Sprouts, microgreens, and baby leaves are plant-based functional foods that have recently gained popularity for use in human diets as novel foods due to their high nutraceutical value. Microgreens, harvested shortly after germination with one true leaf, include vitamins and minerals with potential health benefits. Achieving high yields, robust growth, and maximum nutrient accumulation requires optimal cultivation, especially when selecting the appropriate growing medium. This study assessed the effectiveness of six different growing media for the cultivation of microgreens, specifically black radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. niger), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), and red beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The growing media tested included vermiculite, perlite, a peat-based medium, filter paper, cotton textile, and agril. The results revealed that vermiculite and the peat-based medium led to the highest yields. The phenolic content ranged from 110.77 mg GA·100 g⁻¹ FW in red beet to 169.96 mg GA·100 g⁻¹ FW in broccoli. The flavonoid content varied between 17.99 mg RU·100 g⁻¹ FW in black radish and 120.36 mg RU·100 g⁻¹ FW in red beet. Agril and filter paper media yielded the highest SPAD–chlorophyll values (47.34 and 44.36, respectively). The protein content peaked at 3.03 g·100 g⁻¹ FW in black radish grown on filter paper, while the vitamin C content reached a maximum of 29.75 mg·100 g⁻¹ FW in black radish grown in agril. The findings suggest that while the optimal conditions vary by species, the choice of growing medium plays a crucial role in determining microgreens’ quality and nutrient content.

Seed sowing density is a key parameter that directly affects plant growth and the final product quality in microgreens. Proper adjustment of sowing density ensures optimal growth conditions, enhancing yield and supporting healthy and vigorous plant development. In this study, broccoli, black radish, red beet, pea, sunflower, and bean seeds were used; three different sowing densities were determined, and the seeds were sown in containers measuring 16x9x7 cm. The study investigates the effects of different seed sowing densities on plant height, hypocotyl length, stem diameter, individual plant weight, leaf area, yield, dry matter content, and chlorophyll content in microgreens. Significant changes in plant growth parameters were observed as the sowing density increased. These findings highlight the necessity of carefully optimizing sowing density in microgreens production.

Biostimulants are increasingly recognized in modern agriculture as eco-friendly inputs that enhance plant growth, improve stress tolerance, and promote product quality. This study investigated the effects of fulvic acid, amino acids, and chitosan on the growth, yield, and nutritional quality of parsley grown under hydroponic greenhouse conditions. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, different doses of fulvic acid (80–120 ppm), amino acids (40–80 ppm), and chitosan (0.3–0.6 mL L⁻¹) were evaluated. In the second stage, the most effective treatments were tested in combination. The results showed that all biostimulants positively influenced plant growth, productivity, and nutritional parameters. In the first experiment, the highest total yield was obtained with chitosan at 0.3 mL L⁻¹ (2068 g m⁻²; +30.1%). The greatest increase in total phenolic content was observed with AA 40 (391.1 mg GA 100 g⁻¹ FW; +64%), while the strongest nitrate reduction occurred with FA 120, reducing nitrate levels from 1048 to 405 mg kg⁻¹ (−61%). In the second experiment, the FA 80 + C 0.3 combination was the most effective treatment, increasing total yield from 493 to 856 g m⁻² (+73.7%) and reducing nitrate content from 937 to 460 mg kg⁻¹ (−50.9%). These findings suggest that fulvic acid and chitosan, applied individually and particularly in combination, may serve as effective biostimulant strategies for improving yield and nutritional quality while reducing nitrate accumulation in hydroponically grown parsley.

Drought poses a significant threat to agricultural systems worldwide, exacerbating challenges to food security and sustainability. Hydrogels, superabsorbent polymers that can retain substantial amounts of water, have emerged as a promising solution to mitigate the adverse effects of drought. In this integrated bibliometric and narrative review, we map the evolution of hydrogel research for drought stress management between 2001 and 2024 and critically synthesize empirical evidence on crop responses and mechanisms identified through the bibliometric analysis. The analysis reveals a marked increase in research activity since 2016, particularly in the development of biodegradable hydrogels derived from natural polymers such as cellulose, chitosan, and starch, and in the integration of nanotechnology to enhance hydrogel performance under variable environmental conditions. Studies consistently show that hydrogel applications improve soil water retention, reduce irrigation frequency, improve water‐use efficiency, and increase plant biomass and yield under limited water conditions. Research on key crops such as maize, wheat, soybean, tobacco, citrus, tomato, and barley demonstrates significant improvements in plant growth, physiological responses, and crop productivity under drought stress. Hydrogels also mitigate drought‐induced oxidative stress, improve nutrient uptake, and contribute to improved crop resilience in water‐scarce environments. Despite these advances, challenges remain in the standardization of hydrogel formulations, their scalability for large‐scale agricultural deployment, and the assessment of long‐term environmental impacts. The evidence base is predominantly derived from pot experiments, with limited field validation. Further research is needed to develop universally applicable, cost‐effective, and environmentally sustainable hydrogel solutions that can be effectively integrated into climate‐resilient agricultural practices.

Light quality, particularly the spectral composition emitted by LEDs, modulate growth dynamics, physiological processes, and the nutritional attributes of microgreens cultivated under controlled environments. In this study, the effects of three distinct LED spectra on growth performance, pigmentation, and nutritional composition of basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.) microgreens were assessed within an indoor vertical farming system. The lighting treatments included: (LED1) 70% red (660 nm) + 30% blue (450 nm), (LED 2) a full-spectrum PAR range (400–700 nm), and (LED 3) 65% red (660 nm), 25% blue (450 nm), 5% white (broad spectrum around 400–700 nm), and 5% far-red (730 nm). Key parameters assessed were plant height, hypocotyl length, stem diameter, individual plant fresh weight, yield, color values (L* = luminosity, a* = red-green axis, b* = blue-yellow axis), dry matter content, macro and micronutrient levels, pH (hydrogen ion concentration) and titratable acidity (total acidity), soluble solid content (SSC), electrical conductivity (EC), and concentrations of oil, total phenols, flavonoids, and vitamin C. Among the treatments, LED 3 significantly enhanced plant height, hypocotyl length, yield, total phenol content, acidity, EC, and color brightness (L*), highlighting its superior overall performance. LED 2 was most effective in increasing vitamin C, flavonoid, and oil content, while LED 1 promoted higher dry matter and mineral contents. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing LED spectra to improve both productivity and nutritional quality. Based on its consistent advantages across multiple parameters, LED 3 is the most advantageous in terms of yield, biomass accumulation, and visual quality, highlighting its potential suitability for commercial microgreen cultivation in controlled environment systems. Further research is needed to validate these findings across different cultivar-specific responses and environmental conditions.

Ispanak (Spinacia oleracea L.), serin iklim sebzeleri arasında kısa gelişim süresi, yüksek besin değeri ve yaygın tüketim alanlarıyla öne çıkan önemli bir türdür. Anavatanı Güneybatı Asya olan ıspanak, tarihsel süreçte Asya’dan Avrupa’ya ve oradan dünyaya yayılmıştır. Yapraklarında yüksek düzeyde A, C, K vitaminleri, demir, kalsiyum ve biyoaktif bileşikler barındırması, onu beslenme açısından değerli kılmaktadır. Bu bölümde; ıspanağın botanik özellikleri, ekolojik istekleri ve yetiştiricilik teknikleri ele alınmıştır. Toprak hazırlığı, ekim yöntemleri, sulama ve gübreleme stratejileri ile birlikte farklı çeşit tiplerinin morfo-agronomik özellikleri değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, üretimde verim ve kaliteyi sınırlayan başlıca hastalık ve zararlılar ile bunlara karşı uygulanabilecek entegre mücadele yöntemleri açıklanmıştır. Hasat ve hasat sonrası muhafaza teknikleri de ayrıntılı biçimde tartışılmıştır. Genel olarak, ıspanağın ekolojik istekleri, çeşit özellikleri ve yetiştirme teknikleri dikkate alınarak planlanan üretim süreçleri; verimlilik, kalite ve sürdürülebilirlik açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Uygun çevre koşullarında ve entegre yetiştiricilik uygulamalarıyla gerçekleştirilen üretim, hem iç tüketim hem de işleme sanayi için değerli bir potansiyel sunmaktadır.