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In the present paper are presented results regarding the natural distribution of pathogen fungus Septoria pyrina which produce the leaf white spots on pear trees. This disease was monitored between 2021 and 2023 on the area situated in the South West part of Romania, between river Cara? and Danube. This pear trees disease has for the moment a constant presence on the area. pathogen attack is really easy to be observed because the small white to gray spots with no more than 5 mm diameter produced by the fungus when this is at maturity. But as final result of Septoria pyrina attack is the premature lose of the leaves which mean the tree has difficulties on preparations for the winter and this is the main reason why are so important this kind of surveillance on the funguses epidemiologic potential. In the same time, if there are high levels of spots on the leaves it mean that there are a lot of spores produced by fungus and the infection pressure is high. In the same time, an increased number of spots means a high number of fungus reserve for the next year infections. For this reason it is very important to keep the fungus inoculum level under surveillance and use those data for important decisions as there is the moment when it is absolutely necessary to apply one treatment against the fungus. Results indicate without any doubt that the funs is present all around the localities from the evaluated area. Never the less it is mandatory for permanent surveillance of this fungus inoculum evolution on the areas where there are pear orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen pears, obtained by repeated freezing and thawing under cold outdoor conditions in winter, are very popular in northeast China. The effects of three freeze-thaw cycles (FT1-FT3) on Nanguo pear flavor were studied under fast (-80°C) and slow (-20°C) freezing conditions. Significant differences were found in the flavor of Nanguo pear after subsequent freeze-thaw cycles. The total soluble solid (TSS) content of fresh pear was 14.17 g/100 g and increased significantly after the first freeze-thaw cycle to 17.57-18.17 g/100 g. Lower TSS content was found in pears after the repeated freeze-thawing process. Citric acid was determined as the main organic acid of Nanguo pear. Its content and the overall content of organic acids decreased successively after each freezing and thawing cycle. The electronic tongue analysis results showed that the sourness of fresh pears generally decreased after their repeated freezing and thawing, that the odor of Nanguo pear changed significantly after freeze-thaw cycles, and that nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons were the most differentiating odor compounds. The content of ethyl caproate was the highest in the volatile compound profile of the Nanguo pear and ranged from 377.26 to 526.77 µg/kg. In short, after repeated freezing and thawing, the changes in the chemical composition impart the frozen pear a unique flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the influence of the different types of gelling agents at various concentrations on the structural-mechanical properties of composite fruit jellies. Sodium alginate, iota-carrageenan and low-esterified amidated pectin were used as gelling agents at four different concentration levels for the preparation of composite jellies. All the structural-mechanical properties of obtained jellies were determined by a penetration test with a texture analyzer. The rupture force is reduced in the highest extent when the concentration of low-esterified amidated pectin (LEAP) increases, while the lowest change was observed when the content of sodium alginate increases. The highest values of rupture force of the composite jellies to the control were obtained at the maximum concentration (1.6%) of added iota-carrageenan. Increasing the concentration of iota-carrageenan made the composite jellies harder and more elastic. The addition of sodium alginate and LEAP made them softer compared to the control sample. Regardless of the type and the concentration of the added gelling agents in the composite jellies, their adhesiveness was significantly higher compared to the control sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rational generic concept in the group of Prunus sensu latissimo (Rosaceae) remains debatable, with two main approaches or traditions: one favouring a broad circumscription of Prunus, and another preferring its splitting into numerous segregate genera such as Armeniaca, Cerasus, Emplectocladus, Laurocerasus, Maddenia, Padus, Persica, Prunus s. str., Pygeum, etc. Members of these groups often hybridise with each other to form intermediates. This situation is parallel to the taxonomic options in another group of Rosaceae, the tribe Maleae, in which some authors recognise numerous genera (Aria, Aronia, Chaenomeles, Cotoneaster, Cydonia, Eriobotrya, Malus, Photinia, Sorbus, etc.). In contrast, others prefer a mega-genus Pyrus sensu latissimo. The genus Amygdalus (as well as other segregated genera mentioned above) is not recognised by many researchers and is considered a part of the genus Prunus s. l. However, species usually placed in Amygdalus are quite peculiar and habitually differ from other "prunoid" genera. The main feature distinguishing Amygdalus from closely related genera is the dry pericarp that opens when ripe. The group described as the section Chamaeamygdalus is the most isolated in Amygdalus. It includes low thornless shrubs with narrow leaves and small, densely tomentose-shaggy fruits. The shape of the calyx tube is a morphological feature that distinguishes the species of the section Chamaeamygdalus from the typical section of the genus. Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data confirm the morphological differences between species of the section Chamaeamygdalus, which is the basis for assigning the generic rank to this group. The new genus Chamaeamygdalus is erected here, and three new species-rank nomenclatural combinations are validated for species of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated pears are economically one of the most important fruits in temperate regions. Two separate taxonomic groups are distinguished, a European and Southwest Asian group, and an East Asian group. Pears have been cultivated at least since Ancient Greek times. Their taxonomy is often confusing, with 20 to 30 widely recognised species. Their outbreeding character and widespread hybridisation led to a huge number of different forms and crosses. The Caucasus is regarded as one of two main centres of diversity in the European and Southwest Asian group. In the Republic of Georgia, several wild species incl. Pyrus communis subsp. caucasica occur. Pyrus communis subsp. caucasica is the sister taxa of the European wild pear Pyrus communis subsp. pyraster, which can morphologically not be distinguished. The natural ranges of these two sister taxa do not overlap. Scientists assume two separate domestication events, in Europe and in Caucasus. In the Caucasus region, local pear cultivars remain genetically very close to wild pears which were used as rootstock, while the fruits are still used to produce a local schnapps. Today, wild pears are often endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Wild pears constitute a rich genetic basis for future breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is a prominent abiotic factor that adversely affects the growth and yield of pears, consequently restricting the cultivation range and resulting in substantial economic losses for the pear industry. Basic region–leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are widely involved in multiple physiological and biochemical activities of plants, particularly in response to cold stress. In this study, the responsiveness of PbbZIP11 in pear to cold stress was investigated, and its role was explored by using pear callus and Arabidopsis thaliana. The findings revealed that overexpression of PbbZIP11 enhanced the tolerance of pear callus and Arabidopsis thaliana to cold stress. The antioxidant enzyme activities of transgenic plants were enhanced and the expression of C-repeat binding transcription factor (CBF) genes was increased as compared to wild-type plants. To better understand the biological function of PbbZIP11, mRNAs were isolated from overexpressed and wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana after cold stress for whole-genome sequencing. The results showed that the expression of some CBF downstream target genes changed after exposure to cold stress. The results suggested that the PbbZIP11 gene could participate in cold-stress signaling through the CBF-dependent pathway, which provides a theoretical basis for the PbbZIP11-mediated response to cold stress and for the genetic breeding of pear varieties with low-temperature tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent calyx affects the fruit quality of the Korla fragrant pear including increasing fruit hardness. In order to reduce fruit hardness and improve fruit quality, in this study, we used the Korla fragrant pear which has persistent calyx. Korla fragrant pear fruit at different development stages were treated with foliar fertilizers of 101 and calcium–magnesium (Ca–Mg) solutions, and the hardness and pectase, cellulose, lipoxygenase, and amylase activities of persistent calyx fruit were determined and analyzed. We found that the fruit hardness of two foliar fertilizers increased compared with the control after treatment. The fruit hardness of calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer and 101 foliar fertilizer treatments were increased by 11.7% and 6.8% compared with the control, respectively. Furthermore, the activities of cellulase, pectinase, and lipoxygenase were increased by 30%, 12.7%, and 42% after treatment with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer, respectively. The 101 foliar fertilizer inhibited the contents of cellulose and starch. In summary, the internal quality of Korla fragrant pear fruit treated with calcium–magnesium foliar fertilizer was better than 101 foliar fertilizer. It was confirmed that calcium and magnesium foliar fertilizer had a good control effect on the hardness of Korla fragrant pear persistent calyx fruit, and its fruit quality was also improved. This study has great application value in production practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruits of the nopal (Opuntia spp.), cactus pears, are considered functional foods due to their content of nutritive and bioactive substances. Its pulp is generated by numerous seeds that limit their consumption due to their size and hardness and detract from their quality. Other undesirable fruit characteristics are its inedible peel and its short shelf life. In the case of the cactus pear cactus (Opuntia spp.), no cultivar has been reported that produces quality parthenocarpic fruits, nor have they been obtained by artificially inducing parthenocarpy. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the response of 11 genotypes to the induction of parthenocarpy, to characterize the fruits of the genotypes with the best response, and to determine their postharvest life. To induce parthenocarpy, floral buds were used in the pre-anthesis stage, from which the style-stigma, stamens, and tepals were removed, generating a cavity in which a solution of growth regulators was applied (250 mg L−1 AG3 + 75 mg L −1 BA + 15 mg L−1 of AIB). A similar number of buds was used as a control, without treatment, and in free pollination. Only two genotypes, MX CP-30 Red and MX CP-40 Yellow, produced parthenocarpic fruits since their empty integuments produced pulp, remaining small, empty, and soft. Their peel was sweet (10–14 °Brix) and edible, and they had a longer shelf life than the corresponding fruits with seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Academic Journal of Agriculture / Akademik Ziraat Dergisi is the property of University of Ordu, Faculty of Agriculture, Academic Journal of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Product optimisation is one of the most crucial phases in the new product development or launch process. This work proposes applying penalty analysis to investigate the impact of not just-about-right (JAR) sensorial aspects on willingness to pay (WTP) and an overall liking for a local Italian ancient pear variety and to verify the mediating role of pleasantness in the relationship between not-JAR sensory attributes and consumers' WTP using structural equation model (SEM). One hundred and twelve non-expert participants recruited during an in-store experiment evaluated overall liking and JAR attributes and were involved in an in-field experimental auction based on the non-hypothetical Becker–DeGroot–Marshak (BDM) mechanism. The participants' average WTP for the sample was EUR 3.18 per kilogramme. Only juiciness and sourness significantly impact consumers' overall liking but not on consumers' WTP. Moreover, pleasantness did not mediate the relationship between non-balanced sensorial aspects and WTP. In conclusion, the penalty analysis for attributes not being JAR in monetary and hedonic terms is a beneficial research approach for a deep-inside evaluation of the potentiality of the product in the marketplace, providing helpful directions for product optimisation. Results show market potential for the local ancient pear variety 'Angelica'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intake of heavy metals through the food is a food safety problem that seriously affects consumer health. Therefore, information is needed on the intake of food contaminated with heavy metals and their concentrations, to assess the potential risk for human health. This paper aims to determine the accumulation of metals in apples and pears grown in the surroundings of Kosovska Mitrovica (Republic of Kosovo) and the bioconcentration factor (BF). With the help of the ICP-MS technique, were determined the amounts of Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Ni, and Cr in apples and pears grown in three regions - Zvečan, Frashër, and Polski. From the conducted tests, the highest concentrations in apples and pears were determined for iron (on average 100.67 mg/kg for apples and 107.4 mg/kg for pears) and the lowest concentrations for cobalt (on average 0.13 mg/kg for apples and 0.18 mg/kg for pears). The lowest bioconcentration factor in apples is 0.01 (for Fe, Co, and Mn in all three regions), and the highest is 0.32 (for Cr in Zvečan). When determining the bioconcentration factor in pears, the lowest (0.01) was determined for iron (in all three regions) and manganese (in Zvečan and Frashër regions), and the highest bioconcentration factor was determined for copper - 0.46 (Polski region). There is a very high correlation between the values obtained for the analyzed metals in apples and pears. According to BF values, pears extract twice as much Cu and Co from the soil compared to apples, and the extraction of other metals from the soil is the same for both types of fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of post-harvest spray treatments with essential oils (EOs) obtained from sage and aniseed on maintaining the quality of pears of the 'Williams' variety during storage was studied. Harvested pears were picked when they had reached their optimal maturity and underwent a treatment involving the application of aqueous solutions of glycerin, with varying amounts of sage essential oil (SEO) and aniseed essential oil (AEO). Weight loss during storage varied according to the treatment applied with the lowest values recorded for sage essential oil at concentrations of 300 ppm (6.24%) and 250 ppm (6.60%), respectively. Aniseed essential oil had a smaller effect on weight loss compared to sage essential oil. Fruit firmness was better maintained under the influence of the essential oil treatments, with those treated with sage essential oil standing out. The concentration of the essential oils that is used influences the antimicrobial activity of the post-harvest treatment that is applied, with higher essential oil concentrations leading to more pronounced decreases in the total number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria immediately after treatment (4.05 for SEO 200; 3.00 for SEO 300, respectively). The use of post-harvest techniques involving the application of aqueous solutions containing glycerol and essential plant oils by spraying can extend the shelf life of pear fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to evaluate the quality of different pear genotypes used in the breeding programs at Genetic and Breeding Department of Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitești, Romania. Thirteen new pear genotypes harvested at the commercial maturity stage: 'Argessis', 'Carpica', 'Cristal', 'Daciana', 'Haydeea', 'Isadora', 'Paradox', 'Paramis', 'Romcor', 'P20R41P30', 'SP06C2P', 'Triumph' and 'Tudor' were compared with internationally recognized varieties: 'Monica' (Romanian cultivar), 'Xenia' and 'Williams'. In this study we analyzed the commercial parameters (weight, firmness, color) and the biochemical indicators (total dry mater content, soluble dry matter, titratable acidity, the soluble dry matter/titratable acidity ratio, vitamin C, and polyphenols). The obtained data leads to the conclusion that 'Isadora' and 'SP06C2P5P' fruits have the biggest chance to fulfill consumer expectations, due to their commercial qualities, then the reference variety 'Williams' cultivar. Also, the 'Isadora' variety had the content of polyphenols and the total dry substance superior to the three control cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tackling human malnutrition resulting from mineral deficits in foods is currently an agro-industrial problem. To address this problem, an agronomic workflow to enrich Rocha pears with calcium (Ca) was considered in two orchards in Portugal. This study aims to assess quality differences in the irrigation water of two orchards (of Rocha pear) where an agronomic Ca enrichment workflow would be performed and identify possible conditioning to Ca increases in fruits. Thus, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, pHs, cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), and anions (HCO3−, Cl−, and SO42−) were attained to calculate the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) index and the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and assess the agricultural use. The values of EC, pH, pHs, SAR index and LSI of both orchards varied between 1198 and 1211 µS/cm, 7.4 and 7.5, 7.7 and 8.1, 3.5 and 7.4, and −0.69 and −0.21, respectively. Regarding Piper classification, irrigation waters were classified as sodium bicarbonate (orchard 1) and sodium chloride bicarbonate (orchard 2). Both orchards presented different classifications regarding agricultural use, namely C3S1 (orchard 2) and C3S2 (orchard 1). The water of both orchards presented the same salinity hazard (C3), but the use of these irrigation waters is enabled since these trees can be considered salt-tolerant. However, regarding the alkalinization hazard to soils, the irrigation water from orchard 2 offers less danger (S1) in comparison to orchard 1 (S2). Meanwhile, a slightly inferior LSI (orchard 1) can favor a higher tendency to dissolve calcium carbonate. In conclusion, although slightly different, analysis indicated that the waters of both orchards did not induce toxicity in Rocha pear trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pear black spot disease, caused by Alternaria alternata, is a devastating disease in pears and leads to enormous economic losses worldwide. In this investigation, we isolated a Streptomyces odonnellii SZF-179 from the rhizosphere soil of pear plants in China. Indoor confrontation experiments results showed that both SZF-179 and its aseptic filtrate had excellent inhibitory effects against A. alternata. Afterwards, the main antifungal compound of SZF-179 was identified as polyene, with thermal and pH stability in the environment. A microscopic examination of A. alternata mycelium showed severe morphological abnormalities caused by SZF-179. Protective studies showed that SZF-179 fermentation broth could significantly reduce the diameter of the necrotic lesions on pear leaves by 42.25%. Furthermore, the potential of fermentation broth as a foliar treatment to control black leaf spot was also evaluated. Disease indexes of 'Hosui' and 'Wonwhang' pear plants treated with SZF-179 fermentation broth were lower than that of control plants. Overall, SZF-179 is expected to be developed into a safe and broad-spectrum biocontrol agent. No studies to date have evaluated the utility of S. odonnellii for the control of pear black spot disease; our study fills this research gap. Collectively, our findings provide new insights that will aid the control of pear black spot disease, as well as future studies of S. odonnellii strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding early maturing cultivars is one of the most important objectives in pear breeding. Very early maturing pears provide an excellent parental material for crossing, but the immature embryo and low seed germination of their hybrid progenies often limit the selection and breeding of new early maturing pear cultivars. In this study, we choose a very early maturing pear cultivar 'Pearl Pear' as the study object and investigate the effects of cold stratification, the culture medium, and the seed coat on the germination and growth of early maturing pear seeds. Our results show that cold stratification (4 °C) treatment could significantly improve the germination rates of early maturing pear seeds. A total of 100 days of cold-temperature treatment in 4 °C and in vitro germination on White medium increased the germination rate to 84.54%. We also observed that seed coat removal improved the germination of early maturing pear seeds, with middle seed coat removal representing the optimal method, with a high germination rate and low contamination. The results of our study led to the establishment of an improved protocol for the germination of early maturing pear, which will greatly facilitate the breeding of new very early maturing pear cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) cactus, a crucial crop in Morocco, is threatened by the wild cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell). The aim of this research was to investigate the efficacy of nine bacterial strains against both D. opuntiae nymphs and adults females applied individually or after black soap in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Using the partial 16S ribosomal DNA, the bacterial isolates were identified as Pseudomonas koreensis, Pseudomonas sp., Burkholderia sp. and Bacillus sp. Under laboratory conditions, the insecticidal activity of P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 showed the level mortality (88%) of adult females' at 108 CFU/mL, 7 days after application. At a concentration of 108 CFU/mL, P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 and Pseudomonas sp. (strains 37 and 5) caused 100% nymphs mortality rate three days after application. Under greenhouse conditions, the use of P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 at 108 CFU/mL following the application of black soap (60 g/L) demonstrated the maximum levels of females and nymphs' mortalities with 80 and 91.25%, respectively, after 8 days of treatment. In field conditions, the combined application of the P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 at 108 CFU/mL with black soap at 60 g/L, for an interval of 7 days, significantly increased the mortality of adult females to 93.33% at 7 days after the second application. These findings showed that the combined treatment of P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 with black soap can be a potent and eco-friendly pesticide against D. opuntiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) controls the transition from primary to secondary metabolism by converting L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) to cinnamic acid. However, the function of PAL in pear plants (Pyrus bretschneideri) has not yet been fully elucidated. Results: We identified three PAL genes (PbPAL1, PbPAL2 and PbPAL3) from the pear genome by exploring pear genome databases. The evolutionary tree revealed that three PbPALs were classified into one group. We expressed PbPAL1 and PbPAL2 recombinant proteins, and the purified PbPAL1 and PbPAL2 proteins showed strict substrate specificity for L-Phe, no activity toward L-Tyr in vitro, and modest changes in kinetics and enzyme characteristics. Furthermore, overexpression of PbAL1 and PbPAL1-RNAi, respectively, and resulted in significant changes in stone cell and lignin contents in pear fruits. The results of yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays that PbWLIM1 could bind to the conserved PAL box in the PbPAL promoter and regulate the transcription level of PbPAL2. Conclusions: Our findings not only showed PbPAL's potential role in lignin biosynthesis but also laid the foundation for future studies on the regulation of lignin synthesis and stone cell development in pear fruit utilizing molecular biology approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current events have necessitated the sacrifice of some degree of recording quality in order to reach inaccessible or faraway areas; for instance, using video conferencing software like Zoom for recording rather than traditional in-person microphone or sound booth recording. This then leads to the question: can Zoom-recorded data be used more or less interchangeably with standard recording procedures? The present research is an analysis of vowel acoustics in the Yiyang dialect of Xiang (Sinitic), comparing across two recording mediums: one online (Zoom) and another in person (sound booth). Researching Xiang varieties has been made increasingly difficult during the pandemic. This study analyzes two recordings retelling the events of the Pear Stories video, performed by a speaker of Yiyang Xiang (female, 24, college-educated), one recorded in the sound booth at the University of Hong Kong and another recorded through Zoom using a laptop microphone. Acoustic features analyzed include F1, F2, and F3. Preliminary findings suggest that while F1 is fairly comparable between the two recordings, the higher two formants are altered in ways that question the comparability of Zoom-recorded versus sound booth-recorded vowels. However, results improve considerably if formants are collected manually, suggesting that some recoverability is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) genes play an important role in the process of detoxification, plant morphogenesis, and anthocyanin accumulation. However, whether the MATE gene family functions in pear peel coloration is still unknown. To evaluate and identify the MATE gene family members which are involving in anthocyanin accumulation and coloration in pear. In this study, 85 MATE genes were identified in the reference pear genome of 'Dangshansuli' through genome-wide identification. Based on gene structure and phylogenetic tree analysis, the MATE family was divided into five subfamilies. RNA sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) indicated that the expression patterns of PbrMATEs were tissue-specific. 28.24% (24) of PbrMATE genes were expressed in the fruits, and 44.71% (38) of PbrMATE genes were expressed in the leaves. Additionally, we found that the expression levels of PbrMATE9, PbrMATE26, PbrMATE50, and PbrMATE69 in debagged fruits with red peel were significantly higher than those in bagged fruits without red peel, according to our bagging/debagging treatment of 'Mantianhong'. The expression pattern of PbrMATE9 was consistent with the variation trend in anthocyanin content, suggesting that it might play an important role in anthocyanin accumulation in response to light exposure. Subcellular localization showed that PbrMATE9 was a membrane protein. More strikingly, the transient overexpression of PbrMATE9 promoted anthocyanin accumulation in the peel of pear, and the expression of structural genes (PbrCHI, PbrANS, PbrDFR, and PbrUFGT) in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway also increased significantly. Through co-expression network analysis, the transcription factors were identified, such as WRKY, COL, GATA, and BBX, which might be involved in the regulation of PbrMATE9. The study has enriched the genetic resources and improved the understanding of the regulation network of anthocyanin accumulation in pear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to investigate whether unripe pear extract (UP) could provide protection against UVB-induced damage to both mouse skin and keratinocytes. We observed that UVB exposure, a common contributor to skin photoaging, led to wrinkle formation, skin dryness, and inflammation in mice. Nevertheless, these effects were mitigated in the groups of UVB-irradiated mice treated with UP. Moreover, UP treatment at 400 μg/mL increased the antioxidant enzyme activities (sodium dodecyl sulfate, 2.22-fold higher; catalase, 2.91-fold higher; GPx, 1.96-fold higher) along with sphingomyelin (1.58-fold higher) and hyaluronic acid (1.31-fold higher) levels in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes. In the keratinocytes irradiated with UVB, UP 400 μg/mL resulted in reduced cytokine production (TNF-α, 33.2%; IL-1β, 45.3%; IL-6, 33.4%) and the expression of inflammatory pathway-related proteins. The findings indicate that UP has a direct protective effect on UVB-irradiated keratinocytes and is also able to shield against photoaging induced by UVB. Hence, it is suggested that UP could contribute to improved skin health by averting skin photoaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the Kerr coefficients of isotropic and uniaxial nematic liquid crystals consisting of hard ellipsoid and hard prolate pear-shaped molecules were theoretically studied using classical density functional theory. A new analytical approximate expression for the direct correlation function of hard pear- shaped molecules is applied. Using the expansion coefficients of this direct correlation function, we calculated the structural parameters, compressibility factor, and excess free energy of the hard pear-shaped liquid crystals. In addition, using the restricted orientation model, one particle density of a confined hard pear- shaped liquid crystal is calculated. The limiting stabilities and estimated transition densities are in qualitative agreement with available data. The results confirm the validity of this approximate direct correlation function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European paper wasp, Polistes dominula (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), directly competes with native Polistes and is a safety concern for workers and homeowners. A previous investigation of Polistes behavior found that a portion of wasps died after consuming a solution of pear ester, a compound commonly found in fruits that is considered non-toxic to humans. The goal of our study was to corroborate those preliminary observations and investigate the toxicity of pear ester to P. dominula. Two experiments were performed. First, 3 wasp castes were fed 17% sugar water, or sugar water mixed with 0.5%, 1.0%, 5.0%, or 10.0% (w/v) solutions of pear ester. Mortality after 24 h ranged from 0% among wasps fed sugar water only, to >10% among wasps that were fed pear ester. Mortality increased logarithmically with pear ester concentration. Pear ester toxicity differed among wasp castes, with <5% mortality recorded among fall gynes to >10% mortality among workers. The second experiment attempted to define the relationship between morbidity and volume of pear ester consumed by P. dominula workers. Although results confirmed that ingestion of pear ester causes death or paralysis of P. dominula workers, there was no clear relationship between volume of ingested pear ester and wasp morbidity. About 80% of P. dominula were unaffected by pear ester despite consuming large quantities of the solution. This is the first study to demonstrate lethal effects of pear ester compound and may indicate its potential as an insecticide for paper wasps. La avispa cartonera europea, Polistes dominula (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), compite directamente con las Polistes nativas y, además, es una preocupación de seguridad para trabajadores y familias en sus casas. Una investigación previa sobre el comportamiento de Polistes, encontró que algunas de las avispas morían después de consumir una solución de éster de pera, un compuesto comúnmente encontrado en frutas y que no es considerado tóxica para humanos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue corroborar esas observaciones preliminares e investigar la toxicidad del éster de pera para P. dominula. Se realizaron 2 experimentos. Primero, 3 castas de avispas fueron alimentadas con soluciones de 17% agua azucarada, o agua mezclada con 0.5%, 1.0%, 5.0% y 10.0% (p/v) con éster de pera. La mortalidad después de 24 horas varió desde 0% entre avispas alimentadas solamente con agua azucarada, a >10% entre avispas a las cuáles se les dio éster de pera. La mortalidad aumentó logarítmicamente con la concentración de éster de pera. La toxicidad del éster de pera varió entre las castas de avispas, con una mortalidad registrada <5% entre hembras reproductivas de otoño a >10% entre obreras. El segundo experimento intentó definir la relación entre morbilidad y volumen de éster de pera consumido por obreras de P. dominula. Aunque los resultados confirmaron que la ingesta de éster de pera causa la muerte o parálisis de obreras de P. dominula, no hubo una relación clara entre el volumen ingerido de éster de pera y morbilidad. Cerca del 80% de P. dominula no fue afectado por el éster de pera, a pesar, de haber consumido grandes cantidades de la solución. Este es el primer estudio que demuestra que la ingestión de éster de, pero por un insecto causa parálisis o muerte. Este es el primer estudio que demuestra efectos letales del compuesto de éster de pera y puede indicar su potencial como insecticidas para avispas papeleras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPO was purified from immature and mature Japanese pears (Pyruspyrifolia) fruits through the Sepharose-4B-L-tyrosine-p-aminobenzoic acid affinity column. PPOs were purified 5.21 fold and 9.77 fold from immature and mature Japanese pears, respectively. SDS-PAGE of PPOs from there was performed. Using catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates, the Km and Vmax values for immature Japanese pear PPO were calculated to be 7.14 mM, 1428.57 U/(mL min); 3.33 mM, 3333.33 U/(mL min); and 6.00 mM, 10 000.00 U/(mL min), respectively. Using catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates, the Km and Vmax values for mature Japanese pear PPO were calculated to be 1.31 mM, 163.93 U/(mL min); 3.57 mM, 357.14 U/(mL min); 2.50 mM, 5000.00 U/(mL min), respectively. Using catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates, the optimum pH and temperature values for immature Japanese pear PPO were determined to be 6.5, 15°C; 6.0, 40°C; and 8.0, 15°C, respectively. Using catechol, 4-methyl catechol, and pyrogallol as substrates, the optimum pH and temperature values for mature Japanese pear PPO were determined to be 9.0, 40°C; 7.0, 15°C; and 7.5, 30°C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive agriculture has a strong impact on the structure of arthropod communities in soil. Sown covers can contribute to their conservation, especially for generalist predators such as spiders and predatory beetles. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of cover crop management on the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods. For this purpose, a three-year experiment was conducted in a pear orchard that was divided into three blocks with two plots each: one with a sown cover of mixed plants from different families, including Boraginaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae, and the other with no cover, in which any spontaneous plants were periodically removed without using herbicides. The abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods was sampled using pitfall traps. The sown cover increased the overall richness of arthropods. Additionally, spiders from the families Lycosidae and Linyphiidae, as well as beetles from the families Carabidae and Staphylinidae, were more abundant in the sown cover. Conversely, detritivores such as collembolans and beetles from the family Tenebrionidae were less abundant in the cover. The abundance of ants was not affected by the type of cover. The sown cover increased the diversity of arthropods in the crop, as well as the abundance of generalist predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventeen traditional pear cultivars grown in the Central–Western Iberian Peninsula, all of them clearly in decline or close to extinction, have been characterized from the point of view of agromorphological and chemical. A total of twenty-one agromorphological and chemical traits, mainly defined by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, were used to describe the fruits during a 3-year period from 2020 to 2022. Some of the genotypes showed distinctive and interesting agronomical characteristics from a commercial point of view, such as high yields and fruit quality. This was the case of the pear cultivars called "Pera Temprana", "Muslo de Dama", and "Pera de Cristal de Peñacaballera". Their fruits were quite heavy (125.32–142.56 g) and had a good sweetness/acidity balance (12.67–14.92° Brix/2.76–3.42 g malic acid/L). The rest of the pear cultivars, with the exception of the "Cermeños" group and "Pera Canela" genotype, also presented interesting commercial characteristics given that their fruits had equatorial diameters greater than 6 cm and total soluble solids levels close to or above 13° Brix. The results of the PCA and cluster analysis showed that agromorphological and chemical analysis can provide reliable information on the variability in pear cultivars. The loss of these traditional crops has enormous significance given that they have unique characteristics and are perfectly adapted to the edapho-climatic conditions of the region. This work constitutes an important step in the conservation of genetic pear resources in the Central–Western Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin is an important regulator of fruit growth and development. To explore the physiological mechanism whereby preharvest melatonin application regulates the polyphenol content of 'Yuluxiang' pear peel, we sprayed 0.1 mM melatonin during the first fruit expansion and early color change periods, and the control group were sprinkled with fresh water. Then, we measured the contents of anthocyanin, lignin, and major monomeric phenolics and the activities of key enzymes associated with phenolic metabolism. The results showed that melatonin application significantly increased the content of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, and lignin in the peel from the color change to mature development stages. Near maturity, the activities of all key enzymes, except dihydroflavonol-4-reductase, were higher than those in the control samples, but significant differences in enzyme activity occurred at different time points. Compared with the control group, the fruit peels of the melatonin-treated plants exhibited a higher antioxidant activity and accumulated more flavonols. Thus, preharvest spraying of melatonin can alter the activity of key enzymes associated with phenolic metabolism, increasing the total phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and lignin contents, which in turn, affects the color, strength, and antioxidant capacity of pear peels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Two jewel beetle species native to Europe, the cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila (Palmar, Ovalisia) festiva L. (Buprestidae, Coleoptera), and the sinuate pear tree borer, Agrilus sinuatus Olivier (Buprestidae, Coleoptera), are key pests of ornamental thuja and junipers and of orchard and ornamental rosaceous trees, respectively. Although chemical control measures are available, due to the beetles' small size, agility, and cryptic lifestyle at the larval stage, efficient tools for their detection and monitoring are missing. Consequently, by the time emerging jewel beetle adults are noticed, the trees are typically significantly damaged. Thus, the aim of this study was to initiate the development of monitoring traps. Transparent, light green, and purple sticky sheets and multifunnel traps were compared in field experiments in Hungary. Light green and transparent sticky traps caught more L. festiva and A. sinuatus jewel beetles than non-sticky multifunnel traps, regardless of the larger size of the colored surface of the funnel traps. Although light green sticky sheets turned out to be optimal for both species, using transparent sheets can reduce catches of non-target insects. The key to the effectiveness of sticky traps may lie in the behavioral responses of the beetles to the optical features of the traps. BACKGROUND: Two jewel beetle species native to Europe, the cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila (Palmar, Ovalisia) festiva L. (Buprestidae, Coleoptera), and the sinuate pear tree borer, Agrilus sinuatus Olivier (Buprestidae, Coleoptera), are key pests of ornamental thuja and junipers and of orchard and ornamental rosaceous trees, respectively. Although chemical control measures are available, due to the beetles' small size, agility, and cryptic lifestyle at the larval stage, efficient tools for their detection and monitoring are missing. Consequently, by the time emerging jewel beetle adults are noticed, the trees are typically significantly damaged. METHODS: Thus, the aim of this study was to initiate the development of monitoring traps. Transparent, light green, and purple sticky sheets and multifunnel traps were compared in field experiments in Hungary. RESULTS: Light green and transparent sticky traps caught more L. festiva and A. sinuatus jewel beetles than non-sticky multifunnel traps, regardless of the larger size of the colored surface of the funnel traps. CONCLUSIONS: Although light green sticky sheets turned out to be optimal for both species, using transparent sheets can reduce catches of non-target insects. The key to the effectiveness of sticky traps, despite their reduced suitability for quantitative comparisons, may lie in the behavioral responses of the beetles to the optical features of the traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, global warming, climate change, and carbon emissions have emerged due to the uncontrolled use of fossil fuels and the lack of widespread use of renewable energy sources on a global scale. This research investigated specific energy consumption (SEC) and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions (carbon dioxide [CO2] and nitrogen oxides [NOX]) during the drying of pear samples by five different types of dryers, namely, convective (CV), infrared (IR), microwave (MW), combined IR/CV, and MW/CV. Moreover, the quality properties of dried pears, such as shrinkage, rehydration (RR), and color change were determined. The results showed that the highest shrinkage (72.53%) and color change (ΔE = 33.41) values were obtained in CV drying at 50 °C and thickness of 2 mm and IR dryer 1000 W and thickness of 6 mm, respectively. The greatest rehydration rate (4.25) was also determined in MW/CV drying at 450 W and an air temperature of 60 °C. The lowest SEC was observed for the MW/CV dryer with a power of 630 W and air temperature 70 °C (20.25 MJ/kg), while the highest SEC (267.61 MJ/kg) was obtained in the CV drying (50 °C, sample thickness of 6 mm). The highest CO2 and NOX emissions (GT-GO power plant) were 280.45 and 1.55 kg/kg water in the CV dryer at 50 °C and a thickness of 6 mm. In conclusion, the increases in IR and MW power and temperatures led to reduced CO2 and NOX emissions, while the increases in sample thickness led to increase CO2 and NOX emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolates of the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora with high-level resistance to Oxytetracycline (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] > 100 µg/ml) and to streptomycin (MIC > 100 µg/ml) were recovered from four commercial pear orchards in California between 2018 and 2020. The two representative Oxytetracycline- and streptomycin-resistant (OxyTcR-SmR) sttains 32-10 and 33-1 were as virulent as the antibiotic susceptible strain 13-1 in causing blossom blight of pear and were recovered more than 50% of the time 7 days after co-inoculation to pear flowers with strain 13-1. In the field, inoculation of strain 32-10 to pear flowers that were pretreated with Oxytetracycline at 200 µg/ml did not reduce disease compared with an untreated control. Four OxyTcR-SmR strains were subjected to draft genome sequencing to identify the genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance and their location. A 43.6-kb IncX plasmid, designated pX11-7, was detected in each of the four strains, and this plasmid encoded the tetracycline-resistance gene tetB and the streptomycin-resistance gene pair strAB within a large putatively mobile genetic element consisting of the transposon Tn10 that had inserted within the streptomycin-resistance transposon Tn60S2. We also determined that pX11-7 was conjugative and was transferred at a rate that was 104 to 105 higher into an E. amylovora strain isolated in California compared with an E. amylovora strain that was isolated in Michigan. The occurrence of high levels of resistance to both Oxytetracycline and streptomycin in E. amylovora strains from commercial pear orchards in California significantly limits the options for blossom blight management in these locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pantoea vagans C9-1 (C9-1) is a biological control bacterium that is applied to apple and pear trees during bloom for suppression of fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora. Strain C9-1 has three megaplasmids: pPagl, pPag2, and pPag3. Prior bioinformatic studies predicted these megaplasmids have a role in environmental fitness and/or biocontrol efficacy. Plasmid pPag3 is part of the large Pantoea plasmid (LPP-1) group that is present in all Pantoea spp. and has been hypothesized to contribute to environmental colonization and persistence, while pPag2 is less common. We assessed fitness of C9-1 derivatives cured of pPag2 and/or pPag3 on pear and apple flowers and fruit in experimental orchards. We also assessed the ability of a C9-1 derivative lacking pPag3 to reduce populations of E. amylovora on flowers and disease incidence. Previously, we determined that tolerance to stresses imposed in vitro was compromised in derivatives of C9-1 lacking pPag2 and/or pPag3; however, in this study, the loss of pPag2 and/or pPag3 did not consistently reduce the fitness of C9-1 on flowers in orchards. Over the summer, pPag3 contributed to survival of C9-1 on developing apple and pear fruit in two of five trials, whereas loss of pPag2 did not significantly affect survival of C9-1. We also found that loss of pPag3 did not affect C9-1's ability to reduce E. amylovora populations or fire blight incidence on apple flowers. Our findings partially support prior hypotheses that LPP-1 in Pantoea species contributes to persistence on plant surfaces but questions whether LPP-1 facilitates host colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of the fire blight control material, Oxytetracycline, in water is strongly affected by pH, increasing with increasing acidity. From 2017 to 2021, pear and apple orchard trials were conducted to evaluate if acidic amendments to Oxytetracycline sprays improve fire blight control. Compared with the water-treated control, infection suppression after two bloom applications of an acidified commercial Oxytetracycline formulation averaged 85.9 ± 0.4% compared with 72.2 ± 1.7% without an acidifier, but individual trials frequently had insufficient statistical power to separate among acidified and non-acidified antibiotic treatments. Across trials, a significant linear relationship was observed for regression of relative infection suppression from Oxytetracycline (hydrochloride formulation) on spray tank pH. Similar relationships were observed for Oxytetracycline (calcium complex formulation) and kasugamycin (P values were 0.055 and 0.069, respectively). Also based on regression, acidified Oxytetracycline and kasugamycin suppressed epiphytic populations of Erwinia amylovora on flowers to a greater degree than the antibiotic only. As spray suspensions, commercial Oxytetracycline formulations at label rate and amended with citric acid (1.2 g/liter) in well water had pH values near 3.4, but after spraying, the pH of flowers washed in deionized water (1 ml/flower) measured in a range of 5.2 to 5.5 compared with a pH range of 5.8 to 6.0 after a treatment of Oxytetracycline only. In pear fruit finish trials, sprays acidified with citric acid-based materials had negligible effects on fruit russeting. Based on a serological assay, the detectable residual of Oxytetracycline on apple foliage was increased by co-application with citric acid compared with a non-acidified control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire blight, caused by the plant-pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a devastating disease that occurs on rosaceous plants, including pears and apples. E. amylovora is indigenous to North America and was spread to the Eurasian continent in the second half of the 20th century through contaminated plant materials. In 2016, fire blight was first observed in Yili, Xinjiang Province, in Northwestern China. Since then, it has spread to most pear-producing regions in Xinjiang Province and parts of Gansu Province. The disease has caused severe damage to China's pear and apple industries, including the 2017 disease epidemic in Korla, Xinjiang, which caused an overall yield reduction of 30 to about 50% in Korla and the destruction of over 1 million pear trees. Over the past few years, a combined effort of research, extension, and education by the Chinese government, scientists, and fruit growers has greatly alleviated outbreaks and epidemics in affected regions while successfully limiting the further spread of fire blight to new geographical regions. Here, we review the occurrence, spread, and damage of this disease to the Chinese fruit industry, as well as the management options used in China and their outcomes. We also discuss future perspectives for restraining the spread and alleviating the damage of fire blight in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to assess the impact of mixed silages of biomass sorghum and BRS Capiaçu with cactus pear on the fermentative profile and nutritional value. The silages included forage sorghum cv. Volumax, biomass sorghum cv. 'BRS 716,' BRS Capiaçu grass, a mix of 60% biomass sorghum 'BRS 716' with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill ('Gigante') cactus pear (based on fresh matter), and a mix of 60% BRS Capiaçu grass with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill ('Gigante') cactus pear (based on fresh matter). The experiment followed a randomized experimental design with five treatments and eight repetitions. The highest gas losses (P < 0.01) and lowest dry matter recovery (DMR; P < 0.01) were observed in the BRS Capiaçu grass and BRS Capiaçu grass with cactus pear silages. The lactic acid concentration in the biomass sorghum with cactus pear silage was 49.96% higher than in the Volumax sorghum silage . Volumax sorghum and 'BRS 716' biomass silages demonstrated higher DM contents (P < 0.01; mean 33.44%) compared to other silages. There was no significant difference (P = 0.24) among silages regarding the potentially degradable insoluble fraction of the DM, with a mean of 51.75%. The mixed silage of biomass sorghum with cactus pear exhibited lower losses and higher DMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective protocols for in vitro rooting for woody fruit trees are still a challenge for in vitro seedling production, especially when there is a need to insert new cultivars or rootstocks. These protocols are essential to accelerate studies in plant breeding programs and for seedling distribution. This study evaluated the use of 6-Benzylaminopurine (IBA) in in vitro rooting of Pyrus comunnis rootstocks, clones 'OHxF87' and Pyrodwarf. Explant exposure times (0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours) to 20 mg L-1 IBA were tested for in vitro rooting. The exposure to IBA resulted in rooting rates above 80%, surpassing some results reported in the literature. The 24-hour treatment provided 81,81% survival, leading to an average growth of five roots with 19 mm length, for 'OHxF87' rootstock. The same exposure time resulted in the highest survival rate (75%) and the highest mean root number, seven roots per plant with 10 mm length, for 'PDW' rootstock. Root formation did not occur in the absence of synthetic auxin. Therefore, it can be concluded that a 24-hour exposure at 20 mg L-1 IBA was sufficient to promote in vitro rooting in 'OHxF87' and Pyrodwarf rootstocks'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a scientist, teacher, and author, Joseph J. Pear (1938–2022) made inventive and innovative contributions to the experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis. He collaborated on the invention of a computer-controlled video system that provided real-time tracking of an animal as it moved around its environment—the first system of its kind—and used this system to study the behavior of pigeons during schedules of reinforcement and autoshaping, Siamese fighting fish during Sidman avoidance tasks, and even lake sturgeon using darkness as a positive reinforcer. A pioneer in early online teaching, he developed a computer-aided version of Keller's personalized system of instruction, a system known as CAPSI. Pear coauthored with Garry Martin a best-selling behavior modification textbook, and wrote his own books on topics such as the science of learning and psychological systems. Pear's work exemplified the growing integration between basic and applied behavior analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the cues used by insects to select their hosts is essential for developing sustainable control strategies, particularly for plant disease vectors. Pear psyllids (Cacopsylla pyri) are vectors of the bacterial disease pear decline caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri'. Yellow sticky traps are typically used to monitor pest insects, but they are non‐specific and capture many beneficial insects, too. Against the background of improving visual traps, this research aimed to investigate the colour choice behaviour of C. pyri. Our first approach was to screen insect colour preferences by performing choice assays with different LED colour wavelengths in a small‐scale choice arena under controlled conditions. Over six LEDs tested, there was a strong significant preference of C. pyri for green 1 (532 nm) followed by green 2 (549 nm). Yellow (576 nm), orange (593 nm), red 1 (619 nm) and red 2 (633 nm) were less attractive than green. Subsequently, the trapping of pear psyllids was tested in the field using newly developed traps covered with transparent‐coloured PVC sheets with a similar wavelength of the preferred LEDs. Red and completely transparent traps have been used as control and combined in randomized blocks in a pear orchard. Field trials revealed that green traps ranging from 525 to 537 nm attracted significantly more pear psyllids than longer wavelength green (543 nm), red and transparent ones. The construction of specific green‐coloured sticky traps seems promising for improving psyllid trapping, especially during an early infestation at low population densities. Thus, these visual traps should be considered in future and integrated into psyllid monitoring as part of integrated pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a P ositional- E ncoded A synchronous Auto R egression (PEAR) method for satellite anomaly detection. We empirically observe that a single classification model can hardly detect unknown anomalous situations and neglect the Markov nature of temporal satellite data. To address this, we adopt an autoregressive model to deal with the prediction of unknown anomaly for satellite data. We further propose a non-uniform temporal encoding method for asynchronous data and a median filtering method for more accurate detection. To reduce the effect of outliers, we employ an adaptive threshold selection method to achieve a more robust classification boundary. We test the proposed method on the time series prediction models including LSTM and transformers and we further employ the positional encoding strategy to improve the modeling capabilities of the Transformer model on high-frequency information. Experiments on real satellite data demonstrate that the proposed PEAR method outperforms the baseline method by 55.79%. • We propose an autoregressive model to predict the unknown satellite anomaly. • We employ the positional encoding strategy to fit high-frequency information. • Extensive experiments demonstrate the superior performances of PEAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-controlling rootstocks have been one of the major innovations facilitating high-efficiency fruit production; however, biological mechanisms responsible for their size-controlling effect remain unclear. In this study we investigated if apple and pear trees grafted on dwarfing and invigorating rootstocks differ in the size and dynamics of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) storage pools. Seasonal dynamics in NSC concentrations were assessed in current-year shoots, coarse roots, trunks, and leaves. These measurements were then upscaled to whole-organ and whole-tree NSC pools and mutually compared. Because of the small variation in the relative biomass partitioning and generally similar organ-level NSC concentrations, the size of the NSC pools scaled tightly with the overall tree biomass with vigorous trees having greater absolute storage pools compared to dwarfing trees. The magnitudes of the seasonal fluctuation in NSC pools (i.e., November to May difference) were in the range from 0.55 to 3.93 kg per tree and 20 to 50 g per kg of tree's dry weight. In absolute terms, the seasonal fluctuations in NSC pools were higher in vigorously growing trees but in relative terms and also when scaled by the tree's biomass the differences between the low and high vigor trees became negligible, suggesting that the low and high vigor trees rely on their NSC reserves to a similar extent during their annual growth cycle. Thus, our results provide no support that the observed differences in growth vigor are driven by the availability of C-reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the heavy metals of Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr in two naturally grown plants (Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Pyrus elaeagnifolia Pall.) and on the roadside soil. The samples in this study were collected from the European route e80 highway in Türkiye. Average concentrations of metals in surface soil samples were: Cd, 0.47; Mn, 656.18; Ni, 96.68; Zn, 171.90; Pb, 33.42; Cu, 45.82; and Cr, 95.60 ppm. Pollution levels were estimated based on soil pollution index (PI) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo). The general trends of soil pollution index (PI) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr > Ni > Mn > Zn. Additionally, transfer factors (TF) were calculated to evaluate the feasibility of plant species for phytoremediation purposes. The leaf part of H. rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) has the highest TF for Cu among plant parts. Finally, in this study, the highest transfer factors were determined as Cu and Zn in Seabuckthorn; P. elaeagnifolia (Wild Pear) these are heavy metals Cu and Cd. In particular, it is thought that employing plant leaves as a monitoring technique may be helpful in keeping track of changes in Cu, Cd, and Zn concentrations in situations along highways. In particular, it is thought that employing plant leaves as a monitoring technique may be helpful in keeping track of changes in Cu, Cd, and Zn concentrations in situations along highways. The findings of this study can be further interpreted to assess the risks that may arise from exposure to heavy metals at the edge of highways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korla fragrant pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) fruits have a unique flavor and are rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and other nutrients. At present, the molecular basis of the quality differences among Korla fragrant pear fruits with a convex calyx and rough skin (RS), calyx shedding (SD), and a convex calyx (CV) remains unknown. To analyze the main metabolic components of Korla fragrant pear fruits and compare the antioxidant activities of these three fruits with different qualities, we used nutrient composition analysis and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS)-based widely targeted metabolomics approaches to analyze the changes in the quality characteristics of the pulp of these three Korla fragrant pear fruits with different appearances. The nutrient composition analysis showed that the fructose and glucose contents were not significantly different, and sucrose and vitamin C contents were significantly higher in SD fruits compared with CV and RS fruits. However, the levels of flavor substances such as titratable acids, total phenols, and total flavonoids were high in the pulp of RS fruits. The metabolomics results identified 1976 metabolites that were clustered into 12 categories, and phenolic acid and flavonoid metabolites were the most abundant. The differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the fruits with different appearances were screened by multivariate statistical methods, and a total of 595 DAMs were detected. The analysis identified 300 DAMs between the CV and SD fruits, 246 DAMs between the RS and CV fruits, and 405 DAMs between the RS and SD groups. SD fruits contained the most metabolites with a high relative content, especially phenolic acids, lipids, amino acids and derivatives, alkaloids, and organic acids. Compared with CV fruits, flavonoid metabolism was more active in RS fruits, which also had a higher content of flavonoids, whereas the fewest metabolites were found in CV fruits, which also displayed less flavonoid accumulation. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the DAMs were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways of flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, confirming that CV fruits have decreased flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and accumulate fewer flavonoids than RS fruits, which may explain the less bitter and astringent flavor of CV fruits. However, the flavonoid content in RS fruits was very high, which may be one of the reasons why RS fruits have a harder pulp and are less juicy, more slaggy, and less flavorful. Moreover, the analysis of the antioxidant activity showed that during fruit development and maturation, RS fruits had stronger antioxidant activity than SD and CV fruits. These results provide a theoretical basis for improving the fruit quality of Korla fragrant pears and the processing of pear pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large portion of the Mediterranean basin suffers from a lack of organic carbon in the soil and low woody cover percentages, resulting in a very high risk of desertification. In such conditions, knowing the effects on below and above ground carbon sequestration of pioneer woody species is of great importance, although barely assessed at the individual level. In this study, we first investigated whether almond-leaved pear (Pyrus spinosa) individuals influence soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and stock in comparison with surrounding pasturelands inside a natural reserve in Sicily, Italy. Second, we evaluated inter individual variability on such storage, testing the effects of plant height, basal diameter, canopy cover and tree structure (single or multiple stems). Soils under pear presented, on average, a significantly higher SOC than pasturelands (3.86% and 3.16%, respectively) as well as a lower bulk density (1.09 and 1.28 g cm−3, respectively). Due to a lower soil compaction, SOC stocks (130.3 and 113.9 Mg ha−1, respectively) did not differ significantly. Below and aboveground biomass carbon accounted for a small fraction of carbon stock, while neither pear structure, age nor tree structure significantly influenced SOC concentration and SOC stock. Despite the need of further investigations, our results indicate that pear may represent an excellent tree species to improve carbon storage, both while triggering the restoration of Mediterranean woodlands or increasing biodiversity in pasturelands and agroforestry systems, that, indeed, can hold high SOC if well managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of different inclusion levels of cactus pear (Opuntia stricta) (at 0%, 15%, 30% or 45% on fresh matter basis) ensiled with shoots of cassava (Manihot esculenta) on the mineral nutrients, carbohydrates fractionation, nitrogen compounds and in vitro gas production, using a completely randomised design consisting of four treatments and five replicates per treatment, totalling 20 experimental units. There were significant increases (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of Mg, B, Fe, total carbohydrates and fraction A+B1 (non-fibre carbohydrates) with increased cactus pear inclusion, whereas nitrogen and fractions B2 (available fibre) and C (insoluble protein, indigestible in rumen and intestine) significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with the inclusion. The inclusion of cactus pear significantly (p < 0.05) reduced crude protein content and the fractions A (non-protein nitrogen) and B3 (insoluble protein with a slow degradation rate in the rumen) in the silages. Fraction B1+B2 (rapidly degraded true protein + insoluble protein with an intermediate degradation rate in the rumen) significantly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of cactus pear inclusion. Gas production parameters showed a quadratic effect for Ca, Mn, observed gas volume, estimated gas volume by the bicompartmental model, rate of degradation of fibre carbohydrates, and rate of degradation of non-fibre carbohydrates (p < 0.05). The use of cactus pear increased the content of soluble sugars in mixed silages made with the aerial part of cassava plants. However, gas production was low with the inclusion of 45% cactus pear. Based on the overall results, the combination of 45% cactus pear with 55% of the aerial part of cassava in mixed silages is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Food & Dairy Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main goal of this research was to investigate how particle size influences the characteristics of pear (Pyrus Communis L.) pomace flour and to examine the impact of different pre-treatment methods on the phenolic content and associated bioactivities. Pear pomace flour was fractionated into different particle sizes, namely 1 mm, 710 µm, 180 µm, 75 µm and 53 µm. Then two extraction methods, namely maceration with methanol and two-step extraction with hexane via Soxhlet followed by ultrasound extraction with methanol, were tested. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents ranged from 375.0 to 512.9 mg gallic acid/100 g DW and from 24.7 to 34.6 mg quercetin/100 g DW, respectively. Two-step extraction provided antioxidant activity up to 418.8 (in FRAP assay) and 340.0 mg Trolox/100 g DW (in DPPH assay). In order to explore various bioactive properties, this study assessed the inhibitory effects of enzymes, specifically α-amylase and β-glucosidase (associated with antidiabetic effects), as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme (linked to potential antihypertensive benefits). Additionally, the research investigated antibacterial potential against both Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria, revealing significant results (p < 0.05), particularly in the case of the two-step extraction method. This investigation underscores the substantial value of certain food industry wastes, highlighting their potential as bioactive ingredients within the framework of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is an important sensory factor in evaluating the quality of pear fruits. This study used headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of three crispy pears and five soft pears during shelf life, and the changes in soluble solids content (SSC) were analyzed. The results showed that the SSC of the soft pears such as Nanguoli, Jingbaili and Louis was always higher than that of the crispy pears throughout shelf life. A total of 160 VOCs were detected in the eight pear varieties. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) combined with predictor variable importance projection (VIP) showed that the eight pear varieties could be obviously classified into six groups according to the differences in their VOCs, and 31 differential VOCs were screened out, which could be used to differentiate between pears with different flesh textures. The results of clustering heat map analysis showed that, with the extension of shelf life, the content of each different VOC did not change much in crispy pears, whereas the difference in soft pears was larger. This study confirmed the potential of determining the optimal shelf life of different pear varieties about aroma evaluation and studying the mechanism of differences in VOCs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the most expensive and challenging insect pest of commercial pear trees in the Pacific Northwest. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs are working toward relying more heavily on natural enemies to reduce insecticide use. Trechnites insidiosus (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is the main parasitoid of C. pyricola , but little is known about its biology in the region. Developing sampling tools is important for the deployment of IPM programs, including monitoring of natural enemies. In this study, we examined 2 conventional monitoring methods: beat trays and yellow sticky cards, in addition to screened sticky cards and 3D-printed cylinder traps. Additionally, we tested an overwintering trap for the collection of parasitized C. pyricola. The trapping methods were tested in orchards in Oregon and Washington. Unscreened cards caught the most T. insidiosus and C. pyricola , followed by screened cards, cylinder traps, and then beat trays. Beat trays sometimes failed to catch any T. insidiosus , even when it was found in abundance via other methods. Screened cards and cylinder traps reduced bycatch and increased ease of identifying T. insidiosus. Specimens from the cylinder traps were also more suitable for use in molecular analysis. The overwintering traps were effective at capturing parasitized C. pyricola , but were highly variable year to year. The ideal trapping method will vary based on research needs (e.g. DNA preservation, reducing bycatch, catching higher numbers), but both screened sticky cards and cylinder traps were viable methods for monitoring T. insidiosus and its host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]