Stress Biology - Call for Papers --- Special Issue "Biostimulants for enhancing plant resistance or tolerance to stress"

Plant biostimulants encompass a diverse array of substances and microorganisms, such as chitosan, protein hydrolysates, humic acids, phytophormones, seaweed extracts, and beneficial bacteria and fungi. In addition to their significant positive effects on plants' physiological functions, nutrient absorption, growth and development, exogenous applications of biostimulants have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in enhancing the plant's ability to withstand abiotic stresses like drought, extreme temperatures, salinity, and heavy metals, and biotic stresses such as diseases and pests. Biostimulants trigger defense/tolerance signals that are essential for the plant's resilience against both biotic and abiotic stresses. Hence, one of the key advantages of utilizing biostimulants is their potential to decrease the need for excessive fertilizer and toxic chemical applications, thus improving environmental safety in agricultural production.

The investigation into the effect of biostimulants on enhancing plant resistance and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses has garnered significant attention, leading to remarkable advancements in recent decades. Despite this progress, there is still considerable ambiguity surrounding the precise mechanisms through which biostimulants operate to improve plant resilience against these stresses. To gain a comprehensive understanding, further evidence is needed to fully elucidate the intricacies of biostimulant action in bolstering plant resistance/tolerance to both abiotic and biotic stresses.

This special issue focuses on studies that investigate how biostimulants affect plant resistance/tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Researches on the new formulation, preparation, nano-functionalization, and application of biostimulants to improve plant resistance/tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses are also welcome. Original research papers, reviews, and short communications can be submitted to the special issue. Publication fee will be waived for all accepted articles. The journal follows the peer review policy (this opens in a new tab) of Stress Biology for all the special issue submissions.

Guest editor: Dr. Zhenggao Xiao, Jiangnan University, China (E-mail: zhenggao.xiao@jiangnan.edu.cn (this opens in a new tab))

Co-guest editor: Prof. Dr. Sergio Rasmann, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland (E-mail: sergio.rasmann@unine.ch (this opens in a new tab))

Submission deadline: 31 August 2024