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The aim of this study was to study the impact of crop load on the yield and grape quality of ‘Merlot’ and ‘Vranac’ (Vitis vinifera L.) in Trebinje vineyard. The crop load levels studied in this trial were 9 buds (V1) and 12 buds (V2) per vine at each variety trained on Lenz-Moser bilateral cordon system. The impact was determined by measurements of yield per vine and grape quality characterized by the contents of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolics, total flavonoids and by total antioxidant capacity. The measured parameters of grape quality of ‘Merlot’ and ‘Vranac’ were not influenced significantly by crop load levels. V2, compared to the V1, showed the potential for increasing grape yield only for Merlot variety under experimental conditions. The results of this study also showed a positive correlation between total phenolics/flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity of grape berries in both varieties, regardless of crop loads applied.

Citrus producers in many countries are facing serious problems with the emergence of citrus huanglongbing (HLB). This study was conducted to 1) detect the HLB pathogen complex in Upper Awash citrus production areas; 2) detect the presence of insect vectors of the pathogen and 3) understand the relationship between huanglongbing and nutritional profile of citrus. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic orange and mandarin trees. Insect were collected using sticky trap and stem-Tap sampling techniques. Total DNA was isolated from leaves. Real time PCR was used to screen for the presence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ species while conventional PCR was done to detect particular species. Field history was recorded for nutrient deficiency and amendments, as well as symptoms associated with deficiency. Leaf tissue analysis was conducted to quantify the level of different elements in HLB infected and none infected samples. All citrus species and varieties were found to be vulnerable to HLB infection. The result was verified by real time PCR that indicated the presence of ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ species. All conventional PCR tests indicated the presence of ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’. No other species were detected in the samples. The pathogen was primarily transmitted by pruning materials and Diaphorina citri. The pathosystem was associated with nutrient deficiency such as decrease in zinc in which the management has shown to aggravate the disease pressure. The study provided insights on the distribution, insect vector and nutritional profiles of HLB infection on citrus trees. Future studies should focus on other marker data to determine the nature of origin and variability of this important citrus pathogen in Ethiopia.

Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Before this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products including synthetic chemistries, biocontrols, paint, and a sealant were evaluated for preventing fungal pathogen infection via pruning wounds. In four field trials conducted over two dormant seasons, 16 pruning wound treatments were tested using handheld spray applications against five almond canker pathogens, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Cytospora sorbicola, Ceratocystis destructans, and Eutypa lata. The fungicide thiophanate-methyl (Topsin M; United Phosphorus, Bandra West, Mumbai, India) provided 82% overall disease prevention against four fungal pathogens. The biological control agent, Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (Vintec; Bi-PA, Londerzeel, Belgium), tested at three application rates, resulted in 90 to 93% protection of pruning wounds in field trials, and for individual pathogens ranged from 81 to 100% protection for the three rates. At the time of this publication, Vintec is being considered for registration as a biological control product for the prevention of almond canker diseases, while Topsin M is recommended to growers for the prevention of almond canker diseases. This research indicates that effective protection of pruning wounds from infection by almond canker pathogens can be achieved with a one-time spray application of thiophanate-methyl or the biocontrol T. atroviride SC1 (recommended 2 g/liter) after pruning.

Bamboo is used as a multi-purpose, non-timber plant worldwide. The variation in flowering time across bamboo species and prolonged interval between vegetative and reproductive phases has attracted researchers over the decade to understand the ecological, physiological, and molecular reasons behind this. Typical flowering pathway genes related to photoperiod, vernalization, and hormonal regulation have been identified in the sequenced bamboo genome Phyllostachys edulis and many of them are transcriptionally active in other bamboo species such as Bambusa tulda. However, growing evidences suggest that stress such as drought may act as an important ‘cue’ to determine the flowering time in bamboo species. Here we provide evidence that indeed, an abundance of ABA, which is the marker hormone for drought response, is higher in young leaf from flowering culm (YLF) than a leaf from non-flowering culm (YLN). We also have observed that fire and pruning can induce flowering in Bambusa tulda, B. balcooa, Dendrocalamus hookeri and Melocanna baccifera. Finally, we discuss on the putative role of stress-induced flowering pathway genes in bamboo. Taken together, the finding of this study will aid in the sustainable management of bamboo resources in India and elsewhere.

In tea plantations, pruning to rejuvenate the plant is regularly carried out. The cutting age that is also known as pruning year determines the estimated production of tea plantations. The land slope is thought to affect the absorption of nutrients, which have implications on yields. This study aimed to explore the interaction between the pruning year and land slopes in nutrients uptake in tea plantations and to obtain the correlation between soil fertility and nutrients content in tea plants at different land slopes. A field experiment was carried out from December 2020 to February 2021 at The Research Centre for Tea and Cinchona, Gambung. A Split Plot design was conducted to observe between pruning year (PY) that consisted of pruning year 1 (PY-1), pruning year 2 (PY-2), pruning year 3 (PY-3) and pruning year 4 (PY-4) with two different slopes in each block that consisted of flat land (slope = 0-8%) and sloping land (slope = 15%-25%). Results of the study showed that there was no interaction between PY and slope on the uptake and nutrient content in the tea plant, but there was an independent effect from each factor, where the PY factor affected all nutrients uptake, while the slope factor only affected P content. There was no significant difference between flat and sloping land on soil nutrients, but there was a correlation between plant nutrients and tea plant nutrient content. P content had a strong correlation with K content (r = 0.657); and K content had a strong correlation with Mg content (r = 0.891).

The physiological and molecular markers were evaluated for defining leaf pruning line in bearing status of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera cv. Mazafati). Our results showed that the higher expression of the chlorophyllase (Chlase) gene was concomitant with lower expression of chlorophyll synthase (ChlG) and oxygen-evolving enhancer protein (PSBO) genes in the 6-year-old leaf line. In addition, the 6-year-old leaf line resulted in a lower Hill reaction rate, chlorophyll a/b ratio, photosystem Ⅱ quantum efficiency, and photosynthesis rate. Also, lower expression and activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was associated with higher malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation in 6-year-old leaf line. These results suggested that the physiological maturity termination, senescence stage initiation, and source to sink transition could occur in 6-year-old leaves. Furthermore, delayed 5-year-old leaf pruning line adjustment in consecutive years could increase quantitative and qualitative yield loss, decrease water use efficiency, and promote alternate bearing and fruit abscission, which is considered a common problem of date growing areas. Further, the senescence-related markers in the alternate bearing trees pruned in pruning line 5 showed a tendency to normal trees. The five-year-old pruning line also resulted in the balance of bunching and loading the alternate bearing trees.

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (PAL5), Herbaspirillum seropedicae (HRC54) and Herbaspirillum rubrisubalbicans (HCC103) on seedling vigor, plant-crop productivity and potential to control the sugarcane Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx). Micropropagated seedlings (variety Co 421) were inoculated with endophytic diazotrophic bacteria and transplanted to the nursery. Lxx was inoculated in seedlings 80 days before field planting (seven months) by pruning the basal leaves with scissors pre-immersed in contaminated sap. To estimate diazotrophic bacteria's population density, shoot and root samples of seedlings transplanted to the nursery were collected at 42 and 86 days after inoculation. Agronomic characteristics of sugarcane plants were evaluated at harvest (16 months). In general, there was a population reduction of the bacterial endophytes after 86 days, compared to 42 days after inoculation. G. diazotrophicus provided greater gains in tons of cane per hectare (TCH) (68.6%) and tons of Brix per hectare (59.1%) than the other treatments. Plants inoculated with diazotrophic bacteria and challenged with the pathogen (Lxx) showed a high incidence of Lxx seropositive in the stalks. However, an increase in yield of 18.83 and 19.09 TCH was noticed, respectively, related to control and Lxx inoculated treatment in the first harvest (or growing season). The treatment with H. rubrisubalbicans alone showed a low incidence of Lxx and positive agronomic yield performance, suggesting some effect on the xylem pathogen colonization for the variety Co 421.

On the basis of many years of research, a strategy for combating fire blight was developed, including a set of measures aimed at reducing the infectious load in gardens, curbing the intensity of pathogen reproduction, and increasing plant resistance to disease. On the basis of this strategy, a complex of control measures was developed, including the autumn pruning of affected organs in accordance with quarantine requirements, whitewashing of trunks and skeletal branches with lime with the addition of 4 % copper sulfate and spraying with the fungicide Cosside 2000, v.d. (3 kg/ha); in the spring, prophylactic spraying with the same fungicide before bud break; during the flowering period, double spraying with biological preparations of Fitolavin, VRK (2 l/ha); after flowering, during the period of ovary abscission, double spraying with growth regulator Regalis plus (d.v. prohexadione calcium), 1,25 kg/ha. A production test has shown that complex measures developed on the basis of a fire blight control strategy effectively suppress the disease at the site of infection. The biological efficiency was 97.5 % with an increase in yield 36.2 %.

Spring freeze events pose a threat to vineyard productivity worldwide. We compared two methods to delay grapevine budbreak for freeze avoidance and evaluated their effects on phenology, yield components, fruit composition, and postharvest parameters, including wine chemistry, carbohydrate storage, and bud freeze tolerance. The two methods to delay budbreak were: a vegetable oil-based adjuvant (Amigo®) applied to dormant buds at 8% and 10% (v/v) and late pruning applied when apical buds reached approximately Eichhorn-Lorenz stage 7. Treatments were applied in 2018 and 2019 on two Vitis vinifera cultivars, Lemberger and Riesling, and compared to a control treatment (no delayed budbreak strategy applied). Amigo and late pruning delayed budbreak compared to control vines for both years and cultivars. The delay in budbreak varied from three to six days for Amigo 8%, five to eight days for Amigo 10%, and 10 to 11 days later for late pruning. In 2019, there was a freezing event near budbreak; compared to control vines, late-pruned Lemberger vines had lower shoot damage when measured during the growing season and higher yield at harvest. Delayed budbreak treatments did not influence wine chemistry either year or consistently affect carbohydrate storage or bud freeze tolerance the following dormant season. However, in Riesling, late pruning reduced cluster and berry weight by up to 34% and 22%, respectively, compared to control vines. Furthermore, our results indicated Amigo 10% may decrease bud survival when applied to Riesling vines. In general, late pruning more effectively delayed budbreak and mitigated freeze damage than Amigo application without negatively affecting vine health and wine composition; however, the cultivar-dependent effect of late pruning on cluster weight is a consideration prior to adoption.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum are serious worldwide-distributed plant pathogenic fungi with a wide host range in tropical and temperate climates. They cause fruit rot, canker, and dieback of twigs in various woody plants. Protection of pruning wounds using fungicides is the prevalent strategy for the management of the diseases caused by these fungi. Chemical control of plant diseases is not environmentally safe and the residues of fungicides are a threat to nature. Furthermore, genetic resources of resistance to plant diseases in woody plants are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of RNA silencing using an efficient hairpin structure based on Tef-1α gene for the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum. Hairpin structure of Tef-1α was cloned in pFGC5941 binary vector and the recombinant construct was named pFGC-TEF-d. Transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d using Agrobacterium LBA4404 in grapevine (Bidaneh Sefid cv.) and strawberry cultivars (Camarosa and Ventana) led to a reduction in disease progress of L. theobromae. The disease reduction in grapevine was estimated by 55% and in strawberries cultivars Camarosa and Ventana by 58% and 93%, respectively. Further analysis of transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d in strawberry (Camarosa) shown disease reduction using Neofusicoccum parvum. Here we introduce RNAi silencing using pFGC-TEF-d construct as an efficient strategy to the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum for the first time.

Both the number of fruit in a cluster and the K:N ratio in the nutrient solution can affect the yield and quality of greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). To prevent the loss of photoassimilates to fruit at the end of clusters, which rarely mature and ripen, it is necessary to know the optimal number of fruit in a cluster under different nutritional conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of cluster pruning and the K:N ratio in the nutrient solution on yield, yield components, and quality of tomato fruit grown in a greenhouse. The treatments consisted of five levels of cluster pruning (control or unpruned, and retaining 4, 6, 8, and 10 fruit per cluster), and two levels of the K:N ratio in the nutrient solution (2:1 and 4:1). Under both K:N ratios, the unpruned and ten-fruit cluster treatments had the highest yield. These treatments also had the highest unripe fruit weight. The highest ripe fruit dimensions and weight were found in four-fruit clusters fed by the solution with a K:N ratio of 2:1. Fruit firmness was higher than in other treatments in four-fruit clusters when the K:N ratio was 4:1. Fruit harvested from the four-fruit cluster treatment had the highest titratable acidity compared to the other treatments, while the K:N ratio did not have a significant effect on this trait. The highest total soluble solids were found in fruit obtained from four-fruit clusters grown with the 2:1 K:N solution. In general, we concluded that under our growing conditions, keeping ten fruit in a cluster and adjusting the K:N ratio to 2:1 in the nutrient solution is advisable for the cultivar of cherry tomato used in this study, although some fruit quality factors may be improved when the number of fruit in clusters is manipulated.

The adoption of mechanical thinning and pruning in commercial apple orchards has been limited largely by the risk of development and spread of fire blight. This devastating disease, caused by the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora, may be transmitted by mechanical injury such as pruning, especially under warm, moist conditions conducive to bacterial growth, infection, and disease development. However, risk may be mitigated by avoiding highest-risk times and applying a bactericide, such as streptomycin, after mechanical thinning or pruning. In ‘Gala’ and ‘Idared’ orchards, we evaluated the risk of fire blight development and spread after mechanical thinning early in bloom (20% bloom), when seasonal temperatures are cooler and there are few open flowers available for infection. In both orchards, we also evaluated the spread and development of fire blight by mechanical pruning in July and in August, before and after terminal bud set, when shoot growth is slowed and the tree is less susceptible to infection. We also assessed the potential efficacy of a streptomycin or Bacillus subtilis biopesticide application after mechanical thinning and pruning to mitigate the spread of fire blight. In the ‘Gala’ orchard, disease never developed beyond the inoculated tree after thinning or pruning, which was unexpected for this highly susceptible cultivar. In the ‘Idared’ orchard, incidence of blossom or shoot blight from the point source, represented as relative area under the disease progress curve, was rarely different for trees that underwent mechanical thinning or mechanical pruning compared with untreated trees, and it was often reduced or eliminated when the antibiotic streptomycin or the B. subtilis biopesticide was applied within 24 h of mechanical thinning or pruning. For both thinning and pruning, incidence of fire blight dropped off quickly beyond the inoculated tree in the ‘Idared’ orchard and generally was not observed in trees beyond 10 to 15 m from the inoculated point source or predicted beyond 10 m by exponential and power law models fit to the disease progress curves. The results of this work demonstrate the low risk for fire blight development and spread by mechanical thinning and pruning when practiced under low-risk conditions—early in bloom for mechanical thinning and after terminal bud set (in August) for mechanical pruning—especially when paired with a subsequent bactericide application. This study demonstrates the safe use of mechanical thinning and pruning in commercial apple production, corroborated by anecdotal evidence from apple growers in western New York State.

The paper presents the results of 2018-2019 research on improving the technology of growing planting material of bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) of Krasa Severa, Severyanka, Virussaare varieties on the basis of in vitro. Studied was the effect of the concentrations of growth regulators in the composition of the nutrient medium according to Anderson's recipe on the reproduction and subsequent rooting of micro cuttings, as well as the duration of cultivation and adaptation of micro plants depending on partial pruning of shoots. It has been established that at the stage of introduction into in vitro culture, sterilization of explants with 33% hydrogen peroxide in an exposure of 5-8 minutes with washing in 5 portions of sterile distillate gives 60-80 % of viable shoots. The optimum phase of plant development for the successful introduction of in vitro culture is the swelling of buds. Cultivation of micro cuttings was carried out in a light room at a temperature of 25±2 °С, a photoperiod of 16 hours. The duration of each subculturing was 30-60 days. For the stage of actual micropropagation on Anderson's nutrient medium, an increase in the dose of cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) from 0.2 to 0.5 mg/l and an increase in the duration of cultivation from 30 to 60 days contributed to a significant increase in the multiplication factor on average for the tested cranberry varieties.According to the efficiency of micropropagation, the varieties Virussaare and Krasa Severa were distinguished – 9.3-12.0 pcs/stalk, respectively. At the rooting stage, the use of a root-forming reagent of indolyl-3-acetic acid (IUK) in doses of 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/l in the composition of Anderson's nutrient medium did not affect the quality of root formation and the length of shoots of Virussaare micro-plants. No significant varietal differences in the root-forming ability of microcuttings were found. The tendency of better rooting of micro cuttings was observed in the Virussaare variety (90.3 %) compared to the Severyanka (85.7 %) and Krasa Severa (79.3 %) varieties. Micro plants of the Krasa Severa cultivar were characterized by the longest shoots, the total number of roots was less, but their length was longer in comparison with other cultivars. For the adaptation stage, a substrate from a mixture of lowland peat and sphagnum moss was used (1:1). The efficiency of adaptation of micro plants of cranberry varieties when cutting the tip of the shoots was 100 %. Pruning of micro plants shoots contributed to the formation of more side shoots and better development of the aboveground part of the plants.

The present investigation was carried out during two successive seasons 2019 and 2020 on Flame seedless grapes cultivar grown in sandy soil at private farm, Naga Hamady, Qena Governorate, Egypt. Eight treatments of mineral N, humic acid, organic and biofertilization applied to study the effect of them on vegetative growth, soil nutrient status, and fruiting of Flame seedless grapevines. The experimental vines were arranged in a complete randomized design with eight treatments and three replications two vine per each. The obtained results could be summarized as follow: Using the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) via 25 to 50% mineral plus 25 to 50% Humic acid (HA) or compost and bio-mix significantly increased, leaf area, pruning wood weight, and leaf total chlorophyll as well as leaf nutrient composition compared to use RDN via mineral N fertilizer alone. All combined fertilization treatments significantly increased the yield and improved the cluster and berry traits compared to use RDN via mineral source only. The results of this investigation indicated that, most trace element and soil physical and chemical properties were increased with increasing the level of organic, bio fertilization and humic acid in studied soil. Also, it could be concluded that fertilized vines with 25 to 50% of nitrogen requirements plus HA or compost and bio-mix improved the vegetative growth and nutritional status, as well as, yield, cluster attributes and berry quality of Flame seedless grapevines under this experiment circumstances.

Fig limb dieback is a cosmopolitan disease caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Botryosphaeriaceae), characterized by branch and shoot cankers, discoloration of woody tissues, and dieback. The present study investigated the etiology of the disease in California that seems to have become prevalent among fig orchards in the last several years. During orchard surveys in Fresno, Kern, and Madera Counties over 3 years, we isolated consistently and evaluated the pathogenicity of N. dimidiatum under laboratory and field conditions. The effect of summer and winter pruning on the disease severity and the effects of different environmental and mechanical stresses, such as sunburn and wounding by mallets, were assayed. In addition, the susceptibility of six different cultivars and the effects of eradicating cankered shoots from the fig trees as a method to combat the spread of the disease were studied. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that N. dimidiatum induces cankers on fig, mainly on wounded shoots. Results from the remaining experiments revealed that summer infection leads to more severe canker lesions than those induced by winter infection and that stressed shoots are more susceptible to infection than nonstressed shoots. ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Conadria’, and ‘Calimyrna’ cultivars (all nonpersistent figs, i.e., needing pollination for fruit development) were less susceptible than the more susceptible ‘Kadota’, ‘Sierra’, and ‘Black Mission’ (all persistent figs, i.e., not needing pollination for fruit development). Canker removal from the orchard seems to be a good agronomic practice to avoid the spread of disease.

Aims: The conventional management adopted in many Mediterranean olive orchards makes them more vulnerable to climate change and attacks by pathogens, due to the decreased chemical plant defenses. In this scenario, a metabolomic analysis was carried out on the xylem sap (X) of olive plants (Olea europaea L.) grown in the Salento peninsula (Italy). Methods: Trials were carried out in two olive groves, one organically and one conventionally managed (controls), successively both converted to sustainable management (i.e. frequent light pruning, soil and foliar fertilization, cover crops). The X was extracted from the shoots of olive plants using a Scholander pressure chamber pressurized with N and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling was performed in the X. Results: An untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomic analysis of primary metabolites (including underivatized volatiles) of the X revealed relative abundances of 153 identified metabolites and 336 unknown features across the 12 samples from four groups of samples. Among them, more than half were involved in the primary metabolism. Many of the compounds with increased levels under sustainable management (such as amino acids, soluble sugars, sugar alcohols) have a well-known role as osmoprotectants or are involved in plant defense, growth and development during stress or recovery stages. Conclusions: Sustainable management in olive groves can increase the ability of plants to overcome environmental stressors and enhance ecosystem balance.

The main aim of this review is to document the insect pests and diseases of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) and their management in Bangladesh compared to other jackfruit growing countries. This article was based on mostly literature review. A. heterophyllus being the national fruit of Bangladesh, is widely consumed by most of the rural people. All parts of the fruit and tree are used as human food, animal feed and wood source for furniture. Jackfruit contains anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-helminthic properties. The fruit is rich in carbohydrates, minerals, carboxylic acids, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. The seed is rich in manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium iron and lectins and thus meets up nutritional requirements for the rural people. Despite the importance, a number of insect pests and diseases attack jackfruit plant and fruit. Shoot and fruit borer (Diaphania caesalis Walker) and trunk borer (Batocera rufomaculata De Geer) have been reported as major insect pests, while stem and fruit rot (Rhizopus artocarpi), bacterial dieback, pink disease (Pelliculana salmonicolor), leafspot (Phomopsis artocarpina), fruit bronzing (Pantoea stewartia Smith) and Gummosis (Phomopsis artocarpi) have been reported as major diseases. The pruning and training are an effective management technique for the insect pests and diseases. This technique provides well ventilation and reduces relative humidity at tree canopy level. Bordeaux paste is a common fungicide for the management of jackfruit borer pest and rhizopus rot, leaf spot, dieback and gummosis diseases. This paper has heighted the multifarious benefits of jackfruit plant and described the problems and solutions of jackfruit cultivation in agroforestry system of Bangladesh.

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant bioregulators (PBRs) on vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality of quality of pear cv. Patharnakh trained on Y-trellis system. The foliar applications of prohexadione calcium (100, 200 and 400 ppm) and chlormequat chloride (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) was done on eight-years-old trees at 10 days after full bloom. The control trees were sprayed with water only. Observations on vegetative growth, fruit number/plant, fruit size, fruit quality and leaf nutrients were recorded. Reduction in pruning wood weight without any effect on return bloom was observed with different PBR treatments. Prohexadione calcium (400 ppm) was found most effective in reducing shoot number (70) and internodal length (4.18 cm). This treatment also increased fruit number (83 per tree), fruit size (8.04 cm × 7.51 cm), TSS content (12.33 °Brix), fruit frmness (62.94 N), and reducing sugars content (7.00%); however, the titratable acidity was not affected. As compared to control, fruit yield of pear tree was signifcantly improved (~35%) with the Pro-Ca 400 or 200 ppm treatments. Similarly, higher dose of chlormequat chloride (500 or 1000 ppm) signifcantly reduced the shoot number and intermodal length, and increased fruit yield as compared to control. The PBR treatments reduced the leaf nitrogen content but increased leaf phosphorus and potassium levels.

Lasioptera sp. is one of the problematic pests in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions where protected tomato cultivation is done in Turkey. The larvae that cause tunnel and deteriorations in the plant’s main stem by feeding on the core part of the body mostly lead to the death of the plant in a dense pest population. Since harmful larvae live in plant tissue and thus are protected against insecticides and biological agents, control of the pest is very crucial. As an alternative method to pest control, the effects of tomato axillary shoot pruning for controlling the pest were examined. For this purpose, while pruning of axillary shoots in tomato plants as recommended in cultural processes, shoots that are cut off from the body completely and stub-pruning sprouts with 3-5 cm length were assessed in the experiment. The study was carried out in Erdemli district of Mersin province in 2015 and 2017. Although it is ensured that the harmful larvae can feed inside stub-pruned shoots left on the body, the larvae could not reach the plant’s main stem and do not cause any damage to the plant. In terms of damaged plants, it was determined that 77.8% and 85.2% of the stub-pruning application are effective in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, in the study, the attractiveness of visual sticky traps in six different colors including, yellow, black, blue, white, red, and green was investigated. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the colors tested were not sufficient to attract pests.

Little attention has been paid to the phenolic composition and bioactive properties of primary tomato plant by-products (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as compared to fruits. In this study, axillary green shoots resulting from pruning and aerial biomass at the end of the cultivation cycle were characterized for their composition in chlorophylls and phenolic compounds, as well as for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis allowed identifying phenolic acids and flavonoids, with prevalence of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin). The extracts had in vitro antioxidant and antihemolytic activity, especially those produced from pruning materials. Despite their low activity against the tested microfungi, some extracts had ability to inhibit and kill some bacteria more effectively than the antibiotic ampicillin. It was interesting to conclude that table tomato crop remains, currently with no commercial value, can be used to produce extracts with antioxidant and antibacterial activities for possible use in the agri-food sector as natural preservatives. The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Scienceand Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).J. Pinela and L. Barros thank their research contracts (national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract). M. Añibarro-Ortega thanks his grant to the project Mobilizador ValorNatural:Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479. The authors are grateful to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377 Iberphenol 6 E. This work was also supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (451-03-68/2020-14/200007). To the PEPAC Program (2015) for supporting V. Martins training stage at the BPGV, Braga, Portugal. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The addition of pulverized grape pruning wood to grape soils has a positive effect on fruit quality. However, its effects on the soil microecology of the root zone and the growth of the grape plants are not fully understood. To address this, ‘Shine Muscat’ grapes were cultivated in media consisting of garden soil and crushed grape pruning material at different mass ratios [100:1 (T1), 50:1 (T2), 30:1 (T3), 20:1 (T4), and 10:1 (T5)] and in garden soil without the pruning material, as a control. The changes in the plant fresh weight, leaf area, soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) value, root development, soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and soil enzyme activity were determined over time. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the soil bacterial community structures. The pruning supplementation increased the grape plants fresh weight, leaf area, and SPAD values. The T2 and T3 treatments increased the grape root length, surface area, and the projected area and number of the root tips; the soil organic carbon content, microbial biomass carbon content, soil invertase activity, amylase activity, and β-glucosidase activity were also significantly increased. The addition of the grape pruning material was found to increase the bacterial diversity and richness 60 and 150 days after treatment. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant groups, and the grape pruning material increased the relative abundance of the Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria after 60 and 150 days. The relative abundance of the Actinobacteria in the T2 treatment was 1.7, 1.3, 1.5, and 1.3 times that of the control, after 60, 90, 120, and 150 days, respectively. The T2 treatment was identified as the optimal treatment for grapes in the field because it improved the soil microecology and promoted root and tree development the most compared with the other treatments tested.

The plants of Syringa vulgaris L. within the culture are proved to require annual pruning of the crown. It is caused by dichotomous (not real) branching, according to which each annual branch produces two shoots in the spring from the apical pair of buds and a few more from the buds located below the axis of this branch. Therefore, their total number at least triples every year. The root system will not be able to increase its mass and physiological activity in such volumes during this time, which correlatively causes a significant reduction in the size of shoots and inflorescences. If care was irregular or absent, there would be a need for intensive thinning or radical rejuvenation of the crown. These measures are found to able to improve the decorativeness of plants, but they will negatively affect longevity. There are two reasons for this. The first is the appearance of various sections on the trunk or on skeletal branches after removal of the branches on the ring. We have defined that even among these sections, even 1.5-2.0 cm ones will never heal, but in 10-15 years, their wood will turn into dust. The wood of large wounds is destroyed faster, which causes the formation of hollows and the slow death of the whole plant. The second reason for the shortening of longevity is a sudden distortion of the functional correlative root-leaf connection, which is a consequence of a sharp decrease in the rejuvenated plant aboveground part. Firstly, this leads to a rapid attenuation of photosynthesis (the crown is almost absent), and then, consequently, to slowing of root synthesis due to the scant supply of assimilates to the roots. As a result, the mass of the physiologically active part of the root system will be significantly reduced, which will negatively affect the longevity of the plant as a whole. It has also been established that thickened planting of lilacs also forces intensive pruning of the crown. To restore its decorativeness, all oppressed plants should be removed, and the rest should be lowered by one third to bring it closer to the root system, which will provide the plants with physical resistance and activate their root-leaf connection. This measure should be carried out as early as possible in time, because weak plants will begin to suffer from diseases. The branches should be shortened, not cut into a ring, in order not to injure the trunk. It is emphasized that with the optimal location of plants in groups, the need for intensive rejuvenation is eliminated as the annual removal of small, shaded, and low-ornamental branches will suffice. With this approach to the formation and pruning of the crown, lilacs will be decorative and in most cases – durable.

Jinyan (Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis) is one of the gold-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars currently being promoted in south China. However, its fruit dry matter is usually less than 16%, which seriously affects fruit quality including taste and flavor. This causes a financial loss to growers: not only are the prices paid for the fruit low because of their bad reputation for quality, but some orchards have been removed. Improvement of fruit quality is essential. In this study, a method is described for squeezing and twisting flowering shoots before flowering and removing the distal vegetative parts of flowering shoots after fruit set. The effects on fruit quality were determined. The dry matter of fruit was increased by 6.6%. Fruit size also increased as did the chlorophyll a content and the chlorophyll:carotenoid ratio. The significantly increased fruit dry matter, resulting in significant increases in fruit soluble solids concentrations (P < 0.01), thereby possibly improving fruit taste. Fruit weight, fruit length, and carotenoid and ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly enhanced in comparison with controls (P < 0.01), increasing by 20%, 7%, 12%, and 19%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in soluble sugar concentrations, titratable acid concentrations, and the reduced chlorophyll b concentrations. This research provides a practical method to increase fruit dry matter, and hence a way to allow fruit quality to reach commercial requirements for cultivars such as Jinyan, which under previous management systems had significant shortcomings in fruit flavor and taste.

This research was carried out for 120 days in the horticulture area of the Universidad Nacional de Concepcion, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias to evaluate how morphological and productive characteristics of tomato plants were influenced by the distance between plants and the pruning of axillary buds. The design used in the experiment was the randomized block method with factorial arrangement (3x3); factor A was the pruning of axillary buds (no pruning, pruning between 1 and 5 cm, pruning between 6 to 10 cm of sucker length) and factor B was the distance between plants (40, 59 and 60 cm). Three repetitions were carried out. Plant height, fruits per bunch, polar and equatorial fruit diameters, and fruit yield per plant were determined. The results indicated significant differences of pruning of axillary buds for all determinations carried out. Only fruit yield per plant showed a significant difference by planting density. Pruning of axillary buds (6 to 10 cm sucker length) gave the best morphological and productive results. It is shown here that pruning of axillary buds has a significant influence on tomato production. Key words: Lycopersicum esculentum, sucker length, fruit yield.

Tea plantations expansion has occurred in the major tea planting area of Yunnan province, China, however, it is a big challenge to extract and map the distribution of tea plantations due to their n...

Aim: Shoot thinning is a common canopy management practice used to obtain a desired shoot density and to improve canopy microclimate. Since thinning is often carried out manually, the cost can be high. In this study the effect of severe shoot thinning (50 % of shoots removed) applied at EL 15 was investigated by comparing yield components, canopy size, berry and wine chemistry, and sensory attributes to a non-thinned control for the variety Semillon. The objective was to determine whether shoot thinning could change canopy architecture and lead to improved fruit and wine chemistry and sensory characteristics.Methods and results: The trial was carried out over four consecutive growing seasons (starting in 2014-15) in the Semillon block of the Coombe vineyard (Waite Campus, the University of Adelaide). Canopy architecture was monitored at key phenological stages in each season and yield components were assessed at harvest. The harvested fruit was used for chemical and sensory analysis of the berries. Wines were made and their chemistry and sensorial attributes assessed. Shoot thinning reduced the total leaf area in only two of the four seasons, but single shoot leaf area and cane weight were higher in shoot-thinned vines in all seasons. Shoot thinning did not reduce yield, despite a large reduction in bunch number, because of increased bunch weight. Shoot thinning did not change berry and wine chemistry. Similarly, little differences were observed in the sensory profile of berries and wines, and the assessors preferred the wines obtained from shoot thinned vines in the last season only.Conclusions: In this study, shoot thinning increased the leaf area per shoot and the cane weight, but yield and grape and wine chemistry were unaffected. The vine balance indices leaf area/yield and yield/pruning weight were also unaffected by the treatment, despite its intensity (50 % of shoots removed).Significance and impact of the study: The practice of shoot thinning when applied at EL stage 15 (8-9 leaves separated) was not effective as a technique to improve canopy microclimate and berry and wine chemistry for the white variety Semillon in a hot Australian climate. By not applying shoot thinning growers could potentially make significant savings without affecting yield or wine properties. Further research is needed to explore the effect and timing of shoot thinning on other varieties and in different environments.

Summary Goals: Bunch grape production in the southeastern United States is limited by the endemic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, causal agent of Pierce’s disease (PD). University of California, Davis-bred PD-resistant 87.5% Vitis vinifera L. winegrape selections represent a new technology that can help sustain the viticulture industry in the southeastern U.S. by reducing pesticide inputs and diversifying grape production. PD-resistant vines were planted to determine viticultural performance and survival in central Alabama. We anticipated our results would indicate whether regional growers could feasibly grow PD-resistant, predominantly V. vinifera winegrapes under humid southeastern U.S. viticulture conditions. Key Findings: All evaluated selections grew vigorously under humid southeastern conditions. U0501-12 produced the highest pruning weight during the 2015 to 2016 period of study. U0502-10 was the most productive selection, as measured by total yield per vine, and had the largest clusters. Harvest soluble solids content was highest for selection U0501-12, while titratable acidity was lowest for U0502-01. All selections broke bud prior to historical late-spring frost-risk dates, although no injury was experienced in the years evaluated. U0502-10 began veraison between one and two months earlier compared to the other selections in both years. U0502-10 was also harvested 70 and 22 days prior to the next selection in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The experimental vines neither exhibited symptoms nor tested positive for PD during vine establishment. Under regional commercial management practices, no vine losses resulted from other pathogens. However, an aggressive disease management strategy will be mandatory to produce consistently clean fruit in the humid southeastern U.S. Impact and Significance: These results indicate grapevines with predominantly V. vinifera background can survive under humid viticulture conditions in central Alabama with the incorporation of alleles for PD resistance. Further research is necessary to refine management practices enabling sustainable production in the southeastern U.S. as PD-resistant grapevine cultivars become commercially available to regional producers.

The effects of grapevine red blotch disease (GRBD) on vine performance were studied in a Cabernet franc vineyard in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, over two years. Vines with GRBD had lower pruning mass and were less winter hardy than non-GRBD vines, and produced lower yields comprising fewer clusters and larger berries with more seeds. GRBD reduced photosynthesis and stomatal conductance for asymptomatic leaves through the growing season, and more so for symptomatic leaves. Leaf fall was delayed or incomplete for GRBD vines. GRBD reduced berry soluble solids, anthocyanins, yeast assimilable N (YAN), and tannins, and increased berry pH and titratable acidity. Wine made from GRBD fruit had reduced anthocyanin and alcohol, lighter color, and more yellow hue. Effects of GRBD on wine sensory characteristics included less body and aftertaste, lower intensity of black and red fruit character, and increased acidity and intensity of vegetal character. Inclusion of low amounts, up to 20%, of GRBD fruit in wine reduced red fruit character in the first year, and increased astringency and vegetal character in the second year. The deleterious effects of GRBD on yield, fruit composition for winemaking, and bud hardiness, constitute a serious threat to grape growing regions in Canada and the United States. The degree of these impacts would be difficult to mitigate through management practices, which underscores the importance of planting virus tested vines to prevent the introduction and spread of GRBD.

The objectives of this study was to compare bud death of four different grapevine cultivars (’Bronx Seedless’, ’Cardinal’, ’Autumn Royal’, ’Superior Seedless’) after the winter cold of 2018–2019, and was to investigate the relationship between bud death and water content, the presence of lateral shoot and soluble carbohydrates of dormant buds. Bud death rates were determined after exposure to winter temperatures by using binocular microscope after opening buds with a razor blade. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.0) were found among the low temperature hardiness of dormant buds at nodes with or without lateral shoots of four grape cultivar following winter cold. This investigation illustrates that buds in nodes with lateral shoots were bud death at higher temperatures than buds in nodes without lateral shoots. It is revealed that buds in nodes with lateral shoots had less tolerance to winter temperatures. Cultivars were classified as hardy (’Bronx Seedless’ and ’Cardinal’), moderately hardy (’Superior Seedless’) and least hardy (’Autumn Royal’) based on the bud mortality rates. It was observed that water and soluble carbohydrate contents were much higher in the buds in nodes without lateral shoots against to buds in nodes with lateral shoots in cold hardy cultivars namely ’Bronx Seedless’, ’Cardinal’ compared to the other cultivars. The pattern of water content and soluble carbohydrates were highly consistent with the bud death rate. The correlation analysis of cold hardiness indices with bud mortality indicated that the bud death rate is positively correlated with water content and is negatively correlated with soluble carbohydrate content. Because of the presence of lateral shoots reduces the resistance of buds to low temperatures, it is highly suggested to those who grow with these varieties could remove the lateral shoots in time period of summer pruning in cold regions.

Beneficial rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens N 21.4 and its metabolic elicitors inoculated to cultivars of blackberry (Rubus spp. Var. Loch Ness) reinforced the plants' immune system and improved their fitness by increasing photosynthesis, decreasing oxidative stress, and activating pathogenesis-related proteins. They also triggered the leaves' flavonoid metabolism, enhancing the accumulation of beneficial phenolic compounds such as kaempferols and quercetin derivatives. The elicitation of leaf secondary metabolism allows one to take advantage of the blackberry leaves (a current crop waste), following the premises of the circular economy, to isolate and obtain high added value compounds. The results of this work suggest the use of N 21.4 and/or its metabolic elicitors as plant inoculants as an effective and economically and environmentally friendly agronomic alternative practice in the exploitation of blackberry crops to obtain plants with a better immune system and to revalorize the leaf pruning as a potential source of polyphenols.

Summary Goals: Dry-on-vine (DOV) raisin grapes are cane-pruned to allow for cane severance, which initiates the DOV process, and to maximize yield potential. Yield components of Thompson Seedless raisin grapes, including the number of clusters per node, cluster and berry weight, and soluble solids per berry, have been shown to follow particular patterns with respect to node position, and this has informed pruning practice. However, DOV raisins in California are made from varieties that ripen earlier than Thompson Seedless, and they may have different fruiting characteristics. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine how the number of nodes per cane, and node position, affected yield components of DOV raisin grape varieties. Key findings: Basal nodes produced the fewest clusters due to poorer bud break and lower fruitfulness. Fiesta was the most fruitful variety, followed by Selma Pete, and then Thompson Seedless and DOVine. Cluster fresh weight increased whereas berry soluble solids (Brix) decreased with node position, regardless of cane length. Fruit from longer canes had less soluble solids (Brix) than the fruit from shorter canes, thus cane length did not usually affect total soluble solids (fruit fresh weight x soluble solids (Brix)) per cane. Fiesta produced more fresh fruit and total soluble solids per cane than other varieties. Impact and significance: Cane length had contrasting effects on fresh fruit weight and soluble solids, with shorter canes producing less fruit with higher soluble solids, whereas long canes produced more fruit of lower soluble solids. Harvested on the same date, these effects sufficiently countered each other such that canes of different lengths produced similar amounts of total soluble solids (sugar per cane) in two of three years. In California, where early maturity is preferred to ensure adequate drying time, shorter canes may be better than longer ones. However, if cane severance can be delayed to allow the berries to accumulate more sugar, which might be possible in other growing regions, or when drying emulsion may be used to hasten drying, longer canes could potentially increase raisin yield.

Lateral branches (LBs) pruning is performed frequently to keep the tomato plants in optimal growth conditions. However, the suitable pruning length of LBs, as well as the physiological and molecular mechanisms of pruning length on plant growth regulation remains elusive in tomato. The effects of pruning length of LBs from 0 to 20 cm on vegetative growth, reproductive growth, labor costs, hormone metabolism and genes transcripts were evaluated in an indeterminate type tomato cultivar. By comprehensive analysis, we provided evidence that pruning length of LBs at about 6–7 cm was suitable for plant growth, high yield, and low labor costs in tomato production. For mechanisms, appropriate extension of pruning length of LBs increased indole acetic acid (IAA) concentrations in root, which promoted the biosynthesis and upward transport of inactive cytokinins (CKs), as well as root development. Meanwhile, existence of LBs inhibited the auxin outflow of the lower flower stalks by regulating transcripts of AUX1 and PIN. Then, the enhanced concentrations of IAA and CKs in ovary could promote fruit swelling. Additionally, pruning length of LBs also influenced the leaf senescence to control photosynthesis. Taken together, we highlight that pruning length of LBs influence auxin and cytokinins homeostasis in relation to growth and yield in tomato plants.

Background and Aims Global warming can lead to technological ripening occurring in advance of phenolic maturity for red wine cultivars. This study evaluated the effect of post‐budburst winter pruning on the phenology, yield components, berry composition and phenolic maturity in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Merlot. Methods and Results Mechanically pre‐pruned vines followed up with hand pruning during winter (Control) were compared to vines that were mechanically pre‐pruned and followed up with hand pruning after budburst when distal buds developed shoots with either three unfolded leaves (DF3) or eight unfolded leaves (DF8). Late pruning delayed budburst, flowering and, to a lesser extent, veraison. The delays were greater for DF8 than DF3 treatments. Yield decreased by about 40 and 71% in DF3 and DF8 vines, respectively, while sugar accumulation and reduction of TA were delayed by both pruning treatments. The concentration of anthocyanin and tannin and of extractable anthocyanin and tannin (of skin and seeds analysed separately) were not influenced by the DF3 treatment while tannin concentration increased in DF8 berries. Conclusions Delaying hand pruning of mechanically pre‐pruned vines until after budburst of distal nodes can delay technological ripening without affecting the concentration of anthocyanin and tannin of berries. Yield, however, is substantially reduced. Significance of the Study We verified the feasibility of a cost‐effective technique that can be adopted to counteract the hastening of sugar accumulation and organic acid decline caused by global warming on valuable black grapes.

Pruning had a vital role on the quality of fruit production in ber fruit crop under lower Shiwaliks of Punjab. The severity of pruning intensity significantly influenced the tree vegetative growth parameters and flowering behaviour of ber cv. Sanaur-2 viz. number of emerged shoots per branch, shoot length and girth of primary shoot. A significant higher percentage of fruit set, fruit retention, higher percentage of ‘A’ grade fruits and other fruit quality parameters viz., fruit weight, TSS, acidity, vitamin C, total sugars was recorded significantly higher in pruning treatment by removal 50 per cent vegetative growth over other treatments. Powdery mildew incidence steadily increased from standard meteorological weeks (SMW) 36 - 39 to 40 - 43 and then decreased under different pruning treatments. The severity of pruning reduces the incidence of powdery mildew. The meteorological knowledge on various weather variables at 3 - 4 weeks to actual incidence also can be effectively used to check the spread and severity of the disease.

Summary Goals: Rootstock selection is usually dictated by vineyard site conditions such as pest and disease pressure, soil, and climate. This work evaluated the impact of rootstock on ‘Sangiovese’ vine size, nutritional status, and fruit composition at two sites in the Texas Hill Country, one with a slightly acidic (pH 6.58 ± 0.05) loamy fine sand soil and the other with a moderately to strongly alkaline (pH 8.48 ± 0.06) clay loam soil. Eleven rootstocks representing common rootstocks in Texas (‘Paulsen 1103’, ‘Kober 5BB’, ‘Teleki 5C’), nematode resistant rootstocks (‘UCD GRN-1’, ‘UCD GRN-2’, ‘UCD GRN-3’, ‘UCD GRN-4’ and ‘UCD GRN-5’), and rootstocks with possible tolerance to cotton root rot (Phymatotricopsis omnivora) (Ramsey, Dog Ridge, Florilush) were studied over a five-year period. Key Findings: At the Real County test site, in an alkaline clay loam soil, the rootstocks ‘Dog Ridge’ and ‘Teleki 5C’ maintained the most favorable nutrient status resulting in higher vine vigor and dormant cane pruning weights with pruning weights averaging 0.52 kg/vine and 0.37 kg/vine, respectively, versus 0.09 kg/vine for own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’. The rootstocks ‘Florilush’, ‘UCD GRN-1’, ‘UCD GRN-5’, and own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’ performed poorly at the Real County test site as a result of nutritional deficiency. At the Gillespie County site, in a slightly acidic loamy fine sand soil, all rootstocks performed acceptably with respect to vine size, nutrition, and fruit composition, although average dormant pruning weights over five years ranged across rootstocks from 0.52 to 0.87 kg/vine. Petiole potassium and magnesium were inversely correlated across rootstocks, with the strongest relationship (R2 = 0.58) observed in late summer at the Gillespie County site. Own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’ maintained the lowest petiole potassium and highest petiole magnesium concentrations over the study, as well as the lowest juice potassium and pH at the Gillespie County site. Juice potassium and pH were positively correlated (R2 = 0.57 and 0.76) across rootstocks in two out of three years of study at the Gillespie County site. Impact and Significance: This study demonstrated the importance of rootstock selection on a moderately to strongly alkaline soil versus a slightly acidic soil. Out of the eleven rootstocks tested, only ‘Dog Ridge’ and ‘Teleki 5C’ produced an acceptably sized (0.25 and 0.16 kg/m canopy) mature vine (fourth leaf) likely as a result of nutrition. All rootstocks under study resulted in petiole iron concentrations below recommended values, but the severity of shoot tip chlorosis, which is associated with iron deficiency, was highly rootstock dependent. The rootstocks with the lowest pruning weights and vigor ratings at the Real County site (own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’, ‘Florilush’, ‘UCD GRN-1’, and ‘UCD GRN-5’) generally expressed the most shoot tip chlorosis. Addressing this apparent nutritional deficiency with targeted fertilizer applications may have improved vine performance, but this research suggests that proper rootstock selection is a more viable option. The impact of rootstock was less apparent on slightly acidic loamy fine sand soil. All rootstocks and own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’, conferred acceptable pruning weights, nutritional status, and fruit composition. Basic juice chemistry did vary by rootstock while own-rooted ‘Sangiovese’ having the lowest juice potassium and pH, but the risks of growing own-rooted V. vinifera likely outweigh this potential benefit on sites where climate, soil conditions, pests, or disease may be limiting.

In this review, the main internal and environmental hypotheses regarding alternate bearing and abscission of inflorescence buds and also, the methods to mitigate this physiological phenomenon have been investigated. Alternate bearing is annually fluctuating heavy (‘on’) and light (‘off’) crops, which occurs in most fruit trees. There are multiple visible causes, decreased shoot growth and flower buds or imperfect flowers, but all occur in association with a heavy crop, suggesting a carbohydrate resource limitation to shoot growth, or flower initiation, induction or differentiation. Pistachios bear on 1-year-old shoots from axillary buds produced the previous year. The visible mechanism is bud abscission on current season’s growth during ‘on’ years and bud retention in low crop load (‘off’) years. Though bud abscission is visible, the underlying cause is unknown. This review classifies the multiple hypotheses as internal, genetic, carbohydrate resources and hormones or environmental, abiotic and biotic stresses. Our examination of potential hypotheses and recent research suggests alternate bearing in pistachio is a result of the carbohydrate resource limitation generated by the heavy ‘on’ year crop maturation. However, the specific signal producing bud abscission is unknown. Alternate bearing in pistachio can be mitigated by a vigorous rootstock, particularly if combined with proper pruning. We hypothesize the vigorous rootstock may produce a better carbohydrate resource status through a larger tree with more leaf surface area. The pruning does not address the bud abscission but alters the ratio of non-bearing to bearing shoots, resulting in a lower alternate bearing index. Furthermore, we conclude alternate bearing in pistachio, while a within shoot phenomenon, can be triggered by severe environmental events that damage a current crop.

Low survival rates in greenhouse raised Moringa oleifera seedlings after transplanting had been ascribed to rapid growth rates and poorly formed and etiolated stems. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of indole acetic acid (IAA) on above-ground vegetative growth of M. oleifera seedling when used as root pruning agent. Hardened-off uniform one-month-old M. oleifera seedlings were transplanted in 20-cm-diameter plastic pots containing pasteurised loam soil and Hygromix at 3:1 (v/v) ratio. A week after transplanting, IAA concentrations of 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8, 25.6 and 51.2 mg mL−1 distilled water with G49 wetting agent and sticker were applied weekly to the respective plants. The effects of IAA concentrations were highly significant (P ≤ .01) on plant height, leaf number, dry root mass and significant (P ≤ .05) on stem diameter, which were further subjected to the lines of the best fit. Leaf number, plant height and stem diameter over increasing IAA concentrations exhibited positive quadratic relations, with the relationships being explained by 99, 98 and 98%, respectively. However, dry root mass and increasing concentrations of IAA exhibited negative quadratic relations, with the relationship being explained by 98%. At low concentrations, IAA increased plant height, number of leaves and stem diameter, whereas, at high concentration, the material reduced plant variables. However, all concentrations used reduced dry root mass. In conclusion, IAA was able to reduce root growth and promote shoot growth, with optimum for M. oleifera seedling growth established at a concentration level of 1.98 mg mL−1.

Background Grapevine canes represent a large source of waste derived from grape cultivation. In the present study, the effect of different processes of storage and different pruning times on the stilbene accumulation on Pinot noir canes was analyzed. Whether the alteration of the secondary metabolism accompanying leafroll symptom expressions could affect the stilbenoid accumulation in canes harvested at pruning time was also investigated. Results The maximum accumulation of trans-resveratrol and trans-piceatannol was obtained in canes harvested in October and dried at 40 °C. Even in grape canes harvested in October, November, and December and stored for different times at room temperature (20 ± 2 °C) a marked increase in trans-resveratrol and trans-piceatannol was evident, which reached a maximum at around 8 weeks of storage. A significant higher accumulation of trans-resveratrol and trans-piceatannol was also found in canes harvested from symptomatic plants compared to those harvested from asymptomatic plants for all the pruning times. Conclusion This study confirms that the biosynthetic enzyme activities and, particularly, those involved in the stilbene pathway, persist during Pinot noir cane storage at different harvest times, with different storage times and conditions, and different sanitary status. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The definition of optimum harvest and pruning interventions are important factors varying inflorescence yield and cannabinoid composition. This study investigated the impact of (i) harvest time (HT) and (ii) pruning techniques (PT) on plant biomass accumulation, CBD and CBDA-concentrations and total CBD yield of a chemotype III medical cannabis genotype under indoor cultivation. The experiment consisted of four HTs between 5 and 11 weeks of flowering and three PTs-apical cut (T); removal of side shoots (L) and control (C), not pruned plants. Results showed that inflorescence dry weight increased continuously, while the total CBD concentration did not differ significantly over time. For the studied genotype, optimum harvest time defined by highest total CBD yield was found at 9 weeks of flowering. Total CBD-concentration of inflorescences in different fractions of the plant’s height was significantly higher in the top (9.9%) in comparison with mid (8.2%) and low (7.7%) fractions. The T plants produced significantly higher dry weight of inflorescences and leaves than L and C. Total CBD yield of inflorescences for PTs were significantly different among pruned groups, but do not differ from the control group. However, a trend for higher yields was observed (T > C > L).

Tea is one of the most widely consumed natural beverages in the world. High costs of tea pruning and plucking is among the main challenges of its production in Iran as a developing country. Therefore, the development of mechanical pruning and plucking of tea bushes is unavoidable to ensure its sustainable production. In this respect, the present study was carried out in Guilan Province as the leading tea producing region of Iran using Delphi technique in order to identify and analyze the driving factors of the development of tea pruning and plucking mechanization in Iran. After consultation with the academic faculty members in Guilan Province, to form the research panel, 30 experts of tea mechanization were identified and selected from the Tea Organization of Iran, Tea Research Center, and Agriculture Agencies of main tea producing regions of Guilan Province. The results revealed that “Publicizing the benefits of consumption of the domestic tea”, “supporting tea making industries to modernize their systems”, “Reduced prices of domestic and imported mechanical tea equipments by subsidy payment and reduction of tariffs on imports”, “quantitative and qualitative improvement of tea green leaves through applying new agronomic methods and modern irrigation systems”, and “Devoting special bank loans to execute tea mechanization plans” were the most important driving factors of the development of tea pruning and plucking mechanization in Guilan Province as agreed upon by 96.78, 95.89, 95, 95, and 91.42% of panel members, respectively. Thus, recommendations were put forth to help the development of tea pruning and plucking mechanization in Guilan Province. Keywords: Driving factors, Incentives, Agricultural mechanization, Agricultural machinery

Grapes rank the top fruit crop all over the world and the second crop after citrus in Egypt. This study aims to elucidate the effect of some anti-salinity agents' application namely magnetic iron, humic acid and Uni-sal on overcome salt hazard that affect grapevines growth and production during the two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018. This study was applied in a private orchard located at Atfih, Giza Governorate, Egypt on five-years old superior seedless grapevines grown in sandy loam soil that irrigated using drip irrigation system. The vineyard was planted at 2 × 3 meters apart and supported to the gable trellis system. Winter pruning system was carried out at the end of December in both seasons using cane pruning system, leaving 112 buds (10 fruiting canes x 10 buds + 6 renewal spurs x two buds). Seven treatments were performed as follows: Control (untreated vines), magnetic iron application at concentration (200 and 250 g/vine), humic acid (7 and 10 L/feddan) and Uni-sal (5 and 7 L/feddan). The obtained results appeared that all treatments had improved all growth parameters. Yield, cluster weight, berry weight and size, total soluble solids, total soluble solids/total acidity were increased. Whereas total acidity was reduced affecting by all treatments as compared with control plants in the two studied seasons. In sum, magnetic iron, humic acid and Uni-sal soil applications alleviated the negative effects induced by salinity stress in Superior Seedless trees productivity, by modulation of distinct growth and yield responses.

Summer pruning reduces vegetative growth in apple trees, but it could have an impact on fruit quality. This study analyzed the effects of summer pruning as an eco-friendly pre-harvest alternative to chemical growth regulation inputs on instrumental and sensory quality of highly vigorous apple cv. ‘Reinette du Canada’, which has been awarded with a Protected Designation of Origin label in two environments. The results showed that summer pruning affected the mineral content of the fruit. Summer pruning reduced bitter pit, but it did not negatively affect fruit weight nor any other instrumental characteristic during storage. Moreover, sensory quality or degree of liking were not affected by summer pruning. Thus, summer pruning could be an eco-friendly pre-harvest alternative to chemical treatments to improve quality in global terms of ‘Reinette du Canada’ apple cultivar, regardless of the location. This technique contributed to the decrease of bitter pit incidence, but did not decrease sensory quality nor degree of liking.

Herbal products are now considered among the most important sources of phenolic compounds: the FINNOVER project aimed at the creation and development of sustainable supply chains to extract and use natural biologically active agents. Vitis vinifera is one of the most utilised herbal products derived from buds and sprouts as polyphenolic food supplements for its homeostatic and astringent properties. This research was aimed to describe the antioxidant capacity and the phytochemical composition of V. vinifera herbal products by the application of spectroscopic and chromatographic fingerprints considering phenolics as potential markers to significantly differentiate traditional preparations (macerates) from innovative extracts obtained by an ultrasound extraction from V. vinifera buds. Two different commercial products were also considered. Flavonols were the most abundant class in ultrasound extracts (45%), while phenolic acids were the most important class in traditional macerates (49%) and commercial bud-preparations (about 50%). This study may support the potential use of V. vinifera bud-products (starting from pruning byproducts) as food supplements to integrate human diet with good amounts of phenolics. Finally, the use of different extraction methods on the same plant material could be an important development to produce innovative herbal products with a phytochemical composition similar to traditional preparations.

The selection of most suitable propagation material, as well as the adjustment of existing seedling management practices, are gaining increasing importance to ensure the best outcomes under the long-term setting of climate change. One of the factors to consider is a predicted increase in the frequency and duration of high-temperature periods. Since heat often coincides with drought, these factors are typically assessed together, yet heat stress on its own has received less attention. In this study, we examined the effect of supra-optimal ambient temperature on nine Salix alba clone cuttings wilting under greenhouse conditions and sufficient moisture levels. Most plants are especially vulnerable to extreme conditions in early stages of development. Response to heat varied between clones but, overall, shoots that were taller than 350 mm were more sensitive to heat stress. The pruning of excess lateral shoots did not show significant improvement in heat tolerance. In total, 96% of the wilted cuttings proceeded to produce lateral shoots after the cessation of heat stress. It should be studied further if similar patterns are evident in field conditions and if earlier outplanting has a positive effect on cutting vitality.

Trichoderma is a genus of fungi used for the biological control of plant diseases and a large number of its bio-formulates are available in the market. However, its efficacy under field conditions remains unclear, especially for the protection of grapevine plants against Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTDs). These diseases are caused by a complex of fungal pathogens whose main point of entrance into the affected plants is through pruning wounds. In this research, different Trichoderma native strains have been evaluated according to their ability to grow at different temperatures and their capacity to colonize pruning wounds in adverse climatic conditions. Strains from section Trichoderma have adapted to cooler conditions. On the other hand, strains from clade Harzianum/Virens grow at higher temperatures. However, differences can also be found between strains inside the same clade/section. Native strains were able to colonize more than 70% of vine pruning wounds in winter conditions. The Trichoderma strain T154 showed a significantly higher re-isolation degree from vine plants and its concentration was optimized for spraying onto vine plants. In conclusion, Trichoderma native strains are better adapted to survive in a changing environment, and they could give better protection to grapevine plants in co-evolution with each specific vineyard.

Scattered oaks in traditional silvopastoral systems (i.e., “dehesas”) provide important ecological services. However, livestock intensification applied to these systems over the last century has affected the architecture of young oak plants. This unsuitable rangeland management practice jeopardizes the long-term system sustainability. Here we examine the alterations in architecture of regenerating oak plants in Mediterranean dehesas under three representative management regimes: (1) traditional management with extensive sheep grazing, (2) commercially driven management with extensive cattle grazing, and (3) native deer grazing at moderate stocking rates (&lt, 0.11 livestock units × ha−1). Plant architecture was considerably altered in cattle-grazed “dehesas”, finding a 50% reduction in plant height–diameter ratios, compared to sheep-grazed dehesas where plants with higher height–diameter ratios predominated. Young oak plants, however, showed less altered architecture and less probability of damage on shoot apex (0.20-fold difference) in areas with deer grazing at moderate stocking rates. In addition, those young oak plants with multi-stemmed individual architecture were more stunted (lower values of crown height–diameter ratio) in areas with livestock grazing than wildlife areas (0.78-fold difference). Shrub presence, under all management schemes, helped to increase in plant height, except when shrubs were located under tree canopies. Conversely, plants without shrub protection showed stunted architecture with well-developed basal diameters but short stature. Appropriate sustainable practices should include cattle stocking rate reduction, traditional sheep grazing promotion, nurse shrub preservation and fencing stunted individuals along with pruning basal sprouts. Our study indicates that management may have important consequences on dehesa regeneration via alterations of plant architecture and therefore on system sustainability.

BACKGROUND Sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) of the cultivar Grace Star were pruned either in dormancy or in summer. The response was studied by analyzing the sugar content in different organs (flower bud, leaf, and fruit) at three sections of the canopy (inner, outer, and upper) using high-performance liquid chromatography. The effect of summer pruning was evaluated by measuring photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD). RESULTS In this study, the timing of pruning had a significant effect on sugar content in flower buds, leaves, and fruit. Trees pruned in summer had higher glucose, fructose, sorbitol, and sucrose content in flower buds, higher glucose and fructose contents in leaves, and lower fructose, sorbitol, and total sugar content in fruit than in trees pruned at dormancy. Higher average PPFD and lower SPAD values were measured in the inner canopy of trees pruned in summer. All measured parameters were influenced by position in the canopy. The lowest fructose and sorbitol contents in the flower bud, the lowest content of glucose, fructose, sorbitol, total sugars and the highest SPAD values in the leaf, while less dark and lighter fruit were measured in the inner part of the canopy. CONCLUSION Summer pruning affects sugar distribution in the tree by altering irradiation conditions within the canopy. Our results suggest that summer pruning is an effective technological measure to improve sugar content in the buds. A strong, well nourished flower bud is a good indication of high fruit production next season. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Organic fertilization has been proposed as an alternative approach to supply nutrients for crops, in the frame of organic and sustainable agriculture, with the aim to decrease high inorganic fertilization rates, protect the environment and decrease production costs for farmers. Since different types of organic fertilizers, such as manures, olive mill wastewater (OMW), sewage sludge (SS), crushed pruning wastes, composts and cover crops, exist as soil amendments to improve soil fertility, enhance plant nutrition and sustain the productivity of tree crops, their role as biofertilizers has been fully analyzed under the most important published papers. In addition, the benefits and drawbacks of organic fertilization, in a comparative approach with inorganic fertilization, are presented and discussed. Within the most important advantages of organic fertilizers, the enhancement of beneficial soil microorganisms and the improvement in soil physical properties and fertility should be included, while their most important disadvantage is their inability to directly satisfy the prompt N nutritional needs of tree crops, due to slow N mineralization rates. Finally, some novel aspects on the interrelation among innovative organic fertilizers for tree crops, sustainable field management, crop productivity and fruit quality are also included in this review, under the light of the most important and recent research data existing in the literature, with the aim to provide recommendations and future directions for organic fertilizers by tree growers.

Guava wilt is caused by Fusarium oxyporium f. sp. psidi and Fusarium solani resulting into loss of the crops. Normally it is observed by the orchardists and researchers that wilt disease develops during the heavy rainfall season, particularly in the month of August and September. The pathogens developed very fast if the range of temperature is 23–30°C and relative humidity is 75–80%. To manage the disease in the initial stage itself, orchardists should not depend on anyone measure. Instead, they must adopt a combination of different methods to manage this disease. This includes time to time field sanitation, proper training and pruning of the plants, use of organic manures, oil-cake, and lime to protect the disease. Application of Aspergillus Niger, Trichoderma species and VAM fungi with FYM. Proper tree vigor be maintained by timely and adequately manuring, inter-culture operation, and irrigation. Lastly, if required, suitable biological, botanical, and chemical control measures should be adopted.