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In the past few decades, awareness of the basic role that endophytic fungi play in shaping the fitness of both wild and crop plants has increased significantly. The number of papers on the subject is so large that it is becoming difficult to have a complete overview of the state-of-the-art with reference to specific crops. In the absence of readily available documents providing circumstantial information on the endophytic assemblage of plants, the isolation of a certain fungal species may appear to be occasional or trivial; hence, many important findings are at risk of going unnoticed. This Special Issue aims to present a collection of papers dealing with the occurrence and functions of endophytic fungi in crop species. It may represent a useful tool for stakeholders in this particular research field, with a view to stimulating a more thorough consideration of the opportunities deriving from their discoveries.

endophytic fungi --- Fusarium --- species complexes --- mycotoxins --- fusaric acid --- trichothecenes --- biosynthetic gene clusters --- Citrus spp. --- endophytes --- antagonism --- defensive mutualism --- plant growth promotion --- bioactive compounds --- entomopathogens --- crop protection --- integrated pest management --- Cordycipitaceae --- Alternaria --- Illumina MiSeq --- secondary raw materials --- compositae --- fungi --- herbs --- secondary metabolites --- symbiosis --- mutualism --- plant fitness --- latent pathogens --- Botryosphaeria rhodina --- Botryodiplodia theobromae --- onions --- amaryllis --- endosphere --- endobiome --- metabolome --- sage --- bioprospecting --- medicinal plants --- Lamiaceae --- biocontrol --- biostimulants --- induced systemic resistance --- ISR --- plant pathogens --- fungal entomopathogens --- Acacia --- Albizia --- Bauhinia --- Berberis --- Caesalpinia --- Cassia --- Cornus --- Hamamelis --- Jasminus --- Ligustrum --- Lonicera --- Nerium --- Robinia --- EFSA --- high-risk plants --- n/a

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Over the past decade, interest in plant biostimulants has been on the rise, compelled by the growing interest of researchers, extension specialists, private industries, and farmers in integrating these products in the array of environmentally friendly tools to secure improved crop performance, nutrient efficiency, product quality, and yield stability. Plant biostimulants include diverse organic and inorganic substances, natural compounds, and/or beneficial microorganisms such as humic acids, protein hydrolysates, seaweed and plant extracts, silicon, endophytic fungi like mycorrhizal fungi, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria belonging to the genera Azospirillum, Azotobacter, and Rhizobium. Other substances (e.g., chitosan and other biopolymers and inorganic compounds) can have biostimulant properties, but their classification within the group of biostimulants is still under consideration. Plant biostimulants are usually applied to high-value crops, mainly greenhouse crops, fruit trees and vines, open-field crops, flowers, and ornamentals to sustainably increase yield and product quality. The global biostimulant market is currently estimated at about $2.0 billion and is expected to reach $3.0 billion by 2021 at an annual growth rate of 13%. A growing interest in plant biostimulants from industries and scientists was demonstrated by the high number of published peer-reviewed articles, conferences, workshops, and symposia in the past ten years. This book compiles several original research articles, technology reports, methods, opinions, perspectives, and invited reviews and mini reviews dissecting the biostimulatory action of these natural compounds and substances and beneficial microorganisms on crops grown under optimal and suboptimal growing conditions (e.g., salinity, drought, nutrient deficiency and toxicity, heavy metal contaminations, waterlogging, and adverse soil pH conditions). Also included are contributions dealing with the effect as well as the molecular and physiological mechanisms of plant biostimulants on nutrient efficiency, product quality, and modulation of the microbial population both quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, identification and understanding of the optimal method, time, rate of application and phenological stage for improving plant performance and resilience to stress as well as the best combinations of plant species/cultivar × environment × management practices are also reported. We strongly believe that high standard reflected in this compilation on the principles and practices of plant biostimulants will foster knowledge transfer among scientific communities, industries, and agronomists, and will enable a better understanding of the mode of action and application procedures of biostimulants in different cropping systems.

Crocus sativus L. --- biofertilization --- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi --- antioxidant activity --- crocin --- picrocrocin --- polyphenols --- safranal --- Maize --- biostimulant --- root --- stress --- growth --- gene expression --- stem cuttings --- propagation --- root morphology traits --- indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) --- indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) --- gibberellins --- phenolic compounds --- nutrients --- nutraceutical potential --- soybean --- yield --- N organic fertilizer --- seaweed extract --- mycorrhizal inoculants --- phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms --- biofertilizers --- microorganism consortium --- biostimulants --- Crocus sativus --- Funneliformis mosseae --- glasshouse --- protected cultivation --- Rhizophagus intraradices --- substrate --- L-methionine --- L-tryptophan --- L-glycine --- lettuce --- nitrogen --- plant biostimulant --- environmental stress --- vegetables --- fruit quality --- plants biostimulants --- yielding --- Biostimulants --- Euglena gracilis --- algal polysaccharide --- β-glucan --- water stress --- tomato --- aeroponics --- Zea mays L --- lignohumate --- lignosulfonate --- biological activity --- nitrogen metabolism --- carbon metabolism --- proteins --- phenolics --- sugars --- Ascophyllum nodosum --- Solanum melongena --- heterostyly --- pollination efficiency --- soilless conditions --- abiotic stress --- alfalfa hydrolysate --- chitosan --- zinc --- ascorbic acid --- Fragaria x ananassa --- functional quality --- lycopene --- organic farming --- protein hydrolysate --- Solanum lycopersicum L. --- tropical plant extract --- fertilizer --- melatonin --- phytomelatonin --- plant protector --- plant stress --- Lactuca sativa L. --- legume-derived protein hydrolysate --- nitrate --- Septoria --- wheat --- Paraburkholderia phytofirmans --- thyme essential oil --- isotope --- phytoparasitic nematodes --- suppressiveness --- sustainable management --- anti-nutritional substances --- fat --- fibre --- morphotype --- protein --- corn --- imaging --- industrial crops --- maize --- next generation sequencing --- phenomics --- plant phenotyping --- row crops --- Bacillus subtilis --- carotenoids --- probiotics --- PGPR --- Mentha longifolia --- humic acid --- antioxidants --- arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis --- mycorrhizosphere --- AMF associated bacteria --- plant growth-promoting bacteria --- phosphate-solubilizing bacteria --- siderophore production --- soil enzymatic activity --- biological index fertility --- nitrogenase activity --- microelements fertilization (Ti, Si, B, Mo, Zn) --- seed coating --- cover crop --- vermicompost --- growth enhancement --- AM fungi --- PGPB --- water deficit --- common bean --- Glomus spp. --- organic acids --- pod quality --- seaweed extracts --- seed quality --- tocopherols --- total sugars --- bean --- amino acids --- phenols --- flavonoids --- microbial biostimulant --- non-microbial biostimulant --- Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia --- mineral profile --- physiological mechanism --- photosynthesis --- biocontrol --- plant growth promotion --- soil inoculant --- Trichoderma --- Azotobacter --- Streptomyces --- deproteinized leaf juice --- fermentation --- lactic acid bacteria --- plant nutrition --- antioxidant capacity --- ornamental plants --- N fertilization --- nitrogen use efficiency --- leaf quality --- Spinacia oleracea L. --- sustainable agriculture --- Valerianella locusta L. --- isotopic labeling --- turfgrass --- humic acids --- leaf area index (LAI) --- specific leaf area (SLA) --- Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) index --- tuber yield --- ultrasound-assisted water --- foliar spray --- Pterocladia capillacea --- bio-fertilizer --- growth parameters --- Jew’s Mallow --- CROPWAT model --- eco-friendly practices --- total ascorbic acid --- Mater-Bi® --- mineral composition --- SPAD index --- Bacillus thuringiensis --- Capsicum annuum --- microbiome --- strain-specific primer --- tracking --- sweet basil --- alfalfa brown juice --- biostimulation --- chlorophyll pigments --- histological changes --- humic substances --- protein hydrolysates --- silicon --- arbuscular mycorrhiza --- plant growth promoting rhizobacteria --- macroalgae --- microalgae --- abiotic stresses --- nutrient use efficiency --- physiological mechanisms

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Horticultural research has been undergoing fundamental changes to improve crop plants as a result of the emergence of new biochemical and molecular techniques. In addition, integration of new technologies with the desire to develop more sustainable production systems has also spurred production level research. The highlighted Feature Papers here reflect the diversity of the types of research performed on horticultural plant species, spanning basic to applied studies, production systems, and postharvest studies, in addition to highlighting some critical issues facing horticultural plant species.

Olea europaea --- fat content --- fatty acid profile --- phenolic content --- volatile compounds --- hedgerow planting systems --- adaptive management --- conservation science --- Guam --- Mariana Islands --- Rota --- growing efficiency --- hydroponic nutrient solution --- raw material standardization --- soilless culture system --- system design --- brown rot --- inoculum application --- Monilinia --- phenotyping --- phenotypic instability --- stone fruit --- sweet cherry --- fruit growth --- hysteresis --- fruit maturation --- vapor pressure deficit (VPD) --- chilling requirement (CR) --- floral bud --- dormancy --- microsporogenesis --- relative growth rate (RGR) --- BBCH scale --- biological control --- cycad --- Cycas micronesica --- invasion biology --- gene silencing --- Huanglongbing --- sweet orange --- crop protection --- sustainability --- Capsicum annuum L. --- functional food --- pepper pre-breeding --- horticulture --- sensory analysis --- root development --- root morphology --- abiotic stress --- growth regulators --- biostimulants --- plant choice --- Capparis spinosa --- seed propagation --- vegetative propagation --- in vitro propagation --- Mediterranean basin --- crystals --- microscopy --- mycorrhizal fungi --- orchids --- suspensor --- n/a