Integrating Bioactive Compounds and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Horticulture: A Comprehensive Review

Modern horticulture is experiencing a significant transformation driven by the integration of bioactive compounds and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Bioactive compounds—such as plant growth regulators, secondary metabolites, biostimulants, and natural elicitors—play an essential role in improving crop productivity, quality, stress tolerance, and sustainability.At the same time, artificial intelligence tools, including machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and decision-support systems, are reshaping crop management, disease detection, yield prediction, and precision farming. This review critically explores the combined role of bioactive compounds and AI-based tools in enhancing modern horticulture. We examine the types, mechanisms, and applications of bioactive compounds in horticultural crops, followed by an overview of AI technologies and their application across horticultural production systems. The integration of AI with bioactive compound management is presented as a promising pathway toward data- driven, sustainable, and climate-resilient horticulture. Challenges, ethical considerations, and future prospects are also discussed to support researchers,practitioners,and policymakers.