Special Issues

Plants publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Soil Microbial Mediation of Trace Element Uptake in Plants submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 114 | Submission Open
Keywords: soil– plant systems; soil microorganisms; rhizosphere; trace elements; food security
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)
Crop–Weed Competition: Ecological Interactions and Management Strategies submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 109 | Submission Open
Keywords: crop– weed competition; ecological interactions; integrated weed management; allelopathy; cropping systems; climate change impacts; cover cropping; competitive traits; modeling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
Grape Viticulture and Its Responses to Stresses
edited by and Leonor Deis
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 101 | Submission Open
Keywords: grape; viticultural practices; stress; climate change; vine management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
Evolution, Biology, Ecology and Uses of Azolla
edited by Jonathan Bujak, and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 99 | Submission Open
Keywords: Azolla; Nostoc azollae; nitrogen fixation; phytoremediation; cyanobacterial blooms; climate mitigation; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
Plant Defense Mechanisms Against Pathogens: Signaling Pathways, Genetic Foundations, and Biotechnological Innovations
edited by and Shouan Zhang
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 96 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant defense mechanisms; plant health; signaling pathways; genetic foundations; biotechnological innovations; food security; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Integrated Plant Nutrition and Food Quality: Production, Postharvest, and Processing submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 89 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant nutrition; food quality; biofortification; phytochemicals; rhizosphere microbiome; biostimulants; postharvest; controlled-environment agriculture; precision fertilization; bioaccessibility; non-thermal processing; sensory quality; nutrient density
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
Isolation, Diversity and Bioactivity of Plant Metabolites submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 79 | Submission Open
Keywords: secondary metabolites; HPLC; bioactive compounds; plant extracts; nature-inspired derivatives; NMR; isolation; structural diversity; bioactivity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Advances in Genome Editing Technologies for Crop Improvement and Disease Resistance submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 77 | Submission Open
Keywords: meganucleases; ZNFs; TALENs; CRISPR/Cas; CRISPRa; CRISPRi; prime editing; base editing; genome editing; crops; agronomic trait; plant disease
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Physiology and Innovation in Fruit Crops: Biostimulants, Stress Responses, and Postharvest Technologies submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 77 | Submission Open
Keywords: fruit crops; plant physiology; climate change; abiotic stress; biostimulants; stress tolerance mechanisms; postharvest technologies; edible coatings; bioactive compounds
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
Chemical Diversity and Biotechnological Potential of Marine Cyanobacteria
edited by Vincent Bielinski, and Fernanda Oliveira das Chagas
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 74 | Submission Open
Keywords: marine cyanobacteria; secondary metabolites; biosynthetic gene clusters; compound discovery; applied biotechnology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Breeding Strategies to Enhance Quality and Resilience in Horticultural Crops
edited by Adrían Rodríguez-Burruezo
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 68 | Submission Open
Keywords: acids; antioxidants; crop resilience and adaptability; cultivated diversity; genome wide association study; genomic selection; quantitative trait loci; sugars; valorization of landraces; volatiles
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Chemical and Pharmacological Potential of Medicinal Plants
edited by , and Joelma Abadia Marciano de Paula
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 67 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemistry; preclinical assays; clinical trials; quality control; herbal medicine
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Computational Approaches to Decoding Plant Molecular Networks
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 66 | Submission Open
Keywords: computational techniques; multi-omics data; plant molecular analysis; machine learning; AI; data integration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Plant-Derived Bioactives for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Diseases
edited by and Bárbara Maiztegui
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 63 | Submission Open
Keywords: metabolic diseases; natural products; plant-derived therapeutic agents; plant-derived bioactives; medicinal plants; phytotherapeutic formulations; traditional health systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Fruits and Vegetables
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 63 | Submission Open
Keywords: postharvest physiology; fruit ripening; storage technologies; ethylene production; controlled atmosphere storage; food preservation; nutritional quality retention; postharvest losses
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)
Cryopreservation, In Vitro, and Seed Banking Technologies for Plant Biodiversity Conservation
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 62 | Submission Open
Keywords: gene banks; plant biodiversity conservation; in vitro culture; cryopreservation; seed storage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Cell Biology)
Receptor Kinase-Mediated Signaling in Plants
edited by Hongqing Guo
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 61 | Submission Open
Keywords: receptor kinase signaling; ligands; co-receptors; signaling components; post-translational modifications; substrates; transcription factors; gene expression; genetics and genomics; plant growth; development; stress responses
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Recent Advances in Plant Responses to Combined Stresses Under Climate Change
edited by , and Theodora Ntanasi
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 60 | Submission Open
Keywords: multiple stresses; combined stresses; climate change; drought stress; heat stress; salinity stress; molecular breeding; cell and molecular biology; gene regulation; genetics; genomics; crop improvement; horticultural crops; grafting technology; nanoparticles (NPs); biostimulants; microbial inoculants
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
Plant Interactions with Both Beneficial and Pathogenic Microorganisms submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 57 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant– microbe interactions; biocontrol agents; biostimulants; plant pathogens; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Integrated Pest Management of Field Crops submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 56 | Submission Open
Keywords: IPM; host plant resistance; biological control; microbial control; behavioral control; genetic control; cultural control; pest monitoring; selectivity; insect resistance management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Recent Advancements in Jasmonate Research
edited by Guillermo Jimenez-Aleman and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 54 | Submission Open
Keywords: jasmonate signaling; plant defense; stress responses; biosynthesis; hormonal interactions; agricultural applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)
Integrated Quality Management in Horticultural Crops: Decoding Hormonal, Transcriptional and Metabolic Interfaces
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 37 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytohormones; transcription factors; metabolic pathways; multi-omics; CRISPR; postharvest physiology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
New Perspectives on Plant Biogeography, Systematics, and Taxonomy submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 37 | Submission Open
Keywords: biogeography; nomenclature; palynotaxonomy; taxonomy; systematics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification)
Molecular Regulation of Maize Abiotic Stress Resilience
edited by and Jingwei Yan
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 37 | Submission Open
Keywords: maize; abiotic stress; stress resilience; molecular regulation; signal transduction; gene expression; regulatory networks
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
Nutritional and Therapeutic Metabolites from Ethnomedicine and Agri-Food Sources: Emerging Research and Applications
edited by Mamadou Aliou Balde
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 35 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-based metabolites; metabolomics; natural products; functional food development; ethnomedicine; therapeutic metabolites; agri-food by-products; green extraction technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Plant Stress Responses: Molecular Genetics and Enzyme Regulation
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 33 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant stress responses; molecular genetics; enzyme regulation; abiotic and biotic stresses; transcription factors; signal transduction; hormonal crosstalk; reactive oxygen species (ROS); gene expression regulation; crop stress tolerance; epigenetic modifications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Soil-Water Contamination and Ecological Restoration Using Plants
edited by and Chong Cao
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 32 | Submission Open
Keywords: soil/water contamination; nitrogen and phosphorus; heavy metal; microplastics (MPs); perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs); antibiotics; aquatic and terrestrial plants; wetland
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
Orchid Germplasm Conservation and Propagation Strategies
edited by , and Virginia Silva Carvalho
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 31 | Submission Open
Keywords: germination; seed storage; seedling growth; cryoconservation; orchid; seed formation; tissue culture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetic Resources)
Advances in Sustainable Weed Management in Crop Production
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 29 | Submission Open
Keywords: precision agriculture; non-chemical weed control; robotics and AI; integrated weed management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Phytoremediation: Advances in Plant-Based Strategies, from the Lab to the Field
edited by Mariana Rosa and Carolina Prado
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 28 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytoremediation; plant– microbe interactions; constructed wetlands; physiological and biochemical mechanisms; emerging contaminants; sustainable biomass management; nature-based solutions; AI-assisted phytotechnology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)
Chemical Characterization and Functional Identification of Plant Extracts submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 17 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemicals; biological activities; natural product isolation; extraction of natural products; compound isolation; bioactive secondary metabolites; chromatography; structure elucidation and phytochemical purification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Cell Biology, Development, Adaptation and Evolution of Plants
edited by Hiroyasu Motose
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 10 | Submission Open
Keywords: morphology and development; cell division and growth; signaling and gene expression; adaptation to the environment; genomics; technological evolution and new model systems; evolution
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Kernel Development in Cereal Crops
edited by and Zhiyong Zhang
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 10 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal crops; kernel development; endosperm and embryo development; grain yield; regulatory networks; phytohormone signaling; epigenetic modifications; nutrient partitioning; climate resilience
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Genetics and Management for Enhanced Fruit Crop Production
edited by Yong Xiao and Wei Xia
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 7 | Submission Open
Keywords: fruit crop genetics; disease resistance; CRISP/CAS9; sustainable horticulture; postharvest management; genomic selection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Botanical Standardization and Metabolic Profiling
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 4 | Submission Open
Keywords: medicinal plant; functional food; chemical standardization; extraction; biological assay; antioxidant properties; metabolic profile
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Molecular Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies for Heavy Metal Stress Decoding in Crop Plants submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 3 | Submission Open
Keywords: antioxidant defense; crop plant tolerance; genetic engineering; heavy metal stress; ion homeostasis; molecular mechanisms; phytohormone signaling; phytoremediation; omics approaches; oxidative stress; stress priming; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)
Optimization of Legume Nitrogen Fixation and Use in the Organic Farming Ecosystem
edited by Raminta Skipitytė
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 2 | Submission Open
Keywords: legumes; biological nitrogen fixation; nitrogen resources; organic farming; crop production; inoculation; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
Management of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition for Improved Crop Production
edited by Xingzhu Ma, and
submission deadline 1 May 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2695 | Submission Open
Keywords: green and efficient agricultural production technology; soil amendments and organic matter management; precision agriculture promoting nutritional optimization; changes in soil fertility and biological activity in farmland; sustainable crop rotation management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
The Expanding World of Palm Tree Breeding: New Discoveries and Applications in the Post-Genomic Era
edited by , Luciano Vilela Paiva and
submission deadline 1 May 2026 | Viewed by 107 | Submission Open
Keywords: arecaceae; genetic Improvement; biotechnology; integrative Biology; bioeconomy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
Rice Cultivation and Physiological Regulation
edited by
submission deadline 10 May 2026 | Viewed by 43 | Submission Open
Keywords: rice physiology; cultivation techniques; stress resilience; yield optimization; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
Plant Extracts in Focus: Chemical Characterization, Biological Activity, and Their Significance in Ethnomedicine and Practical Applications submission deadline 20 May 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5043 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant extract; extraction; chemical characterization; bioactive compounds; biological activity; ethnomedicine; natural products; standardization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Plant-Derived Natural Products: Extraction Methods, Chemistry and Bioactivities
edited by and
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1130 | Submission Open
Keywords: natural products; plant extracts; essential oils; nutraceuticals; chemical analysis; extraction methods; bioactivities; machine learning
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Molecular Mechanisms of Crop Stress Response and Photosynthetic Optimization
edited by
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 558 | Submission Open
Keywords: crop improvement; crop stress response; photosynthetic optimization; abiotic stress signaling; biotic stress resistance; gene regulation; signaling pathways; omic technologies; chloroplast biology; stress memory
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Genetic and Genomic Strategies for Enhancing Seed Quality and Grain Nutrition in Cereal Crops
edited by and
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 119 | Submission Open
Keywords: whole grain; nutrition; bioactive components; stress tolerance; high-yielding; cereal crops; genomic selection; breeding strategies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Plant Physiological and Biochemical Adaptations to Climate Change submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 104 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant adaptation; climate change; abiotic stresses; stress tolerance; ecosystem resilience; plant stress physiology; biochemical mechanisms; molecular adaptations; stress signaling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
The Quantum Dance of Photosynthesis: Current View of the Role of Quantum Effects in the Absorption of Light Energy
edited by Yuxiang Weng and
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 70 | Submission Open
Keywords: quantum coherence; coherent energy transfer; quantum phase synchronization; exciton-vibrational coupling; protein dynamical structure; two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy; quantum design principle; photosynthetic antenna; reaction center
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)
Phytochemical Extraction and Electrochemical Innovations in Sustainable Plant Science submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 46 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemical extraction; electrochemical innovations; sustainable plant science; green chemistry; antioxidant compounds; bioactive profiling; therapeutic applications; electrolysis methods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Genetic Breeding and Biotic/Abiotic Stress Regulation in Citrus
edited by Haijie Ma and
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 30 | Submission Open
Keywords: citrus breeding; stress resistance; genomics; gene editing; disease resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Plant Science for Food and Nutrition submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 15 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-derived foods; plants extracts; biotechnological; food science
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Forage and Sustainable Agriculture
edited by Peizhi Yang, Wei Zhang and Qian Li
submission deadline 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 14 | Submission Open
Keywords: forage crops; forage management; legumes; sustainable agriculture
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
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