The Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Ornamental Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, a significant challenge is the increasing impact of climate change and urbanization which affect all crops, including ornamental plants. The ornamental plant sector is a rapidly growing segment of horticulture and agriculture, becoming a major player in green space management, landscape architecture, breeding and the private sector in developing cities. However, to ensure that these plants can be used in good health and retain their ornamental value for a long time, it is worth using plant regulators. These compounds enhance nutrient uptake, photosynthesis and stress tolerance, contributing to the growth, foliage quality and flower production of ornamental plants. They help ornamentals withstand environmental stresses such as drought, heat and disease by strengthening plant metabolism and defence mechanisms, thereby reducing abiotic and biotic stresses that ornamentals have to adapt to during cultivation or subsequent plant application.

The market for biostimulants and plant growth regulators is expanding, as they offer a nature-based solution for sustainable cultivation. In many cases, the use of plant hormones also facilitates the achievement of optimum plant development, important for both plants and growers. Plant growth regulators can contribute to a more sustainable world in which we strive to maintain the delicate balance of ecosystems and biodiversity through ornamental plants.

In our Special Issue, we welcome researchers who would like to contribute to this topic with their research or review articles to further broaden the scope of plant growth regulator applications worldwide. We welcome articles on a wide range of topics in plant application, green space management, plant genetics, plant stress, physiological processes, cultivation and breeding.

Dr. Szilvia Kisvarga
Dr. László Orlóci
Guest Editors

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• plant growth regulator
• biostimulant
• ornamental plant
• abiotic stress
• hormone
• urbanization
• climate change
• PGPB