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• Triacontanol mitigating the adverse effects of salinity stress. • Triacontanol mitigating oxidative stress. • Triacontanol promotes essential elements uptake and limits harmful ions accumulation. • Triacontanol application improves leaf water relations. Salt stress is a significant factor that leads to various detrimental effects on pomegranate trees. This study was undertaken with the primary objective of developing a treatment strategy aimed at mitigating the adverse impacts of salinity in fields, and its negative reflections on the post-harvest quality of pomegranate fruit. At the commencement of the study, we utilized response surface methodology (RSM) to assess a range of triacontanol (TRA) concentrations along with different spray frequencies. Our investigation revealed that applying 10 and 20 µM TRA three times proved to be the most effective treatments. Accordingly, the effect of these concentrations was studied in depth. The treatment with TRA at concentrations of 10 and 20 µM demonstrated significant positive effects. TRA effectively mitigated the harmful impacts of salinity, preserved the plant's nutrient and antioxidant content, and led to an increase in productivity. Moreover, TRA treatments had a notable effect on enhancing post-harvest storability of fruits during storage at 5 ̊C and 90 % RH for 12 weeks. TRA treatments resulted in higher concentrations of mineral nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca), porphyrin concentration, relative water contents, activities of CAT, POD, and SOD, glycine betaine, proline, amino acids, total phenolics, and total carbohydrates, additionally, TRA treatments led to increased fruit weight and fruit yield compared to the control group. Moreover, TRA treatments attained lower hydrogen peroxide, membrane permeability, malondialdehyde, Na, and Cl compared with control. Indeed, the positive effects of TRA treatments extended to fruit storability. TRA treatments resulted in a notable decrease in the percentage of decay, weight loss, and softness. Furthermore, TRA treatments demonstrated efficacy in preserving TSS, husk color, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin content in the arils. These combined benefits highlight the potential of using TRA as a practical and effective method to alleviate salt stress and enhance pomegranate fruit storability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Eight cultivars belong to Prunus domestica L., P. insititia L. and Prunus × rossica Erem. were evaluated under Serbian conditions. • Twenty-four main agronomical and pomological traits were investigated. • Cultivar had the greatest influence on the tested traits, followed by year and interaction cultivar × years, respectively. • The best productivity had 'Metlaš', whereas superior fruit physico-chemical traits and antioxidant activity had 'Timočanka', 'Crvena Ranka' and 'Durancie'. • Multivariate analysis can be a very useful tool for segregating plum cultivars with the best yielding, fruit physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity. From 2017 to 2022, tree growth, yield components, fruit quality attributes and antioxidant capacity of autochthonous and rare plum cultivars of different genetic origin were investigated. The research was carried out in the environmental conditions of Serbia in orchard where intensive horticultural measures were applied. The results showed a wide variability of the examined parameters among cultivars and among plum types. The 'Olenka' plum had the most vigor trees, whereas 'Saint Julien' had dwarf trees. The Serbian autochthonous plums 'Metlaš' and 'Crvena Ranka' had the best yield components (Y, CY, YE). 'Timočanka' had the highest FW and fruit size, whereas 'Metlaš' and 'Saint Julien' had the weakest fruit physical characteristics. Unexpectedly, 'Saint Julien' had the highest content of soluble solids, both ripening and sweetness indexes and RS. The highest and similar content of TS was found in the fruits of 'Crvena Ranka', 'Timočanka' and 'Obilnaya'. 'Crvena Ranka' and 'Obilnaya' had the highest content of N-RS. The Czech autochthonous cultivars 'Durancie' and 'Chrudimská' had a similar and highest content of vitamin C, while the highest TPC and TFC were found in the fruits of 'Metlaš' and 'Olenka', respectively. The highest amount of anthocyanins had 'Obilnaya', whereas the lowest had 'Saint Julien'. Fruits of 'Durancie' had the highest TAC, followed by 'Timočanka' and 'Obilnaya', whereas fruits of 'Olenka' had the poorest antioxidant power. Considering their overall performances, evaluated plums can be grown in production orchards for different purposes or can be an alternative to the leading commercial cultivars in similar ecological conditions. Also, they can be used for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate) is an efficient nitrification inhibitor, thus increasing nitrogen (N) fertilization efficiency, crop yield and fruit quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DMPP on yield, nutritional and organoleptic quality and chlorophyll fluorescence in strawberry plants. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in Huelva (Spain) between October 2013 and June 2014 on one type of strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cultivar ‘Sabrina'). A completely randomized design with three N treatments and five replicates was established. The number of plants used per treatment was 50 (10 plants per replicate, i.e. a total 150 plants were used). The following N treatments were tested: T1: 100% of N in ammonium nitrate form; T2: 75% of N in Novatec solub 21 form (ammonium sulphate + DMPP) + 25 % of N in ammonium nitrate form; T3: T2, but applying 75% of total N. Results show that the total yield per pot of the ‘Sabrina' cultivar yield was affected by N treatment and crop cycle (weeks of harvest). During the total crop cycle, the yield per pot (g pot −1 ) was significantly higher in treatment T3 than in treatments T2 and T1; and the yield was significantly higher in treatment T2 than in treatment T1. The N content on leaf, crown and root were significantly higher in treatments T2 and T3 than in treatment T1. During the late crop cycle, treatment with DMPP (T2 and T3) increased the contents of antioxidant compounds such as vitamin C (AsA) and phenolics. This may be due to the lower losses of antioxidants compounds, because NH 4 + can be used directly for protein metabolism. Total increase in yield resulting from treatments including DMPP may be due, among other factors, to the increase of N content in leaves, crown and root of plants treated with DMPP; the lower loss of antioxidant compounds can be directly attributed to protein metabolism and the increase of SPAD values in treatments T2 and T3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate fruit ( Punica granatum L.) production and consumption has increased recently due to increasing scientific evidence on its high content of health beneficial compounds. This study was conducted to investigate the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of pomegranates (cv. Wonderful) as affected by fruit maturation and growing location. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC–MS) and liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry electroscopy (LC–MSE) were used to analyse phenolic composition at different maturity stages. Catechin, epicatechin and naringin were the most dominant flavonoids irrespective of maturity and altitude, while gallic acid was the dominant phenolic acid. The concentrations of total phenolics and total tannins as well as radical scavenging activity (RSA) in DPPH assay declined as maturity advanced while ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total anthocyanin, total flavonoid and vitamin C increased significantly ( P < 0.01). There was a significant and negative correlation ( r = −0.64) between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in the FRAP assay. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that fruit grown in area with lower altitude were associated with higher bioactive compounds at full ripe stage. Furthermore, PCA plot also revealed that fruit growing location had a significant and prominent impact on the bioactive compounds than maturity status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great emphasis of plant research is being placed on developing crops with increased nutritional value. Generating plant materials suitable for controlled studies as potential tools for pre-breeding is still the main hurdle. Improvements are needed in generating different allele combinations to stack various nutrients into a single genotype, without losses in fruit yield or quality, and in testing the specific effects of nutrients in their original matrix, avoiding the noise caused by the characteristic mix of compounds. An elegant approach in both pre-breeding and diet supplementation tests is the use of near-isogenic lines (NILs). Here, we tap on the large pool of monogenic mutants and natural genetic variation available in tomato to create a series of NILs in the genetic background of the cultivar Micro-Tom (MT). We describe the introgression of the mutations Anthocyanin fruit (Aft), atroviolacium (atv), Aubergine (Abg), Beta-carotene (B), old-gold crimson (og) and high pigment 1 and 2 (hp1, hp2) and characterize their fruit metabolic profiles in single, double and triple mutant combinations. We show that Brix can be raised without yield penalty, along with increases in lycopene, β-carotene and ascorbic acid, and a concomitant enhancement of anti-oxidant capacity. As proof-of-concept of the suitability of stacking alleles for breeding nutrient-rich tomatoes, we introduce three mutations leading to uniformly purple fruits and enhanced nutrient contents from MT into a commercial cherry tomato cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Selection of seven thermotolerant Italian tomatoes genotypes. • 'Lampião' and 'Fascínio' showed the highest plant production and number of fruit. • 'Candieiro' contains the highest lycopene and ascorbic acid contents. • 'Vedete' fruit is the best source of β-carotene. • The tasters preferred 'Fascinio' due to its aroma and flavor. High temperature is a limiting factor for the production and quality of tomato fruit, especially during the summer in tropical regions, when the cultivation must be carried out in a protected environment due to heavy rainfall. Thus, there is a need to identify cultivars adapted to these climatic conditions. In this study we aimed to carry out the selection of thermotolerant cultivars, adapted to protected cultivation, to combine characteristics of high yield, fruit quality, and consumer acceptance through principal component analysis (PCA). 'Fascínio', 'Lampião', 'Vedette', 'Tytanium', 'Candieiro', 'Mariana', and 'Shanty', grown under high temperatures (36 °C), differed in yield, physicochemical parameters of fruit (soluble solids, titratable acidity and ripening index), bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, lycopene, and β-carotene), and sensory analysis. According to the PCA, 'Fascínio' stood out due to its high yield characteristics (68.32 t ha−1), with a higher prevalence of large (38.6%) and medium (54.9%) fruit, sweeter fruit (4.33 °brix), and were preferred by the consumer, in addition to having thermotolerance and adaptation for the greenhouse. 'Candieiro' presented with the highest content of bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid: 45.31 mg/100 g and lycopene: 2.73 mg/100 g), attributes that add value to the fruit and may fulfill the needs of more demanding consumers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Entropy weight method was used to determine the best water saving method for mango. • Sugarcane leaf mulching was significantly increased fruit yield and IWUE. • Sugarcane leaf mulching decreased the titratable acid by 31.3%. • Sugarcane leaf mulching with 50% ETC had the best fresh fruit quality. Rational application of field-management technology can not only improve mango (Mangifera indica L.) fresh fruit yield and quality but also improve irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). However, few studies have involved the simultaneous use of mulch and irrigation-management techniques in hot and dry environments to achieve a relatively good level of performance. We used the entropy weight method (EWM) to explore an optimal mulching and irrigation-management technology for mango production in a dry hot environment. Three irrigation levels [FI, 100% mango evapotranspiration (ET C); DI 75 , 75% ET C ; DI 50 , 50% ET C ] were designed with (SM) and without (NM) sugarcane leaf mulching in 2018 and 2019 in a dry hot environment. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf water-use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency in the SM treatment were 12.5% to 83.7% higher than those in the NM treatment in both years. Compared with the NM treatment, the SM treatment increased the fresh fruit yield and IWUE by 45.7% and 49.7% in 2018 and by 46.1% and 63.2% in 2019. The solid-to-acid ratio and sugar-to-acid ratio in the SM treatment were 48.5% and 50.4% higher than those in the NM treatment, respectively, but the titratable acid content decreased by 31.3%. Compared with FI, DI 75 increased carotenoid content, total soluble solids, solid-to-acid ratio and sugar-to-acid ratio by 8.4%–40.7%, while it reduced titratable acid by 22.8%. Compared with FI, DI 50 reduced fresh fruit yield by 24.3% and 21.9% in 2018 and 2019, respectively, while it increased IWUE by 13.6% and 17.7%. The fresh fruit yield of SMDI 75 was the highest, which was 1.42 and 1.44 times that of NMFI in both years, respectively. A comprehensive evaluation by EWM also showed that the SMDI 50 treatment had the highest comprehensive scores of mango yield, quality and water-use efficiency, which could provide a basis for the scientific management of mango fertiliser in dry and hot areas of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]