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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 7594

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Dr. Dean Ban

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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

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

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 (7 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 1571 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Live Stakes (Spondias mombin vs. Erythrina sp.) on Soil Properties, Biota and Yield in Hylocereus undatus Agroforestry Systems in the Ecuadorian Amazon

by Yadira Vargas-Tierras, M. Lourdes Vázquez-Odériz, M. Ángeles Romero-Rodríguez, Iván Samaniego, Wilson Vásquez-Castillo and William Viera-Arroyo

Horticulturae 2026, 12(5), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050560 - 4 May 2026

Viewed by 925

Abstract

Agroforestry systems with live stakes have been proposed as management strategies to enhance soil and canopy-related processes in perennial crops. However, their integrated effects on productivity under Amazonian conditions remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the role of live stakes as modulators of soil and canopy conditions in Hylocereus undatus cultivated in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The field study lasted three years and used live stakes (Spondias mombin and Erythrina sp.) and an inert concrete stake. S. mombin exhibited the highest annual biomass contribution (14 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), approximately double that of Erythrina sp., and a higher abundance of earthworms (20 individuals m⁻²), suggesting greater soil biological activity. Canopy-mediated conditions differed among stake systems, with shade levels progressively increasing over time and reaching up to 67% under S. mombin. However, the crop’s physiological response, assessed through leaf relative chlorophyll content, was dominated by seasonal variability and did not show structural differences among the systems. Yield was comparable between S. mombin and the inert stake (18–20 t ha⁻¹) and lower under Erythrina sp. (14 t ha⁻¹). Overall, live stakes influenced system functioning, defined here as the combined response of soil biological indicators (earthworm abundance) and canopy-related indicators (shade percentage and relative chlorophyll content) in relation to yield. Although these effects did not translate into increased yield under the evaluated conditions, they may contribute to improvements in soil quality and biological activity over longer time scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

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14 pages, 791 KB

Open AccessArticle

Valorization of Plant-Based Agro-Waste, Tomato Pomace, into Potential Sustainable Food Packaging Materials: Techno-Economic Approach

by Tatjana Đorđević, Igor Pasković, Marija Polić Pasković, Jaroslav Katona, Di Zhang and Ljiljana Popović

Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030313 - 6 Mar 2026

Viewed by 699

Abstract

The tomato processing industry is among the most widespread food industries worldwide, generating residues that pose an important issue due to their abundance and the rising negative environmental impacts associated with waste. This paper summarizes potential products that can be obtained from these sources, with a focus on the production of a specific biopolymer, cutin, which has great potential as a food packaging material. It emphasizes the development of an integration proposal model for the biorefinery process of tomato pomace, in line with the zero-waste concept, by performing comparative techno-economic analysis (TEA) of two processing scenarios: (1) a biorefinery pathway that valorizes tomato pomace utilization by producing cutin and (2) an integrated process designed for the simultaneous production of cutin and phenolic antioxidants. The study identifies current research gaps and outlines strategic directions for potential integration pathways that can enhance not only the economic viability and profitability of the process but also its environmental benefits through more complete. The techno-economic analysis model for cutin extraction showed an internal rate of return (IRR) of only 2%, which is five times lower than the IRR achieved in our integrated model for cutin and phenolic compounds. Additionally, the payback time in the integrated approach improved significantly from 9.56 to 5.7 years. This paper assesses the potential of tomato pomace as a sustainable source for the production of high-value bioproducts that can economically justify investments in sustainable bioprocessing technologies and reduce waste through an integrated approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

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20 pages, 2769 KB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Application of Protein Hydrolysates Promotes Growth and Affects Leaf Ionome in Olive

by Igor Pasković, Maša Andlovic, Helena Plešnik, Primož Vavpetič, Paula Žurga, Ljiljana Popović, Martin Šala, Mario Franić, Ivan Dlačić, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Marija Polić Pasković, Tina Kosjek and Paula Pongrac

Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020151 - 29 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 755

Abstract

The foliar application of various biostimulants, such as protein hydrolysates (PHs), has been associated with improved nutrient uptake efficiency and stress tolerance in perennial crops, like olive (Olea europaea L.). In this study, PHs obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis by Alcalase Pure (referred to as treatment H1), Alcalase Pure and Flavourzyme (referred to as treatment H2), or Alcalase Pure and Protana™ Prime (referred to as treatment H3) with proteins from pumpkin seed cake were tested for their potential beneficial growth, performance, and nutrition effects in one-year-old olive seedlings grown under controlled conditions. Amino acid and element compositions were evaluated in the PHs, which were used for foliar application six times at eight-day intervals. Control (C) plants were treated the same way, but without PHs. Shoot and root growth, leaf reflectance indices, and the composition of micro and macronutrients in different organs and leaf tissues were determined. Plants in the H2 treatment grew significantly better than C plants. They had the highest Photochemical Reflectance Index and a Chlorophyll-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index similar to that of C plants, indicating an optimal growth/photosynthesis balance. A decrease in the concentration of several mineral elements in the lower epidermis in H2- and H3-treated plants compared to C and H1-treated plants was accompanied by their increase in the spongy mesophyll, indicating their redistribution to support increased metabolism, resulting in increased shoot growth in these two treatments. Arguably, these observed effects could be attributed to the amino acid profile of the H2 mixture, which had the highest concentration of L-proline, L-arginine, and L-lysine among the three PH mixtures, and a higher L-asparagine concentration than the H1 mixture. Overall, the results highlight the applicative potential of tailored PH formulations for the optimization of growth, mineral element composition, and physiological performance in olive cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

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19 pages, 10671 KB

Open AccessArticle

Screening for Variation in Leaf Elemental Content Between Croatian Autochthonous Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) Accessions

by Zoran Užila, Marko Černe, Boris Lazarević, Mario Franić, Bernard Prekalj, Igor Palčić, Nikola Major, Dean Ban, Milan Poljak and Smiljana Goreta Ban

Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010012 - 23 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1156

Abstract

Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) has a long history of cultivation, and its importance as a source of mineral nutrients has received particular attention. This study aims to screen the variation in elemental leaf accumulation of 23 Croatian autochthonous kale accessions from the Adriatic basin. A two-factorial experiment with harvest time and kale accession as the main factors was conducted under field conditions. Further, the leaf elemental contents were measured and inter-elemental correlations computed. An analysis of the data revealed that IPT 418 accumulated the highest contents of Ca, Ni, and Li, while IPT 401 was most effective in Mg and Zn accumulation. The accessions IPT 411, IPT 384, and IPT 390 had the highest amounts of P, Mn, and Cr, respectively. Considering the range within the highest and lowest content, the accumulation varied 4-fold for Ca; 1.8-fold for Mg; 1.5-fold for P; 1.5-fold for Mn; 2.5-fold for Ni; 2-fold for Zn; 2.2-fold for Cr; and 1.7-fold for Li. According to the correlation matrix, positive correlations in elemental phytoaccumulation were found between macro- and micronutrients, while negative correlations were observed among macronutrients in most cases. In conclusion, the accessions most efficient in accumulating macro- and micronutrients may be potentially used to address nutrient malnutrition and produce more nutritional kale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

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21 pages, 3438 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Properties of Biochar Produced from Grapevine-Pruning Residues of 12 Cultivars

by Danko Cvitan, Dominik Anđelini, Melissa Prelac, Qaiser Javed, Zoran Užila, Igor Pasković, Nikola Major, Marko Černe, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Marijan Bubola, Ana Jeromel, Tomislav Karažija, Marko Petek, Ivan Nemet and Igor Palčić

Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010004 - 19 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1001

Abstract

The valorization of grapevine pruning residues through pyrolysis provides a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, producing biochar with agricultural use potential and carbon sink functionality. This study investigated pruning residues from 12 grapevine cultivars to evaluate the cultivar effects on biochar properties. Samples were collected along the Croatian coast from Istria to Dalmatia and included six indigenous cultivars (Malvazija istarska, Pošip, Maraština, Teran, Plavina, and Plavac mali) and six introduced cultivars (Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah). For each cultivar, residues were collected from three distinct vineyards with three replicates per vineyard. Pyrolysis was conducted in a muffle furnace at 400 °C. The pruning residues showed acidic pH (4.79–5.45), moderate electrical conductivity (1694–2390 µS cm⁻¹), and ash contents of 2.65–3.49% among all cultivars. Significant differences were observed among cultivars in residue carbon content and ash fraction, which were reflected in the resulting biochar. Biochar yield ranged from 32% to 35%, while pH values were alkaline, ranging from 10.20 to 11.13. Total carbon increased from 43.77 to 45.36% in grapevine-pruning residues to 65.88–71.57% in biochar. FT-IR spectra revealed cultivar-dependent variation in aromatic C=C intensification, while SEM analysis indicated differences in pore abundance and surface area (1.63–4.13 m² g⁻¹) between cultivars. These results demonstrate that carbon-dense cultivars produced biochars with greater structural stability, indicating enhanced resistance to decomposition. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses consistently showed increased aromatic condensation, reduced aliphatic functionality, and greater porosity following pyrolysis. These cultivar-dependent differences highlight pruning residues as a chemically heterogeneous but predictable feedstock, with biochar properties primarily governed by the intrinsic characteristics of the source material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

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16 pages, 291 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Metabolic Fingerprinting of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars Under Boron Foliar Fertilisation

by Paula Žurga, Marija Polić Pasković, Nikola Major, Smiljana Goreta Ban, Šime Marcelić, Paula Pongrac, Aadil Bajoub, Martina Skendrović Babojelić, Marko Petek and Igor Pasković

Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121521 - 15 Dec 2025

Viewed by 704

Abstract

Olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars often exhibit genotype-specific responses to micronutrient management. In this study, we investigated the metabolic leaf fingerprinting of three cultivars ‘Rošinjola’, ‘Leccino’, and ‘Istarska bjelica’ at two sampling periods (SP-I = 64 days after treatment (DAT) and SP-II = 118 DAT), following boron foliar fertilisation (+B = 41.62 mM B; −B = 0 mM B) applied 50 days after anthesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide such a detailed evaluation of boron-induced shifts in phenolic metabolism in olive leaves. At harvest (SP-II), all three cultivars showed higher concentrations of total identified phenolic compounds in +B plants compared with the −B controls. Notably, the concentration of verbascoside at harvest was higher in +B plants of ‘Istarska bjelica’ and ‘Leccino’, but not in ‘Rošinjola’. Oleuropein content increased in +B plants at harvest to a level higher than 4870 mg/100 g DW, irrespective of cultivar. Conversely, apigenin-7-glucoside declined from SP-I to SP-II in ‘Leccino’ regardless of treatment, whereas in ‘Istarska bjelica’, this decrease occurred only in control plants, with boron preventing the seasonal decline. These findings confirm the prolonged effect of boron foliar fertilisation on phenolic metabolism in olive leaves and highlight cultivar-specific differences in metabolic responses. Further research is needed to clarify how these metabolic shifts relate to primary plant metabolism and how they influence olive oil quality traits among cultivars grown under Croatian conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Agriculture Through Scientific Innovation)

21 pages, 1434 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1395

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 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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