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In the present study, a novel adsorbent, activated carbon produced from the catalpa tree fruit was evaluated for adsorption of Cr (VI) from water and real electroplating wastewater. The batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of various operational variables, namely contact time, pH, initial concentration of Cr (VI), and the dose of activated carbon. Experimental data were used to determine the most suitable isotherm and kinetic models. The optimal values of the process were identified at a contact time of 150 min, a pH 2, an initial Cr (VI) concentration of 40 mg/L, and an adsorbent dose of 0.6 g/L that led to mean Cr (VI) removal of 95% with adsorption capacity (q) equal to 75 mg/g. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetic models could well explain the adsorption equilibrium. Furthermore, the thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was characterised by exothermicity. The efficiency of the adsorbent in removing Cr (VI) from the real electroplating wastewater was obtained about 80%. However, the required adsorbent dose was 1.5 g/L. The fruit of the catalpa tree represents a cost-effective material for producing activated carbon, with a high capacity for adsorbing Cr (VI) from aqueous solution and wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is widely accepted that the five main fruit trees that established horticulture in the late prehistoric period are: olive (Olea europaea), common fig (Ficus carica), grapevine (Vitis vinifera), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and pomegranate (Punica granatum), there is much less agreement on where, when, and why this happened. This review paper1 gathers all recent archaeological and archaeobotanical information on the topic and suggests that all five founders were first assembled into a package in one geographically small region – the Central Jordan Valley. From this core area, knowledge and/or genetic materials were shifted to nearby regions. Yet, it cannot be ruled out that other parallel independent domestications may have occurred in other regions. 14C dates provided in this study indicate that the beginning of this development is dated at ca. 7000 years cal. BP., earlier than previously considered. It seems that the primary motivation has been related to political and socioeconomic considerations rather than climatological-environmental concerns or other factors. The paper also discusses the cost-effective benefits of simultaneously cultivating several fruit trees. Understanding the early stages of horticulture sheds light on the history of our civilizations, which, according to this study, preceded urbanization or state formation by more than a millennium and a half. A better understanding of the origin and early stages of this development is also of great importance, given the immediate need to adapt horticultural practices to environmental degradation and global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persian gardens have a rich cultural and historical significance as a part of human heritage. This paper provides a historical review of the edibility of Persian gardens, from ancient Mesopotamia to the present day. The analysis demonstrates that while fruit trees have always been a part of these gardens, the cultivation of edible species has been neglected in modern times. The study highlights the importance of restoring the edible landscape in Persian gardens, in line with the historical and cultural significance of these landscapes. The findings have implications for the management and restoration of Persian gardens, with the potential for wider application in other cultural contexts. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on landscape history and its interdisciplinary study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperatures during winter are a serious problem in the cultivation of tropical fruit trees in temperate regions. The study investigated whether root zone heating treatments could improve cold injury tolerance in papaya. Leaf water potential was −2.22MPa and leaves wilted in the Control, where the root zone was not heated. However, where the root zone was heated to 20°C or only during the daytime, leaf water potentials were −1.31MPa and −1.41MPa, respectively, and no signs of leaf wilting were observed, suggesting that cold wind damage was suppressed unless temperatures fell below freezing. In contrast, where the root zone was heated, leaves wilted rapidly as temperature fell below the freezing point, and all trees had died by 12 January 2018 (72 days of experiment), suggesting that freezing injury could not be controlled by heating the root zone. It is therefore suggested that in addition to root zone heating, heating the greenhouse only on days when the temperature is below the freezing point would also prevent freezing injury. This has the potential to reduce the total greenhouse heating time by 97%. It also has the potential to reduce fuel costs for overwintering papaya, a tropical fruit tree cultivated in a temperate region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of edible species originating in Africa is considerable, but the history of their use and domestication remains largely neglected, despite existing historical records. This essay aims to explore attitudes towards safu (Pachylobus edulis), a Central African fruit that defies Western categories. Based on more than one hundred archival documents, this study examines the history of the safu and the tree that produces it as seen by Europeans (German, English, Belgian, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, etc.) present in Central Africa. The documentation collected on safus and safu trees reflects not only local views of the species but also the broader European projects pursued on the continent and the vision of African foodways. Indeed, their valuation is symptomatic of food encounters and hierarchies during colonial settlement. More broadly, it reveals how subsistence and agriculture were viewed in the region: the ubiquity of this fruit tree around villages, as often reported, contrasts sharply with the historical narrative of the absence of African agriculture in the tropics. Finally, it shows how colonial enterprises, despite hindered dispersal and missed opportunities, circulated the species in different parts of the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For precision agriculture, agricultural development planning, and regional food security, accurate crop mapping is essential. The GF-6 satellite offers novel approaches for crop identification. As Jinzhou, Hebei province, China, comprises a mix of grain and fruit trees, this research has selected the area for a case study. First, spectral, index, and texture features are combined in various classification feature schemes. Second, the random forest algorithm is employed to ascertain the significance of these features. Optimal features are then chosen to accurately identify winter wheat, summer maize, and pear orchards. Concurrently, land cover for wheat and maize seasons is mapped. The results demonstrate that: (1) multisource features considerably enhanced the accuracy of crop classification based on GF-6 WFV data. Among these, index features have the greatest contribution, followed by spectral features, while the contribution of texture features, is almost negligible. (2) The classification effect utilizing random forest feature optimization is superior, with an overall accuracy of 94% and a kappa coefficient of 0.91. The extracted land area for each scheme exhibits an accuracy of over 70% when compared to the statistical area. (3) The critical time phases for extracting winter wheat, summer maize, and pear orchards are identified as, in sequence, the leaf-out and jointing stage, the tasselling stage, the leaf-fall stage, fruit development, and the first flowering/full flowering stages. Based on GF-6 WFV data, these research findings will offer a technical reference for the identification of grain crops and the extraction of pear orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion poses a significant threat to the sustainability of natural resources and hydro-agricultural infrastructure, particularly in the Mediterranean region, including Morocco. The Allal El Fassi watershed faced such challenges and underwent anti-erosion measures between 2008 and 2014. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures in mitigating dam siltation within the watershed. The methodologies employed include the utilization of the MUSLE model, optimized with bathymetric surveys of the dam, to estimate the amount of sediment reaching the dam and derive the P-factor associated with the implemented anti-erosion measures. Additionally, the radioisotope technique was utilized to assess erosion rates at managed and unmanaged sites within the watershed. The results obtained using the MUSLE model and bathymetric data revealed a noteworthy reduction in mean annual soil loss within the timeframe of 2002–2010 to 2010–2013, resulting in a 13.9% decrease in sediment reaching the dam. Furthermore, variations in the P-factor of erosion control measures were observed, ranging from 0.31 to 0.52 during the respective periods. Utilizing the radionuclide 7Be, erosion rates ranging from 6.8 to 25.3 t.ha−1 were determined for the studied plots, facilitating the calculation of P-factors for specific erosion control measures. Significantly, gabion check dams displayed a P-factor of 0.47, dry stone barriers had a P-factor of 0.41, fruit trees with basins showed a P-factor of 0.51, and enclosures exhibited a P-factor of 0.67. These findings suggest a causal relationship between the implementation of erosion control measures and the reduction in sedimentation rates at the Allal El Fassi Dam, highlighting the interdependence between the two phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe role of some Colletotrichum species is uncertain in crops of economic importance for Colombia such as mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Azúcar. Eight Colletotrichum isolates from asymptomatic plant tissues were characterized by their pathogenicity on fruits and identified by phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of the ITS, GADPH, Tub2, CHs-1 and Act genomic regions. Colletotrichum asianum, C. gloeosporioides and C. tropicale of the C. gloeosporioides species complex and C. karstii of the C. boninense species complex were identified. The highest virulence was observed for isolates of C. asianum, that was the most prevalent species, and for C. tropicale, that showed high and intermediate virulence levels, indicating diversity in pathogenicity within the same species. The isolate of C. karstii, which displayed intermediate virulence, is the first report on mango in Colombia. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides presented intermediate virulence and was isolated at a low frequency in the present research. The mycelial growth rate did not show differences between species and ranged between 6.1 and 8.3 mm per day. Colletotrichum asianum recorded higher values of conidia germination and appressoria formation than other species, at 77% and 79%, respectively (p < 0.001). The shape and size of conidia did not vary between species. Appressoria exhibited different shapes between isolates and the largest average diameter was for C. karstii with 7.6 µm (p < 0.001). There was a diversity of Colletotrichum species associated with mango cv. Azúcar in Colombia, with differential virulence among isolates of the same species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tegolophus guavae (Boczek), Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), and Tetranychus urticae Koch are plant-feeding mite pests that cause severe damage to the foliage and fruits of guava trees in Egypt. The phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), was released at three densities (100, 200, and 300 predators/tree). The results indicated that the efficiency of N. californicus was significantly influenced by the release rate. The highest mean reduction percentage after six months of release for T. guavae, B. phoenicis, and T. urticae was, respectively, at 300 predators/tree (64.90, 81.15, and 81.11%) in 2021 and (74.89, 83.76, and 83.07%) in 2022. The mean fruit yields (kg/treatment) in the released plots were substantially greater than those in the control (ranging from 8–16%). The current result suggests that releasing N. californicus is a viable option for biological guava mite pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several features in the fruit of some neotropical trees likely evolved in response to the interaction with the mammalian megafauna extinct in the late Pleistocene. However, few studies have assessed the interactions between these plants and mammals in the absence of megafauna. We conducted a camera-trapping study in the Reserve of El Triunfo, Chiapas, Southern Mexico, to record the fauna consuming the fruit of the endemic tree Amphitecna montana which has megafauna traits. We surveyed the abundance and the spatial distribution of trees, saplings, and seedlings in 10 transects totalizing 0.1 ha, analyzed the chemical composition of their fruit, and assessed the impact of seed manipulation on germination success and seedling establishment. We recorded 12 species of medium-large mammals but the most frequent consumers of fruit were squirrels. The relationship among trees, saplings, and seedlings did not indicate the existence of a regeneration limitation. All the plant stages showed a clustered spatial pattern, which is in agreement with squirrels being the main seed dispersers. Free seeds were the more successful to germinate and establish as seedlings. Despite the current lack of megafauna in our study area, the A. montana population does not show signs of declining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of selenium (Se) uptake in fruit tree can improve the source of food Se for humans. In this study, the effect of various abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings was studied under Se stress. Only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promoted the growth of C. betacea seedlings by increasing the biomass and regulating the resistance physiology under Se stress. ABA also increased the Se content in C. betacea seedlings under Se stress. The concentration of ABA at 20 μmol/L got the maximum root Se and shoot Se contents, which increased by 76.64% and 55.83%, respectively, compared with the control. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the peroxidase activity and proline content had the first two closest relationship with the shoot Se content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress, and the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA is the optimum for Se uptake and growth of C. betacea. Under selenium (Se) stress, abscisic acid (ABA) promotes the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings, but only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promotes the growth of C. betacea seedlings. The shoot Se content is most closely correlated with the peroxidase activity and proline content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys were conducted in British Columbia fruit tree growing regions to determine the incidence of dieback and to identify the main fungal species causing cankers. Fruit trees showing cankers and dieback symptoms were recorded from 94% of orchards and 5.5% of trees surveyed. Overall, higher dieback incidence was observed in cherry than apple with 33% of cherry blocks showing between 5% and 26% of trees affected. Morphological studies along with DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) including the 5.8S rDNA, and parts of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), beta-tubulin (TUB2), and actin (ACT1) genes, identified seven fungi for the first time in fruit trees in Canada, including Calosphaeria pulchella, Cytospora parasitica, Cytospora populicola, Cytospora sorbicola, Ilyonectria robusta, Nectria dematiosa, and Phaeoacremonium minimum. In addition, this study reports for the first time Diplodia mutila and Diplodia seriata from cankers in sweet cherry in Canada. The already known fungal pathogens Neofabraea perennans and Neonectria ditissima were also identified. Pathogenicity studies showed N. ditissima and C. sorbicola to cause the largest vascular lesions in apple and cherry, respectively. This study identified the main fungal pathogens causing tree fruit cankers and dieback in British Columbia providing important information for the development of effective control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the selenium (Se) uptakes in fruit trees under Se-contaminated soil, the effects of water extract of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara straw on the Se accumulation in peach seedlings under selenium-contaminated soil were studied. The results showed that the root biomass, chlorophyll content, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and soluble protein content of peach seedlings were increased by the F. dibotrys straw extract. The different forms of Se (total Se, inorganic Se, and organic Se) were also increased in peach seedlings following treatment with the F. dibotrys straw extract. The highest total shoot Se content was treated by the 300-fold dilution of F. dibotrys straw, which was 30.87% higher than the control. The F. dibotrys straw extract also increased the activities of adenosine triphosphate sulfurase (ATPS), and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APR) in peach seedlings, but decreased the activity of serine acetyltransferase (SAT). Additionally, correlation and grey relational analyses revealed that chlorophyll a content, APR activity, and root biomass were closely associated with the total shoot Se content. Overall, this study shows that the water extract of F. dibotrys straw can promote Se uptake in peach seedlings, and 300-fold dilution is the most suitable concentration. The water extract of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara straw promoted the selenium (Se) uptake in peach seedlings under selenium-contaminated soil. The concentration of F. dibotrys straw extract showed a quadratic polynomial regression relationship with the total root and shoot Se. Furthermore, chlorophyll a content, APR activity, and root biomass were closely associated with the total shoot Se. This study shows that water extract of F. dibotrys straw can promote Se uptake in peach seedlings, and 300-fold dilution is the most suitable concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaya is one of the most important fruit trees cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions and its production is rising worldwide. Its edible part has a high nutritional and sensory value and a great commercial potential. Mature papaya is consumed fresh and has been used in food processing and cosmetic industries. Along with some other parts such as leaves, seeds or skin, papaya has been used in traditional medicine in various countries. In fact, numerous studies have reported the presence of bioactive compounds with diverse biological properties in the papaya by-products, which has motivated the expansion of their applications. Papaya by-products have been demonstrated to exert a wide range of activities (e.g.; antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-dengue, anti-malarial, anti-fertility, diabetes prevention, insecticidal, anti-AIDS) that could be useful in pharmaceutical industry. They could be used in food industry, as a source of functional compounds and in innovative active packaging strategies, and in different cosmetic products, among other applications. Although this scenario indicates that the papaya industry could diversify and increase its economic value, there are two problems that significantly affect it: the spread of pathogens and the highly perishable nature of this fruit. On the one hand, genetic tools have been used to obtain transgenic varieties resistant to pathogens, while new preservation technologies have been explored. This review focuses on the main bioactive compounds, important physiological functions and applications of different papaya parts and also in the current development of genetically modified papaya in the industry and the research progress on storage and preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. is an important fruit and medicinal tree in Southern Africa. Efforts to achieve early fruiting have failed with juvenile propagules (planting materials) such as seed. Assessing rooting ability of mature (fruit bearing) F. indica stem cuttings is vital to attaining early fruiting, or precocious fruiting, which reduces the long juvenile phase experienced by many woody fruit trees when propagated from seeds (juvenile planting materials). The objectives of this study were to assess responses of mature stem cuttings to different application times of rooting hormone (Seradix® No. 2) and collection times of stem cuttings, and also to identify important pheno-phases in the yearly tree growth cycle of F. indica. A significantly higher rooting percentage (p < 0.001) was obtained with delayed Seradix® No. 2 application than with immediate application. Stem cuttings collected at flowering and leaf fall seasons were responsive to Seradix® No. 2 application, but all stem cuttings collected at fruiting time failed to produce roots. For stem cuttings collected during flowering time, immediate Seradix® application resulted in significantly (p = 0.0482) more roots than in stem cuttings subjected to delayed Seradix® application. The failure to produce roots of cuttings collected at fruiting time could be due to low sugars (carbohydrates) in the stem cuttings. The study concluded that the best time to collect stem cuttings from mature F. indica trees for rooting is either at flowering or leaf fall stages and that delayed Seradix® No. 2 application improves rooting of stem cuttings from mature F. indica trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the oldest and most important production sectors in the history of mankind. Agricultural producers suffer losses every year due to the difficulties arising from seasonal conditions. In this study, a deep learning network has been developed to detect bloomed/non-bloomed trees that will support the use of pesticides in order to protect farmers from the damage of frost. For this purpose, a new data set including bloomed/non-bloomed was created over two years. Bloomed or non-bloomed tree detection performances were evaluated using different convolutional neural network (CNN) models with transfer learning on this new data set. Accuracy comparisons are given by including deep learning structures as NASNetMobile, MobileNetV2, ResNet50V2, VGG-16, VGG-19, and InceptionV3, and CNN from Scratch in the evaluation. The results are presented by changing different epochs and optimizer hyperparameter values with different learning rates. In addition, the runtime and parameter values of the examined CNN models were also compared. For the CNN from Scratch model, six different models were obtained by changing the number of convolution blocks and epochs. It was observed that the ResNet50V2 model made the best prediction with 98.65% accuracy after RMSprop optimizer, 10−4 learning rate and 20 epochs of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main models used for estimating chill accumulation throughout the dormancy period of temperate fruit trees in Brazil were developed in temperate regions in the northern hemisphere. Thus, they exhibit low precision when they are used in regions with mild winters. However, there are several little-known models that are more precise. This study aimed at evaluating the precision of eight different estimation models of chill accumulation applied to five apple cultivars which were grafted on two distinct rootstocks in a region with mild winters. Based on the coefficient of variation, the Microsoft Excel® program was used for evaluating the precision of the following models: Utah, modified Utah, CH < 7.2°C, CH < 10°C, CH < 15°C, Low chill, Taiwan low chill and Daily positive Utah chill unit (PCU). The lowest precision was attributed to both models Utah and CH < 7.2°C (the most common model in Brazil). Models CH < 15°C, Taiwan low chill, Low chill and modified Utah were considered precise (coefficient of variation < 15% in annual chill accumulation and to evaluate requirement to overcome dormancy in cultivars). No important differences were observed in models precision between 'M-26' and 'M-9' rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphus mauritiana is a drought and salinity-tolerant crop and one of India's most crucial arid fruit trees. The present study evaluated the fruit development of ber based on durational advancement in eight different cultivars, viz. Chhuhara, Chinese, Kalagola, Nazuk, Sanaur-2, Sanaur-4, Umran, and ZG-2. The developmental stages were chosen based on the number of days after full bloom: these stages included 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140, 154, and 168 days after full bloom. With the advancement in fruit development, fruit firmness continued to decline till 168 days after full bloom. Total carotenoid content and flavonoid content were observed to increase as maturity progressed, but phenolic content decreased. The total antioxidant activity was also found to increase over time. Significant varietal differences were observed in the developmental changes in the quality attributes. To find optimized maturity time, varieties were grouped into four similar clusters. A normalized average maturity index was developed for each cluster. Depending upon the developed maturity index, a harvesting duration of 154 days after full bloom was found suitable for all tested varieties except ZG-2, for which 140 days after full bloom was found ideal as time for commercial harvest. The current experiment simplifies the complex maturity indices to a single harvesting time for each varietal cluster to act as ready recommendations to fruit growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports tests in the Adrar region of the promising woody species, Balanites aegyptiaca, in 2014. The species behaviour at different development stages (nursery, juvenile stage and adult stage) was monitored and evaluated. The evaluation took the criteria into account. The obtained results showed a significant correlation between the number of leaves and growth in height; showing that direct seeding is the most appropriate planting technique. Dendrometric parameters are positively related, resulting in a slenderness factor of 60% with a yield of 799.9 ± 481 fruits per tree. These preliminary results suggest that the work should be replicated, with a view to domesticating the species in southern Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the potential effects of farmers' species preferences on carbon stock in cocoa-based agroforestry systems (CAFS) in the Central Region of Cameroon. To achieve this goal, the species composition and structural variables of two land-use systems were investigated using 26 plots of 30 m × 30 m each, of which 20 were distributed in CAFS and 6 in adjacent secondary forests. Allometric models were used to estimate the species aboveground and root carbon stock. Ordination analysis indicated three types of species management systems: high-density timber and fruit trees; high-density Musaceae, palms and other shading trees; and low-density timber and fruit trees. The average densities of cocoa shading trees and shrubs were 234 ± 136 and 843 ± 360 individuals' ha−1, respectively. Thus, the average potential carbon stock of the sampled CAFS was estimated at 186.97 ± 86.06 Mg C ha−1, 22% representing the root carbon stock. The transformation of secondary forest into various species management systems decreased the aboveground carbon by 18–34%. The annual rate of carbon accumulation estimated based on ring analyses was within the range 2.32–13.74 Mg C ha−1 year−1. The monetary value of the total carbon stored and the carbon accumulation rate were US$4042 ha−1and US$159 ha−1year−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is one of the essential micro-nutrients for plants and trees because they cannot complete their life cycle without it; it cannot compensate by other nutrients and is directly involved in plant metabolism. It acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in electron and oxygen transport. Iron deficiency is a global problem in fruit production in calcareous or alkaline soils, and approximately one-third of the total land area contains calcium carbonate. Despite the widespread presence of iron in the Earth's crust, the low solubility of iron compounds in many soils, especially at high pH, aerobic conditions limit the bioavailability of iron and cause symptoms of iron deficiency in plants, primarily in young leaves. Facial chlorosis has been observed between veins, reduced branch growth, leaf deformation during the growing season, and finally, tree death. In this regards, current study reviews various methods that have been mentioned for prevention and treatment of iron deficiency, including the use of iron efficiency cultivars, soil application of elemental sulfur with iron sulfate or iron chelate, the use of organic fertilizers and preservation of plant residues, foliar application with ferrous iron or chelated iron sulfate, and injection of iron ammonium citrate or ferrous sulfate into the tree trunk. Accordingly, at the first onset, the use of iron efficiency cultivars and suitable hybrids are the most appropriate methods to prevent the formation of iron chlorosis in fruit trees, especially in fruit stones. Secondly, other treatment methods such as consumption of sulfur fertilizer or iron chelate and trunk injection are important approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is an important fruit tree. Recently, leaf spots were observed in a tree in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. This study aims to identify the causal agent of rambutan leaf spot in the Philippines. Two fungal isolates, MBRAM001B and MBRAM003B, were isolated from the diseased leaves on potato dextrose agar medium. Colony growth and conidia characteristics of both isolates showed high resemblance with Colletotrichum species in the C. gloeosporioides species complex. Molecular characterisation of the isolates using the partial internal transcribed spacer rDNA and TUB2 regions identified the pathogens as C. tropicale MBRAM001B and C. siamense MBRAM003B. Leaf spots developed on rambutan leaves three days after inoculation and the same pathogens were isolated from the diseased leaves, establishing Koch's Postulate. In conclusion, this study identified C. tropicale MBRAM001B and C. siamense MBRAM003B as causal agents of leaf spots in rambutan species in the Philippines. The survival and possible infection of these two Colletotrichum species on rambutan fruits and other fruit trees are worth further investigating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 500 native edible fruits are known from Brazil with nearly 50% of these occurring in the Amazon. Pollen morphology of Brazilian plant species is poorly known yet it is important for scientific research. The aim of this study is to document the pollen morphology of 30 native edible fruit species belonging to 13 families. Following acetolysis the pollen was examined by light microscopy. Pollen grains ranged from small to very large. Prolate spheroidal and subprolate shapes predominated in most species, and most pollen grains had outline triangular to subtriangular. Polyads, tetrads and monads were observed, and the aperture arrangement varied from inarperturate to colpate and colporate, with the majority being 3-colporate and having a reticulate sexine. The species documented will contribute to pollen flora of Brazil and the information used in melissopalynollogical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree diseases endanger forestry and fruit tree plantations seriously worldwide in the past decades, leading to significant economic losses for the agricultural production sector. Rapid and accurate detection of tree diseases is crucial in tree protection. Despite molecular biological detection methods have prominent specificity, they are time-consuming and laborious, and are not suitable for large-scale detection of tree diseases. Spectroscopy with nondestructive, rapid, and high throughput characteristics has been applied to plant disease detection. Spectral detection systems are divided into three categories according to the spectrometer's carrying platform: portable hand-held spectrometer, airborne vehicle-mounted spectrometer, and large laboratory spectrometer. This review summarized three main spectral detection systems and their advantages and disadvantages in detecting various diseases of forestry and fruit trees: including detection of the single disease, multiple stress, and early disease using Visible/near-infrared, Raman, and hyperspectral imaging. Finally, spectroscopy detection technology applications of challenges were summarized, highlighting future trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The canker disease caused by Leucostoma cinctum is one of the most destructive diseases in fruit trees in Iran. For investigation of mycelial/sexual compatibility in L. cinctum, 64 isolates from 10 different plants, and 11 provinces of Iran were used. Isolates were crossed in all possible combinations on PDA at 25 °C for mycelial compatibility, and 14 multi-merge MCGs were identified among the isolates, revealing the average genetic diversity. In vitro sexual reproduction of the fungus was assessed using 14 ascospore progeny of two different perithecia, and the isolates were crossed in all possible pairwise combinations on culture media amended by different sterilized twigs. In four crosses on oatmeal agar with 2.5% sucrose, and apricot twigs, fertile perithecia were formed after 5 months, confirming heterothallic nature of the L. cinctum. Also, this is the first report of the in vitro viable sexual reproduction of the L. cinctum in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. is a member of the Malvaceae family. The plant is also known by other common names such as: kapok tree, silk cotton tree, Java cotton and many others. It grows in South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, India, Thailand, Indonesia. The plant is best known because of the fiber produced by tree fruits and unique fiber structure. Interestingly, the plant, in addition to a specific fiber with multiple uses, is used as food and its parts also exhibit medicinal activity. This paper attempts to give an overview of the current knowledge of C. pentandra (L.) Gaertn. This review provide a brief and important information concerning kapok tree and kapok fiber industrial applications as well as on reports of its use in nutrition and traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., Arecaceae) is a valuable fruit tree for many populations living in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East, and to play significant role in its economy. Asides from its well-known edible fruit, date palm tree also provides numerous by-products which have yet to be fully capitalized upon commercially. All parts of the date palm tree are of value to include: seeds (pits and oil), date pollen and the leaves. Date palm seed is a by-product of the fruit industry being discarded, and used as animal feed or for human consumption as non-caffeinated coffee. Date pollen is used traditionally for the treatment of infertility. This review aims to introduce a holistic overview on the phytochemical composition, nutritional, economical and potential health benefits of date by-products. Prioritization of date palm by-products for a desired added value or production of certain economically valued products is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a fruit tree native to the Amazon region, presenting high social and economic value. Besides, owing to its suitability for agroforestry cultivation, cupuassu is useful for the conservation of the Amazon Forest. Cupuassu plantations are severely affected by Moniliophthora perniciosa. Thus, to gain insights into resistance against M. perniciosa, transcriptomes of susceptible (SG) and resistant (RG) genotypes of cupuassu were analyzed at the early stage of infection using RNA sequencing. A total of 21,441 unigenes were identified, and differentially expressed genes were detected in intra- (440) and inter-genotype (301) analyses. Gene expression was altered at 24 h after inoculation (HAI) in SG. This alteration was prominent at 48 HAI in RG. These datasets allowed the identification of genes potentially involved in defense mechanisms. Phytohormone signature analysis revealed a significant effect of hormones on genotype responses. The present study is the first large-scale transcriptomic analysis of cupuassu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional value of some tree leaves (grape, common fig, barberry, sweet cherry, apricot, peach, and oleaster) was investigated by in vitro and common laboratory methods. Also, thirty Baluchi male lambs were randomly divided into five groups, including one control group (alfalfa) and four experimental groups, which received diets containing different leaves (barberry, apricot, peach, and grape). The crude protein content ranged from 128 for the sweet cherry to 164 g/kg DM for grape. Common fig and barberry had the greatest and lowest calcium (29.3 vs. 11.5 g/kg DM), respectively (p < 0.001). The greatest total volatile fatty acids, dry matter and organic matter digestibilities, as well as potential gas production, were observed in barberry leaves (p < 0.001). Apricot had the greatest acid-base buffering capacity (245 mEq × 10−3) (p < 0.001). Lambs fed with barberry had a greater average daily gain (179 g/day, p = 0.013). The results of in vitro and in vivo indicated that barberry leaves had a greater nutritional value among the studied leaves. It is concluded that alfalfa can be replaced with barberry, apricot, peach, and grape leaves up to 250 g/kg DM in diet without deleterious effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and hematology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to quantify the export of macronutrients by coffee fruits Coffea canephora "Conilon - BRS Ouro Preto," under different doses of the fertilizer formulation 20-00-20 under rainfed conditions, in the Western Amazon. The treatments were six doses of fertilizer 20-00-20, in the proportions: 0; 250; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 3,000 kg ha−1 year−1 and the experimental design was completely randomized with 15 replications. There was a difference for the accumulation of dry mass, content and export of nutrients when comparing straw and grain. The export of nutrients by the grain follows a decreasing order: N > K> Mg > P> Ca > S and the export by straw follows the order: K > N> Ca > Mg > S> P. The doses of the formulation not influence the levels of nutrients in the fruits but promoted an exponential increase in dry mass of grains and straw, with a maximum accumulation of 6,413 kg ha−1 of dry mass of grain and 5,455 kg ha−1 in straw at a dose of 3000 kg ha−1. It is concluded that the doses of fertilizer formulation 20-00-20 do not promote changes in the concentrations of nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S in the fruits of the coffee tree "Conilon - BRS Ouro Preto." However, it promotes greater accumulation of dry mass in both grains and straw and greater export of nutrients by the fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Biasong' (Citrus micrantha), native to the Southern Philippine Islands, is an important cultivated fruit tree but has no published plastome sequence. We assembled and characterized the C. micrantha chloroplast genome from accession in the germplasm collection of the Institute of Crop Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence is 159,928-bp long with 128 coding genes comprising 83 mRNA genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Out of the mRNA genes, 45 genes code for photosynthesis, 30 genes code for self-replication, and five genes code for other functions. A phylogenetic analysis of the assembled genome, along with 24 Citrus species and three other Rutaceae species, identified Citrus aurantiifolia as its closest relative with available complete cpDNA sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dieback and canker disease caused by species of Botryosphaeriales affect the productivity of pome fruit orchards. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of fungicides and biofungicide for controlling canker and dieback diseases in apple and pear using in vitro and field trials. Isolates of Diplodia seriata, D. mutila, and Dothiorella omnivora from apple, and of D. seriata and Aplosporella aquifolii from pear were used. Cercobin® (thiophanate-methyl), followed by Bellis® (pyraclostrobin + boscalid), and Nativo® (tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin) inhibited mycelial growth, conidial germination and pycnidia formation in vitro in all fungal isolates. T. harzianum produced mycelial growth inhibition and mycoparasitism in dual culture assays. Thiophanate-methyl and T. harzianum fully inhibited pycnidia production, while pyraclostrobin + boscalid and tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin were most effective against conidia germination. In the orchard assays, protective sprays of the fungicides on pruning wounds reduced incidence by up to 20%, while T. harzianum and tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin reduced the lesion severity up 37 and 41%, respectively. This study represents the first evaluation of fungicides and biofungicide effectiveness for the control of canker and dieback diseases of apples and pears in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is an underutilized fruit tree crop in East Africa. Despite its importance for food and nutritional security, only limited information exists on the extent of genetic variability among Ugandan and Kenyan jackfruit populations. This study was aimed at analyzing the extent of genetic diversity in jackfruit germplasm from selected regions of Kenya and Uganda. A total of 30 mature fruit samples were collected randomly from three districts (Kampala, Wakiso and Mbale) in Uganda and five counties (Siaya, Kwale, Mombasa, Busia, and Murang'a) in Kenya. Genetic characterization was using six simple sequence repeat (SSR) and nine sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. The results revealed that 62.50% of the loci for SSR and 82.14% for SRAP markers were polymorphic. The average polymorphism information contentwas 0.48 for SSR and 0.56 for SRAP markers. The Jaccard's similarity coefficient ranged from 0.55 to 1.0 for SSR and from 0.33 to 0.93 for SRAP markers, indicating considerable genetic diversity among jackfruit germplasm. Based on combined SSR and SRAP data, analysis of molecular variance revealed greater genetic diversity within the populations (76%) than among the eight populations (24%). Dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis separated the germplasm into two clusters, with several intermediates. The germplasm distribution among the clusters and sub-clusters was not associated with the geographical region. The significant genetic variability existing in Ugandan and Kenyan jackfruit germplasm can be used to improve jackfruit through breeding. The substantial genetic diversity should enable jackfruit breeders to develop high-yielding varieties with improved quality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants have always represented a great resource of bioactive compounds. Olea europaea is considered one the most important fruit trees of the entire Mediterranean basin and its use in traditional medicine dates back to very ancient times. In this work, bud extracts from two O. europaea cultivars, 'Carolea' and 'Cassanese', were investigated in order to evaluate their phytochemical profile and biological activities. Each sample was extracted with a hydroalcoholic solution with two different extraction techniques: classical maceration and extraction by Naviglio Extractor®. Total phenolic and flavonoid content was assessed, and the apolar constituents were detected by means of GC-MS. In vitro radical-scavenging, anti-obesity and hypoglycemic properties were investigated through the DPPH test, pancreatic lipase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Results showed that 'Carolea' extracted by Naviglio® was able to exert the best antioxidant activity and an excellent inhibitory effect on digestive enzymes with IC50 values equal to 1.27 ± 0.04 mg/mL and 33.21 ± 0.23 µg/mL for lipase and α-amylase inhibition, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Akbarieh Garden in Iran accommodates both pleasure and edible landscapes. In this study, visitor accessibility of the fruit trees of this garden was assessed using continuous and stop-motion walking modes. Results indicated that in the continuous walking mode, focus rested more on recognising the macro elements of the garden along the walkways; therefore, the edible landscape was not adequately considered. In the stop-motion mode, by stopping in successive landscape sequences, the edible landscape could be accessed. However, access to the edible landscape in Akbarieh Garden was limited by several factors. While the perimeter wall limited accessibility, spatial organisation of the garden along two walkways channelled visitors towards the pleasure landscape. In addition, an impenetrable green wall (boxwood) also limited access to the agricultural landscape. Thus, obstacles, longer walks, and the location of the edible landscape in the garden decreased the accessibility of fruit trees in this semi-public urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The citrus red mite (CRM), Panonychus citri (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a pervasive pest of numerous deciduous and evergreen fruit trees. The persistent use of acaricides in controlling the mite has been known to cause unwanted negative impacts. In this study, the bio-efficacy of individual and combined application of Jatropha curcas seed extract (JcSE) (Euphorbiaceae) and entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces lecanii (Cordycipitaceae) on the mortality and oviposition rate of CRM was investigated. The effects of JcSE on A. lecanii were initially evaluated by incorporating JcSE into potato dextrose agar medium at various concentrations. After that, A. lecanii was inoculated on the medium, and its mycelial growth, conidia production, and conidia viability were observed. The results indicated that JcSE at all concentrations had no deleterious effects on the fungus, illustrating high compatibility and suggesting their combined application. The application of JcSE and A. lecanii increased the CRM mortality and reduced the mite oviposition rate, both when applied singly and in combinations. At 144 h after application, their combined application at the highest concentration used caused 97.5% mortality of CRM and decreased the mite oviposition rate to 0.5 eggs, while the mite mortality and oviposition rate were 2.5% and 38.7 eggs, respectively, in control. Therefore, the combined application of JcSE and A. lecanii can be considered as a promising option in integrated management programmes of CRM, particularly in organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virus and virus-like diseases are major production constraints in vegetatively propagated crops; once a plant is infected, it remains so throughout its life. This work was undertaken to accelerate the process of eliminating apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) from explants obtained from an infected plum tree by in vitro heat therapy combined with meristem tip culture. After a minimum of 1 week of in vitro heat treatment followed by microdissection of meristematic tissues, trees were propagated successfully into virus-free plants. The treatment procedure, from infected plant to virus-free plantlets, takes a minimum of 14 weeks and could be applied to other fruit tree crops. The results of a one-step reverse transcription PCR analysis of treated plants after three accelerated growth cycles indicated the absence of ACLSV. Heat treatment of the test plants, followed by three rounds of indexing, was accomplished in about 28 months, a procedure that could take ≥36 months using conventional methods. The techniques described in this work may help to speed up the treatment of infected plants and screening of planting materials. The application of these procedures will benefit regulatory agencies, allow stakeholders to have timely access to virus-tested material, and facilitate domestic and international trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia gummi-gutta is valued for its dried fruit rind used as a souring agent in traditional cuisine and for the extraction of natural hydroxy citric acid (HCA) in the formulation of anti-obesity nutraceuticals. The species is widely distributed in Kerala State but is not yet an economically profitable crop in the region. Promising germplasm screening based on the fruit mass traits of 180 trees was performed leading to the selection of 35 candidates plus trees (CPTs) characterized by the fewest fruits to weigh 1 kg (i.e., the largest fruits) with two fruit bearing seasons. Fruit mass data of 35 CPTs showed significant (P <.001) variations and highest fresh fruit mass (1091.27 kg), and dry rind mass (48.18 kg) recorded in CPT 6 and is 40-fold higher mass than mean fruit mass (25.4 kg) of 180 trees. Multivariate analysis and web diagram-based ranking supported selection of CPT 6 as a promising candidate tree. In the tree improvement programs through nutraceutical enrichment, the superior germplasm selected (CPT 6) in the present study can use effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetative propagation of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) is more difficult than many other fruit trees. Temperature, relative humidity, water status of the scion and rootstock, nutrient uptake, time of grafting, physiological condition of the rootstock, and scion type all can affect grafting success. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of post-budding irrigation frequency (3, 7 and 10-days), budding date (14 June, 5 and 26 July), and rootstock heading methods. All treatments and evaluations of their effects were performed in field conditions, for two consecutive years. Irrigation cycle, budding date and rootstock heading procedure all had significant effects. Bud take was greatest on 26 July (49.3%). Irrigation frequency had no significant effect on bud take but the 3-day cycle resulted in the best scion growth. Bend the branches to create shade at the bud site, rather than cutting the rootstock above the bud site resulted in the best bud take (61.1%). The results obtained in this study show that budding at the right time "provides better climatic conditions," adjusting the irrigation cycle and choosing the best rootstock heading methods after budding, produces satisfactory results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study sought to investigate the internal cycling of phosphorus (P) in Clementine mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco "Clementine"). The biomass formation, P concentration, P uptake and accumulation of different organs (bud, flower, fruit, leaf and branches) identified as active organs and found on 1-year-old shoots on fruit trees of bearing age were periodically examined for 2 years. The biomass value was similar between both production seasons. At the beginning of shoot activity, the biomass of annual shoots had a very low rate in the total biomass (0.4%). The biomass increased from 9.7 kg/tree at the beginning of the production season to 62.8 kg/tree at harvest. The P concentrations were in the ranges of 0.11–0.22% in the branches of <1-year-old shoots throughout the 2 years, 0.07–0.15% in the branches of 1-year-old shoots, 0.17–0.31% in the leaves of <1-year-old shoots and 0.13–0.26% in the fruits of <1-year-old and 1-year-old shoots. The total P accumulation at harvest was 82 and 107 g/tree in the first and second years for <1-year-old shoots, respectively, while it was 44 and 48 g/tree for 1-year-old shoots, in the first and second years respectively. The mean daily P uptake amount was determined as 0.4 g/tree for both production years, and the highest daily P accumulation amount was between the fifteenth and twenty-eighth days for both production seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits contribute to carbon (C) fixation in fruit tree species of savannah woodlands despite that the C fixed in fruits is rapidly turned back to carbon dioxide (CO2) when the fruits decompose or are eaten. The aim of this study was to determine biomass allocation between fruit components of Strychnos madagascariensis and Strychnos spinosa and to derive the C stocks sequestrated by fruits. A total of 400 ripe fruits were harvested from trees distributed in seven plots across the UMkhanyakude district. Fruit shell and pulp were separated from seeds. Puree and juice of S. spinosa were separated by centrifugation and steam extraction, respectively. Moisture contents of the fruit components were measured. For S. madagascariensis fruits, seeds contributed the most biomass (50.2%), followed by the shell (30.8%), and pulp had the least biomass (16.7%). The loss of material was 2.3%. For S. spinosa, the largest part of fruit biomass was in the shell (41.8%), followed by puree (25.6%), seeds (18.6%), juice (6.2%), and pulp (0.9%). The loss of material was 6.9%. Fruit dry biomass (FDB; in g) and fruit carbon stocks (CB; in g) were both related to fruit diameter (D; in cm) for S. madagascariensis (FDB = 1.022 ᵡ D2.492; CB = 0.463 ᵡ D2.539) and S. spinosa (FDB = 1.015 ᵡ D2.38; CB = 0.198 ᵡ D2.821). Proportion values and regression techniques were both valid methods to derive biomass and carbon stocks of the fruit and its components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornamental date palm and sidr trees growing near or within urban areas are exposed to heavy metals (HMs) contamination. This study aimed to determine the elemental composition and HMs concentrations of fruits from ornamental date palm and sidr trees to evaluate their relative safety for human/animal consumption. The results showed that while these fruits contain varying quantities of essential nutrients (macro and trace elements), the concentrations of macro elements and trace elements in the fruits varied significantly depending on location. The concentrations levels were within the acceptable limits and thus safe. Heavy metals were also present in the fruits at different locations. The concentrations of the HMs were within the permissible limits in the majority of the locations, with the exception of some samples collected from sites with increased traffic density; which had lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd), concentrations above the permissible limits. Washing the fruits reduced the load of HMs contamination in most of the samples; however, the concentrations were still above the maximum allowable limits (MAL) in highly contaminated samples. Accordingly, fruits produced by ornamental date palm and sidr trees may pose some risk for human and animal consumption depending on the location and contamination level of specific HMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the pistachio harvesting rate, the force in the process of the harvest is analyzed, and it is found that the major factors affecting fruit vibration shedding are excitation force-frequency, amplitude and clamping height. The effective range of the vibration frequency is obtained through modal analysis. The rigid-flexible coupling model of the vibration device and tree reveals the response characteristics of the combination point of fruit. The optimal vibration parameters are force amplitude 3000 N, vibration frequency 18 Hz and clamping height 700 mm. After the optimization, the number of fruit trees reaching more than 90% harvest rate increase by 1.46 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nectarine (Prunus persica var. nectarina) is a sub-tropical fruit tree with strong cold sensitivity. In this study, flesh of nectarine (Shuguang) was used to determine the difference in transcriptional data before and after chilling injury under storage. In addition, genes responses involved in nectarine acclimation to cold stress were also explored. Results of the current study showed that nectarine was found to be more susceptible to chilling injury during storage at 5°C than at 0°C, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were concentrated in the late stage of low-temperature storage where chilling injury symptoms appeared at the end of the experiment. The key genes related to low-temperature response were associated with post-harvest biological processes. DEGs were annotated on the metabolic pathways of cold regulation signal transduction, cold resistance physiological metabolism and cold resistance-related protein synthesis. Moreover, the expression of genes related to cold stress such as plant hormone signal transduction element such as Auxin-responsive protein, transcription factors responding to cold stress such as WRKY transcription factor and genes related to maintaining membrane stability and regulating physiological metabolism such as proline dehydrogenase was more pronounced when nectarine was stored at 5°C than at 0°C. Overall, these findings showed that alteration in chilling temperature has substantial impact on the transcription levels associated with cold resistance pathway during the low-temperature storage of nectarine and thus promotes chilling injury disorders in nectarine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple is an important fruit tree in semi-arid and arid regions, but increasing water scarcity limits apple production. Earlier studies have reported that partial root-zone irrigation (PRI) can increase water use efficiency (WUE), but the effects of PRI on fruit quality and nutritional value are still less known. To close this knowledge gap, a two-year field experiment conducted to evaluate the effect of PRI treatments on biochemical properties, WUE, and stomatal leaf traits in the Red Delicious and Braeburn apple cultivars. The results showed that alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI75) and fixed partial root-zone irrigation (FPRI75) increased WUE by about 20–36% compared to control, respectively, but there was no significant difference in WUE between control and FPRI50. The highest antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity recorded in PRI treatments compared to control. In addition to improving the WUE and maintaining the yield, using APRI75 and FPRI75 to irrigate apple trees could be more effective in improving antioxidant capacity and phytochemical compounds such as anthocyanins and leading to increased nutritive value and quality of the apple fruits. Therefore, APRD75 and FPRD75 as potential water savings strategies might be suitable for irrigation apple trees under water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study objective was to determine the effects of field application of hexanal on pre-harvest market attributes of orange (Citrus sinensis L.) fruits. The first factor was hexanal concentration (0.01, 0.02, 0.04% and controls – untreated fruits), the second factor consisted of time of hexanal application prior to fruit harvest (7, 21, 42 and 60 days to harvest) and the third factor was season (1st and 2nd season). Tested orange varieties were Early Valencia ('Msasa'), Jaffa and Late Valencia varieties. A fruit tree for each orange variety constituted a treatment for hexanal application and time of its application prior to fruit harvest. The results show that hexanal application at 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04% equally improved fruit marketable yields by increasing fruit firmness and number of marketable fruit of Early Valencia, Jaffa and Late Valencia varieties. Number of marketable fruit increased by 34.89%, 34.04% and 42.48% over the controls for Early Valencia, Jaffa and Late Valencia, respectively. Similarly, fruit firmness increased by 11.38, 11.03 and 11.92 N/mm2 over the control for Early Valencia, Jaffa and Late Valencia, respectively. It is recommended that farmers should treat Early Valencia, Jaffa and Late Valencia with hexanal at 0.01% in order to increase marketable yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy volume information of fruit trees is a very important biological parameter, which is of great significance to predict the yield of fruit trees, estimate the application amount of pesticides and fertilizers. This study proposes a novel volume prediction method of single tree canopy based on the three-dimensional (3D) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud. The method involves several steps, mainly including point cloud pre-processing, spatial clustering segmentation based on K-dimensional tree (KD tree), acquisition of single tree structural parameters, calculation of tree canopy volume based on multiple regression analysis. This study tests the performance of the proposed method with a collected data set of Begonia forest. The average error and standard deviation between the predicted and manually measured heights to the canopy are 0.038 m and 0.030 m, respectively. As to the diameter of the trunk, the average error and standard deviation are 0.013 m and 0.008 m, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the proposed canopy volume prediction method is 0.8610, and the F test result is significant. High correlation is found between the predicted canopy volumes and the R2 value is 0.8223. The experimental results verify the validity of the proposed method. The research can provide a stable and accurate technical reference for the statistics on forest biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering fig trees with color nets changed the quality of light that reach trees. This study was carried out to assess the effects of shade provided by blue and yellow protection nets on leaf attributes and fruit quality of fig trees under rain-fed conditions. The experiment lasted for three months and was a split-plot treatment arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. 'Sabz' and 'Siah' fig trees were covered with color nets or left uncovered (as the control group). The results showed that yellow nets reduced the net photosynthetic activity by 15.86 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1, but increased leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid content in both cultivars. Leaf temperature decreased in both cultivars when covered with yellow nets. The shade provided by blue nets increased stomatal conductance in the leaves of 'Sabz' fig trees. When covered with yellow shade nets, 'Sabz' fig trees had the highest relative water content and the lowest ion leakage in both cultivars. The color nets reduced dry fruit diameter in 'Sabz' figs and reduced total soluble solids in both cultivars. Also, titratable acidity decreased in fruits as a result of using yellow nets on both cultivars. Yellow nets increased antioxidant activity and anthocyanin content in fruits of the 'Siah' cultivar significantly, as compared with the 'Sabz' cultivar. The photo-selective, light-dispersive shade nets proved to be interesting tools that can reduce drought stress on trees under rain-fed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pears (Pyrus spp.) mainly are divided into two main groups of Asian and European species with a wide diversity or similarity in fruit and morphological traits. In this study, flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the genome size of 37 cultivars and genotypes of Asian, European, and Iranian indigenous pears. Besides, the relationship between cytological and morphological traits was investigated for the first time. Morphological traits were measured based on the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptor. There were positive relationships between genome size, the fruit pedicel length, and the length to fruit diameter ratio. Although, as the genome size was increased, the fruit diameter and size were decreased. Increasing 1.6 pg of the genome size causes a reduction of one cm in the pear fruit diameter. Moreover, with a larger genome size by 1.1 pg, there was an increase in fruit pedicel by one cm. The obtained results revealed that most of the Iranian native genotypes were similar in shape to European pears, but some of them were also oriented to Asian pear cultivars. Most studied cultivars originated between different regions were diploid (2n = 34) and their genome size varied between 0.99 and 1.99 pg. The average genome size of European and Iranian pears was 1.29 pg and Asian's was 1.32 pg. The principal component analysis (PCA) result showed that the Asian and European genotypes were distinctly separated. Also, according to the cluster analysis, the indigenous cultivars of Iran can be located in the European pear group species. There was a relationship between the East Asian and European pear origins because of the possible gene flow between two major pear culture regions in the past. In general, Iran can be considered as an important region and pathway of gene flow transfer and a rich center of genetic variation of pears. Therefore, this study provided essential information and a useful tool for genetic diversity or similarity assessment of pears through genome size and some morphological traits prediction. Further research on wider fruit tree species in the different fruit-growing regions of the world will warrant the use of genome size as a novel prediction tool for the important morphological traits with specific commercial breeding objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A micropropagation method has been developed for the first time for difficult to propagate small fruit plant medlar (Mespilus germanica L.). Embryonic axes excised from surface-disinfected and microbe-free seed(s), were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for activation/germination. Axillary bud(s) derived from embryonic axes were used as explants, cultured on the MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The 86.33% of the explant exhibited shoot induction within 59.00 days on media with 2.00 mg l–1 BA together with 0.50 mg l–1 NAA. The highest number (8.50/plantlet) of leaf, and node (7.53/plantlet) and the longest (7.26 cm/plantlet) root length were obtained on MS with 2.00 mg l–1 BA together with 1.00 mg l–1 NAA. Maximum number (6.30/plantlet) of shoot and root (5.66/plantlet) were regenerated on MS medium supplemented with 0.50 mg l–1 BA together with 1.00 mg l–1 NAA. Plantlets were transferred to pots filled with perlite and peat moss in equal proportions for acclimatization. Cent percent of the cloned plantlets survived under ex vitro conditions. The method described will be useful for rapid multiplication of medlar for commercial purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]