About this Research Topic
Host-pathogen interaction is a highly dynamic process between phytopathogenic microbes and their hosts in all stages of pathogenic infection. Generally, host plants depend on multi-layered defense responses to mediate the effect of different phytopathogens. These defense mechanisms include the accumulation of defense molecules such as antioxidants and pathogenesis-related proteins, alteration of plant signaling system, and changes in primary and secondary metabolites. These defense mechanisms could be implicated directly or indirectly in host-pathogen interactions. On the other hand, phytopathogens themselves may employ several mechanisms to be used as virulence factors or to interfere with host immunity. In this context, a better understanding of cellular reprogramming and a comprehensive perspective of how defense networks are regulated during the host-pathogen interaction is necessary to elucidate the complex interactions between the plant and phytopathogenic microbes. Consequently, the goal of this research topic is to explore innovative approaches to enhance plant resilience to different phytopathogens through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing genetics, molecular biology, biotechnology, and agronomy. By elucidating key signaling pathways and regulatory networks involved in host-pathogen interactions, as well as the plant defense responses, that aim to identify potential targets for genetic manipulation to improve crop resistance to different phytopathogens. Additionally, this research topic seeks to highlight novel sustainable biotechnological interventions, such as genetic engineering and biocontrol agents, to mitigate plant diseases and enhance crop productivity.
In this Research Topic “Enhancing Plant Resistance and Resilience to Phytopathogenic Microbes”, we welcome original research articles, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, and review articles that synthesize current knowledge on plant defense mechanisms against different phytopathogens, as well as host-pathogen interactions. The contributions can be on the development of innovative solutions for mitigating the harmful effects of phytopathogenic microbes on horticultural and field crops and promoting global food security in a changing climate, for example, but not limited to, the following areas:
• Molecular tools and biotechnological approaches for engineering crop plants with enhanced resistance to phytopathogenic microbes
• Genetic transformation techniques, gene editing technologies, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, of various plant species upon the infection with different phytopathogens
• Physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of different crops and horticultural plants to phytopathogenic microbes
• Integrated pest and disease management
• Multi-omics and their role in plant survival and adaptation under pathogen infection
• Role of primary and secondary metabolites in enhancing plant resilience to phytopathogenic microbes
• Bio-based compounds and their role in plant response to phytopathogens
• Enhancing plant resilience to phytopathogenic microbes: from genome to metabolome
Keywords: plant resistance, phytopathogenic microbes, biotic stress, viruses, fungi, nematodes, plant defense responses
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.