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Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 17661

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Editors

Dr. Nay Myo Win

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Guest Editor

Department of Horticulture & Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: smart farming; cultivation technology; horticultural machinery; plant physiology; crop production; plant nutrients; bioactive compounds; post-harvest technology; fruit quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Inkyu Kang

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Guest Editor

Department of Horticultural Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
Interests: cultivation technology; post-harvest technology; crop physiology; fruit quality; cell wall; plant metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Jingi Yoo

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Guest Editor

Department of Horticulture & Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: cultivation technology; crop physiology; post-harvest technology; fruit quality; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural activities including the cultivation, production, distribution, storage, and consumption of agricultural products directly influence the quality of natural resources and human life. Advanced cultivation research and technologies are essential for developing climate-smart, resource-efficient, and high-yielding horticultural systems. By adopting modern cultivation technologies, growers can improve productivity, reduce production costs, and ensure food security while maintaining ecological balance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to current scientific knowledge on advanced cultivation technologies for horticultural and fruit crop production. We encourage the submission of manuscripts focused on smart farming systems for fruit crop growing, cultivation techniques for horticultural and fruit crops, mechanization studies for crop production, eco-friendly cultivation and production of fruit crops, the impact of controlled environmental conditions on the development of fruit crops, pre- and post-harvest management strategies to improve the quality of crops, and research on plant metabolites, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant metabolism in fruit crop production.

Dr. Nay Myo Win
Prof. Dr. Inkyu Kang
Dr. Jingi Yoo
Guest Editors

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

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Keywords

smart farming
cultivation technology
crop physiology and quality
mechanization of horticultural crops
precision agriculture
bioactive compounds
antioxidants

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 144 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production

by Nay Myo Win, Jingi Yoo and In-Kyu Kang

Agriculture 2026, 16(7), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16070787 - 2 Apr 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 479

Abstract

The agricultural sector faces the challenge of meeting global food security demands while maintaining environmental stability and sustainability [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

18 pages, 3247 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Photovoltaic-Integrated Tea Plantation on Tea Field Productivity and Tea Leaf Quality

by Xin-Qiang Zheng, Xue-Han Zhang, Jian-Gao Zhang, Rong-Jin Zheng, Jian-Liang Lu, Jian-Hui Ye and Yue-Rong Liang

Agriculture 2026, 16(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010125 - 3 Jan 2026

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1607

Abstract

Agrivoltaics integrates photovoltaic (PV) power generation with agricultural practices, enabling dual land-use and mitigating land-use competition between agriculture and energy production. China has 3.43 million hectares of tea fields, offering significant potential for PV-integrated tea plantations (PVtea) to address land scarcity in clean energy development. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PV modules above tea bushes in PVtea on the yield and quality of tea, as well as tea plant resistance to environmental stresses. The PV system uses a single-axis tracking system with a horizontal north–south axis and ±45° tilt. It includes 70 UL-270P-60 polycrystalline solar panels (270 Wp each), arranged in 5 columns of 14 panels, spaced 4500 mm apart, covering 280 m². The panels are mounted 2400 mm above the ground, with a total capacity of 18.90 kWp (656 kWp/ha). Tea yield, quality-related components, leaf photosystem II (PSII) activity, and plant resistance to environmental stresses were investigated in comparison to an adjacent open-field tea plantation (control). The mean photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) reaching the plucking table of PVtea was 52.9% of the control, with 32.0% of the control on a sunny day and 49.0% on a cloudy day, accompanied by an increase in ambient relative humidity. These changes alleviated the midday depression of leaf PSII activity caused by high light, resulting in a 9.3–15.3% increase in leaf yield. Moreover, PVtea summer tea exhibited higher levels of amino acids and total catechins, resulting in tea quality improvement. Additionally, PVtea enhanced the resistance of tea plants to frost damage in spring and heat stress in summer. PVtea integrates photovoltaic power generation with tea cultivation practices, which not only facilitates clean energy production—an average annual generation of 697,878.5 kWh per hectare—but also increases tea productivity by 9.3–15.3% and the land-use equivalence ratio (LER) by 70%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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18 pages, 891 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Nitrogen Sources on the Phenological Phases of Italian Zucchini Under Salt Stress

by Gleydson de Freitas Silva, Tayd Dayvison Custódio Peixoto, Miguel Ferreira Neto, Antônio Gustavo de Luna Souto, Ricardo André Rodrigues Filho, Kariolania Fortunato de Paiva Araújo, Jussiara Sonally Jácome Cavalcante, Kleane Targino Oliveira Pereira, Rômulo Carantino Lucena Moreira, Pedro Dantas Fernandes, Nildo da Silva Dias, Josinaldo Lopes Araújo Rocha, Alberto Soares de Melo, Alex Álvares da Silva and Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá

Agriculture 2026, 16(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16010062 - 27 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 634

Abstract

Salt stress is one of the most significant abiotic factors limiting plant growth and crop productivity worldwide, especially in arid and semiarid regions. We aimed to investigate nitrogen fertilization strategies using nitrate and ammoniacal sources during different phenological phases of Italian zucchini cv. Caserta to alleviate salt stress. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were as follows: T1 = entire cycle with nitrate nitrogen + 0.50 dS m⁻¹ (control); T2 = entire cycle with nitrate nitrogen + 4.5 dS m⁻¹ (salt stress); T3 = 50% nitrate nitrogen + 50% ammoniacal nitrogen + 4.50 dS m⁻¹; T4 = ammoniacal nitrogen during the vegetative phase + nitrate nitrogen during the reproductive phase + 4.50 dS m⁻¹; T5 = nitrate nitrogen during the vegetative phase + ammoniacal nitrogen during the reproductive phase + 4.50 dS m⁻¹; T6 = entire cycle with ammoniacal nitrogen + 4.50 dS m⁻¹. Under salt stress conditions, Italian zucchini cv. Caserta showed a leaf area of 5783 cm² compared to an average of 4521 cm² under salt stress. Similarly, production per plant reached 1361 g in the control, while under salt stress it averaged only 442 g. However, under salt stress, T2 resulted in higher production compared with T3, T4, T5 and T6, although it was still lower than T1. The use of ammoniacal nitrogen throughout the cycle or during the reproductive phase caused flower abortion. Under salt stress, the application of ammoniacal nitrogen during the vegetative phase (T4) or a 1:1 ammonium–nitrate ratio throughout the cycle (T3) resulted in yields that were comparable to those achieved with nitrate-only fertilization (T2). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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16 pages, 1994 KB

Open AccessArticle

Detecting the Maturity of Red Strawberries Using Improved YOLOv8s Model

by Shengyi Zhao, Chen Fang, Tianzheng Hua and Yong Jiang

Agriculture 2025, 15(21), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212263 - 30 Oct 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1132

Abstract

Strawberry picking relies primarily on manual labor, making it the most labor-intensive stage in strawberry cultivation. Harvesting robots have become essential for strawberry production, and fruit ripeness detection models are critical for picking operations. This study collected strawberry ripeness photographs under various natural environments and enhanced feature expression through diverse image enhancement techniques. Considering practical deployment on harvesting robots, the low-parameter, high-accuracy YOLOv8s was selected as the base model. Leveraging the ease of integration of the Global Attention Mechanism (GAM) within the YOLO model, we incorporated GAM before the SPFF module to enhance the extraction capabilities of both global and local features. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved YOLOv8s achieves excellent performance, with a mAP of 91.5% for three maturity classes and a frame rate of 53 FPS. Compared with other mainstream models, the improved YOLOv8s presented in this paper demonstrates superior detection performance, achieving mAP improvements of 12.1%, 8.0%, 6.1%, 4.6%, and 3.1% over YOLOv3, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7s, YOLOv8s, and CBAM-YOLOv8s, respectively. It also exhibits robust detection capabilities under varying lighting conditions and occlusions, meeting the demands for high precision and rapid performance during harvesting operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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17 pages, 558 KB

Open AccessArticle

Microclimate Condition Influence on the Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A Case Study of the East Adriatic Coast

by Mira Radunić, Maja Jukić Špika, Jelena Gadže, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez and Dan MacLean

Agriculture 2025, 15(21), 2210; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212210 - 24 Oct 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1140

Abstract

The pomegranate cultivar Barski slatki, the most widely cultivated on the Eastern Adriatic coast, was evaluated over one growing season across four growing areas to assess its pomological and chemical properties and antioxidant activity. Results showed that location significantly influenced fruit weight, volume, number of arils per fruit, and both total and individual aril weight, with the Kaštela (CRO) site producing the largest fruits and highest aril yields. Climatic factors, such as precipitation during bud differentiation, flowering, and early fruit development, were found to impact fruit set, aril number, and fruit size. Aril and juice yields, however, remained relatively stable across sites. Notable differences were observed in total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin profiles. Location with higher rainfall occurring during fruit growth favored enhanced phenolic accumulation. Although total anthocyanin content remained consistent among locations, significant variation occurred in aril coloration and composition of individual anthocyanins. In conclusion, microclimatic factors, particularly rainfall distribution, temperature, and altitude, play a decisive role in shaping the physical, chemical, and visual attributes of ‘Barski slatki’. Despite being cultivated under similar Mediterranean conditions, the observed differences across sites highlight the strong adaptability of this cultivar to diverse agroecological environments, while maintaining stable quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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23 pages, 3293 KB

Open AccessArticle

Organic and Mineral Fertilization on the Photosynthetic, Nutritional, and Productive Efficiency of (Ficus carica L.) Subjected to Conduction Systems in a Semi-Arid Region of Brazil

by Agda Malany Forte de Oliveira, Vander Mendonça, Patrycia Elen Costa Amorim, Raires Irlenizia da Silva Freire, Lucas Rodrigues Bezerra da Silva, David Emanoel Gomes da Silva, Fagner Nogueira Ferreira, Semako Ibrahim Bonou, Luderlândio de Andrade Silva, Pedro Dantas Fernandes, Alberto Soares de Melo and Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá

Agriculture 2025, 15(20), 2128; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15202128 - 13 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1109

Abstract

Fig tree growth and development are highly susceptible to variations influenced by abiotic factors and management practices, including fertilization and training systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilization on the photosynthetic, nutritional, and productive efficiency of fig trees subjected to different training systems in semi-arid regions. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, with three blocks and three plants per plot. The treatments consisted of five fertilizer sources (mineral fertilizer (NPK) applied at a dose of 126 g N, 90 g P, and 90 g K per plant (M); and four organic sources—cattle manure (CM), organic compost (OC), chicken litter (CL), and sheep manure (SM), all applied at a dose of 10 kg per plant); and four types of training systems (plants with two branches (2B), three branches (3B), four branches (4B), and espalier). Our results demonstrated that the mineral fertilizer (M) and chicken litter (CL) treatments yielded the highest results, particularly in photosynthetic performance. Fig trees fertilized with mineral fertilizer and subjected to the 3B system showed enhanced net photosynthesis (36.96 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and, consequently, higher productivity of 21.28 t ha⁻¹. Similarly, plants fertilized with chicken litter (CL) under the 4B system produced comparable results. These findings demonstrate that the use of mineral and organic fertilizers, combined with an appropriate training system, is a viable strategy for optimizing fig productivity and profitability in semi-arid conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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13 pages, 1161 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Mechanical Pruning on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of ‘Arisoo’ Apple Trees

by Nay Myo Win, Juhyeon Park, Seonae Kim, Youngsuk Lee, Van Giap Do, Jung-Geun Kwon, Soon-Il Kwon, Jingi Yoo, In-Kyu Kang and Hun-Joong Kweon

Agriculture 2025, 15(20), 2118; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15202118 - 11 Oct 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

Pruning is labor-intensive and increases production costs, while mechanical pruning offers a promising alternative. However, research on its effectiveness remains limited. To address this gap, we evaluated the effects of mechanical pruning over two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) on tree growth, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Arisoo’ apple trees. The treatment included hand (manual) pruning (HP), mechanical pruning (MP), and combined mechanical and hand pruning (MP + HP) applied during winter pruning in a super-spindle-slender-shaped apple orchard. MP significantly reduced pruning time; however, the amount of plant biomass removed was lower in the MP treatment than in the HP and MP + HP treatments. Canopy volume was higher in the HP treatment than in MP and MP + HP treatments; however, the pruning treatments did not affect trunk cross-sectional area or tree yield. Leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen contents were slightly lower in the MP treatment than in the HP treatment in 2023 but were not affected in 2024. The MP treatment also noticeably reduced light penetration within the canopy and produced smaller fruits with lower soluble solids content and poorer coloration at harvest compared to the HP and MP + HP treatments. In contrast, the HP and MP + HP treatments showed similar effects on light penetration, yield, fruit size, and fruit quality; however, the MP + HP treatment significantly reduced the pruning time compared with the HP treatment. Overall, this study found that MP reduced light penetration and produced smaller and poorly colored fruits, whereas a follow-up combination of HP after MP improved pruning efficiency, light penetration, fruit size, and fruit quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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16 pages, 3136 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Objective Nitrogen Optimization in Tea Cultivation: A Pathway to Achieve Sustainability in Cash Crop Systems

by Jinze Pei, Hongyu Yang, Menghan Huang, Xiaojun Yan, Xinran Zeng, Lijin Guo and Liangquan Wu

Agriculture 2025, 15(18), 1949; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15181949 - 15 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1160

Abstract

Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application in tea plantations is a common problem that leads to soil acidification and reductions in both yield and economic returns. To evaluate the impacts of varying nitrogen input levels (0–600 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) on yield, as well as environmental and economic outcomes, a two-year field experiment was conducted. Results demonstrated that when nitrogen application exceeded 150 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, key efficiency indicators—agronomic efficiency (NAE), recovery efficiency (NRE), and partial factor productivity (NPFP) declined markedly. Among all treatments, the 150 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ rate achieved the highest NRE at 28.01%. Moreover, environmental burdens including global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication intensified with increasing nitrogen input. Benefit analysis revealed that yield-based economic returns peaked between 150 and 165 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, whereas the highest ecosystem economic benefit, accounting for both profit and environmental cost, occurred at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Thus, 120 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ is identified as the optimal application rate for maximizing integrated economic and environmental returns while maintaining yield. These findings provide valuable guidance for promoting sustainable nitrogen management in tea cultivation worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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13 pages, 1335 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Seed Priming with Talaromyces ruber Extracts on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Growth

by Álvaro Iglesias-Ganado, Jorge Poveda, Oscar Santamaría, Sara Rodrigo, María I. Pozo and Jorge Martín-García

Agriculture 2025, 15(17), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15171868 - 31 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1405

Abstract

Modern agriculture requires effective and sustainable tools to enhance crop performance while minimizing the environmental impact. In this context, the application of fungal-derived bioactive compounds directly onto seeds represents a promising alternative. In this study, tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum) were subjected to mycopriming treatment using two fungal extracts obtained from the mycelium and culture filtrate of Talaromyces ruber. Two independent greenhouse trials were conducted to assess germination dynamics, morphometric traits, and physiological parameters (chlorophyll content, flavonol index, and anthocyanin index). Although germination rates were not significantly affected, root development was consistently enhanced by the treatments compared with the control group in both experiments. In contrast, no clear improvement was observed in shoot growth or leaf physiological parameters. Overall, the application of T. ruber extracts via seed priming proved to be a feasible strategy to stimulate early-stage root development in tomatoes, potentially contributing to improved seedling vigor and agronomic performance. These findings support the potential use of fungal extracts as practical tools for improving seedling quality in commercial nursery production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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17 pages, 4337 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Ray Tracing Software Performance Based on Light Intensity for Spinach Growth

by Chengyao Jiang, Kexin Zhang, Yue Ma, Yu Song, Mengyao Li, Yangxia Zheng, Tonghua Pan and Wei Lu

Agriculture 2025, 15(17), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15171852 - 30 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1440

Abstract

With the development of modern agricultural technology, plant factories have become an important way to achieve efficient and sustainable crop production. Accurate understanding of the light received by plants is the key to improving the light energy utilization efficiency of lamps and ensuring the benefits of plant factories. Ray tracing technology, as one of the key technologies in plant factories, is of great significance to analyze the growing light environment of vegetables. Spinach has high nutritional value and is loved by the public and is one of the main crops grown in plant factories. In this paper, LightTools, TracePro, and Ansys Lumerical FDTD Solution, which are currently mature light environment tracking software in the field of lighting, are selected as the research objects to investigate their performance in simulating the light environment of spinach leaf surfaces under different planting arrangements and different lamp source distances. The results show as follows: Under the rectangular planting arrangement, the leaves received more light, and the plants grew faster. Different planting arrangements of plants had little effect on the simulation effect of the same kind of software, but the simulation effect of the three kinds of software under the same planting arrangement was significantly different, and the difference between the simulated value and the measured value of TracePro was the least. Further, TracePro was used to trace and simulate the leaf surface light conditions of spinach under a rectangular planting arrangement at different lighting distances, and the simulation results showed that there was no significant difference between the software simulation value and the measured value, and the simulation accuracy was the highest when the distance from the light source was 30 cm. Therefore, TracePro software can accurately simulate the light intensity of spinach leaves during the growth process and is most suitable for monitoring the change of light environment of spinach growth in plant factories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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16 pages, 1037 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Nutrient Losses and Recycling in Sweet Cherry Orchards: A Yield-Based Approach

by Ilias Karampatzakis, Fotis Bilias, Chrysanthi Polychroniadou, Georgia Tanou, Panagiotis Kekelis, Aphrodite Theofilidou, Georgios Giannopoulos, Athina Pavlatou-Ve and Vassilis Aschonitis

Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121312 - 18 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

Mineral nutrition management in sweet cherry orchards remains a critical challenge due to the lack of site-specific fertilization guidelines, particularly in Greece, a significant cherry-producing country. This study aimed to develop a predictive framework for total nutrient losses in sweet cherry orchards by proposing simplified estimations using fresh fruit yield as the sole input variable. Field experiments were conducted in two orchards with distinct rootstocks (MxM 14 and CAB-6P), analyzing soil properties, leaf nutrient status, and uptake patterns on different plant components. Results indicated that despite differences in soil texture and pH, nutrient availability was generally sufficient, with only Fe and Zn marginally below optimal levels in leaf tissue. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct nutrient distribution patterns, with N evenly distributed across fruits, peduncles, and prunings, while K was concentrated in fruits and peduncles, and Ca and Mg predominantly in fallen leaves. Notably, K was redistributed from leaves to fruits under high yields, evidenced by negative correlations between leaf biomass and K uptake. Strong relationships (r² > 0.8) were found between fresh fruit yield and uptake of N, P, K, Mg, B, and Cu, enabling reliable predictions of total nutrient losses. Estimated annual nutrient removals were 85.6 kg ha⁻¹ N, 8.94 kg ha⁻¹ P, 42.7 kg ha⁻¹ K, and 12.0 kg ha⁻¹ Mg, with significant fractions retained in prunings and fallen leaves (e.g., 51.8 kg ha⁻¹ N, 6.2 kg ha⁻¹ P). The developed yield-based models provide a practical tool for optimizing fertilization strategies, while our findings highlight the potential for nutrient recycling through sustainable residue management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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25 pages, 1341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phenological Performance, Thermal Demand, and Qualitative Potential of Wine Grape Cultivars Under Double Pruning

by Carolina Ragoni Maniero, Marco Antonio Tecchio, Harleson Sidney Almeida Monteiro, Camilo André Pereira Contreras Sánchez, Giuliano Elias Pereira, Juliane Barreto de Oliveira, Sinara de Nazaré Santana Brito, Francisco José Domingues Neto, Sarita Leonel, Marcelo de Souza Silva, Ricardo Figueira and Pricila Veiga dos Santos

Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121241 - 6 Jun 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2615

Abstract

The production of winter wines in Southeastern Brazil represents a relatively recent but expanding viticultural approach, with increasing adoption across diverse wine-growing regions. This system relies on the double-pruning technique, which allows for the harvest of grapes during the dry and cooler winter season, favoring a greater accumulation of sugars, acids, and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to characterize the phenological stages, thermal requirements, yield, and fruit quality of the fine wine grape cultivars ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Tannat’, ‘Pinot Noir’, ‘Malbec’, and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ under double-pruning management in a subtropical climate. The vineyard was established in 2020, and two production cycles were evaluated (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). Significant differences in the duration of phenological stages were observed among cultivars, ranging from 146 to 172 days from pruning to harvest. The accumulated thermal demand was higher in the first cycle, with a mean of 1476.9 growing degree days (GDD) across cultivars. The results demonstrate the potential of Vitis vinifera L. cultivars managed with double pruning for high-quality wine production under subtropical conditions, supporting the viability of expanding viticulture in the state of São Paulo. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ showed the highest yields, reaching 3.03 and 2.75 kg per plant, respectively, with productivity values of up to 10.8 t ha⁻¹. ‘Tannat’ stood out for its high sugar accumulation (23.4 °Brix), while ‘Merlot’ exhibited the highest phenolic (234.9 mg 100 g⁻¹) and flavonoid (15.3 mg 100 g⁻¹) contents. These results highlight the enological potential of the evaluated cultivars and confirm the efficiency of the double-pruning system in improving grape composition and wine quality in non-traditional viticultural regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Cultivation Technologies for Horticultural Crops Production)

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