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BACKGROUND Although strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) species are sensitive to abiotic stress conditions, some cultivars are known to be tolerant to different environmental conditions. We examined the response of different strawberry cultivars to water stress conditions in terms of yield, quality and biochemical features. The trial was conducted under two different irrigation regimes: in grow bags containing cocopeat (control, 30%; water stress, 15% drainage) with four different cultivars (Camarosa, Albion, Amiga and Rubygem). RESULTS Fruit weight declined by 59.72% and the yield per unit area by 63.62% under water stress conditions as compared to control. Albion and Rubygem were found to be more tolerant and Amiga the most sensitive in terms of yield under stress conditions. Water stress increased all biochemical features in fruits such as total phenol, total anthocyanin, antioxidant activity and sugar contents. Among the cultivars, glucose and fructose was higher in Albion. CONCLUSION Considering the rise in global warming, identification of resistant and tolerant cultivars to stress conditions are crucial for future breeding programmes. Our results showed that some of the fruit's physical features were affected negatively by stress conditions whereas many of the biochemical features such as total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were positively modulated. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine effect of autumn calcium (Ca) spray at a high rate on apple quality and storability. The investigation was carried out during 2005-2006 in Isparta district, Turkey, under semi-arid conditions, on mature 'Granny Smith' apple trees/M.9 EMLA, planted at a spacing of 3.5 × 1.5 m on fine-textured soil rich in Ca. The trees were sprayed with Ca in summer and/or in autumn, using organically complexed Ca to avoid possible leaf and fruit injuries. In autumn (10 days before harvest), the trees were sprayed with Ca at a rate of 8 kg ha-1. In summer, the another trees were sprayed with Ca six times at a rate of 1.5 kg ha-1 in each measure; the first spray treatment was performed 6 weeks after full bloom, and the others at 7-9 day intervals. The third part of the trees was sprayed with Ca in summer as well as in autumn, at the same terms and rates as given above. Trees unsprayed with Ca served as the control. It was found that Ca sprays in autumn or in summer plus in autumn damaged leaves; however those treatments did not caused defoliation. Calcium sprays had no effect on apple yield, mean fruit weight, fruit skin russeting, and firmness, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruit at harvest. Fruit flesh Ca concentrations of the control trees were high. However, the highest fruit Ca concentration was recorded on the trees sprayed with Ca in summer plus in autumn. Calcium sprays in summer or in autumn increased fruit Ca concentrations but their effects were weaker than summer plus autumn Ca applications. After 100 days of refrigerated air storage, soluble solids concentration of fruit did not differ between the studied combinations. Only apples sprayed with Ca in summer plus in autumn were firmer and contained more organic acids than the control fruit. During storage, there were neither pathogenic diseases nor physiological disorders. Based on the obtained results we conclude that Ca sprays in summer plus in autumn at high rate can prolong 'Granny Smith' apple storage even thought initial fruit Ca concentration is as high as 502-504 mg Ca kg-1 DW or 84.1-84.8 mg Ca kg-1 FW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid clonal propagation potential of banana was investigated by using excised shoot tips of Musa spp. Shoot tips isolated from young suckers of ‘Anamur 2’, ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, and ‘Gazipasa 6'genotypes were used. Excised shoot tips were transferred immediately to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) either alone or with indoleacetic acid (IAA). Rooting was achieved with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the presence or absence of activated charcoal (AC). The results showed that shoot proliferation rate was statistically affected by cytokinin types and their concentration. The responses to TDZ were better than to BAP. BAP or TDZ with IAA increased shoot elongation compared with BAP or TDZ alone. An increase in plant height, root numbers and average number of roots per explant was obtained using AC. Hence, for multiplication of ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, the use of MS medium with 2.5 µM TDZ with 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended. For multiplication of banana genotypes ‘Anamur 2’ and ‘Gazipasa 6’, the use of MS medium with 1 µM TDZ and 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guava is a high-value tropical fruit that is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. In the adaptation studies carried out in Turkey, guava was determined as the most prominent species with its cold resistance feature. The use of seedlings in cultivation created a genetic variation and differences were observed between the resulting genotypes, especially in terms of fruit size, shape and colour. Based on this observation, this study aimed to characterize 13 different guava fruit genotypes based on physical, chemical, bioactive and aroma properties. In the adaptation studies carried out in Turkey, guava was determined as the most prominent species with its cold resistance feature. There is only one commercial variety namely 'Ruby Supreme' grown in Turkey. Presently, the interest of the guava cultivation has been increased and farmers were used seedling material instead of vegetative to establish orchard. Due to the cross pollination, it has been observed great variation in the population. Therefore, it is important to select promising genotypes according to fruit size, shape and colour. The present study was evaluated 13 different guava genotypes according to physical, chemical, bioactive and aroma properties. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes. One genotype was found superior over all the genotypes, in terms of fruit weight (131.44 g) and length (82.00 mm). Although three genotypes were having lower values than the other samples in results of total soluble solids, they had higher results in terms of antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. Two genotypes formed a separate group from all other genotypes in terms of (Z)-3-Hexen-1-yl acetate (sweet, pear, melon), 3-Hexenal (melon, tropical) and Ethyl alcohol (fruit and sweet) components. The flavor components are distinctive for the guava samples, as are the physical properties. It was also determined that the white guava genotypes had very different chemical and aromatic properties from other genotypes. The promising genotypes can be utilized in the future breeding programme to improve new guava varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwarf Cavendish, a commonly grown banana cultivar in Turkey. However, 'Grand Nain' is very popular cultivar under protected cultivation due to the higher yield and quality presently. The objective of this study was to compare to the banana cultivars, 'Grand Nain' and 'Dwarf Cavendish' under protected cultivation in the subtropical condition. Stem circumference, stem height, total leaf number, bunch stalk circumference, days from shooting to harvest, number of hands per bunch, number of fingers per bunch, finger circumference, finger length and bunch weight were measured in the protected cultivation. Cultivars 'Grand Nain' was found to be better than 'Dwarf Cavendish' in terms of total production, expressed as the number of hands and fingers per bunch and bunch weight under protected cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home gardens are defined as less complex agroforests which look like and function as natural forest ecosystems but are integrated into agricultural management systems located around houses. Investigations were carried out in 187 households. The aim of the study was to identify the different types of banana home gardens existing in the periurban zone of Ngaoundere town. The results showed that the majority of home gardens in the area were very young (less than 15 years old) and very small in size (less than 1 ha). Eleven types of home gardens were found in the periurban area of Ngaoundere town. The different home garden types showed important variations in all their structural characteristics. Two local species of banana are cultivated in the systems, Musa sinensis and Musa paradisiaca. The total banana production is 3.57 tons per year. The total quantity of banana consumed in the periurban zone was 3.54 tons (93.5%) whereas 1.01 tons were sold in local or urban markets. The main banana producers belonged to home gardens 2, 4, 7, and 9. The quantity of banana offered to relatives was more than what the farmers received from others. Farmers, rely on agroforests because the flow of their products helps them consolidate friendship and conserve biodiversity at the same time.