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Winter dormancy is a key process in the phenology of temperate perennials. Climate change is severely impacting its course leading to economic losses in agriculture. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, as well as the genetic basis of the different responses, is necessary for the development of climate-resilient cultivars. This study aims to provide an insight into winter dormancy in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L). We report the transcriptomic profiles during dormancy in two raspberry cultivars with contrasting responses. The cultivar 'Glen Ample' showed a typical perennial phenology, whereas 'Glen Dee' registered consistent dormancy dysregulation, exhibiting active growth and flowering out of season. RNA-seq combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified gene clusters in both genotypes that exhibited time-dependent expression profiles. Functional analysis of 'Glen Ample' gene clusters highlighted the significance of the cell and structural development prior to dormancy entry as well the role of genetic and epigenetic processes such as RNAi and DNA methylation in regulating gene expression. Dormancy release in 'Glen Ample' was associated with up-regulation of transcripts associated with the resumption of metabolism, nucleic acid biogenesis, and processing signal response pathways. Many of the processes occurring in 'Glen Ample' were dysregulated in 'Glen Dee' and 28 transcripts exhibiting time-dependent expression in 'Glen Ample' that also had an Arabidopsis homologue were not found in 'Glen Dee'. These included a gene with homology to Arabidopsis VRN1 (RiVRN1.1) that exhibited a sharp decline in expression following dormancy induction in 'Glen Ample'. Characterization of the gene region in the 'Glen Dee' genome revealed two large insertions upstream of the ATG start codon. We propose that expression below detection level of a specific VRN1 homologue in 'Glen Dee' causes dormancy misregulation as a result of inappropriate expression of a subset of genes that are directly or indirectly regulated by RiVRN1.1., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Actinobacteria may help the mycorrhizal symbiosis by producing various bioactive metabolites. Mycorrhizae, in turn, are very important since they increase the absorption of nutrients, promoting the growth of their host plant and making inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AM) a common practice applied in agriculture and forestry. The cultivation of Rubus idaeus (raspberry) is widespread in Patagonia, Argentina; however, the potential benefits of using actinobacteria-mycorrhizal inoculums to enhance crop growth and yield remain unexplored. The objective of this work was to study the interaction between actinobacteria (Streptomyces, Actinomycetota) and AM in raspberry plants. We performed an experiment applying 4 treatments to raspberry plants growing in two substrates, sterile soil and natural (non-sterile) soil. The treatments consisted in a control (without inoculation) and three inoculations treatments (AM, Streptomyces SH9 strain, and AM + Streptomyces). After 3 months of inoculation, mycorrhization parameters (%) and plant growth were recorded. When comparing both substrates, the mycorrhization parameters were higher in natural soil than in sterile soil. The co-inoculation with AM + Streptomyces SH9 showed the highest mycorrhization. Both factors (treatment x substrate) interacted showing that in sterile soil the treatments with the highest effect on mycorrhization parameters were AM and the co-inoculation, while in natural soil all inoculations improved mycorrhization parameters, being highest with the co-inoculation. These results show that Streptomyces SH9 strain helps the mycorrhizal symbiosis in raspberry, being the first report about the effect of a native rhizospheric actinobacterium on an economically important species, promising potential for environmentally friendly improvements in raspberry crops within the temperate Southern Patagonian region., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The composition and profile of amino acids in Rubus chingii (R. chingii) Hu serve as critical indicators of its nutritional quality. A comprehensive understanding of the amino acid metabolism within R. chingii is instrumental in the formulation and innovation of functional foods derived from this species. Utilizing advanced techniques such as wide-ranging untargeted metabolomics, transcriptome analysis, interaction network mapping, heat map analysis, and quantitative real-time PCR, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the quality attributes across four distinct developmental stages of R. chingii. Our meticulous analysis uncovered a rich tapestry of 76 distinct amino acids and their derivatives within the developmental stages of R. chingii . The spectrum of essential amino acids was not only broad but also displayed a high degree of variety. Notably, leucine, lysine, and phenylalanine stood out as the most abundant amino acids, underscoring their significant presence throughout the growth cycle of R. chingii. The proportion of essential amino acids relative to the total amino acid content in R. chingii exhibited a notable trajectory of change throughout its developmental stages. It began with 30.92% in the immature green phase, advanced to 31.04% during the transition from green to yellow, peaked at 33.62% in the yellow to red stage, and then moderated to 30.43% in the full red phase. This pattern suggests a strategic modulation of amino acid composition, aligning with the evolving nutritional requirements and metabolic shifts as the fruit matures. Concurrent analysis of interaction networks and heat maps, alongside comprehensive profiling of amino acid metabolism and transcriptomic examination, was conducted to elucidate the intricate dynamics of cellular processes. The results showed that seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) played important roles in amino acid metabolism, including PFK, BCAT1, TSB, ASA, ACO, TOM2AH3, and BCAT2. The expression patterns of seven DEGs conformed closely to the findings revealed by the preceding RNA-seq analysis. In this investigation, we elucidated the regulatory mechanisms underlying amino acid metabolism across the four distinct developmental stages of R. chingii through comprehensive amino acid profiling and transcriptomic analysis. These insights lay the groundwork for the development of novel functional food applications utilizing R. chingii .

The influence of four microbial biostimulants containing various strains of Bacillus subtilis and/or Paenibacillus sp. on the quality of raspberries cv. Delniwa, Poemat, and Enrosadira cultivated in two consecutive seasons was investigated. The biostimulants influenced the antioxidant level, antioxidant capacity, phenolic acids and flavonoids profiles, enzymatic activity, and the degree of methylation and acetylation of the pectin in the raspberry fruits. The biostimulants had the greatest effect on the antioxidant content (16% - 20% increase) and capacity in the Delniwa raspberry fruits from the first season. A positive correlation was found between the activity of the β-galactosidase enzyme and ferric reducing power. In the second season, a decrease in the activity of pectin esterase and α-L-arabinofuranosidase and an increase in the degree of methylation of pectin were noted. Our results suggest that the changes in raspberry quality were related to the type of biostimulant applied., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Magdalena Frac reports financial support was provided by National Centre for Research and Development Poland. Magdalena Frac has patent #Method for obtaining a bacterial biopreparation and a bacterial biopreparation for maintenance and/or improving soil microbial biodiversity while controlling pathogens: Botrytis sp., Colletotrichum sp., Phytophthora sp., Verticillium sp. in soft fruit cultivation (in Polish), P.445051 pending to Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences. Magdalena Frac has patent #Method for obtaining a microbial fertilizing product and a microbial fertilizing product for conditioning seedlings, maintaining and/or improving the microbiological quality of the soil, while allowing for the control of phytopathogens in the cultivation of soft fruit (in Polish), P.445052 pending to Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences. Magdalena Frac has patent #A method of obtaining a microbiological fertilizing product and a microbiological fertilizing product for maintaining and/or improving the microbiological quality of the soil, allowing at the same time to control the phytopathogens Botrytis sp., Colletotrichum sp., Phytophthora sp., Verticillium sp. in the cultivation of soft fruit (in Polish), P.445053 pending to Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences. Magdalena Frac has patent #Method for obtaining a microbial fertilizing product and a microbial fertilizing product for soil conditioning and improving its biological properties while controlling pathogens Botrytis sp., Colletotrichum sp., Phytophthora sp., Verticillium sp. in soft fruit cultivation (in Polish), P.445054 pending to Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Application of microbial-based biopreparations as a pre-harvest strategy offers a method to obtain sustainable agricultural practices and could be an important approach for advancing food science, promoting sustainability, and meeting global food market demands. The impact of a bacterial-fungal biopreparation mixture on soil-plant-microbe interactions, fruit chemical composition and yield of 7 raspberry clones was investigated by examining the structural and functional profiles of microbial communities within leaves, fruits, and soil. Biopreparation addition caused the enhancement of the microbiological utilization of specific compounds, such as d-mannitol, relevant in plant-pathogen interactions and overall plant health. The biopreparation treatment positively affected the nitrogen availability in soil (9-160%). The analysis of plant stress marker enzymes combined with the evaluation of fruit quality and chemical properties highlight changes inducted by the pre-harvest biopreparation application. Chemical analyses highlight biopreparations' role in soil and fruit quality improvement, promoting sustainable agriculture. This effect was dependent on tested clones, showing increase of soluble solid content in fruits, concentration of polyphenols or the sensory quality of the fruits. The results of the next-generation sequencing indicated increase in the effective number of bacterial species after biopreparation treatment. The network analysis showed stimulating effect of biopreparation on microbial communities by enhancing microbial interactions (increasing the number of network edges up to 260%) of and affecting the proportions of mutual relationships between both bacteria and fungi. These findings show the potential of microbial-based biopreparation in enhancing raspberry production whilst promoting sustainable practices and maintaining environmental homeostasis and giving inshght in holistic understanding of microbial-based approaches for advancing food science monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Magdalena Frac, Michal Pylak, Karolina Oszust has patent licensed to P.435777. Magdalena Frac, Michal Pylak, Karolina Oszust has patent pending to P.434148. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Key Message: Combined transcriptomic and metabolic analyses reveal that fruit of Rubus chingii Hu launches biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonols at beginning of fruit set and then coordinately accumulated or converted to their derivatives. Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese raspberry) is an important dual functional food with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical values. Comprehensively understanding the mechanisms of fruit development and bioactive components synthesis and regulation could accelerate genetic analysis and molecular breeding for the unique species. Combined transcriptomic and metabolic analyses of R. chingii fruits from different developmental stages, including big green, green-to-yellow, yellow-to-orange, and red stages, were conducted. A total of 89,188 unigenes were generated and 57,545 unigenes (64.52%) were annotated. Differential expression genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were mainly involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The fruit launched the biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonols at the very beginning of fruit set and then coordinately accumulated or converted to their derivatives. This was tightly regulated by expressions of the related genes and MYB and bHLH transcription factors. The core genes products participated in the biosynthesis of ellagic acid (EA) and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (K-3-R), such as DAHPS, DQD/SDH, PAL, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3'H, FLS, and UGT78D2, and their corresponding metabolites were elaborately characterized. Our research reveals the molecular and chemical mechanisms of the fruit development of R. chingii. The results provide a solid foundation for the genetic analysis, functional genes isolation, fruit quality improvement and modifiable breeding of R. chingii., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Rubus chingii, is widely distributed in many Asian countries and well known for its medicinal and dietary properties. Diversity of fruit color in raspberry has been attributed to the presence of either anthocyanins or carotenoids. In this study, we investigated anthocyanins and carotenoids, and their biosynthesis by LC-MS/MS. Six anthocyanins mainly consisted of flavanol-anthocyanins while five carotenoids mainly consisted of β-citraurin esters. Flavanol-anthocyanins were produced from an offshoot of the anthocyanin biosynthesis, which started with biosynthesis of flavanols and anthocyanidin by leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR)/anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS/LDOX) respectively. β-citraurin esters were produced from cleavage of zeaxanthin and esterification by organic acid, which was an offshoot of the carotenoid biosynthesis. The offshoot started with biosynthesis of zeaxanthin and β-citraurin by carotene β-hydroxylase (CHYB/LUT5) and carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD) respectively. During fruit ripening, biosynthesis of flavanols and anthocyanins was down-regulated by genes/proteins involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, while biosynthesis of β-citraurin esters was up-regulated by imbalanced expression of genes/proteins involved in β,β-ring and β, ε-ring hydroxylation. Thus, β-citraurin esters, instead of anthocyanins imparted reddish color to the ripe fruit. These pigments and their biosynthesis in R. chingii are totally different from what occurs in other raspberry species., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Over one third of crops are animal pollinated, with insects being the largest group. In some crops, including strawberries, fruit yield, weight, quality, aesthetics and shelf life increase with insect pollination. Many crops are protected from extreme weather in polytunnels, but the impacts of polytunnels on insects are poorly understood. Polytunnels could reduce pollination services, especially if insects have access issues. Here we examine the distribution and activity of honeybees and non-honeybee wild insects on a commercial fruit farm. We evaluated whether insect distributions are impacted by flower type (strawberry; raspberry; weed), or distance from polytunnel edges. We compared passive pan-trapping and active quadrat observations to establish their suitability for monitoring insect distribution and behaviour on a farm. To understand the relative value of honeybees compared to other insects for strawberry pollination, the primary crop at the site, we enhanced our observations with video data analysed using insect tracking software to document the time spent by insects on flowers. The results show honeybees strongly prefer raspberry and weed flowers over strawberry flowers and that location within the polytunnel impacts insect distributions. Consistent with recent studies, we also show that pan-traps are ineffective to sample honeybee numbers. While the pan-traps and quadrat observations tend to suggest that investment in managed honeybees for strawberry pollination might be ineffective due to consistent low numbers within the crop, the camera data provides contrary evidence. Although honeybees were relatively scarce among strawberry crops, camera data shows they spent more time visiting flowers than other insects. Our results demonstrate that a commercial fruit farm is a complex ecosystem influencing pollinator diversity and abundance through a range of factors. We show that monitoring methods may differ in their valuation of relative contributions of insects to crop pollination., Competing Interests: Adrian G. Dyer is an Academic Editor for PLOS ONE. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) causes significant economic loss in fruit crops to growers worldwide. There is immediate need for efficacious and selective monitoring tools that can detect infestations early. Previously, volatile organic compounds derived from apple were studied and a quinary chemical component blend (QB) was identified as the key SWD attractant in a blueberry orchard in the United States. This study's aim was to determine whether previously observed QB efficacy, selectivity, and early detection levels could be attained within raspberry and cherry fields in the USA and Europe. Results demonstrated that sticky trap baited QB dispenser provided earlier SWD detection potential than the usually adopted apple cider vinegar (ACV) trap. The number of SWD captured/trap by QB baited trapping systems was significantly lower than that of the ACV trap. However, percent SWD/trap of QB baited traps was same within cherry. Lower non-target capture will save farmer/grower's labor and time allocated to traps installation and drosophila species identification. Within the USA, SWD selectivity of QB baited liquid traps was consistently greater than sticky trap in raspberry field, suggesting that the QB dispenser can be an alternative to the standard ACV lure and that trap design could improve selectivity further.

Background: The beneficial rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens N 21.4, and its metabolic elicitors were inoculated in commercial cultivars of blackberry plants (Rubus cv. Loch Ness). Phenolic compounds present in red and black fruit and the expression of structural marker genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway during fruit ripening were studied., Results: An inverse relationship between gene expression and accumulation of metabolites was seen, except for the RuDFR gene, which had a direct correlation with cyanidin 3-O-glucoside synthesis, increasing its content 1.3 times when RuDFR was overexpressed in the red fruit of plants inoculated with the metabolic elicitors of P. fluorescens N 21.4, compared with red fruit of plants inoculated with N 21.4. The RuCHS gene also had a fundamental role in the accumulation of metabolites. Both rhizobacterium and metabolic elicitors triggered the flavonoid metabolism, enhancing the catechin and epicatechin content between 1.1 and 1.6 times in the case of red fruit and between 1.1 and 1.8 times in the case of black fruit. Both treatments also boosted the anthocyanin, quercetin, and kaempferol derivative content, highlighting the effects of metabolic elicitors in red fruit and the effects of live rhizobacterium in black fruit., Conclusion: The metabolic elicitors' capacity to modulate gene expression and to increase secondary metabolites content was demonstrated. This work therefore suggests that they are effective, affordable, easily manageable, and ecofriendly plant inoculants that complement, or are alternatives to, beneficial rhizobacteria. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

We present a case study report into nutritional competition between Trichoderma spp. isolated from wild raspberries and fungal phytopathogenic isolates ( Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis sp., Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp.), which infect soft fruit ecological plantations. The competition was evaluated on the basis of nutritional potentiates. Namely, these were consumption and growth, calculated on the basis of substrate utilization located on Biolog ® Filamentous Fungi (FF) plates. The niche size, total niche overlap and Trichoderma spp. competitiveness indices along with the occurrence of a stressful metabolic situation towards substrates highlighted the unfolding step-by-step approach. Therefore, the Trichoderma spp. and pathogen niche characteristics were provided. As a result, the substrates in the presence of which Trichoderma spp. nutritionally outcompete pathogens were denoted. These were adonitol, D-arabitol, i-erythritol, glycerol, D-mannitol and D-sorbitol. These substrates may serve as additives in biopreparations of Trichoderma spp. dedicated to plantations contaminated by phytopathogens of the genera Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis sp., Verticillium sp. and Phytophthora sp.

Background: Flavonoids are produced in all flowering plants in a wide range of tissues including in berry fruits. These compounds are of considerable interest for their biological activities, health benefits and potential pharmacological applications. However, transcriptomic and genomic resources for wild and cultivated berry fruit species are often limited, despite their value in underpinning the in-depth study of metabolic pathways, fruit ripening as well as in the identification of genotypes rich in bioactive compounds., Results: To access the genetic diversity of wild and cultivated berry fruit species that accumulate high levels of phenolic compounds in their fleshy berry(-like) fruits, we selected 13 species from Europe, South America and Asia representing eight genera, seven families and seven orders within three clades of the kingdom Plantae. RNA from either ripe fruits (ten species) or three ripening stages (two species) as well as leaf RNA (one species) were used to construct, assemble and analyse de novo transcriptomes. The transcriptome sequences are deposited in the BacHBerryGEN database (http://jicbio.nbi.ac.uk/berries) and were used, as a proof of concept, via its BLAST portal (http://jicbio.nbi.ac.uk/berries/blast.html) to identify candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid compounds. Genes encoding regulatory proteins of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway (MYB and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and WD40 repeat proteins) were isolated using the transcriptomic resources of wild blackberry (Rubus genevieri) and cultivated red raspberry (Rubus idaeus cv. Prestige) and were shown to activate anthocyanin synthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana. Expression patterns of candidate flavonoid gene transcripts were also studied across three fruit developmental stages via the BacHBerryEXP gene expression browser (http://www.bachberryexp.com) in R. genevieri and R. idaeus cv. Prestige., Conclusions: We report a transcriptome resource that includes data for a wide range of berry(-like) fruit species that has been developed for gene identification and functional analysis to assist in berry fruit improvement. These resources will enable investigations of metabolic processes in berries beyond the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway analysed in this study. The RNA-seq data will be useful for studies of berry fruit development and to select wild plant species useful for plant breeding purposes.

In this work, an efficient method for the rapid extraction and separation of antioxidant phenols was developed and optimized. The method was then applied to extract and separate nine phenols from 37 varieties of raspberry, in which their antioxidant activities were further investigated. First, the extraction was conducted using ultra-sonication, which was then further separated using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet (RP-HPLC/UV) analysis. In this step, several key parameters (volume of the extraction reagent, time of extraction, and the temperature of extraction) affecting its efficiency were investigated and optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM) combined with the Box-Behnken design (BBD) so that the optimal conditions were obtained. According to the overall results of the optimization study, the optimal conditions were chosen as follows: volume of extraction reagent = 2.0 mL, time of extraction = 50.0 min, and temperature of extraction = 50 °C. The optimal conditions were then applied to extract nine phenols, including gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, cumaric acid, ferulic acid, rosemary acid, and quercetin from 37 raspberry varieties. The extracted phenols were characterized and their antioxidant activities, including DPPH - and ABTS - free radical scavenging and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity, using HepG2 cells as the model, were subsequently studied. The findings suggested that although their contents varied among most raspberry varieties, these phenols significantly contributed toward their antioxidant capacity and scavenging intracellular ROS activities. This study provides a scientific and theoretical basis for the selection of raspberry varieties and product development in Qinghai province.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the free and bound volatiles in the Rubus coreanus (RC) fruits of different ripening stages. Thirty-seven free volatiles and 28 bound volatiles were identified in RC fruit for the first time. The contents of free (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, 2-heptanol, β-myrcene, (E), (Z)-β-ocimene, allo-ocimene, linalool, cosmene, α-terpineol, methyl salicylate, eugenol, and β-damascenone remain high, and increased with the ripening of RC fruit. The contents of 11 bound volatiles decreased during the ripening, and became lower than the contents of their free volatiles in the ripe fruit. The ripe black fruit is closely correlated to the free nonanal, sulcatone, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, 2-heptanol, 1-heptanol, 1-nonanol, (E)-linalool oxide (furanoid), and β-damascenone, and bound (E)-2-hexen-1-ol and (E)- β-ocimene. The ripe RC fruit is more fruity and floral than unripe fruit. The gradually hydrolyzed bound volatiles can enhance the fruity, floral, and herbaceous odors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Rubus coreanus (RC) fruit is a functional natural fruit. Both fresh and processed Rubus coreanus fruits including jams, confitures, wine, yogurt, vinegar, and beverages, as well as ingredients in functional foods or cosmetics have been extensively consumed. However, the free and bound aroma compounds in RC fruit have not been well understood. This work illustrates the contributions of free and bound volatiles to the flavor of RC fruit., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

To determine the origin and genetic consequences of anagenesis in Rubus takesimensis on Ulleung Island, Korea, we compared the genetic diversity and population structure of R. takesimensis with those of its continental progenitor R. crataegifolius. We broadly sampled a total of 315 accessions in 35 populations and sequenced five noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA. Rubus takesimensis emerged as nonmonophyletic and several geographically diverse continental populations were likely responsible for the origin of R. takesimensis; the majority of R. takesimensis accessions were sisters to the clade containing accessions of R. crataegifolius, primarily from the Korean peninsula, while rare accessions from three populations shared common ancestors with the ones from the southern part of the Korean peninsula, Jeju Island, and Japan. A few accessions from the Chusan population originated independently from the Korean peninsula. Of 129 haplotypes, 81 and 48 were found exclusively in R. crataegifolius and R. takesimensis, respectively. We found unusually high genetic diversity in two regions on Ulleung Island and no geographic population structure. For R. crataegifolius, two major haplotype groups were found; one for the northern mainland Korean peninsula, and the other for the southern Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago. Compared with populations of R. crataegifolius sampled from Japan, much higher haplotype diversity was found in populations from the Korean peninsula. The patterns of genetic consequences in R. takesimensis need to be verified for other endemic species based on chloroplast DNA and independent nuclear markers to synthesize emerging patterns of anagenetic speciation on Ulleung Island., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The invasion of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, across the Americas and Europe has led to increased insecticide applications to protect fruit crops. This insecticide usage conflicts with integrated pest management programs, as well as harvest, export, and pollination services in the affected crops. A novel management tool was assessed against D. suzukii that may mitigate these conflicts. HOOK SWD, an attract-and-kill (A&K) formulation applied as a sprayable bait, was evaluated for three growing seasons in two berry crops in New Jersey and California. In blueberry crops treated with HOOK SWD, fruit infestations by D. suzukii were 2-8 times lower than in untreated crops. In trials in commercial raspberry fields, weekly or biweekly HOOK SWD applications combined with a single grower standard D. suzukii-targeted cover spray resulted in nearly 2-5 times fewer fruit infestations compared to the grower standard cover spray alone. Assays of the residual activity of HOOK SWD resulted in more than 78-93% adult D. suzukii mortality when exposed to raspberry leaves after the formulation had aged for 35 d in the field under plastic hoop houses. These results suggest that this A&K strategy can be integrated in D. suzukii management programs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the free individual phenolics and the in vitro antioxidant capacity of blackberry, acerola, yellow guava, guabiju, jambolan and jabuticaba fruits in two edible stages. Of the thirty-three phenolics investigated by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), twenty-five were quantified and the major ones were catechin, isoquercitrin, epicatechin and gallic acid. The highest values for the total phenolic content (in dry matter) were observed for acerola (83.6 to 97.7 mg gallic acid equivalents g -1 DM) and blackberry (18.9 to 28.3 mg gallic acid equivalents g -1 DM); however, acerola, jabuticaba, and blackberry showed the highest antioxidant capacities (134.6 to 1120.4 mg Trolox equivalents g -1 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 43.6 to 501.8 μmol Trolox equivalents g -1 for ferric reducing antioxidant power). For most fruits, the antioxidant capacity decreased during the ripening, possibly due to a decrease in the concentration of most of the phenolics.

The goal of this work was to evaluate blackberry cultivars in terms of productivity and bioactive compounds. Two experiments were conducted: in the first experiment four cultivars were evaluated (Cherokee, Guarani, BRS-Tupy and Xavante). In the second experiment, the effects of pruning management in the BRS-Tupy cultivar were evaluated with the following treatments: drastic winter pruning (zero primocane), and maintenance of two, three or four primocanes in the winter pruning. Vegetative, productive and fruit quality characteristics were determined, including measurement of bioactive compounds. Among the cultivars, the cultivar BRS-Tupy was superior in terms of productive characteristics, but for content of anthocyanins and flavonoids, the cultivar Xavante stood out (191.97 and 68.44 mg 100 g-1, respectively). Drastic winter pruning produced lower fruit quality. The number of primocanes has a directly proportional influence on the soluble solids content and productivity component. For farmers who want fruits with greater levels of bioactive compounds, the use of cultivar Xavante is recommended; however, for those who aim for productive aspects, we suggest the use of cultivar BRS-Tupy with four primocanes per plant.

Background: Consumer demand for organic products is increasing because of their claimed health benefits. Blackberries are a rich source of polyphenols, with high antioxidant activity; nevertheless, the impact of organic versus conventional agricultural practices on its phytochemical composition is unknown. 'Loch Ness' and 'Chester Thornless' were selected as blackberry cultivars for this study because of their desired sensory and technological properties, which make them more suitable for export., Results: 'Loch Ness' variety presented a higher amounts of polyphenols and higher antioxidant activity when compared to the 'Chester Thornless' variety. The impact of agricultural practices on the phytochemical composition of the two varieties was contradictory. Under organic agricultural practices, levels of polyphenols increased for 'Loch Ness' and decreased for 'Chester Thornless', whereas the soluble solids content increased in both varieties. These changes in composition were correlated with changes observed in the blackberries' sensory profile., Conclusion: The effect of agricultural practices on the blackberries' chemical and sensory profile was dependent on the variety and cannot be generalized. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: The changing climate is altering timing of key fruit ripening processes and increasing the occurrence of fruit defects. To improve our understanding of the genetic control of raspberry fruit development an enhanced genetic linkage map was developed and used to examine ripening phenotypic data., Results: In this study we developed an enhanced genetic linkage map for the raspberry cvs. Glen Moy x Latham reference mapping population using genotyping by sequencing (GbS). Alignment to a newly sequenced draft reference genome of red raspberry, cultivar (cv.) Glen Moy, identified 8019 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After stringent filtering to take account of read coverage over all the progeny individuals, association with a single chromosome, heterozygosity and marker regression mapping, 2348 high confidence SNPs were retained and integrated with an existing raspberry genetic map. The linkage map contained many more SNPs segregating in Latham than in Glen Moy. This caused difficulties in quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping with standard software and a novel analysis based on a hidden Markov model was used to improve the mapping. QTL mapping using the newly generated dense genetic map not only corroborated previously identified genetic locations but also provided additional genetic elements controlling fruit ripening in raspberry., Conclusion: The high-density GbS map located the QTL peaks more precisely than in earlier studies, aligned the QTLs with Glen Moy genome scaffolds, narrowed the range of potential candidate genes to these regions that can be utilised in other populations or in gene expression studies to confirm their role and increased the repertoire of markers available to understand the genetic control of fruit ripening traits.

Spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruits across the globe. Effective monitoring is necessary to manage this pest, but suitable attractants are still being identified. In this study, we combined lures with fermenting liquid baits to improve D. suzukii trapping specificity and attractiveness. We also measured the efficiency and specificity of baits/lures during different times of the season; the reproductive status of females among baits/lures; and the effects of locations and crop type on these response variables. We developed a metric that combined mating status and fat content to determine differences in types of females attracted. Lures utilizing yeast and sugar-based volatiles trapped the most D. suzukii. The addition of a commercial lure to yeast and sugar-based lures increased catches in most locations, but was also the least specific to D. suzukii. Apple juice-based chemical lures tended to be most specific to D. suzukii, while lures comprised of a singular attractant tended to trap more D. suzukii with a higher reproductive potential than combinations of attractants. Trap catch and lure specificity was lower during fruit development than fruit ripening. While catch amounts varied by geographic location and crop type, attractants performed similarly relative to each other in each location and crop. Based on the metrics in this study, the yeast and sugar-based attractants were the most effective lures. However, further work is needed to improve early season monitoring, elucidate the effects of physiological status on bait attraction, and understand how abiotic factors influence bait attraction.

Background: Phytochemical profiles of two Brazilian native fruits - pitanga (red and purple) and araçá (yellow and red) - as well as strawberry cultivars Albion, Aromas and Camarosa, blackberry cultivar Tupy and blueberry cultivar Bluegen cultivated in Brazil were characterized for total phenolic content and total anthocyanin content by liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array and a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Radical scavenging, antiherpes and cytotoxic activities of these berry extracts were also evaluated., Results: Blueberry presented the highest total anthocyanin content (1202 mg cyanidin-O-glucoside equivalents kg -1 fresh fruit), while strawberry cultivar Aromas presented the highest total phenolic content (13 550 mg gallic acid equivalents kg -1 fresh fruit). Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis resulted in the identification of 21 anthocyanins. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of cyanidin-O-glucoside in yellow and red Araçá fruit and the first time eight anthocyanins have been reported in pitanga fruits. DPPH and ABTS assays showed that blueberry cultivar Bluegen, blackberry cultivar Tupy and pitanga (red and purple) showed the most promising antiradical activities, respectively. No relevant cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines or antiherpes activity was detected under the experimental conditions tested., Conclusion: Total anthocyanin content of all fruits had a strong positive correlation with their free radical scavenging activity, suggesting anthocyanins contribute to the antioxidant potential of these fruits. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Globally, agriculture increasingly depends on pollinators to produce many seed and fruit crops. However, what constitutes optimal pollination service for pollinator-dependent crops remains unanswered. We developed a simulation model to identify the optimal pollination service that maximizes fruit quality in crops. The model depicts the pollination (i.e., autonomous self-fertilization, pollen deposition) and post-pollination (i.e., pollen germination, and time from germination to ovule fertilization) processes leading to fruit and seed set and allows for negative flower-pollinator interactions, specifically pistil damage. We parameterized and validated the model based on empirical observations of commercial raspberry in western Argentina. To assess the effects of pollination intensity for fruit production, we conducted simulations over a range of visit number per flower by the two primary managed pollinators worldwide, Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris. Simulations identified that ~15-35 visits per flower by A. mellifera or ~10-20 visits by B. terrestris provide adequate pollination and maximize raspberry fruit quality (i.e., estimated as the proportion of ovules that develop into drupelets). Visits in excess of these optima reduce simulated fruit quality, and flowers receiving >670 honey bee visits or >470 bumble bee visits would produce fruits of poorer quality than those receiving no bee visits. The simulations generated consistent, unbiased predictions of fruit quality for 12 raspberry fields. This model could be adapted easily to other animal-pollinated crops and used to guide efficient pollinator management in any agro-ecosystem., (© 2018 by the Ecological Society of America.)

Berry crops are increasingly produced in high tunnels, which provide growers with the opportunity to extend their production season. This is particularly beneficial for the northern region of the United States with short and unpredictable growing seasons and where rainfall limits fruit quality. However, little is known about the effect of high tunnels on the community of pests, natural enemies, or pollinators, especially in berry crops, and there are few reports of the insect community in raspberries in this region. We compared the abundance of these insects during two growing seasons in field-grown and tunnel-grown floricane and primocane producing raspberries through direct observation and trapping at five sites in southwestern and central Michigan. We found eight key pests, including spotted wing Drosophila, leafhoppers, and thrips, and seven key natural enemies including parasitoid wasps, spiders, and lacewings, that were common across all sites. Pest populations were up to 6.6 times higher in tunnels, and pests typical of greenhouse systems became more dominant in this environment. Natural enemies observed on plants under tunnels were also more abundant than in the field, but this trend was reversed for natural enemies trapped on yellow sticky cards. There was also a reduction of both honey bees and wild bees under the high tunnels, which was balanced by use of commercial bumble bees. These data not only provide much-needed information on the phenology of the insect community on raspberry plantings, they also highlight the entomological implications of protected raspberry culture.

Background: Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is a serious pest of small fruits that lays its eggs in growing fruit. Current management strategies rely on an unsustainable schedule of foliar applications of chemical insecticides. Alternative approaches to suppressing oviposition are under investigation, such as attract-and-kill and the use of oviposition deterrents. Here, we evaluated two behavioral control approaches in combination as a push-pull strategy using laboratory and field assays., Results: In laboratory caged assays, both an attractive mass trapping device (pull) and an oviposition deterrent (push: 1-octen-3-ol) reduced oviposition by D. suzukii, and the combination of the two (push-pull) resulted in significantly greater reduction than either treatment alone. In field experiments, oviposition reduction was observed in fruit from plots treated with oviposition deterrent (push) or a combination of mass trapping devices and deterrent (push-pull) compared with fruit from control plots. However, oviposition in plots with mass trapping devices (pull) was higher than observed in all other treatments. Additionally, the protection provided by the deterrent in push plots extended to the entire plot rather than just in fruit closest to deterrent dispensers., Conclusion: Push-pull treatments negatively affected D. suzukii infestation in both laboratory and field experiments. The reduction in oviposition observed in laboratory experiments was based on the additive effect of push and pull components acting on a finite population, while the reduction observed in field experiments appeared to be mainly based on the effect of pull components. We discuss potential underlying reasons for the discrepancy results and suggest potential improvements. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive species that is a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruit crops. Although much effort has been directed toward developing traps and attractants to monitor for D. suzukii, current monitoring tools do not reliably predict fruit infestation. The objective of this study was to determine if D. suzukii females at different developmental stages are differentially attracted to monitoring traps with fermentation-based baits and ripe fruits. Females were collected on the surface of traps, within traps, and on ripe fruits during three experiments at field locations in North Carolina, USA, and were dissected to determine their reproductive status. In general, females collected on ripe fruits were more likely to have mature eggs present in their ovaries and had higher numbers of mature eggs than females collected on the surface of or within monitoring traps. The results of this study have implications for D. suzukii monitoring and the development of effective baits for use in integrated pest management programs., (© The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Large quantities of blackberry seeds are produced as a pomace during the processing of juice and jam production; this by-product is a very interesting raw material both for oil manufacturing and as a source of bioactive compounds. In this work the composition, yield and antioxidant activity of three types of Rubus fructicosus pomace extracts isolated by liquid extraction using solvents of different polarity, as well with supercritical CO 2 fluid extraction have been compared., Results: The highest extract yield was reported for Soxhlet extraction using ethanol as a solvent (14.2%). Supercritical carbon dioxide and hexane extracts were characterised by the highest content of phytosterols (1445 and 1583 mg 100 g -1 of extract, respectively) among which β-sitosterol was the main one, while the concentration of tocopherols, with predominant γ-isomer, was the highest for both hexane and ethanol extracts, being 2364 and 2334 mg 100 g -1 , respectively. Using a GC-MS method 95 volatiles, in which non-saturated aldehydes were predominant, were identified in the essential oil of seed pomace and in the volatile oil isolated from supercritical extract. The ethanolic extract which is characterised by the highest phenolic content (9443 mg GAE 100 g -1 ) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (according to the ABTS •+ and DPPH • assays)., Conclusion: All pomace extracts examined were of high quality, rich in essential omega fatty acids and with a very high content of bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and tocopherols. The high nutritional value of extracts from berry seed pomace could justify the commercialisation of specific extracts not only as food additives but also as cosmetic components. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The influence of growth regulator prohexadione-Ca (ProCa) concurrently with young canes removal on the modification of photosynthetic pigments content and antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, POD; catalase, CAT; polyphenol oxidase, PPO; superoxide dismutase, SOD) activities in leaves and fruits of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivar 'Willamette' was studied. ProCa increased while canes removal decreased chlorophylls and carotenoids content compared to control. POD, CAT, and PPO activities in leaves after removal of young canes were higher compared to control (2-4 times) which was visually confirmed for POD by isoelectrofocusing. Removal of young canes slithly increased, while ProCa significantly enhanced SOD activity in leaves compared to control (475.10 and 218.38 nkat mg -1 prot, respectively). Pattern of SOD activity in fruit was similar as in leaf with substantial increase compared to control (about 15 times). Combination of implemented measures increased activity of all enzymes in the leaves and fruits. Our study could provide a better knowledge of the ProCa and canes removal influences on the action of enzymes in order to regulate their activities in fruit products.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is an economically important pest of soft and small fruit crops. Unlike other drosophilid flies, D. suzukii is capable of infesting ripe and partially ripe fruit, which poses a significant pest management challenge, as there is no tolerance for infested or damaged fruit in the marketplace. As a result, producers in many regions rely on calendar-scheduled insecticide applications for D. suzukii management. In order to develop an integrated pest management approach, better tools for monitoring adult fly populations are needed. Over two growing seasons in southern Ontario, we evaluated three commercial (Pherocon SWD dual-lure, Suzukii Trap, and Scentry Lure) and two homemade baits (apple cider vinegar and yeast + sugar water) for their ability to capture D. suzukii in raspberry and highbush blueberry fields. In general, commercial attractants captured D. suzukii earlier in the growing season and in greater numbers, with fewer nontarget captures, compared with homemade baits. Scentry Lure tended to perform better than other attractants, capturing D. suzukii earlier and in larger numbers during peak harvest. Pherocon SWD dual-lure was highly specific to D. suzukii. The combination of Scentry Lure with Suzukii Trap had possible synergistic effects, as numbers of D. suzukii captured to the combined treatment were more than additive. Using commercial attractants improves D. suzukii monitoring and will allow growers to improve the timing of insecticide applications with D. suzukii activity in the field., (© The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The chemical composition of spontaneous volatile emission from Rubus ulmifolius flowers and fruits during different stages of development was evaluated by HS-SPME-GC/MS. In total, 155 chemical compounds were identified accounting 84.6 - 99.4% of whole aroma profile of flowers samples and 92.4 - 96.6% for fruit samples. The main constituents were α-copaene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, (E,E)-α-farnesene, 1,7-octadien-3-one,2-methyl-6-methylene, tridecane, (E)-2-hexenol acetate, (E)-3-hexenol acetate and cyperene. The results give a chemotaxonomic contribution to the characterization of the VOCs emitted from flowers and fruits during their ontogenic development., (© 2016 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a polyphagous, invasive pest of small fruits. Current management relies heavily on chemical insecticides, and an effective oviposition deterrent could contribute to alternative management approaches that reduce the need for these chemical insecticides. A novel deployment method for repelling Drosophila suzukii, thereby reducing D. suzukii oviposition in fall-bearing red raspberry, was evaluated in the field. Infestations occurring within 4 d after deployment were significantly lower in 2-m-long plots (Rubus idaeus 'Caroline') treated with the repellent (20% 1-octen-3-ol in specialized pheromone and lure application technology [SPLAT]) compared to control plots (blank SPLAT). Repellent-treated plots had roughly 28.8 and 49.5% fewer offspring reared per gram of fruit than control plots in two experiments, respectively. Nontarget effects were also evaluated in 2-m plot experiments as well as 5- by 5-m plot experiments. There were no differences in the number of parasitic hymenoptera trapped on yellow sticky cards hung in repellent compared to control plots. While there were no differences in the number of visits to raspberry flowers observed by honey bees in repellent versus control plots, the number of visits by bumble bees was greater in repellent plots compared to control plots. Challenges regarding evaporation rates and potential uses for repellents in an integrated pest management program for the control of D. suzukii are discussed., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Tayberry is a hybrid between Rubus fruticosus L. and Rubus idaeus L. These fruits contain valuable vitamins and antioxidants. An effective protocol for micropropagation of tayberry plants is here described. Different concentrations of cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, zeatin, and 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine) were added in Murashige and Skoog, 1962 (MS) medium to micropropagation using stem tip and nodal explants., Results: The highest propagation rate was recorded on MS medium containing 2 mg L(-1) zeatin, where the shoot formation resulted in 3.4 shoots per stem tip explant after 4 weeks of culture. It was found that half-strength MS medium with 0.1 mg L(-1) indole-3-butyric acid was the best for plant rooting. For ex vitro acclimatization of plants, the mixture of peat, soil, and perlite (1:1:1 v/v/v) was the most suitable planting substrate for hardening. The micropropagation protocol described in this study might be useful for the production of healthy plant materials. Tayberry fruits from in vitro propagated plants and adapted to the field conditions possessed higher antioxidant capacity in comparison to traditionally cultivated plants., Conclusion: Fruit extracts of micropropagated tayberry plants and adapted to field conditions can be used as a rich source of natural antioxidants. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth regulator with roles in senescence, fruit ripening and environmental stress responses. ABA and pyrabactin (a non-photosensitive ABA agonist) effects on red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruit development (including ripening) were studied, with a focus on vitamin and antioxidant composition. Application of ABA and/or pyrabactin just after fruit set did not affect the temporal pattern of fruit development and ripening; neither provitamin A (carotenoids) nor vitamin E contents were modified. In contrast, ABA and pyrabactin altered the vitamin C redox state at early stages of fruit development and more than doubled vitamin C contents at the end of fruit ripening. These were partially explained by changes in ascorbate oxidation and recycling. Therefore, ABA and pyrabactin applications may be used to increase vitamin C content of ripe fruits, increasing fruit quality and value. However, treatments containing pyrabactin-combined with ABA or alone-diminished protein content, thus partially limiting its potential applicability., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Application of a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4, to roots of blackberries (Rubus sp.) is part of an optimised cultivation practice to improve yields and quality of fruit throughout the year in this important fruit crop. Blackberries are especially rich in flavonoids and therefore offer potential benefits for human health in prevention or amelioration of chronic diseases. However, the phenylpropanoid pathway and its regulation during ripening have not been studied in detail, in this species. PGPR may trigger flavonoid biosynthesis as part of an induced systemic response (ISR) given the important role of this pathway in plant defence, to cause increased levels of flavonoids in the fruit. We have identified structural genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways catalysing the conversion of phenylalanine to the final products including flavonols, anthocyanins and catechins from blackberry, and regulatory genes likely involved in controlling the activity of pathway branches. We have also measured the major flavonols, anthocyanins and catechins at three stages during ripening. Our results demonstrate the coordinated expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes with the accumulation of anthocyanins, catechins, and flavonols in developing fruits of blackberry. Elicitation of blackberry plants by treatment of roots with P.fluorescens N21.4, caused increased expression of some flavonoid biosynthetic genes and an accompanying increase in the concentration of selected flavonoids in fruits. Our data demonstrate the physiological mechanisms involved in the improvement of fruit quality by PGPR under field conditions, and highlight some of the genetic targets of elicitation by beneficial bacteria.

For centuries, the dry grassland of the plain of La Crau (south-eastern France) has been subjected to numerous disturbances resulting in the destruction and the fragmentation of this emblematic rangeland ecosystem of the Mediterranean. Today, this ecosystem is facing a new threat from a proliferating native species, the bramble (Rubus ulmifolius Schott), which preferentially colonizes areas that were formerly cultivated and/or exposed to water infiltration. To identify a strategy for effective control of this colonization, in situ experiments testing disturbance regimes (shrub clearing and/or mixed grazing by sheep and goats) combined with the control of access to water resources (with or without drainage trenches) were undertaken between 2010 and 2013. Only clearing and grazing combined over 3 years led to significant changes in vegetation height and bramble cover as well as modifications in the floristic composition, diversity, similarity, and richness of the plant community. Neither a clearing operation carried out in 2010 alone, nor grazing alone, reduced bramble cover, and neither treatment increased the species richness of the plant community. Similarly, digging drainage trenches had no significant impact either on the plant community or on bramble cover. Our study suggests that only annual mechanical clearing coupled with sheep and goats grazing can significantly reduce bramble cover. This combined restoration treatment needs to be applied for at least 3 consecutive years to induce significant changes and enable this ecosystem to return to the dry grassland succession.

Dried and unripe fruit of Rubus chingii Hu, known as "Fu-pen-zi" in Chinese, has been used as a food and tonic in China for a long time. In order to analyze its effective ingredients, polysaccharides, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids were extracted from the unripe fruits and their contents were determined. The in vitro antioxidant, anticomplementary and anticancer activities against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells of the four major constituents were investigated. Results showed that total flavonoids exhibited an obvious antioxidant activity, which was very close to ascorbic acid. The anticomplementary and anticancer activities of flavonoids were also the best among the four chemical compositions. Therefore, extraction process optimization of flavonoids was conducted using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature 72.8 °C, ethanol concentration 30.67%, extraction time 2.66 h, and a liquid/solid ratio of 19.54 : 1. In addition, total flavonoids were subsequently separated by column chromatography and the major flavonoid was identified as tiliroside. Further experimental data revealed that tiliroside treatment could suppress the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of A549 cells.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumara, also referred to as the spotted wing drosophila, has recently expanded its global range with significant consequences for its primary host crops: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, and strawberries. D. suzukii populations can increase quickly, and their infestation is difficult to predict and prevent. The development of effective tools to detect D. suzukii presence in new areas, to time the beginning of activity within a crop, to track seasonal activity patterns, and to gauge the effectiveness of management efforts has been a key research goal. We compared the efficiency, selectivity, and relationship to fruit infestation of a range of commonly used homemade baits and a synthetic formulated lure across a wide range of environments in 10 locations throughout the United States. Several homemade baits were more efficient than apple cider vinegar, a commonly used standard, and a commercially formulated lure was, in some configurations and environments, comparable with the most effective homemade attractant as well as potentially more selective. All alternative attractants also captured flies between 1 and 2 wk earlier than apple cider vinegar, and detected the presence of D. suzukii prior to the development of fruit infestation. Over half the Drosophila spp. flies captured in traps baited with any of the attractants were not D. suzukii, which may complicate their adoption by nonexpert users. The alternative D. suzukii attractants tested are improvement on apple cider vinegar and may be useful in the development of future synthetic lures., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is traditionally classified as non-climacteric, and the role of ethylene in fruit ripening is not clear. The available information indicates that the receptacle, a modified stem that supports the drupelets, is involved in ethylene production of ripe fruits. In this study, we report receptacle-related ethylene biosynthesis during the ripening of fruits of cv. Heritage. In addition, the expression pattern of ethylene biosynthesis transcripts was evaluated during the ripening process. The major transcript levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (RiACS1) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (RiACO1) were concomitant with ethylene production, increased total soluble solids (TSS) and decreased titratable acidity (TA) and fruit firmness. Moreover, ethylene biosynthesis and transcript levels of RiACS1 and RiACO1 were higher in the receptacle, sustaining the receptacle's role as a source of ethylene in regulating the ripening of raspberry., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Native to Southeast Asia, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) prefer to oviposit on ripe fruit and have become an important pest of California raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) since their detection in Santa Cruz County, CA, in 2008. Preliminary management guidelines included D. suzukii monitoring recommendations, though there was little available information on seasonal occurrence and potential lures for use in raspberries. To address this issue, we trapped adult D. suzukii weekly for 2 yr (including both spring and fall harvests) in multiple raspberry varieties using apple cider vinegar and a yeast-sugar-water mixture as liquid lures, and measured fruit infestation when commercially ripe fruit were available. D. suzukii pressure as measured by larval infestation and adult trap captures was higher during the fall raspberry harvest season. The yeast lure captured significantly more D. suzukii during the fall harvest than the apple cider vinegar, and while both lures tended to capture more females than males, this varied by month of the year and was more pronounced for the yeast lure. Trap captures from each lure correlated well to one another, and often exhibited significant correlation to larval infestation. However, during all seasons and under both conventional and organic management, worrisome outliers were present (high larval infestation with low trap captures) that call into question the reliability of using the systems presented here as a basis for management decisions at this time.

The effects of cultural system and essential oil treatment on antioxidant capacities in raspberries were evaluated. Raspberries were hand-harvested from organic and conventional farms in Maryland, USA, and were treated with essential oil including carvacrol, anethole, cinnamic acid, perillaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, and linalool. Results from this study showed that raspberries grown from organic culture exhibited higher value of antioxidant capacities and individual flavonoids contents. Moreover, the organic culture also enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, essential oil treatments promoted the antioxidant enzymes activities and antioxidant capacities of raspberries, and the most effective compound was perillaldehyde. In conclusion, raspberries produced from organic culture contained significantly higher antioxidant capacities than those produce from conventional culture. Postharvest essential oil treatments have positive effect on enhancing antioxidant capacities in raspberries from both organic and conventional cultures., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)