About this Research Topic
In recent years, plant disease control has become one of the most important limitations in agricultural production. Controlling plant diseases with traditional pesticides raises serious concerns about food safety, environmental quality, and pesticide resistance. In contrast, integrative plant nutrition is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to control plant disease.
Mineral nutrition, which is critical for plant growth and development, has long been recognized as an important component of disease control practices, although the underlying mechanisms of mineral nutrition have not been fully exploited. Mineral nutrition can exert a profound effect on disease development depending on the nutrient form and amount, plant species, and pathogen type. The mechanisms leading to these nutrient-induced changes in disease development are complex and multifarious.
Mineral nutrition impacts plant disease tolerance or resistance by: (i) changing the morphology and anatomy of plants, especially the enforcement of cell walls to prevent pathogen invasion; (ii) affecting the plant physiology and biochemistry leading to higher production of inhibitory or repelling substances; (iii) restricting nutrition transfer to the pathogen, which is required for penetration and development; (iv) modifying the biotic or abiotic environment, especially the rhizosphere. There is a need for more information on the interactions between mineral nutrition and plant diseases to guide fertilizer management, disease control, and improve crop production.
This Research Topic welcomes investigators to contribute with Original Research and Review articles that explore all the above-mentioned aspects of mineral nutrition and plant diseases.
Please note that descriptive studies and those defining gene families or descriptive collection of transcripts, proteins, or metabolites, will not be considered for review unless they are expanded and provide mechanistic and/or physiological insights into the biological system or process being studied.
Mineral nutrition, which is critical for plant growth and development, has long been recognized as an important component of disease control practices, although the underlying mechanisms of mineral nutrition have not been fully exploited. Mineral nutrition can exert a profound effect on disease development depending on the nutrient form and amount, plant species, and pathogen type. The mechanisms leading to these nutrient-induced changes in disease development are complex and multifarious.
Mineral nutrition impacts plant disease tolerance or resistance by: (i) changing the morphology and anatomy of plants, especially the enforcement of cell walls to prevent pathogen invasion; (ii) affecting the plant physiology and biochemistry leading to higher production of inhibitory or repelling substances; (iii) restricting nutrition transfer to the pathogen, which is required for penetration and development; (iv) modifying the biotic or abiotic environment, especially the rhizosphere. There is a need for more information on the interactions between mineral nutrition and plant diseases to guide fertilizer management, disease control, and improve crop production.
This Research Topic welcomes investigators to contribute with Original Research and Review articles that explore all the above-mentioned aspects of mineral nutrition and plant diseases.
Please note that descriptive studies and those defining gene families or descriptive collection of transcripts, proteins, or metabolites, will not be considered for review unless they are expanded and provide mechanistic and/or physiological insights into the biological system or process being studied.
Keywords: plants, nutrition, micronutrients, macronutrients, biotic stress, disease resistance, physiology, development, rhizosphere, plant disease
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
