Molecular Strategies for the Discovery, Optimization, and Efficient Use of Green Pesticides
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 71
Special Issue Editor
Interests: isolation; identification; total synthesis; structural optimization of natural-product-based pesticides; design; synthesis; bioactivity evaluation; structure–activity relationship studies; novel high-efficiency green pesticides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research at the intersection of molecular science and sustainable agriculture, focusing on advancing green pesticide development to address critical challenges in crop protection—balancing high efficacy against pests/pathogens with minimal environmental impact, low toxicity to non-target organisms, and reduced residue accumulation.
The scope encompasses the full molecular workflow of green pesticide innovation, from the discovery of novel active molecules (via target protein structure-based design, natural product mining, and functional genomics) to their optimization (through structure–activity relationship modeling and precision modification) and efficient deployment (using smart delivery systems and molecular-level regulation). Interdisciplinary approaches integrating molecular biology, structural biology, computational modeling, and nanotechnology are particularly encouraged.
Related topics include, but are not limited to, the following: rational design of target-specific pesticides; biosynthetic gene cluster exploration for natural product-derived actives; quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR)-guided molecular refinement; stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for targeted delivery; and molecular mechanisms underlying pesticide selectivity and environmental compatibility.
This Special Issue is guest edited by Dr. Hongjian Song, with Professor Qiang Bian from Nankai University serving as co-organizer. By bringing together diverse perspectives from molecular science and sustainable agriculture, this Special Issue aims to foster collaboration among researchers, agronomists, and industry professionals, accelerating the translation of molecular strategies into practical, eco-friendly pest management solutions for global agriculture.
Dr. Hongjian Song
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- natural-product-based pesticides
- total synthesis
- structural optimization
- bioactivity evaluation
- structure–activity relationship
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