Plant Pathology and Nematology
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1224
Special Issue Editor
Interests: soil-borne pathogens; soil; root health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Soil-borne pathogens pose a significant challenge to agricultural production as they directly impact root health, nutrient absorption, and crop yield. Diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and plant-parasitic nematodes often manifest as disease complexes in the rhizosphere, where interactions between pathogens, host plants and soil conditions play a decisive role in disease development. The combination of intensive production systems and changing climate conditions has increased the need for more sustainable approaches to plant protection.
This Special Issue of Pathogens aims to bring together current developments in plant pathology and nematology with a focus on soil-borne pathogens. We invite original research articles, review articles and short communications that address topics such as pathogen biology, diagnostic methods, epidemiology, host–pathogen interactions and the dynamics of pathogens in soil and the rhizosphere. Studies investigating the molecular mechanisms, gene expression, physiological processes and ecological dynamics of soil-borne pathogens interacting with agricultural crops are particularly encouraged.
Additionally, this Special Issue highlights sustainable disease management approaches, including host resistance, biological control, microbial antagonists and crop rotation diversification. Studies conducted on low-input, organic or reduced-pesticide systems that utilize AI-supported analysis or decision support tools are particularly important in this context. By integrating the disciplines of plant pathology and nematology, this Special Issue aims to improve root health and support sustainable crop production.
Prof. Dr. Abdelfattah A. Dababat
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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. Pathogens 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 2200 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
- soil-borne pathogens
- plant-parasitic nematodes
- root health
- host–pathogen interactions
- sustainable disease management
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