Molecular Advances in Plant Reproductive Development

Dear Colleagues,

The unique reproduction strategy of flowering plants, involving double fertilisation and the alternation of the sporophytic and gametophytic generation coupled with late germ line specification by which, in contrast to many animals, angiosperms exhibit a more flexible developmental pattern, warrants in-depth research endeavours concerning the molecular and cellular aspects of plant reproduction. The study of the reproductive processes of plants, both somatic and zygotic, is of fundamental importance to ensure crop improvement and to contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Gamete recognition, zygote formation, embryogenesis, endosperm development, and seed maturation encompass a plethora of versatile biochemical pathways controlled by a number of signal transduction processes. Asexual seed formation, by which the egg cell forgoes the possibility of forming a zygote upon sperm-egg cell fusion and follows an alternative development in lieu of fertilisation-triggered zygotic embryogenesis, is especially intriguing and has profound implications for modern agriculture, particularly in the fields of plant breeding, biotechnology, and conservation.

This Special Issue focuses on the molecular mechanisms that govern these still unexplored processes, providing new insights into plant developmental biology, epigenetic regulation, gene expression, and cellular signalling pathways.

Through the exploration of somatic reproduction, including clonal propagation, somatic embryogenesis, and tissue regeneration, the molecular drivers that enable plants to reproduce and regenerate without fertilisation will also be highlighted in the issue. Studies on zygotic reproduction will delve into fertilisation, seed development, and the complex molecular interaction between gametes and the surrounding maternal tissues.

This issue will feature recent research that encompasses gene regulation, protein interactions, hormonal controls, and the role of environmental cues in plant reproduction. We invite contributions that address the molecular and genetic underpinnings of reproductive processes in a wide variety of plant species, from model organisms to economically important crops.

Dr. Zsolt Pónya
Dr. Iman Mirmazloum
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 special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.