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The growing demands for food with high quality standards and high nutritional value have caused agriculture to evolve towards agricultural innovation go hand in hand with technological development, as is the case of vertical farming (VF) development. VF is a competitive system for sustainable food production, reducing space, and natural and human resources for agricultural production, and it is a system that can be developed anywhere in the world and at any time, without seasonality being a factor that influences production. Light is the most important factor to consider when it comes to vertical farming, replacing sunlight with artificial light has had great advances in improving productivity, especially when using LED lighting. Despite the exponential growth of the system, there is a paucity of analysis on the research that has been carried out to date using a VF system, and on information on the most relevant parameters to be considered for optimum production. This review is a bibliometric analysis of 318 scientific articles taken from the SCOPUS database, where information from 109 papers published in relevant journals was used. During the last 10 years, the number of publications that have been carried out in a VF system has increased by 195%, with China standing out as the geographical location where field experiments are carried out. Lettuce crop predominates in the investigations, with a light intensity of 200 μmol∙m−2∙s−1 and with a photoperiod of 16 h·day−1, using spectra between 450 and 495 nm, and a combination of blue and red (450–495 and 620–750 nm). The use of the research in the VF system for fresh, quality, local produce has increased in recent years, and has proven to be highly effective in productivity and quality. Conditions and management have been generalized, with more than 50% of researchers deciding to perform this cultivation method with similar photoperiod, spectrum, and intensity. Among the conclusions obtained by each researcher, it is also agreed that it is a potentially sustainable and controllable system that can be developed in urban locations, benefiting the social economy, food security, and the environment, while the conclusions on the cent per cent utilization of natural resources (such as energy from sunlight) in the system remain open and improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An overview of trends in seedling and transplant production has been carried out. • Statistical, mathematical, and clustering tools were used to analyse bibliometrics. • Sustainable growing media optimize resources and reduce input use. • Grafting and LED lighting are now common techniques in seedlings production. • Nutripriming and biostimulants promote sustainable vegetable nutritional quality. Nowadays, sustainable and resilient cultivation techniques have significantly increased in vegetable cultivation. Thus, there is a growing demand for high-quality certified planting materials suitable for these new cultivation methods. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of recent sustainable practices in vegetable seedling nurseries. Here, we thoroughly analysed 604 articles and 3553 keywords from the Scopus database, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, covering the past 20 yr. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer software. to identify the most relevant study topics. The design of seed trays, seed enhancement treatments, and controlled environmental conditions are crucial for generating optimal seedlings and transplants. Additionally, sustainable growing media are necessary to optimize resources and reduce input use. We identified grafting and LED lighting technology as rapidly advancing technologies in seedling production. Furthermore, applying biostimulants and beneficial microorganisms as booster agents can enhance efficiency and promote sustainable production. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the research trends for vegetable seedlings and transplants, underscoring the imperative for adopting sustainable practices within the nursery industry. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant quality and survival prediction tools are useful when applied in the field in different agricultural sectors. The objectives of this study were to conduct a review and bibliometric analysis of the Dickson Quality Index (DQI) as a key plant quality indicator and with respect to its scientific applications. A third objective was to identify the main morphological and physiological parameters used in plant production research. The methodology and findings of 289 scientific articles were analysed based on the morphological, physiological, and mathematical parameters used as plant quality indicators in research on forest, medicinal, horticultural, aromatic, and ornamental species. During the last 10 years, the number of publications that have used the DQI as a plant quality parameter has increased by 150%, and Brazilian researchers stand out as the most frequent users. Forestry is the discipline where quality parameters and their biometric relationships are most often used to facilitate intensive plant production. Use of the DQI increases the certainty of prediction, selection, and productivity in the plant production chain. The DQI is a robust tool with scientific application and great potential for use in the preselection of plants with high quality standards among a wide range of plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]