Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 408

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, Karla Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Interests: sustainable agriculture; horticulture; genetic resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč, Croatia, this Special Issue of Horticulturae seeks contributions that explore the role of science and innovation in driving sustainable Mediterranean agriculture forward.

As global food systems face escalating challenges from climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource limitations, the need for resilient and sustainable production models has never been more critical.

We welcome original research articles and review papers on a broad range of topics, including (but not limited to) the following: agroecology; organic and integrated production systems; plant nutrition and protection strategies; novel applications of biostimulants; the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources; crop improvement; soil and water sustainability; climate adaptation and circular agriculture; and the production of olives, grapes, fruits, vegetables, wine, and olive oil. Contributions that contain interdisciplinary and applied research that connects scientific insights with practical implementation are particularly encouraged.

This Special Issue aims to promote innovative approaches that bridge traditional knowledge and modern science, contributing to agricultural systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible.

Join us in celebrating 150 years of scientific dedication to agriculture by submitting your work, helping to shape a sustainable future for food and farming.

Dr. Dean Ban
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

  • sustainable agriculture
  • circular agriculture
  • organic farming
  • integrated production
  • agroecology
  • plant nutrition
  • plant protection strategies
  • biostimulants
  • genetic resources
  • crop improvement
  • soil and water management
  • olive-, grape-, fruit-, vegetable-, wine- and olive oil-related studies
  • agricultural innovation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1434 KiB  
Article
Integrated Analysis of Olive Mill Wastewaters: Physicochemical Profiling, Antifungal Activity, and Biocontrol Potential Against Botryosphaeriaceae
by Elena Petrović, Karolina Vrandečić, Alen Albreht, Igor Gruntar, Nikola Major, Jasenka Ćosić, Zoran Užila, Smiljana Goreta Ban and Sara Godena
Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070819 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 202
Abstract
The disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) poses significant environmental challenges due to its high content of phytotoxic and pollutant compounds. This study aims to explore the chemical composition of OMWW derived from various olive varieties (Buža, Buža puntoža, Istarska bjelica, Leccino, and [...] Read more.
The disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMWW) poses significant environmental challenges due to its high content of phytotoxic and pollutant compounds. This study aims to explore the chemical composition of OMWW derived from various olive varieties (Buža, Buža puntoža, Istarska bjelica, Leccino, and Rosinjola) and assess its antifungal potential against phytopathogenic fungi from the Botryosphaeriaceae family. OMWW samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, phenolic composition via LC-MS/MS, and antifungal activity against Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug. ex Fr.) Ces. & De Not., Diplodia mutila (Fr.) Fr., D. seriata De Not., Dothiorella iberica A.J.L. Phillips, J. Luque & A. Alves, Do. sarmentorum (Fr.) A.J.L. Phillips, Alves & Luque, and Neofusicoccum parvum (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips. Antifungal efficacy was tested at varying concentrations, alongside the phenolic compounds hydroxytyrosol and vanillic acid. Antifungal activity varied across fungal species and OMWW concentrations. Lower OMWW concentrations inhibited mycelial growth in some pathogens, while higher concentrations often had a stimulatory effect. Among the OMWW treatments, Leccino and Buža showed the most significant antifungal activity against species from the Botryosphaeriaceae family. The results demonstrated significant variability in OMWW composition, with Istarska bjelica exhibiting the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds, sugars, dry matter, and carbon and nitrogen content. The results also highlight the impact of acidification on the phenolic profile of OMWW. Treatment with HCl significantly altered the concentration of individual phenolic compounds, either enhancing their release or contributing to their degradation. Among the two compounds, vanillic acid showed greater efficacy than hydroxytyrosol. In addition, microorganisms isolated from OMWW, including Bacillus velezensis Ruiz-Garcia et al., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (A. Jörg.) F.C. Harrison, Nakazawaea molendiniolei (N. Cadez, B. Turchetti & G. Peter) C. P. Kurtzman & C. J. Robnett, and Penicillium crustosum Thom, demonstrated antagonistic potential against fungal pathogens, with B. velezensis showing the strongest inhibitory effect. The greatest antagonistic effect against fungi was observed with the species Do. Iberica. The findings highlight the potential of OMWW as a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides, simultaneously contributing to the management of waste and protection of plants through circular economy principles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)
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