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

Copyright of Tobacco Science & Technology is the property of Tobacco Science & Technology 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.)

Blueberry growers currently rely on manual or subjective approaches to harvest decision-making and yield estimation. Canopy image-based, pre-harvest blueberry detection provides a promising means for automated harvest maturity assessment, fruit counting, and yield estimation to optimize crop management and reduce labor costs. Data-driven deep-learning-based object detectors, especially the YOLO (You Only Look Once) series models, have emerged as a powerful tool for a diversity of computer vision tasks in agriculture. However, the detection of such small, densely populated objects as blueberries in unstructured scenes can pose great challenges, especially given the lack of dedicated datasets for model development. This study, therefore, presents the first publicly available dataset of blueberry canopy images with 17,955 ripe and unripe blueberries, which were captured in diverse orchard conditions, and performance evaluation of YOLOv8l (large) and YOLOv9-c (compact) with comparable complexity for blueberry detection and whereby fruit counting and ripe fruit percentage estimation. At the input image resolution of 2560 × 2560 pixels, both models performed similarly in terms of detection accuracy with around 91 % mAP@50, except that YOLOv9-c was far more time-consuming to train. Trained with the input of higher resolution images of 3520 × 3520 pixels, YOLOv8l achieved an overall mAP@50 of nearly 93 %, and an RMSEs (root-mean-square errors) of 10.4 in fruit counting and 3.62 % in estimating the percentage of ripe fruit of each image. Both the blueberry dataset11 https://zenodo.org/records/14002517 and software programs22 https://github.com/vicdxxx/BlueberryDetectionAndCounting of this study have been or will be made publicly available, which are expected to be useful for promoting greater community efforts for further algorithm development.

Abstract The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the potential of promising summer maize genotypes and optimal stage of harvesting these genotypes for ensiling in terms of dry matter (DM), starch, and crude protein (CP) yields, silage fermentation quality, nutrients profile, total digestible nutrients, metabolizable energy (ME) content, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) carbohydrate (CHO) subfractions composition, in vitro DM digestibility (DMD) and in situ starch degradation characteristics. Six maize genotypes were chosen for the study: DK9108 from Monsanto, P30Y87, P3939 from Pioneer, QPM-300 (quality protein maize) and W94 from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and a local cultivar, Afgoii, from the Cereal Research Institute (Persabaq, KP). A total of 72 plots (8 m × 10 m) were blocked in three replicate fields, and within each field, each genotype was sown in four replicate plots according to a randomized complete block design. For the data analysis, the Proc-Mixed procedure of Statistical Analysis System with repeated measure analysis of variance was used. The DM yield was strongly influenced (P

Fengtang plum is popular with consumers because of its unique taste and high nutritional value. In this paper, three different harvest maturity Fengtang plums were used as experimental materials. After treated with 0.5 μL/L and 1.0 μL/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), the fruits was stored at (25 ± 2)°C for 14 days. The decay rate, respiratory intensity, ethylene release rate, firmness, color, soluble solid content, titratable acid content, and solid-acid ratio were measured every 2 days, and sensory evaluation was made. In addition, the effects of 1-MCP on the shelf quality and volatile substances of different maturity plums were analyzed by GC-MS. Results showed that the Fengtang plum was a typical non-climacteric fruit. Harvest maturity was the main reason affecting the quality change of Fengtang plums during their shelf life. The higher the harvest maturity, the higher the decay rate of plum fruit during shelf life, the more vigorous the respiration, the more rapid the quality deterioration. A high concentration of 1-MCP (1.0 μL/L) treatment could delay the quality deterioration of different maturity plum fruit during shelf life, and the effect of high maturity (110 days after flowering) fruit preservation was the most obvious. GC-MS analysis showed that aldehydes (grassy aroma) and esters (fruit aroma) were the main volatile substances in Fengtang plums, and the higher the harvest maturity, the lower the aldehyde content and the higher the ester content. Different concentrations of 1-MCP treatment could delay the decrease of aldehyde content and the increase of ester content during the shelf life of plum fruit, and more effectively maintain the inherent aroma of plum fruit. Combined with the results of the solid-acid ratio and sensory evaluation, the high-maturity plum fruit had the best flavor during shelf life. 1-MCP treatment (1.0 μL/L) could effectively delay the quality deterioration and flavor loss of different maturity plum fruit during shelf life and had the best shelf preservation effect on high-maturity plum fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] In order to clarify the influence of harvest maturity on the industrial availability of the cutters of flue-cured tobacco CB-1.[Method] A comparative curing test on different harvest maturity of the cutters of CB-1 was conducted, to test and compare the quality traits of cured tobacco leaves in each treatment. [Result] The results show that, the appearance quality, grade structure and average price of tobacco leaves of ripe treatment was the best, mature treatment was second, unripe treatment was worse, overmature treatment was the worst. The high-class tobacco proportion of ripe treatment (75.63%) was higher than mature treatment (67.69%) 11.73%, higher than unripe treatment (63.92%)18.32%, higher than overmature treatment (12.38%) 510.90%. The average price of ripe treatment (36.36 yuan/kg) was 3.18% higher than mature (35.24 yuan/kg),6.69% higher than unripe (34.08 yuan/kg),74.96% higher than overmature (20.78 yuan/kg). With increasing harvest maturity, the total sugar, reduced sugar content and the ratio of sugar/nicotine of cured tobacco leaves tend to be better, and the chemical composition is more coordinated. The total aroma composition decreased with the increasing harvest maturity, the total aroma composition of unripe (598.75 µg/g) was 0.85% higher than mature (593.71 µg/g), 10.77% higher than ripe (540.53 µg/g), and 51.82% higher than overmature (394.39 µg/g). With increasing harvest maturity, the ratio of damascenone which contributes the most to the fresh-aroma type style, and solanone which contributes the most to the full-aroma style, showed a significantly decreased trend, unripe (7.83) was highest, mature was second (6.18), ripe was third (4.96), overripe (3.90) was lowest. It means that the fresh-aroma style was significantly weakened. [Conclusion] In general, the ripe tobacco leaves have the best quality, industrial availability and economic benefits, and mature was second, and unripe and overripe were inferior. The ripe and mature are the appropriate harvest maturity standard in the cutters of CB-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the potential of promising summer maize genotypes and optimal stage of harvesting these genotypes for ensiling in terms of dry matter (DM), starch, and crude protein (CP) yields, silage fermentation quality, nutrients profile, total digestible nutrients, metabolizable energy (ME) content, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) carbohydrate (CHO) subfractions composition, in vitro DM digestibility (DMD) and in situ starch degradation characteristics. Six maize genotypes were chosen for the study: DK9108 from Monsanto, P30Y87, P3939 from Pioneer, QPM-300 (quality protein maize) and W94 from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and a local cultivar, Afgoii, from the Cereal Research Institute (Persabaq, KP). A total of 72 plots (8 m × 10 m) were blocked in three replicate fields, and within each field, each genotype was sown in four replicate plots according to a randomized complete block design. For the data analysis, the Proc-Mixed procedure of Statistical Analysis System with repeated measure analysis of variance was used. The DM yield was strongly influenced (P < 0.001) by maize genotypes, varying from 12.6 to 17.0 tons/ha. Except for total CHO and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), the contents of all measured chemical components varied (P < 0.001) among the genotypes. Further comparison revealed that, genotype P3939 had a higher (P < 0.05) content of CP (7.27 vs. 6.92%), starch (36.7 vs. 27.9%), DMD (65.4 vs. 60.0%), ME (2.51 vs. 2.30 Mcal/kg) and lactic acid (5.32 vs. 4.83%) and lowest content of NDF (37.3 vs. 43.1%), pH (3.7 vs. 4.10) compared to the local cultivar (Afgoii). Advancement of post-flowering maturity from 25 to 35% DM (23 to 41 days after flowering (DAF)) increased (P < 0.05) the DM yield (10.4 to 17.8 tons/ha), starch content (29.1 to 35.0%), DMD (65.3 to 67.3%) and ME (2.34 to 2.47 Mcal/kg), and decreased (P < 0.001) the contents of CP (7.42–6.73%), NDF (48.8–38.5%), pH (4.10 to 3.60), NH3-N (8.93–7.80%N) and effective degradability of starch (95.4 to 89.4). Results showed that for higher yields and silage nutritional and fermentation quality, maize crops should be harvested at whole crop DM content of 30–35% (34 to 41 DAF). It was further concluded that genotype P3939 is the most suitable summer maize genotype for silage production in terms of yields and silage nutritional and fermentation quality under the hot environmental conditions of the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the appropriate harvest maturity of cigar wrapper leaves, the effects of different harvest maturity on the main ag- ronomic characters, physical indicators, chemical components and appearance quality of cigar wrapper middle leaves after air-curing were studied. The results showed that with the increase of harvest maturity, the SPAD value and water content of fresh wrapper leaves decreased, while the chromaticity value increased. After air-curing, the leaf thickness, leaf surface density and tensile force of leaves first increased and then decreased. The ratio of two sugars first increased and then decreased, while the nitrogen base ratio and potassium chloride ratio decreased; The scores of maturity and oil content increased, while the scores of branch thickness and flatness decreased. Considering the physical charac- teristics, chemical composition and appearance quality, the appearance characteristics of the cigar wrapper middle leaves that were suitable for harvest maturity; leaf color was greenish yellow (greenish to yellowish), with 1/3 of the main veins turning white, and 1/4 of the branch veins turning white with a small amount of tomenta falling off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Due to several factors including persistent drought conditions and the increased occurrence and severity of fire on rangeland, there is an increased need for the use of alternative forages to meet the nutrient requirements of ruminants raised in extensive grazing systems. However, information on the nutritive value of alternative forages like Eragrostis teff as influenced by harvest maturity, and the best supplementation strategies that complement and improve utilization of those forages, is still lacking. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of harvest maturity of teff hay (early- compared to late-heading stage of maturity) and supplemental energy sources (corn grain compared to beet pulp at 0.5% of body weight) on nutrient intake and digestibility and nitrogen utilization in beef heifers. Delaying the harvest of teff hay resulted in a decrease in nutrient supply, which was not attenuated by feeding either supplemental corn grain or beet pulp. Nitrogen retention was also negative regardless of harvest maturity, and this potentially indicates that there might be a need to provide both energy and protein supplements to improve nutrient supply and, thus, growth performance when feeding teff hay to beef cattle. The phenological stage of maturity of grasses and supplementation program can impact forage utilization in grazing beef cattle. However, the potential interaction between harvest maturity of Eragrostis tef (teff) hay and energy supplement source was yet to be fully evaluated. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effects of harvest maturity of teff hay and supplemental energy sources on nutrient intake, apparent total-tract nutrient digestion, nitrogen (N) utilization, and ruminal fermentation characteristics in beef heifers. A split-plot design with teff hay harvest maturity as the whole plot and supplemental energy source as the subplot was administered in a three-period (21 d), three × three Latin square design. Six crossbred beef heifers (804 ± 53.6 kg of body weight; BW) were allocated to two harvest maturities (early- (EH]) or late-heading (LH)) and to two supplemental energy sources (no supplement (CON), or rolled corn grain or beet pulp pellet fed at 0.5% of BW). Data were analyzed using SAS. There was no harvest maturity × energy supplement interaction. Although harvest maturity had no impact on total dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein (CP) intake was greater (p < 0.01) for EH than LH heifers. Total intakes of dry (DM) and organic matter (OM) were also greater (p < 0.01) for supplemented than CON heifers, whereas acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was greater for beet pulp heifers compared to heifers fed the CON diet and supplemental corn grain. Harvest maturity had no impact on ruminal pH. However, mean ruminal pH was lower (p = 0.04), duration pH < 6.2, and molar proportions of butyrate and branched-chain fatty acids were greater (p ≤ 0.049) for heifers fed corn grain compared to CON and beet pulp diets. Heifers fed EH hay had greater (p ≤ 0.02) apparent total-tract DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF digestibility than heifers fed LH hay. Although there was no supplemental energy effect on microbial nitrogen (N) flow, it was greater (p < 0.01) for EH than LH heifers. Apparent N retention, which did not differ, was negative across all diets. In summary, delaying the harvest of teff hay from the EH to LH stage of maturity compromised nutrient supply, which was not attenuated by feeding supplemental corn grain and beet pulp at 0.5% of diet DM. Because N retention was negative across harvest maturity, there might be a need to provide both energy and protein supplements to improve growth performance when feeding teff hay to beef cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senegalia macrostachya is a wild, perennial, and promising legume that can help alleviate food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa's drought-prone regions. However, it has been for a long time overlooked, underutilized, and scarcely studied. This study shed light on its ecological niche, genetic variation in natural populations, and seeds' harvest maturity. Three populations of S. macrostachya were selected along an environmental gradient, and their structures, based on their plants' pod characteristics (i.e., unique morphological differentiation trait amongst the plants), were assessed. Then, the seeds' development was investigated following their morphological transformation, mass accumulation, and the mobilization of their proteins and secondary metabolites. S. macrostachya has revealed low genetic variation and fitness to poor soils, warm and semi-arid climates in sub-Saharan Africa, prone to droughts and low to medium agricultural productivity. The maturation of the seeds involved the accumulation of specific late embryogenesis abundant proteins (60, 48, and 14 kDa), identified as chilling-responsive dehydrins, and the degradation of the chlorophylls and carotenoids, which could be used as biochemical landmarks of the harvest maturity. Besides, an aging symptom (high seed abortion rate (14–20%)) was observed in the study populations. This work provides unprecedented information that will assist in predicting the eco-climate suitability and climate resilience, identifying the conservation strategies, and planning the harvesting, reforestation programs, and domestication of S. macrostachya. In parallel, the dehydrins identified from S. macrostachya can be tapped into for drought-resistant crop development. Further research is needed to evaluate the impacts of the mother plants' aging and larger climate gradient on the performance (i.e., seed productivity and regeneration ability) of S. macrostachya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences 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.)

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tropical fruit that has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its unique flavor, nutritional value, and numerous health benefits. The growth and maturation of avocados are influenced by various environmental and climatic factors. Temperature is one of the most critical factors, as it plays a significant role in various physiological processes of this fruit. This study aimed to investigate the effect of air temperature on avocado development and assess the harvest maturity period (determined by the dry matter content) of Fuerte, Zutano, and Hass, the most common avocado varieties, grown in Western Crete, Greece. Fruit samples collected from avocado orchards in five regions of Western Crete were subjected to dry matter analysis during the ripening period for the years 2017 to 2022. Maturation time is determined based on the EU regulation for dry matter concentration. The results of this study revealed that dry matter concentration can be affected by both very high summer temperatures and low temperatures during the ripening period. Specifically, high temperatures during the summer months can have a significant impact on avocado development and result in a reduced dry matter concentration. On the other hand, low temperatures during the maturation stage can slow down enzymatic activity and metabolic processes, resulting in delayed ripening and a prolonged time to reach optimal maturity. This delay in maturation and reduced dry matter concentration can significantly affect the harvest timing, as growers may need to wait for the avocados to develop the desired characteristics before they can be harvested. Our findings are the first data on avocado maturation (dry matter concentration) in relation to temperature and provide valuable insights into harvest maturity period of avocado cultivation in Crete and other regions with similar Mediterranean climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

King coconut (Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca) is a tropical nut with notable nutritional and medicinal values. King coconut water (KCW) and king coconut kernel (KCK) are sweet and refreshing. They undergo several changes during maturation. The objective of this study was to assess the physico-chemical changes of KCW and KCK with maturity. Three different maturity stages (6, 7, and 8 months) of the variety aurantica, known locally as 'Nawasi Thembili' were studied for several physico-chemical parameters. Whole nut weight (g), nut-circumference (cm), colour (water/kernel) (*L), nut-water volume (mL), kernel weight (g), and kernel thickness (mm) were assessed as physical parameters, while pH, total soluble solids (oBrix), titratable acidity (as % ascorbic acid), total sugars (g/100g; g/100mL), and minerals (mg/L; mg/kg) were analysed as chemical attributes. Sugars were estimated using Agilent 1260 HPLC and ICP-MS was used to measure the mineral profile. Results revealed that all the tested physical parameters of KCW and KCK increased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity. The pH, TSS, total sugars, and acidity of KCW increased significantly (p < 0.05), while mineral content decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity. However, the TSS and minerals of KCK decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity and a higher sucrose content was reported in KCK compared to KCW at later maturity. The Ca+2 and Mg+2 were prominent in both KCW and KCK. The study concluded that the physico-chemical characteristics varied widely with the maturity of king coconuts. The selection of optimum harvest maturity to match the preferred attributes of intended applications is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Optimal harvest date is an important quality parameter for hardy kiwifruit. We, therefore, examined the ideal harvest date to obtain high-quality ripe “Autumn sense” hardy kiwifruit. The fruit was harvested at four different harvest maturity stages [6.2%, 7.1%, 8.1%, and 9.1% average soluble solids content (SSC); H1, H2, H3, and H4, respectively], then treated with exogenous ethylene at ambient temperature, to examine the quality of the ripening fruit. The four harvest maturity stages differed significantly in firmness, SSC, titratable acidity (TA), and SSC/TA ratio, both in freshly harvested and ripe hardy kiwifruit (p

A chlorophyll content prediction model for predicting chlorophyll content in the pericarp of Korla fragrant pears was constructed based on harvest maturity and storage time. This model predicts chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears after storage by using the error backpropagation neural network (BPNN), generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The results demonstrate that chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears decreased gradually as the harvest time lengthened. The chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears with different maturity levels at harvest decreased continuously with the increase in storage time. According to a comparison of the prediction performances of the BPNN and ANFIS models, it was discovered that the trained GRNN and ANFIS models could predict chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears. The ANFIS model showed the best prediction performances when the input membership functions were gasuss2mf (RMSE = 0.006; R2 = 0.993), dsigmf (RMSE = 0.007; R2 = 0.992) and psigmf (RMSE = 0.007; R2 = 0.992). The findings of this study can serve as references for determining the delivery quality and timing of Korla fragrant pears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to investigate the standardization of harvest maturity indicators in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.)The mean number of spines/cm2 was lowest in tree 1 (8.0), the mean metallic sound (hedonic scale) was highest in tree 1 (2.8), the mean fruit length was significantly increasing and reaching its maximum in tree 1 (39.00 cm), and the mean fruit circumference was significantly increasing and reaching its maximum in tree 1 (39.00 cm) (41.48 cm). The experiment's data were considered non-replicated, and the recorded data were statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA design in the computer software MS Excel. Considering morphological analysis the characters viz., fruit circumference(39.00 cm), low spine density(8.0), moderate to high spreading of spines, presence of sensible hollow metallic sound could be used as the maturity indices of jackfruit. It is also noted that jackfruit could be harvested after 100 days of fruit set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high postharvest losses (40 - 50%) reported in the mango value chain are partly attributed to lack of reliable maturity indices. Harvest maturity is dictated by the intended use and the target market for the fruits. The aim of this study was to establish maturity indices of three commercial mango varieties namely 'Van dyke,' 'Kent' and 'Tommy Atkins' in Embu County of Kenya. At least eighteen mango trees (six per variety) were randomly tagged at 50% flowering in each of the three selected smallscale farms in Embu County. Number of days from flowering to different maturity stages were recorded (computational method). For each variety and maturity stage, five fruits were randomly sampled from the pool and analysed for physical (size, density, firmness, colour), physiological (ethylene evolution and respiration rate) and biochemical (obrix/Total Soluble Solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA) and their ratio) indices of maturity. The results showed that although size increased as the fruits developed, it was not a reliable index of maturity since some small-sized fruits attained advanced maturity earlier than others that were large-sized. The weight of the fruits fluctuated as the fruits developed and similar trend was observed on the specific gravity. Flesh firmness decreased gradually with maturity from a mean firmness of 40.54 N to 6.84 N. Tommy Atkins exhibited the lowest firmness levels at stage 4. Kent variety had the lowest ethylene at all stages while Tommy Atkins variety had the highest respiration rate of 21.40 ml/kg/hr at stage 1, which increased gradually to 32.10 ml/kg/hr at stage 4. The highest TSS: TTA values were reported in Kent variety. The results revealed significant differences in maturity indices of the three mango varieties despite similar physical indices. This study confirms the unreliability of physical maturity indices such as size and shape in establishing the right harvest stage of mango fruits. Computational, physiological and biochemical maturity indices should be incorporated in determination of accurate harvest maturity for mango. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most stakeholders, including farmers and sugar millers, are interested in sugarcane quality to plan for harvesting season. However, the impact of different juice extraction methods on juice quality is not clearly understood. While individual factories measure soluble solids content (SSC) to gauge sugar content before harvest, the extraction method significantly affects the measurement. This study was performed to determine and compare the SSC in sugarcane juice extracted by the direct extraction method (DEM) and shredded extraction method (SEM), and to develop a calibration model to monitor SSC in juice using NIR measurement to support harvest planning. A total of 156 sugarcane samples were collected, and the juice was extracted using both DEM and SEM. Their spectra data were acquired using NIR spectrometer (400–2500 nm) and uniformly divided into calibration and validation sets. The models were developed using PLS regression. Calibration models developed from short and long wavelengths showed significant prediction, with RMSEP values of 0.27 °Brix and 0.11 °Brix for independent samples, and biases of 0.05 °Brix and 0.00 °Brix for DEM and SEM, respectively. These results indicate that the choice of juice extraction methods can significantly influence predictions of sugarcane maturity based on SSC levels. Therefore, farmers and sugar millers should consider their extraction methods when monitoring and predicting sugarcane harvest maturity. [Display omitted] • Juice extraction methods affect SSC quantity in juice. • Either DEM or SEM can be used for SSC determination of sugarcane harvest maturity. • NIR spectrometer is feasible in predicting SSC in juice extracted from sugarcane. • Farmers and sugar millers should consider extraction methods during maturity tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tropical fruit that has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its unique flavor, nutritional value, and numerous health benefits. The growth and maturation of avocados are influenced by various environmental and climatic factors. Temperature is one of the most critical factors, as it plays a significant role in various physiological processes of this fruit. This study aimed to investigate the effect of air temperature on avocado development and assess the harvest maturity period (determined by the dry matter content) of Fuerte, Zutano, and Hass, the most common avocado varieties, grown in Western Crete, Greece. Fruit samples collected from avocado orchards in five regions of Western Crete were subjected to dry matter analysis during the ripening period for the years 2017 to 2022. Maturation time is determined based on the EU regulation for dry matter concentration. The results of this study revealed that dry matter concentration can be affected by both very high summer temperatures and low temperatures during the ripening period. Specifically, high temperatures during the summer months can have a significant impact on avocado development and result in a reduced dry matter concentration. On the other hand, low temperatures during the maturation stage can slow down enzymatic activity and metabolic processes, resulting in delayed ripening and a prolonged time to reach optimal maturity. This delay in maturation and reduced dry matter concentration can significantly affect the harvest timing, as growers may need to wait for the avocados to develop the desired characteristics before they can be harvested. Our findings are the first data on avocado maturation (dry matter concentration) in relation to temperature and provide valuable insights into harvest maturity period of avocado cultivation in Crete and other regions with similar Mediterranean climatic conditions.

In this study, we investigated the impact of harvest maturity stages and contrasting growing climates on secondary metabolites in Kinnow mandarin. Fruit samples were harvested at six harvest maturity stages (M1–M6) from two distinct growing locations falling under subtropical–arid (STA) and subtropical–humid (STH) climates. A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) technique was employed to identify and quantify secondary metabolites in the fruit juice. A total of 31 polyphenolics and 4 limonoids, with significant differences (p < 0.05) in their concentration, were determined. With advancing maturity, phenolic acids and antioxidant activity were found to increase, whereas flavonoids and limonoids decreased in concentration. There was a transient increase in the concentration of some polyphenolics such as hesperidin, naringin, narirutin, naringenin, neoeriocitrin, rutin, nobiletin and tangeretin, and limonoid aglycones such as limonin and nomilin at mid-maturity stage (M3) which coincided with prevailing low temperature and frost events at growing locations. A higher concentration of limonin and polyphenolics was observed for fruit grown under STH climates in comparison to those grown under STA climates. The data indicate that fruit metabolism during advanced stages of maturation under distinct climatic conditions is fundamental to the flavor, nutrition and processing quality of Kinnow mandarin. This information can help in understanding the optimum maturity stage and preferable climate to source fruits with maximum functional compounds, less bitterness and high consumer acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to investigate the standardization of harvest maturity indicators in Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.)The mean number of spines/cm2 was lowest in tree 1 (8.0), the mean metallic sound (hedonic scale) was highest in tree 1 (2.8), the mean fruit length was significantly increasing and reaching its maximum in tree 1 (39.00 cm), and the mean fruit circumference was significantly increasing and reaching its maximum in tree 1 (39.00 cm) (41.48 cm).The experiment's data were considered non-replicated, and the recorded data were statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA design in the computer software MS Excel. Considering morphological analysis the characters viz., fruit circumference(39.00 cm), low spine density(8.0), moderate to high spreading of spines, presence of sensible hollow metallic sound could be used as the maturity indices of jackfruit. It is also noted that jackfruit could be harvested after 100 days of fruit set.

BACKGROUND Cacao beans are rich sources of polyphenols with an abundance of flavonoids and methylxanthines that have positive influences on human health. The main factors affecting the formation of flavor as well as the chemical and bioactive composition of cacao beans are cacao pod maturity and post‐harvest fermentation. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of pod harvest maturity (mature and ripe) and post‐fermentation period (1, 3, and 5 days in a controlled temperature environment) measured by pre‐harvest maturity indices, post‐harvest quality tests, chemical measurements, and organoleptic evaluation. RESULTS: As pods developed, flavonol accumulated while nitrogen content degraded. Mature pods produced beans with a higher flavonol, catechin, and total phenolic content (TPC). As fermentation progressed, the beans' fat, TPC, antioxidant activity, and catechin content increased, regardless of pod maturity at harvest. Free fatty acid (FFA) levels were highest in 5 day fermented beans. The 3 day fermented beans contained significantly higher epicatechin, with lower FFA content. Chocolate made from mature beans with 3 day fermentation was more pleasant as it scored the highest in flavor intensity and complexity and the lowest in acidity and astringency. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that cacao pods harvested at the mature stage with further fermentation for 3 days under controlled temperatures produce specialty beans with potential health benefits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize seed longevity, seeds should be harvested at optimal maturity, that is, when seeds have acquired maximum physiological quality before deterioration begins. The aim of this study was to map the variation in temporal patterns of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) seed quality development when grown across four regeneration environments, which differ in the level of temperature and humidity control throughout the growing season, at the Australian Grains Genebank. Seeds of two lentil accessions (76080 and 76072) were harvested at different stages throughout development, commencing at 21 d after 50% anthesis until a maximum of 130 d. At each harvest, physiological quality traits, including germinability (fresh and dried seeds) and seed longevity, were determined, as well as seed dry weight and moisture content. Seeds of both accessions, and in all environments, started to accumulate physiological quality early on in development but did not reach their maximum until 3–54 d after mass maturity. The temporal patterns of desiccation tolerance and storage longevity were highly influenced by the environmental conditions during the maturation drying phase, affecting both 'when' maximum quality was attained and for how long it was maintained, thereafter. Seeds did not show a typical developmental response, rather variation was observed in seed quality development both between and within accessions grown in the different environments. The poorest storage longevity was seen when seeds of both accessions were grown in the cooler, temperature-controlled glasshouse, and the maximum longevity was observed in the warmer, semi-protected environments of the green and the big igloo for accessions 76080 and 76072, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and chemical characteristics of two melting flesh (MF) cultivars, TropicBeauty and Flordaprince, and two non-melting flesh (NMF) cultivars, UFSun and Gulfking, with advancing maturities, were determined at harvest, after ripening at 20 °C for 7 days (i.e., direct ripening) and after storage at 0 °C for 14 days then ripening at 20 °C for 7 days (i.e., ripening following low temperature storage). The NMF cultivars were able to retain flesh firmness better than the MF cultivars as fruit matured and ripened on the tree and after the two storage treatments. The NMF fruit of the least mature to the most advanced maturity groups (MGs) were ≈2 to 7 times firmer than the MF fruit in the same MGs after ripening in both storage conditions. For both MF and NMF fruit, a significant reduction of titratable acidity (TA) occurred with no significant changes in soluble solids content (SSC) and total soluble sugar (TSS) as maturity and ripening progressed on the tree and after ripening in both storage conditions. Minimum quality standards of “ready for consumption” peaches were used as general guidelines to determine the optimum harvest maturity of all four cultivars. The NMF fruit ripened directly had wider optimum harvest maturity ranges and could be harvested at more advanced stages than the MF fruit. The MF fruit that ripened following low temperature storage needed to be picked at earlier maturity stages than those that were directly ripened. The optimum harvest maturity of NMF UFSun for the low temperature storage treatment was more advanced than that of the other three cultivars due to abnormal softening found in the lower MGs after ripening. Linear correlation analyses showed that the skin ground color (GC) a* values of both MF cultivars and NMF ‘UFSun’ were highly correlated with the flesh color (FC) a* values, suggesting that GC a* values can be an informative harvest indicator for this NMF cultivar instead of the traditionally used FC. The GC a* values also had high linear correlation with TA for all four cultivars, suggesting that TA can be a potential maturity index for both MF and NMF peaches. Significant correlations of GC a* values and flesh firmness (GC-FF) were found in all four cultivars in one year but only in MF peaches in both years, showing that flesh firmness was the most consistent maturity indicator for the MF cultivars in this study.

Cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a highly productive forage crop with great economic potential. Our objectives were to investigate the effects and interactions of environment, harvest maturity stage, seeding rate and cultivars on alfalfa dry matter yield and quality. The field experiment was carried out over 2010-2012 at the Experimental Field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, at two locations: (I) Cenej, and (II) Rimski Šančevi, which were characterized by a contrasting soil condition. The experimental treatments included two seeding rates of 8 and 16 kg ha-1, three different harvest maturity stages of alfalfa, and four alfalfa cultivars included as a subplot in every treatment. Harvesting alfalfa five times within a year (cutting in the beginning of flowering) in the second and third year of stand life is the most efficient harvest regime that allows full exploitation of cultivar genetic potential and environmental conditions. There was no difference in yields between harvests at early and full flowering stage (15.9 t ha-1). Data related to forage quality components show increase of nutritive value when harvesting alfalfa in earlier maturity stage. Maturity stage in the moment of harvesting significantly affected all quality parameters. The results obtained suggest that in a temperate climate of Southeast Europe there is little justification for planting higher seeding rates of alfalfa varieties under good establishment practices. Increasing seeding rates above 16 kg ha-1 does not provide a long-term boon in alfalfa production.

A chlorophyll content prediction model for predicting chlorophyll content in the pericarp of Korla fragrant pears was constructed based on harvest maturity and storage time. This model predicts chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears after storage by using the error backpropagation neural network (BPNN), generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The results demonstrate that chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears decreased gradually as the harvest time lengthened. The chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears with different maturity levels at harvest decreased continuously with the increase in storage time. According to a comparison of the prediction performances of the BPNN and ANFIS models, it was discovered that the trained GRNN and ANFIS models could predict chlorophyll content in the pericarp of fragrant pears. The ANFIS model showed the best prediction performances when the input membership functions were gasuss2mf (RMSE = 0.006; R2 = 0.993), dsigmf (RMSE = 0.007; R2 = 0.992) and psigmf (RMSE = 0.007; R2 = 0.992). The findings of this study can serve as references for determining the delivery quality and timing of Korla fragrant pears.

It is difficult to control the quality of Korla pear with different degrees of maturity during storage. Here, a method was proposed for predicting the effects of harvest maturity and cold storage time on the quality indices (soluble solid content (SSC) and Vitamin C (Vc) content) of Korla pear. The generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were employed to predict the quality changes of Korla fragrant pear fruit during storage. The results demonstrated that during cold storage the SSC in pears with 10%-70% harvest maturity showed continuous increases in the first 90 d of storage and then a slight decline thereafter, while that in pears with 80% and 90% harvest maturity exhibited slow decreases throughout the storage process. With the extension of storage time, the Vc content of pears with 10%-90% harvest maturity showed continuous decreases. The harvest maturity of Korla pear was extremely positively correlated with SSC and Vc content (p < 0.01) in a given storage period. Storage time showed an extremely significant negative correlation with the Vc content (p < 0.01) at the 40%-90% harvest maturity and an significant negative correlation with the Vc content (p < 0.05) at the 10%-30% harvest maturity. At the 10%-70% harvest maturity, storage time showed a significant positive correlation with the SSC (p < 0.05). The trained model could well predict the variation trend of quality indices of pear fruit during storage. The ANFIS with the input membership function of gbellmf had the best performance in predicting the SSC (RMSE=0.175; R²=0.98), and that with the input membership function of trimf exhibited the best performance in predicting Vc content (RMSE=0.075; R² =0.99). The research findings can provide reference for predicting the fruit nutritional quality at delivery and decision-making on the storage time of Korla fragrant pear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maturity at harvest is a determining factor in fruit storage potential, especially in such perishable species as plums (Prunus salicina L.). However, harvest´s logistics is very complex, and a large percentage of fruits are harvested at a more advanced stage of maturity than the optimum recommended for long storage. Treatment with 1-MCP has shown to be effective in reducing the post-harvest deterioration rate of Japanese plums, but the effectiveness of this treatment may be reduced in late harvested fruit. The aim of this trial was to determine the efficiency of treatment with 0.4 µL L-1 of 1-MCP in Larry Ann plums harvested at 4 different maturity stages. The results showed that the treatment was effective in reducing the ripening rate of the fruit at all harvest timings. The duration of this effect and the number of parameters affected decreased as harvest was delayed. In maturity stage 1 (M1, ~62 N) and maturity stage 2 (M2, ~58 N), 1-MCP delayed ethylene production rate during shelf life after 30, 40, and 50 days of storage at 0 ºC and reduced loss of flesh firmness, and acidity. At the maturity stage 3 (M3, ~50N) 1-MCP delayed ethylene production rate during shelf life after 30 and 40 days of storage at 0 ºC and maintained higher flesh firmness values. In fruit harvested at the maturity 4 (M4, ~35 N), 1-MCP did not affect ethylene production rate, but reduced loss of flesh firmness during shelf life, supporting the hypothesis that the treatment has a direct inhibitory effect on softening enzymes, independent of ethylene.

In this study, we investigated the impact of harvest maturity stages and contrasting growing climates on secondary metabolites in Kinnow mandarin. Fruit samples were harvested at six harvest maturity stages (M1–M6) from two distinct growing locations falling under subtropical–arid (STA) and subtropical–humid (STH) climates. A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) technique was employed to identify and quantify secondary metabolites in the fruit juice. A total of 31 polyphenolics and 4 limonoids, with significant differences (p < 0.05) in their concentration, were determined. With advancing maturity, phenolic acids and antioxidant activity were found to increase, whereas flavonoids and limonoids decreased in concentration. There was a transient increase in the concentration of some polyphenolics such as hesperidin, naringin, narirutin, naringenin, neoeriocitrin, rutin, nobiletin and tangeretin, and limonoid aglycones such as limonin and nomilin at mid-maturity stage (M3) which coincided with prevailing low temperature and frost events at growing locations. A higher concentration of limonin and polyphenolics was observed for fruit grown under STH climates in comparison to those grown under STA climates. The data indicate that fruit metabolism during advanced stages of maturation under distinct climatic conditions is fundamental to the flavor, nutrition and processing quality of Kinnow mandarin. This information can help in understanding the optimum maturity stage and preferable climate to source fruits with maximum functional compounds, less bitterness and high consumer acceptability.

A hand-held, chlorophyll content meter [the delta absorbance (DA) meter] was used to develop an optimal harvest maturity model for 'Minneiska' apples (Malusdomestica Borkh). Fruit from four commercial orchards in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada, were sampled weekly (25 fruit per location) over eight consecutive harvests during the 2011–2013 growing seasons. At each harvest, 60 fruit were measured for their DA value (IAD), mass, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content (SSC), red skin colouration, starch-to-sugar conversion and internal core ethylene concentration. Following 3–3.5 months of refrigerated air storage at 3.5°C, samples were removed and assessed for fruit bruising, skin greasiness, rot and physiological disorders. Peel chlorophyll content was strongly and positively correlated with epidermal IAD measurements. IAD values declined significantly during fruit ripening and were negatively related to harvest week. The optimal harvest period was identified by aligning 'at harvest' IAD, fruit quality and 'post-storage' disorder data with the corresponding harvest week. IAD averages associated with harvests having high commercial fruit quality demarcated the optimal harvest boundaries. As the IAD values declined during fruit maturity, the upper boundary value of 0.26 was defined as 'when to begin harvest', while the lower boundary value of 0.12 was deemed 'when to end harvest' for longer-term storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate current research into and understanding of whole-plant sorghum silage production and the effect of feeding whole-plant sorghum silage on lactation performance of dairy cows. Sorghum's drought tolerance, water efficiency, and low cost of production make it an intriguing crop in areas where whole-plant corn silage production may be limited. Currently, urban land encroachment and reduced water availability have increased social and economic pressures on farms to improve crop production efficiency. As these challenges become more prevalent, greater reliance on sorghum can be expected because of its ability to produce high dry matter yields while maintaining nutritive value, even under less-than-ideal growing conditions. Moreover, whole-plant sorghum silage provides both physically effective fiber and energy through fiber and grain fractions. Advancements in sorghum genetics and mechanical processing have the potential to alleviate common challenges associated with whole-plant sorghum silage supplementation, such as increased neutral detergent fiber and decreased neutral detergent fiber digestibility, starch concentration, and starch digestibility. These nutritive challenges must be overcome for whole-plant sorghum silage to be a viable alternative to whole-plant corn silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table grapes commonly suffer from tissue browning during harvest, packing, storage and shelf life, resulting in lower prices and reduced access to markets. We evaluated the development of browning symptoms in ‘Princess’ table grapes. The berries had high skin browning but very low flesh browning incidences. The most skin browning was found in highly mature grapes and appeared after 3 weeks of cold storage. Skin browning was directly related to fruit maturity, but vineyard location had a greater impact on the incidence of skin browning than maturity. In all locations, the skin browning susceptibility of ‘Princess’ table grapes rapidly increased when the berries reached a titratable acidity of less than or equal to 0.60% and/or a soluble solids concentration greater than or equal to 18.0%. Based on this work, we recommend harvesting ‘Princess’ at a soluble solids concentration between 16.0% and 18.0%.

Microgreens constitute novel gastronomic ingredients that combine visual, kinesthetic and bioactive qualities. The definition of the optimal developmental stage for harvesting microgreens remains fluid. Their superior phytochemical content against mature leaves underpins the current hypothesis of significant changes in compositional profile during the brief interval of ontogeny from the appearance of the first (S1) to the second true leaf (S2). Microgreens of four brassicaceous genotypes (Komatsuna, Mibuna, Mizuna and Pak Choi) grown under controlled conditions and harvested at S1 and S2 were appraised for fresh and dry yield traits. They were further analyzed for macro- and micromineral content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), carotenoid content using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD), volatile organic compounds using solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS), anthocyanins and polyphenols using liquid chromatography-high resolution-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with Orbitrap technology and for chlorophyll and ascorbate concentrations, well as antioxidant capacity by spectrophotometry. Analysis of compositional profiles revealed genotype as the principal source of variation for all constituents. The response of mineral and phytochemical composition and of antioxidant capacity to the growth stage was limited and largely genotype-dependent. It is, therefore, questionable whether delaying harvest from S1 to S2 would significantly improve the bioactive value of microgreens while the cost-benefit analysis for this decision must be genotype-specific. Finally, the lower-yielding genotypes (Mizuna and Pak Choi) registered higher relative increase in fresh yield between S1 and S2, compared to the faster-growing and higher-yielding genotypes. Although the optimal harvest stage for specific genotypes must be determined considering the increase in yield against reduction in crop turnover, harvesting at S2 seems advisable for the lower-yielding genotypes.

This study employs a quantitative metabolomics approach to study the dynamics of primary metabolites in 'Kinnow' mandarin as influenced by maturation and ripening under contrasting growing climates. Fruit samples were harvested at regular intervals during the advanced stages of maturation and ripening from two contrasting growing locations, one under subtropical–arid (STA) climate and the other under subtropical–humid (STH) climate. Fruit juice samples were analysed using a targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique for identification and quantitation of primary metabolites such as sugars, organic acids and some vitamins. Significant (p < 0.05) differences in the metabolite concentrations were observed to be influenced by maturation stage and growing location. An increase in the concentration of sugars and B-complex vitamins was observed during the final stages of maturation approaching commercial maturity, whereas organic acids and vitamin C concentrations decreased. Fruit grown under STA climate exhibited a higher concentration of vitamin C and a lower concentration of organic acids than those grown under STH climate. The results suggest that fruit metabolism during the final stages of maturation and ripening under arid versus humid climatic conditions is a key determinant of the flavour and nutritional quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Highlights • Harvest maturity of Eureka lemon affects the cold storage life and fruit quality. • Lemon fruit harvested at green stage can be stored at 10 °C up to 90 days. • Lemon fruit harvest at yellow stage are suitable for 30 days cold storage (10 °C). • Total antioxidant capacity in the juice decreased with the extension of cold storage period. • Levels of citric, malic and fumaric acids in cold stored fruit decreased from green to yellow stage. Abstract Lemon fruit is usually harvested at different maturity stages to suit the market requirements. The harvest maturity stage influence the postharvest quality of different fruits during storage. Therefore, the effects of three different maturity stages (green, green-yellow and yellow stages) and cold storage periods (30, 60 and 90 days) at 10 °C on Eureka lemon fruit quality were investigated. The quality parameters such as fruit weight loss, fruit colour parameters i.e., L*, a*, b*, C* (chroma) and h ° (hue angle), soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), individual organic acids, vitamin C and total antioxidant capacity in the fruit juice were estimated. Mean fruit weight loss, SSC and TA in the juice of the cold stored fruit decreased significantly from green stage to yellow stage and increased significantly with the extension of cold storage periods. Mean L*, a*, b*, C* values in the cold stored fruit increased significantly from green stage to yellow stage and also with the extension of cold storage periods. However, mean h ° in cold stored fruit decreased significantly from green stage to yellow stage or with the extension of cold storage periods. Citric acid was recorded to be a prominent individual organic acid in the juice of the lemon fruit. Means levels of citric acid, malic acid and fumaric acid in the juice of cold stored fruit decreased significantly from green to yellow stage. Whilst with the extension of cold storage period the mean citric acid and succinic acid levels in the fruit juice increased significantly and malic acid and fumaric acid levels decreased significantly. Vitamin C content in the juice of cold stored fruit was not significantly affected by the harvest maturity stages and cold storage periods. Mean total antioxidant capacity in the juice of cold stored fruit decreased significantly with the extension of storage period. In conclusion, the harvest maturity of Eureka lemon affects the cold storage life and fruit quality. Considering different fruit quality parameters, the lemon fruit harvested at yellow stage are suitable to store for 30 days and the fruit harvested at green stage can be stored up to 90 days at 10 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Harvest maturity has a significant impact on the aroma of Cascade hops. • Citrusy aroma in Cascade hops increases with harvest maturity. • Late harvest Cascade hops have higher total oils and amounts of aroma volatiles. • As Cascade hops mature on bine, bound thiols decrease while free thiols increase. • Later harvested Cascade hops are likely to be better suited for dry-hopping. Abstract The impact of ripening on the dry-hop aroma potential and chemical development of Cascade hops is not well understood. Therefore, 5–6 weekly hop samples were collected over the 2014, 2015 and 2016 harvests. Concentrations of humulones did not change as a function of harvest date, while total hop essential oil content displayed significant positive trends. Concentrations of thiol precursors decreased over harvest while concentrations of free thiols increased. These weekly samples were used to dry-hop an unhopped base beer. Overall hop aroma intensity and citrus quality attributed to beer during dry-hopping increased as a function of harvest date. These results suggest that for brewers to maximize the efficiency of hop usage, early harvested Cascades might be better for bittering, while, later harvested Cascades might be better for dry-hopping or aroma additions because they attributed more intense citrusy aromas to beer and had higher concentrations of free thiols and terpene alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The puipose of the article was to ascertain the precise criterion of maturity of fresh tobacco leaves. [Method] Using flue-cured tobacco K326 as test material, the effects of different maturity were studied on the botanical characteristics, photosynthetic characteristics, main chemical components, tissue structure and cell ultrastructure, as well as the yield and quality of due-cured tobacco leaves. [Result]The best quality, the most harmonization of the internal chemical composition and the highest quality of sensory evaluation were the proper maturity treatment of the tobacco leaves. Through the best treatment of production and quality, the standard of the proper maturity was deduced, and the indexes of botanical characteristics of the freshly harvested K326 middle part were first explored. Several botanical characteristics were the leal' color yellowish, yellowing by 80 % . 60 % whitening of main vein, 40 % whitening of branch vein, stem and leaf angle of 70°, 70 % mature spots, hair loss nearly 50 % . The other indexes were SPAD value of middle tobacco leaves 23. 5, total sugar content 14.02 %, reducing sugar content 10.63 %, starch content 25. 42 %, protein content 12.02 %, palisade tissue thickness 58. 94 μm。, sponge tissue thickness 68.54 μm。. [Conclusion] This study provided a theoretical basis for improving the reasonable maturity and easy roasting of K326 varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an earlier study, an electronic tongue system (e-tongue) has been used to differentiate between orange juice made from healthy fruit and from fruit affected by the citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. This study investigated the reaction of an e-tongue system to the main chemicals in orange juice that impact flavor and health benefits and are also impacted by HLB. Orange juice was spiked with sucrose (0.2–5.0 g/100 mL), citric acid (0.1%–3.0% g/100 mL) and potassium chloride (0.1–3.0 g/100 mL) as well as the secondary metabolites nomilin (1–30 µg/mL), limonin (1–30 µg/mL), limonin glucoside (30–200 µg/mL), hesperidin (30–400 µg/mL) and hesperetin (30–400 µg/mL). Performance of Alpha MOS sensor sets #1 (pharmaceutical) and #5 (food) were compared for the same samples, with sensor set #1 generally giving better separation than sensor set #5 for sucrose, sensor set #5 giving better separation for nomilin and limonin, both sets being efficient at separating citric acid, potassium chloride, hesperitin and limonin glucoside, and neither set discriminating hesperidin efficiently. Orange juice made from fruit over the harvest season and from fruit harvested from healthy or HLB-affected trees were separated by harvest maturity, disease state and disease severity.

Highlights • Ripe fruit harvested at sprung stage had highest levels of lupeol and mangiferin. • Ripe fruit harvested at sprung stage had highest level of phenolic acids. • Tree ripe fruit had the highest levels of ascorbic acid and carotenoids. • Ripe fruit harvested at sprung stage offer maximum health benefits. Abstract Mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit is known as a good source of lupeol, mangiferin and phenolic acids. However, the effect of harvest maturity on the concentrations of these compounds in the pulp and peel of ripe 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit has not been reported. Thus, quantitative analysis of lupeol, mangiferin, phenolic acids and other important health-promoting compounds in the pulp and peel of ripe mango fruit harvested at four different maturity stages namely, green mature (commercial standard), sprung stage, half ripe and tree ripe was carried out. The highest concentrations of lupeol, mangiferin, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid in both pulp and peel and gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and total phenols in the peel were recorded in ripe fruit harvested at the sprung stage. The highest concentrations of ascorbic acid and total carotenoids in pulp and total antioxidant capacity in peel were recorded in the fruit harvested at tree ripe stage, whilst the highest antioxidant capacity in ripe pulp was recorded in those fruit harvested at half ripe stage. The sprung stage could, therefore, be considered as the best stage to harvest to obtain mango fruit with enhanced health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry (Fragaria viridis) is a plant with tonic, tasty and aromatic fruits, rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, vitamins (C, B1, B2, E), salicylic acid, pantothenic acid, proteins, sugars, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins and antioxidant polyphenols. Therefore, in the present paper we have proposed the elaboration of the recipe and the technological manufacturing scheme for obtaining a finished strawberry product according to the evolution of the main chemical characteristics of the strawberries during the processing and also according to the consumers' requirements regarding the presence of the seeds in the fruit of strawberry. The strawberry paste is a finely-cut product with a delicate taste, balanced and delicate texture. The aroma is an intense sweet characteristic of strawberry fruit. The color of the product is dark red specific to the raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the effect of three harvest maturity stages on nutritive value of oat hay and milk yield and composition. Total of 9 Holstein Friesian lactating cows with nearly similar lactation stage and body weight were fed on three rations with proportions of 40% oat hay from different maturity stages i.e. boot, flowering and dough and 60% total mixed ration. The results showed that animals fed with oat hay from flowering stage (ration II) had significantly higher (P<0.05) dry matter (DM) intake followed by dough (ration III) and boot stage (ration I). Similarly, intakes of crude protein (CP) and crude fat (CF) were significantly higher (P<0.05) on ration II compared to rations I and III. Neutral Detergent Fibre intake (Kg/day) in rations I, II and III was 5.4, 6.8 and 6.19, respectively. Intake of Acid Detergent Fibre (Kg/day) was higher in ration II while lower in ration I. Acid Detergent Lignin intake (Kg/day) in three rations ranged from 2.26 to 2.61. In vitro DM digestibility (%) significantly increased (P<0.05) in ration II compared to ration I and III. Intake of minerals (g/day) of Calcium and Magnesium did not vary significantly, however intake of Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Ferrous decreased with advancement in oat growth. Milk yield (Kg/day) from rations II was significantly higher (P<0.05) than rations I and III, while milk composition was not significantly affected. The DM yield of oat hay was significantly higher (P<0.05) at dough stage. It was concluded that good quality of oat hay and higher milk production could be attributed to the flowering stage of harvest maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]