Dear Colleagues,

Organic acids (OAs) are key to many of the metabolic activities in plants, with pivotal roles in pathways of primary and specialized metabolism. Their accumulation is also often associated with the value of the plant as a crop; for instance, the palatability and sensory properties of fruits are frequently associated with organic acid composition. Many OAs are fundamental to the major pathways of primary metabolism. They are formed as hexose sugars, are progressively oxidized, and are often the branchpoints for intersecting metabolic outcomes. Other OAs have critical roles in plant responses to stresses—ascorbic acid is one example, while the physiological role of others such as tartaric acid remains to be determined.

This Special Issue on ‘Developing an Understanding of Organic Acid Metabolism in Plants’ welcomes original research and reviews on any area of plant metabolism in which organic acids may be viewed as performing a fundamental role. We are especially interested in the applications of proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics, and flux modeling, given the often transient nature of the occurrence of these compounds within the plant cell. Additionally, as our understanding of the structure–function relationship grows, we are keen to publish work that provides insights into the often exquisite specificity and selectivity of the enzymes associated with OA metabolism across all organelles of the plant.

Dr. Christopher Ford
Dr. Crystal Sweetman
Guest Editors

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• organic acids
• primary metabolism
• specialized (secondary) metabolism
• redox signaling
• fruit composition
• photosynthesis and photorespiration
• respiration
• carbohydrate metabolism