Horticulture: natural biostimulants in horticultural crops: state of the art and perspectives
Keywords:
natural biostimulants, horticulture, abiotic stress, plant growth, sustainable agriculture.Abstract
Natural biostimulants have gained increasing importance in modern horticulture due to their ability to improve crop growth, development, productivity, and tolerance to abiotic stress while contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this systematic review was to analyse the current state of knowledge regarding natural biostimulants used in horticultural crops, identifying their main mechanisms of action, physiological effects, agronomic applications, and future research perspectives. The methodology was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for systematic reviews. A comprehensive literature search was performed using scientific databases and specialised publications related to plant biostimulants, seaweed extracts, humic substances, amino acids, beneficial microorganisms, and natural compounds applied in horticulture. The selected studies were analysed according to the type of biostimulant, crop evaluated, physiological variables, response to abiotic stress, yield, and product quality. The available evidence demonstrates that natural biostimulants enhance nutrient uptake, increase photosynthetic activity, stimulate root development, strengthen antioxidant systems, and improve water-use efficiency. Furthermore, numerous studies report improvements in yield, commercial quality, and resistance to adverse environmental conditions through the application of plant extracts, seaweed extracts, humic substances, and microbial biostimulants. It is concluded that natural biostimulants represent a strategic tool for promoting more sustainable horticultural production, although further research is required to better understand their molecular mechanisms of action, standardise application protocols, and optimise their integration into modern horticultural production systems.
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References
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