MDPI journals will be attending the 22nd China Conference on Ecology as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Beijing, China, from 27 to 30 October 2023.

The conference is being organized by the Ecological Society of China and will be held at the China National Convention Center. Domestic and overseas experts, scholars, and outstanding young scientists who have made outstanding contributions to ecology and related fields will be invited to give academic reports.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity;
• Land;
• Plants;
• Forests;
• Environments;
• Water;
• Ecologies;
• World;
• Sustainability;
• Earth.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference and our booth, please visit the following webpage: https://esc2023.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/17981.

MDPI is committed to supporting the academic community, nurturing talent and advancing science. Awards are an important part of the research landscape and play a vital role in helping academics gain recognition, especially young researchers as they embark on new research avenues.

In 2022, our journals presented a total number of 394 Awards, including Travel Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Best Paper Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards, with several winners announced for some of the awards. The total prize sum amounted to just under 580,000 Swiss francs (CHF), or approximately 650,000 US dollars. Overall, more than 720 scholars were awarded.

The majority of the awards were dedicated to young researchers in relatively early stages of their careers. This encompassed 66 of the afore-mentioned Travel Awards, 60 Young Investigator Awards, supporting research projects and conference attendance, as well as 51 Best PhD Thesis Awards. Additionally, 113 Best Paper Awards were given by our journals. The selection committees were entrusted with identifying the most impactful and novel research and review articles published in their journal within a given year.

MDPI will continue its support and recognition for the academic community moving forward, sponsoring new awards across disciplines. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

Conference: 2023 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting
Date: 29 October–1 November 2023
Place: St. Louis, MO, USA

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) support their members and certified professionals by providing peer-reviewed research publications through the Online Library, educational programs, certifications, meetings, and science policy initiatives. A common thread across the programs and services of ASA, CSSA, SSSA is the dissemination and transfer of scientific knowledge to advance the profession.

The ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting offers a chance for leading scientists, researchers, educators, policymakers, students, exhibitors, and government institutions to gather to discuss cutting-edge developments in agronomy, crops, and soil science and features groundbreaking research.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Agronomy;
• Agriculture;
• Soil Systems;
• Crops;
• Seeds;
• Grasses;
• AgriEngineering;
• Horticulturae;
• Plants;
• Forests;
• Environments;
• Nitrogen;
• IJPB.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.acsmeetings.org/about.

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising junior researchers, acknowledge their contributions, and enhance communication among scientists. We are proud to present the winners for the year 2022 in biology and life sciences. The winners were selected by the journals’ Award Evaluation Committee.

We warmly congratulate the awarded young investigators for their outstanding contributions. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Agriculture:

• Thomas Hartinger, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria

Agronomy:

• Leontina Lipan, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Spain

Animals:

• Daniel Stec, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Brain Sciences:

• Dibyadeep Datta, Yale Medical School, USA
• Giacomo Valle, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Morgan H. James, Rutgers University, USA

Foods:

• Xiaonan Lu, McGill University, Canada

Genes:

• Alfredo Iacoangeli, King's College London, UK
• Elisa De Franco, University of Exeter, UK
• Riccardo Pecori, German Cancer Research Center, Germany
• Vanessa Silva, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal

Horticulturae:

• Massimiliano Renna, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Bari, Italy

Insects:

• Adam G. Dolezal, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States

Microorganisms:

• Carla Rodrigues, Institut Pasteur, France
• Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, University of Barcelona, Spain
• Kevin Solomon, University of Delaware, USA

Nutrients:

• Colleen Deane, University of Southampton, UK

Toxins:

• Paz Otero Fuertes, University of Vigo, Spain

Pathogens:

• Marta Giovanetti, National Reference Laboratory of Flavivirus in the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil
• Carrie M. Long, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA

Vaccines:

• Carina Joe, University of Oxford, UK

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

We are proud to recognize the winners of MDPI’s 2022 Travel Awards in biology and life sciences for their outstanding presentations.

MDPI journals regularly offer travel awards to encourage junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in specific fields, which helps to increase their influence.

The winners mentioned below were carefully selected by the journal editors based on an outline of their research and the work to be presented at an academic conference.

We would like to warmly congratulate the winners of the 2022 Travel Awards and wish them the greatest success in their future research endeavors. MDPI will continue to enhance communication among scientists.

Brain Sciences:

• Liloia Donato, University of Turin, Italy
• Roberta Bettoni, University of Milano Bicocca, Italy

Diversity:

• Vanessa Silva, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal

IJMS:

• Carlo Matera, University of Milan, Italy
• Elisabetta Coppi, University of Florence, Italy
• Ilaria Tonazzini, Nanoscience Institute—National Research Council (CNR) @ NEST in Pisa, Italy

MPs:

• Pere Catala, University Eye Clinic Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands

Sports:

• Angela Blasimann, University of Antwerp, Belgium
• Angelo Sabag, Western Sydney University, Australia

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

In order to acknowledge our reviewers, who demonstrate diligence, professionalism, and timeliness when generously dedicating their time to reviewing manuscripts, MDPI journals regularly offer outstanding reviewer awards to scholars who participate in the peer review process.

We are proud to recognize the winners for the year 2022 in biology and life sciences for their outstanding contributions, among extensive competition, by presenting them with an Outstanding Reviewer Award.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the winners on their achievements. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Agronomy:

• Ewa Ropelewska, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Poland
• Marek Rašovský, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovakia
• Prakash Jha, Kansas State University, USA
• Vasileios Greveniotis, Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Greece

Biology:

• Alberto Collareta, University of Pisa, Italy
• Francisco Curate, University of Coimbra, Portugal
• Gianpiero Greco, University of Study of Bari, Italy
• Luca Poli, University of Study of Bari, Italy
• Shaohua Chen, South China Agricultural University, China

Brain Sciences:

• Chong Chen, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Children:

• Marco Sapienza, University of Catania, Italy
• Sabina Barrios-Fernández, University of Extremadura, Spain

Diversity:

• Corrado Battisti, Torre Flavia LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Italy
• Daniel Stec, Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
• Emilia Grzędzicka, Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
• Igor Zelnik, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Endocrines:

• Eva S. Liu, ¹Harvard Medical School, USA ²Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA

Fermentation:

• Aleksandra Szydlowska, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Poland
• Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, Al-Azhar University, Egypt

Fishes:

• Andrew G. Jeffs, University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Mohamed Samy-Kamal, Universitat d'Alacant, Spain

Foods:

• Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan
• Marzena Włodarczyk-Stasiak, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
• Minaxi Sharma, Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet, Belgium
• Viviani Ruffo de Oliveira, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil

Genes:

• Federico Manuel Giorgi, University of Bologna, Italy
• Jan Bocianowski, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
• Magdalena Mroczek, Center for Cardiovascular Genetics and Gene Diagnostics, Switzerland

IJMS:

• Keigi Fujiwara, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA
• Tomasz W. Kaminski, University of Pittsburgh, USA
• Takujiro Homma, Yamagata University, Japan
• William Bryan Terzaghi, Wilkes University, United States
• Zong-jie Cui, Beijing Normal University, China

Insects:

• Abraão Almeida Santos, University of Florida, USA
• Agata Kaczmarek, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
• Miguel A. García-Martínez, Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico

Life:

• Andrei S. Rodin, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, USA
• Kazuhiko Kotani, Jichi Medical University, Japan

Metabolites:

• Jianing Mi, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
• Nguyen Phuoc Long, Inje University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
• Xian Luo, University of Alberta, Canada

Pathogens:

• Guillaume Fiches, Ohio State University, USA
• Jianxuan Wu, Gilead Sciences, USA
• Tomasz M. Karpiński, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland

Plants:

• Alicia Ayerdi Gotor, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, France
• Andrea Mastinu, University of Brescia, Italy
• Edyta Paczos-Grzeda, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
• Narayan Bhusal, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
• Mohsen Hesami, University of Guelph, Canada

Toxins:

• Christian Müller, University of Greifswald, Germany
• Margarita Fernández-Tejedor, IRTA, Spain

Vaccines:

• Christian Napoli, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
• Federico Marchesi, University of Parma, Italy
• Roger E. Thomas, University of Calgary, Canada

Veterinary Sciences:

• Fun-In Wang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
• Valeria Grieco, University of Milan, Italy

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are presented to recognize the young scholars who are judged to have completed the most outstanding PhD thesis in their field of research and to encourage them to continue their outstanding work and further contributions to their field.

We would like to warmly congratulate the winners of the 2022 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success in their future research endeavors. MDPI will continue to enhance communication among scientists.

Brain Sciences:

• “CYP2D in the Brain Alters Response to Drugs and Neurotoxins”
  by Marlaina R. Stocco, University of California, USA
• “Neural Encoding of Prior Experience in Sensorimotor Behavior”
  by Nicolas Meirhaeghe, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, France

• “Perinatal Stem Cell: Epigenetic, Biological and Differentiative Characteristics”
  by Giulia Gaggi, University "G.D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

Genes:

• “Uncovering the Genetic Variation Involved in Asthma Exacerbations through Multiple Genomic Approaches”
  by Esther Herrera Luis, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain

Veterinary Sciences:

• “Development of Novel Tools for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance in Complex Microbial Communities and Their Application to Improving Our Stewardship of Antimicrobials in Livestock”
  by Ashenafi Feyisa Beyi, Iowa State University, United States

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

The purpose of our Best Paper Awards is to promote and recognize the most impactful contributions published within MDPI journals.

The editors of each journal carefully selected reviews and research papers through a rigorous judging process based on criteria such as scientific merit, overall impact, and the quality of presentation.

We are honored to present the winners for the year 2022 in biology and life sciences, who were selected amongst extensive competition, and congratulate the authors for their outstanding scientific publications. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Agronomy:

• “From Smart Farming towards Agriculture 5.0: A Review on Crop Data Management”
  by Verónica Saiz-Rubio and Francisco Rovira-Más
  Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020207

• “Comparison of Biochemical, Anatomical, Morphological, and Physiological Responses to Salinity Stress in Wheat and Barley Genotypes Deferring in Salinity Tolerance”
  by Muhammad Zeeshan, Meiqin Lu, Shafaque Sehar, Paul Holford and Feibo Wu
  Agronomy 2020, 10(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10010127

• “The Use of a Plant-Based Biostimulant Improves Plant Performances and Fruit Quality in Tomato Plants Grown at Elevated Temperatures”
  by Silvana Francesca Carmen Arena, Bruno Hay Mele, Carlo Schettini, Patrizia Ambrosino, Amalia Barone and Maria Manuela Rigano
  Agronomy 2020, 10(3), https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10030363

• “The Management of Agricultural Waste Biomass in the Framework of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy: An Opportunity for Greenhouse Agriculture in Southeast Spain”
  by Mónica Duque-Acevedo, Luis J. Belmonte-Ureña, José A. Plaza-Úbeda and Francisco Camacho-Ferre
  Agronomy 2020, 10(4), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040489

Biology:

• “Apoptotic Bodies: Particular Extracellular Vesicles Involved in Intercellular Communication”
  by Michela Battistelli and Elisabetta Falcieri
  Biology 2020, 9(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9010021

• “Vegetation and Environmental Changes on Non-Reclaimed Spoil Heaps in Southern Poland”
  by Oimahmad Rahmonov, Robert Krzysztofik, Dorota Środek and Justyna Smolarek-Lach
  Biology 2020, 9(7), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9070164

• “Formyl Peptide Receptor 1 Signaling in Acute Inflammation and Neural Differentiation Induced by Traumatic Brain Injury”
  by Roberta Fusco, Enrico Gugliandolo, Rosalba Siracusa, Maria Scuto, Marika Cordaro, Ramona D’Amico, Maurizio Evangelista, Angelo Peli, Alessio Filippo Peritore, Daniela Impellizzeri et al.
  Biology 2020, 9(9), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9090238

Brain Sciences:

• “Cholesterol and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk: A Meta-Meta-Analysis”
  by Olalla Sáiz-Vazquez, Alicia Puente-Martínez, Silvia Ubillos-Landa, Joaquín Pacheco-Bonrostro and Javier Santabárbara
  Brain Sci. 2020, 10(6), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10060386

• “Psychosocial and Behavioral Impact of COVID-19 in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Online Parent Survey”
  by Marco Colizzi, Elena Sironi, Federico Antonini, Marco Luigi Ciceri, Chiara Bovo and Leonardo Zoccante
  Brain Sci. 2020, 10(6), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10060341

Diversity:

• “More Than a Functional Group: Diversity within the Legume–Rhizobia Mutualism and Its Relationship with Ecosystem Function”
  by Benton N. Taylor, Ellen L. Simms and Kimberly J. Komatsu
  Diversity 2020, 12(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12020050

• “A Common Approach to the Conservation of Threatened Island Vascular Plants: First Results in the Mediterranean Basin”
  by Giuseppe Fenu, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Charalambos S. Christodoulou, Donatella Cogoni, Christini Fournaraki, Giusso del Galdo Gian Pietro, Panagiota Gotsiou, Angelos Kyratzis, Carole Piazza, Magdalena Vicens et al.
  Diversity 2020, 12(4), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12040157

• “Plant Diversity Patterns and Conservation Implications under Climate-Change Scenarios in the Mediterranean: The Case of Crete (Aegean, Greece)”
  by Konstantinos Kougioumoutzis, Ioannis P. Kokkoris, Maria Panitsa, Panayiotis Trigas, Arne Strid and Panayotis Dimopoulos
  Diversity 2020, 12(7), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12070270

• “Conserving the Diversity of Ecological Interactions: The Role of Two Threatened Macaw Species as Legitimate Dispersers of ‘Megafaunal’ Fruits”
  by José L. Tella, Fernando Hiraldo, Erica Pacífico, José A. Díaz-Luque, Francisco V. Dénes, Fernanda M. Fontoura, Neiva Guedes and Guillermo Blanco
  Diversity 2020, 12(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12020045

Genes:    

• “Genomics in Bacterial Taxonomy: Impact on the Genus Pseudomonas”
  by Jorge Lalucat, Magdalena Mulet, Margarita Gomila and Elena García-Valdés
  Genes 2020, 11(2), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11020139

• “Histone Deacetylases (HDACs): Evolution, Specificity, Role in Transcriptional Complexes, and Pharmacological Actionability”
  by Giorgio Milazzo, Daniele Mercatelli, Giulia Di Muzio, Luca Triboli, Piergiuseppe De Rosa, Giovanni Perini and Federico M. Giorgi
  Genes 2020, 11(5), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11050556

• “COVID-19 and Genetic Variants of Protein Involved in the SARS-CoV-2 Entry into the Host Cells”
  by Andrea Latini, Emanuele Agolini, Antonio Novelli, Paola Borgiani, Rosalinda Giannini, Paolo Gravina, Andrea Smarrazzo, Mario Dauri, Massimo Andreoni, Paola Rogliani et al.
  Genes 2020, 11(9), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11091010

• “Clustered DNA Double-Strand Breaks: Biological Effects and Relevance to Cancer Radiotherapy”
  by Jac A. Nickoloff, Neelam Sharma and Lynn Taylor
  Genes 2020, 11(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11010099

• “Inhibition of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis by Mitigating DPP-4 Level and Restoring Antifibrotic MicroRNAs”
  by Swayam Prakash Srivastava, Julie E. Goodwin, Keizo Kanasaki and Daisuke Koya
  Genes 2020, 11(2), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11020211

• “Regulation of Ergosterol Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”
  by Tania Jordá and Sergi Puig
  Genes 2020, 11(7), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11070795

IJMS:     

• “Laccase Properties, Physiological Functions, and Evolution”
  by Grzegorz Janusz, Anna Pawlik, Urszula Świderska-Burek, Jolanta Polak, Justyna Sulej, Anna Jarosz-Wilkołazka and Andrzej Paszczyński
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(3), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030966

• “Lysosomal Exocytosis, Exosome Release and Secretory Autophagy: The Autophagic- and Endo-Lysosomal Systems Go Extracellular”
  by Sandra Buratta, Brunella Tancini, Krizia Sagini, Federica Delo, Elisabetta Chiaradia, Lorena Urbanelli and Carla Emiliani
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(7), 2576; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072576

• “Recent Advances in Lipopolysaccharide Recognition Systems”
  by Lalita Mazgaeen and Prajwal Gurung
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(2), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21020379

• “Redox Interactions of Vitamin C and Iron: Inhibition of the Pro-Oxidant Activity by Deferiprone”
  by Viktor A. Timoshnikov, Tatyana V. Kobzeva, Nikolay E. Polyakov and George J. Kontoghiorghes
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(11), 3967; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21113967

• “Modulation of Pro-Oxidant and Pro-Inflammatory Activities of M1 Macrophages by the Natural Dipeptide Carnosine”
  by Claudia G. Fresta, Annamaria Fidilio, Giacomo Lazzarino, Nicolò Musso, Margherita Grasso, Sara Merlo, Angela M. Amorini, Claudio Bucolo, Barbara Tavazzi, Giuseppe Lazzarino et al.
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(3), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21030776

• “SAAMBE-3D: Predicting Effect of Mutations on Protein–Protein Interactions”
  by Swagata Pahari, Gen Li, Adithya Krishna Murthy, Siqi Liang, Robert Fragoza, Haiyuan Yu and Emil Alexov
  Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(7), 2563; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072563

Insects:  

• “Diversity and Global Distribution of Viruses of the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera”
  by Alexis Beaurepaire, Niels Piot, Vincent Doublet, Karina Antunez, Ewan Campbell, Panuwan Chantawannakul, Nor Chejanovsky, Anna Gajda, Matthew Heerman and Delphine Panziera
  Insects 2020, 11(4), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11040239

• “Soil Health and Arthropods: From Complex System to Worthwhile Investigation”
  by Cristina Menta and Sara Remelli
  Insects 2020, 11(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11010054

• “Influence of Temperature on Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Tables for a Minnesota-Acclimated Population of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys)”
  by Byju N. Govindan and William D. Hutchison
  Insects 2020, 11(2), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11020108

Life:

• “Characterization of Resistance in Gram-Negative Urinary Isolates Using Existing and Novel Indicators of Clinical Relevance: A 10-Year Data Analysis”
  by Márió Gajdács, Zoltán Bátori, Marianna Ábrók, Andrea Lázár and Katalin Burián
  Life 2020, 10(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/life10020016

• “Neuroprotection or Neurotoxicity of Illicit Drugs on Parkinson’s Disease”
  by Carla Ferreira, Catarina Almeida, Sandra Tenreiro and Alexandre Quintas
  Life 2020, 10(6), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/life10060086

Metabolites:          

• “Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors Targeting Metabolism and Tumor Microenvironment”
  by Andrea Angeli, Fabrizio Carta, Alessio Nocentini, Jean-Yves Winum, Raivis Zalubovskis, Atilla Akdemir, Valentina Onnis, Wagdy M. Eldehna, Clemente Capasso, Giuseppina De Simone et al.
  Metabolites 2020, 10(10), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10100412

• “MetaboAnalystR 3.0: Toward an Optimized Workflow for Global Metabolomics”
  by Zhiqiang Pang, Jasmine Chong, Shuzhao Li and Jianguo Xia
  Metabolites 2020, 10(5), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10050186

• “Tryptophan Metabolism, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Neurovascular Disease”
  by Martin Hajsl, Alzbeta Hlavackova, Karolina Broulikova, Martin Sramek, Martin Maly, Jan E. Dyr and Jiri Suttnar
  Metabolites 2020, 10(5), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10050208

MPs:

• “Production and Purification of Artificial Circular RNA Sponges for Application in Molecular Biology and Medicine”
  by Janina Breuer and Oliver Rossbach
  Methods Protoc. 2020, 3(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/mps3020042

Pathogens:

• “Effectiveness of Chemical Compounds Used against African Swine Fever Virus in Commercial Available Disinfectants”
  by Małgorzata Juszkiewicz, Marek Walczak, Natalia Mazur-Panasiuk and Grzegorz Woźniakowski
  Pathogens 2020, 9(11), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9110878

• “Betanodavirus and VER Disease: A 30-year Research Review”
  by Isabel Bandín and Sandra Souto
  Pathogens 2020, 9(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9020106

• “The Bradyzoite: A Key Developmental Stage for the Persistence and Pathogenesis of Toxoplasmosis”
  by Aude Cerutti, Nicolas Blanchard and Sébastien Besteiro
  Pathogens 2020, 9(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9030234

• “Understanding Flavivirus Capsid Protein Functions: The Tip of the Iceberg”
  by Stephanea Sotcheff and Andrew Routh
  Pathogens 2020, 9(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9010042

Plants:

• “Photosynthetic Metabolism under Stressful Growth Conditions as a Bases for Crop Breeding and Yield Improvement”
  by Fermín Morales, María Ancín, Dorra Fakhet, Jon González-Torralba, Angie L. Gámez, Amaia Seminario, David Soba, Sinda Ben Mariem, Miguel Garriga and Iker Aranjuelo
  Plants 2020, 9(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9010088

• “Plant Roots Release Small Extracellular Vesicles with Antifungal Activity”
  by Monica De Palma, Alfredo Ambrosone, Antonietta Leone, Pasquale Del Gaudio, Michelina Ruocco, Lilla Turiák, Ramesh Bokka, Immacolata Fiume, Marina Tucci and Gabriella Pocsfalvi
  Plants 2020, 9(12), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121777

• “Feeding Behavior and Virus-transmission Ability of Insect Vectors Exposed to Systemic Insecticides”
  by Elisa Garzo, Aránzazu Moreno, María Plaza and Alberto Fereres
  Plants 2020, 9(7), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070895

• “Transcriptome Analyses and Antioxidant Activity Profiling Reveal the Role of a Lignin-Derived Biostimulant Seed Treatment in Enhancing Heat Stress Tolerance in Soybean”
  by Cristina Campobenedetto, Giuseppe Mannino, Chiara Agliassa, Alberto Acquadro, Valeria Contartese, Christian Garabello and Cinzia Margherita Bertea
  Plants 2020, 9(10), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101308

Toxins:

• “Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Genetic Regulation: A Review”
  by Isaura Caceres, Anthony Al Khoury, Rhoda El Khoury, Sophie Lorber, Isabelle P. Oswald, André El Khoury, Ali Atoui, Olivier Puel and Jean-Denis Bailly
  Toxins 2020, 12(3), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12030150

• “Diet Breadth Mediates the Prey Specificity of Venom Potency in Snakes”
  by Keith Lyons, Michel M. Dugon and Kevin Healy
  Toxins 2020, 12(2), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12020074

Vaccines:               

• “Rapid Quantification of SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibodies Using Propagation-Defective Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Pseudotypes”
  by Ferdinand Zettl, Toni Luise Meister, Tanja Vollmer, Bastian Fischer, Jörg Steinmann, Adalbert Krawczyk, Philip V’kovski, Daniel Todt, Eike Steinmann, Stephanie Pfaender et al.
  Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030386

• “Influences on Attitudes Regarding Potential COVID-19 Vaccination in the United States”
  by Kendall Pogue, Jamie L. Jensen, Carter K. Stancil, Daniel G. Ferguson, Savannah J. Hughes, Emily J. Mello, Ryan Burgess, Bradford K. Berges, Abraham Quaye and Brian D. Poole
  Vaccines 2020, 8(4), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8040582

• “Recent Progress on the Versatility of Virus-Like Particles”
  by Ciying Qian, Xinlin Liu, Qin Xu, Zhiping Wang, Jie Chen, Tingting Li, Qingbing Zheng, Hai Yu, Ying Gu, Shaowei Li et al.
  Vaccines 2020, 8(1), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010139

• “COVID-19: Mechanisms of Vaccination and Immunity”
  by Daniel E. Speiser and Martin F. Bachmann
  Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030404

Veterinary Sciences:

• “Manure as a Potential Hotspot for Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination by Horizontal Gene Transfer Events”
  by Tiago Lima, Sara Domingues and Gabriela Jorge Da Silva
  Vet. Sci. 2020, 7(3), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7030110

• “Seasonality of Nosema ceranae Infections and Their Relationship with Honey Bee Populations, Food Stores, and Survivorship in a North American Region”
  by Berna Emsen, Alvaro De la Mora, Brian Lacey, Les Eccles, Paul G. Kelly, Carlos A. Medina-Flores, Tatiana Petukhova, Nuria Morfin and Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
  Vet. Sci. 2020, 7(3), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7030131

About MDPI Awards:

In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI will be attending the 2023 National Plant Biology Congress as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Lanzhou, China, from 2 to 6 August 2023.

The conference is jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Genetics, Chinese Society of Cell Biology, China Crop Society, Chinese Society of Botany, and Chinese Society of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology. The conference is scheduled to be held in Lanzhou, Gansu, China. Domestic experts, scholars, and outstanding young scientists who have made outstanding achievements in related fields of plant biology will be invited to give academic reports. The conference aims to promote exchanges and cooperation among plant scientists, promote the transformation and application of plant scientific research achievements in agricultural production practice, and help the revitalization of the seed industry.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• IJMS;
• Agriculture;
• Agronomy;
• Horticulturae;
• Cells;
• Physiologia;
• Metabolites;
• Antioxidants;
• Taxonomy;
• Epigenomes;
• Genes;
• Diversity;
• Data.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference and our booth, please visit the following link: http://www.ncpb.net/home/index/index.html.

MDPI will attend the 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology. This event will be held from 20 to 25 August 2023 in Lyon, France, and is hosted by the International Society for Plant Pathology.

Plant pathologists and plant health researchers from around the world will meet to discuss their latest research as well as the current and future issues facing plant health experts. The host, the French Phytopathological Society, has set an exciting and challenging theme for the congress: “One Health for all plants, crops and trees”. This topic promises to provide a broad platform for talks, posters, and discussions that consider the integral nature of plant health with human, animal, and environmental health. In addition to an excellent program of keynote talks, concurrent sessions, poster presentations, and networking opportunities, there will be a number of satellite events before the meeting dates to provide opportunities for deeper discussions on a number of topics.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Agriculture (leading);
• Plants;
• Horticulturae;
• Viruses;
• IJMS;
• Life;
• Seeds;
• Crops;
• Forests;
• JoF.

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.icpp2023.org/.

With the first issue released in June 2023, five new MDPI journals disseminating multi-disciplinary science are due to launch, which will cover the subjects of medicine & pharmacology, biology and physical sciences.

The newly launched journals will be overseen by professional Editorial Board Members and Editors to ensure an accurate and rapid publication, rigorous peer review and broad visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal topics (selected)
	Prof. Dr. Jun Ma, Peking University, China| Editorial | view inaugural issue	growth and development; diet and nutrients; school health promotion policies and practices; child health and care; adolescent health and wellbeing | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Bernd Rehm, Griffith University, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue	DNA and gene synthesis; synthetic transcription factors; protein engineering; viral engineering; metabolic engineering | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Varsha Gandhi, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	lymphatics; cancers associated with lymphocytes and lymphoblasts; lymphatic tissues; lymphoma; lymphoid leukemia | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Bradley Turner, University of Melbourne, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue	multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; primary lateral sclerosis; atherosclerosis; systemic sclerosis | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Clemens Burda, Case Western Reserve University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	Gamma ray, X-ray, and UV–Vis spectroscopies; NIR/mid-infrared/Raman spectroscopy; microwave and THz spectroscopy; high-resolution gas-phase atomic, molecular, and cluster spectroscopy; MS, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to submit an application to the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

The 2022 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals:

We are thrilled to announce that 90% of our ranked MDPI journals, specifically 86 out of 96 (captured in the table below), are performing above average in Q1 or Q2. This year, Clarivate has expanded its Impact Factor (IF) awards to include journals in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), providing greater transparency for the full set of journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. As a result, 111 of MDPI journals have received their first IF in 2023, with 37 journals surpassing an IF of 3.0. In total, 208 MDPI journals have been honored with an IF.

Clarivate explains that by "expanding the coverage but holding to highly selective standards, the [Impact Factor] is now a reliable indicator of trustworthiness, as well as a measure of scholarly impact, at the journal level."

Please visit our blog post where we discuss the release of the latest citation metrics with our Indexing Manager, Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, to find out what's different this time around and how to make use of different metrics available.

Note: The Journal of Personalized Medicine's Impact Factor was omitted in the original release and will be assigned separately. Please find the data on the journal webpage in due course.

Source: 2022 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2023)

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando:

We wish Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando every success in his current position as Editor-in-Chief, and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.

Conference: 19^th Annual International Conference of the Metabolomics Society

Date: 18–22 June 2023

Place: Niagara Falls Convention Centre, 6815 Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada L2G 3Y9

Booth: #T12

MDPI will be attending the 19^th Annual International Conference of the Metabolomics Society, which will be held from 18 to 22 June 2023 in downtown Niagara Falls, Canada, at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre.

The conference is the official annual meeting of the Metabolomics Society, and the largest metabolomics meeting worldwide. It will cover the major scientific themes of: technology advances; computational metabolomics, statistics, and bioinformatics; metabolomics in health and disease; and metabolomics of plants, food, environment and microbes. A special theme for this conference will focus on mental health, drug addiction and medicinal cannabis. The scientific program will include plenary and keynote talks, three parallel scientific sessions, interactive poster sessions, sponsor lunches, other networking events and a specially organized parallel session to promote metabolomics research in industry. A strong line-up of both introductory and advanced workshops will take place on Sunday, 18 June, and the morning of Monday, 19 June. To complement the exciting scientific program, the conference will offer a welcome reception, vibrant early career events, a conference dinner and other engaging social activities.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Metabolites;
• Agronomy;
• Antioxidants;
• Applied Biosciences;
• BioMed;
• BioMedInformatics;
• Biomolecules;
• Cancers;
• Cells;
• Children;
• CIMB;
• Diseases;
• Foods;
• Genes;
• JPM;
• Nutrients;
• Plants.

Please do not hesitate to reach out ([email protected]) if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.metabolomics2023.org/.

In order to commemorate the International Day of Plant Health 2023, MDPI is launching a special webinar to encourage researchers to join together, take action, and raise awareness as to how the exchange of findings facilitates efforts to raise awareness about plant health and diseases.

The webinar aims to encourage connection and collaboration among autism researchers and the international open access community to help protect plant health. 

We are very much looking forward to seeing you at the MDPI International Day of Plant Health 2023 webinar. Please find below an up-to-date outline of the invited speakers. 

Date: 12 May 2023 at 9:00 a.m. CEST | 3:00 a.m. EDT | 3:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 854 4156 7848 

Register now for free!

Webinar Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Maurizio Badiani, Department of Agriculture, the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Italy;
• Dr. Enrica Alicandri, Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy;
• Prof. Dr. Kousuke Hanada, Department of Bioinformatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan. 

Program

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch. 

Relevant Special Issues:

Agronomy
"Plant–Microbe Interactions, a Strong Potential for Applications in Crop Health and Farming"
Edited by: Martha Helena Ramírez-Bahena and Daniel Muller
Submission deadline: 30 September 2023 

Plants
"Weaponizing Plants: Biocontrol and Biosecurity in Plant Protection"
Edited by: Francesca Degola, Giovanna Visioli, Agnieszka Jamiołkowska and Izabela Kot
Submission deadline: 30 January 2024 

Cells
"Plant Growth Regulators and Mechanisms of Action in Crop Production"
Edited by: Ali Baghdadi
Submission deadline: 15 June 2023 

Foods
"Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Potential Health Benefits of Plant Food-Derived Bioactive Components"
Edited by: Gian Carlo Tenore, Ren-You Gan, Fernando Henrique Reboredo and Francisca Rodrigues
Submission deadline: 10 July 2023 

Forests
"Advances in Biological Control of Forest Diseases and Pests"
Edited by: Daniela K. Pilarska, Margarita Georgieva and Georgi Georgiev
Submission deadline: 30 November 2023 

Horticulturae
"Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in Horticultural Crops"
Edited by: Ariadna Giné Blasco and Francesc Xavier Sorribas Royo
Submission deadline: 15 May 2023 

Biology
"Biological Response of Plants to Environmental Changes"
Edited by: Stefano Loppi and Luca Paoli
Submission deadline: 31 August 2023 

Life
"Advances in Plant Defensive Biochemical Activity-Volume II"
Edited by: Mubasher Hussain, Runqian Mao, Liande Wang, Dongliang Qiu and Xiansheng Zhang
Submission deadline: 30 November 2023

We hope you will join us in celebrating and further protecting the planet’s forests this International Day of Forests, which takes place on the 21st of March. The theme for the 2023 International Day of Forests is "Forests and Health”. Forests give so much to our health, they purify the water, clean the air, capture carbon to fight climate change, provide food and life-saving medicines, and improve our well-being. It is up to us to safeguard these precious natural resources. At MDPI, our open access journals are primarily available online, reducing the company’s impact on deforestation and helping to protect the world’s forests.

Location: Nalati Grassland, Xinjiang, China Photo by Carolyn Chen, Sydney University	Location: Jiangshan, Zhejiang, China Photo by Pengcheng Ye, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science	Location: Qinling, Shanxi, China Photo by Yuan Li, Shaanxi Normal University

To access more content about Nature Photography Campaign and other related series activities, please click here.

• “Facilitating Prescribed Fire in Northern California through Indigenous Governance and Interagency Partnerships”
  Fire 2021, 4, 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire4030037
• “Capitalization and Capital Return in Boreal Carbon Forestry”
  Earth 2022, 3, 204-227; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth3010014
• “A Knowledge Review on Integrated Landscape Approaches”
  Forests 2022, 13, 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020312
• “National Implementation of the Forest Europe Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management”
  Forests 2022, 13, 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020191
• “Carbon Footprint and Feedstock Quality of a Real Biomass Power Plant Fed with Forestry and Agricultural Residues”
  Resources 2022, 11, 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11020007
• “The Necrobiome of Deadwood: The Life after Death”
  Ecologies 2023, 4, 20-38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies4010003

As a leading open access publisher, MDPI provides scholars with a high-quality and rich academic exchange platform by continuously expanding into new and exciting research areas.

In December 2022, MDPI launched five new journals, covering multiple subjects such as life sciences, biology, medicine and pharmacology, social sciences and humanities. These new journals are being edited by established scholars across the world.

If you are interested in creating more open access journals with us to publish cutting-edge research, please send your journal proposal application to [email protected].

MDPI is pleased to announce that we now display the co-authors’ email addresses in addition to the corresponding author’s email address on the webpage of published papers, protected by Captcha. For more information about this change, please visit the journal’s instructions for authors page. 

We believe this change will facilitate academic discussions and advance our cause of open science and research. The corresponding authors are responsible for communicating with their co-authors and indicating in our system (https://susy.mdpi.com/) if co-authors would prefer for their email addresses not to be displayed.

On 9 February 2023, Clarivate, a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics, added the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science platform, streamlining the research process by allowing researchers to locate and link to preprints alongside other trusted content in the database.

The Preprint Citation Index will act as a bridge to connect cutting-edge preprints with peer-reviewed journal articles published within the Web of Science Core Collection. Alerts can be easily set to monitor new research across several repositories and authors will also be able to include preprints on their Web of Science Research Profile to more accurately display their various research outputs.

As of its launch, the Preprint Citation Index will provide nearly two million preprints from various repositories, including MDPI’s own Preprints.org.

MDPI's Preprints Platform – Preprints.org

To advance Open Science and the fast dissemination of research, MDPI offers researchers a free multidisciplinary preprint platform. Preprints.org accepts submissions from all research areas and offers authors high visibility, permanent archiving, article-level Metrics and immediately citable content by assigning a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to all preprints.

During submission to any MDPI journal, authors have the option to share their research as a preprint. After an initial screening, the manuscript is available online in 48 hours or less. Once online, preprints can be downloaded, shared, commented on, and cited, providing authors maximum visibility.

We invite you to join the ranks of the over 100k researchers using Preprints.org and share your research.

For more information, please visit Preprints.org.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the MDPI Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program will enable early career researchers (who must hold a Ph.D. in a related field) to experience editing a Special Issue in MDPI journals, under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program will provide an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience, and to cultivate their ability to edit scientific research.

The mentee’s responsibilities include:

• Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting the mentor in preparing a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Issue;
• Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
• Preparing a list of scholars who may be interested in the Issue and personally e-mailing invitations on behalf of Guest Editors;
• Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue together with the mentor.

The mentor’s responsibilities include:

• Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
• Performing editorial control of the Special Issue and quality control of the publications, both of which must be carried out in a timely manner;
• Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
• Organizing video calls with young scholars and the Editorial Office regularly to discuss problems and improvement suggestions for the Special Issue;
• Making and submitting decisions regarding submissions with the assistance of mentees.

Certificates and awards:
After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates for all the mentors and early career researchers.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Editorial Office of a journal you choose, and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail. The full list of MDPI journals is as follows: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, we will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals focusing on hot research topics.

MDPI has just become the first open access (OA) publisher to reach the milestone of one million articles published. That is one million articles freely available to all, to circulate and build upon! We are proud to share this special moment with the global scientific community.

This landmark has been reached thanks to the immeasurable support of more than 600,000 expert reviewers, 66,000 editorial board members and 6700 hard-working colleagues across MDPI’s global offices.

Within more than 25 years of publishing, our journals received 2.1 million manuscripts and generated 4.6 million peer review reports to get to one million papers published.

Reaching the milestone of one million articles published reinforces our mission to remove any existing barriers and to make scientific research accessible to all. Since its inception, MDPI’s goal has been to create reliable processes to make science open. This is a path towards facilitating the dissemination of novel insights in scientific communities.

Regular feedback from authors and reviewers shows that our service is greatly appreciated and needed. At the same time, the feedback helps us identify areas for further improvement.

As it stands, a significant share of published research findings remain closed access. More than half of the content published with the most well-known legacy publishers stays behind a paywall, and that is not including articles published in hybrid OA journals, or made available months or years after publication.

A new policy announced by the US administration in August 2022 requires that, as of January 2026, all US federally funded research be made freely and immediately available after publication. While the new policy does not mandate articles be published under an open access license, it is aligned with the open access movement in removing all barriers to research. Similarly, some of the most advanced research institutions in the world intend to have all funded research articles published in open access by 2025.

MDPI is proud to be the leading agent of the transition to open access.

"Thanks a Million" to all the contributors!

We are pleased to announce that the website of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation has been revamped! For the past couple of months, our UX UI team and front-end developers have been working hard to launch the website in time for the opening of the Sustainability Awards nominations.

The website is not the only thing that has had a remodeling. Indeed, the format of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) has been updated. ESLA is now a competition open to individual researchers or start-ups founded by researchers under the age of 35. Nominee applications will go through 2 rounds of selection until the final 3 are decided. The finalists will then be invited to give pitch presentations during the Award Ceremony to win either first place (10,000 USD) or runner-up (2 x 5000 USD).

The World Sustainability Award, on the other hand, remains the same: a total prize money of 100,000 USD is up for grabs by senior individual researchers or groups of researchers from the international research community.

Nominations for both the World Sustainability Award and the Emerging Sustainability Leader award are now open! Check out our new website for more information on how to nominate.

Stanford University has recently published an update of the list of the top 2% most widely cited scientists—the World’s Top 2% Scientists.

The time node of the statistical data of this list is from 1960 to 2022, and it is divided into two lists: “Lifetime Scientific Influence Ranking” and “2022 Annual Scientific Influence Ranking”. The “Lifetime Scientific Influence Ranking” counts the comprehensive influence performance of scientists during their careers, and the “2022 Annual Influence Ranking” focuses on highlighting the academic influence of scientists in the previous year. This ranking, considered the most prestigious worldwide, is based on the bibliometric information contained in the Scopus database and includes more than 200,000 researchers from the more than 10 million scientists considered to be active worldwide, with 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields taken into account.

We are pleased to share that 174 Editorial Board Members from MDPI’s Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) were featured in Stanford University’s list of the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2022.

The latest Stanford rankings reflect the significant influence and research excellence of the scientists, who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world.

We would like to congratulate our Editorial Board Members on their excellent achievement and thank them for their immense contribution to the scientific progression and development of Plants.

The “Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change” Section of the journal Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) deals with all aspects of plant (and/or other photoautotrophs, including lichens, algae, and cyanobacteria) response to abiotic stress and climate change, as regards molecular, biochemical, physiological, morphological, (ultra)structural, cellular, histo-anatomical, morphogenetic, organismic, community and ecological aspects.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:

1. “Effect of Crude Oil on Growth, Oxidative Stress and Response of Antioxidative System of Two Rye (Secale cereale L.) Varieties”
by Liubov Skrypnik, Pavel Maslennikov, Anastasia Novikova and Mikhail Kozhikin
Plants 2021, 10(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010157
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/157

2. “Effect of Lead and Copper on Photosynthetic Apparatus in Citrus (Citrus aurantium L.) Plants. The Role of Antioxidants in Oxidative Damage as a Response to Heavy Metal Stress”
by Anastasia Giannakoula, Ioannis Therios and Christos Chatzissavvidis
Plants 2021, 10(1), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010155
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/155

3. “Tolerance Mechanisms of the Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Salvia sclarea L. to Excess Zinc”
by Anelia Dobrikova, Emilia Apostolova, Anetta Hanć, Ekaterina Yotsova, Preslava Borisova, Ilektra Sperdouli, Ioannis-Dimosthenis S. Adamakis and Michael Moustakas
Plants 2021, 10(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020194
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/194

4. “Exogenous Gibberellic Acid or Dilute Bee Honey Boosts Drought Stress Tolerance in Vicia faba by Rebalancing Osmoprotectants, Antioxidants, Nutrients, and Phytohormones”
by Mostafa M. Rady, Sara H. K. Boriek, Taia A. Abd El-Mageed, Mohamed A. Seif El-Yazal, Esmat F. Ali, Fahmy A. S. Hassan and Abdelsattar Abdelkhalik
Plants 2021, 10(4), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040748
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/748

5. “Bacillus thuringiensis and Silicon Modulate Antioxidant Metabolism and Improve the Physiological Traits to Confer Salt Tolerance in Lettuce”
by Muneera ALKahtani, Yaser Hafez, Kotb Attia, Talal Al-Ateeq, Mohamed A. M. Ali, Mirza Hasanuzzaman and Khaled Abdelaal
Plants 2021, 10(5), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10051025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/1025

6. “Exogenous Putrescine Enhances Salt Tolerance and Ginsenosides Content in Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) Sprouts”
by Md. Jahirul Islam, Byeong Ryeol Ryu, Md. Obyedul Kalam Azad, Md. Hafizur Rahman, Md. Soyel Rana, Jung-Dae Lim and Young-Seok Lim
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071313
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1313

7. “Response of Tomato Genotypes under Different High Temperatures in Field and Greenhouse Conditions”
by Sophoanrith Ro, Leangsrun Chea, Sreymey Ngoun, Zachary P. Stewart, Siranet Roeurn, Penghieng Theam, Sathya Lim, Rathana Sor, Meas Kosal, Malean Roeun, Kim Sreang Dy and P. V. Vara Prasad
Plants 2021, 10(3), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030449
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/449

8. “MicroRNA-Mediated Responses to Cadmium Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana”
by Joseph L. Pegler, Jackson M. J. Oultram, Duc Quan Nguyen, Christopher P. L. Grof and Andrew L. Eamens
Plants 2021, 10(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010130
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/130

9. “Interactive Impacts of Beneficial Microbes and Si-Zn Nanocomposite on Growth and Productivity of Soybean Subjected to Water Deficit under Salt-Affected Soil Conditions”
by Hany S. Osman, Salah M. Gowayed, Mohssen Elbagory, Alaa El-Dein Omara, Ahmed M. Abd El-Monem, Usama A. Abd El-Razek and Emad M. Hafez
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1396; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071396
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1396

10. “Impact of Ecklonia maxima Seaweed Extract and Mo Foliar Treatments on Biofortification, Spinach Yield, Quality and NUE”
by Salvatore La Bella, Beppe Benedetto Consentino, Youssef Rouphael, Georgia Ntatsi, Claudio De Pasquale, Giovanni Iapichino and Leo Sabatino
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061139
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1139

11. “Foliar-Applied Potassium Silicate Coupled with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Improves Growth, Physiology, Nutrient Uptake and Productivity of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Irrigated with Saline Water in Salt-Affected Soil”
by Emad M. Hafez, Hany S. Osman, Usama A. Abd El-Razek, Mohssen Elbagory, Alaa El-Dein Omara, Mohamed A. Eid and Salah M. Gowayed
Plants 2021, 10(5), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050894
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/894

12. “Foliar Application of Different Vegetal-Derived Protein Hydrolysates Distinctively Modulates Tomato Root Development and Metabolism”
by Angela Valentina Ceccarelli, Begoña Miras-Moreno, Valentina Buffagni, Biancamaria Senizza, Youry Pii, Mariateresa Cardarelli, Youssef Rouphael, Giuseppe Colla and Luigi Lucini
Plants 2021, 10(2), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020326
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/326

The “Phytochemistry” Section of the journal Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) is devoted to the publication of papers concerning all aspects of pure and applied plant chemistry, biochemistry, structure, and bioactivities of phytochemicals, plant cellular, and molecular biology, and plant biotechnology. The Section aims to increase our knowledge of the analysis, biosynthesis, regulation, detection, extraction, separation, purification, and application of phytochemical compounds in whole plants (including algae), plant cells, tissues and organs, and plant products.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:

1. “The Role of Polyphenols in Abiotic Stress Response: The Influence of Molecular Structure”
by Dunja Šamec, Erna Karalija, Ivana Šola, Valerija Vujčić Bok and Branka Salopek-Sondi
Plants 2021, 10(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010118
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/118

2. “Impact of Environmental Factors on Stilbene Biosynthesis”
by Alessio Valletta, Lorenzo Maria Iozia and Francesca Leonelli
Plants 2021, 10(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010090
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/90

3. “Health Benefits of Uses and Applications of Moringa oleifera in Bakery Products”
by Paula García Milla, Rocío Peñalver and Gema Nieto
Plants 2021, 10(2), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020318
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/318

4. “β-Ionone: Its Occurrence and Biological Function and Metabolic Engineering”
by Antonello Paparella, Liora Shaltiel-Harpaza and Mwafaq Ibdah
Plants 2021, 10(4), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040754
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/754

5. “Microbial Biostimulants as Response to Modern Agriculture Needs: Composition, Role and Application of These Innovative Products”
by Adele M. Castiglione, Giuseppe Mannino, Valeria Contartese, Cinzia M. Bertea and Andrea Ertani
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081533
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1533

6. “Comparative Study of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils and Crude Extracts of Four Characteristic Zingiberaceae Herbs”
by Milena Ivanović, Kaja Makoter and Maša Islamčević Razboršek
Plants 2021, 10(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030501
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/501

7. “Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Usnea barbata (L.) F.H. Wigg. Dry Extracts in Different Solvents”
by Violeta Popovici, Laura Bucur, Antoanela Popescu, Verginica Schröder, Teodor Costache, Dan Rambu, Iulia Elena Cucolea, Cerasela Elena Gîrd, Aureliana Caraiane, Daniela Gherghel, Gabriela Vochita and Victoria Badea
Plants 2021, 10(5), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050909
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/909

8. “Salinity Effects on Morpho-Physiological and Yield Traits of Soybean (Glycine max L.) as Mediated by Foliar Spray with Brassinolide”
by Victoria Otie, Idorenyin Udo, Yang Shao, Michael O. Itam, Hideki Okamoto, Ping An and Egrinya A. Eneji
Plants 2021, 10(3), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030541
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/541

9. “Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Properties of Mentha × piperita cv. ‘Kristinka’ Essential Oil”
by Ippolito Camele, Daniela Gruľová and Hazem S. Elshafie
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081567
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1567

10. “Piper nigrum CYP719A37 Catalyzes the Decisive Methylenedioxy Bridge Formation in Piperine Biosynthesis”
by Arianne Schnabel, Fernando Cotinguiba, Benedikt Athmer and Thomas Vogt
Plants 2021, 10(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010128
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/128

11. “Polysulfides Applied as Formulated Garlic Extract to Protect Tomato Plants against the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita”
by Reinhard Eder, Erika Consoli, Jürgen Krauss and Paul Dahlin
Plants 2021, 10(2), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020394
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/394

12. “Bryo-Activities: A Review on How Bryophytes Are Contributing to the Arsenal of Natural Bioactive Compounds against Fungi”
by Mauro Commisso, Francesco Guarino, Laura Marchi, Antonella Muto, Amalia Piro and Francesca Degola
Plants 2021, 10(2), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020203
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/203

The “Plant Physiology and Metabolism” Section of the journal Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) publishes original research and timely review articles on all aspects of physiological mechanisms and biochemistry, both metabolic and structural. This Section aims to increase our knowledge on the biochemical and biophysical bases of plant and algal physiology in addition to the use of this knowledge for engineering photosynthetic organisms for enhanced biomass productivity, resistance to abiotic stress, and the synthesis of high-value products.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all of the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021, listed below:

1. “Abiotic Stress in Crop Species: Improving Tolerance by Applying Plant Metabolites”
by Francisca Godoy, Karina Olivos-Hernández, Claudia Stange and Michael Handford
Plants 2021, 10(2), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020186
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/186

2. “Salinity Stress Affects Photosynthesis, Malondialdehyde Formation, and Proline Content in Portulaca oleracea L.”
by Helena Hnilickova, Kamil Kraus, Pavla Vachova and Frantisek Hnilicka
Plants 2021, 10(5), 845; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050845
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/845

3. “Microalgal Cell Biofactory—Therapeutic, Nutraceutical and Functional Food Applications”
by Boda Ravi Kiran and S. Venkata Mohan
Plants 2021, 10(5), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050836
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/836

4. “Influence of Bagging on the Development and Quality of Fruits”
by Muhammad Moaaz Ali, Raheel Anwar, Ahmed F. Yousef, Binqi Li, Andrea Luvisi, Luigi De Bellis, Alessio Aprile and Faxing Chen
Plants 2021, 10(2), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020358
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/358

5. “Salinity Duration Differently Modulates Physiological Parameters and Metabolites Profile in Roots of Two Contrasting Barley Genotypes”
by Emilia Dell’Aversana, Kamel Hessini, Selma Ferchichi, Giovanna Marta Fusco, Pasqualina Woodrow, Loredana F. Ciarmiello, Chedly Abdelly and Petronia Carillo
Plants 2021, 10(2), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020307
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/307

6. “Comparative Study of Drought Stress Effects on Traditional and Modern Apple Cultivars”
by Ines Mihaljević, Marija Viljevac Vuletić, Domagoj Šimić, Vesna Tomaš, Daniela Horvat, Marko Josipović, Zvonimir Zdunić, Krunoslav Dugalić and Dominik Vuković
Plants 2021, 10(3), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030561
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/561

7. “Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II in Tomato to Botrytis cinerea”
by Maria-Lavrentia Stamelou, Ilektra Sperdouli, Ioanna Pyrri, Ioannis-Dimosthenis S. Adamakis and Michael Moustakas
Plants 2021, 10(3), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030521
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/521

8. “Downstream Signalling from Molecular Hydrogen”
by John T. Hancock and Grace Russell
Plants 2021, 10(2), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020367
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/367

9. “Comparative Effects of Different Light Sources on the Production of Key Secondary Metabolites in Plants In Vitro Cultures”
by Mariam Hashim, Bushra Ahmad, Samantha Drouet, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi and Sumaira Anjum
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081521
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1521

10. “LED Illumination Spectrum Manipulation for Increasing the Yield of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)”
by Md Momtazur Rahman, Mikhail Vasiliev and Kamal Alameh
Plants 2021, 10(2), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020344
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/344

11. “Rootstocks with Different Vigor Influenced Scion–Water Relations and Stress Responses in AmbrosiaTM Apple Trees (Malus Domestica var. Ambrosia)”
by Hao Xu and Danielle Ediger
Plants 2021, 10(4), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040614
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/614

12. “Impacts of Microcystins on Morphological and Physiological Parameters of Agricultural Plants: A Review”
by Alexandre Campos, El Mahdi Redouane, Marisa Freitas, Samuel Amaral, Tomé Azevedo, Leticia Loss, Csaba Máthé, Zakaria A. Mohamed, Brahim Oudra and Vitor Vasconcelos
Plants 2021, 10(4), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040639
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/639

13. “Breeding of High Cooking and Eating Quality in Rice by Marker-Assisted Backcrossing (MABc) Using KASP Markers”
by Me-Sun Kim, Ju-Young Yang, Ju-Kyung Yu, Yi Lee, Yong-Jin Park, Kwon-Kyoo Kang and Yong-Gu Cho
Plants 2021, 10(4), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040804
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/804

14. “The TOR–Auxin Connection Upstream of Root Hair Growth”
by Katarzyna Retzer and Wolfram Weckwerth
Plants 2021, 10(1), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010150
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/150

15. “Canopy Size and Light Use Efficiency Explain Growth Differences between Lettuce and Mizuna in Vertical Farms”
by Theekshana C. Jayalath and Marc W. van Iersel
Plants 2021, 10(4), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040704
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/704

16. “Cryopreservation of Woody Crops: The Avocado Case”
by Chris O’Brien, Jayeni Hiti-Bandaralage, Raquel Folgado, Alice Hayward, Sean Lahmeyer, Jim Folsom and Neena Mitter
Plants 2021, 10(5), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050934
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/934

17. “The Optical Properties of Leaf Structural Elements and Their Contribution to Photosynthetic Performance and Photoprotection”
by George Karabourniotis, Georgios Liakopoulos, Panagiota Bresta and Dimosthenis Nikolopoulos
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071455
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1455

1. “The Past, Present and Future of Cannabis sativa Tissue Culture”
by Adrian S. Monthony et al.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010185
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/185

2. “Health Benefits of Uses and Applications of Moringa oleifera in Bakery Products”
by Paula García Milla et al.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020318
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/318

3. “Global Plant Virus Disease Pandemics and Epidemics”
by Roger A. C. Jones
Plants 2021, 10(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020233
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/233

4. “Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) as a Potential Functional Food Source of Mucilage and Bioactive Compounds with Technological Applications and Health Benefits”
by Thamires Lacerda Dantas et al.
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081683
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1683

5. “Culturable Yeasts as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides for a Sustainable Agriculture: A Comprehensive Review”
by María Hernández-Fernández et al.
Plants 2021, 10(5), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050822
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/822

6. “Abiotic Stress in Crop Species: Improving Tolerance by Applying Plant Metabolites”
by Francisca Godoy et al.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020186
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/186

7. “Shape Matters: Plant Architecture Affects Chemical Uniformity in Large-Size Medical Cannabis Plants”
by Nadav Danziger et al.
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091834
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1834

8. “Different Cannabis sativa Extraction Methods Result in Different Biological Activities against a Colon Cancer Cell Line and Healthy Colon Cells”
by Jan Rožanc et al.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030566
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/566

9. “Hairy CRISPR: Genome Editing in Plants Using Hairy Root Transformation”
by Alexey S. Kiryushkin et al.
Plants 2022, 11(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010051
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/51

10. “Xylem Parenchyma—Role and Relevance in Wood Functioning in Trees”
by Aleksandra Słupianek et al.
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061247
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1247

The "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions" Section aims to increase our knowledge of plant interactions with pathogenic and beneficial symbiotic and nonsymbiotic microorganisms, arthropod pests, and weed species. Research articles using interdisciplinary approaches to unravel complex mechanisms underlying plant interactions with other organisms or to study novel strategies for plant pest management are welcomed. Aside from these biological interaction areas, the Section also focuses on disease and pest reports, diagnostics, and management, always taking into account the plant point of view. The Section also welcomes papers on all aspects of plant pathology, entomology, and weed science, especially studies which show how these organisms affect the plant.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:

1. “Global Plant Virus Disease Pandemics and Epidemics”
by Roger A. C. Jones et al.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020233
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/233

2. “Biostimulant Properties of Seaweed Extracts in Plants: Implications towards Sustainable Crop Production”
by Omar Ali et al.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030531
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/531

3. “Molecular Characterization of the Alfalfa mosaic virus Infecting Solanum melongena in Egypt and the Control of Its Deleterious Effects with Melatonin and Salicylic Acid”
by Ahmed R. Sofy et al.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/459

4. “An Overview of Some Biopesticides and Their Importance in Plant Protection for Commercial Acceptance”
by Jitendra Kumar et al.
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061185
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1185

5. “Differential Detection of the Tobamoviruses Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) and Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) Using CRISPR-Cas12a”
by Dan Mark Alon et al.
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061256
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1256

6. “Bioherbicidal Potential of the Essential Oils from Mediterranean Lamiaceae for Weed Control in Organic Farming”
by Giuseppe De Mastro et al.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040818
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/818

7. “Bacterial Endophytes: The Hidden Actor in Plant Immune Responses against Biotic Stress”
by Nadira Oukala et al.
Plants 2021, 10(5), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10051012
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/1012

8. “RNA-Based Technologies for Engineering Plant Virus Resistance”
by Michael Taliansky et al.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010082
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/82

9. “First Report of Protective Activity of Paronychia argentea Extract against Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infection”
by Ahmed Abdelkhalek et al.
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2435; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112435
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2435

10. “Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity of Botryosphaeriaceae Species Associated with Symptomatic Citrus Plants in Europe”
by Jadson Diogo Pereira Bezerra et al.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030492
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/492

11. “Identification and Mapping of Tomato Genome Loci Controlling Tolerance and Resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus”
by Avner Zinger et al.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010179
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/179

12. “Plants under the Attack of Allies: Moving towards the Plant Pathobiome Paradigm”
by Mohamed Mannaa et al.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010125
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/125

13. “Tremellomycetes Yeasts in Kernel Ecological Niche: Early Indicators of Enhanced Competitiveness of Endophytic and Mycoparasitic Symbionts against Wheat Pathobiota”
by Vladimir Vujanovic et al.
Plants 2021, 10(5), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050905
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/905

The Section "Plant Genomics, Genetics and Biotechnology" publishes original research and full-length review articles describing the application of genome technologies, genetics, and biotechnology to all areas of plant science investigations.

As they are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text of all the articles published in our journal. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 listed below:

1. “Morphological, Physiological and Molecular Markers for Salt-Stressed Plants”
by Soltabayeva, A.; Ongaltay, A.; Omondi, J. O. and Srivastava, S.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020243
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/243

2. “The Past, Present and Future of Cannabis sativa Tissue Culture”
by Monthony, A. S.; Page, S. R.; Hesami, M. and Jones, A. M. P.
Plants 2021, 10(1), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010185
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/185

3. “Marker-Assisted Introgression and Stacking of Major QTLs Controlling Grain Number (Gn1a) and Number of Primary Branching (WFP) to NERICA Cultivars”
by Reyes, V. P.; Angeles-Shim, R. B.; Mendioro, M. S.; Manuel, M. C. C.; Lapis, R. S.; Shim, J.; Sunohara, H.; Nishiuchi, S.; Kikuta, M.; Makihara, D.; Jena, K. K.; Ashikari, M. and Doi, K.
Plants 2021, 10(5), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050844
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/5/844

4. “Importance of Landraces in Cereal Breeding for Stress Tolerance”
by Marone, D.; Russo, M. A.; Mores, A.; Ficco, D. B. M.; Laidò, G.; Mastrangelo, A. M. and Borrelli, G. M.
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071267
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1267

5. “Investigation and Computational Analysis of the Sulfotransferase (SOT) Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum): Insights into Sulfur Adjustment for Proper Development and Stimuli Responses”
by Faraji, S.; Heidari, P.; Amouei, H.; Filiz, E.; Abdullah and Poczai, P.
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2597; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122597
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2597

6. “Omics for the Improvement of Abiotic, Biotic, and Agronomic Traits in Major Cereal Crops: Applications, Challenges, and Prospects”
by Kaur, B.; Sandhu, K. S.; Kamal, R.; Kaur, K.; Singh, J.; Röder, M. S. and Muqaddasi, Q. H.
Plants 2021, 10(10), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10101989
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/1989

7. “CRISPR/dCas9-Based Systems: Mechanisms and Applications in Plant Sciences”
by Karlson, C. K. S.; Mohd-Noor, S. N.; Nolte, N. and Tan, B. C.
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102055
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/2055

8. “Chloroplast Genome of Rambutan and Comparative Analyses in Sapindaceae”
by Dong, F.; Lin, Z.; Lin, J.; Ming, R. and Zhang, W.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020283
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/283

9. “Development of an Aus-Derived Nested Association Mapping (Aus-NAM) Population in Rice”
by Kitony, J.K.; Sunohara, H.; Tasaki, M.; Mori, J.-I.; Shimazu, A.; Reyes, V. P.; Yasui, H.; Yamagata, Y.; Yoshimura, A.; Yamasaki, M.; Nishiuchi, S. and Doi, K.
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061255
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/6/1255

10. “Rice Lesion Mimic Mutants (LMM): The Current Understanding of Genetic Mutations in the Failure of ROS Scavenging during Lesion Formation”
by Kang, S. G.; Lee, K. E.; Singh, M.; Kumar, P. and Matin, M. N.
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081598
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1598

11. “CottonGen: The Community Database for Cotton Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding Research”
by Yu, J.; Jung, S.; Cheng, C.-H.; Lee, T.; Zheng, P.; Buble, K.; Crabb, J.; Humann, J.; Hough, H.; Jones, D.; Campbell, J. T.; Udall, J. and Main, D.
Plants 2021, 10(12), 2805; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122805
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2805

12. “From Genetic Maps to QTL Cloning: An Overview for Durum Wheat”
by Colasuonno, P.; Marcotuli, I.; Gadaleta, A. and Soriano, J. M.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020315
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/315

13. “COVID-19 Crisis: How Can Plant Biotechnology Help?”
by Shohag, M. J. I.; Khan, F. Z.; Tang, L.; Wei, Y.; He, Z. and Yang, X.
Plants 2021, 10(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020352
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/352

14. “Meta-Analysis of Quantitative Traits Loci (QTL) Identified in Drought Response in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”
by Selamat, N. and Nadarajah, K. K.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040716
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/716

15. “Influence of Climate Change on Chestnut Trees: A Review”
by Freitas, T. R.; Santos, J. A.; Silva, A. P. and Fraga, H.
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071463
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/7/1463

16. “Advances in Rootstock Breeding of Nut Trees: Objectives and Strategies”
by Vahdati, K.; Sarikhani, S.; Arab, M. M.; Leslie, C. A.; Dandekar, A. M.; Aletà, N.; Bielsa, B.; Gradziel, T. M.; Montesinos, Á.; Rubio-Cabetas, M. J.; Sideli, G. M.; Serdar, Ü.; Akyüz, B.; Beccaro, G. L.; Donno, D.; Rovira, M.; Ferguson, L.; Akbari, M.; Sheikhi, A.; Sestras, A. F.; Kafkas, S.; Paizila, A.; Roozban, M. R.; Kaur, A.; Panta, S.; Zhang, L.; Sestras, R. E. and Mehlenbacher, S. A.
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2234; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112234
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2234

17. “Herbicide Resistance: Another Hot Agronomic Trait for Plant Genome Editing”
by Hussain, A.; Ding, X.; Alariqi, M.; Manghwar, H.; Hui, F.; Li, Y.; Cheng, J.; Wu, C.; Cao, J. and Jin, S.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040621
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/621

18. “From Traditional Breeding to Genome Editing for Boosting Productivity of the Ancient Grain Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]”
by Numan, M.; Khan, A. L.; Asaf, S.; Salehin, M.; Beyene, G.; Tadele, Z. and Ligaba-Osena, A.
Plants 2021, 10(4), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040628
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/628

19. “Opportunities for Improving Waterlogging Tolerance in Cereal Crops—Physiological Traits and Genetic Mechanisms”
by Tong, C.; Hill, C. B.; Zhou, G.; Zhang, X.-Q.; Jia, Y. and Li, C.
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1560; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081560
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/8/1560

20. “Comparison of Genomic Prediction Methods for Yellow, Stem, and Leaf Rust Resistance in Wheat Landraces from Afghanistan”
by Tehseen, M. M.; Kehel, Z.; Sansaloni, C. P.; Lopes, M.d.S.; Amri, A.; Kurtulus, E. and Nazari, K.
Plants 2021, 10(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/3/558

Peer Review Week began 19 September 2022 under the theme of “Research Integrity: Creating and Supporting Trust in Research”. Through various blog articles, podcast, and webinar, we discussed this crucial subject throughout the week, celebrating the essential role peer review plays in maintaining research quality.

To begin, we held a Webinar on the topic. Professor Peter W. Choate and Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi joined Dr. Ioana Craciun, one of MDPI’s scientific officers, for an in-depth discussion.

We invite you to view the event recording:

During the week, the MDPI Blog in a series articles highlighted how good Peer Review safeguards research integrity. The following topics were covered:

• Peer Review Week 2022
• Research Integrity
• What We’ve Learned About Peer Review Reports
• 4 Steps to the Perfect Peer Review Report
• How to Write the Perfect Peer Review Report: An Interview
• Inviting Great Peer Reviewers

In a new edition of Insight Faster, an MDPI podcast, we were delighted to talk to the co-chairs of the Peer Review Week committee, Jayashree Rajagopalan (Senior Manager of Global Community Engagement for CACTUS) and Danielle Padula (Head of Marketing and Community Development at Scholastica) to get their take on this year’s event and its related topics.

You can find the Podcast here.

We hope you enjoy the contents!

We are pleased to announce that the Editor's Choice Articles for publications in 2021 are now available. Editor’s Choice Articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal. You are welcome to read them at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/editors_choice.

We are pleased to invite you to read the Special Issue “10th Anniversary of Plants—Recent Advances and Perspectives” published in Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747). To mark this significant milestone and celebrate the achievements made throughout the years, Plants has set up this Special Issue to celebrate its 10th anniversary. While this Special Issue is first and foremost a celebration of the journal’s anniversary, it also serves as a guide for new discoveries in plant science, which will play a significant role in the future development of the journal.

MDPI will be attending RBMP 2022, held in Sevilla, Spain, from 14 to 16 September 2022. The Meeting of Plant Molecular Biology (RBMP) is the most important biennial event with the greatest impact on plant research, open to scientists from academia and industry. During this conference, MDPI (at the booth #25) welcomes researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share with us your latest inspirations.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• IJMS (leading journal);
• CIMB;
• Plants;
• Horticulturae;
• Applied Sciences;
• Antioxidants;
• Taxonomy.

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth #25. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about the conference, please see the following link: https://www.bcongresos.com/congresos/rbmp2022/.

A range of MDPI journals will be attending INTECOL 2022 as exhibitors. This meeting will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 August to 2 September 2022.

“Frontiers in Ecology – Science and Society” is the general theme of the conference. With an estimated number of 1500 participants coming to Geneva, and as many following the conference from a distance, the conference aims to bring the state-of-the-art expertise in ecology to the forefront of societal challenges.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity (leading);
• Sustainability;
• Forests;
• Ecologies;
• Environments;
• Plants;
• Animals;
• World;
• Quaternary;
• Earth;
• Resources;
• Applied Sciences;
• Birds;
• Climate;
• Water;
• Fishes.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth #03. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit http://intecol2021.org/, or contact the Diversity Editorial Office at [email protected].

Conference: China Functional Foods Conference 2022
Date: 1–3 August 2022
Place: Nanjing, China
Booth Number: #A19
Theme: Functional Foods and Human Health

Nutrients (ISSN: 2072-6643) will be attending the China Functional Foods Conference 2022 as exhibitors from 1 to 3 August in Nanjing, China.

Conference program:

(I) Invited reports: 

1. Development status and trending of global nutritional functional foods;
2. Nutrition, healthcare for special food regulations and standards;
3. Current situation and development of a special food industry;
4. Future trends of personalized precision nutrition.

(II) Thematic forums: 

1. Technological innovation and industrial development of special medical use formula food;
2. Technological innovation and industrial development of probiotics;
3. Technological innovation and industrial development of bioactive peptides;
4. Development and application of functional food raw materials/ingredients;
5. Food nutrition and human health;
6. Functional food development and industrial development of marine resources;
7. Homology of medicine and food and development and industrial development of natural products;
8. Functional polysaccharide nutrition and development and application;
9. Cereal food nutrition and intensive processing.

Booth information:

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Nutrients;
• Beverages;
• Fermentation;
• Foods;
• Plants.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you plan on attending this conference. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you might have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: http://guohsushipn.mikecrm.com/0EYH8vK.

Horticulturae (ISSN: 2311-7524) will be attending the International Horticultural Congress 2022 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in the online person-to-person hybrid format from 14 to 20 August 2022.

The backbone of the congress will be based on the four following challenges:

1. Competitiveness and skills for horticultural value chains;
2. Food, human health and well-being of citizens;
3. Sustainability of production systems;
4. Adaptation to climate change and effect mitigation.

These will be the leading topics of the four planned plenary sessions and keynote speakers will be invited to discuss their critical views.

These four topics will be a common thread throughout the 25 symposia. In addition, many important and topical subjects will be addressed, including breeding, biodiversity, organic farming, urban horticulture, new technologies for phenotyping, precision horticulture, and so on.

We hope that IHC2022 will be an outstanding scientific event, as well as a unique opportunity for researchers within the industry and students to exchange, discuss and collaborate with scientists.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Horticulturae;
• Sustainability;
• Plants;
• Agriculture.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference and our virtual booth, please visit the following link: https://www.ihc2022.org/

We are pleased to report that the 2021 Impact Factor of Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) increased to 4.658 in the recent release of the Journal Citation Reports ®, representing the 3rd consecutive year of continuous growth. Plants now ranks 39/238 (Q1) in the “Plant Sciences” category. We are grateful to all the scholars who have witnessed the journal’s growth with us!

Source: 2021 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ® (Clarivate, 2022)

The 2021 citation metrics have been released in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), and we’re pleased to announce the following results for MDPI journals: