Announcements

Conference: International Conference on Mycorrhiza
Date: 12–17 July 2026
Location: Cairns, Australia

From 12 to 17 July 2026, MDPI will be attending the International Conference on Mycorrhiza as an exhibitor, welcoming researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas.

The International Mycorrhiza Society, the umbrella society of the biennial International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM), is dedicated to advancing education, research and development in the field of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Our work is of international significance; our conference attracts delegates from across the globe, with members from over 40 countries and an attendance of 450 to 600 people from academia, government and industry.

We look forward to welcoming you to Cairns for an unforgettable experience at the International Conference on Mycorrhiza!

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• JoF;
• Plants;
• Microorganisms;
• Agronomy;
• Nitrogen;
• Applied Microbiology;
• Crops;
• Horticulturae;
• IJPB;
• JGBG;
• Life;
• Bacteria;
• Agriculture.

MDPI will be attending the 61st Croatian and 21st International Symposium on Agriculture in Brač, Croatia, which will take place from 31 May to 5 June 2026. This event is organized by the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer, University of Osijek, and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, in collaboration with numerous esteemed partners. The conference aims to showcase groundbreaking scientific, professional, and educational contributions from both Croatian and international experts, facilitating their effective translation into agricultural practice. It also seeks to strengthen collaboration among scientists from various universities, research institutes, university alliances, and industry specialists—including producers from Croatia, Europe, and around the world—all united by a shared commitment to advancing science and agricultural innovation. If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth; our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

• Agriculture (leading);
• Crops (leading);
• Agronomy;
• Agrochemicals;
• Foods;
• AgriEngineering;
• Life;
• Horticulturae;
• Grasses;
• Poultry;
• Plants.

Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Collings as Section Editor-in-Chief (SEiC) of the “Plant Development and Morphogenesis” Section. 

Dr. David Collings completed his PhD at the Australian National University in 1994. He conducted postdoctoral research at Wageningen University (The Netherlands), Osaka University (Japan), North Carolina State University and Purdue University (USA). From 2002 to 2007, he was an ARC Research Fellow within the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Australian National University, and from 2008 to 2016 was a member of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand). Between 2016 and 2020, he was based at the University of Newcastle, and from 2023 was an Honorary Fellow in the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University in Canberra. In 2026, he rejoined the University of Canterbury. While his research initially focused on the structures and functions of the plant cytoskeleton and, in particular, interactions between microtubules and actin microfilaments, from about 2005 his research moved towards an understanding of the cell wall. His research group’s main focus is currently the development and function of phi thickenings, unusual secondary cell wall bands that develop in the cortex of plant roots. 

The following is an interview with Dr. David Collings: 

1. Could you briefly reflect on the key opportunities that led you to pursue an academic career? Which experience has had the most profound impact on you?

Becoming a plant biologist surprised me: I had not studied biology as a high school student, and so becoming a biologist was neither planned nor even considered when I began as an undergraduate student at the University of Sydney in the 1980s. In fact, I only selected biology as my final first year course to fill a gap in my timetable, and through that year, it was probably my weakest subject. As an undergraduate student in plant biology, and then subsequently as a PhD student, I was fortunate to have excellent teachers and role models, and I look back on their encouragement and training with gratitude. And then as a postdoc, I was able to travel the world and work in different instiutions in multiple countries, with a year spent in Osaka in Japan in Professor Shibaoka’s group as a JSPS postdoctoral fellow being particularly valuable. It was the ability of these mentors to foster my interest in the plant world that led me to follow an academic career. In the end, I guess that the thing that attracted me most to plant biology was the chance to solve problems, and I still get great satisfaction when ideas and concepts finally click into place. 

2. Which development directions or technological breakthroughs in your field are you most optimistic about in the next 3–5 years?

‘Optimistic’ is the interesting word in this question, and I guess I remain somewhat ambivalent about how technology is changing our studies of plant growth and development. Certainly, bioinformatics and single cell technologies have been a boon for understanding plant growth and development, but too often I see publications in which this type of bioinformatic data has not been accompanied by good science validating the bioinformatics data. Good science does not always need the latest technology, and there is no substitute (yet) for good thinking. It will, however, be fascinating to see how the AI revolution changes how we conduct science. But if I had to name one technology whose development over the next few years will be critical for understanding plant development and morphogenesis, it is the prospect of machine learning being used to process and quantify complex imaging data. 

3. What advice would you give to young scholars and early-career researchers regarding topic selection, perseverance, and mindset?

These are tough times to be a scientist in many parts of the world, with budget cuts and employment pressures continuing to mount. For students and early career researchers, three things stand out to me. These ideas are not new: they are the same things I was told when I started on this road but they remain true today. 
First, remain inquisitive. Keep talking to and asking questions of your colleagues, and keep reading widely, not just in your own area of specialisation. But above all, keep thinking new ideas. I tell my students that even if 95% of my ideas turn out to be wrong, as long as I have a hundred ideas, some are bound to be good! Second, don’t be a ‘one trick pony’. Make sure you master different techniques to make yourself more employable. If you are studying bioinformatics, learn some cell and developmental biology as well. But if you are an imager, make sure that you learn some of the cool molecular techniques that have been developed. And third, publish your work. Our research is typically paid for by our institutions and grants, and we have the responsibility to these funding bodies to make sure that our research is published. But getting your research into a publishable form takes time and effort, and you cannot rely on your supervisors getting the work completed, so help them by finishing your experiments, and writing up everything that you can! 

4. What do you think of the development status and trends of open access publishing?

As scientists, we have a responsibility to publish our work, and if the public pays for our research, then the public has a right to read what we have done. A move to open access publications not only benefits researchers from institutions who cannot access journals hidden behind paywalls, it also means that the public can readily access the research if the wish to. And this is good. The publishing system, however, remains under pressure with the volume of material that is being published, and the speed with which manuscripts to be turned around. As part of the scientific community, we need to ensure that quality of published science is retained through the peer review system. 

5. How do you envision the future of the Section “Plant Development and Morphogenesis”?

In recent decades, research has focused intensely on model species such as Arabidopsis and crop species such as wheat, rice, maize and the legumes. There are, however, more than several hundred thousand species of land plants and many of these species show very interesting aspects in their growth and development. I hope to foster a diversity of research topics in the “Plant Development and Morphogenesis” Section from non-model and non-crop species. 

We warmly welcome Dr. David Collings as the Section Editor-in-Chief of “Plant Development and Morphogenesis”, and we look forward to him leading Plants to achieve many more milestones.

Conference: The 32nd International Horticultural Congress
Organization: The Japanese Society for Horticultural Science
Date: 23–28 August 2026
Place: The Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto) in Kyoto, Japan

Compared to other agricultural and plant science fields, horticultural science is the field of science that focuses on a great diversity of plants from domesticated plants (crop plants) to wild plants. Furthermore, horticulture covers a wide range of fields from social sciences to medical sciences. It also covers a wide range of professions in the horticultural industry, including scientists, growers, distributors, and marketers.

The theme of IHC2026 is “Exploring the Diversity of Horticulture”, which seeks to highlight the diversity of horticulture and share its applications to contribute to the richness of future human life.

Please come explore with us the integrated science of horticulture, combining social science, natural science, the best in basic agricultural practices, the latest technological advances in robotics, genetics, and applications. From small household operations for local farmer’s markets, to large-scale integrated supply chain management and logistics for global production, the IHC2026 will present the latest horticultural findings, practices, and future directions.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Horticulturae;
• Agronomy;
• Agriculture;
• Life;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Seeds.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

We are pleased to announce that the Editor's Choice Articles (Part II) for publications in 2025 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 the articles at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/editors_choice.

Observed annually on 12 May, the International Day of Plant Health is a United Nations initiative that calls global attention to the critical role of healthy plants and the urgent need to protect them from pests and diseases. The theme for 2026, “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security”, positions plant biosecurity as the first line of defense for the world’s food systems.

As a committed academic partner in plant protection, crop science, microbiology, and sustainable agriculture, MDPI leverages its open‑access publishing platform to disseminate cutting‑edge research. On the International Day of Plant Health 2026, MDPI journals in in the Biology & Life Sciences actively supports cross‑disciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange on plant health, crop biosecurity, and food systems by showcasing relevant articles, Special Issues, and journals. Our goal is to help strengthen phytosanitary capacities across countries and regions, thereby building a solid barrier for the security and stability of global food supply chains.

“Plant Hormone Regulation of Competitive Growth: Implications for Agriculture and Inclusive Fitness”
by Jasmina Kurepa and Jan A. Smalle
Appl. Biosci. 2026, 5(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci5020024

“Genomic and Phylogenetic Evidence for a Novel Emaravirus Infecting Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Amazonas, Peru”
by Angel F. Huaman-Pilco, Nicola Fiore, Oscar P. Hurtado-Gonzales, Larissa Carvalho Costa, Xiaojun Hu, Manuel Oliva-Cruz, Jorge R. Díaz-Valderrama and Alan Zamorano
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2025, 16(4), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb16040142

“Linking Soil Microbial Functional Profiles to Fungal Disease Resistance in Winter Barley Under Different Fertilisation Regimes”
by Mariana Petkova, Petar Chavdarov and Stefan Shilev
Plants 2025, 14(20), 3199; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14203199

“Antioxidant Defense Systems in Plants: Mechanisms, Regulation, and Biotechnological Strategies for Enhanced Oxidative Stress Tolerance”
by Faustina Barbara Cannea and Alessandra Padiglia
Life 2025, 15(8), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081293

“Deciphering Cowpea Resistance to Potyvirus: Assessment of eIF4E Gene Mutations and Their Impact on the eIF4E-VPg Protein Interaction”
by Fernanda Alves de Andrade, Madson Allan de Luna-Aragão, José Diogo Cavalcanti Ferreira, Fernanda Freitas Souza, Ana Carolina da Rocha Oliveira, Antônio Félix da Costa, Francisco José Lima Aragão, Carlos André dos Santos-Silva, Ana Maria Benko-Iseppon and Valesca Pandolfi
Viruses 2025, 17(8), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081050

“Unlocking Plant Resilience: Metabolomic Insights into Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crops”
by Agata Głuchowska, Bartłomiej Zieniuk and Magdalena Pawełkowicz
Metabolites 2025, 15(6), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060384

“Microbially Enhanced Biofertilizers: Technologies, Mechanisms of Action, and Agricultural Applications”
by Sylwia Figiel, Piotr Rusek, Urszula Ryszko and Marzena Sylwia Brodowska
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051191

“Effective Strategies for Managing Wheat Diseases: Mapping Academic Literature Utilizing VOSviewer and Insights from Our 15 Years of Research”
by Ioannis Vagelas
Agrochemicals 2025, 4(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/agrochemicals4010004

“Humic Substances: Bridging Ecology and Agriculture for a Greener Future”
by Angela Maffia, Mariateresa Oliva, Federica Marra, Carmelo Mallamaci, Serenella Nardi and Adele Muscolo
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020410

“Plant Biostimulants to Enhance Abiotic Stress Resilience in Crops”
by Luciana Di Sario, Patricia Boeri, José Tomás Matus and Gastón A. Pizzio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031129

“ROS, an Important Plant Growth Regulator in Root Growth and Development: Functional Genes and Mechanism”
by Jialin Su, Yumei Liu, Fengqing Han, Fuxin Gao, Fangyi Gan, Ke Huang and Zhansheng Li
Biology 2024, 13(12), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13121033

“Exploring the Origins of Hexaploid Wheats: Typification of Archaeological Triticum vulgare var. antiquorum and Description of Modern Triticum sphaerococcum subsp. antiquorum (Poaceae: Triticeae)”
by Diego Rivera, Pedro Pablo Ferrer-Gallego, Concepción Obón, Francisco Alcaraz, Emilio Laguna and Nikolay P. Goncharov
Taxonomy 2024, 4(4), 780-794; https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy4040042

“Cadmium Stress Signaling Pathways in Plants: Molecular Responses and Mechanisms”
by Valentina Vitelli, Agnese Giamborino, Andrea Bertolini, Alessandro Saba and Andrea Andreucci
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(6), 6052-6068; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46060361

“Plant Health in the Context of Fungal and Other Microbial Threats: Systematics, Pathogenesis and Integrated Management” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Yi Zhou, Dr. Jinglong Zhou and Dr. Jianwei Jiang Deadline for submissions: 31 October 2026	“Fungal Diseases of Cereals” Guest Editors: Dr. Lorenzo Covarelli and Dr. Giovanni Beccari Deadline for submissions: 31 October 2026
“Plant Life: Integrating Multi-Omic Approaches from Molecules to Environment” Guest Editors: Dr. Sen Meng and Dr. Fang He Deadline for submissions: 25 September 2026	“Plant Stress Resilience: Unveiling Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies” Guest Editor: Dr. Giuseppe Mannino Deadline for submissions: 20 November 2026
“Biological Control: Insect-Plant Interactions for Sustainable Pest Management” Guest Editors: Dr. Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi, Dr. Rostislav Zemek and Dr. Eduardo Soares Calixto Deadline for submissions: 10 December 2026	“Monitoring, Management and Ecotoxicological Implications of Plant Fungal Disease Control” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Gil Rodrigues dos Santos and Dr. Eugenio E. Oliveira Deadline for submissions: 31 December 2026

The 3rd International Online Conference on Agriculture Organizers: MDPI and Agriculture Volume Editor: Bin Gao Highlights: “Genetically Modified Crops as a Strategy for Reducing Pesticide Dependence in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring Benefits, Adoption Constraints and Policies” by Chijioke Christopher Uhegwu and Christian Kosisochukwu Anumudu “Evaluation of the Antifungal Effect of Carvacrol-Rich Essential Oils: In Vitro Study on the Phytopathogenic Fungi Alternaria and Fusarium” by Vasileios Papantzikos, Georgios Patakioutas and Paraskevi Yfanti Click here to read the full list of papers.

Conference: National Congress of Plant Biology 2026
Organization: Chinese Society for Plant Biology
Date: 6–10 November 2026
Place: Hangzhou, China

With the vigorous development of plant science in China over the past fifteen years, the National Congress of Plant Biology has been continuously strengthened in terms of organizational scale and influence and has become the largest event in the field of plant science in China.

This conference covers topics including plant metabolism and synthesis, cell and development, genetics and genome, light signaling and photosynthesis, evolution and conservation, molecular breeding, plant–microbe interactions, abiotic stress biology, interdisciplinary studies and AI design, and smart agriculture. The conference will also feature a special forum on youth development and journal development, a graduate student forum, and a poster fund. These initiatives aim to foster new academic growth points, promote interdisciplinary integration and industry–academia research collaboration, strengthen the training of young talents, and encourage plant biology researchers to reach new academic heights, thus injecting momentum into the development of plant biology in China and internationally.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS);
• Biomolecules;
• Life;
• Stresses;
• Epigenomes;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• AgriEngineering;
• Genes;
• Agronomy;
• Phycology.

If you attend this conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2026. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Plants’ peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2026. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Q1:
Name: Prof. Vyacheslav Dushenkov
Affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Hostos Community College, CUNY, Bronx, NY, USA
Interests: ecology; evolutionary biology; botanical therapeutics; phytoremediation

Name: Dr. Ricardo Alcántara-de la Cruz
Affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Interests: herbicide cross resistance; herbicide multiple resistance; herbicides; weeds; CytP450; GST; resistant mechanisms
“My experience as a reviewer has been consistently positive, as authors generally understand and adopt my comments. Regardless of the journal, I strive to provide objective, constructive, and impartial evaluations.”

Name: Dr. Karolina Grabowska
Affiliation: Chair of Pharmacognosy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
Interests: saponins; polyphenols; triterpenes; phytochemical analysis isolation; structure elucidation; quantification of plant metabolites; Amaranthaceae; Chenopodiaceae
“I truly value the opportunity to participate in the peer-review process. Reviewing manuscripts has been a very rewarding experience, allowing me to engage with emerging research, contribute to maintaining scientific quality, and further develop my critical evaluation skills. At the same time, it is also a process of discovering different perspectives that authors bring to similar research questions, creating space for constructive discussion and ultimately contributing to the pursuit of scientific truth.”

Name: Prof. Carlos Lara
Affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Km 10.5 Autopista Tlaxcala-San Martín Texmelucan, San Felipe Ixtacuixtla 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Interests: ecology; behavioral ecology; ecology and evolution; biodiversity
“Rigorous peer review strengthens science. I aim to provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve their work while maintaining high standards for ecological research.”

Name: Dr. Bożena Szewczyk-Taranek
Affiliation: Department of Ornamental Plants and Garden Art, Faculty of Horticulture and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
Interests: ornamental plants; micropropagation; cryopreservation; plants quality assessment; therapeutic horticulture; landscape plant utilization
“As a specialist in ornamental plants and horticulture, I value contributing to the rigorous evaluation and advancement of high-quality research in plant sciences.”