Interactions and Co-Evolution Between Plant Hosts and Pathogens
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 1066
Special Issue Editor
Interests: nematology; molecular systematics; phylogenetics; molecular diagnostics; phylogeography; phylogenomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plants can be infected by diverse pathogenic organisms that modulate host cells to enable pathogen growth and dissemination. Plant-pathogen associations are complex interactions in which the interplay of pathogen, host and environment factors. The ongoing arms race between pathogens and plants is one of central themes in plant pathology, with significant implications for crop protection, disease resistance, and ecosystem health. This special issue seeks to explore the complex interactions and co-evolutionary dynamics between plant hosts and the pathogens that challenge their survival. Understanding how plants defend themselves against a wide array of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes, requires an integrated approach that considers both the molecular and ecological aspects of host-pathogen interactions. Additionally, the evolution of virulence in pathogens and the mechanisms plants employ to adapt to these threats are critical areas of research that can offer valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and the development of novel disease-resistant crops.
We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the following topics:
- Molecular mechanisms of plant-pathogen relationships and plant immune responses.
- Co-evolutionary dynamics between pathogens and their plant hosts.
- Mechanisms of pathogen virulence and strategies to overcome plant defenses.
- Host-specific adaptations and pathogen-mediated manipulation of host physiology.
- The role of plant-associated microbiomes in modulating pathogen interactions.
- Advances in molecular breeding for disease-resistant crops.
- Impact of environmental stressors on host-pathogen interactions.
By bringing together cutting-edge research on plant-pathogen interactions and co-evolution, this special issue aims to provide a deeper understanding of the evolutionary and molecular principles governing these relationships and to explore strategies for enhancing disease resistance in plants and control of pathogens.
Dr. Sergei A. Subbotin
Guest Editor
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.
Keywords
- coevolution
- disease resistance breeding
- effectors
- environmental stress
- host adaptation
- host defense mechanisms
- immune signaling pathways
- microbiome interactions
- molecular plant pathology
- pathogen epidemiology
- pathogen evolution
- pathogen virulence
- plant disease resistance
- plant immunity
- plant microbiota
- plant-microbe co-evolution
- plant-pathogen interactions
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
