Research Advances in Plant Interactions with Bacteria and Fungi: From Molecular to Ecological Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Plants coexist with diverse bacterial and fungal communities that inhabit their roots, leaves, seeds, and surrounding soils. These microbes can act as beneficial partners that promote growth, enhance nutrient acquisition, and improve stress tolerance, or as pathogens that cause serious diseases and yield losses. Understanding how plants interact with both bacteria and fungi, from molecular signaling and recognition to ecological dynamics within plant-associated microbiomes, is essential for advancing crop resilience and sustainability.

This Special Issue, “Research Advances in Plant Interactions with Bacteria and Fungi: From Molecular to Ecological Perspectives,” welcomes original research and reviews that explore plant–microbe interactions across mechanistic, functional, and community levels. Topics include plant recognition and signalling, microbial effectors, biocontrol mechanisms, plant growth-promoting microbes, synthetic communities, and multi-omics approaches to characterize plant-associated microbiomes. Studies spanning model systems to crops and from laboratory to field settings are encouraged. 

Dr. Jessie Fernandez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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