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Agriculture
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Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products
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Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2023) | Viewed by 13511

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Beata Janowska

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Ornamental Plants, Pomology and Dendrology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, Poland
Interests: horticulture; ornamental plants; PGRs; cultivation; vase life
Dr. Maciej Bosiacki

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Plant Physiology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 35, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Interests: horticulture; ornamental plants; heavy metals; phytoremediation; continuous and induced phytoextraction; plant nutrition; hydroponic cultivation; vegetables

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticulturists around the world are grappling with increasing competition, rising production costs, and with climate change affecting the profitability of producing horticultural products. They look to scientists for ready-made formulas to increase yields and reduce crop costs while still maintaining the highest quality of horticultural products. This can be achieved through research with plant growth regulators (PGRs), which modify plant growth and development, affecting the yield, plant quality, nutritional status, flowering, and post-harvest longevity of horticultural products. They also provide the plant with the ability to respond to changing environmental conditions. A variety of papers have been written about PGRs so far, but the topic remains relevant as individual PGRs affect different species and only in strictly defined concentrations.

In this Special Issue, we would like to publish research and review articles on various species: fruit trees and shrubs, vegetable and ornamental plants in which PGRs have been applied to improve their quality, nutritional status, and yield, as well as post-harvest shelf life and quality of horticultural products.

Dr. Beata Janowska
Dr. Maciej Bosiacki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • PGRs
  • ornamental plants
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • yield
  • quality
  • nutritional status
  • flowering
  • post-harvest longevity

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 891 KiB  
Article
Ivy Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L’Hér.) Plant Growth and Flowering as Affected by Mineral or Biofertilizer with or without Compost Amendment
by Sultan F. Altobaishi, Fahed A. Almana, Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad, Mohammed A. Al-Yafrsi and Khalid M. Elhindi
Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13051106 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2049
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture aims to eliminate the excessive usage of chemical fertilizers and can be crucial for soil fertility. A factorial pot experiment in a randomized complete block design was carried out in King Khaled International Airport Nursery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2019/2020, to [...] Read more.
Sustainable agriculture aims to eliminate the excessive usage of chemical fertilizers and can be crucial for soil fertility. A factorial pot experiment in a randomized complete block design was carried out in King Khaled International Airport Nursery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2019/2020, to evaluate the role of a biofertilizer (i.e., Bio-Fert, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms; Biot-Phos, phosphorus-released microorganism; and Bio-Potas, potassium-released microorganisms, either alone or in combinations) and slow-release compound chemical fertilizer (Osmocote), with or without compost, on Pelargonium peltatum plant growth, flowering, chlorophyll level, and ion percentage. Soil amendment with compost in general significantly increased plant growth and flowering attributes as well as chlorophyll level, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) percentage over garden soil (without compost). All growth and flowering traits as well as ion percentage and chlorophyll level were significantly increased by biofertilizer treatments either alone or in combinations. The supreme treatment was the triple interaction over single or double interactions or untreated plants. Osmocote application increases chlorophyll levels, ions, flowering, and vegetative growth relative to untreated plants. Additionally, the data also revealed that all interactions between either osmocote or biofertilizers with compost significantly increased all studied attributes over each treatment alone or untreated control plants. Accordingly, it is recommended to add compost to the soil along with a triple mixture of biofertilizers for obtaining high plant growth and flowering attributes along with soil fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products)
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15 pages, 2114 KiB  
Article
Effect of Osmopriming with Melatonin on Germination, Vigor and Health of Daucus carota L. Seeds
by Agnieszka Rosińska, Roman Andrzejak and Vignan Kakkerla
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040749 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2467
Abstract
Carrot is one of the most frequently grown vegetables in Poland and in the world. Seed-borne pathogenic fungi negatively influence their quality as well as the quantity and quality of carrot root yield. Melatonin is a PGR, which includes protective effects against biotic [...] Read more.
Carrot is one of the most frequently grown vegetables in Poland and in the world. Seed-borne pathogenic fungi negatively influence their quality as well as the quantity and quality of carrot root yield. Melatonin is a PGR, which includes protective effects against biotic and abiotic stress factors and antioxidant effects. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of osmopriming with melatonin on germination, vigor and carrot seeds health. Carrot seeds were osmoprimed in a solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an osmotic potential of −1.5 MPa at 20 °C for 7 days; melatonin was added to the PEG solution at doses of 25, 50, 100 or 200 µM. Generally, osmopriming with the addition of melatonin significantly improved germination capacity at first and final counts (sample I about 7–14% and sample II 35–43%), reduced the incidence of Alternaria alternata, A. radicina and Fusarium spp. and increased the percentage of non-sporulating hyphae. Treating accelerated the germination of seeds at a significant rate in comparison with untreated seeds and treated with fungicide, especially at low dosage, i.e., 25–50 µM. MGT of primed seeds with the addition of melatonin at dose 25 µM shortened about 0.5 day (sample I) and 1 day (sample II) The effect of melatonin on seed quality parameters was comparable or better than treating with fungicide. The results suggest that melatonin could replace fungicides in the future, which are harmful to the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products)
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15 pages, 7230 KiB  
Article
Native Trichoderma Isolates from Soil and Rootstock to Fusarium spp. Control and Growth Promotion of Humulus lupulus L. Plantlets
by Alejandra J. Porteous-Álvarez, Alexia Fernández-Marcos, Daniela Ramírez-Lozano, Sara Mayo-Prieto, Rosa E. Cardoza, Santiago Gutiérrez and Pedro A. Casquero
Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030720 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2623
Abstract
Fusarium genus is a wide host phytopathogen causing significant losses in multiple crops, including hops. There is limited information on the sustainable management of Fusarium spp. in hop fields. Trichoderma is an endophytic fungus used in agriculture as a biological control agent (BCA) [...] Read more.
Fusarium genus is a wide host phytopathogen causing significant losses in multiple crops, including hops. There is limited information on the sustainable management of Fusarium spp. in hop fields. Trichoderma is an endophytic fungus used in agriculture as a biological control agent (BCA) and as a plant growth promoter. It has been used to antagonize Fusarium spp. in other crops. The objective of the current study was to identify indigenous hop field Trichoderma isolates with biocontrol and hop growth promotion capabilities. Three isolates of Fusarium and eleven autochthonous Trichoderma isolates collected from sustainable hop fields were evaluated in this work. Direct confrontation tests (the physical interaction between the pathogen and BCA and their competition for space and nutrient resources) and membrane tests (the capacity of the BCA to produce metabolites or enzymes through a cellophane film and inhibit the development of the pathogen) assessed the antagonism of these Trichoderma isolates against Fusarium culmorum, F. sambucinum, and F. oxysporum. A bioassay with hop plantlets inoculated with a spore suspension of Trichoderma was performed to assess its hop growth enhancement. T. hamatum (T311 and T324), T. virens T312, and T. gamsii T327 showed high growth inhibition of Fusarium spp. phytopathogens and high plant growth promotion. Native Trichoderma isolates from sustainable hop-producing soils have great potential as BCAs and hop growth promoters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products)
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18 pages, 7480 KiB  
Article
Application of Cytokinin under Modified Atmosphere (MA) Delays Yellowing and Prolongs the Vase Life of Davallia solida (G. Forst.) Sw. Leaves
by Pattaraporn Ngamkham, Varit Srilaong, Chalermchai Wongs-Aree and Mantana Buanong
Agriculture 2023, 13(2), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020463 - 15 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1711
Abstract
Cut leaves of Davallia solida are widely used in bouquet greenery. However, the leaves wilt and yellow after seven days. Postharvest applications of exogenous cytokinins (CKs), a plant growth regulator (PGR), preventing senescence in many green leafy plants, were studied by pulsing cut [...] Read more.
Cut leaves of Davallia solida are widely used in bouquet greenery. However, the leaves wilt and yellow after seven days. Postharvest applications of exogenous cytokinins (CKs), a plant growth regulator (PGR), preventing senescence in many green leafy plants, were studied by pulsing cut D. solida leaves with 6-benzylamiopurine (BA) at a concentration of 100 ppm, or thidiazuron (TDZ) at a concentration of 10 μM for 24 h, compared with distilled water as a control, and then placing the ferns in a controlled room (21 + 2 °C, 70–80% relative humidity (RH), under cool-white fluorescent lights for 12 h/d). Pulsing with BA and TDZ delayed leaf yellowing while preserving chlorophyll (Chl) content. This was due to reduced Chl-degrading enzyme activities on day 8 of the vase life of the leaves, resulting in longer display life of 11.1 and 11.5 days, respectively. TDZ delayed Chl breakdown on day 8 of the vase life of leaves more than was the case for BA. Subsequently, leaves were pulsed in 10 μM TDZ, or distilled water for 24 h, and then 10 leaves from each treatment were packaged in a 25 × 30 cm, 25-μm thickness BOPP bag. All the packages were stored at 10 °C in 10 h/d light for one, two and three weeks, then unpacked and placed in distilled water. Pulsing with TDZ before one-week storage delayed leaf yellowing, maintained Chl content and extended their vase life to 9.6 days compared with one-, two-, and three-week control leaves, which had a vase life of 6.2, 5.8, and 3.6 days, respectively. After one week, the relative fresh weight of the leaves and water uptake did not alter between the control and TDZ groups. The activities of Chl degradation enzymes in the leaves of D. solida pulsed with TDZ prior to storage were significantly suppressed, related to higher Chl content and a lower percentage of leaf yellowing than the control, resulting in a longer vase life of 9.0 days, while the control lasted 7.0 days. A 10 µM TDZ pulsing treatment significantly prevented the yellowing of D. solida fronds during the vase period or storage period, and one-week storage under MA with light conditions is recommended for retaining postharvest quality after storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products)
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Review

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17 pages, 2068 KiB  
Review
Plant Growth Regulators for the Cultivation and Vase Life of Geophyte Flowers and Leaves
by Beata Janowska and Roman Andrzejak
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040855 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4030
Abstract
Geophytes are a very important group among ornamental plants, for which more and more plant growth regulators (PGRs) are being used to improve the plant quality, flowering intensity, and vase life of flowers and leaves. PGRs constitute a large group of naturally occurring [...] Read more.
Geophytes are a very important group among ornamental plants, for which more and more plant growth regulators (PGRs) are being used to improve the plant quality, flowering intensity, and vase life of flowers and leaves. PGRs constitute a large group of naturally occurring or synthetically produced organic chemical compounds. There are many factors that influence the efficiency of PGRs, and the method of their application plays a key role in determining their success. In the case of geophytes, the most common method of application is spraying and soaking the storage organs before planting. This article presents information on the application of PGRs to different species of geophytes, both at the cultivation stage and during the post-harvest treatment of flowers and leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Growth, Flowering, Nutrition, and Post-harvest Longevity of Horticultural Products)
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