Small Fruit Physiology, Production Systems and Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2024 | Viewed by 1897

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, UK
Interests: plant secondary metabolites; biostimulants; botanicals; organic farming

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Guest Editor
Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, Polytechnic School of Mieres, Oviedo University, Mieres, 33600 Asturias, Spain
Interests: biofortification; fruit peduncle sap; leaf petiole sap; small fruits; strawberry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Small fruits are recognized for their abundant supply of various minerals and vitamins, which are essential components of a nutritious diet. These fruits are packed with diverse phytochemicals with antioxidant effects that have a strong association with the reduction in and prevention of various health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. In addition to their health advantages, berries produce numerous bioactive compounds as a protective response to abiotic factors and pest-related stress, contributing to the overall development and ripening of the fruits. Hence, the quality of small fruits is influenced by various production systems, including organic and conventional cultivation methods, as well as cultivation in controlled environments such as glasshouses or shipping containers.

This Special Issue will primarily address the physiology of small fruits, including the biosynthesis, accumulation, and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Additionally, it will explore various aspects of production systems such as yield optimization, cover cropping, organic farming, controlled environment agriculture, and hydroponics. The management of small fruits, encompassing integrated pest management, botanicals, biostimulants, and stress factors, will also be emphasized. Consequently, we invite the submission of original research articles and reviews that specifically delve into these areas of interest.

Dr. Gultekin Hasanaliyeva
Prof. Dr. Pedro Palencia
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. Agronomy 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

  • secondary metabolites
  • antioxidants
  • anthocyanins
  • polyphenols
  • carotenoids
  • flavonoids
  • vitamins
  • breeding
  • organic farming
  • cover cropping
  • controlled environment agriculture
  • functional food
  • pest management
  • biotic and abiotic factors
  • biostimulants
  • biocontrols

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 10336 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Health-Promoting Metabolites from Cannabis Seeds Growing in the Bama Region of China
by Mingzheng Duan, Muhammad Junaid Rao, Qing Li, Falin Zhao, Hongzeng Fan, Bo Li, Dandan He, Shijian Han, Jiangjiang Zhang and Lingqiang Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040787 - 10 Apr 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
Hemp seeds are consumed in “Bama longevity villages” in China and are believed to contribute to the locals’ longevity. However, the molecular breeding of hemp seeds is limited due to our lack of understanding of molecular regulation and metabolite accumulation at different maturity [...] Read more.
Hemp seeds are consumed in “Bama longevity villages” in China and are believed to contribute to the locals’ longevity. However, the molecular breeding of hemp seeds is limited due to our lack of understanding of molecular regulation and metabolite accumulation at different maturity stages. Here, we conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of hemp seeds from the Bama region at four maturity stages (S1 to S4). In total, 1231 metabolites of 11 classes were detected in hemp seeds from S1–S4, including 233 flavonoids, 214 phenolic acids, 159 lipids, 118 amino acids and derivatives, 100 alkaloids, 100 organic acids, 71 nucleotides and derivatives, 43 lignans and coumarins, 14 terpenoids, 13 tannins, and 166 others. The metabolomic analysis of hemp seeds (from the Bama region) revealed a higher number of flavonoid metabolites compared with seven other varieties from other regions in China. Hemp seeds are rich in metabolites like cannflavin, trigonelline, citric acid, vitexin, choline alfoscerate, and choline, which may potentially contribute to the longevity of the Bama people. Through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, a gradual decrease in the overall expression pattern of genes and metabolite accumulation was observed during seed maturation. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that two genes (ncbi_115696993 and ncbi_115706674) are involved in regulating main metabolites, while transcription factor association analysis revealed that three transcription factor genes (MYB, NAC, and GRAS) are also involved in regulating the metabolites. The expression pattern of these five candidate genes was further verified by qPCR. Our study provides valuable insights into the metabolic substances during seed maturation and identifies candidate genes that could be utilized for future genetic engineering to enhance the endogenous biosynthesis of health-promoting metabolites in hemp seeds, potentially leading to improved nutritional and medicinal properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small Fruit Physiology, Production Systems and Management)
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19 pages, 2703 KiB  
Article
Mycorrhizal Biotechnology Reduce Phosphorus in the Nutrient Solution of Strawberry Soilless Cultivation Systems
by Fabiola Stockmans De Nardi, Thomas dos Santos Trentin, Nicolas dos Santos Trentin, Rosiani Castoldi da Costa, Eunice Oliveira Calvete, Pedro Palencia and José Luís Trevizan Chiomento
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020355 - 09 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 845
Abstract
Among the bio-tools that contribute to making the strawberry production system more sustainable are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can be used as biofertilizers. Thus, five doses of phosphorus (P) applied to plants with AMF and a control (100% P, no AMF) were [...] Read more.
Among the bio-tools that contribute to making the strawberry production system more sustainable are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can be used as biofertilizers. Thus, five doses of phosphorus (P) applied to plants with AMF and a control (100% P, no AMF) were analyzed in order to differentiate the horticultural potential of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. We used an on-farm inoculant made up of six fungal species. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the addition of AMF to the growing substrate made it possible to reduce the P supply in the nutrient solution by 75% without compromising the fruit yield. In addition, this combination improved the phytochemical quality of strawberries, the plant’s root system morphology, and the accumulation of nutrients in plant organs (roots, crowns, aerial part and fruits). We conclude that the use of a multi-species on-farm inoculant based on AMF associated with a reduction in the P supply in the nutrient solution modifies the horticultural potential of the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar. We confirmed the action of a native AMF community as a biofertilizer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small Fruit Physiology, Production Systems and Management)
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