Scope

Small molecules, including plant natural metabolites or synthetic chemicals and microbes (fungi or bacteria) applied exogenously through seed treatments, foliar spray, soil drenching may activate plant stress defense mechanisms to improve plant tolerance to environmental stresses. This approach is known as molecular, chemical, or biological priming which has been evolved as an efficient technology to improve biotic stress (disease) and abiotic stress tolerance of plants. With the rapid advancement of molecular and genomic technologies, it is now possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying molecular and microbial priming for enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance.

This special issue will serve as an interdisciplinary platform providing an integrated insights into mechanisms and functionality of molecular and microbial priming-enhanced grass quality, productivity, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The studies on plant priming with small molecules (i.e. amino acids, sugars, organic acids, hormones, synthetic plant growth regulators, or chemical nutrients) and plant-growth promoting microbes (fungi or bacteria) aimed at revealing mechanisms of stress tolerance of grass species used for turfgrass, forage, ornamental landscapes, and biofuels are welcome. We encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, methods, perspectives, and opinions, including but not limited to the following topics:   
•    Physiological and metabolic regulations
•    Molecular mechanisms
•    Genome-wide responses (e.g., omics study)
•    Genetic diversity and natural variation
•    Interaction with cultural or management practices

Guest Editor

Prof. Dr. Yiwei Jiang, Purdue University, USA.

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