Plant Pests and Diseases and Biological Control

Submission Deadline: 30 November 2026 View: 32 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Luca Lombardo  

Email: luca.lombardo@crea.gov.it

Affiliation: CREA Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy

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Research Interests: environmental sciences, plant physiology, oliviculture, sustainable farming systems

Dr. Veronica Vizzarri

Email: veronica.vizzarri@crea.gov.it

Affiliation: CREA Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy

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Research Interests: plant pathology, entomology, oliviculture, sustainable farming systems

Ms. Marianna Rizzo

Email: marianna.rizzo@crea.gov.it

Affiliation: CREA Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy

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Research Interests: food safety, plant metabolites, plant physiology

Summary

Introduction and Background
Plant pests and diseases pose a persistent and growing threat to global agriculture, forestry, and natural ecosystems by reducing crop yields, compromising food quality, and causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Conventional pest and disease management has relied heavily on chemical pesticides leading in cases of extensive use to the development of resistance, negative impacts on non-target organisms, environmental contamination, and risks to human health. In response, there is a growing demand for sustainable, ecologically sound alternatives that align with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Advances in ecology, molecular biology, and biotechnology have greatly expanded our understanding of plant–pest–pathogen–natural enemy interactions and have opened new avenues for improving the efficacy and reliability of biological control approaches.

Aim and Scope of the Special Issue
This Special Issue aims to capture recent scientific progress and emerging perspectives on plant pests and diseases and their biological control, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and supporting the transition toward more sustainable plant protection systems. The Special Issue is open to for original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address fundamental and applied aspects of plant pest and disease as well as their management through biological control.

Suggested Themes
Authors are invited to submit manuscripts related to, but not limited to, the following themes:
· Biology, ecology, and evolution of plant pests and pathogens
· Biological control of insect pests, plant pathogens, and invasive species through IPM strategies
· Microbial biocontrol agents, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and endophytes
· Plant–microbe–insect interactions and multitrophic relationships
· Molecular and genomic approaches in biological control research
· Impacts of climate change on plant pests, diseases, and biological control efficacy
· Risk assessment, non-target effects, and regulatory considerations
· Case studies and field evaluations of biological control programs

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