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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Nutrient Absorption and Utilization in Horticultural Crops
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Nutrient Absorption and Utilization in Horticultural Crops

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 1841

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Haidong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: drip fertigation; migration of water and nutrient in soil; water and fertilizer productivity; plant–water–nutrient relations; crop growth model
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Minghui Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
Interests: organic fertilizer; isotope tracing; fertilization pattern; fertilizer use efficiency; nutrient residues and leaching; nitrogen cycle
Prof. Dr. Hanmi Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
Interests: efficient utilization of water and fertilizer; fruit quality; soil environment; precision agriculture
Dr. Yingying Xing

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Interests: irrigation method; plant physiology; soil microorganism; crop quality; efficient utilization of water and fertilizer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimizing nutrition is paramount for sustainable, high-yielding horticulture. Understanding the intricate mechanisms governing nutrient absorption, translocation, assimilation, and utilization efficiency in horticultural crops (fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, medicinal plants) is fundamental to addressing global challenges of food security, nutritional quality, and environmental stewardship.

This Special Issue of Horticulturae invites original research and reviews exploring the frontiers of nutrient dynamics in horticultural systems. We seek contributions investigating the following topics:

  1. Root physiology and uptake: Molecular and physiological mechanisms of nutrient acquisition, root architecture, rhizosphere interactions.
  2. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE): Genetic, physiological, and management factors influencing NUE (N, P, K, micronutrients).
  3. Nutrient partitioning and remobilization: Transport, allocation within plants, and senescence-related remobilization.
  4. Stress interactions: Impact of abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, temperature) on nutrient relations.
  5. Quality and postharvest: Links between nutrient status, crop quality (nutritional, sensory), and shelf-life.
  6. Innovative management: Precision fertilization, biostimulants, organic amendments, microbiome interactions enhancing nutrient availability and uptake.

We aim to compile cutting-edge research advancing our knowledge of nutrient physiology and promoting the development of efficient, resilient, and sustainable horticultural production systems worldwide. We look forward to receiving your valuable contribution to this vital field.

Dr. Haidong Wang
Dr. Minghui Cheng
Prof. Dr. Hanmi Zhou
Dr. Yingying Xing
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • nutrient absorption
  • nutrient partitioning
  • nutrient use efficiency
  • horticultural crops
  • root physiology
  • precision fertilization

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 7168 KB  
Article
Potassium Stress Induces Compensatory Root Adaptive Responses in Trifoliate Orange Through Reconfigured Auxin Signaling
by Chun-Yan Liu, Yi-Yuan Peng, Xinmin Deng and Yong Hao
Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020237 - 15 Feb 2026
Viewed by 504
Abstract
Potassium (K+) is essential for plant growth and development, influencing numerous physiological processes and stress responses. While the importance of K+ in overall plant performance is well-established, its specific effects on root system architecture and the underlying molecular mechanisms in [...] Read more.
Potassium (K+) is essential for plant growth and development, influencing numerous physiological processes and stress responses. While the importance of K+ in overall plant performance is well-established, its specific effects on root system architecture and the underlying molecular mechanisms in woody perennials remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap is particularly significant for citrus rootstocks like trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L.), where root system optimization directly impacts drought resistance, nutrient acquisition, and overall orchard productivity. Here, we investigated how varying K+ concentrations (K0, K2, K6, and K12) affect trifoliate orange seedling development by comprehensively analyzing root architecture parameters, root hair morphology, endogenous hormone levels, and expression patterns of cell-wall-modifying and auxin-related genes. We found that moderate K+ levels (K6) optimized root architectural development while both deficiency (K0, K2) and excess (K12) inhibited overall growth and root architecture but enhanced root hair development. This morphological dichotomy corresponded to distinct hormonal profiles, showing reduced auxin (IAA), gibberellins (GAs), and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels under K+ stress conditions. Gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation of expansins (PtEXPA4, PtEXPA5, PtEXPA7) and reconfiguration of auxin biosynthesis (TAA/TAR/YUC) and transport (AUX/LAX/ABCB/PIN) machinery under non-optimal K+ conditions. Our findings suggest that K+ availability modulates trifoliate orange root development through coordinated regulation of hormone homeostasis and gene expression, particularly within the auxin signaling network. These findings elucidate K+-responsive root developmental plasticity as a potential adaptive strategy, providing valuable insights for optimizing fertilization strategies in citrus cultivation and identifying potential molecular targets for enhancing potassium use efficiency in woody perennials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Absorption and Utilization in Horticultural Crops)
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16 pages, 2265 KB  
Article
Concentration-Dependent Effects of Foliar ZnO Nanoparticles on Growth and Nutrient Use in Young Crabapple Plants
by Qi Zhao, Meimei Qin, Suixia Lang, Mengyao Qin, Lizhi Liu, Qian Li, Dehui Zhang and Lei Li
Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121535 - 18 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 745
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have garnered increasing attention in agriculture due to their potential to enhance plant growth and nutrient use. This research investigates the concentration-dependent effects of ZnO NPs on young crabapple (Malus robusta) plants, addressing gaps in understanding [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have garnered increasing attention in agriculture due to their potential to enhance plant growth and nutrient use. This research investigates the concentration-dependent effects of ZnO NPs on young crabapple (Malus robusta) plants, addressing gaps in understanding how different concentrations influence plant development. A hydroponic experiment was conducted, applying foliar treatments of 200 mg L−1 ZnSO4 (S200) and 200, 500, and 1000 mg L−1 ZnO NPs (N200, N500, N100). The control group (CK) was treated with deionized water (dH2O). Growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and nutrient contents were measured to evaluate the impact of ZnO NPs on plant development and nutrient uptake. The results showed that N200 enhanced growth, increasing plant height by 22.64%, total dry weight by 49.36%, and root length by 116.07%. In contrast, N500 and N1000 induced oxidative stress, elevating H2O2 and MDA by 32.02~54.43% and inhibiting growth. N200 also improved nutrient uptake, increasing K, Ca, Fe, and Zn uptake fluxes by 84.92%, 112.12%, 185.15%, and 149.92%, respectively, whereas N1000 suppressed overall nutrient uptake but increased root Ca accumulation by 64.59%. These findings suggest that ZnO NPs can enhance plant growth and nutrient utilization at low concentrations, with potential implications for agricultural practices involving nanoparticle (NP)-based fertilizers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Absorption and Utilization in Horticultural Crops)
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