Solidifying the Foundation of IPM with Agroecology and Biological Control
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: insect pathology; insect ecology; entomopathogenic fungi; host–pathogen interaction; biological control
Interests: biological pest and disease control; biopesticides; horticulture; inoculation and induced resistance; entomopathogenic fungi; parasitoids and predators; microbiology; microbe-plant-insect interactions; endophytes; integrated pest management
Interests: integrated pest management; biological control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: intercropping; conservation biological control; agroecological pest management; insect flower interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) stands at the forefront of sustainable crop protection, actively combining ecological, biological, and technological innovations to reduce pest impacts while promoting environmental stewardship. This Special Issue will spotlight multifaceted biological control approaches in crop ecosystems, paying special attention to the integration of new agroecosystem design with modern technologies deploying multidisciplinary strategies to enhance crop resilience and socio-economic viability.
We encourage submissions of original research, reviews, and case studies addressing the ecology, application, and synergistic use of biological control agents, including predators, parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi, and other microbial or botanical antagonists, within an IPM framework and across diverse plant production systems. Submissions that explore both foundational ecological principles and innovative technologies are highly valued, ensuring the continued relevance of classical strategies in biological control alongside new advancements within IPM.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Mechanisms and effectiveness of classical, conservation, and augmentative biological control within IPM.
- Leveraging modern tools to monitor, deploy, and enhance biological control agents within different cropping systems.
- Integration of genetics, omics, and biotechnology to improve the specificity and resilience of biocontrol strategies.
- Synergies between biological control, plant defenses, habitat management, and landscape-level conservation.
- Assessment of non-target impacts, environmental safety, and sustainability metrics for biological control innovations.
This Special Issue aims to advance the implementation of biological control through interdisciplinary research and practical innovations, ultimately reducing chemical pesticide dependence and supporting resilient, productive, and smart agriculture.
Dr. Ibtissem Ben Fekih
Dr. Komivi Senyo Akutse
Dr. Kris Wyckhuys
Dr. Séverin Hatt
Dr. Stine K. Jacobsen
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
- beneficials
- biocontrol
- crop resilience
- entomopathogens
- habitat management
- smart agriculture
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