Plant Pathogenic Fungal Infections, Biocontrol and Novel Fungicides

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogenic fungi threaten crop production worldwide and require plant protection measures to safeguard yields and secure food supply. At the same time, beneficial fungi can antagonise fungal plant pathogens and function as effective biocontrol solutions. Many others, including yet unidentified species, harbour great potential as sources for novel antifungal compounds.

In the context of increasing regulatory and societal pressure to reduce pesticide use, it is more important than ever to deepen our understanding of fungal plant pathogens, their biology, and the mechanisms underlying innovative disease-control strategies. The Special Issue "Plant Pathogenic Fungal Infections, Biocontrol and Novel Fungicides" aims to encompass all these aspects of agriculturally relevant fungi.

We particularly welcome studies that elucidate mechanisms and biological activities of plant pathogens or biocontrol fungi, including research on host–pathogen interactions and their epidemiological implications, which are key to predicting disease spread and designing sustainable control strategies.

 Some of the issue’s focal points include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Epidemiology, biology and host–pathogen interactions of plant pathogenic fungi;
2. Biocontrol mechanisms of antifungal biocontrol organisms;
3. Identification and characterisation of novel antifungal compounds.

Reviews, original research articles, and communications are welcome.

Dr. Katia Gindro
Dr. Florian Freimoser
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. 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.