Microbial Diversity as a Driver of Plant Growth and Soil Health

Dear Colleagues,

Soil plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth, providing a range of essential ecosystem services.      These services are a result of soil processes and the functions performed by the rich biodiversity that resides there. However, it is alarming to note that around 33% of soil globally is facing degradation. Particularly, the soil microbiome, composed of a diversity of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses and meso- and microfauna, plays a crucial role in promoting soil fertility, producing plant biomass and preserving plant health. This microbiome provides fundamental macro- and micronutrients for the entire food chain.

There are biological strategies based on restoring biodiversity, both above and below the soil surface, which, when applied appropriately, can revitalize life in diverse ecosystems, along with their complex interactions between organisms. Furthermore, in recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the use of "omics" approaches that allow us to assess microbial phylogenetic diversity and soil functionality. The application of these technologies has contributed to the understanding of microbial communities that play a central role in biological systems, identifying functional groups essential for the health of plants, soil and water.

This approach strengthens our ability to maintain healthy forest ecosystems, mitigate climate change, increase agricultural productivity, ensure food quality, promote food security and, ultimately, protect the health of our planet.

Dr. Elisa Esposito
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 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. Applied Sciences 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.