Plant–Microbe Interactions Revisited: Emerging Concepts and Biotechnological Innovations

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 732

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Research Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: biotechnology; plant science; medicinal plants; plant-microbe interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant–microbe interactions have been pivotal since the beginning of life, and are crucial determinants of plant health and productivity. The exploration of plant interactions with their microbial counterparts, and vice versa, and the knowledge of the basic concepts and mechanisms of interactions, is essential to understanding the ecological roles, plant adaptation and survival in fluctuating climates and stress influences, and plant–microbe–environment interactions.

As a prospective area of research with exciting outcomes, plant–microbe interactions are crucial to understanding the microbial mechanisms of interactions with the plant host, and are the basis for advanced biotechnologies in genome editing, synthetic biology, and RNA interference, powered by omics-assisted technologies and bioinformatics. In addition, the beneficial implications of plant-associated microbes in agriculture, environment subsistence, and resources of high-value products have been at the forefront of addressing global challenges including food demands, rising malnutrition, and healthcare, comprising an integral aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Special Issue aims to attract pertinent, cutting-edge studies that showcase current progress in the research of plant and microbial interactions and bridge knowledge gaps. Research articles, review articles, and short communications that cover all aspects of research relating to plant and microbial interactions, innovative biotechnologies, recent advances, and future potential/scope, are welcome. Research focusing on plant-associated microbiomes is important and especially invited.

Some of the focal points of this Special Issue on plant–microbe interactions include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced biotechnologies;
  • Bioinformatics;
  • Endophytes;
  • Mycorrhizae;
  • Omics technologies;
  • Pathogenesis;
  • Plant microbiome;
  • Stress biology;
  • Symbiosis;
  • Synthetic biology;
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Pragya Tiwari
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • advanced biotechnologies
  • bioinformatics
  • endophytes
  • mycorrhizae
  • omics technologies
  • pathogenesis
  • plant microbiome
  • stress biology
  • symbiosis
  • synthetic biology
  • sustainable development goals (SDGs)

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1322 KiB  
Article
Functional Outlook of Penicillium digitatum PdMFS6 Transporter to Elucidate Its Role in Fungicide Resistance and Virulence
by Paloma Sánchez-Torres
Microorganisms 2025, 13(6), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061213 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 387
Abstract
A novel Penicillium digitatum MFS transporter, PdMFS6 (PDIP_42530), was recognized, and its function was studied to explain its relevance in the simultaneous development of resistance to different fungicide spectrums. No changes were detected after application of chemical fungicides in mutants with the deleted [...] Read more.
A novel Penicillium digitatum MFS transporter, PdMFS6 (PDIP_42530), was recognized, and its function was studied to explain its relevance in the simultaneous development of resistance to different fungicide spectrums. No changes were detected after application of chemical fungicides in mutants with the deleted gene, but chemical susceptibility was severely impaired in overexpressing strains, that became persistent to different chemicals. Furthermore, P. digitatum deleted transformants showed less fungal virulence appraise upon citrus infection stored at 20 °C. In strains derived from Pd149-P. digitatum with low virulence and overexpressing PdMFS6, the signs of the disease were more evident. In addition, evaluation of gene transcription showed an increase in PdMFS6 gene expression over time in all P. digitatum strains tested. It is noteworthy that during citrus fruit infection, the wild-type Pd1 strain displayed an augmented level of transcription, indicating that this transporter plays a role in infectivity. The fungal transporter PdMFS6 could contribute to the susceptibility to chemicals commonly used in postharvest treatments, as well as to rise the virulence of P. digitatum during fruit infection. Full article
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