50Horti Conference

1. Horticulture and Plant Sciences

Contributions should focus on horticultural crops, plant growth and development, plant physiology, plant stress responses, plant nutrition, plant protection, plant biodiversity, plant morphology, plant anatomy, plant biochemistry, plant ecology, and related topics:

• responses of horticultural crops to stress factors;
• physiological, biochemical, or morphological responses of plants to environmental conditions;
• biodiversity, regeneration, establishment and conservation of cultivated, wild, ornamental, medicinal, aromatic, or forest plant species;
• evaluation of cultivars, varieties, genotypes, germplasm, or plant genetic resources;
• plant nutrition, fertilization, biostimulants, and sustainable crop management;
• plant propagation, nursery production, and cultivation technologies;
• native and adaptive plant species;

2. Plant breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology

Contributions addressing plant breeding, genetic diversity, molecular markers, genomics, plant biotechnology, tissue culture, micropropagation, genetic resources, and related topics should address:

• genetic diversity of horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, ornamental, or forest species;
• breeding strategies for stress tolerance, quality, productivity, or adaptation;
• molecular characterization of plant germplasm;
• in vitro propagation and plant tissue culture;
• plant biotechnology applied to horticultural, agricultural, or forestry species;
• omics approaches in plant sciences.

3. Sustainable Crop Production, Agroecology and Plant-Based Systems

Contributions from crop production should  focus on crops, cropping systems, plant productivity, agroecosystems, sustainable production, plant-soil interactions, or plant-based technologies related to:

• sustainable management of crop production systems;
• agroecological approaches in plant production;
• effects of fertilization, irrigation, biostimulants, or soil amendments on plant growth and yield;
• crop rotation, intercropping, cover crops, and soil-plant interactions;
• adaptation of crops to climate change;
• green entrepreneurship;
• circular bio-economy;
• productivity and quality of plant-based agricultural systems.

4. Urban Green Infrastructure, Forestry and Plant Biodiversity

Landscape and Forestry-related contributions may be considered when they focus on forest plant species, biodiversity, regeneration, conservation, physiology, ecology, genetics, or sustainable management of forest vegetation related to:

• landscape architecture and sustainable design, planting design and plant composition;
• landscape planning and spatial design; landscape conservation and restoration;
• physiological responses of seedlings to environmental stress;
• urban and green infrastructure from the perspective of plant biodiversity and ecosystem services;
• garden design: theory, practice and innovation;
• historic gardens and cultural landscapes;
• contemporary landscape design;
• landscape heritage and identity;
• nature-based solutions for sustainable cities;
• ornamental plant diversity and breeding;
• nursery production systems;
• functional planting design ;
• climate-resilient plant communities.

5. Postharvest Biology, Plant-Derived Food Quality and Functional Compounds

Contributions from food science or food industry may be suitable when they focus on plant-derived products and maintain a clear connection with plant biology, cultivar characteristics, postharvest physiology, biochemical composition, nutritional quality, bioactive compounds, or processing effects on plant-based materials. Studies focused only on food marketing, consumer preferences, processing technology, or food industry management may be considered suitable for the conference, but not for journal submission unless they include a substantial plant-science component.

Example of topics:

• postharvest quality of fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, or other plant products;
• biochemical composition and bioactive compounds in plant-derived foods;
• effects of cultivar, genotype, cultivation system, or postharvest treatment on food quality;
• antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, vitamins, pigments, essential oils, or other plant metabolites;
• quality and valorisation of plant-based raw materials.

6. Rural Development, Economics and Value Chains of Plant-Based Production Systems

Contributions from economics, business, rural development, agricultural economics, or value-chain studies may be considered suitable for publication in NBHA only when the plant-based component is central and scientifically relevant like:

• economic performance of horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, aromatic, or forest plant production systems;
• adoption of new cultivars, plant technologies, or sustainable crop management practices;
• value chains for fruits, vegetables, grapevine, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, seeds, nursery products, or other plant-based products;
• economic and rural development implications of plant biodiversity conservation;
• market potential of local cultivars, traditional varieties, or plant-derived products;
• sustainability assessment of plant-based production systems.

7. Land Management for Sustainable Plant-Based Systems

Contributions from GIS, remote sensing, UAV, photogrammetry, LiDAR, spatial analysis, digital mapping, artificial intelligence, and related technologies are highly relevant when applied to plant sciences, vegetation, crop monitoring, horticultural systems, agricultural systems, forest ecosystems, green infrastructure, or plant-based land-use systems. Such contributions should include a clear biological, agronomic, horticultural, forestry, ecological, or plant-science interpretation:

• spatial assessment of plant biodiversity, vegetation dynamics, habitat distribution, ecosystem services, and green infrastructure;
• digital mapping of plant resources, land use, crop suitability, and vegetation change;
• remote sensing for plant health assessment, vegetation indices, biomass estimation, canopy structure, drought stress, disease detection, and crop development;
• machine learning and artificial intelligence for plant monitoring, crop classification, vegetation mapping, and stress detection;
• precision agriculture and digital technologies for sustainable crop and orchard management.

8. Environmental sciences, climate change and plant-centered sustainability, Plant Physiology, Stress Biology and Climate Resilience

Environmental and sustainability studies are welcome when they focus on plants, vegetation, plant biodiversity, agroecosystems, forest ecosystems, green infrastructure, or plant responses to environmental change.

• climate change impacts on horticultural, agricultural, medicinal, ornamental, or forest species;
• plant adaptation and resilience under changing environmental conditions;
• role of vegetation in ecosystem services, urban greening, carbon sequestration, or biodiversity conservation;
• sustainable management of plant-based systems;
• ecological restoration involving plant communities or vegetation dynamics.

Type A

Author - Conference presentation + invitation to submit a full manuscript for consideration in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 

Registration Type A	Fee
PhD Students	€450
Romanian Life Sciences Consortium Members & Early Bird Registration & Payment	€500
Regular Registration & Payment	€600

The registration fee includes:

• Participation in all scientific sessions;
• Invitation for one scientific paper to be published in the special issue of Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca (ISI), after/if the manuscript is accepted following thorough editorial assessment and abstract peer-review process;
• Conference kit;
• Certificate of presentation or participation;
• Coffee breaks;
• Gala Dinner.

Please note: Publication in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca is not included automatically in the registration fee, as this is subject to the successful completion of the journal's standard editorial and peer-review process. An invitation to submit a manuscript does not guarantee its publication. All submissions are evaluated according to the journal's standard editorial policies and peer-review procedures. Publication in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca is subject to:

• submission of the full manuscript through the journal's Online Journal System (OJS);
• editorial screening;
• peer review;
• final acceptance by the Editors.

Type B

Author - Conference presentation only (without submission to Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca; possibility to publish in the Bulletin.Horticulture) – € 300

Type C

Conference attendance, co-author or other participants (no publication).

Registration Type C	Fee
Co-author registration (offers conference attendance, conference kit, participation certificate, Gala Dinner; no separate NBHA publication)	€200
Accompanying person (Gala Dinner only)	€150
Second manuscript submitted by the same corresponding author	Standard NBHA fee, with 20% discount

 

Activity	Date
Official announcement and website	July 2026
Deadline Registration & Abstract submission	15 Dec 2026
Deadline Early payment	15 May 2027
Deadline Regular payment	30 June 2027
Deadline Full Paper submitted on NBHA site	15 Apr 2027
Conference Participation	22 Sept 2027

We acknowledge and appreciate the work of each of you. However, to ensure alignment with the conference theme and with a view to future publication, please ensure that the formulation of your hypotheses and the presentation of your results should explicitly relate to plant sciences. When drafting or revising your abstract (in regard to the future manuscript for NBHA), please use the following guiding questions:

• Is the central subject of the paper a plant, a plant species, a crop, a plant ecosystem, a plant-derived product, or a plant production system?
• Are the results relevant to plant sciences, horticulture, agriculture, forestry, or plant biotechnology, etc.?
• Does the manuscript contain data, methods, or interpretations that are useful to researchers working on plants, life science?
• Is the economic, social, or technological component linked to plants or plant systems?
• Do the title, objectives, keywords, and conclusions clearly reflect this classification?

All submitted abstracts will undergo an initial scientific review by the Scientific Committee of the Conference, to evaluate their relevance, originality, scientific quality, and compliance with the scope of the event.

Following the review process, the corresponding author will be notified of the editorial decision, which may include: Acceptance for presentation; Acceptance subject to minor or major revisions; Request for additional information or clarification; Recommendation for submission to a different thematic session, when appropriate; Rejection, if the abstract does not meet the scientific or formatting requirements of the symposium. Authors invited to revise their abstracts will receive the reviewers' comments and recommendations and will be asked to submit a revised version within the specified deadline. Final acceptance will be confirmed after the revised abstract has been evaluated and approved by the Scientific Committee.

The Scientific Committee reserves the right to make final decisions regarding the scientific program and the assignment of accepted contributions to oral or poster sessions.

Selected full papers based on contributions presented at the symposium may be submitted to the dedicated issue of Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca. All manuscripts will undergo the journal’s standard editorial assessment and peer-review process. Please note that acceptance of an abstract for presentation within the Conference does not imply acceptance of the full manuscript for publication.

Download Abstract Template

Special Issue NBHA (Impact Factor)

To celebrate its 50 years of university horticulture academic and research performance, a special issue (or dedicated special section) of WOS indexed journal Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca (NBHA) will be published.

The issue aims to showcase high-quality scientific contributions that advance Horticulture and Plant Sciences through:

• innovative interdisciplinary research;
• novel experimental approaches and methodologies;
• advances in plant breeding and genetics;
• sustainable crop production systems;
• biodiversity conservation;
• climate change adaptation;
• precision and digital agriculture;
• food quality and plant-derived products;
• sustainable rural development.

The 50Horti Conference “Advances in Plant Sciences and Horticultural Systems for Rural Development and Sustainability” welcomes interdisciplinary contributions. However, in accordance with the journal's aims, scope, and indexing profile, Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca considers for publication manuscripts that provide a clear, substantial, and demonstrable contribution to Plant Sciences. Interdisciplinary studies are encouraged provided that plant science represents the central scientific component of the research.
All submitted manuscripts will undergo the journal's standard editorial screening and international peer-review process. Acceptance of an abstract for presentation at the conference does not guarantee acceptance of the full manuscript for publication.

NBHA Submission guidelines
NBHA Editorial policy
NBHA Peer review

Authors may also submit original manuscripts to Bulletin of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca.Horticulture, a biannual Open Access peer-reviewed journal (OJS). It is dedicated at disseminating significant research and original papers (Research Articles), critical reviews (Review Articles) and Short Communications after scientific peer review process, in the broad areas of Horticulture, Economics and Rural Development, Natural and Human Sciences that can serve the interest of a wide audience of scientists and professionals.
The publication in Bulletin.Horticulure is conditioned only by the acceptance of the manuscript following the peer review process and is free of charge.

Bulletin.Horticulture

Coming soon

21.09.2027

17.00 – 19.00 Registration Aula Magna USAMV Cluj Napoca

22.09.2027

9.00 – 10.00 Registration and welcome coffee
10.00 – 12.00 Jubilee - 50 Years of Higher Education and Research in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Aula Magna USAMV Cluj-Napoca
14.00 – 18.00 Invited speakers; Conference presentation (to be announce soon)
19.00 – Gala Dinner (location to be announce soon)

Participants are warmly invited to also register for the International Symposium "Life Sciences for Sustainable Development", which will be held during 23–25 September 2027 on the campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca (USAMV Cluj-Napoca).

Attending both events will allow participants to enrich their academic experience, expand their professional network, and benefit from a comprehensive scientific program featuring keynote lectures, thematic sessions, workshops, and networking activities.

We encourage all participants to take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with the international scientific community and contribute to the advancement of research and innovation in the life sciences.

Onorific Committee
Scientific Committee

Rector, Prof. Dr. Cornel Cătoi

Organizing Committee

Dean, Prof. Dr. Mugurel Jitea

Vice-Deans, Prof. Dr. Diana Dumitraș, Conf. Dr. Cătălina Dan, Conf. Dr. Alexandru Apahidean

Editorial Committee
Students volunteers

Conference Venue

The 50HORTI International Conference will take place on the modern campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) Cluj-Napoca, Romania, one of the leading life science universities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Celebrating 50 years of horticultural higher education, research, and innovation, the conference will be hosted by the Faculty of Horticulture and Business for Rural Development, providing participants with the opportunity to experience an inspiring academic environment that combines tradition, scientific excellence, and state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

Located approximately 2 km from Cluj-Napoca city centre, the USAMV campus extends over more than 40 hectares and includes modern teaching facilities, advanced research laboratories, experimental fields, botanical collections, greenhouses, conference halls, student residences, restaurants, sports facilities, and recreational areas. The campus is easily accessible on foot (approximately 20 minutes from the historical centre) or by public transportation in less than 10 minutes using bus or trolleybus lines 9, 24, 25, and 28.

Further information and an interactive campus map are available on the conference website.

 

Accommodation

Participants are kindly requested to arrange their accommodation individually. A wide range of hotels, apartments, and guesthouses are available within walking distance or a short drive from the conference venue.

Recommended hotels include:

• Hotel Platinia (adjacent to the USAMV campus)

• Radisson Blu Hotel Cluj

• Grand Hotel Napoca

• Hotel Pami

• Hotel Cristal

Additional accommodation options are available through major online booking platforms.

 

Discover Cluj-Napoca

Known as the Heart of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca is one of Romania's most vibrant academic, cultural, and innovation centres. With a history spanning more than two millennia, the city successfully combines Roman origins, medieval heritage, Austro-Hungarian architecture, and contemporary European dynamism.

Today, Cluj-Napoca is internationally recognized for its universities, research institutions, technology sector, cultural diversity, and high quality of life. The city hosts numerous international festivals, museums, theatres, botanical gardens, historical monuments, and scientific events, making it an attractive destination for researchers and visitors alike.

Participants are encouraged to explore:

• St. Michael's Church and Union Square

• The Botanical Garden "Alexandru Borza"

• Central Park and Cluj Arena

• The Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania

• The National Museum of Transylvanian History

• Hoia Forest and Făget Nature Reserve

• The vibrant restaurants, cafés, and cultural venues of the historic city centre.

Additional tourist information is available through the official tourism portal of Cluj-Napoca.

 

Travelling to Cluj-Napoca

By Air

Cluj International Airport "Avram Iancu" (CLJ) is located approximately 8 km from the city centre and offers direct connections to numerous European destinations.

The airport can be reached from the city centre in approximately 15–20 minutes by:

• Taxi

• Ride-sharing services

• Public transport (Bus No. 8 and Trolleybus No. 5)

Participants travelling from outside Europe may choose to connect via Bucharest (OTP) or other major European hubs such as Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, or London.

 

By Train

Cluj-Napoca Railway Station provides frequent national and international rail connections, including direct services to Bucharest and major Romanian cities, as well as connections through Budapest and Vienna.

 

By Car

Cluj-Napoca is well connected to the European road network via the E60 European Route and Romania's motorway infrastructure, providing convenient access from Hungary and other Central European countries.

Approximate driving times:

• Budapest – 6 hours

• Vienna – 8–9 hours

 

Visa Requirements

Romania is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.

Participants are advised to verify entry requirements according to their nationality well in advance of travel.

If an official Letter of Invitation is required to support a visa application, participants should first complete their conference registration and then contact the Conference Secretariat.

Please note that an invitation letter is issued exclusively for visa purposes and does not imply financial support from the conference organizers.

 

Official Language

The official language of the conference is English.

All presentations, abstracts, posters, proceedings, and scientific communications should be prepared in English.

 

Currency

The official currency of Romania is the Romanian Leu (RON).

• Approximate exchange rate:

1 EUR ≈ 5 RON

Major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are readily available throughout the city.

 

Climate

Late September is one of the most pleasant periods to visit Transylvania.

Typical weather conditions include:

• Daytime temperatures: 18–25°C

• Evening temperatures: 10–15°C

Participants are advised to bring light clothing for daytime activities together with a light jacket or sweater for evenings. Occasional rainfall is possible.

 

Why Attend 50HORTI?

Advances in Plant Sciences and Horticultural Systems for Rural Development and Sustainability

Beyond its scientific programme, 50HORTI 2027 offers participants an exceptional opportunity to experience one of Europe's most dynamic academic cities while celebrating 50 years of horticultural education, research, and innovation at USAMV Cluj-Napoca.

The conference combines internationally renowned keynote speakers, interdisciplinary scientific sessions, networking opportunities, technical visits, and cultural events, creating an ideal environment for exchanging ideas, establishing collaborations, and shaping the future of plant sciences, horticulture, sustainable agriculture, landscape architecture, food systems, and rural development. We look forward to welcoming you to Cluj-Napoca, where scientific excellence meets Transylvanian tradition, innovation, and hospitality.