Weaponizing Plants: Biocontrol and Biosecurity in Plant Protection

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change, plants and human health are closely linked, since the environment, plant health and food safety are parts of the same system. In fact, crop yield and plant products quality are, directly or indirectly, affected by climate alterations. Adverse climatic conditions often promote the occurrence of different abiotic stresses, which can have the effect of reducing or enhancing susceptibility to biotic stresses (pests or pathogens). The agricultural productivity challenges, posed by the climate change, can be overcome by innovation systems and farming practice; on the other hand, reducing the impact of noxious substances and controlling the stress conditions on plants has become imperative. Innovative bioprotection strategies, as well as the biological control of crop pests, is the new frontier for the sustainable future of plant health, demanding emerging technologies which facilitate the understanding and exploitation of the mechanisms involved. This Special Issue aims to collect the most updated insights and experimental developments intended to increase plants’ health and biosecurity. Original research papers and reviews describing agronomic practices, traditional breeding, bioinformatics, biological control agents (such as beneficial microorganisms or competitors), plant resistance against pests and pathogens, direct or indirect antagonistic interaction with the pathogen (or competition for nutrients and space), hyperparasitism or antibiosis, and the production/regulation of secondary metabolites with biocontrol activity (or supporting antagonists to gain a competitive advantage), are encouraged and welcomed. A particular attention to the plant standpoint is highly recommended.

Prof. Dr. Francesca Degola
Prof. Giovanna Visioli
Dr. Agnieszka Jamiołkowska
Dr. Izabela Kot
Guest Editors

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