Interactions between plants and microbes are shaped by the physical world that surrounds them. In nature, the abiotic environment is complex, and factors such as nutrient and water availability, humidity, wind, carbon dioxide levels, salt, pollutants, and temperature all affect the growth and physiology of plants and microbes, as well as their interactions.

Much of our mechanistic understanding of plant–microbe interactions comes from experiments done under carefully controlled conditions. How do aspects of the abiotic environment affect these plant–microbe interactions? Conversely, how do plant–microbe interactions affect host response to abiotic stress?

The importance and immediacy of these questions was reflected in the selection of the interactions between plants, microbes, and environmental conditions as question 2 of the Top 10 Unanswered Questions in MPMI.

Focus Issue Editors Jacquie Bede, Kenichi Tsuda, and Jeanne Harris are inviting research and review articles that explore the complex interactions between plants, microbes, and the abiotic environment. Articles highlighting translational research, as well as fundamental understanding, are welcome. We look forward to assembling an issue that highlights the excellent research in this area!

The submission deadline is July 24, 2021. Learn more about this focus issue.