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This research presents, for the first time, full volatile profiles of four aerial parts of caper plants (Capparis spinosa L.) from southeastern Spain. Volatile compounds in caper leaves and stems (together), flowers, flower buds, and fruits from two cultivars were identified and quantified using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Forty-three volatile compounds were identified in the caper shoots, 32 in caper flowers, with only 18, 10, and 6 compounds being found in flower buds, leaves, and fruits, respectively. The predominant compound in all studied materials was methyl isothiocyanate, with nerolidol, trans-2-hexenal, and nonanal playing key roles in flowers, leaves, and flowers buds, respectively. The two studied cultivars had the same volatile compounds but at very different concentrations, although the two studied cultivars are cultivated under the same climatic and agronomic conditions. Additionally, the predominant compounds, especially methyl isothiocyanate (6882 mg·kg−1 fw in flower buds of ORI 3 cultivar), can be separated and concentrated for future applications in food technology.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) belongs to the Punicaceae plant family. It is an important fruit due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Pomegranates are widely distributed around the world and, therefore, have a broad genetic diversity, resulting in differences in their phytochemical composition. The scientific community has focused on the positive health effects of pomegranate as a whole, but the different varieties have rarely been compared according to their bioactive compounds and bioactivity. This review aims to provide a holistic overview of the current knowledge on the bioactivity of pomegranate trees, with an emphasis on differentiating both the varieties and the different plant parts. This review intends to provide a general and organized overview of the accumulated knowledge on pomegranates, the identification of the most bioactive varieties, their potential consumption pathways and seeks to provide knowledge on the present gaps to guide future research.

Background Recently, pomegranate has established itself as a functional food of increasing interest, both economically and within the scientific community, which has generated a significant increase in publications focused mainly on its characteristics, benefits, and nutritional composition. Scope and approach However, despite those papers maintaining scientific rigor, failures and/or errors of interpretation are evidenced concerning basic botanical concepts regarding the pomegranate fruit. Given this, and as a way of contributing to the homogenization of knowledge, this short communication defines the concepts of “seed”, “aril”, and “testa” as specifically applied to the pomegranate fruit by recovering historical botanical publications. Key findings and conclusions The literature studied showed incorrect usage of botanical terms regarding pomegranate parts. The pomegranate seed is the whole grain. It is composed of sarcotesta, sclerotized mesotesta, tegmen, nucela, and embryo with cotyledons, and constitutes the edible portion of this complex fruit called balausta. The whole pomegranate seed cannot be called aril, because it is exariled or without aril seed.

The biological importance of fatty acids in different metabolic routes and/or specific activities with medical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical interest makes it increasingly necessary to know in detail the lipid composition of foods. The objective of this work was to identify and characterize the fatty acids profile of seven pomegranate varieties with commercial interest, differentiating between its edible (seeds) and non-edible (peel plus carpellary membranes) parts, aiming to have a holistic and characteristic vision. The results confirmed the compositional fatty acids variations of the pomegranate, both between different varieties and the parts of the fruit. 29-101 variety presents a fatty acid profile with a higher potential for antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The content of punicic acid in the Kingdom variety makes it the most pomegranate varieties interesting for its nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and medical applications. The specific fatty acid content could define the best pomegranate variety depending on its potential use/application.

Although the dredging of ports is a necessary management activity, it generates immense quantities of sediments, that are defined by the European Union as residues. On the other hand, the relevant peat demand for plant cultivation compromises its availability worldwide. In this context, the present work wanted to find an alternative substrate in order to replace and/or reduce the use of peat in agriculture, through the study of the suitability, concerning the exchange of substrate–plant–water pollutants, of the dredged remediated sediments as a fruit-growing media. Forty-five pomegranate trees (Punica granatum L. cv “Purple Queen”) were cultivated in three types of substrates (100% peat as a control, 100% dredged remediated sediments and 50% both mixed). The metal ion content and pesticide residues were analysed in the different plant parts (root, stem, leaves and fruits) and in drainage water. The results showed a limited transfer of pollutants. All the pollutants were below the legal limits, confirming that the dredged sediments could be used as a growing media, alone or mixed with other substrates. Thus, the results point out the need to open a European debate on the reuse and reconsideration of this residue from a circular economy point of view.

In this work we have used ISSR molecular markers in Spanish jujube cultivars, for the first time, for study the phylogenetic relationships among cultivars and the genetic diversity assessment. The results of this study showed that the physico-chemical and bioactive compounds were different in the cultivars of Spanish jujubes studied. The PCA grouped the four type of cultivars into 3 groups: (i) the first group formed exclusively by the cultivar 'Da', (ii) the second group formed by the largest and round cultivars, 'Gam' and 'Gab', and (iii) and the third group formed by the medium 'Pe' and 'Me' cultivars. The genetic analysis with ISSR markers showed that was able to differentiate the 5 cultivars studied, so they are useful for genetic studies of Ziziphus jujuba specie. The similarity between the genetic dendrogram and the PCA, made with the physical-chemical and functional traits, had been very high, since in both cases the grouping between 'Gam' and 'Gab' cultivars was obtained and 'Da' cultivar was the furthest from the rest.

Phenological stages of the “Pero de Cehegin” (Malus domestica Borkh) are described here according to the BBCH scale. Based on this general scale, the phenology of “Pero de Cehegin” showed 8 of the 10 main stages (0–9): bud development, leaf development, shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, fruit maturity and senescence. The correct identification of the phenological stages in plants is greatly important for the characterization of the variety, the management of the crop and the management of diseases and plagues as well. Thus, this study will provide knowledge and will help in the dissemination of knowledge of this peculiar apple variety among growers and scientists.

The maritime ports and terminals periodically carry out dredging activities. This operation is necessary in order to avoid the excessive accumulation of sediments in the areas of maneuvering and be...

In Spain, jujube can be considered a minor crop; thus, its cultivars have not yet been investigated in depth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, nutritional profile, and volatile composition of three cultivars of Spanish jujube fruits. The total antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in peel and pulp of the fruits were studied. The obtained results proved that 'Isidro' cultivar presented the largest fruits, had the highest ascorbic acid content, with a good color intensity, total soluble solid content, and glucose and fructose. In addition, fruits of the ‘Isidro’ cultivar presented together with the 'Phoenix' ones, the highest protein content and juiciness. The cultivar ‘Phoenix’ behaved differently than the other two cultivars studied; its fruits had significantly lower contents of total phenols, flavonoids and flavonols and these compounds were mainly accumulated in the pulp. In the other two cultivars, bioactive compounds reached higher values and were mainly accumulated in their peels. 'Isidro' was the cultivar that presented maximum amounts of phenols and total flavonoids. Thus, both cultivars 'Isidro' and 'Phoenix' could be promising cultivars to be used in future breeding programs, to obtain fruit with high content of bioactive compounds as well as interesting organoleptic properties.

The cultivation of fruit trees in protected environments is a technique that has been developed in recent years for peaches and nectarines, but not for apricots. This study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition of the fruits and their quality indices variations of the variety ‘Mikado’ as a function of its cultivation under a protective net or outdoors. As a practical agronomic assay, a homogeneous experimental plot was used in this study, where half of the apricot trees were cultivated under protective netting, and the other half without it. The data showed that for the total yield, no statistically significant differences were found with respect to ‘Mikado’ trees cultivated with or without a net. The trees cultivated under protective nets showed higher fruit weights. The results showed that the technique of using protective nets for the cultivation of extra-early apricot ‘Mikado’ is a profitable alternative for farmers, and their use does not affect fruit production or quality.

This chapter focuses on the nutritional composition, antioxidant properties, and health effects of mulberry fruits through a compilation and synthesis of the available studies. The mulberry fruits contain high contents of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, fiber, minerals, and vitamins but a relatively low energy value. Mulberry fruits are recognized to present a high nutritional value and a high content of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. In addition, acids, terpenoids, ketones, and volatile phenols were also present in mulberry fruit but in lower levels, compared with alcohols, aldehydes, and esters. Recent studies are discussed concerning the evaluation of health function of mulberry fruits in terms of antioxidant activities, antidiabetic and antiobesity effects, protection against xenobiotic toxicity, and neuroprotection, among others. Up to now, human clinical trials on the bioavailability of mulberry bioactive compounds and on the pharmacological activities of mulberry fruits are still limited.

The cultivation of Capparis spinosa is widespread in the Mediterranean basin. The caper is a perennial and deciduous creeping shrub, of which different aerial parts are edible, such as the flower buds, fruit and caper shoots, however the level of consumption of caper shoots is less widespread. The caper shoots are quite typical of the south-eastern part of Spain and their consumption is usually as a side in salads. The present investigation tries to raise awareness of the nutritional value of this aerial part of the caper plant and promote higher levels of consumption of this specific part, by means of the study of different cultivars located in different geographic zones. According to the present investigation, it has been observed that the tender stems have good biochemical characteristics, providing higher nutritional value than the flower buds and caper fruits. The cultivar ʻORI 1ʼ located in Orihuela (Alicante) has presented the best biochemical characteristics, due to its significantly higher values in polyphenols, flavonoids, flavonols and antioxidant activity. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to encourage the consumption of caper shoots, introducing them as one more ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. The caper is a high value crop, due to its ability to adapt to climate change and drought, in addition to the beneficial properties that the different aerial parts contribute to human health.

Citrus fruits are one of the main crops produced in the world with oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruits being among the most important. Among them, lemons are beneficial for human health because of their antioxidant activity, phenols and vitamin C. This study evaluates three rootstocks obtained in a Spanish breeding program (Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA)): Forner-Alcaide 5 citrus rootstock (&lsquo, FA 5&rsquo, ), Forner-Alcaide 13 (&lsquo, FA 13&rsquo, ) and Forner-Alcaide 517 (&lsquo, FA 517&rsquo, ) grafted onto cultivars `Eureka&acute, `Verna&acute, `Fino 49&rsquo, and `Betera&acute, The results determined that rootstocks have influenced cultivars in terms of a decrease in the fruit size, weight, and thickness of the peel, but has increased the percentage of juice and soluble solids. With respect to phenol content and antioxidant activity, higher values were found with all cultivars studied on rootstocks &lsquo, followed by &lsquo, Cultivars that were most influenced by rootstocks were 'B&eacute, tera' and 'Eureka' in physical properties, while in chemical properties they were 'Verna' followed by 'Fino 49'. This investigation demonstrated the interaction of rootstocks on different cultivars in morphological, biochemical and nutraceutical characteristics.

Citrus limon (L.) Burm is an important crop that grows between latitudes 30&deg, North and 30&deg, South, the main producers being China, the USA, Mexico, India, Brazil, and Spain. In Spain, lemon grows mainly in Mediterranean areas such as Murcia, Valencia, and Andaluc&iacute, a. The most cultivated varieties are &ldquo, Fino&rdquo, and &ldquo, Verna&rdquo, In this study, five varieties of lemon, &ldquo, &ldquo, B&eacute, tera&rdquo, Eureka&rdquo, Fino 49&rdquo, Fino 95&rdquo, were evaluated on different rootstocks: three new Forner-Alcaide (&ldquo, FA13&rdquo, FA5&rdquo, FA517&rdquo, ), Citrus macrophylla, Wester, and Citrus aurantium L. Hydrodistillation was used to obtain essential oil from fresh peels and then the volatile profile was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 26 volatile compounds were identified, limonene being the main one followed by &beta, pinene, &gamma, terpinene, sabinene, and &alpha, pinene. The results revealed that Forner-Alcaide rootstocks (&ldquo, &gt, ) proved to be the best rootstocks for the aroma quality as they led to high volatile contents, followed by C. aurantium and C. macrophylla. Among the other varieties, the most aromatic one was &ldquo, The whole trend was as follows (in decreasing order): &ldquo

The &ldquo, Pero de Ceheg&iacute, n&rdquo, is an ancient local variety of apple grown in Murcia (Spain). In this study, microsatellites markers showed evidence of a unique profile that has never been reported before in other Spanish apple germplasm collections. Five &ldquo, clones were evaluated and compared with two commercial apple varieties, &ldquo, Fuji&rdquo, and &ldquo, Golden Delicious&rdquo, to assess its marketing potential. For this, the physical (weight, height, and width of the fruit, moisture content, firmness, and color of the fruit, among others), and chemical (total soluble solids, total acidity, and maturity index) properties of the fruits were evaluated. In addition, the content of bioactive compounds such as total polyphenol content, total antioxidant activity using the ABTS+, DPPH&bull, and FRAP methods, and the sugar profile were analyzed, and their sensory profile was also evaluated. Physico-chemical differences were found within the &ldquo, clones and between the commercial varieties. &ldquo, had a high firmness, high total soluble solids, very low total acidity, high FRAP antioxidant capacity, and more sucrose content in comparison with &ldquo, These distinctive characteristics and the good appearance of the fruit make this variety a marketable product that will increase the offering of traditional, local, but underutilized fruit varieties.

Few studies have been performed on changes to physicochemical and functional properties during caper fruit development. In this work, a comparative study on the evolution of physical, chemical, and nutritive parameters and bioactive compounds of three Spanish caper cultivars was performed for the first time. These fruits were characterized by presenting the exocarp green in all stages of development, with very slight changes, which were not produced by an increase in the synthesis of carotenoids, but by partial degradation of chlorophylls a and b. There was a decrease in the protein content of the caper fruits. The H-TAA was approximately twice as much as the L-TAA. The amounts of total phenols (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), and total flavonol compounds (TFoC) were very high in all stages of fruit development, as approximately 60% of the total phenols (TPC) were total flavonoids (TFC) and 60% of the TFC were TFoC. Given that the caper is a common perennial xerophytic shrub with a remarkable adaptability to harsh environments, and given the excellent properties of these fruits, it could be considered a species of great interest for its cultivation due to its resilience against climate change.

Prickly pear is an important source of bioactive compounds. However, a comprehensive characterization of the phytochemical profile of its aerial botanical parts, considering genotypic differences, has not been conducted. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition of four botanical parts (fruit pulp and skin, and young and adult cladodes) of six cultivars. Analysis was carried out by using two non-targeted UHPLC-ESI-MSn experimental conditions and assisted with multivariate analysis to facilitate data interpretation. Up to 41 compounds, mainly (poly)phenolic molecules, were identified and quantified, 23 compounds being reported for the first time in Opuntia ficus-indica. Phenolic composition varied significantly depending on the part of the plant. Betalains were detected only in the fruit of a red cultivar. This study provided novel insights in terms of identification of bioactives and thorough characterization of botanical parts of prickly pears. This information may be used for the development of prickly pear-derived products with high levels of bioactive compounds.

The organoleptic and nutritive quality of sweet cherry is largely influenced by the genotype. Phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, organic acids, sugars and volatile compounds of seven sweet cherry cultivars (Lory, Burlat, Brooks, Summit, Prime Giant, Van, and 57) grown in Alicante (Spain) were evaluated. The most important organic acid was malic acid and fructose and glucose were found in greater quantity in the sweet cherry cultivars. The cultivars with the highest antioxidant activity were Burlat and Brooks, very important from a health point of view. Regarding volatile compounds thirty one were isolated having Van the highest contents. 57, and Burlat sweet cherry genotypes were the most interesting with respect to “health benefits”. However, if the most important factor is “organoleptic quality” (combination of dark red colour and intense flavor), our recommendations are Van, 57, and Prime Giant.

Recent studies have demonstrated that consumption of Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. has an important positive health benefit, mainly due to antioxidant properties, which justifies this research. This study examined antioxidant activity, organic acid and sugar profile, total phenolic, and physicochemical characteristics of six O. ficus-indica cultivars growing in the Spanish Mediterranean. It should be noted that, in this study, both cladodes (young and adult) and fruits (peel and pulp) were analyzed.; Results: The antioxidant activity (2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl methods) was higher in fruit peel than in cladodes. The young cladodes presented an important antioxidant activity by the ferric-reducing ability of plasma method as well as a higher total phenolic content (18.90 g gallic acid equivalent per kilogram). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detector analysis revealed the absence of sucrose and the presence of glucose and fructose, which the values were higher in pulp fruits. HPLC with refractive index detector analysis showed that citric, malic, and succinic acids were the main organic acids in all cultivars, with a significant higher content in old cladodes.; Conclusion: These investigations valorize O. ficus-indica fruits in comparison with cladodes. In general, this plant can be considered as an ingredient for the production of health-promoting food, highlighting mainly in the antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content found in young cladodes and peel fruits. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Citrus fruit is one of the most important commercial fruit crops in the world. It is essential to use citrus rootstocks in this crop, since all varieties, whether, oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruits are highly sensitive to Phytophthora spp., present in almost all soils. Selection of optimal rootstock is crucial for commercial cultivation of citrus fruit, as the effect fruit production, tree size, diseases, and adaptation to certain soil conditions. Besides, rootstock may affect internal quality parameters of citrus fruits, including juice total, soluble solids, acidity, antioxidant capacity, sugars and organic acids content, flavor. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three rootstocks (Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange and Forner-Alcaide 5) on physicochemical parameters, sugars and organic acids, total antioxidant activity, total phenolic, crude fibre content and flavonoids, of ‘Clemenrubi’ and ‘Orogros’ clementines. The results indicate that the effect of rootstock on the physicochemical parameters, antioxidant activity, total phenolic, sugars and organic acids and flavonoids of clementines fruits is a rather complex phenomenon that greatly depends on specific interactions between the rootstock and each particular scion variety. C-35 citrange rootstock produced the heaviest and bigger size fruits, while the rootstock Forner-Alcaide 5 produced the fruit with the major flavonoid content.

The Spanish Mediterranean region concentrates the largest producers of lemons (Citrus limon Burm. f.) at the national level where the 98.4% of the cultivated area of lemons corresponds to the varieties &ldquo, Verna&rdquo, and &ldquo, Fino&rdquo, In this study, the morphological and chemical variations of the fruits obtained in five variety/rootstock combinations were investigated in order to determine the influence and impact of the rootstock on the physicochemical properties of the fruits. The assay was carried out using three lemon varieties (&ldquo, Fino 95&rdquo, &ldquo, Fino 49&rdquo, ) grafted onto two different rootstocks (Citrus macrophylla and Citrus aurantium). The varieties were selected due to be consolidated commercial varieties, while the rootstocks are the most commonly used in the world. Both the morphological characteristics of the fruits (colour, weight, size) as well as their physicochemical characteristics (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, maturity index, antioxidant activity, sugars, and organic acids) were evaluated. Based on the results, the lemons with the best physicochemical and the best compositional characteristics were obtained in the &ldquo, lemons grafted onto C. aurantium rootstock presented the highest quality fruits.

Background Few studies have been performed on changes in organoleptic, nutritive, functional, and physiological properties during jujube fruit development and on-tree ripening. In this work, a comparative study on the evolution of physical, chemical, nutritive, and physiological parameters and bioactive compounds of two Spanish jujube cultivars was performed. Results Both cultivars showed a non-climacteric ripening pattern, although the JM cultivar was smaller, sweeter, softer, and more highly coloured than the JG, which was characterised by having larger and firmer fruits, although less sweet and coloured. Both cultivars showed high TAA, which was highly correlated with the concentration of total phenols, giving them great functional properties. Conclusion This fruit has little economic importance in Spain and it is just marginally grown for self-consumption or for ornamental purposes. Given the excellent properties of these fruits, it could be considered a fruit species of great interest, and commercial growth of these cultivars with high yields and fruits with high functional properties should be promoted. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The phenological growth stages of nashi tree were firstly described here using the BBCH scale. Based on this general scale, nashi phenology showed 8 of the 10 principal stages (0–9): bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, fruit maturity and senescence. A schematic representation of the chronological progression of principal growth stages of nashi is also shown. The codification of the different growth stages is important for correct timing of general orchard management, particularly for disease and pest management. Besides, it will help farmers to efficiently schedule and manage nashi cultivation, as well as to improve knowledge dissemination among scientists around the World.

Pomegranate tree is diffused worldwide, and several ancient varieties and novel cultivars are adopted for producing fruits. This study aimed at investigating the morphological and nutraceutical characteristics of six pomegranate cultivars of worldwide interest. The cultivars were chosen based on their economic relevance and commercial traits. Fresh fruits were characterized through morphological parameters, while seeds and juices were analysed for sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, and mineral content. The cultivars showed big or medium-size fruits, and, among them, Acco, 29-101 and Purple Queen showed the highest aryl yields. The highest juice pH value, maturity index and seed moisture content were observed on ME17, while 29-101 had the highest presence of crude fiber. Purple Queen juice was characterized by a red intense color. Kingdom and Wonderful juices exhibited the highest concentrations of organic acids and total anthocyanins. Acco seeds were the richest in macro and micro-mineral. Hierarchical cluster analysis allowed to cluster Wonderful-Kingdom, Acco-29-101 and Purple Queen-ME17 as pairs of cultivars showing the highest similarity, additionally the heatmap showed several quite highly correlated parameters. The results indicated different qualitative profiles and attributes of pomegranates to comply with consumer expectations.

The aim of this research was to determine the fatty acid profile of the botanical parts (young and old cladodes, fruit pulp and peel) of six Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. cultivars grown in Spain to evaluate their potential uses for human nutrition, animal feeding and/or industrial use. Nine fatty acids were identified in fruit peel and young cladodes, eight in fruit pulp, and seven in old cladodes. Linoleic acid (C18:2), which is an essential fatty acid, was the main compound in the profile of the old cladodes, fruit peel and pulp. However, young cladodes had palmitic acid (C16:0) as the major compound. Old cladodes showed higher percentages of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids than young cladodes. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were the prevailing group of fatty acids in fruits. These results suggested that prickly pear fruits have a good nutritional profile of fatty acids, rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated compounds.

There is very little information available on the chemical composition and the quality attributes of the citrus species studied which are truly endangered in Spain. None of the fruits studied is available for commercial purposes, which is the main interest and novelty of this study. The aim of this work was to fully describe the morphology, volatile composition, and sensory profile of traditional citrus fruits: sour lime (SoLi), sweet lime (SwLi), and sweet lemon (SwLe), to have the information to convince farmers and growers to cultivate these fruits again. The predominant sugar was fructose while citric acid prevails in SoLi and SwLe. Regarding volatiles compounds, monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, and esters predominated in the juices, and these three families plus sesquiterpenes in the peels. The juice of SoLi presented the highest content of esters (14.8%), SwLi juice presented similar values of both monoterpenes and monoterpenoids (46.1 and 46.0%, resp.), and SwLe juice had the highest content of monoterpenes (72.2%). The results demonstrated the high potential of these citrus materials for the agrofood industry. Therefore, it will be possible to recover these vegetal materials at risk of disappearing for potential uses by the food industry and simultaneously help maintaining the biodiversity.

Background Jujube fruit is eaten mostly fresh, but may be dried (Chinese dates and tea) or processed into confectionary recipes in bread, cakes, compotes, and candy. Given that the quality of jujube available on the market differs on account of various factors such as geographical environment, cultivar, processing conditions, and storage conditions, and that, for consumers, flavour and nutrition properties of jujube represent the major parameters in determining the quality of jujube, the main goal of this study were to determine the main physico-chemical properties of jujube fruits, sugars and organic acids profiles, protein, mineral constituents, volatile composition and sensory profile of jujube fruits. This would allow breeders to select cultivars with higher levels of nutrients and also enable increasing dietary intake by consumers. Results Investigations showed that jujube fruit weight ranged from 4.8 to 29.3 g fruit(-1) . Four sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose and sorbitol) and four organic acids (citric, malic, ascorbic and succinic acids) were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography in jujube fruits. Potassium, calcium and magnesium were the major mineral constituents in jujube fruits. Fifteen volatiles compounds were found in the aroma profile of jujube fruits (nine were aldehydes, three terpenes, one ester, one ketone and one linear hydrocarbon). Conclusion The results showed that Spanish jujube cultivars studied are a good source of vitamin C, and they have a low content of Na. The jujube cultivar with the most appreciated quality by consumers was GAL; the GAL fruits were sweet, crunchy, and had high intensities of jujube ID and apple flavour a long after-taste. Therefore, jujube grown in Spain has a great potential to be exploited for functional foods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

The phenological growth stages of jujube tree are first described here using the BBCH scale. Based on this general scale, jujube phenology showed 8 of the 10 principal stages (0–9): bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, fruit maturity and senescence. A schematic representation of the chronological progression of principal growth stages of jujube is also shown. The codification of the different growth stages is important for correct timing of general orchard management, particularly for disease and pest management. Besides, it will help farmers to efficiently schedule and manage jujube cultivation, as well as to improve knowledge dissemination among scientists around the World.

This study evaluated the characteristics of seven pomegranate accessions (CRO2, ME14, ME16, PTO3, PTO4, PTO7, and PTO8). All are indigenous to two provinces in Spain where the species shows high variability. Morphological, chemical and organoleptic characterizations of the fruits and arils were investigated. ME14 and ME16 were the accessions the sensory panel granted major acceptance. Furthermore, PTO8 and CRO2 showed the heaviest arils and ME14 and ME16 the lightest. The latter accession presented the highest values for crude fiber content, total soluble solids and lower titratable acidity (TA); its flavor could be classified as sweet, while the PTO7 accession are classified as sour-sweet. All of them can be considered acceptable for fresh consumption, and the cultivars receiving the highest overall assessment were ME14 and ME16. The fact that these two cultivars were those that showed higher maturity index influenced this assessment.

The dwarfing Spanish rootstock F&A 418 may be recommended as rootstock for juice production of citrus. • Fruit from trees on Cleopatra mandarin had the highest crude fiber. • The highest content of total sugars was found on F&A 418, this could be interesting for industrial juice. Abstract The objective of the present study was to study and compare physicochemical properties of ‘Lane Late’ navel orange trees on the most commonly used commercial rootstocks in Spain, plus eight new hybrids in order to better characterize rootstocks that may be used for citrus cultivation. The ten rootstocks assessed displayed different characteristics. Cluster analysis has allowed the ten citrus rootstocks grouped into five different group. (i) Carrizo citrange, Cleopatra mandarin and 030230 hybrids, (ii) F&A13, (iii) 020324 and 030127 hybrids, (iv) 030118, 030212 and 030131 hybrids and (v) F&A 418. The results reported in the current study confirmed that new rootstocks are very promising and interesting for physical and chemical properties of ‘Lane Late’ navel orange. According to the results obtained the dwarfing Spanish rootstock F&A 418 may be recommended as rootstock for juice production of citrus.

BACKGROUND Very-early apricot cultivars are interesting owing to the fact that they will be available in markets before any other cultivar. In order to achieve good fruit quality, very-early apricots require appropriate size, weight and color, good balance of sugars and organic acids, proper content of bioactive compounds, relatively strong apricot aroma as well as acceptable sensory quality. RESULTS Physical, chemical, antioxidant and sensory properties showed important variations among apricot cultivars. These differences were basically attributed to genetic reasons. Four very-early apricot cultivars were studied, namely ‘Mirlo Blanco’, ‘Mirlo Anaranjado’, ‘Colorao’ and ‘Mogador’. All of them showed proper size and weight, but their contents of organic acids, sugars and bioactive compounds were low and the number of volatile compounds was also low. However, very-early apricots showed an appropriate sensory profile for fresh consumption. CONCLUSION Regarding physical, chemical and volatile composition and sensory properties, very-early apricot cultivars could be recommended for fresh consumption. However, future research must be focused on increasing their contents of sugars, organic acids and bioactive and volatile compounds, perhaps via cultural practices such as deficit irrigation and/or mulching. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Capparis spinosa is an evergreen perennial shrub known from ancient times. During the last years it has been intensively studied because of its multiple uses. The phenological growth stages of caper plant were described using the BBCH scale (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry). The decimal code established nine principal growth stages using a two-digit numerical system, and every major stage was in turn subdivided into secondary growth stages.

Quality parameters, as well as bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were determined in nine quince ( Cydonia oblonga Miller) clones belonging to the quince gene bank of the University Miguel Hernandez (Alicante, Spain). Significant differences were found among quince clones in fruit weight, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), crude fiber and sensory attributes. Bioactive compound concentration and total antioxidant activity, in both hydrophilic (H-TAA) and lipophilic (L-TAA) extracts, were also found to be different in flesh and skin among quince clones. High correlations were found between total phenolics and H-TAA and total carotenoids and L-TAA, showing that phenolics and carotenoids are the main compounds responsible for hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity, respectively. The quince clones with the highest content on bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in the edible portion were AM4, CTM8 and OM6. In addition, AM4 and OM6 accessions had low astringency levels and an equilibrated TSS/TA ratio, leading them also appropriated for fresh consumption. Thus, these accessions could be used, together with other having large fruits as ZM6 accession, to select new cultivars with high yield, and overall fruit quality attributes and specially having high content of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and health benefits.

Viral diseases that could cause important economic losses often affect cucurbits, but only limited information on the incidence and spatial distribution of specific viruses is currently available. During the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons, systematic surveys were carried out in open field melon (Cucumis melo), squash and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) crops of the Spanish Community of Valencia (eastern Spain), where several counties have a long standing tradition of cucurbit cultivation and production. Surveyed fields were chosen with no previous information as to their sanitation status, and samples were taken from plants that showed virus-like symptoms. Samples were analysed using molecular hybridisation to detect Beet pseudo-yellows virus (BPYV), Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV), Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV), Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). We collected 1767 samples from 122 independent field plots; out of these, approximately 94% of the samples were infected by at least one of these viruses. Percentages for the more frequently detected viruses were 35.8%, 27.0%, 16.5% and 7.2% for CABYV, WMV, PRSV and ZYMV, respectively, and significant deviations were found on the frequency distributions based on either the area or the host sampled. The number of multiple infections was high (average 36%), particularly for squash (more than 57%), with the most frequent combination being WMV + PRSV (12%) followed by WMV + CABYV (10%). Sequencing of WMV complementary DNA suggested that ‘emerging’ isolates have replaced the ‘classic’ ones, as described in southern regions of France, leading us to believe that cucurbit cultivation could be severely affected by these new, emerging isolates.

The vegetative growth habit as well as the yield of seven pomegranate varieties native to Southeastern Spain was studied. The evaluated cultivars were: Mollar de Elche 14 and 15 (“ME14” and “ME15”), Pinon tierno de Ojos 2, 4, 7 and 8 (“PTO2”, “PTO4”, “PTO7” and “PTO8”) and Casta del Reino 1 (“CRO1”). Very short vegetative shoots bearing a rosette of leaves behave as photosynthetic units. These units were abundant in all evaluated varieties; approximately 50% of all buds yielded this type of shoot unit. The other 50% were either mixed shoots or shoots with apical flower buds. Moreover, there appeared to be a tendency of the “PTO” varietal group and the “CRO1” cultivar to produce a higher number of mixed shoots than the ME varietal group. The Mollar de Elche varieties yielded longer mixed shoots than prompt lateral ones. The “PTO” varietal group and the “CRO1” cultivar approximately produced from 2 to 4 length units of prompt lateral shoots per each mixed shoot unit. An inversely proportional relationship was established between the length of prompt lateral shoots and each variety's fruit yield.

This study evaluated the characteristics of six pomegranate cultivars (Sefri, Ounk Hman, Ruby, Rouge Marrakech, Bouaâdime and Jaune Marrakech). All are indigenous to four provinces in Morocco where the species shows high variability. Morphological and organoleptic characterizations of the fruits and arils were investigated. Some chemical characteristics of the juice, including total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity (TA), crude fiber and maturity index were assessed. The morphological characteristics of both the arils and seed were evaluated. The organoleptic characteristics of all were also considered, and Rouge Marrakech and Jaune Marrakech were the cultivars the sensory panel granted major acceptance for. Furthermore, Rouge Marrakech and Ruby showed the heaviest arils and Bouaâdime the lightest. The latter variety presented the highest values for crude fiber content, total soluble solids and titratable acidity (TA); its flavor could be classified as sour-sweet, while the remaining studied cultivars are classified as sweet. All of them can be considered acceptable for fresh consumption, and the cultivars receiving the highest overall assessment were Rouge Marrakech and Jaune Marrakech. The fact that these two cultivars were the only ones presenting soft seeds was influential in this high assessment. By and large, this is an interesting plant material due to its exploitation and value, useful for the food and nutraceutical industries.

Six pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars belonging to the ‘Mollar’ group were evaluated under homogeneus growing conditions. Chemical parameters, such as sugars, organic acids, and anthocyanin contents, and other quality parameters, including fruit weight, pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and colour, were evaluated. Fruit weight was not significantly affected by cultivar. The highest TSS content was detected in juice from MO6 (15.81 °Brix). All cultivars were sweet, and the ripening index ranged from 59.14 (ME5) to 87.95 (MO6). The composition of pomegranate juice was dependent on the cultivar. Glucose was the major sugar in all evaluated cultivars (60–64% of total sugars), followed by fructose, maltose, and sucrose. Among the detected organic acids, citric acid was the predominant (>54%). The total anthocyanin content ranged from 72 to 200 mg per litre of juice, being the main anthocyanin cyanidin 3-glucoside followed by cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside. The principal component analysis and cl...

The aim of this study was to contribute to the chemical, functional and qualitative characterisation of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina L., cv. Red Beaut, genotype “606”) cultivated with and without a mulching plastic by investigating the organic acids and sugars profiles, the total antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content, the volatile composition and the sensory profile. Results indicated that total sugars, organic acids contents and the total concentration of volatile compounds were slightly higher in plums from trees with the mulching plastic film being used as a cultural practice, although differences were not statistically significant. Sixteen compounds were isolated from the volatile fraction from six different chemical families: aldehydes, monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, acids and ketones. The major compounds in the volatile profile of plum juices were trans-linalool oxide, terpinolene, nonanal and α-terpineol. However, total antioxidant activity, total polyphenols content and the sweetness intensity were decreased by the use of the mulching plastic. Therefore, mulching with plastic materials with high light reflectance (e.g. white) seemed to be required to improve the quality of plums.

The interest in Ziziphus jujube is growing because it is an excellent source of nutrients and phytochemicals, and can contribute to a healthy diet. Nutritional compounds (phenolic compounds and L-ascorbic acid), and antioxidant capacity of 4 Spanish jujube cultivars were studied. Polyphenols were identified by LC-MS-QTof and quantified by UPLC-PDA-FL. A total of 25 polyphenolic compounds were identified and classified as 10 flavan-3-ols, 13 flavonols, 1 flavanone, and 1 dihydrochalcone. The content of total polyphenols (TP) ranged from 1442 to 3432 mg/100 g dry matter (dm) in fruits of the cultivars 'DAT' and 'PSI', respectively. Flavan-3-ols, the major group of polyphenols in jujube represented ∼92% of the TP content, whereas flavonols only amounted for about ∼8% each. The content of L-ascorbic acid was very high and took values in the range of 387-555 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw). Some Spanish jujube cultivars, especially 'PSI' and 'MSI', may be selected to promote the growth of cultivars with valuable nutritional and phytochemical beneficial effects on human health.

Fruits of 9 Spanish pomegranate cultivars were analyzed for quality parameters, volatile composition, and sensory profile. Volatile compounds were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Twenty-one compounds were found in the headspace of fresh pomegranate juices, including aldehydes, monoterpenes, and alcohols. The most abundant compounds were hexanal, limonene, trans-2-hexenal, and cis-3-hexenol. Fruits from the cultivars Mollar Elche(ME) ME14, ME1, and ME2 presented the highest values of overall liking by the consumer panel; however, their total volatiles concentration were low compared to the other pomegranate cultivars and their color intensity was intermediate. Overall consumer liking of pomegranate juices was mainly associated with the presence of monoterpenes (α-terpineol); however, high aldehydes (trans-2-hexenal) concentrations were correlated with poor overall consumer liking. Fruits from sour-sweet cultivars (PTO7 and ADO4) could improve the quality of ME pomegranate juices due to their intense color, high monoterpenes concentrations, and their moderate sourness. Practical Application: The information provided in this study proves that sour-sweet pomegranate fruits can be used in the manufacturing of pomegranate juices and will improve the sensory quality and the volatile composition of this product.

23 p., 6 Tabl. The definitive version is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03044238, The influence of five rootstocks (Evrica, Krymsk® 86, Torinel, PAC 00-08 and PADAC 01-47) on flowering, fruit set, trunk cross-sectional area, yield efficiency and fruit quality parameters of apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca L.) grown in a Mediterranean agro-climatic environment was evaluated. The five rootstocks were grafted with ‘E-101’ and ‘E-404’ apricot cvs., and established in an experimental orchard in the Region of Murcia (South-eastern of Spain) in 2004. Rootstock had no significant influence on the number of flowers but affected fruit set. Evrica, PAC 00-08 and PADAC 01-47, induced a higher percentage of fruit set on the apricot cultivar ‘E-101’. The greatest TCSA was exhibited with Torinel, Evrica and PADAC 01-47. The yield efficiency was significantly greater on PADAC 01-47, because of its higher yield and cumulative production compared with the other rootstocks. Thus, differences in precocity among rootstocks became evident, PADAC 01-47 being the most efficient rootstock for the first bearing years. The fruit quality traits were also significantly affected by rootstocks. In the case of ‘E-101’, the highest fruit weight was induced by Evrica, Krymsk® 86 and Torinel. In relation to fruit size, the smallest equatorial, suture and polar diameters were produced by fruit on PADAC 01-47 for both cultivars. The highest firmness was induced by PAC 00-08 for ‘E-101’, while in ‘E-404’ the highest firmness was induced by PADAC 01-47. The colour of fruit was also affected by the rootstock. The brightest coloured skin (high L* values) was found on Evrica, PADAC 01-47, Torinel and Krymsk® 86. The fruit weight was positively correlated with pulp yield and negatively correlated with TCSA. According to these results, higher fruit quality was found on PADAC 01-47 and Evrica., The authors are grateful to Selecplant, S.L. (Murcia, Spain) for providing an experimental site and maintain the trial in optimum conditions throughout the study.

Since quince (Cydonia oblonga) currently shows high genetic variability, along with the precarious state of preservation of the species in some cultivation areas, the study evaluated morphological, chemical and organoleptically five quince clones (MEMB1, MEMB2, MEMB3, MEMB4, and MEMB5) in the Southeast of Spain. Leaf characterisation generally showed ovate leaves, cordate base, mucronated apex and obtuse apex angle. Globose fruits predominated in all clones. Total soluble solids (TSS) ranged from 11.5 °Brix to 14.7 °Brix), and the predominant sugars were fructose and glucose; MEMB3 yielded the highest sugar content of all (17.93%). While malic was the main organic acid (0.78%) followed by tartaric (0.22%), quince juice yielded very low citric acid (0.009–0.014%). Besides, quince generally showed high crude fiber contents (8.14% for MEMB1), low fat contents and can weight up to 290 g. The characterised clones were appropriate for both fresh consumption and processing due to their semi-hard pulp and low astringency.

Since pomegranate is a fruit tree species showing high plant diversity, molecular techniques are required to quickly and precisely characterize and certify different cultivated varieties. The study evaluates a genetic method to identify pomegranate cultivars. The procedure is based on the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. Ten pomegranate accessions from the varietal groups Mollar de Elche, Mollar de Albatera, Mollar de Orihuela, Valencianas and Bordes were evaluated. The results prove the appropriateness of the PCR–RFLP technique for identifying pomegranate cultivars. All evaluated cultivars were differentiated according to their genetic profiles. There is a low correlation between pomegranate morphological and genetic traits on this study.