Plant-Insect Interactions 2022

Dear Colleagues,

Plant–insect interactions is a fast-developing research-field that continues to increase the interest of many scientists, many of whom come from heterogeneous backgrounds. This variety reflects the complexity and the multifaceted associations from which plants and insect interactions may originate.

Mutualism, pollination, and biotrophy boost the co-evolution of plant defenses against various insect feeding strategies and the ability of insects to detoxify plant chemical defenses or to react specifically to plant compounds. The success of plants to withstand insect herbivory depends on their ability to quickly recognize and decipher the incoming signal and their ability to adequately respond to a wide array of attacking herbivores. Whilst this topic has been widely investigated, less attention has been paid to how insects use plant signals for their own advantage to detect high-quality food, to choose where to lay their eggs, or to find their prey.

Current research on plant–insect interaction has mainly focused on genomics and proteomics, which are late events induced by biotic stress. Early events, within the first seconds to minutes, are responsible for the recognition and triggering of the signal transduction pathways, preceding both genomic and proteomic responses. For both plants and insects, sensing and communication are key features that can improve fitness and that can grant survival in contrasting environments.

This Special Issue on “Plant–Insect Interactions” is open to all researchers studying this interaction at any level, from both the plant and the insect sides. Original research articles as well as review papers dealing with advancements and our current understanding of various aspects of plant–insect interactions are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Massimo Maffei
Dr. Francesca Barbero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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