The Role of Pre-Harvest and/or Post-Harvest Application of Plant-Based Natural Biostimulants on Horticultural Crops and Fruits
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 80
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biostimulants; pre-harvest and postharvest technology; quality; crops; fruits
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As global agricultural systems face mounting pressures from climate change, resource scarcity, and consumer demand for sustainable practices, the exploration of plant-based natural biostimulants has emerged as a pivotal strategy for enhancing crop/fruit resilience and postharvest quality. This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research addressing the multifaceted roles of plant-based natural biostimulants—derived from algae, plant extracts, microbial formulations, and organic compounds—in optimizing horticultural production. Contributions may explore innovative pre-harvest applications to improve stress tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and yield potential, as well as postharvest interventions to extend shelf life, preserve nutritional value, and reduce spoilage in crops and fruits. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary studies that bridge molecular mechanisms, field-scale efficacy trials, and economic feasibility analyses. This Special Issue aims to establish evidence-based guidelines for adopting these eco-friendly plant-based natural biostimulants across diverse cultivation systems. Researchers and industry experts are invited to submit original articles that advance our understanding of biostimulant synergies, application timing, and dosage optimization for targeted crop/fruit responses.
Dr. Yu Dong
Prof. Dr. Shuo Shen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- plant-based natural biostimulants
- pre-harvest
- postharvest
- application protocols
- physiology
- biochemistry
- quality
- disorders
- horticultural crops
- fruits
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