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Cucurbits, vital for global economy, confront myriad stresses impacting yield and quality. Rootstocks offer vital stress tolerance, enhancing crop performance. The present review explores rootstock diversity in cucurbit cultivation, different grafting methods and various rootstock-scion combinations, assessing their roles in stress mitigation and quality improvement across cucurbits. Assessing diverse stressors like drought and diseases reveals rootstocks with genetic variability, providing viable solutions. Crucial for sustainable production, these rootstocks improve crop vigour, yield stability and fruit quality. Future research should delve into rootstock-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms to optimize agricultural benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Lignification of the cell wall in pear (Pyrus) fruit results in the formation of stone cells, which affects the texture and quality of the fruit. However, it is still unclear that how different transcription factors (TFs) work together to coordinate the synthesis and deposition of lignin. Here, we examined the transcriptome of pear varieties with different stone cell contents and found a key TF (PbAGL7) that can promote the increase of stone cell contents and secondary cell wall thicknesses. In addition, PbAGL7 can facilitate the expression level of lignin biosynthesis‐related genes and accelerate the lignin biosynthesis in pear fruit and Arabidopsis. However, PbAGL7 did not directly bind to the promoters of PbC3H1 and PbHCT17 which are crucial genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. On the other hand, yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) library showed that PbNAC47 and PbMYB73 interacted with PbAGL7 in the nucleus. PbNAC47 and PbMYB73 also increased the stone cell and lignin contents, and upregulated the expressions of PbC3H1 and PbHCT17 by binding to the SNBE and AC elements, respectively. Moreover, PbNAC47 also interacted with PbMYB73 to form PbAGL7–PbNAC47–PbMYB73 complex. This complex significantly activated the expression levels of PbC3H1 and PbHCT17 and promoted lignin biosynthesis to form stone cells in pear fruit. Overall, our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of TFs that coordinately regulate the stone cell formation in pear fruit and extend our knowledge to understand cell wall lignification in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High annual tomato yields are achieved using high-tech greenhouse production systems. Large greenhouses typically rely only on one central weather station per compartment to steer their internal climate, ignoring possible microclimate conditions within the greenhouse itself. Methods: In this study, we analysed spatial variation in temperature and vapour pressure deficit in a commercial tomato greenhouse setting for three consecutive years. Multiple sensors were placed within the crop canopy, which revealed microclimate gradients. Results and discussion: Different microclimates were present throughout the year, with seasonal (spring - summer - autumn) and diurnal (day - night) variations in temperature (up to 3 °C, daily average) and vapour pressure deficit (up to 0.6 kPa, daily average). The microclimate effects influenced in part the variation in plant and fruit growth rate and fruit yield - maximum recorded difference between two locations with different microclimates was 0.4 cm d-1 for stem growth rate, 0.6 g d-1 for fruit growth rate, 80 g for truss mass at harvest. The local microclimate effect on plant growth was always larger than the bulk climate variation measured by a central sensor, as commonly done in commercial greenhouses. Quality attributes of harvested tomato fruit did not show a significant difference between different microclimate conditions. In conclusion, we showed that even small, naturally occurring, differences in local environment conditions within a greenhouse may influence the rate of plant and fruit growth. These findings could encourage the sector to deploy larger sensor networks for optimal greenhouse climate control. A sensor grid covering the whole area of the greenhouse is a necessity for climate control strategies to mitigate suboptimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three typical types of spherical fruits, namely apples, oranges, and pears, have accounted for 40.86 % of the total fruit production in China in 2023. However, there is a huge trade deficit in the import and export trade of fruits in China. Furthermore, grading technology has limited the largest production and consumption of fruits. Appearance indicators, such as size, volume and deformity index, are the main external quality traits of fruits in commercial grading lines. Alternatively, computer vision has been widely used in the field of nondestructive detection of fruits and vegetables, due to the simple operation, non-contact and low cost. The surface information can be obtained to measure the external indicators using two- dimensional images. However, some limitations are still remained to capture the detailed appearance indicators, especially in the high-accuracy measurement. Compared with traditional two-dimensional images, three-dimensional (3D) imaging with the depth information can be beneficial to the appearance indicators of fruits. Among them, binocular structured light is the promising 3D reconstruction with the cost-saving, high-precision and non-contact extraction. This study focuses on spherical fruits, selecting apple, orange, and pear as representative examples, with the aim of constructing binocular structured light imaging to obtain surface contour information. The system was also validated using standard samples. Single-view point cloud reconstruction was performed as well. Three-step phase shifting was used to determine the wrapped phase. While multi- frequency heterodyne was applied to determine the absolute phase. Afterwards, stereo matching, disparity optimization, and point cloud calculation were conducted to obtain a 3D point cloud map. A rotary table was utilized to match the point cloud images from different perspectives to the same coordinate axis. Coarse point cloud registration was also achieved. A complete point cloud was obtained to conduct more precise registration using the iterative closure point (ICP) to obtain. Finally, the 3D reconstruction of spherical fruits was realized. The deformity index of the apple was extracted from the reconstruction image of single-view point cloud using normal vector angle. According to the normal vector angle, the point cloud of the fruit stem position was projected to the bottom of the fruit point cloud image. The complete fruit point cloud was improved to calculate the convex hull of the point cloud for the volume of fruit. The maximum fruit diameter was extracted through oriented bounding box (OBB) bounding box. The experimental results show that the relative error was within 4% in the external dimensions of standard parts using 3D reconstruction. Taking manual measurement as the references, the values of coefficient of determination (R²), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were 0.97, 0.755 mm, and 7.23%, respectively, for the measured apple deformity index. In the volume of spherical fruits, R² was 0.99, RMSE was 6.015 cm³, and MAPE was 1.946%, while those were 0.92, 1.823 mm, and 1.859%, respectively, for the maximum diameter. The 3D reconstruction with binocular structured light can be expected to significantly enhance the accuracy and efficiency in the appearance indicators of spherical fruits. The finding can also provide a valuable tool to improve fruit quality control and grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application The current state of quality assessment methods for agricultural produce, particularly fruits, heavily relies on manual inspection techniques, which could be subjective, time‐consuming, and prone to human errors. Consequently, there have been emerging trends and needs for non‐destructive methods to evaluate fruit quality accurately and practically. This research aimed to develop a novel approach for predicting the physicochemical properties of papayas using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model that combines image analysis and weight assessment. This study involved capturing images of papayas at different ripening stages, measuring papaya weights, and determining various physicochemical properties such as texture, pH, total soluble solids, and seed weight. A total of 532 images were obtained from 132 papayas, and an additional 1064 images were generated through image augmentation. The dataset was divided into three sets with an 8:1:1 ratio for training, validation, and testing. The CNN model was trained using papaya images and weights as input values to predict and estimate the physicochemical property values. Model performance was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) as metrics. The CNN model, integrated with image processing, could predict the diverse physicochemical properties of papayas with high accuracy. The MSE values estimated for the training and validation sets were 0.0284 and 0.1729, respectively. The R2 values for the test dataset ranged from 0.71 to 0.94. These findings demonstrate that CNN‐based models could provide detailed and quantitative insights, facilitating improved understanding and management of papaya quality while enhancing predictive modeling accuracy in agriculture.This research introduces a new method for accurately predicting the quality of papayas using a computer model. Instead of relying on manual inspection, which can be slow and prone to errors, this model uses images of papayas and their weights to predict properties, including texture, pH, total soluble solids, and seed weight. This can help manage papaya quality better while also improving agricultural production and transportation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic material is a transitional approach toward more sustainable and productive farming. This study aimed to investigate the response of low chemical fertilizer rates and supplementing with organic materials on soil health and fruit quality. In plum orchard, combination of reduced chemical fertilizer rates (R80; R70; R60) with organic manures (F; V) at varying levels based the loss in nitrogen requirement and microbial inoculants (Bf; J) were studied over the conventional approach (R100) on soil health and fruit quality in a 2-year experiment. Soil analysis showed soil physico-chemical properties and enzymes activity with application of R70+V10+Bf. Compared to integrated treatments R100 saw highest availability of soil potassium and calcium. Application of R70+V10+J resulted in maximum improvement in fruit weight, TSS and soluble sugar content. Fruit set percentage was higher in treatment R70+V10+Bf. Fruit yield showed significant changes with treatments R70+V10+Bf and R70+V10+J having similar yield to R100. Our results suggest that by reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer by 30% and partially replacing it with organic materials had a positive effect on soil health without affecting the fruit production and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Fluctuations in environmental conditions within fields and crop plant performance can greatly affect production and quality standards. These factors are particularly relevant for producers, who require sustained optimal production to profit from small margins. Fluctuations might be exacerbated at the end of the crop season, where neither of the aforementioned factors are optimal. In the present integrated study, we assess strawberries' nutritional quality and the impact of harvest timing, tunnel conditions and inter‐individual variability in a Mediterranean production tunnel divided into blocks, where two harvests were performed 3 weeks apart. In addition, the effects of sprayed melatonin at the end of productive season were also evaluated.End‐season harvesting negatively impacted fruit hydration, antioxidant capacity and ripening‐related hormones in strawberry fruits. Additionally, tunnel distribution influenced fruit nutritional quality, with light radiation being the main variable factor disturbing antioxidant contents. Nutrients exhibited high inter‐individual plant variability, accounting for 20% variation, and were strongly correlated with fruit hydration and ripening‐related phytohormones. Finally, melatonin applications affected neither fruit production, nor nutritional parameters, for which the effects were masked by the intrinsic strawberry variability. Overall, the results underline the limitations of this type of application for field implementation.Fruit quality variation in strawberry fields is explained by environmental and inter‐individual variability. Likewise, the implementation of regulatory molecules such as melatonin in field applications relies on crop homogeneity and might have limited applicability in heterogeneous productive systems. Consequently, identifying and reducing microclimate variability in productive fields is paramount for advancing agricultural practices to uphold unwavering standards on fruit quality. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing incidence of heat stress due to global climate change poses a significant challenge to avocado (Persea americana) cultivation, particularly in regions with intense solar radiation. This review evaluates sun protection strategies, focusing on the efficacy of different sunscreen products such as kaolin, titanium dioxide, and calcium oxide in mitigating thermal stress in avocado trees. The application of these materials was shown to reduce leaf and fruit surface temperatures, improve photosynthetic efficiency, and enhance fruit quality by preventing sunburn and dehydration. Despite these benefits, challenges remain, including the optimal timing and dosage of application, and the potential residue impacts on fruit marketability. The review emphasizes the need for ongoing research to develop more effective formulations and to integrate these sun protection strategies with other agronomic practices. The role of extension services in educating producers about the proper use of these technologies is also highlighted as crucial for the successful adoption of sun protection measures in avocado farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible coatings play a critical role in reducing postharvest losses during storage and supply chain of horticultural commodities. The present study evaluated the efficacy of different concentrations of moringa leaf extract (MLE) combined with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) edible coating in preserving the quality and extending the shelf life of "Hass" avocado. Fruit were harvested at different stages of maturity and evaluated by dry matter content. Different concentrations of moringa (8 and 16%) extracted with chilled ethanol (100%) and functionalized with CMC (5%), were used to treat the fruit. Treated fruit were then stored at 5.5 ± 1°C and 90 ± 5% RH for 28 days plus an additional 7 days at 23°C. The changes in physicochemical and biochemical fruit attributes were evaluated at weekly intervals. The application of moringa and CMC-based edible coatings preserved the phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of "Hass" avocado. The treatments significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the loss of weight and firmness. Furthermore, treated fruits were found to have a delayed color change and reduction in sugar concentration, particularly mannoheptulose, compared to the control treatment. Therefore, edible coatings prepared by combining CMC and MLE could be the best alternative for substituting the currently used health-compromising synthetic chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) undergo significant texture changes during development and ripening, notably a consistent decrease in firmness, which affects fruit quality, consumer preference, transportability, and shelf life. This study examined the composition and structural modifications of the cell wall in five commercially available blueberry varieties with differing firmness levels at harvest. Our approach integrated various biochemical techniques for a comprehensive analysis of cell wall components to elucidate firmness differences at the harvest stage. One of the conclusions was the relationship between a low degree of pectin methylesterification and the presence of increased egg-box structures, which correlated with increased firmness. The data suggest that low-abundance pectins in blueberry cell walls, such as rhamnogalacturonan-I participate in firmness modulation through their side branches or by linking to arabinogalactan proteins. Additionally, the xyloglucan structure can be one of the determinants of fruit firmness. Although, this work provides a broad insight into the relationship between cell wall composition and firmness in blueberry, a more detailed analysis, specifically focusing on pectin and hemicelluloses, would be of significant value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Practical Application Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) is a bioactive carbohydrate known for its preservation properties. However, the efficacy of preharvest AOS treatment in maintaining the postharvest quality of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) has not been previously reported. This study explores the effects of preharvest AOS treatment (80 mg L−1) on A. arguta fruit, assessing visual quality, physiological attributes, aroma, and antioxidant capacity during refrigeration and shelf life. Results showed that AOS treatment maintained higher lightness, chroma, firmness, and antioxidant levels (total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and glutathione), along with antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase). Specifically, AOS‐treated fruit had 9% higher chroma and double the firmness after 60 days of refrigeration. AOS treatment reduced ripening and senescence, with 25% lower soluble solids content, 22% lower respiration rate, 30% lower ethylene production, and 35% lower malondialdehyde content. Electronic nose analysis indicated that AOS treatment suppressed changes in fruit aroma and off‐odor development, maintaining significantly higher quality during the shelf life period. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of AOS as a sustainable method to extend shelf life and preserve the quality of A. arguta fruit, enhancing its market value and consumer appeal.The research on using alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) for preharvest treatment of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) has practical applications in the food industry. By extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of the fruit during storage, this method can help reduce postharvest losses and improve the market value and consumer appeal of A. arguta fruit. This sustainable preservation technique offers an eco‐friendly alternative to traditional methods, enhancing the freshness and nutritional quality of the fruit available to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit texture is a priority trait that guarantees the long‐term economic sustainability of the cranberry industry through value‐added products such as sweetened dried cranberries (SDCs). To develop a standard methodology to measure texture, we conducted a comparative analysis of 22 textural traits using five different methods under both harvest and postharvest conditions in 10 representative cranberry cultivars. A set of textural traits from the 10%‐strain compression and puncture methods were identified that differentiate between cultivars primarily based on hardness/stiffness and elasticity properties. The complementary use of both methodologies allowed for a detailed evaluation by capturing the effect of key texture‐determining factors such as structure, flesh, and skin. Furthermore, the high effectiveness of this approach in different conditions and its ability to capture high phenotypic variation in cultivars highlights its great potential for applicability in various areas of the value chain and research. Therefore, this study provides an informed reference for unifying future efforts to enhance cranberry fruit texture and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of pumpkin breeding programs is to develop cultivars that meet the production, commercial quality, and nutritional value, considering several attributes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to select pumpkin genotypes with high fruit quality for future use in genetic breeding programs. Two production cycles were carried out. The evaluations included the determination of genetic parameters (the additive genetic variance, environmental variance between residual variances and individual phenotypic variance, accuracy of progeny selection, restricted heritability, coefficient of individual additive genetic variation, coefficient of genotypic variation between progenies, coefficient of residual variation, coefficient of relative variation, variance of the prediction error of the genotypic values of the progeny), the prediction of genetic gains, and the selection of genotypes with fruits of better physical and chemical quality attributes. The carotenoid and β-carotene contents of the pulp were distinguished by high values of additive genetic variance, residual variance and individual variance. Additionally, genetic gains were achieved for the main carotenoid compounds, as xanthophyll (68%), lycopene (58%) and β-carotene (49%). In the second production cycle, using the technique of Mulamba and Mock, a new ranking method was used to select the best genotypes. These genetic parameters, especially restricted heritability, indicate the potential for advancing new selection stages to develop pumpkin cultivars with superior qualities, including fruit length (0.976), skin thickness (0.951) and orange pigments, particularly β-carotene (0.894). Additionally, firmer fruits with high ascorbic acid content and a pulp hue angle representing an orange color were ranked among the best genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic selection (GS) is becoming increasingly widespread and applied due to the promising results obtained, cost savings in generating single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and the development of statistical models that allow to improve the analysis robustness and accuracy. The composition and size of the training population have a major influence on GS, which poses challenges for interspecific biparental populations. Another factor is the use of different reference genomes from other species to perform SNP calling, which could make it possible to explore variability in interspecific crosses comprehensively. Late leaf rust is a disease caused by the pathogen Acculeastrum americanum, and there are reports on genetic resistance in Rubus occidentalis, which leads to the need for interspecific hybridizations, aiming to combine the fruit quality of R. idaeus with the resistance of R. occidentalis. The present study was carried out with a population of 94 interspecific raspberry hybrids. We evaluated the effect of different reference genomes on the SNP markers discovery, as well as training population optimization strategies on the accuracy of genomic predictions, namely the CV-α, leaving-one-family-out (LOFO), pairwise families, and stratified k-fold. The average predictive accuracies ranged from − 0.33 to 0.44 and We demonstrated higher prediction accuracy and more precise estimates when we combined stratified sampling to compose the training set (CV-α and k-fold stratified CV) and the panel of Unique markers. These results corroborate that genomic prediction aligned with SNP calling and training population optimization strategies can significantly increase genetic gains in interspecific biparental crosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-factor split-plot experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of Linyi agricultural meteorological experimental site using muskmelon 'Xizhoumi 25' as the experimental material. The main area was two planting patterns of single row on ridge (D1) and double row on ridge (D2), and the sub-area was three kinds of melon nodes of 11-12 nodes (R1), 13-14 nodes (R2) and 15-16 nodes (R3), a total of 6 treatments, The plant leaf area and photosynthetic parameters, yield components and fruit quality were measured to explore the effects of different planting patterns and melon retention nodes on photosynthetic characteristics, yield and quality of muskmelon in greenhouse. The results showed that the photosynthetic efficiency of single row planting mode was higher than that of double row planting mode. The fruit diameter, single fruit weight and soluble sugar content of single row planting mode were significantly increased by 2.4%, 11.1% and 9.5%, respectively, compared with double row planting mode (P<0.05). The effect of node location on vegetative growth and reproductive growth of the plant was obvious. The photosynthetic characteristics, fruit length, fruit diameter and single fruit weight of R2 treatment were the best, and the single fruit weight was 9.41% and 14.73% higher than that of R1 and R3, respectively (P<0.05). The effect on fruit quality was extremely significant (P<0.01). The R1 treatment had the highest soluble sugar content, the R2 treatment had the highest sugar-acid ratio, and the R3 treatment had the highest VC and titratable acid content. The interaction between planting pattern and node position had significant effects on leaf area, SPAD, Pn, Ci, Gs and Tr of muskmelon (P<0.05), and the SPAD, Pn, Gs and Tr values of D1R2 combination leaves were the largest before maturity. The interaction had a significant effect on fruit length (P<0.05), and had a very significant effect on fruit diameter, fruit shape index and single fruit weight (P<0.01). Among them, the fruit diameter value of D1R1 combination was the largest, and the fruit shape index of D1R3 was the highest. The fruit length and single fruit weight of the D1R2 combination were the largest, and the average single fruit weight was 28.7% higher than that of other combinations. The interaction had a significant effect on VC content (P<0.05), and had a very significant effect on titratable acid, soluble sugar content and sugar-acid ratio (P<0.01). Of these, the D2R3 combination had the highest VC content, D1R3 had the highest titratable acid content, D1R1 had the highest soluble sugar content and D1R2 had the highest sugar-acid ratio. Under the same planting density and number of functional leaves (22500 plants·ha-1, 25 nodes topping), the three evaluation indexes of yield flavor and taste and VC content of single row planting on ridge and 13-14 nodes interaction (D1R2) mode were the highest, and the comprehensive evaluation of its commodity value was the best. It is recommended that this mode of planting should be applied and generalized in the vertical cultivation of the early spring melons in greenhouses in the north of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To mitigate post‐harvest losses and inform harvesting decisions at the same time as ensuring fruit quality, precise ripeness determination is essential. The complexity arises in assessing guava ripeness as a result of subtle alterations in some varieties during the ripening process, making visual assessment less reliable. The present study proposes a non‐destructive method employing thermal imaging for guava ripeness assessment, involving obtaining thermal images of guava samples at different ripeness stages, followed by data pre‐processing. Five deep learning models (AlexNet, Inception‐v3, GoogLeNet, ResNet‐50 and VGGNet‐16) were applied, and their performances were systematically evaluated and compared. RESULTS: VGGNet‐16 demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving average precision of 0.92, average sensitivity of 0.93, average specificity of 0.96, average F1‐score of 0.92 and accuracy of 0.92 within a training duration of 484 s. CONCLUSION: The present study presents a scalable and non‐destructive approach for guava ripeness determination, contributing to waste reduction and enhancing efficiency in supply chains and fruit production. These initiatives align with environmentally friendly practices in agriculture. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salak (Salacca edulis Reinw.) in bunch form can be attractive to consumers because its own unique shape. The use of primary and secondary packaging can maintain fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate quality change of salak in bunches including physical damage, mechanical damage, physiological and microbiological damage. Salak bunches were stored for 22 days, with observations every 3 days to analyze fruit damage, TSS, weight loss, and fruit hardness. The study used a single-factor completely randomized design, involving 3 treatments: wooden crates (K1), cardboard without net foam (K2), and cardboard with net foam (K3). Data were analyzed descriptively, analysis of variance, and DMRT at the 5% level. Primary packaging was effective in reducing mechanical damage to fruit after 13 hours of transportation, with mechanical damage reaching 0 (zero) due to net foam. The type of packaging used had a significant effect on quality change of salak during storage, namely physical, physiological and microbiological damage, weight loss, hardness, and TSS. Cardboard packaging with net foam was the best treatment, showing low physiological and microbiological damage until the 16th day of storage, which amounted to 4.05, as well as a low rate of change in quality for 22 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiu (Pouteria caimito Radlk.) is a plant of Sapotaceae family that can be consumed fresh, processed, or as a medical product. The fruit and leaves of this plant contain bioactive compounds. This research aims to inform the interaction between leaf:fruit ratio treatment and foliar fertilizer on the quality of the abiu fruit. The study was conducted at Kebun Balungbang Jaya, Dramaga, Bogor, West Java Province, from July 2022 to November 2022. The experiment used a factorial split plot design. The main plot was a leaf:fruit ratio treatment (N1, 45 leaves:1 fruit, and N2, 30 leaves:1 fruit) on each tertiary branch, and the tiller plot was foliar fertilizer (P1: 1 g L-1, P2: 2 g L-1, and P3: 3 g L-1), which consisted of 3 replications. The results showed that treatment of the leaf-fruit ratio and foliar fertilizer did not affect the quality of the abiu fruit. The interaction between leaf:fruit ratio and foliar fertilizer had a significant effect on ATT, as indicated by the lowest acidity value in the leaf:fruit ratio treatment of 45:1 and a fertilizer concentration of 1 g L-1 with a value of 0.12% but has no significant effect on the external and internal quality of other fruits. Keywords: Bioactive compounds, sapotaceae, tertiary branch, titratable acidity PENDAHULUAN Buah-buahan merupakan komoditas hortikultura yang bermanfaat dalam kehidupan masyarakat. Rata- rata konsumsi buah-buahan masyarakat Indonesia tahun 2023 mencapai 81,14 g/kapita/hari (BPS 2023). Secara umum Badan Kesehatan Dunia (WHO 2020) menganjurkan konsumsi buah-buahan dan serat lainnya untuk hidup sehat sejumlah 400 g/kapita/hari, yang terdiri atas 250 g serat lain dan 150 g dari buah. Salah satu upaya memenuhi permintaan ekspor dan konsumsi dalam negeri ialah dengan memperbanyak sentra produksi buah-buahan dan perluasan kawasan kebun sentra yang telah ada, serta pengayaan plasma nutfah buah-buahan yang sesuai untuk dikembangkan di Indonesia. Salah satu buah yang potensial untuk dikembangkan ialah buah abiu (Pouteria caimito Radlk.). Berdasarkan botaninya, bunga abiu tumbuh secara menyendiri atau dalam kluster dengan dua sampai empat unit, berwarna putih, kecil, dan hermafrodit (Nonye 2023). Buahnya berwarna hijau atau kuning, daging buah yang lembut, manis, berlendir, berwarna putih bening (Lim 2013), dan termasuk tipe buah beri (Buritica & Cartagena 2015). Tanaman abiu satu famili dengan tanaman sawo (Manilkara zapota L.), yaitu famili Sapotaceae (Orwa et al. 2009). Berdasarkan analisis kromatografi gas-spektrometri massa, abiu matang mengandung 50 senyawa volatil, beberapa di antaranya bermanfaat untuk kesehatan [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma (CP) is a novel environmental‐friendly preservation technology that causes minimal damage to fruits. The flavor and quality of winter jujubes have decreased with the extended storage time. Currently, the research on the use of CP on winter jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. 'Dongzao') mainly focuses on the effect of the treatment on storage quality. There is limited research on the effect of CP treatment on the flavor of winter jujubes. This study used different CP (80 kV) treatment durations (0, 5, and 10 min) to treat winter jujubes. The appropriate treatment time was selected by observing the changes in color, respiratory intensity, soluble sugar content, total acid content, and vitamin C (VC) content of winter jujubes. Amino acid analyzer and headspace solid‐phase microextraction in combination with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection were used to analyze the effect of CP treatment on the flavor compounds of winter jujubes. The results showed that the 5‐min CP treatment could significantly slow down the red coloration of winter jujube while maintaining high soluble sugar, total acid, and VC content. At the respiration peak, the respiratory intensity of the 5‐min CP treatment group was 0.74 mg CO2·kg−1·h−1 lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). CP treatment slowed down the decrease in the content of amino acids and volatile organic compounds (such as 2‐methyl‐4‐pentenal, 2‐hexenal, and 3‐hexenal) in winter jujubes. This study will provide basic data for applying CP preservation technology in postharvest winter jujubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is a versatile crop with strong stress resistance and promising growth potential. Widely cultivated in various regions of China, it ranks among the top crops globally in terms of both planting area and consumption. Known for its pleasant taste and high nutritional value, pumpkin pulp is rich in essential trace elements for the human body. Even after harvest, pumpkin fruit remains metabolically active, requiring its own nutrients to complete the postripening process. Failure to provide proper postharvest storage conditions can lead to excessive water loss and rapid nutrient depletion, resulting in rough, shriveled, and even rotten peel, ultimately diminishing the economic value of the pumpkin. This study aimed to investigate the changes in pumpkin quality and physiological indicators during storage to provide insights to determine optimal consumption and processing periods of pumpkins. The pumpkins were stored at a temperature of 16 ± 2 (C and 60% to 80% humidity during the experiment. The dynamic changes in fruit quality, hardness, respiration rate, malondialdehyde content, level of antioxidant enzymes, and other indicators of two pumpkin cultivars (BM5 and JQ) were assessed during storage, and the correlation among these indicators was evaluated. The results indicated a decrease in the vitamin C content and pulp hardness, whereas the superoxide dismutase and catalase contents initially increased and then decreased, and malondialdehyde and weight loss rates increased over the storage period. The weight loss rate exhibited significant positive and negative correlations with the malondialdehyde content (P < 0.01) of the two cultivars, whereas the vitamin C content showed a significant positive correlation with pulp hardness (P < 0.01). The findings indicate that optimal fruit quality was maintained within 40 days of postharvest storage. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of storable pumpkin cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit size and sugar content are key determinants of fruit quality, influenced by environmental factors and agronomic practices and sink strength provided by the genetic potential. Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) produces fruits arranged in inflorescences, whose growth is affected by carbon competition between them. The competitive ability is termed as sink strength, which can be quantified as the potential growth rate under sufficient resource supply and/or no carbon competition among sinks, referred to as non-limiting conditions. Most previous studies did not observe potential growth, thereby failing to adequately evaluate sink strength and to assess the influence of environmental factors and agronomic practices on fruit growth. This study aimed to investigate the potential growth of strawberry fruits and analyze its sink strength dynamics. Non-limiting conditions were established by removing flowers to one fruit per inflorescence in a greenhouse experiment with plants grown in soil and given water and nutrients through drip irrigation. Fruits were harvested every 5 days from 5 to 55 days after anthesis (DAA), measuring the size, weight, and concentrations of major soluble carbohydrates in strawberry (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) and starch. Sink strength was represented by absolute growth rate based on fruit weight, and its components, sink size and sink activity, were represented by weight and relative growth rate, respectively. Fruit volume and weight showed a gradual linear increase at 5 DAA and then rapidly increased, following a single sigmoid curve between 30 and 55 DAA. Fruits primarily accumulated glucose and fructose during early growth, shifting to sucrose after 35 DAA. Starch concentration peaked at 5 DAA and then exponentially decreased. Sink strength exhibited a single peak between 40 DAA and 45 DAA. Sink strength gradually increased with sink size until 30 DAA, whereas sink activity significantly decreased until 30 DAA. Thereafter, sink strength and sink activity exhibited a peak, whereas sink size continued to increase. These results suggest that the major determinant of sink strength was sink size during early fruit growth, shifting to sink activity during late growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mango is a nutritious fruit but susceptible to the development of black spots on its skin, which can significantly reduce the post‐harvest fruit quality. In response to this challenge, this study focused on preparing and characterising two inclusion complexes (ICs) by combining cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and lemongrass essential oil (LEO) with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), named CEO‐β‐CD and LEO‐β‐CD. Their effectiveness in preserving mango fruit were evaluated. The findings demonstrated the successful encapsulation of essential oils by β‐CD, forming two distinct ICs. Moreover, these ICs notably extended the shelf‐life of mangoes by 40% and 25%, respectively, while reducing black spot occurrence on the fruit skin. Additionally, analysis of physicochemical parameters revealed that the CEO‐β‐CD IC, at a dosage of 2.5 mg per gram of mango, could notably enhance the overall fruit quality. In conclusion, the application of CEO‐β‐CD, at an appropriate concentration, exhibits promising potential as an effective preservative for mangoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work summarizes the application of gas fumigation technology in postharvest fruit quality management and related biochemical mechanisms in recent years. Gas fumigants mainly include SO2, ClO2, ozone, NO, CO, 1-MCP, essential oils, H2S and ethanol. This work indicated that gas fumigation preservatives can effectively improve postharvest fruit quality, which is mainly manifested in delaying senescence, inhibiting browning, controlling disease and alleviating chilling injury. Gas preservatives are mainly involved in postharvest fruit quality control in the roles of antifungal agent, anti-browning agent, redox agent, ethylene inhibitors, elicitor and pesticide remover. Different gas preservatives have different roles, but most of them have multiple roles at the same time in postharvest fruit quality management. In addition, the role of some gas preservatives with direct antifungal activity in the control of postharvest fruit diseases can also activate defense systems to improve fruit resistance. It should be noted that some gas fumigation treatments with slow-release effects have been developed recently, which may allow gas fumigation gases to perform better. Moreover, some gas fumigants can cause irrational side effects on the fruit and some combined treatments need to be found to counteract such side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of infestation of fresh fruit after making them into candied fruit and the quality degradation caused by the infestation, a combined ozone–microwave sterilization method was used to treat four candied fruit molds. Response surface optimization analysis showed that when the ozone infusion time was at 10 min (2.642 kg/mL) and with 560 W microwave power for 20 s, the inhibition rates of the four candied fruit molds Cladosporium velox, Penicillium citreonigrum, Penicillium sclerotiorum, and Alternaria tenuissima were 100%, 94.28%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Moreover, according to the characterization of morphology, DNA electrophoretic profiles, and nucleic acid/protein leakage test, the integrity of the mold cell membrane was destroyed after the combined ozone–microwave treatment because of the thermal and nonthermal effects of microwave and the strongly oxidizing properties of ozone. The molds were dead because of the efflux of intracellular nucleic acid and protein and the degradation of DNA, which influenced normal cellular metabolism. Quality identification showed a better expected quality of candied fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to optimize three factors of a non-thermal treatment for a fruit and vegetable (F&V) smoothie: ultrasonication (US) time, US amplitude as a percentage of the maximum one (%maxA), and nisin concentration. When the focus was on minimizing deterioration and maximizing quality immediately after treatment (day 0), the analysis suggested an optimal treatment of 2.4 min of US at 70%maxA and 11.83 mg kg−1 of nisin (opt1). However, when targeting minimal deterioration at advanced storage (day 9), a more intensive treatment of 7.4 min at 74%maxA and 12.5 mg kg−1 of nisin (opt2) was recommended. Both optimal treatments significantly reduced spoilage microorganisms and enzyme activity, increased total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the F&V smoothie, while maintaining its physicochemical properties and color. During storage, samples treated with both optimal conditions exhibited enhanced stability, extending the microbiological shelf-life by at least 14 days. Opt2 outperformed opt1, but cost-effectiveness must be weighed due to factors higher intensities. The obtained results lay the foundation for future research and demonstrate the great potential of these combined methods for preserving F&V beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach production faces significant pre-harvest challenges, including low moisture, nutrient deficiencies, flower drop, physical damage, and surface discoloration, which can limit yield and fruit quality. To mitigate these issues, the present study hypothesized that foliar applications of silicon and zinc could enhance peach growth, yield, and quality due to their known roles in improving stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant activity. Therefore, this research aimed to identify optimal concentrations of silicon and zinc for quality peach production. Ten-year-old peach trees of uniform size were sprayed with four levels of silicon (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and zinc (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%) for two consecutive growing seasons, at the berry and pit hardening stages, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The averaged data from the two years showed that the pre-harvest foliar application of silicon significantly improved all yield and quality attributes of peaches. The foliar application of silicon at 0.3% notably enhanced fruit growth, yield, and biochemical attributes. Additionally, the highest fruit growth, yield, and quality of peach fruits were observed at the 0.75% zinc concentration. Maximum antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, proline content, and catalase activity were observed in fruits from plants treated with 0.3% silicon, which were statistically on par with 0.2% silicon. However, peroxidase activity was highest at 0.2% silicon. Regarding zinc levels, antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, proline content, and peroxidase activity were highest in fruits treated with 0.75% zinc, while catalase activity was superior when fruits were sprayed with 0.50% zinc. The interaction between silicon and zinc concentrations was found to be non-significant for most parameters, except for titratable acidity, TSS–acid ratio, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, and peroxidase activity. In conclusion, the foliar application of 0.3% silicon and 0.75% zinc independently enhanced all yield and quality characteristics of peaches. For the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar, 0.2% silicon and 0.50% zinc are recommended for optimal peach production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa) has become an important horticultural crop worldwide. Its dioecious nature challenges its commercial production, involving strategies for enhancing cross-pollination to reach a better fruit quality. The explanatory variables that can be linked to improving fruit quality analyzed in this work were pollination (through a hand-pollen application or by Apis mellifera, but also considering the ratio of female:male plants in each plot) and plant competition for resources during fruit development (controlled by thinning, but also considering plant density per plot). The response variables assessed to estimate fruit quality were fruit weight, number of seeds, and shape coefficient. We obtained different models showing how these explanatory variables influence the different indicators for fruit quality (sampling 25 fruits per plot) in seven plots. Results suggest that the female:male ratio and number of plants per hectare are the most influential explanatory variables related to fruit quality in the studied agroecosystem. The kiwifruits from plots with higher amounts of pollen manually added and higher ratios of female:male plants were significantly lighter. We recommend not settling more than 500 plants per hectare at the plot level. The natural pollination for kiwifruit production can be improved if the ratio of female:male plants per plot is ≤ 10/1 when the flowering period of both plant sexes is synchronized. Finally, we recommend that growers follow these numbers in considering the importance of planting male and female plants in close proximity but managing plant density to avoid competition for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive use of chemical fertilizers in the Guanxi honey pomelo production area has led to severe soil acidification and magnesium (Mg) deficiency, adversely affecting pomelo fruit quality. To address this issue, an integrated nutrient optimization model crucial for ensuring the sustainable and environmentally friendly development of the Guanxi honey pomelo industry has been explored. In a three-year experiment, two fertilizer treatments were implemented: a farmer fertilizer practice (FP) and an NPK reduction plus foliar Mg fertilizer (OPT + fMg). We investigated the impact of this integrated optimized fertilization measure on pomelo fruit quality from three aspects: flavor (sugars and organic acids), nutrition (vitamin C and mineral elements), and antioxidant properties (phenolics, flavonoids, and phytic acid). The results revealed that the OPT + fMg treatment improved fruit flavor by reducing acidity (titratable acid, citric acid, and quinine), while having a minimal impact on sugar components (sucrose, fructose, and glucose). Additionally, the OPT + fMg treatment increased the total phenolics, total flavonoids, and phytic acid in the fruit peel, enhancing its potential antioxidant quality. However, the OPT + fMg treatment reduced the mineral nutrient quality (excluding calcium) in the fruit. As for the fruit developmental period, the OPT + fMg treatment significantly increased the total flavonoid concentration in the peel from the mid-expansion fruit stage, followed by notable increases in phytic acid in the peel during the mid-to-late expansion fruit stage. The total phenolic concentration in the peel significantly rose only during the late fruit development stage. The most pronounced effect was observed on phytic acid in both peel and pulp. The influence of the OPT + fMg treatment on the mineral nutrients (excluding calcium) primarily occurred during the mid-to-late expansion fruit stage. Overall, the OPT + fMg treatment significantly improved the comprehensive nutritional quality of pomelo fruit, providing valuable insights for scientifically reducing fertilizer application while enhancing fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Averrhoa carambola, a key tropical and subtropical economic tree in the Oxalidaceae family, is distinguished by its unique pentagram-shaped fruit. This study investigates the developmental processes shaping the polarity of A. carambola fruit and their underlying hormonal and genetic mechanisms. By analyzing the Y1, Y2, and Y3 developmental stages—defined by the fruit diameters of 3–4 mm, 4–6 mm, and 6–12 mm, respectively—we observed that both cell number and cell size contribute to fruit development. Our findings suggest that the characteristic pentagram shape is established before flowering and is maintained throughout development. A hormonal analysis revealed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) show differential distribution between the convex and concave regions of the fruit across the developmental stages, with IAA playing a crucial role in polar auxin transport and shaping fruit morphology. A transcriptomic analysis identified several key genes, including AcaGH3.8, AcaIAA20, AcaYAB2, AcaXTH6, AcaYAB3, and AcaEXP13, which potentially regulate fruit polarity and growth. This study advances our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms governing fruit shape, offering insights for improving fruit quality through targeted breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface of prune fruit has a thick layer of frosting, which is easily damaged and lost during prunes harvest or postharvest handling, and there is no clear information on the effect of prune surface frost on postharvest storage quality. To investigate the effect of fruit frosting on the softening of prune fruits during storage under vibration stress, prunes were divided into three grades according to fruit frosting in this study and were vibrated for 8 h at a frequency of 5 Hz at 4 °C; then, samples were selected once every 8 d. The results showed that the heavy fruit frosting (HFF) group maintained higher hardness (21.47%), L* (20.85%), and total soluble solids (12.79%) levels at the end of storage and inhibited cell wall-modifying enzyme activities (polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase, glycosidase, β-glucosidase, and cellulase) compared to frosting-less fruit (FF) group. This group also showed improved expression of key cell wall-modification genes (ADPG2, PME31, CESA1, BGAL3, XTH33, BGLU41) as well as chelate-soluble pectin (72.11%), Na2CO3-soluble pectin (42.83%), and cellulose (36.89%) solubilization and maintained lower water-soluble pectin (34.23%). Microscopic observations showed that the fruit frosting could delay the dissolution of pectin components and protect the cell wall structure. In summary, fruit frosting can effectively inhibit fruit softening and maintain fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Packaging & Food Machinery is the property of Packaging & Food Machinery Magazine 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.)

Introduction: For nearly two centuries, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) breeders have improved fruit quality and yield by selecting traits on fruiting stems, termed "reproductive uprights." Crop improvement is accelerating rapidly in contemporary breeding programs due to modern genetic tools and highthroughput phenotyping methods, improving selection efficiency and accuracy. Methods: We conducted genotypic evaluation on 29 primary traits encompassing fruit quality, yield, and chemical composition in two full-sib cranberry breeding populations--CNJ02 (n = 168) and CNJ04 (n = 67)--over 3 years. Genetic characterization was further performed on 11 secondary traits derived from these primary traits. Results: For CNJ02, 170 major quantitative trait loci (QTL; R²= 0.10) were found with interval mapping, 150 major QTL were found with model mapping, and 9 QTL were found to be stable across multiple years. In CNJ04, 69 major QTL were found with interval mapping, 81 major QTL were found with model mapping, and 4 QTL were found to be stable across multiple years. Meta-QTL represent stable genomic regions consistent across multiple years, populations, studies, or traits. Seven multi-trait meta-QTL were found in CNJ02, one in CNJ04, and one in the combined analysis of both populations. A total of 22 meta-QTL were identified in cross-study, cross-population analysis using digital traits for berry shape and size (8 meta-QTL), digital images for berry color (2 meta-QTL), and three-study cross-analysis (12 meta-QTL). Discussion: Together, these meta-QTL anchor high-throughput fruit quality phenotyping techniques to traditional phenotyping methods, validating state-of-the-art methods in cranberry phenotyping that will improve breeding accuracy, efficiency, and genetic gain in this globally significant fruit crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth in hydroponic systems is affected by the nutrient solution concentration. The present study evaluated the effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) on the concentration of some nutrients, chemical fruit qualities, and yield in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Hirad). The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized design with four treatments (T1: N160 + K350 ppm at the vegetative stage and N130 + K250 ppm at the reproductive stage, T2: N170 + K360 ppm at the vegetative stage and N140 + K260 ppm at the reproductive stage, T3: N180 + K370 ppm at the vegetative stage and N150 + K270 ppm at the reproductive stage and T4: N190 + K380 ppm at the vegetative stage and N160 + K280 ppm at the reproductive stage). Results indicated that higher N and K supplies in the nutrient solution decreased Ca, Na, Mn, and Zn concentrations in leaf samples. In contrast, the concentration of various elements in fruits was unaffected by the increase in N and K (except for Cu). The second treatment (T2) had the most beneficial effect on the Cu concentration in tomato leaves and fruits. The increase in total soluble solids, chlorophyll, lycopene, and total acids could improve fruit quality in tomato fruits. The best treatment in the present study was N170 + K360 ppm at the vegetative stage and N140 + K260 ppm at the reproductive stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

Phytohormones promote growth in the vegetative phase, flowering and fruit development. A novel class of PGR comprises brassinosteroids (BRs) and polyamines (PAs). In fruit crops, fruit drop at the maturity stage is controlled by the external application of BRs and PAs. BRs such as brassinolide, 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide and PAs such as putrescine, spermidine and spermine play significant roles in plant growth and development. Brassinolide provides tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. 24-Epibrassinolide promotes blossoming, fruit retention, fruit set and fruit growth. 28-homobrassinolide promotes cell division and cell elongation. Putrescine enhances seed germination and adventitious root formation in seedlings. Moreover, spermidine provides tolerance against drought and salinity. Furthermore, spermine promotes flowering and fruiting and competes with ethylene precursors. It would be beneficial to apply plant growth regulators such as BRs and PAs to increase fruit yield and quality. This review discusses how phytohormone (BR and PA) application can improve the productivity, quality, physiological, biochemical and postharvest aspects of some tropical, subtropical and temperate fruits and focuses on research areas such as the mode of action and stage of application of BRs and PAs which enhance the yield and quality of these perishable fruit crops. Article highlights: The newly emerged plant growth hormones brassinosteroids and polyamines are vital PGRs for the cultivation of horticulture commodities. BRs and PAs are environmentally safe phytohormones that improve the yield and quality of fruits. These materials are effectively utilized in both fruit production and postharvest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CITRUS is one of the most important fruit crops grown in the worldwide, especially in Mediterranean countries. Deficit irrigation (DI) is a proposed strategy many years ago to overcome the scarcity of water, especially in arid and semiarid regions. The vegetative growth, enzymatic activities, proline and phenolic content, fruit yield and quality in response to deficit irrigation levels (T1 (irrigation every 15 days as a control), T2 (irrigation every 20 days), T3 (irrigation every 25 days), and T4 (irrigation every 30 days), were evaluated. The results showed that the P, K, proline, phenols, vitamin C, SSC contents, and catalase and peroxidase activities were increased by T2 and T3. While the N content, fruit yield, weight, peel thickness, juice volume, and transpiration rate were increased by T1 and T2 compared to T3 and T4. The fruit yield, weight, and physical properties were not negatively affected by light and medium deficit irrigation (T2 and T3), which positively affected enzymatic activities, proline and phenol contents, and chemical fruit properties (SSC and Vitamin C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae like Chlamydomonas are beneficial organisms employed as biological stimulants to improve plants' growth, fruit quality, and stress tolerance. In the current study, the effects of Chlamydomonas sp. foliar spraying (0, 20, and 40 ml L−1) were assayed on Camarosa strawberry plants under salinity stress (0, 40, and 80 mM NaCl). The results showed that the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract influenced strawberry's morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics under salinity stress. Foliar treatment of Chlamydomonas extract with and without salinity stress increased the leaf number and leaf area, the leaf relative water content, and photosynthetic pigments content. Moreover, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract decreased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content and, on the other hand, enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and peroxidase), phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins content under salinity stress. For instance, the highest total antioxidant capacity was found in the plants foliar treated with 40 ml L−1 of Chlamydomonas algae extract under 80 mM salinity stress, which increased by 102.4% compared to the controls, as well as the highest total phenolic compounds and anthocyanin's content were 30.22, and 7.2% more than the control plants, respectively. Overall, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas algae extracts, especially at a concentration of 20 ml L−1 enhanced the strawberry's growth, yield, and physiological traits under saline conditions. The results with more detailed evaluations will be advisable for the pioneer farmers and extension section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit ripening is accompanied by the development of fruit quality traits; however, this process also increases the fruit's susceptibility to various environmental stresses, including pathogen attacks and other stress factors. Therefore, modulating the fruit ripening process and defense responses is crucial for maintaining fruit quality and extending shelf life. Membrane proteins play intricate roles in mediating signal transduction, ion transport, and many other important biological processes, thus attracting extensive research interest. This review mainly focuses on the functions of membrane proteins in regulating fruit ripening and defense responses against biotic and abiotic factors, addresses their potential as targets for improving fruit quality and resistance to environmental challenges, and further highlights some open questions to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of decreasing the accuracy of quantitative prediction of damage of fruits resulting in the size difference of fruits, the spectral correction method based on the size difference of fruits was adopted. To provide richer theoretical knowledge for the quality detection of fruits and the design of damage reduction programs in reality. First, the undamaged spectra of the group of apples with better performance of the model were selected as the reference spectra by analyzing and comparing the modeling results of the prediction models of mechanical parameters with the single fruit diameter groups. The spectral correction coefficient was calculated with the formulas, and the damage spectra of three groups of apples were size‐corrected by this coefficient to build the mechanical parameter models. Finally, the corrected spectra were screened for characteristic wavelengths by competitive adaptive reweighting and uninformative variable elimination algorithms. The results of study showed that the correlation coefficients of the prediction set of the models were improved by 2.1%–13% and the root mean square errors were reduced by 16%–51% with the spectrally corrected models compared with the precorrection models. Therefore, the size correction method can be used to eliminate the effect of size difference on the mechanical parameter models to improve the applicability of the quantitative damage prediction models, and it can provide the theoretical guidance to design the loss‐reducing protective measures and the agricultural mechanized operation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackberry deteriorates rapidly after harvest due to its sensitive structure, limiting their storage time to about a week and resulting in significant economic losses. The study was conducted to determine the effects of salicylic acid applications on postharvest fruit quality in blackberries, the harvested fruit was immersed in salicylic acid solutions prepared at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM for 15 min. Measurements and analyses such as weight loss, decay rate, soluble solids contents (SSC), pH, acidity, respiration rate, vitamin C, organic acids, and phenolic compounds were performed on fruits stored for 12 days with intervals of 4 days. Applying salicylic acid to fruits resulted in significantly less weight loss and decay rate. Salicylic acid application was effective in increasing SSC rate and decreasing titratable acidity with increasing storage time, and lower SSC and higher titratable acidity were measured with this application. Salicylic acid maintained organic acids and vitamin C postharvest. The decreases in individual phenolic compound levels occurred with extended storage time. Salicylic acid application generally was effective in maintaining concentrations of phenolic compounds during storage, and it was found to be effective on fruit quality, with effectiveness varying depending on application dosage. The study identified 1.5 mM as the most effective dosage of salicylic acid, which could be utilized to maintain postharvest quality and extend cold storage in blackberries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has performed European pear (Pyrus communis L.) scion breeding for over a century. The breeding program started in the early 1900s by Merton B. Waite in the Washington D.C. area and the program's main goal was to develop host resistance to the devastating disease fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora. Most of the historic European pear cultivars being produced in the U.S. were susceptible to fire blight, prompting a need to breed for resistance. More than six generations of USDA breeders have continued this effort to breed disease-resistant European pears. Along with fire blight resistance, the pear breeding programs sought improved fruit quality, cold hardiness, and resistance to psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foërster), a significant insect pest of pear. Herein, we discuss the history of the program through each generation of breeder(s). We also present breeding aims, parental selection, and releases. In total, the program has released ten named pear varieties between 1938 and 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development; however, the process of B toxicity in citrus production is still poorly understood. We proposed a hypothesis that B toxicity in citrus trees is related to the characteristics of B transport from soil to leaf or fruit. For this, a field experiment was conducted for two treatments, control (B free or without B) and B fertilizer treatment (100 g Na2B4O7·10H2O plant-1), to investigate the effects on plant growth, nutrient uptake, fruit yield and quality, and B transport in 10-yearold pomelo trees [Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck cv. Guanximiyou]. Our results showed that excess B fertilization directly led to B toxicity in pomelo trees by dramatically increasing soil total B and water-soluble B contents. B toxicity induced interveinal chlorosis in leaves and decreased leaf biomass and function, resulting in a decreased 45.3% fruit yield by reducing 30.6% fruit load and 21.4% single fruit weight. Also, B toxicity induced changes in mineral elements between leaf positions and fruit parts, in which the concentrations of B, potassium, and magnesium were increased while those of nitrogen and iron were decreased. Under B toxicity conditions, fruit quality parameters of total soluble solids (TSS), TSS/titratable acidity (TA), total soluble sugar, sucrose, pH, vitamin C, and total phenol contents decreased, which were regulated by the lower carbohydrate production in new leaves and the lower transport capacity in old leaves. Moreover, B toxicity significantly increased the transfer factor and bioconcentration factor of B in pomelo plants, with higher levels in leaf organs than in fruit organs. Taken together, excess B fertilization-induced B toxicity in pomelo trees, with induced growth inhibition and nutrient disorder, results in reduced fruit yield and quality, which are related to B transport from soil to organs. The findings of this study highlight the understanding of B toxicity in citrus plants and strengthen B management in pomelo production for high yield and high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of two strains of Bacillus spp. combined with organic fertilizer on the growth and fruit of sunshine rose, and to further expand the application range of microbial fertilizer on grapes. In November 2020, two strains of Bacillus velezensis YH-18 and B. velezensis YH-20 were applied to the sunshine rose grapes planted in Fengxian District of Shanghai. Two kinds of microbial liquid inoculants were applied to the grape planting soil, diluted and mixed according to the ratio of bacterial liquid : water = 1 : 2, and then poured into the pesticide applicator. The bacterial liquid was directly sprayed on the applied organic fertilizer in the garden by spraying, and the soil was covered in time after application. In March 2021, the in situ reapplication was carried out.30 days after the first application, the chlorophyll content of grape leaves in the YH-18 and YH-20 treatment groups increased by 10.12% and 3.26% compared with the control; the leaf thickness increased by 22.16% and 10.80% compared with the control; the leaf area increased by 23.92% and 19.87% compared with the control. After two times of application, the ear weight ratio of grapes in the YH-18 and YH-20 treatment groups increased by 19.55% and 16.19% compared with the control; the longitudinal diameter of single fruit increased by 3.15% and 3.76% compared with the control; the fruit shape index was improved. The soluble solids content of grapes in the YH-18 and YH-20 treatment groups increased by 22.08% and 13.58% compared with the control; the titratable acid content of grapes in the YH-18 treatment group increased by 21.05% compared with the control;the water content of grapes decreased by 2.18% and 1.96% compared with the control;the hardness of grapes in the YH-18 treatment group increased by 20.9% compared with the control. The application of YH-18 and YH-20 microbial inoculants on the basis of organic fertilizer in the garden significantly improved the growth of grapes and improved the quality of fruits, which is suitable for widespread promotion in grape plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goji berries are a small-fruited shrub with industrial importance whose fruit considered beneficial in both fresh and dried forms. Current germplasms of goji berries include small fruits with a short shelf life, less sweet and bitter taste, and a lack of appropriate genetic information. This study aimed to employ whole genome resequencing to generate an ultra-dense bin linkage map and to elucidate the genetic basis of goji fruit quality and size using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis in a cross-pollinated hybrid population. To achieve this goal, human sensory tests were carried out to determine the bitter taste (BT) and sweet taste (ST), and to quantify the soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness (FF), and fruit size-related traits of fresh goji fruits over three or four years. The results revealed that the goji bin linkage map based on resequencing spanned a total length of 966.42 cM and an average bin interval of 0.03 cM. Subsequent variant calling and ordering resulted in 3,058 bins containing 35,331 polymorphic markers across 12 chromosomes. A total of 99 QTLs, with individual loci in different environments explaining a phenotypic variance of 1.21-16.95% were identified for the studied traits. Ten major effects, including colocalized QTLs corresponding to different traits, were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, with a maximum Logarithm of Odds (LOD) of 29.25 and 16.95% of explained phenotypic variance (PVE). In addition, four stable loci, one for FF, one for fruit weight (FW), and two for fruit shape index (FSI), were mainly mapped on chromosomes 5, 6, and 7, elucidating 2.10-16.95% PVE. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of goji fruit traits along with identified specific loci and markers to further improve and develop sweeter, less bitter and larger fruited goji berry cultivars with extended shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, biopolymer coatings have emerged as an effective approach for extending the shelf life of edible fruits. The invention of biopolymer coverings has emerged as an innovation for extending fruit shelf life. Natural polymers, like chitosan, alginate, and pectin, are used to create these surfaces, which have several uses, including creating a barrier that prevents water evaporation, the spread of living microbes, and respiratory movement. These biopolymer coatings' primary benefits are their environmental friendliness and lack of damage. This study highlights the advancements made in the creation and usage of biopolymer coatings, highlighting how well they preserve fruit quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and satisfy consumer demand for natural preservation methods. This study discusses the usefulness of the biopolymer coating in terms of preserving fruit quality, reducing waste, and extending the product's shelf life. Biopolymer coatings' potential as a sustainable solution for synthetic preservatives in the fruit sector is highlighted as are formulation process advances that combine natural ingredients and environmental implications. This essay focuses on the essential methods, such as new natural additives, as well as the environmental effect of biopolymer coatings, which are safe and healthy commercial alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon fruit (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.) is highly appreciated by consumers due to its antioxidant properties and health benefits. However, its shelf life can be limited by various factors, reducing the economy, and thereafter, new strategies to maintain the quality of lemons are necessary. Melatonin is a derivative of tryptamine, which is ubiquitously found in plants and has a wide range of functions regulating numerous physiological processes in plants. During two consecutive harvests, we evaluated the effect of preharvest treatments with melatonin on crop yield and on quality and functional properties of fruit of lemon cv. Verna at harvest and weekly after storage up to 28 days at 2 and 10 °C plus 2 days at 20 °C. Melatonin was applied as foliar spray treatments at dosages of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mM and at three different stages of fruit development. The results showed that melatonin treatment had a positive impact on crop yield as well as in fruit quality parameters, such as firmness, content of bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity, especially for a 0.5 mM dose. Taking all these effects into account, the application of melatonin along the growth cycle of fruit development could be considered a non-contaminant and eco-friendly tool for improving crop yield and quality of 'Verna' lemons at harvest and during postharvest storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractStone fruits, including peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and almonds, are economically significant crops that require careful nitrogen management to optimize growth, yield, and fruit quality. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial macronutrient for stone fruits, playing a vital role in leaf development, photosynthetic capacity, and in the formation of sugars and carbohydrates essential for fruit development. However, nitrogen application needs careful management, as both deficiency and excess of this nutrient element can adversely affect fruit size, quality, and yield. Excessive nitrogen can lead to decreased flesh firmness, reduced sweetness, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Additionally, nitrogen remobilization from senescing leaves to storage tissues is a key process that supports nutrient use efficiency and reduces reliance on external nitrogen inputs in deciduous fruit crops. The timing of nitrogen application is critical, with peak demand occurring during bud break, flowering, and fruit set. Among its method of application, fertigation has proven to be an effective method for delivering nitrogen, improving leaf nutrient status, vegetative growth, and fruit quality. The interaction between nitrogen fertilization and soil organic matter (SOM) is also significant, as nitrogen influences SOM dynamics and potentially enhance the soil fertility and structure. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on nitrogen fertilization in stone fruits, emphasizing the importance of balanced nitrogen management to achieve optimal growth, yield, and fruit quality. Despite extensive research globally, there is need to tailor nitrogen management practices to local conditions and improve sustainable stone fruit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Kiwifruit ripening is a complex and highly coordinated process that occurs in conjunction with the formation of fruit edible quality. The significance of epigenetic changes, particularly the impact of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification on fruit ripening and quality formation, has been largely overlooked.We monitored m6A levels and gene expression changes in kiwifruit at four different stages using LC‐MS/MS, MeRIP, RNA‐seq, and validated the function of AcALKBH10 through heterologous transgenic expression in tomato.Notable m6A modifications occurred predominantly at the stop codons and the 3′ UTRs and exhibited a gradual reduction in m6A levels during the fruit ripening process. Moreover, these m6A modifications in the aforementioned sites demonstrated a discernible inverse relationship with the levels of mRNA abundance throughout the ripening process, suggesting a repression effect of m6A modification in the modulation of kiwifruit ripening.We further demonstrated that AcALKBH10 rather than AcECT9 predominantly regulates m6A levels in ripening‐related genes, thereby exerting the regulatory control over the ripening process and the accumulation of soluble sugars and organic acids, ultimately influencing fruit ripening and quality formation. In conclusion, our findings illuminate the epi‐regulatory mechanism involving m6A in kiwifruit ripening, offering a fresh perspective for cultivating high‐quality kiwifruit with enhanced nutritional attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]