As the world's leading apple producer, China plays a dominant role in the global horticultural sector in terms of cultivation scale, yield, and consumption. Supported by the China Apple Research System, the country has achieved significant breakthroughs in recent years in key areas such as varietal breeding, innovative cultivation techniques, eco-friendly pest and disease control, and postharvest preservation and processing. These advances have substantially enhanced the sustainability and efficiency of the apple industry. However, a comprehensive international understanding of the research progress and sustainable production models of China's apple industry remains limited.

To systematically present the current status and technological innovations of China's apple production systems, we have organized this special issue. We cordially invite the submission of full-length research articles, and reviews/mini-reviews that are related—but not limited—to the following topics:

 ●  Breeding and Germplasm Innovation: Development of new apple varieties and rootstocks adapted to diverse ecological regions; molecular breeding and biotechnology applications.

 ●  Precision Orchard Management: Dwarfing cultivation techniques, canopy management, flower and fruit thinning, and techniques for improving fruit quality and yield.

 ● Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management: Water-saving irrigation, integrated fertilization strategies, and soil health enhancement across different production zones.

 ● Integrated Pest, Disease, and Weed Management: Eco-friendly control strategies, biological control, pesticide reduction technologies, and monitoring and forecasting systems.

 ● Postharvest Biology and Technology: Fresh-keeping techniques, quality safety and nutritional quality, storage innovations, and value-added product development.

 ● Mechanization and Smart Horticulture: Application of IoT, drones, robotics, and AI in apple production and management.

 ● Industry Economics and Supply Chain Development: Brand building, international trade, market competitiveness, and whole-industry-chain optimization.

 Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Dong Zhang, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, China

His research focuses on: apple developmental biology, high density cultivation technology, and rootstock breeding.

Prof. Dr. Yi Wang, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, China

Her research primarily focuses on apple germplasm and rootstock breeding.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for manuscript submissions is 31 October 2026. Extensions can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. All papers will be published as open access articles upon acceptance.

Submission Instructions

Please submit the full manuscript to Technology in Horticulture via our Online Submission System. All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. During submission, please select the appropriate special issue and mention it in your cover letter. For further inquiries, please contact the Guest Editors.

Prof. Dr. Dong Zhang (afant@nwafu.edu.cn)
Prof. Dr. Yi Wang (wangyi@cau.edu.cn)

Table Of Contents

Articles in the special issue will appear here as they are published.