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Mandarin fruits are the most widely grown citrus fruits in the world, particularly in the eastern Himalayas of India, which is the primary center of citrus diversity. Diagnosing potential nutritional imbalances using leaf tissue analysis is a mandatory practice for a higher yield. Regarding the nutritional diagnosis of Khasi mandarin plants, particularly in the acidic soil of the hilly ecology of the Eastern Himalayas, India, there is currently no information available. Therefore, the present study was conducted to identify nutrient constraints, establish leaf-based diagnostic recommended and integrated system (DRIS) norms, and determine nutrients' relationship with fruit yields in 144 orchards. The result showed that the DRIS indices predicted a nutritional optimum value for Khasi mandarin: 2.26–2.83% N, 0.11–0.16% P, 1.86–2.07% K, 1.85–2.12% Ca, 0.33–0.48% Mg, 170.10–225.10 mg kg−1 Fe, 74.03–83.43 mg kg−1 Mn, 1.24–2.45 mg kg−1 Cu, and 19.84–21.28 mg kg−1 Zn. The DRIS norms identified the nutrients Zn, P, Ca, K, N, and Mg as deficient to low levels (14.15→2.14), while Fe, Mn, and Cu were at high to excessive levels (5.50→18.25). The nutritional balance index had a significantly negative relationship with the fruit yield. Leaf nutrient concentrations of N (0.909**), P (0.827**), K (0.867**), Zn (0.833**), Ca (0.827**), and Mg (0.592**) had a significant positive correlation with fruit yield. The finding will facilitate the correct interpretation of leaf nutrient analysis, and the norms developed will enable a precise intervention through nutrient management for higher yields in mandarin citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium digitatum has become one of the main pathogens in citrus due to its high spore production and easy spread. In this study, the function of the APSES transcription factor StuA in P. digitatum was characterized, and the results indicated that it was involved in conidium and conidiophore development. No conidiophores were observed in the mycelium of the ∆PdStuA mutant that had grown for two days, while an abnormal conidiophore was found after another two days of incubation, and only small thin phialides as well as a very small number of spores were formed at the top of the hyphae. Moreover, it was observed that the ∆PdStuA mutant showed various defects, such as reduced hydrophobicity and decreased tolerance to cell wall inhibitors and H2O2. Compared to the original P. digitatum, the colony diameter of the ∆PdStuA mutant was not significantly affected, but the growth of aerial hyphae was obviously induced. In in vivo experiments, the spore production of the ∆PdStuA mutant grown on citrus fruit was remarkably decreased; however, there was no significant difference in the lesion diameter between the mutant and original strain. It could be inferred that less spore production might result in reduced spread in citrus, thereby reducing the green mold infection in citrus fruit during storage. This study provided a gene, PdStuA, which played key role in the sporulation of P. digitatum, and the results might provide a reference for the molecular mechanisms of sporulation in P. digitatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarins are one of the most important citrus fruits in the world in terms of tons produced. The late-season varieties of mandarin have a great economic value due to their high production in a season with few mandarin varieties. The objective is to carry out a preliminary study of characterization and comparison of the morphological and biochemical properties of the late varieties 'Afourer', 'Tango', and 'Orri'. The characterization consisted of physicochemical parameters related to the quality of the fruits, highlighting the total antioxidant activity using ABTS and DPPH, the organic acids and sugars using HPLC and the metabolomics of the juice by 1H-NMR. Afourer' mandarins were heavier and larger (120.75 g, 67.60 mm) than the other two varieties studied. Mandarins of the 'Orri' variety showed a different organic acid profile compared to the other varieties studied, and a higher amount of sugars (13.49 g/100 mL). 'Tango' variety mandarins grown on the Forner-Alcaide rootstock stood out for having a larger weight (113.52 g), a more intense color, and a greater amount of phenolic compounds (966.85 mg AGE/L Forner) than the fruits grown on Citrus macrophylla. The metabolomics analysis showed that these mandarin varieties had mainly non-essential amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus rootstocks are a relevant tree part that contributes to crops adapting to biotic and abiotic conditions, it becoming a key factor to face the current era of climate change. Although the emphasis of most studies on rootstocks has been placed on the yield and optimization of the citrus fruit grown in different environments, other studies have paid attention to the effect of rootstock on fruit quality. Hence, the quality of citrus fruit is becoming increasingly more relevant as consumers demand high internal and external qualities to eat citrus fruit fresh. To better understand how rootstock influences citrus fruit quality, the literature that focuses on physico-chemical parameters, nutritional compounds and physiological disorders has been revised. This review points out the influence that the external aspects surrounding plants has on fruit quality, such as the rootstock/scion interaction, the water uptake capacity of roots, the modification of the photosynthetic rate or availability of nutrient minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus is the most common cultivated fruit in the world as well as in India. Citrus fruits are not only refreshing and delicious but are also very rich in vitamin C. Apart from this, citrus fruits are good source of minerals like calcium, phosphorous and iron. Citrus fruits are taken fresh as well as in processed form. A wide range of bioactive substances have already been identified in foods and drinks. Lime has different medicinal properties like anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammation, anti-lipidemia and anti-oxidant properties. Its secondary metabolites are alkaloids, carotenoids, coumarins, essential oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids and triterpenoids. It is used against breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and lymphoma. Sweet orange contains important phytochemicals like limonoids, synephrine, hesperidin, flavonoid, polyphenols, pectin and sufficient amount of folacin, calcium, potassium, thiamine, niacin and magnesium. Its sugars, acids, carotenoids, polyphenols, limonoids and vitamins determine the flavour of the fruit. In the present review, brief description of different species and their nutritive and medicinal values have been discussed to provide collective information about citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet orange is an important citrus fruit grown throughout the world as it rich in phytonutrients properties and excellent source of vitamin C. The conventional clarification process involves more costs with personnel, equipment, and physical space. As an alternative, microfiltration (MF) has been applied in fruit juices for clarification. Clarification of sweet orange juice was carried out by microfiltration process using 0.2 μm size cellulose acetate MF membrane in a stirred cell. Flux decline was majorly due to deposits formed with soluble and suspended fraction of pectin, proteins and fibers, forming a low methoxy gel layer on membrane surface causing fouling during clarification. Long term flux decline was dictated by intermediate pore blocking in combination with growth of gel layer over the membrane surface. Reversible resistance was considered as domineering resistance and therefore, 90% of original permeate flux was recovered by following proper washing protocol to clean membranes. It was noticed that most of the total soluble solids (TSS), pH and vitamin C expressed as ascorbic acid of the feed were recovered in the permeate after filtration and there was no loss of the important properties pertaining to sweet orange juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus canker (CC), caused by one of the most destructive subfamilies of the bacterial phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. Citri (Xcc), poses a serious threat to the significantly important citrus fruit crop grown worldwide. This has been the subject of ongoing epidemiological and disease management research. Currently, five different forms have been identified of CC, in which Canker A (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) being the most harmful and infecting the majority of citrus cultivars. Severe infection symptoms include leaf loss, premature fruit drop, dieback, severe fruit blemishing or discoloration, and a decrease in fruit quality. The infection spreads rapidly through wind, rain splash, and warm and humid climates. The study of the chromosomal and plasmid DNA of bacterium has revealed the evolutionary pattern among the pathovars, and research on the Xcc genome has advanced our understanding of how the bacteria specifically recognize and infect plants, spread within the host, and propagates itself. Quarantine or exclusion programs, which prohibit the introduction of infected citrus plant material into existing stock, are still in use. Other measures include eliminating sources of inoculum, using resistant hosts, applying copper spray for protection, and implementing windbreak systems. The main focus of this study is to highlight the most recent developments in the fields of Xcc pathogenesis, epidemiology, symptoms, detection and identification, host range, spread, susceptibility, and management. Additionally, it presents an analysis of the economic impact of this disease on the citrus industry and suggests strategies to reduce its spread, including the need for international collaboration and research to reduce the impact of this disease on the global citrus industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinnow (Citrus reticulata), a type of citrus fruit grown in Pakistan, is world-famous due to its unique taste. However, deficiency of nutrients, environmental stresses, and pests and disease attacks are causing low fruit productivity, juice quality, and fruit dropping. In this study, integrated management of hormones and nutrients was performed in orchards with high premature fruit dropping from major citrus-producing areas of Pakistan to improve fruit yield and quality. Thirty trees (10 to 20 y old) were selected from each orchid. Salicylic acid (100 mg L−1 SA), potassium (100 mg L−1 K), zinc (100 mg L−1 Zn), 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2 mg L−1 2,4-D), indole acetic acid (10 mg L−1 IAA), and their combinations (SA + K, SA + Zn, SA + 2,4-D, SA + IAA, and SA + K+Zn) were foliar applied at the initiation of flowering, fruit formation, and fruit color initiation stages. Each treatment was repeated thrice while water was sprayed for control. The pathological study and soil and leaf nutrient analysis showed that the yield, quality, and citrus fruit dropping were influenced by insect pests, microbial pathogen infestations, and nutrient deficiency. The results indicated that SA + 2,4-D proved most effective in closely enhancing fruits' weight and size, followed by SA + K+Zn. However, the SA + K+Zn showed the highest net photosynthesis and fruit drop control, followed by SA + 2,4-D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Engenharia na Agricultura is the property of Engenharia na Agricultura 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.)

A survey on black parlatoria scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas), natural enemies present at El-Qualubia Governorate, Egypt, during the season 2010-2011, was carried out in an orchard of navel orange. Identification of the collected samples indicated that the most abundant enemies were the ectoparasitoid Aphytis hispanicus (Mercet), the endoparasitoid Prospaltella inquirenda (Silvestri) and two predatory mites Cheletogenes ornatus (Canestrini&Fanzago) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot). Aphytis hispanicus preferred to parasitize on males more than females and nymphs, whereas P. inquirenda preferred to attack females more than males and nymphs. The activity of parasitoids was not observed during the two main periods, the first from July to August, and the second from January to March. On the other hand, the predatory mites, C. ornatus and A. swirskii, prefer nutrition to females more than males and nymphs. The percentage of their population was high during the winter-spring and autumn host generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effect of some climatic variables and their role in growing citrus fruits in northern Saudi Arabia, which showed that low temperatures accompanied by calm winds and high relative humidity as well as creeping air masses are among the most important factors that contribute to the worsening of frost. This study also dealt with hourly frost waves - a case study - based on the study of climatic data of the study area stations for one day of frost waves that occurred in the study area for the year 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits are a widespread fruit crop and belong to the Rutaceae family. Citrus fruits include orange, tangerine, lime, lemon, sour orange and grapefruit. Citrus fruits are not only used for table purposes, but also in processing industries to make value added products such as marmalade, jams, juice, jellies, etc. which leads to the generation of waste into peel (rind) and seeds. The main fruit waste i.e. peels and seeds. The peel (skin) can be used for the preparation of sweets (candies). The use of citrus peel will not only improve the utility, but also serve to reduce the pollution load on the environment. It is nutritionally fortified with ascorbic acid, vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, and other beneficial compounds essential for overall health. Citrus peels are enriched with pectin, cellulose and hemicelluloses, bioactive compounds and other compounds beneficial to health. The moisture content of the fresh citrus peels was 89.49% and the acidity in terms of citric acid was 0.40%. The ascorbic acid content was 87.49 mg/100 g. The bitterness that prevails in citrus peels has limited its added value, demand and relevance. Limited work has been done on the processing and post-harvest management of citrus. In this article, we have presented and discussed the efforts of researchers around the world regarding waste use and value addition. In this review, we have tried to compile previous research information in an accurate way to improvise the benefits and full use of citrus waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector in the Jordan Valley plays an important role in the economic system and that the region is essentially Jordan's food basket. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is widely recognized as essential to ensure agricultural sustainability. This study analyzed factors influencing citrus farmer's adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) in the Northern Ghor of Jordan valley. The study used a quantitative approach. Simple random sampling was adopted to select 115 farmers in the study area. A multiple regression analysis was applied to identify factors influencing the sustainability of citrus farming practices. The study found that the largest proportion 44.4% of the citrus farmers had a fairly high adoption rate of SAPs while 13.0% of ones had high adoption of SAPs. In addition, the study revealed that age of farmer, Farm experience, primary education, and tertiary education were factors that affected farmers SAPs adoption. Policy recommendations are proposed to enhance the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices by the citrus farmers in the Northern Ghor of Jordan valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Black Sea / Karadeniz is the property of Black Sea / Karadeniz 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 Cientifica is the property of Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa e Extensao 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 Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas is the property of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Horticolas 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.)

Background and aims: Boron (B) deficiency is one of the major abiotic stresses to citrus. Trifoliate orange, as the most important citrus rootstock in China, is sensitive to B deficiency. B deficiency has serious negative effects on metabolic processes in roots, but whether the hazardous effects can be alleviated to some degree with B resupply remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of B resupply on metabolites and metabolic pathway in B-starved trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliate (L.) Raf.] roots.Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the metabolic profiles in roots under different treatments of B deprivation and B resupply.Results: B deficiency induced an obvious enlargement of root tips and significant alterations in metabolites. Changes were also observed in basic or neutral amino acids, several organic acids and carbohydrates of B-starved roots. However, one week of B resupply quickly reversed the changes in the roots with the initiation of new roots across the inflated root tips, and the restored some of metabolites to a normal level, such as proline (Pro), linoleic acid, 6-deoxy-D-glucose and myo-inositol, indicating that these metabolites are very sensitive to B availability.Conclusions: The data suggest that B resupply may contribute to the obvious, although not full, recovery of the root growth by reversing the central metabolite changes. This study provides a new insight into the relationship between root growth and the alteration on metabolites induced by B deficiency and B resupply, which can be expected to make an important contribution to the scientific application of B fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses energy and economic balances for different growing methods (conventional, integrated and organic cultivation) for Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) Clementine of Calabria, a quality-oriented citrus species in South Italy. Through a double methodological approach, the economic and energy sustainability of each production system was assessed by accounting for the farm net value (FNV) of farms. The energy employment in terms of direct (D) and indirect (I) sources and in terms of renewable (R) and non-renewable (NR) energy sources was also analysed. Regarding FNV, the results show that in the presence of European subsidies, organic farming (with 6.06 k€ ha-1) is more profitable than other systems (4.33 k€ ha-1 for integrated farming and 4.99 k€ ha-1 for conventional farming) due to the higher sales price of organic PGI clementines, which allow producers to obtain the highest remuneration for their capital (1.65 B/C organic, 1.48 B/C integrated, 1.61 B/C conventional). In addition, from an energy perspective, the organic farming systems showed better performances than conventional and integrated systems because they required the lowest average energy employment (49.5 GJ ha-1 year-1) compared with the integrated (57.2 GJ ha-1 year-1) and conventional scenarios (59.1 GJ ha-1 year-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, the worldwide market for fresh citrus fruits, mainly those that are seedless with easy-peeling and nice orange-colored skin, greatly increased. The elaboration of organoleptic quality is strongly defined by genetic and environmental components and their interaction. While several mandarin breeding programs have been developed worldwide, very few focus on the issues of tropical areas, and few data are available for citrus germplasm evaluation in a tropical environment. To optimize the mandarin production system, research related to the exploration of existing citrus germplasm, the expansion of the genetic base of orchards and the evaluation of the agronomic potential of new genotypes must be conducted. The objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate 25 mandarin varieties from typical Brazilian tropical citrus germplasm according to genetic, morphological and physicochemical traits over two consecutive years. Simple correlation coefficient analysis showed significant positive and negative correlations among characteristics (e.g., fruit diameter and total soluble solids). Principal component analysis showed that fruit diameter, fruit weight, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity, fruit surface texture and adherence of albedo to pulp were the variables that most contributed to phenotypic variability. Genetic diversity analysis grouped accessions in four main clusters corresponding to traditional edible Chinese mandarins, Mediterranean mandarins, tangelos and tango hybrids and nonedible mandarins. A multiple factorial analysis showed that phenotypic diversity was associated with genetic diversity mainly for taste, shape and color traits. The results of this study will be used for the conservation of the indigenous germplasm, identification of varieties with valuable traits related to fruit quality and subsequent exploitation in citrus breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Despite the fact that citrus industry is growing in Pakistan where production is dominated by small-scale citrus growers, no research has been done to evaluate and analyse the marketing channel choice decision-making process of these citrus growers. The purpose of this paper is to review the existing factors affecting decision making of small-size citrus growers in citrus supply chain in Pakistan and also measures and analyses the factors that affect the marketing channel decisions of these small size growers.Design/methodology/approach A multivariate decision analysis technique, conjoint analysis, was used to analyse and evaluate the major factors affecting marketing channel choice decisions of small-size citrus growers.Findings It was concluded that among nine very important factors, six factors played a major role in the marketing channel choice decision making. Only three factors namely, “price”, “time of complete fruit picking” and “number of fruit pickings” were considered highly important factors and reflected that citrus growers not only want to secure his payments but also to save their orchards for next season(s).Research limitations/implications The research would provide valuable information about citrus grower’s marketing decision-making process and thus would contribute to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of citrus industry in Pakistan.Originality/value This analysis would suggest them to make rational decisions and help choosing them the most appropriate combination of different levels of different factors which would increase their profits. This study identifies the most relevant factors and their levels which citrus growers and pre-harvest contractors preferred in citrus marketing channel choice decision making, thus, server as a guideline for the buyer’s to deal with them accordingly. This would improve the efficiency and reduce the transaction cost along the citrus supply chain in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Citrus trees are among the most cultivated plants in the world, with a high economic impact. The wide sexual compatibility among relatives gave rise to a large number of hybrids that are difficult to discriminate. This work sought to explore the ability of infrared spectroscopy to discriminate among Citrus species and/or hybrids and to contribute to the elucidation of its relatedness. RESULTS: Adult leaves of 18 distinct Citrus plants were included in this work. Near‐ and mid‐infrared (NIR and FTIR) spectra were acquired from leaves after harvesting and a drying period of 1 month. Spectra were modelled by principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Both techniques revealed a high discrimination potential (78.5–95.9%), being the best results achieved with NIR spectroscopy and air‐dried leaves (95.9%). CONCLUSION: Infrared spectroscopy was able to successfully discriminate several Citrus species and/or hybrids. Our results contributed also to enhance insights regarding the studied Citrus species and/or hybrids. Despite the benefit of including additional samples, the results herein obtained clearly pointed infrared spectroscopy as a reliable technique for Citrus species and/or hybrid discrimination. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated feeding and oviposition behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, when exposed to the foraging trails of the convergens ladybird beetle, Hippodamia convergens. Diaphorina citri females feeding on citrus leaves directly exposed to the ladybird adults or treated with trail extract excreted significantly less honeydew droplets than controls. The trail chemicals of the ladybird beetle also decreased oviposition by D. citri females on citrus. In a no-choice experiment, D. citri females preferred to oviposit on control flush and plants than those with ladybird trail-extract treatments. In two-choice experiments, 68.0% of D. citri released into cages exhibited strong selection preference for settling and eventual oviposition on control plants than plants treated with ladybird trail extract. Diaphorina citri eggs were found on all new leaf flush of control plants, whereas only 29.5% of flush on treatment plants were selected for oviposition. The trail chemical deposited by the convergens ladybird beetle elicits repellency of D. citri feeding and oviposition. Therefore, the trail chemicals my contain components that could be useful for behavior-based management of D. citri and HLB disease by reducing psyllid feeding and oviposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin ( Citrus deliciosa Tenore) is one of the most important fruit crops grown in the Hue province, Vietnam, and has immense economic, health and cultural significance. However, mandarins are highly perishable and more susceptible to diseases compared to other citrus fruits. In the present study, biomimetic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for preparing preservative solutions for mandarins was investigated. Spherical and nanometer-sized AgNPs that were prepared with the help of ultrasound wave induced a reaction between silver nitrate solution (AgNO3 0.02M) and the leaf extract of Centella asiatica. Spherical AgNPs were formed easily in the extract at an ambient temperature and their average size ranged from 3nm to 30nm. These AgNPs exhibited potent antifungal activity against Macrophoma theicola B1 fungi, which were isolated from mandarin peels collected from agricultural lands of rural villages of Thua Thien-Hue province in Vietnam. Thus, we are successful in preparing an AgNPs-containing preservative solution as a mandarin fruit-coating material to inhibit the growth of M. theicola B1 fungi. The coating of mandarin fruits with this preservative solution prolonged the storage life of the fruits from 9 to 35 days. On the 35th day, the preserved fruits maintained their natural color and ripening, whereas the control sample decayed with white fungus covering its skin after 9 days of storage. Thus, coating mandarins with this solution can be proposed as an additional treatment for increasing their postharvest quality. Additionally, it can be a solution for protection against fungal infection and physiological damage and controlling the decay of mandarins, thereby prolonging their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of the short cationic antimicrobial peptide PAF56 (amino acid sequence GHRKKWFW) to control postharvest infectious diseases of citrus fruits was evaluated. PAF56 inhibited the growth of Penicillium digitatum , Penicillium italicum and Geotrichum candidum . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of PAF56 for the control of P. digitatum , P. italicum and G. candidum were 8, 16, and 8 μM, respectively. The conidia of P. digitatum, P. italicum and G. candidum were also highly sensitive to PAF56. The peptide PAF56 could effectively control green mold, blue mold and sour rot on inoculated citrus fruits. Fluorescence microscopy with the fluorescent stains SYTOX Green (SG) and Calcofluor White (CFW) was used to characterize the modes of action and interaction of PAF56 with the mycelia of P. digitatum, P. italicum and G. candidum . SG and CFW signals indicated that PAF56 could inhibit the formation of spores and change the cell membrane permeability and cell wall structure. A range of concentrations of PAF56 (from 16 to 128 μM) showed no hemolysis or toxicity to human red blood cells (erythrocytes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit quality loss is dependent on the temperature control throughout the postharvest cold chain. Previous research mainly focused on optimizing the cooling performance of single unit operations. However, assessing fruit temperature history throughout the entire cold chain is crucial to determine the end quality. This study proposes a virtual cold chain (VCC) method to predict the temperature history and quality loss of packaged fresh fruit, down to each individual fruit, throughout the entire cold chain. The VCC method is based on computational fluid dynamics and kinetic quality modelling. Results show that the difference in quality loss among individual fruit in a carton could reach 11% for a specific cold chain. The maximum difference in the remaining quality at the end of the cold chain between different cold chain scenarios is 23%. The VCC method has a potential to track temperature history and to estimate quality loss of individual fruit in the cargo throughout a cold chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WRKY transcription factors (TF) family is involved in a huge variety of plant processes, including seed germination, plant development, phytohormone signalling, and defence against both biotic or abiotic stresses. In this work, WRKY TF family has been characterized in citrus. In a first experiment, the relative expression of CsWRKYs was analyzed in shoots and roots of plants treated with abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) under in vitro conditions. Expression of CsWRKYs was also determined in roots of commercial citrus rootstocks subjected to osmotic and salt stresses. A total amount of 50 CsWRKYs has been found and devided into different groups of WRKY family according to the WRKY domain sequences. In response to the applications of phytohormones, the highest differences were observed in roots, and it was found that ABA and SA generally repressed CsWRKYs expressions, but MeJA induced their overexpression. Osmotic stress repressed the expression of most of the CsWRKYs, whereas salt stress induced their expression. Moreover, salt stress induced higher increase in CsWRKY expressions in the tolerant rootstock Citrus macrophylla than in the sensitive rootstock Carrizo citrange, suggesting that these TFs may play an important role in response to this stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus greening currently poses a severe threat to citrus production worldwide because no treatment or management strategy is yet available to cure the disease. Scientists recommend controlling the vector of the disease, and area-wide pest management has been proposed as a superior alternative to individual pest management. We analyzed a unique dataset of farm-level citrus yields that allowed us to test this hypothesis. We found that yields of blocks located in an area with higher participation in coordinated sprays were 28%, 73%, and 98% higher in 2012/13, 2013/14, and 2014/15, respectively, compared to the yields of blocks under the same management but located in an area with lower participation. These results provide evidence on the efficiency of a well-performing pest management area to deal with citrus greening. However, participation in Citrus Health Management Areas has not been commensurate with this evidence. We present survey data that provide insights about producers' preferences and attitudes toward the area-wide pest management program. Despite the economic benefit we found area-wide pest management can provide, the strategic uncertainty involved in relying on neighbors seems to impose too high of a cost for most growers, who end up not coordinating sprays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective of this paper was to assess the impact of the Farmer field school (FFS) training program on the knowledge level of farmers (citrus growers) regarding improved citrus production practices. Distract Sargodha was the targeted research area for this study being the leading producer of citrus in Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was conclude that young people were more tend towards getting training under FFS program than old age farmers. Educated farmers were in majority in FFS farmers while; conversely illiterate farmers were in majority in the category of non-FFs farmers. In category of FFS farmers livestock farming was their primary income as reported by majority (31.3%) of FFS farmers and in the case of non-FFS farmer's crop sale was their primary income source as reported by 28.4% of non-FFs farmers. In addition to that both FFS and non-FFS farmers also earn income from nonfarm sources like business, job, foreign remittances and labour. FFS training program had positive and significant impact on the knowledge level of farmers regarding citrus production and protection practices. T-test statistics showed highly significant (P<0.05) difference in knowledge level of FFS farmers and non-FFS farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study focusing on the assessment of fruit fly infestation levels on citrus in Abura Asebu Kwamankese district of Ghana. Topics discussed include the crop losses in Africa due to Bactrocera dorsalis, the infestation of orange fruits with fruit fly larvae in the study, and the fruit fly species that were found infesting including Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis ditissima. Also mentioned is the role of poor pest control by farmers in high infestation.

Medicinal secondary metabolites (salvianolic acids and tanshinones) are valuable natural bioactive compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza and have widespread applications. Improvement of medicinal secondary metabolite accumulation through biotechnology is necessary and urgent to satisfy their increasing demand. Herein, it was demonstrated that the overexpression of the transcription factor Arabidopsis thaliana-enhanced drought tolerance 1 ( AtEDT1) could affect medicinal secondary metabolite accumulation. In this study, we observed that the transgenic lines significantly conferred drought tolerance phenotype. Meanwhile, we found that the overexpression of AtEDT1 promoted root elongation in S. miltiorrhiza. Interestingly, we also found that the overexpression of AtEDT1 determined the accumulation of salvianolic acids, such as rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid B, and total salvianolic acids due to the induction of the expression levels of salvianolic acid biosynthetic genes. Conversely, S. miltiorrhiza plants overexpressing the AtEDT1 transgene showed a decrease in tanshinone synthesis. Our results demonstrated that the overexpression of AtEDT1 significantly increased the accumulation of salvianolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza. Further studies are required to better elucidate the functional role of AtEDT1 in the regulation of phytochemical compound synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Octanal is a potential alternative to chemical fungicides in controlling postharvest disease of citrus fruit. In this study, the antifungal activity and the underlying mechanism of octanal against spore germination of Penicillium digitatum, one of the main postharvest pathogens in citrus, were investigated. Results showed that octanal at different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 μl/ml) inhibited the growth of P. digitatum spores in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology and the membrane permeability of P. digitatum spores were visibly altered by 0.25 and 2.00 μl/ml of octanal. Meanwhile, octanal decreased the total lipids contents of P. digitatum spores, indicating that the membrane integrity is damaged. Furthermore, octanal apparently induced the massive accumulation of total malonaldehyde (MDA) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS). An increase in the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), NADH oxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) was also observed. These results suggested that a membrane damage mechanism involving membrane peroxidation might contribute to the antifungal activity of octanal against P. digitatum spores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to examine the awareness and adoption of recommended citrus production practices and to investigate the factors that can affect the adoption of recommended citrus production practices. A farm level survey was conducted in Sargodha and T.T. Singh districts to gather the information about the awareness and adoption of recommended production practices of citrus. The study sample was consisted of 140 respondents. The binary regression model has been used to evaluate the effect of different socio-economic variables on the adoption response of different recommended production practice for citrus. Average age, education and experience of the citrus growers were estimated 43.92 years, 9.74 schooling years and 17.72 years respectively. The awareness and adoption of recommended citrus practices was generally good. The results of the logit model for adoption of recommended irrigation practices however postulate positive and significant impact of citrus producing experience and family income on adoption of recommended number of irrigation and hoeing practices whereas age has significant negative impact on the adoption of hoeing practice and fertilizer applications. Positive and significant impact of family income is influencing the adoption of every recommended practice. The present paper concluded that various human resource factors like age, education and experience of the citrus growers and yield mound/acre of citrus had relative significant impact of the adoption of different recommended practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi are not often thought of as citrus-producing states. However, citrus has been grown in the coastal regions of these states since the late 19th century. With a climate cool enough for a suitable amount of acid to remain in the fruit for optimum flavor and for adequate peel color development, the northern coastal fringe of the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana to northwestern Florida is particularly well suited for production of the satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.), one of the most cold-hardy commercial citrus species. There were once thousands of hectares of satsumas planted in this region. Although satsumas typically reach optimum eating quality before fall freezes along the Gulf Coast, periodic severe freezes, as well as the occasional hurricane, prevented a citrus industry of this magnitude from remaining viable. Though freeze injury remains the primary limiting factor for citrus production in this region, there is great local interest, and a small industry focused on local markets has endured. Satsuma remains the primary citrus grown along the Gulf Coast region, though sweet oranges account for a large portion of citrus sales in Louisiana. This paper reviews the history of satsumas on the Gulf Coast, covering past and present production, cultivation, freeze protection strategies, pest issues, and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad) citrus fruits are prone to develop different peel physiological disorders caused by storage at both chilling and nonchilling temperatures. The effect of galacturonic acid oligosaccharides (GAOs) and pectic oligosaccharides (POs) in reducing postharvest nonchilling peel pitting (NCPP), decay, and chilling injury (CI) in orange cv. Navelina and the effect of POs in reducing CI in grapefruit cv. Rio Red, were investigated. The incidence of these disorders was examined in fruits stored at chilling and nonchilling temperatures and at 90% to 95% relative humidity (RH). POs showed a better efficacy than GAOs in reducing postharvest losses in orange. The POs were able to reduce NCPP and decay in 'Navelina' fruits stored at 20 °C, irrespective of the fruit maturity stage. The application of 10 g·L-1 POs also reduced CI and the chilling-induced ethylene production in oranges and grapefruits maintained at the chilling temperature. Likewise, the decrease in ethylene production found in 'Navelina' fruits that developed NCPP during storage at the nonchilling temperature was related to lower peel damage. Moreover, results showed that POs do not induce an increase in ethylene when fruit are stored under conditions that do not cause stress-related injury to fruit. Therefore, POs efficacy in reducing postharvest physiological disorders is not likely mediated by ethylene. Overall results indicate that the application of POs may be an acceptable alternative to mitigate postharvest losses of citrus fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study presented, the potential of coupling chemometrics and mass spectrometry (UPLC-QToF MS) data for distinguishing the origin and variety of citrus fruit/fruit juices was investigated. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and soft independent modelling by class analogy (SIMCA) were employed. Clustering of citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and pomelo) and oranges of various geographical/botanical origin was revealed using PCA on data produced in both negative (goodness of fit, R 2 (cum) = 0.67–0.92, and predictability, Q 2 (cum) = 0.56–0.88) and positive (R 2 (cum) = 0.58–0.85 and Q 2 (cum) = 0.47–0.80) ionisation mode. PLS-DA and SIMCA confirmed the results (with 100% recognition ability obtained for citrus fruits/orange models and fresh squeezed commercial orange juice, while classification success of 80% was achieved for commercial orange juice prepared from concentrate) and showed that the category models for the class can be sensitive and highly specific. Characteristic compounds responsible for the discrimination were identified. The applicability of the models was tested with an external data set of fruit juices adulterated with other fruit juices down to 1% and diluted with water down to 5%. Using Coomans' plots, adulterated samples were easily distinguished from authentic samples showing the possibility of applying this method as a rapid screening technique to trace or confirm the origin of citrus fruit/fruit juices and detect fraud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the occurrence of mite species affiliated to the Acaridida in Egypt is still far below the taxa discovered in other countries despite the description of many species and few genera especially in Upper Egypt. The current study focused on describing two new species pertaining to the families Acaridae (Caloglyphus citri n. sp.) and Histiostomatidae (Histiostoma herbali n. sp.) described herein as hypopi (heteromorphic deutonymphs) from soil and bermuda grass in citrus orchards in Assiut, Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus junos Tanaka (yuzu) has a strong characteristic aroma and thus its juice is used in various Japanese foods. Herein, we evaluate the volatile compounds in yuzu juice to investigate whether underwater shockwave pretreatment affects its scent. A shockwave pretreatment at increased discharge and energy of 3.5 kV and 4.9 kJ, respectively, increased the content of aroma-active compounds. Moreover, the underwater shockwave pretreatment afforded an approximate tenfold increase in the scent intensity of yuzu juice cultivated in Rikuzentakata. The proposed treatment method exhibited reliable and good performance for the extraction of volatile and aroma-active compounds from the yuzu fruit. The broad applicability and high reliability of this technique for improving the scent of yuzu fruit juice were demonstrated, confirming its potential for application to a wide range of food extraction processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue mold, Lemon, Penicillium italicum, Pakistan, First report Keywords: Blue mold; First report; Lemon; Penicillium italicum; Pakistan EN Blue mold First report Lemon Penicillium italicum Pakistan 845 846 2 06/01/22 20220501 NES 220501 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-022-01050-0. [Extracted from the article]

This article reports on a study that examined the saving behaviour of farmers in southern Ghana, using a sample of 100 citrus farmers. Probit and Tobit models were used in determining the factors that influence farmers’ saving behaviours and amount of saved, respectively. The empirical findings showed that age, household size, dependency, marital status, distance to financial institution, transport cost and congestion exerted significant negative impact on farmers’ saving behaviours. On the other hand, income, education, and gender tended to promote good saving behaviour. The article concludes that heterogeneity of factors ranging from socio-economic, household assets, and institutional factors greatly stimulate farmers’ saving behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fruit splitting or cracking is a major physiological disorder in fruit trees markedly influenced by environmental conditions, but conclusive data still are required to provide a definite explanation and preventive measures. Changes in climatic conditions critically influence fruit splitting incidence. We studied plant-soil-ambient water relations in splitting-prone citrus grown under 4 contrasting environmental conditions (climate type and soil), in Spain and Uruguay, over a six years period. Automatic trunk and fruit diameter measurements (trunk and fruit growth rate and maximum daily trunk shrinkage), which are a tree water status indicator, together with factors modifying the tree and fruit water relationship (temperature, ET, rainfall, soil texture, soil moisture, rootstock and xylem anatomy) were studied and correlated with splitting. A close fruit splitting and soil texture relationship was found, inversely correlated with clay and silt percentages, and positively with those for sand. Under 85%-sand soil conditions, slight changes in soil moisture due to fluctuations in temperature, ET, or rainfall changed trunk and fruit growth rate patterns during few hours and induced splitting. Splitting incidence was higher in trees with larger xylem vessels in the fruit peduncle due to rootstock (‘Carrizo’ and ‘C-35’ citrange being higher than ‘FA-5’, ‘Cleopatra’ and Poncirus trifoliata ). Finally, reducing the frequency of irrigation by half increased midday canopy temperatures (∼5 °C) and splitting (+15%). We conclude that irregularities in the tree water status, due to interactions among soil moisture, rootstock and climatic conditions, leads to a number of substantial changes in fruit growth rate increasing the incidence of fruit splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]