Bacterial-Fungal Interactions and Their Applications in Agricultural Environments

Bacteria and fungi are fundamental constituents of environmental microbiomes, playing essential roles in nutrient cycling, plant health, and ecological balance. The interactions between these two groups, collectively known as bacterial-fungal interactions (BFIs), can range from antagonistic to mutualistic and are often mediated by complex chemical and molecular signaling. In agricultural environments, BFIs significantly impact soil health, crop productivity, and disease dynamics. Despite their importance, many aspects of these interactions remain poorly understood, particularly the mechanisms of communication and interference at the molecular level. A deeper understanding of BFIs is critical for developing sustainable agricultural practices and improving ecosystem resilience.

This Research Topic aims to advance the current understanding of bacterial-fungal interactions within agricultural ecosystems. We welcome original research and review articles that explore the ecological roles, molecular mechanisms, and practical applications of BFIs. The objective is to uncover how these interactions influence microbial community structure, plant health, and environmental sustainability. By integrating multidisciplinary approaches, from microbiology and molecular biology to ecology and biotechnology, we seek to provide a platform for novel insights into BFI mechanisms. Ultimately, this Research Topic aspires to support the development of innovative bio-based strategies for pest and pathogen control, soil improvement, and crop yield enhancement. Contributions that propose new models, tools, or synthetic microbial communities designed for agricultural use are particularly encouraged.

This Research Topic invites submissions that cover a wide range of topics related to bacterial-fungal interactions in agricultural environments, including but not limited to:
- Mechanisms of BFIs at the molecular, genetic, and metabolic levels.
- Ecological impacts of BFIs on soil and plant health.
- Omics-based and imaging approaches to study BFIs.
- Application of BFI knowledge in biocontrol and sustainable agriculture.
- Synthetic microbiome design and microbial community engineering.

Authors should ensure that their manuscripts are well-structured and follow the journal’s formatting and reference guidelines (including proper capitalization, Latin usage, and inclusion of DOI numbers). All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review. For detailed submission instructions, please refer to the journal's author guidelines.

Article types and fees

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

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... 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:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Bacterial-fungal interactions, microbial symbioses, soil microbiome, plant health, biocontrol, sustainable agriculture

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.