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The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of buckwheat grain for agricultural distillate production. The effects of the method of starch liberation on the physicochemical composition of the prepared mashes, fermentation results, the concentration of volatile compounds in the obtained distillates, and their organoleptic features, were investigated. The raw materials used were two cultivars of buckwheat grains, Panda and Kora. Both cultivars were characterized by similar starch content, however Panda cultivar had a significantly higher content of reducing sugars. Fermentation of the Kora cultivar-based mashes resulted in a higher fermentation efficiency (up to approximately 85% of the theoretical yield) compared to the Panda cultivar-based mashes (up to approx. 75%). Of the tested methods of starch liberation, the pressure-thermal treatment was revealed as superior, especially in the case of the Panda cultivar. In the case of the Kora cultivar, both the pressure-thermal method and the pressureless method of starch liberation resulted in a high process efficiency (up to 85% of the theoretical). Supplementation of the buckwheat mashes with (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 improved fermentation results. The highest scores in sensory assessment were given to distillates from mashes prepared with the pressure-thermal treatment, which contained relatively low concentrations of undesirable compounds, such as acetaldehyde and methanol, and revealed pleasant organoleptic features.

One of the great challenges that apple producers face is to substantially improve the quality of fruit, including after harvest. A balanced and timely supply of calcium (Ca) during growth and in the post-harvest stage is considered a technique that could improve shelf life and fruit quality; thus calcium plays a key role during post-harvest, with calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate being an alternative of foliar spraying. The study was carried out on ‘Top Red’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ apple cultivars, in a randomized complete block design with 13 treatments (referring to different commercial presentations of calcium) and 6 repetitions; 8 foliar sprays were applied weekly, from June 22 until harvest; ‘Top Red’ (151 days after full flowering, DDCF) and ‘Golden Delicious’ (145 DDCF) fruit were evaluated in regard with fruit traits (diameter, weight and colour) and maturity (pulp firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and sugar acidity ratio). In ‘Top Red’ cv., calcium carbonate presented the best results, with intermediate to high quality apple fruit, while for cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ the best results were obtained with calcium sulphate, which increased fruits’ diameter, weight, colour and titratable acidity. Even more, of the products evaluated, CaCO3 and CaSO4 had the lowest costs, and can be considered as good alternatives of foliar calcium supplement applied in order to preserve the quality of the apple during post-harvest. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Tomato is widely consumed in the world and its concentrated paste represents the main product from industrial tomato cultivars. One of the industry's biggest challenges is to produce in a sustainable and effective chain to simultaneously fulfill the cost reduction and quality improvement demands. This study aimed to show the loss of tomato paste quality attributes along its industrial processing chain, focusing on three parameters: (1) ascorbic acid content; (2) color and (3) consistency. Samples of tomato paste (29 °Brix) were subjected to thermal treatment at 60, 70 and 80°C, cooled down and analyzed for the mentioned attributes by kinetic parameters. Both ascorbic acid (z = 62.8°C, R2 = 0.9499) and instrumental color (z = 19.0°C, R2 = 0.9924 for a*/b*, and z = 16.3°C, R2 = 0.9897 for TPS) parameters degradation were well described by first-order kinetic models. Consistency attributes were not affected by the thermal treatment temperature. The temperature effect at each stage of processing allowed identifying the sterilization and storage steps as responsible for the greater degradation of color and ascorbic acid, respectively. The industry must control sterilization and increase sun protection in the offseason to preserve color and ascorbic acid, ensure lower losses of sensorial quality without reducing its productive flexibility, always prioritizing food safety. Key words: Color, storage, shelf life, vitamin C, consistency.

The study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of three varieties of lettuce subjected to different treatments of wastewater. The experimental design was a randomized block in a 7 x 3 split-plot with three replicates. The factors were 7 hydroponic and 3 cultivars of crisp lettuce. The solutions were formulated and optimized by considering Furlani solution as reference nutrient. The experimental portion consisted of the nutritive solutions (S). S1 = Furlani solution; S2 = domestic wastewater; S3 = optimized domestic wastewater; S4 = well water; = S5 optimized well water; S6 = wastewater from the UASB reactor and S7 = wastewater optimized from the UASB reactor, the subplot was constituted of three lettuce cultivars (Verônica, Vanda and Thais). The results showed that solutions with domestic wastewater (S2), optimized domestic wastewater (S3), optimized well water (S5) and the solution wastewater from the UASB reactor (S6) promoted the highest number of leaves per plant for the three cultivars. Solutions with enhanced domestic wastewater (S3), optimum water well (S5) and the solution formulated from the wastewater from the UASB reactor (S6) promoted the highest stem diameter in three cultivars. The highest value of total production was obtained from Vanda cultivar, when the wastewater from the UASB reactor (S6) was used as nutritive solution.

Excessive cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice poses a potential threat to human health. Rice varieties vary in their Cd content, which depends mainly on root-to-shoot translocation of Cd. However, cultivars accumulating high Cd in the natural population have not been completely investigated. In this study, we analyzed the variation in Cd accumulation in a diverse panel of 529 rice cultivars. Only a small proportion (11 of 529) showed extremely high root-to-shoot Cd transfer rates, and in seven of these cultivars this was caused by two known OsHMA3 alleles. Using quantitative trait loci mapping, we identified a new OsHMA3 allele that was associated with high Cd accumulation in three of the remaining cultivars. Using heterologous expression in yeast and comparative analysis among different rice cultivars, we observed that this new allele was weak at both the transcriptional and protein levels compared with the functional OsHMA3 genotypes. The weak Cd transport activity was further demonstrated to be caused by a Gly to Arg substitution at position 512. Our study comprehensively analyzed the variation in root-to-shoot Cd translocation rates in cultivated rice and identified a new OsHMA3 allele that caused high Cd accumulation in a few rice cultivars., Variations in root-to-shoot Cd translocation rates in 529 rice cultivars were investigated and a new OsHMA3 non-functional allele that resulted in high Cd accumulation in a few rice cultivars was identified.

Elevated CO2 protects wheat photosynthesis from heat stress damage via increased electron transport and facilitates recovery of photosynthesis and biomass but not the yield due to heat-induced grain abortion., Hot days are becoming hotter and more frequent, threatening wheat yields worldwide. Developing wheat varieties ready for future climates calls for improved understanding of how elevated CO2 (eCO2) and heat stress (HS) interactively impact wheat yields. We grew a modern, high-yielding wheat cultivar (Scout) at ambient CO2 (aCO2, 419 μl l −1) or eCO2 (654 μl l−1) in a glasshouse maintained at 22/15 °C (day/night). Half of the plants were exposed to HS (40/24 °C) for 5 d at anthesis. In non-HS plants, eCO2 enhanced (+36%) CO2 assimilation rates (Asat) measured at growth CO2 despite down-regulation of photosynthetic capacity. HS reduced Asat (–42%) in aCO2- but not in eCO2-grown plants because eCO2 protected photosynthesis by increasing ribulose bisphosphate regeneration capacity and reducing photochemical damage under HS. eCO2 stimulated biomass (+35%) of all plants and grain yield (+30%) of non-HS plants only. Plant biomass initially decreased following HS but recovered at maturity due to late tillering. HS equally reduced grain yield (–40%) in aCO2- and eCO2-grown plants due to grain abortion and reduced grain filling. While eCO2 mitigated the negative impacts of HS at anthesis on wheat photosynthesis and biomass, grain yield was reduced by HS in both CO2 treatments.

Cactus pears were introduced into South Africa and are used mainly as fodder crops. Interest in commercial fruit production has increased in the past few years. Since Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia robusta flourish in arid and semi-arid regions, it is worth looking into their potential not only as a fodder crop in dry seasons, but also for fruit production. Forty-two cultivars are being evaluated at an experimental orchard at Bloemfontein in the Free State Province in South Africa. Twelve cultivars with commercial fruit production potential were selected for evaluation of fruit eating quality as well as the effect of climate thereon. These were evaluated over five production seasons. Correlations were drawn on the influence of maximum temperature, heat units and rainfall on fruit quality. Rainfall had a significant positive effect on fruit mass, total soluble solids (TSS) content, glucose content, pulp pH and percentage titratable acidity (% TA), while it had a negative effect on percentage pulp and betacyanin (Bc) and betaxanthin (Bx) pigment contents. Fruit mass, TSS, glucose, fructose content and % TA correlated negatively with total heat units, while % pulp, vitamin C content, pulp pH, Bc and Bx correlated positively with total heat units. Maximum temperatures had similar effects on fruit quality to those observed for heat units, except for pulp pH. From these data, it is clear that all climatic factors measured correlated to changes in fruit quality, especially TSS, sugars, acidity and colour (pigments), although the effect of rainfall was most profound.

Higher Pi acquisition efficiency in wheat was related to an improved root system under Pi starvation, allowing higher Pi uptake. This response correlated with faster modulation of the IPS1–miR399–PHO2 pathway and strigolactone levels., Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) fertilizers are expected to become scarce in the near future; so, breeding for improved Pi acquisition-related root traits would decrease the need for fertilizer application. This work aimed to decipher the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the differences between two commercial wheat cultivars (Crac and Tukan) with contrasting Pi acquisition efficiencies (PAE). For that, four independent experiments with different growth conditions were conducted. When grown under non-limiting Pi conditions, both cultivars performed similarly. Crac was less affected by Pi starvation than Tukan, presenting higher biomass production, and an enhanced root development, root:shoot ratio, and root efficiency for Pi uptake under this condition. Higher PAE in Crac correlated with enhanced expression of the Pi transporter genes TaPht1;2 and TaPht1;10. Crac also presented a faster and higher modulation of the IPS1–miR399–PHO2 pathway upon Pi starvation. Interestingly, Crac showed increased levels of strigolactones, suggesting a direct relationship between this phytohormone and plant P responses. Based on these findings, we propose that higher PAE of the cultivar Crac is associated with an improved P signalling through a fine-tuning modulation of PHO2 activity, which seems to be regulated by strigolactones. This knowledge will help to develop new strategies for improved plant performance under P stress conditions.

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the major diseases in Solanum species including cultivated Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Bacterial wilt (BW) disease management in eggplant is difficult due to high survival rate of pathogen in soil and chemical application is not eco-friendly. The best way to avoid bacterial wilt in eggplant is using disease-resistant varieties. However, only a limited number of bacterial wilt resistant varieties are available and, there is a necessity to identify and/or develop new resistant varieties. In the current study, wild Solanum species, and eggplant cultivated varieties were evaluated against Ralstonia solanacearum, and disease incidence was recorded. The cultivated varieties IIHR-108, Pusa Purple Long and Rampur Local were identified as susceptible, whereas, IIHR-7 and CARI-1 were identified as resistant to bacterial wilt. These resistant wild and cultivated varieties can be used as a root-stock in bacterialwilt disease resistant breeding programmes.

Several reliable QTLs for leaf photosynthesis were detected using reciprocal mapping populations derived from japonica and indica rice varieties with different photosynthetic capacities., The improvement of leaf net photosynthetic rate (An) is a major challenge in enhancing crop productivity. However, the genetic control of An among natural genetic accessions is still poorly understood. The high-yielding indica cultivar Takanari has the highest An of all rice cultivars, 20–30% higher than that of the high-quality japonica cultivar Koshihikari. By using reciprocal backcross inbred lines and chromosome segment substitution lines derived from a cross between Takanari and Koshihikari, we identified three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) where the Takanari alleles enhanced An in plants with a Koshihikari genetic background and five QTLs where the Koshihikari alleles enhanced An in plants with a Takanari genetic background. Two QTLs were expressed in plants with both backgrounds (type I QTL). The expression of other QTLs depended strongly on genetic background (type II QTL). These beneficial alleles increased stomatal conductance, the initial slope of An versus intercellular CO2 concentration, or An at CO2 saturation. Pyramiding of these alleles consistently increased An. Some alleles positively affected biomass production and grain yield. These alleles associated with photosynthesis and yield can be a valuable tool in rice breeding programs via DNA marker-assisted selection.

The high-yielding rice cultivar Takanari has fast photosynthetic induction owing to a high electron transport rate, stomatal conductance, and metabolic flux, leading to high daily carbon gain under fluctuating light., Leaves within crop canopies experience variable light over the course of a day, which greatly affects photosynthesis and crop productivity. Little is known about the mechanisms of the photosynthetic response to fluctuating light and their genetic control. Here, we examined gas exchange, metabolite levels, and chlorophyll fluorescence during the photosynthetic induction response in an Oryza sativa indica cultivar with high yield (Takanari) and a japonica cultivar with lower yield (Koshihikari). Takanari had a faster induction response to sudden increases in light intensity than Koshihikari, as demonstrated by faster increases in net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and electron transport rate. In a simulated light regime that mimicked a typical summer day, the faster induction response in Takanari increased daily CO2 assimilation by 10%. The faster response of Takanari was explained in part by its maintenance of a larger pool of Calvin–Benson cycle metabolites. Together, the rapid responses of electron transport rate, metabolic flux, and stomatal conductance in Takanari contributed to the greater daily carbon gain under fluctuating light typical of natural environments.

Annual extension growth (AEG), an indicator of tree vigor, was recorded maximum (145.63 cm) in Granny Smith and minimum (111.04cm) in Spartan, where as correlation matrix showed negative relation between trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) and AEG. Granny Smith exhibited maximum (184.09 g) fruit weight and it was minimum (128.68 g) in Spartan, the correlation matrix between fruit weight and yield efficiency exhibited significant positive correlation over the years. Yield tree-1 was maximum (29.45 kg tree-1) in Coe red Fuji and minimum (16.04 kg/tree) in Spartan. Significant and positive correlation coefficient (0.870) observed between yield and TCSA. TCSA has positive correlation with fruit weight and yield efficiency, maximum mean yield efficiency (1.11 kg/cm2) was recorded in Granny Smith. All the cultivars trained on this architecture had high chroma values (color intensity).

Mango productivity is affected mainly by irregular flowering, proportion of bisexual flowers, poor pollination and fertilization and fruit drop. Poor fruit set in some of the varieties may be associated with the lower pollen viability. The present experiment was initiated to assess the viability of pollen grains and their metabolites in three mango cultivars Amrapali, Alphonso and Totapuri which are differing in their fruit set intensity. The profiling of sugars, amino acids and some of the phytohormones were analysed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Assessment of pollen grains in three mango cultivars indicated that free sugars such as fructose and glucose, and available amino acids including serine, proline, lysine, phenylalanine, alanine and glutamic acid were predominantly higher in all the cultivars. Phytohormones like IAA, IBA, ABA, GA,zeatin, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid were significantly different in low fruit setting cultivars Alphonso and Totapuri compared to high fruit setting cultivar Amrapali. In cv. Alphonso all the metabolites were higher at anthesis but later decreased drastically compared to cvs. Totapuri and Amrapali. Pollen viability percentage was significantly higher in cv. Amrapali than in cvs. Totapuri, Alphonso. Among all the cultivars, Amrapali maintained better chemical composition at anthesis and also at two hours after anthesis compared to cvs. Totapuri and Alphonso.

In a field experiment, to identify the best sweet cherry varieties for high density orcharding, maximum canopy volume (18.94 cm3) was recorded in variety ‘Steela’ and minimum in ‘Lambert’ while, ‘Bigarreau Napoleon’ had maximum TCSA (213 cm2). Trees grown under HDP have lower TCSA in comparison to normal density. Primary and secondary branch girth were maximum in ‘Bigarreau Napoleon’ whereas, annual extension growth and shoot thickness were high in ‘Steela’. Yield, yield efficiency and cumulative yield efficiency were registered maximum in ‘Bigarreau Napoleon’ and ‘Bigarreau Noir Grossa’ cultivars. Largest fruit weight, fruit length and fruit diameter were found maximum (10.16 g/fruit), (25.51 mm) (25.20 mm) respectively in ‘Bigarreau Napoleon’. Total soluble solids were found maximum in ‘Bigarreau Noir Grossa’ (17.30 0Brix) among the studied cultivars. Correlation matrix showed that TCSA had positive correlation with canopy volume, primary branch girth and secondary branch girth and fruit weight showed positive correlation with fruit length and fruit diameter.

The cactus pear plant is an under-valued food source with health-promoting properties that thrives in arid and semi-arid regions due to its efficient use of water. Eight South African cultivars from two Opuntia species were investigated for their antioxidant content and potential. The fresh fruit (pulp), peel, seeds and cladodes of each cultivar were compared in the study. Analysis included betalains, ascorbic acid, phenolics and carotenoids. The activity of the antioxidants were determined by using the DPPH method and by measuring the chelating activity of ferrous ions. When % DPPH was tested, peel and cladodes were consistently the highest, while in the % chelating activity tests, fruit pulp and seeds were the best tissue types. Cladodes contained more phenolics and carotenes than fruit regardless of the cultivar. For pulp and peel, the cultivar that contained the highest antioxidant content and potential was Robusta with its high content of betalains followed by Gymno-Carpo and Ofer with high ascorbic acid levels. The study proves that the fruit (pulp), peel and seeds from different cultivars contain specific antioxidants relating to the colour of the fruit, but the cladodes of any cultivar contain similar and highly effective antioxidants.

Background New early- to mid-season apple cultivars are being developed to help address warmer growing seasons due to climate change. Free sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and phenolic composition were determined in the pulp and peel of six new and six traditional apple cultivars. In addition, the phenolic profiles of apple peels were characterized using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Forty-eight polyphenol compounds were identified, by accurate mass, in apple peel. Results Compared to Fuji apples, a new apple cultivar, Decobell, contained 2.6- and 1.4-fold higher levels of the sum of individual polyphenol levels in the peel and the pulp, respectively. Decobell apples showed similar sugar-to-acid ratio (0.27) to Fuji apples (0.25). Conclusions The results indicate that the Decobell cultivar could have the best quality characteristics in terms of sugar-to-acid ratios and health-promoting activities due to the phenolic profiles. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study analysed fruits of cranberry cultivars: Ben Lear, Bergman, Early Richard, Pilgrim and Stevens and compared them with wild-grown cranberry fruits. The fruits were characterised in terms of dimensions, colour, content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, and hydroxyl radical and trypsin inhibition activities. It was shown that the wild-grown cranberry fruits were characterised by much smaller dimensions and redder colour than fruits of the cranberry cultivars. The most phenolic compounds were found in the Early Richard fruits (357.6 mg/100 g fw), and they showed the highest antitrypsin activity. The highest anthocyanin content (60.6 mg/100 g fw) was determined in the Pilgrim fruits, while the Ben Lear fruits were the richest source of proanthocyanidins (27.9 mg/100 g fw). The antioxidant activity was correlated with the content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, while the antitrypsin activity was correlated with phenolic compounds and anthocyanin contents.

Natural flowering (NF) of pineapple is a complex process with multifactorial control that presents several drawbacks that directly affect the management, harvesting and marketing of fruits. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of silver thiosulfate (STS), an ethylene action inhibitor, in inhibiting natural pineapple flowering. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial 4×5, with 4 cultivars and 5 STS doses and four replicates, each containing one potted plant. The cultivars studied were ‘IAC Fantastico’, ‘Perola’, ‘MD2’ and ‘Vitoria’. STS doses were 50 mL of solution containing 0, 0.5, 1, 2 or 3.0 mmol L‑1 of STS. The solution was applied in the leaf rosette at 15-day intervals during the normal time of NF in June and July. The characteristics evaluated were weights of fresh and dry matter of each component of the plant, the percentage of plants with NF, fruit weight with and without crown, fruit length, diameter of fruit and number of shoots (seeds) per plant. The soluble solids (SS), firmness, pH, titratable acidity (TA) and ratio of the pulp were also determined. STS application inside the rosette did not inhibit NF but increased “D” leaf dry matter, fruit diameter and reduced pulp pH.

Approximately, 325 cultivars of bananas were found in Indonesia. They have variation in shape, taste, color of fruit pulp, essential vitamins and mineral. The I²-carotene is one of essential nutrient in banana with various concentration in every cultivar. The aims of this research were to describe the morphological characteristics and to analyze I²-carotene content of mature fruits of three different genomic groups of Indonesian dessert and cooking banana cultivars namely Berlin (AA/dessert), Barangan (AAA/dessert), and Kepok (ABB/cooking). Morphological characterizations of fruits were conducted according to Descriptor for Banana from International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. The I²-carotene content of mature banana pulp was analyzed using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with three replications. Banana fruit characters were analyzed based on 15 descriptors. The bananas were then subjected to clustering analysis.  The result showed that I²-carotene content were 27 I¼g 100g -1 , 5 µg 100g -1 , and 3 I¼g 100g -1 fresh weight respectively. Berlin showed the highest value of I²-carotene. Cluster analyses formed two groups. The first group consists of Berlin and Barangan while the second one consists of Kepok. This study can be used as a a reference for people to consume bananas with high content of I²-carotene in meeting the needs of vitamin A and as a consideration for the plant breeding especially for I²-carotene improvement purpose.

‘Galia’ melon is a climacteric fruit with reduced shelf life, thus the goal of this work was to evaluate the post-harvest quality of fruits stored under normal and modified atmosphere at different temperatures. Fruits from cultivar Solarnet were stored under normal atmosphere (control) and modified atmosphere at 3, 7 and 11 oC and relative humidity of 90 ± 5%. Fruit evaluations were performed at 14, 21, 28 and 35 days of storage for pulp firmness, mass loss, internal and external appearance, chilling injury, total soluble phenolics, soluble sugars and enzymes polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and catalase. Storage at 11 oC had the lowest pulp firmness and bigger mass loss in both atmospheres. Storage at 3 oC under modified atmosphere had the best postharvest conservation, but induced chilling injury, with development of superficial brown spots. ‘Galia’ melons showed higher peroxidase activity under storage at 3 °C in both storage atmospheres.

Grape marc, the main solid by-product of the wine industry, can be used as a nutrient-rich organic amendment if treated appropriately before its application into soil. In this study, we evaluated the potential of vermicomposting to process grape marc derived from the red winemaking of Mencía grapes in order to yield a high-quality, polyphenol-free organic vermicompost that could be used as an environmentally friendly fertiliser. We observed that the grape marc from this cultivar appears to be an optimum substrate for feeding earthworms providing optimum conditions for growth and reproduction, and sufficient energy to sustain large populations. Moreover, earthworm activity favoured the stabilisation of the grape marc resulting in a final vermicompost characterised by a higher concentration of macro- and micro-nutrients and a reduced polyphenol content after 112 days of vermicomposting. Lower values of microbial activity, indicative of stabilised materials, were recorded at the end of the process. These findings highlight vermicomposting as an environmentally sound management system for processing grape marc that could easily be scaled up for industrial application.

Genome-wide association studies were used to analyse potassium use efficiency in rice. Novel associations were found along with a role for sodium replacement via the OsHKT2;1 sodium transporter., Increasing the potassium use efficiency (KUE) of crops is important for agricultural sustainability. However, a greater understanding of this complex trait is required to develop new, high-KUE cultivars. To this end, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied to diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes grown under potassium-stressed and -replete conditions. Using high-stringency criteria, the genetic architecture of KUE was uncovered, together with the breadth of physiological responses to low-potassium stress. Specifically, three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified, which contained >90 candidate genes. Of these, the sodium transporter gene OsHKT2;1 emerged as a key factor that impacts on KUE based on (i) the correlation between shoot Na+ and KUE, and (ii) higher levels of HKT2;1 expression in high-KUE lines.

The aim of this study was to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of ten processing tomatoes cultivars (H9992, H9553, U2006, N901, E8755, BA5445, F170, HMX, AP533 and CVR) produced in the city of Morrinhos, Goiás State, Brazil, in order to assess the fruit quality and contribute with more subsidies for choosing tomato cultivars for processing by industries. H9992, H9553, N901, BA5445 and HMX genotypes have smaller fruits (length, volume and mass) and higher mechanical resistance of the fruit pulp. H9992, HMX and F170 genotypes also have higher resistance of fruit peel, indicating that these materials are less susceptible to losses during mechanical harvesting and transportation to the industry. Regarding the L* and b* parameters, the less yellow and darker H9992, H9553 and U2006 cultivars are the most recommended for the industry, which seeks genotypes with higher concentrations of lycopene and less carotenes. Processing tomatoes cultivar HMX, H9992, H9553 and U2006 have higher soluble solids, and potential to enable greater industrial efficiency. Therefore, cultivars H9992 and HMX standing out positively in most of the evaluated parameters: have smaller fruits (length, volume and mass), higher mechanical resistance of the fruit pulp, greater resistance of the fruit peel, higher soluble solids content. Therefore, new genetic material that presented better characteristics for industrialization is HMX.

Fertilization of high-yield apple cultivars leads to increases in hydraulic efficiency and decreases in embolism resistance, as well as drought tolerance of leaves, whereby the influence is highly cultivar specific., Fertilization of woody plants plays a central role in agriculture and forestry, but little is known about how plant water relations are thereby affected. Here we investigated the impact of fertilization on tree hydraulics, and xylem and pit anatomy in the high-yield apple cultivars Golden and Red Delicious. In fertilized trees of Golden Delicious, specific hydraulic conductivity of branch xylem, hydraulic conductance of the root system, and maximum stomatal conductance increased considerably. In Red Delicious, differences between fertilized and control trees were less pronounced. In both cultivars, xylem embolism resistance of fertilized trees was significantly lower and stomatal closure occurred at lower water potentials. Furthermore, water potential at turgor loss point and osmotic potential at full saturation were higher and cell wall elasticity was lower in fertilized plants, suggesting reduced drought tolerance of leaves. Anatomical differences were observed regarding conduit diameters, cell wall reinforcement, pit membrane thickness, pit chamber depth, and stomatal pore length, with more pronounced differences in Golden Delicious. The findings reveal altered hydraulic behaviour in both apple cultivars upon fertilization. The increased vulnerability to hydraulic failure might pose a considerable risk for apple productivity under a changing climate, which should be considered for future cultivation and management practices.

This work presents a scale‐up and feasibility study for the establishment of supercritical CO₂ extraction plants to produce grape seeds oil. The scale‐up factors are determined using experimental and modelling results based on seeds from six grape cultivars over 2 harvest years. The purchased cost of the production plant is estimated using ‘the six‐tenth rule’ from the cost of a pilot scale unit. The results indicate that, at the current minimum retail selling price of extra virgin grape seeds oil, the proposed project is technically viable and economically feasible with a breakeven point of US$ 7.46 per kg‐oil and rate of return on investment of 28%.

Harvesting of white hop shoots might be justified if they can be shown to be beneficial to human health. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of hop cultivars and year of production on total phenolics, antioxidant potential, microelements and pesticide residues. Biomass per plant was highly variable among the cultivars (3.1-7.1 g dry mass per plant) and depended on hop cultivar and year (2009-2011). Total phenolics as chlorogenic acid equivalents (CAE) on dry mass basis varied from 0.60 to 1.80 mg/g, and showed significant effects across hop cultivar and year. The radical scavenging activities of the samples collected in years 2010-2012 ranged from 11 to 19 μg CAE. Ferric reducing activity was

Pomegranates (Punica granatum) are a significant source of bioactive compounds and have been widely used in traditional Eastern medicine in different countries and cultures. Pomegranate peel and pulp have significantly antioxidant capacity, and pomegranate pulp contain markedly anti-atherogenic activity against atherosclerosis diseases in humans and mice model investigations. Pomegranates from different cultivars possess different bioactive molecules, increasing the desired antioxidant properties genes and chemical profiles. This study provides an overview of geographic origins and an evaluation of the chemical analysis of flavonoids and polyphenolic content of the pomegranate from the local (Persian) and foreign pomegranate cultivars. The present narrative review aims to compare chemical analysis of total phenolic and flavonoids content of different pomegranate cultivars grown in various geographic regions in the world. This review demonstrated that remarkable differences existed in all factors rates measured in various cultivars, being considerably related to many factors such as cultivar type, growing region, maturity, cultivation, climate, edaphic condition, and storage situation. The data would be useful to produce better crops with high nutritional quality.

Petunia (Petunia hybrida) is an important ornamental plant with a wide range of corolla colors. Although pale-yellow-flowered cultivars, with a low amount of carotenoids in their corollas, are now available, no deep-yellow-flowered cultivars exist. To find why petunia cannot accumulate enough carotenoids to have deep-yellow flowers, we compared carotenoid profiles and expression of carotenoid metabolic genes between pale-yellow-flowered petunia and deep-yellow-flowered calibrachoa (Calibrachoa hybrida), a close relative. The carotenoid contents and the ratios of esterified xanthophylls to total xanthophylls in petunia corollas were significantly lower than those in calibrachoa, despite similar carotenoid components. A lower esterification rate of trans-xanthophylls than of cis-xanthophylls in petunia suggests that petunia xanthophyll esterase (XES) has low substrate specificity for trans-xanthophylls, which are more abundant than cis-xanthophylls in petunia corolla. The expression of genes encoding key enzymes of carotenoid biosynthesis was lower and that of a carotenoid catabolic gene was higher in petunia. XES expression was significantly lower in petunia. The results suggest that low biosynthetic activity, high cleavage activity, and low esterification activity cause low carotenoid accumulation in petunia corollas.

Accurate evaluation of morphological and physiological traits is critical for selection of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars exhibiting high yield, which is stable over different growing conditions. In order to use selection index based on high yield, high grain quality and drought tolerance in wheat, a set of 145 CIMMYT Wheat Physiological Germplasm Screening Nursery lines and seven local spring wheat varieties were phenotyped and evaluated for physiological and yield traits under two irrigation regimes during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in Xinjiang, China. The results showed that drought-stress significantly increased canopy temperature but reduced grain yield, grain weight per spike, normalized difference vegetation index at the flowering and grain filling stages, chlorophyll content at the grain filling stage, grain plumpness, grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight, and plant height. Grain weight per spike, plant height and grain plumpness explained 61.8% of the total phenotypic variation in grain yield under no-stress conditions, where they were the three principal factors most closely related to grain yield. Under drought-stress conditions, canopy temperature at the grain filling stage, plant height and grain plumpness were the three principal factors affecting grain yield, and contributed 44.8% of the total phenotypic variation in grain yield. Finally, ten genotypes, including three local varieties, ‘Xinchun 11’, ‘Xinchun 23’ and ‘Xinchun 29’, with appropriate plant height and high and stable yield under both no-stress and drought-stress conditions over the two years of trials, were identified and can be recommended as core parents for spring wheat drought tolerance breeding in Xinjiang, China.

Sake-brewing cultivars among varieties of Japanese rice (Oryza sativa L.) have traits adapted to the sake-brewing process, such as a high white-core expression rate (WCE). Our previous study detected putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with a high WCE derived from Yamadanishiki, a popular brewing rice cultivar. Because the occurrence of white-core grains depends on air temperature and the position of the grain on the panicle, phenotyping of WCE must consider these variable conditions. In this study, qWCE6, a QTL for the WCE on chromosome 6, was validated for the first time, and the phenotyping method examined for its suitability in fine-mapping. A clear tendency towards high WCE was observed in late-heading substituted lines which headed under low daily mean temperature at the experimental location. White-core grains were often expressed by the primary spikelets on the upper panicle, producing a high percentage of superior grains. The segregating population for qWCE6 in late heading revealed a distinct difference in WCE between the Koshihikari and Yamadanishiki homozygous alleles at qWCE6 as determined from that locality. Further, two insertion/deletion markers were developed for the marker-assisted selection of qWCE6. Our results will be useful for informing the breeding of sake-brewing rice cultivars.

International audience; How cellular and molecular structure of raw fruits impact puree’s texture is still an unresolved question. Texture variations of purees obtained from four apple cultivars of contrasted texture (Braeburn, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith) and two modalities (mealiness, fruit load) after two contrasted processes were investigated. Although puree’s viscosity strongly varied between cultivars (562–1368 mPa s), it did not correlate with apple firmness, except for Granny Smith. This cultivar had the firmest fruits (3.2 N) and the most viscous purees (1368 mPa.s), in accordance with large particles (around 650 μm), high pulp wet mass and serum viscosity. Mealy Braeburn apples showed lower puree’s viscosity (562 mPa.s) than their not-mealy homologues (779 mPa.s). This was due to reduced cell adhesion, maybe because of lower (arabinose + galactose)/rhamnose ratio, leading to smaller particles during processing. Process also impacted puree’s viscosity (692–939 mPa s), with more viscous purees obtained with the high temperature-low shear process.

In this study, a metabolomic investigation was presented to correlate single polyphenolic compounds in apple pulp with quality characteristics such as antioxidant activity and content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins in apple skin. Since the concentration of these compounds is influenced by environmental factors, the twenty-two apple cultivars originate from the same site. The polyphenolic compounds were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). The antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and anthocyanins were evaluated on the sunny and the shady sides of apple skin by spectrometric assays. In old apple varieties, the measured parameters were higher than in the commercial and red-fleshed varieties. By contrast, the profile of flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins was variable amongst commercial and red-fleshed varieties. The partial least square (PLS) method was applied to investigate the association between the skin proprieties and the metabolic profile of the pulp. The highest coefficients of determination in prediction (Q2) were obtained for compounds quantified in old cultivars. These results provided information to define the old apple varieties as a reliable group based on the pathway of the antioxidant compounds and anthocyanins content. Our results show the possibility to find cultivars with promising health features based on their content of polyphenols suitable for commercialization or breeding.

In the present study, chromatic coordinates, phenolic acids, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity (LPIC) essays and their relative IC50 were investigated in 25 fig cultivars growing in Morocco. The aims of this study were to determine (i) the variation in these compounds among light and dark-colored cultivars, (ii) their partitioning between fruit peel and pulp and (iii) to display network connections among these variables. Twelve phenolic compounds (PCs) were isolated in peel extract versus eight in pulp samples. Anthocyanins, mainly cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, were the predominant compounds in peels, where the mean concentrations were 75.90 ± 18.76 and 77.97 ± 18.95 µg/g dw, respectively. On the other hand, (−)-epicatechin and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside were the major compounds in the pulp extracts, where the mean values were 5.23 ± 4.03 and 9.01 ± 5.67 µg/g dw, respectively. A two-dimensional hierarchically clustered heatmap was applied to the dataset to explore correlations in the dataset and similarities between cultivars, without dimensionality reduction. Results showed that anthocyanins, particularly pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, were the main contributors to the peels’ free radical scavenging capacity. This capacity was particularly higher in the peel of dark-colored figs compared to the fruit pulp. The local cultivar “INRA 1301” showed the most promising phenolic profile due to its very high levels of almost all detected PCs, especially (−)-epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidine-3,5-diglucoside, cyanidine-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (54.66, 141.08, 35.48, 494.08, 478.66, 12.56 µg/g dw, respectively). Having the darkest figs in the collection (L* = 25.72, c* = 22.09 and h° = 20.99), this cultivar has also combined promising IC50 values, which were of 19.85, 40.58 and 124.78 µg/mL for DPPH, ABTS and LPIC essays, respectively.

Flower bud dormancy in temperate fruit tree species, such as almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb], is a survival mechanism that ensures that flowering will occur under suitable weather conditions for successful flower development, pollination and fruit set. Dormancy is divided into three sequential phases: paradormancy, endodormancy and ecodormancy. During the winter, buds need cultivar-specific chilling requirements (CRs) to overcome endodormancy and heat requirements to activate the machinery to flower in the ecodormancy phase. One of the main factors that enables the transition from endodormancy to ecodormancy is transcriptome reprogramming. In this work, we therefore monitored three almond cultivars with different CRs and flowering times by RNA sequencing during the endodormancy release of flower buds and validated the data by quantitative real-Time PCR in two consecutive seasons. We were thus able to identify early and late flowering time candidate genes in endodormant and ecodormant almond flower buds associated with metabolic switches, transmembrane transport, cell wall remodeling, phytohormone signaling and pollen development. These candidate genes were indeed involved in the overcoming of the endodormancy in almond. This information may be used for the development of dormancy molecular markers, increasing the efficiency of temperate fruit tree breeding programs in a climate-change context., This study has been supported by Grants 19308/PI/14 and 19879/GERM/15 of the Seneca Foundation of the Region of Murcia (Spain) and the Almond Breeding project of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI). Finally, RS-P is greatful for her RyC contract by the Ministery of Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

The aeration of seeds with artificially cooled air and their storage in big-bag packages aim to lengthen the shelf life while maintaining the quality. Thus, the objective was to study the effects of cooling before storage on germination and vigor of soybean seeds stored in trifoliate kraft paper bag and big bag in non-air-conditioned environment. Seeds of soybean cultivar NA 7337 RR were mechanically harvested in March 2013, holding an average moisture content of 18% w.b. In June, 16,000 kg of seeds were processed and cooled to 18 °C. Equal amount of non-cooled seeds was used as a control. Equally divided in kraft paper and in big bags, and combining cooling and packaging, the seeds were stored for three months and analyzed for moisture content, germination and vigor. Cooling to room temperature and different packaging types had similar effects on seed quality. Big bags packing showed better efficiency in retaining the moisture content of cooled seeds. No direct effects of cooling could be identified prior to storage on the germination and vigor of soybean seeds.

During the reproductive stage, chilling temperatures and frost reduce the yield of chickpea and limit its adaptation. The adverse effects of chilling temperature and frost in terms of the threshold temperatures, impact of cold duration, and genotype-by-environment-by-management interactions are not well quantified. Crop growth models that predict flowering time and yield under diverse climates can identify combinations of cultivars and sowing time to reduce frost risk in target environments. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM-chickpea) model uses daily temperatures to model basic crop growth but does not include penalties for either frost damage or cold temperatures during flowering and podding stages. Regression analysis overcame this limitation of the model for chickpea crops grown at 95 locations in Australia using 70 years of historic data incorporating three cultivars and three sowing times (early, mid, and late). We modified model parameters to include the effect of soil water on thermal time calculations, which significantly improved the prediction of flowering time. Simulated data, and data from field experiments grown in Australia (2013 to 2019), showed robust predictions for flowering time (n = 29; R2 = 0.97), and grain yield (n = 22; R2 = 0.63–0.70). In addition, we identified threshold cold temperatures that significantly affected predicted yield, and combinations of locations, variety, and sowing time where the overlap between peak cold temperatures and peak flowering was minimal. Our results showed that frost and/or cold temperature–induced yield losses are a major limitation in some unexpected Australian locations, e.g., inland, subtropical latitudes in Queensland. Intermediate sowing maximise yield, as it avoids cold temperature, late heat, and drought stresses potentially limiting yield in early and late sowing respectively.

Rambutan is an exotic fruit native to Southeast Asia. It is composed of peel, pulp, and seed; the pulp is the only edible part of the fruit. The cultivars of rambutan have been expanded in many parts of the world, and its consumption is principally fresh but also is processed in the industry in the production of juices, jams, or jellies, resulting in the peel and the seed as byproducts with potential applications in the industry due to their physicochemical properties, especially the seed. The peel has been reported as an interesting 96source of bioactive compounds and a source of lignocellulosic material that can be used for applications such as bionanocomposites. Rambutan seed is the part of the fruit where most physicochemical properties are reported and is considered for its high amount of fat and starch. The physicochemical properties of rambutan seed fat and starch can be compared with other commercial raw materials used widely in the industry, like cocoa butter or corn starch. So, rambutan seed seems to be a potential new source to be used as a raw material in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

This study aimed to investigate the biochemical compounds of five different apple cultivars (Amasya, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Starking) grown in the same location and to reveal the differences between peel and pulp in the fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples. Sugar and organic acid contents were analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography. Besides, antioxidant activity, total flavonoid, and total phenolic contents were analyzed with a spectrophotometer. The results of these analyses showed that the compounds varied between peel and pulp and among fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples. The largest level of total flavonoid was found in Amasya oven-dried peel, and the largest total phenol, antioxidant activity, fructose, and total sugar levels were observed in Amasya sun-dried peel. Moreover, the largest L-ascorbic acid was detected in Amasya oven-dried pulp. Granny Smith oven-dried pulp was rich in citric, succinic acids, and glucose. Braeburn sun-dried pulp, Golden Delicious oven-dried pulp, and Granny Smith sun-dried pulp contained the largest sucrose, malic acid, and total soluble solids levels, respectively. For data interpretation, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan’s test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and principal component analysis were performed. The peel contained significantly higher total flavonoid, total phenol, and antioxidant activity than pulp. Moreover, among fresh, oven-dried, and sun-dried samples, total phenol, succinic acid, malic acid, and L-ascorbic acid significantly differed. As a whole, the pulp was rich in sugars. The results provide valuable information on the food quality parameters of five different apple cultivars. It was demonstrated that consuming apple with its peel is healthier (in terms of total flavonoid, total phenol, antioxidant activity parameters, and L-ascorbic acid), and drying (especially the sun-drying method) is an effective food storage method for apples.

From the Southern Coast collection of Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. the fruits cultivars of the Nikitsky Gardens’ breeding Medovaya, Olenka, Rumyanaya Zorka and Idilliya were distinguished by their high taste qualities and the content of BAS. According to the norms of the Russian Federation, the fruits of these cultivars belong to the group of products with a high content of potassium and cuprum; satisfactory content of magnesium and ferrum, pastilles and jams from them belong to the group of products with a satisfactory content of potassium and cuprum. Cherry plum fruits, especially dark-colored ones, are a natural complex source of antioxidants, characterized by a high content of phenolic compounds and cuprum, and a satisfactory content of ascorbic acid and zinc. The content of pectin substances in the studied cultivars is comparable to that in apples. The fruits of the Idyllia cultivar with dark-colored pulp are distinguished by the maximum accumulation of pectins - 1.14%, ascorbic acid - 9.3, phenolic compounds – 441 mg/100 g, potassium – 11239, magnesium - 464, ferrum -10.81, zinc - 10.23, cuprum - 4.17, manganese - 0.228 mg/kg. Cherry plum fruits are characterized by a high content of BAS and are suitable for use in health nutrition both in fresh form and as raw materials for Food for Specific Health Use.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-07-14T10:45:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-11. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-14T11:37:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0103-84782021000900753.pdf: 829708 bytes, checksum: ebc27444fb9a0168a9ecb379ffb43699 (MD5) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a influência do branqueamento na desidratação osmótica de mamão Formosa em soluções de sacarose. A caracterização da invertase presente nos frutos também foi realizada. O branqueamento possivelmente danificou a estrutura celular do vegetal resultando em maior perda de água, ganho de açúcar e, consequentemente, maior coeficiente de difusão do que os mamões frescos após a desidratação osmótica. A invertase extraída da polpa do mamão apresentou temperatura ótima de 45 °C e pH ótimo de 4.8. Considerando o baixo custo de produção do mamão e as características da invertase, essa fruta apresenta-se como potencial fonte de extração da enzima. This research evaluated the influence of blanching on osmotic dehydration in sucrose solutions of papaya of Formosa cultivar. The characterization of invertase present in the fruits was also done. Blanching possibly caused damages to the cellular structure resulting in higher water loss, sugar gain and, thus, effective diffusion coefficients than fresh papayas during osmotic dehydration. The invertase extracted from papaya pulp presented optimum temperature of 45 °C and optimum pH of 4.8. Considering the low production cost of papaya and the invertase characteristics, the fruit shows to be a potential source for the referred enzyme extraction. Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Medianeira Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Campus Umuarama Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) FAPESP: 07/07586-0 ; 09/00519-0

We identify the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene HvFT4 as a negative regulator of reproductive development, spikelet initiation, floret fertility, and grain number in barley., FLOWERING LOCUS T-like (FT-like) genes control the photoperiodic regulation of flowering in many angiosperm plants. The family of FT-like genes is characterized by extensive gene duplication and subsequent diversification of FT functions which occurred independently in modern angiosperm lineages. In barley, there are 12 known FT-like genes (HvFT), but the function of most of them remains uncharacterized. This study aimed to characterize the role of HvFT4 in flowering time control and development in barley. The overexpression of HvFT4 in the spring cultivar Golden Promise delayed flowering time under long-day conditions. Microscopic dissection of the shoot apical meristem revealed that overexpression of HvFT4 specifically delayed spikelet initiation and reduced the number of spikelet primordia and grains per spike. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of HvFT4 was associated with floret abortion and with the down-regulation of the barley MADS-box genes VRN-H1, HvBM3, and HvBM8 which promote floral development. This suggests that HvFT4 functions as a repressor of reproductive development in barley. Unraveling the genetic basis of FT-like genes can contribute to the identification of novel breeding targets to modify reproductive development and thereby spike morphology and grain yield.

The barley maximum yield potential (MYP) stage can differ from the awn primordium stage and varies depending on the genotype and growth conditions. We suggest key steps to identify MYP in barley that might apply to related cereals., Determining the grain yield potential contributed by grain number is a step towards advancing the yield of cereal crops. To achieve this aim, it is pivotal to recognize the maximum yield potential (MYP) of the crop. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the MYP is defined as the maximum spikelet primordia number of a spike. Many barley studies assumed the awn primordium (AP) stage to be the MYP stage regardless of genotypes and growth conditions. From our spikelet-tracking experiments using the two-rowed cultivar Bowman, we found that the MYP stage can be different from the AP stage. Importantly, we find that the occurrence of inflorescence meristem deformation and its loss of activity coincided with the MYP stage, indicating the end of further spikelet initiation. Thus, we recommend validating the barley MYP stage with the shape of the inflorescence meristem and propose this approach (named ‘spikelet stop’) for MYP staging. To clarify the relevance of AP and MYP stages, we compared the MYP stage and the MYP in 27 barley accessions (two- and six-rowed accessions) grown in the greenhouse and in the field. Our results reveal that the MYP stage can be reached at various developmental stages, which greatly depend on the genotype and growth conditions. Furthermore, we propose that the MYP stage and the time to reach the MYP stage can be used to determine yield potential in barley. Based on our findings, we suggest key steps for the identification of the MYP stage in barley that may also be applied in a related crop such as wheat.

Stem and canopy architecture traits are superior predictors of floral biomass yield and offer a good indication of hybrid uniformity in field plantings of genetically diverse cannabinoid hemp populations., The breeding of hybrid cultivars of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is not well described, especially the segregation and inheritance of traits that are important for yield. A total of 23 families were produced from genetically diverse parents to investigate the inheritance of morphological traits and their association with biomass accumulation and cannabinoid yield. In addition, a novel classification method for canopy architecture was developed. The strong linear relationship between wet and dry biomass provided an accurate estimate of final dry stripped floral biomass. Of all field and aerial measurements, basal stem diameter was determined to be the single best selection criterion for final dry stripped floral biomass yield. Along with stem diameter, canopy architecture and stem growth predictors described the majority of the explainable variation of biomass yield. Within-family variance for morphological and cannabinoid measurements reflected the heterozygosity of the parents. While selfed populations suffered from inbreeding depression, hybrid development in hemp will require at least one inbred parent to achieve uniform growth and biomass yield. Nevertheless, floral phenology remains a confounding factor in selection because of its underlying influence on biomass production, highlighting the need to understand the genetic basis for flowering time in the breeding of uniform cultivars.

This study was supported by Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Research Foundation (BAP 18.03.01.1275). Interest in organic growing systems that means no harm to the environment, mankind, and the world's natural ecosystem is increasing. This study evaluated the impact of organic versus conventional cultivation method on eggplants (Topan-374 and Pala-49), tomatoes (Rio Grande and Pink), and bell pepper (Kandil dolma) considering individual phenols, total phenol-flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial potential. Peel and pulp of eggplants were evaluated separately. Organic cultivation enhanced trans-ferulic acid in the peels of both eggplant cultivars and the pulp of Pala-49. Organic Pala-49 had also higher amounts of cyanidin and caffeic acid in the peel, and only caffeic acid in the pulp. Chlorogenic acid was found in higher quantities in organic Rio Grande tomato and bell pepper. All organically grown vegetables in our study had significantly higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than conventional ones except Pink tomato. Organic farming significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of both eggplant cultivars. Only organic peel of Pala-49 eggplant cultivar had antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Organic cultivation has an advantage in terms of antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents, and it enhanced the nutraceutical potential of both cultivars of eggplant, Rio Grande tomato, and bell pepper. Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Research Foundation [BAP 18.03.01.1275]

The valorization of olive pomace through the extraction of phenolic compounds at an industrial scale is influenced by several factors that can have a significant impact on the feasibility of this approach. These include the types and levels of phenolic compounds that are present, the impact that seasonal variation and cultivar type have on the phenolic compound content in both olive pomace and mill effluents and the technological approach used to process the olive crop. Chemical analysis of phenolic compounds was performed using an HPLC-diode-array detector (DAD)-qTOF system, resulting in the identification of 45 compounds in olive mill wastewater and pomace, where secoiridoids comprised 50&ndash, 60% of the total phenolic content. This study examined three different factors that could impact the phenolic compound content of these processing streams, including cultivar types typically grown on local farms in Slovenia, the type of downstream processing used and seasonality effects. Olive crop varieties sourced from local farms showed high variability, and the highest phenolic content was associated with the local variety &ldquo, Istrska Belica&rdquo, During processing, the phenolic content was on average approximately 50% higher during two-phase decanting compared to three-phase decanting and the type of compound present significantly different. An investigation into the seasonal effects revealed that the phenolic content was 20% higher during the 2019 growing season compared to 2018. A larger sample size over additional growing seasons is required to fully understand the annual variation in phenolic compound content. The methods and results used in this study provide a basis for further analysis of phenolic compounds present in the European Union&rsquo, s olive crop processing residues and will inform techno-economic modelling for the development of olive biorefineries in Slovenia.

The objective of the present study was to assess the response of tomato cultivars with different fruit colors to exposure to increasing Cd levels in the substrate by measuring the impacts of Cd on the oxidative stress indicators and physicochemical features of fruits, as well as plant development and yield components. A completely randomized experiment in a 3 × 3 factorial design [tomato cultivar (which produces purple, red, or white fruits) vs Cd level in the substrate (0, 3.6, or 12 mg kg−1)] was performed. The cultivation of plants in substrate containing 3.6 mg kg−1 Cd did not affect yield, but fruits exhibited nonpermissive Cd concentrations in both peel and mesocarp across all cultivars. By contrast, yield was decreased in plants with red and white fruits after their cultivation in substrate containing 12 mg kg−1 Cd, while the productivity of plants with purple fruits was maintained under such conditions. The hydrogen peroxide content in the fruit mesocarp depended only on cultivar. However, an increased lipid peroxidation level was detected in the mesocarp of purple fruits at the highest Cd concentration. No parameters of fruit quality [i.e., diameter, length, °Brix, pH, titratable acidity, color (L*, a*, and b*), and concentrations of lycopene and β-carotene in mesocarp] were affected by long-term exposure to Cd at 12 mg kg−1. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the potential Cd side effects on diverse tomato quality features can be buffered at the fruit level because these features were maintained at the usual values despite high Cd concentrations in tomato peel and pulp. Moreover, these buffering mechanisms are independent of lycopene and β-carotene concentrations in fruit peel, since the three tomato cultivars that were evaluated in the present study (white fruits, possessing no or negligible concentrations of these carotenoids, and red and purple tomato, possessing high lycopene and β-carotene concentrations) were able to sustain several fruit quality parameters after long-term exposure to high Cd concentrations in the substrate.

Polyphenols based bioactive compounds from vegetables and fruits are known for impressive antioxidant activity. Ingestion of these antioxidants may promote human health against cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Mango is a popular tropical fruit with special taste, high nutritional value and health-enhancing metabolites. The aim was to investigate the diversity of phytochemicals between two mango cultivars of china at three stages of fruit maturity. We used ESI-QTRAP-MS/MS approach to characterize comprehensively the metabolome of two mango cultivars named Hongguifei (HGF) and Tainong (TN). HPLC was used to quantify selected catechin based phenolic compounds. Moreover, real-time qPCR was used to study the expression profiles of two key genes (ANR and LAR) involved in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis from catechins and derivatives. A total of 651 metabolites were identified, which include at least 257 phenolic compounds. Higher number of metabolites were differentially modulated in peel as compared to pulp. Overall, the relative quantities of amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids, and other metabolites were increased in the pulp of TN cultivar. While the contents of phenolic compounds were relatively higher in HGF cultivar. Moreover, HPLC based quantification of catechin and derivatives exhibited cultivar specific variations. The ANR and LAR genes exhibited an opposite expression profile in both cultivars. Current study is the first report of numerous metabolites including catechin-based derivatives in mango fruit. These findings open novel possibilities for the use of mango as a source of bioactive compounds.

Black spot disease, which is caused by Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler Japanese pear pathotype, is one of the most harmful diseases in Japanese pear cultivation. Because of the potential harm of fungicides to consumers and the environment, resistant cultivars are desired. In this study, to enable efficient marker-assisted selection in pear breeding, we conducted comprehensive inoculation tests and genotyping with 207 pear cultivars. We identified a marker set (Mdo.chr11.27 and Mdo.chr11.34) suitable for selection for black spot resistance. In most susceptible cultivars, Mdo.chr11.27 amplified a 220-bp band and Mdo.chr11.34 amplified a 259-bp band. The genotype of Mdo.chr11.34 corresponds perfectly to the estimated genotype of Japanese pears susceptible to black spot disease. Using linkage analysis, we identified the positions of the gene for susceptibility to black spot disease in Chinese pear. Mdo.chr11.27 and Mdo.chr11.34 were tightly linked to susceptibility in Chinese pear, and the susceptibility gene was mapped at the top of linkage group 11, similar to that in Japanese pear. This marker set and the accumulation of phenotypic data will enable efficient marker-assisted breeding for black spot resistance in pear breeding.

Background Mangoes are tropical fruits appreciated worldwide but are extremely perishable, being susceptible to decay, pest infestation and fungal diseases. Using the flavorful and highly valued 'Manila' cultivar, we examined the effect of second-generation chitosan coatings on shelf-life, phenolic compound variation, phytohormones, pest infestation by fruit flies (Anastrepha obliqua) and anthracnose disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Results We observed almost total elimination of A. obliqua eggs with 10 and 20 g L-1 chitosan in diluted acetic acid and a five- to sixfold reduction in anthracnose damage. Treatment with 20 g L-1 chitosan also extended the shelf-life. External (skin) and internal (pulp) discoloration processes were delayed. Fruit firmness was higher when compared with control and acetic acid treatments, and total soluble solids were lower in chitosan-treated fruit. Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics analyses on chitosan-coated fruit identified some phenolic compounds related to the tannin pathway. In addition, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid in the peel were downregulated in chitosan-coated mango peels. Both phytohormones and phenolic content may explain the reduced susceptibility of mangoes to anthracnose development and A. obliqua egg eclosion or larval development. Conclusions We conclude that chitosan coatings represent an effective postharvest treatment that significantly reduces anthracnose disease, inhibits A. obliqua egg eclosion and significantly extends 'Manila' mango shelf-life, a key factor currently inhibiting large-scale commercialization of this valuable fruit. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.