Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI), the leading journal for research on plant-pathogen interactions, is pleased to announce the publication of its latest focus issue, "Fine Grain: Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Details of Cereal Crop Diseases." This special collection of articles addresses the pressing challenges posed by fungal, bacterial, oomycete, viral, and nematode diseases that threaten global food security.
Despite rapid advancements in molecular tools and genome sequencing, cereal crop diseases continue to cause significant yield losses worldwide. Changing climate, global trade, and pathogen evolution are compounding these threats, underscoring the urgent need for innovative research. This focus issue brings together 19 original research and reviews that examine both host and pathogen biology at the molecular, cellular, and genomic levels. Topics include effector function and evolution, plant receptor mechanisms, pathogen physiology, and signal transduction pathways—offering new insights into disease resistance and management strategies.
In this focus issue, Barbara Valent, Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, presents an insightful H. H. Flor Distinguished Review , showcasing key research from her own lab as well as contributions from others studying rice blast disease and the newly identified blast diseases affecting wheat and Lolium ryegrass, all caused by Pyricularia oryzae. Valent's groundbreaking work on these pathosystems has significantly advanced the field, making this review an essential read for any student of plant pathology.
"This issue highlights significant breakthroughs in cereal crop disease research and identifies knowledge gaps that can inform future studies and management practices," said Tim Friesen, Editor-in-Chief of MPMI.
Guest edited by leading experts Lida Derevnina (University of Cambridge), Ksenia Krasileva (University of California, Berkeley), Benjamin Schwessinger (Australian National University), and Richard Wilson (University of Nebraska), "Fine Grain: Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Details of Cereal Crop Diseases" reflects the collective expertise of researchers at the forefront of plant-microbe interactions. Their contributions provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and emerging trends in cereal crop disease research.
"The breadth of the articles featured in this issue underscores the complexity of cereal crop diseases and the multidisciplinary approaches required to tackle them," said Tessa Burch-Smith, Associate Editor-in-Chief of MPMI. "From molecular interactions to applied solutions, these studies will be invaluable to scientists working toward sustainable disease management."
