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        <title>Frontiers in Horticulture | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/horticulture</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Horticulture | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-05T22:17:27.284+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1794701</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1794701</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrating microbial ecology principles into growing media formulation for reliable biological functions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-01T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Beatrix W. Alsanius</author><author>Jane Debode</author><author>Brechtje de Haas</author><author>Jean-Charles Michel</author><author>Anna Karin Rosberg</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Horticultural growing media (GM) are increasingly expected to provide reliable biological functions, yet microbial inoculants and native microbiota often perform inconsistently. We argue that this variability arises because GM are currently mainly formulated through physical and chemical criteria, while microbial ecology remains insufficiently integrated. In this perspective, GM are reframed as engineered, partially self-organizing microbial ecosystems shaped by resource quality, stoichiometric balance, physicochemical filtering and microbial community assembly. We propose an ecology-driven framework for interpreting decomposition, nutrient dynamics, disease suppression and inoculant performance in GM. This perspective outlines priorities for predictive GM design, including biologically relevant descriptors, explicit system boundaries, cross-GM validation, temporal sampling and integration with monitoring tools.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1800376</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1800376</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Vertical farming - energy market integration: opportunities and challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Akhil S. Anand</author><author>Hannes Pravida</author><author>Fredrik Fossan-Waage</author><author>Tormod Skorpe Skjolden</author><author>Giulia Robbiani</author><author>Younes Zahraoui</author><author>Emil Wolff Anthony</author><author>Jayaprakash Rajasekharan</author><author>Sissel Torre</author><author>Knut Asbjørn Solhaug</author><author>Sebastien Gros</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Vertical farming is a controlled environment agriculture system with the potential to support resilient and scalable urban food production. However, its economic viability is challenged by high capital and operational costs, a substantial part of which is due to high energy expenditure. Meanwhile, global energy systems are undergoing rapid transformation due to increasing integration of renewable energy sources and the democratization of market-based mechanisms for maintaining grid stability. This evolving landscape creates an opportunity for vertical farms to participate in energy markets such as day-ahead, balancing, and flexibility markets by adjusting their energy usage for lighting and climate control in response to market signals. Doing so could reduce operational costs by reducing energy costs and generating additional revenue for providing services to the energy grid. This work examines the potential and challenges of integrating vertical farms as flexibility providers in energy markets. We discuss the relevant energy market structure and the potential economic benefits for vertical farms, and we formulate the underlying decision-making problem that governs this integration. We then identify gaps in understanding plant responses to variable lighting as critical barriers to implementation and outline research directions to address them. Finally, we support our discussion with small-scale laboratory experiments that illustrate the challenges of this integration.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1690820</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1690820</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The potential of fiber nettle and fermented digestate product as peat substitutes in horticulture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Katharina Leiber-Sauheitl</author><author>Annmarie-Deetja Rohr</author><author>Laura Lewerenz</author><author>André Sradnick</author><author>Doreen Koltermann</author><author>Ute Katharina Vogler</author><author>Georg Guggenberger</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Growing media are the basis for successful commercial horticulture. Peat has long been the most used substrate raw material. However, due to sustainability requirements, the demand for peat substitutes has increased, especially in Western Europe. We tested solid biogas residues and fiber nettle for their suitability as peat substitutes in growing media. Solid residues from biogas plants locally available in Germany contain high nutrient concentrations and are therefore of interest as a peat substitute in terms of the circular economy. For fiber nettle as a peat substitute, we investigated the shives fraction. These are the woody components of the stem and a by-product of fiber production from nettles. Fiber nettles can be grown on relatively poor soils or in agroforestry systems, which makes them an interesting crop to investigate. Both raw materials were submitted to a multi-step test procedure with chemical, physical, and biological substrate analyses for evaluation as a peat substitute, followed by plant growth tests. Fiber nettle shives (FN), digestate residues (DR), and products (DP) were used in high proportions, with up to 75% v/v FN or 100% v/v DP in the mixtures, to assess the maximum percentages that can be used as peat substitutes in a systematic raw material study. The results showed that fiber nettle shives have the potential to increase pore volume but had severe drawbacks in N immobilization. Further processing by fermentation and similar methods could be investigated. The range of tested solid digestate residues and products showed great variability across most chemical parameters and high salt contents, both of which are undesirable for potential substrate components. However, a fermented digestate product showed promising properties due to its relatively low salt content, neutral pH value, and homogeneous structure. It was composed of the solid phase of digestate residues from corn silage and liquid manure, which were subsequently fermented with sawdust. This product also showed promising results in applied plant tests with three different horticultural crop plant species: petunia, basil, and strawberry.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1761621</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1761621</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Evaluation of socio-economic characteristics and management attributes of ornamental seedlings’ nursery operators in Lilongwe City, Malawi]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-31T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Joab Chilongo Stevens</author><author>Saulosi Lapukeni Kachitsa</author><author>Vincent Mgoli Mwale</author><author>Rowland Maganizo Kamanga</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Small-scale ornamental nurseries play an increasingly important role in urban greening and landscaping in rapidly urbanising African cities, yet their socioeconomic characteristics and management practices remain poorly documented. Socioeconomic characteristics, nursery operations, and chemical properties of the growing media were surveyed in Lilongwe, Malawi to assess conditions associated with potential seedling quality outcomes, based on established literature. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across 60 nurseries: 54 privately owned and 6 institutional, using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Composite potting media samples were collected from each nursery and analysed for pH, organic carbon, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium using standard laboratory methods. Substantial differences were found in the operational characteristics of different types of nurseries. For example, institutional nurseries generally had older, more educated employees with more extensive horticultural experience; they had a more consistent source of clean water; and, as a result, they were more likely to implement best-practice techniques such as root pruning and hardening-off. Conversely, 81.5% of privately operated nurseries did not receive formal training; 63% of these nurseries experienced problems with their water supply; and it is apparent that many are not using root pruning and/or hardening-off. The single largest chemical finding from this study was a universal potassium deficiency in potting medium across all 60 nurseries, regardless of whether they were owned/operated as private or public institutions. This reflects a long-standing issue: the inability to provide adequate potassium levels in local soils due to the inherent potassium-poor nature of locally available soils, combined with Malawi’s historical reliance on fertilizer formulations that contain little or no potassium. Additionally, private nurseries showed higher percentages of slightly alkaline pH values and lower percentages of organic carbon than institutional nurseries. These results demonstrate that two primary issues face growers of ornamental seedlings in urban Malawi: inadequate management practices and/or poorly managed growing substrates, primarily in privately owned areas, which may have implications for seedling quality, according to established nursery science literature.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1776018</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1776018</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Current status of lettuce production in soilless culture: environmental conditions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Hossein Sheikhi</author><author>Mojtaba Delshad</author><author>Cosimo M. Profico</author><author>Silvana Nicola</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Lettuce is widely cultivated as a model crop in controlled-environment agriculture and has consequently been the subject of extensive research worldwide. Recent studies have predominantly focused on the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), particularly light quality, intensity, photoperiod, and direction. In response to the development of artificial lighting technologies and the growing body of related research, this review synthesizes and evaluates studies published between 2012 and 2025 on the application of LED lighting in lettuce cultivation. In addition, research published between 2017 and 2025 addressing the effects of other key environmental factors, including temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and air velocity, on lettuce growth, yield, and quality is critically reviewed. By integrating findings across these environmental variables, this review provides practical insights and reference ranges for optimizing lettuce production under controlled conditions and serves as a valuable resource for researchers and producers seeking to advance controlled-environment lettuce cultivation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1813573</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1813573</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: Effect of hydroponic cultivation using MPM-processed methane fermentation digestate on tomato growth and yield]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Dannisa Fathiya Rachma</author><author>Kazuya Maeda</author><author>Yuta Yamanouchi</author><author>Hiroshi Ueda</author><author>Kimiko Yamamoto</author><author>Makoto Shinohara</author><author>Masahide Isozaki</author><author>Dong-Hyuk Ahn</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1791790</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1791790</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Vernalization control in the Brassicaceae: a multidimensional translational landscape]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Shuta Yano</author><author>Akhi Paul Chowdhury</author><author>Ayasha Akter</author><author>Ryo Fujimoto</author><author>Diana Mihaela Buzas</author><author>Kenji Osabe</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The Brassicaceae family represents an extraordinary case of both evolutionary diversification and agricultural success. Through centuries of classical selective breeding, this family has yielded a vast array of crop species—ranging from oilseeds to leafy vegetables—that exhibit remarkable adaptation to diverse climates and a wide range of morphological traits. Central to this success is the combination of diverse genome structures and an ingenious evolutionary acquisition, the process of vernalization. This review explores the current state of vernalization research across three critical dimensions of translational science. First, we examine the genomic translation from the model annual Arabidopsis thaliana to Brassica vegetable crops, which has provided the foundational molecular framework for the vernalization response. Second, we discuss epigenetic translation, shifting the focus from fixed genetic variation to the heritable but flexible chromatin states that govern transcriptional memory. By targeting the recruitment mechanisms —such as DNA elements and noncoding RNAs—of chromatin-modifying complexes, researchers can achieve precise, locus-specific control over crop performance using existing technologies. Third, we address environmental translation, moving from the highly controlled laboratory conditions to the fluctuating complexities of natural field environments, where plants must integrate noisy thermal signals to ensure timely reproduction. After outlining the core molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of the vernalization “double-negative” switch, we summarize and evaluate how specific biotechnological and omics-based approaches have advanced our understanding of three key species: Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, and Raphanus sativus.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1827650</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1827650</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Exploring agrivoltaics: balancing crop production and solar energy for sustainable agriculture]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Giuseppe Ferrara</author><author>Leonardo Lombardini</author><author>Andrea Mazzeo</author><author>Moritz Wagner</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1762580</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1762580</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A hybrid deep feature-ensemble learning framework for robust tomato leaf disease classification using DenseNet121-EfficientNetB0 integration and SMOTE-optimize multi-classifier]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Omobayo Ayokunle Esan</author><author>Dorcas Oladayo Esan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Early and accurate detection of tomato leaf diseases is essential for reducing crop losses and improving agricultural productivity. However, traditional classification approaches often struggle with subtle disease patterns, intra-class variability, and imbalanced datasets, leading to reduced diagnostic performance. This study proposes a hybrid deep feature–ensemble learning framework to improve the reliability and accuracy of automated detection of tomato leaf diseases. The proposed framework integrates two convolutional neural networks, DenseNet121 and EfficientNetB0, to extract complementary hierarchical features from tomato leaf images. To mitigate class imbalance and enhance generalisation, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied during training. The extracted features were subsequently used to train three machine learning classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). The predictions from these classifiers were aggregated using a soft-voting ensemble strategy to improve classification robustness and reduce model bias. Across ten independent experimental runs, the proposed framework achieved a mean accuracy of 98.72% ± 0.18, precision of 98.55% ± 0.21, recall of 98.63% ± 0.19, F1-score of 98.58% ± 0.17, and AUC of 98.21% ± 0.11. The results demonstrate that combining deep feature extraction with ensemble machine-learning classifiers significantly improves performance in tomato leaf disease classification. The framework exhibits strong generalisation across benchmark datasets, indicating its potential for deployment in intelligent crop monitoring systems and computer-aided agricultural diagnostics.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1791241</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1791241</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Future directions of the global growing media industry: insights from Dutch Policy up to 2050]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Chris Blok</author><author>Tommaso Barbagli</author><author>Barbara Eveleens-Clark</author><author>Van T. H. Nguyen</author><author>Ellen Beerling</author><author>Alexander Boedijn</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGlobal efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions include reductions in the use of coal, gas, oil, and fossil peat. In reaction to parliament-requested action related to peat use, the Dutch Covenant “Agreement on environmental impact of potting soil and substrates” was initiated. To support the Covenant parties, a project was started in 2023. The first goal was a quantitative list of renewable raw materials for growing media with a horizon up to 2050.MethodsAn extensive list of possible growing media constituents was reduced to a short list based on price, minimum quantities, competition from other industries, and various levels of risks. This short list was arranged into groups. An analysis was then made of the main drawbacks and the required technical ameliorations.ResultsThe results showed market-accepted materials such as coir, coniferous wood fiber, coniferous bark, compost, and perlite. Less familiar but promising materials included acrotelm, other types of wood and bark fiber, biochars, non-wood plant fiber, co-composts, and reused growing media.DiscussionTechnical ameliorations required for market acceptance of new raw materials need efforts of the industry, knowledge institutes, and the government. Therefore, a joint Roadmap for research steps up to 2050 was made. The focus is on combinations of more advanced processing; sanitization of materials; and stabilization of materials, specifying the base fertilization and the maintenance fertilization. Although this work concentrates on the Dutch situation, the approach is on material availability in Europe, and the results are thought to be of value for tuning global research efforts toward sustainable growing media.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1741481</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1741481</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Development of a portable plant tissue culture box: an eco-friendly solution for tissue culture laboratories]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tilak Raj Maity</author><author>Siraj Datta</author><author>Atanu Bhowmik</author><author>Subir Samanta</author><author>Kisalaya Paria</author><author>Aveek Samanta</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Plant tissue culture (PTC) traditionally requires a specialized culture room with racks, controlled temperature, and regulated light and dark cycles to support in vitro plant growth. Establishing and maintaining such a facility is expensive and demands skilled personnel. To address these challenges, we have developed a portable PTC box that provides an artificially controlled environment within a compact chamber. This system maintains a temperature range of 20-30 °C and can simulate a cool environment suitable for plant in vitro culture. Its simple infrastructure and eco-friendly design make it an accessible alternative to conventional culture rooms. The portable PTC box eliminates the need for dedicated laboratory space and can be easily adapted to specific requirements. Unlike traditional air-conditioning systems that rely on harmful gases such as carbon monoxide or chlorofluorocarbons, this device offers an eco-friendly cooling mode. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) provide efficient illumination with minimal energy consumption while maintaining the required light and dark cycles. Preliminary evaluations indicate that plantlets grown in this box exhibit chlorophyll content, fresh weight, dry weight, moisture content, and molecular levels comparable to those grown in standard in vitro culture laboratories. This innovation demonstrates a sustainable, cost-effective, and portable solution for PTC, making it suitable for small laboratories, educational institutions, and field applications. The portable box has significant potential to expand access to PTC techniques while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1762289</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1762289</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Signaling pathway responses of grape plants under drought stress and regulatory effects of exogenous salicylic acid]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kai Gai</author><author>Yuanbo Zhang</author><author>Jie Chen</author><author>Zhumei Xi</author><author>Haixia Zhong</author><author>Xianhang Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGrapes (Vitis spp.) are of significant economic importance globally, but their growth and yield are increasingly threatened by drought stress amid climate change. The drought sensitive cultivar Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Hamburg’ is particularly vulnerable to water deficit, while the rootstock ‘1103P’ exhibits strong drought tolerance. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) has been reported to enhance plant drought resistance, but its regulatory mechanisms involving key signaling pathways (ABA, Ca2+, MAPK) in grapes remain unclear.MethodsUsing ‘Muscat Hamburg’ as the test material and ‘1103P’ as the drought-resistant control, we applied moderate drought stress (soil relative water content: 35 ± 5%) and foliar sprayed four concentrations of exogenous SA (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mM) 24 h before stress induction. Physiological indicators (leaf relative water content, membrane permeability, oxidative damage markers, antioxidant enzyme activities, proline content) and key signaling molecules (endogenous SA, ABA, cytoplasmic Ca2+, MAPK activity) were measured, with correlation analysis conducted to explore associations between signaling pathways and physiological responses.ResultsExogenous SA significantly alleviated drought-induced damage in ‘Muscat Hamburg’: it improved leaf relative water content, reduced membrane permeability and oxidative damage, enhanced SOD, POD, and CAT activities, and promoted proline accumulation. The 1.0 mM SA treatment showed the most pronounced effects. Additionally, exogenous SA upregulated endogenous SA content and increased key signaling molecules in the ABA, Ca2+, and MAPK pathways, indicating an associative regulatory relationship among these pathways under drought stress. Correlation analysis confirmed strong links between signaling molecules and physiological indicators.DiscussionThis study is the first to reveal the integrated association of SA with ABA, Ca2+, and MAPK pathways in grapes under drought stress at the physiological level. The findings demonstrate that exogenous SA enhances grape drought resistance by modulating multiple signaling pathways and coordinating osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense systems. The optimal SA concentration (1.0 mM) provides a practical technical reference, while the regulatory mechanisms identified offer a theoretical basis for SA application in grape drought-resistant cultivation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1677523</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1677523</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biostimulant potential of dark septate endophytes and Schizophyllum commune on petunia growing in peat-reduced and peat-free substrates]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dalia A. Gaber</author><author>Rhedia T. Proma</author><author>Jamie Lux</author><author>Katja Burow</author><author>Damien Blaudez</author><author>Erika Kothe</author><author>Philipp Franken</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPeat has been widely used in horticultural substrates in Europe for decades due to its low cost, availability, and favorable physicochemical properties. However, its extraction from bogs contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing peat use is therefore crucial to mitigate the environmental impact of horticultural production. This study aims to investigate the potential of fungal inoculation belonging to dark septate endophytes (DSEs): Rhexocercosporidium sp., Sordaria sp., and the basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune, and the impact of substrate sterilization by steaming to enhance petunia plant growth, nutrient availability, and substrate stability in peat-reduced and peat-free horticultural substrates.MethodsTo achieve the aim of the study, two greenhouse experiments using Petunia×hybrida were conducted: The first one assessed the DSEs Rhexocercosporidium sp. and a newly isolated Sordaria sp. as plant roots inoculants in peat-free substrates (50% wood fibers, 35% green compost, 10% perlite, 5% clay). The second experiment tested Schizophyllum commune as a substrate stabilizer in peat-reduced substrates (50% peat, 25% green compost, 25% digestate); all treatments were tested under steamed and non-steamed conditions. Fungal colonization of petunia roots by DSEs was confirmed microscopically, and plant biomass, nutrient content, and chlorophyll levels were measured after six  weeksResultsRhexocercosporidium sp. significantly enhanced the biomass of plants grown in steamed peat-free substrates compared to the non-steamed substrates. In contrast, Sordaria sp. successfully colonized roots but did not promote significant growth. However, chlorophyll content improvement was only observed in plants grown in steamed peat-free substrates. Both the live and mock (autoclaved) inocula of Schizophyllum commune supported plant growth in both steamed and non-steamed substrates, suggesting indirect improvements to substrate conditions, although direct structural changes were not assessed in this study.DiscussionThese findings highlight the potential of the DSE strain Rhexocercosporidium sp. and  Schizophyllum commune as functional bio-inoculants that support plant biomass production and improve nutrient dynamics in peat-reduced and peat-free substrates, thereby reducing reliance on peat and contributing to more sustainable horticultural practices.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1716398</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1716398</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Agrivoltaic layout types drive changes in raspberry summer microclimate]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zoë Scheerlinck</author><author>James Macdonald</author><author>Cas Lavaert</author><author>Jan Cappelle</author><author>Stijn Scheerlinck</author><author>Jan Diels</author><author>Bram Van de Poel</author><author>Thomas Reher</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Soft fruit such as raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) are commonly cultivated under protective structures to shield plants from adverse weather and extend harvest periods. Agrivoltaic systems offer an alternative to disposable plastic hoop covers by combining crop cultivation with solar energy production, yet their effects on crop microclimate remain poorly understood in temperate regions. In this study, we investigated summer canopy microclimate responses to different agrivoltaic layouts at two raspberry production sites in the Netherlands. At the first site, we compared semi-translucent portrait panels and landscape opaque panels with a conventional polyethylene tunnel. At the second site, an opaque panel system was evaluated alongside an open-field control. We monitored photosynthetically active radiation, canopy air temperature, humidity, and vapor pressure deficit from July to late August and compared both daily averages and diurnal maxima and minima. Agrivoltaic structures substantially reduced incoming radiation, with semi-translucent panels providing more uniform light distribution than opaque arrays. Average daily canopy temperature differed little across treatments (≤0.5 °C), but distinct diurnal patterns emerged: opaque arrays consistently cooled around solar noon on high-radiation days (up to 0.5°C cooler than control), while semi-translucent arrays occasionally induced midday warming of about 0.4°C under wind-calm conditions. Vapor pressure deficit under polyethylene tunnels was more similar to agrivoltaic systems than to open-air plots. Wind and rainfall modulated the microclimate changes independently of PV layout. Our findings highlight within-season design-specific trade-off for summer conditions: opaque panels favor thermal buffering but reduce light uniformity, whereas semi-translucent panels improve spatial light distribution at the cost of limited buffering and occasional warming. Microclimate contrasts depended on panel material properties, and are consistent with differences in radiation balance arising from material properties and ground coverage ratio among polyethylene films, opaque panels, and semi-translucent modules. They provide initial evidence that agrivoltaic systems can offer microclimate moderation comparable to conventional plastic polytunnels, while simultaneously generating renewable energy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1779354</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1779354</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A review of surface disorders in strawberry: insights and challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Grecia Hurtado</author><author>Moritz Knoche</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is a high-value crop grown for the fresh fruit market. An attractive appearance is a key quality factor but is often compromised by fruit-surface disorders. Common ones are water soaking, cracking, bronzing, albinism and dried calyx. This review summarizes our current understanding of the mechanistic bases of these disorders, their triggers and their effective mitigation strategies. Water soaking and cracking both require the formation of cuticular microcracks, which develop when the fruit cuticle fails under tensile strain during expansion growth. Formation of microcracks is aggravated by surface wetness and exposure to high relative humidity. Cracking manifests as visible splits that penetrate the underlying tissues, whereas water soaking originates from excessive water uptake through the pre-existing microcracks, resulting in translucent, water-logged areas on the fruit surface. Bronzing results from a range of causes, most commonly high temperature and ultraviolet stress, which damage epidermal tissues and induce repair responses that produce brownish or yellowish, desiccated surface patches. Albinism and dried calyx, by contrast, are associated with physiological and nutritional imbalances, including excessive vegetative vigor and impaired calcium transport under saline conditions, leading to poorly colored, soft fruit and necrotic sepals, respectively. Although these disorders differ in symptoms, they share common drivers related to environmental stress, tissue integrity, and mineral nutrition. Management therefore targets multiple leverage points, including reduced moisture exposure, moderation of thermal stress, optimized mineral nutrition, and the selection of genotypes with more resilient surface tissues. Better management of surface disorders in strawberry requires a more thorough understanding of their mechanistic bases. It is likely the ultimate solution will be an integrated approach that combines cultural measures and selective breeding.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1725946</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1725946</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect of Sphagnum biomass aqueous extracts on Lepidium sativum ‘Cresso’ seed germination]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Stefan Irrgang</author><author>Armin Blievernicht</author><author>Timo D. Stark</author><author>Christian Ulrichs</author><author>Nadja Förster</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Sphagnum biomass (SBM) is a predecessor of peat and may be the most promising candidate for replacing peat in horticultural growing media. It is the only organic, regrowing material that shares decisive physical and chemical features with peat, which remains the undisputed reference material in horticultural growing media production and use. Despite multiple experimental confirmations of the applicability of SBM for growing media, scattered reports of growth inhibition in plants grown in SBM raise concerns that allelopathic effects may derive from this material. To attribute and quantify potential growth inhibition, a broad sample set of SBM was collected, processed as aqueous extracts (AESBM), and applied to seeds of Lepidium sativum ‘Cresso’ in a series of laboratory plant assays. The majority of extracts induced significant inhibitory effects on germination and early growth. Using HPLC–MS, secondary metabolites (phenolics) were determined qualitatively and quantitatively. Thirty-eight SBM samples obtained from Sphagnum farming sites and greenhouse-grown material were analyzed. A group of compounds occurred in all samples, defining a core set of phenolic compounds. The complexity of the compound mixture in AESBM did not allow a clear attribution of the observed effects to individual substances; however, machine learning–based feature selection and importance analysis revealed a clear contribution of two detected compounds. Heat treatment of SBM at 60 and 80 °C significantly reduced the inhibitory effects of the material. Further studies should apply fractionation approaches to evaluate the effects of specific compounds individually.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1746049</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1746049</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effect of hydroponic cultivation using MPM-processed methane fermentation digestate on tomato growth and yield]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dannisa Fathiya Rachma</author><author>Kazuya Maeda</author><author>Yuta Yamanouchi</author><author>Hiroshi Ueda</author><author>Kimiko Yamamoto</author><author>Makoto Shinohara</author><author>Masahide Isozaki</author><author>Dong-Hyuk Ahn</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionLiquid digestate produced from manure-based methane fermentation contains organic and inorganic forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients that have potential as plant nutrients, but its use in soilless horticulture requires appropriate microbial processing due to high ammonium concentrations and possible salinity-related constraints. Ammonium (NH4+), the predominant nitrogen form in methane fermentation digestate, must be converted to nitrate (NO3-) by nitrifying microorganisms before application in hydroponic systems. The multiple parallel mineralization (MPM) method enables controlled microbial nitrification of digestate nitrogen.MethodsIn this study, MPM-processed methane fermentation digestate (MPM digestate) generated nitrate through microbial nitrification, maintaining an average nitrate–nitrogen concentration of approximately 226 mg L-¹ in the hydroponic nutrient solution throughout the cultivation period. Yield components of the tomato cultivar ‘Momotaro Hope’ grown in an open hydroponic system were compared between MPM-digestate and chemical fertilizer (CF) treatments for up to 124 days after transplanting (DAT), corresponding to the harvest of the seventh fruit truss.ResultsWhile total season yield and fruit quality parameters, including total soluble solids (TSS), lycopene, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), did not differ significantly between treatments, plant growth responses varied temporally. The cultivation period was divided into three growth stages (Stages I–III) based on key growth indicators. During Stage III (88–124 DAT), the MPM-digestate treatment exhibited significantly lower total dry matter (TDM), light use efficiency (LUE), and stage-specific cumulative yield than the CF treatment, although the proportion of dry matter allocated to fruit was 18% higher under MPM digestate during this stage.DiscussionThese late-stage reductions may be associated with elevated electrical conductivity (EC) in the drainage solution observed during Stage II (34–87 DAT) under the MPM-digestate treatment. Increased EC values approaching 5 mS cm-¹, likely influenced by elevated Na+ and Cl- concentrations, may have induced osmotic stress or ion-specific nutrient imbalances that affected subsequent plant performance.ConclusionMPM-processed methane fermentation digestate can be utilized in hydroponic tomato cultivation when drainage EC is carefully managed, achieving fruit quality comparable to conventional fertilization, although late-stage biomass accumulation and yield may be reduced under elevated salinity conditions.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1677480</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1677480</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimizing agrivoltaic systems for global sustainability: a structural and wind dynamics approach to resilience and performance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Aly Mousaad Aly</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This article synthesizes recent research on Agrivoltaics (AV), underscoring its transformative potential to address escalating demands for food and energy while mitigating land-use conflicts and climate change impacts. Key insights reveal that AV systems optimize land productivity, modulate microclimates, and significantly conserve water resources, fostering enhanced agricultural resilience and diversified crop production. Moreover, they deliver substantial economic advantages to farmers, ensuring stable income streams and boosting profitability, while also generating considerable clean energy. The exponential growth in agrivoltaics research reflects its escalating recognition as a multifaceted and vital solution. Despite these compelling benefits, widespread adoption encounters notable challenges. These include overcoming high initial capital costs, optimizing intricate technical configurations to balance light and shade, navigating complex sociopolitical landscapes, and establishing robust waste management and recycling frameworks for PV modules. Crucially, significant structural engineering challenges arise from high-intensity wind loads. Existing codes often misestimate loads, and traditional wind tunnel testing frequently underestimates peak pressures, highlighting a critical lack of comprehensive design standards. Therefore, addressing these challenges demands advanced methodologies—including open-jet testing, sophisticated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and a consistent peak load estimation method—to ensure structural resilience and economic viability. Future advancements are critical for unlocking AV’s full potential, necessitating deeper integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things for dynamic control and predictive analytics. Focused efforts are also required for refining modeling tools, creating comprehensive data repositories, and developing flexible policy instruments. Ultimately, fostering cross-sector collaboration and implementing tailored, holistic approaches will be paramount to building more resilient, sustainable, and economically viable agricultural and energy sectors worldwide.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1645374</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2026.1645374</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Connecting agriculture and renewable energy: insights into microclimatic changes, physiological, biochemical, and yield responses under agrivoltaics: a review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Manu Priya</author><author>Hilary A. Sandler</author><author>Peter Jeranyama</author><author>Harsh Nayyar</author><author>Giverson Mupambi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Agrivoltaics, the synergistic integration of agriculture and solar energy production on the same piece of land, has emerged as a compelling dual-use solution that maximizes land productivity while simultaneously addressing the need for sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy generation. Despite the growing global interest in this dual-use system, the microclimatic shifts created beneath solar panels and their consequences for crop performance remain insufficiently synthesized. This review highlights the intricate interactions between agrivoltaics systems and plant microclimates, discussing their impacts on various physiological processes, metabolic pathways, and overall yield responses in different crop species. Evidence indicates that moderated light intensity and altered microclimates can enhance water-use efficiency, stabilize photosynthetic function, and trigger beneficial metabolic adjustments; however, responses remain highly species-specific and strongly dependent on regional climate conditions and panel configuration. Yield outcomes vary widely among vegetables, cereals, pulses, and fruit crops, highlighting the necessity for tailored agronomic strategies and crop selection within agrivoltaic designs. A critical knowledge gap identified in this review concerns the limited understanding of molecular and omics-level responses underlying plant adaptation to agrivoltaic environments. We further provide a detailed and interdisciplinary overview of adaptive agronomic strategies, and optimal crop selection, tailored to agrivoltaic systems. Despite the benefits of land use efficiency and simultaneous food and energy production, challenges remain concerning initial investment, technological adaptation, social and legal barriers, and shade-induced yield penalties. Further research in this area will be critical to enhancing the agricultural, environmental, and economic sustainability of agrivoltaics while simultaneously augmenting their practical utility and appeal to farmers in the future.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1740404</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhort.2025.1740404</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Participatory selection of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. landraces in Burkina Faso: characteristics of interest and selection criteria for leaves]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Clémence Zerbo</author><author>Kiswendsida Romaric Nanema</author><author>Zakaria Kiebre</author><author>Mariam Kiebre</author><author>Fanta Reine Sheirita Tietiambou</author><author>Hamid El Bilali</author><author>Filippo Acasto</author><author>Jacques Nanema</author><author>Mahamadou Sawadogo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionHibiscus sabdariffa L. is an economically important and widely adopted crop in Burkina Faso. Yet its production is constrained by the lack of improved, locally adapted varieties. This study used a participatory variety selection approach to identify preferred landraces and selection criteria across two agroecological zones: Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian.MethodsThe evaluation of landraces/accessions was carried out using an ordinal rating system, assigning scores ranging from 9 (most preferred accession), through 7 (very interesting), 5 (moderately interesting), 3 (less interesting), to 1 (least interesting). Landraces considered undesirable were specifically evaluated using negative scores of −5, −3, and −1, reflecting the degree of rejection expressed by the participants.ResultsParticipatory selection involved 126 stakeholders (75.4% women), including producers (37.3%), consumers (30.9%), processors (16.7%), and traders (15.1%). The findings showed that 130 accessions (81.25%) were positively selected across zones, with traits such as leaf size, tenderness, absence of pubescence, market value, and drought tolerance being prioritized. Preferences differed significantly by agroecological zone, ethnicity (p < 0.001), age group, and actor role (χ² = 360.21, p< 0.001). Two accessions (CKK1 and CKN5) were consistently ranked at the top, with index scores of 0.0441 and 0.0428, respectively. In contrast, accessions like CKO2 and HBB3 were most rejected due to poor agronomic and culinary traits. The analysis showed that only 30% of the selected accessions were shared between the two zones.ConclusionThese results highlight the potential value of participatory selection in identifying varieties that are well-adapted, socially acceptable, and potentially more resilient for underutilized species in West Africa.]]></description>
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