Plant Responses to Emerging Contaminants: From Stress Mechanisms to Environmental Safety

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in industrialization and modern technology have introduced numerous emerging contaminants (ECs) into our environment. These compounds, including pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), present unprecedented challenges to plant health and ecosystem stability. Plants, as primary producers and key components of terrestrial ecosystems, are increasingly exposed to these novel stressors through various environmental pathways. However, their response mechanisms and potential roles in contaminant mitigation remain to be fully understood.

To address these concerns, our proposed Special Issue explores innovations in understanding plant–EC interactions and their applications in environmental protection. We invite submissions on stress response mechanisms, adaptation strategies, ecological impacts, and plant-based remediation approaches. To explore this important topic, we are assembling a Special Issue of Plants to encourage researchers and provide them with a platform to publish their novel studies on ‘Plant Responses to Emerging Contaminants: From Stress Mechanisms to Environmental Safety’.

The themes of this Special Issue broadly include (but are not limited to) the following:

Plant–Environment Interface and Uptake Mechanisms

The interaction between plants and ECs at environmental interfaces represents a critical research frontier. Research opportunities exist to understand the uptake pathways through root systems and foliar surfaces, the influence of environmental factors on bioavailability, and the role of root exudates in modifying EC behavior. Advanced imaging and analytical techniques can reveal the dynamic processes at plant–environment boundaries. Understanding these interface mechanisms is crucial for predicting plant exposure and the environmental fate of ECs.

Rhizosphere Processes and Microbial Interactions

The rhizosphere represents a crucial zone where plants interact with ECs in soil environments. Studies focusing on root–soil–microbe interactions can reveal how plants modify their rhizosphere environment under EC stress, including changes in root exudation patterns, microbial community composition, and their consequent effects on EC transformation. Understanding these rhizosphere processes provides insights into plant adaptation strategies and potential remediation applications.

Environmental Factors and Exposure Dynamics

Environmental conditions significantly influence plant–EC interactions. Research opportunities exist to investigate how soil properties, climate factors, and biogeochemical processes affect EC bioavailability and plant responses. Studies on the influence of multiple environmental stressors, seasonal variations, and long-term exposure scenarios can help understand plant adaptation in real-world conditions.

Ecological Transfer and Ecosystem Effects

Understanding how plants mediate EC transfer in ecosystems is essential for environmental risk assessment. Research can focus on EC accumulation patterns, transformation pathways, and transfer through food chains. Investigating ecosystem-level consequences of plant–EC interactions provides crucial insights for environmental protection strategies.

This Special Issue provides a forum to advance our understanding of plant responses to emerging contaminants while promoting environmental safety and ecosystem health. We encourage contributions that will lead us further toward a future of resilient plants and sustainable environments.

Prof. Dr. Yu Shen
Dr. Jiahui Zhu
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

• plant-rhizosphere interactions
• stress response mechanisms
• environmental interfaces
• emerging contaminants