Unraveling Pathogen-Plant-Microbiome Interactions in Horticultural Crops Through Omics Approaches

Horticultural crops are an integral part of economic growth and contribute significantly to agricultural production. However, these plants are susceptible to infection by pathogenic oomycetes, fungi, and bacteria, leading to substantial yield losses globally and posing a threat to food security. Pathogens utilize effectors—biological molecules such as proteins, small RNAs, and secondary toxic metabolites like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)—to facilitate host infection. Despite extensive research on the mechanisms and biological nature of effectors in model plants, many aspects remain poorly understood. Holistic approaches are needed to unravel the complex crosstalk and interactions between pathogens, horticultural plants, and their associated microbiomes. Recent advances in omics technologies have enhanced our understanding of the genetic and mechanistic strategies pathogens use to infect plants and evade plant immunity. However, the role of microbe-microbe interactions and the influence of a plant's microbiome on pathogen virulence are areas that require further exploration.

This research topic aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of microbial pathogen/host interactions through omics approaches. The goal is to provide valuable insights that can lead to innovative strategies for sustainable plant disease management, including advancements in plant resistance and breeding. By focusing on the latest research, this topic seeks to highlight how fungal and bacterial pathogens modulate or interact with the bacterial community associated with plants, the volatile metabolites produced during host invasion, and the coevolutionary competition within horticultural crops.

To gather further insights into the infection and colonization of horticultural crops by microbial pathogens, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Omics studies on the interactions between pathogens and horticultural plant microbiomes
- Proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous phytopathogen effector secretion
- Sensor-based technologies for metabolomic analyses of plant-pathogen interactions
- Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) and evolution of pathogenicity in plant-pathogen interactions
- Changes in native microbiota due to pathogen aggressiveness
- Changes in beneficial microbes and their importance in plants upon pathogen inoculation