Plant Protection and Nutrition: Novel Technologies, Applications and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

Plant protection and nutrition go hand-in-hand; an appropriate nutrient supply is central to plant growth and development, to microorganisms that coexist in close association with these plants, and an important factor in disease control. One of the most important aspects of present day agriculture and food production is plant protection. In intensive cropping systems, plant protection products have continued to contribute positively to global food security by reducing crop losses, but they also exhibit negative effects on the environment, natural habitats, and human health. Therefore, in the modern era of agriculture, and with access to innovative technologies, old practices of plant protection are no longer sustainable. To limit the use of these synthetic agrochemicals, novel approaches in the process of plant protection and nutrition for developing functional foods are intensely required. Beneficial elements, the role of plant micro- and macronutrients, symbiotic microorganisms on plant performance, yield and disease control have been widely studied in recent years. Biological control, that is, the use of natural antagonistic microorganisms to suppress plant diseases, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of synthetic chemicals for plant protection. Recent investigations of Antarctic bacterial strains demonstrated their role as iron chelators and abilities to promote plant growth by producing various biomolecules such as biosurfactants and siderophores, which lead to the increased availability of nutrients in the environment, neutralized fungal pathogens and their toxic metabolites. Thus, the field-based applicability of novel microbial strains, development of novel bio-compounds/protectants in improving nutrient availability, utilization and alternative crop protection methods require further and stronger evidence for field adaptability. Despite all of the existing literature and evidence related to this extremely important topic, there are still many aspects of plant protection and nutrition for food production that need to be investigated and understood through the application of novel technologies and strategies that could increase the production, quality and nutritional value of global food resources. Therefore, the main topics in this Special Issue should focus on:

• Nutrition and disease control;
• Nutrient management and disease control;
• Use of cultural methods in improving plant nutrition and protection;
• Systemically induced or systemically acquired resistance;
• Nutrient and agrochemical management strategies to optimize plant growth, yield and quality;
• Determination of plant growth, yield and quality in response to nutrient application, timing and dose;
• Evaluation and utilization of novel agrochemical active ingredients and products in plant protection;
• Efficacy testing of a wide range of foliar and seed treatments;
• Use of nanotechnologies in increasing nutrient uptake and reducing waste;
• Hydroponic plant nutrient requirements and factors affecting plant nutrition;
• Use of precision agriculture for optimizing nutrient requirement;
• Biotechnological application of microorganisms in plant protection and nutrition.

In addition to the above, any research updates, original articles, reviews, novel and key findings exploring the influence of essential and nonessential nutrients on plant growth, physiology and resilience are welcome for submission to this Special Issue.

Dr. Dheeraj Singh Rathore
Guest Editor

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