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The possible effects of hot water treatments (HWT) on the main quality parameters and bioactive compounds of two sweet cherry cultivars were examined over two years. Cherries were dipped in hot water (48 °C, 2 min), stored 3 weeks at 1 °C (CS) and for 2 additional days at 20 °C for simulated shelf-life (SL). Except for a slight decrease in firmness generally observed in treated samples (5–6%), no difference was observed between HWT and control fruits, neither for the main quality parameters nor the bioactive compounds during CS and/or SL. On average, the percentage of rotten fruit was more than 50% lower in HWT samples compared to the controls. These results show that the HWT conditions examined in this study effectively reduce the incidence of sweet cherry decay without impairing, after CS and/or SL, most of the main quality parameters or the content of the main bioactive nutrients. Because HWT are residue-free, easy to apply and effective in reducing post-harvest losses while preserving the organoleptic and nutritional quality of cherries, HWT are a good strategy for both cherry professionals and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in agricultural production have seen the rapid adoption of protected cropping systems globally. Such systems have been optimized for plant growth and efficiency, with little understanding of the potential impacts to key insect pollinators. Here, we investigate the effect of bird netting and polythene rain covers on the health and performance of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) during the pollination of sweet cherry crops. Over two consecutive seasons, 12 full‐strength colonies were equipped with tagged bees and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The colonies were equally divided between open control, bird netted and polythene (semi‐permanent VOEN in 2019 and retractable Cravo in 2020) groups. Over 1300 individual bees were monitored for the duration of the commercial pollination period to determine behavioural parameters such as foraging commencement age, number and duration of trips and overall survival. Bees began foraging within the optimum age range (mean 15.7–24.1 days) under all covering types, with little indication of prolonged stress or increased mortality during the short season. Polythene covers (VOEN & Cravo) were found to significantly increase the total time needed for bees to orientate successfully. Once orientated, bees placed under covers conducted up to 155% more foraging trips, with a longer cumulative duration. Covering type was found to significantly impact the amount and type of pollen collected, with the most restrictive system (VOEN) yielding the highest proportion of cherry pollen. Overall, we found little evidence to suggest that the tested protective covers have a detrimental impact to honey bee foraging in cherry crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fruit firmness is an important trait in sweet cherry breeding because it directly positively influences fruit transportability, storage and shelf life. However, the underlying genes responsible and the molecular mechanisms that control fruit firmness remain unknown. In this study, we identified a candidate gene, PavSCPL, encoding a serine carboxypeptidase‐like protein with natural allelic variation, that controls fruit firmness in sweet cherry using map‐based cloning and functionally characterized PavSCPL during sweet cherry fruit softening. Genetic analysis revealed that fruit firmness in the 'Rainier' × 'Summit' F1 population was controlled by a single dominant gene. Bulked segregant analysis combined with fine mapping narrowed the candidate gene to a 473‐kb region (7418778–7 891 914 bp) on chromosome 6 which included 72 genes. The candidate gene PavSCPL, and a null allele harbouring a 5244‐bp insertion in the second exon that completely inactivated PavSCPL expression and resulted in the extra‐hard‐flesh phenotype, were identified by RNA‐sequencing analysis and gene cloning. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis revealed that the PavSCPL expression level was increased with fruit softening. Virus‐induced gene silencing of PavSCPL enhanced fruit firmness and suppressed the activities of certain pectin‐degrading enzymes in the fruit. In addition, we developed functional molecular markers for PavSCPL and the Pavscpl5.2‐k allele that co‐segregated with the fruit firmness trait. Overall, this research identified a crucial functional gene for fruit firmness. The results provide insights into the genetic control and molecular mechanism of the fruit firmness trait and present useful molecular markers for molecular‐assisted breeding for fruit firmness in sweet cherry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is a commercially important species in China, experiencing a rapid increase in production. In June 2022, a severe infection, affecting more than 8% of sweet cherry trees, was observed on the Tetian cultivar in a 2–3‐year‐old orchard in Dalian City, northern China. Initially, spindle‐shaped brown disease spots formed on the surfaces of the branches. These spots continued to spread and merge, and the middle portion of the cankers sunk inward and gradually dried. Small black particles were found on the surface of the stems. The disease spread was more prevalent during the rainy season, leading to the withering of numerous branches and the death of the whole plant. Seven isolates, named lncy1‐1, lncy4‐1, lncy5‐1, lncy6‐1, lncy7‐1, lncy8‐1 and lncy9‐1, were obtained from 24 disease samples. Phylogenetic analysis based on three loci (rDNA ITS, TEF1 and TUB2) coupled with morphological identification confirmed that these seven isolates belong to Diaporthe eres. A representative isolate, lncy1‐1, was inoculated onto sweet cherry branches in a controlled environment, and showed that the isolate lncy1‐1 was pathogenic. The fungus isolated from diseased tissues was identified as D. eres based on morphological and molecular criteria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of stem canker in sweet cherry caused by D. eres in China, which will promote disease management and expand the known host range of D. eres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf gas-exchange measurements are useful in assessing plant environmental responses. However, uncertainties in the leaf gas-exchange model potentially limit its application. The main challenge in the model-dependent calculations is to detect violations of assumptions. Here, we developed a system that integrates into one instrument the direct measurement of leaf intercellular CO2 concentration and the standard open-flow (OF) and novel open-diffusion (OD) systems for flux measurement. In the OD system, a gas-permeable membrane between the leaf ambient air and outside air creates CO2 and H2O differentials, rather than the air flow in the OF chamber. We measured hypostomatous and amphistomatous leaves of several species with different photosynthetic capacities [sunflower (Helianthus annuus), grape (Vitis vinifera), lemon (Citrus limon), and cherry (Prunus avium)]. The CO2 and H2O differentials in the OD system strictly depend on the flux measured by the OF system. The lower permeability of the membrane resulted in a larger differential per flux, indicating that the OD system can increase the resolution for a small flux. An analysis of the conductance model along with observations suggested that cuticle and leaf intercellular conductances and the unsaturation of leaf humidity contributed to discrepancies between the direct measurement and standard calculation. The combined system developed here provides an opportunity to address these overlooked concepts in leaf gas exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry pomace waste (CPW) obtained after juice production still contains high amounts of dietary fiber and added value compounds such as polyphenols. For this reason, it can be employed as renewable feedstock to produce novel commodities, bioactive compounds and bio-functional materials. In this study, a sustainable biorefinery approach has been developed combining the use of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) for the recovery of polyphenolic compounds and bio-based ionic liquids (bio-ILs) for the treatment and conversion of the remaining lignocellulosic residue into an ionogel. The extraction efficiency and selectivity of different classes of (NA)DESs were evaluated varying both the hydrogen bond acceptor, HBA (choline chloride (ChCl), betaine (Bet) and L -proline (Pro)) and the hydrogen bond donor, HBD (carboxylic acids and polyols). The extracted phenolic compounds were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by UHPLC-HR-ESI-MS leading to the identification of more than 25 compounds, classifiable into four main subclasses (phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, flavonoid aglycones, and anthocyanins). The majority of ChCl-based DESs improved the total phenol extraction compared to classical solvents (up to twice). ChCl : ethylene glycol 1 : 2 was identified as the best performing system in terms of total phenolic content (total phenol 759 ± 85 μg g−1 of dried CPW) and was employed as the extraction medium for further optimization of the operative conditions and recycling study. The solvent was quantitatively recovered for three cycles with retention of the extraction efficiency towards all the identified subclasses of phenols. Finally, cholinium arginate (ChArg) allowed for obtaining cellulose enriched material (35 wt% of dried biomass) that was subsequently dissolved at 2 wt% in cholinium levulinate (ChLev) to prepare a weak physical ionogel, a functional biomaterial potentially useful in medical and pharmaceutical sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys were conducted in British Columbia fruit tree growing regions to determine the incidence of dieback and to identify the main fungal species causing cankers. Fruit trees showing cankers and dieback symptoms were recorded from 94% of orchards and 5.5% of trees surveyed. Overall, higher dieback incidence was observed in cherry than apple with 33% of cherry blocks showing between 5% and 26% of trees affected. Morphological studies along with DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) including the 5.8S rDNA, and parts of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), beta-tubulin (TUB2), and actin (ACT1) genes, identified seven fungi for the first time in fruit trees in Canada, including Calosphaeria pulchella, Cytospora parasitica, Cytospora populicola, Cytospora sorbicola, Ilyonectria robusta, Nectria dematiosa, and Phaeoacremonium minimum. In addition, this study reports for the first time Diplodia mutila and Diplodia seriata from cankers in sweet cherry in Canada. The already known fungal pathogens Neofabraea perennans and Neonectria ditissima were also identified. Pathogenicity studies showed N. ditissima and C. sorbicola to cause the largest vascular lesions in apple and cherry, respectively. This study identified the main fungal pathogens causing tree fruit cankers and dieback in British Columbia providing important information for the development of effective control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherries (subg. Cerasus) belong to Prunus s.l. (Rosaceae) and are widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Given its ornamental and edible functions, it is a hugely preferred germplasm resource for human societies. However, the interspecific phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and routes of this subgenus remain unclear. To reveal its enigmatic and intricate evolutionary history, we newly sequenced 12 subg. Cerasus species, reconstructed the plastome phylogeny with 24 previously published subg. Cerasus species. This study supports that subg. Cerasus split into five clades, among which P. mahaleb is the basal group of subg. Cerasus ; P. campanulata is genetically distantly related to P. cerasoides and is not recommended for treatment as a variety of the latter; P. subhirtella is involved in the speciation of P. yedoensis. Molecular dating and ancestral area reconstructions infer that subg. Cerasus originated in the Eastern Mediterranean–Central Asia before 11.57 Mya (95% HPD = 5.34–19.1 Mya) and subsequently spread into the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and adjacent regions. The first dispersal event of modern subg. Cerasus was facilitated by 'out-of-QTP', colonizing North America across the Bering Land Bridge and re-dispersing into Europe from the Late Miocene to Pliocene and forming the initial distribution pattern of extant subg. Cerasus in the Pliocene; The end of the Quaternary glacial period witnessed a second dispersal event, and core subg. Cerasus population diversity flourished radially in its separate refugia during the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherry stems, prized in traditional medicine for their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, derive their efficacy from abundant polyphenols and anthocyanins. This makes them an ideal option for addressing skin aging and diseases. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cherry stem extract for potential skincare use. To this end, the extract was first comprehensively characterized by HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. The extract's total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, radical scavenging efficiency, and its ability to inhibit enzymes related to skin aging were determined. A total of 146 compounds were annotated in the cherry stem extract. The extract effectively fought against NO· and HOCl radicals with IC50 values of 2.32 and 5.4 mg/L. Additionally, it inhibited HYALase, collagenase, and XOD enzymes with IC50 values of 7.39, 111.92, and 10 mg/L, respectively. Based on the promising results that were obtained, the extract was subsequently gently integrated into a cosmetic gel at different concentrations and subjected to further stability evaluations. The accelerated stability was assessed through temperature ramping, heating-cooling cycles, and centrifugation, while the long-term stability was evaluated by storing the formulations under light and dark conditions for three months. The gel formulation enriched with cherry stem extract exhibited good stability and compatibility for topical application. Cherry stem extract may be a valuable ingredient for creating beneficial skincare cosmeceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When compared with other phylogroups (PGs) of the Pseudomonas syringae species complex, P. syringae pv. syringae (Pss) strains within PG2 have a reduced repertoire of type III effectors (T3Es) but produce several phytotoxins. Effectors within the cherry pathogen Pss 9644 were grouped based on their frequency in strains from Prunus as the conserved effector locus (CEL) common to most P. syringae pathogens; a core of effectors common to PG2; a set of PRUNUS effectors common to cherry pathogens; and a FLEXIBLE set of T3Es. Pss 9644 also contains gene clusters for biosynthesis of toxins syringomycin, syringopeptin and syringolin A. After confirmation of virulence gene expression, mutants with a sequential series of T3E and toxin deletions were pathogenicity tested on wood, leaves and fruits of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and leaves of ornamental cherry (Prunus incisa). The toxins had a key role in disease development in fruits but were less important in leaves and wood. An effectorless mutant retained some pathogenicity to fruit but not wood or leaves. Striking redundancy was observed amongst effector groups. The CEL effectors have important roles during the early stages of leaf infection and possibly acted synergistically with toxins in all tissues. Deletion of separate groups of T3Es had more effect in P. incisa than in P. avium. Mixed inocula were used to complement the toxin mutations in trans and indicated that strain mixtures may be important in the field. Our results highlight the niche‐specific role of toxins in P. avium tissues and the complexity of effector redundancy in the pathogen Pss 9644. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus virus I (PrVI) was detected for the first time in Clematis vitalba in Italy using high-throughput sequencing and the complete genome of this isolate, named Clv-1, was assembled and characterized. The results of the bioinformatic analyses were further validated with RT-PCR assays using PrVI-specific primers and Sanger dideoxy sequencing. The Clv-1 genome included three RNA segments of nucleotide lengths of 3468 (RNA1), 2892 (RNA2) and 2225 (RNA3), with five predicted open reading frames. Phylogenetic analyses showed close relationships with other PrVI isolates from different geographical origins, including European and non-European countries. This new pathogen record extends the information on the geographical distribution of PrVI, and possibly reflects the international movement of infected clematis germplasm due to global trade. Further surveys on the presence and distribution of PrVI in weeds and crops, such as the two PrVI hosts sweet cherry and peach, are required in the countries where PrVI has been detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussion on the cracking period of sweet cherry 'Tieton' in greenhouse and mechanism of foliar application of CaCl2 on relieving cracking will provide the theoretical basis for effective prevention and mitigation of the fruit cracking in production. Sweet cherry 'Tieton' in the greenhouse were taken as testing materials. In the hardening stage, foliar application of 0.5% CaCl2 with four times were conducted. The cracking rate, fruit quality (fruit weight, firmness, soluble sugar content and L-malic acid content) and fruit characters (Ca content, pectinase activity and total pectin content) were analysed at color-changed stage (stage I), physiological maturity stage (stage II) and maturity stage (stage III) under different treatment methods. Fruit cracking of sweet cherry 'Tieton' in the greenhouse was mainly occurred during the stage I. The fruit cracking after foliar application of CaCl2 were significantly reduced. The analysis of fruit quality of the stage III showed that fruit firmness and soluble sugar content under foliar application of CaCl2 treatment were significantly increased. Under the foliar application of CaCl2 treatment, the content of Ca was significantly increased, and the pectinase activity and total pectin content were significantly changed, and increased the strength of intercellular connections, ultimately achieving resistance to fruit cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the genetic diversity as well as the relationship between sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and sour cherry (P. cerasus L.) genotypes were investigated based on fruit traits and chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSRs). Analysis of variance showed that the studied genotypes have significant differences in the studied traits. In sweet cherries, the average fruit weight was 4.49 g with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.62%, the average stone weight was 0.34 g with a CV of 15.67%, and the average total soluble solids was 11.90% with a CV of 22.06%. Also, in sour cherries, the average fruit weight was 2.65 g with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.27%, the average stone weight was 0.28 g with a CV of 12.27%, and the average total soluble solids was 10.90% with a CV of 19.80%. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that 83.80% of the observed variance was explained by the first three components. The cluster analysis separated genotypes of sweet and sour cherries and put them into two main groups. Four cpSSR primers produced distinct and different alleles among sweet and sour cherries. The cpSSR loci separated sweet and sour cherries from each other, which confirms the theory that chloroplast genome of sour cherry is not derived from sweet cherry. The present results provided new insights regarding the extent of diversity of individuals and also determined the relatedness and obtained information on genetic diversity of sweet and sour cherries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus avium L. and Prunus spinosa L. are valuable fruit-bearing trees known for their bioactive compounds and medicinal properties. However, limited research exists regarding their kernel oils. This study aimed to compare the chemical composition, quality parameters, and bioactive potential of the kernel oils extracted from Prunus avium L. and Prunus spinosa L. The kernel oils' fatty acid and tocopherol profiles were characterized, and the presence of bioactive compounds were identified and quantified. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AAC) were also measured, indicating the presence of bioactive compounds in both oils. Additionally, the main quality parameters, including oxidative status, were evaluated. The fatty acid analysis revealed a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to monounsaturated fatty acids in both kernel oil samples. Linoleic acid (57–64%) and oleic acid (18–29%) were the major fatty acids in both Prunus avium L. and Prunus spinosa L. kernel oils. α-Eleostearic acid (11.87%) was quantified only in Prunus avium kernel oil. Furthermore, the α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol content were determined, and it was found that both kernel oils contained γ-tocopherol as the major tocopherol (~204–237 mg/Kg). TPC in Prunus avium L. kernel oil was measured at 9.5 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/Kg and recorded as ~316% higher TPC than Prunus spinosa L. kernel oil. However, the recorded AAC were 11.87 and 14.22 μmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/Kg oil, respectively. Both oils recorded low peroxide values (~1.50 mmol H2O2/Kg), and low TBARS value (~0.4 mmol malondialdehyde equivalents, MDAE/Kg oil), but high p-anisidine value (23–32). The results indicated that both Prunus avium L. and Prunus spinosa L. kernel oils exhibited unique chemical compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During field surveys conducted in 2020 in Jordanian orchards, phytoplasma‐like symptoms (leaf yellowing/reddening and rolling, and witches'‐broom) were observed in three stone fruit species (peach, European plum, sweet cherry) and persimmon. Molecular analyses identified phytoplasma strains belonging to the species 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (subgroup 16SrXII‐A) as largely prevalent in stone fruit and persimmon symptomatic plants. Moreover, 'Ca. Phytoplasma omanense' (16SrXXIX‐B) was found in few European plum symptomatic plants. In previous studies, such phytoplasma strains were identified in other important crops (almond, pomegranate, and grapevine) and in several putative insect vectors, suggesting their complex ecology in Jordan. Further studies are needed to in‐depth investigate the diffusion of phytoplasma‐associated diseases of stone fruits throughout the Country, to clarify their aetiology, and to study their epidemiological pattern(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High‐risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by defoliated 1‐ or 2‐year old bare root plants for planting (grafted or not) of 12 Prunus species (Prunus armeniaca, P. avium, P. canescens, P. cerasifera, P. cerasus, P. davidiana, P. domestica, P. dulcis, P. fontanesiana, P. persica, P. salicina, P. tomentosa) imported from Moldova, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the applicant country. The evaluation identified three EU‐quarantine pests, Erwinia amylovora (protected zone quarantine pest), Xiphinema rivesi non‐EU populations and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (protected zone quarantine pest), which were selected for further evaluation, based on defined criteria, including their presence in the applicant country. It should be noted that there is uncertainty regarding whether all relevant pests have been identified due to a limited number of scientific publications and pest surveys in Moldova. For the three selected pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Moldova were evaluated taking into account the possible limiting factors. For these pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on it, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with Erwinia amylovora being the pest most frequently expected on the imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9823 and 10,000 bundles (comprising 10–20 plants per bundle) out of 10,000 bundles would be free from E. amylovora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tocopherols are lipophilic antioxidants known as vitamin E and synthesized from the condensation of two metabolic pathways leading to the formation of homogentisate and phytyl diphosphate. While homogentisate is derived from tyrosine metabolism, phytyl diphosphate may be formed from geranylgeranyl diphosphate or phytol recycling from chlorophyll degradation. Here, we hypothesized that abscisic acid (ABA) could induce tocopherol biosynthesis in sweet cherries by modifying the expression of genes involved in vitamin E biosynthesis, including those from the phytol recycling pathway. Hence, the expression of key tocopherol biosynthesis genes was determined together with vitamin E and chlorophyll contents during the natural development of sweet cherries on the tree. Moreover, the effects of exogenously applied ABA on the expression of key tocopherol biosynthesis genes were also investigated during on-tree fruit development, and tocopherols and chlorophylls contents were analyzed. Results showed that the expression of tocopherol biosynthesis genes, including VTE5, VTE6, HPPD and HPT showed contrasting patterns of variation, but in all cases, increased by 2- and 3-fold over time during fruit de-greening. This was not the case for GGDR and VTE4, the first showing constitutive expression during fruit development and the second with marked down-regulation at ripening onset. Furthermore, exogenous ABA stimulated the production of both α- and γ-tocopherols by 60% and 30%, respectively, promoted chlorophyll degradation and significantly enhanced VTE5 and VTE6 expression, and also that of HPPD and VTE4, altogether increasing total tocopherol accumulation. In conclusion, ABA increases promote the transcription of phytol recycling enzymes, which may contribute to vitamin E biosynthesis during fruit development in stone fruits like sweet cherries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Early sweet cherries have a high economic impact on cherry growers but have poorer quality characteristics and shorter shelf‐life than late cherries. Melatonin has been proposed as a biostimulant that regulates plant and fruit growth and increases fruit quality and shelf‐life but, in general in fruit and vegetables, there is controversy about its effects. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the impact of exogenous preharvest melatonin applications at dusk on the quality and bioactive compounds of two early sweet cherry cultivars. RESULTS: The M3 and M5 (3 × 10−4 and 5 × 10−4 mol L−1 melatonin, respectively) treatments effectively enhanced the endogenous melatonin and hydroxycinnamic acid concentration, enhancing the functional properties of the fruit. Additionally, the M5 treatment enhanced skin colour and consumer acceptance of 'Samba' cherries, while the M3 treatment improved cherry size in 'Sandon Rose'. CONCLUSION: Preharvest melatonin applications at dusk could be included in the scheduled preharvest treatments for early cherry cultivars in order to improve the quality and to stimulate the functionality of the fruit. However, further studies are needed to adjust the concentration depending on the cultivar and the objective pursued. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cuticle plays an important role in the survival of plants, and it is important to preserve the quality of fleshy fruits like sweet cherry. Plant hormones play a role in cuticle formation. In this sense, jasmonates have been shown to induce cuticle biosynthesis, but until today this has not been demonstrated in sweet cherry fruit. Therefore, the effect of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application at the fruit set stage on the expression levels of cuticle synthesis‐related genes and the wax composition of the isolated cuticle was studied in developing and ripe fruits of sweet cherry (Prunus avium 'Bing'), respectively. Results: MeJA treatment resulted in up‐regulation of the cuticle biosynthesis‐related gene expression, such as PaWINA, PaWINB, PaKCS1, PaKCS6, PaLACS1, PaLACS2, PaWS, and PaWBC11. These genes play a vital role in the elongation and transport of fatty acids, and wax biosynthesis. Analysis of cuticular components in ripe fruit showed an increase in long‐chain linear aliphatic wax compounds, particularly C27, C28, C29, C30, and C31 alkanes. Conclusion: Exogenous MeJA application at the fruit set stage of sweet cherry has a significant effect on the wax composition of the ripe fruit cuticle, particularly in terms of alkane biosynthesis. The results of this study may provide insights into the regulation of cuticle biosynthesis by jasmonates and be useful for improving fruit quality and storage life. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TCP proteins are plant specific transcription factors that play important roles in plant growth and development. Despite the known significance of these transcription factors in general plant development, their specific role in fruit growth remains largely uncharted. Therefore, this study explores the potential role of TCP transcription factors in the growth and development of sweet cherry fruits. Results: Thirteen members of the PavTCP family were identified within the sweet cherry plant, with two, PavTCP1 and PavTCP4, found to contain potential target sites for Pav-miR159, Pav-miR139a, and Pav-miR139b-3p. Analyses of cis-acting elements and Arabidopsis homology prediction analyses that the PavTCP family comprises many light-responsive elements. Homologs of PavTCP1 and PavTCP3 in Arabidopsis TCP proteins were found to be crucial to light responses. Shading experiments showed distinct correlation patterns between PavTCP1, 2, and 3 and total anthocyanins, soluble sugars, and soluble solids in sweet cherry fruits. These observations suggest that these genes may contribute significantly to sweet cherry light responses. In particular, PavTCP1 could play a key role, potentially mediated through Pav-miR159, Pav-miR139a, and Pav-miR139b-3p. Conclusion: This study is the first to unveil the potential function of TCP transcription factors in the light responses of sweet cherry fruits, paving the way for future investigations into the role of this transcription factor family in plant fruit development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylem transport is essential for the growth, development and survival of vascular plants. Bark wounding may increase the risk of xylem transport failure by tension-driven embolism. However, the consequences of bark wounding for xylem transport are poorly understood. Here, we examined the impacts of the bark wounding on embolism formation, leaf water potential and gas exchange in the terminal branches of two diffuse-porous tree species (Acer platanoides L. and Prunus avium L.). The effects of bark removal were examined on field-grown mature trees exposed to increased evaporative demands on a short-term and longer-term basis (6 h vs 6 days after bark wounding). Bark removal of 30% of branch circumference had a limited effect on the xylem hydraulic conductivity when embolized vessels were typically restricted to the last annual ring near the bark wound. Over the 6-day exposure, the non-conductive xylem area had significantly increased in the xylem tissue underneath the bark wound (from 22–29% to 51–52% of the last annual ring area in the bark wound zone), pointing to gradual yet relatively limited embolism spreading to deeper xylem layers over time. In both species, the bark removal tended to result in a small but non-significant increase in the percent loss of hydraulic conductivity compared with control intact branches 6 days after bark wounding (from 6 to 8–10% in both species). The bark wounding had no significant effects on midday leaf water potential, CO2 assimilation rates, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency of the leaves of the current-year shoot, possibly due to limited impacts on xylem transport. The results of this study demonstrate that bark wounding induces limited but gradual embolism spreading. However, the impacts of bark wounding may not significantly limit water delivery to distal organs and leaf gas exchange at the scale of several days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays important roles in plant development, including the maintenance of fruit quality when applied as postharvest treatment. However, little information is available about the effects of preharvest GABA treatments. Thus, GABA (10, 50 and 100 mM) was applied as foliar spray at key points of fruit development in three sweet cherry cultivars and over two years. The results show that quality parameters, such as total soluble solid content, titratable acidity and firmness were higher in the fruit from GABA-treated trees than in the controls, either at harvest or during four weeks of cold storage. In addition, the total phenolic and total and individual anthocyanin concentrations were also enhanced by GABA treatments and the fruit color was improved. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase were also enhanced by the GABA treatments. The most effective concentration was 50 mM, which led to extending the storage period of sweet cherries with high quality traits to up to four weeks, while for the controls this was two weeks. Thus, GABA treatment had a clear effect on delaying the postharvest ripening and senescence processes in sweet cherries, with an additional effect on enhancing the content of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and anthocyanins, with antioxidant properties and health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellin (GA) is an important plant hormone that is involved in various physiological processes during plant development. Sweet cherries planted in southern China have always encountered difficulty in bearing fruit. In recent years, gibberellin has successfully solved this problem, but there has also been an increase in malformed fruits. This study mainly explores the mechanism of malformed fruit formation in sweet cherries. By analyzing the synthesis pathway of gibberellin using metabolomics and transcriptomics, the relationship between gibberellin and the formation mechanism of deformed fruit was preliminarily determined. The results showed that the content of GA3 in malformed fruits was significantly higher than in normal fruits. The differentially expressed genes in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were mainly enriched in pathways such as "plant hormone signal transduction", "diterpenoid biosynthesis", and "carotenoid biosynthesis". Using Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, the gibberellin hydrolase gene GA2ox and gibberellin synthase genes GA20ox and GA3ox were found to be significantly up-regulated. Therefore, we speculate that the formation of malformed fruits in sweet cherries may be related to the accumulation of GA3. This lays the foundation for further research on the mechanism of malformed sweet cherry fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry producers must deal with different climactic challenges annually, specifically the impact of spring frost and the inherent risk of fruit cracking. This susceptibility arises from the simultaneous occurrence of spring frost during the bloom stage or the sweet cherry cracking at vulnerable maturity stages in sweet cherry trees during persistent rainfall. Given the change in climatic patterns, the implementation of new strategies and innovative approaches becomes imperative to alleviate potential damage from these climatic adversities. This study aims to explore—for the first time—the effectiveness of preharvest putrescine applications during the flowering stage and ripening on-tree to increase tolerance in sweet cherry against adverse climatic events throughout its on-tree development and at the time of harvest. In this context, foliar applications of putrescine at concentrations of 1 and 10 mM were administered to distinct sweet cherry cultivars, namely, 'Prime Giant' and 'Sweetheart'. Over the course of four growing seasons, our investigation focused on evaluating the influence of this natural elicitor on the frost resilience of flower buds during the preharvest period and its impact on reducing fruit cracking in these selected cultivars. In this sense, the overall malondialdehyde content exhibited a reduction in flower buds treated with putrescine, and the fruit set experienced an increase across the majority of evaluated growing seasons. On the other hand, the incidence of sweet cherry cracking in putrescine-treated sweet cherries showed a consistent reduction in all the studied growing seasons. Our results indicate that preharvest treatments with putrescine effectively alleviate the susceptibility of flower buds to spring frost and significantly diminish fruit cracking, thereby enhancing the overall tolerance to abiotic stress. Furthermore, we evaluated different quality parameters at the time of harvest, including fruit firmness, external color, total soluble solids, and total acidity. Generally, the observed changes in these parameters were delayed in putrescine-treated fruit as compared to the control batch or remained unaffected. For this reason, the implementation of preharvest treatments based on putrescine emerges as a valuable strategy for adapting to climate change and mitigating the impact of abiotic stress, potentially increasing sweet cherry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Causal discovery is a highly promising tool with a broad perspective in the field of biology. In this study, a causal structure robustness assessment algorithm is proposed and employed on the causal structures obtained, based on transcriptomic, proteomic, and the combined datasets, emerging from a quantitative proteogenomic atlas of 15 sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. 'Tragana Edessis' tissues. The algorithm assesses the impact of intervening in the datasets of the causal structures, using various criteria. The results showed that specific tissues exhibited an intense impact on the causal structures that were considered. In addition, the proteogenomic case demonstrated that biologically related tissues that referred to the same organ induced a similar impact on the causal structures considered, as was biologically expected. However, this result was subtler in both the transcriptomic and the proteomic cases. Furthermore, the causal structures based on a single omic analysis were found to be impacted to a larger extent, compared to the proteogenomic case, probably due to the distinctive biological features related to the proteome or the transcriptome. This study showcases the significance and perspective of assessing the causal structure robustness based on omic databases, in conjunction with causal discovery, and reveals advantages when employing a multiomics (proteogenomic) analysis compared to a single-omic (transcriptomic, proteomic) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Sweet cherry PavbHLH106 was up-regulated under cold induction and overexpressed to enhance the cold resistance in tobacco by mediating the scavenging of ROS through increasing of antioxidant enzyme activity. Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an economically important fruit. Chilling requirements are critical during dormancy, but abnormally low temperatures unfavorably affect fruit growth and development. Differences were found in the transcript level of PavbHLH106 under salt, dehydration, and low-temperature treatments, especially in response to cold stress, suggesting that this gene is involved in the regulation of different abiotic stresses. PavbHLH106 is homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana AtbHLH106 with a conserved bHLH domain, and transient expression in tobacco suggests that the protein is localized in the nucleus and has transcriptional activity in yeast. The PavbHLH106 overexpression in tobacco resulted in weaker electrolyte leakages, lower malondialdehyde, and higher proline content than the wild type at low-temperature treatment. Reactive oxygen species accumulation was significantly reduced in the overexpressed lines, negatively correlated with the antioxidant enzyme activity. In addition, overexpression of PavbHLH106 delayed the germination of tobacco seeds and promoted plant growth. Resistance-related genes were expressed more in the overexpressed plants compared to the wild type. PavbHLH106 bound to the PavACO promoter in yeast and potentially interacted with a bHLH162-like transcription factor. These results indicate that PavbHLH106 has various functions and is particularly active in controlling low-temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene family is one of plants' largest transcription factor families. It plays an important role in regulating plant growth and abiotic stress response. Results: In this study, we determined that the PavbHLH28 gene participated in cold resistance. The PavbHLH28 gene was located in the nucleus and could be induced by low temperature. Under the treatment of ABA, PEG, and GA3, the transcript level of PavbHLH28 was affected. At low temperature, overexpression of the PavbHLH28 gene enhanced the cold resistance of plants with higher proline content, lower electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Compared with the WT plants, the transgenic plants accumulated fewer reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the activity and expression levels of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased. The expression of proline synthesis enzyme genes was up-regulated, and the transcripts levels of degradation genes were significantly down-regulated. The transcripts abundance of the cold stressed-related genes in the C-repeat binding factor (CBF) pathway was not significantly different between WT plants and transgenic plants after cold stress. Moreover, the PavbHLH28 could directly bind to the POD2 gene promoter and promote its gene expression. Conclusions: Overall, PavbHLH28 enhanced the cold resistance of transgenic plants through a CBF-independent pathway, which may be partly related to ROS scavenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-containing amine oxidases (CuAOs) are known to have significant involvement in the process of polyamine catabolism, as well as serving crucial functions in plant development and response to abiotic stress. A genome-wide investigation of the CuAO protein family was previously carried out in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.). Six CuAO (KoCuAO1-KoCuAO6) genes were discovered for the first time in the Kandelia obovata (Ko) genome through a genome-wide analysis conducted to better understand the key roles of the CuAO gene family in Kandelia obovata. This study encompassed an investigation into various aspects of gene analysis, including gene characterization and identification, subcellular localization, chromosomal distributions, phylogenetic tree analysis, gene structure analysis, motif analysis, duplication analysis, cis-regulatory element identification, domain and 3D structural variation analysis, as well as expression profiling in leaves under five different treatments of copper (CuCl2). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that these KoCuAOs, like sweet cherry, may be subdivided into three subgroups. Examining the chromosomal location revealed an unequal distribution of the KoCuAO genes across four out of the 18 chromosomes in Kandelia obovata. Six KoCuAO genes have coding regions with 106 and 159 amino acids and exons with 4 and 12 amino acids. Additionally, we discovered that the 2.5 kb upstream promoter region of the KoCuAOs predicted many cis elements linked to phytohormones and stress responses. According to the expression investigations, CuCl2 treatments caused up- and downregulation of all six genes. In conclusion, our work provides a comprehensive overview of the expression pattern and functional variety of the Kandelia obovata CuAO gene family, which will facilitate future functional characterization of each KoCuAO gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection of a land plot is one of the first and most important stages during realization of the vineyard project. The final decision at this stage is determined by many factors, including the cost of the land plot, its logistical parameters, tourist attractiveness, etc. The most important among them is the suitability of the plot for grape cultivation, determined by a combination of soil, climatic, and orographic conditions, which are combined in the concept of terroir in the production practice of viticulture and winemaking. An integral assessment of the soil component of the terroir of test plots located in contrasting physical-geographical conditions of France (communes of Le Bignon and Domme) and Russia (villages of Fruktovoe and Beregovoi) was performed. The optimal list of analyzed soil properties based on the parameters taken into account when choosing rootstock varieties—the design solution that most depends on soil conditions—was determined in the course of the work. Then, the procedure of compression of the information on the soil component of the terroir of test plots was performed, and locally oriented weight coefficients were calculated. According to the results of the average integral assessment in the 1-m-deep layer of soil profiles, the following ranked sequence of test plots from the best soil conditions to the worst ones was obtained: the village of Beregovoi (score 0.84), the commune of Le Bignon (score 0.70), the village of Fruktovoe (scores 0.66 and 0.65), and the commune of Domme (score 0.63), the values of which can be compared with other factors at the stage of making a decision on planting vineyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target of this work was to investigate the influence of microwave pretreatments (at five levels of 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 s) on the total phenolics content, antioxidant potential, mass transfer rate, effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), and rehydration rate of sweet cherries (SC). The drying duration of microwave‐treated SC was shorter than the untreated sample. The average drying time of fresh SC microwaved for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 s were 220, 205, 190, 175, and 150 min, respectively. The Deff values, total phenolics, and antioxidant capacity of microwave‐treated SC were higher than the untreated sample. In this study, the SC Deff as determined by the second Fick law varied from 8.73 × 10−10 to 1.41 × 10−9 m2/s. The experimental data for the dehydration curves were fitted to different thin‐layer equations, and the Midilli equation using the experimental constants best described the drying rate of SC. As the microwave pretreatment time increased from 0 to 120 s, the total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of dried SC increased from 1491.4 μg Gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry to 2272.1 μg GAE/g dry, and 54.47%–62.59% (p <.05). The microwave pretreatment enhanced the rehydration rate of dried SC. The rehydration percent of dried SC microwaved for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 s were 127.27%, 136.63%, 136.91%, 137.07%, and 136.72%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial canker of cherry, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, is a major constraint to cherry growing in New Zealand. The prevalence of strains from cherry orchards in Central Otago, the main growing area for cherries in New Zealand, was studied, to better understand the epidemiology of the disease. Pseudomonas spp. isolates were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic cherry tissue from 23 commercial cherry orchards in 2015. Isolates were classified into strains belonging to three different taxonomic groups by determining their phylogeny using the gltA gene sequence for all the strains and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of four housekeeping genes for 35 strains. Pathogenicity of all Central Otago strains was tested on immature cherry fruit to support the phylogenetic classification. The two main taxonomic groups were P. syringae pv. syringae (Pss) and P. syringae pv. morsprunorum race 1 (Psm1), in Phylogroup 2 (PG2) and Phylogroup 3 (PG3), respectively. The third group comprised nonpathogenic strains classified as Pseudomonas spp. Strains of Psm1 formed a monophyletic group, representing an almost clonal population. There was more variation detected within strains of Pss, although they were restricted to group PG2d. Nonpathogenic Pseudomonas spp. and pathogenic Pss and Psm1 strains coexisted in the same orchard. It was concluded that Pss is the predominant pathovar in Central Otago. This is the first detailed study of the P. syringae species complex in cherry orchards in New Zealand and provides the basis for future epidemiology studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The veneering process significantly affects the roughness of the furniture elements. The article investigates the effect of the veneering mode on the roughness of cherry (Prunus avium L.) veneered wood medium-density fiber boards (MDF). Different veneering regimes were carried out with controllable variation of the mode factors temperature and pressing pressure. For this purpose, a two-factor experiment was performed with a change in temperature of pressing from 80 to 200°C and pressure from 0.07 to 0.19MPa. Before venneering process, the veneered surfaces are sanded with P150 sandpaper. The values of basic roughness parameters were measured after each technological treatment, in the same evaluation lengths. Based on the results, graphical dependences between the roughness of the veneered boards and the basic mode parameters are presented. The press pressure does not significantly affect the roughness of the veneer. The combination of high temperature and high press pressure reduced initial surface roughness by 16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of fluid extracts obtained from three Romanian cultivars of haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) var. Loni, bitter cherries (Prunus avium var. sylvestris Ser.) var. Silva, and pomace from red grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) var. Mamaia, and their capacity to modulate in vitro steatosis, in view of developing novel anti-obesity products. Total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid content of fluid extracts was spectrophotometrically assessed and their free radical scavenging capacity was evaluated using Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition assays. The Pearson coefficients showed a moderate correlation between the antioxidant activity of fluid extracts and their phenolic content, but a strong correlation between anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content. HPLC analysis identified and quantified the main phenolic compounds of chlorogenic and syringic acid, catechin, and glycosylated kaempferol, apigenin, and quercetin, in variable proportions. An in vitro experimental model of steatosis was developed in HepG2 hepatocytes treated with a mixture of free fatty acids. Cell culture analyses showed that cytocompatible concentrations of fluid extracts could significantly reduce the lipid accumulation and inhibit the reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide secretion in stressed hepatocytes. In conclusion, these results put an emphasis on the chemical compounds' high antioxidant and liver protection capacity of unstudied fluid extracts obtained from Romanian cultivars of bitter cherries var. Silva and pomace of red grapes var. Mamaia, similar to the fluid extract of haskap berries var. Loni, in particular, the positive modulation of fat deposition next to oxidative stress and the lipid peroxidation process triggered by fatty acids in HepG2 hepatocytes. Consequently, this study indicated that these fluid extracts could be further exploited as hepatoprotective agents in liver steatosis, which provides a basis for the further development of novel extract mixtures with synergistic activity as anti-obesity products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akebia trifoliata fruit is prone to crack after ripening, but little is known about the mechanism underlying the cracking process. This study integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic data, revealing significant changes in 398 metabolites and 8414 genes during ripening and cracking, mainly impacting cell-wall metabolism. Multi-omics joint analysis indicated that genes related to polygalacturonase, pectate lyase, α-amylase, and glycogen phosphorylase were up-regulated after cracking, degrading cell wall and starch. Concurrently, diminished photosynthetic metabolism and heightened phenylpropanoid metabolism suggested alterations in cuticle structure, potentially impacting cell-wall robustness. Numerous auxin and abscisic acid signaling-related genes were expressed, and we assume that they contributed to the promoting peel growth. These alterations collectively might compromise peel strength and elevate expanding pressure, potentially leading to A. trifoliata cracking. Transcription factors, predominantly ethylene response factors and helix-loop-helix family members, appeared to regulate these metabolic shifts. These findings provide valuable insights into A. trifoliata cracking mechanisms; however, direct experimental validation of these assumptions is necessary to strengthen these conclusions and expedite their commercial utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the tolerance of immature tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) to water submersion could have practical application in orchard sanitation for fly management. Herein, we determined the mortality of immature western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, submerged in water by submersing infested cherries for 4, 8, and 12 d. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, infested ripe cherries (mostly sweet cherry Prunus avium L.; Rosaceae) were collected from unmanaged trees outside of orchards in central Washington, U.S.A., submerged in water, and then removed from water to monitor for larval emergence as a measure of immature fly stage survival. Pre-treatment sub-samples estimated that eggs comprised 43.1–62.3% of immature stages in sweet cherries and second or third instars comprised 17.6–26.2%. Water in tests was hypoxic, containing <1–2 ppm dissolved oxygen over the majority of the 4- to 12-d tests. The 4-d submersion treatment did not prevent emergence of larvae from a tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) sample, whereas larval emergence was prevented in sweet and tart cherry samples in 8- and 12-d treatments. In the 8-d treatment, an estimated 48,689 immature fly stages did not survive treatment, for an estimated 99.99385% mortality at the 95% confidence level and a probit of 8.8400. These results demonstrate, as a proof of concept, that water submersion could be used as a method for disinfesting fruit in systems where orchard sanitation is a major method for fly management. La determinación de la tolerancia de los inmaduros de las moscas tefrítidas de la fruta (Diptera: Tephritidae) a la inmersión en agua podría tener una aplicación práctica en el saneamiento de huertos para el control de moscas. Determinamos la mortalidad de los estados inmaduros de la mosca occidental de la cereza, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, sumergida en agua al sumergir cerezas infestadas durante 4, 8 y 12 días. En 2020, 2021 y 2022, se recolectaron cerezas maduras infestadas (principalmente cerezas dulces Prunus avium L.; Rosaceae) de árboles no manejados fuera de huertos en el centro de Washington, EE. UU., se las sumergieron en agua y luego se retiraron del agua para monitorear la aparición de larvas. como medida de sobrevivencia del estadio inmaduro. Las submuestras previas al tratamiento estimaron que los huevos comprendían entre el 43,1% y el 62,3% de los estados inmaduros en las cerezas dulces, mientras que el segundo o tercer estadio comprendía entre el 17,6% y el 26,2%. El agua en las pruebas era hipóxica y contenía <1 a 2 ppm de oxígeno disuelto durante la mayoría de las pruebas de 4 a 12 días. El tratamiento de inmersión de 4 días no impidió la aparición de larvas en una muestra de cereza ácida (Prunus cerasus L.), mientras que la aparición de larvas se evitó en muestras de cerezas dulces y ácidas en los tratamientos de 8 y 12 días. En el tratamiento de 8 días, se estima que 48.689 estadios inmaduros de moscas no sobrevivieron al tratamiento, para una mortalidad estimada del 99,99385% con un nivel de confianza del 95% y un probit de 8,8400. Estos resultados demuestran, como prueba de concepto, que la inmersión en agua podría usarse como un método para desinfectar la fruta en sistemas donde el saneamiento de los huertos es un método importante para el control de las moscas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers today seek safe functional foods with proven health-promoting properties. Current evidence shows that a healthy diet can effectively alleviate oxidative stress levels and reduce inflammatory markers, thereby preventing the occurrence of many types of cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular and neurological pathologies. Nevertheless, as fruits and vegetables are mainly consumed fresh, they can serve as vectors for the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms associated with various disease outbreaks. As a result, there has been a surge in interest in the microbiome of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, given the growing interest in sweet cherries, and since their microbial communities have been largely ignored, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate their culturome at various maturity stages for the first time. A total of 55 microorganisms were isolated from sweet cherry fruit, comprising 23 bacteria and 32 fungi species. Subsequently, the selected isolates were molecularly identified by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene and ITS region. Furthermore, it was observed that the communities became more diverse as the fruit matured. The most abundant taxa included Pseudomonas and Ralstonia among the bacteria, and Metschnikowia, Aureobasidium, and Hanseniaspora among the fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studied the influence of combined ultrasonic (40 kHz, 150 W, for 3 min) and 0.2% xanthan gum (XG), guar gum (GG), and wild sage seed gum (WG) coating pretreatments on total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, drying time, effective water diffusivity coefficient ( D eff ), rehydration ratio (RR), total color difference (Δ E), and surface shrinkage (SS) of infrared-dried sweet cherries. The ultrasonic pretreatment increased the water transfer rate and water diffusivity during infrared drying and decreased the drying time of fresh sweet cherries. The edible coating enhanced the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, dehydration time, and RR and decreased the D eff , Δ E , and SS values of infrared-dried sweet cherries. The highest value of total phenolic content (3469.7 μg galic acid/g dry) was recorded for pretreated sweet cherry samples by GG. The mean antioxidant activities for uncoated, XG-coated, GG-coated, and WG-coated sweet cherries were 35.64, 59.88, 54.38, and 61.19%, respectively. In this study, the sweet cherry D eff varied from 2.23 × 10 − 9 m2/s (for untreated cherries) to 5.00 × 10 − 9 m2/s (for sonicated and uncoated cherries). The experimental data for the drying curves were fitted to various single-layer equations, and the Page equation using the experimental constants best described the drying rate of sweet cherries. The mean Δ E values for uncoated, XG-coated, GG-coated, and WG-coated sweet cherries were 15.11, 9.91, 8.74, and 10.69, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs), a large family of plant receptor-like kinases, play an important role in plant response to abiotic stresses. However, little information is available about the roles of LecRLKs in the salt stress response of sweet cherry (Prunus avium). Here, an L-type LecRLK gene (PaLectinL7) was characterized from sweet cherry. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that PaLectinL7 is a plasma membrane protein. The expression of PaLectinL7 was up-regulated by salt, drought and exogenously gibberellin treatments. Overexpression of PaLectinL7 in the roots of Gisela 6 enhanced its tolerance to salt stress. Additionally, transcriptome analysis showed that lignin metabolic-related genes were regulated by PaLectinL7 overexpression. Meanwhile, the lignin contents and associated enzymes (CAD and COMT) rose concurrently with PaLectinL7 overexpression under salt stress. We also found that PaCAD1, a key enzyme involved in lignin metabolism, interacted with PaLectinL7 and could be phosphorylated by PaLectinL7 in vitro, suggesting that PaLectinL7 may regulate the enzyme activity of PaCAD1. Therefore, these results indicated that PaLectinL7, as a membrane-bound regulator, promoted lignin deposition by regulating the activities of enzymes related to lignin metabolism, thus enhancing salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV), recently renamed to Idaeovirus rubi, is one of the most common viruses infecting Rubus species worldwide but there is still a limited number of genome sequences available in the GenBank database and the majority of the sequences include partial sequences of RNA‐1 and RNA‐2. The distribution and incidence of RBDV in main raspberry and blackberry growing provinces in Turkey were monitored during 2015–2019 and 537 Rubus spp. samples were tested by both DAS‐ELISA and RT‐PCR. Among the tested samples, 36 samples tested positive for RBDV by DAS‐ELISA and 67 samples by RT‐PCR. There was relatively low nucleotide diversity among the Turkish isolates. Turkish isolates shared 93%–97.7%, 84.3%–98.9%, and 85%–99.2% nucleotide sequence identities with available sequences in the GenBank, in partial RNA‐1, movement protein (MP) and coat protein (CP) genes, respectively. In the phylogenetic tree constructed for RNA‐1, MP, and CP sequences, all Turkish raspberry isolates were clustered in a distinct clade. However, the blackberry isolates showed considerable variation in nucleotide sequences and were placed in three distinct groups. The divergent blackberry isolates showed high variability in MP (84.5%–89.3%) and CP (85.5%–89.7%) regions and were placed in a distinct group. The rest of blackberry isolates clustered together with sweet cherry RBDV isolates adjacent to the grapevine clade or together with raspberry isolates. The comparative analysis conducted on three RNA segments of RBDV highlighted the high sequence diversity of Turkish RBDV isolates. This study also emphasizes the importance of regular monitoring of RBDV infections in Turkey, with special regard to those Rubus spp. and grapevine accessions employed in conservation and selection programmes. In particular, the presence of new RBDV genetic variants and infection of Rubus species must be taken into account to choose a correct detection protocol and management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry trees are one of the most important crops worldwide, producing fruits with high economic importance due to the nutritional value and bioactive properties of cherries, providing benefits to human health. Due to the currently unstable climatic conditions, cherry cracking has become a significant problem, strongly affecting the quality and yield of cherry orchards. A cracking rate of 20–25% at harvest can render cherry production unprofitable, decreasing the commercial value of the fruit, as only the cracked ones can be sold to processing industries. This study aims to assess the impact of calcium- and seaweed-based biostimulant applications on sweet cherry quality and profitability in cv. Sweetheart. Applying 300 g hL−1 of calcium led to a significant 52% reduction in the cracking index and a substantial 136% increase in orchard yield. Similarly, applying 150 mL hL−1 of seaweed resulted in a 2% increase in fruit weight and a 3% decrease in the cracking index. Therefore, our findings suggest that calcium- and seaweed-based biostimulants could serve as novel and sustainable alternatives for orchard producers, enhancing cherry profitability and marketability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For sweet cherry, fruit size is one of the main targets in breeding programs owing to the high market value of larger fruits. KLUH/CYP78A5 is an important regulator of seed/fruit size in several plant species, but its molecular mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the function of PavKLUH in the regulation of sweet cherry fruit size. The ectopic overexpression of PavKLUH in Arabidopsis increased the size of its siliques and seeds, whereas virus‐induced gene silencing of PavKLUH in sweet cherry significantly decreased fruit size by restricting mesocarp cell expansion. We screened out an AP2/ERF transcription factor containing a B3‐like domain, designated as PavRAV2, which was able to physically interact with PavKLUH promoter in a yeast one‐hybrid (Y1H) system. In Y1H assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and dual‐luciferase reporter analyses, PavRAV2 directly bound to the promoter of PavKLUH in vitro and in vivo, and suppressed PavKLUH expression. Silencing of PavRAV2 resulted in enlarged fruit as a result of enhanced mesocarp cell expansion. Together, our results provide new insights into signaling pathways related to fruit size, and outline a possible mechanism for how the RAV transcription factor directly regulates CYP78A family members to influence fruit size and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although patients would rather oral therapies to injections, the gastrointestinal tract's low permeability makes this method limiting for most compounds, including anticancer drugs. Due to their low bioavailability, oral antitumor therapies suffer from significant variability in pharmacokinetics and efficacy. The improvement of their pharmacokinetic profiles can be achieved by a new approach: the use of natural extracts enriched with polyphenolic compounds that act as intestinal permeability enhancers. Here, we propose a safe sweet cherry extract capable of enhancing oral absorption. The extract was characterized by the HPLC-UV/MS method, evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity, safety on the Caco-2 cell line, and as a potential permeation enhancer. The sweet cherry extract showed a high antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays were 211.74 and 48.65 µmol of Trolox equivalent/g dried extract, respectively), high content of polyphenols (8.44 mg of gallic acid per gram of dry extract), and anthocyanins (1.80 mg of cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent per g of dry extract), reassuring safety profile (cell viability never lower than 98%), and a significant and fully reversible ability to alter the integrity of the Caco-2 monolayer (+81.5% of Lucifer yellow permeability after 2 h). Furthermore, the ability of the sweet cherry extract to improve the permeability (Papp) and modify the efflux ratio (ER) of reference compounds (atenolol, propranolol, and dasatinib) and selected pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives was investigated. The obtained results show a significant increase in apparent permeability across the Caco-2 monolayer (tripled and quadrupled in most cases), and an interesting decrease in efflux ratio when compounds were co-incubated with sweet cherry extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian coffee production relies on the cultivation of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Climate change has been responsible for the decreasing yield of the crops in the country yet the associated microbial community can mitigate these effects by improving plant growth and defense. Although some studies have tried to describe the microorganisms associated with these Coffea species, a study that compares the microbiome on a wider spatial scale is needed for a better understanding of the terroir of each coffee planting region. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the microbial communities harbored in soils and fruits of these Coffea species in four Brazilian floristic domains (Amazon, Atlantic Forest Caatinga, and Cerrado). One hundred and eight samples (90 of soil and 90 of fruits) were used in the extraction and sequencing of the fungal and bacterial DNA. We detected more than 1000 and 500 bacterial and fungal genera, respectively. Some soil microbial taxa were more closely related to one coffee species than the other species. Bacillus bataviensis tends to occur more in arid soils from the Caatinga, while the fungus Saitozyma sp. was more related to soils cultivated with C. arabica. Thus, the species and the planting region (floristic domain) of coffee affect the microbial composition associated with this crop. This study is the first to report microbial communities associated with coffee produced in four floristic domains that include sites in eight Brazilian states. Data generated by DNA sequencing provides new insights into microbial roles and their potential for the developing more sustainable coffee management, such as the production of biofertilizers and starter culture for fermentation of coffee cherries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of different rootstocks (Gisela 6, Pi-Ku 1, and SL 64) on various parameters, including total phenol content, total anthocyanin content, individual phenol content, and antioxidant activity in the fruits of two sweet cherry cultivars, namely Early Lory and Prime Giant. The determination of total phenolic content was carried out using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and spectrophotometric method, resulting in a range of 34.77±1.76 to 88.58±8.83 mg GAE/100 g FW, depending on the specific combination of cultivar and rootstock. The concentration of total anthocyanins, determined through the pH-differential method, varied from 1.08±0.07 to 18.62±0.66 mg CGE/100 g FW. Among the different combinations, the highest levels of total phenolic content and total anthocyanin concentration were found in Early Lory cultivar grafted onto Pi-Ku 1 rootstock. Using HPLC analysis, neochlorogenic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid and quercetin-3-O-glucoside were detected as individual phenols, exhibiting significant variation among sweet cherry fruits grafted on different rootstocks. The lowest content of the investigated individual polyphenols was observed in Early Lory grafted onto Pi-Ku 1 rootstock. Furthermore, the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay indicated higher antioxidant activity in Early Lory cultivar compared to Prime Giant. A statistically significant correlation was observed between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (0.978 p<0.01), as well as between anthocyanins and antioxidant activity (0.956 p<0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target and non-target Rhagoletis Loew, 1862 (Diptera: Tephritidae) flies trapped in surveys can provide new information on fly abundances, ecologies, and distributions. Here, data from surveys for native R. indifferens Curran, 1932 in non-commercial sweet cherry trees and non-native R. pomonella (Walsh, 1867) in non-commercial apple, crabapple, and hawthorn trees in central Washington State, U.S.A. were used to determine relative abundances of target and non-target Rhagoletis on traps and to test the hypotheses that fly abundances are site, tree type, and seasonal period dependent. Rhagoletis indifferens was the most abundant Rhagoletis in cherry trees. Non-native R. completa Cresson, 1929 was the most abundant Rhagoletis caught in R. pomonella host trees, with overall results suggesting it is the most numerous and/or dispersive Rhagoletis in central Washington. With support from the literature, we infer that: R. pomonella is less tolerant of arid central Washington summers than R. completa, native R. zephyria Snow, 1894, R. indifferens, and native R. basiola (Osten Sacken, 1877); Rhagoletis species diversity is lower in suburban than rural habitats due to the predominant host plants present; all fly species disperse annually at similar relative abundances, resulting in geographic range expansions over a few generations; and peak seasonal dispersal of flies to non-natal tree species coincides with natal host fruit development, resulting in colonization of new fruiting host patches. Differential fly tolerances of arid summer climates due to adaptation or preadaptation, habitat type, and annual and seasonal dispersal patterns could explain abundances and distributions of native and non-native Rhagoletis species in central Washington. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black rot is limiting the production of sweet cherries in Italy. Dark brown to black patches and sunken lesions on fruits are the most common symptoms of Alternaria black rot on sweet cherry fruits. We isolated 180 Alternaria spp. from symptomatic cherry fruits 'Kordia', 'Ferrovia', and 'Regina' harvested in Northern Italy, over three years, from 2020 to 2022. The aim was to identify and characterize a selection of forty isolates of Alternaria spp. based on morphology, pathogenicity, and combined analysis of rpb2, Alt-a1, endoPG and OPA10-2. The colonies were dark greyish in the center with white margins. Ellipsoidal or ovoid shaped conidia ranging from 19.8 to 21.7 μm in length were observed under a microscope. Based on the concatenated session of four gene regions, thirty-three out of forty isolates were identified as A. arborescens species complex (AASC), and seven as A. alternata. Pathogenicity was evaluated on healthy 'Regina' sweet cherry fruits. All the tested strains were pathogenic on their host. This study represents the first characterization of Alternaria spp. associated with black rot of cherries in Italy and, to the best of our knowledge, it is also the first report of AASC as an agent of black rot of sweet cherries in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in the pyrolysis characteristics of leaves of sweet cherry tree (Prunus avium L.) under rain-shelter cultivation (RS) or under open-field cultivation (CK) were analysed using thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at three heating rates of 10, 20, and 30 °C·min-1. There were two obvious mass loss peaks at 280 °C and 330 °C, which were manifested by the slow pyrolysis of hemicellulose in the low temperature region and the rapid pyrolysis of cellulose in the high temperature region, respectively. The curve in the pyrolysis range after 440 °C was stable, and the mass change corresponded to the pyrolysis of a small amount of macromolecular organic extracts and inorganic salts. When the temperature reached 600 °C, approximately 69% and 73% of the CK and RS leaves were thermally destroyed, respectively. The Coats-Redfern method was used for kinetic calculations to obtain an activation energy of 29.8 to 36.1 kJ·mol-1 in the first-order pyrolysis kinetics stage. The second-order pyrolysis kinetics stage can fit the pyrolysis process well. A significant difference was observed in the pyrolysis characteristics or the kinetics between CK and RS, which were related to the heating rate and the hemicellulose content, cellulose content, and lignin ratio in each sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to acknowledge the challenges that the global cherry industry has faced and the efforts made to overcome them. The evolution of cherry production worldwide is a complex and fascinating story influenced by various factors, including historical practices, cutting-edge technological innovations, environmental considerations, and the ever-shifting landscape of consumer preferences. Cherry production has historically relied on agricultural practices that have been passed down through generations. However, recent technological advancements have transformed the industry. Precision farming, advanced irrigation systems, and genetic improvements in cherry varieties have significantly enhanced production efficiency, yield, and overall crop quality. Environmental considerations have become increasingly important in the evolution of cherry production. The industry is recognizing the significance of sustainable practices to minimize its ecological footprint. Efforts are being made to adopt eco-friendly cultivation methods, reduce water and resource usage, and implement agroecological approaches, which are becoming central to the global cherry farming landscape. It is widely acknowledged that producers around the world are facing the challenge of balancing productivity with environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the cherry industry is closely tied to the changing preferences of consumers. As dietary habits and lifestyles evolve, there is an increasing demand for fresh, high-quality, and sustainably produced cherries. Consumers not only desire delicious and visually appealing cherries but are also becoming more aware of the environmental and ethical implications of their food choices. The strategies adopted by cherry producers are being influenced by a shift in consumer awareness, which is pushing the industry towards more sustainable and responsible practices. The evolution of worldwide cherry production is a captivating narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of tradition, technology, sustainability, and consumer dynamics. To navigate this dynamic landscape, the industry must take a proactive approach and embrace sustainability as a cornerstone for future success and resilience in the global cherry market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combining a set of phylogenetic trees into a single phylogenetic network that explains all of them is a fundamental challenge in evolutionary studies. Existing methods are computationally expensive and can either handle only small numbers of phylogenetic trees or are limited to severely restricted classes of networks. Results: In this paper, we apply the recently-introduced theoretical framework of cherry picking to design a class of efficient heuristics that are guaranteed to produce a network containing each of the input trees, for practical-size datasets consisting of binary trees. Some of the heuristics in this framework are based on the design and training of a machine learning model that captures essential information on the structure of the input trees and guides the algorithms towards better solutions. We also propose simple and fast randomised heuristics that prove to be very effective when run multiple times. Conclusions: Unlike the existing exact methods, our heuristics are applicable to datasets of practical size, and the experimental study we conducted on both simulated and real data shows that these solutions are qualitatively good, always within some small constant factor from the optimum. Moreover, our machine-learned heuristics are one of the first applications of machine learning to phylogenetics and show its promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]