It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, June 07, 2023
Leading plant science journal publishes a special issue on key discoveries in plant pathology
IMAGE: JOURNAL COVER OF THE KEY DISCOVERIES ISSUE OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, FEATURING HAIRY ROOT FORMATION FROM WOUND SITES ON THE STEM OF A KALANCHOE DAIGREMONTIANA PLANT AFTER INFECTION BY AGROBACTERIUM RHIZOGENES STRAIN LBA9402 (HOOYKAAS). PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL AND MARJOLEIN HOOYKAASview more
CREDIT: THE AMERICAN PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY; PAUL AND MARJOLEIN HOOYKAAS
In just 7 years, the Irish Potato Famine caused approximately one million people to starve to death and forced another estimated million to flee Ireland as refugees. A mold called Phytophthora infestans infected Ireland’s potato crop, a staple food, and spread rapidly throughout the island. The seemingly tiny fungus destroyed roughly 75% of potato crops over the duration of the great hunger. This catastrophic famine, along with several others in various parts of the world throughout history, highlighted the critical need for the study of plant diseases.
Decades of groundbreaking discoveries about plant diseases ensued in the following century. Building from these discoveries, plant pathology continues to play a vital role in safeguarding plant health, food security, and food safety worldwide. The flagship journal of the American Phytopathological Society, Phytopathology, recently published a special issue—the first of a new series—examining how several key discoveries in plant pathology during the past 50 years have impacted the life sciences and plant disease management. This issue contains articles by top experts in various scientific fields, who review the discovery process, recent progress, and impact of these discoveries, while pointing out future directions for new discoveries in fundamental and applied plant pathology.
The key discoveries discussed in the first installment of this journal series include the Agrobacterium Ti plasmid and its mechanism in T-DNA transfer; bacterial ice nucleation; cloning of resistance genes; discovery of viroids; effectors and their mechanisms; pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity; RNA interference and gene silencing; structure and function of R genes; transcription activator-like effectors; type-III secretion system and hrp/hrc; the deployment and management of host resistance genes; the application of disease models and forecasting systems; the introduction of modern systemic fungicides and host resistance inducers, along with a better understanding of fungicide resistance mechanisms and management; and the utilization of biological controls and suppressive soils, including the implementation of methyl-bromide alternatives.
These articles, both retrospective and forward-thinking, can significantly benefit researchers and students in plant pathology (plus related fields) and applied plant disease managers. Additionally, the Key Discoveries in Plant Pathology series will continue to benefit these individuals as new issues addressing other topics are published. Phytopathology Editor-in-Chief Nian Wang and past Editor-in-Chief Harald Scherm remark, “The special issue includes many key discoveries in plant pathology with tremendous importance. To allow coverage of important discoveries that were not reviewed due to space and time limitations in the present issue, the Key Discoveries series will continue as special issues or as individual articles. Colleagues are encouraged to submit review articles on key discoveries in plant pathology in the past 50 years.” In addition, the journal series will feature articles on the impact of advances in fields such as climate science, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, imaging technology, and synthetic biology on the discipline of plant pathology.
The aim of this issue and further issues is to explore how plant pathology has helped, and continues to help, protect plant and environmental health in the face of population growth and climate change.
Reflecting the crucial role for open access in making relevant research available to readers outside of academia, Technology and Sustainable Development focuses on many of the practical challenges facing our governments and societies today.
The potential of technology to both solve and exacerbate pressing global issues, including gender inequality, the climate crisis, mistreatment of minorities, and the unequal distribution of power, is addressed by a range of experts in the book edited by Henrik Skaug Sætra.
The book explores the implications of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, social media and big data, as well as considering the need for greater social and political control of such developments.
James Watson, Open Access Books Lead at Taylor & Francis, said: “Our 1,500th OA book, which has human-centered science at its heart, demonstrates why open access publishing is so important. At a time of unprecedented technological change, Technology and Sustainable Development is a vital resource not just for researchers with access to university libraries but also for policymakers, politicians and all those tackling the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by our societies”.
Taylor & Francis marks 10 years of open access book publishing in 2023. With over 1,500 fully OA titles in its portfolio, combined with thousands of individual open chapters, Taylor & Francis is one of the leading open access book publishers. Its OA books program enables authors and their funders to publish open access single- or co-authored books, edited collections and individual chapters. Upon publication, OA content is made available in digital format to read and download freely under a Creative Commons license.
IMAGE: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH: FOOD SYSTEMS LOGOview more
CREDIT: IOP PUBLISHING
IOP Publishing (IOPP) is expanding its open access (OA) Environmental Research portfolio to address the urgent need for sustainable food solutions globally. Environmental Research: Food Systems, which supports the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), is an interdisciplinary forum for researchers working to achieve sustainable global food security.
Scientific innovations are key to transforming the global food system. Efficient and effective food supply enables the world to achieve progress on all 17 of the SDGs, from eliminating poverty and hunger through to lowering emissions of climate-warming gases. According to recent stats from market insights provider, The Lens, research outputs related to food systems have increased by more than 200% and citations have more than doubled in the last 10 years.
Nathan Mueller, newly appointed Editor in Chief of Environmental Research: Food Systems and Assistant Professor at Colorado State University, says: “The health and well-being of people and the planet requires environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable food systems. As the world faces a changing climate, a growing population, and widespread food insecurity, the need for innovative transdisciplinary food systems research is greater than ever. From production to consumption and local to global, Environmental Research: Food Systems is a home for rigorous, open access science that can promote innovation, inform policy and practice, and foster transformative change for a sustainable and secure future.”
Dr Tim Smith, Head of Portfolio Development at IOP Publishing says: “Science plays a crucial role in addressing the cracks in the global food system. Environmental Research: Food Systems has been launched to meet the need for an open access research platform that addresses the future risks, security and adaption of our food systems worldwide at a time when the need for sustainable food solutions has never been more pressing.”
IOP Publishing will waive all OA article publication charges for articles submitted to the journal before 2025. In the spirit of transparency and reproducibility, authors publishing in the journal are encouraged to share data and code where appropriate for the benefit of the research community. Authors also have the option to submit their papers for double anonymous and transparent peer review.
Environmental Research: Food Systems is the latest addition to IOPP’s expanding Environmental Research Series which is now made up of eight OA journals.
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