Biostimulant Application in Horticultural Crop Growth Regulation and Stress Response
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotic and Abiotic Stress".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 35
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biostimulant; plant metabolomics; population genetic analysis
Interests: biostimulants; plant biofortification; abiotic stress; vertical farming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Horticultural crops play a crucial role in global food security, human nutrition, and economic sustainability. However, their growth and productivity are increasingly challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and pest infestations. In response to these challenges, biostimulants have emerged as promising tools to enhance crop resilience and optimize growth under such conditions. Biostimulants encompass a diverse group of substances, including humic and fulvic acids, protein hydrolysates, microbial inoculants, seaweed extracts, and other natural compounds. Their application in horticulture has gained significant attention due to their ability to regulate plant growth, enhance stress tolerance, and promote soil health by modulating the microbiome. Unlike traditional fertilizers and pesticides, biostimulants work by activating plant physiological and biochemical pathways, leading to improved root development, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, and greater resistance to environmental stressors. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advancements in biostimulant applications for horticultural crops, with a focus on their role in growth regulation, stress tolerance, and overall plant health. We encourage submissions that provide insights into the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying biostimulant efficacy. Contributions that assess the impact of biostimulants on nutrient uptake, root development, flowering, yield improvement, and post-harvest quality are also of great interest. By compiling cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews, this Special Issue seeks to provide a deeper understanding of biostimulants and their role in sustainable horticulture. The findings will contribute to developing eco-friendly strategies to enhance crop performance, reduce the reliance on chemical inputs, and support resilient agricultural systems in the face of climate change.
Dr. Paola Ganugi
Dr. Andrea Ertani
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 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
- biostimulants
- horticultural crops
- growth regulation
- stress tolerance
- abiotic stress
- biotic stress
- plant nutrition
- soil microbiome
- yield improvement
- sustainable agriculture
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