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Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most dangerous plant‐pathogenic bacteria globally, affecting various host species. Plum leaf scald (PLS) is the primary disease affecting plum trees in Brazil, with plant eradication efforts significantly increasing in recent years. This study aims to elucidate the disease dynamics and its vector in three monitored orchards from 2010 to 2015 and associate the pattern of pathogen dispersal with mechanical pruning. The incidence was lower in Porto Amazonas, starting at 0% and reaching 14% after 5 years. In contrast, the orchards in Araucaria and Palmeira showed an initial incidence around 5% in the first year, exceeding 80% by the end of the study. Sharpshooter leafhoppers, the vectors, were collected at ground and plant canopy level during the last 3 years. In 2013, more leafhoppers were found near the ground, but their numbers equalized across heights in the following years. Kernel smoothing revealed spatial dependence, and an autologistic model indicated an aggregated infection pattern with increased PLS risk for neighbouring plants. The border effect at the epidemic's onset was linked to pathogen entry via external vectors. The disease's progression along rows was attributed to effective mechanical pathogen transmission through pruning. Therefore, in regions with several summer prunings, it is recommended to sanitize pruning shears to prevent pathogen transmission. Constant monitoring and control of the vector are essential for effective disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apples (Malus domestica) and plums (Prunus domestica) are important fruit crops belonging to the Rosaceae family. The edible parts of fruits and seeds contain phytochemicals; however, the seeds are rich in cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs), which release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon the loss of plant cell integrity. This review aims to explore the quantitative and qualitative CNG profiles in apples and plums, focusing on their distribution in different parts of the fruit, changes during fruit development, and environmental impacts on their biosynthesis. It also discusses the intricate dynamics of CNGs in processed fruits and waste‐derived products and the effects of the processing methods on CNG content. There is considerable variation in the CNG content of fruit crops, as well as in its distribution in fruit parts other than seeds and shifts during fruit maturation. Although several studies have attempted to explain this variability by the influence of cultivars and exogenous factors, there is insufficient evidence to draw reliable conclusions. Furthermore, due to the lack of studies, the dynamics of CNGs during the storage of fresh or preserved fruit remains unaddressed. In the context of reusing plum stones from waste to produce distillates, it is recommended to monitor the HCN content in the products during storage, as it can increase significantly over time. Processing methods influence CNG levels, with strategies like seed separation, soaking, and microwave heating showing promise in reducing cyanide (CN−) presence. The insights from this review will provide direction for future detailed research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GA-based coatings applied to 'African Delight™' plums in a commercial packhouse. • GA 10 % delayed softening, color changes, and acidity loss in plums during export. • Coated plums retained microbial safety and extended shelf life with less ripe profiles. • The study supports GA coatings as a sustainable alternative to HDPE bags. This research evaluated the commercial viability of using different concentrations of gum Arabic (GA) based edible coatings on 'African Delight™' plums in a commercial packhouse environment. The coatings tested were GA 2 %, GA 5 %, GA 10 %, GA 5 % with pomegranate seed oil, and GA 5 % with ascorbic acid. The postharvest quality was tracked during a simulated export scenario, including six weeks of cold storage at −0.5 ± 2 °C and 90 ± 5 % RH, followed by a 15-day shelf life at 20 ± 2 °C and 80 ± 5 % RH. GA 10 % was the most effective among the formulations, significantly (p < 0.05) delaying physicochemical changes such as fruit softening, acidity reduction, and peel colour darkening. Sensory analysis showed that plums coated with GA 10 % retained unripe to semi-ripe characteristics at 5 days of shelf life, while control plums were classified as ripe to overripe. This indicates that GA 10 % can extend the commercial shelf life of plums beyond the current 5-day limit. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the potential of these coatings as an eco-friendly alternative to HDPE bags. However, the effectiveness of edible coatings was limited by their moisture barrier properties, requiring further optimization for wider commercial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early detection of plum bruising is important in the online postharvest quality sorting process. This paper explores the rapid detection of bruises in plum at five stages (1, 3, 6, 24, and 48 h after bruising) using hyperspectral imaging system. Spectral preprocessing was performed using five methods (unit vector normalization, multiplicative scattering correction, standard normal variate, detrending, and baseline). The support vector machine was established to discriminate the spectral samples of healthy and bruised plums at stage 1 on full wavelengths. The results indicated that the spectral data pretreated by multiple scattering correction yielded better results. The characteristic wavelengths of the spectra were selected by six algorithms (random frog, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling, variable combination population analysis, successive projection algorithm, uninformative variable elimination and bootstrapping soft shrinkage). Subsequently, the support vector machine was established at stage 1 based on these selected characteristic wavelengths. Comparing the results of models, the support vector machine based on the characteristic wavelengths selected by competitive adaptive reweighted sampling generated a satisfied effect with an accuracy of 95% for the calibration set and 98% for the prediction set. This model was selected for bruise detection in plums at the residual stage. The characteristic wavelength grayscale images selected based on the model were used to successfully visualize the plum bruise regions in five stages using minimum noise fraction transformation and the principal component analysis method. The results showed that the hyperspectral imaging technique combined with machine learning algorithm could be used to identify plum bruises at different stages. This study contributes to the development of an online detection system for bruises in plum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the characteristics of and variations in aroma components across different plum varieties and maturity stages, this study employed headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). This method was used to systematically analyze the aroma components of 12 early-maturing, 15 medium-maturing, and 11 late-maturing plum varieties. The variations in volatile components among these three germplasm types were then compared using multivariate statistical methods. The examination revealed that 138 aromatic components were meticulously identified and quantified, such as 26 aldehydes, 63 esters, 13 ketones, 30 alcohols, and six other compounds. Thirteen main aroma compounds including acetic acid hexyl ester, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate, hexanal, 1-hexanol, 3-hexenal, butanoic acid butyl ester, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, hexanoic acid butyl ester, propanoic acid butyl ester, (E)-2-hexenal, L-.alpha.-terpineol, (Z)-2-hexen-1-ol acetate, and 1-butanol were considered dominant. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) combined with variable importance projection (VIP) results showed that 24 differential aroma compounds were screened out from 38 varieties of plum fruits based on their differences in aroma components, which can be used to distinguish plum fruits at different ripening times. Twenty-four aroma-contributing compounds were identified based on their odor activity values (OAVs). Among these, 14 key aroma components with OAVs ≥ 10 were highlighted. In summary, the aroma compounds of early- and late-maturing plum germplasm exhibited rich diversity, with significant differences in aroma components between plums of varying maturity and germplasm. These differences can serve as indicators for identifying different plum germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comparative metabolomic investigation of Prunus salicina and Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca along with their immunological studies were carried out. In preliminary studies fruits were examined for proximate compositions (moisture, ash, fiber, fat, and protein). We found that the total phenolic content of P. domestica peel was the highest (6.11 mg/g GAE) compared to P. salicina peel (4.93 mg/g GAE). Targeted metabolomics revealed chlorogenic acid as one of the major phenolic acid in plum. Using a non-targeted metabolomics approach, metabolite discriminations among the fruit sections are represented by a Venn diagram, heatmap, and PCA. Using the METLIN database, we identified 130 metabolites in fruit sections. The cytotoxic test showed no cell damage even at higher dosages for up to 48 hours. The present study offers fresh insights into the distribution of phytochemicals in the peel and pulp sections of the fruit and can be considered for health-beneficial products and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature 5-year-old Prunus domestica trees were used as research objects in plantation areas in arid and semi-arid regions of northern China in Hohhot city; three irrigation gradients and a natural control were set up according to the determination of wilting coefficient and field capacity, and FluorCam 1000-H chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of plant leaves were determined by using a portable chlorophyll fluorescence imager. The results showed that the effects of irrigation gradients on potential photochemical efficiency, maximum photochemical efficiency and non-photochemical burst were not significant (p > 0.05), and the effects on photochemical burst were significant (p < 0.05) at different fertility periods. The potential photochemical efficiency, maximum photochemical efficiency and photochemical burst basically showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, and the non-photochemical burst showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing during different fertility periods. During the same fertility period, the potential and maximum photochemical efficiencies were significantly increased, and the photochemical and non-photochemical bursts were somewhat reduced under the full irrigation gradient. Therefore, the chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Prunus domestica trees at different fertility stages can be regulated by controlling the irrigation gradient to increase the activity of photosystem II (PSII), which in turn improves the photosynthesis of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic storage conditions can have a significant impact on the composition of phytochemicals and sugars in stone fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two domestic storage temperatures (4 and 23 °C) on the physicochemical properties, phytochemical composition, and sugars of 'Rubycot' (RC) plumcot, a novel stone fruit variety, and 'Queen Garnet' (QG) plum. Initially, RC had a lower total anthocyanin concentration (TAC) than QG, but TAC in RC increased significantly (p < 0.05) during storage, peaking at +95% after 7 days at 23 °C, while QG reached +60% after 14 days. At 4 °C, TAC increased for both varieties (RC +30%, QG +27%). RC had a higher initial total phenolic content (TPC), which also increased for both fruits. QG had a significantly higher initial total quercetin concentration (TQC), increasing by 40% (p < 0.05) at 23 °C. The initial total carotenoid concentration in QG was higher than that in RC, but after 10 days at 23 °C, RC had a higher carotenoid concentration than QG. Both varieties showed similar sugar profiles, with QG starting higher but decreasing over time at both storage temperatures. Results from this study showed that ambient storage significantly increases total anthocyanins, total quercetins, and TPC in RC and QG. However, it is important to evaluate the textural and sensory properties of stored RC and QG in terms of consumer acceptability of the stored fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild fruit species offer significant nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits. Among them, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (myrobalan) stands out for its resilience and nutrient-rich fruits, traditionally consumed fresh or dried. This study aimed to assess the morphological and biochemical diversity of 21 wild P. cerasifera accessions from Slovenia, focusing on 18 fruit and stone traits, including size, shape, color, and phenolic compounds such as total monomeric anthocyanins and total phenolic content (TPC). The objective was to identify genotypes with potential for cultivation and food production or as parental components in breeding programs. The results showed variability in fruit length (2.19–2.82 cm), width (2.18–2.99 cm), weight (67.98–150.30 g), firmness, and juiciness, with notable differences in stone characteristics. Phytochemical analysis revealed a wide range of TPC (277–1756 mg/100 g) and anthocyanin levels (0–710 mg/100 g), with higher concentrations in darker fruits. Statistical analysis compared PAM and AGNES clustering methods, finding that PAM with five clusters and AGNES with two clusters provided similar insights. The study emphasized variability in morphological and chemical traits among clusters, with specific accessions showing particularly valuable traits, such as accession RK13, which had high TPC and anthocyanins and a non-adherent stone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a key pest in Southeastern peach production by infesting fruit and decreasing yield. In Northeastern apples, plum curculio was found to have an "edge effect," where more plum curculio are present next to a forested border than in the center of an orchard, and their propensity to fly or walk depended on air temperature. We conducted field studies over 3 seasons (2019–2021) to investigate whether plum curculio in small Southeastern peach plots exhibits the edge effect and to determine its primary mode of movement (flying or walking). Our results revealed that plum curculio did not exhibit the edge effect in Southeastern peaches. Thus, unlike Northeastern apples where plum curculio exhibits the edge effect, the reduced-input application program where insecticide sprays mainly target a few perimeter-row trees instead of the whole orchard for plum curculio management is not recommended for Southeastern peaches. Additionally, we observed that plum curculio in Southeastern peaches did not exhibit a primary mode of movement, and in most of the sampling weeks, the numbers of flying and walking plum curculio were not significantly correlated in the field. These results emphasize that using plum curculio sampling tools that only capture flying or walking plum curculio is not ideal for monitoring plum curculio activity in the Southeast. Overall, our findings indicate that plum curculio in Southeastern small peach plots and Northeastern apples does not exhibit the same behavior (i.e. edge effect and propensity to fly or walk). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel LoRa-based multi-hop communication architecture as an alternative to the public internet for earthquake early warning (EEW). We examine its effectiveness in generating a meaningful warning window for the New Zealand-based decentralised EEW sensor network implemented by the CRISiSLab operating with the adapted Propagation of Local Undamped Motion (PLUM)-based earthquake detection and node-level data processing. LoRa, popular for low-power, long-range applications, has the disadvantage of long transmission time for time-critical tasks like EEW. Our network overcomes this limitation by broadcasting EEWs via multiple short hops with a low spreading factor (SF). The network includes end nodes that generate warnings and relay nodes that broadcast them. Benchmarking with simulations against CRISiSLab's EEW system performance with internet connectivity shows that an SF of 8 can disseminate warnings across all the sensors in a 30 km urban area within 2.4 s. This approach is also resilient, with the availability of multiple routes for a message to travel. Our LoRa-based system achieves a 1–6 s warning window, slightly behind the 1.5–6.75 s of the internet-based performance of CRISiSLab's system. Nevertheless, our novel network is effective for timely mental preparation, simple protective actions, and automation. Experiments with Lilygo LoRa32 prototype devices are presented as a practical demonstration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of salicylic acid (SA) in delaying postharvest fruit senescence has been extensively documented; nevertheless, its effect on antioxidant activity and quality of 'France' prune fruit is largely unknown. The study investigated the effects of SA (0.5 mM) on postharvest quality deterioration of 'France' prune fruit. Results indicated that SA impeded the increase in respiration rate and weight loss, and mitigated the decrease of soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) content, firmness, and hue angle. SA sustained the ascorbate-glutathione cycle by inducing the production of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) and attenuates flavonoids, total phenols, and anthocyanins degradation by inhibiting polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and PdPPO. Moreover, SA significantly improved superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities and gene expression levels, sustained higher 2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and hydroxyl radical (·OH) inhibition capacity, and impeded the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2•−). Overall, SA improved the antioxidant capacity by inducing the synthesis of defense response-related substances and promoting antioxidant enzyme activities to sustain the storage quality of 'France' prune fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of melatonin applications on postharvest quality changes of organic and conventionally grown plum fruit. Melatonin was applied in 0, 50, and 100 µmol L− 1 for organic and conventional samples. The fruits were stored at + 2.0 °C and 90% relative humidity for 28 days. During the storage period, the color, weight loss, firmness, Soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pH, total antioxidant content, and total phenolics were evaluated at 7-day intervals. While no effect of melatonin applications on weight loss of organically grown plums was observed, it was determined that weight loss decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in conventionally grown plums. The lowest weight loss during storage was determined in conventionally grown plums treated with 100 µmolL− 1 melatonin. It was observed that the firmness values decreased as the storage period increased in both cultivation methods. The firmness decreased as the dose of melatonin application increased in organically grown plums, while the firmness increased as the dose of melatonin application increased in conventional cultivation. Melatonin application did not positively affect SSC, pH, and color values. However, it was determined that the mean TA values decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in both cultivation methods. When the total phenol content of organic and conventional plums was examined, it was determined that melatonin application decreased the number of phenolic compounds. The highest phenolic content was determined in the control samples. The total amount of antioxidants was 1.71 µmol TE g− 1 on the 28th day in the highest (100 µmol L− 1) melatonin-treated conventionally grown plums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic diversity and evolution of plastomes in P. armeniaca L. (common/cultivated apricot) have been poorly studied. Complete plastomes of 20 accessions and 10 F1 hybrids, identified as P. armeniaca L., were de novo assembled filtering from total DNA nt reads. These plastomes were subsequently analyzed with the Prunus genus accessions retrieved from the GenBank. The plastomes exhibited conservation of genomic structure, gene organization and order, with lengths ranging from 158,057 nt to 158,089 nt, displaying a narrow size variation. Except for "Zard" and its hybrids, the plastomes of apricot genotypes from different regions showed only three haplotypes, indicating narrow genetic diversity in cultivated P. armeniaca accessions. "Zard" and its hybrids exhibited the highest identity with P. mandshurica Maxim (Manchurian apricot), demonstrating the significance of plastome analysis for the accurate identification of apricots. Further, while the three apricot species, P. armeniaca, P. mandshurica, and P. mume Sieb. (Japanese apricot), were grouped as sister clades, P. sibirica L. (Siberian apricot) exhibited the highest nucleotide identity with P. cerasifera Ehrh. (Cherry plum), contrary to conventional morphological systematics of apricots. Additionally, the plastomes of hybrids obtained in this study supported maternal inheritance of the plastome. These results reveal the evolutionary relationship among apricots and will serve as a framework for future comparative studies on Prunus evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preharvest internal browning of Nane plum fruit, with no visible effects on the appearance of the fruit, has become a serious problem in recent years in its production area in Guangdong Province, China. This study investigated the effects of environmental factors, including temperature, on Nane plum internal browning. Plum orchards at different elevations with different incidences of internal browning were selected. Using fruits with different internal browning incidence levels, the internal browning mechanism was analyzed with transcriptome and metabolome analyses. The results revealed decreased internal browning at high altitudes. Shading treatment significantly reduced internal browning, whereas bagging and insect-proof net-covering treatments significantly increased internal browning. Because bagging and net coverings increase the local ambient temperature, the findings suggest that high temperature is an important factor influencing the internal browning of Nane plum. The metabolome experiments showed that with increased internal browning, the levels of phenolic hydroxyls such as catechol increased, with simultaneous increases in hydrogen peroxide content and oxidase activity. It can be speculated that the oxidation of phenolic hydroxyl substances is the main cause of the preharvest browning of Nane plum. Transcriptome analysis revealed the increased expression of calcium signaling-related and downstream effector genes and indicated an important role of calcium in internal browning, possibly due to its increased content in the fruit. Further, with increasingly serious internal browning, genes related to photosynthesis were down-regulated, while genes related to senescence were up-regulated, thus suggesting the up-regulation of the process of cell senescence during internal browning. In conclusion, heat stress should be eliminated to reduce preharvest internal browning in Nane plum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Plum protein isolate obtained from plum cake after oil extraction had protein content over 90% and amino acid composition of 36% which about 13% were essential amino acids. Evaluation of functional properties of conjugates obtained by interaction between plum protein isolate and caffeic acid, in three different concentrations, was carried out in this study. The conjugation of proteins with phenols forms complexes of higher molecular weights as a result of cross‐linking. The solubility of obtained conjugates was increased with the increase a concentration of caffeic acid at alkaline pH (8–10) for about 50%. Moreover, emulsion properties also were improved by conjugation with caffeic acid. In vitro digestion is considered to characterise and understand 'fate' of food components after passing gastrointestinal conditions. The obtained conjugates were digestible and have a good bioavailability of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental protection, global food security, and nutritional quality are critical issues for worldwide sustainable development. Plums (Prunus domestica L.), well-known for their rich nutritional content and distinct phytochemical profile, have received increased attention due to their potential health benefits. The present study evaluates the ecological and conventional management systems of quality parameters in three plum varieties—Tuleu Gras, Record, and Centenar—and establishes suitable practices to improve fruit quality and yields. The fruit morphometric features (color, firmness, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, and total sugar) were analyzed during their raw fruit state, while different fruit-sample extracts were assessed for phytochemical compounds and heavy metal concentrations, specifically, zinc, copper, nickel, and cadmium. The results show a wide variability in the examined characteristics among management practices that differentially accumulated throughout the ripening phase and significantly influenced the nutritional value of the plum fruit. The application of an ecological management practice yielded small plum fruits (38 g) and maintained a more consistent and vigorous fruit color compared with the conventional system (83 g). Moreover, ecological plums have higher antioxidant activities, total polyphenols, and flavonoids (21.70–25.54 µM Trolox/g of dw, 3.89–7.76 mg GAE/ g of dw, and 1.45–3.65 mg CE/g of dw, respectively). Among the content of metals in the plum fruit, copper exhibited the highest concentrations (0.83–1.21 mg/kg), while cadmium was detected at the lowest levels (0.006–0.009 mg/kg). The potential health implications of heavy metals, by calculating their estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI), for both adults and children were also analyzed. The EDI values of accumulated elements in the plum fruits followed the order of Cu > Zn > Ni > Cd with no concern for human health (THQ and HI < 1). According to this study's findings, fruit quality parameters are significantly higher in ecological plums, providing a compelling argument for adopting sustainable agricultural practices. These results highlight the importance of selecting sustainable agricultural practices, not only to safeguard the environment but also to ensure high-quality products suitable for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Breeding varieties with high commercial and consumer qualities of fruits is one of the priority areas in the selection and variety study of domestic plum. Accordingly, the evaluation of some commercial and consumer qualities of fruits in plum varieties in the specific conditions of the mountains and foothills of the region is of great practical and scientific interest. Taking into account market requirements and the growth of consumer demand for fruit products, it is necessary to constantly update the range of plums. In this regard, varieties and hybrid forms of European plum for the subsequent selection of variety samples with high commercial characteristics have been studied (fruit weight, their uniformity and shape, cover color, aroma, pulp juiciness, taste, etc.). As a result of the studies, variety samples with the best commercial and taste properties of fruits have been selected. The following varieties have been distinguished by a high sugar content: Čačakska rannyaya - 18.8%, Grosso de Felicio - 16.5%, Big Heart - 14.7%, Milena - 13.8%, Velikiy Gertsog - 12.7%. The following varieties have been noted for the content of organic acids: Big Heart - 1.31%, Velikiy Gertsog - 1.1%, Milena - 0.92%, Čačakska rannyaya - 0.9%, Grossa de Felicio - 0.89%. Vitamin C is found in the highest amounts in the fruits of the following varieties: Big Heart – 7.85%, Grossa de Felicio – 6.34%, Angelina – 6.2%, Kyrgyzskaya Prevoskhodnaya – 5.34%. The size of the fruit is one of the characteristic varietal properties, despite the fact that it is largely determined by the cultivation conditions, the agricultural technology used, the age of the plant, its crop load, the variety-rootstock combination, as well as a number of other circumstances. The highest fruit weights are shown by the following varieties: Big Heart - 39.1 g, Kyrgyzskaya Prevoskhodnaya - 46.3 g, Zheltaya Afaska - 53.3 g, Zheltaya Large - 56.0 g, Kabardinskaya Rannyaya - 59.0 g, Fortuna - 65.1 g, Black Star - 78.7 g, Byron Gold - 84.2 g, Grossa de Felicio - 85.3 g, Angelina - 87.0 g, Ti Chi San - 97.1 g, Burbank Giant - 120.0 g.

Crown gall is one of the most dangerous bacterial diseases affecting the production of fruit tree nurseries in Egypt and many countries of the world. In the present study, ten isolates of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and plum (Prunus domestica L.) trees to evaluate their ability to decrease tumor formation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens (synonym Rhizobium radiobacter). The ten isolates were identified as Pseudomonas strains based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and deduced protein sequences obtained from a partial ACC deaminase structural gene (acdS) sequence. Co-inoculating castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) and kalanchoe (Kalanchoe sp.) plants with A. tumefaciens and four ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas isolates decreased tumor formation. However, six ACC deaminase-producing Pseudomonas isolates produced varying results in these two plant species. The results showed that isolates of Pseudomonas vancouverensis reduced tumor formation when co-inoculated with A. tumefaciens in castor bean and kalanchoe plants. However, the isolate P. putida inhibited tumor formation in castor bean plants but did not achieve the same effect in kalanchoe plants. Additionally, isolates of P. frederiksbergensis and P. kilonensis decreased tumor formation in kalanchoe plants while increasing tumor formation in castor bean plants. The results showed that ACC deaminase-producing P. vancouverensis is a promising biocontrol agent against A. tumefaciens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 951 metabolites including 489 primary ones and 315 secondary ones were detected in plum fruit from 5 different varieties/lines in Guangdong by non-targeted metabolomics. For all plum varieties/lines, lipids were the most abundant primary metabolites, followed by sugars, alcohols, amino acids and organic acids, while the contents of nucleotides and vitamins were relatively low. Polyphenols were the most abundant secondary metabolites, followed by plant hormones, alkaloids and terpenoids, while the contents of phenylpropanoids and lignan were very low. The most abundant lipid component in Dami plum was undecanoic acid, accounting for 92.9% of the total lipids. The content of sugar in the fruit of plum is second only to lipid. The most abundant sugar in Dami plum was turanose, 9.5, 8 and 14.6 times as abundant as sucrose, glucose and fructose, respectively, which might be the major contributor to the honey flavor in Dami plum. A total of 170 amino acids and their derivatives were identified, greater than that of any other primary metabolites. L-malic acid was the major organic acid, accounting for 57.1% of the total organic acids and their derivatives. VB6 was the most abundant vitamin, accounting for 51.5% of the total vitamins. Flavonoids were the most abundant polyphenols, accounting for 77.7% of the total polyphenols. Altogether, 84, 73, 113 and 34 differential metabolites were identified between Dami plum and Qingpi, Xiaomi, Hongxian and Daguochishu Sanhua plum, respectively. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites showed that the differential metabolites of the 4 groups were mainly enriched in amino acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, alkaloids and synthetic and metabolic pathways. The major differential metabolites between Daguochishu Sanhua and Dami plum were flavonoids and phenols such as C-pentosyl-luteolin-C-hexoside, dopamine and trilobatin, and nucleotides such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and β-nicotinamide mononucleotide. These substances may be the key differential metabolites between the 2 varieties at the mature stage.

The Japanese plum tree (Prunus salicina Lindl.) is mainly cultivated in temperate areas of China and some European countries. Certain amounts of wood (from pruning works) are generated every year from this crop of worldwide commercial significance. The main objective of this work was to value this agricultural woody residue, for which the chemical composition of pruning wood extracts from six Japanese plum cultivars was investigated, and the antiproliferative activity of extracts and pure phenolics present in those extracts was measured. For the chemical characterization, total phenolic content and DPPH radical-scavenging assays and HPLC‒DAD/ESI‒MS analyses were performed, with the procyanidin (−)-ent-epicatechin-(2α→O→7,4α→8)-epicatechin (5) and the propelargonidin (+)-epiafzelechin-(2β→O→7,4β→8)-epicatechin (7) being the major components of the wood extracts. Some quantitative differences were found among plum cultivars, and the content of proanthocyanidins ranged from 1.50 (cv. 'Fortune') to 4.44 (cv. 'Showtime') mg/g of dry wood. Regarding the antitumoral activity, eight wood extracts and four phenolic compounds were evaluated in MCF-7 cells after 48 h of induction, showing the wood extract from cv. 'Songold' and (‒)-annphenone (3), the best antiproliferative activity (IC50: 424 μg/mL and 405 μg/mL, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food 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.)

Enzymatic browning, catalysed by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase in fruit and vegetables, limits the efficient use of natural resources and promote food waste. Plums are a popular fruit with consumers around the world and are considered an important raw material in the food industry. Plums are very susceptible to enzymatic browning due to their high phenolic compound content and climacteric nature. The aim of this study is to purify the polyphenol oxidase enzyme from Sarali plum (Prunus domestica) and to determine its biochemical properties, kinetic parameters, pH and thermal stability and inhibition. In this study, polyphenol oxidase enzyme was purified 22.54-fold by affinity chromatography using Sepharose-4B-l-Tyr-p-amino benzoic acid affinity gel. The purity and molecular mass of the enzyme were determined by SDS-PAGE and non-denaturing PAGE (native PAGE). The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 72.44 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was confirmed as PPO by native PAGE as a single band. Kinetic characterization studies were conducted for both catechol and 4-methyl catechol substrates. The optimal pH and temperature for both substrates were found to be 7.0 and 20 °C, respectively. The thermal stability of PPO was investigated, and it retained about 90% of its activity for 90 min at 4 °C. The determination of KM and Vmax was carried out using the Lineweaver–Burk plot. The substrate specificity (Vmax/KM) values for catechol and 4-methyl catechol were determined as 790.91 ± 37.34 and 492.06 ± 13.75 respectively. The enzyme exhibited the best activity towards catechol substrate. IC50, Ki constant and inhibition types were determined for various anti-browning agents on PPO enzyme. Ascorbic acid, l-cysteine, citric acid, salicylic acid and tartaric acid effectively inhibited PPO activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients is a rapid uptake strategy of plant-feeding directly through leaves irrespective of soil condition. This experiment was conducted to assess the impact of the foliar application of synthetic auxins and micronutrients on subtropical Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) fruit yield and quality. The experiment was performed in a plum orchard based on a completely randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications. The foliar treatments included NAA 15 ppm, NAA 15 ppm + urea 2%, 2,4-D 10 ppm, 2,4-D 10 ppm + urea 2%, borax 0.50%, borax 0.50% + urea 2%, ZnSO4 0.50%, ZnSO4 0.50% + urea 2%, and control (sprayed with distilled water) applied as a two spray in 15 days interval after fruit set. Foliar application of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2% led to least fruit drop followed by highest fruit yield. The fruit physicochemical attributes including fruit length and diameter, fruit weight, pulp weight, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, and ascorbic acid were also significantly improved by foliar spray of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2%. However, all the treatments were ineffective in improving anthocyanin and total phenol content of 'Satluj Purple' plum. The results further revealed that reduced fruit drop followed by highest fruit yield with foliar application of NAA 15 ppm + urea 2% was associated with reduced activity of cell wall degrading enzymes viz., cellulase and polygalacturonase at abscission zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to screen non‐Saccharomyces yeast suitable for enhancing the aroma of Yinhong plum wine. Five non‐Saccharomyces yeasts with strong ester‐producing ability, namely, Wa3 (Wickerhamomyces anomalus), Hu12 (Hanseniaspora uvarum), Pk2A2, PkW2 and PkY2 (Pichia kluyveri), were selected from various naturally fermented fruit juices for molecular biological identification, analyses of physiological characteristics and tolerance and determination of their effects on the flavour of Yinhong plum wine. Analysis of brewing characteristics showed that they differed in their abilities of producing acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide, killer activity and tolerance. Among them, Wa3 showed the best tolerance to high concentrations of alcohol, sugar and SO2. Compared to the control Saccharomyces cerevisiae FX10, Yinhong plum wine fermented with non‐Saccharomyces yeast exhibited a decrease in alcohol content, while residual sugar, glycerol content and the types and quantities of volatile compounds all showed an increase. Among the fermented wines, PkY2 generated the highest content of ester compounds in the fermented wine, which was 5.66 times higher than that generated by the control. The compounds produced by PkY2 were closely related to various ethyl and acetate odour‐active compounds (odour‐active value >1), which could impart a rich floral and fruity aroma to Yinhong plum wine. Sensory analysis revealed that both floral and fruity aromas were significantly increased in Yinhong plum wine fermented by non‐Saccharomyces yeasts, with the highest scores of floral and fruity aromas for PkY2. In conclusion, a Pichia kluyveri strain, PkY2, with excellent brewing characteristics and potential for enhancing the aroma of Yinhong plum wine was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asexual lineages often exhibit broad distributions and can thrive in extreme habitats compared to their sexual counterparts. Several hypotheses can be proposed to explain this pattern. Asexual lineages could be versatile genotypes with wide environmental tolerance, enabling their dispersal and persistence across large geographic areas. Alternatively, asexual genotypes could be ecological specialists that thrive in specific environments and outcompete relative colonizing distantly related with similar conditions in the process. Several aphid species feature widespread obligate asexual lineages, commonly known as 'superclones'. Yet it is often unknown whether these clones are widespread ecological generalists or successful specialists. To explore these hypotheses, we examined climatic niche differentiation among six globally distributed obligate asexual lineages of the cosmopolitan aphid pest, Brachycaudus helichrysi. To ensure that we were investigating the aphid genotype niche and not a by‐product of their association with endosymbionts mediating thermal tolerance, we first verified that clones hosted similar endosymbiont communities. Subsequently, we conducted multivariate analyses on clone occurrence data on a worldwide scale. Our results revealed that, despite their global distribution, B. helichrysi superclones occupy different climatic niches. This study represents the first evidence that aphid superclone distribution can be mediated by distinctive ranges of climatic tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar is vital for plant growth and determines fruit quality via its content and composition. This study explores the differential sugar accumulation in two plum varieties, 'Fengtangli (FTL)' and 'Siyueli (SYL)'. The result showed that 'FTL' fruit displayed higher soluble solids and sugar content at various development stages. Metabolomic analysis indicated increased sorbitol in 'FTL', linked to elevated sorbitol‐6‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase (S6PDH) activity. Transcriptome analysis identified a key gene for sorbitol synthesis, PsS6PDH4, which was significantly higher expressed in 'FTL' than in 'SYL'. The function of the PsS6PDH4 gene was verified in strawberry, apple, and plum fruits using transient overexpression and virus‐induced gene silencing techniques. The results showed that overexpression of the PsS6PDH4 gene in strawberry, apple, and plum fruits promoted the accumulation of soluble solids content and sorbitol, while inhibition of the gene reduced soluble solids content and sorbitol content. Meanwhile, analysis of the relationship between PsS6PDH4 gene expression, sorbitol, and soluble solids content in four different plum varieties revealed a significant correlation between PsS6PDH4 gene expression and soluble solids content as well as sorbitol content. This research discovered PsS6PDH4 as a crucial regulator of sugar metabolism in plum, with potential applications in improving fruit sweetness and nutritional value in various fruit species. Understanding these molecular pathways can lead to innovative approaches for enhancing fruit quality, benefiting sustainable agriculture and consumer preferences in the global fruit industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies found that the strengthening mechanism of piles in composite foundation is related to the cross sectional shape of piles. However, the mechanism of plum blossom cast-in-place pile (plum blossom pile), as a novel kind of pile, strengthening mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, based on the transparent soil model test technique and Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) approach, single pile penetration tests were conducted. The load-vertical displacement characteristics of composite foundation and the variation of soil around piles are analyzed, and compared with circular piles with same cross sectional area. The results show that the ultimate bearing capacity of plum blossom pile is 1.45 times that of circular pile with the same cross sectional area. The compaction transition zone is observed in the soil around the plum blossom pile during the penetration process, and the radial distance of the compaction transition zone around the plum blossom pile is about 1.5 times that of the circular pile with the same cross sectional area. With the help of geotechnical engineering infinite element software Abaqus/Explicit, the variation of the mean pressure, radial stress and vertical stress of the soil around the plum blossom pile, and the evolution of the compaction transition zone and stress of soil around the pile are analyzed. With the penetration of plum blossom pile, the compaction transition zone at the pile side gradually increases, and the load can be transferred to a wider range in the composite foundation through the pile side compacting the soil around the pile. The research results can provide technical guidance for the design of the plum blossom pile composite foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the dangerous disease in the world. Most of the people around the world are affected by this dangerous CVD. In under-developed countries, the prediction of CVD remains the toughest job and it takes more time and cost. Diagnosing this illness is an intricate task that has to be performed precisely to save the life span of the human. In this research, an advanced deep model-based CVD prediction and risk analysis framework is proposed to minimize the death rate of humans all around the world. The data required for the prediction of CVD is collected from online data sources. Then, the input data is preprocessed using data cleaning, data scaling, and Nan and null value removal techniques. From the preprocessed data, three sets of features are extracted. The three sets of features include deep features, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based features. A Multi-scale Weighted Feature Fusion-based Deep Structure Network (MWFF-DSN) is developed to predict CVD. This structure is composed of a Multi-scale weighted Feature fusion-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a Residual Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). The retrieved features are given as input to MWFF-DSN, and for optimizing weights, a Modernized Plum Tree Algorithm (MPTA) is developed. From the overall analysis, the developed model has attained an accuracy of 96% and it achieves a specificity of 95.95%. The developed model takes minimum time for the CVD and it gives highly accurate detection results. [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.)

This study aims to determine the phytochemical profile, total antioxidant capacity, and toxicity of lobi-lobi fruit extract (Flacourtia inermis). The lobi-lobi fruit is small, round, and dark red when ripe, with a sour and often astringent taste and containing seeds. In Indonesia, it is commonly used to make rujak, syrup, sweets, pickles, and canned fruit. Despite its potential, the lobi-lobi fruit is not widely known in Indonesia, and information about its contents is limited. This research uses experimental methods including in vitro and bioassay tests. The in vitro tests include a phytochemical test and an antioxidant capacity test using a total phenolic test. The bioassay uses Artemia salina larvae with the BSLT method. The results show that lobi-lobi fruit extract contains alkaloids, cardioglycosides, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, quinones, coumarins, anthocyanins, betacyanins, phenolics, and terpenoids. The total phenolic content of the extract is 1492.5 µg/mL. The DPPH antioxidant capacity test result is 104.223 µg/mL, the ABTS antioxidant capacity test result is 29.818 µg/mL, and the FRAP antioxidant capacity test result is 104.223 µg/mL. The LC50 value for the toxicity test is 158.489 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The prediction of heating and cooling loads using machine learning algorithms has been considered frequently in the research literature. However, many of the studies considered the default values of the hyperparameters. This manuscript addresses both the selection of the best regressor and the tuning of the hyperparameter values using a novel nature-inspired algorithm, namely, the Multi-Objective Plum Tree Algorithm. The two objectives that were optimized were the averages of the heating and cooling predictions. The three algorithms that were compared were the Extra Trees Regressor, the Gradient Boosting Regressor, and the Random Forest Regressor of the sklearn machine learning Python library. We considered five hyperparameters which were configurable for each of the three regressors. The solutions were ranked using the MOORA method. The Multi-Objective Plum Tree Algorithm returned a root mean square error value for heating equal to 0.035719 and a root mean square error for cooling equal to 0.076197. The results are comparable to the ones obtained using standard multi-objective algorithms such as the Multi-Objective Grey Wolf Optimizer, Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization, and NSGA-II. The results are also performant concerning the previous studies, which considered the same experimental dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of pure yeast culture fermentation versus spontaneous fermentation on the volatile compound profile of industrially produced plum brandy. Using traditional distillation methods, the evolution of key volatile compounds is monitored at seven different moments during the distillation process. By integrating advanced analytical techniques such as GC-MS and sensory evaluation, significant differences in the composition of the distillates are highlighted, particularly in terms of ethyl esters and higher alcohols which are key to the sensory properties of the final product. Distillates produced with the addition of pure cultures gave higher concentrations of esters than those obtained by wild fermentation. The results of our industrial research show that the most critical step is to limit the storage of the input raw material, thereby reducing the subsequent risk of producing higher concentrations of 1-propanol. Furthermore, our results indicate that the heart of the distillate can only be removed up to an ethanol content of approximately 450 g/L and that the removal of additional ethanol results in only a 10% increase in the total volume of the distillate, which in turn results in an increase in boiler heating costs of approximately 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Across temperate forests, many tree species produce flowers before their leaves emerge. This flower–leaf phenological sequence, known as hysteranthy, is generally described as an adaptation for wind pollination. However, this explanation does not address why hysteranthy is also common in biotically pollinated taxa.We quantified flower–leaf sequence variation in the American plums (Prunus, subg. Prunus sect. Prunocerasus), a clade of insect‐pollinated trees, using herbaria specimens and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. We tested two common, but rarely interrogated hypotheses – that hysteranthy confers aridity tolerance and/or pollinator visibility – by modeling the associations between hysteranthy and related traits. To understand how these phenology–trait associations were sensitive to taxonomic scale and flower–leaf sequence classification, we then extended these analyses to all Prunus species in North America.Our findings across two taxonomic levels support the hypotheses that hysteranthy may help temporally partition hydraulic demand to reduce water stress and increase pollinator visibility – thereby reducing selective pressure on inflorescence size.Our results provide foundational insights into the evolution of flower–leaf sequences in the genus Prunus, with implications for understanding these patterns in biotically pollinated plants in general. Our approach suggests a path to advance these hypotheses to other clades, but teasing out drivers fully will require new experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted during 2022 and 2023 seasons on plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cv. Kelsy was planted in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system in a private Farm located at Salah Al-Abd Village, Bostan Region, Nubaria, Behaira Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of foliar application of molybdenum 0.5 g/L, boron at 0.5 g/L, seaweed extract at 2000 ppm, moringa leaf extract at 4000 ppm, molybdenum 0.5g/L + boron 0.5g/L, molybdenum 0.5g/L + seaweed extract 2000ppm, molybedem0.5g/L + moringa extract 4000ppm, boron 0.5g/L + seaweed extract 2000ppm, boron 0.5 g/L + moringa extract 4000 ppm, seaweed extract 2000 ppm + moringa extract 4000 ppm and molybdenum 0.5g/L + boron 0.5g/L + moringa extract4000ppm + seaweed extract 2000 ppm as compared to the control treatments on vegetative growth and yield characteristics. The trees were planted at 3 x 3.5 m in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system. Sixty uniform trees of the same age, growth and size were randomly chosen. The foliar application of the twelve treatments was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in five replicates during the two seasons. The trees were sprayed three times; before flowering, after fruit set and after one month after the second spraying. The obtained results showed that the application of the seaweed extract, moringa extract, boron and molybdenum individually or in combination effectively increased the vegetative growth attributes and fruit yield. The best results were obtained by the application of 0.5 g/L boron + 0.5 g/L molybdenum + seaweed extract + moringa extract in both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out during the two seasons 2020 and 2021 on five years old "African Rose" plum (Prunus salicina L.) budded on Nemaguard rootstock, grown in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system under El-Nubaria, EL-Beheira Governorate, enhance the fruit size and quality of “African Rose” plums, using at least of these treatments were; T1- Control, T2- 20 ppm TDZ, T3- 30 ppm TDZ, T4- 0.5 ppm Br, T5- 1 ppm Br, T6-0.5% KNO3, T7-1% KNO3, T8-20 ppm TDZ and 0.5 ppm Br, T9- 20 ppm TDZ and 0.5% KNO3, T10- 20 ppm TDZ, 0.5 ppm Br and 0.5% KNO3, T11- 30 ppm TDZ and 1 ppm Br, T12- 30 ppm TDZ and 1% KNO3 and T13- 30 ppm TDZ, 1 ppm Br and 1% KNO3.The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replicates. Results indicated that all foliar applications above treatments, significantly (P≤0.05) increased growth characters and number of fruits per tree as compared with the control during both seasons. Also, all treatments, significantly (P≤0.05) increased fruit weight(gm), yield (kg/tree), total yield (ton/feddan), anthocyanin and vitamin C as compared with the control treatment. Moreover, the application of 30 ppm TDZ+1 ppm Br +1% KNO3 and 30 ppm TDZ+ 1 ppm Br treatments, significantly (P≤0.05) increased fruit size, length, diameter and firmness as compared with the others during both seasons. On the other hand, all K- nitrate and 30 ppm TDZ + 1 ppm Br +1% KNO3 treatments, significantly (P≤0.05) increased total soluble solids (%), and total sugars but decreased fruit juice acidity (%) as compared to the control and the rest of the treatments during both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renowned horticultural artist and plant breeder Luther Burbank worked with many species of plants. During his 50-year career, he introduced more than 800 cultivars, including more than 150 accessions of plums (Prunus spp.) in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Burbank preferred using wide, interspecific crosses to create a vast range of phenotypic variation and then artificially select from the extremes. Although a great artist, Burbank was a substandard scientist because he was derelict in pedigree note-taking. Although many of his introductions are extinct, hobbyists, enthusiasts, and international collections retain nearly a third of the economically viable cultivars he bred. For a century, many of his hybridizations remained inscrutable mysteries until modern genomic and computational tools developed their resolution and statistical power. Today, genotyping by sequencing (GBS) is a useful tool for pedigree reconstruction in the absence of reliable records. GBS can inform principal component analyses, identity by descent (IBD) kinship, and phylogenetic admixture, revealing complex relationships among taxa. In this study, whole genome sequencing was performed on 53 Prunus taxa used by Burbank in his breeding experiments in the most comprehensive genetic survey of his work to date. Exact parent-offspring relationships between this population may be impossible to discern due to years of back crossing, sibling mating, and open pollination. However, the proportion of genomic similarity among these taxa provides information on the relatedness of the genotypes in Burbank's Prunus experiments, defining four primary lineages within his breeding population. These lineages comprised primarily P. salicina and P. simonii but also have influences from P. americana, P. cerasifera, P. domestica, and P. rivularis. The prevalence of P. simonii in Burbank's Prunus introductions appears to have been vastly underreported, indicating that some of the seedstock founders of his breeding population could have been P. salicina × P. simonii hybrids at the inception of his career. This research has implications for pedigree reconstruction and prioritizing conservation in collections curation for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety and quality are major concerns in the food industry. Despite numerous studies, polyethylene remains one of the most used materials for packaging due to industry reluctance to invest in new technologies and equipment. Therefore, modifications to the current materials are easier to implement than adopting whole new solutions. Antibacterial activity can be induced in low-density polyethylene films only by adding antimicrobial agents. ZnO nanoparticles are well known for their strong antimicrobial activity, coupled with low toxicity and UV shielding capability. These characteristics recommend ZnO for the food industry. By incorporating such safe and dependable antimicrobial agents in the polyethylene matrix, we have obtained composite films able to inhibit microorganisms' growth that can be used as packaging materials. Here we report the obtaining of highly homogenous composite films with up to 5% ZnO by a melt mixing process at 150 °C for 10 min. The composite films present good transparency in the visible domain, permitting consumers to visualize the food, but have good UV barrier properties. The composite films exhibit good antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity from the lowest ZnO composition (1%), against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The homogenous dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles into the polyethylene matrix was assessed by Fourier transform infrared microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The optimal mechanical barrier properties were obtained for composition with 3% ZnO. The thermal analysis indicates that the addition of ZnO nanoparticles has increased thermal stability by more than 100 °C. The UV-Vis spectra indicate a low transmittance in the UV domain, lower than 5%, making the films suitable for blocking photo-oxidation processes. The obtained films proved to be efficient packaging films, successfully preserving plum (Rome) tomatoes for up to 14 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study pioneers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of ripening stages on the nutritional composition and antioxidant attributes of the New Zealand damson plums (Prunus domestica ssp. Insititia). Sampled at early‐, mid‐, and late‐ripening stages from randomly selected plum trees, the investigation unveiled notable significant (p <.05) declines in multiple parameters as ripening progressed. Noteworthy reductions in dry matter (from 21% to 19.33%), stone weight (from 30.23% to 24.30%), total dietary fiber (from 3.15% to 2.5%), energy content (from 280 to 263 kJ/100 g), vitamin D3 (from 1.67 to 1.53 μg/100 g), vitamin A (from 4.2 to 3.87 μg/100 g), and specific minerals (e.g., Ca, Mg, and P) emerged as a hallmark of this progression. Additionally, plums harvested at the advanced ripening stage exhibited heightened moisture content in contrast to their early‐stage counterparts. Conversely, ash, protein, carbohydrates, total sugar, and minerals (including K, Na, Zn, and Se) demonstrated no significant alteration (p >.05) across ripening stages. Remarkably, damson plums that were harvested at the end of the ripening stage displayed reduced phenolic content and total antioxidant activity compared to those acquired at the early–mid ripening phase. This research collectively highlights the substantive impact of harvesting time and ripening stage on the nutritional and antioxidant profiles of damson plums cultivated in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plums have recently played a significant role in agriculture with their high fiber content, vitamins, and antioxidant substances. In addition to being consumed as fresh fruit worldwide, it is grown commercially in dried form or as various processed additives. In this study, the variation among plum genotypes growing naturally in the garden borders of Suşehri, Koyulhisar, and Akıncılar districts of Sivas province, located in the Kelkit Valley, Türkiye, was investigated using morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. In terms of morphological characteristics, genotype E9 stood out as having the highest values in terms of fruit weight (25.92 g), fruit width (33.11 mm), and fruit height (34.70 mm). According to the results of biochemical analysis, statistically significant differences were found in total biochemical contents. Genotype E19 has 327.01 mg GAE/100 g for total phenolic content, genotype E11 with 109.98 mg QE/100 g for total flavonoid content, genotype E5 with 48.70% for total antioxidant value, and genotype E9 with 44.54 mg cyn-3-gluc/100 g for total anthocyanin content were the highest values. To determine the genetic diversity of plums at a molecular level, 10 different ISSR primers were used, and a total of 80.00 scorable bands were obtained. 67.00 of the bands obtained were polymorphic. According to the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) method, the similarity index ranged between 0.69 and 0.99, and two different main groups were formed in the dendrogram. Genotypes 21 and 22 were in the first group. Genotypes E6 and E7 were the closest genotypes with a similarity index 0.99. Five of the 10 different inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers had 100% polymorphism, and eight had 80% or more polymorphism. It is thought that the results obtained in plum genotypes can guide researchers to understand the characteristics of plum species and to integrate the appropriate genetic material or trait of interest into modern plant breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plums are the predominant fruit crop in Serbia. In the period under consideration (2012–2021), the Serbian plum area accounted for, on average, 42.52 % of the total fruit area in the country, far surpassing all other fruit crops. The Republic of Serbia is one of the leading plum producers in the world. With an average annual plum production of 440.91 thousand tons, Serbia ranks third in the world (following only China and Romania), contributing 3.77% to the world's total plum production. Nevertheless, the country faces challenges such as low yields per unit area, approximately 5.35 t/ha (FAO, 2023). Presently, the economic significance of plum production is not as high as in previous decades, and cultivation potential remains underutilized. To revitalize plum production in Serbia and reclaim its historical prominence, it is imperative to assess the current state of plum production both globally and regionally and implement appropriate measures to enhance economic performance in this traditional fruit sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectin from lemon and passion fruit peels was studied for its potential to serve as a source of biopolymer for preparation of active film. To develop a packaging film appropriate for fruits, different combinations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), pectin from lemon and passion fruit peel and rosemary essential oil (REO) were evaluated. Extensive characterisation of these films with respect to colour, thickness, moisture, opacity, UV absorption, tensile strength, elongation, swelling, solubility and thermal and chemical interactions was studied. Film prepared with PVA, lime and pectin peel (2:1:1 v/v) without REO and glycerol as plasticiser was found to be best based on the above properties. Additionally, the effectiveness of this film at extending the shelf life of strawberries and plums was evaluated. Physiological changes on storage were lesser in active packaged fruits as compared to unpackaged fruits. On basis of several spoilage indices studied, unpacked fruits had shelf life of less than 7 days, while those packed in active film were acceptable up to 15 days in case of strawberry and 45 in case of plums when stored at chilled temperature (6°C). Thus, use of the developed active packaging film would be beneficial for extending the marketable period of the fruits and enhancing its cost‐effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharka, caused by plum pox virus (PPV), is by far the most harmful disease of stone fruits (genus Prunus). Although Italy is a major producer of stone fruits, and sharka has spread in most Italian regions since its first identification in the 1970s, information on the diffusion of the disease in Italy results still scattered and incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, the present review aimed to firstly provide a historical overview of sharka in Italy, summarizing outcomes on the disease achieved since the first identification of its causal agent PPV. Data retrieved from a variety of sources (i.e., published literature, official reports and personal communications) showed that (i) sharka spread across almost the whole Italian peninsula as only Liguria, Umbria and Aosta Valley regions officially result disease-free; (ii) the regions with higher rates of infected districts are not always those more dedicated to the production of stone fruits; (iii) only the three major PPV strains causing sharka, i.e., PPV-Dideron (D), PPV-Marcus (M), and PPV-Recombinant (Rec), have been reported in Italy; and (iv) only apricot, peach and plum (i.e., widespread and economically relevant species) are hosts of PPV, with different scenarios among regions. A focus on Tuscany (Central Italy) showed that, (i) sharka has been reported since the 1990s, but extensive PPV monitoring campaigns were run from 2013 to 2021, especially in nurseries; (ii) higher number of symptomatic and PPV positive samples were recorded in farms, mostly in the Arezzo and Florence districts; and (iii) only PPV-M and PPV-Rec strains seem still present. We believe that the present overview will benefit and encourage both researchers for future investigations on sharka and farmers that have to manage the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]