Horticulture Doctoral Program introduction

Last modified: 11. November 2025

Horticultural Science PhD Program
Head: Prof. Dr. Éva Zámboriné Németh, DSc, professor
Scientific secretary: Dr. Noémi Kappel, PhD, professor 

PhD education and research in the area of horticulture is going on in fame of the Horticultural Program of the PhD School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the Buda Campus of the University.
Horticultural research has been developed and the topics widened until the end of the 20th century to a great extent. Horticultural practice operates on the basis of new findings and results of ecology, biology and plant physiology, biochemistry and genetics, respectively, and uses the results of the technical, economic research and those of information technology. 
Therefore, the work in our Doctoral Program is based on seven thematic groups (virtual research teams). The most important areas and subjects of these groups are the followings.
„Horticultural biology” includes horticultural botany (plant anatomy, taxonomy, plant geography, ecology, coenology) and genetics and breeding of horticultural species. Interaction of host/parasites/symbionts and special topic is the physiology, cytology, morphology, taxonomy and coenology of wild growing mushrooms. Topics on stress behavior of horticultural species, study of molecular bases of physiological processes (applied system-biology) as well as the regulation of plant tissue cultures and physiology of micropropagation also arise. In addition, classical and molecular genetics, molecular taxonomic investigations and screening of genotypes, plant breeding and the application of molecular markers offer topics for further activities.

The five main horticultural branches are also represented in our Doctoral Program. Topics offered in the group of „Ornamental plants and dendrology” include in-vitro propagation in new ornamental species, juvenility of woody plants, histological and chemical studies, stress-tolerance and technological innovations in connection with nursery technologies, water- and nutrient supply, application of ornamental species as green-roof, indoor and balcony plants. 
The group of „Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” is engaged with biologically active secondary metabolites and species accumulating them. The research areas include ecological and production-biological studies; development of new technologies, investigations of the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and the quality of the products, optimization of post-harvest methods –among others. 
The thematic team on „Fruit bearing plants” deals with the up-to date questions of fruit production and the scientific bases of these problems. The current activities include pomology, floral and fertilization biology, study of genetic resources, resistance breeding including determination of molecular genetic markers, ecological adaptation and water transport of fruit species, environmentally friendly cultivation and development of special equipment. 
Similarly, the group of „Viticulture” embraces a wide range of scientific topics like the evaluation of varieties, weather/climate effects, the role of the year and habitat in quality-oriented wine production, physiological bases of yield regulation, chemistry, microbiology and technological development of oenology. 
Activities inside the group of „Vegetables and cultivated fungi” are centered on the role of growth substances, on the connection of nutrient supply and crop quality, climatization and development of equipment systems of greenhouses, methods of checking crop quality and the scientific problems of ecological cultivation. A special area here is the study on edible fungi, the development of their growth technology and the introduction of exotic mushroom species. 
„Horticultural Plant Medicine” is one of the most popular orientations. The group works on the pathology of infections and diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas and fungi, general and local defense systems, the physiology of phytophagous and zoophagous insects and development of integrated plant protection methods.
Teachers and supervisors of the Doctoral Program are the most prominent representatives of horticultural science in Hungary. Their international connections with European and other countries are numerous, which enable our students to spend a period at some partner institution –depending on the topic. In addition to regular education and research, students learn to prepare outstanding publications and deliver presentations at conferences.

Contact:
•    E-mail: Simane.Dolanyi.Edit@uni-mate.hu
                 Noemi.Kappel@uni-mate.hu