Horticultural Science - Online first

Investigating the role of 6-BAP and 2,4-DPA in enhancing biochemical nutrients and reducing fruit drop and cracking of litchi cv. BombaiOriginal Paper

Bikash Chandra Sarker, Shams Shaila Islam, Kanij Farhana, M.A. Hakim, Thanet Khomphet

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/47/2025-HORTSCI  

Litchi fruit dropping is a major issue that leads to low yields while degrading biochemical nutrient qualities by fruit cracking and reduced income for litchi growers in Bangladesh. To address this, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of biochemical nutrients and the ability to reduce fruit cracking and dropping in the litchi cv. ‘Bombai’ under various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DPA). The study followed a two-factor factorial experiment in a randomised complete block design, using four levels for each growth regulator: control, 20, 30, and 40 ppm 2,4-DPA, and similarly...

Seasonal changes in Elaeocarpus sylvestris leaf colour and physiologyOriginal Paper

Qingqing Liu, Zhijun Huang, Xiaolong Tian, Zhangwei Tan

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/18/2025-HORTSCI  

Leaves of Elaeocarpus sylvestris (Lour.) Poir. were sampled on five dates between autumn and winter and analysed to identify the factors causing progressive changes in leaf colour and physiological characteristics. Colour parameters L*, a*, C*, and s* increased significantly, particularly s*, which changed from 8 518.79 to 13 044.77 (53.13%) over the sampling period. Changes in leaf colour parameters indicated that E. sylvestris leaves became reddish, and colour brightness and purity increased. Total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased significantly, with mean values on December 30 being...

Biomass production of lettuce: Nitrogen fertiliser and harvesting period effects on phytochemical composition in growth chamber-grownOriginal Paper

Soran Aziz, Fuad Othman Abdullah, Ayman Al-Qaanehd, Matteo Micuccie

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/173/2024-HORTSCI  

Concern over the potential health benefits of the phytochemical compounds in lettuce has grown as intake of leafy vegetables, especially lettuce, has increased. This study was to investigate the effect of periods harvesting and the different dose of nitrogen fertilisation, including low, normal and high (100, 200 and 300 mg/L) respectively, on level of phytochemical compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids and chlorophylls in lettuce. The experiment was conducted in the growth chamber at Newcastle University. The plants were randomly designed for 3 treatments with 15 replications. Plants were harvested in three different periods. The...

Eco-physiological attributes of Physalis philadelphica, Physalis angulata and Physalis pubescens in the Valley of MexicoOriginal Paper

Edgar Javier Morales Morales, Edgar Jesus Morales Rosales, Jose Antonio Lopez Sandoval, Gabriela BereniceVilchis Granados

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/209/2024-HORTSCI  

The processes and mechanisms that determine the growth and yield of crops in different environments are necessary to increase agricultural production, since they guide us in the choice of the most appropriate management practices. The aim of the study was to evaluate, during the years 2018, 2019, 2020, the performance of Physalis philadelphica, Physalis angulata and Physalis pubescens as a function of leaf area index, light extinction coefficient and radiation use efficiency. Research was carried out at the Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. Results revealed that...

Effect of the application of phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) as fertiliser on bioactive compounds in microgreensOriginal Paper

Sila Barut Gök, Funda Özdüven, Funda Eryilmaz Açikgöz, Çetin Yağcilar

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/113/2024-HORTSCI  

Bio-fertilisation has gained popularity due to its sustainability in agricultural practice. One of the cyanobacterial-based bio-fertilisers is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis), which contains phycocyanin, a blue protein pigment that is abundant in Spirulina sp., that boosts the growth yield and bioactive content of plants. The aim of the current study is to determine the alteration in antioxidant and phenolic content in red cabbage microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) by treating different organs of the plant with phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The phycocyanin...

Investigation on morphological, photosynthetic traits, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) roots infection in sago palm (Metroxylon sagu rottb.) under saline conditionOriginal Paper

Aidil Azhar, Lili Dahliani, Iis Purnamawati, Wanda Russianzi, Merry Gloria Meliala, Fatimah Nur Istiqomah, Andi Nur Cahyo, Hiroshi Ehara

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/26/2025-HORTSCI  

This study investigated the response of sago palms to saline conditions, focusing on their morphological and photosynthetic performance. The photosynthetic traits were evaluated using OJIP chlorophyll fluorescence transient. The plants were exposed to a saline condition of 224 mM NaCl, and their ability to form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was also assessed. We tested both commercial AMF products, containing spores from multiple genera, and isolated AMF spores from Glomus etunicatum and Glomus grape, to determine their ability to infect sago palm roots under high salt conditions. The results showed that sago palms...

Somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plant regeneration of Manzano (AAB) and Pelipita (ABB) banana cultivarsOriginal Paper

Adrián José Enríquez-Valencia, Martín Mata-Rosas, Claudia-Anahí Pérez-Torres, Enrique Ibarra-Laclette

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/35/2025-HORTSCI  

There is significant interest in the propagation of bananas due to their substantial global economic importance, which is why this study aimed to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation through somatic embryogenesis (SE) of the ‘Manzano’ and ‘Pelipita’ cultivars. Immature male flower bud explants were used for embryogenic callus induction. The ‘Manzano’ cultivar showed a higher percentage of embryogenic callus induction than ‘Pelipita’. Stereomicroscopic observations revealed that the embryogenic callus was asynchronous, as various stages of somatic embryos were noted. White translucent...

A comparison of seven macadamia cultivars for suitability to the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet in ChinaOriginal Paper

Jifeng Wan, Minghong Zou, Ximei Song, Qian Yang, Hui Zeng, Yang Zhao

Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/166/2024-HORTSCI  

The suitability of macadamia trees for different climates has been shown to affect tree growth and fruit quality. In this study, the differences in tree survival rate after frost injury, tree growth, nut mass, kernel quality and yield of seven macadamia cultivars were evaluated for field production in the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet, and the suitability of macadamia cultivars was determined. The cultivars evaluated were ‘Beaumont’ (‘HAES695’), ‘HVA16’ (‘A16’), ‘Hinde’ (‘H2’), ‘Own Choice’ (‘O.C.’), ‘SSCRI-1’,...