Insects make up half the total eukaryotes in the world. In fact, half of all described insect species are herbivores. Although much research exists on how plants and insects interact, it is important to remember that there are other players involved in these interactions. For this reason, scientists have started to investigate the role that microorganisms can have on plant-insect interactions. We cannot have a clear picture of how herbivorous insects interact with their hosts if we continue to ignore factors in their environment, such as microbes, that can affect these interactions.
Research on plant-insect-microbe interactions has focused on the effect of these on plant physiology. With this Research Topic we wish to dig deeper and identify specific changes in insect physiology. Such changes can be caused through direct effects of microbes on insect physiology which can in turn affect their interaction with plants. In addition, microbe interactions with plants can indirectly affect insect physiology. Finally, we are also interested in studies that focus on how plant-insect relationships affect insect physiological responses to microbes.
We welcome original articles, full reviews, mini reviews, and perspectives relevant to the following areas:
• Changes in insect physiology due to plant-microbe interactions
• Insect physiology response to microbes and their effect on plant interactions
• Organismal, behavioral, and cellular-level physiology response to plants and/or microbes
• Environmental adaptations and their role on plant-microbe-insect physiology interactions
• Coevolutionary and adaptation dynamics between plants, insects, and microbes
Insects make up half the total eukaryotes in the world. In fact, half of all described insect species are herbivores. Although much research exists on how plants and insects interact, it is important to remember that there are other players involved in these interactions. For this reason, scientists have started to investigate the role that microorganisms can have on plant-insect interactions. We cannot have a clear picture of how herbivorous insects interact with their hosts if we continue to ignore factors in their environment, such as microbes, that can affect these interactions.
Research on plant-insect-microbe interactions has focused on the effect of these on plant physiology. With this Research Topic we wish to dig deeper and identify specific changes in insect physiology. Such changes can be caused through direct effects of microbes on insect physiology which can in turn affect their interaction with plants. In addition, microbe interactions with plants can indirectly affect insect physiology. Finally, we are also interested in studies that focus on how plant-insect relationships affect insect physiological responses to microbes.
We welcome original articles, full reviews, mini reviews, and perspectives relevant to the following areas:
• Changes in insect physiology due to plant-microbe interactions
• Insect physiology response to microbes and their effect on plant interactions
• Organismal, behavioral, and cellular-level physiology response to plants and/or microbes
• Environmental adaptations and their role on plant-microbe-insect physiology interactions
• Coevolutionary and adaptation dynamics between plants, insects, and microbes