Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040468

Authors: Luo Li Shao Wang Yang Xiang Zhang Li Lian Zhang Wen Zhang

Nai plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. var. cordata) is a high-value fruit crop in southern China, yet its post-harvest quality is often compromised by fruit browning, a major constraint to storage and marketability. Addressing this challenge requires a deeper understanding of the species’ reproductive biology, which underpins both fruit set and cultivar improvement. In this study, we characterized the flowering biological characteristics of Nai plum accessions introduced from Yanling and Liuyang (Hunan Province) and Shaoguan and Lechang (Guangdong Province). Using field observations combined with microscopic and submicroscopic techniques, we documented flowering phenology, flowering dynamics, floral organ traits, pollen viability and stigma receptivity. The flowering period was in March, lasting 26–28 d, and the group blooming period was divided into three stages: Initial opening stage, Full blooming stage, and Final flowering stage. The single-flower opening process was divided into eight stages. Pollen viability followed a unimodal curve, peaking at the petal flattening stage (PF) across all accessions, though peak values varied by provenances. Stigmas were of the wet type, with receptivity following a weak–strong–weak pattern; peak receptivity occurred at early flowering (EF) and PF in most accessions. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S1) lasted for 7 h, and PF lasts for 28 h. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S2) lasted for 3 h, and the PF lasted for 11 h. Both the EF and the PF of Nai plum from Shaoguan (S3) lasted for 14 h. The bud white stage (BW) of Nai plum from Lechang (S4) lasted for 6 h and the EF lasted for 7 h. The EF of Nai plum from Liuyang (S5) lasts for 7 h, and the PF lasted for 28 h. These findings clarify the reproductive phenology and floral biology of Nai plum, providing foundational knowledge that can inform breeding strategies and cultivation practices aimed at improving fruit set and, ultimately, post-harvest quality.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040467

Authors: Neil Patrick Uy Sang-Yun Lee Reyna Marie Therese Sanchez Chung-Ho Choi Sanghyun Lee

Allium longistylum is a relatively understudied species whose phytochemical composition and biological activities remain largely unexplored. In this study, the first true leaf (FTL) and the second true leaf (STL) of A. longistylum were compared with respect to phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity, and quorum-sensing (QS) inhibition. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectrophotometrically, while antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Antimicrobial and anti-QS activities were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Chromobacterium violaceum. STL exhibited significantly higher TPC and TFC than FTL, consistent with its stronger radical scavenging activity. Both extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity and reduced violacein production in C. violaceum, indicating interference with QS. UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-ESI-MS/MS profiling tentatively identified several phenolic acids and flavonoid derivatives. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of selected phenolic compounds, although several prominent peaks in the chromatograms remained unidentified. Many of the compounds detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC have previously been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-QS activities; their presence may therefore contribute to the bioactivities observed in both extracts. However, their contribution to the observed effects remains speculative and requires further validation through targeted isolation and bioactivity testing. The results suggest that A. longistylum is a promising source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040466

Authors: Yaxin Liu Zemei Li Fuyuan Lu Liangrui Yang Lishan Liu Zhen Tian Jinmin Zhou Siyi Ge Xuewei Wu

Background: Konjac (Amorphophallus spp.) is an economically important crop valued for the glucomannan content in its corms. Currently, the konjac industry faces germplasm degeneration due to long-term asexual propagation. Developing tissue culture and genetic transformation techniques is essential for its genetic improvement. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors are critical regulators of somatic embryogenesis and stem cell maintenance in plants. Methods: In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and characterization of WOX genes in the A. konjac reference genome. Furthermore, comparative transcriptomic analyses and functional verification were conducted in A. bulbifer. Results: A total of 12 AkWOX genes were identified in A. konjac, and their structural features were documented. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of A. bulbifer revealed that AbWOX genes were differentially expressed between embryogenic calli (EC) and non-embryogenic calli (nEC). Notably, AbWOX2 was significantly upregulated in EC. Overexpression of AbWOX2 significantly promoted callus proliferation and shoot regeneration in A. bulbifer. Furthermore, AbWOX2-overexpressing lines exhibited a 5.3-fold increase in genetic transformation efficiency (from 5.12% to 27.31%) compared to the control. Conclusions: We characterized the diverse expression patterns of the WOX gene family in Amorphophallus. Crucially, we identified specific individual members—most notably the markedly upregulated AbWOX2—that function as pivotal drivers of somatic embryogenesis and serve as promising candidates for enhancing regeneration and genetic engineering efficiency in Amorphophallus species.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040465

Authors: Yuying Cui Rui Ma Yin Wu Mengwen Lyu Yali Zhang Yani Wu

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs), perform systematic comparative analysis among multiple fragrant camellias, and establish a classification framework based on aroma components for cultivars derived from Camellia Sect. Theopsis. Volatile compounds were analyzed from 21 fragrant camellias using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-TOFMS), followed by cluster and correlation analyses. A total of 51 volatile compounds were identified, including 20 alcohols, 15 aldehydes, and five esters, among which 27 were designated as major aroma components. Alcohols were the dominant class, and phenylethyl alcohol was detected in all cultivars, with a relative abundance ranging from 1.30% to 45.86%. Certain compounds, such as eugenol and 2-pentylfuran, exhibited cultivar-specific enrichment. Cluster analysis revealed a high degree of similarity in volatile profiles, with the strongest correlation observed between Camellia ‘Himenoka’ and Camellia ‘Minato-no-haru’ (r = 0.97). This similarity may be associated with a shared parental background, particularly the frequent use of Camellia lutchuensis in breeding. These findings provide a systematic understanding of floral VOC composition and offer a chemical basis for the utilization of Camellia Sect. Theopsis germplasm in fragrance-oriented breeding.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040464

Authors: Tianyu Liu Zelong Liu Jianmin Wang Dongxin Guo Yuxuan Tan Ping Jiang

To address the challenges of unstable target localization and poor multi-module coordination in automated green pepper harvesting—caused by occlusions from branches and leaves, as well as varying lighting conditions—this paper presents the design and implementation of a modular robotic picking system. At the perception level, the system integrates a YOLOv8 detector with a RealSense D435i camera to identify and locate the calyx–ectocarp junctions of green peppers. An integrated multi-target tracking and filtering framework is proposed, which fuses multi-feature association, trajectory smoothing and coordinate denoising strategies to suppress depth noise and trajectory jitter, thereby enhancing the stability and accuracy of 3D localization. At the control and execution level, a depth-first picking sequence strategy with ID freeze-state management is implemented within a multithreaded software–hardware co-design architecture. This approach avoids task conflicts and duplicate operations while supporting continuous multi-fruit harvesting. Field experiments under natural outdoor lighting and varying occlusion levels demonstrate that the proposed system achieves recognition rates of 91.57% and 80.29% and harvesting success rates of 82.85% and 77.68% for non-occluded and lightly occluded fruits, respectively. The average picking cycle per pepper fruit is 9.8 s. This system provides an effective technical solution for addressing stability control challenges in the automated harvesting process of green peppers.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040463

Authors: Huai-Na Gao Yu-Feng Zhang Shu Chen Si-Ji Fang Rui-Han Qi Cheng-Lin Liang Shun-Feng Ge Yan-Hui Lv Shang Wu Ya-Li Zhang Han Jiang Yuan-Yuan Li

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is the most widely cultivated deciduous fruit tree with the largest industrial scale and the highest economic value in China. Fruit surface glossiness and plant stress tolerance are two core traits that determine the economic benefits and sustainable development of the apple industry. The plant epidermal cuticle is not only the core material basis for determining fruit glossiness but also the first barrier for plants to resist abiotic and biotic stresses. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer proteins (LTPGs) are the core functional factors mediating trans-cell wall lipid transport in plants. At present, the functions and action mechanisms of LTPG family members that simultaneously regulate fruit appearance quality and stress tolerance in apple remain largely unclear. In this study, we took the MdLTPG17 gene as the research object, clarified its biological function of stress resistance under drought stress, and dissected the molecular mechanism by which it mediates fruit glossiness formation via regulating fruit cuticle thickening. The results of this study provide important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of stress resistance and targeted improvement of fruit appearance quality in apple.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040462

Authors: Muhammad Zeeshan Ali Pimjai Seehanam Darunee Naksavi Phonkrit Maniwara

Mold infection by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. in Sithong sweet tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) during commercial postharvest storage poses quality and food safety risks. However, the current visual detection method, which involves randomly cracking open the pods, is both destructive and laborious. The integration of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with artificial neural networks (ANN) enables rapid and non-destructive detection while capturing non-linear biochemical–spectral relationships, offering advantages over conventional destructive and linear analytical methods. It was tested as a mold classifier in sweet tamarind pods preserved in commercial ambient conditions (25 °C, 60% relative humidity) for five weeks. Six hundred pods were examined weekly using interactance spectroscopy (800–2500 nm) with six measurement points per pod and four spectral preprocessing methods. The ANN outperformed partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) across all storage weeks, peaking at Week 2 with standard normal variate (SNV) preprocessing (prediction accuracy: 85.00%; sensitivity: 0.84; specificity: 0.86; F1-score: 0.85). Advanced tissue degeneration caused spectral heterogeneity, which decreased performance at Week 4 (prediction accuracy: 71.82–76.36%). Principal component loadings identified mold-induced water redistribution and carbohydrate depletion wavelengths at 938, 975–980, and 1035 nm. Week-adaptive calibration is essential for implementation because of the large difference between week-specific model accuracy (up to 85%) and overall storage model accuracy (63.53%). These findings provide a mechanistic underpinning for smaller wavelength-selective sensors and temporally adaptive mold screening systems in commercial tamarind storage.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040461

Authors: Yan Bai Ceteng Fu Shen Liu Xichen Wang Jibo Fan Yuecheng Li Yihong Song

In the context of the rapid development of smart horticulture, a deep remote sensing-based dual detection method for horticultural crop growth anomalies and safety risks was proposed to address the limitations of existing remote sensing monitoring approaches. These conventional methods, which predominantly focused on growth vigor assessment or single-task anomaly detection, had difficulty distinguishing anomalies from actual production risks and exhibited insufficient sensitivity to weak anomalies and complex temporal disturbances. Within a unified framework, a growth state modeling branch and an anomaly perception branch were constructed, enabling the joint modeling of normal growth trajectories and anomalous deviation features. By further introducing a risk joint discrimination mechanism, an integrated analysis pipeline from anomaly identification to risk assessment was achieved. Multi-temporal remote sensing features were used as inputs, through which normal crop growth patterns were characterized via trend perception, texture modeling, and temporal aggregation, while sensitivity to local disturbances and weak anomaly signals was enhanced by anomaly embeddings and energy representations. Systematic experiments conducted on multi-regional and multi-crop horticultural remote sensing datasets demonstrated that the proposed method significantly outperformed comparative approaches, including traditional threshold-based methods, support vector machines, random forests, autoencoders, ConvLSTM, and temporal transformer models. In the dual task of horticultural crop growth anomaly detection and safety risk identification, an accuracy of approximately 0.91 and an F1 score of 0.88 were achieved, indicating higher anomaly recognition accuracy and more stable risk discrimination capability. Further anomaly-type awareness experiments showed that consistent performance was maintained across diverse real-world production scenarios, including climate stress, disease-induced anomalies, and management errors.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040460

Authors: Mingzhu Wang Jing Xu Xueqing Zhao Zhaohe Yuan

The plant-specific TCP transcription factor family plays crucial roles in morphogenesis and stress adaptation. While characterized in many species, this family remains unstudied in Punica granatum. We performed the first genome-wide analysis of the TCP family in pomegranate, identifying 24 PgTCP genes classified into the PCF, CIN, and CYC/TB1 subclades, supported by conserved gene structures and motifs. Evolutionary analysis indicated segmental duplication and purifying selection shaped this family. Expression profiling revealed distinct spatiotemporal patterns: PgTCP2/9/14/21 were highly expressed in flowers, with PgTCP21 also notably abundant in fruit tissues (seed coats and pericarp), suggesting roles in reproductive development. PgTCP19, an ortholog of the branching suppressor BRC1, showed dominant expression in dormant buds, implicating it in shoot architecture regulation. Furthermore, PgTCP5 and the miR319-targeted PgTCP22 were leaf-predominant, indicating a function in leaf development. Under abiotic stress, PgTCPs displayed dynamic, treatment-specific responses. A subset of genes was rapidly induced by cold, while PgTCP14 and PgTCP23 showed sustained upregulation during drought. Several light-responsive PgTCPs were suppressed under shading. This study provides a foundational resource, functionally classifies the PgTCP family, and identifies key candidates regulating organ development and stress resilience for future functional validation and molecular breeding in pomegranate. This work provides the first comprehensive overview of the TCP gene family in pomegranate and offers candidate genes for future functional studies related to development and stress responses.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040459

Authors: Qizong Lu Lina Yang Haoyan Yang Yujian Yuan Qinghua Lai Jisen Zhang

Citrus trees exhibit severe alternate bearing, resulting in significant annual yield fluctuations and posing substantial challenges to orchard management planning. Accurate citrus bud counting provides an effective solution by supplying essential data for tree-level and orchard-level yield prediction. However, citrus buds are extremely small (5–10 mm in diameter) and are frequently occluded by leaves during the flowering stage, which makes precise detection highly challenging in complex orchard environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Contextual and Frequency-Aware Detector (CFADet) for robust citrus bud detection. Specifically, an Enhanced Feature Fusion (EFF) module is introduced in the neck to refine multi-scale feature aggregation and strengthen information flow for small targets. A Contextual Boundary Enhancement Module (CBEM) is designed to capture surrounding contextual cues and enhance boundary representation through dimensional interaction and max-pooling operations. To suppress background interference, a Frequency-Aware Module (FAM) is developed to adaptively recalibrate frequency components in the amplitude spectrum, thereby enhancing target features while reducing background noise. In addition, Spatial-to-Depth Convolution (SPDConv) is employed to reconstruct the backbone to preserve fine-grained bud features while reducing model parameters. Experimental results show that CFADet achieves 81.1% precision, 80.9% recall, 81.0% F1-score, and 87.8% mAP, with stable real-time performance on mobile devices in practical orchard scenarios. This study presents a preliminary investigation into robust citrus bud detection in real-world orchard environments and provides a promising technical foundation for intelligent orchard monitoring and early yield estimation, while further validation on larger and more diverse datasets is still required.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040458

Authors: Xianjue Ruan Rongjin Ma Chunyu Shang Qingyuan Li Yu Pan Xin Hu

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a widely consumed vegetable crop and an established model system for plant functional genomics and genetic research in dicotyledons. Salt stress is a major abiotic factor limiting tomato productivity worldwide. The WRKY transcription factor family, one of the largest and most conserved plant-specific transcription factor families, plays pivotal roles in stress responses. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the functions of tomato WRKY genes under salt stress, focusing on the genomic basis and evolutionary characteristics of the WRKY family, the roles of core WRKY members under salt stress, and the multi-layered regulatory networks mediating WRKY-dependent salt and alkali tolerance. To date, approximately 10 core SlWRKY genes have been functionally validated to regulate tomato salt tolerance, mainly by maintaining ion homeostasis, regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, facilitating osmotic adjustment, and integrating hormone signaling pathways. Despite this progress, systemic regulatory hierarchies and epigenetic modulation remain poorly resolved. Furthermore, we discuss how specific WRKY members directly regulate downstream effector genes, such as SlSOS1 and SlNHX4. However, direct experimental evidence for the coordination between tomato WRKYs and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, as well as epigenetic modifiers under salt stress, is still scarce in current studies. This review provides a theoretical framework and outlines potential technical pathways for translating fundamental insights into tomato salt tolerance into practical applications for sustainable agriculture.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040457

Authors: Awais Ali Viviana Cavallaro Piero Santoro Jacopo Mori Giacomo Cocetta

The transition from High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) to energy-efficient Light-Emitting Diode (LED) supplemental lighting alters the plant thermal environment in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). This study evaluated how three practical supplemental lighting regimes, HPS, LED, and LED supplemented with infrared radiation (LED + IR), influence the physiology, growth, and phytochemical profile of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.). We assessed biomass production, photosynthetic performance, oxidative stress markers (TBARS), and the concentration of primary and secondary metabolites. The LED treatment was superior for biomass production, yielding significant fresh mass while maintaining the lowest leaf nitrate content. Conversely, the addition of IR significantly increased leaf temperature, which suppressed growth but acted as a potent “bio-stress” agent, significantly increasing the total phenolic index. This biofortification, however, significantly decreased photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and led to the highest accumulation of undesirable nitrates. Our findings reveal a clear growth-defense trade-off, demonstrating that while LED lighting is optimal for maximizing yield and food safety, the targeted application of IR radiation is an effective strategy for enhancing the nutraceutical value of leafy greens, requiring careful management to mitigate negative impacts on growth and quality.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040456

Authors: Fabio Perotti Giuseppina Pennisi Matteo Landolfo Carlo Gravina Walter Menozzi Giorgio Gianquinto Francesco Orsini

Light quality plays a decisive role in controlled-environment agriculture, shaping plant morphology, physiology, and productivity. This study investigated the impact of far-red (FR) light on Cannabis sativa L. by comparing two different application strategies: continuous FR supplementation throughout 12 h of the photoperiod and end-of-day (EOD) FR exposure applied only at the end of the light period. In both treatments, FR was added to a background spectrum of red and blue (RB) light, while a control group grown under RB light alone was included to assess the specific effects of FR on plant growth, physiological responses, and flowering. Continuous FR exposure induced pronounced shade-avoidance traits, increasing plant height by 9% and petiole length by 17% relative to the control, and raised leaf dry weight to 12.9 g, 9% higher than under EOD (11.7 g) and 16.3% higher than under RB alone (10.8 g). Besides plant height and petiole length, both FR and EOD treatment induced limited morphological adjustments but increased chlorophyll content by 9%, resulting in greater canopy expansion and photosynthetic potential. However, flowering time was unaffected by spectral treatment, confirming that Cannabis floral induction is tightly regulated by photoperiod rather than light quality. Energy-use analysis revealed that EOD supplementation achieved many of the benefits of continuous FR while reducing overall consumption, but energy-use efficiency analysis proved FR as the more efficient treatment. These findings highlight the potential of FR light, particularly when applied continuously, to optimize vegetative growth and canopy physiology in controlled-environment Cannabis cultivation, while EOD strategies offer a practical compromise between cost savings and physiological benefits.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040455

Authors: Tianci Hu Junping Yang Yu Lan Ying Huang Shanxin Zhong Xiangshu Dong

The SHAGGY-like kinase (SK) gene family regulates diverse developmental and abiotic stress response processes in plants. Although genome-wide analyses of SKs have been conducted in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice, their characterization in the economically important crop Brassica rapa remains limited. In this study, we conducted a systematic genome-wide analysis of SK genes in three Brassica species. A total of 18, 16, and 18 SK members were identified in B. rapa, B. nigra, and B. oleracea, respectively, and phylogenetic analysis classified them into four distinct clades. Expression profiling revealed that BrSKβ-1 and BrSKβ-2 were specifically expressed in fertile floral buds, suggesting their critical roles in pollen development. Furthermore, co-expression analysis indicated that both genes were co-expressed with key regulators involved in pollen development, pollen sperm cell differentiation and pollen tube growth. Loss of BrSKβ-2 via CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in 25–65% pollen abnormality and reduced the germination rate of normal-appearing pollen to only 10%, confirming its essential role in male fertility. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive characterization of the SK gene family in Brassica and position BrSKβ-2 as a promising candidate for gene editing-based male sterility systems in B. rapa and related crops.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040454

Authors: Hak Hyun Lee Yoo Kyong Han Jong Hoon Ahn Se Jeong Kim Qing Liu Bang Yeon Hwang Ki Yong Lee Mi Kyeong Lee

Actinidia arguta is a valuable plant resource known for its diverse bioactive constituents. However, organ-dependent metabolic variation remains insufficiently explored. In this study, an integrated approach combining LC–QTOF–MS-based metabolomic profiling, multivariate analysis, and phytochemical isolation was employed to investigate metabolic differences among fruits, leaves, and roots of A. arguta. Comparative LC–QTOF–MS profiling and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear organ-specific metabolic differentiation. The root extract formed a distinct cluster, primarily characterized by flavan-3-ol oligomers, including procyanidin dimers and a trimer. Targeted isolation and spectroscopic analysis identified these compounds as major constituents of the root. Quantitative analysis showed that the root exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (60.8 ± 6.2%) and total phenolic content (10.8 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g dried weight), followed by leaves and fruits, indicating significant organ-dependent variation. The enhanced antioxidant activity observed in the root extract was consistent with the enrichment of oligomeric procyanidins, which are known for their strong radical-scavenging capacity. These findings demonstrate pronounced organ-specific metabolic specialization in A. arguta, with the root characterized by a condensed tannin–dominant chemical profile. This study highlights the potential of root-derived procyanidins as bioactive natural products and provides a basis for their utilization in functional and phytochemical applications, as well as insights into plant defense-related metabolism.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040453

Authors: Lucia Morrone Andrea Calderoni Giacomo Ferretti Giulio Galamini Annalisa Rotondi

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency in olive cultivation is essential to address the environmental burden of N fertilizers, whose recovery efficiency rarely exceeds 55%. This study evaluates the agronomic and environmental performance of chabazite-rich zeolite as a soil amendment to enable 50% N-fertilizer reduction in olive growing. A seven-year field experiment (2017–2023) was conducted at two sites in Emilia-Romagna (Italy)—one irrigated (Brisighella) and one rainfed (Bertinoro)—comparing four autochthonous varieties under zeolite amendment (ZEO, 50% N) versus conventional fertilization (CNT, 100% N). Vegetative growth, productive parameters, oil quality and environmental impacts (Life Cycle Assessment, ISO 14040/44) were monitored. Under irrigation, ZEO maintained vegetative and productive equivalence with CNT, sustaining commercially viable yields (0.5–2.3 t ha−1). Under rainfed conditions, variety-specific responses emerged: Colombina exhibited 126.2% greater trunk diameter and near-universal fruiting competence (88.9% vs. 29–35% productive plants) under ZEO, while Capolga showed treatment convergence. LCA revealed higher per-unit environmental impacts for ZEO during early orchard phases due to front-loaded extraction burdens, progressively offset by annual N-input reductions. These findings demonstrate that zeolite amendment enables agronomically viable 50% N-fertilizer reduction, with efficacy modulated by water regime and genotype.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040452

Authors: Judit Bajzát József Rácz András Misz Csaba Balla Máté Vágvölgyi Sándor Kocsubé László Kredics Csaba Vágvölgyi Csaba Csutorás

Compost supplementation is widely used to improve yield and crop consistency in the cultivation of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), yet practical alternatives to conventional protein-rich supplements and rapid candidate-screening approaches are still needed. In this study, plant- and byproduct-based supplements were first compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to obtain qualitative fingerprints of extractable protein fractions, and were then evaluated in Phase III cultivation under both bag-based screening conditions and in a large-scale pull-mat system. Supplements differed notably in protein banding patterns and cultivation performance. In the bag trials, lupin grist and corn pellet produced the largest yield increases relative to the non-supplemented control, whereas in the commercial pull-mat trials lupin grist was the best-performing supplement, reaching 240.77 kg t−1 compost. Under the present conditions, SDS-PAGE was useful as a qualitative screening aid for prioritizing candidates for cultivation trials, but not as a stand-alone predictor of yield. These results identify lupin grist as a practically relevant supplement candidate for commercial A. bisporus production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040451

Authors: Eda Yaşa Özeltürkay Stefano Predieri Chiara Medoro Edoardo Gatti Marta Cianciabella Giulia Maria Daniele Luca Mazzoni Saila Karhu Terhi Latvala Ebru Kafkas Duygu Ayvaz Sönmez Klaus Olbricht Bruno Mezzetti

This study investigated consumer expectations and perceived quality of strawberries across different geographical contexts to identify the main drivers of purchasing behavior within a cross-country framework. An online survey was conducted among consumers in Italy, Germany, and Turkey to explore consumption habits, purchasing channels, sensory expectations, product perceptions, and willingness to pay (WTP) for specific product attributes. Results confirmed a high level of consumer appreciation for strawberries across all countries, primarily driven by their sensory characteristics. However, purchasing behavior and consumption patterns were strongly influenced by cultural and market-related factors. Visual attributes were confirmed to be key cues guiding product choice; however, label indications related to sensory traits and functional properties exerted a greater influence. Flavor, firmness, and overall taste balance represented critical determinants of consumer satisfaction. Differences across demographic groups were also observed, with younger and male consumers reporting lower levels of satisfaction with key sensory attributes, including juiciness, aroma, and freshness. Cross-country comparisons revealed heterogeneous WTP patterns, with Turkish consumers showing a greater propensity to pay premium prices for quality-related, local, organic, and environmentally friendly attributes compared with German and Italian consumers. Overall, the findings highlight the combined influence of sensory quality, cultural context, and sociodemographic characteristics in shaping strawberry perception and purchasing behavior. These insights may support breeders, producers, and retailers in developing targeted product strategies and market positioning across different geographical areas and consumer segments.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040450

Authors: Xinran Zhang Junyu Zhang Xiaoqing Zhang Fangli Xia Qingyu Zhang

Fatty acids play critical roles in plant growth and stress adaptation, primarily through modulating membrane fluidity. This study combined bioinformatics (genome-wide identification and chromosomal localization) with experimental techniques (RT-qPCR, VIGS, and GC) to investigate the ARF family in Paeonia rockii. Seventeen PrARF genes were identified, showing evolutionary collinearity with Arabidopsis thaliana and Vitis vinifera and uneven chromosomal distribution. Among these, PrARF9 was specifically and highly expressed during late seed development, exhibiting a pattern highly consistent with the fatty acid synthesis key gene PrFAD3 and the accumulation trend of α-linolenic acid (ALA). In Nicotiana benthamiana, transient overexpression of PrARF9 upregulated its homologous gene NbFAD3, resulting in increased total fatty acid content and elevated lipid droplet accumulation. In contrast, in Paeonia rockii, silencing of PrARF9 downregulated PrFAD3 expression and reduced fatty acid levels, whereas overexpression of PrARF9 produced the opposite effect. We present a comprehensive analysis of the ARF gene family in P. rockii, combined with functional verification of a candidate gene regulating lipid synthesis. In summary, PrARF9 positively regulates PrFAD3, thereby participating in oil accumulation and ALA synthesis in P. rockii.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040449

Authors: Nikolaos Polyzos Antonios Chrysargyris Nikolaos Tzortzakis Spyridon A. Petropoulos

In this work, we assessed the impacts of biostimulant application on pot-grown Sonchus oleraceus L. plants under saline conditions. The biostimulant products tested were an experimental formulation based on humic and fulvic acids (HF) and the commercial product Sipfol Star® (SS), which comprises amino acids (mainly glutamic acid, alanine, and aspartic acid). Our results highlight that biostimulants mitigated the negative impacts of high salinity only on specific morphological traits, such as the dry matter of leaves. Accordingly, the HF treatment reduced the fat and protein content (under low and high salinity, respectively) and energetic value (under high salinity), while the carbohydrate content increased under high salinity for the SS treatment and the untreated plants compared to the respective treatment under low salinity. The nitrogen content of leaves was negatively affected by biostimulant application at high salinity, whereas the HF and SS treatments induced the accumulation of sodium and potassium under high salinity compared to the untreated plants. The total flavonoid content also increased in biostimulant-treated plants under high salinity, whereas no effects on total phenol content were recorded. Moreover, the plants treated with biostimulants under low salinity conditions showed higher antioxidant activity for the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay than the respective treatments at high salinity and the control treatment. The content of oxidative markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was higher under low-salinity levels, whereas biostimulant-treated plants showed the lowest content under high salinity. Overall, the application of biostimulants showed promising results in mitigating the adverse impacts of high salinity on S. oleraceus plants. However, further research is needed on more biostimulatory products and application regimes (e.g., different doses and application times) to elucidate the mechanisms of action and bolster the positive effects of this sustainable agronomic tool.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040448

Authors: Gildardo Olguín-Hernández Jorge Cadena-Iñiguez Ma. de Lourdes Arévalo-Galarza Juan Manuel Tovar-Pedraza Daniel Alejandro Cadena-Zamudio Jorge L. Mejía-Méndez Jorge David Cadena-Zamudio Juan Francisco Aguirre-Medina Mauricio Iván Andrade-Luna

Sechium edule (Cucurbitaceae), commonly known as chayote, which is a cucurbit of economic relevance, has experienced higher incidence of wilting from Phytophthora capsici in Mexican commercial fields during heavy rainfall. The infection process of this oomycete on chayote stems at the anatomical level had not been documented. This study characterized histological changes in chayote stems infected with P. capsici. Plants were inoculated at the stem base with P. capsici mycelial plugs, while controls received sterile plugs. Stem samples collected at 8, 12, 16, 22, and 30 days post-inoculation were processed and stained using safranin O–fast green. Microscopic observations showed progressive anatomical alterations. At 8 dpi, hyphae appeared in cortical parenchyma and epidermis, with phenolic compound accumulation. By 12 dpi, stromata and sporangia were visible in vascular and cortical tissues, with tyloses formation. At 16 dpi, cell wall collapse and xylem colonization became evident. These effects intensified at 22 and 30 dpi, with tissue degradation and an abundance of hyphae. Control stems maintained intact structures. Macroscopically, plants remained asymptomatic until 12 dpi, when brown lesions appeared. By 22 dpi, leaf yellowing and stem necrosis were observed, leading to plant death by 30 dpi. The results demonstrate the rapid colonization of chayote tissues by P. capsici, and its impact on vascular integrity. This study provides knowledge for future research on host resistance and disease management in chayote crops.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040447

Authors: Cecilia Leonor Jiménez-Sierra Erika Arroyo-Pérez Omar Díaz-Segura María Loraine Matías-Palafox Joel Flores María De Los Angeles González-Adán

Succulent plants in arid ecosystems exhibit contrasting strategies to cope with high irradiance, thermal stress, and water limitation. We evaluated spatial distribution, microhabitat use, nurse identity, and orientation beneath canopies for two threatened globose cacti from the Querétaro semi-desert (Mexico): Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus and Lophophora diffusa. One site with high population density was selected for each species, where 10 plots were established (9 m2 for A. kotschoubeyanus and 49 m2 for L. diffusa). The study aims to evaluate whether species-specific recruitment patterns are associated with differential dependence on nurse-plant microhabitats under conditions of radiation and thermal stress. We hypothesized that: (1) both species exhibit aggregated spatial distributions but differ in their reliance on nurse-mediated microclimatic buffering; and (2) nurse-plant identity and orientation patterns vary between species, reflecting species-specific ecophysiological thresholds to irradiance and heat stress. Both species showed strongly aggregated spatial distributions (Hopkins index > 0.8), indicating recruitment constrained by microsite heterogeneity. However, their stress-adaptation strategies differed markedly. A. kotschoubeyanus occurred predominantly in open microsites (79%), consistent with its geophytic growth form and tolerance to high radiation and temperature extremes. In contrast, L. diffusa was strongly associated with nurse plants (78%), particularly Larrea tridentata and Bursera fagaroides, and preferentially established on eastern canopy exposures that reduce afternoon heat load. These patterns reflect species-specific ecophysiological thresholds linked to radiation tolerance and microclimatic buffering. Facilitation in globose cacti is therefore trait-mediated and context-dependent. Maintaining perennial shrub diversity is essential to preserve the microhabitats that sustain recruitment and persistence of stress-sensitive succulents under increasing climatic aridity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040445

Authors: Xiaoxiao Wu Shiman Wu Haimeng Fang Ding Huang Chuanwu Chen Binghai Lou Ping Liu Yang Tang Jing Feng Chongling Deng

To establish standardized DNA fingerprinting and molecular identification systems for mandarin citrus, we analyzed 69 mandarin accessions via fluorescent SSR capillary electrophoresis to construct DNA molecular fingerprints and unique molecular identity cards. Eighteen highly polymorphic SSR primer pairs were screened, yielding 239 genotype calls and 147 alleles. The number of amplified alleles per primer pair ranged from 4 to 18, with polymorphic information content (PIC) values varying from 0.411 to 0.650. Ten core primer pairs were further selected, achieving a discrimination rate of 65.2% (45 out of 69 accessions distinguished). Utilizing these fluorescent SSR markers, we established DNA molecular fingerprints and unique molecular identity cards for all 69 accessions. Among them, 45 accessions possessed unique fingerprints, whereas the remaining 24 indistinguishable accessions were clustered into six groups. Each cluster contained both wild (4 accessions total) and cultivated (20 accessions total) resources with high genetic similarity, which merits further investigation. This study provides a practical foundation for the authentication, conservation, and genetic relationship analysis of mandarin germplasm resources and establishes a technical framework for standardizing mandarin variety identification.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040446

Authors: Xiaonuan Chen Jieting Hu Shaoshuai Fan Jianan Zhang Yeliya Fu Wenjia Lv Huasen Wang Ying Duan Changlin Wang Li Miao

Powdery mildew (PM) is a major fungal disease in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivation. Grafting serves as an important agricultural practice for improving disease resistance and stress tolerance in scions. This study aimed to determine the effects of different pumpkin rootstocks on PM resistance in grafted cucumber plants. Susceptible ‘Xintai Mici’ cucumber scions were grafted onto 10 different pumpkin rootstock varieties, with self-grafted plants serving as the experimental control. Grafting significantly promoted plant biomass accumulation compared to the self-grafted control, and this enhancement was positively correlated with the rootstock’s root system size. However, grafted plant growth was still negatively affected by PM infection. Among the 10 rootstocks, seedlings grafted onto rootstock GP8 exhibited the lowest disease index, the slowest spore development, and the strongest PM resistance. While some resistant pumpkin rootstocks failed to confer significant PM resistance to their grafted cucumber scions, rootstock GP8 provided consistent PM resistance to its grafted plants. Furthermore, cucumber grafted onto rootstock GP8 showed a significantly enhanced net photosynthetic rate and increased antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). Concurrently, these plants accumulated lower levels of superoxide anions and exhibited the smallest increases in malondialdehyde content among all the grafted combinations. Additionally, during PM infection, the expression levels of salicylic acid biosynthesis-related genes (CsICS1 and CsPAL) and downstream disease resistance genes (CsPR1, CsPR5, and CsNPR1) were significantly higher in scions grafted onto rootstock GP8 compared to self-grafted cucumbers. These results suggest that the enhanced PM resistance in grafted cucumber is significantly influenced by the rootstock, potentially through the regulation of photosynthetic performance, reactive oxygen species metabolism, and the expression of genes associated with the salicylic acid signaling pathway in the scion.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040444

Authors: Mora-Sardà Gerard Dulieu Enzo Galofré Oriol Lampreave Miriam Mateos Assumpta Mateo-Sanz Josep Maria Marco Alba Sánchez-Ortiz Antoni

This study compares conventional spur pruning and sap-flow respectful spur pruning, applied at four pruning dates (October, December, January, March), on grapevine ecophysiology, yield, and grape quality in Priorat (Spain) during an exceptionally hot, dry vintage. Although sap-flow respectful pruning has expanded rapidly in commercial vineyards, its performance has not been rigorously evaluated. The trial was conducted in Mas Perinet’s Mas Vell vineyard on Grenache Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pruning date was more critical than method for delaying veraison relative to peak summer heat—especially in Grenache Noir, where late pruning delayed veraison by 16 days. In Cabernet Sauvignon, leaf surface temperature was generally similar between treatments, except for RP-CS, which showed lower temperatures. Multi-year trials are needed to assess the cumulative effects of sap-flow respectful pruning on sap-flow architecture and wood health. These results support late pruning as an immediate adaptation to warming in Priorat, with pruning method as a longer-term strategy requiring further study.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040443

Authors: Gabriela M. Saavedra Luciano Univaso Laura Sepúlveda José Gaete-Loyola Carlos Nuñez Victoria Lillo-Carmona Valentina Castillo Francisco Zambrano Andrea Miyasaka Almeida

Perennial deciduous trees such as Prunus avium undergo seasonal transitions, culminating in bud dormancy establishment that involves coordinated physiological and metabolic adjustments. Dormancy monitoring in orchard systems still relies primarily on temperature-based models and forcing assays, which rarely incorporate physiological or biochemical indicators. Here, we tested whether seasonal metabolic dynamics associated with dormancy progression differ between sweet cherry genotypes and whether these physiological differences are reflected in canopy-scale vegetation indices derived from satellite observations. Field measurements were conducted in two genotypes with contrasting chilling behavior (‘Regina’ and ‘210’) during the transition from vegetative growth to dormancy. Leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored across the season, polar metabolites in floral buds were profiled by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and satellite-derived vegetation indices were used to characterize canopy dynamics. Dormancy progression was associated with declines in CO2 assimilation, transpiration, PSII photochemical efficiency, and electron transport rate, accompanied by increases in intercellular CO2 concentration and non-regulated energy dissipation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that genotype explained a larger proportion of metabolite variation than dormancy stage (PERMANOVA R2 = 0.483, p = 0.001), while principal component analysis accounted for 79.7% of total variance. Fructose showed the strongest genotype difference during paradormancy I, corresponding to an approximately 9.5-fold increase in ‘Regina’. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted starch and sucrose metabolism and pyruvate metabolism as the most represented pathways during dormancy progression. Satellite-derived vegetation indices captured seasonal canopy decline and were significantly associated with several physiological variables. These results provide an integrated description of physiological and metabolic adjustments during dormancy establishment in sweet cherry and highlight the potential of combining metabolomics, plant physiology, and open-access satellite observations to monitor phenological transitions in orchard systems at scalable spatial and temporal resolutions.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040442

Authors: Tuong Manh Ho Huy Quang Pham Manh Van Le Ha Hong Thi Nguyen Hoa Thi Tran Quyen Phan Trong Dinh Nguyen Tho Thi Nguyen Chung Huy Nguyen Son Nghia Hoang Ha Hoang Chu Phat Tien Do

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been collected and used to promote plant growth and enhance disease tolerance of various crops. In the current work, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CAKS2, an endophytic strain isolated from the rhizosphere of sweet orange, exhibited both growth promotion and antimicrobial activities. Under the in vitro condition, the CAKS2 showed multiple plant growth-promoting properties such as phosphate, potassium, and calcium solubilization, nitrogen fixation as well as production of siderophores, IAA, ammonia, exopolysaccharides, hydrogen cyanide, and biofilm formation. This P. aeruginosa strain inhibited the growth of different tested fungal and bacterial pathogens. Under the in vivo condition, the CAKS2 enhanced sweet orange plant growth, indicated by increases in the root and shoot lengths, the leaf number, and the total biomass. The biochemical components and the transcription levels of genes related to plant hormone biosynthesis were altered in the CAKS2-inoculated sweet orange. Under the in vivo infection of C. gloeosporioides, the CAKS2 reduced the diameter of lesions on orange leaves and harvested fruits and decreased disease severity and incidence at the whole plant level. The whole genome sequence of CAKS2 showed the presence of candidate genes involved in different molecular pathways contributing to plant-promoting and biocontrol properties. Importantly, certain changes in the expression of gene response for plant growth promotion and biocontrol were observed when the CAKS2 was exposed to sweet orange root exudates. This study highlights P. aeruginosa CAKS2 as a potential PGPR strain for enhancing plant growth and C. gloeosporioides tolerance in sweet orange and other citrus plants.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040441

Authors: Fernando Garrido-Auñón María Emma García-Pastor María Serrano Daniel Valero Vicente Agulló

Adverse environmental and postharvest conditions challenge the functional quality of lemons, an economically vital citrus crop. Melatonin (MEL) has emerged as an effective regulator of plant stress responses and secondary metabolism. This study evaluated the effects of pre- and postharvest MEL treatments, combined with cold storage, on the fruit quality of two lemon cultivars (‘Fino’ and ‘Verna’). The research focused specifically on endogenous MEL and flavanone dynamics. Three experimental conditions were assessed: (a) preharvest MEL application at 0.1 and 1 mM; (b) preharvest treatment followed by cold storage; and (c) combined pre- and postharvest MEL treatment followed by cold storage. Preharvest treatments increased endogenous MEL at harvest in a dose- and cultivar-dependent manner. Specifically, 1 mM being optimal for ‘Fino’, while 0.1 mM was more effective for ‘Verna’. During cold storage, ‘Fino’ fruit, characterized by low basal endogenous MEL levels, showed a marked increase in MEL accumulation, suggesting the stimulation of biosynthesis. In contrast, ‘Verna’ fruit, which had initially high endogenous MEL content, exhibited a pronounced decline, indicating MEL consumption to counteract oxidative stress. Flavanone content increased dose-dependently after preharvest treatment and was preserved during storage in ‘Fino’ but declined in ‘Verna’. These findings demonstrate that the fruit cultivar must be considered a critical factor in MEL-based strategies, as identical treatments may yield markedly different outcomes even within the same species.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040440

Authors: Xinqi Liu Dazhi Zhang Xiangyu Meng Rui Wu Baodong Wei Qian Zhou Shunchang Cheng He Gao

Actinidia arguta fruits are highly perishable due to their thin, glabrous skin and high respiration rate. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a coating composed of 1.2% cinnamon essential oil (CEO) combined with 1% chitosan (CH) on the storage quality, cell wall structure, and cell wall metabolism in A. arguta fruits after subjecting them to 25 ± 1 and 4 °C. Results showed that this coating composition effectively maintained fruits’ postharvest appearance and firmness, reduced the rate of weight loss, and preserved the fruit’s original sensory flavor. Furthermore, the coating treatment significantly delayed the conversion of protopectin to soluble pectin, the increase in cellulose content, and the decrease in acid-insoluble solid (AIS) content. Furthermore, low activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), pectin lyase (PL), cellulase (Cx), β-glucosidase (β-Glu), and β-galacturonidase (β-Gal) were found in the treatment during storage. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observed that the composite coating treatment strongly maintained the integrity of fruit cell wall structure and exhibited positive effects under room temperature conditions, with its protective effects further enhanced and prolonged under refrigerated conditions. In conclusion, this combination treatment extended the postharvest storage life of A. arguta, possibly by inhibiting cell wall degradation, maintaining fruit firmness, and regulating the activity of cell wall metabolism.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040439

Authors: José A. Sánchez-Villegas Alberto Sánchez-Estrada Jesús F. Ayala-Zavala Alma R. Toledo-Guillén Judith Fortiz-Hernández Jorge N. Mercado-Ruiz

Indoor microgreen production systems are becoming increasingly popular because they can achieve high yields and quality, especially in unfavorable climates and urban settings. Light is a critical environmental factor that influences plant development; however, limited information exists on the effects of photoperiod (PP) on the growth of chia and arugula microgreens and on the associated electricity costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different blue LED light (Light-Emitting-Diode) PPs, 24:0, 18:6, 12:12, and 6:18 h of light:dark compared with natural light, on the growth and biomass production of Salvia hispanica (chia) and Eruca sativa (arugula) grown indoors under controlled conditions (25 °C and 189.4 μmol·m−2·s−1). In chia, shoot length increased (p ≤ 0.05) with shorter PP, particularly under the 6:18 and 12:12 h·d−1 photoperiods, while arugula showed no significant response. Root length and total plant length were unaffected by photoperiod in either species. Leaf area was the most responsive growth parameter, with larger leaves produced under PP of 18 h or more per day. Total chlorophyll content was highest at 12:12 and 18:6 h light:dark. Fresh biomass reached its maximum at 18:6, with 637.6 g m−2 in chia and 883.7 g m−2 in arugula. TOPSIS was used as a multi-criteria decision-making tool for comprehensive treatment evaluation, showing that the 6:18 treatment achieved the highest overall ranking, whereas the 18:6 treatment resulted in the greatest biomass production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040437

Authors: Jinwang Qu Xiurong Yang Linhe Xiang Bolin Wu Junzan Huang Chenyang Liang Aoao Cui Amenyogbe Mawuli Korsi Haigang Zhang Chu Wu Liping Liu Xinwu Xiong

The walnut cultivar ‘Yunxin No. 14’ is an early fruiting, high-yielding, and widely adaptable fruit tree with compact growth and superior nuts. Establishing a successful tissue culture system for this cultivar is crucial for its rapid clonal propagation and as a foundation for future genetic transformation. Using young fruits as explants, 3% NaClO sterilization for 20 min effectively controlled contamination and browning. Somatic embryos induced from zygotic embryos cultured on DKW medium with 30 g·L−1 sucrose showed high proliferation and minimal browning. After a 4-day dehydration treatment using saturated NH4NO3, mature somatic embryos germinated rapidly on differentiation medium (DKW containing 1 mg·L−1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L−1 IBA), reaching 90.0% germination. Optimal shoot multiplication was achieved on DKW medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−1 6-BA and 0.3 mg·L−1 IBA, yielding a proliferation rate of 91.1% and a proliferation index of 3.1. For rooting, shoots (~3 cm) treated with Clonex® rooting gel were transferred to a low-cost, sugar-free vermiculite medium with gaseous CO2 as the sole carbon source. Root initiation occurred within two weeks at a rate of 54.2%, significantly shortening the rooting phase. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized in a peat:perlite:vermiculite (2:2:1, v/v/v) mixture under high humidity for two weeks before outdoor transfer, achieving an 88.6% survival rate. This study provides a reliable protocol for the micropropagation of ‘Yunxin No. 14’ and a valuable reference for other difficult-to-root woody species.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040438

Authors: Beatrice Elena Tanase Ana-Maria-Roxana Istrate Vasile Stoleru

The need to investigate ecological and sustainable approaches to weed management, as well as to reduce the negative environmental impact of chemical herbicides, is becoming increasingly important in modern agriculture and land management. Among alternative strategies, allelopathy is a natural mechanism by which particular plant species release bioactive compounds that can influence the germination, growth, and development of neighboring plants. Harnessing allelopathic interactions offers an opportunity to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides and helps preserve ecological balance within agroecosystems. This review examines the potential of allelopathic plant-derived substances for weed control in agricultural systems, with particular emphasis on managing weed populations in vegetable crops and gardens in urban and peri-urban areas. This study introduces the concept of allelopathy with definitions and general information. Subsequently, the paper analyzes the phenomenon’s presence at the plant level, its interactions, and the extracts obtained from allelopathic plants. The paper focuses on essential oils and fatty acid-derived compounds, such as pelargonic acid, which have demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on weed germination and biomass accumulation. Overall, the presented results establish a scientific basis for developing bioherbicides and support implementing sustainable, environmentally responsible horticultural practices.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040435

Authors: Hong Zhu Tianle Ge Hengyu Yan Qianwen Zheng Yanqiu Wei Botao Liu Yibo Guo Jiaxin Li Chunmei Zhao Jiongming Sui

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an important food and energy crop. Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity and severely reduces yield of crops. Protein hydrolysates, as a class of natural biostimulants, have gained increasing attention for their potential to improve crop yield, quality and stress tolerance. This study investigated the effects of peptides from swine blood (PSB) on high salinity stress tolerance in sweet potato. Application of PSB promoted the growth of both aerial and underground parts of sweet potato under normal and high-salinity conditions. Further analysis revealed that, under high salinity stress, exogenous PSB up-regulated the expression of genes associated with stress responses, increased the accumulation of organic osmotic adjustment compounds such as free amino acids, promoted K+ uptake to elevate the K+/Na+ ratio, and enhanced the activity of key antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) involved in the reactive oxygen species-scavenging system. These biochemical responses contributed to maintaining cellular osmotic balance and redox homeostasis, protecting the cell membrane from damage while preserving its structural integrity and normal physiological functions, and improving photosynthetic efficiency, thereby enhancing high salinity stress tolerance in sweet potato. Thus, PSB holds significant potential as an effective natural biostimulant for sweet potato cultivation in saline soils.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040436

Authors: Kebin Chen Zeyu Feng Chuantong Cui Wei Wang Li-Jun Huang Chenrui Fu Qiuyuan Zhao Pedro Garcia-Caparros Jianhua Huang Ning Li Yanling Zeng

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis is a commercially important medicinal and ornamental plant; however, its functional genomics remain poorly understood because of the lack of efficient cell-based research tools. To address this limitation, we established an optimized method for isolating viable protoplasts from petal and mesophyll tissues of G. jasminoides and developed a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transient expression system. For petal protoplast isolation, the optimal enzyme combination consisted of 3.0% cellulase R-10 and 1.0% macerozyme R-10 supplemented with 0.5 M D-mannitol, yielding 5.26 × 106 protoplasts per gram fresh weight (FW) with 80.63% viability. For mesophyll protoplast isolation, 1.5% cellulase R-10 and 0.5% macerozyme R-10 supplemented with 0.5 M D-mannitol produced 8.75 × 106 protoplasts g−1 FW with 84.55% viability. PEG-mediated transient transformation was optimized at 20% PEG4000 for petal protoplasts and 40% PEG4000 for mesophyll protoplasts, resulting in efficient GFP expression. This system was successfully applied to subcellular localization analyses of floral regulatory proteins (GjAP3, GjPI, and GjSEP) and defense-related proteins (GjNPR1 and GjTGA2), as well as to the validation of protein–protein interactions between GjSEP and GjPI and between GjNPR1 and GjTGA2 using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and yeast two-hybrid assays. Collectively, these results establish a reliable and species-specific protoplast-based platform for rapid functional characterization of genes in G. jasminoides, providing an effective tool for future studies on gene regulation, metabolic engineering, and molecular breeding in this horticultural plant species.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040434

Authors: Traian Ciprian Stroe Ana-Maria Stoenescu Anamaria Tănase Ionica Dina Victoria Artem Traian Ștefan Cosma Mihaela Cioată Aurora Ranca Anca Becze Claudiu Tănăselia Daniela Doloris Cichi Constantin Băducă Cîmpeanu Gabriela Ianculescu Mihai Botu

Grapevine cultivar, climatic variability, and vinification practices are key determinants of wine composition. This study evaluated the physicochemical, phenolic, and elemental profiles of six wines produced from distinct cultivars cultivated in the Murfatlar Research Station (Romania) over three consecutive growing seasons (2022–2025). Red wines were obtained using differentiated maceration regimes, while white wines were produced with controlled lees contact. Total phenolic content was determined by the Folin–Ciocâlteu method, resveratrol by UHPLC-DAD, and mineral composition by ICP-MS. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to assess the effects of cultivar, vinification method, and vintage year. As expected, red wines exhibited significantly higher total phenolic and resveratrol concentrations than white wines, and maceration duration enhanced phenolic extraction. Cultivar exerted the strongest influence on physicochemical parameters and elemental composition, whereas climatic differences among vintages induced moderate but significant variations. Rare-earth elements and selected macro- and microelements exhibited consistent varietal patterns, supporting their potential as compositional markers. Toxic element concentrations remained within established regulatory limits. These findings highlight the combined influence of genetic, environmental, and technological factors on wine composition and support the integration of phenolic and mineral profiling for varietal differentiation and quality assessment.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040433

Authors: Greta La Quatra Luiza Sánchez-Pereira Giorgio Gusella Ilaria Martino Carlos Agustí-Brisach Alessandro Vitale Dalia Aiello Giancarlo Polizzi

Fungal diseases represent one of the major threats to citrus production, such as anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fungal Trunk Diseases (FTDs) associated with Botryosphaeriaceae, with Neofusicoccum parvum being the most prevalent species. In response to the need to reduce chemical fungicide use, this study evaluated the antifungal activity of essential oil-based nanoemulsions (N-EOs) as alternative management methods. Seven N-EOs (citronella, clove, fennel, garlic, laurel, lavender and peppermint) were first screened in vitro against multiple isolates of both pathogens through mycelial growth and conidial germination assays. Based on estimated EC50 and EC90 values, clove and garlic N-EOs exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, while lavender displayed intermediate but promising efficacy, particularly against N. parvum. These N-EOs were subsequently evaluated in vivo on lemon fruits inoculated with C. gloeosporioides and on detached lemon twigs inoculated with N. parvum. In vivo assays largely confirmed the in vitro trends, with clove and garlic significantly reducing lesion development. In contrast, lavender displayed limited efficacy under in vivo conditions. The phytotoxic effects at higher concentrations limited the range of applicable doses. Overall, the results suggest that N-EOs, particularly those based on clove and garlic, may offer potential as alternative tools for citrus disease management. However, host tissue interactions, formulation stability, volatility, and validation under field conditions remain critical aspects requiring further investigation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040432

Authors: Claudia Garrido-Ruiz James Frisby Amita Kaundal Youping Sun Milena Maria Tomaz de Oliveira

Biostimulants offer a sustainable strategy to improve plant growth and stress resilience, particularly under limited water availability. We evaluated seven biostimulant treatments, including beneficial bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, seaweed extract with humic acid, and their combinations, on early growth and physiological responses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under well–watered and drought-stressed conditions. Plants were assessed before and after a seven-day controlled drought period using a range of morphological and physiological traits, including height, effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), stomatal conductance (gs), and leaf pigment profile. Results showed that microbial treatments that included Bacteria + Mycorrhizae (B + M) maintained ΦPSII above 0.60 and preserved height gain relative to the control, while seaweed-based formulations with humic acid (S + H) exhibited significant reductions in height of up to 35% compared with full irrigation. In addition, the bacterial treatment (B) significantly increased the root/shoot ratio under drought, indicating enhanced carbon allocation to roots. These findings demonstrate that specific microbial-based biostimulant combinations can better maintain physiological performance and growth under water limitation, supporting their potential use in sustainable tomato production systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040431

Authors: Chang Wang Wen Zhao Ting Yong Yuting Zhang Shengwen Ye Yaguo Wang Ying Zeng Yuhong Liu Yuduan Ding Yanrong Lv

It is widely recognized that microbial inoculants (MI) and bio-organic fertilizers (BOFs) containing beneficial microorganisms can play an important role in improving orchard soil properties and enhancing fruit quality. However, insufficient data regarding the relevant fruit quality effects hindered the supplementary MI and BOFs in kiwifruit cultivation. Using conventional fertilization management as the control, this study investigated the impacts of supplementary applications of MI and BOFs at two gradient dosages on the harvest-time quality and cold storage characteristics of ‘Puyu’ yellow-fleshed kiwifruit. Regarding leaf physiological indices and soil pH, MI-3.0 and BOF-20 treatments significantly elevated total chlorophyll content at 60 days after flowering (DAF) (the fruit expansion stage). Leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents declined gradually during fruit development, while MI-2.0 and BOF-10 treatments markedly promoted leaf P accumulation at 20–100 DAF. Additionally, the MI-2.0 treatment significantly reduced 20–40 cm subsoil pH, which is favorable for kiwifruit plants that prefer acidic and slightly acidic conditions. On the other hand, appropriate doses of MI and BOF treatments exerted a significant effect on improving the quality of kiwifruit at the ripening stage. These effects were mainly manifested in the increased single fruit weight, firmness, dry matter content and total soluble solids (TSSs) of kiwifruit following MI-3.0 and BOF-20 treatments. Furthermore, MI-3.0 and BOF-10 notably elevated the fructose and glucose contents in both flesh and core, as well as sucrose and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents in the flesh; MI-2.0 and BOF treatments significantly increased citric and malic acids in the core and quinic acid in the flesh. During cold storage, the BOF-20 treatment not only delayed the occurrence of the ethylene peak by 20 d and significantly reduced its peak value, but also alleviated the decline in total acid content at the middle storage stage (20–40 d). Additionally, MI-2.0 and BOF-20 treatments effectively delayed kiwifruit softening at the early storage stage (0–10 d), and MI treatments maintained a high AsA content in the core during 10–20 d of cold storage. MI and BOF fertilization treatments had little effect on the dynamic change trends of sucrose synthase (SuS), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and acid invertase (AI) in kiwifruit during cold storage, only exerting significant effects at specific time points. In conclusion, supplementary applications of MI and BOFs could improve kiwifruit quality at the harvest stage by positively regulating the accumulation of dry matter, soluble sugars and organic acid contents, and also have the potential to enhance the storage performance of kiwifruit. These findings provide a scientific basis for establishing an effective fertilization regime for kiwifruit.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040430

Authors: Hongli Li Dandan Huang Chengkun Li

The storage quality of fresh-cut peach fruit is compromised by weight loss and chromatic aberration. In this experiment, taurine at 30 mg L−1 was applied to fresh-cut peaches to evaluate its effect on storage quality. Changes in weight loss, chromatic aberration, antioxidant system, endogenous nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) metabolism, and phenylpropanoid metabolism were studied. The results indicated that 30 mg L−1 taurine effectively improved the ability to scavenge ROS, including •OH, O2•−, MDA, and H2O2, by inhibiting the decrease in the activities of SOD and CAT, enhancing POD activity, reducing PPO activity, and maintaining the AsA-GSH cycle. Moreover, taurine treatment increased the activities of 4CL and PAL and retarded the decrease in the activities of SKDH and C4H, thereby improving the accumulation of total phenols, flavonoids, and lignin. These findings showed that taurine mitigated oxidative damage in fresh-cut peaches by enhancing the antioxidant defense system. Exogenous taurine consistently enhanced NOS-like activity while decreasing NR activity in the early storage phase, and elevated the contents of L-Arginine, nitrite, and endogenous NO. Taurine treatment up-regulated the activities of SAT, L-CD, and OAS-TL, thus promoting endogenous H2S content in fresh-cut peaches. Taurine alleviated weight loss and chromatic aberration in fresh-cut peaches during storage by enhancing the antioxidant system and modulating NO, H2S and phenylpropanoid metabolism.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040429

Authors: Fernando Fuentes-Peñailillo Pabla Rebolledo Abel Cruces Gilda Carrasco

Ensuring experimental reproducibility and reliable isolation of crop responses remain critical challenges in vertical farming and controlled-environment horticulture, where minor microclimatic fluctuations can mask treatment effects and compromise comparability across experiments. This study presents an intelligent, low-cost IoT-based climate management system designed as a methodological framework to stabilize environmental conditions and support reproducible crop responses in vertical horticulture. The system integrates real-time multi-sensor monitoring of temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and CO2 concentration with automated high-power actuation for lighting and ventilation within a unified control framework. The platform was validated using lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Ofelia) cultivated under controlled vertical farming conditions, where environmental stability enabled the reliable detection of plant responses to contrast light spectra. Crop performance was evaluated through biomass accumulation, morphological traits, and nutritional quality parameters. The intelligent control system maintained environmental setpoints within narrow ranges throughout the cultivation cycle, minimizing microclimatic variability across vertical tiers. As a result, observed differences in plant growth and biochemical composition were less likely to be confounded by environmental drift. By shifting the role of IoT technologies from simple automation tools to experimental enablers, this work illustrates how intelligent climate control can support reproducibility, scalability, and methodological robustness in vertical horticulture research. The proposed open, modular architecture provides a transferable framework for reproducible crop experimentation and production in controlled-environment systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040428

Authors: Aurelia Scarano Fabio D’Orso Gabriella Dono Marcos Fernando Basso Barbara Felici Andrea Mazzucato Federico Martinelli Angelo Santino

Tomato high pigment-2 (hp-2dg, hp-2, and hp-2j) mutant lines are characterized by mutations in the DE-ETIOLATED1 (SlDET1; Solyc01g056340) gene. SlDET1 is responsible for encoding a nuclear protein that acts as a negative regulator involved in light signaling, repressing photomorphogenesis. These tomato mutant lines are known for increased levels of antioxidant pigments in fruits, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, compared to the wild-type fruits. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9, followed by the non-homologous end joining mechanism of repair (NHEJ), was used to target the SlDET1 gene and investigate whether the effects of these mutations could mimic the effects of hp-2 mutant lines, improving the nutritional features of tomato fruits. Our results indicated that mutations generated by CRISPR/Cas9 NHEJ in the hp-2 and hp-2j regions (exon 11) resulted in significant changes in the SlDET1 coding and protein sequences. These mutations caused a low survival rate of edited sprouts and regenerated plants with a very compromised capacity of allelic heritability of these mutations for the following generations. However, regenerated plants containing these site-specific mutations in the SlDET1 gene showed higher levels of phytochemicals in ripe fruits. Furthermore, these edited plants also showed an upregulation of structural genes involved in the synthesis of these biocompounds. Although the SlDET1 gene could be considered an interesting target gene for the nutritional improvement of tomato fruits, our results showed that mutations within its exon 11 are quite critical and can induce severe perturbations in plant physiology, with a compromised possibility to develop new stable edited lines.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040427

Authors: Hengbin Luo Xiaojing Ma Haohao Ma Hongdan Fu Han Dong Zhixin Guo Xiaoxing Dong Fengzhi Piao Shunshan Shen Xinzheng Li Yong Wang Tao Zhang

Although peanut shells represent an abundant agricultural waste, their high-value utilization potential as a horticultural substrate has not been fully recognized. Meanwhile, horticultural crops such as tomatoes are in urgent demand for high-quality and innovative cultivation substrates. This study investigated the effects of different ratios of peanut shell–substrate on tomato yield and rhizosphere bacterial community structure, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of agricultural waste and the development of novel growth substrates for tomato cultivation. Results showed that peanut shell–substrate improved tomato yield and quality, and enhanced soil urease, sucrase, and catalase activities. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed significant differences in rhizosphere bacterial alpha diversity between peanut shell substrates and the control. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phyla, while unclassified genera, Devosia A_501803 and Bauldia, were identified as the core genera at the genus level. In conclusion, peanut shell substrates enriched dominant functional bacterial genera and enhanced the ecological functions of the substrate.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040426

Authors: Askin Gokturk Asiye Surmeli

Cotinus coggygria (Scop) is a medicinally valuable species naturally distributed in the Artvin region of Turkiye. However, information on its seed traits, germination behavior, and seedling morphology in relation to seed size and provenance remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of seed size and provenance on the seed characteristics, germination, and seedling morphological traits of C. coggygria. Seeds were collected from four provenances (Seyitler, Tepekoy, Eskikale, and Tortum) and classified into large and small size groups using a 2 mm sieve. The seed traits of length, diameter, thickness, sphericity, volume, and thousand-seed weight were considered. To break seed dormancy, the seeds were subjected to sulfuric acid scarification and cold stratification treatments. Germination trials were conducted under nursery conditions using 45-cell trays in a randomized block design with four replicates. The mean germination time was significantly affected by provenance, whereas seed size and pretreatment combinations had no significant effects. Seed size did not significantly influence seedling morphology, whereas provenance caused significant differences. Seedlings originating from Eskikale exhibited greater height and root collar diameter, with root mass fractions ranging from 80.25% to 82.78%. These results indicate that provenance is a key factor influencing germination and seedling morphology rather than seed size.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040425

Authors: Yanfei Li Min Lu Jiaying Wang Chengyan Deng Chenfei Lu Yumeng Cui Yuankai Tian Boqia Feng Yan Hong Silan Dai

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat.) is a globally popular ornamental plant, but most cultivars lack efficient petal-based transient transformation systems, limiting floral trait molecular mechanism exploration. Protoplasts are versatile tools for gene localization, interaction, and functional characterization. Here, we established a petal protoplast isolation and transient transformation system for C. morifolium ‘Wandai Fengguang’ via L9(34) orthogonal design: optimal isolation (0.6 M mannitol, 8 h enzymatic digestion time, 0.4% macerozyme R-10, 4% cellulase R-10) and transformation (40% PEG4000, 12 μg plasmid, 10 min transfection, a protoplast density of 1 × 106 protoplasts mL−1). Under these conditions, protoplast yield was 5.14 × 106 protoplasts g−1·FW, viability 87.41%, and transformation efficiency 51.50%, with good applicability for six additional germplasms. We further analyzed CmVIT1 protein localization. Compared with the previous system, this system significantly improved protoplast yield and transformation efficiency, facilitating the transient transformation of genes related to floral traits in chrysanthemum and providing a methodological framework for other horticultural crops.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040424

Authors: Xiangqian Wang Linping Li Yuanyuan Liu Qi Gao Yangyang Fan Gawesha Yasapalaa Xia Gao Shouxian Wang Yu Liu Dong Yan

Lentinula edodes (shiitake) is a globally significant edible mushroom, with China being its largest producer. Efficient breeding is fundamental to sustaining its industry, yet it is often hindered by the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of traditional mating type identification methods. To develop a rapid genotyping tool, we elucidated the polymorphism of key mating-type genes and established a practical molecular marker system. In this study, we focused on four major cultivated L. edodes varieties in China (0912, 9608, L808, and W1). Whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation revealed the allelic diversity of HD1 of the A mating type and rcb1 and rcb5 of the B mating type in monokaryotic strains of these varieties. Sequence alignment indicated that HD1 could be classified into five types, rcb1 into four types, and rcb5 into four types. Based on SNPs and InDels, co-dominant primers capable of distinguishing all allelic types of HD1, rcb1, and rcb5 were designed, generating clear molecular fingerprints for the 0912, 9608, L808, and W1 varieties. Notably, this system also demonstrated robust discriminatory power when applied to different Chinese varieties and international L. edodes varieties from Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Canada, confirming its reliability across diverse genetic backgrounds. This highly accurate and efficient marker system offers robust theoretical and technical support for parental selection, germplasm identification, and new variety protection for L. edodes, presenting significant potential to improve horticultural mushroom production efficiency.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040423

Authors: Lina Liang Jingnan Chen Ying Tian Hongyan Wang Yiting Cai Fenglin Zhong Senpeng Wang Maomao Hou Junyang Lu

Early and accurate identification of tomato leaf diseases constitutes a key safeguard for mitigating economic losses in tomato production. Conventional tomato leaf disease detection methodologies are constrained by inherent limitations, such as low operational efficiency, inadequate detection precision, and limited adaptability to environmental fluctuations. In contrast, the integration of deep learning techniques has yielded improvements in this research domain. Consequently, the development of deep learning-based approaches for the rapid and precise detection of tomato leaf diseases holds considerable theoretical significance and practical application value. To improve the detection accuracy of tomato leaf diseases, this study proposes a transfer learning-based DenseNet disease recognition model named DenseNet-BiFPN-ECA Fusion Network. The bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) is introduced at the terminal of DenseNet121 to achieve multi-scale feature fusion, while the efficient channel attention (ECA) mechanism is applied to enhance the discriminative capacity of fused features. Classification is ultimately completed via a global average pooling layer and a fully connected layer. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved model achieves an accuracy of 90.63% on the small-sample tomato leaf dataset collected from complex greenhouse environments, representing an improvement of 20.32 percentage points over the original DenseNet121 model. On the large-scale open-source Plant Village dataset, the model attains an accuracy of 98.47%, significantly outperforming the baseline models. Furthermore, a comparative analysis shows that the highest accuracy achieved by DenseNet, ResNet101, and VGG16 models on the same dataset is only 83.59% (within ±0.5%). This result validates the effectiveness of DenseNet-BiFPN-ECA Fusion Network in disease recognition tasks. The model provides a reliable technical reference for the intelligent diagnosis of tomato leaf diseases.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040422

Authors: Dóra Farkas Judit Dobránszki

Understanding intra- and intergenerational adaptive strategies is essential for developing resilient crops. This study investigated these dynamics in Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom by subjecting parental plants to ultrasound priming and drought stress, followed by drought treatment in the progeny. We introduced the Intergenerational Plasticity Ratio (IPR) as a framework to quantify how stress-response strategies shift across generations. Our results reveal a divergence in adaptation: while parental plants prioritize immediate survival through morphological reductions, the progeny exhibit refined phenological shifts as a cost-effective mechanism. The results suggest that ultrasound may serve as a priming stimulus, preparing internal signaling pathways for heightened stress readiness. These phenotypic shifts suggest that ultrasound-based priming could be explored as a potential non-chemical approach to influence crop resilience. This may allow plants to exhibit adaptive developmental timing in response to specific stressors; however, further research is needed to determine the scalability and stability of these effects across different environments.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040421

Authors: Antonios Chrysargyris Sasan Aliniaeifard Silvana Nicola

As the global population grows, food demand is expected to increase significantly [...]

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040420

Authors: Weizhen Huang Jiayan Wang Haitao Chen Jiali Lai Ben Menda Ukii Lin Zhang Yaojin Wang Yuan Luo Zhanxi Lin Dongmei Lin

Flammulina filiformis is a significant edible and medicinal fungus; however, its industrial expansion has been limited by traditional cultivation practices, highlighting an urgent need for resource-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative substrates. This study investigated the partial replacement of traditional substrates with Cenchrus fungigraminus. Utilizing the simplex-lattice method for optimization, we identified an optimal cultivation formulation, composed primarily of 20% C. fungigraminus and 28% corncobs. This formulation achieved a biological efficiency of 131.92% and enhanced the nutritional content of the fruiting bodies. Monitoring dynamic enzyme activity revealed that the yield was positively correlated with post-primordium cellulase activity, whereas mycelial growth was negatively correlated with cellulase activity during the vegetative stage. Transcriptomic analysis further indicated that key genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and cellular processes were significantly upregulated in the optimized formulation. These results suggest that the addition of C. fungigraminus enhances nutrient conversion efficiency by regulating the expression of genes associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolism, ultimately leading to an approximately 15% increase in the biological efficiency of fruiting bodies, and a profit increase of 379.37 Chinese Yuan (CNY) per ton of cultivation substrate, demonstrating substantial economic benefits. In summary, this study provides a theoretical and technical foundation for cultivating F. filiformis using C. fungigraminus, contributing to the advancement of the industry toward resource conservation and environmental sustainability.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040419

Authors: Lixuan Lin Fei Wang Duoyan Rong Deshu Lin Chizuko Yamamuro

Strawberry is an economically important horticultural crop cultivated worldwide. However, its growth, yield, and fruit quality are severely constrained by abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, and low temperature, as well as biotic stresses including pathogen attack and pest infestation. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, and increasing evidence highlights their functional diversification and regulatory importance in horticultural crops, including tomato and grapevine. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the roles of WRKY TFs in strawberry responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, based on studies in both the diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) and the octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne). We discuss their involvement in hormone crosstalk, redox regulation, and transcriptional control within complex stress-response networks, while distinguishing expression-based associations from experimentally validated regulatory functions. To provide a clear framework for evaluating the current evidence, we categorize the findings according to a hierarchy of experimental validation, ranging from direct functional characterization in strawberry, to transient assays, heterologous systems (e.g., Arabidopsis or tobacco), transcriptomic inferences, and predictions based on sequence homology. Finally, we outline potential future directions for exploiting strawberry WRKY TFs as candidate regulators in molecular breeding, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future functional studies and breeding applications.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040418

Authors: Dawei Cheng Shasha He Lan Li Xiangyang Tong Hong Gu Xiaoxu Sun Ming Li Jinyong Chen

The vigorous growth of new shoots can significantly reduce grape yield and compromise fruit quality. In order to explore the effects of prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) and mepiquat chloride (MC) on the control effect of new shoot growth and fruit quality of grape, ‘Shine Muscat’ grapevine (Vitis labruscana × V. vinifera) was used as the test material, and different concentrations of Pro-Ca and a combination of Pro-Ca and MC were sprayed four times before flowering of ‘Shine Muscat’ grapevines, and the effects of the different treatments on the new shoot growth and fruit quality of ‘Shine Muscat’ grape were analyzed and evaluated. The results demonstrated that low concentrations of Pro-Ca had limited efficacy in controlling shoot growth. However, the combined treatment of Pro-Ca 300 mg/L + MC 300 mg/L not only effectively inhibited shoot elongation but also significantly enhanced the chlorophyll content of the leaves opposite to the clusters and increased branch density. Additionally, this treatment improved berry size (single berry weight, vertical and horizontal diameter) and elevated the soluble solids content (SSC). These findings suggest that the combined application of Pro-Ca (300 mg/L) and MC (300 mg/L) is the most effective strategy for balancing vegetative growth and enhancing fruit quality in ‘Shine Muscat’ grapevines.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040417

Authors: Ilva Nakurte Gundars Skudriņš

The expansion of organic farming in Europe increases the co-occurrence of medicinal and aromatic plant crops and pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-producing weeds, raising serious contamination concerns. This study evaluated the risk of PA contamination in organically grown chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) under field conditions in the North Vidzeme region of Latvia, with particular emphasis on vertical PA distribution in dominant weeds and on whether PA occurrence could be detected in chamomile plants growing adjacent to PA-producing weeds under field conditions. Three commercial fields were surveyed using systematic quadrat sampling to quantify weed density, biomass, and height. PA-producing weeds were segmented into 5 cm fractions, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids were quantified by LC-HRMS. Myosotis arvensis was the dominant species (up to 48,000 plants ha−1), contributing the highest field-level PA load (up to 669.3 mg ha−1), whereas Anchusa arvensis occurred at lower densities (≤2400 plants ha−1) with a total PA load of 104.8 mg ha−1. In both species, PA concentrations increased toward upper plant segments, while contamination hazard at harvest was determined by the amount of PA-bearing biomass in the harvest-relevant zone. No PAs were detected in chamomile samples collected within 10 cm of PA-producing weeds (<LOQ). Under the investigated conditions, contamination hazard was primarily associated with mechanical admixture during harvest rather than soil-mediated transfer.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040416

Authors: Shadi Youssef Kumari Gamage Fouad Zablith

Despite recent advances in artificial intelligence for agriculture, reliable crop recommendation remains constrained by limited access to soil diagnostics, insufficient integration of environmental context, and the absence of transparent, quantitative evaluation frameworks. This study addresses the research question: How can we integrate multiple indicators to generate accurate, explainable, and context-sensitive crop recommendations? To this end, we propose a multimodal decision-support framework that combines image-based soil texture classification with geospatial, and climatic information. A convolutional neural network was trained on a curated dataset of 3250 soil images aggregated from four publicly available sources, covering four primary soil texture classes, alongside tabular soil and nutrient data. The model was evaluated using 5-fold stratified cross-validation, achieving an average classification accuracy of 99.30% (standard deviation ≈ 0.66), and was further validated on an independent hold-out test set to assess generalization performance. To enhance practical applicability, the framework incorporates elevation, rainfall, temperature, and major soil nutrients, and employs a large language model to generate user-oriented, interpretable justifications for each recommendation. Crop recommendations were quantitatively evaluated using a novel Agronomic Suitability Score (ASS), which measures alignment across soil compatibility, climatic suitability, seasonal alignment, and elevation tolerance. Across six geographically diverse case studies, the framework achieved mean ASS values ranging from 3.76 to 4.96, with five regions exceeding 4.45, demonstrating strong agronomic validity, robustness, and scalability. A Streamlit-based application further illustrates the system’s ability to deliver accessible, location-aware, and explainable agronomic guidance. The results indicate that the proposed approach constitutes a scalable decision-support tool with significant potential for sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040415

Authors: Dimitrios Fanourakis Theodora Makraki Theodora Ntanasi Evangelos Giannothanasis Georgios Tsaniklidis Dimitrios I. Tsitsigiannis Georgia Ntatsi

Greenhouse cultivation enables year-round vegetable production and high yields through precise environmental regulation. Yet, the same stable microclimate that promotes crop growth also favors the proliferation of pests and diseases. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how greenhouse climate variables govern pest and disease epidemiology in tomato, cucumber, and sweet pepper. Only greenhouse-based studies were included to ensure direct relevance to protected horticulture. Microclimatic stability determines infection probability, vector behavior, and host susceptibility. Warm, humid conditions promote fungal and bacterial pathogens, whereas dry, high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) environments favor mites and thrips and enhance virus transmission. Species-specific traits further modulate vulnerability. Tomato is dominated by virus–bacterium complexes and foliar/stem fungal diseases, cucumber by phytopathogenic fungi favored by high relative humidity (RH) and soilborne pathogens, and sweet pepper by virus–vector systems and long-cycle fungal infections. Temperature exerts the strongest influence, while RH and VPD jointly regulate surface moisture and vector activity. Light intensity and spectral composition also affect pest orientation and fungal sporulation. Integrating environmental sensing, biological control, and adaptive climate regulation offers a pathway toward preventive, climate-smart Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The review highlights the emerging role of climate-informed decision-support systems (DSSs) and the need for greenhouse-specific datasets to improve pest and disease forecasting.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040414

Authors: Prabhaharan Renganathan Alsu Yakupova Artyom Filippov Irina Larionova Rezeda Sushchenko Alfia Mufazalova Liliia Khilazhetdinova Kamilla Gaysina Lira A. Gaysina

Microalgal and cyanobacterial biostimulants are increasingly recognized as sustainable tools for enhancing crop establishment and reducing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals. However, the strain-specific effects of many taxa on seed germination and early seedling development remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the effects of seven microalgal and cyanobacterial suspensions on the germination kinetics and early seedling vigor of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Several strains significantly accelerated germination and enhanced seedling performance relative to the control. Treatment with Coelastrella rubescens BCAC 301 S39, Scotinosphaera lemnae BCAC 113, Vischeria magna UTEX 2351, and Anabaena sp. IT4 significantly reduced mean germination time from 4.50 d to 2.23–2.29 d and advanced the time to 50% germination (T50) from 4.0 to 2.0–2.1 d. These treatments also increased the germination index from 48.32 to 78.17–100.67 and enhanced seedling traits, including root length (32–53%), shoot length (≈29%), leaf length (17–21%), and fresh (30–43%) and dry biomasses (12–22%). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between germination indices and seedling vigor parameters, indicating the faster germination promotes early growth. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that specific microalgal strains can function as effective seed-phase biostimulants, offering a sustainable strategy to enhance germination uniformity, early seedling establishment, and crop productivity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040413

Authors: Lei Liu Hao Sui Jiajia Zuo Tingting Fang Zhiyong Wang Yingdan Yuan Shiyao Liu

As a global environmental problem, biological invasion poses a serious threat to natural ecosystems. To explore the influence mechanism of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb on the growth and development of landscape plants, this study systematically analyzed the effects of extracts from different organs (stems, leaves, and roots) of A. philoxeroides on the seed germination and seedling growth of Zinnia elegans Jacq. by combining the Petri dish filter paper method with a pot experiment to reveal the potential mechanism of allelopathy. The results showed that the aqueous extract of A. philoxeroides inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of Z. elegans. The high concentration (100 mg·mL−1) of stem and leaf extracts significantly reduced the germination rate (by 99.10% and 90.65%) and seedling morphological parameters. The allelopathic inhibition increased with an increase in concentration, and the inhibitory effect of stem and leaf extracts was significantly stronger than that of root extracts. Aqueous extracts from the roots, stems, and leaves of A. philoxeroides at three concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg·mL−1) induced oxidative stress in seedlings, as evidenced by the elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) content and dysregulated activities of antioxidant enzymes. Specifically, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities exhibited a concentration-dependent trend of initial induction followed by subsequent inhibition, while root activity was significantly suppressed (p < 0.05), ultimately impairing seedling growth. The aqueous extracts of A. philoxeroides showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of Z. elegans. High concentrations of stem and leaf extracts exerted a significant inhibitory effect on seedling growth, and this growth suppression was attributed to the induction of oxidative stress by the extracts. This study elucidated the phytotoxicity degree and physiological response mechanisms underlying the biochemical allelopathy of A. philoxeroides on Z. elegans. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for the selection of horticultural plant cultivars resistant to allelopathic stress and the development of management strategies for invasive plants.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040412

Authors: Xiaohan Tang Siao Fang Xuexiang Li Xiaojun Ma Dali Geng Jing Xuan Mengru Guo Youfei Xu Mingjie Chen Xinhong Wang Jing Shu

Background: Wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) exhibits remarkable tolerance to saline-alkali stress, yet its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), which constitute pivotal precursors for membrane lipids involved in stress adaptation. Methods: Through genome-wide analysis and molecular biology techniques, 20 ZjKCS genes were identified. Results: The ZjKCS genes were grouped into nine subfamilies, exhibiting highly conserved gene structures, motifs, and functional domains within each subfamily. Two pairs of collinear gene pairs were identified, with the ZjKCS12-ZjKCS18 pair retaining core conserved functions despite intense purifying selection. ZjKCS genes are rich in cis-acting elements associated with light transduction, phytohormone responses, and abiotic stress adaptation. Tissue-specific expression patterns of ZjKCS under light, ABA (abscisic acid), and MeJA (methyl jasmonate) treatments were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Under saline-alkali stress, ZjKCS genes were significantly upregulated, with most showing strong sustained induction during later treatment stages. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the ZjKCS family participates in saline-alkali stress and abiotic stress adaptation, potentially by enhancing VLCFA synthesis to reinforce and remodel membrane lipid structure. This study provides a foundation for elucidating lipid-mediated stress resistance mechanisms in stress-tolerant fruit trees.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040411

Authors: Yu Jin Kang Joo Hwan Lee Yong Beom Kwon Ah Young Shin Jeong Eun Sim In-Lee Choi Hyuk Sung Yoon Yongduk Kim Jidong Kim Si-Hong Kim Kiduk Park Ho-Min Kang

This study investigated the effects of four LED light qualities, red+blue+far-red (WRS-LED), blue+red (BR-LED), blue (B-LED), and red (R-LED), and exogenous L-glutamic acid at 10 ppm on the growth and quality of red mustard spinach (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) cultivated in a plant factory using a recirculating deep-flow hydroponic system. Plants were exposed to four LED light quality treatments at 180 ± 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD for 28 days after transplanting. L-glutamic acid at 10 ppm was applied once to the recirculating nutrient solution 15 days after transplanting, resulting in 13 days of exposure prior to final harvest on day 28. All growth and quality parameters were measured at the final harvest after 28 days of cultivation. WRS-LED promoted the greatest biomass production. Additionally, vitamin C content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and total phenolic content were highest under BR-LED and B-LED conditions. Notably, under B-LED, L-glutamic acid treatment increased total phenolic content to approximately twice that of the control. Leaf redness, expressed as Hunter a* values, was observed exclusively under BR-LED. Principal component analysis revealed that LED light quality was the primary determinant of treatment responses, with growth-related traits associated with WRS-LED and R-LED, and quality-related traits with B-LED and BR-LED. Overall, BR-LED combined with L-glutamic acid represents the most suitable treatment for red mustard spinach cultivation in plant factories, achieving a favorable balance between growth and nutritional quality.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040410

Authors: Jiasong Meng Di Ma Huajie Xu Ziyi Qiu Daqiu Zhao Jun Tao

Seeds of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. ‘Hangshao’ contain over 20% oil, of which more than 90% are unsaturated fatty acids, showing its high potential as an oil crop. Triacylglycerol (TAG) is the main storage form of fatty acids, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) is a key enzyme in TAG biosynthesis. In this study, the full-length cDNA of PlDGAT2 (326 amino acids) was cloned. Subcellular localization assays further indicated that it localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Functional verification showed that silencing PlDGAT2 in herbaceous peony decreased the level of total fatty acids, palmitic acid (C16:0, PA) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3, ALA), but increased linoleic acid (C18:2, LA) in leaves. Overexpressing PlDGAT2 in tobacco elevated the content of total fatty acids, PA, and ALA in seeds, while also enlarging the seed sizes, but it reduced the LA content in tobacco seeds. This study suggests that PlDGAT2 contributes to the accumulation of ALA and total fatty acids, offering a potential gene target for improving the oil quality of herbaceous peony seeds.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040409

Authors: Rong Li Yihan Zhao Yifan Zhou Cheng Sun Chunna Lv Jian Wang Fang Wang

The potato tuber is a metamorphic organ formed by the expansion of the underground stolon tip. It is an economically important organ and an excellent material for studying the occurrence and development of modified plant organs. However, genetic studies have lagged due to the potato’s complex genetic background. In this study, we used stolons and tubers of the potato ‘Qingshu 9’ at different stages of the tuberization process as samples for transcriptome sequencing and systematically analyzed the transcriptome characteristics of tuberization. Through RT-qPCR analysis, 16 candidate genes related to tuberization were identified. Overexpression verification was performed on one candidate gene, StLSH10, and the results indicated that it might be involved in regulating tuberization. This research provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism of tuberization and offers a new target to improve potato yield and quality through molecular breeding strategies.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040407

Authors: Leonardo Silva Campos Marco Antonio Tecchio Henrique Pessoa dos Santos Juliane Barreto de Oliveira Carolina Ragoni Maniero Jessicka Fernanda Lopes de Camargo Cham Aline Cristina de Aguiar Sergio Ruffo Roberto Giuliano Elias Pereira

The strategic choice of training system is essential for adapting viticulture to current climate change, ensuring a balance of physiological efficiency and the sustainability of productivity and oenological quality. This study evaluated the effects of vertical shoot positioning and foldable lyre systems (set at angles of 20°, 30° and 40°) on the physiological performance and yield of ‘Merlot’ grapevines. The experiment was conducted in a humid temperate region in Brazil over two consecutive seasons. The experiment followed a randomized block design. The variables evaluated included: the number of clusters per shoot, cluster weight, pruning weight, Ravaz Index, leaf area and yield; gas exchange parameters such as net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, rubisco carboxylation efficiency, intercellular CO2 concentration and photosynthetic photon flux density; and chemical composition of berries such as pH, Total Soluble Solids and Titratable Acidity. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance, and the means were compared using Tukey’s test at a 5% probability level. The results indicated that canopy architecture significantly influenced solar radiation interception, with the 30° and 40° foldable lyre systems achieving the highest mean daily radiation levels, exceeding the vertical positioning system by 73.7% and 76.6%, respectively. Although gas exchange at the leaf level remained comparable across all systems, agronomic performance varied considerably. The 40° foldable lyre system achieved the highest yield (22.99 t ha−1), representing a 63.1% increase over the vertical positioning system (14.10 t ha−1). The number of buds in the foldable lyre systems increased by around 70%, which is closely in line with the observed increase in yield. In addition, the foldable lyre systems provided about 40% more leaf area than the vertical positioning system. These findings suggest that divided canopy systems, such as foldable lyre systems, particularly at 30° and 40°, optimize bud load, fruitfulness per shoot, light interception and significantly increase yield without compromising individual physiological efficiency and berry chemical composition, with a balance between vegetation and fruit load preserved and with positive effects on the ripeness and quality of the grapes.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040408

Authors: Mário Duarte Elsa Valério Pedro Cardoso Rosa Coelho Maria Godinho

Soil is essential for human survival, with approximately 95% of global food production originating from land. However, over the past century, overexploitation has led to soil degradation and biodiversity loss, with significant impacts on agroecosystems. Portuguese agriculture faces diverse challenges, particularly in the horticultural sector, which occupies substantial territory and supports key economic chains. Consequently, indicators for assessing soil quality are crucial, with mesofauna serving as sensitive bioindicators due to their ecosystemic roles. Among sustainable practices, cover crops are believed to mitigate soil issues by enhancing the biotic functionalities. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cover crops on soil biological quality in horticultural systems in Portugal. From 2022 to 2025, six horticultural fields in the Alentejo, Ribatejo, and Oeste regions were assessed, introducing cover-crops before main crops and comparing them to controls. Soil samples were collected during cover and main crop presence; mesofauna was extracted via Berlese-Tullgren funnels and classified under the QBS-ar methodology. Results showed enhanced soil biological quality (p < 0.001) in cover crop plots compared to controls, with no significant differences across regions (p = 0.66) or crop types (p = 0.37), indicating the implementation of cover crops as the primary driver for enhanced soil health.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040406

Authors: Ander Solana-Guilabert Alberto Guirao María Emma García-Pastor Huertas María Díaz-Mula María Serrano Juan Miguel Valverde Domingo Martínez-Romero

The ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate cultivar is highly valued for its organoleptic properties, yet it often suffers from inadequate fruit pigmentation, reducing its commercial competitiveness. This study, carried out in a mature commercial orchard located in Spain (Alicante), evaluated the impact of preharvest applications of sorbitol at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1% in 2023, and 2.5 and 5% in 2024) and three application periods: S1 (nine applications from fruit set), S2 (six applications from seed hardening), and S3 (three applications at the onset of colour change) over two consecutive growing seasons (2023 and 2024). Treatments were applied via foliar spraying from the time of fruit set until the onset of external colour change. The results showed that sorbitol acted as an effective metabolic ‘vector’, significantly increasing fruit weight and total yield, particularly at concentrations of 1 and 5%. Furthermore, sorbitol treatments enhanced fruit firmness by stabilizing cell wall structures and significantly improved exocarp red pigmentation by reducing the hue angle. While the highest doses (1, 2.5, and 5%) enhanced biomass accumulation, they also triggered a potential negative feedback loop in sugar sensing that could interfere with secondary metabolism at excessive thresholds. These findings suggest that preharvest sorbitol applications, particularly at concentrations between 1 and 5% starting from early application period (S1), serve as an effective strategy for improving yield and external pigmentation in ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate fruit.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040405

Authors: Sakeena Tul-Ain Haider Muhammad Akbar Anjum Muhammad Nadeem Shah Adeeb Ul Hassan Maqsooda Parveen Subhan Danish Sulaiman Ali Alharbi Saleh Alfarraj

The value for ethylene produced [...]

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040404

Authors: Fangdong Li Yanju Li Wenxian Gai Fan Yang Sijun Qin Wensheng Gao Yuxia Wang Xu Zhang

Exogenous glucose functions not only as a carbon source but also as a key signaling molecule involved in regulating root development and metabolism in plants. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this response in cherry rootstock (Prunus cerasus), we performed RNA-seq on lateral roots collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after glucose treatment. Transcriptome profiling revealed a dynamic and sustained transcriptional reprogramming, with a total of 461 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) consistently altered across all post-treatment time points relative to the control (T0). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified five modules strongly correlated with glucose exposure, notably enriched for genes involved in nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur metabolism. Functional enrichment analyses further revealed a pronounced overrepresentation of pathways associated with nutrient utilization, as well as carbon fixation, glycolysis, amino acid biosynthesis, and stress-responsive processes such as glutathione metabolism and MAPK signaling. Intriguingly, key transcription factors and signaling components were consistently co-enriched across multiple functional categories, suggesting the presence of a tightly coordinated regulatory network that links sugar sensing to metabolic reprogramming, redox homeostasis, and developmental plasticity. Notably, glucose treatment induced both activation and repression of nitrogen-related genes in distinct co-expression modules, indicating fine-tuned modulation of nutrient uptake in response to carbon availability. Together, these findings suggest that exogenous glucose triggers a systems-level shift in root physiology, coordinating primary metabolism with stress adaptation and growth regulation through tightly interconnected carbon–nitrogen–sulfur metabolic circuits.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040401

Authors: Ander Solana-Guilabert Juan Miguel Valverde Alberto Guirao Fernando Garrido-Auñón María Emma García-Pastor Daniel Valero Domingo Martínez-Romero

‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate is highly valued for its sweet flavor but faces significant commercial hurdles due to pale coloration and sensitivity to postharvest disorders. This study investigates the impact of preharvest foliar applications of L-α-amino acids, applied alone (AA) or combined with 2.5% sorbitol (Sor–AA), on secondary metabolism and physiological resilience, defined here as the fruit’s capacity to maintain metabolic homeostasis and stabilize antioxidant pigments during cold storage (7 °C). Our results show that both treatments triggered a substantial shift in secondary metabolism, doubling anthocyanin concentrations at harvest and effectively overcoming the cultivar’s color deficit. While the AA treatment maximized fruit quantity per tree, the Sor–AA combination achieved the highest total yield (83.58 ± 6.82 kg) and individual fruit weight (469.00 ± 16.00 g) through a ‘metabolic bypass’ that optimizes energy use. Crucially, the physiological resilience of the fruit was uniquely bolstered by the Sor–AA treatment, which was the only strategy to stabilize anthocyanin levels (~108 mg L−1) and maximize free ellagic acid in the husk (371.72 mg kg−1) throughout 42 days of storage. Multivariate PCA (explaining 79.79% of variance) confirmed that the synergy of amino acids and sorbitol triggers systemic metabolic reprogramming. Consequently, this targeted agronomic approach could provide significant economic benefits by increasing the proportion of export-grade fruit and extending the commercial window for the pomegranate sector.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040403

Authors: Tiantian Zhi Zhou Zhou Chen Shi Meiqiong Xie Gang Chen Cui Lu

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) severely threatens global oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production. This study demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of two homologous BnaFAH, involved in tyrosine degradation, confers enhanced Brassica napus resistance to Plutella xylostella under a 2-day short-day (SD2) photoperiod. Multi-omics analyses revealed that this resistance is associated with a coordinated response: BnaFAH deficiency triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which is closely associated with activating the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic and signaling pathways. This led to significant upregulation of key JA biosynthetic genes and accumulation of JA, its precursors (OPDA, OPC-4, and OPC-6), and bioactive conjugates (JA-Ile and JA-Phe). Pharmacological analyses support the central role of JA, as exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhanced insect resistance, whereas the JA biosynthesis inhibitor DIECA suppressed resistance. Scavenging ROS with sodium selenite prevented both JA pathway upregulation and insect resistance, suggesting that ROS may act upstream to activate the JA biosynthetic and signaling pathways. These findings support a previously unrecognized “photoperiod-dependent ROS-JA” defense module, revealing how metabolic perturbation under specific environmental cues can be co-opted to enhance plant immunity, offering new targets for breeding resistant rapeseed varieties.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040402

Authors: Shengming Mao Xuyongjie Zhu Long Cao Guanfeng Zhou Yong He Zhujun Zhu Guochao Yan

Salt stress is one of the major environmental constraints in agriculture, significantly limiting crop yield and causing substantial economic loss worldwide. Silicon (Si) and selenium (Se) are widely recognized as beneficial elements for plants, and the application of Si- and Se-based fertilizers is considered a promising strategy for promoting crop growth and sustainable agricultural production under expanding salinization of arable land. In this study, aiming for the targeted application of Si and Se in agricultural production, the individual and synergistic effects of Si and Se on salt stress resistance in tomato when applied via root application or foliar spray were comprehensively investigated. Plant growth parameters, photosynthesis performance, oxidative damage, the activity of the antioxidant system, sodium/potassium (Na/K) content, and the expression of genes related to Na/K homeostasis were determined and further compared using principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that salt stress markedly inhibited plant growth and photosynthetic performance, while inducing oxidative damage and disrupting Na/K homeostasis in tomato seedlings. In contrast, the application of both Si and Se significantly promoted tomato growth and ameliorated the detrimental effects of salt stress. Moreover, Si and Se exhibited a synergistic effect in promoting salt stress resistance under both root and foliar application. Root application of Si and Se is more effective in enhancing ionic homeostasis, while foliar spray of Si and Se is more effective in promoting photosynthesis performance under salt stress. Overall, considering the convenience and use-cost efficiency of Si and Se application in agricultural practices, the results of this study showed that the synergy application of Si and Se via foliar spray is most effective in promoting salt stress resistance in tomato through modulating photosynthesis performance, antioxidant capacity, and ionic homeostasis.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040400

Authors: Hakan Sevik Ismail Koc Handan Ucun Ozel Fatih Adiguzel Ramazan Erdem Erol Imren Ayse Ozturk Pulatoglu Halil Baris Ozel

In this study, the variation in chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in peppers, tomatoes, corn, eggplants, and cucumbers grown adjacent to the industrial area in Düzce, one of Europe’s most polluted cities and known for its high levels of potential toxic element (PTE) pollution, was determined based on species and organ. In addition, the concentrations of these elements in the soil were determined, and the translocation factor (TF) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) in the plant organs were calculated. The study found that Cr pollution, in particular, was well above threshold values in the region and accumulated to high concentrations in all plant organs, including fruits. The study found that soil Cr concentrations were well above the limit values set by international organizations. Cd concentrations in fruits ranged from 0.22 mg/kg to 0.33 mg/kg. Based on these results, Cd concentrations in all species exceed the limit values set by international standards by more than twice. The Cr concentration determined in fruits in the study ranged from 178.47 mg/kg to 579.80 mg/kg. According to these values, the Cr concentration determined in fruits is hundreds of times higher than the limit value in all species. TF values were high for Cd in tomato fruits and Cr in pepper and cucumber fruits. In contrast, TF values for both Cd and Cr were very low in corn fruits. Based on these results, cultivating crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers should be avoided in the region, and corn should be emphasized. Thus, the rate of Cr and Cd entering the human body through the food chain can be reduced.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040399

Authors: Lijun Liu Hongxi Ma Deen Zhang Xiaoyun Zhang Xiaoyan Lu

Drought is a major limiting factor for apple growth and development. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone in plant abiotic stress responses, playing a vital role in mediating adaptation to drought. Malus sieversii, the wild ancestor of cultivated apple, exhibits superior drought tolerance. However, the specific ABA-dependent regulatory module underlying its exceptional drought tolerance remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of ABA in the drought response of M. sieversii seedlings using a combination of exogenous ABA and the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone. Plants were subjected to four treatments: CK, PEG (20% PEG-6000), PEG+ABA (100 μM ABA) and PEG+FLU (100 μM fluridone). The results showed that ABA application significantly reduced the wilting rate by 45.53% and electrolyte leakage by 20.50% compared to the PEG treatment. Furthermore, it alleviated the decline in fresh weight and relative water content while reducing the accumulation of starch, sucrose, glucose, and fructose after seven days of stress. Conversely, FLU application intensified the adverse effects of drought. RNA-Seq analysis of the PEG+ABA vs. PEG comparison identified 5642 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with significant enrichment in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, photosynthesis, carbon fixation, and MAPK signaling pathways. Exogenous ABA up-regulated BGLU23 while down-regulating BAM1. In contrast, no significant changes in their expression were observed under FLU treatment, suggesting their likely regulation in an ABA-dependent manner. In summary, ABA enhances osmotic-stress tolerance in M. sieversii through multiple pathways, among which starch and sucrose metabolism may represent a core and highly responsive regulatory pathway. Functional validation of key candidate genes BAM1 and BGLU23 remains an important direction for future investigation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for breeding drought-resistant apple rootstocks and for understanding ABA-mediated osmotic-stress tolerance mechanisms.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12040398

Authors: Alex Erazo-Lara Blanca Alexandra Oñate-Bastidas María Emma García-Pastor Pedro Antonio Padilla-González Vicente Agulló María Serrano Daniel Valero

Yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw.) is increasing in popularity and is considered to be an exotic fruit with great potential for consumption due to its content of both nutritive and bioactive compounds with health-related properties. Pitahaya plants, grown in Ecuador, were treated with two elicitors: methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and methyl salicylate (MeSA), both at a 0.1 mM concentration. After harvesting, the fruits were transported to Spain and stored at two temperatures, 2 and 10 °C, for 55 days. The analytical determinations were physiological parameters (ethylene and respiration rates), organoleptic traits [firmness, color, total soluble solids (TSSs) and total acidity (TA)], and phytonutrients (total phenolics, carotenoids and total antioxidant activity). The results show that all the parameters evolved more rapidly at 10 °C than at 2 °C, which is due to storage temperature effects on fruit metabolism. For TSSs, reductions were observed at the two temperatures, while, for TA, a major reduction was obtained at 2 °C. Regarding storage, the respiration rates increased, especially at 2 °C. At the end of storage, total phenolics were higher in treated pitahayas. Moreover, fruits developed chilling injury (CI) at 2 °C based on the highest respiration rate and accelerated softening. Collectively, all the data suggest that both MeJA and MeSA could modulate yellow pitahaya ripening without detrimental effects on quality during postharvest storage.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030397

Authors: Xue Feng Zhiguo Zhou Chen Deng

Myo-inositol (MI) is recognized as a potential stress regulator capable of alleviating abiotic stress. The objective of this study is to analyze the role of MI in the salt stress response of Daucus carota L. and its potential mechanisms. “Hongxin Qicun” carrot seedlings were subjected to five treatments: control; salt stress (50 mM NaCl); and salt stress combined with 50, 100, or 200 μM of MI. Through an integrated approach combining physiological assays, non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT), and gene expression profiling, we found that salt stress severely inhibited seedling growth, disrupted K+/Na+ homeostasis, and triggered excessive H2O2 accumulation. Exogenous MI application mitigated these salt-induced damages, with 100 μM MI exerting the optimal effect. MI enhanced Na+ efflux and reduced K+ efflux in carrot roots under salt stress. Inhibitor experiments indicated that MI-promoted Na+ efflux relies on active transport via the plasma membrane (PM) Na+/H+ antiporter system, and qRT-PCR analysis showed that this response was accompanied by the upregulation of DcSOS1. Furthermore, MI contributes to K+ homeostasis by synergistically modulating PM H+-ATPase and high-affinity potassium transporters. The established proton gradient helps reduce salt-induced K+ loss through depolarization-activated potassium channels and non-selective cation channels. MI treatment decreased electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and H2O2 accumulation by enhancing the activities of the plant antioxidant defense system. Meanwhile, MI upregulated the expression of myo-inositol oxygenase (DcMIOXs) genes, which may contribute to osmotic balance maintenance and facilitate ROS scavenging. In conclusion, exogenous MI alleviates salt-induced physiological disorders in Daucus carota L. by coordinately regulating K+/Na+ and ROS homeostasis, with 100 μM identified as the optimal concentration for this effect.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030396

Authors: Dejan Skočajić Djurdja Petrov Nevenka Galečić Jelena Čukanović Radenka Kolarov Sara Đorđević Mirjana Ocokoljić

This research is interdisciplinary in nature and supports the process of selecting individual plants to achieve sustainable visual and ecological effects in the urban landscape. The importance of this study is further emphasised by climate change, which necessitates modifications to the existing selection of ornamental plants. These individuals must be capable of adapting to urban ecosystems in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change on humans and other organisms and to maintain a high level of biodiversity. Accordingly, this paper highlights, at the individual level, the significance of Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach) as an element of urban green infrastructure in the Balkan Peninsula. Based on a real case study conducted over the period 2007–2025 and through an integrative approach involving 3841 phenological observations and climate parameters over 19 consecutive years, local phenological flowering patterns were identified, upon which the species’ functional potential depends. The key patterns and abundance of flowering are the result of interactions with daily maximum and minimum air temperatures and precipitation levels, as confirmed by correlations with percentile-based classifications of climatic variables for the study years. The statistical non-significance of the trends points to the influence of extreme climatic events but also to the adaptability of the selected genotype compared with other Japanese quince genotypes in the vicinity. Regression analysis determined the optimal daily air temperatures for continuous flowering during 2024 and 2025. The results confirm that the selected individual is sustainable, and it is, therefore, proposed for inclusion in the assortment of ornamental plants important for preserving ecosystem services in urban landscape design, particularly in view of its demonstrated utilitarian benefits.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030395

Authors: Yufan Ran Bo Shi Ruiyu Han Xiuxiu Xu Yun Dai Ying Zhang Shaoxing Wang Shifan Zhang Fei Li Guoliang Li Rifei Sun Shujiang Zhang Hui Zhang

Disease resistance breeding is an important direction for the genetic improvement of Chinese cabbage. The traditional elite variety ‘Yutian Baojian’ Chinese cabbage is highly regarded for its tall cylindrical head with a pointed tip, tightly twisted wrapper leaves, and sweet taste. However, long-term cultivation has led to a significant decline in its resistance to clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae. To restore clubroot resistance while maintaining its desirable horticultural traits, this study used the clubroot-susceptible ‘Yutian Baojian’ as the recurrent parent and the resistant donor ‘Shaocai’, which carries the CRd resistance gene, to develop backcross populations. Using marker-assisted selection (MAS), plants were comprehensively screened based on foreground selection with markers tightly linked to the CRd gene, background selection with 73 genome-wide polymorphic markers, and phenotypic evaluation of horticultural traits, including plant height, plant spread, head shape, and soluble solids content. In the BC1 population, three individuals showing high genetic similarity were selected. From the BC2 population, four elite individuals were obtained, exhibiting 99.32% genetic similarity, stable clubroot resistance, and typical horticultural characteristics. Furthermore, three homozygous resistant inbred lines (BC2S2) with the ‘Yutian Baojian’ phenotype were developed. These results enrich the clubroot-resistant germplasm resources of Chinese cabbage and provide an effective MAS-based strategy for the precise improvement and germplasm innovation of local cultivars.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030394

Authors: Xiangyang Li Bing Hu Zhaoli Chen Bingshan Zeng

This study evaluated the effects of red LED (RL), blue LED (BL), and white LED (WL) on the growth, physiological responses, and hormonal regulation of Aquilaria crassna tissue-cultured plantlets. Morphological assessment revealed that both RL and BL treatments reduced growth variation, with RL significantly promoting shoot elongation and secondary root development. Compared to WL, RL also enhanced the rooting rate and aboveground biomass. Analysis of hormones and physiological indicators indicated that RL and BL treatments decreased abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinin (CTK), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, while increasing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), soluble sugar levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, thereby altering hormone balance and antioxidant system stability. Correlation analysis revealed that light quality was significantly negatively correlated with ABA content, while root development was closely associated with hormonal balance and antioxidant capacity. A comprehensive evaluation using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method ranked RL as the most favorable light condition for overall growth and development, with a closeness coefficient of 0.71. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing light quality management to improve the efficiency and quality of A. crassna tissue culture systems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030393

Authors: Bangbang Chen Xuzhe Sun Xiangdong Liu Baojian Ma Feng Ding

Severe foliage occlusion and dynamically changing lighting conditions in complex orchard environments pose significant challenges for visual perception systems in automated apple harvesting, including low detection accuracy, poor robustness, and insufficient real-time performance. To address these issues, this study proposes an improved lightweight detection network based on YOLOv11, named YOLO-WBL, along with a precise yield estimation algorithm based on 3D point clouds, termed CLV. The YOLO-WBL network is optimized in three aspects: (1) A C3K2_WT module integrating wavelet transform is introduced into the backbone network to enhance multi-scale feature extraction capability; (2) A weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) is adopted in the neck network to improve the efficiency of multi-scale feature fusion; (3) A lightweight shared convolution separated batch normalization detection head (Detect-SCGN) is designed to significantly reduce the parameter count while maintaining accuracy. Based on this detection model, the CLV algorithm deeply integrates depth camera point cloud information through 3D coordinate mapping, irregular point cloud reconstruction, and convex hull volume calculation to achieve accurate estimation of individual fruit volume and total yield. Experimental results demonstrate that: (1) The YOLO-WBL model achieves a precision of 93.8%, recall of 79.3%, and mean average precision (mAP@0.5) of 87.2% on the apple test set; (2) The model size is only 3.72 MB, a reduction of 28.87% compared to the baseline model; (3) When deployed on an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX edge device, its inference speed reaches 8.7 FPS, meeting real-time requirements; (4) In scenarios with an occlusion rate below 40%, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of yield estimation can be controlled within 8%. Experimental validation was conducted using apple images selected from the dataset under varying lighting intensities and fruit occlusion conditions. The results demonstrate that the CLV algorithm significantly outperforms traditional average-weight-based estimation methods. This study provides an efficient, accurate, and deployable visual solution for intelligent apple harvesting and yield estimation in complex orchard environments, offering practical reference value for advancing smart orchard production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030392

Authors: Zhongqiu Zhang Pingping Li Jizhang Wang

Spring frosts pose a major threat to tea production, causing severe damage to tender spring buds and substantial economic losses. To support timely frost protection measures, this study develops an interpretable machine learning framework for next-day frost forecasting in a tea plantation in Danyang, eastern China. Leveraging nine years (2008–2016) of multi-source data—including high-resolution on-site meteorological observations and daily records from surrounding regional stations—we engineered a comprehensive set of predictive features capturing local microclimatic, regional synoptic, and short-term temporal dynamics. A two-stage feature selection approach, combining Spearman correlation screening with SHAP-based importance ranking, identified an optimal subset of 14 robust predictors. Among eight benchmarked models, XGBoost achieved the best performance on a chronologically held-out test set, yielding a CSI of 0.736, accuracy of 91.0%, F1-Score of 0.848 and AUC-ROC of 0.968. Ablation experiments demonstrated the added value of data integration: model performance improved from a CSI of 0.617 (using only local data) to 0.736 (with full multi-source inputs). SHAP interpretability analysis further revealed that the model’s predictions align with established frost formation physics, highlighting key drivers such as nocturnal cooling rate and regional humidity. This work demonstrates that integrating multi-scale meteorological data with interpretable machine learning offers a reliable, transparent, and operationally viable tool for frost risk management—providing actionable insights to enhance resilience in precision horticulture for perennial crops like tea.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030391

Authors: Lisha Fan Meng Li Qian You Tao Li Yanwei Hao Baojuan Sun

In the study of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a cross between the green peel line 19143 and the white peel line 19147 produced E4957 F1 hybrids with a purple–brown peel. Self-fertilization of the F1 hybrids yielded E4957 F2 offspring with a segregation ratio of 27:9:21:7 among individuals with purple–brown, purple–red, green, and white peel colors, respectively, which was consistent with a genetic model controlled by reciprocal recessive epistasis between D and P, and Gv1 likely acting as a modifying factor. The green peel line 19143 exhibited higher chlorophyll but lower anthocyanin levels than the white peel line 19147, which contained low levels of both pigments, while the E4957 F1 hybrids had elevated levels of both pigments. Two epistatic genes, D and P, associated with anthocyanin synthesis, were mapped on chromosomes 10 and 8, respectively. The putative modifying locus Gf, involved in chlorophyll accumulation in the flesh, was mapped on chromosome 8, and the localization interval was close to the previously reported Gv1 locus associated with chlorophyll synthesis in the peel. DNA markers (InDel22522, InDel5531, InDel-APRR2) were developed to genotype 237 F2 individuals and correlate genotypes with phenotypes. Sequence analysis revealed a 6 bp deletion in the SmMYB1 (D) gene and a large deletion in the SmAPRR2-Like (Gv1) gene in the white peel line 19147, as well as a T to A mutation in the SmANS (P) gene in the green line 19143. This study provided evidence for inheritance between loci involved in anthocyanin and chlorophyll pathways contributing to eggplant peel color variation and provides molecular markers that may facilitate the breeding of eggplant varieties with diverse peel colors.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030390

Authors: Nezar H. Samarah Nisreen A. AL-Quraan Ruleen I. M. AlZyout Ahmed Salah Elrys

Salinity is a major constraint on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production and is known to inhibit seed germination. However, the physiological and biochemical processes underlying this sensitivity remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how salinity affects seed germination in two lettuce cultivars, ‘Susan’ (a highly salt-sensitive cultivar) and ‘Yafa’ (a low salt-sensitive cultivar), with particular emphasis on the roles of catalase and endo-β-mannanase enzyme activities. Seeds were subjected to both low salinity (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mM NaCl) and high salinity (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 mM NaCl) under standard germination conditions to evaluate germination percentage, mean germination time, and enzyme activity. Seedling emergence was also assessed in different growing media, including perlite, sand, peatmoss, and cocopeat. The results showed that salinity significantly reduced germination percentage and seedling length and increased mean germination time, with inhibition occurring at ≥0.1 mM NaCl in ‘Susan’ and ≥40 mM NaCl in ‘Yafa’; both cultivars failed to germinate at 320 mM. The ’Yafa’ had a high seedling emergence in all growing media, but ’Susan‘ seeds only emerged in perlite, which had the lowest salinity. Catalase activity increased markedly under salt stress, particularly in ‘Susan,’ indicating elevated oxidative burden, while endo-β-mannanase activity declined with increasing salinity, especially in the highly salt-sensitive cultivar of ‘Susan’. Correlation analysis showed that germination percentage had a significant and positive correlation with endo-β-mannanase activity and had a significant and negative correlation with catalase activity across salinity levels. In conclusion, salinity-induced inhibition of lettuce seed germination appears to be associated with changes in antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced endosperm weakening capacity, as reflected by altered catalase and endo-β-mannanase activities, thereby contributing to cultivar-dependent differences in salt sensitivity.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030389

Authors: Peng Ma Chengcun Liu Airao Mo Tengfei Zhao

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) functions as the rate-limiting enzyme in the polyamine (PA) biosynthetic pathway. It catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-ornithine to produce putrescine, thereby initiating the biosynthesis of polyamines. Polyamines are a class of widely distributed polycationic aliphatic compounds in living organisms, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. They serve not only as critical regulators of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation, but also as important signaling molecules involved in plant responses to environmental stress and key precursors in the biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites. Focusing on recent advances in plant ODC research, this review summarizes the characteristics and evolutionary relationships of the ODC gene family, the biochemical properties and catalytic mechanism of the enzyme, and its multiple physiological roles in growth, development, secondary metabolism, and stress adaptation. Furthermore, we discuss the complex regulatory mechanisms governing ODC activity at both transcriptional and post-translational levels, with a critical gap in understanding the post-translational regulation of ODC in plants, particularly the mechanisms governing its degradation. Unlike in animals, where antizymes mediate ODC degradation, functional analogs of antizymes have not yet been identified in plants, leaving the degradation pathway largely unexplored. Finally, we review the applications of plant genetic modification targeting ODC in enhancing the production of valuable secondary metabolites in medicinal plants and improving stress tolerance in crops, along with perspectives on future research directions. This review illustrates the diversity of ODC functions and the complexity of its regulatory mechanisms in plant growth, development, stress responses, and secondary metabolism. It also provides a theoretical foundation and insights for exploring ODC as a target for plant genetic modification, which is promising for improving the economic traits and stress resistance of horticultural plants.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030388

Authors: Ziqi Wang Chenjia Yao Yong Yang Silas Segbo Xiaoyu Xu Ximeng Lin Pengyu Zhou Feng Gao Zhaojun Ni Ting Shi Zhihong Gao

Potassium (K+) is a vital macronutrient for plant growth and stress resilience, with KT/HAK/KUP transporters playing a central role in its homeostasis. Although these transporters are known to influence photosynthesis, the molecular mechanisms by which fertilization promotes assimilate accumulation in peach crops remain poorly understood. In this study, 17 PpHAK genes were identified based on the peach genome and classified into four distinct clades through phylogenetic analysis, a classification further supported by conserved gene structures and motifs. Interspecific collinearity analysis revealed that transporters are highly conserved among Rosaceae species. Physiological measurements demonstrated that foliar application significantly enhanced photosynthetic capacity, as evidenced by a 33% increase in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and improved photoelectron yield (Y(II)). At the same time, the transcript levels of the transporters PpHAK1, PpHAK5, and PpHAK9 were significantly upregulated, as confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in sugar metabolism and transport, particularly PpPLT5-1, was significantly induced. Collectively, these results indicate that foliar K+ application enhances photosynthesis and promotes assimilate accumulation by modulating the expression of both K+ and sugar transporters. These findings offer a theoretical basis for optimizing nutrient management to improve fruit quality in stone fruit production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030387

Authors: Deling Zhao Kaidi Wu Junjie Liu Mengmeng Yin Xiaomeng Wang Wenrui Gu Gengrui Zhu Ningning Gao Ali Aslam Qinghua Shi Ruimin Zhang

The Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain (LBD) gene family encodes plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth, development, and stress responses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the LBD family in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has not been conducted until now. In this study, we identified 39 ClLBD genes using the latest watermelon reference genome and systematically analyzed the function of ClLBD2 in root development. These ClLBDs are unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes except Chr4. Evolutionary analysis grouped the gene family members into six subgroups: Class I (a–e) and Class II. Physicochemical properties and gene structure analysis showed that the ClLBD protein members are tightly conserved. In the promoter regions of ClLBD genes, we identified abundant cis-acting regulatory elements related to abiotic stress and hormone responses. Through RNA-seq analysis from a cucurbit database, we found that several ClLBD genes showed high relative expression in roots, with ClLBD2 being the most highly expressed. Since its subfamily includes AtLBD25, a known root development-related gene, we hypothesized that ClLBD2 might be involved in root development. To validate this, ClLBD2-edited roots were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. Compared to the wild type, the ClLBD2 edited roots exhibited significant reduction in taproot length and lateral root numbers, indicating that ClLBD2 may regulate root development. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the LBD gene family in watermelon, offering valuable insights for evolutionary and further functional studies of ClLBD genes.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030386

Authors: Hang Zhang Ning Lv Xinglin Wang Huan Tian Lunxian Liu Tie Shen Qingxiong Yang

The accumulation dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of the alkylamides, the key pungent compounds in the fruits of Sichuan peppers, remain poorly understood. Using fruits of the Zanthoxylum planispinum var. dintanensis (Dintan) harvested at five key developmental stages, we comprehensively mapped the accumulation of numbering compounds and their underlying molecular drivers by integrating HPLC-based metabolite profiling and de novo transcriptomics. Total alkylamide content increased during development, with hydroxyl-α-sanshool (HαSS) being predominant. The contributions of hydroxyl-β-sanshool (HβSS) and hydroxyl-ε-sanshool (HεSS) increased in later stages. Cluster and correlation analyses identified 51 candidate genes strongly correlated (|r| ≥ 0.6) with HαSS accumulation, predominantly enriched in fatty acid and branched-chain amino acid metabolism pathways. The expression patterns of five stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) genes, one long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL/fadD), and one S-(hydroxymethyl)glutathione dehydrogenase/alcohol dehydrogenase (frmA) gene closely mirrored HαSS accumulation. In contrast, 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] synthase II (fabF) and one β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) gene exhibited a negative correlation. Accordingly, a positive regulatory network was constructed for HαSS accumulation. These findings revealed key candidate targets for deciphering the molecular basis of its unique flavor and for breeding high-pungency cultivars.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030385

Authors: Jie Wu Mengyue Jing Yixin Zhang Jun Xu Xiaomin Chen Feifei Gong Weikun Jing Qigang Wang Shenchong Li

Salt stress severely inhibits plant growth and agricultural production by disrupting the balance of water and ions. To counteract this abiotic challenge, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to modulate carbon allocation, prominently through the transcriptional regulation of sucrose metabolism-related genes (SMGs). This study focuses on the globally important horticultural crop, the rose (Rosa chinensis ‘Old Blush’), and provides the first systematic analysis of the RcSMG gene family. Using bioinformatics, 25 RcSMGs were identified, including 4 sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), 6 sucrose synthase (SUS) and 15 invertase (INV) members. Phylogenetic analysis classified these SMGs into four distinct clades (SUS, SPS, CWINV, and NINV), with the INV family being the largest and the SPS family showing striking conservation across all four species. Evolutionary and collinearity analyses revealed that the SPS family is highly conserved, whereas the INV subfamily has undergone lineage-specific expansion. Protein analysis showed that all RcSMGs are hydrophilic. SPS proteins were found to be relatively unstable, while SUS and most INV members were stable. Further analysis of a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network showed that SPS proteins interact with enzymes in the metabolic pathway both upstream and downstream, forming a tightly regulated sucrose metabolism network. Transcriptome and promoter analyses revealed that RcSMGs exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns. The enrichment of diverse stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements in their promoter regions strongly implies a broad functional role in abiotic-stress adaptation, a hypothesis corroborated by transcriptome profiling under various stress conditions. Crucially, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assays demonstrated that RcSUS3 and RcSPS1 positively regulate salt tolerance, while RcCWINV1 and RcVINV3 may act as negative regulators. In summary, this work provides the foundational framework for understanding the evolution, structure, and transcriptional regulation of the RcSMG family in roses. These findings highlight the important role of sucrose metabolism in stress resilience and provide a valuable basis for future molecular breeding to enhance stress resistance in horticultural crops.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030384

Authors: Ermelinda Silva Sara Najjari Oren Shelef Roza Belayneh Ayalkibet Frane Strikic Mario Bjeliš Rosalina Marrão Valeria Borsellino Marcello D’Acquisto Emanuele Schimmenti Cristina Caleja Lillian Barros Alexandre Gonçalves

Intercropping is a pivotal strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 2—End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (SDG 2)—by enhancing food security agroecosystem resilience and sustainability. By integrating diverse species within the same plot, this sustainable approach takes advantage of the beneficial interactions between them. The simultaneous cultivation of multiple crop species within the same field increases agricultural diversification and contributes to a more resilient production system, breaking the uniformity of modern intensive agriculture. The objective of this review is to evaluate intercropping practices throughout the Mediterranean, specifically in Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece), North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and the Middle East (Turkey, Israel, and Jordan). This review intends to show advantages and disadvantages of intercropping and crops used and also highlight how intercropping systems affect crop production and quality, soil quality and microbiome, and proliferation of weeds, pests and diseases. The literature suggests that diversification in agriculture supports biodiversity and ecosystem services by the cultivation of diverse crop species together and, hence, may reduce independence in external outputs such as nutrient supply, pesticides and soil amendment. Despite the potential benefits of intercropping, the major caveats of this practice are the competition between different crops on resources, potential risks of plant protection, technical challenges of integrating the different requirements of each crop used in the system, and culture-related restrictions or regulations.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030383

Authors: Yaoyao Huang Mingcai Yang Junheng Lv Kai Zhao Jinfen Wen Yan Zhao Minghua Deng

(1) Background: The bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor family is one of the most abundant in plants and is involved in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. Notably, the functions of most bHLH family members remain poorly characterized. (2) Results: CmbHLH112, a nuclear-localized bHLH transcription factor from chrysanthemum, exhibits transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of CmbHLH112 in Arabidopsis significantly promotes flowering and enhances drought resistance. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CmbHLH112 regulates flowering time by affecting the expression of key flowering genes, including FT, SOC1, LFY, and FLC. Under drought stress, CmbHLH112 overexpression plants showed reduced ROS accumulation compared with wild-type plants, accompanied by elevated activities of key antioxidant enzymes and increased proline content. Moreover, transgenic plants exhibited lower MDA concentrations and reduced water loss rates under drought conditions, further indicating enhanced stress resilience. Overexpression of CmbHLH112 also upregulates ABA levels under drought stress, while simultaneously promoting the expression of genes involved in ABA biosynthesis and ABA signaling pathways. (3) Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that heterologous overexpression of CmbHLH112 in Arabidopsis enhances drought tolerance and promotes flowering. Thus, CmbHLH112 is proposed to play a dual role in modulating flowering time and drought tolerance, at least partly by regulating ABA biosynthesis.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030382

Authors: Nevena Stevanović Tamara Popović Vanja Vuković Aleksandra Stankov Petreš Sreten Terzić Tijana Barošević Nataša Ljubičić

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important source of food and feed and contributes to soil improvement through its association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. By enabling higher yields and selection of tolerant genotypes, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) could meet increasing nutritional needs despite adverse conditions. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drought stress on the development of vegetable pea genotypes under controlled vertical farming conditions. Plants were grown in CEA and exposed to drought stress at different developmental stages, after flowering and after pod formation. Drought significantly reduced pod and seed numbers, showing a stronger effect than genotype. For example, genotype Favorit produced 7.67 and 9.00 seeds per plant under control conditions, compared with only 2.00 and 2.67 seeds per plant under drought treatments. Pod length, seed number, and seed weight were also lower under stress, highlighting the importance of water availability during seed setting and filling. Fresh and dry biomass were mainly influenced by genotype, indicating differences in stress adaptability. The results also demonstrate that CEA can be used for reproducible abiotic stress experiments relevant to plant breeding and crop production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030381

Authors: Binbin Dong Xiaoqian Yao Yalan Sun Chunmeng Huang

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), poses a significant threat to global tomato production. However, environmentally sustainable management strategies for this pest, as well as its mechanisms of insecticide resistance, remain insufficiently understood. Broflanilide, a novel meta-diamide compound, can bind specifically to the transmembrane domain of the RDL subunit, causing prolonged opening of the chloride channel, disruption of neurotransmission, and ultimately insect paralysis and death. This study employed the leaf immersion method to conduct bioassays on the second-instar larvae of T. absoluta to evaluate physiological responses to sublethal concentrations of the novel amide insecticide broflanilide. Subsequently, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was performed to investigate changes in gene expression and metabolic pathways. Bioassay results determined the larval sublethal concentrations of broflanilide to be 0.136 mg/L (LC10) and 0.210 mg/L (LC30). Sublethal exposure significantly prolonged the larval period, reduced pupal weight, and inhibited fecundity of female adults. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses revealed that, compared with the control (CK), expression of the vitellogenin gene Vg decreased by 15.99% and 30.27% under LC10 and LC30 treatments, respectively, while its receptor gene VgR decreased by 11.56% and 24.49%. Similarly, expression of chitin synthase genes chs1 and chs2 declined by 13.56% and 30.17% (chs1), and 7.85% and 19.45% (chs2), respectively. Gene expression analysis elucidated how sublethal insecticides treatment impact larval development and fecundity. Furthermore, the study revealed upregulation of cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification pathways and Toll/Imd immune signaling pathways under broflanilide stress, indicating activation of a coordinated defense response in T. absoluta. Sublethal broflanilide exposure modulated larval gene expression to balance growth, development, and stress adaptation. Such exposure exerts selective pressure on susceptible populations, potentially driving adaptive shifts in detoxification metabolism and contributing to the development of field resistance. These findings advance our understanding of the sublethal effects of novel insecticides and provide valuable insights for insecticide deployment strategies and resistance management.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030380

Authors: Xiujing Hong Yunyun Zhang Congsheng Yan Lin Fang Li Jia Mingxia Wang Zhihuan Ge Han Wang Tingting Song Yan Wang Haikun Jiang

Tomato fruit rot severely impacts yield and quality, causing economic losses. This study aimed to identify the pathogenic fungi associated with post-harvest tomato fruit rot and characterize the transcriptomic responses of tomatoes. Pathogens were isolated from diseased tomato fruit tissues and identified using morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and in vitro pathogenicity tests. The genome of Cladosporium oxysporum Co-1 was assembled and annotated. RNA-seq analysis was used to profile transcriptional changes in tomatoes infected with C. oxysporum Co-1, with RT-qPCR validating the RNA-seq data and spectrophotometric assays analyzing the host physiological responses. Three pathogenic fungi were isolated. Colonies of C. oxysporum exhibited a near-circular shape, with colonies transitioning from an olive-green center to gray-green at the edges, and based on ITS, β-tubulin, and EF-1α gene sequences, this isolate exhibited 99% identity with C. oxysporum. The other two fungal isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata and Fusarium incarnatum, respectively, based on morphological and multi-locus sequence analysis. All three strains induced fruit rot and browning in tomatoes, confirming their pathogenicity. The genome size of C. oxysporum Co-1 was 34,515,558 bp, comprising 52 scaffolds with a GC content of 52.82%, and encoding 10,081 protein-coding genes. RNA-seq analysis showed dynamic gene expression changes in tomatoes infected with strain A, with differentially expressed genes enriched in pathogenicity-related pathways. Spectrophotometric assays revealed that peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased initially followed by an increase post-inoculation with C. oxysporum, indicating that tomatoes defend against pathogen infection through the antioxidant enzyme system. These findings revealed the pathogenic fungi were associated with post-harvest tomato rot disease, provided genomic resources for C. oxysporum, and provided insight into the host’s response to this strain.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030379

Authors: Qiang Gao Yu Ji Chongchong Shi Meili Wang

To address challenges related to complex background interference and insufficient multi-scale target feature extraction in lettuce growth stage detection. The lightweight YOLOv10 detection model and the specific characteristics of lettuce field data were used. The CNCM channel non-local mixture mechanism and ASF adaptive spatial frequency attention mechanism were incorporated to optimize lightweight modules, including DownSample, Zoom_cat, and ScalSeq, within the original model. Consequently, an improved CCASF-YOLOv10 model was constructed, integrating multi-scale feature fusion and enhanced target feature extraction. Experimental results demonstrate that, in an NVIDIA A40 GPU testing environment, the model achieves an accuracy rate of 91.9%, a recall rate of 91.6%, mAP@0.5 of 95.3%, and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 72.9%. The parameter size is 11.9 M, and the single-frame inference speed is 24.76 ms, indicating a favorable balance between detection precision, model efficiency, and real-time inference. Furthermore, an intelligent machine vision detection system for lettuce growth-stage monitoring and precise field control was developed using the CCASF-YOLOv10 model. This system facilitates the industrial advancement of lettuce cultivation.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030378

Authors: Stefanos Kostas Chrysanthi Evangelia Katsanou Konstantinos Bertsouklis Stefanos Hatzilazarou

The present study aimed to determine the optional alginate and CaCl2 concentrations in the encapsulation formulation to produce alginate beads of Stachys byzantina, thereby offering a potential alternative method for its propagation. Stem explants were derived from in vitro cultures grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 μM benzyladenine (BA) and were evaluated for their germination and regeneration potential after a short-term storage period (1, 2, and 3 months). Three different sodium alginate concentrations (2%, 2.5% and 3%) were used for the preparation of alginate beads. For the hardening of the alginate beads, calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2·2H2O) at four concentrations (50, 100, 200 and 400 mM) was employed for 35 min. The combination of 100 mM calcium chloride with sodium alginate at concentrations of 2.0%, 2.5%, or 3.0% resulted in high germination rates, ranging from 73.33% to 76.60%. However, germination rates declined with increased storage duration. Among the formulations, 2.5% sodium alginate consistently supported higher germination over time, with rates of 53.33% and 36.66% observed after 2 and 3 months of storage, respectively. The decline in germination rate was followed by an increase in bead hardness over time. The optimal encapsulation matrix composition was identified as 2.5% sodium alginate with 100 mM CaCl2, which yielded the highest regeneration rate of explants after 1, 2 and 3 months of cold storage at 4 °C.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030377

Authors: Andrei Scutarașu Lucia Cintia Colibaba Elena Cristina Scutarașu Camelia Elena Luchian Liliana Rotaru Răzvan Vasile Filimon Roxana Mihaela Filimon Valeriu V. Cotea

This study evaluates viticultural parameters of the Golia grape variety in relation to variable climatic conditions over the 2020–2024 period and analyzes their impact on wine quality. The data show significant climatic variability, with warming trends causing earlier flowering and ripening by 11–13 days. Grape production varied depending on climatic conditions, with 2021 and 2024 recording the highest number of shoots per trunk and increased fertility in 2024. Low winter temperature led to reduced bud viability and affected the overall health of the vines and harvest yields. Average annual precipitation, especially from the growing season, significantly influenced actual yield (AY), while higher annual temperatures and sunshine duration (Sun) resulted in lower grape weight. Greater sugar concentrations accumulated in years with higher temperatures, while higher acidity levels registered at lower temperatures. Higher precipitation (Pp) coupled with thermal accumulation promoted higher dry extract and alcoholic strength (AS), significantly enhancing the perception of honey notes (R2 > 0.7, p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, higher thermal regimes negatively impacted the expression of delicate aromatic compounds, diminishing specific notes such as rose and exotic fruits.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030376

Authors: Ylenia Pieracci Benedetta D’Ambrosio Guido Flamini Tiziana Lombardi Laura Pistelli

Bee pollen is an extraordinary nutritional product of honeybees. Its valuable profile depends on the concentration of bioactive compounds, influenced by multiple factors, such as geographical origin and botanical species. Pollen samples produced by a single farm and collected during four different seasonal periods were first subjected to palynological analysis and then evaluated for their volatile profile and the content of selected nutraceutical compounds. The June sample, characterized by a high percentage of Castanea pollen, exhibited the higher concentration of soluble sugars, proteins, antioxidant molecules and minerals. The heatmap and hierarchical clustering confirmed a pronounced seasonal variability in bee pollen volatile composition, strongly linked to changes in floral availability. The greatest dissimilar volatilomic fingerprints are represented by samples collected in November (monofloral pollen of Hedera helix) and April (polyfloral pollen). The seasonal variability on the bioactive compounds, as well as in aromatic composition, seem to be linked to the different compositions of plant pollen, related to its botanical origin. This study expands current knowledge on the chemical characterization of bee pollen and supports the use of volatilome analysis as a complementary tool to palynological investigation for assessing botanical origin, quality, and the ecological and sensory value of this bee product.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030375

Authors: Doung Ju Ryu Min-Seon Choi So Hyun Ahn JiWon Han Jung-Ho Kwak

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars in Korea, particularly the widely adaptable ‘Hongsan’, are challenging to identify in processed forms or seedlings due to the plasticity of phenotypic traits such as clove tip greening. This uncertainty increases the risk of mislabeling and the infringement of breeders’ rights under the UPOV framework. This study aimed to develop a stable SCAR marker for ‘Hongsan’-specific identification using a RAPD-based DNA pooling method. Sixty Operon primers (>60% GC) were screened against ‘Hongsan’ gDNA versus a multi-cultivar DNA pool (‘Daeseo’, ‘Uiseong’, ‘Danyang’, and ‘Namdo’); OPE-01 consistently amplified a unique 1.3 kb band, which was cloned and sequenced, revealing a 1272 bp sequence with a translocation junction (878 + 394 bp), a 18 bp insertion, and an EcoRI site on chromosome 2 (NCBI reference sequence: GCA_030737875.1). SCAR primers SaH191R/SaH513F produced a specific 545 bp amplicon in Hongsan, clearly distinguishing it from other cultivars and parental lines, indicating that the marker locus is related to the paternal line ‘9209’. This RAPD-to-SCAR marker overcomes reproducibility limitations and enables reliable authentication of Hongsan in processing powders and black garlic irrespective of environmental factors. This cost-effective and rapid assay ensures industry transparency, quality control, and IP protection for Korean garlic production.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030374

Authors: Aurilena de Aviz Silva Almy Junior Cordeiro de Carvalho Paulo Cesar dos Santos Rômulo André Beltrame Marta Simone Mendonça Freitas Flávia Paiva de Freitas Roberto Rivelino do Nascimento Barbosa Alessandro Coutinho Ramos Fabio Lopes Olivares Stella Arndt Leandro Pin Dalvi Moises Zucoloto Orlando Carlos Huertas Tavares Mírian Peixoto Soares da Silva

Micropropagated plantlets, after removal from controlled laboratory conditions, require an acclimatization period. Adaptation to the new environment induces anatomical and physiological changes controlled by cellular processes. This study investigated the involvement of the primary proton transport systems of total membranes in pineapple root colonization by diazotrophic bacteria and in the development of plantlets treated with different nitrogen doses, allowing an understanding of nutrient absorption and accumulation dynamics. The experiment followed a randomized block design (RBD) in a factorial scheme (2 × 3 × 2), with two inocula (a mixture of diazotrophic bacteria containing Burkholderia sp. UENF 114111, Burkholderia silvatlantica UENF 117111, and Herbaspirillum seropedicae HRC 54, and another without bacteria), three urea doses (0, 5, and 10 g L−1), and two evaluation (90 and 150 days) and bacterial counting times (30 and 150 days), with three blocks. Diazotrophic bacterial populations were lower in older plantlets. H+ transport mediated by P H+-ATPases changed with acclimatization time. Inoculation did not induce transport; however, the Fmax of V H+-ATPase was lower without nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization affected V H+-ATPase proton transport activity in root membranes. The presence of diazotrophic bacteria did not induce proton transport. On the other hand, nitrogen fertilization and acclimatization time affected the proton transport activity mediated by H+-ATPases isolated from roots of micropropagated pineapple.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030373

Authors: Suzana Inić Valerija Dunkić Marija Nazlić Barbara Bilandžija Lucija Bilandžija Lea Pollak Dario Kremer

Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don, family Asteraceae) essential oils (HiEOs) and hydrosols (HiHYs) are widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and agricultural formulations. However, their composition and quality vary depending on geographical origin and production practices, while standardized reference values—particularly for hydrosols—are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the physicochemical properties and chemical composition of commercial HiEOs and HiHYs from the Adriatic and continental regions of Croatia. Samples were analysed using standard pharmacopoeial methods and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Physicochemical analyses (relative density, acid value, refractive index, pH, turbidity, and essential oil content) showed that all samples were within generally accepted quality ranges, with no significant differences observed between regions using the Mann–Whitney U test. HiEOs were dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (53.15–55.60%), whereas HiHYs contained predominantly oxygenated monoterpenes (43.54–69.86%). The main compounds identified in both fractions were α-pinene, neryl acetate, γ-curcumene, and β-selinene, which formed a consistent chemical signature and served as practical biomarkers for the quality of H. italicum EO and hydrosol. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) distinguished sample groupings based on physicochemical properties and chemical composition, indicating regional variability without exceeding accepted quality limits. This study presents the first comparative dataset of Croatian commercial HiEOs and HiHYs, and defines practical parameter ranges to support standardized specifications, ensure consistent quality, and enhance the industrial applicability of immortelle-based products.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030372

Authors: Zhidan Wu Yunni Chang Xiangde Yang Fuying Jiang

Soil respiration (Rs) plays an important role in the carbon (C) dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems and is strongly regulated by nitrogen (N) inputs. While the impact of N fertilization on Rs has been widely documented in conventional farmland ecosystems, its patterns and influencing factors in perennial tea plantation systems are still poorly understood. In the study, we conducted a 15-year field experiment in a representative tea plantation to investigate the effects of different N rates (0, 112.5, 225, and 450 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on Rs. Compared to the control (N0), soil pH decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by 6.07%, 11.82%, and 16.12% under N112.5, N225, and N450, respectively. Concurrently, cation exchange capacity (CEC), ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrate (NO3−-N), and available phosphorus (AP) increased with increasing N rates, whereas available potassium (AK) decreased. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) initially increased and then decreased with increasing N rates, while dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content increased consistently. The Rs rate exhibited a distinct seasonal pattern with a single peak in August. The annual mean Rs rates were 2.79, 3.15, 4.06, and 3.85 μmol·m−2·s−1 for the N0, N112.5, N225, and N450 treatments, respectively. Soil temperature explained 55.41% to 61.08% of the variation in Rs rates across N treatments, and a composite model incorporating both soil temperature and moisture further improved the prediction of Rs dynamics. Cumulative soil CO2 emissions (CCEs) over the study period ranged from 10,427 to 14,221 kg CO2-C ha−1 across treatments and were significantly negatively correlated with soil pH, and positively correlated with DOC, MBC, and NO3−-N content. A non-linear relationship between N application rate and CCEs was observed, highlighting the complexity of optimizing N management for balancing productivity and climate mitigation in tea plantation systems. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing rational N fertilization strategies and improving the predictive capacity of C cycle models in agroecosystems.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030371

Authors: Kun Zhang Zhiyi Yang Ende Chen Jicheng Shi Tiantian Yang Huilin Wang Xuezheng Wang Shi Liu Feishi Luan Zuyun Dai Zhongzhou Yang Xiaofei Wei Zhongmin Yang Chong Du Chaonan Wang

Non-specific Lipid Transfer Proteins (nsLTPs) constitute a ubiquitous family of plant proteins that play a critical role in mediating plant adaptation and tolerance to abiotic stress. While their functions have been extensively characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa L.), they remain largely unexplored in Cucurbitaceae crops. We identified 31 CmnsLTP genes in the melon (Cucumis melo L.) genome, these genes were unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes and classified into 8 subfamilies. Members of the same subfamily have similar gene structures and conserved domains, with all family members having motif 1 and motif 3. The promoter region contains cis elements that respond to light, hormones (ABA and MeJA response elements), and abiotic stress, suggesting that this gene is involved in melon growth, development, and stress response. Previous studies have identified copper resistant candidate MELO3C031073.2 through forward genetics, which belongs to the nsLTP family and was named CmnsLTPY.9 in this study. The RT qPCR results showed that the CmnsLTPY.9 exhibited specific expression in different tissues, The expression levels of CmnsLTPY.9 in leaves ranged from 0.3 to 3.2. Under copper stress, the ‘M625’ (copper-sensitive) showed a 3.2-fold increase, indicating marked upregulation. Additionally, CmnsLTPY.9 was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, and the position remains unchanged after copper stress. This study provides the first systematic analysis of the CmnsLTP gene family in melon; these findings provide fundamental insights into their specific functions in plant development and stress response, as well as valuable genetic resources for future research on copper-tolerant molecular breeding.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030370

Authors: Yanming Zhu Wenbao Luo Jiajia Zhang Meixia Zheng Yuqing Niu Hong Chen Qingxi Chen Renwei Feng Riqiu Zeng Yujing Zhu Hailan Su

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCH) is traditionally recognized as both an edible and medicinal food source. Its rhizomes contain numerous bioactive compounds, notably polysaccharides and flavonoids, which serve as key constituents in functional food development. However, the cultivation of PCH is often hindered by allelopathic effects, which diminish its quality and restrict its industrial application. To mitigate these allelopathic influences, three types of biochars derived from maize straw (MB), rice husk (RB), and tea stem (TB) were applied at concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 4%. Initially, the physicochemical properties of these biochars were characterized, followed by an evaluation of their impact on (1) the synthesis of quality-related components, secondary metabolites, and allelochemicals within PCH rhizomes and (2) the fundamental physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure of the PCH rhizosphere soil. The findings indicated that the application of 4% RB significantly enhanced the content of total polysaccharides by 48.5%, total flavonoids by 30.2%, total saponins by 28.6%, and total polyphenols by 18.3%, while concurrently reducing protein (PRO) and free amino acid (FAA) concentrations in the rhizomes. Non-targeted metabolomic analyses revealed that biochar amendments (1) upregulated metabolites involved in the citrate cycle and galactose metabolism pathways, thereby facilitating energy supply and precursors for polysaccharide biosynthesis; (2) downregulated metabolites involved in the arginine biosynthesis pathway, which is unfavorable for protein and amino acid synthesis; (3) decreased the abundance of six identified allelochemicals, including 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and andrographolide, with the most pronounced effect observed in the 4% TB treatment (T2); (4) improved soil physicochemical parameters such as pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), and available potassium (AK); and (5) altered the rhizosphere bacterial community by enriching beneficial phyla, notably Myxococcota and Gemmatimonadota. These modifications in soil properties and bacterial community composition were closely associated with enhanced rhizome quality and a reduction in allelochemical accumulation. Collectively, the results of this study elucidate the potential mechanisms linking biochar application to allelopathy mitigation, optimization of soil microbial communities, and improvement of PCH rhizome quality. This research provides a theoretical basis for the production of high-quality PCH while concurrently minimizing allelochemical accumulation in its rhizomes.

Horticulturae doi: 10.3390/horticulturae12030369

Authors: Yu Zhuang Yiran Wang Le Zheng Jize Dai Hao Liu Jiayuan Zhu Zhiping Cui

In the intelligent tomato-picking scenario, challenges such as insufficient accuracy in recognizing the growth pose of target tomatoes and inaccurate positioning of picking and grasping points have led to low efficiency in automated picking. To address these issues, this paper introduces an object detection optimization model based on Yolov8s, termed YOLOv8S-ECC. The model focuses on “Judging tomato pose by the spatial vector of the relative position between the calyx and the center point of the fruit,” aiming to enhance high-precision positioning of both the tomato calyx and fruit, thereby laying the groundwork for subsequent pose judgment and picking point positioning. We have integrated the ECA (Efficient Channel Attention) and Coordinate attention mechanisms into the Backbone network and introduced the CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) attention mechanism into the Neck network. The combined effect of these attention mechanisms effectively overcomes the recognition challenges posed by the calyx’s color texture, which closely resembles the environment. This integration has also enhanced the model’s robustness in complex field environments. Test results indicate significant improvements: the accuracy rate, recall rate, and mAP@50 for detecting tomato fruits and calyces are 81.7% and 87.5%, 92.7% and 85.9%, and 89.7% and 91.3%, respectively, compared to the original model. By encapsulating the algorithm and integrating it with the picking robot, tests in a simulated environment (different lighting conditions and foliage occlusion situations) show picking success rates of 93.02%, with an average picking operation time of 14.2 ± 0.855 s, including an image recognition and processing time of 0.035 s. This research offers an effective technical solution for high-precision visual perception and pose judgment in fruit and vegetable picking robots, contributing to improved quality in tomato industry picking operations.