Plant–Fungal Interactions in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 62
Special Issue Editor
Interests: plants; plant–microbe; biocontrol fungi; soil-borne pathogens; fungal metabolites; rhizosphere microbiome; mycoparasitism; endophytic fungi; sustainable disease management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fungi, as natural inhabitants of diverse ecosystems, play a crucial role in plant health by forming beneficial interactions with plants and other microorganisms. Many fungal species exhibit biocontrol potential against phytopathogens through various mechanisms, such as mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition for resources, and the induction of plant defense responses. Beneficial fungal genera such as Trichoderma, Beauveria, Metarhizium, Clonostachys, and mycorrhizal fungi have been extensively studied for their ability to suppress plant diseases while promoting plant growth and resilience to abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi establish mutualistic relationships within plant tissues, offering protection against pathogens by producing bioactive secondary metabolites and triggering induced systemic resistance (ISR). Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and other symbiotic fungi enhance nutrient uptake, modulate plant immune responses, and improve soil health, thereby contributing to a holistic biocontrol strategy. Advances in molecular biology, genomics, and microbiome research have further unraveled the intricate plant–fungal–pathogen interactions, paving the way for innovative applications in biocontrol and sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue aims to explore the diverse roles of fungi in biocontrol and their interaction mechanisms in plants for mitigating plant diseases. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on plant–fungal interactions contributing to sustainable disease management.
Prof. Dr. Tong Liu
Guest Editor
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. Microorganisms 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 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
- biocontrol fungi
- plant–microbe interactions
- endophytic fungi
- mycoparasitism
- induced systemic resistance (ISR)
- rhizosphere microbiome
- secondary metabolites
- sustainable plant disease management
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
