Plants are exposed to various phytopathogens that can cause huge yield losses. To increase crop productivity sustainably, it is crucial to study the complex nature of plant-pathogen interactions and gain better insights into them. Crop diseases must be detected and managed early to prevent crop losses.

The plant immune system is intricate and multi-layered; the different layers act in concert to prevent the phytopathogens from causing irreversible damage. To defend against phytopathogen attacks, plants have evolved two major modes of innate immunity: (i) pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and (ii) effector-triggered immunity.

Many aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying the plant immune system remain elusive, despite the identification of the molecular components and pathways involved in these processes. Recent advances in omics techniques (such as genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics) have enabled new perspectives on plant-pathogen interactions. Utilizing omics resources to comprehend plant response mechanisms to phytopathogens is fundamental to improving crop defense through breeding programs. Incorporating and analyzing multi-omics data can improve our understanding of essential molecular machinery involved in plant defense and offer novel crop protection and improvement opportunities.

This Research Topic will feature a diverse set of studies addressing the application of omics for advancing our understanding of plant diseases. We welcome manuscripts of various types (original research, systematic review, protocols, review, mini-review and perspective) that are within the scope of this collection.

The scope of this topic includes, but is not limited to:

• The application of multi-omics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in deciphering plant-pathogen interactions;
• Pathogen virulence factors;
• Effectoromics, secretomics and interactomics;
• Host susceptibility/ resistant traits;
• Models for disease progression prediction;
• Design and development of markers and immunodiagnostic kits;
• Application of metabolomics and systems biology in crop–pathogen systems;
• The effects of plant symbionts on plant defense responses.

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Frontiers in Plant Science

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