recapping Viruses 2026 & Romania Salon
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Scaling Open Access with Integrity: MDPI Annual Report 2025
I am pleased to share the release of MDPI’s 2025 Annual Report, reflecting our continued progress as one of the world’s leading open access publishers. The report highlights not only our growth, but also the continued evolution of our publishing model and our commitment to quality, transparency, and collaboration.
You can explore the full report here: https://mdpi-res.com/data/mdpi_annual_report_2025_0401.pdf?1775045421
Or visit the interactive page: https://www.mdpi.com/annual-report-2025/
A Year of Growth and Responsibility
2025 was a year of significant growth for MDPI. We received over 669,000 manuscript submissions, the highest in our history, while maintaining a rejection rate above 60%, reinforcing our commitment to both scale and quality.
We published 261,576 peer-reviewed open access articles across a portfolio of 500 journals, supported by a global community of more than 68,000 Editorial Board Members and 209,000 reviewers.
Scaling with Integrity
Growth alone is not the objective; how we grow matters.
Our 2025 Annual Report, Scaling Open Access with Integrity, reflects our continued focus on building the systems and processes that support reliable and trustworthy publishing. As submission volumes increase globally, so too does the importance of robust editorial workflows, research integrity frameworks, and the infrastructure required to support them.
In 2025, we continued to invest in:
- Research integrity and quality assurance processes
- Editorial support and reviewer engagement
- Transparency across the publishing workflow
These efforts ensure that scale does not come at the expense of rigor, but rather reinforces it.
Validation Through Indexing and Visibility
As MDPI continues to grow, validation of quality remains essential.
In 2025, the number of MDPI journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection increased from 298 to 329, while Scopus coverage reached 355 journals, including 45 new acceptances. Coverage in major biomedical databases (PMC/Medline/PubMed) expanded to 95 journals, and indexing in Ei Compendex increased significantly.
These milestones reflect the strength of our editorial processes and the trust placed in our journals by independent indexing bodies.
Importantly:
- 96% of all MDPI articles are indexed in Web of Science databases
- More than 1.75 million articles are indexed, with an average of 13 citations per article
Recognition through Journal Citation Reports also continues to grow:
- 298 journals received Impact Factors
- 65% ranked in the top half of their categories
- 61 journals achieved top-quartile positions
These developments demonstrate that growth and quality are advancing together, supported by strong editorial oversight and consistent performance across our journal portfolio.
Strengthening Partnerships and Community
Open access is a collaborative endeavor.
In 2025, we expanded our institutional partnerships to more than 1,000 IOAP agreements, helping simplify publishing for researchers and institutions worldwide.
We also hosted 60 in-person conferences and virtual events, bringing together more than 28,000 participants to exchange ideas, share research, and strengthen connections across the global scientific community.
At the heart of everything we do is this community of authors, editors, reviewers, and partners who make open science possible.
Looking Ahead
Open access continues to move toward becoming the standard model for sharing research globally. With that growth comes increased responsibility.
Our focus moving forward is to continue building a publishing ecosystem that is:
- Collaborative, to serve the research community
- Rigorous, to ensure quality
- Transparent, to support trust
- Scalable, to meet global demand
We believe that open access, when combined with strong editorial standards and integrity, is the most effective way to accelerate scientific progress.
Thank you to all the scholarly community who collaborated with us and our MDPI staff for your continued dedication and contributions in making 2025 a successful year.
Impactful Research
Celebrating Ten Years of Preprints.org: Accelerating Open Research
In 2026, MDPI’s preprints server Preprints.org marked its 10th anniversary as a platform dedicated to accelerating the dissemination of research. Since its launch, Preprints.org has grown into a global platform that hosts more than 120,000 preprints contributed by hundreds of thousands of researchers worldwide, generating tens of millions of views and downloads and demonstrating the value of sharing research openly and rapidly.
At MDPI, we are proud to celebrate ten years of Preprints.org supporting the mission of open science. Over the past decade, we have seen how early sharing of research can accelerate collaboration and help ideas move more quickly from discovery to impact.
The Evolution of Preprints
While Preprints.org launched in 2016, the idea behind it has deeper roots. The concept of rapid research dissemination has existed for decades, with early preprint servers showing how open sharing can accelerate scientific progress.
Over the past decade, preprints have become an increasingly important part of scholarly communication. Researchers across disciplines are looking at faster ways to share their discoveries, exchange ideas, and receive feedback from the global scientific community.
Preprints in a Growing Research Ecosystem
The global preprint landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with multiple platforms serving different research communities. The figure below (sourced from James Butcher newsletter), based on data from Dimensions (Digital Science), shows the growth of preprint outputs across several major platforms over time.
Among these platforms, arXiv (the pioneering preprint server) has experienced great growth in recent years. At the same time, other platforms have continued to expand their reach across disciplines, capturing increasing global interest in early research sharing.
Preprints.org contributes to this evolving ecosystem by providing a multidisciplinary platform that works in synergy with academic journals, helping researchers bridge the gap between rapid dissemination and the formal publication process.
Celebrating the First Decade
To commemorate this milestone, Preprints.org launched a 10th Anniversary celebration hub highlighting the impact of preprints and the researchers who contribute to them.
One of the central initiatives is the Popular Preprints of the Decade Award, recognizing influential preprints published between 2016 and 2026 across multiple research fields. Through community voting, the award will recognize research that has generated high engagement and visibility within the global research community.
Looking Ahead: The Next Decade of Preprints
As research communication continues to evolve, preprints will continue to play an important role in enabling faster collaboration, improving transparency, and expanding access to knowledge. The next decade may bring further integration between preprint platforms and journals, new tools for discovery and evaluation, and greater global participation in open science.
At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting researchers through platforms that encourage the open exchange of ideas. The success of Preprints.org over the past ten years reflects the engagement and trust of the global research community – authors, readers, reviewers, and collaborators who believe in the value of sharing knowledge openly.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the development and growth of Preprints.org over the past decade!
Inside MDPI
Beyond International Women’s Day: Supporting Women in Research
International Women’s Day (IWD) offers an opportunity to recognize the achievements of women around the world and reflect on how we can continue building a more inclusive future. In research and academia, this conversation carries particular importance, as scientific progress depends on diverse perspectives, and supporting women in science is essential to strengthening the global research ecosystem.
For MDPI, IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in research and highlight the initiatives, conversations, and collaborations that help support researchers across disciplines and career stages.
Highlighting Women in Science Across MDPI
This year, MDPI marked International Women’s Day with a global campaign highlighting research, awards, and perspectives that support women in science. Throughout the week, our teams shared content across MDPI’s social media channels sharing the work of women researchers and encouraging engagement across the academic community.
As part of this initiative, MDPI published several blog articles exploring important themes related to gender equity in research. One article, Give Support, Gain Progress: Retaining Women in Science, discusses the importance of mentorship, institutional support, and inclusive research environments in helping women build sustainable scientific careers.
Another featured article, Bridging the Gap in Women’s Health Research, highlights the ongoing need to address disparities in health research and ensure that women’s health receives the scientific attention and investment it deserves.
These topics capture the notion that supporting women in science benefits not only individual researchers but the entire scientific community. When researchers from diverse backgrounds can contribute their perspectives and ideas, the scope and impact of scientific discovery expand.
Creating Spaces for Dialogue
Beyond online content, MDPI is also supporting conversations about women in research through community engagement.
On 10 March, MDPI UK hosted the “Women in Research” event, bringing together researchers and professionals to share experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges women face throughout their scientific careers. Events like these are an opportunity for open dialogue, mentorship, and networking to create more inclusive research communities.
Looking Beyond a Single Day
While IWD is an important moment of recognition, progress requires ongoing effort.
Supporting women in research involves many forms of engagement: from mentorship and collaboration to creating inclusive environments in which diverse voices are heard and valued. Publishers, institutions, and researchers all play a role in building this ecosystem.
At MDPI, we remain committed to supporting the global research community and to promoting open access publishing as a foundation for accessible and inclusive knowledge-sharing.
As we reflect on IWD this year, we recognize the many women who contribute to research as authors, reviewers, editors, mentors, and educators; we also recognize the impact they continue to have on the advancement of science. The influence of women in research extends far beyond a single day of recognition, reminding us that supporting them is a commitment that continues throughout the year.
Coming Together for Science
Highlights from Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology (11–13 March)
Through 11–13 March, we successfully delivered the Viruses 2026 – New Horizons in Virology MDPI conference in Barcelona, bringing together an international community of researchers, editors, and partners dedicated to advancing the field of virology.
Conference Highlights
Viruses 2026 in numbers:
- 198 total registrations, with 171 attendees on site
- 233 submissions, with 122 accepted
- 42 short talks, 9 flash talks, and 80 posters
- 13 invited speakers and 1 keynote speaker
The strong level of participation and quality of submissions once again demonstrate the relevance of the Viruses community.
A standout moment was the keynote lecture by Dr. Ho, which also attracted an NBC documentary film crew, highlighting the broader impact of the research being presented.
Scientific Programme
The conference programme covered areas across modern virology, including viral replication, pathogenesis, immunology, and public health. Sessions explored topics on antiviral therapeutics and vaccines, innate immunity, virus–host interactions, and the structure and mechanisms of virus replication.
Together, these discussions highlighted both the fundamental biology of viruses and the translational challenges of addressing emerging infectious diseases, reflecting the breadth and continued importance of virology research in a global context. The programme also included a sponsored workshop on research data management in virology, further emphasizing the importance of data practices in advancing the field.
Thank You
Feedback from participants has been very positive, and I would like to thank the Conference team for the organization and delivery of this year’s event.
Thank you to our Viruses journal team and all colleagues involved behind the scenes in supporting the delivery of the event. As noted by Dr. Eric Freed (EiC of Viruses), the success of this edition gives us strong momentum as we look ahead to the next conference in 2028, with opportunities to further expand participation and engagement.
Closing Thoughts
Recap from MDPI Romania Salon in Cluj-Napoca (24 March)
On 24 March, we had the opportunity to meet with members of the Romanian research community in Cluj-Napoca at our MDPI Romania Salon. The event was a space for presentations, open discussion, and the exchange of perspectives on publishing and the research landscape in Romania.
We welcomed 39 participants, including 27 researchers from institutions across Romania, representing cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Reșița. Among them were Editorial Board Members, Associate Editors, and Guest Editors, all of whom play an important role in collaborating with MDPI and shaping the quality and direction of academic publishing.
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A Shared Commitment to Research Excellence
These events reflect MDPI’s commitment to connecting with and supporting researchers by means of transparency, dialogue, and collaboration. During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering different parts of our publishing ecosystem:
- MDPI’s presence in Romania – Anamaria Vartolomei (Journal Relationship Specialist (JRS), Section Managing Editor (ME))
- MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO)
- Academic services, initiatives, and projects supporting researchers – Ioana Preda (JRS, Section ME)
- Best practices and standards in publication ethics – Lavinia Rogojina (Research Integrity Manager)
- Panel session on ethics, AI, and peer review – Lavinia Rogojina, Ioana Preda, Doris Larisa Albu (JRS, Section ME), Cristina Georgiana Spelmezan (JRS, Section ME)
- Closing remarks – Lavinia Dumitrela Cozma (Operations Manager, Section ME)
Feedback from participants was very positive, particularly regarding the quality of discussions, the relevance of the topics, and the opportunity to engage directly with MDPI colleagues. What stood out most was the openness of the discussion. These events are important not only for the purposes of presenting what we do, but also as an opportunity to listen, understand concerns, and continue to build alignment with the research community.
Romania and the Growth of Open Access Publishing
The Romanian research landscape continues to show growth in open access (OA) publishing.
In 2025:
- 72% of all publications in Romania were published as OA
- Of these, 74% were Gold Open Access
Over the past five years, Romania has produced more than 109,000 publications, with approximately 71% available openly, highlighting a sustained shift toward accessibility and knowledge-sharing.
Within this landscape, MDPI continues to play a significant role:
- MDPI is the leading OA publisher in Romania, contributing 42% of all OA publications in 2025
- More than 37,000 articles have been published with MDPI by Romanian institutions since 1996
- This figure includes over 7,500 publications in 2025 alone
- More than 400 Editorial Board Members from Romania collaborate with MDPI across disciplines
These trends show the growth of OA and the strength of collaboration between MDPI and the Romanian research community.
Looking Ahead
As academic publishing continues to evolve, maintaining open and transparent communication with researchers is essential. Events such as our Salons and Summits provide great opportunities to exchange perspectives and to build trust and collaboration.
Thank you to all participants who joined us in Cluj, and to our teams in Romania for delivering a successful event. A special thank-you to Alina-Florina Agafitei (Marketing Specialist) for her care and attention to detail in delivering the Salon.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 March 2026
Agronomy Webinar | Main Innovations in the Revised FAO56 Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements, 13 April 2026
It is our pleasure to welcome you to this webinar organized by Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395) dedicated to the “Main Innovations in the Revised FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements”.
Over recent decades, FAO56 has become a worldwide reference for estimating crop evapotranspiration and computing crop water requirements under a wide range of conditions. At the same time, major advances in scientific knowledge, data availability, and modelling capabilities, together with increasing pressure from climate variability and water scarcity, have made an update necessary. The revised guidelines respond to this context by integrating significant scientific and technical developments, including improved procedures for meteorological data assessment and correction, expanded crop coefficient information, updated approaches for estimating actual crop evapotranspiration, and the use of new data sources such as gridded weather datasets and remote sensing.
This webinar brings together researchers and practitioners who are investigating evapotranspiration, crop water requirements, and agricultural water management to discuss the main innovations introduced in the revised guidelines, their scientific basis, and their practical implications. By linking methodological developments with field applications, the webinar contributions will help highlight how these advances can support more accurate water management decisions and the more efficient use of agricultural water resources.
We hope this session will be both useful and stimulating for your research and professional activities, and we warmly invite you to join the discussion.
Date: 13 April 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (CEST) | 4:00 p.m. (CST Asia)
Webinar ID: 852 1129 5288
Register now for free!
Program:
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
Time in CST Asia |
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Ms. Klaudia Kasprowicz |
10:00–10:05 a.m. |
4:00–4:05 p.m. |
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Dr. Maher Salman (Chair) |
10:05–10:20 a.m. |
4:05–4:20 p.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Richard Allen |
10:20–10:40 a.m. |
4:20–4:40 p.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Paula Paredes |
10:40–11:00 a.m. |
4:40–5:00 p.m. |
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Dr. Ramón López-Urrea |
11:00–11:20 a.m. |
5:00–5:20 p.m. |
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Q&A Session |
11:20–11:45 a.m. |
5:20–5:45 p.m. |
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Dr. Maher Salman |
11:45–11:50 a.m. |
5:45–5:50 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Maher Salman, Land and Water Division FAO, Italy;
- Prof. Dr. Richard Allen, University of Idaho, USA, Retired;
- Prof. Dr. Paula Paredes, University of Lisbon, Portugal;
- Dr. Ramón López-Urrea, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Desertification Research Centre (CIDE), CSIC-UV-GVA, Spain.
Relevant Topical Collection:
“Towards Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production—Yield Gaps and Water Use Efficiency in Farming Systems”
Collection Editors: Anita Ierna and Paula Paredes
25 March 2026
Agronomy | Special Issue Reprints Published in 2024 (II)
We are delighted to share with you eight reprints of Special Issues published in 2024 in Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395). They were selected by the Agronomy Editorial Office, each with 10 or more articles published. You can read more reprints of the Special Issues published by Agronomy here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy.
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1. “Social-Ecologically More Sustainable Agricultural Production” |
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2. “Progress in Horticultural Crops - from Genotype to Phenotype” |
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3. “New Insights into Pathogen, Insect Pest, and Weed Control in Field and Greenhouse Cropping Systems” |
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4. “Metagenomic Analysis for Unveiling Agricultural Microbiome” |
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5. “Agricultural Environment and Intelligent Plant Protection Equipment” |
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6. “Agricultural Unmanned Systems: Empowering Agriculture with Automation” |
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7. “Omics Approaches for Crop Improvement” |
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8. “Optimal Water Management and Sustainability in Irrigated Agriculture” |
25 March 2026
Agronomy | Special Issue Reprints Published in 2024 (I)
We are delighted to share with you eight reprints of Special Issues published in 2024 in Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395). They were selected by the Agronomy Editorial Office, each with 10 or more articles published.
You can read more reprints of the Special Issues published by Agronomy here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy.
1. “Treatment and Management of Fusarium Disease in Wheat”
Guest Editors: Valentina Španić and Hrvoje Šarčević
ISBN 978-3-0365-9893-2 (Hardback);
ISBN 978-3-0365-9894-9 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-9894-9
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/8564-treatment-and-management-of-fusarium-disease-in-wheat
2. “Grassland and Pasture Ecological Management and Utilization”
Guest Editors: Kesi Liu and Xinqing Shao
ISBN 978-3-7258-0167-1 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0168-8 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0168-8
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/8758-grassland-and-pasture-ecological-management-and-utilization
3. “Cropping Systems and Agronomic Management Practices of Field Crops”
Guest Editors: Umberto Anastasi and Aurelio Scavo
ISBN 978-3-7258-0063-6 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0064-3 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0064-3
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/8771-cropping-systems-and-agronomic-management-practices-of-field-crops
4. “Genetics, Genomics, and Breeding of Legume Crops”
Guest Editor: Guo-Liang Jiang
ISBN 978-3-0365-9916-8 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-0365-9915-1 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-9915-1
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/8773-genetics-genomics-and-breeding-of-legume-crops
5. “The Role of Mineral Elements in the Crop Growth and Production”
Guest Editors: Gang Li, Dong-Xing Guan and Daniel Menezes-Blackburn
ISBN 978-3-7258-0318-7 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0317-0 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0317-0
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/8843-the-role-of-mineral-elements-in-the-crop-growth-and-production
6. “Crop Nutrient Requirements and Advanced Fertilizer Management Strategies”
Guest Editors: Christos Noulas, Shahram Torabian and Ruijun Qin
ISBN 978-3-7258-0632-4 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0631-7 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0631-7
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/9034-crop-nutrient-requirements-and-advanced-fertilizer-management-strategies
7. “Smart Strategies and Technologies for Sustainability and Biodiversity in Herbaceous and Horticultural Crops”
Guest Editors: Christian Frasconi, Marco Fontanelli and Daniele Antichi
ISBN 978-3-7258-0582-2 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0581-5 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0581-5
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/9094-smart-strategies-and-technologies-for-sustainability-and-biodiversity-in-herbaceous-and
8. “Smart Agriculture” Information Technology and Agriculture Cross-Discipline Research and Development”
Guest Editors: Jian Zhang, Randy G. Goebel and Zhihai Wu
ISBN 978-3-7258-0818-2 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-0817-5 (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0817-5
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/books/reprint/9148-smart-agriculture-information-technology-and-agriculture-cross-discipline-research-and-development
25 March 2026
Acknowledging the Contributions of Our Reviewers in 2025
20 March 2026
Agronomy | Issue Cover Collection Published in 2024
The articles listed below have been selected as the cover articles for Issues 1–12 of Volume 14 by the Editorial Office of Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395). These articles represent the latest research advancements in fields within the journal's scope, and we hope they will serve as a source of new research ideas for scholars and authors in these fields. For full access to Volume 14, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14.
1. “Selection of Perennial Flax (Linum spp.) for Yield and Reproductive Traits for the Oilseed Ideotype”
by David G. Tork, Neil O. Anderson, Donald L. Wyse and Kevin J. Betts
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010099
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/1/99
Cover Story: As a perennial agronomic and horticultural crop, perennial flax has the same marketable traits as annual flax along with added benefits. These new characteristics of perennial flax provide added value for sustainable production, such as reduced soil/water runoff, providing ecosystem services including pollinator benefits, and 2× harvests/year, along with the suite of traits for fiber, oilseed, cut flowers and herbaceous perennial uses. In this paper, we study the oilseed trait and its potential to transform perennial flax into a new crop.
2. “Predicting Floral Bud Progression for Three Peach Cultivars”
by Adriana Cifuentes-Carvajal, Bernardo Chaves-Córdoba, Edgar L. Vinson III, Elina D. Coneva, Dario J. Chavez and Melba R. Salazar-Gutiérrez
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020240
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/2/240
Cover Story: Phenology plays a vital role in refining the timing of cultural practices in peach orchards. Monitoring the progression of floral buds is essential for efficient orchard management, crop yield, post-harvest management, and marketing strategies. Utilizing a model that integrates heat requirements, combined with observed floral bud transitions, could enhance agricultural practices and promote the sustainable cultivation of peaches.
3. “Selection of Durum Wheat and SSR Markers for Organic Farming in Central Italy Using AMMI Analysis”
by Ieva Urbanavičiūtė, Luca Bonfiglioli and Mario A. Pagnotta
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030458
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/458
Cover Story: Durum wheat is one of the main crops in the Mediterranean region, which is characterized as the hotspot of climate change. Although chemical input reduction in agriculture is strongly demanded, there is still a lack of stable and high-yielding crop varieties specifically adapted for organic conditions. Our results showed that a combination of GEI analysis and SSR markers can improve durum wheat selection and breeding for organic farming.
4. “Adoption of Cereal–Legume Double Cropping toward More Sustainable Organic Systems in the Mediterranean Area”
by Danilo Scordia, Paolo Guarnaccia, Francesca Calderone, Aurora Maio, Tommaso La Malfa, Aurelio Scavo and Fabio Gresta
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040772
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/4/772
Cover Story: The present study investigated the effect of intercropping (IC) and relay-cropping (RC) systems of durum wheat and forage legumes by varying organic N fertilization with the aim to reduce N-requirement and weed pressure and increase wheat grain yield and grain protein content in Mediterranean organic farming systems. Overall, this study indicated that double cropping, especially IC, can be a suitable agroecological practice to tackle weed issues and reduce N-requirement in Mediterranean organic cereal-based systems.
5. “From Plants to Pixels: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Identifying Sericea Lespedeza in Field-Based Studies”
by Aftab Siddique, Kyla Cook, Yasmin Holt, Sudhanshu S. Panda, Ajit K. Mahapatra, Eric R. Morgan, Jan A. van Wyk and Thomas H. Terrill
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050992
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/5/992
Cover Story: This study explores an AI-driven deep CNN model for identifying Sericea Lespedeza (SL) among field weeds, developing a smartphone app for precise herbicide application, and promoting SL as beneficial nutraceutical forage, enhancing sustainable agriculture.
6. “Foliar Application of Wood Distillate Protects Basil Plants against Ozone Damage by Preserving Membrane Integrity and Triggering Antioxidant Mechanisms”
by Gemma Bianchi ,Riccardo Fedeli, Lorenzo Mariotti, Claudia Pisuttu, Cristina Nali, Elisa Pellegrini and Stefano Loppi
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061233
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/6/1233
Cover Story: This study tested wood distillate (WD) as a protective agent against ozone damage in basil plants. Basil treated with WD weekly (0.2% v/v) for four weeks and exposed to chronic ozone (80 ppb for 5 h day−1) showed reduced chlorotic spots, poor chlorophyll loss, and unaltered membrane integrity. WD also boosted antioxidant production, increasing abscisic and salicylic acid content. These findings demonstrate WD’s efficacy in protecting basil from ozone-induced oxidative stress.
7. “Effects of Fungicides on Fungal Development, Conidiophore Morphology, and Conidial Releases from Single Strawberry Powdery Mildew Colonies Assessed Using an Electrostatic Technique”
by Ami Takahara, Shunsuke Asano, Minami Kurokawa, Kanon Shibata, Rina Muto and Teruo Nonomura
Agronomy 2024, 14((7), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071357
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/7/1357
Cover Story: Thirty-six fungicides were sprayed on single colonies of Podosphaera aphanis on the leaves of strawberry seedlings. Asexual conidia were collected from single P. aphanis colonies on the leaves spray-treated with fungicides using an electrostatic spore collector. Using the electrostatic technique, we confirmed that P. aphanis developed resistance to both thiophanate-methyl and azoxystrobin, as has previously been established. Thus, this methodological assessment analyzing the colony development and number of conidia released from single colonies will be helpful information for screening effective fungicides.
8. “Recovering Alpine Secale cereale (Rye) Varieties: Insights from Genetic, Agronomic, and Phytochemical Analyses to Support Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Economy”
by Rodolfo Gentili, Barbara La Ferla, Elisa Cardarelli, Fausto Gusmeroli, Gianpaolo Della Marianna, Gilberto Parolo, Giancarla Maestroni and Sandra Citterio
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081605
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/8/1605
Cover Story: The identification and preservation of alpine rye ecotypes in Valtellina (Italy) has been the object of a recent study. Fourteen rye accessions, including two commercial varieties, were analyzed through genetic, agronomic, and phytochemical methods. The findings revealed two distinct genetic lineages: P1 (lower valley) and P2 (upper valley). P2 accessions exhibited superior agronomic traits, while phytochemical analysis highlighted high-performing Valtellina landraces. This study emphasizes the importance of conserving these ecotypes for local agriculture and resilience against climate change.
9. “Supplemental Irrigation with Recycled Drainage Water: Outcomes for Corn and Soybean in a Fine-Textured Soil”
by Ali R. Niaghi, Axel Garcia y Garcia and Jeffrey S. Strock
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 1948; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091948
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/1948
Cover Story: Drainage water recycling is an emerging practice where surface runoff and subsurface drainage water are used to irrigate crops under limited soil water conditions. This practice has the potential to enhance climate resilience, boost crop productivity, increase water storage, and improve downstream water quality. In this paper, we studied the effects of supplemental irrigation and nitrogen management on mitigating seasonal drought on fine-textured soils. Our results show that maize and soybean receiving additional water during the growing season maintained higher yields. These findings highlight drainage water recycling as a valuable strategy for improving crop performance under water-limited conditions in fine-textured soil.
10. “Integrating Deficit Irrigation Strategies and Soil-Management Systems in Almond Orchards for Resilient Agriculture”
by Iván Francisco García-Tejero, Juan Francisco Herencia-Galán, Belén Cárceles Rodríguez, Abel Calderón-Pavón, Javier Aldana Navarro, Alfredo Emilio Rubio-Casal and Víctor Hugo Durán Zuazo
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2288; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102288
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/10/2288
Cover Story: Adaptation and mitigation to climate change in Mediterranean agriculture are crucial to ensuring food security and reducing the vulnerability of agricultural systems; these include integrated water and soil management strategies, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and crop diversification. Almonds (Prunus dulcis Mill.) are considered a drought-tolerant plant, and their capability in adapting to water-scarcity scenarios offers the possibility of obtaining competitive and sustainable yields when deficit-irrigation (DI) strategies are implemented. We hypothesize that an equilibrium between cover crop introduction and DI can be achieved, allowing us to face the double challenge of adapting to and mitigating climate change without affecting almond yield or its nutritional status while improving soil quality and health.
11. “Prediction of Turfgrass Quality Using Multispectral UAV Imagery and Ordinal Forests: Validation Using a Fuzzy Approach”
by Alexander Hernandez, Shaun Bushman, Paul Johnson, Matthew D. Robbins and Kaden Patten
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2575; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112575
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2575
Cover Story: Turfgrass quality measurements are collected in the field and are based on several criteria such as color, density and cover. These measurements are taken by visual raters using a gradient from 1 (low) to 9 (high), but are oftentimes subjective, and they can vary with each rater, the point of observation, time of the day, and other factors. We developed a protocol to utilize imagery from multispectral sensors on-board unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as "drones") to build predictive models of turfgrass quality that are less subject to the drift observed in visual ratings and that include seasonal variability across two years of data collection. We envision that our models can initiate the development of a digital library of predictive models of turfgrass quality that can be used in other landscapes with different ecological characteristics.
12. “Sustainable Disease Control of Phytophthora cactorum in a Strawberry Nursery by Adapting the Growing System”
by Albartus Evenhuis, Johanna A. Bac-Molenaar, Khanh Pham and Kirsten A. Leiss
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2809; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122809
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/2809
Cover Story: Crown rot, caused by Phytophthora cactorum, is one of the main plant diseases affecting strawberry plants raised on a tray field. Disease spread is facilitated by the splash dispersal of spores onto nearby transplants. We tested, over three consecutive years, whether elevation of the trays from the tray field would prevent the droplets, contaminated with spores, from reaching the transplants, thus reducing crown rot incidence. In two of the three years, we showed that the new growing system without the use of any fungicide against P. cactorum performed as well as or even better than the traditional system with the use of pesticides. Spore detection in the air and splash water samples confirmed that reduced splash dispersal is a key factor in fighting crown rot. This highlights the potential in re-designing growing systems to become less dependent on pesticide use.
17 March 2026
Agronomy Webinar | Nanomaterials, Plant Responses, and Environmental Remediation in Agroecosystems, 24 March 2026
It is a pleasure to welcome you to this webinar based on the Special Issue “Multifunctional Nanoparticles and Nano-Enabled Pesticides, Herbicides and Fertilizers in Agricultural Applications” in Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395). Nanotechnology is rapidly emerging as a transformative tool for modern agriculture. In particular, multifunctional nanoparticles and nano-enabled agrochemicals offer promising opportunities to enhance crop productivity, improve nutrient-use efficiency, and develop more targeted and sustainable crop protection strategies. At the same time, these innovations raise important questions regarding environmental safety, regulatory frameworks, and long-term impacts on agroecosystems.
This webinar aims to bring together researchers working at the interface of nanotechnology, plant science, and sustainable agriculture to discuss recent advances, challenges, and future directions of this rapidly evolving field. By connecting fundamental research with practical agricultural applications, we hope to stimulate an interdisciplinary conversation and inspire new collaborations.
Date: 24 March 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CET | 10:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 834 8607 8529
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Agronomy-9
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations made with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
If you are interested but unable to attend, please register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.
Register now for free!
Program:
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CEST |
| Dr. Karen Esquivel Escalante Chair Introduction |
3:00–3:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Ana Angélica Feregrino-Pérez Impact of Nanomaterials on the Germination Process |
3:10–3:30 p.m. |
| Dr. Ramón Gerardo Guevara-González Plant and Microbial Responses to Nanomaterials in Agriculture |
3:30–3:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Alessia Corami Nature-Based Solution: A Key for Pollution and Agriculture or Something Else? |
3:50–4:10 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 4:10–4:25 p.m. |
| Dr. Karen Esquivel Escalante Closing of Webinar |
Webinar Chair and Speakers:
- Dr. Karen Escalante Esquivel (Chair), Graduate and Research Division, Engineering Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas, Querétaro, Santiago de Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
- Ana Angélica Feregrino-Pérez, Faculty of Engineering, Autonomous University of Queretaro., Queretaro. Mexico;
- Dr. Ramón Gerardo Guevara-González, Center of Applied Research in Biosystems. School of Engineering. Autonomous University of Queretaro. Amazcala, El Marques, Queretaro, México;
- Dr. Alessia Corami, Centre Européen de Recherche et d’Enseignement de Géosciences de l’Environnement, Aix-en-Provence, France.
