Role of Bioactive Compounds and Artificial Intelligence Tools in Advancing Modern Horticulture

Modern horticulture is undergoing a profound 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 a crucial role in enhancing crop productivity, quality, stress tolerance, and sustainability. Concurrently, artificial intelligence tools, including machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and decision-support systems, are revolutionizing crop management, disease detection, yield prediction, and precision farming. This review critically examines the synergistic role of bioactive compounds and AI-based tools in advancing modern horticulture. We discuss the types, mechanisms, and applications of bioactive compounds in horticultural crops, followed by an overview of AI technologies and their implementation across horticultural production systems. The integration of AI with bioactive compound management is highlighted as a promising pathway toward data-driven, sustainable, and climate-resilient horticulture. Challenges, ethical considerations, and future prospects are also addressed to guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.