Diversity of Plant Pathogens

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1583

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: cereals diseases; genetic resources; breeding for resistance; phenotyping
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Guest Editor Assistant
Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: phytopathology; mycotoxins; molecular plant pathology; molecular mycology; cereals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Laboratory of Applied Phytopathology, Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: plant protection; plant pathology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogens represent a diverse group of organisms—including fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and oomycetes—that pose significant threats to global agriculture, natural ecosystems, and food security. Their diversity is reflected not only in taxonomy and life cycles but also in infection strategies, host ranges, and evolutionary dynamics. Understanding this diversity is essential for developing sustainable management practices, predicting emerging disease threats, and safeguarding crop production under changing climatic conditions.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews that address plant pathogen diversity from multiple perspectives. Topics of interest include pathogen identification, molecular mechanisms underlying host–pathogen interactions, epidemiology, and sustainable disease management. By integrating fundamental research with applied approaches, the collected works aim to foster a deeper understanding of pathogen biology while providing practical insights for agriculture and ecosystem health.

We hope that this Special Issue will serve as both a valuable reference and a catalyst for future research, encouraging continued collaboration across disciplines to address the ongoing challenges posed by plant pathogens worldwide. This Special Issue will bring together studies that explore the biology, ecology, and evolution of plant pathogens, highlighting both fundamental insights and applied strategies that advance our ability to monitor, manage, and mitigate their impacts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Jevtić Radivoje
Guest Editor

Dr. Vesna Župunski
Dr. Emil Rekanovic̈
Guest Editor Assistants

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Keywords

  • plant pathogens
  • host–pathogen interactions
  • disease management

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2453 KB  
Article
Sclerotinia Species Causing Lettuce Drop Disease in Serbia
by Maja Živanović, Milica Mihajlović, Aleksandra Jovanović, Jovana Hrustić, Mira Vojvodić, Brankica Pešić and Aleksandra Bulajić
Microorganisms 2026, 14(1), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010189 - 14 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 526
Abstract
Sclerotinia spp. are globally distributed, devastating plant pathogens with a broad host range, including lettuce, on which they cause lettuce drop disease. To investigate the geographical distribution of lettuce drop incidence and the population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. minor in Serbia, [...] Read more.
Sclerotinia spp. are globally distributed, devastating plant pathogens with a broad host range, including lettuce, on which they cause lettuce drop disease. To investigate the geographical distribution of lettuce drop incidence and the population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. minor in Serbia, 27 commercial lettuce fields across 12 administrative districts were surveyed. Sclerotinia spp. were confirmed at 10 localities, with S. sclerotiorum occurring more frequently. Co-occurrence of both species within the same field was recorded at only one location. Clear phenotypic and physiological differences were found between Sclerotinia species, as well as among isolates within each species. The two species differed in colony appearance, sclerotia production, virulence, growth rate, oxalic acid production, and tolerance to elevated osmotic pressure. Haplotype analysis of S. minor revealed the existence of 9 haplotypes arranged in a star-shaped network. These findings highlight the importance of considering both inter- and intraspecific variability of Sclerotinia species when evaluating their impact on crops, improving our understanding of Sclerotinia populations in lettuce, and supporting the development of effective management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Plant Pathogens)
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Review

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33 pages, 5235 KB  
Review
Colletotrichum Species Associated with Alfalfa Anthracnose: An Overview and Historical Perspective
by Vojislav Trkulja, Tanja Vasić, Ranka Milašin, Nenad Trkulja, Slavica Matić, Milan Stević, Sanja Živković and Tatjana Popović Milovanović
Microorganisms 2026, 14(1), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010261 - 22 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Alfalfa anthracnose is an economically significant disease that leads to substantial biomass losses due to stem rot, reduced stand longevity, and a decline in forage nutritional quality. The disease is caused by multiple species within the genus Colletotrichum, including the 14 described [...] Read more.
Alfalfa anthracnose is an economically significant disease that leads to substantial biomass losses due to stem rot, reduced stand longevity, and a decline in forage nutritional quality. The disease is caused by multiple species within the genus Colletotrichum, including the 14 described species: C. gloeosporioides, C. truncatum, C. lindemuthianum, C. destructivum, C. dematium, C. trifolii, C. medicaginis, C. graminicola, C. coccodes, C. sojae, C. spinaciae, C. lini, C. americae-borealis, and C. tofieldiae. A thorough understanding of key aspects of the pathogen’s biology, along with its epidemiology, infection cycle, and accurate disease diagnosis, is essential for the development of sustainable management strategies. Knowledge of these factors allows us to anticipate disease outbreaks, implement timely interventions, and design integrated control measures that reduce reliance on chemical fungicides while maintaining crop productivity and forage quality. Although anthracnose management has traditionally relied on synthetic fungicides, this review synthesizes alternative control strategies to clarify the current state of knowledge and to provide new insights into the development of effective and sustainable approaches for managing Colletotrichum species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Plant Pathogens)
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