The microbial ecology of plant disease involves studying microbial communities and their interactions within plant environments, focusing on their roles in health and disease. Microbial diversity in soils and on plant surfaces influences plant health by contributing to nutrient cycling, growth promotion, and disease suppression. Understanding how beneficial microbes interact with pathogens is crucial for managing plant diseases. Advances in high-throughput sequencing, metagenomics, and metabolomics have enabled detailed characterization of these microbial communities and their functions. Harnessing this knowledge, researchers are developing sustainable agricultural practices, including microbial inoculants and biocontrol agents, to enhance plant resilience and productivity. Despite these advancements, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of the complex interactions between microbial communities and plant pathogens, necessitating further investigation into the ecological, molecular, and functional aspects of these relationships.

This Research Topic aims to explore the connections between microbial diversity and functional roles in plant disease ecology, providing insights for innovative and sustainable disease management strategies. The goal is to unravel the mechanisms by which microbial communities influence plant health, disease resistance, and susceptibility. Contributions should encompass a broad range of studies that shed light on the ecological, molecular, and functional aspects of microbial communities in plant disease dynamics.

To gather further insights into the microbial ecology of plant disease, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Characterization of microbial communities associated with healthy and diseased plants.
- Temporal dynamics of microbial communities during disease progression.
- Mechanisms of microbial interactions with plant hosts and pathogens.
- Functional roles of beneficial microbes in disease suppression and plant health.
- Pathogen-induced shifts in microbial community functions.
- Identification and characterization of microbial genes and metabolites involved in pathogenesis.
- Functional analysis of virulence factors in plant pathogens.
- Role of plant immune responses in shaping microbial communities.
- Influence of beneficial microbes on plant defense mechanisms.
- Integration of multi-omics data to understand plant-microbe-pathogen interactions.
- Computational tools and models for microbial community analysis.

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Microbiology

Submit your idea

Impact