Dr Youssef Rouphael is Professor of Vegetable Crops and Floriculture at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy.

Dr Patrick du Jardin is Professor of Plant Biology at the University of Liège, Belgium.

Dr Patrick Brown is Professor of Plant Nutrition at the University of California-Davis, USA.

Dr Stefania De Pascale is Professor of Horticulture at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy.

Dr Giuseppe Colla is Professor of Vegetable Production, Floriculture and Greenhouse Crop Production at the University of Tuscia, Italy.

Part 1 Setting the scene

• 1.Plant biostimulants: where are we now?: Patrick du Jardin, University of Liège, Belgium;
• 2.Functional characterisation of biostimulants: Paolo Carletti, University of Padua, Italy;
• 3.Biostimulants and crop yields: a meta-analysis of the evidence so far: Huaiyu Yang, Southwest University, China;
• 4.Advances in regulation of biostimulants: the EU: Kristen Sukalac, Prospero & Partners, Belgium;
• 5.Advances in regulation of biostimulants: the US: Keith Jones, Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), USA;

Part 2 Developing biostimulant products

• 6.Advances in screening candidate biostimulants: Lukas Spichal, Palacký University, Czech Republic;
• 7.Challenges and advances in biostimulant formulation: Maurizio Ruzzi, University of Tuscia, Italy;
• 8.Improving field testing of biostimulants: Jose Mulet, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain;
• 9.Integrating biostimulants into farm nutrient management plans: Antonio Ferrante, University of Milan, Italy;
• 10.Understanding synergistic effects of combining biostimulants: opportunities and challenges: Petronia Carillo, University of Campania, Italy;
• 11.Assessing farmer attitudes to biostimulants: Sarah Healy, Stratus Research, USA;
• 12.Life cycle assessment of biostimulants: Giovanni Russo, University of Basilicata, Italy;

Part 3 Advances in microbial and non-microbial biostimulants

• 13.Advances in understanding and using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as biostimulants: Davide Bulgarelli, University of Dundee, UK;
• 14.Advances in understanding and using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as biostimulants: Manuella Giovannetti, University of Pisa, Italy;
• 15.Optimising functionality of phosphate-solubilising microorganisms (PSM) in promoting crop nutrient use efficiency and health: Markus Weinmann, University of Hohenheim, Germany;
• 16.Optimising functionality of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) in promoting crop nutrient use efficiency and health: Cinzia Bertea, University of Turin, Italy;
• 17.Advances in understanding and using humic substances as biostimulants: Dan Olk, USDA-ARS, USA;
• 18.Advances in understanding and using seaweed and macroalgae as biostimulants: Xunzhong Zhang, Virginia Tech, USA;
• 19.Advances in understanding and using microalgae as biostimulants: Johan Ceusters, Katholieke University of Leuven, Belgium;
• 20.Advances in understanding and using hydrolysate-based biostimulants: Luigi Lucini, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Italy;
• 21.Using trehalose as a biostimulant: Keiji Jindo, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;

Part 4 Case studies: Using biostimulants in particular crops

• 22.Using biostimulants in wheat cultivation: progress, challenges and opportunities: Lynette Abbott, University of Western Australia, Australia;
• 23.Using biostimulants in maize cultivation: progress, challenges and opportunities: Sebastiao Lima, Federal University of Mato Gross do Sol, Brazil;
• 24.Using biostimulants in potato cultivation: progress, challenges and opportunities: Richard Salvage, Queen’s University Belfast, UK;
• 25.Using biostimulants in open-field vegetable cultivation: Leo Sabatino, University of Palermo, Italy;
• 26.Using biostimulants in growing fruit trees and berries: progress, challenges and opportunities: Carlo Andreotti, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy;
• 27.Using biostimulants in growing ornamentals: progress, challenges and opportunities: Michelle Jones, Ohio State University, USA;