Advances in Genomics of Plant Pathogens and Host-Pathogen Interaction

Plant pathogens are major threat to agricultural production worldwide. Various pests cause around 20-40% losses in crop yield, with plant diseases resulting in $220 billion losses annually. Agriculturally adapted and rapidly evolving pathogens belong to all major taxa especially fungi, virus and bacteria has the potential to reduce the resistance of crop plant. In order to sustain agricultural production, a sound and effective disease mitigation strategy must be in place. With the increasing global connectivity, threat of invasive pathogen and exotic diseases affecting our crop production is quite a reality. Over the past decades, advances in genomics have transformed our understanding of the complex molecular biology underlying plant-pathogen interactions and associated disease management. Despite these scientific breakthroughs, fungal, bacterial and viral plant pathogens continue to inflict considerable economic losses in agriculture and threaten global food security.

Over the past decades, advances in genomics have transformed our understanding of the complex molecular biology underlying plant-pathogen interactions and associated disease management. Despite these scientific breakthroughs, fungal, bacterial and viral plant pathogens continue to inflict considerable economic losses in agriculture and threaten global food security. These critical issues can be addressed using cutting-edge research leveraging genomics to improve the understanding of host-pathogen interactions and plant disease management. Advances in genomics helps in deciphering the pathogen virulence functions and pathogen adaptation in crop plants. The functional and comparative genomics analysis reveals unravel complex pathogenicity and host- pathogen interaction. Better understanding of host-pathogen complexity leads to develop strategies for the management of the plant diseases. This research topic will be focusing on next-generation sequencing technologies, comparative and population genomics, and phylogenomic that shed light on the genomic and how pathogen intermingle with host plant.

We are excited to announce a thematic issue dedicated to Advances in Genomics of plant pathogen and host-pathogen interaction. We are inviting the manuscript on genome of plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria and virus), genes involved in virulence, transcriptome, microbiome, metagenomics, resistance mechanism, population genetics, molecular diagnostics, Genetic diversity, evolution, next-generation sequencing that provide insights into genomic dynamics and the interactions between pathogens and their host plants.

We invite submissions that explore the genomics of plant pathogens and host-pathogen interactions. We welcome original research articles, innovative methodologies, significant findings on pathogens, insightful reviews, and mini-reviews. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Identification and Mechanisms of Crop Resistance Genes: Explore the roles of resistance genes in enhancing crop defense against pathogens.

• Genetic and Epigenetic Dynamics in Plant-Pathogen Interactions: Investigate how genetic and epigenetic changes impact plant defense and pathogen adaptation.

• Pathogen Strategies to Suppress or Evade Plant Defenses: Study how pathogens bypass plant defenses to develop effective control strategies.

• Molecular Communication Between Plants and Microorganisms: Examine interactions with fungi, viruses, and bacteria to improve disease management.

• High-Quality Draft Genomes of Pathogens: Conduct detailed genomic analyses to enhance understanding of pathogen biology.

• Use of Genomics for Designing Improved Diagnostic Tools: Develop genomic-based diagnostics for the early detection of plant pathogens.

• Technological Approaches for Pathogen Control and Crop Productivity: Explore innovative methods for controlling pathogens and increasing crop yield.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Genomics, Plant Pathogens, Virulence Factors, Resistance

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.