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Horticulturae
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Plant–Microbe Interactions and Their Importance for Horticultural Crop Productivity
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Plant–Microbe Interactions and Their Importance for Horticultural Crop Productivity

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (14 February 2025) | Viewed by 3278

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Qiang-Sheng Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
Interests: arbuscular mycorrhiza; citrus; drought stress; glomalin; polyamines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The productivity and resilience of horticultural crops are heavily influenced by beneficial microbes. These symbiotic associations include a variety of beneficial microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and plant-growth-promoting bacteria. Integrating these microbial partners into horticultural crops provides a sustainable approach to augment horticultural yield and quality, mitigate abiotic stresses, and suppress soilborne pathogens.

Mycorrhizal fungi establish mutually beneficial relationships with a wide range of plants, enabling nutrient acquisition, particularly phosphorus, and water uptake, which, thus, boost plant vigor and tolerance to abiotic stress. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria contribute to soil fertility by converting atmospheric nitrogen into an accessible form for plants, minimizing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, plant-growth-promoting bacteria secrete bioactive compounds that stimulate host plant defenses and antagonize phytopathogens, providing a natural means of pest control.

The strategic application of these beneficial microbes in horticulture entails the careful selection and formulation of microbial consortia tailored to specific crop requirements and environmental conditions. Advances in biotechnology and molecular diagnostics enable the precise identification and deployment of the most effective microbial strains. Moreover, the adoption of integrated pest management strategies that incorporate beneficial microbes alongside traditional methods promotes a comprehensive approach to horticultural crop productivity.

To summarize, the orchestration of plant–microbe interactions holds great potential for the future of sustainable horticulture. Based on their power, beneficial microorganisms can optimize crop performance and reduce environmental impact. This Special Issue welcomes relevant research papers and reviews to highlight the complex dynamics of these interactions, as well as applying these valuable microbial friends to increase horticultural crop productivity.

Prof. Dr. Qiang-Sheng Wu
Guest Editor

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

  • mycorrhizal fungi
  • nitrogen-fixing bacteria
  • plant growth promoting bacterium
  • pathogens
  • symbiosis
  • sustainable horticulture
  • biofertilizer
  • stress resistance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1893 KiB  
Article
Identifying Fire Blight-Resistant Malus sieversii Rootstocks Grafted with Cultivar ‘Aport’ Using Monitoring Data
by Aisha Taskuzhina, Alexandr Pozharskiy, Zhulduzay Jumanova, Sagi Soltanbekov, Zhanna Issina, Nazym Kerimbek, Anastasiya Kapytina, Marina Khusnitdinova, Abay Sagitov, Alibi Darubayev, Aigerim Seisenova, Yerlan Omarov and Dilyara Gritsenko
Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101052 - 2 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1191
Abstract
In the present study, the most valuable cultivar ‘Aport krovavo-krasnyy’ was grafted onto M. sieversii genotypes harvested from 11 populations in Dzungarian Alatau and Ile Alatau to identify ones resistant to Erwinia amylovora. The wild apple populations included in the present research [...] Read more.
In the present study, the most valuable cultivar ‘Aport krovavo-krasnyy’ was grafted onto M. sieversii genotypes harvested from 11 populations in Dzungarian Alatau and Ile Alatau to identify ones resistant to Erwinia amylovora. The wild apple populations included in the present research have not been previously explored. Seedling population 10, developed using rootstocks from a M. sieversii population growing in Turgen, demonstrated the highest resistance to Erwinia amylovora, showing no fire blight symptoms and no positive PCR results for E. amylovora during the eight years of monitoring in the Talgar field (Kazakhstan) from 2015 to 2022. The population from Steep Tract (seedling population 1) was also valuable for breeding and reduced the pathogen distribution to below 30%. Genotypes from a genetic reserve (seedling population 5) were the most susceptible among the researched populations, with a disease distribution level of 24–95%. In seedling population 5, trees affected at least twice by the pathogen exhibited wilting, shepherd’s crook formation, leaf necrosis, and occasional exudate droplets, while trees in other combinations primarily showed shoot wilting and leaf death. Fire blight disease also developed more rapidly within the plant in seedling population 5; by 2020, one tree nearly died after only two infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Microbe Interactions and Their Importance for Horticultural Crop Productivity)
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15 pages, 11849 KiB  
Article
Serendipita indica: A Promising Biostimulant for Improving Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Sugar Accumulation in Camellia oleifera
by Wan-Lin Fu, Wei-Jia Wu, Zhi-Yan Xiao, Fang-Ling Wang, Jun-Yong Cheng, Ying-Ning Zou, Abeer Hashem, Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah and Qiang-Sheng Wu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090936 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1114
Abstract
Serendipita indica is a very promising root-associated endophytic fungus that is widely used on various plants; however, whether it affects the growth and physiological activity of an oilseed crop (Camellia oleifera) under field conditions remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed [...] Read more.
Serendipita indica is a very promising root-associated endophytic fungus that is widely used on various plants; however, whether it affects the growth and physiological activity of an oilseed crop (Camellia oleifera) under field conditions remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the effects of S. indica inoculation on root colonization rate, growth rate, photosynthetic parameters, mineral element concentrations and related gene expression, and sugar concentrations and expression of their transporter genes in four-year-old C. oleifera trees in the field. The results showed that the root colonization rate of C. oleifera increased from 3.37% to 9.42% following being inoculated with S. indica. Inoculation with S. indica significantly increased the plant height (46.81%), net photosynthetic rate (69.16%), nitrogen balance index (14.44%), chlorophyll index (21.08%), leaf K (7.4%), leaf Ca (13.52%), root P (17.75%), root K (12.80%), soil NH4+-N (17.78%), available K (26.66%), Olsen-P (184.30%), easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (39.26%), and soil organic carbon (16.25%) concentrations compared to the uninoculated treatment. Inoculation with S. indica also significantly up-regulated the expression of CoHKT1;1 and CoCAX1;2 in the leaves and roots and CoPht1;1, CoPht1;2, and CoPht1;3 in the leaves. Plants inoculated with S. indica also presented significantly higher leaf glucose, fructose, and sucrose concentrations, accompanied by up-regulated expression of CoSWEET2a, CoSWEET7, CoSWEET9b, CoSWEET17a, and CoSWEET17b. These results suggest that S. indica has significant potential as a biostimulant for enhancing the growth and nutritional profile of C. oleifera, thereby contributing to sustainable oilseed production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Microbe Interactions and Their Importance for Horticultural Crop Productivity)
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Review

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30 pages, 948 KiB  
Review
Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes for Resilient Farming Systems: Mitigating Environmental Stressors and Boosting Crops Productivity—A Review
by Assiya Ansabayeva, Murat Makhambetov, Nazih Y. Rebouh, Mostafa Abdelkader, Hani S. Saudy, Karim M. Hassan, Mohamed A. Nasser, Mahmoud A. A. Ali and Mohamed Ebrahim
Horticulturae 2025, 11(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11030260 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 585
Abstract
This review delves into the role of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil health, improving plant stress tolerance, and controlling diseases. PGPMs, which include bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, are increasingly recognized as important contributors to promoting eco-friendly agricultural [...] Read more.
This review delves into the role of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil health, improving plant stress tolerance, and controlling diseases. PGPMs, which include bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, are increasingly recognized as important contributors to promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices. Their ability to improve nutrient availability, stimulate plant growth, and protect crops from environmental stressors makes them a cornerstone for resilient and efficient farming systems. By reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, PGPMs play a vital role in preserving environmental resources, minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and combating climate change’s negative impacts. This article thoroughly explores the complex interactions between PGPMs, soil nutrients, plant pathogens, and abiotic stressors. It also examines how these interactions influence phytohormone production and signaling pathways, ultimately impacting crop growth and development. Furthermore, this review discusses how PGPMs enhance nutrient uptake, modulate plant immune responses, and improve stress resilience, offering a holistic understanding of their multifaceted contributions to farming. By synthesizing current research and highlighting future directions, this review underscores the potential of PGPMs to revolutionize agricultural activities, ensuring food security and environmental sustainability in the face of global challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Microbe Interactions and Their Importance for Horticultural Crop Productivity)
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