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Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture
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Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1359

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ewa Szpunar-Krok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Technology and Life Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4 St., 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: legumes; sustainable agriculture; abiotic stress; plant physiology; plant fertilization; plant product quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Czernicka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, Collegium of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, St. Ćwiklińskiej 2D, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: health-promoting ingredients; pro-health food standards; bioavailability of modified food; digestion and absorption; food enrichment methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As sustainable agriculture gains increasing importance in the face of growing environmental challenges and resource limitations, green chemistry is emerging as a central paradigm for developing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible agricultural practices. One of the key strategies in this field involves the transformation and revalorization of agricultural and food processing by-products—not for nutritional use, but for their potential in reducing waste, enhancing soil quality, producing bio-based agrochemicals, and supporting closed-loop agricultural systems.

Innovative molecular tools and green chemical technologies are enabling the development of alternatives to conventional agro-inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; moreover, they are promoting precision applications that minimize ecological impact. These approaches align closely with the core principles of green chemistry, including waste minimization, the use of renewable feedstocks, and safer, cleaner production methods.

The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase recent research and advances in the application of green chemistry and molecular strategies in agriculture. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that explore innovative uses of agri-food by-products as bioresources, as well as approaches that improve environmental performance, safety, and sustainability by reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and enhancing the biological potential of natural compounds.

Topics of interest include the following:

  • Natural bioactive compounds in biopreparations and their environmentally friendly synthesis.
  • Innovative delivery systems for active substances (e.g., nanocarriers, microcapsules).
  • Biofertilizers, biostimulants, and plant growth regulators, especially their influence on crop quality and productivity.
  • Natural compounds enhancing plant immunity and development, as well as their molecular mechanisms of action.
  • Analytical and diagnostic methods supporting green agricultural practices.
  • Biosensors, chemometrics, and spectroscopy for detecting substances in plants, soil, and water.
  • Environmental analysis of agrochemical residues.
  • Molecular tools (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for studying plant–environment interactions.
  • Alternative fertilization strategies and food safety in sustainable systems.

Prof. Dr. Ewa Szpunar-Krok
Dr. Maria Czernicka
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
  • green chemistry
  • agri-food by-products
  • bioactive compounds
  • biostimulants
  • circular economy
  • molecular tools
  • eco-friendly agrochemicals
  • soil health
  • precision agriculture

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2376 KB  
Article
Chitosan Nanoparticles as a Biostimulant During In Vitro Multiplication of Vanilla Using Temporary Immersion Bioreactors
by Víctor Adrián Delgado-Rivera, María Karen Serrano-Fuentes, José María Rivera-Villanueva, Juan Antonio Pérez-Sato and Jericó Jabín Bello-Bello
Molecules 2026, 31(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31020328 (registering DOI) - 18 Jan 2026
Abstract
This research aimed to assess the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) during in vitro shoot proliferation of vanilla using temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB). TIB culture is a biotechnological process that uses semiautomated containers for the production of explants exposed in liquid culture medium. [...] Read more.
This research aimed to assess the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) during in vitro shoot proliferation of vanilla using temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB). TIB culture is a biotechnological process that uses semiautomated containers for the production of explants exposed in liquid culture medium. Concentrations of control, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L ChNPs were evaluated in Murashige and Skoog culture medium. Morphological characterization of ChNPs was performed using scanning electron microscopy. At 60 days of culture, survival (%), development variables, photosynthetic pigment content, lipid peroxidation expressed in malondialdehyde, total phenolic content (TPC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) expressed in trolox equivalents were evaluated. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance, with a Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) using SPSS statistics software, version 29. The results revealed that the greatest survival (%) was obtained at concentrations of control, 25, and 50 mg/L ChNPs, while the lowest survival (%) was observed at concentrations of 400 mg/L ChNPs. Growth stimulation was found, as well as an increase in chlorophyll and β-carotene at concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/L ChNPs. The level of H2O2 increased at 25 and 50 mg/L ChNPs. Lipid peroxidation showed no differences among treatments. TPC increased at 100 and 200 mg/L ChNPs, while TAC increased at 200 and 400 mg/L ChNPs. In conclusion, the administration of ChNPs at low concentrations can stimulate growth, while at high concentrations they can inhibit it, a response known as hormesis or hormetic effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture)
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47 pages, 454 KB  
Article
Selenium (IV) and Sulphur (VI) as Elements Modifying Plant Quality: Content of Selenium and Sulphur Forms in Wheat
by Marzena S. Brodowska, Magdalena Kurzyna-Szklarek and Mirosław Wyszkowski
Molecules 2026, 31(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010160 - 1 Jan 2026
Viewed by 228
Abstract
In order to achieve high-quality yields, it is essential to provide plants with the necessary nutrients, including selenium (Se) and sulphur (S), to meet their nutritional requirements. This study aimed to determine the effect of selenium (0, 10 and 20 g Se ha [...] Read more.
In order to achieve high-quality yields, it is essential to provide plants with the necessary nutrients, including selenium (Se) and sulphur (S), to meet their nutritional requirements. This study aimed to determine the effect of selenium (0, 10 and 20 g Se ha−1) and the date of its application (in the tillering phase and in the stem elongation phase) and sulphur application (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha−1) on the content of selenium and various forms of sulphur (total sulphur, sulphate sulphur and organic sulphur) and the N:S ratio in winter spelt wheat and winter common wheat. The research hypothesis assumed that different doses of selenium and sulphur and the timing of their application would have a beneficial effect on the Se and S content in the grain and straw of spelt wheat and common wheat. Selenium fertilisation significantly increased the content of this element in the grain of spelt wheat and common wheat. The concentration of selenium was also influenced by the timing of its application in the plant growth environment. However, the dose of selenium and the timing of its application were not associated with significant changes in the content of both forms of sulphur in the tested plants. The experimental factors used did not contribute to the achievement of selenium levels toxic to humans and animals. The presence of sulphur in the growth environment of spelt wheat and common wheat was associated with an increase in the content of both total sulphur, sulphate sulphur and organic sulphur in their grain and straw, especially in spelt wheat straw by an average of 17%, 29% and 23%, respectively, and in common wheat straw by 26%, 18% and 57%, respectively. The sulphur content in the plant growth environment was not associated with a change in the selenium content in the grain of the tested plants. The results of our study suggest that the optimal dose of selenium for biofortification of humans and animals is 20 mg Se ha−1 on clay soil, applied during the stem elongation phase of spelt and common wheat. Biofortification of wheat with selenium and sulphur is a good method of supplementing deficiencies of this element in the human diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture)
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20 pages, 2172 KB  
Article
Alteration in Photosynthetic and Yield Parameters, Content of Metabolites, and Antioxidant Activity of Pepper (Capsicum annuum): Effect of Bio-Organic Substrate and Depolymerized Chitosan
by Piotr Salachna, Agnieszka Zawadzińska, Rafał Piechocki, Małgorzata Mikiciuk, Julita Rabiza-Świder, Ewa Skutnik and Łukasz Łopusiewicz
Molecules 2025, 30(24), 4768; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30244768 - 13 Dec 2025
Viewed by 319
Abstract
Peppers are of substantial economic importance and hold a prominent position among vegetables rich in health-promoting compounds, which drives continuous efforts to develop improved cultivation strategies. The study aimed to determine the effects of substrate type and depolymerized chitosan on the physiological parameters, [...] Read more.
Peppers are of substantial economic importance and hold a prominent position among vegetables rich in health-promoting compounds, which drives continuous efforts to develop improved cultivation strategies. The study aimed to determine the effects of substrate type and depolymerized chitosan on the physiological parameters, the chemical composition of leaves and fruits, and the yield of two bell pepper cultivars: ‘Marta Polka’ and ‘Oda’. The plants were grown in a 100% peat substrate and in a mixture of peat, wood fiber (Pinus sylvestris), and green compost (2:1:1 v/v/v), with or without drenching with a solution of depolymerized chitosan. Results indicated that the growing medium, chitosan application, cultivar type, and their interactions altered several physiological, morphological, and biochemical traits. The highest total fruit weight fresh (471.23 g plant−1) was obtained for the ‘Marta Polka’ cultivar grown in peat drenched with chitosan, whereas the lowest (192.02 g plant−1) was recorded for ‘Oda’ grown in a substrate mix without the biostimulant. Net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, fresh weight of fruit, and antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP assays) were improved in the ‘Oda’ cultivar grown in the substrate mix and treated with depolymerized chitosan compared with plants grown in 100% peat without chitosan. The ‘Marta Polka’ plants grown in the substrate mix and treated with chitosan had a higher net CO2 assimilation rate, photosynthetic water-use efficiency, total free amino acid content, and antioxidant activity (FRAP assay) than those grown in peat alone and not treated with the biostimulant. The results demonstrate that both substrate composition and the response to depolymerized chitosan are cultivar-specific, and that wood fiber and compost can serve as ecological alternatives to peat, enhancing overall pepper fruit quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture)
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22 pages, 297 KB  
Article
Selenium and Sulphur as Elements Modifying Plant Quality: Assessment of the Content of Organic and Mineral Nitrogen Forms in Wheat
by Marzena S. Brodowska, Magdalena Kurzyna-Szklarek and Mirosław Wyszkowski
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4541; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234541 - 25 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 435
Abstract
For many years, deficiencies in selenium (Se) and, sometimes, sulphur (S) have been observed in populations in most European countries and other parts of the world. This study aimed to determine the effect of selenium (0, 10 and 20 g Se ha−1 [...] Read more.
For many years, deficiencies in selenium (Se) and, sometimes, sulphur (S) have been observed in populations in most European countries and other parts of the world. This study aimed to determine the effect of selenium (0, 10 and 20 g Se ha−1) and the date of its application (in the tillering phase—BBCH 22–24 and in the stem elongation phase—BBCH 31–34) and sulphur application (0, 15 and 30 kg S ha−1) on the content of various forms of nitrogen (total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen) in winter spelt wheat and winter common wheat. Selenium application influenced nitrogen distribution in wheat. In spelt, grain total-N decreased by 4%, while common wheat straw increased by 13%. Application timing had no significant effect on total-N. Sulphur slightly raised total-N in common wheat grain and straw. Selenium reduced protein-N in spelt grain by 7% but increased it in common wheat straw by 18%. Ammonium-N in straw rose by 24–27%, while nitrate-N declined in grain and straw of both species. Sulphur-enhanced mineral N forms (ammonium-N by 6–16%, nitrate-N by 7–24%), especially in the early stages. Se–S fertilization strategies should consider their competitive uptake and impact on N metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry and Molecular Tools in Agriculture)
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