Feature Papers in Plant–Microbe Interactions in North America

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Microbe Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 535

Special Issue Editor


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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Morden Research and Development Centre, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada
Interests: soil and crop microbiomes; sustainable agriculture; metagenomics; microbial inoculants; biofertilizers; biopesticides; nutrient cycling; disease suppression; plant growth promotion; climate change resilience; biodiversity; environmental impact; food security; farming practices
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Feature Papers in Plant–Microbe Interactions in North America", invites the submission of pioneering research that deepens our understanding of plant–microbe relationships and their potential to revolutionize sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue aims to focus on advanced insights from metagenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics, which collectively reveal how microbial communities can improve plant resilience to environmental challenges. Given the urgency of adapting agriculture to climate change, these studies are critical for developing crop systems resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses.

With a focus on microbial roles in enhancing soil health, crop productivity, and disease resistance, this Special Issue encourages the submission of research that defines key hypotheses, identifies new interactions, and proposes actionable strategies. Studies should illustrate how plant-associated microbes can contribute to food security, especially in diverse agroecological contexts, by optimizing nutrient uptake, reducing reliance on chemical inputs, and suppressing pathogens naturally. In addition, the integration of these findings into economically viable farming systems will address agricultural sustainability, benefiting both producers and ecosystems.

Through high-quality transformative research, this Special Issue aims to provide essential data for agricultural policymakers to craft informed, evidence-based strategies that promote resilient, low-impact food production systems. Contributions that bridge the gap between plant–microbe science and real-world applications in sustainable food production, with a commitment to advancing the future of resilient agriculture and economic viability, will be highly valued.

Dr. Nazrul Islam
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • plant–microbe interaction
  • plant-associated microbes
  • biotic and abiotic stresses
  • agricultural sustainability

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2322 KiB  
Article
Cultivable and Non-Cultivable Approach to Bacteria from Undisturbed Soil with Plant Growth-Promoting Capacity
by Lorena Jacqueline Gómez-Godínez, Pedro Cisneros-Saguilán, Dulce Darina Toscano-Santiago, Yair Eduardo Santiago-López, Saúl Neftalí Fonseca-Pérez, Magali Ruiz-Rivas, José Luis Aguirre-Noyola and Gabriel García
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040909 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Undisturbed soils are essential ecosystems with high microbial diversity. Microorganisms present in the soil can regulate biogeochemical cycles, making available and transforming different minerals in the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. In this study, the microbiota of undisturbed soils was characterized [...] Read more.
Undisturbed soils are essential ecosystems with high microbial diversity. Microorganisms present in the soil can regulate biogeochemical cycles, making available and transforming different minerals in the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. In this study, the microbiota of undisturbed soils was characterized using an integrated approach of 16S rRNA ribosomal gene amplicon analysis and classical microbiology techniques. Phylum-level analyses revealed a high abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria, key groups in nutrient recycling, organic matter decomposition and plant-microorganism interaction. In the genus analysis, Nitrospira spp., Candidatus Koribacter spp., Burkholderia spp., Bacillus spp., Flavobacterium spp. and Pedomicrobium spp. were identified, with important functions in nitrification, plant growth promotion, organic matter degradation, and recovery of degraded soils. On the other hand, by using selective and differential media, it was possible to demonstrate the presence of microorganisms such as Enterobacter spp. and Hafnia spp., with the ability to solubilize phosphorus and potassium and produce siderophores, which are likely contributing to the biogeochemical cycles and plant growth within the soil studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Plant–Microbe Interactions in North America)
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