18th SEFIN Meeting and 1st Spanish-Portuguese Congress on Beneficial Plant-Microorganism Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

A wide range of microorganisms live in association with plants, including diazotrophic bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and leaf and seed endophytes. These microorganisms, among other beneficial effects, provide the plant with nitrogen and phosphorus in assimilable form, facilitate water uptake, produce plant hormones, and enhance the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. Probably the most well-known beneficial association is the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between soil rhizobia and legume roots because of its agronomical relevance and its potential to reduce the input of nitrogen fertilizers. However, other symbioses are also very relevant. Mycorrhizal fungi improve the nutrient status of their host plants and actinorhizal plants are used for timber and reclamation of degraded lands. Moreover, there is an upsurge of interest in the study of plant microbiomes and of mechanisms underlying the interactions of plants with fungal and bacterial endophytes because they enhance crop yield.

This Special Issue will comprise original research articles covering physiology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, evolution and agricultural applications of beneficial microorganisms and of their host symbiotic partners.

Prof. Dr. Manuel Becana
Dr. Isabel Videira e Castro
Prof. Dr. Jose Maria Vinardell
Dr. Ana Rincón
Guest Editors

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