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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors
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Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 5141

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberto Berni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Log2Go, Differdange, Luxembourg
Interests: transcriptomics; proteomics; metabolomics; microscopy; plant molecular biology; plant biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gea Guerriero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4940 Hautcharage, Luxembourg
Interests: plant bioprocesses; plant cell wall; transcriptomics; plant secondary metabolites; plant tissue culture; plant molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural crops are essential plants cultivated for a variety of purposes, including ornamental, culinary, and medicinal uses, among others. These plants are continuously exposed to various stressors that can affect crop yield and quality. These stresses, both biotic (e.g., pathogens, pests) and abiotic (e.g., drought, heat, salinity), threaten not only crop cultivation but also food safety. Understanding the mechanisms that govern plant resistance to stressors and finding new sustainable methods and solutions to improve plants’ stress response are crucial to enhancing crop resilience against adverse environmental conditions.

This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted mechanisms by which horticultural plants resist and adapt to various (a)biotic stressors. The goal is to present the latest advancements in understanding how horticultural plants respond to biotic and abiotic challenges, as well as known and new scientific approaches focusing on enhancing resistance and resilience in horticultural crops. We welcome original research papers (both full articles and short communications) studying plant–pathogen interactions, stress-induced signaling pathways, genetic resistance mechanisms, environmental adaptation strategies, molecular studies encompassing different -omic disciplines and the application of modern biotechnological tools in crop improvement, as well as topical reviews synthesizing current knowledge and future perspectives.

Dr. Roberto Berni
Dr. Gea Guerriero
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • horticultural plants
  • (a)biotic stress
  • plant resistance
  • crop improvement
  • molecular biology
  • omics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 633 KB  
Article
Combined Effects of Soil Disinfestants and Foliar Biostimulants on Growth and Quality of Baby Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
by Antonietta Mirabella, Michele Ciriello, Luana Izzo, Carlo Altucci, Marco Facchetti, Youssef Rouphael and Christophe El-Nakhel
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030261 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 533
Abstract
In line with sustainability goals, biological alternatives to chemical fumigants are increasingly in demand to support intensive baby leaf lettuce cultivation systems. This study evaluated the combined effects of soil disinfestation strategies and foliar biostimulants on crop performance and nutritional quality. With the [...] Read more.
In line with sustainability goals, biological alternatives to chemical fumigants are increasingly in demand to support intensive baby leaf lettuce cultivation systems. This study evaluated the combined effects of soil disinfestation strategies and foliar biostimulants on crop performance and nutritional quality. With the aim of evaluating the interactive effects of biofumigation and the application of Trichoderma spp., Ascophyllum nodosum extract, and vegetable protein hydrolysate, an experiment was conducted under controlled growing conditions, integrating microbial and foliar treatments on two lettuce cycles. Soil microbial load, plant biometric traits, ionic profiles, antioxidant activity, and polyphenolic compounds were quantified. Biofumigation induced a marked recovery of bacterial populations, while both soil treatments resulted in sustained fungal suppression and the absence of detectable Fusarium spp. Biofumigation consistently increased fresh and dry biomass, highlighting its dual sanitizing and fertilizing role. Foliar biostimulants, particularly vegetable protein hydrolysate, significantly enhanced dry matter accumulation, reduced nitrate concentration, and improved cation uptake. Antioxidant activity and phenolic metabolism were strongly stimulated by Trichoderma spp. and protein hydrolysate, with significant synergistic effects on key hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids. These findings indicate that integrating biological soil disinfestation with foliar biostimulation improves yield stability and nutritional quality, supporting a sustainable framework for high-value baby leaf lettuce production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors)
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23 pages, 3514 KB  
Article
Interplay of Stress Responses in Pear Tree Revealed by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Under Combined Erwinia amylovora Infection and Temperature Stress
by Ye Bin Hwang, Kyung Seok Park, Sung Yung Yoo and Tae Wan Kim
Horticulturae 2025, 11(11), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111358 - 12 Nov 2025
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Plants exposed to combined abiotic and biotic stresses often exhibit complex physiological responses that cannot be predicted from single stress factors. In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of temperature stress and Erwinia amylovora infection on pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) leaves [...] Read more.
Plants exposed to combined abiotic and biotic stresses often exhibit complex physiological responses that cannot be predicted from single stress factors. In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of temperature stress and Erwinia amylovora infection on pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) leaves under five temperature conditions (10, 15, 25, 30, and 35 °C) with or without pathogen inoculation, using chlorophyll fluorescence analysis and RGB imaging over a 7-day period. Photosynthetic performance remained optimal at 25 °C under single temperature conditions, whereas pathogen inoculation alone caused PSII damage and reduced energy dissipation. Under combined stress, PSII responses exhibited temperature-dependent patterns: at 10, 15 °C, photoprotective mechanisms were partially maintained; at 25, 30 °C, severe structural and functional damage occurred; and at 35 °C, pathogen activity was suppressed while partial recovery of PSII was observed. By integrating chlorophyll fluorescence analysis with a linear mixed-effect model (LMM), distinct patterns of sensitivity were identified among fluorescence parameters, with ΦNO responding to single stress factors, and Fm, Fv, Fp, Fv/Fo, and qL showing significant three-way interactions. These findings highlight temperature-dependent strategies of pear leaves to cope with fire blight and emphasize the utility of chlorophyll fluorescence analysis for evaluating photosynthetic resilience. From an applied perspective, chlorophyll fluorescence could serve as a rapid, non-destructive tool for screening pear cultivars with enhanced tolerance to bacterial fire blight, contributing to more efficient orchard management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors)
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15 pages, 699 KB  
Article
Perfluoroalkyl Substances Accumulation in Lettuce: Effects of Cultivar, Growth Stage, and Cultivation Conditions on Food Safety
by Andrea Sabia, Ilaria Battisti, Anna Rita Trentin, Xudong Wei, Carlo Nicoletto, Giancarlo Renella and Antonio Masi
Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070775 - 2 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2319
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent contaminants that pose growing food safety concerns due to their potential for accumulation in edible crops. This study investigated the uptake, translocation, and tissue distribution of 11 PFAS compounds in two hydroponically grown lettuce ( [...] Read more.
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent contaminants that pose growing food safety concerns due to their potential for accumulation in edible crops. This study investigated the uptake, translocation, and tissue distribution of 11 PFAS compounds in two hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars, Agila and Bonaly. Additionally, PFAS accumulation in Agila was assessed under field conditions in a PFAS-contaminated area. Under hydroponic conditions, lettuce plants at two developmental stages (28 and 56 days after sowing) were exposed to a mixture of PFAS at concentrations of 10 and 20 µg L−1 each. Under such conditions, Agila cultivar accumulated considerably higher levels of long-chain PFAS in both root and leaf tissues over time, whereas Bonaly cultivar demonstrated a more pronounced initial uptake and translocation of short-chain PFAS to leaves. Differently, Agila variety cultivated in a PFAS-polluted environment accumulated low concentrations of PFAS in leaf tissues, with only PFBA detected at minimal levels. The results emphasize the combined influence of plant variety, developmental stage, and cultivation methods on PFAS bioaccumulation, offering valuable guidance for food safety risk assessment and for developing targeted agricultural strategies in PFAS-contaminated areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors)
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Review

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32 pages, 2093 KB  
Review
Progress in Understanding WRKY Transcription Factor-Mediated Stress Responses in Strawberries
by Lixuan Lin, Fei Wang, Duoyan Rong, Deshu Lin and Chizuko Yamamuro
Horticulturae 2026, 12(4), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040419 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Strawberry is an economically important horticultural crop cultivated worldwide. However, its growth, yield, and fruit quality are severely constrained by abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and low temperature, as well as biotic stresses including pathogen attack and pest infestation. WRKY transcription factors [...] Read more.
Strawberry is an economically important horticultural crop cultivated worldwide. However, its growth, yield, and fruit quality are severely constrained by abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and low temperature, as well as biotic stresses including pathogen attack and pest infestation. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, and increasing evidence highlights their functional diversification and regulatory importance in horticultural crops, including tomato and grapevine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the roles of WRKY TFs in strawberry responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, based on studies in both the diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) and the octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne). We discuss their involvement in hormone crosstalk, redox regulation, and transcriptional control within complex stress-response networks, while distinguishing expression-based associations from experimentally validated regulatory functions. To provide a clear framework for evaluating the current evidence, we categorize the findings according to a hierarchy of experimental validation, ranging from direct functional characterization in strawberry, to transient assays, heterologous systems (e.g., Arabidopsis or tobacco), transcriptomic inferences, and predictions based on sequence homology. Finally, we outline potential future directions for exploiting strawberry WRKY TFs as candidate regulators in molecular breeding, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future functional studies and breeding applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Resistance Against Biotic and Abiotic Stressors)
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