Soil Microorganisms and Soil Health in Horticultural Crop Production

Dear Colleagues,

Soil health is pivotal for plant growth and ensuring the stability of yields, and soil microorganisms represent a major contributor to soil health. They enhance the nutrient supply of plants and increase their resistance to environmental cues such as drought. Beneficial microbes may even protect plants against pathogens via the production of bacteriocins and other antimicrobial compounds, stimulating plant immunity or preventing the colonization of plants by pathogens. In addition, microbes are crucial for the degradation of organic matter and the subsequent production of humus, thus enhancing the soil texture and releasing nutrients in a plant-available form. Soil microbes may also exert an impact on plant metabolism and thereby influence the quality of products quality (microbe-associated plant traits). Consequently, measures for maintaining and enhancing the diversity of the soil microbiome have been intensively researched.

This Special Issue aims to present innovative studies that decipher the impact of the soil microbiome on plant performance and stress resistance, as well as manuscripts investigating measures that enhance soil quality with a focus on the microbiome. In addition, studies describing state-of-the-art methods for assessing microbial diversity, abundance and activity in the context of horticultural practice are welcome. Submissions in the form of original research articles, short communications and reviews addressing the aforementioned and similar topics are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Wilfried Rozhon
Dr. Jörg Geistlinger
Guest Editors

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 collection 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. Horticulturae 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 2200 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.

• soil microbiome
• plant nutrients
• secondary metabolites
• enzymatic activity
• environmental stress