Horticultural Science - Online first
Hydroponics and Food Safety: Key Risks and SolutionsReview
Sachin Adhikari
Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/132/2025-HORTSCI 
Hydroponics is an innovative and sustainable approach to crop production that eliminates the need for soil by supplying plants with nutrient-enriched water solutions. However, the recirculation of nutrient solutions introduces specific microbiological risks that may compromise food safety. This review evaluates contamination pathways and examines current mitigation strategies in hydroponic systems. Various hydroponic systems, including deep water culture (DWC), nutrient film technique (NFT), drip systems, ebb-and-flow systems, wick systems, and aeroponic systems, remain vulnerable to pathogen accumulation and spread. Outbreaks associated with Salmonella...
Pre-harvest UV-B radiation during the dark period enhances phenolic compounds in Agastache rugosa cultivated in a plant factory with artificial lightingOriginal Paper
Jaewook Shin, Sehee Kang, Meiyan Cui, Nakhyun Lee, Hyein Lee, Jeesang Myung, Changhoo Chun
Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/105/2025-HORTSCI
Abstract: Agastache rugosa Kuntze is an aromatic medicinal plant valued for its phenolic compounds in East Asia. To address the limitations of field cultivation, this study evaluated the interactive effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrient solution types on A. rugosa growth, to explore its introduction into controlled environments. After determining conditions for a stable yield, specifically 250 μmol/m2/s PPFD and 2.5 dS/m EC using Hoagland solution, the effects of pre-harvest ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation on secondary metabolite accumulation were examined. UV-B was applied during the dark...
Optimising oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation in West Africa: Soybean straw as a promising substrateOriginal Paper
Abdoul-Azize Boukary, Lucrece Naomie Yabi, Meike Piepenbring, Nourou Soulemane Yorou
Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/66/2025-HORTSCI
Abstract: Mushroom cultivation has been proposed to valorise several types of lignocellulosic substrates. Soybean straw as the main dish for mushroom cultivation has not really been tried in West Africa, yet soybean cultivation has become very important in this area. The present study evaluates the performance of soybean straw in mushroom cultivation in Benin. We tested the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus on three different substrates, including rice straw, sawdust and soybean straw. Different water contents of the substrates were tested to identify the best for good biological efficiency. We evaluated the performance of a growing substrate...
Combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the regulatory mechanism of branch bending on leaf bud development in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. KochOriginal Paper
Wei Wu, Kun Hu, Ming Gong, Xiaohua Yao, Shao Yang, Qing Song, Xueying Li, Qin Yang, Yan Wang
Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/131/2025-HORTSCI
Abstract: Branch bending is an important cultivation practice that manipulates plant growth by promoting lateral bud growth. Although this practice has been applied to various plant species, no research has been conducted to identify its effect on the molecular regulatory mechanism in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch leaf bud development. This study analysed dynamic changes in hormone concentrations, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) by integrating transcriptome, widely targeted metabolome, and targeted hormone metabolome after branch bending in leaf buds. Key regulatory pathways...