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Accurately and promptly monitoring the nutritional conditions of fruit orchards is crucial for providing optimal fertilizer recommendations, which in turn improves yield and enhances the quality of agricultural products. The current laboratory methods used to evaluate nutritional condition in fruit trees are expensive, challenging, time-consuming, and require an expert. In this study, image processing methods and neural network models was utilized to determine the stages of iron deficiency in peach trees. Therefore, a database containing 800 images of peach leaf samples was acquired. These images were then classified into four categories using the KNN clustering method: no deficiency, low deficiency, moderate deficiency, and severe deficiency. The preprocessing, feature extraction, and modeling operations were performed in the MATLAB software, version 2017. Features such as mean and standard deviation were extracted from the RGB, HSV, and Lab color space components of each image. Subsequently, the principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm was applied to the feature vector. To determine the optimal structure of the network, criteria including precision, accuracy, recall, and the F1-score were evaluated. These criteria helped ascertain the number of optimal inputs and the corresponding number of neurons for each combination of input features (PCs). Results indicated that the neural network model, structured as 6-36-4, achieved an accuracy of 89.73 ± 0.54%, precision of 89.59 ± 0.57%, recall of 89.52 ± 0.51%, and an F1-score of 89.55 ± 0.54% in detecting levels of iron deficiency in peach tree leaves. The findings from the confusion matrix and the developed model reveal that this method can effectively and efficiently detect the severity of iron deficiency in peach tree leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Fruit and vegetables are highly perishable. In an era where reducing food waste is absolutely essential, packaging is important for maintaining the postharvest quality of these fresh products. Research is working to reduce the use of synthetic materials, not safe for the environment and human health. In this perspective, chitosan emerges as a viable solution for this purpose, as it is biodegradable, biocompatible and also safe for food application. The growing interest in using insects as a source of chitin has allowed for increased exploitation of insect-based waste products to recover valuable materials, such as biopolymers. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is the most widely reared species in Europe for feed production and waste management. Results In this work, fresh mature apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.), nectarines (Prunus persica vulgaris Mill.) and yellow peaches (Prunus persica var. laevis Gray) were coated with 0.5% and 1% chitosan from the pupal exuviae of Hermetia illucens, applied by spraying and stored at room temperature or 4 °C until they decay. Then, to validate the effectiveness of chitosan as a polymer for fruit preservation, several parameters including pH, TSS and weight loss were evaluated. Conclusions The results showed that chitosan derived from the black soldier fly is as effective as or better than the commercially available crustacean chitosan in maintaining more stable some storage parameters in fresh apricots, nectarines and peaches. Thus, insects, especially Hermetia illucens, are confirmed as a viable alternative source of the polymer. Graphical Abstract

Key message: MeJA supplementation enhanced the chilling tolerance and gene expression of PpMsrA1. PpMYB105 protein positively regulated the PpMsrA1 promoter. PpMYB105 mediated the MeJA-boosted chilling tolerance by regulating PpMsrA1. Cold storage can maintain the quality of postharvest fruit. However, peaches easily suffer from chilling injury (CI) during cold storage, leading to economic loss. Results showed that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) supplementation reduced the CI severity, and enhanced the gene expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase A1 (PpMsrA1). It was found that MeJA application elevated the MsrA activity and methionine (Met) content, and reduced the methionine-S-sulfoxide (Met-S-SO) content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production afterwards. Moreover, PpMYB105 could activate the transcription of PpMsrA1 by binding to the MYB binding element in its promoter. The gene expression of PpMYB105 was up-regulated by MeJA application. Overexpression of PpMYB105 in tomatoes enhanced the chilling tolerance and gene expression of SlMsrA1. Virus-induced gene silencing of PpMYB105 in peaches resulted in the increase in CI severity and the decrease in gene expression of PpMsrA1. Thus, PpMYB105 was involved in the MeJA-boosted chilling tolerance by regulating PpMsrA1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The present study tracks changes in the development of two native peach varieties (“Laskava” and “Evmolpiya”) from fruit formation to full ripening within five calendar weeks. In search for a non-destructive method for maturity assessment, the parameters firmness, color, size, weight, dry weight, ash content, and TSS values were evaluated. It was found that a 30% increase in size and a 1.8-2 times increase in weight occurred during the ripening period. The TSS data did not change radically, which shows that the main nutrients of the peach accumulate in the early stages of development. The color indicators change in the following trend: a decrease in the “L”, “h” and “b” values, and a tendency of increase in the “c” values. The stone size does not change drastically during the evaluation time. The moisture content also does not change significantly, although in the initial stage of fruit growth it cannot be characterized by juiciness. Firmness progressively decreases. The obtained results show grounds for the creation of a database of expected markers which may indicate the onset of maturity without the fruit being pulled from the tree or damaged.

Peaches are a promising option for the Florida agricultural industry with plenty of revenue streams including fresh market, U-pick, and retail sales, as well as alternatives in the juicing and fermentation industries. This publication discusses a 2018 case study completed on a Florida peach cultivar. ‘UFSun’ were harvested, processed into juice, and analyzed for sugar content, juice yield, and general economic feasibility. UF/IFAS has bred peach cultivars that grow commercially in tropical and subtropical climates such as Florida’s and are harvest-ready two months before the rest of the United States, offering competitive advantages. Unfortunately, their small size renders them less profitable in fresh markets compared to larger non-Florida cultivars. Knowing the processing characteristics of Florida peaches provides valuable information for peach farmers who are considering using their peaches for juicing, fermentation, and similar purposes.

Background: Fruit and vegetables are highly perishable. In an era where reducing food waste is absolutely essential, packaging is important for maintaining the postharvest quality of these fresh products. Research is working to reduce the use of synthetic materials, not safe for the environment and human health. In this perspective, chitosan emerges as a viable solution for this purpose, as it is biodegradable, biocompatible and also safe for food application. The growing interest in using insects as a source of chitin has allowed for increased exploitation of insect-based waste products to recover valuable materials, such as biopolymers. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) is the most widely reared species in Europe for feed production and waste management. Results: In this work, fresh mature apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.), nectarines (Prunus persica vulgaris Mill.) and yellow peaches (Prunus persica var. laevis Gray) were coated with 0.5% and 1% chitosan from the pupal exuviae of Hermetia illucens, applied by spraying and stored at room temperature or 4 °C until they decay. Then, to validate the effectiveness of chitosan as a polymer for fruit preservation, several parameters including pH, TSS and weight loss were evaluated. Conclusions: The results showed that chitosan derived from the black soldier fly is as effective as or better than the commercially available crustacean chitosan in maintaining more stable some storage parameters in fresh apricots, nectarines and peaches. Thus, insects, especially Hermetia illucens, are confirmed as a viable alternative source of the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision agriculture aimed to increase crop yields while protecting the surrounding environment, uses products for crop protection. This measure seeks to prevent the growth of pests and diseases that cause economic losses or complications of a quaternary nature, which would have an even more significant impact on marketing and agricultural production, which is why the need has arisen to develop technological tools for early detection and preventive control to manage the different pests and diseases that affect these crops. Machine learning has become a key tool to provide analytical and computational solutions for the detection and/or classification of pests. In this study, we present the proposal of two different convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures with the help of data augmentation, allowing us 87 % accuracy in detecting the severity of lesions caused by Peach leaf curl fungus (Torque) and Rust on peach leaves. The set of images is obtained with a mobile device with high-resolution cameras in the municipality of Chitagá in Norte de Santander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing orders allow farmers to collectively fund industry-wide services that may be difficult to provide through a voluntary approach. But not all farmers support collective approaches. We employed ballot data from U.S. Department of Agriculture and survey data we collected to explore why farmers in California voted to terminate the federal fresh peach and nectarine marketing orders in 2011 and the implications of this termination. Even after controlling for other factors, we found that farmers who produced more were significantly less likely to vote for continuation. We also found that detailed industry information provided via the marketing orders was significantly more important to respondents voting for continuation, and respondents with more organic production were significantly more likely to vote for continuation. These results suggest farmers may have lost important production and marketing resources due to termination of the orders, with evidence that smaller farms were more affected. This termination may thus have accelerated the exit of farmers from this industry.

Abstract The cold‐sensitive peach fruits are prone to chilling injury (CI). γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been confirmed to effectively improve peaches’ cold tolerance. This research aimed to probe the role of dynamic changes in membrane lipid metabolism in GABA‐mediated peaches’ cold tolerance and reveal the underlying mechanisms based on lipid metabolomics. GABA treatment improved peaches’ cold tolerance by reducing phosphatidic acid (PA) accumulation via inhibiting phospholipid degradation, attenuating PA biosynthesis, and maintaining higher phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels. Under chilling conditions, GABA treatment protected peaches against low‐temperature stress and delayed CI by maintaining higher PC and PE levels and enhancing the massive accumulation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and triacylglycerol (TAG). This study provides a novel mechanism regulating cold tolerance of postharvest peach fruits.

The present study tracks changes in the development of two native peach varieties ("Laskava" and "Evmolpiya") from fruit formation to full ripening within five calendar weeks. In search for a non-destructive method for maturity assessment, the parameters firmness, color, size, weight, dry weight, ash content, and TSS values were evaluated. It was found that a 30% increase in size and a 1.8-2 times increase in weight occurred during the ripening period. The TSS data did not change radically, which shows that the main nutrients of the peach accumulate in the early stages of development. The color indicators change in the following trend: a decrease in the "L", "h" and "b" values, and a tendency of increase in the "c" values. The stone size does not change drastically during the evaluation time. The moisture content also does not change significantly, although in the initial stage of fruit growth it cannot be characterized by juiciness. Firmness progressively decreases. The obtained results show grounds for the creation of a database of expected markers which may indicate the onset of maturity without the fruit being pulled from the tree or damaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A study was conducted to determine the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and changes in surface color and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content in fresh and pre‐frozen peach slices stored at different temperatures. In this study, fresh (F) and pre‐frozen (P) peaches were subjected to one of four treatments: (i) no treatment (N); (ii) blanching in boiling (96 °C ± 4 °C) water (B); (iii) dipping in 2% l‐ascorbic acid and 2% citric acid (AC); or (iv) blanching placed in boiling water, cooling and dipping in 2% ascorbic acid and 2% citric acid (BAC). Peaches from each treatment group were held at −7, −9, or − 12 °C for 21 days. RESULTS: After 21 days of storage, PPO activity and browning was greater in peaches stored at −7 °C than the PPO activity and browning of peaches stored at −9 °C and − 12 °C. Overall, lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), chroma (c*) and hue (h*) decreased while redness (a*) increased during storage. The BAC peaches had less discoloration and lower PPO activity than peach slices exposed to other treatments. Non‐enzymatic browning (HMF indicator) was more pronounced for blanched peaches during storage than unblanched peaches. Pretreatment of blanched peaches with ascorbic and citric acid reduced browning during 21 days at frozen storage for peaches held at −9 °C or − 12 °C. CONCLUSION: Storage at −12 °C significantly reduced browning and HMF formation in both blanched and unblanched peach slices in comparison with −7 °C storage. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field trial was carried out in Sulaymaniyah Governorate during the autumn season of 2021 to study the effect of the number of Repeat herbicides the effect on weed accompanying peach trees yield and fruit quality characteristics. The first factor is the number of applications of herbicides (once, twice) and the second factor is the five control treatments (control, glyphosate 1500 ml/dunam herbicide concentration, glyphosate1000 ml/dunam herbicide concentration + magnetization of the spray solution, paraquat herbicide concentration 500 ml/dunam, and paraquat herbicide concentration 250 ml/dunam+ magnetization of the spray solution). The results indicated that repeat control times gave a significant effect on the wet and dry weight of the weed roots 40 and 60 days after control gave a weight of (161.54, 136.18) gm of wet weight a (66.39, 48.23) mg of dry weight. The treatment of glyphosate + magnetization of the spray solution achieved the lowest wet and dry weight after 23.682 mg 60 days after control, as for the effects of interaction tow applications with the treatment of glyphosate + magnetization of the spray solution, the lowest dry weight was reached 19.493 g after 60 days for control. Paraquat treatment achieved the highest yield/tree rate of 17.917 kg, and one of peach 135.739 g and size of peach 118.33 cm3, the treatment of glyphosate + magnetization of the spray solution achieved the highest control rate of 87.3%, and the lowest control rate was 44.0, which was achieved with Paraquat. Concluded from thistrial that the herbicides affected controlling the weeds associated with peach Increasing yield and quality.

Beer is traditionally brewed using barley, hops, water, and yeast. Historically, fruit has been utilized in brewing operations as a source of carbohydrates, color, and/or flavor. This practice has been increasing in recent years due to economic and market factors. While many scientific studies have shown that it is both possible and desirable to include fruits in brewing operations, there is little research published on how to properly evaluate their potential for use in brewing. This review aims to introduce and discuss the ways in which fermented products are impacted by the addition of fruit with respect to the following characteristics of the fruit and final product: sugars, volatiles, color, product identity, and microbial factors. To support this review, a case study is included in which peaches were evaluated for potential use as a fruit additive in a commercial brewing application. The peach juice, pre-addition beer, and final product were assessed based upon processing characteristics, sugar content and composition, color, volatile profile, and economic suitability for various applications in fermented beverages. This paper details the methods used to evaluate fruit as a guide for considering fruit as an addition to brewing formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is an imaging technique using spatially modulated illumination for measurement of optical properties. Conventional SFDI methods require capturing at least six images, making it time-consuming. This study presents a Generative Adversarial Network-Multi-Layer Perceptron (GAN-MLP) two-stage network (GMOPNet) for extracting high-precision optical properties of kiwifruit and peaches from a single SFDI image, enabling real-time continuous wide-band SFDI. The GMOPNet we proposed leverages the GAN to predict diffuse reflectance, followed by the MLP with Monte Carlo prior knowledge to predict optical properties. Our method achieves mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) of 5.91% for the absorption coefficient (μ a ) and 5.23% for the reduced scattering coefficient ( [Formula: see text] ), reducing acquisition and processing time significantly, with single inference taking 31.13 ms. The MAPE of the μ a and the [Formula: see text] were 6.73% and 6.34% for kiwifruit and 5.80% and 6.65% for peaches, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S. submitted a request to the competent national authority in Greece to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance pyriproxyfen in apricots and peaches. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposal of 0.4 mg/kg for apricots, whereas for peaches an MRL amendment is not necessary. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of pyriproxyfen on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the intended use of pyriproxyfen on apricots and peaches according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organizations of horticultural producers and, particularly, those that deal with extremely perishable endogenous fruits, such as peaches and cherries, have a greater need to optimize production flows and processes. A particularity of the horticultural industry is the short shelf life of raw materials and the seasonality of products. In this paper, optimization techniques are used to improve the production flows and the management of cold storage and distribution in a fruit central. The application of Lean tools allowed reducing the cycle time by 4.37 min and the lead time by 7.10 min of the whole process, i.e., a reduction of 35.5% and 10.6% of the cycle time and lead time, respectively, excluding the cold conservation operation. The study shows that it is possible to reduce, or even eliminate, waste throughout the process, reduce unnecessary movement, adapt the layout, maximize workspace, and level stocks, as well as greater supplier involvement in a continuous improvement approach. This approach can be outlined as a good practice for the optimization of productive flows and management logistics that may benefit productivity, energy efficiency, human resources distribution, food quality, and reduce food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The article presents a three-year traceability (2018, 2019, 2020) of biometric results of the fruits of eight peach and nectarine varieties. The study covers the fifth, sixth and seventh vegetation period from the period of full fruiting. Varieties included in this investigation were “Filina” (peach, clingstone), “Gergana” (nectarine, clingstone), “July Lady” (peach, semi-clingstone), “Ufo 4” (flat peach, semi-clingstone), “Laskava” (peach, freestone), “Morsiani 90” (nectarine, freestone), “Flat Queen” (flat peach, freestone), and “Evmolpiya” (peach, freestone). The experimental collection plantation was created in the spring of 2014 on the territory of the Fruit Growing Research Institute, Plovdiv, (lat. 42.10384828045957 and long. 24.72164848814686). The data analysis shows that the varieties “Laskava” and “Evmolpiya” produce fruits with the highest weight – 319.60 g and 303.60 g, respectively. Medium weight is registered in the “Morsiani 90” variety (226.07 g) and the “July Lady” variety (193.87 g). “UFO 4” is characterized with the smallest fruits – an average of 143.83 g and the highest flesh yield. Considering the fact that the “Filina” variety is very early ripening, its fruits can be treated as large for the season – 170.21 g. The stones of the “July Lady”, “Morsiani 90” and “Evmolpiya” varieties have the largest average mass

Abstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S. submitted a request to the competent national authority in Greece to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance pyriproxyfen in apricots and peaches. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposal of 0.4 mg/kg for apricots, whereas for peaches an MRL amendment is not necessary. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of pyriproxyfen on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short‐term and long‐term intake of residues resulting from the intended use of pyriproxyfen on apricots and peaches according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

The effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on promotion of chilling tolerance and the methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR)-thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) system in peach (Prunus persica) fruit were investigated. The peaches were immersed in distilled water (as a control) and GABA solution followed by chilling treatment for 35 days. GABA treatment suppressed the augmentation of chilling injury (CI) index and weight loss rate, and the decline of firmness and total soluble solids content in peaches caused by chilling. The superoxide anion (O2·−) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and reactive oxygen species accumulation were also retarded following GABA application. GABA treatment elevated the activity and gene expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) and MSRB. Moreover, the activity and gene expression of TrxR were enhanced by GABA application. Additionally, GABA treatment increased the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) content and decreased the oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) content, consequently boosting the NADPH/NADP ratio. Also, the activity and gene expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6GPDH) were promoted following GABA application. Thus, GABA treatment induced the MSR-TrxR system, consequently reducing CI in peaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of PpCBF6 in phytosulfokine α (PSKα)-ameliorated chilling injury (CI) by suppressing the expression of lipoxygenase 5 (LOX5) in peach fruit was revealed. The peaches were immersed in distilled water and PSKα solution. PSKα application inhibited the progression of CI index and weight loss, and the reduction of firmness and total soluble solids content in peaches. The endogenous PSKα accumulation and gene expression of PSK receptor 1 (PSKR1) and PSKR2 were up regulated by PSKα application. The superoxide anion (O2–) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content decreased by PSKα application. Furthermore, PSKα application reduced the gene expression of 12 PpLOXs and LOX activity. The gene expression of 6 PpCBFs was enhanced by PSKα application. Importantly, after PSKα application, among 12 PpLOXs , the decrease in gene expression of PpLOX5 was the lowest, and among 6 PpCBFs , the increase in gene expression of PpCBF6 was the highest. Further results suggested that PpCBF6 bound to the C-repeat/dehydration responsive element (CRT/DRE) motif in PpLOX5 promoter, and repressed its transcription. Thus, PpCBF6 was involved in the PSKα-retarded CI by inhibiting the expression of PpLOX5 in peaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out in Sulaymaniyah Governorate during the autumn of 2021 to study the effect of frequency of herbicide application and the magnetization of the herbicide spray solution on chemical control of weeds accompanying peach trees, yield, and fruit quality characteristics. A twofactorial experiment was installed. The first factor is the number of applications (with 2 levels, once and twice, respectively) and the second factor is the treatment (with 5 levels: control, glyphosate 1500mL·dunam-1, glyphosate 1000 mL·dunam-1 + magnetization of the spray solution, paraquat 500mL·dunam-1, and paraquat 250mL·dunam-1 + magnetization of the spray solution). The dry weight of the weeds after 30 days of control was reduced to 284.92 g·m-2 compared with the one-time application which was 318.03 g·m-2. However, the dry weight of the roots after 40 days was reduced to 66.392 g·m-2 compared with the one-time application of 126.035 g·m-2. The magnetization of spray solution was significantly superior in all studied parameters over the addition of herbicides without magnetization, in which the lowest dry weight of the weeds after 60 days of control was 60.123 g·m-2, while the highest values of leaf area and chlorophyll content were 46.331 cm2 and 29.567 SPAD, respectively. In general, once or twice, the control treatments achieved the best results in all studied traits compared to the non-control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to determine some physicochemical, composition and sensory attributes of early-ripening peach varieties: “Filina” (peach), “Gergana” (nectarine), and “Ufo-4” (flat peach). Fruit weight, shape and size, as well as color and firmness were evaluated. Image analysis was used to describe properties such as length, width, thickness, etc. Skin hue ranged from 33.45±10.70 to 42.75±29.87. Dry matter (%), ash content (%), total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total sugar content, and protein content were employed to characterize the studied varieties. Results showed differences in all properties of the types. Ash content varied from 0.45±0.04% to 0.96±0.12% and pH from 3.95 to 4.46. “Gergana” had the lowest total soluble solids. A trained descriptive sensory panel evaluated the peach varieties in five categories with a total of twenty-five attributes. The fruit attributes were evaluated by a 15-point ascending scale. The panellists detected differences between varieties in each of the categories (aroma, texture, taste, internal and external appearance). These results offer and highlight new data in terms of early-ripening peach variety properties.A trained descriptive sensory panel evaluated the peach varieties in five categories with a total of twenty-five attributes. The fruit attributes were evaluated by a 15-point scale, in which 15 equals more of an attribute. The panelists detected differences between genotypes in each of the categories (aroma, texture, taste, internal and external appearance). These results offer and highlight new data in terms of early-ripening peach variety properties.

The involvement of PpCBF6 in phytosulfokine α (PSKα)-ameliorated chilling injury (CI) by suppressing the expression of lipoxygenase 5 (LOX5) in peach fruit was revealed. The peaches were immersed in distilled water and PSKα solution. PSKα application inhibited the progression of CI index and weight loss, and the reduction of firmness and total soluble solids content in peaches. The endogenous PSKα accumulation and gene expression of PSK receptor 1 (PSKR1) and PSKR2 were up regulated by PSKα application. The superoxide anion (O2–) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content decreased by PSKα application. Furthermore, PSKα application reduced the gene expression of 12 PpLOXs and LOX activity. The gene expression of 6 PpCBFs was enhanced by PSKα application. Importantly, after PSKα application, among 12 PpLOXs, the decrease in gene expression of PpLOX5 was the lowest, and among 6 PpCBFs, the increase in gene expression of PpCBF6 was the highest. Further results suggested that PpCBF6 bound to the C-repeat/dehydration responsive element (CRT/DRE) motif in PpLOX5 promoter, and repressed its transcription. Thus, PpCBF6 was involved in the PSKα-retarded CI by inhibiting the expression of PpLOX5 in peaches.

Food waste occurs from harvesting to consumption. Applying procedures and technologies, changing attitudes, and promoting awareness have positive social, economic, and environmental impacts that can contribute to reducing food waste. The paper presents a decision support system (DSS) to predict the quality evolution of fruits and vegetables, particularly of peaches, and estimate its commercialization period at the highest overall perceived quality by consumers, thus contributing to reducing food waste. The Fuzzy Logic DSS predicts the evolution of the physical-chemical parameters of peaches (hardness, soluble solids content, and acidity) depending on the cultivar (Royal Summer and Royal Time), storage time, and temperature. As the range of the values of these physical-chemical parameters of peaches that consumers perceive to be at their highest quality are known, the DSS predicts the marketable period in days. Case studies were developed to analyze the influence of each physical-chemical parameter on the commercialization days (number and time to start). It is concluded that temperature is the most important parameter for fruit conservation. A low value of conservation temperature allows for the significant extension of the time that peaches can be sold at the highest quality. Hardness is used to determine the harvest date since it is an index of fruit ripeness. The same conclusion is obtained for the influence of the soluble solids content. The influence of acidity on marketable days is less than the other physical-chemical parameters. This DSS helps retailers to sell their peaches at the highest quality with benefits for all parties. It also helps in the decision-making concerning the actions to take when fruits are reaching the end of their highest quality by predicting the range of the commercialization days. This formulation can be extended to other fruits and vegetables and in the last instance contribute to the reduction of food loss and waste, consequently promoting social, economic, and environmental aspects of our daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present research presents a comprehensive characterization of polyphenols from peach, pear, and plum using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), followed by the determination of their antioxidant potential. Plums showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 0.62 mg GAE/g), while peaches showed the highest total flavonoid content (TFC; 0.29 mg QE/g), also corresponding to their high scavenging activities (i.e., DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TAC). In all three fruit samples, a total of 51 polyphenolic compounds were tentatively identified and were mainly characterized from hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxyphenylpentanoic acids, flavanols, flavonols, and isoflavonoids subclasses. Twenty targeted phenolic compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). The plum cultivar showed the highest content of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, 11.86 mg/100 g), whereas peach samples showed the highest concentration of flavonoids (catechin, 7.31 mg/100 g), as compared to pear. Based on these findings, the present research contributes and complements the current characterization data of these fruits presented in the literature, as well as ensures and encourages the utilization of these fruits in different food, feed, and nutraceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In addition to the capacity of high‐pressure processing (HPP) to preserve fruits, recent studies highlight the ability of this technology to increase the content of antioxidants. The aim of this work was to find the HPP conditions able to maximise the increase in antioxidants in minimally processed peaches without affecting the overall quality, complemented by a microstructural study to better understand the observed effects. Therefore, minimally processed peaches were subjected to HPP treatment with different pressure levels (100, 300 and 500 MPa) and holding times (1,5 min). Results showed that 300 and 500 MPa induced a significant increase in the antioxidant content, which can be partially linked to the increase in the extractability of these compounds brought about by the changes in the microstructure. It can be concluded that a treatment at 300 MPa for 1 min is enough to induce a significant increase in antioxidants, without causing deterioration of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Georgia fruit growers embodied the intelligent, business-minded mentality about which New South boosters preached. Rather than stubbornly adding to the already glutted cotton markets, these modern farmers diversified. In supplying urban markets with fruit and truck, growers drew the attention of northern capital southward. Queen Peach and her cousins would supplant King Cotton and bring prosperity to the prostrate South. Yet it was with the New South’s critics that many growers allied themselves in the 1890s. Despite epitomizing scientific agriculture and virtuous industry, Georgia growers asserted the near impossibility of squeezing prof­its from fruit. Railroads, they argued, hindered the promised progress and liberation through extortionate freight rates. Consequently, growers became leaders of Georgia’s Populist revolt. Their story challenges notions of Populism as backward-looking while revealing the inef­fi­ciencies, failures, and precarities of corporate capitalism exemplified by southern railroads. Moreover, it demonstrates the Populists’ distinct threat to the rising corporate order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic and eco-friendly peaches, Prunus persica L., over conventional peaches in Utah. Data were collected at farmers’ markets across Utah, including actual peach purchases coupled with an in-person survey and analyzed using logit models. The results show that farmers’ market shoppers are willing to pay a premium for organic and eco-friendly peaches of $2.10 and $1.41 per pound, respectively. The importance of selected sustainability attributes positively impacted shopper preferences for eco-friendly peaches, while attitudes and lifestyle were associated with stronger shopper preferences for organic peaches. The distinct differences between shoppers who prefer organic and those who prefer eco-friendly, as well as the disparity in premiums, imply that growers should strongly consider their markets and cost of production differences when choosing organic certification over other less expensive differentiation schemes.

Marketing orders allow farmers to collectively fund industry-wide services that may be difficult to provide through a voluntary approach. But not all farmers support collective approaches. We employed ballot data from U.S. Department of Agriculture and survey data we collected to explore why farmers in California voted to terminate the federal fresh peach and nectarine marketing orders in 2011 and the implications of this termination. Even after controlling for other factors, we found that farmers who produced more were significantly less likely to vote for continuation. We also found that detailed industry information provided via the marketing orders was significantly more important to respondents voting for continuation, and respondents with more organic production were significantly more likely to vote for continuation. These results suggest farmers may have lost important production and marketing resources due to termination of the orders, with evidence that smaller farms were more affected. This termination may thus have accelerated the exit of farmers from this industry.

BACKGROUND: Flonicamid and dinotefuran are widely applied to control pests and diseases in various economic crops arousing much public concerns about the potential risk to human health. In this study, the multi‐determination and residual behavior of flonicamid–dinotefuran mixture on peach trees were investigated. The chronic risk of long‐term dietary intake for Chinese consumers was evaluated. RESULTS: An optimized QuEChERS method combined with ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) analysis for simultaneous determination of flonicamid, dinotefuran and its metabolites was established to analyze the residual dissipation and terminal residues in peach matrices. The results demonstrated that (i) a satisfactory linearity relationship with the detector response and the correlation coefficient R2 > 0.999, the average recoveries of these four analytes ranged from 94 to 108%, the relative standard deviation was between 1.0% and 8.8%, and the limit of the quantitation was 0.02 mg kg−1; (ii) the dissipation behaviors of flonicamid and dinotefuran followed with the first‐order dynamic kinetics model, and the half‐lives were 6.9–12.4 days and 8.1–15.1 days, respectively; (iii) the recommended preharvest interval (PHI) was 21 days, the risk quotient (RQ) values of flonicamid and dinotefuran were 16.6 and 20.7%, respectively, which were significantly less than 100%. CONCLUSION: The established analytical method met the detection requirement in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. Additionally, the results indicated that the potential dietary intake risk of the flonicamid–dinotefuran mixture on peach trees was negligible. This work can be utilized in the safe and responsible use of flonicamid–dinotefuran mixture and provide guidance for establishing its maximum residue limit (MRL) in China. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beer is traditionally brewed using barley, hops, water, and yeast. Historically, fruit has been utilized in brewing operations as a source of carbohydrates, color, and/or flavor. This practice has been increasing in recent years due to economic and market factors. While many scientific studies have shown that it is both possible and desirable to include fruits in brewing operations, there is little research published on how to properly evaluate their potential for use in brewing. This review aims to introduce and discuss the ways in which fermented products are impacted by the addition of fruit with respect to the following characteristics of the fruit and final product: sugars, volatiles, color, product identity, and microbial factors. To support this review, a case study is included in which peaches were evaluated for potential use as a fruit additive in a commercial brewing application. The peach juice, pre-addition beer, and final product were assessed based upon processing characteristics, sugar content and composition, color, volatile profile, and economic suitability for various applications in fermented beverages. This paper details the methods used to evaluate fruit as a guide for considering fruit as an addition to brewing formulations.

Abstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Cheminova A/S submitted a request to the competent national authority in Spain to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance acrinathrin in peaches and sweet peppers. The data submitted in support of the request were found sufficient to derive MRL proposals for both crops. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of acrinathrin and its enantiomer in the plant matrices under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.02 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short‐ and long‐term intake of residues resulting from the use of acrinathrin according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

Suicidal ingestion of food which the victim is aware they are allergic to is an exceptional occurrence in the forensic field. To the best of our knowledge, no cases of suicidal food anaphylaxis have been reported to date. Therefore we present the first case described in the literature. A 30-year-old prisoner was found dead inside his cell with the remains of a peach remains next to his body, and a handwritten farewell note in his pocket. The autopsy revealed only non-specific findings, while laboratory investigations (serological, toxicological, histological, and immunohistochemical) played a pivotal role in determing the cause and manner of death. In particular, a high titer of both total and specific IgE antibodies was detected, as well as an increase of the tryptase level in cadaveric blood. Moreover, a massive concentration of salicylates was measured in the gastric contents. Microscopically, cellular residues characterized by a vegetal structure were observed in the gastric contents and elements suggestive of mast cells were detected in the glottis, lungs, and myocardium. The immunohistochemical investigation with anti-CD117 and anti-tryptase antibodies showed positivity for mast cells, some of which appeared degranulated. Such findings were entirely consistent with an acute systemic anaphylactic reaction triggered by allergy. Therefore, the prisoner's death was attributed to self-induced food anaphylaxis caused by the ingestion of peaches. This conclusion was achieved based only on circumstantial data, anamnestic information, autopsy findings, and multiple laboratory results. This integrated approach should be used to pursue a post-mortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a three-year traceability (2018, 2019, 2020) of biometric results of the fruits of eight peach and nectarine varieties. The study covers the fifth, sixth and seventh vegetation period from the period of full fruiting. Varieties included in this investigation were "Filina" (peach, clingstone), "Gergana" (nectarine, clingstone), "July Lady" (peach, semi-clingstone), "Ufo 4" (flat peach, semi-clingstone), "Laskava" (peach, freestone), "Morsiani 90" (nectarine, freestone), "Flat Queen" (flat peach, freestone), and "Evmolpiya" (peach, freestone). The experimental collection plantation was created in the spring of 2014 on the territory of the Fruit Growing Research Institute, Plovdiv, (lat. 42.10384828045957 and long. 24.72164848814686). The data analysis shows that the varieties "Laskava" and "Evmolpiya" produce fruits with the highest weight - 319.60 g and 303.60 g, respectively. Medium weight is registered in the "Morsiani 90" variety (226.07 g) and the "July Lady" variety (193.87 g). "UFO 4" is characterized with the smallest fruits -- an average of 143.83 g and the highest flesh yield. Considering the fact that the "Filina" variety is very early ripening, its fruits can be treated as large for the season - 170.21 g. The stones of the "July Lady", "Morsiani 90" and "Evmolpiya" varieties have the largest average mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Cheminova A/S submitted a request to the competent national authority in Spain to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance acrinathrin in peaches and sweet peppers. The data submitted in support of the request were found sufficient to derive MRL proposals for both crops. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of acrinathrin and its enantiomer in the plant matrices under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.02 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short- and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of acrinathrin according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocontrol is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly technique used in agricultural production. We isolated and screened a bacterial strain from the soils of a peach orchard with high yield. Using biochemical and physiological analysis as well as phylogenetic sequencing data, we identified a strain of Bacillus methylotrophicus, strain XJ-C. The results of our screening trials showed that XJ-C was able to suppress M. fructicola at an inhibition rate of 81.57%. Following the application of a 1×109 CFU/mL XJ-C strain suspension to the fruits, leaves, and shoots of peach trees infected with M. fructicola, the inhibition rate reached 64.31%, 97.34%, and 64.28%, respectively. Using OM and SEM, we observed that, under the inhibition of strain XJ-C, M. fructicola mycelium and spores were abnormally shaped. Under TEM, cell walls were transparent, organelles had disappeared, and the intracellular vacuole was deformed. Thus, XJ-C has the potential to be used in biocontrol.

Abstract In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Nisso Chemical Europe GmbH submitted a request to the competent national authority in Italy to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance tebufenozide in apricots and peaches. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for apricots and peaches. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of tebufenozide on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short‐term and long‐term intake of residues resulting from the use of tebufenozide according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

Nearly half (45%) of the U.S. peach production is sold through the fresh market sector, making post-harvest disinfectant washing treatments a critical step for reducing surface microorganisms. This study was conducted to determine the effects of various disinfectant washing treatments on the surface decontamination of fresh whole freestone peaches. Minimal application of disinfectant washing treatments (five-second dip) reduced numbers of Listeria innocua recovered from inoculated peaches by 93% (acidified electrolyzed water containing 22 ppm sodium hypochlorite, pH 2.8) or 96% (chlorine containing 22 ppm sodium hypochlorite, pH 8.2) compared to cell counts on unwashed or water-only washed peaches. Increasing the wash time to 40 minutes resulted in a greater reduction in numbers of Listeria innocua recovered from the surfaces of peaches (99.95% and 99.9% for acidified electrolyzed water and chlorine treatments, respectively). All of the washing treatments decreased counts of total aerobic microorganisms on peaches (>92% reduction) when applied for 40 minutes. The results of this study demonstrate that washing peaches reduced but did not completely eliminate surface microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Nisso Chemical Europe GmbH submitted a request to the competent national authority in Italy to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance tebufenozide in apricots and peaches. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for apricots and peaches. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of tebufenozide on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of tebufenozide according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen varieties of peaches were included in the present study. The degree of blossom freezing (%) in two consecutive years 2019-2020 was studied. For this purpose, hierarchical cluster analysis and single-factor analysis of variance and Duncan's test were applied to assess the differences. It was found that the studied varieties can be grouped in four clusters according to similarity in the degree of frost in 2019 and in 2020. It was proved that in 2019 with the highest percentage of frost was 'El. 19-78' (98.33 %), followed by 'Ferlino', but with minor damage (50.67%). The varieties 'Evmolpia', 'Filina', 'Flavia', 'Redhaven' and 'El. 19-77' had no frozen blossoms. According to the degree of frost in 2020, the varieties formed three clusters, with 'Evmolpia' in a separate cluster, as a variety with minimal effects of low temperatures (59%). In 2020, the percentage of freezing of blossoms increased in most varieties: 'Ferlino' (92%), 'Puldin' (99%), 'Filina' (96%), 'Flavia' (92%), 'Maycrest' (98.67%), 'Redhaven' (99.67%), 'El. 7-59' (92%), 'El. 4- 22' (94.67%), 'El. 91-23' (96.23%), and 'El. 19-78' (93%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to determine some physicochemical, composition and sensory attributes of earlyripening peach varieties: “Filina” (peach), “Gergana” (nectarine), and “Ufo-4” (flat peach). Fruit weight, shape and size, as well as color and firmness were evaluated. Image analysis was used to describe properties such as length, width, thickness, etc. Skin hue ranged from 33.45±10.70 to 42.75±29.87. Dry matter (%), ash content (%), total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total sugar content, and protein content were employed to characterize the studied varieties. Results showed differences in all properties of the types. Ash content varied from 0.45±0.04% to 0.96±0.12% and pH from 3.95 to 4.46. “Gergana” had the lowest total soluble solids. A trained descriptive sensory panel evaluated the peach varieties in five categories with a total of twenty-five attributes. The fruit attributes were evaluated by a 15-point ascending scale. The panellists detected differences between varieties in each of the categories (aroma, texture, taste, internal and external appearance). These results offer and highlight new data in terms of early-ripening peach variety properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document aims to evaluate the determinants of the price of pears in the international fresh fruit market, from an innovative vision in a complex world. The panel data methodology was applied. The variables considered were the different prices (CIF/kg) of pear, apple and stone fruits, their per capita consumptions, real per capita income, consumer price indexes and real exchange rates. Pear consumption responds especially to apple consumption, but also to prices of apples and peaches, real per capita income, consumer price indexes and countries’ exchange rates. This might imply improving commercial efficiency in international trade, effective budgets in price formation, and giving new impetus to studies on the price of fruits and foods with a new vision. Highlights Pears’ price (CIF) is determined by the number of imported pears and apples; also for import prices of other fruits such as apples, peaches and nectarines. Panel data models is a novelty in this kind of articles. The panel integrates the yearly CIF imported prices (period 1990-2015) from 18 countries, the main world importers in the international demand for fresh pears. This research changes the paradigm in the fresh pear business, with the disclosure of this article. The paper fills a gap in the literature on international worldwide fruit commerce.

The present research presents a comprehensive characterization of polyphenols from peach, pear, and plum using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), followed by the determination of their antioxidant potential. Plums showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 0.62 mg GAE/g), while peaches showed the highest total flavonoid content (TFC; 0.29 mg QE/g), also corresponding to their high scavenging activities (i.e., DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TAC). In all three fruit samples, a total of 51 polyphenolic compounds were tentatively identified and were mainly characterized from hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxyphenylpentanoic acids, flavanols, flavonols, and isoflavonoids subclasses. Twenty targeted phenolic compounds were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA). The plum cultivar showed the highest content of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, 11.86 mg/100 g), whereas peach samples showed the highest concentration of flavonoids (catechin, 7.31 mg/100 g), as compared to pear. Based on these findings, the present research contributes and complements the current characterization data of these fruits presented in the literature, as well as ensures and encourages the utilization of these fruits in different food, feed, and nutraceutical industries.

This article deals with convective drying kinetics process of peaches that were collected in Republic of Moldova climatic area, namely SPRINGCREST, CARDINAL and REDHAVEN varieties. The kinetics study was performed for different temperatures: 50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, for different drying agent velocities: 0.5 m. s-1, 1.0 m. s-1, 1.5 m. s-1, 2.0 m. s-1,2.5 m. s-1, and for different thicknesses 2.10-3m, 4.10-3m, 6.10-3m, 8.10-3m, 10.10-3m. For the determination of the optimal quality and conditions of drying parameters there was also performed an appearance analysis for each dried sample.

This study examines consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic and eco-friendly peaches, Prunus persica L., over conventional peaches in Utah. Data were collected at farmers' markets across Utah, including actual peach purchases coupled with an in-person survey and analyzed using logit models. The results show that farmers' market shoppers are willing to pay a premium for organic and eco-friendly peaches of $2.10 and $1.41 per pound, respectively. The importance of selected sustainability attributes positively impacted shopper preferences for eco-friendly peaches, while attitudes and lifestyle were associated with stronger shopper preferences for organic peaches. The distinct differences between shoppers who prefer organic and those who prefer eco-friendly, as well as the disparity in premiums, imply that growers should strongly consider their markets and cost of production differences when choosing organic certification over other less expensive differentiation schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the management techniques that aim to improve the quality of the fruits is green pruning, which main purpose is to increase the penetration of light in the crown, favoring pigmentation, thus improving the flavor of the fruits. However, it is not always done, since it requires labor. The objective of this work was to evaluate the time and the way of Management green pruning, as well as the practice of thinning associated with it in order to obtain high quality peaches from the 'Charme' cultivar. The work was carried out in a commercial orchard in the Dois Vizinhos (PR) municipality, in three productive cycles. A completely randomized design was used, a 3 x 3 bifactorial scheme (green pruning time x green pruning management technique), with 4 replications of two plants per experimental unit. The times of green pruning or bending were in the third, fourth and fifth weeks before harvest. The techniques were first to remove vertical branches facing the center of the canopy and in the base of the tree with reference to broken and poorly ones and, the second the belding of these. The productive capacity and the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits were evaluated in three productive cycles. The quality of the 'Charme' peach only presented improvements with the green pruning from the third year of its realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There is growing evidence that nocturnal moths are important pollinators of agricultural crops. However, the contribution of these pollinators to the production of crops remains largely unknown. We explored the pollination input nocturnal insects provide to self-fertile varieties of peaches and muscadine grapes. Our goal was to determine if these fruit varieties need little or no input from insect pollinators, as previously believed, or if pollination is provided by the oft-ignored nocturnal-insect pollinators. Moths were anecdotally observed to be the dominant floral visitor in peaches, diurnal or nocturnal. No floral visitors were recorded in muscadine grapes. We found that the fruit set of self-fertile varieties of both fruits was not significantly increased by any pollinator group, suggesting that pollination contribution provided by insects was unnecessary. Interestingly, we observed both common moth visitors to consistently vibrate their wings during floral visits. This behavior is known to increase body temperature in moths for flight, but this is the first time the vibration behavior has been associated with floral visitation. While the examined fruit varieties received no benefit from insect pollination, important observations highlight our lack of understanding concerning nocturnal pollination and require focused research to elucidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]