Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms in Crop Nutrition and Production
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 457
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant diseases and control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: applied microbiology; mycology; plant pathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: exploration and genetic evolution of macrofungi germplasm resources; structural identification and activity evaluation of fungus natural active ingredients derived; biosynthesis and green manufacturing of active ingredients
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Global agricultural systems face the challenge of meeting the nutritional demands of a growing population while maintaining environmental sustainability. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM), including rhizobacteria, endophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi, have emerged as promising biological tools for enhancing crop nutrition and productivity through diverse mechanisms such as nutrient mobilization, phytohormone production, and stress tolerance induction. Recent advances in microbiome research and omics technologies have revolutionized our understanding of plant–microbe interactions, revealing the complex networks governing these beneficial associations. However, translating fundamental discoveries into practical agricultural applications remains a critical challenge, necessitating interdisciplinary approaches that bridge molecular mechanisms with field-level implementation.
This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research on the applications of PGPM in sustainable crop production, encompassing mechanistic insights, technological innovations, and practical implementations. We welcome contributions that advance our understanding of microbial ecology in agricultural systems, develop novel biofertilizer formulations, and evaluate the efficacy of PGPM under diverse environmental conditions. The Special Issue aligns with the scope of Plants by addressing critical aspects of plant biology, crop physiology, and sustainable agriculture, providing a platform for researchers to share innovative solutions for enhancing crop nutrition and productivity through microbiological approaches.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: mechanisms of nutrient acquisition and mobilization by PGPM; development and formulation of microbial biofertilizers; plant–microbe–soil interactions in the rhizosphere; omics approaches for understanding the functions of PGPM; microbial enhancement of crop stress tolerance; biocontrol mechanisms integrated with plant nutrition; microbiome engineering for sustainable agriculture; field evaluations and practical applications of PGPM; regulatory and commercialization aspects of biofertilizers; and climate-smart agriculture through microbial interventions.
Dr. Yunpeng Gai
Dr. Hong-Kai Wang
Dr. Jianzhao Qi
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-blind 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 growth-promoting microorganisms
- biofertilizers
- rhizosphere microbiome
- sustainable agriculture
- nutrient mobilization
- plant-microbe interactions
- crop productivity
- microbial inoculants
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