Micropropagation and Germplasm Conservation of Horticultural Plants
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: In vitro micropropagation; genebanking; cryopreservation; endangered and rare plants; optical sensors; sustainable and conservation horticulture.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: Genetics and Genomics; Population and Germplasm Conservation; Tissue culture and Plant breeding; Eco-evolutionary Biology and Plant Resource Improvement
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue of Plants, entitled ‘Micropropagation and Germplasm Conservation of Horticultural Plants’, brings together cutting-edge research and reviews that address key challenges and innovations in the in vitro propagation and long-term conservation of horticultural crops worldwide. The global demand for high-quality planting material is rising and threats to plant biodiversity are intensifying. This Issue provides a timely and comprehensive platform for the presentation of scientific advancements and their innovations, which support both commercial horticulture as well as effective conservation efforts.
The featured articles explore diverse aspects of micropropagation, including novel protocols for efficient shoot induction, somatic embryogenesis, and the development of temporary immersion systems for scalable plant production. Emphasis is placed on the production of pathogen-free, genetically stable plants through refined techniques such as meristem culture, micrografting, and synthetic seed technology.
Germplasm conservation is a central theme, with a strong focus on in vitro storage strategies such as slow growth conservation and cryopreservation. These methods are essential for preserving elite, rare, highly threatened, or endangered genotypes, particularly in species that do not produce orthodox seeds. Contributions also address the practical challenges of acclimatizing the micropropagated plants to ex vitro conditions, ensuring successful transition from the lab to the field.
This Special Issue aims to bridge fundamental science with practical application, providing valuable insights for researchers, breeders, and industry stakeholders. It highlights the critical role of biotechnology, involving high-throughput tissue culture approaches, in sustainable horticulture and in the preservation of genetic diversity under changing environmental conditions and horticulture industry demands.
By promoting robust, reproducible protocols and innovative technologies, this Special Issue serves as a vital resource for advancing global efforts in horticultural crop improvement, conservation, and commercialization. We invite global researchers and practitioners to explore the findings and contribute to the continued evolution of plant tissue culture and conservation science.
Dr. Amir Khoddamzadeh
Dr. Madhugiri Nageswara-Rao
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. Plants 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
- in vitro micropropagation
- germplasm conservation
- horticultural crops
- synthetic seed
- cryopreservation
- embryo rescue
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
