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Fresh-cut Chinese water chestnuts (CWCs) are susceptible to yellowing and browning during storage due to mechanical damage and the loss of protective outer skin, adversely affecting their marketability and shelf life. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is currently extensively used for food preservation, but it has not been used in Chinese water chestnuts. This study investigated the effect of MeJA treatment on the quality of fresh-cut CWCs. Fresh-cut CWCs immersed in 20 μM MeJA solution for 10 min and stored at 10°C for 5 d effectively delayed the yellowing process, reduced the respiration rate, and minimized the weight and soluble solids loss during storage. In addition, MeJA treatment induced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which improved the antioxidant capacity of fresh-cut CWCs and inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, MeJA treatment inhibited the activities of phenylalanine aminotransferase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD). The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that MeJA down-regulated the expression of CwCHS1, CwCHS2, CwCHS3 and CwCHI2 in freshly cut CWCs and inhibited the accumulation of flavonoids, thus delaying the surface discoloration of freshly cut CWCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jojoba wax is gaining popularity among cosmetics consumers for its skin wound healing and rejuvenation bioactivities, attributed to collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. However, information regarding wax phytochemical composition and quality parameters, as well as effect of cultivation practices, and fertilization in particular, on wax quality is limited. The aim of the current work was to study the effect of nitrogen (N) availability to jojoba plants on wax phytochemical composition and beneficial skin-related contents. For this, wax quality from a six-year fertilization experiment with five N application levels was evaluated. The chemical parameters included antioxidant activity, free fatty acid, total tocopherol, total phytosterol and oxidative stability, as well as fatty acid and fatty alcohol profile. Our results reveal that themajority of wax quality traits were affected by N fertilization level, either positively or negatively. Interestingly, while fatty acids were unaffected, fatty alcohol composition was significantly altered by N level. Additionally, fruit load also largely affected wax quality, and, due to jojoba's biennial alternate bearing cycles, harvest year significantly affected all measured parameters. Results shed light on the effects of N application on various biochemical constituents of jojoba wax, and imply that N availability should be considered part of the entire agricultural management plan to enhance wax quality. Some traits are also suggested as possible chemical quality parameters for jojoba wax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma afroharzianum, a ubiquitous soil-borne fungus found on plant roots and decaying residues, displays competitive traits and mycoparasitic behavior against diverse microorganisms. Selected strains of this fungus are known in agriculture for their beneficial effects on plant growth and as bio-fungicides. However, recent findings have pinpointed Trichoderma afroharzianum as the causal agent behind maize ear rot disease in Europe since 2018, notably impacting maize cobs in Germany, France, and Italy. This study aims to evaluate the severity of Trichoderma ear rot disease on maize fresh matter content and specific quality parameters under semi-field conditions. Two distinct maize varieties were artificially inoculated with a pathogenic Trichoderma isolate at the flowering stage using needle pin or silk channel methods. Disease severity was assessed visually at the time of harvest based on the percentage of infected kernels according to EPPO Guidelines (PP 1/285). Fresh matter content and quality parameters such as alpha-amylase activity, C/N ratio, water, and sugar content were analyzed. Results showed that needle pin inoculation led to higher disease severity (60%) compared to silk channel inoculation (39%). Cob weight decreased significantly at the highest disease severity level by up to 50% compared to control plants. In both varieties, alpha-amylase activity increased significantly with higher Trichoderma disease severity, resulting in starch degradation and increased glucose release. The germination rate was severely affected by the infection, with only 22% of grains germinating, and the seedlings showed shortened and deformed growth. This is the first report on Trichoderma ear rot infection and its effect on fresh matter content and quality parameters in maize after artificial inoculation under field conditions. The results address an important knowledge gap and provide valuable insights into the infection pathway and impact on maize quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light/dark (L/D) cycle plays a crucial role in controlling the production and quality of vegetables. However, the mechanism of L/D cycle on vegetable growth and quality is scarce studied. To investigate the impact of L/D cycle on lettuce growth and quality, we designed three diel scenarios, including 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness (L16/D8), 12 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness (L12/D6), and 8 hours of light and 4 hours of darkness (L8/D4). By phenotypic analysis, we found that lettuce grew taller under the L8/D4 scenario than under L16/D8 light cycle scenarios. The physiological indexes showed that the lettuce leaves grown in the L8/D4 scenario exhibited greater enhancements in the levels of soluble protein, soluble sugar, and carotenoid content compared to the other scenarios. By comparing the expression levels under different diel scenarios (L16/D8 vs L12/ D6, L16/D8 vs L8/D4, and L12/D6 vs L8/D4), we identified 7,209 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Additionally, 3 gene modules that were closely related to L/D cycle of lettuce were selected by WGCNA analysis. The eigengenes of three gene modules were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, sphingolipid metabolism, and nucleocytoplasmic transport pathways. Through network analysis, we identified six hub genes (CIP1, SCL34, ROPGEF1, ACD6, CcmB, and Rps4) in the three gene modules, which were dominant in plant circadian rhythms and greatly affected lettuce growth. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the diurnal response patterns of the 6 hub genes in different treatments were significant. This study intensively enhanced our comprehension of the L/D cycle in the growth morphology, nutritional quality, and metabolic pathways of lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial for winegrowers to make informed decisions about the optimum time to harvest the grapes to ensure the production of premium wines. Global warming contributes to decreasing acidity and increasing sugar levels in grapes, resulting in bland wines with high contents of alcohol. Predicting quality in viticulture is thus pivotal. To assess the average ripeness, typically a sample of one hundred berries representative for the entire vineyard is collected. However, this process, along with the subsequent detailed must analysis, is time consuming and expensive. This study focusses on predicting essential quality parameters like sugar and acid content in Vitis vinifera (L.) varieties 'Chardonnay', 'Riesling', 'Dornfelder', and 'Pinot Noir'. A small near-infrared spectrometer was used measuring non-destructively in the wavelength range from 1 100 nm to 1 350 nm while the reference contents were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Chemometric models were developed employing partial least squares regression and using spectra of all four grapevine varieties, spectra gained from berries of the same colour, or from the individual varieties. The models exhibited high accuracy in predicting main quality-determining parameters in independent test sets. On average, the model regression coefficients exceeded 93% for the sugars fructose and glucose, 86% for malic acid, and 73% for tartaric acid. Using these models, prediction accuracies revealed the ability to forecast individual sugar contents within an range of ± 6.97 g/L to ± 10.08 g/L, and malic acid within ± 2.01 g/L to ± 3.69 g/L. This approach indicates the potential to develop robust models by incorporating spectra from diverse grape varieties and berries of different colours. Such insight is crucial for the potential widespread adoption of a handheld near-infrared sensor, possibly integrated into devices used in everyday life, like smartphones. A server-side and cloud-based solution for pre-processing and modelling could thus avoid pitfalls of using near-infrared sensors on unknown varieties and in diverse wine-producing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice, a critical staple on a global scale, faces escalating challenges in yield preservation due to the rising prevalence of abiotic and biotic stressors, exacerbated by frequent climatic fluctuations in recent years. Moreover, the scorching climate prevalent in the rice-growing regions of South China poses obstacles to the cultivation of good-quality, heavy-grain varieties. Addressing this dilemma requires the development of resilient varieties capable of withstanding multiple stress factors. To achieve this objective, our study employed the broadspectrum blast-resistant line Digu, the brown planthopper (BPH)-resistant line ASD7, and the heavy-grain backbone restorer lines Fuhui838 (FH838) and Shuhui527 (SH527) as parental materials for hybridization and multiple crossings. The incorporation of molecular markers facilitated the rapid pyramiding of six target genes (Pi5, Pita, Pid2, Pid3, Bph2, and Wxb ). Through a comprehensive evaluation encompassing blast resistance, BPH resistance, cold tolerance, grain appearance, and quality, alongside agronomic trait selection, a promising restorer line, Guihui5501 (GH5501), was successfully developed. It demonstrated broad-spectrum resistance to blast, exhibiting a resistance frequency of 77.33% against 75 artificially inoculated isolates, moderate resistance to BPH (3.78 grade), strong cold tolerance during the seedling stage (1.80 grade), and characteristics of heavy grains (1,000-grain weight reaching 35.64 g) with good grain quality. The primary rice quality parameters for GH5501, with the exception of alkali spreading value, either met or exceeded the second-grade national standard for premium edible rice varieties, signifying a significant advancement in the production of good-quality heavy-grain varieties in the southern rice-growing regions. Utilizing GH5501, a hybrid combination named Nayou5501, characterized by high yield, good quality, and resistance to multiple stresses, was bred and received approval as a rice variety in Guangxi in 2021. Furthermore, genomic analysis with gene chips revealed that GH5501 possessed an additional 20 exceptional alleles, such as NRT1.1B for efficient nitrogen utilization, SKC1 for salt tolerance, and STV11 for resistance to rice stripe virus. Consequently, the restorer line GH5501 could serve as a valuable resource for the subsequent breeding of high-yielding, good-quality, and stress-tolerant hybrid rice varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Editorial: Biostimulants in agriculture II: towards a sustainable future" explores the use of biostimulants in agriculture to improve sustainability and productivity. Biostimulants are products that stimulate plant growth and improve characteristics such as nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to stress. The article discusses various studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of biostimulants in improving crop tolerance to environmental stresses. The market for biostimulants is growing, particularly in Europe, due to increasing interest in organic food production. Biostimulants offer a promising solution for sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on chemical inputs and improving crop performance. [Extracted from the article]

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are an essential oilseed crop known for their unique developmental process, characterized by aerial flowering followed by subterranean fruit development. This crop is polyploid, consisting of A and B subgenomes, which complicates its genetic analysis. The advent and progression of omics technologies--encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics--have significantly advanced our understanding of peanut biology, particularly in the context of seed development and the regulation of seed-associated traits. Following the completion of the peanut reference genome, research has utilized omics data to elucidate the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed weight, oil content, protein content, fatty acid composition, sucrose content, and seed coat color as well as the regulatory mechanisms governing seed development. This review aims to summarize the advancements in peanut seed development regulation and trait analysis based on reference genome-guided omics studies. It provides an overview of the significant progress made in understanding the molecular basis of peanut seed development, offering insights into the complex genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that influence key agronomic traits. These studies highlight the significance of omics data in profoundly elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of peanut seed development. Furthermore, they lay a foundational basis for future research on trait-related functional genes, highlighting the pivotal role of comprehensive genomic analysis in advancing our understanding of plant biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. is a perennial herb in the Compositae family, often employed in traditional Chinese medicine due to its medicinal value. The planting of C. morifolium faces the challenges of continuous cropping, and intercropping is able to somewhat overcome the obstacles of continuous cropping. Methods: In our study, we designed two different C. morifolium-maize intercropping patterns, including C. morifolium-maize narrow-wide row planting (IS) and C. morifolium-maize middle row planting (IM). Compared with monoculture, the agronomic traits, yield, active ingredients, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and rhizosphere soil microbial communities of C. morifolium and maize were measured under the two C. morifolium-maize intercropping patterns. Results: The findings indicated that (1) Intercropping elevated the agronomic traits, yield, and active ingredients of C. morifolium, especially in C. morifoliummaize narrow-wide row planting pattern, which indicating that interspecific distance played an important role in intercropping system; (2) Intercropping enhanced soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities of C. morifolium and maize; (3) Intercropping altered rhizosphere soil microbial communities of C. morifolium and maize, making microbial interrelationships more complex. (4) Intercropping could recruit a large number of beneficial microorganisms enrich in the soil, including Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Chaetomium, and Ceratorhiza, which may increase the content of AN, NN, AvK, ExCa, AvCu, AvZn and other nutrients in soil and promoted the growth and quality of C. morifolium. Discussion: In summary, intercropping with maize could promote the accumulation of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, thus improving the overall growing environment, and finally realizing the growth and improvement of C. morifolium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple (Malus pumila Mill.) is one of the important economic crops in the arid areas of Xinjiang, China. For a long time, there has been a problem of high consumption but low yield in water and fertilizer management, prevent improvements in apple quality and yield. In this study, 5-year-old 'Royal Gala' apple trees in extremely arid areas of Xinjiang were used as experimental materials to carry out field experiments. considering 5 irrigation levels (W1, 30 mm; W2, 425 mm; W3, 550 mm; W4, 675 mm; W5, 800 mm) and 5 fertilization levels (F1, 280 kg·ha-1; F2, 360 kg·ha-1; F3, 440 kg·ha-1; F4, 520 kg·ha-1; F5, 600 kg·ha-1) under magnetoelectric water irrigation conditions. The results demonstrated that magnetoelectric water combined with the application of 675 mm irrigation amount and 520 kg·ha-1 fertilization amount was themost effective combination. These results occurred by increasing net photosynthetic rate of apple leaves, improved the quality of apples, increased apple yield, and promoted the improvement of water and fertilizer use efficiency. Additionally, the quadratic regression model was used to fit the response process of yield, IWUE and PFP to irrigation amount and fertilization amount, and the accuracy was greater than 0.8, indicating good fitting effects. The synergistic effect of water and fertilizer has a positive effect on optimizing apple water and fertilizer management. Principal component analysis showed that the magnetoelectric treatment combined water and fertilizer mainly affected apple yield, water and fertilizer use efficiency and vitamin C content related to quality. This study provides valuable guidance for improving water and fertilizer productivity, crop yield and quality in extreme arid areas of Xinjiang by using Magnetoelectric water irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural plastic film, as an important agricultural production material in the China Hexi Corridor oasis agricultural area, is widely used in the intensive production process of purple garlic, which plays an important role in increasing yield, improving quality, ensuring supply, etc. However, the difference in decomposition characteristics between ordinary plastic film and degradable plastic film may affect soil moisture and temperature, thereby affecting soil biochemical properties. Therefore, we conducted a study to solve this problem. Specifically, in the Minle area of the Hexi Corridor, we selected 10 moisture-maintaining measures of ordinary transparent plastic film, transparent oxo-biodegradable plastic film (50-, 80-, and 110-day induction period), ordinary black plastic film, black oxo-biodegradable plastic film (50-, 80-, and 110-day induction period), wheat straw, and aubergine-super absorbent polymers and used the traditional open field without super absorbent polymers as a control. To analyze the effects of different moisture-maintaining measures on soil quality, garlic yield and quality, and water-fertilizer productivity in purple garlic farmland, and conduct a comprehensive evaluation of moisture-maintaining measures using principal component analysis. The results showed that all the moisture-maintaining measures could increase garlic yield, improve bulb quality and water–fertilizer productivity, improve the soil hydrothermal conditions, maintain soil fertility, increase the microbial quantity, and improve enzyme activity. Overall, transparent plastic film mulching was superior to black plastic film mulching, straw mulching, and A-SAP, with 110-day transparent oxo-biodegradable plastic film mulching being the most effective, and was not significantly different from the ordinary transparent plastic film. Compared with other moisture-maintaining measures, the yield, water productivity, irrigation water productivity, and nitrogen fertilizer partial factor productivity of purple garlic were significantly increased by 13.33% to 119.77%, 13.81% to 126.77%, 13.41% to 119.95%, and 13.33% to 119.76%, respectively. Meanwhile, the contents of allicin, soluble sugar, soluble protein, crude fiber, and amino acid content were increased by 1.44% to 14.66%, 4.64% to 36.46%, 0.38% to 28.27%, 1.89% to 26.29%, and 0.38% to 3.74%, and, due to the prolongation of oxo-biodegradable plastic film induction period, the soil microbial community changes from “fungi type” to “bacterium type,” reducing the occurrence of soil diseases and improving soil quality. On the basis of the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, the soil quality was evaluated, and the yield, quality, and water productivity of garlic were comprehensively evaluated under each moisture-maintaining measure using principal component analysis. It was determined that the best soil quality and better bulb quality as well as higher garlic yield and water productivity were obtained when using the 110-day induction period transparent oxo-biodegradable plastic film. It can be used as a more reasonable moisture-maintaining measure and technical reference for the purple garlic industry in the China Hexi Corridor oasis agricultural area, which can ensure the improvement of quality and stabilization of yield and also solve the risk of environmental pollution caused by plastic film mulching at the source.

Jojoba wax is gaining popularity among cosmetics consumers for its skin wound healing and rejuvenation bioactivities, attributed to collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. However, information regarding wax phytochemical composition and quality parameters, as well as effect of cultivation practices, and fertilization in particular, on wax quality is limited. The aim of the current work was to study the effect of nitrogen (N) availability to jojoba plants on wax phytochemical composition and beneficial skin-related contents. For this, wax quality from a six-year fertilization experiment with five N application levels was evaluated. The chemical parameters included antioxidant activity, free fatty acid, total tocopherol, total phytosterol and oxidative stability, as well as fatty acid and fatty alcohol profile. Our results reveal that the majority of wax quality traits were affected by N fertilization level, either positively or negatively. Interestingly, while fatty acids were unaffected, fatty alcohol composition was significantly altered by N level. Additionally, fruit load also largely affected wax quality, and, due to jojoba’s biennial alternate bearing cycles, harvest year significantly affected all measured parameters. Results shed light on the effects of N application on various biochemical constituents of jojoba wax, and imply that N availability should be considered part of the entire agricultural management plan to enhance wax quality. Some traits are also suggested as possible chemical quality parameters for jojoba wax.

Trichoderma afroharzianum, a ubiquitous soil-borne fungus found on plant roots and decaying residues, displays competitive traits and mycoparasitic behavior against diverse microorganisms. Selected strains of this fungus are known in agriculture for their beneficial effects on plant growth and as bio-fungicides. However, recent findings have pinpointed Trichoderma afroharzianum as the causal agent behind maize ear rot disease in Europe since 2018, notably impacting maize cobs in Germany, France, and Italy. This study aims to evaluate the severity of Trichoderma ear rot disease on maize fresh matter content and specific quality parameters under semi-field conditions. Two distinct maize varieties were artificially inoculated with a pathogenic Trichoderma isolate at the flowering stage using needle pin or silk channel methods. Disease severity was assessed visually at the time of harvest based on the percentage of infected kernels according to EPPO Guidelines (PP 1/285). Fresh matter content and quality parameters such as alpha-amylase activity, C/N ratio, water, and sugar content were analyzed. Results showed that needle pin inoculation led to higher disease severity (60%) compared to silk channel inoculation (39%). Cob weight decreased significantly at the highest disease severity level by up to 50% compared to control plants. In both varieties, alpha-amylase activity increased significantly with higher Trichoderma disease severity, resulting in starch degradation and increased glucose release. The germination rate was severely affected by the infection, with only 22% of grains germinating, and the seedlings showed shortened and deformed growth. This is the first report on Trichoderma ear rot infection and its effect on fresh matter content and quality parameters in maize after artificial inoculation under field conditions. The results address an important knowledge gap and provide valuable insights into the infection pathway and impact on maize quality.

It is crucial for winegrowers to make informed decisions about the optimum time to harvest the grapes to ensure the production of premium wines. Global warming contributes to decreasing acidity and increasing sugar levels in grapes, resulting in bland wines with high contents of alcohol. Predicting quality in viticulture is thus pivotal. To assess the average ripeness, typically a sample of one hundred berries representative for the entire vineyard is collected. However, this process, along with the subsequent detailed must analysis, is time consuming and expensive. This study focusses on predicting essential quality parameters like sugar and acid content in Vitis vinifera (L.) varieties ‘Chardonnay’, ‘Riesling’, ‘Dornfelder’, and ‘Pinot Noir’. A small near-infrared spectrometer was used measuring non-destructively in the wavelength range from 1 100 nm to 1 350 nm while the reference contents were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Chemometric models were developed employing partial least squares regression and using spectra of all four grapevine varieties, spectra gained from berries of the same colour, or from the individual varieties. The models exhibited high accuracy in predicting main quality-determining parameters in independent test sets. On average, the model regression coefficients exceeded 93% for the sugars fructose and glucose, 86% for malic acid, and 73% for tartaric acid. Using these models, prediction accuracies revealed the ability to forecast individual sugar contents within an range of ± 6.97 g/L to ± 10.08 g/L, and malic acid within ± 2.01 g/L to ± 3.69 g/L. This approach indicates the potential to develop robust models by incorporating spectra from diverse grape varieties and berries of different colours. Such insight is crucial for the potential widespread adoption of a handheld near-infrared sensor, possibly integrated into devices used in everyday life, like smartphones. A server-side and cloud-based solution for pre-processing and modelling could thus avoid pitfalls of using near-infrared sensors on unknown varieties and in diverse wine-producing regions.

Reasonable nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) application rates can effectively improve fertilizer use efficiency, rice yield and quality. A two-year field experiment was conducted with combined application of three N rates (135, 180, and 225 kg ha-1, denoted as N1-N3) and four K rates (0, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha-1, denoted as K0-K3) using super indica hybrid rice cultivar Yixiangyou (YXY) 2115 to explore the effects of co-application of N and K on rice growth and development. The results indicated that the combined application of N and K had significantly interactive effects on dry matter (DM) accumulation, nutrients absorption, N harvest index (NHI), K harvest index (KHI), spikelets per panicle and most rice quality indexes. The highest total DM accumulation (17998.17-19432.47 kg ha-1) at maturity stage was obtained under N3K2. The effect of co-application of N and K on nutrients absorption and utilization varied between the two years and within each year. The highest total N and K accumulations at maturity stage were observed under N3K1 and N3K2, respectively, while the highest N recovery efficiency (NRE) and K recovery efficiency (KRE) were observed under N1K3. High expression levels of N and K metabolism-related genes in rice grains were observed under N3K2 or N3K3, consistent with N and K uptake. Co-application of N and K increased rice yield significantly and the highest yield (6745.02-7010.27 kg ha-1) was obtained under N2K2. As more N was gradually applied, rice appearance quality improved but milling, cooking and eating quality decreased. Although appropriate application of K could improve rice milling, cooking and eating quality, it reduced appearance quality. The optimal milling, cooking and eating quality were obtained under N1K2, while the best appearance quality was obtained under N3K0. Overall, a combination of 135-210 kg ha-1 N and 115-137 kg ha-1 K application rates was recommended for achieving relatively higher yield and better quality in rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explores the effects of pre- and postharvest treatments on the quality and storage ability of fresh artichoke heads. It discusses various treatments such as mineral fertilization, oxalic acid, gibberellins, and methyl jasmonate, and their impact on factors like inulin content, sensory levels, respiration rate, weight loss, and phenolic compounds. The article provides valuable insights for producers and consumers interested in preserving the quality of artichokes. Additionally, the document includes a list of references to scientific articles covering topics such as fertilization regimes, chemical treatments, and pre-harvest factors that affect the quality and nutritional value of artichokes. Another section of the document discusses the effects of postharvest treatments on the ripening process and quality of fruits and vegetables, specifically focusing on salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, oxalic acid, and gibberellic acid. The research suggests that these treatments can delay ripening, enhance bioactive compounds, and increase antioxidant capacity in sweet cherry, okra, and kiwifruit. These findings provide valuable insights for improving postharvest storage and maintaining the quality of these crops. [Extracted from the article]

Drought is a persistent challenge for horticulture, affecting various aspects of fruit development and ultimately fruit quality, but the effect on nutritional value has been under-investigated. Here, fruit quality was studied on six tomato genotypes and one goji cultivar under deficit irrigation (DI), from fruit composition to in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids. For both species, DI concentrated most health-related metabolites in fresh fruit. On a dry mass basis, DI increased total phenolic and sugar concentration, but had a negative or insignificant impact on fruit ascorbic acid, organic acid, and alcohol-insoluble matter contents. DI also reduced total carotenoids content in tomato (-18.7% on average), especially β-carotene (-32%), but not in goji berry DW (+15.5% and +19.6%, respectively). DI reduced the overall in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids to varying degrees depending on the compound and plant species. Consequently, mixed micelles produced by digestion of fruits subjected to DI contained either the same or lesser quantities of carotenoids, even though fresh fruits could contain similar or higher quantities. Thus, DI effects on fruit composition were species and genotype dependent, but an increase in the metabolite concentration did not necessarily translate into greater bioaccessibility potentially due to interactions with the fruit matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the journal Frontiers in Plant Science titled "Omics technologies and fruit postharvest quality." The editorial discusses the importance of understanding fruit quality and postharvest physiology in order to ensure sustainable agriculture and consumer satisfaction. It introduces a collection of research articles and a review that explore recent advances in the field, focusing on the use of omics technologies to gain insights into fruit physiology and metabolism during postharvest treatments. The editorial highlights specific studies on raspberry cultivation methods, anthocyanin accumulation in kiwifruit, chilling injuries in stone and pome fruits, and ethylene biosynthesis in heat-tolerant tomatoes. The authors emphasize the potential of these findings to enhance fruit quality and contribute to more sustainable agricultural practices. [Extracted from the article]

In arid regions, deficit irrigation stands as an efficacious strategy for augmenting agricultural water conservation and fostering sustainable crop production. The Hexi Oasis, an irrigation zone situated in Northwest China, serves as a pivotal area to produce grain and cash crops. Nonetheless, due to the predominant conditions of low rainfall and high evaporation, the scarcity of irrigation water has emerged as a critical constraint affecting crop growth and yield in the area. In order to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, quality, and water use efficiency of sunflower, a two-year field experiment with under-mulched drip irrigation was conducted in the cold and arid environment of the Hexi Oasis region. Water deficits were implemented at sunflower seedling and maturity and consisted of three deficit levels: mild deficit (65-75% field capacity, FC), moderate deficit (55-65% FC), and severe deficit (45-55% FC). A total of six combined water deficit treatments were applied, using full irrigation (75-85% FC) throughout the entire crop-growing season as the control (CK). The results illustrated that water deficit engendered a decrease in leaf net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance of sunflower compared to CK, with the decrease becoming significant with the water deficit increasing. A mild water deficit, both at the seedling and maturity phases, precipitated a significant enhancement (p< 0.05) in leaf water use efficiency. Under mild water deficit, stomatal limitation emerged as the predominant factor inducing a reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of sunflower leaves, while as the water deficit escalated, non-stomatal limitation progressively assumed dominance. Moreover, a mild/moderate water deficit at seedling and a mild water deficit at maturity (WD1 and WD3) significantly improved sunflower seed quality under consistent yield conditions and significantly increased irrigation water use efficiency, with an average increase of 15.3% and 18.5% over the two years, respectively. Evaluations utilizing principal component analysis and membership function methods revealed that WD1 attained the highest comprehensive score. Consequently, a mild water deficit at both seedling and maturity (WD1) is advocated as the optimal deficit irrigation strategy for sunflower production within the cold and arid environment of Northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a persistent challenge for horticulture, affecting various aspects of fruit development and ultimately fruit quality, but the effect on nutritional value has been under-investigated. Here, fruit quality was studied on six tomato genotypes and one goji cultivar under deficit irrigation (DI), from fruit composition to in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids. For both species, DI concentrated most health-related metabolites in fresh fruit. On a dry mass basis, DI increased total phenolic and sugar concentration, but had a negative or insignificant impact on fruit ascorbic acid, organic acid, and alcohol-insoluble matter contents. DI also reduced total carotenoids content in tomato (−18.7% on average), especially β-carotene (−32%), but not in goji berry DW (+15.5% and +19.6%, respectively). DI reduced the overall in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids to varying degrees depending on the compound and plant species. Consequently, mixed micelles produced by digestion of fruits subjected to DI contained either the same or lesser quantities of carotenoids, even though fresh fruits could contain similar or higher quantities. Thus, DI effects on fruit composition were species and genotype dependent, but an increase in the metabolite concentration did not necessarily translate into greater bioaccessibility potentially due to interactions with the fruit matrix

Light is one of the important environmental factors affecting the growth and development of facility vegetables. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of different light intensities on the growth, nutritional quality and flavonoid accumulation of celery under hydroponic and full LED light conditions. Four light intensities of 40, 100, 200, or 300 µmol·m-2·s-1 were set up in the experiment, and three harvest periods were set up on the basis of different light intensities, which were 15, 30, and 45 d after treatment (labeled as S1, S2, and S3, respectively). The results showed that the plant height and aboveground biomass of celery increased with the increase of light intensity, and the light intensity of 200 μmol·m-2·s-1 was beneficial to increase the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenols, vitamin C, cellulose, total flavones and apigenin in celery. During the S1-S3 period, the activities of PAL, CHS, CHI and ANS increased gradually under 200 and 300 μmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatments, and the activities of FNS and CHS enzymes were the highest under 200 μmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatment. The expression and ANS activity of Ag3GT, a key gene for anthocyanin synthesis, reached the maximum value at 300 μmol·m-2·s-1, and the expression level and FNS activity of AgFNS, a key gene for apigenin synthesis, reached a maximum value at 200 μmol·m-2·s-1. In general, the anthocyanin content was the highest at 300 μmol·m-2·s-1, and the apigenin content was the highest at 200 μmol·m-2·s-1. In conclusion, light intensity of 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 treatment was more favorable for celery growth and nutrient synthesis.

Withering is very important to the quality of Wuyi rock tea. In this study, transcriptomics and metabolomics were used to analyze the effects of different withering methods on tea quality formation. The results showed that sunlight withering (SW) was most beneficial in increasing the gene expression of ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis (ko00130), pyruvate metabolism (ko00620), starch and sucrose metabolism (ko00500), and tryptophan metabolism (ko00380) pathways, and increasing the content of nucleotides and derivatives, terpenoids, organic acids and lipids, thus enhancing the mellowness, fresh and brisk taste and aroma of tea. Withering trough withering (WW) was most beneficial in increasing the gene expression of glutathione metabolism (ko00480), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (ko00940) pathways, increasing the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids, thus enhancing tea bitterness. A comprehensive evaluation of the metabolite content and taste characteristics of tea leaves showed SW to be the best quality and charcoal fire withering (FW) to be the worst quality. This study provided an important basis for guiding the processing of Wuyi rock tea with different flavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With improvement in living standards, consumer preferences for vegetables are changing from quantity- to quality-oriented. Water and nitrogen supply, as two major determinants of vegetable crop yield and quality, can be optimally managed to improve the yield and quality. To evaluate the response in yield, fruit quality, and water and nitrogen utilization of eggplant to different water and nitrogen management strategies, a 2-year (2021 and 2022) field trial under mulched drip irrigation was conducted. The growth period was divided into seedling, flowering and fruit set, fruit development, and fruit ripening stages. Three irrigation levels were applied during the flowering and fruit set stage: W0, adequate water supply (70%–80% of field water capacity, FC); W1, mild water deficit (60%–70% FC); and W2, moderate water deficit (50%–60% FC). In addition, three nitrogen application rates were applied: N1, low nitrogen level (215 kg ha−1 ); N2, medium nitrogen level (270 kg ha−1 ); and N3, high nitrogen level (325 kg ha−1 ). The irrigation and nitrogen rates were applied in all combinations (i.e., nine treatments in total). Adequate water supply throughout the reproductive period in combination with no nitrogen application served as the control (CK). The yield of the W1N2 treatment was significantly increased by 32.62% and 35.06% in 2021 and 2022, respectively, compared with that of the CK. Fruit soluble protein, soluble solids, and vitamin C contents were significantly higher under W1 than W2. Fruit quality was significantly higher under the N2 rate compared with the other nitrogen rates. The W1N2 treatment showed the highest water productivity, with a significant increase of 11.27%–37.84% (2021) and 14.71%–42.48% (2022) compared with that under the other treatments. Based on the average water-deficit degree and nitrogen application rate, W0 and N1 had the highest partial factor productivity of nitrogen. Assessment of the results using the TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution) method indicated that mild water deficit in combination with the medium nitrogen application rate (W1N2) was the optimal water and nitrogen management strategy for cultivated eggplant. The present findings contribute novel insights into the sustainable cultivation of eggplant in an oasis arid environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the essential elements for the growth of tea trees. In this study, we investigated changes in metabolites, photosynthetic fluorescence parameters and quality indexes of tea leaves under different concentrations of magnesium treatment, and the results showed that there were no significant differences in the quantity and total content of metabolites in tea leaves under different Mg concentrations. The results of volcano map analysis showed that the content of 235 metabolites in tea leaves showed an increasing trend and the content of 243 metabolites showed a decreasing trend with the increase of Mg concentration. The results of the combined analysis of the OPLS-DA model and bubble map showed that 45 characteristic metabolites were screened at different concentrations of Mg. Among these, the content of 24 characteristic metabolites showed an increasing trend and 21 characteristic metabolites showed a decreasing trend with the increase of Mg concentrations. The results of KEEG pathway enrichment showed that 24 characteristic metabolites with a upward trend were significantly enriched in saccharides metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism and vitamin metabolism, while the 21 characteristic metabolites with a downward trend were enriched in the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of terpenoids, synthesis and metabolism of alkaloids, and synthesis and metabolism of amino acids. It can be inferred that Mg regulation was beneficial to enhance the photosynthetic capacity of tea trees, improve the accumulation and metabolism of carbohydrate substances in tea trees, and thus promoted the growth of tea trees, but was not conducive to the synthesis of secondary metabolites and amino acids related to tea quality. The results of photosynthetic fluorescence parameters and quality indexes of the tea tree confirmed the conclusion predicted by metabolomics. This study provided a reference for regulating of the growth and quality of tea trees with Mg fertilizer in tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges for a more widespread utilization of plant fibers is to better understand the different molecular factors underlying the variability in fineness and mechanical properties of both elementary and scutched fibers. Accordingly, we analyzed genome-wide transcription profiling from bast fiber bearing tissues of seven different flax varieties (4 spring, 2 winter fiber varieties and 1 winter linseed) and identified 1041 differentially expressed genes between varieties, of which 97 were related to cell wall metabolism. KEGG analysis highlighted a number of different enriched pathways. Subsequent statistical analysis using Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis showed that 73% of the total variance was explained by the first 3 X-variates corresponding to 56 differentially expressed genes. Calculation of Pearson correlations identified 5 genes showing a strong correlation between expression and morphometric data. Two-dimensional gel proteomic analysis on the two varieties showing the most discriminant and significant differences in morphometrics revealed 1490 protein spots of which 108 showed significant differential abundance. Mass spectrometry analysis successfully identified 46 proteins representing 32 nonredundant proteins. Statistical clusterization based on the expression level of genes corresponding to the 32 proteins showed clear discrimination into three separate clusters, reflecting the variety type (spring-/winter-fiber/oil). Four of the 32 proteins were also highly correlated with morphometric features. Examination of predicted functions for the 9 (5 + 4) identified genes highlighted lipid metabolism and senescence process. Calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients between expression data and retted fiber mechanical measurements (strength and maximum force) identified 3 significantly correlated genes. The genes were predicted to be connected to cell wall dynamics, either directly (Expansin-like protein), or indirectly (NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-fold superfamily protein). Taken together, our results have allowed the identification of molecular actors potentially associated with the determination of both in-planta fiber morphometrics, as well as ex-planta fiber mechanical properties, both of which are key parameters for elementary fiber and scutched fiber quality in flax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the shortage of land and water resource, optimization of systems for production in commercial greenhouses is essential for sustainable vegetable supply. The performance of lettuce productivity and the economic benefit in greenhouses using a soil-based system (SBS) and a hydroponic production system (HPS) were compared in this study. Methods: Experiments were conducted in two identical greenhouses over two growth cycles (G1 and G2). Three treatments of irrigation volumes (S1, S2, and S3) were evaluated for SBS while three treatments of nutrient solution concentration (H1, H2, and H3) were evaluated for HPS; the optimal levels from each system were then compared. Results and discussion: HPS was more sensitive to the effects of environmental temperature than SBS because of higher soil buffer capacity. Compared with SBS, higher yield (more than 134%) and higher water productivity (more than 50%) were observed in HPS. We detected significant increases in ascorbic acid by 28.31% and 16.67% and in soluble sugar by 57.84% and 32.23% during G1 and G2, respectively, compared with SBS. However, nitrate accumulated in HPS-grown lettuce. When the nutrient solution was replaced with fresh water 3 days before harvest, the excess nitrate content of harvested lettuce in HPS was removed. The initial investment and total operating cost in HPS were 21.76 times and 47.09% higher than those in SBS, respectively. Consideration of agronomic, quality, and economic indicators showed an overall optimal performance of the H2 treatment. These findings indicated that, in spite of its higher initial investment and requirement of advanced technology and management, HPS was more profitable than SBS for commercial lettuce production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A validated texture-analysis method to evaluate product quality in frozen or cooked legumes is needed to support high-quality vegetable production but is not currently established in the literature. Peas, lima beans, and edamame were investigated in this study due to similar market use as well as growth in plantbased protein consumption in the United States. These three legumes were evaluated after three different processing treatments (blanch/freeze/thaw (BFT); BFT+microwave heat (BFT+M); BF+stove-top cooking (BF+C)), using both compression and puncture analysis following an American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) texture analysis method and moisture testing following an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard method. Texture analysis results showed differences between legumes and processing methods. Compression analysis identified more differences between treatments within product type than puncture for both edamame and lima beans indicating compression might be more sensitive to texture changes in these products. Implementation of a standard texture method for legume vegetables for growers and producers would provide a consistent quality check to support efficient production of high-quality legumes. Due to the sensitivity obtained from the compression texture method in this work, compression should be considered for future research into a robust method to evaluate edamame and lima bean textures throughout the growing and production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal grains have been domesticated largely from food grains to feed and malting grains. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) remains unparalleled in its success as a primary brewing grain. However, there is renewed interest in "alternative" grains for brewing (and distilling) due to attention being placed on flavor, quality, and health (i.e., gluten issues) aspects that they may offer. This review covers basic and general information on "alternative grains" for malting and brewing, as well as an in-depth look at several major biochemical aspects of these grains including starch, protein, polyphenols, and lipids. These traits are described in terms of their effects on processing and flavor, as well as the prospects for improvement through breeding. These aspects have been studied extensively in barley, but little is known about the functional properties in other crops for malting and brewing. In addition, the complex nature of malting and brewing produces a large number of brewing targets but requires extensive processing, laboratory analysis, and accompanying sensory analysis. However, if a better understanding of the potential of alternative crops that can be used in malting and brewing is needed, then significantly more research is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snap bean is the most commonly grown vegetable legume worldwide, and its pod size is both an important yield and appearance quality trait. However, the improvement of pod size in snap beans grown in China has been largely hindered by a lack of information on the specific genes that determine pod size. In this study, we identified 88 snap bean accessions and evaluated their pod size traits. Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS), 57 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with pod size were detected. Candidate gene analysis showed that cytochrome P450 family genes, WRKY, and MYB transcription factors were the predominant candidate genes for pod development, and eight of these 26 candidate genes showed relatively higher expression patterns in flowers and young pods. A significant pod length (PL) SNP and a single pod weight (SPW) SNP were successfully converted into kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers and validated in the panel. These results enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of pod size, and also provide genetic resources for the molecular breeding of pod size in snap beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is one of the major constraints limiting the productivity of many important crops, including tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production and quality worldwide. However, the role of magnesium (Mg) nutrition in plants has been frequently overlooked, especially under cold stress, and Mg deficiency adversely affects plant growth and development. Here, we evaluated the influence of Mg under cold stress on tobacco morphology, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic and quality attributes. The tobacco plants were grown under different levels of cold stress, i.e., 8°C, 12°C, 16°C, including with a controlled temperature of 25°C, and evaluated their effects with Mg (+Mg) and without Mg (-Mg) application. Cold stress resulted in reduced plant growth. However, the +Mg alleviated the cold stress and significantly increased the plant biomass on an average of 17.8% for shoot fresh weight, 20.9% for root fresh weight, 15.7% for shoot dry weight, and 15.5% for root dry weight. Similarly, the nutrients uptake also increased on average for shoot-N (28.7%), root-N (22.4%), shoot-P (46.9%), root-P (7.2%), shoot-K (5.4%), root-K (28.9%), shoot-Mg (191.4%), root-Mg (187.2%) under cold stress with +Mg compared to Mg. Mg application significantly boosted the photosynthetic activity (Pn 24.6%) and increased the chlorophyll contents (Chl-a (18.8%), Chl-b (25%), carotenoids (22.2%)) in the leaves under cold stress in comparison with Mg treatment. Meanwhile, Mg application also improved the quality of tobacco, including starch and sucrose contents, on an average of 18.3% and 20.8%, respectively, compared to Mg. The principal component analysis revealed that tobacco performance was optimum under +Mg treatment at 16°C. This study confirms that Mg application alleviates cold stress and substantially improves tobacco morphological indices, nutrient absorption, photosynthetic traits, and quality attributes. In short, the current findings suggest that Mg application may alleviate cold stress and improve tobacco growth and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate differences in fresh leaves of tea plants at different ages in gene expression, metabolism, and dried tea quality, and to provide references to a deep exploration on metabolite differential accumulation of fresh leaves of tea plants at different ages as well as the regulation mechanism, two groups of fresh leaves from tea plants at different ages (group JP: 20-, 200-, and 1,200- year tea plants; group YX: 50-, 100-, and 400-year tea plants) were chosen as materials, and their differences in gene expression, metabolites, and metabolic regulatory network were investigated by transcriptomics and metabolomics. A total of 12,706 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from the fresh tea leaves in the JP group, of which tea-20 vs. tea-200 had the largest number of DEGs, up to 9,041 (4,459 down-regulated genes, 4,582 up-regulated genes). A total of 644 common genes in the fresh leaves of three different ages of tea plants in the JP group were differentially expressed. A total of 8,971 DEGs were screened from the fresh leaf samples of tea plants in the YX group, of which the number of DEGs obtained in the tea-50 vs. tea-400 comparison combination was the largest with a total of 3,723 (1,722 up-regulated genes and 2,001 down-regulated genes). A total of 147 common genes were differentially expressed in the fresh leaves of three different tree ages in the YX group. The pathway enrichment analysis showed that most up-regulated DEGs and their related metabolic pathways were similar in the two groups, and that the metabolic pathways of common significant enrichment included flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropane biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and plant pathogen interaction. The metabolomics results showed that 72 and 117 different metabolites were screened from the JP and YX groups, respectively. Most of the different metabolites in the two groups were flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, and their derivatives. Among them, the number of down-regulated flavonoids in older tea plants is generally higher than the number of up-regulated flavonoids. Moreover, according to the sensory evaluation results of dried tea of fresh leaves from tea plants of different ages, tea-1200 and tea-400 showed the highest sensory evaluation scores in their groups. With increase in plant age, the fragrance of the tea was more elegant, and it changed from a dense scent to a faint scent; the tea tasted sweet and its freshness increased, while the sense of astringency was weakened and the concentration declined. Therefore, the quality difference of tea of different tree ages is mainly related to secondary metabolic pathways such as the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. With increase in tea age, a large number of gene expression in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway is down-regulated, which reduces the content of bitter flavonoid substances in fresh leaves and makes tea soup more mellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Vitis belongs to the Vitaceae family and is divided into two subgenera: Muscadinia and Vitis, the main difference between these subgenera being the number of chromosomes. There are many hypotheses about the origin of the genus, which have been formed with archaeological studies and lately with molecular analyses. Even though there is no consensus on the place of origin, these studies have shown that grapes have been used by man since ancient times, starting later on its domestication. Most studies point to the Near East and Greece as the beginning of domestication, current research suggests it took place in parallel in different sites, but in all cases Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. sylvestris [Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hagi] seems to be the species chosen by our ancestors to give rise to the now known Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. vinifera [=sativa (Hegi)= caucasica (Vavilov)]. Its evolution and expansion into other territories followed the formation of new empires and their expansion, and this is where the historical importance of this crop lies. In this process, plants with hermaphrodite flowers were preferentially selected, with firmer, sweeter, larger fruits of different colors, thus favoring the selection of genes associated with these traits, also resulting in a change in seed morphology. Currently, genetic improvement programs have made use of wild species for the introgression of disease resistance genes and tolerance to diverse soil and climate environments. In addition, the mapping of genes of interest, both linked to agronomic and fruit quality traits, has allowed the use of molecular markers for assisted selection. Information on the domestication process and genetic resources help to understand the gene pool available for the development of cultivars that respond to producer and consumer requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato is the most consumed vegetable worldwide. Potato tubers contain water, starch, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The amounts of these chemicals depend on the cultivar and growing location. When potatoes are exposed to high temperatures during the growing period, tuber yield and quality are detrimentally affected; however, there is limited knowledge about the influence of high temperatures on tuber chemical composition. With temperatures rising around the globe, the reaction of potato cultivars to high temperatures is increasingly important, and heat-induced changes, including changes in the chemical composition of tubers, should be considered. The Texas A&M University Potato Breeding Program has been selecting potato clones under high-temperature conditions for many years. Several released cultivars are considered heat-tolerant based on high marketable yields and low internal and external tuber defects. In this study, we used Raman spectroscopy (RS), an analytical tool, to determine whether heat stress causes changes in the chemical composition of tubers of ten potato cultivars. RS is a non-invasive method that requires less time and labor than conventional chemical analysis. We found drastic changes in the intensities of vibrational bands that originate from carbohydrates in the spectra acquired from tubers of heat-stressed plants compared to tubers produced by potato plants grown under normal conditions. These results demonstrate that RS could be used as a replacement or complement to conventional chemical analysis to inspect the effect of heat stress on tuber chemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase of abiotic stress tolerance and nutritive value of foods is currently a priority because of climate change and rising world population. Among abiotic stresses, salt stress is one of the main problems in agriculture. Mounting urbanization and industrialization, and increasing global food demand, are pressing farmers to make use of marginal lands affected by salinity and lowquality saline water. In that situation, one of the most promising approaches is searching for new sources of genetic variation like salt-tolerant alternative crops or underexploited crops. They are generally less efficient than cultivated crops in optimal conditions due to lower yield but represent an alternative in stressful growth conditions. In this review, we summarize the advances achieved in research on underexploited species differing in their genetic nature. First, we highlight advances in research on salt tolerance of traditional varieties of tomato or landraces; varieties selected and developed by smallholder farmers for adaptation to their local environments showing specific attractive fruit quality traits. We remark advances attained in screening a collection of tomato traditional varieties gathered in Spanish Southeast, a very productive region which environment is extremely stressing. Second, we explore the opportunities of exploiting the natural variation of halophytes, in particular quinoa and amaranth. The adaptation of both species in stressful growth conditions is becoming an increasingly important issue, especially for their cultivation in arid and semiarid areas prone to be affected by salinity. Here we present a project developed in Spanish Southeast, where quinoa and amaranth varieties are being adapted for their culture under abiotic stress targeting high quality grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revival of interest in traditional varieties reflects the change in consumer preferences and the greater awareness of the quality of locally grown products. As ancient cultivars, heirlooms have been selected for decades in specific habitats and represent nowadays potential germplasm sources to consider for breeding high-quality products and cultivation in sustainable agriculture. In this study, 60 heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) accessions, including diverse varietal types (beefsteak, globe, oxheart, plum, and cherry), were profiled over two seasons for the main chemical and biochemical fruit traits. A medium-high level of heritability was found for all traits ranging from 0.52 for soluble solids to 0.99 for fruit weight. The average content of ascorbic acid was ~31 μg 100 g-1 of fw in both seasons, while the greatest variability was found for carotenoids with peaks of 245.65 μg g-1 of fw for total lycopene and 32.29 μg g-1 of fw for β-carotene. Dissection of genotypic (G) and seasonal (Y) factors highlighted genotype as the main source of variation for all traits. No significant effect of Y and G × Y was found for ascorbic acid and fruit weight, respectively, whereas a high influence of Y was found on the variation of lycopene. Molecular fingerprinting was performed using the 10K SolCAP array, yielding a total of 7,591 SNPs. Population structure, phylogenetic relationships, and principal components analysis highlighted a differentiation of plum and cherry genotypes with respect to the beefsteak and globe types. These results were confirmed by multivariate analysis of phenotypic traits, shedding light on how breeding and selection focused on fruit characteristics have influenced the genetic and phenotypic makeup of heirlooms. Marker-trait association showed 11 significantly associated loci for b-carotene and fruit weight. For bcarotene, a single variant on chromosome 8 was found at 12 kb to CCD8, a cleavage dioxygenase playing a key role in the biosynthesis of apocarotenoids. For fruit weight, a single association was located at less than 3 Mbp from SLSUN31 and fw11.3, two candidates involved in the increasing of fruit mass. These results highlight the potentiality of heirlooms for genetic improvement and candidate gene identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A validated texture-analysis method to evaluate product quality in frozen or cooked legumes is needed to support high-quality vegetable production but is not currently established in the literature. Peas, lima beans, and edamame were investigated in this study due to similar market use as well as growth in plant-based protein consumption in the United States. These three legumes were evaluated after three different processing treatments (blanch/freeze/thaw (BFT); BFT+microwave heat (BFT+M); BF+stove-top cooking (BF+C)), using both compression and puncture analysis following an American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) texture analysis method and moisture testing following an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard method. Texture analysis results showed differences between legumes and processing methods. Compression analysis identified more differences between treatments within product type than puncture for both edamame and lima beans indicating compression might be more sensitive to texture changes in these products. Implementation of a standard texture method for legume vegetables for growers and producers would provide a consistent quality check to support efficient production of high-quality legumes. Due to the sensitivity obtained from the compression texture method in this work, compression should be considered for future research into a robust method to evaluate edamame and lima bean textures throughout the growing and production processes.

Cereal grains have been domesticated largely from food grains to feed and malting grains. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) remains unparalleled in its success as a primary brewing grain. However, there is renewed interest in “alternative” grains for brewing (and distilling) due to attention being placed on flavor, quality, and health (i.e., gluten issues) aspects that they may offer. This review covers basic and general information on “alternative grains” for malting and brewing, as well as an in-depth look at several major biochemical aspects of these grains including starch, protein, polyphenols, and lipids. These traits are described in terms of their effects on processing and flavor, as well as the prospects for improvement through breeding. These aspects have been studied extensively in barley, but little is known about the functional properties in other crops for malting and brewing. In addition, the complex nature of malting and brewing produces a large number of brewing targets but requires extensive processing, laboratory analysis, and accompanying sensory analysis. However, if a better understanding of the potential of alternative crops that can be used in malting and brewing is needed, then significantly more research is required.

The genus Vitis belongs to the Vitaceae family and is divided into two subgenera: Muscadinia and Vitis, the main difference between these subgenera being the number of chromosomes. There are many hypotheses about the origin of the genus, which have been formed with archaeological studies and lately with molecular analyses. Even though there is no consensus on the place of origin, these studies have shown that grapes have been used by man since ancient times, starting later on its domestication. Most studies point to the Near East and Greece as the beginning of domestication, current research suggests it took place in parallel in different sites, but in all cases Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. sylvestris [Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hagi] seems to be the species chosen by our ancestors to give rise to the now known Vitis vinifera (L.) subsp. vinifera [=sativa (Hegi)= caucasica (Vavilov)]. Its evolution and expansion into other territories followed the formation of new empires and their expansion, and this is where the historical importance of this crop lies. In this process, plants with hermaphrodite flowers were preferentially selected, with firmer, sweeter, larger fruits of different colors, thus favoring the selection of genes associated with these traits, also resulting in a change in seed morphology. Currently, genetic improvement programs have made use of wild species for the introgression of disease resistance genes and tolerance to diverse soil and climate environments. In addition, the mapping of genes of interest, both linked to agronomic and fruit quality traits, has allowed the use of molecular markers for assisted selection. Information on the domestication process and genetic resources help to understand the gene pool available for the development of cultivars that respond to producer and consumer requirements.