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Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability
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Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 9905

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Weijie Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Zhongguancun South Street 12, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, China
Interests: greenhouse cultivation; sludge composting; compost quality; vegetable
Dr. Wenna Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, China Agriculture University, Qinghuadonglu 17, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: greenhouse cultivation; protected sultivation; vegetables

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protected cultivation, also known as controlled environment agriculture or greenhouse cultivation, is a modern agricultural practice used to grow horticultural crops under controlled environmental conditions. This method provides several advantages, including protection from adverse weather, pests, and diseases, as well as the ability to optimize growing conditions for maximum crop yield and quality. It typically utilizes greenhouse structures that allow growers to control various environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, and CO2 levels, maintaining ideal conditions for plant growth. This cultivation method is suitable for various horticultural crops, including vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants, enabling year-round production, disease and pest management, extended growing seasons, improved crop quality, and prolonged post-harvest freshness.

At present, protected cultivation of horticultural crops has evolved significantly with a strong emphasis on sustainability. This Special Issue will welcome all research related to protective cultivation, including but not limited to the following research:

  • Greenhouse Technology;
  • Hydroponics and Soilless Cultivation;
  • Fertigation;
  • Integrated Pest Management;
  • Vertical Farming;
  • Sustainable Substrates;
  • Organic and Sustainable Practices.

Prof. Dr. Weijie Jiang
Dr. Wenna Zhang
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
  • protected cultivation
  • greenhouse
  • tunnel
  • hydroponics
  • soilless cultivation
  • vertical farming

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2678 KiB  
Communication
Optimal Planting Time for Summer Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Cropping in Korea: Growth, Yield, and Photosynthetic Efficiency in a Semi-Closed Greenhouse
by Hyo Jun Bae, Seong-Hoon Kim, Yuseok Jeong, Sungjin Park, Kingsley Ochar, Youngsin Hong, Yun Am Seo, Baul Ko, Jeong Hyang Bae, Dong Soo Lee and Inchan Choi
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2116; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152116 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 887
Abstract
In Korea, greenhouses are traditionally used for crop cultivation in the winter. However, due to diverse consumer demands, climate change, and advancements in agricultural technology, more farms are aiming for year-round production. Nonetheless, summer cropping poses challenges such as high temperatures, humidity from [...] Read more.
In Korea, greenhouses are traditionally used for crop cultivation in the winter. However, due to diverse consumer demands, climate change, and advancements in agricultural technology, more farms are aiming for year-round production. Nonetheless, summer cropping poses challenges such as high temperatures, humidity from the monsoon season, and low light conditions, which make it difficult to grow crops. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the best planting time for summer tomato cultivation in a Korean semi-closed greenhouse that can be both air-conditioned and heated. The experiment was conducted in the Advanced Digital Greenhouse, built by the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The tomato seedlings were planted in April, May, and June 2022. Growth parameters such as stem diameter, flowering position, stem growth rate, and leaf shape index were measured, and harvesting was carried out once or twice weekly per treatment from 65 days to 265 days after planting. The light use efficiency and yield per unit area at each planting time was measured. Tomatoes planted in April showed a maximum of 42.9% higher light use efficiency for fruit production and a maximum of 33.3% higher yield. Furthermore, the growth form of the crops was closest to the reproductive growth type. Therefore, among April, May, and June, April is considered the most suitable planting time for summer cultivation, which is expected to contribute to reducing labor costs due to decreased workload and increasing farm income through increased yields. Future research should explore optimizing greenhouse microclimates and developing crop varieties tailored for summer cultivation to further enhance productivity and sustainability in year-round agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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18 pages, 4334 KiB  
Article
Ascorbic Acid Improves Tomato Salt Tolerance by Regulating Ion Homeostasis and Proline Synthesis
by Xianjun Chen, Hongwei Han, Yundan Cong, Xuezhen Li, Wenbo Zhang, Jinxia Cui, Wei Xu, Shengqun Pang and Huiying Liu
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1672; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121672 - 17 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 929
Abstract
In this study, processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ‘Ligeer 87-5’ was hydroponically cultivated under 100 mM NaCl to simulate salt stress. To investigate the impacts on ion homeostasis, osmotic regulation, and redox status in tomato seedlings, different endogenous levels of ascorbic acid [...] Read more.
In this study, processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ‘Ligeer 87-5’ was hydroponically cultivated under 100 mM NaCl to simulate salt stress. To investigate the impacts on ion homeostasis, osmotic regulation, and redox status in tomato seedlings, different endogenous levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) were established through the foliar application of 0.5 mM AsA (NA treatment), 0.25 mM lycorine (LYC, an inhibitor of AsA synthesis; NL treatment), and a combination of LYC and AsA (NLA treatment). The results demonstrated that exogenous AsA significantly increased the activities and gene expressions of key enzymes (L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and L-galactose dehydrogenase (GalDH)) involved in AsA synthesis in tomato seedling leaves under NaCl stress and NL treatment, thereby increasing cellular AsA content to maintain its redox status in a reduced state. Additionally, exogenous AsA regulated multiple ion transporters via the SOS pathway and increased the selective absorption of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the aerial parts, reconstructing ion homeostasis in cells, thereby alleviating ion imbalance caused by salt stress. Exogenous AsA also increased proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity and gene expression, while inhibiting the activity and transcription levels of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT), thereby reducing excessive proline content in the leaves and alleviating osmotic stress. LYC exacerbated ion imbalance and osmotic stress caused by salt stress, which could be significantly reversed by AsA application. Therefore, exogenous AsA application increased endogenous AsA levels, reestablished ion homeostasis, maintained osmotic balance, effectively alleviated the inhibitory effect of salt stress on tomato seedling growth, and enhanced their salt tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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18 pages, 2416 KiB  
Article
Testing a Simulation Model for the Response of Tomato Fruit Quality Formation to Temperature and Light in Solar Greenhouses
by Yongdong Qin, Ao Gong, Xigang Liu, Nan Li, Tuo Ji, Jing Li and Fengjuan Yang
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1662; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121662 - 15 Jun 2024
Viewed by 593
Abstract
Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the formation of tomato fruit quality in greenhouse cultivation. However, there are few simulation models that examine the relationship between tomato fruit quality formation and temperature and light. In this study, a model was established [...] Read more.
Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the formation of tomato fruit quality in greenhouse cultivation. However, there are few simulation models that examine the relationship between tomato fruit quality formation and temperature and light. In this study, a model was established that investigated the relationships between soluble sugar (SSC), organic acid content (OAC), and SSC/OAC and the cumulative product of thermal effectiveness and photosynthetically active radiation (TEP) during the fruit-ripening period in a solar greenhouse. The root mean square error (RMSE) values were calculated to compare the consistency between the simulated and measured values, and the RMSE values for SSC, OAC, and SSC/OAC were 0.09%, 0.14%, and 0.358, respectively. The combined weights of quality indicators were obtained using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weighting method, ranking as SSC > OAC > SSC/OAC > CI > lycopene > Vc > fruit firmness. The comprehensive fruit quality evaluation value was obtained using the TOPSIS method (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) and a simulation model between comprehensive tomato fruit quality and TEP was explored. This study could accurately simulate and quantify the accumulation of tomato fruit quality during fruit ripening in response to environmental conditions in a solar greenhouse. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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14 pages, 1539 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Different Durations of Night-Time Supplementary Lighting on the Growth, Yield, Quality and Economic Returns of Tomato
by Hongjun Yu, Peng Liu, Jingcheng Xu, Tanyu Wang, Tao Lu, Jie Gao, Qiang Li and Weijie Jiang
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111516 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 728
Abstract
To achieve higher economic returns, we employ inexpensive valley electricity for night-time supplementary lighting (NSL) of tomato plants, investigating the effects of various durations of NSL on the growth, yield, and quality of tomato. Tomato plants were treated with supplementary light for a [...] Read more.
To achieve higher economic returns, we employ inexpensive valley electricity for night-time supplementary lighting (NSL) of tomato plants, investigating the effects of various durations of NSL on the growth, yield, and quality of tomato. Tomato plants were treated with supplementary light for a period of 0 h, 3 h, 4 h, and 5 h during the autumn–winter season. The findings revealed superior growth and yield of tomato plants exposed to 3 h, 4 h, and 5 h of NSL compared to their untreated counterparts. Notably, providing lighting for 3 h demonstrated greater yields per plant and per trough than 5 h exposure. To investigate if a reduced duration of NSL would display similar effects on the growth and yield of tomato plants, tomato plants received supplementary light for 0 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h at night during the early spring season. Compared to the control group, the stem diameter, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, and yield of tomatoes significantly increased upon supplementation with lighting. Furthermore, the input–output ratios of 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h NSL were calculated as 1:10.11, 1:4.38, and 1:3.92, respectively. Nonetheless, there was no detectable difference in yield between the 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h NSL groups. These findings imply that supplemental LED lighting at night affects tomato growth in the form of light signals. Night-time supplemental lighting duration of 1 h is beneficial to plant growth and yield, and its input–output ratio is the lowest, which is an appropriate NSL mode for tomato cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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11 pages, 2443 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Analysis of Anatomical and Sugar Contents Identifies How Night Temperatures Regulate the Healing Process of Oriental Melon Grafted onto Pumpkin
by Huan Liang, Jiangfeng Liu, Xianfeng Shi, Mihong Ge, Juhong Zhu, Dehuan Wang and Mobing Zhou
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1506; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111506 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 635
Abstract
Graft healing is a complex process affected by environmental factors, with temperature being one of the most important influencing factors. Here, oriental melon grafted onto pumpkin was used to study changes in graft union formation and sugar contents at the graft interface under [...] Read more.
Graft healing is a complex process affected by environmental factors, with temperature being one of the most important influencing factors. Here, oriental melon grafted onto pumpkin was used to study changes in graft union formation and sugar contents at the graft interface under night temperatures of 18 °C and 28 °C. Histological analysis suggested that callus formation occurred 3 days after grafting with a night temperature of 28 °C, which was one day earlier than with a night temperature of 18 °C. Vascular reconnection with a night temperature of 28 °C was established 2 days earlier than with a night temperature of 18 °C. Additionally, nine sugars were significantly enriched in the graft union, with the contents of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, D–glucose, D–fructose, D–galactose, and inositol initially increasing but then decreasing. Furthermore, we also found that exogenous glucose and fructose application promotes vascular reconnection. However, exogenous sucrose application did not promote vascular reconnection. Taken together, our results reveal that elevated temperatures improve the process of graft union formation through increasing the contents of sugars. This study provides information to develop strategies for improving grafting efficiency under low temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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14 pages, 8667 KiB  
Article
Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Strawberry Plants Cultivated under Greenhouse-Integrated Semi-Transparent Photovoltaics
by Theodoros Petrakis, Paraskevi Ioannou, Foteini Kitsiou, Angeliki Kavga, George Grammatikopoulos and Nikos Karamanos
Plants 2024, 13(6), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060768 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1661
Abstract
The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the [...] Read more.
The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the desired microclimate, in the case of photovoltaic installations, the permanent shading of the crop is a challenge, due to the importance of light to the growth, morphogenesis, and other critical physiological processes. In this study, the effect of shade from semi-transparent photovoltaics on a strawberry crop (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was examined, in terms of growth and quality (phenolic and flavonoid concentration of fruits). According to the results, in non-shaded plants, there was a trend of larger plants, but without a significant change in leaf number, while the total number of flowers was slightly higher at the end of the cultivation period. Moreover, it was found that the percentage change between the number of ripe fruits was smaller than that of the corresponding change in fruit weight, implying the increased size of the fruits in non-shaded plants. Finally, regarding the antioxidant capacity, it was clearly demonstrated that shading increased the total phenolic content, as well as the free-radical-scavenging activity of the harvested fruits. Although the shading from the semi-transparent photovoltaics did not assist the production of large fruits, it did not affect their number and increased some of their quality characteristics. In addition, the advantageous impact of the semi-transparent photovoltaics in the energy part must not be neglected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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15 pages, 3392 KiB  
Article
Optimized Design of Irrigation Water-Heating System and Its Effect on Lettuce Cultivation in a Chinese Solar Greenhouse
by Liangjie Guo, Xinyi Chen, Shiye Yang, Ruimin Zhou, Shenyan Liu and Yanfei Cao
Plants 2024, 13(5), 718; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050718 - 4 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1087
Abstract
In cold regions, the low irrigation water temperature is an important factor of low-temperature stress for greenhouse crops. In this paper, an irrigation water-heating system (IWHS) is proposed to increase the water temperature by utilizing the excess heat in the solar greenhouse. The [...] Read more.
In cold regions, the low irrigation water temperature is an important factor of low-temperature stress for greenhouse crops. In this paper, an irrigation water-heating system (IWHS) is proposed to increase the water temperature by utilizing the excess heat in the solar greenhouse. The heat-collection capacity of the system was analyzed by screening the IWHS process parameters in a Chinese solar greenhouse, and a warm-water irrigation experiment for lettuce was conducted. The results demonstrated that the water temperature increased with the increase in wind speed, and the increase in daily average water temperature reached the maximum value of 8.6 °C at 4.5 m/s wind speed. When the heat exchanger was installed at a height of 3.0 m, the collector capacity increased by 17.8% and 6.0% compared with the heating capacity at 0 m and 1.5 m, respectively, and the operation termination water temperature was 22.0–32.2 °C and its coefficient of performance (COP) was optimal. Surface darkening of the heat exchanger did not affect the heat-collection capacity of the system. Using the IWHS effectively improved the temperature of lettuce irrigation water in the Chinese solar greenhouse. The increased frequency of warm-water irrigation significantly promoted lettuce growth and increased the average yield per plant by 15.9%. Therefore, IWHS effectively increased the irrigation water temperature in a Chinese solar greenhouse in winter. Improving the system would enhance its economic and application value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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14 pages, 4906 KiB  
Article
Serratia marcescens LYGN1 Reforms the Rhizosphere Microbial Community and Promotes Cucumber and Pepper Growth in Plug Seedling Cultivation
by Xu Zhang, Jinxin Peng, Xiaodong Hao, Guifang Feng, Yanhui Shen, Guanghui Wang and Zhiqun Chen
Plants 2024, 13(5), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050592 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988
Abstract
The vegetable plug seedling plays an important role in improving vegetable production. The process of plug seedling contributes to high-quality vegetable seedlings. The substrate composition and chemical fertilizer are widely studied to promote seedling growth. However, little is known about the effect of [...] Read more.
The vegetable plug seedling plays an important role in improving vegetable production. The process of plug seedling contributes to high-quality vegetable seedlings. The substrate composition and chemical fertilizer are widely studied to promote seedling growth. However, little is known about the effect of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere microbial community and vegetables’ growth during plug seedling. The use of beneficial microbes to promote vegetable seedling growth is of great potential. In this study, we showed that the Serratia marcescens strain LYGN1 enhanced the growth of cucumber and pepper seedlings in plug seedling cultivation. The treatment with LYGN1 significantly increased the biomass and the growth-related index of cucumber and pepper, improving the seedling quality index. Specifically, LYGN1 also improved the cucumber and pepper root system architecture and increased the root diameter. We applied high-throughput sequencing to analyze the microbial community of the seedlings’ rhizosphere, which showed LYGN1 to significantly change the composition and structure of the cucumber and pepper rhizosphere microbial communities. The correlation analysis showed that the Abditibacteriota and Bdellovibrionota had positive effects on seedling growth. The findings of this study provide evidence for the effects of Serratia marcescens LYGN1 on the cucumber and pepper rhizosphere microbial communities, which also promoted seedling quality in plug seedling cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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Review

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16 pages, 327 KiB  
Review
Low-Potassium Fruits and Vegetables: Research Progress and Prospects
by Jiawei Cui, Yongxue Zhang, Hongmei Zhang, Haijun Jin, Lizhong He, Hong Wang, Panling Lu, Chen Miao, Jizhu Yu and Xiaotao Ding
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1893; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141893 - 9 Jul 2024
Viewed by 906
Abstract
With the increasing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the improved recognition of nutritional therapy, research on low-potassium (LK) fruits and vegetables for CKD patients has gained global attention. Despite its already commercial availability primarily in Japan, public awareness remains [...] Read more.
With the increasing number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the improved recognition of nutritional therapy, research on low-potassium (LK) fruits and vegetables for CKD patients has gained global attention. Despite its already commercial availability primarily in Japan, public awareness remains limited, and cultivation methods lack a comprehensive strategy. This review offers an extensive examination of the developmental significance, current cultivation techniques, and existing limitations of functional LK fruits and vegetables with the objective of providing guidance and inspiration for their exploitation. Additionally, this review investigates various factors influencing K content, including varieties, temperature, light, exogenous substances, harvest time, and harvest parts, with a focus on optimizing production methods to enhance potassium utilization efficiency (KUE) and decrease the K content in plants. Finally, the review outlines the shortcomings and prospects of research on LK fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary research (in agriculture technology, medicine, and business) for patients with CKD and the future development of this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Advances and Sustainability)
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