Plant Elicitors of Resistance and the Future of Plant Protection

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable protection of plants relying on all tools and strategies that have a minimal impact on human and environment health has become mandatory under the increasing demand and pressure from public opinion and, even more, under the dramatic challenges posed by climate change. In this context, an important role could be played by the elicitors of plant resistance as a valid alternative to the use of synthetic pesticides. Strong evidence has accumulated on the role of plant-microorganism symbiosis, particularly at root level, in enhancing plant protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. Conversely, the study of the effects of abiotic elicitors, such as silicon, is still in its infancy.

The species-specificity of these interactions and their final outcome require a thorough understanding of the molecular basis regulating them, in order to develop tools (and strategies) to be exploited in the near future for a sustainable approach in plant protection.

Papers submitted to this Special Issue must report high novelty results about the identity of biotic and/or abiotic elicitors of plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in crop or model systems, indicating the possible metabolites and metabolic pathways involved.

Dr. Emilio Guerrieri
Prof. Dr. Guido Lingua
Guest Editors

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