Abstract Home gardening is a means of food production and for enhancing household food security. The people of Tigray used home gardens as a means of survival during the war and siege, particularly in the urban areas. However, there is a lack of empirical studies on factors affecting the participation of urban households in home gardening practice. Hence, this study intended to examine the factors affecting the participation of urban households in home gardening practice in Mekelle city. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 264 households. Data were collected from 264 (171 users and 93 non-users of home gardens) randomly selected participants through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussion. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and a probit model was used to identify the factors affecting the participation of urban households in home gardening practice. Accordingly, the result from the probit model indicates that government motivation and access to land, income, education, extension service and input significantly influence home gardening. There are significant socioeconomic differences between home garden users and non-users, with users being older, having larger families, higher incomes and better education. Access to resources like land and agricultural inputs is markedly greater for users, emphasizing the role of socioeconomic factors in gardening participation. Hence, facilitating access to seeds and inputs and organizing training on sustainable practices will empower urban households to adopt home gardening. Significance of the study What is already known on this subject? Home gardening has long been recognized as a vital strategy for enhancing household food security, particularly in developing countries. It provides a sustainable means of food production, contributing to dietary diversity, income generation and environmental sustainability. Previous studies have highlighted the role of home gardens in mitigating food insecurity, especially in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. However, much of the existing research has focused on rural contexts, with limited attention given to urban settings. In addition, while the benefits of home gardening are well-documented, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the factors that influence urban households' participation in home gardening practices, particularly in regions affected by conflict and economic instability. What are the new findings? The findings reveal that government motivation, access to land, household income, education level and extension services and availability of agricultural inputs are significant factors influencing participation in home gardening. What are the expected impacts on horticulture? The findings of this study have several important implications for horticulture, particularly in urban settings. First, the study emphasizes the need for targeted government interventions, such as awareness campaigns, financial support and the provision of seeds and inputs, to encourage urban households to adopt home gardening. Second, the study highlights the importance of education and training programmes in increasing household participation in home gardening. Finally, the study underscores the potential of home gardening to enhance food security, improve nutrition, and contribute to household economies in urban areas, particularly in regions affected by conflict and economic instability. These findings will inform policymakers and development practitioners in designing effective strategies to promote urban horticulture.

Abstract Algal biostimulant plays a vital role in modulating nutrient absorption in crops. This study investigated the impact of an algal biostimulant on the nutrient uptake of peach seedlings by spraying different concentrations [0 (control, CK)-, 600 (T1)-, 900 (T2)-, 1200 (T3)- and 1500 (T4)-fold concentrations] of algal biostimulant. Algal biostimulant resulted in a significant increase in the biomass and photosynthetic pigment content of peach seedlings, and got the maximum biomass at the treatment of T2. Compared to CK, the treatment of T2 increased the root and shoot (stem + leaf) biomass by 40.44% and 41.83%, respectively. In addition, algal biostimulant exhibited a positive influence on the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in peach seedlings, and got the maximum at the treatment of T2. Compared to CK, the treatment of T2 increased the concentrations of shoot N, P and K by 21.73%, 55.83% and 41.26%, respectively. Further analysis revealed a quadratic polynomial regression relationship between the fold concentration of algal biostimulant and the investigated traits such as biomass and concentrations of N, P and K. Therefore, algal biostimulant can promote the growth and nutrient uptake in peach seedlings, and its most effective concentration is 900-fold concentration. Significance of this Study What is already known on this subject? Algal biostimulant plays a vital role in providing nutrients to plants, enhancing their nutrient utilization and bolstering their resistance to stress. Meanwhile, algal biostimulant contains plant hormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, which actively stimulate plant growth. However, there remains a paucity of studies investigating their impact on the biomass and nutrient uptake of fruit tree rootstocks. What are the new findings? This study shows that algal biostimulant can promote the growth and nutrient uptake in peach rootstock (wild peach) seedlings, and its most effective concentration is 900-fold concentration. What are the expected impacts on horticulture? Adopting appropriate measures to enhance the biomass and nutrient uptake of rootstocks is crucial for ensuring high-quality fruit production in fruit trees. This study provides the optimal algal biostimulant concentration that can effectively promote the biomass and nutrient uptake of rootstock (wild peach) seedlings.

Summary To obtain polyploid Luculia pinceana Hook., chemical mutagenesis, tissue culturing and rapid propagation technology were used, and the resulting germplasm may be bred to produce new varieties. The seeds of L. pinceana were used as induction materials, soaked in different oryzalin and colchicine concentrations, and then, mutant plants were obtained through seed germination. The variation rate of the plants was calculated on the basis of hypocotyl enlargement. Morphological characterization, stomatal characteristics, chromosome counts, and flow cytometry were used to identify mutant plants. The seeds soaked in 0.6% colchicine for 48 h had the best induction effect, and the mutation rate reached more than 70%. The chromosome count determined that the diploid chromosome number of L. pinceana was 2 n = 2 x = 44 and the tetraploid chromosome number was 2 n = 4 x = 88. In total, 11 tetraploid strains were identified by chromosome count and seven were identified by flow cytometry. Tetraploid plants had a dwarfed phenotype, with round leaves and thick roots, and a low density of large stomatal guard cells. In this study, a new polyploid L. pinceana germplasm was obtained for the first time, and it provided intermediate materials and a scientific basis for the breeding of new varieties.

Summary Most of the studies on light spectrum do not consider effects of spectrum perceived by different plant parts. Local and long-distance plant responses to localized light spectrum have hardly been studied in large plants. This paper aims to ... Graphical Abstract

Summary The four laurel (Laurus nobilis) trees, established more than 250 years ago by Carl Linnaeus, which were on display at the Botanical Gardens in Uppsala, Sweden, are much treasured by academics and the public. The trees are declining in growth to ... Graphical Abstract

In this study, the effects of grafting of different rootstocks on grapes' salt tolerance were investigated.Vitis vinifera cv.'Muscat Hamburg' ('MH') grapevine samples were grafted onto different rootstocks ('101-14', '188-08', '5C') and treated with different amounts of Hoagland's solutions (0, 40, 70, 100 and 130 mM NaCl) in the greenhouse for 30 days.Salinity injury index, growth parameters, sodium (Na + ), chloride (Cl -), potassium (K + ), proline content, peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the rootstock-scion combinations were analyzed.salt injury to 'MH' by inhibiting the upward transport of toxic ions or excluding ion more effectively such as Na + and Cl -under the high salt stress, whereas '188-08' and '5C' exerted negative effects on the quality of the samples.'101-14' maintained the ion balance of grafted plants by increasing the absorption of K + , and effectively improved the antioxidant properties of leaves as well.It is concluded that rootstock '101grape by improving its salt tolerance.Keywords salt tolerance, rootstock-scion combination, 'Muscat Hamburg' grapevine, ion exclusion What is already known on this subject?• As a somewhat sensitive to salinity table and wine the selection of appropriate rootstocks to improve its salt tolerance.• Under salt stress, 'Muscat Hamburg' grafted on '101-14M' may greatly reduce salt damage by preventing the upward transfer of harmful ions such as Na + and Cl -, whereas '188-08' and '5C' had the opposite effect.What is the expected impact on horticulture?• This study will offer credible choices for selecting acceptable rootstocks of 'Muscat Hamburg' to avoid potentially damaging salt stress.

The ripe Akebia trifoliata fruit will soften quickly, factors affecting the fruit softening process. We established a mathematical model for the changes of fruit growth parameters, and studied the changes of cell wall components and its related modifying enzymes and cell microstructure at different growth stages of fruit, analyzed the correlation between various parameters to determine the main factors (1) The fruit growth parameters (vertical stem, horizontal stem, volume and fresh weight) were suitable for logistic equation and showed "S" growth. contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, covalently bound pectin (CSP) and ionic pectin (ISP) decreased, which content of water-soluble pectin (WSP) increased and activities of carboxymethyl cellulase (Cx), pectin showed an upward trend, and negatively correlated activity changed little. (4) The length, width, area, perimeter and aspect ratio of the cell all showed an increasing trend. They are negatively correlated characterize the growth pattern of A. trifoliata fruit, and to determine that the related indexes of cell wall and cell structure are the key characteristics of fruit softening. It provides a theoretical basis for the improvement of A. trifoliata fruit quality and storage technology. Keywords What is already known on this subject? in transportation and short shelf life. At present, there are many research reports on fruit softening, and the softening softening is the change in the content of cell wall substances (Chen et al., 2015), which includes its constituents such as cellulose, hemicellulose and pectins (Li et al., 2010) , as well as enzymes that affect these substances, including carboxymethyl cellulase (Cx), polygalacturonase (PG), pectin me-