Dear Colleagues,

Over the last 30 years, great progress has been made in understanding how plants and microbes interact. An intense molecular dialogue occurs between plants and beneficial or pathogenic microbes, and this dialogue is responsible for the final outcome of the interaction. In the case of beneficial interactions, the molecular exchange determines, for instance, the recruitment and assembly of microbes at the root level and the establishment of mutualistic symbioses. In the case of parasitism, the molecular interaction determines the pathogen’s ability to effectively overcome plant defenses and cause disease. The interaction can alter the plant capacity to face subsequent stress factors. Phenomena of induced resistance and defense priming are clear examples.

Most of the current knowledge on the molecular interactions between plant and microbes derives from model systems often involving as plant hosts herbaceous species of agricultural interest.

With this Special Issue, we would like to highlight studies aimed at characterizing, at the molecular level, interactions between pathogenic or beneficial microbes with tree species. Studies involving fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, viruses, or aimed at investigating the microbiome associated with tree species in forest, agricultural, or urban environments are welcome.

Dr. Alberto Santini
Dr. Ivan Baccelli
Guest Editors

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