Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions
A section of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).
Section Information
Almost all plants are affected by plant diseases, insects, mites, weeds, and other pest organisms. Plants also live in association with a diverse range of nonpathogenic microorganisms that can impact plant fitness. The Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions section aims to increase our knowledge of plant interactions with pathogenic, beneficial symbiotic and nonsymbiotic microorganisms, arthropod pests, and weed species. Research articles using interdisciplinary approaches to unravel complex mechanisms underlying plant interactions with other organisms or to study novel strategies for plant pest management are welcomed. Aside from these biological interaction areas, the section also focuses on disease and pest reports, diagnostics, and management, always taking into account the plant point of view. The section also welcomes papers on all aspects of plant pathology, entomology, and weed science, especially studies which show how these organisms affect the plant.
Keywords
- Plant–microbe interactions
- Plant pathogenic fungi, oomycota, bacteria, viruses
- Plant disease epidemiology
- Diagnosis of plant disease
- Plant parasitic nematology
- Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria
- Mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis
- Entomology
- Acarology
- Forest pathology
- Molecular plant–arthropod interactions
- Chemical ecology of plant–arthropod interactions
- Integrated pest management
- Soil-borne pathogens and arthropods
- Insect–plant–microbe interactions
- Insect vectors of plant diseases
- Weed science
- Weed ecology
- Plant microbiome
- Integrated weed management
- Plant protection chemicals
- Beneficial microbes
- Herbicide resistance
- Biological control
- Plant immunity
- Induced resistance
- Plant biotic stress
- Plant defenses
- Elicitors
- Impact of abiotic stress on plant–microbe interaction
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Plant-Associated Microbiomes Under Combined Stresses: Insights on Pathogen Interactions and Environmental Factors (Deadline: 10 October 2026)
- Biocontrol Agents for Sustainable Plant Disease Management (Deadline: 20 October 2026)
- Microorganisms for Improving Plant Resilience and Soil Health (Deadline: 30 October 2026)
- Biochemical Mechanisms of Plant Resistance to Herbivorous Nematodes (Deadline: 30 October 2026)
- Integrated Pest Management of Field Crops (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Plant–Pathogen Interactions in Cereal Crops (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- New Strategies for the Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes—Second Edition (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Insect Frass Fertilisers for Plant Growth, Development, and Stress Tolerance (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Weed Management and Control in Paddy Fields (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Plant Health in the Context of Fungal and Other Microbial Threats: Systematics, Pathogenesis and Integrated Management (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Plant–Endophyte Interactions and Bioactive Metabolites for Sustainable Crop Management (Deadline: 10 November 2026)
- Plant Interactions with Both Beneficial and Pathogenic Microorganisms (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Plant Defense Mechanisms Against Pathogens: Signaling Pathways, Genetic Foundations, and Biotechnological Innovations (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Green Leaf Volatiles in Plant Stress Signaling and Defense (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Plant Chemical Ecology—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Plant–Fungi and Plant–Associated Microorganism Interactions: Molecular Mechanisms, Ecology, and Applications (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Integrated Green Strategies for Crop Protection (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Biological Control: Insect-Plant Interactions for Sustainable Pest Management (Deadline: 10 December 2026)
- Forest Protection: Plant–Microbe Interactions, Risk Assessments, and Management Strategies (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Biotechnological Innovations in Pest and Pathogen Resistance: From Gene to Field (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Plant–Insect Interactions—3rd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Host Adaptation Mechanisms of Forest Pests (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Integrated Management of Plant Diseases Linking Plant–Pathogen Interactions and Control Technologies (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Diagnostics and Monitoring of Plant Diseases (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Bio-Control of Plant Pathogens and Pests (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Plant-Microbiome Interactions for Enhancing Crop Growth and Resilience (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Advances in Weed Control and Management (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- Biological Control of Phytopathogen-Associated Plant Diseases (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Integrated Management of Plant Pathogens (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Plant Microbiome Manipulation: Advances and Applications (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- The Application of Nanotechnology in Crop Protection and Management (Deadline: 31 January 2027)
- Plant Microbial Communities and Disease Control (Deadline: 20 February 2027)
- Plant–Microbe Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture: From Rhizosphere Ecology to Crop Resilience (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Microscopic Allies: The Role of Beneficial Microorganisms in Plant Growth and Resilience (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Molecular Detection and Management of Plant Pathogens (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Translating Ecological Research into Biological Control Strategies (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Florivory: The Ecology and Evolution of Flower Predation (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Strategies for Sustainable Innovative Crop Pest Management (Deadline: 28 February 2027)
- Biotechnological Advances in Biopesticides for Integrated Pest Management (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Plant Pathology and Epidemiology for Grain, Pulses, and Cereal Crops—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Biosolution Tools for the Control of Insect Pests (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Plant–Aphid–Virus Interactions: Molecular Mechanisms, Ecological Dynamics, and Sustainable Disease Management (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Legume–Microbe Interactions for Sustainable Cultivation (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Plant Virus–Host Interactions: Molecular Mechanisms and Crop Protection (Deadline: 31 March 2027)
- Agents and Mechanisms for Pine Tree Diseases Management (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Bacteriophages and Phage-Derived Antimicrobials for Sustainable Plant Protection (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Innovations and Emerging Strategies in Biological and Biorational Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Genome-Informed Molecular Targets, Pathogen Adaptation, and Antimicrobial Strategies in Plant Bacterial Diseases (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Silicon in Sustainable Agriculture: Facing Abiotic and Biotic Stress in Crops (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Plant–Microbe Interactions Under Stress: Exploring Defence Mechanisms, Microbial Diversity, and Resilience (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Plant–Microorganism Interactions (Deadline: 30 April 2027)
- Crosstalk Between Abiotic Stress and Pathogen Defense in Cereal Crops: Molecular and Redox Regulation (Deadline: 15 May 2027)
- AI and Smart Technologies in Weed Control and Crop Protection (Deadline: 31 May 2027)
- Molecular Recognition, Modulation and Signal Transduction in Plant Immunity (Deadline: 31 May 2027)
- Microbial Strategies for Plant Resistance and Stress Tolerance (Deadline: 30 June 2027)
- Plant–Microbe Interactions for Sustainable Agriculture and Stress Resilience (Deadline: 30 June 2027)
- Biological Control of Fungal Pathogens and Sustainable Management in Agricultural Crops (Deadline: 31 July 2027)
- Molecular Mechanisms, Frontier Technologies and Green Prevention Applications of Plant–Pathogen Interactions (Deadline: 31 August 2027)
- Tropical Plant Disease and Pest Management and Control (Deadline: 30 September 2027)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions:
