Optimization of Light: Greenhouse Cultivation of Horticultural Plants
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Protected Culture".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2026 | Viewed by 271
Editors
Interests: vegetable; greenhouse; light; cultivation
Interests: AI; greenhouse; simulation; biotechnology; model
Interests: environmental controle; hydroponics; protected cultivation; horticulture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Light is critical for plant growth, photosynthesis and productivity in greenhouse horticulture. The integration of advanced lighting technologies—such as LED systems with tunable spectra, smart sensors and data-driven control algorithms—has revolutionized greenhouse cultivation. This Special Issue focuses on advancing light optimization through technological innovation, plant-physiology research and sustainable practices to enhance crop yield, quality and energy efficiency while addressing challenges in controlled-environment agriculture. The major scope and themes of the Special Issue includes (but are not limited to) the following: (1) light technology and systems—development and evaluation of LED lighting systems (spectral tuning, intensity control); hybrid lighting systems (natural sunlight + artificial sources); smart lighting systems with real-time feedback and adaptive control; (2) Plant Responses to Light Optimization—Spectral effects on photosynthesis, morphology, flowering and fruiting; influence of photoperiod and light intensity on growth, yield and quality; species-specific light requirements for vegetables, fruits and ornamentals; (3) Sensing, Monitoring and Automation—Use of sensors for real-time monitoring; AI and machine-learning models for predictive lighting control; integration with greenhouse climate-control systems; (4) Sustainability and Energy Efficiency—Life-cycle assessment of lighting systems; energy-saving strategies in high-efficiency greenhouses; (5) Emerging Applications—Light optimization in vertical farms and controlled-environment agriculture; use of bio-based materials for enhanced light delivery.
Dr. Rui Wang
Dr. Wei Cao
Prof. Dr. Yasunaga Iwasaki
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-anonymized 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 2400 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
- greenhouse
- cultivation
- light
- photosynthesis
- sensing
- AI
- sustainability
- biomaterials
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