Guest Editors
Assoc. Prof. Tarek Alshaal
Email: alshaal.tarek@agr.unideb.hu
Affiliation: Institute of Applied Plant Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Research Interests: plant–environment interactions and stress physiology, soil and plant health, sustainable agriculture and crop production, bioactive compounds and functional biomass utilization, food quality and biochemical analyses
Assoc. Prof. Nevien Elhawat
Email: elhawat.nevien@agr.unideb.hu
Affiliation: Institute of Applied Plant Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
Homepage:
Research Interests: plant stress physiology and adaptation, sustainable crop production and soil health, nanotechnology and bio-amendments in agriculture, biomass valorization and functional food, agronomic optimization and environmental interactions
Summary
Plant roots are fundamental to plant survival and productivity, serving as the primary interface between plants and their soil environment. Beyond anchorage and water uptake, roots play central roles in nutrient acquisition, signaling, carbon allocation, and interactions with soil microorganisms. Root system architecture and functional plasticity are highly dynamic and strongly influenced by genetic, environmental, and management factors. In the context of climate change, soil degradation, and increasing demand for sustainable crop production, understanding the mechanisms governing root development and function has become critically important for improving plant resilience and resource-use efficiency.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for recent advances in root biology, integrating molecular, physiological, biochemical, and agronomic perspectives. The scope covers fundamental and applied research addressing root growth regulation, functional adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses, and root–soil–microbe interactions. Contributions exploring innovative methodologies, phenotyping approaches, and translational applications for crop improvement are particularly welcome.
Suggested themes include (but are not limited to):
• Genetic and hormonal regulation of root development
• Root system architecture and phenotypic plasticity
• Root responses to abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, nutrient deficiency, metals)
• Root–microbe and root–soil interactions
• Nutrient uptake, transport, and signaling
• Root phenotyping, modeling, and breeding for stress resilience
This Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of root systems as key drivers of sustainable plant performance.
Keywords
plant roots, root system architecture, root plasticity, nutrient acquisition, root–soil interactions, root–microbe interactions, abiotic stress, climate change adaptation, root phenotyping, sustainable crop production
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