Plant Viral Pathogens: Innovations in Detection, Genetic Diversity, and Evolutionary Dynamics

Dear Colleagues,

Viruses are extraordinary biological entities capable of infecting all forms of life, including other viruses. Among them, plant-infecting viruses continue to pose a significant threat to global agriculture, causing devastating losses in crop productivity and quality. While direct control options for plant viruses are limited, effective management relies heavily on accurate diagnosis and an in-depth understanding of virus evolution.

This Special Issue will highlight recent advances in the diagnosis and evolutionary biology of plant viruses. Rapid, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic tools are essential in early detection and surveillance, forming the foundation of any effective disease management strategy. At the same time, the evolutionary dynamics of plant viruses, driven by various factors such as host resistance pressure, vector interactions, and environmental change continue to facilitate the emergence of new viral strains, complicating control efforts.

We invite contributions that explore innovative diagnostic techniques, molecular and evolutionary mechanisms of virus adaptation, and the factors contributing to viral emergence and spread in economically important crops. Manuscripts focusing on integrated strategies that link diagnostics and evolutionary insights to practical, long-term management solutions are particularly encouraged. This Special Issue will advance our understanding of plant virus evolution and guide future research into sustainable crop protection.

Prof. Dr. Akhtar Ali
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.