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Background: Microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants have been recognized for supporting sustainable agriculture. Field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 growing seasons in an organic farm located in Ferrara (Italy) with the aim of evaluating plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and algae-based biostimulants (Biost) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experimental treatments were: (i) two microbial biofertilizers (PGPM_1, PGPM_2) and no inoculated plants (No_PGPM); and (ii) two algae-based biostimulant rates (0.5% (Biost_0.5%), 1.0% (Biost_1.0%)) and no application (No_Biost). PGPMs were applied at transplanting, while biostimulants at 15 and 30 days after transplanting. Treatments were replicated three times according to a split-plot experimental design. Plant characteristics were evaluated at 30 days after transplanting in No_Biost treatments. During tomato cultivation, soil plant analysis development (SPAD), nitrogen difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI) and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were monitored. Tomato yield was determined., Results: PGPM_2 showed the highest shoot biomass (132.9 g plant -1 ), plant height (44.7 cm), leaf number (34.0 plant -1 ) and root biomass (9.22 g plant -1 ). Intermediate values were observed in PGPM_1, while all parameters were lower in No_PGPM. Both PGPMs achieved higher values of SPAD, NDVI, PPFD and LAI than No_PGPM. Biost_1.0% increased all measured growth parameters followed by Biost_0.5% and No_Biost, respectively. Tomato yield was the highest for PGPM_2-Biost_1.0% (67.2 t ha -1 ). PGPMs affected fruit size and sugar content, while biostimulants were associated with color and lycopene., Conclusion: The application of microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants could be part of environment-friendly practice in organic farming. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Histone deacetylation, one of most important types of post-translational modification, plays multiple indispensable roles in plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. However, little information about the roles of histone deacetylase in regulating inflorescence architecture, fruit yield, and stress responses is available in tomato. Functional characterization revealed that SlHDT1 participated in the control of inflorescence architecture and fruit yield by regulating auxin signalling, and influenced tolerance to drought and salt stresses by governing abscisic acid (ABA) signalling. More inflorescence branches and higher fruit yield, which were influenced by auxin signalling, were observed in SlHDT1-RNAi transgenic plants. Moreover, tolerance to drought and salt stresses was decreased in SlHDT1-RNAi transgenic lines compared with the wild type (WT). Changes in parameters related to the stress response, including decreases in survival rate, chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), proline content, catalase (CAT) activity and ABA content and an increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) content, were observed in SlHDT1-RNAi transgenic lines. In addition, the RNA-seq analysis revealed varying degrees of downregulation for genes such as the stress-related genes SlABCC10 and SlGAME6 and the pathogenesis-related protein P450 gene SlCYP71A1, and upregulation of the pathogenesis-related protein P450 genes SlCYP94B1, SlCYP734A7 and SlCYP94A2 in SlHDT1-RNAi transgenic plants, indicating that SlHDT1 plays an important role in the response to biotic and abiotic stresses by mediating stress-related gene expression. In summary, the data suggest that SlHDT1 plays essential roles in the regulation of inflorescence architecture and fruit yield and in the response to drought and salt stresses., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

High-quality red/dry chilli for spice, pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes is a major goal in chilli breeding. The male sterile lines have greater potential for the exploitation of heterosis in chilli to achieve this objective. Genetic male sterile lines with special traits like destalking and ability to withstand high rainfall were involved in heterosis breeding to identify hybrids for commercial and industrial purposes. Forty F 1 hybrids were developed by crossing 4 diverse GMS lines with 10 testers using Line × Tester mating design to estimate heterosis, combing ability and gene action. The experiment involving 14 parents and 40 F 1 s, along with standard variety 'CH-27' was laid out in α-lattice square design in three replications during summer 2020 and 2021. The GMS lines MS 9-2 and MS 26-1 along with testers DPCh 10, VVG, DPCh 40 and Him Palam Mirch-2 showed significant GCA for marketable red/dry fruit yield and majority of their component traits. Ten F 1 hybrids were identified with superiority for fruit yield based on mean performance, significant heterosis and SCA effects, providing an opportunity to utilize them in value-added products and dried spice purposes viz., MS 9-2 × HPM-2, MS 11-2 × DPCh 40, MS 9-2 × DPCh 40 and MS 9-2 × DPCh 101 with erect fruiting habit and that of MS 9-2 × DPCh 10, MS 26-1 × DPCh 10, MS 9-2 × PBC 535, MS 26-1 × VVG, MS 29-2 × DPCh 10 and MS 26-1 × DPCh 22- C with pendent fruits. The non-additive gene action was predominant in the expression of fruit yield, total red fruits/plant, oleoresin and capsanthin. A significant positive correlation among SCA, economic heterosis and per se performance is an indicative to identify superior hybrids. Multi-location testing of these hybrids shall pave way to exploit them commercially by making them available to the farmers., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In Morocco, red fruit production has thrived, primarily utilizing hydroponic methods to control crops, increase fruit yield and quality, and avoid soil-related problems. However, the irrigation of these expansive hydroponic farms relies heavily on water sourced from dams, many of which are contaminated with Microcystins (MCs). To address this contamination issue, ongoing research is focused on discovering effective and cost-efficient biological solutions for eliminating MCs. In this study, we isolate and identify bacterial strains capable of degrading MCs, evaluate the rate of degradation, and investigate how soil inoculated with these bacteria affects the accumulation of MCs in plant tissue. The partial 16S rRNA analyses of three bacterial sequences were conducted, identifying them through NCBI as follows: Ensifer sp. (B1) isolated from soil, Shinella sp. (B2) from a cyanobacterial bloom, and Stutzerimonas sp. (B3) from water. These bacteria exhibited the ability to degrade MCs, with approximately 34.75%, 73.75%, and 30.1% of the initial concentration (20 µg/L) being removed after a 6-day period for B1, B2, and B3, respectively. Moreover, strawberry plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse for a duration of 90 days. These plants were subjected to extracts of cyanobacteria containing 10 and 20 µg/L of Microcystins (MC), as well as water from an artificial lake contaminated with MC, both with and without the presence of isolated bacterial strains. Among these strains, Shinella sp. exhibited the highest efficacy in mitigating MC accumulation. Specifically, it resulted in a reduction of approximately 1.159 µg of MC per kilogram of root dry weight, leading to complete elimination in the leaves and fruits. The findings also indicated that the inoculation of perlite with the three MC-degrading bacterial strains significantly enhanced growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield, biochemical constituents, and quality attributes of strawberries (p ≤ 0.05). These promising outcomes suggest the potential of this approach for addressing the adverse impacts of crops irrigated with MC-contaminated water in future agricultural practices., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Raising attentions have focused on how to alleviate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from orchard system while simultaneously increase fruit production. Microalgae-based biofertilizer represents a promising resource for improving soil fertility and higher productivity. However, the effects of microalgae application more especially live microalgae on GHG emissions are understudied. In this study, fruit yield and quality, GHG emissions, as well as soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions were examined in a hawthorn orchard, under the effects of live microalgae-based biofertilizer applied at three doses and two modes. Compared with conventional fertilization, microalgae improved hawthorn yield by 15.7%-29.6% with a maximal increment at medium dose by root application, and significantly increased soluble and reducing sugars contents at high dose. While microalgae did not increase GHG emissions except for nitrous oxide at high dose by root application, instead it significantly increased methane uptake by 1.5-2.3 times in root application. In addition, microalgae showed an increasing trend in soil organic carbon content, and significantly increased the contents of soil dissolved organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon, as well as soil ammonium nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen at medium dose with root application. Overall, the results indicated that the live microalgae could be used as a green biofertilizer for improving fruit yield without increasing GHG emissions intensity and the comprehensive greenhouse effect, in particular at medium dose with root application. We presume that if lowering chemical fertilizer rates, application of the live microalgae-based biofertilizer may help to reduce nitrous oxide emissions without compromising fruit yield and quality., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Ma et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Heat stress substantially reduces tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and yield globally, thereby jeopardizing food security. DnaJ proteins, constituents of the heat shock protein system, protect cells from diverse environmental stresses as HSP-70 molecular co-chaperones. In this study, we demonstrated that AdDjSKI, a serine-rich DnaJ III protein induced by pathogens, plays an important role in stabilizing photosystem II (PSII) in response to heat stress. Our results revealed that transplastomic tomato plants expressing the AdDjSKI gene exhibited increased levels of total soluble proteins, improved growth and chlorophyll content, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and diminished PSII photoinhibition under elevated temperatures when compared with wild-type (WT) plants. Intriguingly, these transplastomic plants maintained higher levels of D1 protein under elevated temperatures compared with the WT plants, suggesting that overexpression of AdDjSKI in plastids is crucial for PSII protection, likely due to its chaperone activity. Furthermore, the transplastomic plants displayed lower accumulation of superoxide radical (O 2 •─ ) and H 2 , in comparison with the WT plants, plausibly attributed to higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. This also coincides with an enhanced expression of corresponding genes, including SlCuZnSOD, SlFeSOD, SlAPX2, and SltAPX, under heat stress. Taken together, our findings reveal that chloroplastic expression of AdDjSKI in tomatoes plays a critical role in fruit yield, primarily through a combination of delayed senescence and stabilizing PSII under heat stress.2 , in comparison with the WT plants, plausibly attributed to higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. This also coincides with an enhanced expression of corresponding genes, including SlCuZnSOD, SlFeSOD, SlAPX2, and SltAPX, under heat stress. Taken together, our findings reveal that chloroplastic expression of AdDjSKI in tomatoes plays a critical role in fruit yield, primarily through a combination of delayed senescence and stabilizing PSII under heat stress., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Background: Capsicum chinense Jacq. (Ghost Pepper) is well-known for its high pungency and pleasant aroma. The recent years witnessed a significant decline in popularity of this important crop due to the use of inferior planting material and lack of elite lines. To maintain constant performance across a variety of settings, it is crucial to choose stable lines with high yield and capsaicin content, as these are the most promising traits of Ghost Pepper., Method: In this study, 120 high-capsaicin genotypes were subjected to a 3-year ( kharif 2017, 2018 and 2019) stability investigation utilizing two well-known stability methods: Eberhart-Russell (ER) and additive main effects and multiple interaction (AMMI). Three replications were used following Randomized Complete Block Design for 11 traits. The experiment soil was sandy loam with pH 4.9. Minimum and maximum temperature of 18.5 °C, 17.5 °C, 17.4 °C and 32.2 °C, 31.3 °C, 32.7 °C and rainfall of 1,781, 2,099, 1,972 mm respectively was recorded for the study period., Result: The genotype-environment linear interaction (G×E Lin.) was highly significant for days to 50% flowering, capsaicin content, fruit length and girth, fruit yield per plant and number of fruits per plant at p < 0.005. G×E interaction for fruit yield and capsaicin content in AMMI-analysis of variance reported 67.07% and 71.51% contribution by IPCA-1 (interactive principal component axis) and 32.76% and 28.49% by IPCA-2, respectively. Eight genotypes were identified to be stable with high yield and capsaicin content. The identified stable lines can be opted for cultivation to reduce the impact of crop failure when grown in different macro-environments. Moreover, the pharmaceutical and spice sectors will also be benefitted from the lines with high capsaicin content. Further research assessing the lines' performance across various regions of India can provide a solid foundation for the crop's evaluation at national level., Competing Interests: Mohan Lal is an Academic Editor for PeerJ, (© 2024 Baruah et al.)

Leguminous crop Tephrosia candida has high biomass production and contains a substantial quantity of nutrients within its biomass. Starting in 2019, a long-term study was done to find the best Tephrosia candida dose for mulching in guava orchards. The study had four treatments: T 1  = 3.0 kg dry biomass m -2 of the plant basin, T 2  = 2.0 kg, T 3  = 1.0 kg, and T 4  = control (no mulch). Every year, the treatments imposed in the month of August. The third year (2021-2022) results indicated that mulching with 3 kg of biomass m -2 increased trunk diameter, fruit yield, fruit weight, specific leaf area, total leaf chlorophyll, and leaf macro- and micro-nutrients. At 3.0 kg m -2 , mulching improved soil properties such as EC, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, DTPA extractable micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn), total organic carbon (C toc ), soil organic carbon (C soc ), organic carbon fractions, and microbial biomass carbon between 0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m. There was an increasing trend in dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). The Tephrosia leaf litter exhibited decay constants of 1.27 year -1 , and the carbon content was 40.11%. Therefore, applying Tephrosia biomass mulching at a rate of 3.0 kg m -2 is a viable long-term solution for enhancing soil fertility and sequestering carbon., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) have an eminent role in improving plant yield through improving yield. The present study was conducted to find the effect of Si NPs on plant yield, biochemical attributes, and minerals of different cucumber cultivars. The greenhouse experiment with foliar application of Si NPs (100, 200, and 300 mg L -1 ) was carried out on cucumber cultivars (Emilie, Mirsoltan, Mitio, and Viola). The application of Si NPs at 300 mg L -1 led to the highest fruit yield, with a 17% increase in fruit production compared to the control. Fruit firmness differed by 31% between Emilie and Si NPs at 100 mg L -1 and Mito at 300 mg L -1 . Plants experiencing Si NPs at 300 mg L -1 had the greatest chlorophyll (Chl) a+b. Compared to the other cultivars, Mito had a greater fruit yield and Chl content. The Si NPs increased TSS by 11% while lowering TA by 24% when compared to the control at 300 mg L -1 . Foliar application of Si NPs reduced the value of TSS/TA. The largest value of K was reached in the Mito cultivar with Si NPs at 200 mg L -1 , with a 22% increase in comparison to the control, indicating that Si NPs considerably boosted the K content. The Si NPs at 200 mg L -1 significantly increased leaf N and P in the Mito cultivar by 16 and 50%, respectively. By using agglomerative hierarchy clustering (AHC), Emilie and Mito were located in two separate clusters, whilst Viola and Mirsoltan were grouped in one cluster. In conclusion, Si NPs at 200-300 mg L -1 enhanced fruit yield, and Mito showed the highest yield when compared to other cultivars., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The present investigation was undertaken in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to estimate combining ability and gene action following a half diallel mating design using ten parents. The ratio of genetic variance components, σ² gca/σ² sca and σ² D/σ² A, showed dominant gene action, indicating the presence of non-additive genetic variance for days to 50% flowering, fruit yield per plant, total phenol, antioxidant activity and total soluble sugar. The traits fruits per plant, fruit girth, and fruit weight showed additive genetic variance. Among the parental genotypes, AB 15-08, ABSR 2 and AB 20- 13 were found to be good general combiners for fruit yield, fruits per plant, and total soluble solids. The three highestranking hybrids were AB 15-08 × AB 20-13, AB 15-08 × AB 20-03 and AB 20-07 × GP BRJ 224. The above hybrids would be rewarding for harnessing heterosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes an assessment of the quantitative parameters of the crop using the analysis of mechanical vibrations. A demonstration of the investigation is shown for a situation where a support system in the field helps cucumbers grow vertically. The study was carried out by modeling the yield of cucumbers. The greatest attention was paid to the frequencies of natural oscillations. A developed numerical model of the support design is proposed and its natural oscillation frequencies are calculated using the finite element method (FEM). The results were confirmed by a physical experiment that actually simulates a numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining ability assessment helps select parents and hybrids with high performance, which can lead to increased yield and effective crop improvement. The present study aimed to evaluate 24 diverse crosses for ten different quantitative traits using line x tester mating in the kharif season. The experiment involved the assessment of crosses, which included 4 females, 6 males, and 1 commercial cultivar (Nishant). The evaluation employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Major discrepancies were observed in the genotypes of both parents and hybrids for all traits, indicating a significant amount of variation in fruit yield and other characteristics that contribute to yield. JBR-20-05 was found the best general combiner for days to 50% flowering, fruit length and plant height. JBR-20-04 was found to be the best general combiner for average fruit weight, fruit girth and total fruit yield per plant. The genotype identified in the JBR-20-07 study, resistant to fruit and shoot borer infestation, held significant potential for use in breeding and selection programs to enhance the resistance of brinjal varieties. Estimation of Specific combining ability effect revealed that among the hybrids, the hybrids JBR-20-04 x JBR-20-05 recorded highly significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects for total fruit yield per plant. The cross JBR-20-03 x JBR-20-05 showed high desirable significance to SCA for fruit and shoot borer infestation. Variance due to general combining ability was less than the variance due to SCA, and the ratio of GCA to SCA variance was less than unity. When choosing hybrids to enhance yield in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) through breeding, it is crucial to prioritize specific traits that directly contribute to increased production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal fruit production from many tree crops relies on the transfer of cross-pollen between trees of different cultivars rather than the transfer of self-pollen between trees of the same cultivar. However, many orchards are established with wide blocks of single cultivars, which can result in high percentages of self-fertilised fruit and sub-optimal yield and quality. We aimed to determine whether outcrossing rates and yield of Hass avocado fruit decline with increasing distance from polliniser trees of cultivar Shepard and whether selfed fruit are smaller than outcrossed fruit. Outcrossing rates declined from 49% at six trees (40 m) from a block of Shepard trees to 30% at thirty trees (160 m) from a block of Shepard trees. Tree yield across this distance declined by 44% as a result of a 69% decline in the number of outcrossed fruit per tree, without a significant decline in the number of selfed fruit per tree. Outcrossed Hass fruit were 12% heavier than selfed Hass fruit, with 3% greater diameter and 5% greater length. The study results demonstrate the importance of interplanting Type B avocado pollinisers closely with Type A Hass trees to increase fruit yield and size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The components of gene effects for yield and its components in okra were studied using generation mean analysis from twelve generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, B1, B2, B11, B12, B21, B22, B1S and B2S) derived from eight different genotypes. Mean performance of F1 hybrids exceeded the value of their better parent in desired direction in the cross AOL 16-01 x AOL 18-08 for fruit weight, fruits per plant. In the cross GAO 5 x Red One Long for fruit length, fruit weight, fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, branches per plant, plant height, internodes on main stem. In the cross AOL 19-10 x AOL 20-03 for fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant, internodes on main stem, total soluble solids and in the cross Phule Prajatika x GAO 5 for plant height, internodes on main stem, length of internode, while for days to initiation of flowering, none of the F1 per se performance was lower than its better parent. Mean performance of backcross progenies was not consistent in different crosses for different traits. The additive (d) gene effect found significant for all the four crosses for the traits viz., days to initiation of flowering, fruit length, fruits per plant and total soluble solid; crosses II, III and IV for the traits fruits per plant, fruit yield per plant and internode on main stem, crosses I, III, IV for traits fruit girth, crosses II and IV for the trait plant height, crosses III, IV for trait length of internode and cross I for the trait branches on main stem, cross III for trait fruit weight. Yield component traits in all crosses were governed by additive. Dominance and digenic and/or trigenic epistasis gene effects. When additive and non-additive gene effects involved, a breeding scheme efficient in exploiting both types of gene effects should be employed. Reciprocal recurrent selection could be followed which would facilitate exploitation of both gene effects. Duplicate type of gene action would be difficult for a plant breeder to get promising segregants through conventional breeding methods, so breeding procedures involving biparental mating may be used to restore transgressive segregants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree of association between yield and its components can be identified using correlation and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). PCA also reveals key characteristics that explain most of the differences between genotypes. A study was formulated to evaluate the relationship between yield and its contributing traits in cucumber. The experiment was conducted with 16 cucumber genotypes in a Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replications. The correlation analysis revealed a strong and statistically significant relationship in number of pistillate flowers (r = 0.58**), number of branches (r = 0.43**), vine length (r = 0.69**), number of leaves (r = 0.73**), leaf area (r = 0.70**), number of fruits (r = 0.91**), fruit length (r = 0.40**), fruit girth (r = 0.39**), and fruit weight (r = 0.74**) with fruit yield. PCA revealed that PC1 accounted for 51.53% of the total variation, while PC2 explained 13.91% of the total variability. This study demonstrated that choosing traits such as number of pistillate flowers, number of branches, vine length, number of leaves, leaf area, number of fruits, fruit length, fruit girth, and fruit weight that have a strong positive correlation with fruit yield could be given priority in selection for yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground water enriched in NaHCO3 is used in farms of the Buenos Aires province for tomato crop irrigation. This farming practice leads to salt accumulation and soil impairment after several seasons of cultivation inside the greenhouses. This work assayed the effect of NaHCO3 on tomato fruit production. Plants of the Elpida variety of Solanum lycopersicum L were grown in a hydroponic system. The presence of NaHCO3 (from 5 mM, as measured in the underground water to 10 or 20 mM) reduced K+/Na+ ratio and whole plant biomass and fruit yield; however, no effect was observed on fruit quality parameters. To test the participation of ascorbic acid in the tolerance to this stress, two slggp1 Micro-Tom mutant lines deficient in this antioxidant were used. In these experiments plants were treated with 0, 5 and 10 mM NaHCO3 causing an impairment of K+/Na+ ratio, photosynthesis, fruit yield, leaf and shoot dry weight (but without effect in root biomass) and delaying of fruit ripening time. Wild type and mutants plant responses showed no differences at stress conditions. Although NaHCO3 treatments caused a similar impairment in ascorbic acid mutants and wild type plants, these results reinforced the physiological importance of ascorbic acid levels to optimize plant growth under non-stressful conditions. Taken as a whole, the results presented here demonstrated the importance of avoiding the accumulation of this salt in greenhouse soils to optimize tomato production.

Fennel fruits (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) represent one of the plant-based natural spices. This study aims to improve the fruit yield and essential oil (EO) quality by reducing the undesirable component, estragole, under different fertilizer treatments. The fertilizers included chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), and also the organic additive, rabbit manure (RM). For bio-fertilization, plants were inoculated with a mixture of N-fixing bacteria, and P- and K-solubilizing bacteria with/without vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The results showed that fruit and EO yield parameters, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity of fruit extracts were enhanced by fertilizer treatments in both growing seasons. NPK at 150% of the recommended dose (NPK150) and RM at 60 m3/fed (RM60) recorded the highest values of plant height, umbel number/plant, 100-fruit weight, fruit yield, chlorophyll, carbohydrates, N and P content, EO content, and yield. TPC and TFC were enhanced by using biological fertilizers. DPPH scavenging activity was higher in organically and biologically fertilized fennel. The GC-MS analyses of EO revealed higher contents of the desirable trans-anethole in the organically and chemically fertilized fennel. However, the highest proportion of estragole, the undesirable compound, was recorded for NPK150 and unfertilized plants. On the contrary, increases in the EO content and yield of fennel fruits were achieved by RM along with a reduction in estragole, enhancement in trans-anethole, and increments in other favorable compounds such as fenchone and limonene. In addition, the inhibition of estragole formation was recorded with bio-fertilizers, which also increased the trans-anethole content. Furthermore, the trans-anethole/estragole ratio was significantly higher with the application of organic and bio-fertilization. Hence, organic and bio-fertilizer resources can produce high-quality fennel fruit and EO. The reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers can help to reduce environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted in Okra to study combining ability and gene action in a set of 28 F1s developed by crossing seven lines and four testers. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications and observations were recorded on 12 traits viz. days to 50% flowering, days to first picking, number of internodes, number of branches plant-1, fruit length at maturity and harvest, number of fruits plant-1, number of seeds fruit-1, seed index, fruit weight, yield per plant and plant height. The results revealed that two lines viz., VRO-4 and Sel2 were excellent general combiners for most of the traits in both positive and negative direction as per desirable traits. Cross VRO-6 x Varsha Uphar recorded highly significant SCA effects for eight traits and GAO-5 x GJO-3 for yield trait. Variance due to GCA was less than SCA, and the GCA/SCA ratio was less than unity indicating preponderance of nonadditive gene action for all the traits. This suggested the feasibility of exploitation of heterosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background CONSTANS (CO) and CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) transcription factors have been known to regulate a series of cellular processes including the transition from the vegetative growth to flower development in plants. However, their role in regulating fruit yield in tomato is poorly understood. Result In this study, the tomato ortholog of Arabidopsis CONSTANS, SlCOL1, was shown to play key roles in the control of flower development and fruit yield. Suppression of SlCOL1 expression in tomato was found to lead to promotion of flower and fruit development, resulting in increased tomato fruit yield. On the contrary, overexpression of SlCOL1 disturbed flower and fruit development, and significantly reduced tomato fruit yield. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicated that SlCOL1 controls inflorescence development by directly binding to the promoter region of tomato inflorescence-associated gene SINGLE-FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) and negatively regulating its expression. Additionally, we found that SlCOL1 can also negatively regulate fruit size in tomato. Conclusions Tomato SlCOL1 binds to the promoter of the SFT gene, down-regulates its expression, and plays a key role in reducing the fruit size.

A study was conducted to determine the types of gene action of different yield-related traits in tomato and the combining ability in four advanced lines. The heterotic response in tomato hybrids was also assessed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among all the traits. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for all chosen traits were computed using Griffing's approach of diallel. Combining ability revealed the additive and non-additive genetic effects for all selected traits of advanced lines. T-1360 was found as a good general combiner for the number of cluster plant-1, average fruit weight, number of flowers cluster-1, fruit length, number of fruit cluster-1, and yield. The variance of the GCA to SCA ratio was found less than 0.5 for each trait, which confirmed the presence of non-additive gene action. The results revealed higher magnitudes of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV). The high magnitudes of heritability (72% to 92%) and genetic advance (36.63% to 139.72%) were found for the number of cluster plant-1, average fruit weight (g), the number of fruits cluster-1, and yield. Among all crosses, the cross ST-100 × T-1360 showed maximum positive heterosis over the mid parent (566.6%) and the better parent (455.5%). The identified tomato genotypes can be used further in different tomato breeding programs to improve fruit yield and other yield-related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light conversion films are crucial for optimizing vegetable crop production in greenhouses, particularly during winter and spring seasons. This study investigated the effects of a europium-based light conversion film (RPO) compared to traditional polyolefin film (PO film, control) on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivation, focusing on handle length, yield, and fruit quality in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results demonstrated that RPO film significantly enhanced multiple light parameters: overall transmittance (8.5% increase), far-red radiation (710-760 nm, 17% increase), red-orange radiation (610-709 nm, 9.8% increase), and blue radiation (440-509 nm, 9.6% increase). The film also increased average light intensity (400-700 nm) by 13% and maximum temperature by 13%. Conversely, it reduced ultraviolet radiation (300-399 nm) by 38%, violet radiation (400-439 nm) by 3.3%, and green radiation (510-609 nm) by 5.7%. The modified light environment substantially improved cucumber production metrics. Handle length ratio decreased by 24% due to reduced cell numbers, while yield increased by 30%. Fruit quality parameters showed significant improvements: soluble protein (25% increase), vitamin C (27% increase), free amino acids (28% increase), and soluble solids (9% increase), with a 35% reduction in organic acid content. Notably, both auxin synthesis gene expression and auxin content in cucumber handles decreased by 87% and 24%, respectively., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In tomato, sugar content is highly correlated with consumer preferences, with most consumers preferring sweeter fruit 1-4 . However, the sugar content of commercial varieties is generally low, as it is inversely correlated with fruit size, and growers prioritize yield over flavour quality 5-7 . Here we identified two genes, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) calcium-dependent protein kinase 27 (SlCDPK27; also known as SlCPK27) and its paralogue SlCDPK26, that control fruit sugar content. They act as sugar brakes by phosphorylating a sucrose synthase, which promotes degradation of the sucrose synthase. Gene-edited SlCDPK27 and SlCDPK26 knockouts increased glucose and fructose contents by up to 30%, enhancing perceived sweetness without fruit weight or yield penalty. Although there are fewer, lighter seeds in the mutants, they exhibit normal germination. Together, these findings provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms controlling fruit sugar accumulation in tomato and offer opportunities to increase sugar content in large-fruited cultivars without sacrificing size and yield., Competing Interests: Competing interests: A patent on the use of SlCDPK27 and SlCDPK26 to improve fruit sugar content has been filed by S.H., J.Z., H.L., J.C. and G.Z. (CN202211616622.8; PCT/CN2023/138699). The other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pomology serves as a source of essential food products and raw materials for industry. Fruits possess unique medicinal properties, offering undeniable nutritional and dietary benefits due to their content of fructose, glucose, organic acids, vitamins, pectins, and mineral salts. The function of the fruit is to preserve the seeds that contribute to the spread of flowering plants, i.e. the seeds are a way of propagating plants. Fruit is a valuable food containing an irreplaceable complex of vitamins, enzymes and other biologically active substances necessary for maintaining human health. This study covers the period of fruit growing in farms of all categories of autonomy for the years 1995-2018, i.e. the last 24 years. A brief analysis of production indicators shows that from 1995 to 2018, with an increase in yield by 119.4 c/ha, the cultivated area decreased by 58.4%, while the gross grain harvest increased by more than 3.7 times. The positive dynamics in fruit production are not only due to their social significance, which allows for assessing the country's food security, but also to their reasonably acceptable efficiency in the food market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many fruit crops, the colour of the fruit outwardly defines its eating quality. Fruit pigments provide reproductive advantage for the plant as well as providing protection against unfavourable environmental conditions and pathogens. For consumers these colours are considered attractive and provide many of the dietary benefits derived from fruits. In the majority of species, the main pigments are either carotenoids and/or anthocyanins. They are produced in the fruit as part of the ripening process, orchestrated by phytohormones and an ensuing transcriptional cascade, culminating in pigment biosynthesis. Whilst this is a controlled developmental process, the production of pigments is also attuned to environmental conditions such as light quantity and quality, availability of water and ambient temperature. If these factors intensify to stress levels, fruit tissues respond by increasing (or ceasing) pigment production. In many cases, if the stress is not severe, this can have a positive outcome for fruit quality. Here, we focus on the principal environmental factors (light, temperature and water) that can influence fruit colour., (© 2023 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Microbial inoculants are popular for their ability to enhance crop production in organic and conventional systems. Bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is an important crop in the southeast U.S. and it is not clear how it is affected by inoculants. The objective was to determine effects of soil microbial inoculants on bell pepper plant growth and fruit yield. The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA, in the spring of 2016 and 2017. Bell pepper "2815" plants were drip-irrigated and grown on black plastic mulch. Treatments were (a) water and (b) a commercial soil microbial inoculant (consortium of 10 bacteria species). In both years, plant growth (stem diameter, plant height, and plant weight), leaf chlorophyll, leaf gas exchange, fruit yields, and fruit sunscald were unaffected by soil microbial inoculant. Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) was only detected in 2016 and its incidence was not affected by microbial inoculant. Use of microbial inoculant had no major effects on bell pepper plant growth and fruit yield, fruit sunscald, and southern blight incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Esmeralda’ is an orange fleshed peach cultivar primarily used for juice extraction and secondarily used for the fresh fruit market. Fruit yield and quality depend on several local environmental and managerial factors, mainly on nitrogen, which must be balanced with other nutrients. Similar to other perennial crops, peach trees show carryover effects of carbohydrates and nutrients and of nutrients stored in their tissues. The aims of the present study are (i) to identify the major sources of seasonal variability in fruit yield and qu Fruit Tree Department of Federal University of Pelotas (UFPEL), Pelotas 96010610ality; and (ii) to establish the N dose and the internal nutrient balance to reach high fruit yield and quality. The experiment was conducted from 2014 to 2017 in Southern Brazil and it followed five N treatments (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha−1 year−1). Foliar compositions were centered log-ratio (clr) transformed in order to account for multiple nutrient interactions and allow computing distances between compositions. Based on the feature ranking, chilling hours, degree-days and rainfall were the most influential features. Machine learning models k-nearest neighbors (KNN) and stochastic gradient decent (SGD) performed well on yield and quality indices, and reached accuracy from 0.75 to 1.00. In 2014, fruit production did not respond to added N, and it indicated the carryover effects of previously stored carbohydrates and nutrients. The plant had a quadratic response (p < 0.05) to N addition in 2015 and 2016, which reached maximum yield of 80 kg N ha−1. In 2017, harvest was a failure due to the chilling hours (198 h) and the relatively small number of fruits per tree. Fruit yield and antioxidant content increased abruptly when foliar clrCu was >−5.410. The higher foliar P linearly decreased total titratable acidity and increased pulp firmness when clrP > 0.556. Foliar N concentration range was narrow at high fruit yield and quality. The present results have emphasized the need of accounting for carryover effects, nutrient interactions and local factors in order to predict peach yield and nutrient dosage.

Fruit color is a key feature of fruit quality, primarily influenced by anthocyanin or carotenoid accumulation or chlorophyll degradation. Adapting the pigment content is crucial to improve the fruit's nutritional and commercial value. Genetic factors along with other environmental components (i.e., light, temperature, nutrition, etc.) regulate fruit coloration. The fruit coloration process is influenced by plant hormones, which also play a vital role in various physiological and biochemical metabolic processes. Additionally, phytohormones play a role in the regulation of a highly conserved transcription factor complex, called MBW (MYB-bHLH-WD40). The MBW complex, which consists of myeloblastosis (MYB), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), and WD40 repeat (WDR) proteins, coordinates the expression of downstream structural genes associated with anthocyanin formation. In fruit production, the application of plant hormones may be important for promoting coloration. However, concerns such as improper concentration or application time must be addressed. This article explores the molecular processes underlying pigment formation and how they are influenced by various plant hormones. The ABA, jasmonate, and brassinosteroid increase anthocyanin and carotenoid formation, but ethylene, auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin have positive as well as negative effects on anthocyanin formation. This article establishes the necessary groundwork for future studies into the molecular mechanisms of plant hormones regulating fruit color, ultimately aiding in their effective and scientific application towards fruit coloration., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Protein hydrolysates (PHs) can enhance plant nitrogen nutrition and improve the quality of vegetables, depending on their bioactive compounds. A tomato greenhouse experiment was conducted under both optimal (14 mM) and suboptimal (2 mM) nitrogen (N-NO 3 ) conditions. Tomatoes were treated with a new Malvaceae-derived PH (MDPH) and its molecular fractions (MDPH1, >10 kDa; MDPH2, 1-10 kDa and MDPH3, <1 kDa)., Results: Under optimal N conditions, the plants increased biomass and fruit yield, and showed a higher photosynthetic pigment content in leaves in comparison with suboptimal N, whereas under N-limiting conditions, an increase in dry matter, soluble solid content (SSC) and lycopene, a reduction in firmness, and changes in organic acid and phenolic compounds were observed. With 14 mM N-NO 3 , MDPH3 stimulated an increase in dry weight and increased yield components and lycopene in the fruit. The MDPH2 fraction also resulted in increased lycopene accumulation in fruit under 14 mM N-NO 3 . At a low N level, the PH fractions showed distinct effects compared with the whole MDPH and the control, with an increase in biomass for MDPH1 and MDPH2 and a higher pigment content for MDPH3. Regardless of N availability, all the fractions affected fruit quality by increasing SSC, whereas MDPH2 and MDPH3 modified organic acid content and showed a higher concentration of flavonols, lignans, and stilbenes., Conclusion: The molecular weight of the peptides modifies the effect of PHs on plant performance, with different behavior depending on the level of N fertilization, confirming the effectiveness of fractioning processes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Lycium barbarum, a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, is widely used in China due to its abundant nutritional value. Although the current mechanized harvesting method of L. barbarum has effectively minimized production expenses, it continues to have the challenge of inconsistent quality of the produced L. barbarum. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the correlation of the separating force and hardness concerning the timing of harvesting, maturity, and variety. Thus, the optimal time for harvesting ripe L. barbarum can be determined to enhance the quality of selectively mechanized harvesting of this fruit. The experiment was conducted in a L. barbarum plantation located in Qinghai Province during the 2023 harvest period. Two occasions were studied focusing on the primary cultivars Ningqi No. 1 and Ningqi No. 7, examining the three ripening stages of L. barbarum harvested at various times throughout the day. The finding of this study showed that the separation force and hardness of L. barbarum fruits were influenced by the harvesting time, the fruit variety, and the level of maturity. The optimal timing for harvesting different types of L. barbarum varies. It was observed that Ningqi No.1 was best to be harvested in the late afternoon and evening (17:00-21:00), whereas Ningqi No.7 was most suitable to be harvested in the morning (7:00-9:00)., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Background and Objectives: The idea of returning to nature and using less fertilizers and pesticides, and increasing people's tendency to use organic products has caused more attention to the use of biofertilizers. Products of natural origin, such as seaweed extract are used as a stimulator of the growth and development of agricultural and horticultural plants. Seaweed extracts contain a wide variety of plant growth-promoting substances such as auxins, cytokinins, betaines, gibberellins, and organic substances, including amino acids, macronutrients, and trace elements that improve crop yield and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different extraction methods of two red seaweed species: Gracilaria corticata and Acanthophora spiciferais on growth, physiological indices and fruit yield of Ecballium elaterium. Materials and Methods: This experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with four replications in the research greenhouse of University of Zanjan during 2020. Experimental treatments included as 5 extraction methods (ME: microwave extract with aqueous solvent, OE: autoclave extract with aqueous solvent, BE: extract extracted by boiling with distilled water, NE: extract extracted with liquid nitrogen, EE: soaked extract in ethanol) and a control sample (C: (foliar application with distilled water)). During the growth stage, the number of leaves, the number of male and female flowers and the number of fruits were measured. At the end of the growing season, number of lateral branches, plant height and lateral branch length, leaf area index, fresh and dry weight of shoots, fresh and dry weight of fruit and fruit yield, root length and diameter and root subbranches, root volume and area, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenol and total flavonoids contents were measured. Results: The results showed that foliar application of seaweed extracts had significant effects (P<0.01) on all traits. The treatment of plants with extract extracted by aqueous solvent in autoclave method increased 43.6% plant height, 59.4% lateral branch length, 58.3% shoot fresh weight, 71.7% shoot dry weight, 70.5% root length and 80.7% root volume. Also, the plants foliar sprayed with extract extracted by aqueous solvent had the higher number of male flowers (65.7%), number of female flowers (39.5%), fruit number (41.6%), fruit fresh weight (20.2%), fruit dry weight (32.8%), fruit yield (55.6%) and flavonoids content (66.9%) compared to control plants. The highest leaf area index with increasing 42.9 and 41.5%, root diameter (57 and 53.4%), root area (78.3 and 73.9%), total chlorophyll (45.8 and 45.2%), carotenoids (69.3 and 71%) and total phenol contents (42.6 and 43.2) was observed in plants treated with the extract resulted of autoclave and microwave method, respectively compared to control plants. Conclusion: According to the results, all methods of extracting red seaweed extract had positive effect on the growth, physiological traits and fruit yield of watercress. But, newer methods (autoclave, microwave) had better effect than traditional methods (boiling, liquid nitrogen, and ethanol), and extracts of these methods had more growth hormones, organic compounds and nutrients. Therefore, autoclave and microwave methods are proposed to extract seaweed extract. Also, these results showed that the red seaweeds Gracilaria (Gracilaria corticata) and Acanthophora (Acanthophora spicifera) are suitable biofertilizer for plant production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size and number of the berries and the rachis length are the main elements that define bunch compactness in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). This trait is of scientific and commercial interest because it strongly influences phytosanitary status and quality of the fruits. In this work, we investigated the effect of different canopy management strategies based on apical shoot and/or leaf removal applied at the early stage (pre-bloom) in altering the key determinants of bunch compactness. Specifically, we compared apical defoliation (removal of the first half of the shoot leaves from the top), basal defoliation (removal of the second half), and shoot trimming (removal of the apical half of the shoot) to untreated controls. The work was carried out in two red varieties ('Aglianico' and 'Casavecchia') that have contrasting bunch compactness (compact and loose, respectively). We measured relevant morphological traits, photosynthetic rates, fertility, fruit set, bunch architecture, and fruit main compositional parameters. This study demonstrates that the position of the removed shoot leaves along with the shoot trimming differentially modified fruit set, the number of berries per bunch, and berry fresh weight and composition at harvest. Nonetheless, the influence on bunch compactness was limited mainly because of photosynthetic and morphological factors strongly associated with the cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberries spoil rapidly after harvest due to factors such as the ripening process, weight loss, and, most importantly, microbial contamination. Traditionally, several methods are used to preserve strawberries after harvest and extend their shelf life, including thermal, plasma, radiation, chemical, and biological treatments. Although these methods are effective, they are a concern from the perspective of safety and consumer acceptance of the treated food. To address these issues, more advanced environment-friendly technologies have been developed over the past decades, including modified and controlled atmosphere packaging, active biopolymer-based packaging, or edible coating formulations. This method can not only significantly extend the shelf life of fruit but also solve safety concerns. Some studies have shown that combining two or more of these technologies can significantly extend the shelf life of strawberries, which could significantly contribute to expanding the global supply chain for delicious fruit. Despite the large number of studies underway in this field of research, no systematic review has been published discussing these advances. This review aims to cover important information about postharvest physiology, decay factors, and preservation methods of strawberry fruits. It is a pioneering work that integrates, relates, and discusses all information on the postharvest fate and handling of strawberries in one place. Additionally, commercially used techniques were discussed to provide insight into current developments in strawberry preservation and suggest future research directions in this field of study. This review aims to enrich the knowledge of academic and industrial researchers, scientists, and students on trends and developments in postharvest preservation and packaging of strawberry fruits., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Biostimulants are heterogeneous products designed to support plant development and to improve the yield and quality of crops. Here, we focused on the effects of triacontanol, a promising biostimulant found in cuticle waxes, on tomato growth and productivity. We examined various phenological traits related to vegetative growth, flowering and fruit yield, the metabolic profile of fruits, and the response of triacontanol-treated plants to salt stress. Additionally, a proteomic analysis was conducted to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying triacontanol action. Triacontanol application induced advanced and increased blooming without affecting plant growth. Biochemical analyses of fruits showed minimal changes in nutritional properties. The treatment also increased the germination rate of seeds by altering hormone homeostasis and reduced salt stress-induced damage. Proteomics analysis of leaves revealed that triacontanol increased the abundance of proteins related to development and abiotic stress, while down-regulating proteins involved in biotic stress resistance. The proteome of the fruits was not significantly affected by triacontanol, confirming that biostimulation did not alter the nutritional properties of fruits. Overall, our findings provide evidence of the effects of triacontanol on growth, development, and stress tolerance, shedding light on its mechanism of action and providing new insights into its potential in agricultural practices., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Anti-hail nets are the best way to mitigate the effects of hailstorms in the orchards. Apple trees covered with nets may exhibit a variety of vegetative and reproductive responses, inclusive of changes in tree vigour, cropping, sugar contents, and fruit colour. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of timing of installation and colour of anti-hail net on cropping and fruit quality in high-density apple orchard for two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022). White and blue colour nets of size (9 m × 30 m) 80 GSM (square mesh with non-sliding threaded, leno weave, and < 30% shading factor) were installed at three different time intervals (15 days before estimated full bloom, at full bloom, and 15 days after full bloom) on apple cultivar 'Jeromine'. The installation at different time and colour of anti-hail nets significantly exhibit variability in cropping, fruit quality, and bio-chemical metrics. The significant highest cropping (fruit yield, productivity, and yield efficiency) and fruit biochemical parameters (total soluble solids) were recorded in T 3 C 2 (15 days after full bloom + white colour anti-hail net) followed by T 2 C 2 (installed at full bloom + white colour anti-hail net). Hence, white colour anti-hail nets installed 15 days after full bloom increased fruit production and improved quality in comparison to blue colour anti-hail net in apple under high-density plantations., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

Foliar application of mineral nutrients can considerably improve fruit yield and quality. In this study, the effects of K and Zn application by spraying on leaf mineral contents, and some physical and biochemical characteristics of pomegranate fruits cv. 'Malas Saveh' were investigated. The mineral treatments were three concentrations of K2SO4 (0, 1, and 2%) and three concentrations of ZnSO4 (0, 0.5, and 1%). The solutions were applied in 2020–2021 and in four times: the first application was during the time of flowering and rest three applications were applied at two-week intervals. The results showed that leaves of trees fed with different concentrations of K2SO4 and ZnSO4 accumulated higher concentrations of N, P K, Zn, Fe, and Mn than those untreated. Pomegranate trees treated with the mineral treatments had higher chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll. Applying most mineral treatments, especially 2% K2SO4+0.5% ZnSO4, significantly increased the fruit yield, fruit diameter, fruit length, aril percentage, aril/skin, the weight of 100 arils, and juice content of 100 g arils, but reduced the cracking percentage, skin thickness, skin percentage and firmness of fruits. Moreover, fruits of pomegranate trees treated with the most mineral treatments and especially 2% K2SO4+0.5% ZnSO4, showed a greater level of TSS (total soluble solids), TSS/TA (total soluble solids/titratable acidity), anthocyanin, total phenol, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C, and a lower level of TA. The study results evidenced that K and Zn application by spraying has a high potential for improving fruit yield and quality of pomegranate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian is one of the most valuable and expensive fruits in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Leaf nutritional disorders are considered to be causes of reductions in fruit yield and quality. However, studies on the nutritional balance in durian leaf are limited. In this study, we used the DRIS method for leaf limitation nutrient diagnosis at the stage 2 months before durian flowering. Our objectives were to (i) establish DRIS norms for the macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S) in durian leaf and (ii) determine nutrient value ranges that are insufficient or excessive in durian production. A total of 180 leaf samples were collected and examined from 90 durian orchards cultivated on alluvial soils in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The results indicate that DRIS establishment for durian was highly reliable due to the significant positive correlation (r > 0.5) among nutrient indices. The limiting nutrients in durian leaf at the investigation stage were S, Mg, Ca, and P, where S and Mg were the most deficient. The optimal ranges of nutrients in durian leaf were determined and recommended in this study. Further studies are necessary to validate the efficiency of DRIS using nutrient omission trials under durian cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy five okra genotypes were examined for genetic divergence for fruit yield and its contributing traits during summer,2020 at Regional Horticultural Research & Training Station, Jachh, Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh. Higher PCV and GCV values were observed for fruit weight, days to 50 per cent flowering, internodal length and fruit production/ plant. High heritability along with genetic advance was observed for days to 50 per cent flowering, the first fruiting node, internodal length, fruit weight, number of seeds/fruit, plant height, and fruit yield/plant. Fruit weight, first fruiting node, number of ridges/fruit, days to 50 per cent flowering, fruit diameter, number of fruits/plant and leaf width recorded positive and significant phenotypic as well as genotypic correlation with fruit yield/plant. The path coefficient study revealed that fruit weight had the greatest positive direct impact on fruit yield/plant; followed by number of fruits/plant, first fruiting node, days to 50 per cent flowering, leaf width and hundred seed weight. Based on genetic divergence, the genotypes were divided into five clusters, with cluster I having the highest intra-cluster distance whereas, the lowest was observed in Cluster II. Clusters I and V showed the greatest inter-cluster distance, while the Clusters III and V showed the lowest. Therefore, to develop successful recombinant segregants, it would be advantageous to use genotypes from such clusters, depending on the distances between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seasonal low light intensity and short photoperiods lead to decreased yield, size, and quality of fruits in the Northern Hemisphere. Recently, supplemental lighting using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been introduced to overcome such problems. However, most studies have focused on plant growth or fruit yield but not on taste. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and volatile compounds of greenhouse sweet pepper fruits under three different lighting conditions: natural light only (NL), NL with red/blue interlighting (RB), and NL with red/blue/far-red interlighting (RBFR)., Results: The size, color, firmness, and soluble sugar concentration of the sweet pepper fruit were investigated, and sensory evaluation was conducted by nine trained panelists. Individual fruit fresh weights were higher in the order of RBFR, NL, and RB, with mean values of 219.1, 201.7, and 197.4 g, respectively. Additionally, the composition of volatile compounds demonstrated a distinct clustering pattern by light treatment, implying that the LED interlighting spectra affected the overall taste of sweet pepper fruits. Sensory evaluation indicated that sweetness was higher in the order of RBFR, RB, and NL, with values of 5.28, 4.36, and 3.72, respectively. The soluble sugar results showed the same order as that for the sensory evaluation of sweetness, i.e., RBFR, RB, and NL, with values of 5071, 4647, and 3978 μg -1 fresh weight, respectively., Conclusion: Adding far-red to RB interlighting could improve the fruit quality attributes, fruit taste perception, and soluble sugars of sweet peppers compared to those under RB or solely NL. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Fertilizers are widely used to improve the quality of fruits and vegetables. However, the overuse of fertilizers has become an issue because it causes environmental problems and negatively affects productivity and fruit quality. In this study, we examined the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer levels on the metabolism of cucumber fruit in low- and high-nutrient soils using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics approaches. Cucumber metabolite content was notably different depending on the initial soil nutrient status. Most amino acids and phenylpropanoids were abundant in the cucumbers raised in low-nutrient soil, whereas organic acids, some amino acids (aspartate, glutamate, and ornithine), and carbohydrates were comparatively higher in fruits from high-nutrient soil. The fertilizer supply resulted in an alteration in the metabolite profile, while no change in fruit yield was observed in either low- or high-nutrient soils. Fertilizer treatment perturbed the metabolite contents in cucumbers from low-nutrient soil. In contrast, treatment with higher concentrations of fertilizer in high-nutrient soil increased phenylpropanoid content in the cucumbers, while most metabolites decreased. In conclusion, fertilization levels should be carefully determined, considering culture conditions such as the original soil status, to increase product yield and fruit quality and avoid environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggplant is popularly known as poor man's vegetable. With respect to present situation of climatic challenges, fruit yield of eggplant is reduced due to drought or moisture stresses. In view of this condition, an experiment was aimed to study character association between yield and yield components in eggplant. The resultant outcome from correlation analysis computed among nine eggplant characters indicated that traits like plant height and total plant length at harvesting, fruit length and number of fruits per plant significantly correlated with fruit yield per plant. Whereas, traits like plant height and total plant length observed at harvesting stage, number of days for flower initiation, number of primary branches, fruit length and average fruit weight were significantly associated with fruit yield per plant under moisture stressed condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic covers have been used to prevent environmental constraints negatively affecting sweet cherry production in Southern Chile. However, less information is available on agronomic practices and their effects on fruit quality in sweet cherry covered orchards. Thus, in this study, we evaluated the impact of fruit load regulation on cherries' antioxidant-related parameters and the quality and condition at harvest and postharvest in sweet cherry (Prunus avium) cv. Regina that was cultivated under a plastic cover in Southern Chile. For this, four fruit load treatments were manually applied—(i) 100% fruit load (the control), (ii) 80% fruit load, (iii) 60% fruit load, and (iv) 40% fruit load—in a commercial sweet cherry orchard for two seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023). The results revealed that the yield and fruit load were not significantly different between the treatments. Interestingly, the 60% and 40% fruit loads increased the fresh weight, fruit size, and firmness (20.3%) compared to the control (the 100% fruit load) during both seasons. Likewise, the 60% and 40% fruit load treatments exhibited the highest fruit size distribution of 30 mm, while the 100 and 80% fruit load treatments showed the highest fruit distribution with fruit sizes between 28 mm and 24 mm. The total soluble solids (TSSs) did not vary among the fruit load treatments, while a significant increase was found in the titratable acidity (TA) in the 60 and 40% fruit load treatments during both seasons. No significant differences in antioxidant activity (AA) and total phenols (TPHs) among the treatments were observed during both seasons. Overall, the results revealed that the fruit load treatments, mainly 40%, increased the fruit weight and firmness and reduced pitting in fruits by 39.4% at postharvest. Thus, fruit thinning might be an important agronomical practice to regulate fruit load, positively affecting fruit quality at harvest and during postharvest storage in sweet cherry cv. Regina cultivated under a plastic cover. However, more biochemical and molecular studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism involved in this improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is high value crop, also called as protective food due to its high nutritional and biochemical compounds. Correlation and path analysis was carried out for 147 tomato recombinant inbred line population. Correlation studies suggested that the association of fruit yield per plant was positive and significant with plant height (0.595), branches per plant (0.657), fruits per cluster (0.500), clusters per plant (0.717), average fruit weight (0.244) and fruits per plant (0.891). Path analysis revealed that among eleven characters studied only two characters viz., average fruit weight (0.415) and fruits per plant (0.817) showed very high positive and direct effect on yield per plant. This study helps to understand the mutual relationship among various traits thereby assist in selecting the character contributing to the yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching suppresses weeds, improves soil biology, and increases physical or bioactive fruit yield in fruit orchards. However, there is no information on its impact on calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst.) orchards, which produce berries with high antioxidant content. To address this gap, in 2021, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of 5 years of mulching on soil, plants, and calafate fruit. Four mulching treatments were established: no mulch (control), geotextile, oat straw, and hazelnut shell. All mulches suppressed weeds (43%) and maintained more soil moisture (5%) than the control. Soil microbial activity increased only with hazelnut shell compared with the control, up to 46%. Only oat straw and hazelnut shell increased basal respiration and urease up to 31% and 15% more than the control. Oat straw produced the highest fruit yield with 0.44 t ha−1, while the lowest yield was produced by the control and hazelnut shell with 0.1 and 0.15 t ha−1, respectively. The geotextile with 0.35 t ha−1 of fruit produced no differences between treatments. The ORAC antioxidant capacity was only higher in the control and hazelnut shell, with a mean of 3272 µmol TE 100 g−1. Hazelnut shell mulch is recommended to improve the biological functions of the soil and the antioxidant capacity of the calafate fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which evaluated the effect of various doses of inorganic fertilizer on growth and yield of Dragon fruit in Assam, India. Topics include treatment combinations, effect of various doses of fertilizer on vegetative growth characters of dragon fruit, and correlation analysis among characters studied.

A lucrative and delicious nonclimacteric tropical fruit, rambutan, has disadvantages of inadequate fruiting, low yield, and inferior edibility at farm level that need to be addressed. Moreover, unstable tropical temperatures and humidity threaten poor fruit set and insufficient rambutan yields. Therefore, the study revealed the effectiveness of gibberellic acid (GA3) on fruit set and retention, fruit size and yield, shelf life, and postharvest properties of rambutan under these atmospheric conditions. GA3 at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm, apart from the control (without GA3), was applied to panicles twice in the early flowering and the early fruiting stages (thirty days after the first spraying). The results showed that maximum fruit set (223.2 per panicle), retention (13.2 per panicle, 5.9%), and yield (714.0 g per panicle) were obtained by GA3 treatment at 300 ppm. In addition to increasing fruit size (54.1 g) and pulp weight (31.3 g), GA3 at a dose of 300 ppm significantly reduced seed weight by 27.5% and increased the edible portion by 26.6% compared to the control. Notably, preharvest GA3 treatment increased TSS content (19.0%), total sugar (4.5%), and shelf life (11.5 days), while it decreased titratable acidity (0.4%) of rambutan. GA3 doses from 200 to 500 ppm had similar effects in terms of affecting the edible properties and shelf life of rambutan. However, fruit set, retention, and yield exhibited distinct dose-dependent responses, with 300 ppm being the best and 200 ppm consistent with the best, with some differences. Regression analysis showed a skewed curve explaining higher yield and better fruit quality at the medium GA3 treatment level (250–350 ppm). In comparison, lower (< 200 ppm) and higher (> 400 ppm) doses resulted in worse results in most cases. Therefore, regulated use of GA3 is necessary to improve rambutan yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world seeks alternatives to fossil fuels, agrivoltaics offer a promising solution by integrating solar panels with farming practices. This review examines three key agrivoltaic setups—static tilted, full-sun tracking, and agronomic tracking—dissecting their engineering features' roles in optimizing both the electricity yield and the fruit productivity of some fruit crops. We emphasize the microclimatic modifications induced by agrivoltaic systems, mainly encompassing changes in solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, and wind. The data collected in this survey reveal a strong spatial heterogeneity distribution over different locations and a significant influence on fruit crops' growth, yield, and quality, with variations among species. Such findings on the overall performance recommend a 30% shading threshold to prevent substantial declines in fruit characteristics, i.e., fruit yield and quality. Shading conditions over this threshold influence the leaf morphophysiological characteristics, impacting the photosynthesis capacity and fruit dry matter accumulation. This emphasizes the importance of further investigation into spectral radiation quality and carbon assimilation kinetics as daily responses for different fruit species to be cultivated in such new environments. Starting from this point, this review underscores the need to extend studies on various fruit crops, particularly those cultivated in semi-arid horticultural regions (i.e., for saving water), and suggests the use of comprehensive and standardized indicators for comparability across studies. Finally, the authors conclude that engineering improvements, along with new research programs on agrivoltaic systems, could lead to agricultural, environmental, and economic sustainability, as well as their practical implementation and attractiveness to farmers in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]