Vector-Borne Plant Pathogens: Evolutionary, Ecological, and Molecular Insights into Tritrophic Associations
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 17
Special Issue Editors
Interests: vector ecology; evolution of vector–phytoplasma–plant associations; biodiversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Novel plant diseases represent a growing threat to global food security, yet the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms driving plant disease emergence remain poorly understood. Many of these diseases are vector-borne, and their spread may be exacerbated by environmental changes. Vector-borne pathogens often have higher transmission rates because their insect vectors can move rapidly between susceptible hosts across wide geographic areas. This increased mobility enhances exposure to new potential hosts, increasing the likelihood of host switching and disease emergence. Parasitic plant pathogens frequently manipulate host behavior and physiology in ways that may promote evolutionary diversification, such as by triggering host shifts. The unique evolutionary, ecological, and molecular trade-offs that shape the interactions between vector-borne plant pathogens, their insect vectors, and plant hosts make it particularly challenging to predict disease emergence. This Special Issue aims to review the current state of knowledge on the ecology and evolution of vector-borne plant pathogens, including the molecular constraints and drivers of diversification in these complex associations.
We welcome a variety of contributions, including studies on the regional diversity of pathogen–vector–plant associations, the molecular determinants of vector or plant–pathogen interactions, and pathogen-induced host manipulation and its role in promoting host shifts and disease emergence, as well as research conducted in both agroecosystems and natural environments.
Dr. Valeria Trivellone
Dr. Yaima Arocha-Rosete
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.
Keywords
- ecology of plant diseases
- evolutionary epidemiology
- host switching
- host–pathogen–vector networks
- plant–microbe interactions
- molecular evolution
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