Aria Dolatabadian

University of Western Australia | UWA · School of Biological Sciences

Dear Colleagues, The role of genetics and genomics in plant–microbe interaction studies is increasingly being recognized as important, which is why we have decided to organize the second edition of the Special Issue “Plant–Microbe Interaction”, entitled “Recent Advances in Molecular Genetics of Plant–Microbe Interactions”. In recent years, research on the interactions between plants and microbes has attracted considerable interest. Modern genomics approaches such as DNA- and RNA-based studies, next-generation sequencing technologies, transcriptomics, metagenomics, metabolomics, and proteomics approaches have enabled a thorough examination of plant and microbial genes implicated in phytopathogenic and beneficial interactions. Same as the first edition, this second release aims to provide an international platform for a broad audience of academics, researchers, policymakers, and industries and intends to provide a snapshot of the current status of the advantages of genetics and genomics approaches in plant–microbe interaction. The Special issue focuses on recent advances in the genetic and molecular basis of beneficial and detrimental plant and microorganism interactions, plant defense mechanisms, and plant immune system evolution and function, obtained from applying physiological principles, genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics approaches. In this Special Issue, contributors are encouraged to address the biological and genetic aspects of beneficial and detrimental interactions, focusing on outcomes for the host plant and the microorganism. The host may be any representative of the plant kingdom, and the microorganism may be any microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus. The Special Issue welcomes original research papers as well as reviews and opinion papers and will serve as a beneficial adjunct to the already existing related literature on this premise. Dr. Aria Dolatabadian Dr. Mohammad Sayari Guest Editors

With growing concern about world-wide food shortages and climate change, protecting food crops against pathogens that cause epidemic diseases is more important than ever. Among these pathogens, Leptosphaeria maculans, causal agent of blackleg disease, is responsible for major yield losses of canola in Australia. There is potential for a significant expansion of this crop in Australia once germplasm that demonstrates improved disease resistance becomes available. Nonetheless, little is currently known about the extent of CNV in canola. In addition, CNV detection using re-sequencing is a novel approach by which we can investigate the selection of genomic regions that has occurred through breeding, and further understand the evolution and selection of important agronomic traits. In addition, resolving agronomic limitations through improved germplasm would assist in the stable production of this crop and overcome the current boom bust cycles of canola production associated with disease prevalence and climatic variation.