Identification and Characterization of Plant Pathogens

Dear Colleagues,

Plant pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses infect agricultural crops worldwide and pose a continuous threat to food security and agriculture. Plant pathogens cause yield losses of more than USD 220 billion. Therefore, timely identification and diagnosis are key for the effective management of plant pathogens in order to minimize their effects on crop productions and ultimately the quality and quantity of crop yields. The accurate identification of pathogens is based on the development of rapid, efficient and reliable diagnostic techniques for specific plant pathogens. Therefore, the need arises to focus on the range of currently available techniques that are used worldwide for the detection of plant pathogens. 

In this Special Issue of Pathogens, authors are welcome to submit papers on the traditional and advanced identification techniques specific to bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses. It is our intention that this Issue focus on biological characterization (host range, symptomatology, transmission), serological techniques and molecular or nucleic acid-based characterization (RT-PCR, genome characterization, cloning, Sanger sequencing, high-throughput sequencing, and nanopore sequencing), which are helpful in the development long-term integrated management strategies.

Prof. Dr. Akhtar Ali
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• plant pathogens
• traditional techniques
• serological techniques
• nucleic acid based-technique
• sequencings