Call for papers - Plant communication

Guest Editors

Jieyin Chen, PhD, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China
Minoru Ueda, PhD, Tohoku University, Japan

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 28 December 2025

BMC Biology is calling for submissions to our Collection on Plant communication. This Collection invites contributions on the multifaceted aspects of plant communication, exploring signaling mechanisms and interactions within and between plant species. We welcome research that investigates the role of root-microbe interactions, volatile organic compounds, and mycorrhizal networks in plant signaling. By advancing our understanding of these complex communication pathways, we aim to promote the health of terrestrial ecosystems, foster sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Jieyin Chen, PhD, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Dr Jieyin Chen is a principal researcher and doctoral advisor at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, leading the Innovation Team for Monitoring and Control of Fungal Diseases in Economic Crops. As a nationally recognized expert in plant pathology, his work focuses on cotton disease mechanisms, genetic resistance, and eco-friendly control technologies. He has directed over 30 research projects and published 100+ papers in top journals, including Annual Review of Phytopathology, New Phytologist and Plant Physiology. As a Guest Editor for BMC Biology, he aims to curate high-impact research that advances our understanding of plant immunity and sustainable disease.

Minoru Ueda, PhD, Tohoku University, Japan

Dr Minoru Ueda is a professor at Tohoku University, Japan. He earned his PhD in 1994 at Nagoya University, Japan, studying the molecular mechanism for the blue color development of flower pigment. Then, he worked at Keio University, first as Research Assistant, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor. And in 2004, he was promoted to a full professor of Tohoku University. His research interests are mainly in chemical biology of plant hormones. He has been involved in research projects on the development of synthetic agonist of jasmonate plant hormone receptor, bioorganic studies on the evolutional aspect of plant hormone, jasmonate biosynthesis and catabolism, and plant leaf movement in legumes.

About the Collection

BMC Biology is calling for submissions to our Collection on Plant communication. The phenomenon of plant communication has gained significant attention in recent years, revealing the sophisticated ways in which plants interact with their environment and each other. Research has shown that plants can communicate through various means, including chemical signals, electrical impulses, and root interactions. These mechanisms enable plants to share information about environmental stressors, pest attacks, and resource availability, thereby influencing their growth and survival strategies. Understanding the intricacies of plant communication is crucial for unraveling the complexities of plant behavior and ecology.

The study of plant communication is vital for advancing agricultural and forestry practices, improving ecosystem management, and enhancing biodiversity conservation. Recent advances in technology, such as genomics and metabolomics, have facilitated deeper insights into the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in plant communication. Additionally, research on mycorrhizal networks and volatile organic compounds has opened new avenues for understanding how plants collaborate and compete within their ecosystems. By elucidating these interactions, we can promote healthier ecosystems as well as develop more sustainable agricultural and forestry practices.

As research in plant communication continues to evolve, we can anticipate groundbreaking discoveries that may reshape our understanding of plant behavior and ecology. Future studies could reveal new dimensions of plant signaling, such as the role of epigenetic factors in communication, the influence of microbiomes on plant interactions, and the potential applications of plant communication knowledge in biotechnology. Such advances may lead to innovative strategies for enhancing plant resilience to climate change.

Potential topics for submission include, but are not limited to:

Signaling pathways in plant communication
Immunity response in plant and pathogen interaction
Role of mycorrhizal networks in plant interactions
Phloem signaling and its ecological implications
Biogenic volatile organic compounds in plant signaling
Allelopathy and plant communication

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 15: Life on Land.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research and Methodology Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Plant communication" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.