Lifestyle Transitions in Plant-Associated Fungi
A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 17
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses; phytoremediation; biocontrol; plant defense
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The dynamic relationship between plants and their associated fungi is far from static. Many fungal species exhibit remarkable lifestyle plasticity, shifting between endophytism and pathogenicity depending on the environmental conditions, host physiology, and microbial community context. These transitions challenge the traditional dichotomy between “beneficial” and “harmful” microbes, revealing a continuum shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors.
This Special Issue will explore the molecular mechanisms and ecological drivers behind lifestyle transitions in plant-associated fungi. We welcome contributions addressing how environmental stressors (such as drought, nutrient limitation, or climate change) and host-related cues (including immune status, developmental stage, or genotype) influence the switch from mutualistic or latent endophytism to active pathogenesis and vice versa.
By deepening our understanding of how fungi navigate the fine line between symbiosis and disease, this Special Issue will shed light on the complexity of plant–microbe interactions and offer insights to inform plant health, resilience, and sustainable management strategies.
Dr. Juan Sobrino-Plata
Dr. Clara Martínez-Arias
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. Journal of Fungi 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
- fungal lifestyle transitions
- pathogens
- endophytes
- plant–fungus interactions
- biotic and abiotic stress
- forest ecosystem
- agroecosystem, microbiome dynamics
- host–microbe interface
- mutualism–parasitism continuum
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