Metabolomics in Plant–Microbe Interactions: Advances and Applications
A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026 | Viewed by 211
Special Issue Editors
Interests: microbiology; plant–microbe interaction; phytopathology; genomics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant–microbe interactions play a pivotal role in nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and overall sustainable agriculture. In recent years, metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool to decipher the complex biochemical dialogue between plants and their associated microbiomes. By profiling metabolites and their spatial distribution in plant tissues and rhizospheres, metabolomics (including spatial metabolomics via imaging mass spectrometry) is revealing key signaling molecules and pathways that underlie symbiosis, biocontrol, and plant disease resistance. Cutting-edge analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), combined with metagenomics and advanced data analysis (including artificial intelligence), enable comprehensive insights into these multifaceted interactions.
This Special Issue will showcase innovative research employing metabolomic approaches to understand and leverage plant–microbe interactions. We welcome submissions on topics ranging from method development (e.g., improved metabolite profiling workflows, metabolite imaging, multi-omics data integration) to biological discoveries (e.g., metabolites mediating plant immunity, growth promotion, or stress tolerance). Studies demonstrating how metabolomics can enhance sustainable agriculture—for instance, by identifying microbial metabolites for crop protection, elucidating plant defense chemistry, or informing microbiome-based soil health strategies—are especially encouraged. Original research and review articles are invited, and we look forward to receiving your valuable contributions that advance the frontiers of metabolomics in plant–microbe research.
Dr. Nabil Radouane
Dr. Salima Boutahiri
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.
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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
- metabolomics
- plant–microbe interactions
- sustainable agriculture
- biocontrol
- disease resistance
- LC-MS
- GC-MS
- metagenomics
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