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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops
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Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Processed Horticultural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 October 2026 | Viewed by 2493

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhihua Geng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Interests: food quality and safety; food technology; agricultural product processing; food processing; Processing and storage of agricultural products
Dr. Estefanía Valero Cases

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Quality and Safety, Food Technology Department, Miguel Hernández University, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Interests: revalorization of vegetal by-products; vegetable metabolites; development of plant based functional food; nutritional and functional quality of vegetables and plant based products; probiotic microorganism; prebiotic; fermentation; microencapsulation; antioxidants; bioavailability; in vitro and in vivo studies; sensory analysis of foods; functional foods; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops,” focuses on advancing our understanding of the bioactive compounds, nutritional profiles, and functional properties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other horticultural products. We welcome original research, reviews, and short communications exploring topics such as the biosynthesis, accumulation, and regulation of bioactive molecules (e.g., polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins); the impact of genetic, agronomic, postharvest, and processing factors on nutritional quality; and the evaluation of health-promoting effects (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or metabolic activities). Contributions bridging agricultural practices with human nutrition will be particularly valued, with the aim of informing strategies to enhance the nutritional value of horticultural crops and their role in disease prevention and public health.

Dr. Zhihua Geng
Dr. Estefanía Valero Cases
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

  • horticultural crops
  • bioactive compounds
  • nutritional quality
  • functional properties
  • health-promoting effects
  • postharvest processing
  • agricultural practices

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 1180 KB  
Article
Vertical Distribution of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in PA-Producing Weeds and Its Relevance for Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) Contamination Under Field Conditions
by Ilva Nakurte and Gundars Skudriņš
Horticulturae 2026, 12(4), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040417 - 28 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 564
Abstract
The expansion of organic farming in Europe increases the co-occurrence of medicinal and aromatic plant crops and pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-producing weeds, raising serious contamination concerns. This study evaluated the risk of PA contamination in organically grown chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) under field [...] Read more.
The expansion of organic farming in Europe increases the co-occurrence of medicinal and aromatic plant crops and pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-producing weeds, raising serious contamination concerns. This study evaluated the risk of PA contamination in organically grown chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) under field conditions in the North Vidzeme region of Latvia, with particular emphasis on vertical PA distribution in dominant weeds and on whether PA occurrence could be detected in chamomile plants growing adjacent to PA-producing weeds under field conditions. Three commercial fields were surveyed using systematic quadrat sampling to quantify weed density, biomass, and height. PA-producing weeds were segmented into 5 cm fractions, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids were quantified by LC-HRMS. Myosotis arvensis was the dominant species (up to 48,000 plants ha−1), contributing the highest field-level PA load (up to 669.3 mg ha−1), whereas Anchusa arvensis occurred at lower densities (≤2400 plants ha−1) with a total PA load of 104.8 mg ha−1. In both species, PA concentrations increased toward upper plant segments, while contamination hazard at harvest was determined by the amount of PA-bearing biomass in the harvest-relevant zone. No PAs were detected in chamomile samples collected within 10 cm of PA-producing weeds (<LOQ). Under the investigated conditions, contamination hazard was primarily associated with mechanical admixture during harvest rather than soil-mediated transfer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops)
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15 pages, 2620 KB  
Article
Integrated Analysis of Morphological and Physicochemical Traits in “Liuyuehong” Soft-Seed Pomegranate Fruit
by Shubin Zhang, Shuaishuai Sha, Quanlin Cui, Jin Zhang, Fenfen Yang, Wei Lin and Yuansong Xiao
Horticulturae 2025, 11(11), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111369 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 801
Abstract
The grain-level heterogeneity of fruit morphological characteristics significantly determines their sensory performance and intrinsic quality, providing a quantitative basis for commercial grading. This study utilized “Liuyuehong” soft-seeded pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) as experimental material. Fruits were classified into three size grades based [...] Read more.
The grain-level heterogeneity of fruit morphological characteristics significantly determines their sensory performance and intrinsic quality, providing a quantitative basis for commercial grading. This study utilized “Liuyuehong” soft-seeded pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) as experimental material. Fruits were classified into three size grades based on individual fresh weight: large (107–125 g), medium (74–92 g), and small (47–67 g). Fresh weights of whole fruits, exocarp, and outer seed coat were measured for each grade, followed by analysis of key quality indicators, including seed count, 100-seed weight, Brix degrees, pH, single-seed dimensions, vitamin C content, and edible fraction. Subsequently, correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and the entropy weight-TOPSIS method were employed to evaluate the integrated quality of different fruit grades comprehensively. The results indicate that the fruit morphological characteristics of “Liuyuehong” soft-seed pomegranate have a significant impact on its sensory and physicochemical qualities. (1) Large and medium fruits are superior to small fruits in terms of single fruit size, exocarp color uniformity, seed color, and mouthfeel, with large fruits having the highest comprehensive evaluation score (0.7). (2) Mouthfeel is correlated with the number of seeds in the fruit; the number of seeds in large and small fruits shows a significant negative correlation with Brix degrees (p < 0.05). (3) Small fruits exhibit greater individual variation within the group, with outliers and a tendency for late maturation. In conclusion, the fruit morphological characteristics of “Liuyuehong” soft-seed pomegranate significantly affect seed maturity and quantity, thereby determining the fruit’s sensory quality and physicochemical properties. The results indicate that fruits with a single- weight below 70 g commonly exhibit delayed development. It is therefore recommended to raise the lower threshold for commercial grading to above 75 g to enhance overall fruit quality and market consistency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops)
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Review

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24 pages, 1921 KB  
Review
Horticultural Strategies for Enhancing Yield and Quality in Hydroponic Microgreens: A Comprehensive Review
by Jingyi Wu, Tongyin Li, Jiajia Li, Dong Chen and Qianwen Zhang
Horticulturae 2026, 12(5), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050595 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 605
Abstract
Microgreens have emerged as a nutrient-dense specialty crop with great potential to address global nutritional challenges through urban farming and controlled-environment agriculture. While interest in enhancing both the yield and nutritional quality of hydroponic microgreens is growing, a comprehensive synthesis of horticultural strategies [...] Read more.
Microgreens have emerged as a nutrient-dense specialty crop with great potential to address global nutritional challenges through urban farming and controlled-environment agriculture. While interest in enhancing both the yield and nutritional quality of hydroponic microgreens is growing, a comprehensive synthesis of horticultural strategies is still lacking. This gap hinders the development of integrated approaches needed for efficient and targeted quality improvement. This review systematically examines the current literature on horticultural interventions for improving hydroponic microgreen production, focusing on nutrient solution management, light environmental manipulation, substrate selection, genetic potential, and emerging synergistic approaches. Nutrient solution optimization, including appropriate concentration, timing, and targeted biofortification with essential elements, enhances both productivity and nutritional density. Light spectral manipulation, particularly through red-to-far-red ratios or blue-light supplementation, enables precise control of morphology and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Substrate physicochemical properties influence nutrient availability and uptake, while genetic variability among species and cultivars provides the foundation for biofortification efforts. Emerging approaches including biostimulant application, integrated pre- and post-harvest practices, and phenotyping and artificial intelligence integration offer additional avenues for sustainable quality enhancement. This review provides a framework for optimizing hydroponic microgreen production systems to simultaneously achieve high yield and enhanced nutritional quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactivity and Nutritional Quality of Horticultural Crops)
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