Science AI Journal
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Research topic

Open research questions in Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques

495 gap statements mined from Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,620 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques? See the ranked Biology journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • Our findings suggest that further studies on the use of NAA in sago palm ex vitro propagation should emphasise varying low concentrations around 1 ppm.

    Low NAA concentration appears effective in promoting roots and shoot in sago palm suckers under ex-vitro propagation · 2026 · DOI

  • Notably, MPH also induced the accumulation of lactucin and melatonin, bioactive compounds that have been associated with sedative, anti-inflammatory, and sleep-regulatory properties in other contexts; their relevance to human health was not assessed here and warrants further investigation.

    LC–HRMS/MS metabolomics reveal biostimulant-mediated nutrient stress alleviation by milk protein hydrolysate in hydroponic Cos lettuce · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to investigate the influence of GA3 on biochemical attributes promoting fruit quality in peach. The optimal concentration of GA3 for improving fruit quality is not well established. The study aims to address this gap by evaluating the effect of GA3 on fruit quality.

    Influence of Gibberellic Acid on Biochemical Attributes Promoting Fruit Quality in Peach cv. ‘Shan-i-Punjab’ · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite these advantages, several aspects still limit their full exploitation and require further investigation.

    The Role of Bio-Based Products in Plant Responses to Salt and Drought Stress · 2026 · DOI

  • However, despite the increasing interest in using biostimulants in sustainable cropping systems, this field is still underexplored in wild edible greens, which are highly appreciated for their plasticity to unfavorable conditions and are suggested as alternative horticultural crops within the climate change context.

    Biostimulatory Effects of Seaweed Extracts and Beneficial Fungi and Bacteria on Crop Performance and Chemical Profile of Sonchus oleraceus, Cichorium spinosum and Scolymus hispanicus · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on standardizing field application protocols, integrating advanced omics technologies, and exploring synergistic approaches, such as combining biostimulants with phytoremediation techniques, to enhance agricultural sustainability, food safety, and consumer health in PTEs-contaminated environments.

    Harnessing biostimulants to alleviate potentially toxic element stress in vegetable crops · 2026 · DOI

  • However, their agronomic effectiveness under realistic agricultural conditions remains to be confirmed through greenhouse and field-scale validation trials, including assessment across different crops, soils, application rates, and environmental conditions.

    Screening of Microalgal Species for Biostimulant and Biofertilizer Applications · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of exploration of aquatic macrophytes from the Pantanal as sources of plant-derived biostimulants. The need for sustainable and efficient methods for biostimulant production. The importance of characterizing the functional groups of biostimulant extracts.

    Bioprospecting Pantanal Aquatic Macrophytes as Sources of Plant-Derived Biostimulants for Soybean Seed Treatment · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the long-term effects of biostimulants under diverse field conditions.

    Harnessing the Power of Biostimulants: A Comprehensive Review of Their Role in Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability · 2026 · DOI

  • Field results are often inconsistent due to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple abiotic stressors, which are rarely replicated in short-term greenhouse experiments. Responses can vary among cultivars, emphasizing the importance of genotype-specific evaluations.

    Integrated Approach of Using Biostimulants for Improving Growth, Physiological Traits, and Tolerance to Abiotic Stressors in Rice and Soybean · 2025 · DOI

  • The effectiveness of biostimulants remains limited by product heterogeneity, lack of standardized protocols, and strong dependence on cultivar, phenological stage, and local environmental factors. Most research has been conducted in short-term or greenhouse studies, while long-term, multi-year, and field evaluations are still scarce.

    Advances in Biostimulant Applications for Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.): Physiological, Agronomic, and Quality Impacts · 2025 · DOI

  • In the current study, we changed in the variety PS1296 from previous studies to Heinz 5108, and while they have the same growth behavior and crop cycle, this change might affect the results, which need to be further validated with the actual optimization of the N dose for this specific variety.

    A Multifaceted Approach to Optimizing Processed Tomato Production: Investigating the Combined Effects of Biostimulants and Reduced Nitrogen Fertilization · 2025 · DOI

  • The need for new crop protection products that are environmentally friendly. The lack of efficient alternatives to conventional treatments. The need for a biostimulant seed nano-priming agent for cereals.

    Field Crop Evaluation of Polymeric Nanoparticles of Garlic Extract–Chitosan as Biostimulant Seed Nano-Priming in Cereals and Transcriptomic Insights · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need to evaluate the effect of different herbicides and biostimulants on soybean crops.

    The Effect of Herbicides and Biostimulant Application on the Seed Yield and Seed Quality of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) · 2024 · DOI

  • The effects of biostimulant application on processing tomato and potato yields and quality are not well understood. There is a need for more comprehensive studies on the interaction of biostimulant application with agronomic management.

    Processing Tomato and Potato Response to Biostimulant Application in Open Field: An Overview · 2024 · DOI

  • Water scarcity is a significant challenge in agriculture. Climate change and population growth exacerbate the issue. Limited water resources in productive regions like the Mediterranean area pose a challenge for sustainable agriculture.

    Optimizing Crop Water Productivity in Greenhouse Pepper · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need to develop strategies to optimize water resource use in agriculture. Current production systems have not fully addressed the issue of water scarcity.

    Optimizing Crop Water Productivity in Greenhouse Pepper · 2024 · DOI

  • There is a need to improve pepper plant resistance to calcium deficiency and enhance fruit quality.

    Effect of Salicylic Acid and Calcium on Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Grown Hydroponically · 2024 · DOI

  • Poultry manure, ammonium nitrate + patent kali and tree branch chips + poultry manure treatments provided the optimum effects on total and fruit biomass, plant nutrition, photosystem II functionality and fruit quality of Solanum melongena L. plants; in contrast, a significant decline in all the above parameters was found in the CONTROL and tree branch chip-treated plants.

    Inorganic and Organic Fertilization Effects on the Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Fruit Quality in Solanum melongena L. Plants · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the effects of applying green seaweed-based biostimulants, such as SWS or SWE, on the quality of tomato fruits grown under standard conditions have been scarcely documented in the literature.

    Productivity and Quality Characteristics of Tomato Fruits (Solanum lycopersicum) Are Improved by the Application of a Green Seaweed (Ulva ohnoi) · 2025 · DOI

  • Observing the current agricultural panorama, the practices carried out in all production systems are dependent on synthetic chemical products, whether to nourish the crops, eradicate weeds, pathogenic fungi, or insect pests. In accordance with this information, brown algae are a viable option to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals that cause deterioration of the environment and in turn that of the plants.

    Using Brown Algae in the Plant–Soil System: A Sustainable Approach to Improving the Yield and Quality of Agricultural Crops · 2025 · DOI

  • The application of biostimulants constitutes an alternative approach toward a more sustainable agriculture that is less reliant on fertilizers and agrochemicals. Those derived from natural sources are of particular interest, especially hPDBs, given their ecological advantages and broad spectrum of action on plant physiology.

    Higher Plant-Derived Biostimulants: Mechanisms of Action and Their Role in Mitigating Plant Abiotic Stress · 2024 · DOI

  • The variable efficacy of biostimulants depending on the specific type and fruit part is highlighted.

    Impact of Two Brown Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum L.) Biostimulants on the Quantity and Quality of Yield in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) · 2024 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in understanding the impact of fertilizers on crop quality, particularly the effect of different N:K:S ratios on macroelement contents. The experiment aims to fill this gap by investigating the effects of urea and ammonium nitrate solution with potassium thiosulfate on three crop species.

    Application of Urea and Ammonium Nitrate Solution with Potassium Thiosulfate as a Factor Determining Macroelement Contents in Plants · 2024 · DOI

  • Proposing methods and fostering discussions on INM’s future development, - Exploring modern sustainable soilless production techniques such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics, - Investigating the potential benefits of INM for various vegetables and field…

    Integrated Nutrient Management of Fruits, Vegetables, and Crops through the Use of Biostimulants, Soilless Cultivation, and Traditional and Modern Approaches—A Mini Review · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques sub-topic

This page shows what the Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 7.9M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Smart Agriculture and AI
3,297 open questions
Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
3,162 open questions
Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
1,889 open questions
Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
1,683 open questions
Probiotics and Fermented Foods
1,661 open questions
Plant Molecular Biology Research
1,385 open questions
Animal Nutrition and Physiology
1,353 open questions
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
1,257 open questions
Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to investigate the influence of GA3 on biochemical attributes promoting fruit quality in peach (“Influence of Gibberellic Acid on Biochemical Attributes Promoting Fruit Quality…”, 2026); (2) The lack of exploration of aquatic macrophytes from the Pantanal as sources of plant-derived biostimulants (“Bioprospecting Pantanal Aquatic Macrophytes as Sources of Plant-Derived…”, 2026); (3) The effectiveness of biostimulants remains limited by product heterogeneity, lack of standardized protocols, and strong dependence on cultivar, phenological stage, and local environmental factors (“Advances in Biostimulant Applications for Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.):…”, 2025); (4) The lack of efficient alternatives to conventional treatments (“Field Crop Evaluation of Polymeric Nanoparticles of Garlic Extract–Chitosan as…”, 2024); (5) There is a need to evaluate the effect of different herbicides and biostimulants on soybean crops (“The Effect of Herbicides and Biostimulant Application on the Seed Yield and…”, 2024). 495 gap statements have been mined from Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,620 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 1,100,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.