Emerging Phytophthora Threats to Forest Ecosystems: Pathogen Ecology, Host Resistance, and Sustainable Management

Dear Colleagues,

Phytophthora species are among the most destructive pathogens threatening forest ecosystems worldwide. Their wide host range, high adaptability, and persistence in soil enable them to cause devastating epidemics that severely impact forest productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem stability. In recent decades, Phytophthora diseases have increased in frequency and intensity, driven by global trade, landscape alteration, and climate change, which facilitate the spread and establishment of invasive species in new environments. Understanding the ecology, evolution, and host interactions of Phytophthora species is essential to mitigate their impact and to design sustainable management strategies. Advances in molecular diagnostics, genomics, and ecological modeling are revealing key aspects of pathogen diversity, dispersal, and adaptation, while research on host resistance and biosecurity provides tools for long-term forest health protection.

This Special Issue, “Emerging Phytophthora Threats to Forest Ecosystems: Pathogen Ecology, Host Resistance, and Sustainable Management” invites original research articles, reviews, and case studies addressing pathogen ecology, host–pathogen interactions, early detection, and integrated management approaches. Contributions exploring the influence of climate change and the emergence of new species are particularly encouraged. Our goal is to advance understanding of Phytophthora threats and promote resilient and sustainable forest ecosystems.

Dr. Mario González
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.