Modern cultivation techniques for medicinal plants

phenylpropanoids, and saponins, which have pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutic 5 applications (El-Saadony et al., 2025). However, as climate change, resource scarcity and unsustainable 6 harvesting practices accelerate habitat destruction (Latif & Nawaz, 2025), the cultivation of medicinal 7 plants must transition from traditional methods to more resilient, resource-efficient and technologically 8 advanced production systems. The phytochemical profiles of cultivated medicinal plants are strongly 9influenced by factors such as growing systems, fertilization regimes, irrigation management, light 10 conditions, and biostimulant applications (Zhang et al., 2025). 11This Research Topic, entitled 'Modern Cultivation Techniques for Medicinal Plants: Impact on Yield 12 and Secondary Metabolite Production", examines recent advances in the cultivation of medicinal and 13 aromatic plants with the aim of maintaining or enhancing product quality and yield. The five articles in 14 this collection address topics such as controlled vertical farming and LED lighting, greenhouse-based 15 saffron cultivation, quality-determining factors across the cultivation cycle, rainfed agrosystems, and a 16 meta-analytical assessment of the effects of fertilizers on secondary metabolite accumulation. 17A meta-analysis of 966 outcomes from 29 studies examined the impact of fertilizers on the levels of 18 bioactive saponins in medicinal plants (Lv et al., 2025). Saponins are triterpenoid or steroidal glycosides 19 with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antitumour activities (Moses et al., 2014) and 20 responded differently to fertilization regimes. Inorganic fertilizers promoted saponins, including 21 ginsenoside Rg1 in Panax ginseng and other compounds in Paris polyphylla, Dioscorea spp. and 22 Platycodon grandiflorus, due to enhanced nutrient availability. However, long-term use of these 23 fertilizers can lead to soil degradation and reduced crop quality. In contrast, organic fertilizers improved 24 microbial activity and the rhizosphere, significantly increasing ginsenoside R1 and ginsenosides Rb2 25 and Re, albeit with slower nutrient release. The combined application of both types of fertilizer was the 26 most effective, maximizing both the diversity and yield of Panax ginsenosides. These results suggest 27 that integrated fertilization is an effective strategy for saponin-rich crops and has broader implications 28 for the production of secondary metabolites.. 29As the Traditional Chinese Medicine industry shifts from wild harvesting to large-scale cultivation, 30 maintaining consistent, therapeutically relevant levels of secondary metabolites remains a major 31 challenge. A systematic narrative review (Zhang et al., 2025) identified five interrelated quality 32 determinants across the production cycle. Site selection is crucial, as light and temperature can cause 4-5-fold variations in active compounds within the same species, while genetic background 34 fundamentally determines therapeutic potential. In field management, continuous monocropping 35 disrupts the soil microbiome; excess nitrogen reduces total phenolics, whereas potassium enhances 36 secondary metabolite accumulation. Non-standardized pesticide use leads to a 13.82% reduction in net 37 ginsenoside content. Post-harvest practices are also decisive, with drying Lavandula angustifolia at 38 30°C producing 18% more essential oil than ambient drying. The authors recommend phenotype-39 assisted breeding, ecologically informed site zoning and the use of organic alternatives.