Horticulturae

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Bruno Tomio Goto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Laboratório de Biologia de Micorrizas, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Natal 59072-970, RN, Brazil
Interests: fungi taxonomy; efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis; glomeromycota ; zygomycota (endogonals)

Prof. Dr. Fábio Sérgio Barbosa Da Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Laboratório de Análises, Pesquisas e Estudos em Micorrizas (LAPEM/UPE)-Centro de Pesquisas do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Pernambuco, Rua Arnóbio Marquês, 310, Santo Amaro, Recife 50100-130, PE, Brazil
Interests: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; mycorrhizal efficiency; phytochemistry of mycorrhizal plants; soil globulin associated proteins (PSRG); biochemical and microbial indicators of soil quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue entitled Phytobeneficial Microbials and Applications in Sustainable Horticulture aims to promote works that report the application, use and effects of microorganisms in diverse agricultural ecosystems. Microorganisms are key entities in ecosystem functions because they act in a diverse and dynamic way in diversified processes in wide ecosystems, promoting plant growth, reducing the impact of pathogens and herbivory and recycling compounds in different biogeochemical cycles, all actions that impact both natural and agricultural systems in terrestrial or aquatic production systems.

In this Special Issue, we would like to go beyond the benefits that microorganisms bring to agricultural systems, but also to promote and encourage the submission of negative tests and experiments that show the antagonistic effects between microorganisms and plants or even between microorganisms, plants and soil. Works that show the effect of microorganisms on improving soil quality (sediment in aquatic systems) essential for sustainable agriculture will also be welcomed. Studies on the potential of microbial agrobiotechnologies in the production of plant bioactives and associated antioxidant activity are also expected, especially those that elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Prof. Dr. Bruno Tomio Goto
Prof. Dr. Fábio Sérgio Barbosa Da Silva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

glomeromycota
mycorrhiza
microbial agrobiotechnologies
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
endophytic microorganisms
microbiological quality of cultivated soils

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 3685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi versus Endophytic Fungi in Tangor Citrus: Photosynthetic Efficiency and P-Acquisition Traits

by Yang Lü, Wei-Jia Wu, Ming-Yu Zhu, Zi-Yi Rong, Tian-Zhi Zhang, Xin-Ping Tan, Ying He, Mashael Daghash Alqahtani, Suresh Kumar Malhotra, Anoop Kumar Srivastava and Qiang-Sheng Wu

Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020145 - 1 Feb 2024

Viewed by 958

Abstract

Citrus plants are prone to phosphorus (P) deficiency, especially in acidic soil, making them more dependent on root-associated endophytic fungi for growth and development. Beni-Madonna, a hybrid of Citrus nanko × C. amakusa, is a citrus known as “tangor” that is highly popular in China and other parts of the world due to its deep red color and jelly-like flesh. In this study, the inoculation response to two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Diversispora versiformis, Dv; Funneliformis mosseae, Fm) and an endophytic fungus (Serendipita indica, Si) with regard to the growth, leaf gas exchange, light energy efficiency, P levels, acid phosphatase activity, and expression of the purple acid phosphatase (PAP) and phosphate transporter (PT) genes through a potted experiment using Beni-Madonna (tangor) citrus plants grafted on trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) was studied. Two years following inoculation, the root fungal colonization rates of inoculated plants were significantly increased, accompanied by an increase in plant height and stem diameter, with Si presenting the best effect. Fungal inoculations also significantly increased the leaf chlorophyll index, nitrogen-balance index, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic efficiency, and quantum yield of PSII, while it reduced photoinhibition and heat dissipation, with Si having the best effect on light energy efficiency. Si significantly increased leaf and root P levels, as well as root CsPAP1‒3, CsPT2, CsPT3, and CsPT7 expression and soil acid phosphatase activity; Fm in mycorrhizal fungi significantly increased leaf and root P levels, as well as root CsPT1 and CsPT7 expression and root/soil acid phosphatase activity. These observations suggested an advantage of Si over the other two AMF in terms of improved plant growth and P acquisition, while Fm displayed prominent effects on increased photosynthetic efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytobeneficial Microbials and Applications in Sustainable Horticulture)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 755 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bioresources in Organic Farming: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Systems

by Akinlolu Olalekan Akanmu, Olumayowa Mary Olowe, Austin Tenthani Phiri, Drocelle Nirere, Adeyinka John Odebode, Noëlla Josiane Karemera Umuhoza, Michael Dare Asemoloye and Olubukola Oluranti Babalola

Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060659 - 2 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4106

Abstract

Over the years, the practice of agriculture has transformed from the era of traditional to that of intensive agriculture in the bid to boost the production index that will satisfy the food needs of the globally growing population. However, the continuous and exaggerated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in major adverse impacts on food and environmental safety, whereas most traditional techniques for reclamation of natural soil nutrients, including shifting cultivation and polyculture, are no longer attractive measures of land rejuvenation. There is, therefore, the need for urgent evaluation and adoption of innovative methods of replenishing the agricultural soils that conform to the current agricultural systems without exerting undesirable effects on the ecosystem. In this review, we elucidated the use of key bioresources, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and biopesticides, as alternatives to chemical-based products in attaining a safe and sustainable agricultural system. Bioresources are naturally available, safe, and easily accessible products. The potential of these biological products in fostering soil microbial growth, plants’ productivity, and induced host immunity to diseases, alongside the promotion of healthy soil–microbe–plant relationships and preservation of the ecosystem processes without disruption, are aspects that were also explored. Therefore, the productive use of bioresources is considered strategic as it pertains to attaining safe and sustainable food production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytobeneficial Microbials and Applications in Sustainable Horticulture)

► Show Figures