Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111384

Authors: Xuchen Gong Sanpeng Jin Ruiqi He Jingheng Xie Dechun Liu Li Yang Wei Hu Liuqing Kuang Yong Liu Jie Song

In this study, we identified 34 HD-ZIP genes at the genome-wide level in P. trifoliata (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.), and conducted comprehensive bioinformatic analyses. The expression profiles of PtrHB genes in response to six phytohormones (ABA, SA, JA, BR, ETH, GA) and two abiotic stresses (dehydration, cold) were further determined. Phylogenetic analysis assigned all PtrHB proteins to four distinct subfamilies (I–IV) with highly conserved domain compositions, in line with the established classification system in Arabidopsis thaliana. Segmental duplication was revealed as the primary driver of PtrHB family expansion, whereas three tandem duplication events were also detected. Promoter cis-element profiling revealed subfamily-specific distribution of hormone- and stress-responsive elements. Several candidate genes with prominent stimulus-specific responses were highlighted, including PtrHB32 (strongly induced by dehydration, cold and ABA), PtrHB15 (JA-responsive) and PtrHB16 (SA-responsive). Collectively, this study provides the first systematic genome-wide analysis of the HD-ZIP transcription factor family in P. trifoliata, and offers valuable insights into the evolutionary expansion and functional divergence of this family. Our results also lay a theoretical basis for functional validation of candidate stress-regulatory genes and for molecular breeding of stress-tolerant citrus rootstocks.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111383

Authors: Mario de la Fuente Carlos Escott Juan Manuel del Fresno Iris Loira Rubén Linares Antonio Morata

Canopy microclimate is largely determined by canopy architecture, including the amount and spatial distribution of leaf area, and its interaction with environmental conditions. In warm Mediterranean climates, training systems that promote a more open canopy structure can improve light penetration, air circulation, and the physiological performance of leaves and berries. This study evaluated the effects of canopy architecture on berry development and fruit composition in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo, under warm and dry conditions. The objective was to determine how canopy management influences the cluster zone microclimate and, consequently, affects berry weight and size (diameter), must composition (total soluble solids-TSS, pH, acidity and yeast-assimilable nitrogen) and berry skin composition and properties (polyphenol content, anthocyanin profile, color intensity and hue index), particularly under warm Mediterranean conditions. To test this, two training systems were evaluated in a commercial vineyard: a vertical shoot position (VSP) and a sprawl (SP), under the same crop load and irrigation regime. The results indicate that the sprawl system had some differences in berry weight/diameter (6–8%), resulting in slightly more advanced ripening at veraison, as evidenced by a tendency toward higher TSS levels and, most notably, by increased concentrations of yeast-assimilable nitrogen (α-amino nitrogen and ammonium; +31%) compared to VSP. In addition, SP berries exhibited higher anthocyanin concentration than VSP, particularly in Malvidin-3-O-cumaril-glucoside-trans (+24% higher concentration) in the berry skins. These variables represented the most consistent and oenologically relevant differences between the two training systems. Overall, the findings support the adoption of sprawl canopies as a practical strategy to mitigate the negative effects of high temperatures on grape composition in Mediterranean viticultural regions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111382

Authors: Kyo Hwui Lee Won Park Sang-Sik Nam Tae Hwa Kim Jonguk An Hyeong-Un Lee Eom-Ji Hwang Koan Sik Woo Mi-Nam Chung

Improving the proportion of marketable storage roots (≥50 g) is increasingly important in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.); yet, few studies have integrated cultivar morphology with transplanting management to explain variation in the marketable root ratio. In 2023–2024, we combined cultivation period (120 vs. 140 days after transplanting), transplanting method (horizontal vs. vertical) and seedling node number (6- vs. 8-node cuttings) in two cultivars differing in storage root-forming characteristics, ‘Sodammi’ and ‘Hopungmi’. Extending cultivation raised the marketable root weight ratio from 65.1% to 75.9% in ‘Sodammi’ and from 86.9% to 92.6% in ‘Hopungmi’, and marketable yield by 40% and 39%, respectively. Vertical planting reduced storage root number in both cultivars, although its effect in ‘Sodammi’ was relatively limited, and 6-node cuttings reduced it in ‘Sodammi’. In ‘Sodammi’, the ratio ranged from 57.7% (120 days, horizontal, 8-node) to 80.5% (140 days, vertical, 6-node). Storage root number was negatively correlated with the marketable root weight ratio in ‘Sodammi’ (r = −0.68) but not in ‘Hopungmi’ (r = −0.06). Limiting buried nodes appears most useful in cultivars forming many small storage roots, and transplanting practices should match each cultivar’s storage root-forming characteristics.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111381

Authors: Emanuele Possas de Souza Joseantonio Ribeiro de Carvalho Bruno Rocha Tamelini Thatiane Nepomuceno Alves Pâmela Gomes Nakada-Freitas Antonio Ismael Inácio Cardoso

Boron (B) is essential for cell wall integrity and meristematic activity in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis). Still, the narrow range between deficiency and toxicity limits soil and foliar fertilization, and seed-applied B remains unexplored. This study establishes the conceptual novelty of boron seed treatment as a targeted preventive tool to safeguard cauliflower performance under boron-deficient soil conditions or management failures. This study evaluated a boron–polyol complex applied via film coating and pelleting to cauliflower seeds, assessing physiological quality, seedling development, and agronomic performance across five B doses (0.5–4.5 g B kg−1) in the laboratory and nursery, and two doses (0.5 and 4.5 g B kg−1) under two fertilization managements in an 8 L pot greenhouse experiment. Boron sharply reduced laboratory germination as the dose increased, falling below the commercial minimum (80%) beyond 0.5 g B kg−1, while seedling emergence in substrate remained largely unaffected (≥94% in most treatments). In the greenhouse trial, without soil or foliar boron, untreated seeds resulted in 62.5% of plants with deficiency symptoms and the lowest commercial yield (3.5 t ha−1); boron seed treatment reduced deficiency incidence and increased commercial yield in three of the four seed treatments, with gains of up to 145.7% relative to untreated seeds. Film coating at 0.5 g B kg−1 seed is recommended as the only dose preserving seed physiological quality for commercialization while increasing commercial yield by 125.7%, showing promise as a low-cost strategy. Conceptually, this work proves that B seed treatment acts as a vital technological safety net in B-restricted areas, drastically reducing deficiency symptoms and protecting yield when standard soil or foliar supply is inadequate.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111380

Authors: Mónica G. Valenzuela-Carrizales Rebeca Casique-Valdés Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza Marcelino Cabrera-De-La Fuente Alberto Sandoval-Rangel Fabián Pérez-Labrada Cuitlahuac Magdaleno-Magniales Jesús Rodolfo Valenzuela-García Susana González-Morales

Water deficit can alter plant growth and stress-related biochemical and molecular responses. Four fungal isolates obtained from Pinus cembroides roots—Cadophora sp., Phialophora livistonae, Pochonia sp., and Pochonia chlamydosporia—were evaluated in vitro under increasing polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) concentrations. Pochonia sp. and P. livistonae were subsequently selected for inoculation of tomato seedlings grown at 100, 75, 50, or 25% of substrate water-holding capacity. Seedling growth, root and leaf biochemical traits, antioxidant enzyme activities, and expression of five water-deficit-associated genes were evaluated using factorial analyses. Pochonia sp. maintained the greatest colony diameter across the PEG-6000 treatments, while Pochonia sp. and P. livistonae produced the highest fresh fungal biomass at 20% PEG-6000. Irrigation level significantly influenced most seedling growth traits. Fungal inoculation significantly affected root fresh and dry weights overall, but within level comparisons identified a higher root fresh weight with P. livistonae than in uninoculated seedlings only under mild water stress (75%). Under the same conditions, P. livistonae reduced root proline content relative to the uninoculated control and Pochonia sp. Root catalase activity showed a significant inoculation × irrigation inter-action, whereas total phenolic content and leaf antioxidant enzyme activities showed no significant treatment effects. Irrigation significantly affected Fe-SOD gene expression, but fungal inoculation had no significant effect on any evaluated gene; none of the planned inoculation contrasts remained significant after Holm adjustment. These findings indicate selective, mainly root-associated responses to fungal inoculation rather than consistent enhancement of tomato growth or water-deficit tolerance. Further work should verify fungal colonization and assess plant water status and performance under production conditions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111378

Authors: Gan Zhao Ke Li Yingying Zhao Yuehong Li Lisheng Qian Yingjie Shu

Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) is a commercially important cut flower with a short postharvest life. This study investigated whether methane-rich water (MRW) could extend its vase life and explored the underlying mechanisms. Cut lisianthus flowers were treated with MRW at concentrations ranging from 0.13 to 1.30 mM, and physiological and biochemical parameters were measured. The results showed that MRW extended vase life in a non-monotonic, dose-dependent manner, with a maximal effect at 0.65 mM (42.43% increase over the control), comparable to 1.04 mM but declining at 1.30 mM. MRW also maintained flower diameter and water content. These physiological improvements were accompanied by higher nitric oxide (NO) levels and a slower decline in nitrate reductase (NR) activity. Pharmacological assays using an NO scavenger and an NR inhibitor partially reversed the effects of MRW, while an NO donor partially mimicked them, suggesting that NR-associated NO accumulation may contribute to the observed responses. Further analysis revealed that MRW coincided with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced ROS accumulation, and suppressed ethylene production. Together, these findings suggest that MRW induces NO accumulation that is at least partly associated with NR activity, and this process correlates with enhanced antioxidant defenses and suppressed ethylene biosynthesis.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111379

Authors: Josivânia Araújo Duarte José Félix de Brito Neto Evandro Franklin de Mesquita Vicente Victor Lima de Andrade Cristiano dos Santos Sousa Antônio Carlos Andrade da Silva Franklin Sales de Araújo Rodrigo Santana Macedo Walter Esfrain Pereira Emanuel da Costa Cavalcante Ademir Sérgio Ferreira Araujo Erika Valente de Medeiros Arthur Prudêncio de Araújo Pereira Rennan Fernandes Pereira

Soil organic carbon fractions and fertility attributes may differ among land-use conditions in the Brazilian semiarid region due to environmental heterogeneity, soil properties, and land-use history. This study compared soil attributes in degraded, forest, and restoration areas across four desertification hotspots located in Ceará (CE), Paraíba (PB), Pernambuco (PE), and Piauí (PI), Brazil. Surface soil samples (0–10 cm) were collected from four independent plots per land-use condition within each hotspot and analyzed for particle-size distribution, pH, total organic carbon (TOC), humic fractions, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, and potential cation exchange capacity (CEC). The magnitude and direction of differences among land-use conditions varied across the investigated hotspots. Forest areas exhibited 12% and 57% higher TOC contents than degraded areas in PB and PI, respectively. In PB, humic acid carbon contents were approximately 85–95% higher in forest and restoration areas than in the degraded area, while humin carbon content in the restoration area was 136% higher than in the degraded area. Available phosphorus was markedly higher in restoration areas in PB and PI. In PI, the restoration area exhibited high Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents and potential CEC, whereas soil pH ranged from approximately 5.1 in the forest area to 8.0 in the degraded area. These findings reveal substantial spatial variation in soil carbon fractions and fertility attributes among land-use categories, potentially associated with differences in soil texture, pedogenic characteristics, and previous land management. The results highlight the importance of considering local edaphic conditions when assessing soil quality across contrasting land-use categories in semiarid environments.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111377

Authors: Sakura Takahashi Shione Hibino Sakae Suzuki

Patients with chronic kidney disease are often advised to restrict potassium (K) intake, making low-K crop production highly desirable. Although low-K blueberries have been reported, studies on other fruit tree species are required. We applied root-zone K restriction to potted satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.), a major fruit crop that is naturally rich in K, over 18 months across two seasons (2023–2024). First-year fruit data were treated as preliminary due to limited yield. In 2024, fruit K content was successfully halved under K restriction. Although single fruit weight and yield showed a non-significant downward trend, the soluble solid content to titratable acidity ratio significantly increased, primarily driven by a marked drop in acidity. Sodium, calcium, and/or magnesium contents also shifted in the fruits and leaves, with the strongest elevation observed in sodium. However, the resulting increase in fruit sodium was clinically minor relative to the substantial decrease in K. Furthermore, because sodium hydroxide was used for pH adjustment and because leaf cation levels varied by Year and Sampling Period, these shifts cannot be attributed solely to K restriction. Overall, these findings demonstrate the technical potential to reduce fruit K content in satsuma mandarin, though further studies are required to evaluate commercial production feasibility.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111376

Authors: Xiaohang Xue Feiya Liu Hongju Zhu Wenge Liu Junling Dou Xuqiang Lu

In the study of plant organogenesis, flower development is an outstanding model system. A natural mutation in watermelon was found to be involved in converting both male and female flowers to sepals, and the top of normal tendrils to young leaves. A normal watermelon inbred line and a hybrid line were created through inbreeding of sister-lines for this mutation. We identified a recessive single gene, named Clftm (flower-and-tendril mutation), that controls this mutation. The candidate region was between 3.12 and 4.25 Mb on chromosome 3 according to BSA-seq. Then, several major markers, 56 CAPS markers, 4 SSR markers and 6 SNP markers, were used for fine mapping; the candidate gene was mapped to the 110 kb region on chromosome 3 (4.08–4.19 Mb). Although the locus was delimited to this 110 kb interval, no candidate gene was identified within it. Utilizing the F2 populations and 20 watermelon accessions, an SNP marker was found to be closely linked to watermelon flower-and-tendril mutation. This research provides new insight for future studies on flower development and floral organ formation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111375

Authors: Juliana Dias de Oliveira Luís Antonio Kioshi Aoki Inoue Tarcila Souza de Castro Silva Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos Vanessa Souza Régio Marcio Toesca Gimenes Ana Carolina Amorim Orrico

This study evaluated the effects of application rates of two biocomposts derived from fishery waste, produced with and without biochar, on lettuce growth and assessed the economic feasibility of small-scale lettuce production using these materials. A completely randomized 2 × 4 factorial design was used, comprising two biocompost types (with and without biochar) and four application rates (0, 25, 50, and 100 g per 2 kg of soil), with four replicates per treatment. Lettuce growth was evaluated over 30 days based on plant weight and length, aboveground biomass and length, root weight and length, and dry matter content. Application rate significantly affected total plant weight and length, aboveground biomass and length, and root length (p < 0.05). The 100 g rate resulted in the highest mean total plant weight (208.85 g) and aboveground biomass (167.31 g), representing increases of 207.8% and 248.3%, respectively, compared with the untreated control. Mean aboveground length was also greatest at this rate (20.13 cm), whereas root length was greatest at 25 g (25.73 cm). Biocompost type significantly affected root weight and dry matter content, with higher mean values in the treatment without biochar (24.61 g and 88.33%, respectively) than in the treatment with biochar (18.71 g and 86.73%, respectively). The economic analysis, based on lettuce production in a 96 m2 greenhouse, indicated that the project was economically feasible, with an Equivalent Annual Uniform Value (EAUV) of US$545.67, a Profitability Index of 1.86, and a Benefit–Cost Ratio of 1.50. Sensitivity analysis showed that the selling price of lettuce was the main determinant of project profitability, accounting for 99.5% of the modeled variation in Net Present Value. These findings indicate that fishery waste-derived biocomposts have potential for lettuce production, while economic success depends strongly on maintaining favorable market prices.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111374

Authors: Weijun Kong Xinya Ren Huimin Shi Suling Wang Longyu Ma Chunran Feng Xuan Zhu

This study investigated whether exogenous melatonin (MT) treatment was associated with delayed ripening and changes in sugar and organic acid metabolism in Xinjiang ‘Saimaiti’ apricot fruit during cold storage. Fruit were immersed in 100 μmol·L−1 MT solution under vacuum at a pressure 0.05 MPa below atmospheric pressure for 2 min, followed by immersion for 8 min after pressure restoration, and stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C for 49 d. The control (CK) underwent identical procedures using distilled water. Compared with the CK, MT-treated fruit exhibited better maintenance of firmness, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity, together with lower weight loss during storage. The respiratory climacteric peak occurred at 21 d in CK fruit and at 28 d in MT-treated fruit, with a similar shift observed in the ethylene production peak. Sucrose content declined during storage but remained higher in MT-treated fruit from 7 d onward, whereas glucose and fructose contents increased, with larger treatment differences during 35–49 d. Differences in malic and citric acid contents were most pronounced around 28–35 d, accompanied by changes in related metabolic enzyme activities. At 49 d, MT-treated fruit received higher scores for sweetness acceptability, sourness acceptability, sugar–acid balance, and overall acceptability. Overall, these findings suggest that MT treatment may delay postharvest ripening and help maintain fruit quality in ‘Saimaiti’ apricots during cold storage, accompanied by changes in sugar and organic acid metabolism.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111373

Authors: Jinhui Lv Na An Yvqing Guan Ping Chen

Prevention and control of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is a difficult problem for papaya growers all over the world. CTS-N (Chitosan-N) can alleviate viral pathogenesis by inducing defense-related enzymatic activities. In this study, we quantified superoxide anion production, assayed the activities of defense enzymes (POD, PPO, SOD, and chitinase), and measured the contents of key phytohormones (ETH, JA, SA, and ABA). Based on transcriptomic data from our preliminary work, the full-length CpRBOHD gene was cloned using RACE (Rapid amplification of cDNA ends). A plant overexpression vector was subsequently constructed and agroinfiltrated into PRSV-infected papaya leaves. Expression dynamics of CpRBOHD were analyzed by qPCR, and concomitant changes in physiological indices were evaluated. The application of 1.0 g/L CTS-N significantly enhanced defense enzyme activities and elevated phytohormone levels. The coding sequence (CDS) of the CpRBOHD gene was 2760bp. Transient overexpression of CpRBOHD in PRSV-infected leaves resulted in a marked upregulation of its expression, as confirmed by qPCR. This was accompanied by increased activities of SOD, CAT, and PAL, alongside a reduction in MDA content. These findings indicate that increased CpRBOHD expression is associated with enhanced resistance to PRSV. The identification of PRSV-responsive genes represents a promising strategy for breeding resistant cultivars. Collectively, our results provide a theoretical basis for the biological control of papaya ringspot disease.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111372

Authors: Sujuan Xu Junling Luo Xiaoping Hua Jun Shen Rui Liang Yuxin Wang Ze Wu Nianjun Teng

Functional lilies provide flowers, edible bulbs, and propagules, but these outputs compete for assimilates. We evaluated how planting depth, plastic-film mulch, and flower-bud removal affected ornamental traits, bulb production, and harvest timing in ‘Feixiang Shaohua’ and ‘Feixiang Tiancheng’ under open-field conditions. Responses were cultivar- and trait-specific. With buds retained, mulching at 10 cm produced the greatest mean stem diameter in ‘Feixiang Shaohua’ and the greatest first-bud length and mean plant width in ‘Feixiang Tiancheng’, although plant width did not differ between mulched depths. In ‘Feixiang Shaohua’, mulching combined with 14 cm planting and bud removal produced the greatest observed mean new-bulb fresh mass (85.66 g; 120.29% above the preplanting mean) and large stem bulblets but was not uniquely superior across all traits. In ‘Feixiang Tiancheng’, mulched bud-removal treatments at both depths produced the greatest observed mean new-bulb masses (66.73–66.76 g) but did not differ significantly from the corresponding bud-retention treatments. Planting at 14 cm increased bulblet number in some comparisons, whereas depth did not affect maximum bulblet mass or circumference under mulch. Bulb fresh mass and circumference generally declined initially and then recovered, with renewed growth beginning approximately 40–60 d after 80% shoot emergence and the highest late-season values occurring mainly at 100–110 d. The observed values and replicate-specific trajectories suggested preliminary harvest-timing ranges of approximately 90–110 d for ‘Feixiang Shaohua’, approximately 100 d for unmulched ‘Feixiang Tiancheng’, and approximately 90–110 d for plastic-mulched ‘Feixiang Tiancheng’. These findings support cultivar- and objective-specific management of ornamental performance, bulb production, propagation, and harvest timing.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111371

Authors: Xingru Wei Xiaomin Wang Ziyu Li Xiaobao Tong Liangliang Tian Qilong Zeng Song Chen Yaqiong Wu

This study utilized mature fruits of red-fruited genotype ‘R’ of Rubus hirsutus Thunb and yellow-fruited form Rubus hirsutus Thunb. f. xanthocarpus (Nakai) M.Kim (‘Y’) as materials, employing HPLC, metabolomic, and transcriptomic techniques to describe the differences in amino acid metabolism, metabolite accumulation and gene expression between the mature fruits of the two genotypes of Rubus hirsutus, and analyze the metabolic characteristics between the yellow fruit variant and the wild red fruit. The results showed that the free amino acids of yellow-fruited ‘Y’ (1638.6 μg/g FW) were significantly higher than those of red-fruited ‘R’ (1331.8 μg/g FW), with glutamine showing the most significant difference. Metabolomics identified 232 differential metabolites: red fruits appeared dark red due to enrichment of anthocyanins, while yellow fruits exhibited bright yellow coloration dominated by chalcone glycosides and flavonols. Transcriptomic screening revealed 5052 differentially expressed genes, among which amino acid-related biosynthesis pathways showed the most significant differences. Specifically, genes encoding glutamine synthetase and those involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism were highly expressed in ‘Y’ fruits, whereas genes associated with cysteine metabolism and aromatic amino acid metabolism were predominantly expressed in ‘R’ fruits. Collectively, these findings characterize the differences in amino acid metabolism, metabolites and transcripts between mature red-fruited and yellow-fruited Rubus hirsutus Thunb., and unravel the potential association between amino acid metabolism and fruit-color variation, providing a theoretical reference for subsequent research on the regulatory mechanisms governing fruit color and quality.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111370

Authors: Na Wang Jing Nie Ruoqing Lian Yuling Zeng Xuemei Zhang Jianjian Hu Jishan Xiang

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) owes much of its ornamental and economic value to its violet–purple inflorescences, yet the molecular basis of this coloration remains poorly understood. By integrating untargeted metabolomics, RNA-seq, and phylogenetic analysis with morphological and microscopic observations across floral development, we resolved the developmental program of anthocyanin pigmentation in L. angustifolia ‘Xinxun 2’. Anthocyanin content followed an initiation–peak–plateau trajectory, peaking at full flowering; nevertheless, the corolla continued to shift toward purple–blue at late flowering despite stable pigment levels, indicating that the final hue is not governed by pigment quantity alone. Molecularly, the delphinidin branch (F3′5′H) was the principal determinant of the violet phenotype, and the pathway was temporally partitioned—structural genes peaked at early flowering, whereas the late anthocyanin-modifying gene AOMT was induced at full flowering, and the competing flavan-3-ol branch enzyme ANR was also up-regulated at this stage; two subgroup-6 R2R3-MYB transcription factors (MYB90, MYB114) emerged as candidate activators. These findings provide the first stage-resolved molecular framework for floral pigmentation in lavender and identify full flowering as the optimal pigment-extraction window, offering concrete targets for molecular breeding of novel flower colors.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111369

Authors: Lulin Ma Hongying Jian Axiang Zhao Feng Xu Xiumei Yang Lifang Zhang Yiping Zhang

Anemone obtusiloba D. Don is a valuable medicinal herb that also possesses considerable ornamental value for its attractive yellow, blue, and white flowers. Previous studies primarily focused on its pharmaceutical properties and the pigmentation of yellow flowers. However, the formation mechanisms underlying blue and white flowers remain unexplored. In this study, we employed transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to compare the expression profiles of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and pigment compositions between the blue and white flowers of A. obtusiloba. Key candidate genes were further validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Our results showed that six structural genes, such as flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H), anthocyanin synthases (ANSs), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase (3GT), exhibited significantly higher expression levels in blue flowers than in white flowers. Among the differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), nine pigments were more abundant in blue flowers. Notably, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were detected exclusively in blue flowers. We speculate that blue flower coloration is associated with these up-regulated genes, which may contribute to increased pigment content and diversity. Furthermore, a putative R3MYB-like repressor may be involved in suppressing anthocyanin biosynthesis, as its elevated expression in white flowers was associated with lower transcript levels of structural genes, which may contribute to the white flower phenotype in A. obtusiloba.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111368

Authors: Jingjian Ma Jin Yang Yuan Zhang Ruoxuan Zhao Xiaopeng Li Shuangxia Luo Xueping Chen Qiang Li

The IQ67-domain (IQD) gene family is a plant-specific protein family involved in calcium signaling, microtubule dynamics, and organ morphogenesis, with documented roles in fruit shape regulation in several crops. However, little is known about this family in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a globally important vegetable with remarkable fruit shape diversity. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification of the IQD family in eggplant and characterized the function of SmIQD9 in fruit shape regulation. A total of 30 IQD genes were identified in the eggplant genome and designated SmIQD1 to SmIQD30. These genes were unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes, with segmental duplication serving as the primary driver of family expansion. Phylogenetic analysis classified the IQD proteins from eggplant, Arabidopsis, rice, and tomato into eight groups, revealing both conserved and lineage-specific subgroups. Gene structure and motif analyses showed that SmIQD proteins share the conserved IQ67-domain but exhibit substantial structural diversity, with subfamily-specific motifs suggesting functional specialization. Expression profiling in developing ovaries revealed three distinct expression clades, with Clade C2 members—including SmIQD9—showing a transient peak at 10 or 7 DBA (days before anthesis), coinciding with the critical window for fruit shape determination. Ectopic overexpression of SmIQD9 in tomato resulted in significantly elongated fruits, reduced fruit width, and increased fruit shape index. Histological analysis demonstrated that SmIQD9 promotes fruit elongation primarily by enhancing cell expansion. Collectively, our findings provide a comprehensive genomic framework for the IQD family in eggplant and identify SmIQD9 as one of the positive regulators of fruit elongation, offering a promising candidate for future molecular breeding of eggplant fruit shape.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111367

Authors: Willian Gonçalves Souza Aline de Almeida Vasconcelos Michel Antoni da Silva Marcelo Augusto Gutierres Carnelossi Lia-Tânia Dinis Wedisson Oliveira Santos Glauciana da Mata Ataide Welton Pereira da Rocha Junior de Oliveira

Phosphorus (P) availability in highly weathered tropical soils is limited by strong adsorption onto iron and aluminum oxides, reducing fertilizer efficiency. Silicon (Si) may modulate P dynamics by competing for adsorption sites. This study evaluated whether silicon-coated triple superphosphate (TSP) improves phosphorus use efficiency, physiological performance, and radish (Raphanus sativus L.) biomass in a greenhouse pot experiment. Six fertilizer treatments (0:0, 1:0, 1:1.5, 1:3, 1:4.5, and 1:6) were assessed using Mehlich-1 P, remaining P, apparent P recovery (PRR) based on whole-plant P uptake, chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP), gas exchange, and morpho-agronomic traits. Intermediate P:Si ratios improved extractable P, PRR, photosynthetic responses, and biomass accumulation. The 1:3 treatment gave the highest observed tuber fresh mass (29.38 g plant⁻¹), 66.7% above uncoated TSP (1:0). These associations support further investigation of calcium-silicate-coated TSP; the relative contributions of Si, Ca and possible soil-pH changes could not be separated in this experiment.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111366

Authors: Bingxin Fan Huang Li Shixing Wang Surang Zhao Zhaokun Zhi Shulin Zhang Huafeng Yue Gaopu Zhu Mengmeng Zhang

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are plant-specific Ca2+ sensors that translate calcium signals into phosphorylation responses. CDPKs coordinate both plant responses to the environment and plant growth, including fruit development and ripening. However, the CDPK gene family and its potential roles in jujube fruit development remain poorly characterized. In this study, 19 ZjCDPK genes were identified in the genome of ‘winter jujube’ (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Dongzao’) and mapped to 11 of the 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the ZjCDPK proteins into four groups, with CDPKs from Arabidopsis and tomato. Two intraspecific collinear gene pairs and sixteen orthologous gene pairs between ‘Dongzao’ and Arabidopsis were identified. Most family members exhibited similar organization of exon–intron splicing and contained similar motifs, with all containing a conserved serine/threonine protein kinase catalytic domain and four C-terminal EF-hand motifs. Promoter analysis identified 681 cis-acting elements, with abundant elements associated with abiotic stress, light, and phytohormone responses, including those related to abscisic acid, ethylene, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, auxin, and gibberellin. Developmental expression profiling across seven fruit stages, together with qRT-PCR validation, showed that ZjCDPK02, 08, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 19 accumulated preferentially during the late stages of fruit development. Correlation analysis further showed that ZjCDPK14 was strongly co-expressed with ZjCDPK02 (r = 0.96) and positively correlated with both fruit firmness (r = 0.907) and total soluble solids content (r = 0.816). Significant associations with these quality traits were also detected for ZjCDPK02, 04, 08, 15, 16, and 19. These findings provide a comprehensive framework of the ZjCDPK family and identify candidate genes for functional studies of calcium signaling during jujube fruit development, ripening, and quality formation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111365

Authors: Pengxiang Chen Yang Guo Xingzi Zhang Zixuan Wang Jie Meng Rong Han

Tomato is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. B-box (BBX) zinc-finger proteins serve as core transcriptional regulators that widely participate in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, the biological function and molecular regulatory mechanism of SlBBX8 in mediating tomato responses to UV-B radiation remain poorly characterized. In this study, SlBBX8 loss-of-function mutants bbx8-79 and bbx8-282 were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system. The expression of SlBBX8 was significantly induced by UV-B radiation and peaked at 120 μW/cm2. Under UV-B stress, bbx8 mutants exhibited more severe growth inhibition than wild-type plants, with significantly reduced plant height, leaf number, root length, and fresh weight. Moreover, the promotive effects of moderate UV-B radiation (100 μW/cm2) on flowering acceleration and fruit enlargement were markedly weakened in bbx8 mutants. UV-B stress induced excessive accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in bbx8 mutants, while the contents of antioxidant substances, including glutathione, anthocyanins, and flavonoids, displayed an initial increase followed by a decrease, implying that SlBBX8 may be involved in modulating oxidative stress and photoprotective responses in tomato. Multiple UV-B-responsive genes, including ELIP2, KRP1, HY5, F3H, CHS2, and CCS52A, were significantly downregulated in bbx8 mutants under UV-B treatment, confirming that SlBBX8 positively modulates the transcription of these downstream genes. Collectively, this study suggests that SlBBX8 acts as a positive regulator in tomato responses to UV-B stress by modulating photomorphogenesis, antioxidant defense, and reproductive development. These findings provide candidate genes and phenotypic evidence for future investigations into the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to UV-B radiation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111364

Authors: Marius-Victor Birsan

Climate strongly influences grape phenology, wine quality, and the suitability of regions for grapevine cultivation, and numerous bioclimatic, phenological, and oenoclimatic indices have been developed to characterize viticultural climates. A structured literature review was conducted to identify and synthesize research on phenological and oenoclimatic indices in viticulture. Comprehensive searches were performed across multiple databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar, SciSpace and PubMed) from 2010 to 2026. Studies were screened using six predefined criteria focusing on viticultural system relevance, bioclimatic index application, phenological outcomes, and regional characterization. From 842 initially identified records, 273 studies were included after deduplication and two-stage screening. The review identified 34 distinct bioclimatic, phenological, and oenoclimatic indices applied across more than 60 countries and wine regions worldwide. The most frequently applied indices include the Huglin Index, Winkler Index, Cool Night Index, Dryness Index, Growing Season Temperature, and Growing Degree Days. The identified indices serve multiple purposes, including viticultural zoning, climate change impact assessment (the dominant application, about 44% of studies), variety selection, and harvest timing prediction. Thermal indices are considerably more developed than hydric and extreme-event indices, and most indices describe the climatic potential of a region rather than conditions in individual vineyards. Future research should focus on transparent reporting of index calculations, validation of indices in diverse climatic contexts, and the integration of multi-index approaches with remote sensing and other digital tools.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111363

Authors: Zhuan Zheng Yanan Cheng Fei Wang Bihua Chen Xing Liu

Long-term continuous cropping commonly reduces the yield and quality of greenhouse vegetables and, at the same time, intensifies soil-borne diseases (termed continuous cropping obstacles, CCOs). This cultivation pattern substantially restricts the sustainable productivity of greenhouse vegetable production systems. Alterations in the diversity and structure of the soil microbiome with increased cropping history are thought to be a crucial mechanism underlying CCOs. However, how the soil microbiome functions in response to continuous cropping of greenhouse vegetables remains incompletely understood. Supporting carbon (C) cycling is one of the most vital functions of the soil microbiome in agroecosystems. Using soil metagenomic sequencing, we assessed the influence of continuous greenhouse tomato cropping (0, 10, 20, and 30 years) on soil microbiome-driven C cycling. The results showed that continuous greenhouse tomato cropping significantly reduced the diversity of microbial C-cycling genes and altered their structure. The total relative abundance of C-cycling genes increased linearly with continuous cropping duration. C fixation and decomposition were the predominant soil C metabolic processes, and their relative abundances generally increased over time. Yet C-fixing and -decomposing pathways responded differently to continuous cropping of greenhouse tomato. PC (participating in the reductive citrate cycle) was identified as a candidate crucial C-fixing gene, and SGA1 (participating in starch degradation) was identified as a candidate crucial C-decomposing gene. Soil phosphorus (P) status (total and available P concentrations) was a powerful regulator of soil microbiome-driven C cycling, and soil C availability played an important role in shaping crucial C-cycling genes. Overall, our results revealed that continuous cropping of greenhouse vegetables significantly influenced soil microbiome-driven C cycling, highlighting that shifts in soil nutrient cycling functions should not be ignored when exploring the mechanisms underlying CCOs. The findings from this study broaden understanding of the mechanisms of CCOs in intensive greenhouse vegetable production systems by offering insight into the functional attributes of the soil microbiome.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111362

Authors: Hakan Çakıcı Neriman Tuba Barlas

Calcareous alkaline soils restrict phosphorus (P) nutrition, while greenhouse lettuce requires rapid nutrient supply during a short production cycle. A two-season randomized complete block experiment compared eight treatments: control (C), biochar (BC; 3.0 t ha−1), fermented organic fertilizer (OF; 3.0 t ha−1), a four-species Bacillus consortium (Bac), BC + OF, BC + Bac, OF + Bac, and BC + OF + Bac. BC + OF + Bac produced the highest yield in both 2025 and 2026 (58.09 and 59.60 t ha−1). Compared with the control, this treatment increased yield by 15.5–17.2%, leaf P by 30.4–33.3%, root P by 31.1–35.7%, and rhizosphere alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by 158.8–186.6%, while acid phosphatase (ACP) activity declined by 23.4–25.5%. Combined treatments also generally increased vegetative growth and leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations. Because BC and OF supplied nutrients directly and the combination treatments underwent 14-day pre-incubation procedures not shared by all single-component treatments, the results represent the performance of complete treatment packages rather than proof of native-soil P mobilization or ingredient synergy. The BC + OF + Bac package therefore showed strong agronomic potential for lettuce in this calcareous alkaline soil, while nutrient-balanced and formulation-standardized experiments are required to resolve the underlying mechanisms.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111361

Authors: Ajay Dhukuchhu Sidra Saleem Ozkan Kaya Harlene Hatterman-Valenti

Fall production can extend the broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) season, but suitable cultivars, transplanting dates, and the value of high tunnels are uncertain. Six cultivars were transplanted on four dates (10 July–25 August) in a high tunnel and the open field in Fargo, North Dakota, in 2023 and 2024, and growth, physiology, roots, yield, and marketability were analyzed with mixed models including year. Romanesco formed no curds at any planting date and is not suited to fall production. Jacaranda produced the heaviest heads (592 g) but formed heads on 53% and marketable heads on 48% of transplanted plants; Green Magic, Monty, and Gypsy reached 77–78% and 70–75%, respectively. Marketable yield per transplanted plant was highest for the 10 July (365 g plant−1) and lowest for the 25 August planting (87 g plant−1). Days from transplanting to the first frost injury were closely correlated with head formation (r = 0.74) and yield per transplanted plant (r = 0.81). The high tunnel delayed frost injury by 21 days and increased marketable heads, mainly at late plantings, but its marketable-yield advantage depended on the season. Early transplanting of these three reliable cultivars is recommended in the Northern Great Plains.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111360

Authors: Welisson Maciel Barbosa Rennan Fernandes Pereira Caio da Silva Sousa José Paulo Costa Diniz Iwry Dantas de Medeiros Marcelo Sebastião de Sousa Giovanna Lira Evangelista Pinto Maria Rita Gonçalves Lima Maria de Fátima Cândido Oliveira Alberto Soares de Melo José Félix de Brito Neto Roseano Medeiros da Silva Evandro Franklin de Mesquita

High evaporative demand under semiarid conditions can constrain leaf hydration and carbon assimilation in yellow passion fruit, motivating integrated silicon application and soil mulching strategies. This study evaluated soil-applied silicon (Si) and plant-residue mulch effects on physiology, yield, and fruit quality of Passiflora edulis Sims. A field experiment used a randomized complete block design with a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, comprising five cumulative Si doses (0, 27, 54, 81, and 108 g plant−1), two mulch conditions (presence and absence), and four replicates. Mulch consisted of Cenchrus ciliaris and Megathyrsus maximus residues. Mulched plants exhibited higher predicted stomatal conductance and CO2 assimilation and lower transpiration throughout the evaluated dose range. Increasing Si doses increased relative water content and reduced electrolyte leakage under both conditions. Maximum predicted yields were 31.29 t ha−1 with mulch at approximately 58 g plant−1 and 21.64 t ha−1 without mulch at approximately 55 g plant−1. With mulch, maximum predicted fruit mass and seedless pulp mass reached 327.86 and 114.68 g, respectively. Pulp pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, and the TSS/TA ratio showed quadratic responses. Intermediate Si doses combined with plant-residue mulch favored yield under the evaluated conditions, whereas doses associated with maximum physiological responses and fruit attributes differed.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111359

Authors: Yongxue Yuan Jia Song Wenhui Ding Bo Liu Nianwei Qiu Renjun Wang

Euhalophytes are a group of plants with extremely strong salt tolerance. This study used hydroponically grown Suaeda salsa and Salicornia bigelovii seedlings as model species to probe common features of salt tolerance and photosynthesis among euhalophytes. Exposure to NaCl (100–600 mmol·L−1) for 28 d caused no detectable damage to either biomembranes or photosystem II in the two euhalophytes; moreover, SOD and POD activities were lower than those of the control group. Furthermore, salt treatment increased tissue succulence degree and promoted growth (e.g., more branches and larger photosynthetic organs) in the two euhalophytes. For instance, compared with the control group, plasma membrane permeability (PMP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of S. salsa seedlings grown under 200 mmol·L−1 NaCl decreased by 49.8% and 20.6%, respectively, and the activities of SOD and POD decreased by 75.5% and 87.6%, respectively, whereas the whole-plant fresh weight increased by 94%. These results suggest that 200 mmol·L−1 NaCl is beneficial for the growth of S. salsa. Similar results were observed in S. bigelovii, with an optimal growth salinity of 400 mM NaCl. In saline environments, betaine and Na+ served as key osmotica, promoting water absorption in both euhalophytes. Concurrently, they minimized transpirational water loss through reduced stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tᵣ), thereby limiting salt influx. Although this response mechanism reduced net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the two euhalophytes compensated by increasing the biomass of photosynthetic organs to enhance carbon fixation, and simultaneously downregulated chlorophyll and protein contents to lower metabolic consumption and respiratory rate (Rr). The above shared mechanism of salt-stimulated growth in the two euhalophytes could offer a breakthrough in breeding vegetable crops with improved salt tolerance and higher yield.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111358

Authors: Lichun Zhu Wenchao Wang Zuoran Huang Qian Zhang Zhihua Geng

Sea buckthorn is highly popular due to its rich nutritional content. However, sea buckthorn berries are characterized by thin skins, abundant juice, a concentrated maturation period, and an extremely short shelf life. Therefore, drying has become an important method for the processing of sea buckthorn fruits. The three main drying methods currently used for sea buckthorn—hot-air drying, infrared drying, and vacuum freeze drying—are introduced in detail in this paper. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these processing methods are analyzed. In addition, the existing problems in the research on sea buckthorn drying processes are summarized, and the material properties of sea buckthorn are analyzed. The research progress on the application of new drying technologies in berry materials is also reviewed. Finally, we consider the development direction of sea buckthorn in the field of drying processing, with the hope of providing new insights and references for researchers.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111357

Authors: Aleksandar Stevanović Vera Popović Snežana Knežević Marina Stamenović Marko Popović Vladimir Filipović Snežana Dimitrijević Markola Saulić

Amaranth, flax, and buckwheat were selected as complementary microgreen matrices with distinct botanical origins and research priorities: betalain-associated pigmentation in amaranth, light-responsive quality traits in flax, and rutin- and flavonoid-rich profiles in buckwheat. This narrative review critically synthesizes peer-reviewed evidence on crop-specific nutritional quality, bioactive diversity, precision cultivation, food applications, bioaccessibility, safety, and functional-food potential. Direct evidence from studies explicitly investigating microgreens is distinguished from contextual evidence derived from seeds, sprouts, mature tissues, oils, flours, and processed products; numerical values from these matrices are not transferred to microgreens. Across the three crops, genotype, developmental stage, light spectrum, supplemental UV-B exposure, substrate or hydroponic design, harvest timing, and postharvest management can modify yield and quality-related traits. Pigmented amaranth is especially relevant to betalain- and color-focused applications; flax is a comparatively under-characterized oilseed-derived microgreen with informative light-response evidence; and common and Tartary buckwheat provide strong opportunities for rutin and flavonoid profiling and genotype comparison. The available literature does not support a single numerical ranking across crops, and compositional richness or in vitro antioxidant activity should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical efficacy. Standardized reporting, targeted foodomics, sensory and processing validation, safety control, resource-use assessment, and controlled human studies are priority directions for future research.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111356

Authors: Yan Huo Hongliang Ji Yuxin Wu Han Yang Zhaohe Yuan Zunling Zhu

Sepal doubling in Punica granatum (pomegranate), characterized by calyx splitting and bilayered structure formation, confers distinctive ornamental value but its developmental mechanisms remain poorly understood. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of sepal doubling and screening for associated genes and proteins in pomegranate are of theoretical and practical significance. Herein, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed on sepals from single, double, and proliferated flowers. Overall, 23,630 genes and 5803 proteins were identified, with 5634 quantified at both levels. Pairwise comparisons revealed stronger correlations between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) than between the total gene and protein sets. Because SeSi and SeDo/SePr were obtained from different cultivars, SeSi comparisons are partly confounded by genotype, whereas SeDo vs. SePr is the least cultivar-affected comparison. Cell wall-related terms were detected in the transcriptomic, proteomic and integrated datasets, alongside dominant photosynthesis-related terms in the transcriptomic comparisons. Eleven cell wall metabolism-related DEGs and three cell wall metabolism-related DAPs were identified, including ten concordant DEG–DAP pairs. These candidates included both concordant DEG–DAP pairs and those supported at a single omics level. Among them, cellulose synthase A (CESA), extensin-2 (EXT2), endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase (EG), and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase 16 (XTH16) were associated with bilayered calyx formation, whereas pectinesterase (PE), alpha-galactosidase (α-Gal), xylan α-glucuronyltransferase (α-GLU), and polygalacturonase (PG) were associated with calyx splitting. Two protein-modifying enzymes, serine/threonine-protein kinase (STPK) and serine carboxypeptidase (SCP), were associated with calyx splitting. Additionally, two transcription factors, basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) and cold-shock domain protein (CSD), were associated with sepal doubling. These findings provide a molecular basis for further studies of floral development and type improvement in pomegranate.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111355

Authors: Zehua Chen Chunrui Li Zuying Zhang Linghui Cheng Yihang Huang Kexin Liu Liang Wei Fei Gao Lili Song Han Tao

Anthocyanins, an important class of flavonoids, determine the color quality of many horticultural crops and influence their postharvest quality. Their accumulation is controlled by the phenylpropanoid–flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and by post-synthetic modifications such as glycosylation, acylation, and methylation, which contribute to pigment chemical diversity and stability. To better understand and control anthocyanin beyond conventional breeding, increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs, and chromatin remodeling, regulate anthocyanin biosynthetic and regulatory genes and thereby influence the accumulation of anthocyanins. This review examines anthocyanin biosynthesis and the epigenetic regulation of anthocyanin accumulation in horticultural crops and discusses prospects for targeted quality improvement. We distinguish plant-level epigenetic evidence from downstream evidence on anthocyanin composition, postharvest stability, and bioavailability and identify current gaps in linking epigenetic marks to functional outcomes.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111354

Authors: Sirong Jiang Miaoni Fan Wenjian Wu Zhuang Yang Yubo Li Zhiqiang Xia

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a high-value subtropical fruit crop prized for its unique flavor and nutritional profile. UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the glycosylation of diverse small molecules and play critical roles in fruit development, secondary metabolism, and stress responses, yet this gene family has not been systematically characterized in litchi. Here, we identified 102 LcUGT genes across the 15 litchi chromosomes and classified them into ten phylogenetic subfamilies. Duplication analysis indicated that whole-genome/segmental and tandem duplications were the major drivers. By integrating 212 public RNA-seq samples spanning diverse tissues, developmental stages, and stress conditions, we constructed a comprehensive expression atlas of the LcUGT family and identified candidate genes with divergent spatiotemporal patterns during fruit development. Co-expression network analysis further revealed tissue-specific modules, hub UGTs, and candidate upstream transcription factors associated with aril and seed development, and qRT-PCR assays in an additional cultivar showed expression trends consistent with the transcriptome data. This study provides the first genome-wide characterization of the litchi UGT gene family and offers candidate targets for molecular breeding of fruit quality and stress tolerance.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111353

Authors: Liang Luo Yanyou Wu

Drought severely constrains plant growth and physiological functions, particularly in karst ecosystems where shallow and heterogeneous soils further exacerbate water limitations. However, changes in intracellular water dynamics during progressive drought and their relationship with photosynthetic responses remain poorly understood. Here, we subjected seedlings of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. and Morus alba L. to progressive drought for 16 days under two simulated habitat conditions: rock outcrop (RO) and non-rock outcrop (NRO). At nine progressive drought stages, we measured soil water content (SWC), leaf water potential (Ψ), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gsw), transpiration rate (E), and four impedance-derived intracellular water parameters: intracellular water-holding capacity (IWHC), intracellular water transport rate (IWTR), intracellular water-holding time (IWHT), and intracellular water-use efficiency (IWUE). During progressive drought, SWC declined and Ψ became more negative. IWHC, IWTR, Pn, gsw, and E also declined, whereas IWHT generally increased; IWUE showed species-specific temporal patterns. M. alba L. exhibited earlier declines in Ψ, IWHC, IWTR, and photosynthetic traits, whereas B. papyrifera L. showed more gradual physiological changes and maintained comparatively higher water status. IWHC and IWTR were positively correlated with photosynthetic traits, whereas IWHT showed negative associations. These correlations suggest that intracellular water dynamics may complement conventional measurements for characterizing species-specific responses to drought. In particular, IWHT increased during drought and may reflect a temporal dimension of intracellular water regulation; however, causality and predictive capacity remain to be tested.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111352

Authors: Peltier Aguiar Margarida Arrobas Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues

This study evaluates the performance of seven cover crop species, five legumes, one grass, and one brassica, and their residual effects on a lettuce–lettuce–oat rotation. A completely randomised design with eight treatments and three replicates was established in 12 L pots to assess biomass production, nutrient accumulation, and the effects of cover crops on subsequent crops and soil properties. Legumes produced significantly higher biomass (97.0–152.9 g pot−1) than non-legumes (7.5–11.1 g pot−1). Nitrogen (N) accumulation was also significantly higher in legumes (2.2–3.1 g pot−1) than in non-legumes (0.1 g pot−1). More than 96% of the N accumulated by legumes was derived from the atmosphere, as estimated using the difference method, highlighting the importance of atmospheric N fixation to legume N accumulation under the conditions of this experiment. Differences among legume species were also observed. Although legumes showed lower concentrations of phosphorus (P) and other nutrients in plant tissues, this was attributed to a dilution effect associated with greater biomass production rather than restricted nutrient uptake. Cover crops had marked effects on subsequent cash crops. Crops grown after legumes showed significantly higher biomass, N status, and photosynthetic performance than those following non-legumes or the control. These effects were strongest in the first crop but persisted throughout the rotation. In contrast, non-legumes did not differ from the control. N recovery proved to be a sensitive indicator of these differences, confirming the key role of legumes in supplying N through residue mineralisation. Legumes also influenced soil properties by increasing nitrate availability and promoting slight soil acidification, potentially associated with enhanced nitrification. Overall, the results highlight the importance of species selection in cover cropping, with legumes playing a central role in improving subsequent crop productivity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111351

Authors: Olanrewaju Abolade Lina Sang Xia Lin Jingfei Wang Sai Huang Chunyu Weng Jun Yang Junfang Ren Huilin Zhao Jie Song Huafeng Wang Huiqi Zhao

Bougainvillea is among the most economically and horticulturally important flowering shrubs worldwide, yet its genetic improvement is severely constrained by low natural seed-set and frequent embryo abortion. Existing micropropagation protocols rely predominantly on nodal stem segments and thus bypass a totipotent callus phase, limiting their utility for molecular breeding and genetic manipulation. In this study, we systematically evaluated and compared the in vitro morphogenic competence of young leaf versus seed-derived juvenile hypocotyl explants in B. glabra Choisy ‘Light Violet’. Although young leaf explants readily formed vigorous calli on medium containing 2.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 0.2 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), they consistently failed to differentiate into adventitious buds across all tested conditions, indicating an intrinsic morphogenic recalcitrance. In sharp contrast, juvenile hypocotyl explants successfully overcame this developmental block, establishing a complete and highly efficient callus-mediated whole-plant regeneration system. Among six tested combinations of 6-BA, 2,4-D, and kinetin on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, the combination of 2.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D uniquely induced compact, actively dividing callus that spontaneously initiated bud primordia within 25 days, achieving the highest adventitious bud differentiation rate of 90.4 ± 2.5%. Regenerated shoots rooted most effectively on half-strength MS (1/2 MS) medium supplemented with 1.25 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.75 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), reaching a rooting rate of 95.2 ± 0.7%. Crucially, the entire developmental sequence from callus induction on hypocotyl segments and de novo bud organogenesis to shoot elongation was coordinated on a unified single medium (2.0 mg/L 6-BA + 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D), substantially streamlining the operational process and enhancing multiplication efficiency. This robust protocol provides a practical pipeline for high-efficiency mass propagation and establishes an indispensable cellular foundation for future genetic transformation and molecular breeding in Bougainvillea.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111350

Authors: Yuan Jiang Jie Wang Hongjiang Xie Yabing Li Xiao Liang Chengquan Yang Jie Wei

Kuerle Xiangli (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu) is a high-quality, distinctive pear variety native to Xinjiang, China. The Xinjiang region has a short growing season and a long winter dormancy period. Consequently, traditional seedling propagation methods suffer from issues such as long cycles, low uniformity of seedlings, limited annual growth, and low transplant survival rates. This study utilized 2-year-old betulifolia pear (Pyrus betulifolia Bunge) as rootstock to investigate key technologies for the factory-based grafting and propagation of Kuerle Xiangli, aiming to establish an efficient and controllable technical system. The results indicate that side grafting demonstrated the best overall performance; the established industrialized grafting system achieved higher graft and transplant survival rates, with the seedling growth cycle extended to 9.5 months; 26 °C was the optimal healing temperature, ensuring graft survival while effectively preventing premature root exposure; a composite substrate of garden soil, yellow sand, and organic fertilizer (8:1:1) significantly promoted seedling growth; 30 cm × 35 cm non-woven fabric root-restricted containers strike a balance between seedling growth and production costs; pear rootstocks with a stem diameter of 20–25 mm offer the best overall performance. The integrated application of the aforementioned technical parameters can significantly improve the survival rate and quality of grafted seedlings, providing technical support for the standardized, large-scale, and factory-based production of high-quality large Kuerle Xiangli seedlings.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111349

Authors: Do-Gyun Park Nayeong Kwon Sooyeon Lim Jin Hee Lee Yeon Jin Jang Yeo-Eun Yun Jinsu Lee Dong-Shin Kim Jae-Han Cho

Fresh-market balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) roots were evaluated at 0 °C to distinguish dehydration- and decay-limited storage. A 30 μm polyethylene liner (PE30) and woven polypropylene (PP) sacks were compared with and without washing, using three packages per combination in each of two commercial source lots. Package-unit mass loss and visible decay were summarized over 16 weeks using defect-specific endpoints and the marketable-mass retention index (MMRI). PE30 mass loss was 1.4–2.6%, compared with 32.5–39.5% under PP, which reached the dehydration stopping rule. PE30 treatment-mean times to 20% visible decay were 5.5–18.0 weeks, interpolated between fortnightly observations; these differ from PP dehydration endpoints. In one lot, week-16 PE30 decay averaged 15% after washing versus 75% without washing, but statistical support was model-dependent. Descriptive week-16 ΔE, firmness and total phenolic content ranged from 5.21–14.31, 22.56–33.72 N and 46.13–56.73 mg GAE g−1 dry weight, respectively. MMRI combined retained mass and sound-root counts, but did not measure saleable mass. PE30 consistently reduced dehydration under the tested conditions, whereas washing did not show a consistently supported decay benefit. Package-unit assessment distinguishes the dominant failure mode when each endpoint retains its specific criterion.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111348

Authors: Milena Trajković Milica Ðorđić Slavica Dmitrović Jasmina Nestorović Živković Nevena Banjac Slavica Ninković Mariana Stanišić

Phloretin is a naturally occurring dihydrochalcone, predominantly found in apple species (Malus spp.), that has recently attracted attention as a phytotoxic allelochemical with potential for bioherbicide development. However, the contribution of oxidative stress to its phytotoxic effects remains unclear and appears to be species-dependent. We investigated the involvement of oxidative stress in phloretin-induced phytotoxicity in Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. by assessing oxidative stress markers alongside enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses. A two-week exposure to 500 μM phloretin significantly increased total phenolic content and ABTS radical scavenging capacity. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased, accompanied by enhanced Mn-SOD band intensity, indicating an intensified mitochondrial antioxidant response. In contrast, catalase (CAT) activity decreased, whereas peroxidase (POX) activity remained unchanged. The increased SOD activity, without a corresponding increase in H2O2-scavenging enzymes, was accompanied by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline levels, suggesting that the antioxidant response was insufficient to restore cellular redox homeostasis and prevent oxidative damage. Overall, our findings demonstrate that phloretin treatment leads to a redox imbalance accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation despite activation of antioxidant defenses, identifying oxidative stress as an important, species-dependent component of its phytotoxicity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111345

Authors: Bing Li Yanke Pu Shuyu Chen Yixuan Xue Xinmei Jia Yuanhong Wang Yujin Yuan

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an emerging non-thermal sanitization technology with potential applications in postharvest preservation. In this study, nine PAW treatments, generated by varying discharge voltage, O2 flow rate, and activation time, were first evaluated for their effects on surface microbial counts, rot incidence, weight loss, and fruit firmness in stored peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). Compared with untreated control, all PAW treatments significantly inhibited the proliferation of surface microorganisms and delayed rot development. Fruits treated with PAW exhibited reduced weight loss and retarded softening. Among these treatments, T9 (8 kV, O2 flow rate 12 mL/min, activation time 30 min; pH 4.28, EC 42.83 μS·cm−1) achieved the best comprehensive performance across the measured indicators and was selected for further analysis. Total soluble solids (TSS) content on a fresh-weight basis was significantly lower in T9-treated fruit at day 4 but higher on days 16 and 20 compared with the control, while titratable acidity (TA) showed no significant difference throughout storage. Physiological and biochemical analyses showed that T9 treatment modulated ROS homeostasis, reduced H2O2 and MDA accumulation, and altered the rise-and-decline dynamics of O2•−, accompanied by enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) at several storage time-points and changes in PAL activity during storage. Total phenolic content and DPPH radical-scavenging capacity were higher in T9-treated fruit, while PAL activity differed significantly from the control only on days 8 and 20. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of fruit collected on days 0, 4, 12, and 20 revealed time-dependent changes in phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and amino acid metabolism. Overall, PAW treatment may delay postharvest quality deterioration and decay in peach fruits, possibly through a combination of reducing surface microbial loads and modulating antioxidant and phenylpropanoid metabolism. These findings provide a basis for PAW application as a residue-free preservation technology.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111347

Authors: Yutong Yan Zifeng Qiao Yanan Wang Ziye Gao Yao Li Chenyang Fu Shuliang Zhao Qingjiang Wang

Biogas residue is a valuable by product of organic waste recycling with potential to enhance soil quality. However, its long-term effects on root-zone soil microbial communities, leaf physiology, and fruit quality in perennial fruit crops such as pear remain poorly understood. In this study, a ‘Huangguan’ pear orchard managed with five consecutive years of biogas digestate application (Z) was compared against a treatment without digestate history (CK) in North China. Soil organic matter, bacterial (16S) and fungal (ITS) community profiles, fruit quality traits, and leaf physiological and anatomical parameters were comprehensively evaluated. Compared with CK, long-term biogas digestate application significantly increased soil organic matter content by 16.45% and 18.27% at soil depths of 20 cm and 40 cm, respectively. Principal coordinate analysis revealed pronounced structural divergence in both bacterial and fungal communities between orchards. At 20 cm depth, the bacterial Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices in Z were significantly higher by 15.23% and 3.98%, respectively, accompanied by a 479.59% surge in the relative abundance of Bacillus. In the 40 cm layer, fungal OTU richness increased by 45.34%. The application of biogas digestate promoted the enrichment of functional microbial taxa, including Solicoccozyma aeria, Sphingomonas, Chaetomiaceae, Lophotrichus, Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Acinetobacter pittii. Fruit soluble solids content in Z consistently exceeded CK by 22.36% in 2024 and 7.56% in 2025. Single fruit weight was 10.21% greater in 2024. Leaf water content increased by 23.08% in 2024 and 97.22% in 2025, alongside a 28.57% enhancement in the leaf effective quantum yield of the photosystem in 2025. Overall, long-term biogas digestate application reshapes the root-zone soil microbial community and augments soil fertility; meanwhile, fruit quality and leaf physiological function were improved in pears.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111346

Authors: Tianying Xu Kumpei Shiragaki Shuji Yokoi Takahiro Tezuka

Hot-water emasculation is used to inactivate pollen during artificial pollination; however, its application is limited to few plant species. Thermal sensitivity of reproductive organs in the Asteraceae family remains unclear. We investigated the effects of hot-water treatment on floral development and seed production in Artemisia princeps. Inflorescences at the bud stage were treated with water at different temperatures (38–50 °C), and the effects on male and female fertility, floral morphology, seed yield, and germination rate were evaluated. Reproductive performance gradually declined with increasing treatment temperature and duration. Flowers treated <46 °C, regardless of duration, and those treated at 46 °C for <10 min retained the ability to produce achenes and viable seeds. However, treatment at 46 °C for 10 min or at 48 °C and above substantially reduced reproductive success, decreased pollen viability, and only shriveled, non-viable seeds were produced. Contrary to greater thermal sensitivity of male reproductive organs commonly reported in several plant species, our findings suggest that female reproductive function appeared to be more sensitive than pollen viability in A. princeps. These findings indicate that both male and female reproductive organs are highly sensitive to hot-water treatment, limiting the applicability of hot-water emasculation in A. princeps.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111344

Authors: Angela Koort Heidi Viilop Leila Mainla Mariana Maante-Kuljus Kadri Karp Priit Põldma Reelika Rätsep Ulvi Moor

This study compared polyethylene terephthalate (PET), corrugated cardboard (CB), cardboard with a cellulose lid (CBC), and rice-straw packages with a polylactic acid lid (RPLA) for half-highbush ‘Northblue’ and highbush ‘Draper’ blueberries. Fruits were stored for 7–8 days at 5 ± 1 °C and 40 ± 2% relative humidity to represent short local distribution conditions in Estonia. Packaging treatments influenced postharvest quality, and responses differed between the two cultivars. In ‘Northblue’, PET maintained lower weight loss (2.4%) and higher firmness (0.51 N) than CB (6.8% and 0.35 N), while CBC and RPLA showed intermediate weight loss and firmness. In ‘Draper’, CB resulted in the highest weight loss (10.6%) and a significant decline in total anthocyanin content from 90 to 49 mg 100 g−1 FW, whereas RPLA showed the highest total phenolic content (207 vs. 144 mg 100 g−1 FW in CB) and organic acid content (0.88 g 100 mL−1). RPLA also maintained the highest organic acid content in ‘Northblue’ (0.65 g 100 mL−1). RPLA showed potential for short-term storage under the low-RH conditions tested, although its performance differed between the two cultivars.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111343

Authors: Xinyue Cui Shuaixi Wang Xiaohan Liu Yuxi Song Zonghan Liu Yujin Yuan Zhuoran Li Yuanhong Wang

Postharvest fruit losses caused by Botrytis cinerea are among the key constraints limiting the development of the tomato industry. Beneficial microorganisms, particularly biocontrol yeasts, play a significant role in the biocontrol of postharvest B. cinerea. Here, a biocontrol yeast strain M61 capable of effectively suppressing postharvest gray mold on tomato fruits was obtained and identified as Clavispora lusitaniae. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by M61 exhibited significant inhibitory effects against B. cinerea. Simultaneous fumigation with M61 VOCs and pathogen inoculation markedly reduced both disease severity and lesion diameter in tomato fruits; moreover, tomato fruits pre-fumigated with M61 VOCs for 3 days exhibited significantly reduced lesion diameter and disease severity at 5 days post-inoculation with B. cinerea. M61 VOCs also significantly increased phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as transcript levels of genes in the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway SlPAL and SlF3H. However, M61 VOCs showed no significant effects on tomato fruits in terms of weight loss rate, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA). Collectively, M61 VOCs inhibited B.cinerea and consequently alleviated gray mold disease severity in tomato fruits for postharvest biocontrol.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111342

Authors: Tianxin Chen Xuan Yin Jiawei Dong Fangxi Fan Shuanghua Wu Qian Li Xin Wang Jianguo Yang Zhoubin Liu Duanhua Wang

Brasenia schreberi J. F. Gmel. (Cabombaceae) is a perennial aquatic herb of significant ecological and economic value in China. In recent years, wild populations have declined drastically due to water pollution, habitat loss, and over-harvesting, making germplasm conservation imperative. During 2023–2025, we conducted systematic field surveys across suspected distribution areas nationwide and identified 16 extant populations spanning 11 provinces, including five newly discovered localities that have not been reported for nearly three decades. The study performed population genetic analyses on 16 B. schreberi accessions to systematically elucidate their genetic diversity levels and population genetic structure. The results demonstrated that extremely high genetic differentiation existed among populations (FST = 0.845), with 84.48% of total genetic variation attributable to inter-population divergence. Population genetic structure analysis partitioned the accessions into eight distinct genetic clusters. Overall genetic diversity was low across populations (observed heterozygosity Ho: 0.0383–0.2166; expected heterozygosity He: 0.0235–0.1620), with allelic richness (Na: 1.0368–1.3650) and effective number of alleles (Ne: 1.0250–1.2810) both at low levels, reflecting the narrow genetic base of wild B. schreberi resources. Among ex situ conserved accessions, most maintained genetic backgrounds highly consistent with their wild progenitors, demonstrating that current conservation strategies can effectively preserve genetic integrity in the short term. However, genetic admixture was detected in Y-CQLB (Chongqing Leibo) and Y-AHZY (Anhui Zongyang), indicating contamination risks during the ex situ conservation process. This study provides important theoretical foundations for the scientific conservation, precise management, and sustainable utilization of B. schreberi germplasm resources.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111341

Authors: Valentina Ancuța Stoian Bojana Brozović Sorin Daniel Vâtcă Zhihui Cheng

Abiotic stressors driven by climate change increasingly threaten global horticultural productivity and crop quality. This closing editorial synthesizes nine multidisciplinary articles published in the Special Issue, focusing on physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms governing crop resilience and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Through comprehensive assessments of biostimulant applications, seed priming memory, and sugar-mediated signaling, the featured studies demonstrate that targeted exogenous treatments such as amino-acids, seaweed extracts, and melatonin effectively alleviate heat, drought, and salinity damage. Furthermore, research highlights the role of genetic regulators like flavonol synthase (ZjFLS) and tissue culture stress in metabolic reprogramming. Long-term studies reveal persistent physiological benefits of seed priming on photosynthetic efficiency and dry matter allocation in fruit crops. Altogether, this Special Issue addresses the knowledge gaps by bridging fundamental cellular responses with applied agronomic practices. To ensure sustainable horticultural production under escalating environmental pressures, future research must prioritize multi-stress field trials, epigenetic mechanisms underlying stress memory, multi-omics integration, and standardized field protocols for biostimulant management.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111340

Authors: Vera Kheir Nabil Nemer

Lebanon combines a long viticultural history with strong topographic, climatic, and biological diversity, yet its wine sector faces challenges related to identity, climate variability, water availability, environmental sustainability, market competitiveness, and institutional coordination. This review synthesizes archeological, agronomic, genetic, microbiological, environmental, economic, and tourism-related evidence to reassess Lebanese vitiviniculture within a Mediterranean context. Recent molecular studies reveal extensive underexploited grapevine diversity, including locally distinctive genotypes and intra-varietal variation in traditional cultivars. Research on Merwah-associated yeasts and traditional fermentations further suggests that biological distinctiveness extends from grapevine germplasm to fermentation microbiota. Lebanese vineyard studies also demonstrate sensitivity of yield and berry quality to weather variability, while life-cycle assessment identifies opportunities to improve environmental performance from vineyard to bottle. We argue that durable competitiveness is more likely to emerge from differentiation than production scale. A strategic pathway is proposed that integrates terroir characterization, grapevine conservation and evaluation, climate adaptation, sustainable vineyard and winery management, landscape and heritage valorization, and stronger collective governance. Priority research needs include a national terroir atlas, multi-site cultivar trials, long-term climate–vineyard observatories, standardized sustainability indicators, and stronger traceability and origin systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111339

Authors: Vito Aurelio Cerasola Mirko Piani Stefano Bona Jochem Verrelst Antonio Persichetti Francesco Orsini Giuseppina Pennisi Luigi Manfrini Giorgio Gianquinto

Hyperspectral imaging adoption is hindered by high investment costs, and multicollinearity among contiguous bands requires dimensionality-reduction (DR) algorithms, raising concerns about cost-effectiveness for farmers. In this study, we propose a direct comparison between feature extraction and feature selection methods as DR strategies for monitoring the nitrogen (N) status of processing tomato. The hyperspectral reflectance (399–1001 nm) was monitored in a processing tomato experiment with four N levels alongside crop traits (aboveground biomass, AGB; N uptake; N nutrition index, NNI). Gaussian process regression (GPR) was trained in two DR scenarios, (i) feature extraction using principal component analysis (GPR-PCA) and (ii) feature selection, with a sequential backward band removal (band analysis tool, BAT, in ARTMO software (v3.30); GPR-BAT), to identify the most informative key bands. The GPR-PCA achieved the highest mean accuracy for AGB, whereas for N uptake and NNI GPR-BAT yielded comparable estimation performance. Selected bands were located in the NIR for all variables, in the red-edge for N uptake and NNI, and in the blue region for NNI, and were interpreted as candidate spectral regions. Based on the identified bands, two candidate multispectral sensor configurations were proposed for N monitoring: an AGB–NNI scenario (6 bands) and an AGB–N uptake scenario (5 bands). These findings suggest the potential of task-specific multispectral sensors for crop N monitoring, although NNI accuracy (RMSE ≈ 0.11 NNI units) remains insufficient for decisions close to the fertilization threshold.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111338

Authors: Lucia Giordano Gianpiero Marconi Tommaso Frioni Julian Garcia Berrios Gianmarco Alfieri Andrea Bellincontro Danilo Fabrizio Santoro Emidio Albertini Alberto Palliotti

Excessive flavonol accumulation in berry skin under high solar radiation may increase the risk of quercetin-related instability in red wines. In 2024, a field trial was conducted on ‘Sangiovese’ grapevines grown in a non-irrigated vineyard in central Italy to evaluate the effects of a novel β-carotene-based bio-protector (NBP). The product was applied once at veraison at 1% or 2% (v/v). At harvest, yield components and technological maturity parameters were assessed; berry-skin phenolics and carotenoids were quantified by HPLC, and the expression of CHS, CHI, FLS, and a MYB regulator was quantified by RT-qPCR. NBP application did not significantly affect yield components or must composition. In contrast, both NBP concentrations reduced quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, as well as kaempferol derivatives, while flavan-3-ols were unaffected. Lutein content increased in treated berries, reaching the highest levels in 2% NBP vines, whereas β-carotene remained unchanged. Consistent with these findings, gene expression analysis showed downregulation of flavonol-biosynthetic transcripts, with FLS exhibiting the strongest repression. Overall, a single NBP application at veraison effectively limited flavonol accumulation under warm, high-radiation conditions without compromising yield or ripening. Differences between the two NBP concentrations were more evident for lutein accumulation than for flavonol reduction, suggesting distinct metabolic responsiveness of these pathways to the treatment.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111337

Authors: Xiaoyan Sun Shengli Lin Xiaolin Cai Yang Li Zheng Zeng Li Zhang Dexian Kang Xingxing He Yuanyuan Guo Qin Chen Guijun Su Huanzhong Song Jieling Deng Chonglie Ma Zhendong Chen

Shoot regeneration is an important prerequisite for many plant transformation and genome-editing protocols, but responses can vary among commercial cultivars. We screened 43 Luffa cultivars, recorded as 21 ridged and 22 smooth types, on four MS-based media using seedling-derived cotyledon and cotyledonary-axis explants. At a common six-week endpoint, 10,433 of 10,517 explants formed callus (99.20%), 2074 showed browning (19.72%), and 353 produced a recognizable small shoot bud and/or young leaves (3.36%; descriptive 95% Wilson CI: 3.03–3.72%). Twenty-five cultivars were shoot-positive on at least one medium, whereas 18 were negative on all four. Cuihua2212 had the highest pooled response (60/250 (24.0%)). A cultivar-clustered, denominator-weighted binomial-family generalized estimating equation gave a global medium Wald χ2(3) of 7.48 (p = 0.058). In six exploratory pairwise comparisons, C exceeded D (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.30–4.88; BH-adjusted q = 0.039). The medium-adjusted ridged/smooth OR was 2.54 (95% CI: 1.04–6.17), with substantial uncertainty and sensitivity to cultivar composition. Frequent callus formation, therefore, coincided with infrequent visible shoot recovery under the conditions tested. The screen identifies candidates for independent regeneration optimization; it does not establish a callus-derived shoot pathway, species-wide differences or transformation competence.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111336

Authors: Pengxue Jia Yixin Ke Xintong Gao Enduo Liu Kailong Wang Zhongping Chai

Eight- to nine-year-old Korla fragrant pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) trees were used to evaluate the dose effects of a combined Ca–Mg–B foliar formulation on leaf nutritional and physiological traits and yield. A distilled-water control (CK) and three foliar spray treatments were established: L-CaMgB (0.1% Ca + 0.3% Mg + 0.15% B), M-CaMgB (0.2% Ca + 0.4% Mg + 0.25% B), and H-CaMgB (0.3% Ca + 0.5% Mg + 0.35% B). Foliar application increased leaf concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B, as well as SPAD values, leaf area index (LAI), single fruit weight, and yield, to varying degrees; these variables showed an increasing-then-decreasing trend with increasing concentration, with M-CaMgB performing best. Under M-CaMgB, leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B concentrations increased significantly by 59.09%, 21.04%, 49.38%, 51.41%, 40.27%, 73.53%, 53.29%, 26.35%, and 160.73%, respectively; SPAD and LAI increased significantly by 20.01% and 47.88%; Rubisco, SOD, CAT, and PAL activities were significantly enhanced by 171.41%, 127.26%, 128.90%, and 79.31%; and yield increased significantly by 33.78%. Correlation analysis revealed that Rubisco activity was highly significantly and positively correlated with N, P, Ca, and B (p < 0.01); yield showed the strongest correlations with LAI, PAL, CAT, and Rubisco, was highly significantly and positively correlated with N, P, K, Ca, Cu, Zn, and B (p < 0.01), and was significantly and positively correlated with Mn (p < 0.05). Mantel tests indicated that the association between mineral nutrients and leaf physiological traits was the strongest (r = 0.85, p < 0.001), followed by those between physiological traits and yield traits (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and between mineral nutrients and yield traits (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). These exploratory results indicate strong associations among mineral nutrient accumulation, leaf physiological traits, and yield formation, suggesting that improved mineral nutrient status under the suitable Ca–Mg–B treatment may accompany enhanced leaf physiological performance and yield, whereas this coordinated association weakened at the higher application level. Based on these preliminary results, foliar co-application of 0.2% Ca fertilizer, 0.4% Mg fertilizer, and 0.25% B fertilizer is recommended for 8–9-year-old Korla fragrant pear trees, as it effectively improved leaf nutritional and physiological traits and achieved gains in both efficiency and yield.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111334

Authors: Tianyu Wang Zina Li Xi Tian Huachun Sheng Zhenba Cuo Yuan Liu Lamu Jia Wenbing Li

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are extensively involved in plant growth, development, and stress responses. In eukaryotes, the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism is of paramount importance, as it not only provides energy for organisms but also contributes to cell wall biosynthesis in plants. Given that distinct sugar states are perceived by specific sugar sensors, BRs and sugars exhibit multifaceted interactions. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of how BRs and sugars reciprocally regulate each other’s metabolism, as well as the proteins that serve as integration nodes for BR and sugar signaling pathways. Furthermore, the mechanism by which BRs modulate sugar transport is elaborated in detail, whereas the regulation of BR transport by sugar signals remains unreported. This review aims to provide novel targets for crop breeding by systematically synthesizing the crosstalk between BRs and sugars.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111335

Authors: Lianfeng Duan Xiaojin Wang Shouchao Yu Zelong Wang Xinnan Zhou Xinli Xia Weilun Yin Jun Li

Conventional division of newly developed daylily cultivars is constrained by a low multiplication rate, limiting the rapid production of uniform planting material. In this study, young rhizome and scape explants of Hemerocallis ‘Betty Woods’ were used to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol and evaluate the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) on in vitro induction and proliferation. Surface disinfection, shoot induction and multiplication, rooting, and acclimatization were systematically evaluated. A suitable rhizome disinfection treatment used 75% ethanol for 30 s followed by 2% sodium hypochlorite for 10 min, whereas a suitable scape treatment used the same ethanol treatment followed by 2% sodium hypochlorite for 5 min. The selected rhizome induction medium was MS supplemented with 2.0 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), 0.2 mg L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and 0.1 mg L−1 TDZ, resulting in 83.3% adventitious shoot induction and 4.62 shoots per explant. For scapes, MS supplemented with 1.0 mg L−1 6-BA, 0.2 mg L−1 NAA, and 0.05 mg L−1 TDZ produced callus induction and shoot differentiation rates exceeding 80%. The selected multiplication and rooting media were MS + 1.0 mg L−1 6-BA + 0.1 mg L−1 NAA + 0.005 mg L−1 TDZ and half-strength MS + 0.3 mg L−1 NAA, respectively. A peat: vermiculite: perlite mixture (3:1:1, v/v/v) was selected for acclimatization. Overall, low TDZ concentrations enhanced induction, differentiation, and proliferation, and the optimized protocol provides a practical approach for rapid clonal propagation and large-scale production of Hemerocallis ‘Betty Woods’.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111333

Authors: Ivana Varga Monika Tkalec Kojić Josipa Jović Dejan Agić Tomislav Vinković Dario Iljkić

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a widely cultivated aromatic and medicinal plant valued for its culinary use, essential oils, and diverse bioactive compounds with nutritional and pharmaceutical significance. Zinc biofortification using nanoparticles (NPs) represents a promising approach for improving the nutritional value of aromatic and medicinal plants. This study evaluated the effects of foliar application of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on growth, biomass production, and mineral composition of thyme grown under controlled conditions. Plants were treated three times at seven-day intervals with ZnO NP suspensions at 0, 30, 60, and 90 mg L−1 (43; 86 and 129 µg Zn plant−1 respectively). Foliar Zn application did not significantly affect plant height, branching, shoot length, fresh or dry biomass, or derived morphological indices, although Zn60 showed the highest plant height and biomass per branch. In contrast, Zn accumulation showed a pronounced dose-dependent response. Zn concentration increased from 31.83 mg kg−1 in the control to 68.41 and 99.94 mg kg−1 under Zn60 and Zn90 treatments, representing approximately 2.15- and 3.14-fold higher Zn concentrations, respectively. Foliar treatments also modified the concentrations of several macro- and micronutrients, while Fe and Cu remained relatively stable. Zinc concentration was positively correlated with Fe, N, Cu, S, and Ca, while Fe and Cu concentrations remained relatively stable across treatments. In general, ZnO NP foliar application effectively enhanced Zn accumulation in thyme without significantly compromising plant growth, indicating its potential for agronomic biofortification.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111332

Authors: Ivan A. Timofeenko Yuriy N. Malyar Valentina S. Borovkova Ekaterina A. Dranichnikova Sergey A. Marchenko Vladislav A. Ionin Arina Manevich Iuliia Anokhina Yury V. Trofimov

This narrative review critically examines microgreen roots as an understudied side-stream fraction generated during the production of fresh functional foods. It focuses on the potential use of roots from different microgreen species as sources of phenolic compounds, vitamins, pigments, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, organic acids, and other low-molecular-weight metabolites. A supplementary targeted literature search identified only six studies directly investigating the chemical or biochemical characteristics of microgreen roots, of which only one examined extractable organic bioactive compounds. Accordingly, findings from harvested microgreens, sprouts, mature roots, and root exudates are treated as indirect comparative evidence rather than proof of root-specific chemical composition. The effects of growing media, light, mineral nutrition, and stress on biomass production and the accumulation of bioactive compounds are discussed separately, together with methods for obtaining aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111331

Authors: Nayeong Kwon Ji Weon Choi Ji-Hyun Lee Do-Gyun Park Sooyeon Lim Yeo Eun Yun Yeon Jin Jang Jinhee Lee Dong-Shin Kim

Lance asiabell roots (LAR; Codonopsis lanceolata) undergo substantial physicochemical and biochemical changes during prolonged storage, but their responses to different low-temperature conditions remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of storage temperature on the long-term quality of LAR stored at −4, −2, 0, and 4 °C for up to 5 months. Weight loss increased throughout storage and was highest at −2 °C after 5 months, whereas the lowest decay rate was observed at 0 °C. Storage at −4 °C resulted in a marked decrease in firmness and greater changes in cross-sectional color, while shoot emergence occurred only at 4 °C during the later storage period. Total phenolic content and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities generally increased during the middle stage of storage and subsequently declined. Tangshenoside I and lobetyolin showed different temperature-dependent responses, with relatively higher tangshenoside I at 4 °C and lobetyolin at 0 and 4 °C. PCA and correlation analyses indicated that physical deterioration, internal color changes, and antioxidant-related responses were interrelated during storage. These findings provide practical information for commercial storage and distribution of LAR under different low-temperature conditions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111328

Authors: Federico De Angelis Veronica Giorgi Davide Neri

Orchard intensification has transformed fruit production through the combined adoption of higher planting densities, dwarfing rootstocks, localized irrigation/fertigation, and increasingly mechanized orchard management. While aboveground outcomes are well documented, belowground responses remain fragmented across species, orchard contexts, and measurement approaches. This systematic review synthesizes field-based evidence on how orchard intensification and its main operational drivers are associated with root system architecture (RSA) and root plasticity in fruit trees. Following systematic searching and study selection, we performed a narrative synthesis because heterogeneity in species, orchard age, intensification metrics, root assessment methods, and reported traits precluded robust quantitative meta-analysis. The reviewed evidence was more frequently structured around co-occurring drivers—particularly irrigation geometry, rootstock vigor, and soil physical constraints—than around planting density manipulations alone. Root distributions were often reported as predominantly shallow and spatially concentrated within managed zones, especially along tree rows under localized irrigation, with shifts in vertical and lateral allocation that appeared context-dependent. These responses varied with species, genotype, and pedoclimatic conditions, suggesting that intensification does not impose a single deterministic RSA outcome, but rather constrains the potential root zone volume, defined here as the soil volume theoretically available for root growth, within which root distribution may be plastically modulated. Overall, we propose an interpretative framework that may help organize the available evidence by distinguishing (i) the structural definition of an effective rooting domain under intensive management and (ii) plastic modulation of root distribution within that domain. The review also highlights a major evidence gap: the scarcity of factorial field experiments that isolate planting density from irrigation design, genotype, and soil physical constraints.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111330

Authors: Xiaotao Fan Xuewei Zhao Xi Zhao Yongyu Chen Wenhui Li Siren Lan Danqi Zeng

Pholidota chinensis is an orchid with both medicinal and ornamental value. Due to overharvesting and limited natural reproduction, its wild populations have declined sharply. Although aseptic sowing enables large-scale propagation, climate-driven extreme heat poses a threat to seedling production. However, the physiological responses and propagation potential of P. chinensis plantlets under heat stress remain poorly understood. This study examined six-month-old in vitro-grown plantlets under four temperatures (34 °C, 36 °C, 38 °C, 40 °C) for up to 96 h. The common 0 h measurements were used as a pre-treatment baseline, and no parallel time-matched 25 °C control was included. Photosynthetic pigment characteristics were assessed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, while PSII photochemical efficiency was evaluated using chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm). Pigment estimates showed non-monotonic variation among the four chamber-temperature conditions and exposure durations. At 34 °C, total chlorophyll concentration decreased from the common 0 h pre-treatment baseline of approximately 6.9 mg L−1 to approximately 5.5 mg L−1 at 96 h, corresponding to approximately 80% of the initial value. Under the 36–40 °C conditions, total chlorophyll concentrations exhibited substantial temporal fluctuations rather than a consistent decline with increasing temperature or exposure duration. In contrast, Fv/Fm showed a clearer numerical decline across the four chamber–temperature conditions at the 96 h endpoint. Selected spectral absorbance variables showed significant positive covariation across treatments (r = 0.708–0.983, all raw p < 0.001). At the 96 h endpoint, mean Fv/Fm showed a progressive decrease across the four chamber–temperature conditions, with values of 0.50, 0.45, 0.41, and 0.25 under the 34 °C, 36 °C, 38 °C, and 40 °C conditions, respectively. Because each temperature was imposed in a single incubator, these between-condition differences should be interpreted descriptively and cannot be separated from potential chamber-specific effects. At 36 °C, Fv/Fm showed a modest increase from 0.40 at 72 h to 0.45 at 96 h, whereas Fv/Fm remained more persistently suppressed at 38 °C. Contrasting response patterns were observed under the 36 °C and 38 °C chamber-temperature conditions; however, whether this pattern represents a reproducible temperature-dependent transition requires confirmation using independently replicated incubators and finer temperature intervals. Across the 16 chamber-temperature × stress-duration combinations, mean Fv/Fm showed a positive descriptive association with mean proliferation coefficient (Pearson’s r = 0.798, 95% CI = 0.500–0.927, n = 16). Because the analysis was based on treatment-combination means grouped within four single-incubator temperature conditions, the association does not establish Fv/Fm as an independently validated predictor of regenerative performance. These findings indicate that absorbance-based pigment estimates and PSII photochemical efficiency exhibited distinct response patterns under the tested conditions. The association between Fv/Fm and regenerative performance suggests that chlorophyll fluorescence may have potential value as a physiological indicator, although its predictive capacity requires further validation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111329

Authors: Wei Luo Zhihan Li Miaolian Xiang Yingying Yang Yongqi Fu Erxun Zhou Yiming Zhu

Anthracnose diseases, caused by Colletotrichum spp., compromise both preharvest yield and postharvest quality of horticultural crops worldwide. Many Colletotrichum species infecting fruits and vegetables exhibit hemibiotrophic or functionally hemibiotrophic infection patterns: in numerous systems, infections initiated before harvest remain symptomless for a variable period and become aggressive as host ripening and senescence proceed. This switch is modulated by secreted effectors and virulence factors. Apoplastic effectors suppress extracellular pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), whereas cytoplasmic effectors target immune hubs, hormone signaling and chloroplast metabolism to prevent premature host cell death. At the transition, stage-specific enzymes and toxin-like proteins drive necrosis, tissue maceration, and decay. Although multi-omics has accelerated effector identification, functional redundancy and scarce in planta validation in natural horticultural hosts remain limiting. This review synthesizes how Colletotrichum effectors contribute to biotrophic compatibility, may participate in the biotrophy-to-necrotrophy transition, and support necrotrophic colonization. Because quiescent infections are initiated and conditioned in the field long before harvest, management of pre- and postharvest anthracnose must span the field-to-storage continuum—susceptibility-target breeding, preharvest diagnostics of quiescent infection, bio-inspired peptide and compound design, and targeted inhibition of virulence. We identify the conceptual and methodological bottlenecks that must be overcome.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111327

Authors: Alexey A. Ananev Nikolay N. Nityagovsky Andrey R. Suprun Konstantin V. Kiselev Olga A. Aleynova

Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas act as effective plant growth promoters, realizing their potential through a complex of physiological mechanisms—from phytohormone synthesis to nutrient mobilization and suppression of phytopathogens. These properties position Pseudomonas strains as promising candidates for the development of environmentally friendly biopreparations in sustainable agriculture. The study presents a comprehensive characterization of the Pseudomonas marginalis RA62c-B2 strain isolated from Amur grapevine (Vitis amurensis), combining genome-wide analysis with laboratory and plant-based experimental validation. The genome of P. marginalis RA62c-B2 comprises 6,620,267 bp and encodes 6545 protein-coding sequences. Genomic analysis revealed a suite of functional genes that support plant growth promotion, including those engaged in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinin biosynthesis, organic acid production, nitrogen metabolism, phosphorus and potassium mobilization, iron assimilation, sulfur metabolism, resistance to osmotic and oxidative stress, and bioremediation potential. In conjunction with genomic data, metabolite profiling by HPLC-MS provided functional validation of the strain’s biosynthetic pathways: tryptophan metabolites (indole-3-acetaldehyde and indole-3-carboxaldehyde) were identified, along with two cytokinins (trans-zeatin and N6-isopentenyladenine), detected in the P. marginalis RA62c-B2 culture extract. Furthermore, a single inoculation of rice seeds with P. marginalis RA62c-B2 significantly enhanced the growth parameters of seedlings and 30-day-old plants. These phenotypic effects are consistent with the strain’s genetic profile, reflecting its multifaceted capacity to promote plant growth through multiple complementary mechanisms.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111326

Authors: Alejandro Antonio Prado-García Jorge Alberto Acosta-Gallegos Víctor Montero-Tavera Ricardo Yáñez-López Juan Gabriel Ramírez-Pimentel Cesar Leobardo Aguirre-Mancilla

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production is severely constrained by water deficit, affecting approximately 60% of global production. Identifying genotypes that combine high yield with phenotypic stability under rainfed and water-limited conditions is critical for sustainable production in climate-variable regions. One hundred bean genotypes were evaluated across six environments defined by two locations (Celaya, Guanajuato, and La Llave, Querétaro), two growing seasons (2023–2024), and two moisture regimes at Celaya (rainfed and rainfed plus rescue [2023] or supplemental drip [2024] irrigation), using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications per environment. Drought tolerance indices (GMP, STI, DSI) calculated from the Celaya 2023 rainfed versus rescue-irrigation contrast and GGE biplot analysis were applied to characterize genotypic adaptation and stability. The environment explained 44.1% of the total sum of squares for grain yield, and the G × E interaction (22.5%) exceeded the genotype effect (12.5%). Compared with 2024, a moisture deficit (14.7 mm vs. 88.2 mm in 2024) in September 2023 reduced the mean rainfed yield at Celaya by 24%, and rescue irrigation increased the yield by 57.3%. STI and GMP identified genotypes with high productive capacity under contrasting moisture conditions (STI > 1.30 and rainfed yield > 1450 kg ha−1): FJ 6X6 T33 (STI = 2.169), GPO 69 1E 18 FM (STI = 1.769), FR21 Gpo 69 8 L7 FJ (STI = 1.697), SCR 16 (STI = 1.679), G69 SEL 16 FM (STI = 1.558), Trat 9 SEG 61 FJ (STI = 1.480), and FR-21 GP 061 60 L-7 (STI = 1.322). Among these, G69 SEL 16 FM, Trat 9 SEG 61 FJ, and FR-21 GP 061 60 L-7 also showed lower relative susceptibility to moisture deficit (DSI = 0.785, 0.958, and 0.997, respectively), a performance dimension not captured by STI or GMP alone. The Celaya 2023 stress-tolerance ranking showed a significant positive association with grain yield performance across four additional, independent environments not used in the index calculation (Spearman’s ρ = 0.495, p < 0.001), and SCR 16 ranked first among all 100 genotypes in terms of both the independent and overall six-environment means. Interspecific lines P. SaltilloXTA-245-1-2-2 and P. SaltilloXTA-245-1-2-4 showed superior specific adaptation under severely limiting rainfed conditions at La Llave in 2023. GGE biplot analysis differentiated three preliminary environmental groupings in the Bajío region, suggesting differential patterns of genotypic adaptation across contrasting production conditions. Multi-environment evaluation revealed germplasm accessions with both broad and specific adaptations to rainfed and water-limited conditions in the Bajío region. The integrated approach combining tolerance indices, independent-environment validation, and GGE biplot analysis provides a useful methodological framework for the breeding of drought-resilient common bean.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111324

Authors: Tiago Ledesma Taira Munir Mauad André Luís Duarte Goneli Carolina de Arruda Queiróz Taira Luan Marlon Ribeiro Rayner Bueno Peinado Jackeline Schultz Soares Nereu Augusto Streck José Carlos Sorgato

Specific information on the nutritional management of cut sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is scarce, particularly considering its biomass dynamics, which differ from grain varieties by prioritizing inflorescence development and stem support. This study aimed to determine dry matter (DM) accumulation and the dynamics of macronutrient and micronutrient uptake in the aboveground biomass of the cultivar ‘Vincent’s Choice’. A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with seven destructive samplings performed between 8 and 49 days after emergence (DAE; R5 stage—commercial harvest). Data were fitted to a three-coefficient Gaussian model to identify the Inflection Point (IP), which indicates the maximum daily uptake rate. The estimated maximum DM accumulation in the whole plant was 53.89 g plant−1, with the stem surpassing the leaves as the main structural sink from 36 DAE onwards. The sequence of total nutrient accumulation at harvest was: K > N > Ca > Mg > S > P > Mn > Zn > B > Cu. Potassium (2.36 g plant−1) and nitrogen (1.10 g plant−1) were the most demanded nutrients, showing synchronized IPs between 32 and 34 DAE. Nutrient remobilization from vegetative tissues to the capitulum was observed during the final stages. In conclusion, the critical window for nutritional demand occurs between 22 and 43 DAE. Modeling the accumulation dynamics of dry matter and of the ten nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn), together with their inflection points, provides a technical basis for precision fertilization programs, enabling the synchronization of nutrient supply with actual crop requirements.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111325

Authors: Danilo Loconsole Giuseppe Cristiano Nazim S. Gruda Barbara De Lucia

Green compost is a promising peat substitute in container nursery production, but plant responses are often species-specific. This study evaluated three growing media containing 0, 36, and 72% (v/v) green compost, replacing none, half, or all of the peat fraction, combined with three fertilization protocols (unfertilized, organic, and organo-mineral), on growth, biomass, biomass allocation, and leaf macronutrients of Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Fertilization was the main factor affecting growth in both species, with the organo-mineral protocol giving the highest values, whereas substrate composition did not affect aboveground growth. In Photinia, the highest compost proportion reduced root fresh weight and increased leaf K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, mainly under organic fertilization, without improving growth; unfertilized plants allocated more biomass to roots only in the peat-based substrate. In Star Jasmine, complete peat replacement did not reduce plant dry weight. However, root fresh weight decreased, and unfertilized plants in the peat-free substrate did not differ from fertilized ones. Green compost can therefore replace up to half of the peat in Photinia and all of it in Star Jasmine, provided that adequate fertilization is supplied. These results, from one growing cycle and compost batch without a mineral-only control, need confirmation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111323

Authors: Haochen Jiang Yubin Wang

Green fertilization technologies (GFTs) have been widely promoted to support sustainable orchard production in China’s apple industry, yet their associations with current-period economic outcomes remain insufficiently understood. This study examines the relationship between GFT adoption and the fertilizer expenditure-based output ratio (FEOR) among 409 surveyed apple-growing households in Shandong Province, China, together with heterogeneity across subsidy conditions and technology components. FEOR is defined as physical apple output per CNY of fertilizer expenditure and is therefore a physical-to-monetary ratio rather than a measure of agronomic nutrient-use efficiency or overall farm profitability. Under the maintained assumptions of an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model, the estimated adopter-specific counterfactual difference is −1.185 log-points. Complementary estimators yield negative but substantially different estimates, and inference is subject to methodological limitations, including numerical instability and insufficient covariate balance and overlap in some alternative estimators. In a separate OLS interaction analysis, the average marginal adoption–FEOR association is −0.958 log-points when evaluated at no subsidy receipt, compared with +0.147 log-points, which is not statistically significant, when evaluated at subsidy receipt. Exploratory technology-specific regressions indicate a negative conditional association for organic fertilizer substitution, a positive conditional association for soil testing and formula fertilization after accounting for co-adoption, and no statistically significant conditional association for integrated water-fertilizer management. These technology-specific estimates are constrained by substantial co-adoption and possible selection bias. Separate regression-adjustment analyses indicate associations with higher fertilizer expenditure and lower physical output, describing the components of FEOR rather than identifying causal mechanisms. Importantly, the survey did not record the year of initial GFT adoption or adoption duration. The findings therefore describe contemporaneous fertilizer expenditure–output associations and cannot establish whether the observed differences represent temporary transition costs or changes in economic performance following adoption.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111322

Authors: Wei Wang Qinghua Ye Rongping Ren Yuan Yuan Qian Xie Qingxi Chen

Flower color is a core ornamental trait. Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait., a famous raw material for jasmine tea and fragrance, produces white flowers with extremely low seed-setting, which limits its hybrid breeding. Jasmine petals naturally accumulate pigments under biotic/abiotic stress or senescence, while relevant studies on its regulatory mechanism are limited. Here, we established a stable artificial system to reproduce petal coloration, defined four petal developmental stages, and identified cyanidin 3-rutinoside as the main pigment. At 0 h, petal abscisic acid (ABA) was at a relatively high level, and salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene (ETH) peaked at 12 h. Cyanidin 3-rutinoside initiated accumulation at 24 h and peaked at 36 h. By integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets, we uncovered the regulatory TF-gene-metabolite network linked to pigment formation and pinpointed two key structural genes, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene (DFR) and anthocyanidin synthase gene (ANS), whose expression surged over five-fold and tightly correlated with pigment accumulation, highlighting their core functions in anthocyanin biosynthesis. JsWRKY70 and two MYBs were further identified as potential regulators of flavonoid and anthocyanin pathways. These findings deepen the understanding of jasmine petal coloration at metabolic and transcriptional levels, and reveal the molecular basis of its flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111321

Authors: Xiaohan Yuan Zhehui Zhu Fan Wang Jieyu Lin Syeda Hamna Hanyang Lin

WRKY is one of the major transcription factor (TF) families in plants and is involved in various biological processes. However, studies on WRKY TFs are lacking in Stewartia, an early-diverged genus of Theaceae. This study aims to identify and analyze the WRKY members in S. gemmata, a deciduous tree with horticultural potential. We predicted their potential roles and explored their evolutionary relationships with those in other Theaceae species. Our study identified 87 WRKY genes in S. gemmata, which were classified into three groups (group I, II, and III). Groups I and II-c contained the most SgWRKY genes, a pattern consistently found in the other four Camellia species examined, providing a basis for further investigation into the potential roles of these genes in functioning. In addition, we revealed gene expression patterns in leaves and floral organs with qRT-PCR validation, identifying four SgWRKY genes (SgWRKY24, SgWRKY84, SgWRKY67, and SgWRKY77) that were upregulated in multiple comparisons across flowering stages. Collinearity and selection pressure analyses further supported sequence conservation and the presence of purifying selection among analyzed gene pairs. Cis-acting element prediction and enrichment analyses also suggested that these four SgWRKYs may play roles in plant development, stress responses, and secondary metabolism regulation. Collectively, our findings lay the foundation for further functional genomics of SgWRKY genes and provide insights into the evolution of WRKY TFs in Theaceae.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111320

Authors: Yanguang He Siqin Liu Yuanlin Guan Yang Zhao Yuge Li Chunyan Zhang Yuanyuan Si Shixing Wang Jiahui Wang Yanzhi Feng Junhui Wang

GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR (GRF) proteins constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of phosphoserine/phosphothreonine-binding adaptors that orchestrate multiple signaling pathways governing plant development and adaptive responses to environmental cues. Here, we performed a genome-wide characterization of the GRF family in Paulownia fortunei, a commercially important fast-growing timber tree, and identified 15 PfGRF genes that are non-uniformly distributed across nine chromosomes. Phylogenetic reconstruction assigned these genes into two distinct clades, ε and non-ε, both characterized by conserved motif compositions and exon–intron structures. Promoter analysis uncovered a wide spectrum of cis-regulatory elements associated with hormone signaling and stress responses, and synteny examination revealed that segmental duplication, rather than tandem duplication, drove the expansion of this family, with the strongest collinearity detected against Populus trichocarpa. Expression profiling across eight organs demonstrated marked tissue-preferential patterns, with the majority of PfGRF transcripts most abundant in mature leaves and male buds. In addition, PfGRF1 was experimentally verified to localize to the nucleus. Functional assays further showed that PfGRF4–7 possess transcriptional self-activation capacity, whereas PfGRF15 does not, and yeast two-hybrid experiments confirmed a specific protein interaction between PfGRF4 and PfGRF5.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111319

Authors: Wang-Qi Jin Yu-Ting Chen Mei-Yan Lv Jin Zhou Zhen-Zhu Hu Ai-Sheng Xiong Guang-Long Wang

UV-B (280–315 nm) is an ultraviolet waveband in the solar spectrum, which can act as both an abiotic stressor and a signal regulator. This band could be used in protected horticulture and containerized plant growth conditions. Under modern protected cultivation, the enclosed growing environment often lacks natural UV-B radiation, which may have an impact on vegetative growth, degrade nutritional quality, and weaken disease resistance in certain cases; however, such effects are not universal and depend on crop species, cultivars, developmental stages, and cultivation systems. Therefore, UV-B deficiency or supplementation should not be viewed as universally beneficial or harmful. Previous studies have mostly focused on the adverse stress effects of high-intensity UV-B, such as damage to plant cell membranes and photosynthetic apparatus. However, under specific conditions and at appropriate low doses, UV-B irradiation can activate plant-specific light signaling cascades, modulate plant growth and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and has shown potential to improve the morphological traits, nutritional accumulation, and postharvest storability of certain horticultural crops. This paper reviews the molecular mechanisms underlying UV-B perception and signal transduction in plants. It summarizes the regulatory patterns of UV-B on morphogenesis, vegetative growth, and overall quality of horticultural crops. Bottlenecks in current knowledge are discussed in the context of the use of precise UV-B radiation for commercial application. By synthesizing scattered evidence on dose-dependent responses, this review extracts practical parameters—irradiation timing, intensity thresholds, and species-specific sensitivities—that are directly relevant to containerized and protected cultivation. This framework aims to support the development of more efficient, quality-oriented green cultivation systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111318

Authors: Anshuman Singh Ashwani Kumar Giandomenico Corrado Boris Basile Jai Prakash Pradeep Kumar Akath Singh D. S. Mishra Raj Kumar P. C. Sharma R. K. Yadav

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) establishment is strongly constrained by soil salinity, yet comparative evaluations of diverse maternal sources for rootstock-related salinity responses remain limited. In mango, embryo type (polyembryonic vs. monoembryonic) is frequently employed as a proxy for vigour and stress tolerance, yet it is uncertain whether differences in performance are attributable to embryo category per se or to genotypic variation within and between these groups. We evaluated seedlings from 21 open-pollinated mango maternal sources (14 monoembryonic and seven polyembryonic types) under saline irrigation at water electrical conductivities of 0.65, 3.0 and 6.0 dS m−1 over an 18-week period. Growth, biomass, leaf gas exchange, optical pigment indices and Na+ and K+ concentrations in leaves, stems and roots were measured. Saline conditions reduced growth, total dry mass, chlorophyll index, net photosynthetic rate and tissue K+/Na+ ratios, but the magnitude of the response differed markedly among maternal sources. Overall, source-level variation provided more informative screening information than the contrast between embryo categories. Candidates were evaluated using performance at 6.0 dS m−1 and performance retention relative to the control. ’Indonesia’ and ‘Pahutan’ maintained comparatively high values for both traits, retaining approximately 80% and 79% of the control total dry mass and 89% and 86% of the control net photosynthetic rate, respectively. ‘Ceylon’ and ‘Baramasi Vengurla’ maintained high absolute biomass under the highest salinity treatment, whereas M. zeylanica, ‘Kerala-5’, ‘Chandrakiran’ and ‘Peach’ expressed favourable responses for selected physiological traits but differed substantially in plant size or biomass retention. Growth, photosynthetic performance and regulation of ion responses were assessed jointly, providing integrated support to the observed contrasts. The integrated screening framework identified maternal sources whose progenies combined favourable growth, photosynthetic and ion-regulation responses, warranting further evaluation using genetically characterised, clonally propagated and grafted material.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111317

Authors: Xinmei Hu Guoqiang Wang Caihong Zhang

To clarify the responses of tomato stem sap flow to soil water availability and microclimate in an extremely arid region, three irrigation treatments were established in an overwintering solar greenhouse in Kashgar, Xinjiang. The soil at the experimental site is sandy loam: full irrigation (CK, 80–90% field capacity), mild deficit irrigation (T1, 70–80%), and moderate deficit irrigation (T2, 60–70%). Stem sap flow, root-zone soil moisture, and canopy microclimate were continuously monitored to characterize sap flow dynamics, environmental correlations, and time-lag responses across growth stages and weather conditions. Stem sap flow exhibited a clear unimodal diurnal pattern under all treatments. On sunny days, the peak sap flow of CK decreased from 39.62 cm h−1 during the flowering and fruit-setting stage to 20.98 cm h−1 during the mature harvesting stage. Sap flow dynamics under T1 were generally similar to those under CK, whereas T2 showed a marked reduction under high radiation and vapor pressure deficit conditions. Sap flow lagged behind solar shortwave radiation by approximately 30–60 min. Its association with microclimate also varied with growth stage and weather conditions, with solar radiation showing a strong correlation during the flowering and fruit-setting stage and air temperature becoming more closely associated with sap flow during the mature harvesting stage. Compared with CK, T1 reduced irrigation water use by 11.5–30.1% and yield by 10.7–16.5%, while increasing irrigation water use efficiency by 1.2–19.0%. Under the present experimental conditions, maintaining root-zone soil moisture at 70–80% field capacity provided a favorable trade-off among plant water transport, yield, and water saving. Stem sap flow may therefore serve as a supplementary physiological indicator for irrigation management in solar greenhouse tomato production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111316

Authors: Yigong Zhang Jing Li Dongtao Su Pei Yu Jianli Xia Likai Zhang Chunzhen Cheng

Fruit rot caused by Fusarium species represents a significant threat to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai) quality and economic value. In this study, a fungal pathogen designated strain X2 was isolated from rotten watermelon fruit and identified as Fusarium proliferatum (Matsush.) Nirenberg ex Gerlach & Nir through integrated morphological, microscopic, and multi-locus molecular phylogenetic analyses. Koch’s postulates were fully satisfied, confirming that F. proliferatum strain X2 induces water-soaking and softening symptoms on watermelon fruit at relatively high temperatures. However, low-temperature storage at 4 °C strongly suppressed fungal growth and symptom development. Strain X2 produced fumonisins (FB1, FB2, and FB3) in vitro, but all of these mycotoxins were below the limit of detection in infected fruit tissues. Dual-culture assay revealed that three antagonistic Bacillus strains (G3-2, KP3P9 and K13C) can significantly inhibit the growth of F. proliferatum strain X2. Consistently, fruit co-inoculation assays verified that these strains differentially alleviated external and internal rot symptoms caused by the fungus. Biochemically, F. proliferatum strain X2 infection markedly increased cell wall-degrading enzyme (CWDE) activities, whereas co-inoculation with biocontrol Bacillus bacteria suppressed the activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin lyase (PL) and cellulase (CL) in a strain-specific manner. This study identified F. proliferatum strain X2 as a causal agent of watermelon fruit rot and highlights the roles of low-temperature storage and Bacillus-mediated biocontrol in disease suppression.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111315

Authors: Yang Yang Songtong Wan Pengcheng Li Senlin Xiang Jinna Lu Pengyu Zhu Ziyuan Wang Haobo Xu Junshen Lin Chunmei Guo Khurram Ziaf Yuyang Zhang

Chloroplast development and the chloroplast-to-chromoplast transition affect fruit development and quality. To further understand the effect of fruit coloration on fruit quality, tomato fruits with differentially colored shoulders were investigated at the microstructural, pigment, transcriptomic, and metabolic levels. Compared with fruits with a uniformly colored shoulder (US), chloroplast degradation was incomplete in green variegated shoulder I (VSI) fruits, and the number of plastoglobuli increased significantly in both VSI and yellow variegated shoulder II (VSII) fruits. Metabolite analysis showed that the contents of soluble solids, total organic acids, and vitamin C were significantly elevated in VSI fruits. In particular, sucrose accumulation in both VSI and VSII fruits increased to more than five times that of US fruits. Measurements of pigment contents in the fruit shoulder showed that both VSI and VSII fruits had significantly lower lycopene content than US fruits, whereas VSI fruits had higher chlorophyll content. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in pathways related to sugar metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, and abiotic stress responses. In summary, the formation of variegated shoulders in tomato fruits was associated with defective chloroplast-to-chromoplast transition and altered pigment and metabolite accumulation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111314

Authors: Angelica Villalobo-Lopez Karel Vives-Hernández Bryan Ojeda Nelson Herrera-Rodríguez Pablo C. Guerrero

Copiapoa cinerea (Phil.) Britton & Rose subsp. cinerea is a slow-growing cactus endemic to the coastal Atacama Desert and threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and poaching. We developed a seed-based in vitro propagation protocol and tested seed disinfection, explant position, cytokinin dose, auxin dose, phenolic responses, and acclimatization substrate, using the culture vessel or acclimatization box as the experimental unit. Seeds disinfected with 1, 3, or 5% (v/v) commercial bleach (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5% available chlorine) reached 76 to 84% germination after 45 days, with no effect of disinfectant concentration on final germination or germination timing. In a factorial experiment with basal and medial seedling segments and 0, 2.22, 4.44, or 6.66 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), explant position affected all growth variables (shoot number, responsive explants, shoot length, and biomass): medial segments outperformed basal segments by producing 1.85 ± 0.15 shoots per explant (versus 1.12 ± 0.10 in basal segments) with 50% of explants forming new shoots (versus 3% in basal segments). Adding BAP to the culture medium increased the percentage of responsive medial explants from 20% in the control to 86.7% at 2.22 µM BAP, which also yielded the highest proliferation rate (2.33 ± 0.18 shoots per explant), without increasing shoot numbers at higher doses. Apical segments rooted in 47% of cases without growth regulators, and indole-3-acetic acid (1.14 to 5.71 µM) showed a non-significant inductive trend up to 93% rooting. Total phenolics of explant pools ranged from 8.5 to 27.0 mg gallic acid equivalents g−1 dry matter, with the cell-wall-bound fraction accounting for 45 to 86%; phenolic pools responded to explant position and growth regulator dose in a fraction-specific manner, whereas tissue browning was minor. Ex vitro survival reached 98%, and a perlite–organic–granite mixture increased plant height and biomass relative to decomposed granite alone. The protocol supplies plant material for the ex situ conservation of this threatened taxon.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111312

Authors: Guangzheng Guo Zhuanmiao Kang Qin Zhang Fengping He Lingling Yang Yuhui Niu Liang Tao Xinghao Tu Hu Cai Ximei Song Hui Zeng Wenlin Wang

Macadamia integrifolia is a valuable tropical and subtropical crop, yet its large-scale propagation remains constrained by difficulties in adventitious rooting. ‘Guire 1’, the dominant cultivar in Guangxi, China, accounts for over 65% of the local planting area, but its rooting ability and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using one-year-old lignified branches of ‘Guire 1’, we examined structural, physiological, and molecular characteristics during the rooting process. Measurements included nutrient content, oxidase activity, and endogenous hormone levels across developmental stages, while integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify key pathways and genes. The findings demonstrated that macadamia cuttings rooted through the callus formation pathway. During rooting, malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble sugar, and soluble protein levels gradually declined, with no significant changes in later stages. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) gradually decreased, with peroxidase maintaining relatively high activity in later stages. Free proline, abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA) contents peaked at early stages and then decreased, whereas indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) peaked at the root primordium initiation stage. Zeatin riboside (ZR) and salicylic acid (SA)were highest at the initial stage. During the rooting process, a total of 1722 differential metabolites (DAMs), 14,482 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 699 transcription factors were identified. Integrated analyses identified plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism as the crucial pathways involved in macadamia cutting rooting. These pathways regulated hormone balance, lignin synthesis, vascular differentiation, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and energy supply during rooting. This study elucidates the rooting mechanism in macadamia cuttings, supporting germplasm preservation and large-scale propagation techniques.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111313

Authors: Yisen Wang Ming Qian Jingjing Qian Xueping Zhang Yuqian Wang

Stropharia rugosoannulata is an edible, litter-decomposing mushroom that can convert lignocellulosic residues into high-value food, yet field evidence linking cultivation environment, spent-substrate recycling, subsequent vegetable performance, and soil microbial responses remains limited. We first compared mushroom production in open-field, orchard, and plastic-greenhouse environments and then evaluated an orchard-based S. rugosoannulata–vegetable rotation using pak choi, cucumber, cowpea, and wax gourd. Mushroom yield did not differ significantly among environments, whereas orchard cultivation produced larger, more uniformly developed fruiting bodies with higher soluble protein and soluble sugar contents. Relative to non-rotated controls, rotation increased edible yield by 40.19% in pak choi, 32.75% in cucumber, 43.63% in cowpea, and 39.23% in wax gourd. The rotation treatment also increased soluble protein and soluble sugar contents and generally enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the four vegetables. Incorporating spent mushroom substrate increased soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium, with the greatest organic-matter response in orchard soil. Amplicon analysis further showed treatment separation in principal-coordinate space and shifts in dominant bacterial phyla, including Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. These results indicate that orchard cultivation can improve the market-related quality of S. rugosoannulata and that coupling mushroom production with vegetable rotation can recycle residual substrate while improving horticultural productivity and soil fertility. Multi-season trials with complete environmental monitoring and publicly archived sequencing data are required to test the durability and generality of these benefits.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111311

Authors: Chengyue Kuang Lanhua Yang Haixia Shu Ye Tian Dequan Zhu Qiuping Yao Fangfang Da Emad H. Khedr Boyu Dong

Fresh Gastrodia elata tubers are highly perishable after harvest because pathogen infection accelerates quality deterioration and limits their storage and commercial utilisation. This study examined lesion development in wounded, pathogen-inoculated tubers held at 24 ± 1 °C and, in a separate experiment, quality and physiological changes in non-inoculated tubers stored at 4 ± 1 °C. In the inoculation assay, 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) reduced lesion development following inoculation with Fusarium sp. (isolate 1022-1-1) and Aspergillus sp. (isolate 1022-11). During cold storage, SA-treated tubers maintained higher soluble solid content and showed less weight loss, membrane permeability, and malondialdehyde accumulation than controls. SA application promoted the enzymatic activities and transcriptional expression of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. It also activated the ascorbate–glutathione cycle by promoting ascorbic acid and glutathione accumulation, along with increasing the enzymatic activities and transcript abundance of several cycle-related enzymes, including ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase. These responses limited superoxide anion production and excessive hydrogen peroxide accumulation, thereby alleviating oxidative damage. SA enhanced phenylpropanoid metabolism through the upregulation of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumaroyl-CoA ligase at both enzymatic and transcriptional levels, contributing to increased levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin. Furthermore, SA contributed to ATP maintenance by upregulating hexokinase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, H+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase at both enzymatic and transcriptional levels. Overall, SA treatment reduced lesion development in inoculated G. elata tubers and helped maintain the quality of non-inoculated tubers during cold storage.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111310

Authors: Myroslava Hrytsyna Ivan Salamon Ruslan Peleno Vladimira Vargova

In the original publication [...]

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111309

Authors: Osania Emerenciano Ferreira João da Silva Madruga Mariana Casari Parreira Sofia Margarida Pontes Teixeira Raquel Sofia Simões Marques Pires Cinthia Oliveira de Souza Nogueira Augusto Cesar da Silva Bezerra Alan Rodrigues Teixeira Machado

This study investigated biochar production from stranded Sargassum biomass and its effects on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and foliar elemental composition. Biochars were produced by laboratory-scale pyrolysis at 400, 500, and 600 °C and using an artisanal double-drum kiln. The resulting materials were alkaline and mineral-rich, with ash contents of 24.6–42.3 wt% and pH values of 8.4–8.7. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) revealed structural changes after pyrolysis, including the development of rough, porous surfaces. The SEM/EDS semiquantitative analysis indicated relatively high proportions of Na (4.55 wt%), K (4.31 wt%), Ca (2.46 wt%), and Mg (1.75 wt%) in the double-drum biochar, consistent with the mineral-rich composition of the original marine biomass. Lettuce responses varied with biochar application rate. Lettuce response depended strongly on biochar application rate. The 1 t ha−1 rate did not significantly affect plant growth, whereas 12 t ha−1 reduced shoot fresh mass by approximately 45% and decreased plant diameter, rosette diameter, leaf number, and leaf area. Foliar Na concentration increased from 4.95 in the control to 11.50 mg kg−1 at 12 t ha−1, while the Na/K ratio increased from 3.88 to 9.91. The highest application rate was therefore characterized by increased foliar Na and Na/K ratio together with reduced plant growth. These findings highlight the potential of Sargassum-derived biochar for biomass valorization and mineral recovery, while indicating that its high sodium content warrants careful consideration of application rates for lettuce cultivation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12111308

Authors: Marco A. Yáñez Sergio E. Espinoza Yony Ormazábal Eduardo Martínez-Herrera Carlos Magni

Berry fruits from Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz are considered a “superfruit” because of their high antioxidant activity. Currently, most traded berries are wildcrafted from natural populations, threatening the resource’s sustainability, but some efforts are underway to domesticate the species, which may be very versatile in agroforestry and orchard systems. We assessed genotypic variability and stability of ecophysiological and fruit-related traits in A. chilensis clones established at two contrasting sites of northern-central (Panguilemo) and southern (Panguipulli) Chile. At both sites, we measured clones for growth, leaf morpho-physiological, and fruit traits seven years after planting. Overall, there was a significant genotype–environment interaction (G × E) for foliar area (FA) and fruit dry mass (FDM), mainly explained by the higher performance of some clones in the most fertile site at Panguilemo than at Panguipulli. Intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEint) was higher at the drier northern site (+79%) than in Panguipulli, while at the genotype level, it was higher in southern-origin clones. Clonal variation was observed in anthocyanin content (five-fold between the highest and lowest value), but not in polyphenol content. In Panguilemo, FDM was positively correlated with FA but tended to be negatively related to WUEint, indicating a disadvantageous trade-off for future selection. Relationships between gas exchange, twig growth, and fruit traits decoupled at Panguipulli, likely associated with the mild weather. Despite the low number of clones and sites tested, this study provides guidelines for future genotype and trait selection. Deploying orchards with selected clones can reduce pressure on wild populations, contributing to the sustainability of this resource.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101307

Authors: Suzana Pavlović Zdenka Girek Marija Knez Jelena Damnjanović Nevena Vidović Nikolija Krstić Maja Belić

The study evaluated the effects of different LED light spectra on the morphological characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (DPPH) of endive microgreens, and identified biochemical parameters associated with light responses using correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and the Random Forest model. Microgreens were grown under different LED light spectra (blue, red, blue–red, cool white and darkness) in controlled growth chamber conditions under a long-day photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that LED light quality significantly affected all morphological and biochemical traits. The highest fresh weight (0.246 g) and total chlorophyll content (8.475 mg/g FW) were obtained under the b-RED treatment, whereas the highest TPC was recorded under blue light (B; 4.497 mg GAE/g FW). The greatest antioxidant activity was observed under the combined red-blue spectrum (RB; 19.573 mg TXE/g FW), while red light and darkness resulted in the lowest values for most analyzed parameters. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations among photosynthetic pigments, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant potential, with the strongest correlation observed between TPC and DPPH (r = 0.858, p < 0.01). PCA explained 88.8% of the total variance and clearly separated treatments containing a blue light component from those exposed to red light or darkness. Random Forest analysis identified TPC as the most important discriminating variable among LED treatments, followed by stem length, DPPH, and Total Chl. Overall, blue-containing LED spectra, particularly in combination with red light, improved morphological (b-RED) and biochemical characteristics of endive microgreens (RB). The b-RED treatment was the most effective in improving morphological characteristics and chlorophyll accumulation, while the red:blue treatment produced the highest antioxidant activity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101306

Authors: Olaya Pérez-Tornero

Seedlessness, a key market trait in citrus, is governed by interdependent processes whose expression is strongly influenced by genotype and environment. In this study, we integrated complementary experiments conducted on six lemon cultivars to (i) quantify pollen viability and in vitro germination across temperatures; (ii) characterize pollen tube kinetics in vivo; (iii) evaluate fruit set, seed traits, and fruit size under field conditions; and (iv) identify the S-genotypes. Pollen viability was generally high, but in vitro germination was temperature-sensitive, and these results were reproduced under field conditions obtained in the V51 × F49 cross. In vivo, germination on the stigma increased over time, and pollen tubes generally reached the base of the style within 9 days, progressing faster after cross- vs. self-pollination. In field experiments, most cultivars were moderately self-compatible, ‘Fino 49’ was the most self-compatible and ‘Verna 51’ the least; parthenocarpy was consistently low except in ‘Lisbon’. Cross-pollination improved the fruit set in several combinations but did not systematically increase fruit size. The number of seeds per fruit in cross-pollination was similar to that in the self-pollination experiments; however, a substantial proportion of aborted seeds was observed, especially after self-pollination. Together, these results indicate that lemon cultivars are varyingly self-compatible and broadly cross-compatible, with parthenocarpy insufficient to ensure stable seedless production. Breeding and orchard design should therefore consider parental compatibility, temperature windows at bloom, and the limited parthenocarpic capacity of many cultivars.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101305

Authors: Jianlong Lei Yuan Han Xiaoyun Deng Yanghua Yu Li Du

Scientific irrigation can not only achieve efficient water resource utilization but also help improve crop yield and quality. To clarify the effects of different irrigation methods on leaf nutrient status and phyllosphere microbial community structure in Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dingtanensis, this study established three treatments—no irrigation (control), sprinkler irrigation, and flood irrigation—in the Huajiang Rocky Desertification Control Experimental Area in Guizhou, and systematically measured leaf total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents. Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS was used to analyze phyllosphere microbial community composition and to explore its response to leaf nutrient factors. The results showed that leaf nutrient contents did not differ significantly among irrigation treatments (p > 0.05). Flood irrigation had the lowest TK content and relatively large within-treatment variation, whereas sprinkler irrigation showed relatively low within-treatment variation for all nutrient indices. Bacterial Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices did not differ significantly among treatments; the fungal Chao1 index under sprinkler irrigation was significantly lower than under no irrigation and flood irrigation (p < 0.05). The dominant bacterial phyla were Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes under sprinkler irrigation was significantly higher than under flood irrigation (p < 0.05); Firmicutes under flood irrigation was significantly higher than under no irrigation and sprinkler irrigation; in addition, Hymenobacter was significantly enriched under sprinkler irrigation. The dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Under sprinkler irrigation, the relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly lower than under no irrigation, whereas the relative abundances of Basidiomycota under sprinkler and flood irrigation were significantly higher than under no irrigation (p < 0.05). In addition, the relative abundance of Alternaria under flood irrigation was significantly higher than that under sprinkler irrigation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that leaf nutrient indices (TC, TN, and TP) were not significantly correlated with the overall phyllosphere microbial community structure (p > 0.05), whereas TK was one of the potentially important environmental factors influencing the distribution of dominant phyllosphere microbial genera. In summary, different irrigation methods did not significantly alter the leaf nutrient content of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dingtanensis but significantly reshaped the phyllosphere microbial community structure and specifically increased the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Hymenobacter, and other taxa. This study provides preliminary empirical evidence and data support for understanding the regulatory mechanisms by which irrigation measures affect phyllosphere microecology in the cultivation of Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dingtanensis in rocky desertification areas.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101304

Authors: Xiaohua Yan Yue Wu Jian Lyu Guobin Zhang Jihua Yu

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is produced in diverse protected-cultivation systems, whose structures and management create distinct crop-zone environments. Its characteristic fresh aroma is associated mainly with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly C6 and C9 aldehydes. We conducted a focused literature search in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and CNKI using combinations of terms for cucumber, fruit VOCs, aroma or sensory quality, and protected cultivation or greenhouse systems. Primary studies measuring fruit VOCs or sensory attributes were distinguished from physiological, molecular, and non-volatile quality studies used to interpret potential mechanisms. This review synthesizes the LOX–HPL–HI pathway and evaluates how environmental factors and cultivation practices relate to cucumber fruit VOCs under protected production. In a protected-cultivation study, light intensity was positively associated with the daily accumulation of total VOCs and C6 aldehydes, whereas relative humidity was negatively associated with C9 aldehydes. Shading, supplemental lighting, and potassium supply also altered selected compounds under the conditions tested. A recent multi-population greenhouse–open-field comparison reported a higher relative share of alcohols and a lower relative share of C9 aldehydes in field-grown lines, while C6 aldehyde shares were similar between systems. These findings indicate compound-specific responses rather than a uniform effect of greenhouse cultivation. Protected cultivation is therefore best understood as a variable production context in which facility, microclimate, genotype, developmental stage, and management jointly shape the fruit volatile profile. Because chemical VOC measurements do not by themselves establish perceived aroma or overall flavor, sensory evidence is considered separately. By connecting facility-specific conditions with measured fruit VOC responses, this review provides a framework for interpreting and managing cucumber aroma-related traits across protected-cultivation systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101302

Authors: Fan Zhang Ruichao Li Binglei Zhang Lihu Wang

Ornamental plants can survive stress while losing the traits that determine their commercial value. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) connect environmental and developmental signals to protein activity, localisation, and lifetime, offering a regulatory link between stress perception and horticultural performance. This review examines phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and lysine acylation across four areas of ornamental research: membrane regulation in rose immunity, cold-responsive crotonylation and enzyme function in chrysanthemum, senescence and acyl metabolism in petunia, and photosynthetic responses in Rhododendron. A non-exhaustive structured audit of ten selected profiling records describes analytical confidence and functional scope separately, identifying opportunities to integrate proteome measurements, refine site assignments, and connect discovery datasets to native-species experiments. Targeted chrysanthemum studies illustrate the complementary contributions of biochemical residue assays and native genetic tests. Model-plant evidence for SUMOylation, cysteine-redox modifications, S-acylation, N- and O-glycosylation, protein methylation, and limited proteolysis extends the framework to additional regulatory layers. Direct causal links between specific covalent modifications and ornamental quality remain limited. We propose a research agenda combining matched analytical streams, time-resolved measurements, and controlled native perturbations, with flower opening, petal integrity, colour, scent, and vase life as explicit outcomes. Connecting PTM dynamics to protein function, recovery, and quality trade-offs can strengthen the mechanistic basis for improving stress resilience in ornamental plants.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101303

Authors: Jhonny Quintana Mabel Delgado Nelson Bascur Maicol González-González Gustavo Curaqueo Kattia Núñez-Montero Valentina Vallejos Yoselin Cerda Aparna Banerjee Carlos Peña Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau Patricio Arce-Johnson Marjorie Reyes-Díaz

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth and productivity depend on the efficient and coordinated use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). This study evaluated whether P oversupply constrains nutrient-use efficiency and whether selected Antarctic plant-associated bacterial isolates improve N and P utilization in three common bean cultivars. Sapito, Cimarrón, and Zorzal were inoculated with Microbacterium sp. (UA-023-E), Rahnella sp. (UA-025-E), and Bacillus sp. (UA-061-E) at 106, 107, and 108 Colony-Forming Units (CFUs) mL−1. At 14 days after sowing, nutrient-use efficiency, N:P stoichiometry, biomass, root architecture, nodulation, chlorophyll content, and gas exchange were evaluated. Greater P accumulation under P-rich conditions was negatively associated with photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE), biomass, root development, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis, indicating inefficient nutrient utilization. Bacterial inoculation partially mitigated these responses, increasing biomass by up to 34% in Cimarrón, chlorophyll content by 50–60% in Sapito, and photosynthesis by up to 15%. UA-023-E increased nodulation approximately eight-fold in Sapito, whereas UA-025-E approximately doubled root length in Sapito and Cimarrón. Multivariate analyses associated bacterial responses with PNUE, PPUE, N:P ratio, root architecture, and plant performance, showing the most favorable combination: Sapito+UA-025. Overall, plant performance under P-rich conditions depended on coordinated N and P utilization rather than nutrient accumulation alone, with bacterial effects varying among cultivars, strains, and inoculum concentrations.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101301

Authors: Kelsey D. Galimba Santosh Kalauni Niall Millar Ashley A. Thompson Brian J. Pearson

Quince ‘Eline’ (Cydonia oblonga L.) is a cold-hardy rootstock for pear (Pyrus communis L.) that could potentially be adopted by the U.S. pear industry if it can be shown to perform under conditions that have prevented prior quince rootstock adoption. These conditions include colder winters and hotter, drier summers than the European regions where quince ‘Eline’ is currently used. Preplant soaking, the practice of submerging bare-root tree roots in water to rehydrate them following cold storage, will potentially be a critical component of preventing transplant shock if pear orchards grafted to quince ‘Eline’ are to be established in hot or dry areas. This study tested five soaking treatments for ‘Bartlett’ pear grafted on quince ‘Eline’ with a ‘Beurre Hardy’ pear interstem, and measured multiple factors related to tree establishment success throughout the first growing season. The treatments included a 0 h control as well as 24, 48, 72, and 96 h soaking times. The tree weight decreased when not soaked and increased when soaked for 48 or 72 h. Tree health remained similar among the soaking treatments, with all trees surviving, though the health assessment was limited by the use of an ordinal scale. The growth varied, with the 24, 48, and 72 h treatments showing the greatest trunk cross-sectional area and leader length increase. Stomatal-conductance-to-water-vapor measurements, used as a proxy for tree water stress, showed that the 96 h treatment resulted in more highly stressed trees. Altogether, this study identifies the benefit of preplant soaking for ‘Bartlett’ grafted to quince ‘Eline’, and highlights the 24 to 72 h range as a best practice for establishment for U.S. pear growers.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101300

Authors: Ágnes Szepesi

Salt stress poses a global threat to agriculture and food security, and climate change-related harsh conditions significantly worsen it. Polyamines (PAs) are essential nitrogen-containing compounds found in all living organisms. They are well-documented metabolites used to enhance stress tolerance and improve plant growth under salt stress. PA homeostasis depends heavily on their catabolism, which in turn affects antioxidant defense mechanisms and protein translation. Tomato, a crop of significant agronomic importance, contains a high concentration of PAs. PA regulation occurs through synthesis, conjugation, transport or catabolism. This review discusses the role of PA catabolism and its significance in tomato salt-stress responses. This review will show that the sustainable application methods targeting the PA catabolism could be a promising strategy to enhance salt-stress tolerance in tomatoes in modern agriculture.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101299

Authors: Luca Regni Primo Proietti Stefania Nocella Arianna Cesarini Daniele Del Buono

Nanotechnology offers new opportunities to improve plant propagation in vitro. This research assessed how biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) influenced the in vitro proliferation, rooting performance, and biochemical traits in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa ‘Hayward’). Explants were grown for three successive proliferation subcultures on Quoirin and Lepoivre medium containing ZnO-NPs at 0, 2, 6, or 18 mg L−1, and then transferred to an auxin-enriched medium for rooting. Relative to the control, ZnO-NPs significantly raised both the number of shoots per explant and shoot fresh weight, while shoot length, total dry weight, and explant viability were unaffected. A marked increase in callus fresh weight was observed at the highest ZnO-NP concentration. Moreover, ZnO-NPs significantly increased the percentage of rooted plants, while root number and length were not influenced. Biochemical analyses revealed an inductive effect on the photosynthetic pigment accumulation, with total chlorophyll and carotenoids increasing in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, total flavonoid content was significantly enhanced at the two highest ZnO-NP concentrations, whereas phenols and soluble carbohydrates were not affected. Overall, these results show that biogenic ZnO-NPs can positively modulate both morphogenetic and metabolic responses in kiwifruit explants, highlighting their potential to improve micropropagation efficiency.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101298

Authors: Fu Zhao Juxia Wang Lingyu Ni Xinyu Li Zhenpeng Shi Fei Han Xinxin Duan Chongyang Zhang

Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) seed pretreatment commonly involves biological and chemical methods, whereas physical pretreatments such as static magnetic field pretreatment (SMFP) have attracted attention because they are noncontact and offer adjustable treatment parameters. To clarify the effects of SMFP on multiple traits of mung bean across several developmental stages, seeds were exposed to magnetic flux densities of 5 and 10 mT for magnetic treatment durations of 10, 20, and 30 min. Laboratory germination tests and field experiments showed that, under the tested conditions, most SMFP combinations at these low magnetic flux densities resulted in a higher germination rate (GR) than the control. Responses of basal stem diameter (BSD), straw dry weight (SDW), straw-to-grain ratio (SGR), and harvest index (HI) varied among traits and were nonmonotonic. Mean relative chlorophyll content (RCC) fluctuated across observation weeks, and treatment differences were observed for some combinations of observation week and canopy position. No magnetic treatment significantly increased grain yield per unit area (GY) or grain component yields per unit area (GCY) relative to the control. Grain starch content (SC) generally increased, whereas crude protein content (CPC) decreased in most treatments. The interaction between magnetic flux density and magnetic treatment duration significantly affected the maximum shear force of the basal stem (MSFB) and the maximum bending force of the basal stem (MBFB). For paired measurements obtained from individual plants, BSD was positively associated with both maximum force values. Overall, the effects of SMFP on mung bean traits differed among traits, depended on the treatment parameters, and were nonmonotonic; no single treatment combination was suitable for all indicators. These exploratory findings provide a basis for further research across multiple cultivars, locations, and growing seasons.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101297

Authors: Iracy Amélia Pereira Lopes Railene Herica Carlos Rocha Araújo Maria Andreza Silva Daniel Edivan Rodrigues de Souza Flavio José Rodrigues Cruz Alexandre Nascimento dos Santos José Carlos de Andrade Alves Rodrigo Pinheiro Crasto Amaral Ênio Farias de França e Silva Rosilvam Ramos de Sousa Gerônimo Ferreira da Silva

Salinity in irrigation water limits cherry tomato production in arid and semiarid regions, making physiological stress-mitigation strategies essential. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate postharvest quality and bioactive compounds of cherry tomato in response to silicon management under salt stress. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a randomized complete block design in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of five irrigation-water electrical conductivities (0.3, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m−1) and two foliar silicon rates (0 and 1%), evaluated over two growing cycles. Increasing salinity from 0.3 to 4.5 ds m−1 decreased fruit pH from 4.33 to 4.19 in cycle 1 and from 4.24 to 4.12 in cycle 2. Total chlorophyll decreased by 88.5% and 66.8%, and total carotenoids by 76.5% and 40.0%, in cycles 1 and 2, respectively. In contrast, soluble solids (SS) increased from 5.1 to 8.1 °Brix in cycle 1 and from 5.5 to 9.6 °Brix in cycle 2, while flavonoids increased from 2.4 to 4.4 and from 1.0 to 2.5 mg 100 g−1, respectively. Foliar silicon increased mean fruit color values from 45.09 to 47.86 in cycle 1 and from 45.07 to 49.84 in cycle 2, and also increased the SS/TA ratio. Salinity × silicon interaction affected titratable acidity (TA) and anthocyanins. Overall, salinity altered the postharvest chemical and pigment profile, reduced pH and pigment, and increased SS and flavonoid contents. Foliar silicon was associated with the maintenance of fruit color and a higher SS/TA ratio, indicating its potential for maintaining postharvest quality under saline conditions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101296

Authors: Nabela Thomas Maringa Riana Kleynhans Kara-Lee Prinsloo Joseph Malele

Buddleja saligna and Euclea natalensis are widely used in traditional medicine and have ornamental, medicinal, and cosmeceutical value. However, propagation methods for these species remain largely undocumented, highlighting the need for sustainable propagation techniques to support their commercialization. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of temperature on seed germination and seedling emergence, as well as the effects of cutting position, growth medium, season, and plant growth regulator use on vegetative propagation success. Seed germination of B. saligna was highest at 25 °C (96%), with mean germination time (3.1 days), mean emergence time (3.9 days), germination index (145.2), shortest time to 50% germination (2.6 days), and shortest time to 50% emergence (3.98 days). However, the results were not significantly different from those at 20 °C and 30 °C. For E. natalensis, maximum germination (98%) occurred at 20 °C, with no significant differences from 25 °C and 30 °C. For B. saligna, significant interactions between season and cutting position affected leaf and bud formation. The highest rooting percentage (7%) was obtained on stem cuttings treated with DynarootTM 3 (0.8% IBA) and planted in coco peat (M2). However, overall rooting success remained low across all treatments. For E. natalensis, no survival or rooting was observed in any treatment combination. Overall, seed propagation was more effective under the conditions tested than vegetative propagation, which showed low rooting success. Therefore, further research is needed to establish reliable protocols for vegetative propagation in both species.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101295

Authors: Lijuan Wei Jinlian Yuan Yue Zhong Jiayu Zhai Chenglin Li Shouhui Wei Yiqing Liu

Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), including pungent chili types and non-pungent sweet and bell types, are a widely cultivated economic crop with high nutritional and commercial importance. Their postharvest behavior varies considerably with species, cultivar, maturity stage, and ripening physiology. In particular, most sweet and bell pepper cultivars are generally considered non-climacteric, whereas some hot pepper genotypes exhibit climacteric-like or intermediate ripening characteristics. Postharvest quality deterioration caused by vigorous respiration, water transpiration, microbial infection and chilling injury severely restricts the sustainable progression of the pepper industry. This article comprehensively reviews the key factors affecting the postharvest quality retention of peppers, including postharvest physiological changes, storage temperature, and packaging methods. Herein, recent advances in chemical, physical, and non-invasive preservation technologies are systematically summarized, and the underlying mechanisms involving sugar and energy metabolism, ethylene-related signaling, antioxidant systems, defense responses, cell wall metabolism, membrane stability and epigenetic regulation are elaborated. Finally, current application constraints and future research perspectives are thoroughly discussed. The review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for developing green, efficient, and sustainable postharvest preservation strategies for peppers.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101293

Authors: Daniela Fonseca Cristina Cebrián-Tarancón M. Rosario Salinas Nuno Martins Raquel Garcia Maria João Cabrita Rosario Sánchez-Gómez

In the context of climate change, vineyards are expected to face increasing constraints on water availability, with more frequent and severe drought conditions posing a major challenge to grapevine production. Gaining insight into how water availability affects the volatile profile in autochthonous grape varieties could be a valuable way to assess their ability to adapt to drought conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different irrigation treatments (water comfort, moderate water deficit and rainfed) on the volatile composition of Portuguese autochthonous grape varieties, namely Moreto, Tinta Miúda, Tinta Gorda, and Tinta Caiada, in the 2024 harvest. To do that, the free and bound volatile compounds were analyzed by HS-SBSE-GC-MS. Free volatiles were highest under water comfort in Moreto and under rainfed conditions in Tinta Miúda, whereas Tinta Gorda and Tinta Caiada showed limited variation in total free volatiles across regimes. Bound volatiles responded differently, reaching their highest levels under moderate water deficit in Tinta Gorda and Tinta Caiada, while Tinta Miúda showed higher bound levels under water comfort. Overall, octanoic acid, 2-hexenal, vanillin and citronellal dominated the free fraction, whereas the bound fraction was characterized mainly by β-ionol and benzyl alcohol. Overall, during the 2024 harvest, Tinta Gorda and Tinta Caiada showed slight differences in total free-volatile concentrations across irrigation treatments.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101294

Authors: Renée Abou Jaoudé Anna Grazia Ficca Maurizio Ruzzi

Traditional holobiont research has largely focused on bacterial taxonomy, often overlooking the functional diversity among strains within a taxon. Using a phenotype-first approach, we evaluated the responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to culture-enriched rhizosphere microbial communities (transplanted inocula; RMs) derived from three stress-tolerant Mediterranean species: Juniperus phoenicea (JP), Rosmarinus officinalis (RO), and Pistacia lentiscus (PL). Responses were assessed by growth and physiological measurements together with untargeted LC–MS metabolomics on pooled leaf samples. The JP- and PL-derived RMs significantly increased average leaf mass, and all three produced healthy plant phenotypes, whereas only PL-RM significantly enhanced aboveground biomass, with higher leaf mass per area and maintained photosystem II quantum yield despite lower stomatal conductance. Metabolomic analysis revealed a consistent decrease in phenylpropanoids and resistance-associated alkaloids across all inoculated plants, consistent with a shift between primary and defense-related metabolism; PL-RM specifically promoted protective flavonoids, apocarotenoids, and tryptophan-derived alkaloids, whereas JP-RM and RO-RM reduced primary carbohydrates without increasing biomass, possibly reflecting altered carbon allocation. Overall, the three inocula, each from a single donor community, elicited distinct physiological and metabolic responses. By linking plant phenotypes to microbiome-induced metabolic shifts, this host-centered framework offers a scalable strategy for comparing microbiomes and selecting those suited to a given research objective.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101292

Authors: Yaru Di Yu Teng Kunpeng Li Han Sun Qinghai Qiao Zhihong Sun

Tomato is an economically important crop, and its secondary metabolites produced in leaves, fruits, and roots are crucial for environmental stress responses and fruit quality formation. Leaf glandular trichomes mainly synthesize defensive compounds, fruit development involves metabolic transitions, and root exudates act as key signals regulating rhizosphere microbial interactions. However, a comprehensive organ-specific understanding of this metabolic network remains fragmented. This review synthesizes the general theoretical framework of plant secondary metabolism. Using tomato as a model plant, it systematically explores the compositional features, functional differentiation, and regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolites across leaves, fruits, and roots. We emphasize how metabolic partitioning orchestrates the trade-offs among defense, quality, and symbiosis, and highlight existing knowledge gaps, including the insufficient functional characterization of root metabolites and unclear cross-organ transport mechanisms. Future studies should focus on: (1) functions of root-specific metabolites (e.g., acylsugars); (2) molecular mechanisms of long-distance transport; (3) genetic associations of metabolic reprogramming during domestication; (4) transcriptional regulation of carotenoid cleavage; and (5) domestication selection modules coordinating defense and fruit quality. Integrating spatial metabolomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and gene editing to construct a spatiotemporal regulatory network will provide a theoretical foundation for the coordinated improvement of stress resistance and fruit quality.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101291

Authors: Suchanuch Jaipinta Kanokwan Panjama Chaiartid Inkham Takashi Sato Suriya Tateing Soraya Ruamrungsri

Nitrogen (N) form is a key factor influencing plant growth, N utilization efficiency (NUE), and sustainable crop production. Information on N-source effects on N uptake, allocation, and growth of ‘Daruma’ wasabi remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and their combination on plant growth, N uptake and allocation, NUE, and selected free amino acid concentrations using a 15N tracer approach in a sterilized sand culture system. Five N treatments were applied: N-free solution; 2.5 mM 15NO3− + 2.5 mM NH4+; 2.5 mM NO3− + 2.5 mM 15NH4+; 5.0 mM 15NO3−; and 5.0 mM 15NH4+. Measurements were conducted at 90 and 180 days after treatment initiation. Plants supplied with NO3− alone or combined with NH4+ showed greater growth and biomass than those under sole NH4+ or N-free conditions. Total plant N increased with NO3− supply. Isotopic analysis showed preferential allocation of NO3−-derived N to leaves and petioles, whereas NH4+-derived N was largely retained in the rhizome. At 90 DAIT, sole NO3− supply showed the highest 15NUE, whereas at 180 DAIT, the NO3−-labelled fractions under sole and mixed-N supply showed the highest 15NUE. NO3− supply was also associated with higher concentrations of selected free amino acids. The 50:50 NO3−/NH4+ supply may therefore support NUE and stable wasabi growth under the present conditions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101290

Authors: Nataly Ftaimi Dóra Drexler Zoltán Pék

The transition from peat-based to sustainable, compost-based growing media represents a critical challenge and opportunity in modern organic horticulture. This review comprehensively analyzes the theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and real-world implications of utilizing peat-free compost substrates for organic tomato seedling production. By integrating the physical, chemical, and biological properties of alternative growing media, we highlight the complex interrelationships that dictate substrate performance. Emphasis is placed on the delicate balance required to avoid phytotoxicity and nitrogen immobilization while maximizing disease suppression through microbial diversity. Furthermore, this paper critically evaluates current standardization protocols, irrigation management strategies, and the integration of rock phosphate and beneficial microorganisms to enhance nutrient cycling. Addressing the broader environmental impacts, we examine the role of peat substitution within the context of the circular economy and waste valorization. Finally, we identify current research gaps and propose future directions focused on protocol standardization, bioaugmentation strategies, and the optimization of compost feedstock combinations. This synthesis provides a robust foundation for developing economically viable, reproducible, and environmentally sustainable horticultural alternatives to peat.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101289

Authors: Jiaqi Wu Yuxin Zhou Benyi Lu Xiong Lin Yiwen Cao Ping Sun Chenfei Chen Jiansheng Shen Yi Wang

Finger citron (Citrus medica ‘Fingered’) is used as a raw material for essential oil extraction due to its distinctive fragrance. Studies have predominantly focused on the fruit, but the aroma components of the leaves have not yet been systematically compared. This study used headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry combined with the relative odor activity value (ROAV) and molecular docking to analyze the volatile compound composition, aroma characteristics, and interactions with human olfactory receptor OR1A1 in leaves of different finger citron cultivars. Based on pooled samples of six individual plants per cultivar, a total of 394 compounds were tentatively identified among all of the cultivars, with terpenoids being the most abundant class. (+)-Sylvestrene, geranial, and neral were the three components with the highest relative contents. Analysis of the pooled samples preliminarily revealed differences in volatile composition among cultivars. Yunfoshou had the relatively highest total volatile content. The volatile profiles of QingyiTongzi, Xiuzhen, Tianci, Cuiyu, Kaixin, and Guangfoshou were relatively similar to each other but differed from those of Yangguang and Yunfoshou. Thirteen key aroma-active compounds were screened using ROAV analysis, and linalool exhibited the highest ROAV across all of the cultivars. The aroma profiles of all of the cultivars were predominantly floral. Molecular docking predictions showed that the binding energies of the 13 key aroma compounds with OR1A1 ranged from −5.859 to −8.652 kcal/mol, with Asn109 and Tyr258 involved in hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, respectively. This study preliminarily reveals the aroma characteristics of leaves from different finger citron cultivars and provides a preliminary theoretical basis for finger citron breeding and the development of deep-processed leaf products.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101288

Authors: Suwanna Kaennakham Nawarat Nantapong Sukanya Aiamla-or Wissanee Pola

This study developed a seed pelleting method using natural and bio-based materials and an effective post-pelleting storage strategy to improve the performance of small-sized seeds with limited internal nutrient reserves. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was used as a model crop. Organic filler materials consisting of diatomaceous earth (DE) combined with bat granular (DE+BG) and DE combined with solid vermicompost (DE+SVC) were evaluated. Furthermore, binding solutions were prepared from gum arabic supplemented with Streptomyces sp. crude extract at 0, 5, 50, and 500 ppm. Non-pelleted seeds were the control. The optimal natural- and bio-based pelleting formulation was subsequently stored with activated clay as a moisture-adsorbing material under ambient and cold conditions for 6 months. Results found that the DE+BG contained higher macronutrient levels (N 2.7%, P2O5 1.4%, K2O 1.0%) than DE+SVC and significantly improved shoot growth under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions without affecting germination. The binders combined with the 500 ppm crude extract significantly enhanced seedling vigor, photosynthetic performance, phytochemicals, and increased biomass accumulation (p < 0.05) in the plant. Importantly, packaging the seed pelleted with activated clay and storing it under cold conditions effectively maintains seed germination and seedling performance during storage. These findings demonstrate a novel integrated natural- and bio-based pelleting and storage approach that enhances early seedling growth and preserves seed quality during storage.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101287

Authors: Tingting Xie Junwei Liu Junning Gong Aoqi Xue Feihong Chang Yinuo Wang Faxin Chen Jiaqi Zhang Jiaying Wang Shishi Luo Yuanyuan Wang Lufeng Fu Sheng-Yen Wu Faxing Chen Honghong Deng

The 2-oxoglutarate/iron-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily contains anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) genes that play vital roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of PsANS genes in Prunus salicina Lindl., and characterized their phylogeny, gene structure, conserved domains, synteny, cis-elements, and expression patterns using qRT-PCR. In total, 137 PsANS members were identified, which were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Structural and conserved-motif analyses revealed conserved domain organization and functional divergence among PsANS paralogs. Synteny analysis revealed high conservation of ANS genes within Rosaceae. Numerous cis-acting elements for light, temperature, phytohormone, and stress responses were predicted in PsANS promoters, implying multi-signal networks modulate anthocyanin biosynthesis. Two contrasting Nai plum genotypes (red-fleshed Huanai and green-fleshed Qingnai) were used to investigate tissue- and cultivar-specific pigment accumulation during fruit development. Spatiotemporal expression and Person correlation analysis showed that PsANS2-35, PsANS7-8 and PsANS6-1 are promising candidate genes associated with fruit anthocyanin accumulation. This study provides candidate gene resources and theoretical support for molecular breeding of colored plum varieties.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101286

Authors: Yueteng Chao Yulong Wang Zhuoyang Xu Ruohong He Rina Yangdao Hongqiang Dong Ping Li

The application of remote sensing technology to monitor agricultural pests and diseases provides an effective approach for rapid and non-destructive assessment of crop health. This study evaluated a UAV multispectral remote sensing framework integrating vegetation indices and SPAD information for assessing Eulecanium giganteum infestation in jujube orchards. Initially, 24 vegetation indices were extracted from canopy multispectral imagery, and Pearson correlation analysis was used for feature screening, resulting in a refined subset of 19 vegetation indices. Seven machine learning algorithms were evaluated during model development, with Grid Search combined with tree-level grouped 7-fold cross-validation for hyperparameter selection. Vegetation indices were used as predictor variables, while SPAD value and infestation severity were treated as response variables in the regression and classification tasks, respectively. During internal model development, the CatBoost-19opt model achieved an R2 of 0.81 and an RMSE of 1.84 for SPAD estimation. On the independent test set consisting of 58 jujube trees, the previously selected model achieved an R2 of 0.84 and an RMSE of 1.56. During internal model development, incorporating measured SPAD values improved pest classification performance, with XGBoost-19sopt achieving an OA of 0.89 and a Kappa coefficient of 0.84. On the independent test set, the measured-SPAD configuration achieved an OA of 0.88, whereas both the VI-only and VI combined with predicted-SPAD configurations achieved an OA of 0.71. Thus, incorporating predicted SPAD did not improve overall classification accuracy relative to using vegetation indices alone. Further model optimization and additional validation across different orchards, growing seasons, and phenological stages are required before the approach can be considered for operational large-scale monitoring.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12101285

Authors: Ahmet Sümbül Funda Koçak Mehmet Yaman Ayten Eroğlu Fatih Demirel Serap Demirel Ahmet Say Metin Gönültaş Monica Popescu Cristian Gheorghe Popescu

Foliar fertilization may increase strawberry yield and quality while reducing the environmental load of soil fertilization. The study was conducted as a field experiment with three replications according to a randomized block design at the Erciyes University Agricultural Research and Application Center (Kayseri, Türkiye). This study investigated the effects of different foliar fertilizer treatments (Dogatech Combi, Axion, and Dogatech Borozinc) on fruit morphological traits, SPAD values, leaf and fruit mineral element composition, and biochemical contents of the ‘Albion’ strawberry cultivar. Foliar fertilizer treatments significantly affected fruit traits. Dogatech Borozinc treatment produced the highest yield per plant (688.00 g plant−1) and the largest fruit, with a mean fruit weight of 15.59 g. Dogatech Combi (T1; 111.84) and Dogatech Borozinc (T3; 111.27) showed significantly higher fruit a* values (redness) than the control treatment (82.27). Dogatech Combi significantly increased mineral concentrations in the fruits, and showed the greatest effect on all elements (particularly Ca (19,453.05 mg kg−1 DW) and K (17,496.42 mg kg−1 DW)). Among the biochemical characteristics, Axion showed the highest total phenolic content in fruits (487.72 mg GAE 100 g−1) and leaves (2042.49 mg GAE 100 g−1). The total flavonoid content of fruits and leaves was highest in the Dogatech Combi, while Dogatech Borozinc exhibited the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity of fruits and leaves and the fruit anthocyanin content. Principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap hierarchical clustering analysis revealed distinct patterns among the fertilizer treatments. Overall, since foliar fertilizer responses vary depending on the formulation, fertilizer selection in strawberry cultivation should be based on production objectives.