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Extremophilic Plants and Microorganisms in Environmental Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2501

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Physiology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Cracow, Poland
Interests: abiotic stress tolerance; salt stress; drought; halophytes; sulfur-oxidizing bacteria; thiol compounds

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Guest Editor
Department of Plant Sciences, Aeres University of Applied Sciences, 8251 JZ Dronten, The Netherlands
Interests: abiotic stress tolerance; ecophysiology; bioenergy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to introduce this Special Issue of Sustainability, spotlighting pioneering research on the symbiotic relationship between plants, microbes, and the environment. This Special Issue specifically emphasizes the pivotal roles of halophytes, metallophytes, xerophytes, and extremophilic bacteria in shaping sustainable ecosystems.

In an epoch marked by swiftly shifting climates, both flora and microorganisms face unprecedented environmental pressures, profoundly impacting critical aspects such as biomass production. However, amidst these challenges, extremophilic species—comprising both plants and bacteria—have demonstrated remarkable resilience through the development of intricate physiological, biochemical, and molecular adaptation mechanisms. These adaptations equip them with the unique ability to undertake specialized ecological functions, thereby fostering sustainable ecosystems. For instance, extremophiles offer a spectrum of invaluable contributions ranging from the provision of stable enzymes capable of withstanding extreme temperatures to their utility in vital processes like phytoremediation, desalinization, and bioremediation. Moreover, they serve as reservoirs of bioactive compounds, including secondary metabolites and their derivatives, which hold immense potential for medicinal applications. Additionally, their significance extends to the realm of biofuel and bioenergy production, further underscoring their integral role in advancing sustainability objectives and fostering a bio-based economy. Leveraging these tools enables us, as a race, to address critical challenges for our continuity on our planet, such as combatting climate change.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  1. Phytoremediation;
  2. Metallophytes;
  3. Soil desalinization;
  4. Halophytes;
  5. Bioactive compounds from extremophiles;
  6. Carbon sequestration by extremophiles;
  7. Bioremediation;
  8. Microbes in metal recovery;
  9. Extremophiles as a bioinoculants;
  10. Biofuels and bioenergy.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Aleksandra Koźmińska
Dr. Mohamad Al Hassan
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 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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • phytoremediation
  • metallophytes
  • soil desalinization
  • halophytes
  • carbon sequestration
  • bioremediation
  • bioinoculants
  • biofuels
  • bioenergy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

19 pages, 3151 KiB  
Review
Germination Strategies and Seed Quality of Colobanthus quitensis: Implications for Sustainable Antarctic Ecosystems and Ex Situ Plant Conservation
by Yadiana Ontivero, Marely Cuba-Díaz, Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo and Peter Convey
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10726; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310726 - 6 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1502
Abstract
The conservation of the Antarctic ecosystem is linked to scientific and tourism activities. The Colección Activa de Plantas Vasculares Antárticas at the Universidad de Concepción aims to help conserve the region’s vascular flora to support scientific research while minimizing anthropogenic pressure on natural [...] Read more.
The conservation of the Antarctic ecosystem is linked to scientific and tourism activities. The Colección Activa de Plantas Vasculares Antárticas at the Universidad de Concepción aims to help conserve the region’s vascular flora to support scientific research while minimizing anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems. Colobanthus quitensis is the only native dicotyledonous plant native to Antarctica and, as an extremophilic plant, is capable of withstanding extreme abiotic conditions. This species has potentially important use as a biological model to study the physiological deterioration of dormant seeds and other traits, some of which may contribute to vegetation development in Antarctica. Although studies have addressed the reproduction and germination of C. quitensis, there is no recent synthesis of information regarding its reproductive biology and seed traits that could support its conservation. This work synthesizes and critically analyzes the current knowledge of C. quitensis reproduction in natural and controlled environments, identifying factors that contribute to the decline in seed quality. We propose that growth conditions, seed morphology, and interactions with endophytic fungi influence germination and seedling establishment. We also highlight critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed to better understand the species’ phenology, the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on its development, strategies for seed conservation, and biotechnological applications. Full article
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