Tree Host – Microbial Interactions

Dear colleagues,

Climate change in combination with increasing pressure from pathogens constitutes a particular threat to forest ecosystems. Thus, it is vital to gather knowledge on disease pressure to trees in changing climate. In forests, the role of pathogens is expected to increase in the future since their ability to adapt to new climatic conditions is better than their long-lived tree hosts. Pathogens can directly or indirectly benefit from a reduction in host resistance, leading to production losses and threats to the sustainability of forestry. Indirect effects usually occur through changes in plant chemistry, metabolites or structure. However, potential beneficial effects of microbes, e.g. mycorrhiza, may support host trees against increasing pathogen pressure, and thus alleviate their negative effects. We are happy to receive research articles or reviews on the above-mentioned subjects to be published in the special issue “Tree host – microbial interactions”.