Search

ABSTRACT Background Aims Methods Results Conclusions Placement and acidification pretreatments are strategies to enhance the phosphorus (P) fertilizer value of biowastes. However, their impact on the commercial yield of horticultural crops and the effects on the contents of undesirable elements in the edible product are not well known.The main objective of this study was to assess how the placement and acidification of biowastes affect commercial yield and nutritional quality of vegetables.To investigate this, we selected two byproducts from agroindustries, meat and bone meal (MBM) and digestate solid fraction (DSF), and conducted a pot experiment with peas and onions growing in 10‐L pots. Four treatments were assessed for each biowaste: untreated mixed (UM), untreated placed (UP), acidified mixed (AM), and acidified placed (AP).Acidification increased the water‐soluble P of both byprodutcs to over 70% of the total P. For DSF, the AP treatment yielded over 100% more than UM, with a fertilizer value exceeding triple superphosphate. However, for MBM, no significant differences were found among UM, AM, and AP treatments, with UP yielding even less than the negative control, indicating a toxicity effect, probably of ammonium that reduced plant growth. Although acidification may have increased the solubility of undesirable elements, it was not reflected in plant composition, as higher P solubility contributed to increased commercial yields, diluting undesirable element content.Therefore, the placement of acidified DSF shows promise in improving fertilizer value, with no adverse effects on the content of undesirable elements in onion bulbs and pea grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it powers photosynthesis, ultraviolet‐A1 radiation (UV‐A1) is usually not defined as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). However, the quantum yield (QY) with which UV‐A1 drives net photosynthesis rate (A) is unknown, as are the kinetics of A and chlorophyll fluorescence under constant UV‐A1 exposure. We measured A in leaves of six genotypes at four spectra peaking at 365, 385, 410 and 450 nm, at intensities spanning 0–300 μmol m s−1. All treatments powered near‐linear increases in A in a wavelength‐dependent manner. QY at 365 and 385 nm was linked to the apparent concentration of flavonoids, implicating the pigment in reductions of photosynthetic efficiency under UV‐A1; in several genotypes, A under 365 and 385 nm was negative regardless of illumination intensity, suggesting very small contributions of UV‐A1 radiation to CO2 fixation. Exposure to treatment spectra for 30 min caused slow increases in nonphotochemical quenching, transient reductions in A and dark‐adapted maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, that depended on wavelength and intensity, but were generally stronger the lower the peak wavelength was. We conclude that UV‐A1 generally powers A, but its definition as PAR requires additional evidence of its capacity to significantly increase whole‐canopy carbon uptake in nature. Summary statement: Photosynthetic quantum yield of UV‐A1 was quantified in horticultural crops (cucumber, tomato and lettuce) and woody species (hydrangea and red dogwood). UV‐A1 powered photosynthesis and caused photoinhibition in a wavelength‐dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 (eCO2) is important for predicting plant physiology and optimizing management decisions under global climate change, but is underexplored in important horticultural crops. We grew three crops differing in stomatal density—namely chrysanthemum, tomato, and cucumber—at near‐ambient CO2 (450 μmol mol−1) and eCO2 (900 μmol mol−1) for 6 weeks. Steady‐state and dynamic photosynthetic and stomatal conductance (gs) responses were quantified by gas exchange measurements. Opening and closure of individual stomata were imaged in situ, using a novel custom‐made microscope. The three crop species acclimated to eCO2 with very different strategies: Cucumber (with the highest stomatal density) acclimated to eCO2 mostly via dynamic gs responses, whereas chrysanthemum (with the lowest stomatal density) acclimated to eCO2 mostly via photosynthetic biochemistry. Tomato exhibited acclimation in both photosynthesis and gs kinetics. eCO2 acclimation in individual stomatal pore movement increased rates of pore aperture changes in chrysanthemum, but such acclimation responses resulted in no changes in gs responses. Although eCO2 acclimation occurred in all three crops, photosynthesis under fluctuating irradiance was hardly affected. Our study stresses the importance of quantifying eCO2 acclimatory responses at different integration levels to understand photosynthetic performance under future eCO2 environments. SUMMARY STATEMENT: Three important horticultural crops with contrasting stomatal density (cucumber > tomato > chrysanthemum) acclimated to elevated CO2 with very different strategies: Cucumber mostly acclimated via stomatal conductance responses, whereas chrysanthemum mostly acclimated via photosynthetic biochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1997, severe bacterial disease symptoms were observed during surveys carried out in farms with field‐grown Molfettese Catalogna chicory (Cichorium intybus var. sylvestre, Catalogna group), sugarloaf chicory (C. intybus var. porphyreum), curly type lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) cvs Langero and Aleppo, and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) located in the Apulia and Basilicata regions of southern Italy. Convex colonies with yellowish mucoid material on hypersucrose medium (5% sucrose nutrient agar), producing fluorescent pigments on King's medium B, were isolated from all symptomatic plants. Based on conventional biochemical and nutritional tests, Biolog assays, and analysis of partial 16S rDNA and rpoB sequences, these atypical fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates were identified as Pseudomonas viridiflava. The pathogenicity of the isolates was ascertained by artificial inoculation on their respective original hosts. The analysis of rpoB gene sequences and RAPD‐PCR profiles showed a high genetic variability among the P. viridiflava isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of bacterial diseases on horticultural crops caused by atypical strains of P. viridiflava in Italy and the first report of the bacterium on safflower. In addition, P. viridiflava is reported for the first time as a causal agent of leaf spot on potato (Solanum tuberosum). The economic importance of chicory and curly type lettuce in southern Italy and recent spread of atypical and highly virulent P. viridiflava strains require more extensive and careful phytosanitary surveillance, as well as an adjustment of sustainable crop protection management to cope with this new challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of a highly efficient diploid seedless watermelon production system through the manipulation of the SPOROCYTELESS gene. Seedlessness is a desirable trait in fruit crops like watermelon, and current methods for producing seedless watermelons involve triploid production or hormone induction. The study focuses on mutating key genes involved in seed formation, such as SPL, SPO11-2, CKI1, and LEC2, to establish a novel system for producing diploid seedless watermelons. The research findings suggest that disrupting the SPL gene can lead to the production of fully diploid seedless fruits with no compromise in fruit quality. The study highlights the potential of gene editing technology in developing seedless fruit varieties and suggests that the system could be applied to other fruit crops with highly conserved SPL genes. [Extracted from the article]

Agriculture confronts multifaceted challenges across the spectrum of crop production, with pest and disease management being a prominent concern. Timely diagnosis of crop diseases is imperative for mitigating production costs and curbing the adverse environmental impacts of chemical pesticides. In the present investigation, mobile phone‐based foldscope microscopy (MBFM) was used to diagnose various field samples infected with fungal diseases of field and horticultural crops, and the same was validated with the normal microscope pictures and field symptoms. The MBFM was also used to diagnose seed‐borne microflora associated with wheat and spores of commercial formulation of bioagents and validated. The MBFM utilises both symptoms and morphological structures of pathogen for in situ field diagnosis and hence advantages over the symptom‐based mobile Apps. This study underscores the utility of foldscope microscope as a potent technique for plant pathologists and extension workers to enable real‐time and in situ identification of diseases caused by fungal pathogens in various agricultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion Composts made from food waste will soon become more widespread on the market thanks to the upcoming enforcement of the legal obligation to sort biowaste. Our experiment aims at improving knowledge on the short‐term effects of these composts on soils’ physicochemical properties and vegetable crops.Three composts with contrasting characteristics were tested: a 100% v/v green waste compost (C1), and two composts composed of 50% v/v food waste and 50% v/v green waste, one prepared directly on the soil (C2) and the other from a competing producer who have the French NFU 44‐051 (AFNOR NF U 44‐051, 2006) certification for an organic amendment (C3). They were applied at a rate of 100 t ha−1 (dry matter) on two cropped soils with contrasting textures. Soil‐and‐compost mixes and compost‐free soil were planted with lettuce, radish, and potato.Seventy‐four days after planting, composts improved some soil physicochemical properties. The compost‐amended soils had better saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks, 1 10−3–2.5 10−3 cm s−1) than the compost‐free soil (0.5 10−3 cm s−1), and water‐stable aggregates were higher than the initial value in C3 soil, equal to it in C2 soil, and lower in C1 soil. pH, total nitrogen, and organic carbon increased in all compost‐amended soils. Food waste compost stimulated crop production. The yields (dry matter) of all three crops were two to three times higher in the two soils amended with food waste compost compared to unamended soil, whereas they decreased almost two times in the soil amended with green waste compost due to nitrogen immobilization. Trace metals (particularly Pb and Cd) added by the composts, although present in edible parts of the plants, did not exceed the European rules for trace metals.Thus, food waste composts have positive effects on soils and vegetable crops, and the higher their organic matter content, the higher these positive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of nanoparticles (NPs) in horticultural crops is in a tremendous increase. NPs help in the overcoming of stresses with positive impacts on plant growth and development. Silver NPs (AgNPs) have numerous pre‐ and postharvest applications in agriculture. Aims and methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AgNPs application (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm) at three spray intervals (5, 10, and 15 days) on the morphological and compositional traits, and defense system of strawberry. Results: Results showed that AgNPs application enhanced the growth, yield, quality, and nutritional aspects of strawberry grown under field conditions. Shoot fresh weight (20.20 g) and leaf number/plant (41.53) were enhanced at 100 ppm AgNPs and 15 days interval. A stunted growth of strawberry plants was recorded at 200 ppm AgNPs. Moreover, a 15‐day‐spray interval was found optimum for the improvement of major morphological traits. Fruit size, yield, total soluble solids, acidity, and antioxidant capacity were improved at 50 and 100 ppm AgNPs. The activation of plant defense system, that is, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, total soluble protein, and ascorbic acid was improved under AgNPs foliar application. The activation of stress indicating marker malondialdehyde outlined a high defense response of strawberry at 150 ppm AgNPs. Conclusions: Conclusively, AgNPs application at 50, 100, and 150 ppm can be considered effective for sustainable strawberry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pathogens and other natural enemies to suppress pest populations is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. As biocontrol agents may interact synergistically, additively, or antagonistically, it is crucial to assess their interactions for effective pest management. In this study, we investigated the effect of three entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) species—Beauveria bassiana (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill. CEP 091, Akanthomyces muscarius (Petch) Spatafora, Kepler & B. Shrestha CEP 182, and Cordyceps fumosorosea (Wize) Kepler, B. Shrestha & Spatafora CEP 315 (all Hypocreales)—on the survival, fecundity, and searching behavior of Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). All three EPF species were found to be pathogenic to O. insidiosus, resulting in a significant decrease in survival compared with the control group. Fecundity remained unaffected by the fungal treatments. No effect of EPF on searching behavior of the predator was found. In relation to the searching behavior, individuals of 2 days post‐infections remained in the food patch longer than individuals of 7 days post‐infections, regardless of treatment. These findings provide valuable insights into the compatibility of EPF and O. insidiosus as combined biocontrol agents for managing whiteflies, aphids, and thrips. Understanding the interactions between EPF and predatory insects is crucial for developing IPM strategies that maximize pest control efficacy. Further studies should explore the long‐term effects of EPF on O. insidiosus populations and their overall impact on pest management in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet pepper, a globally commercialized horticultural crop, has been demonstrated to impede fat accumulation, but its mechanism remains incompletely understood. This study was designed to explore the potential mechanism of sweet pepper in reducing fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans through RNA‐seq and metabolome analysis. A total of 22 metabolites were identified from sweet pepper by UHPLC‐ESI‐TOF‐MS analysis. In vivo, sweet pepper significantly inhibited α‐glucosidase activity and reduced the levels of glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and the area stained with oil red O. Additionally, it increased body length and the number of head swings in C. elegans compared to the control group. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids signaling pathway among the differentially expressed genes and metabolites. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBPs) ortholog SBP‐1, as well as the stearyl CoA desaturase‐1 (SCD1), including fat‐5, fat‐6, and fat‐7, were significantly decreased after treatment with sweet pepper. Collectively, sweet pepper effectively reduces fat accumulation, which is probably related to downregulating the SREBP‐SCD axis, offering new insights for future functional food development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) has a desirable sweet taste and exotic aroma, making it popular in the markets. However, the biosynthesis of aroma volatiles in litchi fruit has rarely been investigated. In this study, the content and composition of volatile compounds were determined during litchi fruit ripening. In the mature green and mature red stages of litchi, 49 and 45 volatile compounds were detected, respectively. Monoterpenes were found to be the most abundant volatile compounds in mature red fruit, and their contents significantly increased compared to green fruit, mainly including citronellol, geraniol, myrcene, and D‐limonene, which contributed to the aroma in litchi fruit. By comparing the expression profiles of the genes involved in the terpene synthesis pathway during fruit development, a terpene synthesis gene (LcTPS1‐2) was identified and characterized as a major player in the synthesis of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. A subcellular localization analysis found LcTPS1‐2 to be present in the plastid and cytoplasm. The recombinant LcTPS1‐2 enzyme was able to catalyze the formation of three monoterpenes, myrcene, geraniol and citral, from geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) and to convert farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to a sesquiterpene, caryophyllene in vitro. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing LcTPS1‐2 exclusively released one monoterpene D‐limonene, and three sesquiterpenes cis‐thujopsene, (E)‐β‐famesene and trans‐β‐ionone. These results indicate that LcTPS1‐2 plays an important role in the production of major volatile terpenes in litchi fruit and provides a basis for future investigations of terpenoid biosynthesis in litchi and other horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylella fastidiosa has been identified as the causal agent of several horticultural plant diseases that have resulted in major economic and cultural heritage losses. In the last decade, X. fastidiosa emerged as a destructive phytopathogen on olive trees in the Apulia region, Italy, prompting widespread surveillance throughout the Mediterranean basin. The present paper reports monitoring efforts for X. fastidiosa in Palestine on olive for 5 years (2017–2022) and 1 year (2022) on stone fruit trees, as a result of international collaboration projects. No signs of olive quick decline syndrome were observed on olive trees in all the Palestinian olive‐growing lands. This observation was confirmed by molecular tests using LAMP technology and PCR. In addition, 500 leaf samples from stone fruit trees (almond, apricot, peach, nectarine and plum) were tested using LAMP and PCR. All of these samples were negative for X. fastidiosa, even though few of the samples from almond trees in Idna (Hebron governorate) and apricot trees in Bal'a (Tulkarm governorate) showed leaf scorch‐like symptoms. This study provides confirmation that these important horticultural crops in Palestine (olive and stone fruits) are still free of X. fastidiosa. Preventive measures and surveillance of these and other horticultural crops such as grapevine and citrus trees are strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature stress poses a significant challenge to the productivity of horticultural crops. The dynamic expression of cold‐responsive genes plays a crucial role in plant cold tolerance. While NAC transcription factors have been extensively studied in plant growth and development, their involvement in regulating plant cold tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the identification and characterisation of SlNAC3 as the most rapid and robust responsive gene in tomato under low temperature conditions. Manipulating SlNAC3 through overexpression or silencing resulted in reduced or enhanced cold tolerance, respectively. Surprisingly, we discovered a negative correlation between the expression of CBF and cold tolerance in the SlNAC3 transgenic lines. These findings suggest that SlNAC3 regulates tomato cold tolerance likely through a CBF‐independent pathway. Furthermore, we conducted additional investigations to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying SINAC3‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes. Our results revealed that SlNAC3 controls the transcription of ethylene biosynthetic genes, thereby bursting ethylene release in response to cold stress. Indeed, the silencing of these genes led to an augmentation in cold tolerance. This discovery provides valuable insights into the regulatory pathways involved in ethylene‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes, offering potential strategies for developing innovative approaches to enhance cold stress resilience in this economically important crop species. Summary statement: We discovered that SlNAC3 as the most rapid and robust responsive gene in tomato under cold stress. Furthermore, we discovered the molecular mechanisms underlying SlNAC3 controls the transcription of ethylene biosynthetic genes, thereby bursting ethylene release in response to cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of selenium (Se) in most horticultural crops is low. To improve Se uptake in fruit trees, we investigated the impact of water extract derived from Nasturtium officinale R. Br. straw on the growth and Se uptake of peach seedlings under Se‐enriched soil by a pot experiment. The water extract of N. officinale straw exhibited notable effects on various growth parameters and Se accumulation in peach seedlings, with the most significant outcomes observed at a 200‐fold dilution. Specifically, the extract led to substantial enhancements in biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble protein content in peach seedlings. Remarkably, the 200‐fold dilution of N. officinale straw extract resulted in a 60.78% increase in root biomass and a 31.26% increase in shoot biomass when compared to the control. Moreover, the water extract augmented the levels of total Se, inorganic Se, and organic Se, along with the activities of Se metabolism‐related enzymes in peach seedlings. Among various tested dilutions, the 300‐fold and 400‐fold dilutions of N. officinale straw extract exhibited the highest total Se contents in roots and shoots, respectively, indicating increments of 97.26% and 44.08% over their respective controls. Additionally, correlation and gray relational analyses unveiled significant associations between peroxidase activity, soluble protein content, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and the total shoot Se content. In conclusion, the water extract of N. officinale straw holds substantial potential for promoting the growth and Se uptake in peach seedlings, with the best concentration of 300‐fold dilution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), commonly known as the cotton mealybug or solenopsis mealybug, is a highly polyphagous species. This paper provides the first report of this species in Greece. It was detected in high numbers on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants cultivated in a greenhouse in the region of Mirtos, close to the city of Ierapetra in the Southeast part of the island of Crete. The species identification was carried out using morphological and molecular analyses. The fact that P. solenopsis can be transferred easily via trade of live plant material, in combination with its ability to affect many different hosts causing severe damage, constitutes an increasing threat to Greek cultivation and especially to horticultural and vegetable crops. Additional surveys should be conducted to investigate the species distribution in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Faster vegetative growth and early maturity/harvest reduce plant life cycle time and are important agricultural traits facilitating early crop rotation. GA is a key hormone governing developmental transitions that determine growth speed in plants. An EAR‐motif repressor, SlERF36 that regulates various growth transitions, partly through regulation of the GA pathway and GA levels, was identified in tomato. Suppression of SlERF36 delayed germination, slowed down organ growth and delayed the onset of flowering time, fruit harvest and whole‐plant senescence by 10–15 days. Its over‐expression promoted faster growth by accelerating all these transitions besides increasing organ expansion and plant height substantially. The plant life cycle and fruit harvest were completed 20–30 days earlier than control without affecting yield, in glasshouse as well as net‐house conditions, across seasons and generations. These changes in life cycle were associated with reciprocal changes in expression of GA pathway genes and basal GA levels between suppression and over‐expression lines. SlERF36 interacted with the promoters of two GA2 oxidase genes, SlGA2ox3 and SlGA2ox4, and the DELLA gene, SlDELLA, reducing their transcription and causing a 3–5‐fold increase in basal GA3/GA4 levels. Its suppression increased SlGA2ox3/4 transcript levels and reduced GA3/GA4 levels by 30%–50%. SlERF36 is conserved across families making it an important candidate in agricultural and horticultural crops for manipulation of plant growth and developmental transitions to reduce life cycles for faster harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan (Ch) was functionalized with Bidens pilosa (BP) extract at 1, 3, or 5% to form Ch-1 BP, Ch-3 BP, and Ch-5 BP, respectively. Ch without plant extract was used as a control. The composite films were characterized and tested for antifungal properties in the agar disc diffusion approach and antioxidant capacity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. Chitosan films fused with B. pilosa extract inhibited the growth of P. expansum with a 10 mm inhibition diameter compared to control films (3.33 mm). Ch-1 BP exhibited the highest (79.13%) radical scavenging activity (RSA), and control films had the lowest RSA (50.97%). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified 20 metabolites, including phenolic acids (9), organic acids (8), monosaccharides (1), amino acids (1), flavonoids (1), and six unknown polyphenols. Chitosan-based composite coating (Ch-1% BP) exhibited the lowest weight loss percentage (16.74%) and decay incidence (17.3%), while the untreated fruit showed higher weight loss and decay incidence (48.33% and 83.2%, respectively). The effectiveness of chitosan-enriched coating in maintaining the postharvest quality of raspberry fruit suggests that this plant could be a postharvest agent for controlling microbial spoilage and protecting against oxidative stress, ultimately resulting in extended storage in horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Horticultural plants contribute immensely to the quality of human's life. The rapid development of omics studies on horticultural plants has resulted in large volumes of valuable growth‐ and development‐related data. Genes that are essential for growth and development are highly conserved in evolution. Cross‐species data mining reduces the impact of species heterogeneity and has been extensively used for conserved gene identification. Owing to the lack of a comprehensive database for cross‐species data mining using multi‐omics data from all horticultural plant species, the current resources in this field are far from satisfactory. Here, we introduce GERDH (https://dphdatabase.com), a database platform for cross‐species data mining among horticultural plants, based on 12 961 uniformly processed publicly available omics libraries from more than 150 horticultural plant accessions, including fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants. Important and conserved genes that are essential for a specific biological process can be obtained by cross‐species analysis module with interactive web‐based data analysis and visualization. Moreover, GERDH is equipped with seven online analysis tools, including gene expression, in‐species analysis, epigenetic regulation, gene co‐expression, enrichment/pathway and phylogenetic analysis. By interactive cross‐species analysis, we identified key genes contributing to postharvest storage. By gene expression analysis, we explored new functions of CmEIN3 in flower development, which was validated by transgenic chrysanthemum analysis. We believe that GERDH will be a useful resource for key gene identification and will allow for omics big data to be more available and accessible to horticultural plant community members. Significance Statement: GERDH is a comprehensive, convenient, user‐friendly multi‐omics database that focuses on interactive cross‐species analysis and allows users to quickly and easily obtain gene expression and regulation data generated from horticultural plant species. We believe that GERDH will be a useful resource for efficient data mining and will allow for omics big data to be more available and accessible to horticultural plant community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Plusiinae) is a defoliator of soybean (Glycine max L., Fabaceae), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., Asteraceae), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae), and horticultural crops in temperate southern South America; however, there is little genetic information available about this pest insect. Recently, concerns about this insect have increased because of its suspected resistance to Bt soybean and its spread to tropical regions. To better understand pest dynamics, and therefore implement suitable management strategies, a thorough knowledge of the genetic variability and spatial structuring of populations is required. In this paper, R. nu larvae were sampled from various crops and locations in central Argentina (where the pest is endemic) to assess diversity and population structure through mtDNA sequence analysis. In addition to the analysis of the standard cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) 'barcode' fragment, a new set of primers was developed to explore genetic variation in the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. COI and Cytb concatenated sequences revealed an overall high haplotype diversity (mean ± SD = 0.798 ± 0.037) and low nucleotide diversity (0.00137 ± 0.00013). The haplotype network showed a total of 19 haplotypes, separated by at most five mutational steps. A main central haplotype and four additional frequent haplotypes (accounting for 80% of the specimens examined) were distributed across populations with no obvious pattern related to host plant or geographic origin. Analysis of molecular variance further supported a weak population structure, where genetic variation within populations was the main source of total variation (ca. 96%). Pairwise comparisons showed only minor genetic differentiation among some of the populations studied. Implications of these findings in the context of R. nu control are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stress has been shown to induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. When the level of ROS surpasses the capacity of the endogenous defence mechanism, oxidative stress status is reached, leading to plant damage and a drop in crop productivity. Under oxidative stress conditions, ROS can react with polyunsaturated fatty acids to form oxidized derivatives called phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs), which are recognized as biomarkers of oxidative damage advance. Modern agriculture proposes the use of biostimulants as a sustainable strategy to alleviate the negative effects of oxidative stress on plants. This work evaluates the dose effect of natural antioxidant extract to mitigate the oxidative‐stress deleterious effects in melon and sweet pepper exposed to thermal stress. The plants were sprayed with Ilex paraguariensis (IP) aqueous extract in three different concentrations before exposure to abiotic stress. PhytoP and PhytoF levels were determined in the leaves of melon and pepper plants. IP1 and IP2 were effective against oxidative stress in both plants, with IP1 being the most protective one. IP1 decreased the levels of PhytoPs and PhytoFs by roughly 44% in both melon plants and pepper plants. The yield, with IP1, increased by 57 and 39% in stressed melon and pepper plants, respectively. IP3 foliar application in melon plants induced a pro‐oxidant effect rather than the expected mitigating action. However, in sweet pepper plants, IP3 decreased the oxidative stress progress and increased the fruit yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important pest of cotton and horticultural crops globally. In China, smallholder farmers regularly intercrop cotton with garlic or onion. Aside from higher farm‐level revenue, cotton intercrops are typified by lower Aphis gossypii abundance than monocrops. So far, the mechanistic basis of this lowered pest pressure has not been empirically assessed. Results: Field trials showed that Aphis gossypii abundance is lower and (relative) abundance of aphid predators higher in early‐season cotton intercrops than in monocrops. Cage trials and Y‐tube olfactometer tests further indicated that garlic and onion volatiles repel Aphis gossypii alates. Electrophysiological bioassays and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified two physiologically active volatiles, that is, diallyl disulfide and propyl disulfide from garlic and onion respectively. Next, behavioral tests confirmed that both sulfur compounds exert a repellent effect on alate Aphis gossypii. Conclusion: Garlic and onion volatiles interfere with Aphis gossypii settling, but do not affect its main (ladybird) predators. Meanwhile, early‐season cotton/onion intercrops bear higher numbers of Aphis gossypii predators and fewer aphids. By thus unveiling the ecological underpinnings of aphid biological control in diversified cropping systems, our work advances non‐chemical management of a globally‐important crop pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most destructive pests, aphids cause significant damage on various agricultural and horticultural crops. Recently, melatonin has been shown to enhance plant resistance to aphids; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, our results showed that melatonin, MeJA, and H2S enhanced aphid resistance of watermelon in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied by increases in the defense‐related enzyme activities and lignin accumulation. On the plants pretreated with 100 μM melatonin, 100 μM MeJA, and 50 μM NaHS, the numbers of aphids were 86.0%, 59.6%, and 47.9% lower than that on control plants, respectively, after aphid infestation for 7 days. Melatonin application induced MeJA and H2S accumulation in response to aphid infestation, while inhibition of MeJA and H2S accumulation attenuated or abolished melatonin‐induced defense response and aphid resistance, suggestive of the involvement of MeJA and H2S in melatonin‐induced aphid resistance. MeJA also increased H2S accumulation, but inhibition of MeJA biosynthesis prevented melatonin‐enhanced H2S accumulation, suggesting that MeJA mediates melatonin‐induced H2S accumulation. Furthermore, inhibition of H2S production attenuated MeJA‐induced defense response and aphid resistance. Taken together, the current study reveals a novel mechanism in which MeJA‐dependent H2S signaling is involved in melatonin‐induced defense response and subsequent aphid resistance. The increasing concern to minimize the use of pesticides and to switch onto sustainable and natural control strategies indicates the great exploitation of such a mechanism in combating aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is threatening the status quo of agricultural production globally. Perennial cropping systems could be a useful strategy to adapt agriculture to a changing climate. Current and future perennial row crop systems have many and varied applications and these systems can respond differently than annuals to agricultural challenges resulting from climate change, such as shifting ranges of plant, pathogen, and animal species and more erratic weather patterns. To capitalize on attributes of perennial systems that assist in our ability to adapt to a changing world, it is important we fully consider the component parts of agroecosystems and their interactions, including species, genotype and genotypic variance, environment and environmental variance, adaptive management strategies, and farm socioeconomics. We review the current state of perennial grain and oilseed crops for integration into row crop agriculture and summarize the potential for current and future systems to support multiple environmental benefits and adaptation to climate change. We then propose a plant breeding strategy that incorporates the complexity of common domestication traits as they relate to future perennial crop improvement and adaptation and highlight digital technologies that can advance these goals. Evaluation of genetic gain during the development of new perennial crops and systems can be improved using research designs that span an environmental gradient that captures the forecasted shift in climate for a region, which we demonstrate by reanalyzing existing data. Successful development and deployment of perennial crops as a climate adaptation strategy depends on grower adoption, scalability, and sustainable modifications to markets and supply chains. Core Ideas: Many agronomic and horticultural crops are perennials, which survive for years or decades after establishment.Perennial crops are uniquely positioned to reduce the impacts of changing climates on growers.Perennial crops are uniquely positioned to increase the ecological and social benefits of agriculture.Perennial grain and oilseeds must be able to withstand increasingly erratic weather and shifts in disease, weed, and pest pressures.Perennial grains and oilseed crops will play a more important role in sustainable and profitable agricultural production in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of nutritive and consumption of polluted food sources are the main health implications in African countries. Vegetable production is an optional balanced food source easily grown in the urban and rural areas. However, the levels of contaminant heavy metals in cultivated vegetables have not yet been identified. This review scrutinizes the contamination route, sources, health effects, environmental problems, food safety complications, and remedial activities of vegetable production in Ethiopian agriculture. Informal settlement, the rapid rate of urbanization, and the lack of community-based industrial expansion lead to massive increases in toxic heavy metals in ecosystems. They are supplied with food source diets unrestrictedly, mainly for vegetable consumption. Among the assessed metals, Zn (112.7 mg/kg), Cr (47.7 mg/kg), Pb (17.76 mg/kg), and Cd (0.25 mg/kg) existed in vegetables, with the highest concentrations in Ethiopia. They have negative effects on public safety, environmental security, and nutrient levels in horticultural crops. Hence, Ethiopia has no permissible standards for vegetable consumption and hazard analysis, critical control point, or food safety system. Additionally, physical, biological, and natural remedial strategies such as phytoremediation, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, bioremediation, and phytovolatilization are not applied to curtail deadly substance contents in Ethiopia. Despite this, some mitigation strategies, such as industrial waste treatment activities, are underway in Ethiopia's universities and beer and sugar factories. This review found that the use of integrated remedial strategies could help to improve the efficiency of strategies in a sustainable manner, solid safety control for heavy metal management in Ethiopia, and management should begin with local solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major, economically important, and recent invasive pest of strawberries and other horticultural crops in United States. Several conventional insecticides are used for S. dorsalis management, and resistance development threatens loss of few available tools. Hence, our objectives were to: (1) determine the susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used conventional insecticides: spinetoram, acetamiprid, cyantraniliprole and bifenthrin, and (2) establish LC50 and LC90 dosages for spinetoram against S. dorsalis. Sampling of S. dorsalis populations was conducted twice in seven strawberry fields in Florida during the strawberry field season between 2019 and 2020. Leaf‐disc bioassays were performed with field collected populations along with a susceptible 2‐year‐old laboratory culture of S. dorsalis. Overall, at highest recommended rate the percent mortality of late season S. dorsalis populations from five out of seven collection sites was lower (~41%) than average mortality observed with early season populations (~72%). Populations from at least four out of seven sampling sites exhibited significantly lower mortality than the laboratory susceptible culture in late season. The LC50 and LC90 values for spinetoram for the susceptible laboratory population were 0.026 and 8.64 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, LC50 values of field collected populations to spinetoram varied with resistance ratios ranging from 6 to 269 fold as compared against the laboratory strain. Our results suggest that susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used insecticides in strawberries varies significantly between early and late season populations within the same crop season. The efficacy of bifenthrin against S. dorsalis was particularly low (~ reduced to half in late season), especially among field collected populations. Our results indicate an urgent need to incorporate other pest management strategies, as well as effective rotation programs to reduce selection for resistance among populations of S. dorsalis in strawberry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi belonging to the family Botryosphaeriaceae have been implicated in significant economic loss in many horticultural crops worldwide. These fungal pathogens pose an emerging risk to the productivity of the Australian walnut industry, although which species of Botryosphaeriaceae are present is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, walnut tissues were collected from 14 orchards representing the major walnut‐growing regions of Australia, and fungal isolations performed. Botryosphaeriaceae species were recovered from both symptomatic and asymptomatic samples from nine of the orchards. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of five Botryosphaeriaceae species, namely Diplodia seriata, Dothiorella omnivora, Neofusicoccum parvum, N. macroclavatum and Spencermartinsia viticola. Of the 106 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates recovered, D. seriata and N. parvum were the most prevalent species. Pathogenicity studies using detached stems indicated that Neofusicoccum spp. were the most virulent followed by D. seriata. This is the first systematic study on the incidence, identification and pathogenicity of species of Botryosphaeriaceae from walnut orchards in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, is an economically important pest insect of horticultural crops in Australia, damaging a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. To study the B. tryoni–fruit interaction, we conducted a transcriptomic investigation of B. tryoni larvae feeding on three ripening stages of tomato fruit, which had been previously shown to influence larval performance. Fruit fly larval survival in immature tomato fruit is very poor, which we hypothesized to be due to the effect of tomato fruit toxins which are mostly expressed in green fruit. We found 2709 transcripts differentially expressed in larvae feeding on the three ripening stages. The transcript expression pattern was most divergent between larvae feeding in immature fruit compared with fully ripe fruit, with intermediate expression in larvae feeding in colour‐break fruit. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that larvae fed in immature fruit had a higher number of depleted GO terms in comparison with larvae fed on fully ripe fruit, particularly GO terms associated with larval development, metabolism and basic cellular functions. Enriched GO terms in larvae fed on fully ripe fruit showed the opposite pattern, with a greater number of enriched terms related to larval growth and detoxification processes. We concluded that poor larval survival in immature‐green fruit is likely because the substrate offers a very poor diet for larvae, which limits normal developmental functions. By contrast, in colour‐break and fully ripe fruit the substrate allows normal development, including the expression of metabolically costly detoxification mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tephritid fruit flies are a major constraint to the global production of horticultural crops. In Africa, an array of native and alien invasive fruit fly species represents a key challenge to the horticultural industry. In an effort to develop a safer management tool for these pests, we previously identified glutathione (GSH) and glutamic acid (GA), as the host marking pheromones (HMPs) of Ceratitis cosyra and Ceratitis rosa, respectively. Here, we report on the effectiveness of these compounds (GSH and GA) in reducing natural fruit fly population infestations in mango orchards. Mango trees at two different agroecological zones in Kenya were sprayed with HMPs, and the fruits sampled periodically and assessed for fruit fly emergence. Fruit fly emergence data were compared to two controls, the positive control using spot spraying of food bait (SS), and the negative control using water (W). RESULTS: The two HMPs and SS substantially decreased fruit fly emergence from the sampled mangoes. GSH and GA treated mangoes showed reduced C. cosyra and C. rosa infestation by ~70–75% relative to control (W), and with variation noted in the pheromone applied and the recovered fruit fly species. The adult emergence in pheromone‐treated plants compared favorably with the positive control SS. However, the HMPs had little impact on reducing Bactrocera dorsalis infestation of mangoes. CONCLUSION: The decrease in fruit fly emergence in sampled mango fruits from HMP treated trees corroborate previous laboratory results and support the prospect of using HMPs in the management of African fruit fly species. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids, thrips, whiteflies, mealy bugs and mites could cause significant yield losses in horticultural crops. Many synthetic chemicals highly hazardous to non‐target organisms and the environment are in use in their management. Botanicals are ideal for safe sustainable pest management by keeping synthetic chemical use at a minimum. We studied the insecticidal properties of three botanicals viz., Annona squamosa, Ricinus communis and Sapindus mukorossi seed extracts against sucking pests viz., aphids (Aphis gossypii and Aphis craccivora) on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and bittergourd (Momordica charantia), thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) on chilli (Capsicum frutescens), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) on eggplant (Solanum melongena), mealy bugs (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) on betel vine (Piper betle) and mites (Tetranychus urticae) on eggplant (Solanum melongena) under laboratory conditions. The bioassay showed that A. squamosa seed extract has potent insecticidal properties on all sucking pests, except T. urticae. Though S. mukorossi seed extract exhibited no insecticidal property, had a significant acaricidal property. A. squamosa and S. mukorossi seed extracts will therefore be additional botanicals for use in organic farming for managing the sucking pests effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frankliniella occidentalis is a pest of horticultural crops, including commercial strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). Control is challenging because certain populations are resistant to insecticides and, in strawberry, now relies on the application of biocontrols. However, this approach is not always successful if F. occidentalis populations overwhelm biocontrols. We investigated whether targeted spectral modifications to cladding materials could reduce numbers of F. occidentalis, in strawberry flowers.Five UV‐attenuating plastic‐film materials were tested in three, 6‐week, semi‐field tunnel experiments containing strawberry plants. F. occidentalis were introduced into tunnels from a laboratory culture and subsequent numbers that developed in strawberry flowers were recorded.Limiting UV‐A radiation to the crop significantly reduced the numbers of adult and larval F. occidentalis in strawberry flowers. The numbers of adult (and larvae) in flowers were reduced by 42 (47)%, 54 (41)%, 70 (73)%, and 82 (73)% in UV350, UV370, UV400, and UV430‐attenuating films, respectively, compared with the UVopen (control) film. However, no damage to strawberry fruits was observed regardless of the film treatment.Incorporating UV‐attenuating films as tunnel cladding can suppress F. occidentalis numbers in strawberry. Reducing populations of F. occidentalis in crops is likely to enable the more successful use of other non‐chemical control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and abscisic acid (ABA) are essential regulators of plant growth and stress tolerance. Although the antagonistic interaction of BRs and ABA is proposed to ensure the balance between growth and defense in model plants, the crosstalk between BRs and ABA in response to chilling in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a warm‐climate horticultural crop, is unclear. Here, we determined that overexpression of the BR biosynthesis gene DWARF (DWF) or the key BR signaling gene BRASSINAZOLE‐RESISTANT1 (BZR1) increases ABA levels in response to chilling stress via positively regulating the expression of the ABA biosynthesis gene 9‐CIS‐EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE1 (NCED1). BR‐induced chilling tolerance was mostly dependent on ABA biosynthesis. Chilling stress or high BR levels decreased the abundance of BRASSINOSTEROID‐INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2), a negative regulator of BR signaling. Moreover, we observed that chilling stress increases BR levels and results in the accumulation of BZR1. BIN2 negatively regulated both the accumulation of BZR1 protein and chilling tolerance by suppressing ABA biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate that BR signaling positively regulates chilling tolerance via ABA biosynthesis in tomato. The study has implications in production of warm‐climate crops in horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, is a highly polyphagous invasive pest native to Central America. The occurrence of A. rugioperculatus in the Oriental region was first reported from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India in 2017. This pest is widely distributed in India, causing severe economic damage to coconut and other horticultural crops. It is a recent invasion in India and information on its potential distribution is lacking. Thus, in the present study we used the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) dataset through Maximum Entropy species distribution modelling (version 3.4.1, MaxEnt) to determine the potential distribution of RSW in present and future climate change scenarios in 2050 and 2070 under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 126 and SSP585 emission scenarios. The performance of the model was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), true skill statistics (TSS) and the continuous Boyce index (CBI). RESULTS: The MaxEnt model performed well and predicted the potential distribution of A. rugioperculatus with high‐accuracy AUC values of 0.991 and 0.989, TSS values of 0.891 and 0.842, and CBI values of 0.972 and 0.934 for training and testing, respectively. Jackknife analysis revealed that A. rugioperculatus distribution was mostly influenced by temperature‐based bioclimatic variables contributing 62.1% of the suitability, with precipitation variables contributing the remainder. The most important bioclimatic variables for RSW distribution were annual mean temperature (Bio 1, 28.9%) followed by mean diurnal range (Bio 2, 19.5%) and annual precipitation (Bio 12, 19.1). Potential suitable areas for RSW establishment were mostly found in all coastal and southern states of India. A. rugioperculatus prefers a warm and humid climate, indicating that the tropics, subtropics and temperate regions are ideal for its spread and invasion. Our results highlighted that the suitable habitat area for A. rugioperculatus is predicted to increase and highest probability of invasion and spread in 2050 and 2070 under future climate change scenarios of SSP126 and SSP585 compared to present climatic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to use the latest CMIP6 models and it predicts the potential distribution of RSW in India under present and future climate change scenarios. The implementation of strict domestic quarantine measures may prevent the spread and damage of RSW to noncoastal regions of India. The results of the current study should help in timely monitoring and surveillance of RSW and to formulate integrated pest management strategies at the national level to restrict its spread, invasion and damage to new areas. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, published crop disease risk simulations are summarized, which were driven by climate change scenarios on a timescale terminating between 2001 and 2100. Thirty different agricultural and horticultural crops were specifically considered. Wheat diseases (mainly leaf rust) were most often simulated, followed by rice diseases (mainly leaf blast), grapevine diseases (mainly downy mildew) and potato diseases (mainly late blight). Most simulations suggest that within the projection period simulated, crop disease risk will more often increase (86 simulations) than decrease (45 simulations) or remain similar (12 simulations). The majority of crop disease risk simulations focus on Europe and Brazil. For example, there is agreement across crop disease risk simulations that in Europe the risk of leaf rust of wheat will increase. In other cases, there is disagreement across crop disease risk simulations, for example, due to contemporary climatic differences of locations. Therefore, it is risky to extrapolate results across locations. Mitigation and adaptation methods should be more often integrated in the crop disease risk simulations in order to inform about potential methods to reduce disease risk in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Western flower thrips are considered the major insect pest of horticultural crops worldwide, causing economic and yield loss to Solanaceae crops. The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) resistance against thrips remains largely unexplored. This work aims to identify thrips‐resistant eggplants and dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance using the integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of thrips‐resistant and ‐susceptible cultivars. RESULTS: We developed a micro‐cage thrips bioassay to identify thrips‐resistant eggplant cultivars, and highly resistant cultivars were identified from wild eggplant relatives. Metabolomic profiles of thrips‐resistant and ‐susceptible eggplant were compared using the gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS)‐based approach, resulting in the identification of a higher amount of quinic acid in thrips‐resistant eggplant compared to the thrips‐susceptible plant. RNA‐sequencing analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing genome‐wide gene expression changes between thrips‐resistant and ‐susceptible eggplants. Consistent with metabolomic analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that the starch and sucrose metabolic pathway in which quinic acid is a metabolic by‐product was highly enriched. External application of quinic acid enhances the resistance of susceptible eggplant to thrips. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that quinic acid plays a key role in the resistance to thrips. These findings highlight a potential application of quinic acid as a biocontrol agent to manage thrips and expand our knowledge to breed thrips‐resistant eggplant. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., family Solanaceae) represents one of the most cultivated horticultural crops worldwide, with over 5 million hectares of cultivated area and more than 182 million tons of tomato produced globally. Nevertheless, monoculture conditions, intensive selection, domestication throughout the last decades, international trade of infected propagating material and climate changes intensely favoured the establishment of many pathogens and the rapid spread of new diseases, allowing organisms to establish in new and unfavourable environments. Among different biotic agents, viruses are the most dangerous, because of their rapid diffusion and production losses. Here, we review an emerging viral threat to tomato production, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a new highly infectious tobamovirus that is currently causing great concern to tomato global production, especially in those areas where mitigation measures are absent or inadequate and which, in recent years, it has considerably increased its diffusion in new tomato cultivation areas. Through a review of all the existing literature, this article highlights the following aspects: (a) main characteristic of tomato species (origin, taxonomy and genome); (b) main diseases that undermine the tomato production, focusing on viral pathogens; (c) ToBRFV main characteristics (origin and spatiotemporal dispersal, taxonomy, genome organisation, host range and symptoms, transmission, spread and epidemiology, and genetic diversity); (d) detection methods developed and disease management; (e) breeding as a new weapon to control the ToBRFV diffusion. Moreover, future perspectives are highlighted, to understand the epidemiology key factors and the ToBRFV‐tomato pathosystem management, in order to develop effective and appropriate control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Banana is one of the major global horticultural fruit crops cultivated in the humid tropics and subtropics. Fruit quality and consumer acceptability of any climacteric fruit depend mainly on its postharvest aroma volatile profiles. The present study aimed to profile fruit volatiles status during postharvest storage of two banana cultivars: Kanthali (Musa sp. cv. Kanthali, Kt) and Kacha Kela (Musa sp. cv. Kacha Kela, Kk) from the ABB genome group. RESULTS: Both cultivars showed differences in the soluble sugar contents, with Kt being higher than Kk. The volatile compounds were profiled from the pulp as emitted, endogenous and glycosyl‐bound forms, along with peel‐endogenous and whole fruit volatiles during postharvest storage. Both cultivars showed a wide range of variations in volatile aroma pools; nevertheless, esters and aliphatic compounds were found to be the major contributors of fruit volatiles in Kt and Kk, respectively. The pulp‐endogenous volatiles served as the major pool, which showed a sharp decline with a corresponding increase of emission. Many volatiles were found to be glycosylated during early postharvest storage, with de‐glycosylation occurring with an increase in storage time, resulting in fruit softening and a concurrent supply of sugar bound volatiles towards emission. CONCLUSION: As a whole, the study outcome provides an overview of fruit volatilome during postharvest storage and suggests a possible inter‐linking among the volatile components in the cultivars. It is plausible that the release of aroma volatiles from pulp is mediated via peel, with volatiles accumulating as peel‐endogenous volatiles representing the temporary pool reservoir. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Cellular energy status is a key factor deciding the switch‐on of the senescence of horticultural crops. Despite the established significance of the conserved energy master regulator sucrose non‐fermenting 1 (SNF1)‐related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) in plant development, its working mechanism and related signaling pathway in the regulation of fruit senescence remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that energy deficit accelerates fruit senescence, whereas exogenous ATP treatment delays it. The transient suppression of LcSnRK1α in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit inhibited the expression of energy metabolism‐related genes, while its ectopic expression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) promoted ripening and a high energy level. Biochemical analyses revealed that LcSnRK1α interacted with and phosphorylated the transcription factors LcbZIP1 and LcbZIP3, which directly bound to the promoters to activate the expression of DARK‐INDUCIBLE 10 (LcDIN10), ASPARAGINE SYNTHASE 1 (LcASN1), and ANTHOCYANIN SYNTHASE (LcANS), thereby fine‐tuning the metabolic reprogramming to ensure energy and redox homeostasis. Altogether, these observations reveal a post‐translational modification mechanism by which LcSnRK1α‐mediated phosphorylation of LcbZIP1 and LcbZIP3 regulates the expression of metabolic reprogramming‐related genes, consequently modulating litchi fruit senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home gardening is promoted as an adaptation strategy to ameliorate the increasing food insecurity from climate change impacts among subsistence farming families in rural sub‐Saharan Africa. Yet, the geographic distribution of home gardens, their setup, management, and the effects on nutrition outcomes have not been fully described. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize recent evidence on home gardening for two exemplar countries: Burkina Faso and Kenya. Between June and August 2020, we searched, screened, and extracted evidence about home garden projects in both countries, following the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Peer‐reviewed scientific publications, and gray literature in English and French that reported about subsistence horticulture in rural settings of Burkina Faso or Kenya were included. The characteristics of the documents and the data pertaining to our research objectives were extracted into predefined spreadsheets. The data were synthesized in the form of a narrative review. Our search yielded 949 documents, of which 20 documents were included in the synthesis (Burkina Faso: 8, Kenya: 12). While the gardens varied in composition and size, the majority provided green leafy vegetables and indigenous horticultural crops. The challenges for successful home garden implementation comprised unfavorable climatic conditions, access to and affordability of inputs, water and land, and lack of know‐how. We identified trends for improved food security, diet quality, and nutritional status among the target populations. This scoping review found that there is limited evidence on home garden practices in rural Burkina Faso and Kenya. To enhance the sustainability of home gardens, research and resources should be invested in codesigning context‐specific home gardening projects. Pending rigorous impact evaluation, home gardens appear to be a promising tool for climate change adaptation while simultaneously improving food security and the nutritional situation among women and young children in these two exemplar countries of sub‐Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron lapponicum (R. lapponicum) is a dwarf Rhododendron species, which is severely infected with root rot and wilt in Yunnan province, China. However, the causal agent causing these symptoms was unknown. An isolate, Pci‐1 was identified as Phytophthora cinnamomi, based on its morphology and the sequences of β‐tubulin, internal transcribed spacer, and Ypt1 genes and verified according to the Koch's postulate. We found that this pathogen could infect 14 species of plants, including Althaea rosea, Viburnum cylindricum, and Brassica napus. Strain Pci‐1 could cause R. lapponicum to wither and die; and it grows best in an oat medium with pH 7.0 − 8.0 and an optimum temperature of 27°C. We suggest that the rhizosphere of R. lapponicum treated with biocontrol strains Paenibacillus polymyxoides P2‐5 and Trichoderma asperellum Tv‐1 showed a significant inhibitory effect on pathogen Pci‐1. The inhibitory effect of 70% dimethomorph + cymoxanil was significantly higher with EC50 and EC90 values of 0.1894 and 0.3618 a.i. µg/ml, respectively. Greenhouse experiments revealed that the pathogen load is decreased in the presence of potential antagonists. This study provides fundamentals on risk assessment and theoretical support for the management of P. cinnamomi pathogen and contributes significantly to the planting of forest and horticultural crops in a disease‐free environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At postharvest, fruits have a short shelf life. Recently, there has been much literature on the effects of melatonin on the postharvest quality of horticultural crops. However, reports of various findings comprise mixed claims and product‐specific conclusions. Therefore, a meta‐analysis systematically dissects the comprehensive effect on several fruits. In this meta‐analysis, standard mean difference (SMD) was adopted using a random‐effect model. The study used 36 articles and isolated 24 indicator parameters of postharvest quality and antioxidant properties based on the inclusion criteria. As exhibited in the forest plot, melatonin reduced chilling injury, weight loss, respiration rate, and ethylene content (SMD −0.90, 95% CI [−1.14, −0.65]; I2 = 81%; p <.00001). Similarly, the application of melatonin significantly suppressed electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, lipoxygenase, and polyphenol oxidase (SMD −0.89, 95% CI [−1.09, −0.69]; I2 = 70%; p <.00001). In addition, exogenous melatonin application induced endogenous melatonin content, phenolic content, and flavonoid and anthocyanin contents (SMD 1.15, 95% CI [0.91, 1.39]; I2 = 71%; p =.01). Moreover, melatonin treatment enhanced antioxidant activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyse) (SMD 1.37, 95% CI [1.03, 1.71]; I2 = 86%; p <.00001). Thus, in the whole study, the overall effect was significantly high in treated fruit (p <.0001), and the overall heterogeneity was above (I2) > 70%. In addition, the funnel plot showed symmetry in the most selected studies. To sum up, the result gives a further understanding of melatonin's capabilities in reducing postharvest losses and maintaining the quality of fresh fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning has recently been hailed as the most advanced computer vision technology for image classification. The invention of convolutional neural network (CNN) simplified the effort of feature engineering. Classification of various stages of fruit maturity using machine learning algorithms is a difficult task since it is difficult to distinguish the visual features of the fruits at different maturity stages. Fruit ripeness is critical in agriculture since it impacts the quality of the fruit. Manually determining the maturity of the fruit has various flaws, including the fact that it takes a long time, needs a lot of labor, and can lead to inconsistencies. In developing countries, agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors. Created system can be employed in the food processing business, in real-life applications where the intelligent system's accuracy, cost, and speed will improve the production rate and allow satisfying consumer demand. With small number of image samples, the system is capable of automating assembly line related work for classifying bananas along with sufficient overall accuracy. The noninvasive method will also be used to classify other clustered fruits or horticultural crops in the future. The system can either replace or aid human operators who can focus their efforts on fruit selection. The combined merits of RGB and HSI (hyperspectral imaging) for classification of bananas were highlighted in the present study; they have possible application as a model for classification of several types of horticultural produce. The multi-input model's quick processing time can be a useful and handy technique in the farm field during postharvest procedures. Via a combination of CNN and MLP applied to data collected using RGB and hyperspectral imaging, the multi-input model reliably recognizes bananas with an accuracy level of 98.4 percent as well as an F1-score of 0.97. The AI algorithm predicted the size (large, medium, and microscopic) and perspective (front or rear half) of banana classes with 99 percent accuracy. In comparison to previous studies that simply employed RGB imaging, the presented model revealed the value of integrating RGB imaging and HSI approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has posed a serious threat to horticultural and agricultural crop production by feeding, ovipositing, and transmitting plant viruses. RNA interference (RNAi) technology is considered a potential strategy for insect pest control. A main method of RNAi research on WFT is the feeding method for delivering double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA). The feeding solution plays an important role in the stable delivery of dsRNA. In this study, we screened for a feeding solution suitable for RNAi experiments and investigated the effects of five feeding solutions on the survival of WFT adults and nymphs. The effect of mixed V‐ATPase‐B dsRNA in various feeding solutions on the RNAi efficiency of WFT was analysed. The Luria–Bertani‐based and 'tryptone soy broth and yeast' (TSBY) solution had a higher adverse effect than the other feeding solutions on the survival of adults and nymphs of WFT, whereas sucrose, pollen, and honey solution could maintain higher survival rates in both nymph and adult thrips. Sucrose solution and TSBY solution mixed with dsRNA had no significant knockdown effects on V‐ATPase‐B transcription level. Honey and pollen solution mixed dsRNA, however, not only significantly decreased V‐ATPase‐B transcription level, but also reduced the survival rate and fertility of female adults to a certain extent. The stability of dsRNA was improved in honey solution. The results of this study provide a feasible reference for the selection of feeding solutions for RNAi experiments for feeding of WTF with dsRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy: Bacteria; Phylum Proteobacteria; Class Gammaproteobacteria; Order Lysobacterales (earlier synonym of Xanthomonadales); Family Lysobacteraceae (earlier synonym of Xanthomonadaceae); Genus Xanthomonas; Species X. hortorum; Pathovars: pv. carotae, pv. vitians, pv. hederae, pv. pelargonii, pv. taraxaci, pv. cynarae, and pv. gardneri. Host range: Xanthomonas hortorum affects agricultural crops, and horticultural and wild plants. Tomato, carrot, artichoke, lettuce, pelargonium, ivy, and dandelion were originally described as the main natural hosts of the seven separate pathovars. Artificial inoculation experiments also revealed other hosts. The natural and experimental host ranges are expected to be broader than initially assumed. Additionally, several strains, yet to be assigned to a pathovar within X. hortorum, cause diseases on several other plant species such as peony, sweet wormwood, lavender, and oak‐leaf hydrangea. Epidemiology and control: X. hortorum pathovars are mainly disseminated by infected seeds (e.g., X. hortorum pvs carotae and vitians) or cuttings (e.g., X. hortorum pv. pelargonii) and can be further dispersed by wind and rain, or mechanically transferred during planting and cultivation. Global trade of plants, seeds, and other propagating material constitutes a major pathway for their introduction and spread into new geographical areas. The propagules of some pathovars (e.g., X. horturum pv. pelargonii) are spread by insect vectors, while those of others can survive in crop residues and soils, and overwinter until the following growing season (e.g., X. hortorum pvs vitians and carotae). Control measures against X. hortorum pathovars are varied and include exclusion strategies (i.e., by using certification programmes and quarantine regulations) to multiple agricultural practices such as the application of phytosanitary products. Copper‐based compounds against X. hortorum are used, but the emergence of copper‐tolerant strains represents a major threat for their effective management. With the current lack of efficient chemical or biological disease management strategies, host resistance appears promising, but is not without challenges. The intrastrain genetic variability within the same pathovar poses a challenge for breeding cultivars with durable resistance. Useful websites: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/XANTGA, https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/XANTCR, https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/XANTPE, https://www.euroxanth.eu, http://www.xanthomonas.org, http://www.xanthomonas.org/dokuwiki [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The little red flying‐fox (Pteropus scapulatus, Pteropodidae) is the most widely distributed of the four Australian mainland flying‐fox (Pteropus) species. They move very large distances following foraging resources and congregate in large numbers which often causes human‐animal conflict. To better understand the resources that drive these movements and aggregations, we investigated the diet of the little red flying‐fox using data from five sources: (i) faecal eDNA metabarcoding of field sampled little red flying‐foxes; (ii) identification of foraging locations through satellite tracking; (iii) a literature search; (iv) a search of online databases; and (v) an expert survey. Our sources revealed a specialist nectarivore diet containing 204 species, dominated by floral products from the plant family Myrtaceae. We consider a small number of widely occurring and structurally dominant Myrtaceae, particularly from the genera Corymbia, Eucalyptus and Melaleuca, as major diet species that regularly drive mass aggregations. In addition, we consider a moderate number of species dominated by the Myrtaceae as important diet species and a large number of species from diverse taxa as supplementary diet species. Fruit represents approximately 5% of the diet suggesting that the little red flying‐fox is unlikely to be a major pest of horticultural crops or disperser of weeds. The combination of long‐distance movement and a wide range of diet species results in a long‐distance pollination service to many plant species which likely promotes genetic mixing between isolated populations of plants. Our understanding of the little red flying‐fox diet allows us to better predict mass migrations and aggregations at a continental scale and allows us to clearly identify key foraging habitat so that informed management decisions can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananasa) is one of the most popular soft and delicious fruits used as such or for flavor production. In this study, different physical characteristics such as dimensions, weight, volume, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, and projected areas were determined and the prediction of mass based on these physical characteristics was done, using five models: linear, quadratic, power, S‐curve, and logarithmic of different size grades (large, medium, and small) and ungraded fruits. The results showed that the mass modeling of ungraded fruits resulted in the best model fitting as compared to the graded fruits. The linear model (M = −2.874 + 0.001 V) based on the actual volume of ungraded fruits was the best‐fitted model, having the highest R2 value of 0.996 for the prediction of mass of strawberry. Among all the graded fruits, the most appropriate model was linearly based (M = −2.45 + 0.001 V) on the actual volume of the large size strawberry with an R2 value of 0.984. The results showed that the models based on the actual volume were the most appropriate models in both graded and ungraded fruits. Practical Applications: Fruit grading based on mass is an important feature of packaging since it reduces the handling wastage and transport resources by improving packaging formations and also optimizes the marketability of products. Fruits of uniform size, shape, and weight are generally preferred by consumers. Horticultural crops are usually graded based on size, appearance, and weight. Fruit mass is generally used as a grading parameter in automatic graders because of its accuracy and effectiveness of the operation. Thus, the study directed the mass modeling of strawberry fruit based on some selected engineering properties so that the results can be used to develop a precise automatic grading system for fruit grading based on the mutual approach of mass and size of the fruit. This paper makes available information about the interaction between the mass of the fruit and its axial dimensions, volume, and projected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit colour is one of the most intuitive economic traits attracting consumers' attention for horticultural crops. Many genes associated with mature fruit colour have been identified in pepper, but genes influencing immature fruit colour are mainly unknown. In the present study, pepper inbred lines with light‐yellow (CSJ009) and green (CSJ010) immature fruit colour were used as female and male parents, respectively, to generate an F2 segregation population. Genetic analysis indicated that the light‐yellow immature fruit colour in CSJ009 is controlled by a single recessive gene, tentatively named as ly. The single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐index analysis and genetic linkage analysis delimited the ly locus into a 6.51 Mbp region on chromosome 9, and four candidate genes Capana09g000680, Capana09g000671, Capana09g000715 and Capana09g000692 were identified in the linkage region. Nonsense mutation of APRR2 may be responsible for the low carotenoid content in immature CSJ009 fruits. These results lay a foundation for future immature fruit colour improvement via molecular genetics approaches and further identification of new immature fruit colour‐related genes in pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Bulk segregation analysis (BSA) utilizes a strategy of pooling individuals with extreme phenotypes to conduct economical and rapidly linked marker screening or quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. With the development of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technology in the past 10 years, BSA methods and technical systems have been gradually developed and improved. At the same time, the ever‐decreasing costs of sequencing accelerate NGS‐based BSA application in different species, including eukaryotic yeast, grain crops, economic crops, horticultural crops, trees, aquatic animals, and insects. This paper provides a landscape of BSA methods and reviews the BSA development process in the past decade, including the sequencing method for BSA, different populations, different mapping algorithms, associated region threshold determination, and factors affecting BSA mapping. Finally, we summarize related strategies in QTL fine mapping combining BSA. Significance Statement: This paper provides a landscape of BSA methods in the next‐generation sequencing (NGS) era and a guideline to select a proper method for bulk segregation analysis mapping design. In addition, quantitative trait locus fine mapping strategies are summarized for researchers in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Horticultural crops mainly include fruits, vegetables, ornamental trees and flowers, and tea trees (Melaleuca alternifolia). They produce a variety of nutrients for the daily human diet in addition to the nutrition provided by staple crops, and some of them additionally possess ornamental and medicinal features. As such, horticultural crops make unique and important contributions to both food security and a colorful lifestyle. Under the current climate change scenario, the growing population and limited arable land means that agriculture, and especially horticulture, has been facing unprecedented challenges to meet the diverse demands of human daily life. Breeding horticultural crops with high quality and adaptability and establishing an effective system that combines cultivation, post‐harvest handling, and sales becomes increasingly imperative for horticultural production. This review discusses characteristic and recent research highlights in horticultural crops, focusing on the breeding of quality traits and the mechanisms that underpin them. It additionally addresses challenges and potential solutions in horticultural production and post‐harvest practices. Finally, we provide a prospective as to how emerging technologies can be implemented alongside interdisciplinary basic research to enhance our understanding and exploitation of horticultural crops. Significance Statement: Horticultural crops are rich in nutrients and of great economic value. Novel technologies such as multi‐omics, CRISPR, high‐precision sensors, and artificial intelligence have been developed to study and breed horticultural crops. In this review, we focus on these novel techniques and provide a perspective to combine interdisciplinary technologies to enhance our understanding and exploitation of horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Elevated CO2 can directly affect the toxicity of insecticides to insects and the physiological response of insects to insecticides. Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa are highly destructive pests that target horticultural crops. Spinetoram is an effective pesticide against thrips. This study sought to explore the effect of elevated CO2 on efficacy of spinetoram against F. occidentalis and F. intonsa and effect of the spinetoram on activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes under elevated CO2. Notably, these enzymes can be exploited in further studies to develop interventions for thrips resistance management. RESULTS: Toxicity bioassay showed that the LC50 values of F. occidentalis and F. intonsa exposed to spinetoram at elevated CO2 (800 μL L−1 concentration) for 48 h was 0.08 and 0.006 mg L−1, respectively, which is 0.62 and 0.75 times of the values at ambient CO2 (400 μL L−1 concentration). The findings showed that elevated CO2 decreased activities of the superoxide dismutase and acetylcholinesterase in thrips, while increasing the activities of carboxylesterase and glutathione S‐transferase. However, spinetoram increased activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes in both thrips under the two CO2 levels. Elevated CO2 and spinetoram affect the physiological enzyme activity in thrips synergistically, and the activities of analyzed enzymes were generally higher in F. occidentalis than in F. intonsa. CONCLUSION: Elevated CO2 amplifies the efficacy of spinetoram on thrips, F. intonsa is more susceptibility to spinetoram than F. occidentalis and the latter showed better adaptation to adverse conditions than the former. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]