Microbe-Induced Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Plants, 2nd Edition

Abstract submission deadline

1 December 2026

Manuscript submission deadline

28 February 2027

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to extend this special invitation for contributions to a forthcoming multidisciplinary topic on "Microbe-Induced Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Plants, 2nd Edition". This multidisciplinary topic aims to compile cutting-edge research and perspectives on the pivotal role of microbes in enhancing plant resilience to various abiotic stressors.

Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal contamination continue to pose formidable challenges to global agriculture and food security. However, recent advancements in microbiology have shed light on the remarkable capacity of certain microorganisms to mitigate the adverse effects of these stresses on plant growth and productivity.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the diverse mechanisms underlying microbe-induced abiotic stress alleviation in plants. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

1. Elucidation of molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in plant-microbe interactions under stress conditions
2. Engineering microbial consortia for enhanced stress tolerance in crops
3. Application of microbe-based biostimulants and biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture
4. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to unravel the microbial contributions to plant stress resilience
5. Field trials and practical applications of microbial interventions for stress management in agricultural systems

We encourage submissions that present novel insights, experimental findings, methodological advances, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Manuscripts will undergo rigorous peer review to ensure the publication of high-quality research.

Contributions to this multidisciplinary topic will provide valuable insights into harnessing the potential of microbial-mediated strategies for sustainable agriculture and crop improvement in the face of escalating environmental challenges.

We look forward to your participation in this exciting endeavor.

Prof. Dr. Ying Ma
Prof. Dr. Christopher Rensing
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	4.5	7.8	2011	17.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	4.1	7.6	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Crops crops	2.1	2.9	2021	20.7 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
International Journal of Plant Biology ijpb	-	4.2	2010	17.5 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Microorganisms microorganisms	4.7	8.2	2013	16.5 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Plants plants	4.7	8.5	2012	14.8 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	4.1	6.9	2017	32.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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All Agronomy Microorganisms Agriculture Plants Soil Systems Crops IJPB

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25 pages, 15994 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Biofilm-Forming Enterobacter sp. W5 Mitigates Cadmium and Polystyrene Microplastic Stress in Wheat via Synergistic Immobilization and Proteomic Reprogramming

by Jiexun Wang, Yun Li, Hao Zhang, Wenxia Wang, Lunguang Yao, Randa S. Makar, Zhaojin Chen and Hui Han

Plants 2026, 15(11), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15111698 - 30 May 2026

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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) and polystyrene (PS) microplastic co-contamination in agricultural soils poses a potential threat to food security. Some functional microorganisms in soil can alleviate the dual stress of Cd and PS on crops. In this study, a biofilm-forming bacterium, Enterobacter sp. W5, was [...] Read more.

Cadmium (Cd) and polystyrene (PS) microplastic co-contamination in agricultural soils poses a potential threat to food security. Some functional microorganisms in soil can alleviate the dual stress of Cd and PS on crops. In this study, a biofilm-forming bacterium, Enterobacter sp. W5, was isolated from heavy metal-contaminated rhizosphere soil. Strain W5 exhibited Cd removal efficiency (46.3%) and strong biofilm-forming capacity (OD₅₇₀ = 5.05), and it effectively colonized PS microplastic surfaces. XPS analysis detected bacterial functional groups (C–O–C, C=O) and PS-associated signals (O–C=O), which may act synergistically in Cd²⁺ adsorption. Furthermore, XPS and XRD analyses revealed the presence of Cd-containing precipitates (including CdS, CdO, and Cd₃(PO₄)₂). In hydroponic wheat experiments, W5 inoculation alleviated Cd-PS combined stress, thus significantly promoting plant growth and reducing Cd accumulation by 22.6% in roots and by 34.2% in aboveground tissues. Subcellular distribution analysis revealed that W5 enhanced Cd retention in root cell walls, thereby limiting its translocation to active cellular compartments. Proteomic analysis identified a set of 11 consistently downregulated proteins, including A0A3B6HQ68 and A0A3B6KJV9, which were enriched in secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that these proteins may be associated with Cd stress responses, though their exact roles remain to be verified. Collectively, this study provides a valuable microbial resource and mechanistic insights into the application of biofilm-forming bacteria for mitigating combined heavy metal–microplastic pollution in agricultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbe-Induced Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Plants, 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 5072 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Harnessing Cooperative Bacterial Consortia to Enhance Agronomic Performance, Yield, and Grain Quality of Lupinus luteus Under Field-Based Drought Conditions

by Macarena Barra-Jiménez, Karen Vergara, Paulina Molinet, Milko A. Jorquera, Joaquin Rilling, Grace Armijo-Godoy and Jacquelinne J. Acuña

Agronomy 2026, 16(9), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16090924 - 1 May 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 652

Abstract

The use of microbial consortia has emerged as a promising strategy to improve crop performance under abiotic stress, although their effectiveness under field conditions remains variable. Here, we evaluated whether plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacterial consortia assembled based on synergistic PGP traits can improve [...] Read more.

The use of microbial consortia has emerged as a promising strategy to improve crop performance under abiotic stress, although their effectiveness under field conditions remains variable. Here, we evaluated whether plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacterial consortia assembled based on synergistic PGP traits can improve physiological performance, yield, and grain quality of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) under field-based drought conditions. A semi-controlled, field-based pot experiment was conducted under contrasting water regimes (irrigated and drought) to evaluate four rhizobacterial strains (Microbacterium sp. S13.2, Variovorax sp. S14.7, Bacillus sp. S31, and Lysinibacillus sp. S34), assembled into four consortia: two characterized by high (C1 and C2) and two by low (C3 and C4) auxin production and ACC deaminase activity, along with an uninoculated control. Physiological responses were monitored across phenological stages through stomatal conductance and photosynthetic pigments, while agronomic traits, yield components, and grain quality were assessed at harvest. Inoculation effects were stage-dependent and became more evident under drought conditions. Consortia C1(Microbacterium sp. S13.2 + Variovorax sp. S14.7) and C2 (Bacillus sp. S31 + Lysinibacillus sp. S34) consistently improved biomass accumulation, seed number, and grain yield compared to the uninoculated control, whereas C3 (Lysinibacillus sp. S34 + Variovorax sp. S14.7) and C4 (Bacillus sp. S31 + Variovorax sp. S14.7) showed limited or neutral effects. Multivariate analysis indicated distinct performance strategies, with C1 associated with higher productivity and C2 with improved yield stability under drought. Grain quality parameters remained stable across treatments. These results show that cooperative microbial consortia can improve lupine performance under water-limited conditions, and their effectiveness depends on the functional interactions among consortium members. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Microbe-Induced Abiotic Stress Alleviation in Plants, 2nd Edition)

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