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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Systems-Level Understanding of Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stress: Physiological and Biochemical Perspectives submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3833 | Submission Open
Keywords: stress tolerance; transcriptomics; proteomics; metabolomics; hormonal regulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
Wheat Breeding for Disease Resistance
edited by Yinghui Li
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3585 | Submission Open
Keywords: wheat; pathogens; resistance gene; plant immunity; wheat breeding; resistance mechanism
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Genetic Breeding and Quality Improvement of Tea
edited by Liyuan Wang
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3555 | Submission Open
Keywords: tea plant (Camellia sinensis); molecular mechanism; secondary metabolites; stress response; nitrogen absorption; quality-related components; genetic identification; QTL mapping; molecular functional markers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization of Characteristic Economic Crops
edited by , Xia An and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3406 | Submission Open
Keywords: characteristic economic crops; breeding; cultivation practices; product processing; physiological mechanisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
Heavy Metal Tolerance in Plants and Algae—2nd Edition submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2812 | Submission Open
Keywords: heavy metal tolerance; heavy metal sensing; heavy metal uptake; heavy metal sequestration; phytochelatin; glutathione and oxidative stress; cysteine synthesis and degradation; heavy metal tolerance evolution; hyper and hypo accumulator plants; environmental pollutants; stress mitigation
Algal Growth and Biochemical Responses to Environmental Stress
edited by José Bonomi Barufi and Nelso Navarro
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2420 | Submission Open
Keywords: algal growth; biochemical responses; environmental stress; secondary metabolites; photobiology; aquatic photosynthesis; carbon fixation; photochemical reactions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
Virus-Induced Diseases in Horticultural Plants
edited by and Ved Prakash
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2223 | Submission Open
Keywords: viral disease; resistance factors; disease management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
Advances in Plant Genome Editing and Transformation
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2192 | Submission Open
Keywords: genome editing; plant transformation; genetic improvement; CRISPR; artificial intelligence
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Transcriptome Analysis and Marker Development in Plants
edited by Deyou Qiu
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2162 | Submission Open
Keywords: transcriptome analysis; marker development; single-cell transcriptomics; spatial transcriptomics; databases; plant breeding; gene discovery; environmental stresses; novel technologies; multi-omics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Molecular Diagnosis of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and Disease Management Strategies submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2028 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytopathogenic bacteria; diagnostics; molecular tools; bacterial plant diseases; prevention; control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Genomics of Biotic and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Cereals
edited by Gautam Saripalli and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2015 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereals; genetic mapping; biotic and abiotic stress; wild germplasm; next generation sequencing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Phytochemical Analysis and Metabolic Profiling in Plants—2nd Edition submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1975 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemical analysis; UHPLC-HRMS; clustering; data analysis; secondary metabolites
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Functional Genomics of Cucurbit Species
edited by and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1879 | Submission Open
Keywords: genome assembly; pan-genomes; SNPs; INDELs; genome-assisted breeding; MAGIC populations; GWAS; MAS; genomic prediction; transformation; gene editing; cucumber; cucurbitaceae; melon; watermelon; cucurbita
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Genetic and Biological Diversity of Plants—2nd Edition
edited by Zhonglong Guo and Lei Li
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 1875 | Submission Open
Keywords: multi-omics; plant diversity; plant– insect– microbe interactions; databases; non-coding RNA
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
The Impact of Stress Conditions on Crop Quality
edited by and Nicoleta Hadaruga
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1719 | Submission Open
Keywords: crop quality; biotic and abiotic stressors; physiological mechanisms; molecular pathways
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
Bioactive Compounds in Plants: Sources, Identification and Applications
edited by and Sonia Floris
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1529 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant extract; bioactive compounds; enzyme inhibition; antioxidant activity; chemical composition; biological activity; human diseases
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Bioactive Compounds from Fruit and Vegetable By-Products: Recovery, Characterization, and Potential Applications
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1388 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds; fruit by-products; vegetable by-products; agro-industrial waste valorization; extraction methods; phytochemicals; functional ingredients; sustainable food systems; antioxidants; phenolic compounds; food waste valorization; green extraction technologies; circular economy; food additives; bioavailability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Biosystematics and Breeding Application in Triticeae Species
edited by and Yinghui Li
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1282 | Submission Open
Keywords: Triticeae biosystematics; alien germplasm; gene mining; chromosome engineering; resource conservation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Conservation of Plant Diversity and Vegetation in Island Ecosystems
edited by and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1243 | Submission Open
Keywords: island biogeography; plant diversity; vegetation; community assembly; functional trait; plant-animal interactions; habitat loss and fragmentation; biological invasion; climate change; urbanization and land use
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
Soil Contaminants, Their Transformation and Effects on Microbiome and Plants submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1216 | Submission Open
Keywords: ecotoxicity; soil contamination  ; soils and food security  ; threats to and protection of soils  ; soil microbiology  ; risk assessment  ; phytotoxicity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)
Plant-Derived Therapeutics: From Traditional Extracts to Molecular Mechanisms submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1159 | Submission Open
Keywords: pharmacological validation of traditional herbal medicines; molecular mechanisms of plant-derived bioactive compounds; metabolomics; proteomics; and transcriptomics approaches in plant therapeutics; biological activities of plant extracts; synergistic effects and multi-target actions of phytocompounds; safety; toxicity; and standardization of plant-based products; advanced formulation and drug delivery systems for plant-derived agents; systems biology or network pharmacology approaches to herbal medicine
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Angiosperm Diversification and Phylogenetic Relationships
edited by and Douglas E. Soltis
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1101 | Submission Open
Keywords: angiosperms; gene families; genomes; diversification; phylogenomics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)
Innovative Fertilization Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1050 | Submission Open
Keywords: soil fertility; fertilization strategies; sustainable crop production; organic amendments; nutrient use efficiency
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant–Soil Interactions)
Phytochemical Diversity and Ecological Functions in Plants
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 923 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemical diversity; chemical ecology; metabolites; plant– environment interactions; metabolomics; ecological functions; biodiversity; conservation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Sustainable Alternatives to Synthetic Fungicides: Natural and Biological Control of Fungal Plant Pathogens
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 858 | Submission Open
Keywords: biological control; microbial agents; natural sources; plant extracts; phytomolecules; botanical fungicides; natural resistance inducers; sustainable crop protection; microbial interaction host/pathogen; systemic acquired resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Genetic Improvement of Oilseed Crops
edited by and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 793 | Submission Open
Keywords: oilseed crops; genetic resources; genetic engineering and genome editing; agronomic and quality traits; biotic and abiotic stresses
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Fungal–Plant Interactions: From Symbiosis to Pathogenesis submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 587 | Submission Open
Keywords: fungal– plant associations; symbiosis; pathogenesis; mycorrhiza; endophytes; plant immunity; host– pathogen interactions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Advanced Research on Sprouts and Microgreens as a Source of Bioactive Compounds—2nd Edition
edited by , Beatrice Falcinelli and
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 530 | Submission Open
Keywords: sprouting; wheatgrass; microgreens; elicitor; food supplementation; phytochemicals; phenolic compounds; antioxidant activity; mineral biofortification; genetic resources; epigenetic
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
In Vitro Plant Regeneration and Biotechnological Approaches for Crop Improvement submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 418 | Submission Open
Keywords: agrobacterium; plant tissue culture; plant editing; organogenesis; embryogenesis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Genetic and Epigenetic Diversity and Conservation of Coastal Ecosystem Plants
edited by and André Felippe Nunes-Freitas
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 281 | Submission Open
Keywords: conservation genomics; plant adaptation; costal ecosystems.; restoration and conservation; DNA methylation; histone modifications; transcriptomics; epigenomics; phylogeography; biogeography; landscape genetics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)
Bioactive Plant Compounds with Antioxidant and Health-Promoting Properties submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 279 | Submission Open
Keywords: biologically active chemical compounds; primary and secondary metabolites; phytochemicals and phytotherapy; antioxidants and antioxidant activity; effects of oxidative stress; herbal raw materials; exogenous and endogenous structures and secretions; biological properties; medicinal and cosmetic plants; cosmetic ingredients and pharmaceutical formulations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Hormonal Regulation of Stress Adaptation
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 274 | Submission Open
Keywords: hormonal signaling and crosstalk under biotic and abiotic stress; cell-type specificity of hormonal signaling; protective metabolites; stress-inducible proteins; in silico plant hormone research; exogenous bioidentical phytohormones; case studies in model and crop plants
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)
Breeding Strategies for Enhancing Nutritional Quality of Legumes
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 194 | Submission Open
Keywords: breeding strategies; legumes; nutritional quality; genome-editing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Molecular Biology)
Chemistry of Natural Plant Products—Second Edition
edited by
submission deadline 28 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 176 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; medicinal herbs; natural products in chemistry; active compounds; structural elucidation; phytochemistry; bioactive molecules; pharmaceutical applications; plant secondary metabolites
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Plant–Microbiome Interactions
edited by
submission deadline 1 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 262 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant microbiome; soil microbiome; holobiont; rhizosphere; phyllosphere; metagenomics; metatranscriptomics; microbial ecology; phytobiome; biocontrol agents
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Functional Components and Bioactivity of Edible Plants
edited by
submission deadline 2 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1617 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-based ingredients; bioactive compounds; functional components; health benefits; phytochemicals; edible plants
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Exploring the Immunomodulatory Potential of Plant Extracts submission deadline 10 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3072 | Submission Open
Keywords: immunomodulation; plant extracts; immune mechanisms; health maintenance; immune homeostasis; disease prevention; modes of action; immune cells and molecules; therapeutic potential; immunological illnesses; bioactive substances; therapeutic applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Vegetation Dynamics and Mechanisms in Ecosystem Functioning
edited by Ting Hua, Zhenchao Zhang and Tianyu Zhan
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 309 | Submission Open
Keywords: vegetation dynamics; ecological restoration; environmental sustainability; land degradation; ecosystem services; climate change; soil nutrient cycling; biodiversity; carbon stock
Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses: Mechanisms, Adaptation, and Mitigation Approaches submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 227 | Submission Open
Keywords: mechanisms of stress response; adaptation and acclimation; mitigation approaches; multi-omics integration; oxidative stress; antioxidants; biostimulants for plant stress mitigation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
Bio-Control of Plant Pathogens and Pests
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 202 | Submission Open
Keywords: biological control of disease and pest; anti-microbial peptides; microbial volatile compounds; bioactive compounds; natural enemies; parasitoids; integrated pest and disease management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Chemical Characteristics and Bioactivity of Plant Natural Products, 2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 200 | Submission Open
Keywords: phytochemistry; plant metabolites; extraction; isolation and structure elucidation; bioactive plant compounds; application of bioactive molecules
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Taxonomy of Lichens and Bryophytes in Pacific Asia submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 18735 | Submission Open
Keywords: bryophytes; mosses; liverworts; hornworts; lichens; lichenicolous fungi; taxonomy; systematic; distribution
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification)
Plant-Based Foods and By-Products
edited by , and Paula Porrelli Moreira Da Silva
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9188 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-based foods; food waste; food by-product; food nutrition; vegetables; fruits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
Advanced Research in the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Plants
edited by Camila Silva
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 9 articles | Viewed by 8182 | Submission Open
Keywords: extraction; phenolic acids; antioxidant potential; antibacterial activity; cytotoxicity; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Sustainability in Phytochemistry: Advancing Green Innovations and Biodiversity Preservation
edited by
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2828 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainability in phytochemistry; renewable plant sources for bioactive compounds; valuable phytochemicals; plant-derived compounds
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Ornamental Plants and Urban Gardening (3rd Edition)
edited by
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2760 | Submission Open
Keywords: ornamental plants; urban green space; climate change
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
Natural Products and Phytotherapy: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnopharmacology submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2092 | Submission Open
Keywords: traditional medicinal plants; bioactive compounds; drug discovery; cancer chemotherapy; neuroprotective effects; cardiovascular health; chronic disease modulation; immunomodulatory activity; mechanism of action; bioassay-guided fractionation; phytochemical screening; clinical phytotherapy trials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)
Advances in Weed Control and Management
edited by
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1322 | Submission Open
Keywords: herbicides; natural products; docking; bioassay; bioactive compounds
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
Advances in Crop Irrigation System and Management
edited by , Walter Esfrain Pereira and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1013 | Submission Open
Keywords: precision irrigation; water use efficiency (WUE); remote sensing; internet of things (IoT); machine learning; water stress; physiology salinity management; deficit irrigation; non-conventional; water resources
(This special issue belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
Applications of Genetic Engineering in Horticulture and Ornamental Plants
edited by Yuanzhi Pan
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 640 | Submission Open
Keywords: genetic engineering; horticultural and ornamental plants; molecular breeding; agronomic or aesthetic trait improvement; shelf life; reproductive or nutrition traits; functional genomics; bioethics and biosafety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)
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