Plant Biostimulants from Diverse Biological Sources for Mechanism, Efficacy and Agronomic Applications
A Special Issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747) belonging to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2027 | Viewed by 122
Editors
Interests: plant and microalgae biotechnology; microalgal biostimulants; environmental biotechnology; genetic engineering; phytoremediation; sustainable agriculture
Interests: plant mineral nutrition; oxidative stress; unicellular algae; extremophiles; pigments; microalgae cultivation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The transition toward a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system increasingly depends on the development of innovative biological inputs capable of enhancing crop performance under fluctuating environmental conditions. This Special Issue, titled “Plant Biostimulants from Diverse Biological Sources for Mechanism, Efficacy and Agronomic Applications,” aims to consolidate recent advancements in the characterization and application of biostimulants derived from a wide range of natural and heterogeneous biological matrices.
Although the discovery of novel biostimulant materials remains a vibrant field, the current scientific frontier necessitates a shift from empirical observation toward a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and biochemical pathways they modulate. To this end, a critical challenge is overcoming the "black box" approach; therefore, we strongly encourage contributions focused on the structural elucidation of bioactive components within complex matrices. By combining advanced chemical characterization with functional multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics), we aim to bridge the gap between the chemical identity of biostimulants and their specific biological outcomes. As Guest Editors, our objective is to foster contributions that integrate genetic, molecular, and physiological approaches to decode the complex crosstalk between biostimulants and plant systems. We specifically encourage studies employing high-throughput multi-omics platforms (including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) with chemical characterization efforts aimed at relating specific bioactive fractions to the observed physiological outcomes.
From a genetic perspective, we seek research that dissects the intrinsic genotypic-specific responses governing biostimulant efficacy. We welcome the identification of candidate genes and the discovery of molecular markers associated with enhanced resilience against abiotic stressors. Understanding how specific cultivars or wild accessions leverage biostimulants to mitigate drought, salinity, or thermal fluctuations is a critical prerequisite for integrating these biological tools into modern precision breeding programs.
From a physiological standpoint, we invite contributions exploring the modulation of photosynthetic efficiency, redox homeostasis, nutrient acquisition kinetics, and overall metabolic plasticity. By bridging functional genomics with robust physiological and field-scale evaluations, this Special Issue aims to establish a mechanistic foundation for biostimulants as strategic components of high-efficiency, climate-resilient agriculture.
Prof. Dr. Pasquale Chiaiese
Prof. Dr. Simona Carfagna
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- plant biostimulants
- transcriptional reprogramming
- metabolic plasticity
- genotype-specific responses
- abiotic stress resilience
- nutrient use efficiency (NUE)
- redox homeostasis
- bioactive phytocompounds
- multi-omics approaches
- circular bioeconomy
- rhizosphere signaling
- agronomic performance
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