Nazim S. Gruda

A manuscript may be structurally complete and scientifically sound, yet still fail to communicate its full value. The final stages of scientific writing

Writing a scientific paper begins long before the first sentence appears on the screen. The quality of a manuscript is largely determined by the decisions,

Green compost is a promising peat substitute in container nursery production, but plant responses are often species-specific. This study evaluated three growing media containing 0, 36, and 72% (v/v) green compost, replacing none, half, or all of the peat fraction, combined with three fertilization protocols (unfertilized, organic, and organo-mineral), on growth, biomass, biomass allocation, and leaf macronutrients of Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Fertilization was the main factor affecting growth in both species, with the organo-mineral protocol giving the highest values, whereas substrate composition did not affect aboveground growth. In Photinia, the highest compost proportion reduced root fresh weight and increased leaf K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, mainly under organic fertilization, without improving growth; unfertilized plants allocated more biomass to roots only in the peat-based substrate. In Star Jasmine, complete peat replacement did not reduce plant dry weight. However, root fresh weight decreased, and unfertilized plants in the peat-free substrate did not differ from fertilized ones. Green compost can therefore replace up to half of the peat in Photinia and all of it in Star Jasmine, provided that adequate fertilization is supplied. These results, from one growing cycle and compost batch without a mineral-only control, need confirmation.

Green compost is a promising peat substitute in container nursery production, but plant responses are often species-specific. This study evaluated three growing media containing 0, 36, and 72% (v/v) green compost, replacing none, half, or all of the peat fraction, combined with three fertilization protocols (unfertilized, organic, and organo-mineral), on growth, biomass, biomass allocation, and leaf macronutrients of Photinia × fraseri ‘Red Robin’ and Trachelospermum jasminoides. Fertilization was the main factor affecting growth in both species, with the organo-mineral protocol giving the highest values, whereas substrate composition did not affect aboveground growth. In Photinia, the highest compost proportion reduced root fresh weight and increased leaf K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, mainly under organic fertilization, without improving growth; unfertilized plants allocated more biomass to roots only in the peat-based substrate. In Star Jasmine, complete peat replacement did not reduce plant dry weight. However, root fresh weight decreased, and unfertilized plants in the peat-free substrate did not differ from fertilized ones. Green compost can therefore partly or fully replace peat for these species, provided that adequate fertilization is supplied. The compost pro-portion is adapted to the species.

Global population growth is increasing demand for food, driving large-scale monocultures and long supply chains. At the same time, more resilient and sustainable vegetable production is needed—one that focuses not only on yields but also on environmental health, social equity, and economic viability. Organic vegetable production offers a holistic approach by relying on natural ecosystem processes rather than external inputs like synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, aiming to maintain productivity, stability, and resilience. Vegetables exhibit distinct characteristics, including short growth cycles, high nutrient demand, small-scale production structures, cultivation under both greenhouse and open-field conditions, high market value, and pronounced postharvest perishability. These features make organic vegetable production particularly complex and management-intensive, requiring precise and timely interventions. Under the pressures of climate change, such as increased temperature variability, more frequent extreme weather events, and growing water scarcity, these challenges become even more pronounced. Thus, effective soil and crop management emerges as a central component of organic production systems. This encompasses key aspects such as soil fertility management, efficient water use, balanced crop nutrition, pest and disease regulation, and the optimization of plant–soil interactions. Together, these factors are essential for achieving sustainable, productive, and resilient systems. Here, we synthesize current scientific knowledge on techniques and management practices in organic vegetable production while also highlighting existing challenges and identifying key research needs.

The spectral composition and duration of light exposure can influence plant growth, secondary metabolism, and essential oil composition in medicinal and aromatic plants. Here, we evaluated the effects of lighting regime and exposure duration on the biochemical traits and essential oil composition of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) under controlled conditions. Plants were exposed to white, blue, red, red/blue LED, or natural sunlight for 2, 3, or 4 weeks. The artificial light treatments were maintained at 200 ± 10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD, whereas the sunlight treatment was not PPFD-matched and therefore served as a greenhouse reference rather than a spectrum-matched control. Four biological replicates were used for each treatment. Chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars, total phenolics and flavonoids, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and essential oil composition were assessed. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Lighting regime and exposure duration significantly affected several biochemical traits, whereas total phenolic content was not significantly affected by lighting regime. Red/blue LED treatment was associated with the highest mean values of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total flavonoids, soluble sugars, and DPPH radical scavenging activity, although statistical significance varied among traits. Approximately 37 volatile compounds were identified across the treatments. The major constituents included α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, verbenone, borneol, bornyl acetate, and camphene and their relative abundances varied among lighting regimes and exposure durations. Principal component analysis (PCA) described differences in multivariate essential oil profiles among treatment combinations, while correlation analysis revealed associations among the relative abundances of volatile constituents. The highest essential oil yield was obtained under blue light at week 2 (1.53 ± 0.02% dry weight), whereas red/blue lighting at week 3 was associated with favorable responses in several biochemical traits. Thus, no single lighting regime and exposure duration was optimal for all measured traits. These findings indicate that lighting regime and exposure duration may be useful factors for modulating specific biochemical and essential oil characteristics of rosemary under controlled environment conditions.

Saffron, a valuable spice and industrial crop used in food, pharma, and cosmetics, is propagated only vegetatively via corms due to triploid male sterility