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Abstract The chloroplast genomes of wild loquat can help to determine their place in the history of evolution. Here, we sequenced and assembled two novel wild loquat’s chloroplast genomes, one is Eriobotrya elliptica, and the other is an unidentified wild loquat, which we named “YN-1”. Their sizes are 159,471 bp and 159,399 bp, respectively. We also assembled a cultivated loquat named ‘JFZ’, its chloroplast genome size is 159,156 bp. A comparative study was conducted with six distinct species of loquats, including five wild loquats and one cultivated loquat. The results showed that both E. elliptica and “YN-1” have 127 genes, one gene more than E. fragrans, which is psbK. Regions trnF-GAA-ndhJ, petG-trnP-UGG, and rpl32-trnL-UAG were found to exhibit high variability. It was discovered that there was a positive selection on rpl22 and rps12. RNA editing analysis found several chilling stress-specific RNA editing sites, especially in rpl2 gene. Phylogenetic analysis results showed that “YN-1” is closely related to E. elliptica, E. obovata and E. henryi.

The chloroplast genomes of wild loquat can help to determine their place in the history of evolution. Here, we sequenced and assembled two novel wild loquat's chloroplast genomes, one is Eriobotrya elliptica, and the other is an unidentified wild loquat, which we named "YN-1". Their sizes are 159,471 bp and 159,399 bp, respectively. We also assembled a cultivated loquat named 'JFZ', its chloroplast genome size is 159,156 bp. A comparative study was conducted with six distinct species of loquats, including five wild loquats and one cultivated loquat. The results showed that both E. elliptica and "YN-1" have 127 genes, one gene more than E. fragrans, which is psbK. Regions trnF-GAA-ndhJ, petG-trnP-UGG, and rpl32-trnL-UAG were found to exhibit high variability. It was discovered that there was a positive selection on rpl22 and rps12. RNA editing analysis found several chilling stress-specific RNA editing sites, especially in rpl2 gene. Phylogenetic analysis results showed that "YN-1" is closely related to E. elliptica, E. obovata and E. henryi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between the functional and chemical properties of U. kirkiana fruit pulp was studied. The functional and chemical properties of the fruit pulps were determined and data were analyzed by regression and principal component analysis (PCA) to show correlations and variances. Results showed a 51.4% variance, PC 1 had a 37.31% variance. PC 2 showed a 14.17% variance. Antioxidant activity (AOA), Cu, vitamin C, total titratable acid (TTA), and Mg had a positive variance in PC 1. TTA and pH were significant and correlated in PC 1. Titratable acidity and pH had a variability of 69% and 74%. Iron and Ca were significant and correlated in PC 2. Phosphorus and AOA were positively correlated. Pulp yield had a weak positive correlation with dry matter, Ca, K, and Zn content. Fruits from Bikita were grouped according to pH levels, AOA, Cu, vitamin C, TTA, and phosphorus content. Fruits in Kazangarare were high in Fe and Ca and grouped together. Magnesium content was significant in fruits obtained from Gokwe. Phosphorus and TTA had significant effect (p < 0.01; p < 0.05) on pulp yield. The results provide useful data about relationship, chemical composition variation of U. kirkiana fruit pulp obtained at the different regions of Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The process of crop domestication has long been a major area of research to gain insights into the history of human civilization and to understand the process of evolution. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is one of the typical subtropical fruit trees, which was domesticated in China at least 2000 years ago. In the present study, we re-sequenced the genome of nine wild loquat accessions collected from wide geographical range and 10 representative cultivated loquat cultivars by using RAD-tag tacit to exploit the molecular footprints of domestication. Results We obtained 26.4 Gb clean sequencing data from 19 loquat accessions, with an average of 32.64 M reads per genotype. We identified more than 80,000 SNPs distributed throughout the loquat genome. The SNP density and numbers were slightly higher in the wild loquat populations than that in the cultivated populations. All cultivars were clustered together by structure, phylogenetic and PCA analyses. Conclusion The modern loquat cultivars have experienced a non-significant genetic bottleneck during domestication, and originated from a single domesticated event. Moreover, our study revealed that Hubei province of China is probably the origin center of cultivated loquat.

Loquat is an important commercial specialty fruit tree crop in China, and as a result, there is significant interest in its genetic improvement. Wild loquat, native to China, provides a remarkable genetic resource for breeding improved varieties. Guizhou Province in southwest China contains many natural populations of loquat in its rural areas. In the present study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of native loquat growing throughout Guizhou Province together with wild relatives and domesticated loquat using a set of 20 informative SSR markers. Molecular analysis identified four gene pools, with gene pool I representing cultivated genotypes and gene pool IV containing wild relatives and native surveyed accessions. Approximately 10.8 % of the samples collected from Guizhou Province are feral forms derived from cultivated genotypes, whereas 24.9 % are most closely related to wild species. The remaining 64.3 % of the gene pool is intermediate genotypes derived from spontaneous crosses between wild native forms and cultivated loquat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates ecological knowledge and scientific principles in selecting superiorUapaca kirkianaphenotypes in Malawi and Zambia through focus-group discussions. Fruit collectors and roadside marketers provided locations of superior phenotypes (fruit load, size, and sweetness). About 73% of phenotypes were on cultivated land in Zambia, 66% were on forest reserves, and 15% were on cultivated land in Malawi. Phenotypes ranked superior by communities were indeed superior by scientists’ criteria. Local knowledge on superior phenotypes resides with community fruit collectors. Combining local ecological knowledge with scientific approaches in a complementary manner facilitated superior phenotype identification within a relatively short period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Interspecific hybridization has long been recognized as a pivotal process in plant evolution and speciation. It occurs fairly common in the genera of the subtribe Pyrinae. In Eriobotrya, a small tree genus of Pyrinae, E. prinoides var. daduheensis has been recognized as either a variety of E. prinoides, a natural hybrid between E. prinoides and E. japonica, or a variety of E. japonica. However, to date, there has been no convincing evidence on its status. Results Four nuclear genes and two chloroplast regions were sequenced in 89 individuals of these three Eriobotrya taxa from two locations where they coexist. A few fixed nucleotide substitutions or gaps were found in each of the investigated nuclear and chloroplast loci between E. japonica and E. prinoides. Of the 35 individuals of E. prinoides var. daduheensis, 33 showed nucleotide additivity of E. japonica and E. prinoides in at least one nuclear gene, and 10 of them harboured nucleotide additivity at all the four nuclear genes. Most haplotypes of E. prinoides var. daduheensis were also shared with those of E. japonica and E. prinoides. In the two chloroplast regions, 28 and 7 individuals were identical with E. japonica and E. prinoides, respectively. Conclusions Our study provides compelling evidence for a hybrid status for E. prinoides var. daduheensis. Most hybrid individuals are later-generation hybrids. Both E. japonica and E. prinoides can serve as female parent. Differential adaptation might maintain the species boundary of E. prinoides and E. japonica in the face of hybridization and potential introgression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous fruits constitute an important part of human diets in many sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in rural areas and during droughts. In order to promote and expand the utilisation of these fruits, knowledge on their nutritional composition is essential. This review presents the results of a literature research of the nutritional composition of ten selected indigenous fruits from sub-Saharan Africa. Species were selected based on their current importance as well as their future potential for nutrition, processing and cash income generation. Compositional data were compiled and mean values of components per species were calculated. Most papers were compiled for Adansonia digitata (26) and Dacryodes edulis (16), followed by Tamarindus indica (ten), Balanites aegyptiaca (nine), Sclerocarya birrea (nine), Ziziphus mauritiana (nine), Vitex doniana (seven) and Irvingia gabonensis (five), and least for Uapaca kirkiana (three) and Syzygium guineense (three). Fruits were found to be mainly analysed for macronutrients and minerals. Vitamins, apart from vitamin C, were rarely reported. Substantial compositional differences were found among as well as within the different fruit species. The results of this study emphasise the need to generate more high-quality data on a wider spectrum of components of the selected indigenous fruits in sub-Saharan Africa. © 2013 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential to propagate Uapaca kirkiana through air layering was investigated at Igumbilo forest, Tanzania. The objective was to determine the effect of time of setting air layers and use of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to promote rooting. Air layers were initiated on young shoots, 1-to 2-years old, growing on mature trees. After root initiation, they were detached, potted and reared at the nursery for a further three months. Thereafter they were harvested and assessed. Two factors were investigated: effect of time at which air layers were initiated (June, September and December), and influence of IBA at 50, 100 and 150 mg l−1concentrations. Varied rooting successes were realised, being influenced by time at which air layers were initiated, IBA concentration or both. Optimal rooting of 82.5% was realised in June-initiated air layers treated with 50 mg l−1 IBA. Air layers initiated in December and treated with the control had the poorest rooting (46.7%). Application of 100 mg l−1 IBA during June significantly improved the number of roots, root length and root biomass produced. The increase in rooting ability during June is partly linked to better nutritive status, since most plants at this time have sufficient food reserves acquired during the active photosynthetic rainy period of January–May. The period is also associated with minimal plant developmental activities such as budding and flushing, which are usually antagonistic to rooting. Thus, air layering is a potential technique to propagate U. kirkiana, and can contribute effectively to capture desirable traits rapidly disappearing because of ongoing deforestation and maintain the desired fruit tree attributes once attained. Further studies are recommended to determine its cost effectiveness in relation to other vegetative techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestication of Uapaca kirkiana Müell. Arg is a high priority for improving rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in southern Africa. Domestication efforts require knowledge of adaptive traits and intra-specific variation. Morphological traits and amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) markers were used to assess genetic variation in twelve provenances of U. kirkiana collected from southern Africa. Assessment of morphological traits showed significant differences ( P < 0.05) between provenances. Provenances from Zimbabwe and Zambia showed faster growth than those from Malawi (except Phalombe) and Tanzania. Morphological traits exhibited strong genetic differentiation between provenances and within provenances. The degree of provenance differentiation of traits ( Q = 0.03-0.139, Q mean = 0.092) was in the same range with that of AFLP loci ( F mean = 0.089) detected among provenances and within provenances (0.002 < F < 0.259). The differentiation for some morphological traits could be attributed to local adaptation and human selection of the U. kirkiana trees at the site of origin. Mean Nei's ( H) genetic diversity of AFLP showed high diversity within the provenances ( H = 0.181-0.321, H mean = 0.256). An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed higher genetic variation (90.8%) within provenances than among provenances (9.2%). There was no geographical pattern of variation in growth and morphological traits among the seed sources. Chipata provenance from Zambia was the most diverse while Mapanzure from Zimbabwe was the least diverse, though it was superior in height and earliest in fruiting. The pattern of genetic diversity indicates low selection in some areas and high gene flow which would be counteracting it. Therefore regional and country collections and conservation strategies should consider differences by focussing on the main range of the species by paying particular attention to unique populations within countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, total dry matter, water soluble dry matter, pH, titretable acidity (malic acid), total phenolic content (gallic acid), L, a, b colour values, chroma (C) and hue angle (h) quality parameters of the important loquat cultivars grown in Turkey were determined. Fifteen loquat cultivars (Hafif Çukurgöbek, Baffico, Uzun Çukurgöbek, Sayda, Bessel Brown, Champagne de Grasse, Akko-XIII, Gold Nugget, Kanro, Taza, Ottowiani, Saint Michel, Victor, Madam Maria and Dr. Trabut) were analysed in this research, and there were statistically significant differences in all determined quality parameters between the loquat cultivars. Total dry matter, water soluble dry matter, pH, titretable acidity (malic acid), total phenolic content (gallic acid) of the samples ranged between 12.03-18.03%, 10.25-17.15 °Bx, 3.46-4.58, 0.21-0.81% (malic acid), 521-762 mg/kg (gallic acid) respectively. The highest total dry matter and water soluble dry matter values are found in Champagne de Grasse and the lowest values are found in Kanro cultivars. The highest titretable acidity and total phenolic content values are found in Dr. Trabut and the lowest ones are found in Champagne de Grasse and Madam Maria respectively. L, a, b, C and h values for fruit skin ranged between 61.78-67.77, 6.29-20.31, 43.21-55.49, 44.29-57.10, 69.07-83.55 respectively. These colour values were ranged between 39.85-46.70, 6.14-13.19, 21.61-32.75, 22.46-35.31, 67.63-74.16 respectively for the fruit puree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations carried out on the use of ectomycorhhizal fungi in the management of Uapaca kirkiana root diseases caused by three pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora parasitica and Pseudomonas solani) revealed that different mycorrhizal fungi vary in their ability to protect roots against these respective pathogens. Difference in the disease severity in various treatments was noted to have been due to the combined effect of the intrinsic biological differences of the pathogens resulting in them having different pathogenicity and the biological differences of mycorrhizal fungi. The study also highlighted that ability of mycorrhizal fungi to protect roots against these pathogens was dependent on the colonisation efficiency, which is influenced by factors such as spore germination and hyphal growth through the soil. Certain macro- and microelements were shown to inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi such as R. solani and P. parasitica. In vitro studies indicated both Zn and Cu to be significantly effective against R. solani. These elements suppressed growth of R. solani probably through their antifungal properties. Copper was also significantly effective against P. parasitica. Effect of Ca was, on the other hand, not significantly different from the control (state) on both R. solani and P. parasitica. Findings of this work may be used to explain differences in the ability of different ectomycorrhizal fungi to protect roots against different root pathogens, particularly if the mycorrhizal fungi species differ in their nutrient sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the limitations of Uapaca kirkiana on-farm cultivation is the long juvenile phase to reach a stable fruiting stage. Marcots and grafts have been identified as feasible and reliable propagation methods for precocious fruiting, but the effects of different propagule types on tree growth and fruit yield have not been evaluated. There is limited knowledge on development and growth forms for trees derived from different propagules. Grafts and marcots were compared with saplings to assess the variability in 1) field growth and fruiting of U. kirkiana; and 2) dry matter allocation pattern and tree development models among trees derived from different propagules. Tree development models were used to examine differences among trees from different propagules. The results show that number of branches and fruit load significantly differed between vegetative propagules and saplings, whereas tree height, root collar diameter, crown spread, and fruit size and weight were similar 8 years after establishment. The results suggest differences in intraspecific scaling relationships between height and diameter among propagule sources. Saplings showed a significantly better fit (r² = 0.891; P < 0.0001) to the scaling relationship than grafts (r² = 0.724; P = 0.002) and marcots (r² = 0.533; P = 0.018). After 3 years, marcots and grafts started producing fruits. Fruit load was greatest in marcots despite some fruit abortions; thus, marcots had greater fruit yield, early growth, and development and better dry matter allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The major objectives of the present work were to express, purify and investigate the antifungal activity of the recombinant rice chitinase in controlling grey mould onset after loquat harvest. Rice class I chitinase gene was inserted into the vector pPIC9 to construct pPIC9/Chi, and then expressed in Pichia pastoris strain GS115. The expression level and antifungal activity of the recombinant chitinase against Botrytis cinerea on loquat were analysed. As a result, the chitinase was successfully expressed at a high level in the host yeasts and was enzymatically active. In addition, the chitinase significantly inhibited the spread of the grey mould on the rot region of loquat. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the chitinase has antifungal activities against grey mould and may be developed for an effective biocontrol agent for fruit storage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examination of callus micro-grafts in Uapaca kirkiana Müell Arg. was carried out with the objective of determining early signs of graft compatibility. Leaves from U. kirkiana, U. nitida and Jatropha curcas trees were used for callus induction. Two pieces of callus were co-cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different supplements. Co-cultured calli were embedded in paraffin wax and dissected. The specimens were stained in safranin and fast green before viewing under a light microscope. Results showed that MS medium with 0.1 mg l-1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.5 mg l-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 1.0 mg l-1 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg l-1 NAA was effective for callus induction. There were no necrotic layers at the unions within U. kirkiana clones and provenances, but a differential growth (irregularity) between U. kirkiana and U. nitida co-cultured calli. Phenol deposits were observed at the union interfaces of U. kirkiana combinations and were high on calli derived from mature trees. Phenol deposits were absent at the union of J. curcas heterografts. Necrotic layers developed at the unions of U. kirkiana and J. curcas micro-grafts and indicating an outright graft incompatibility. Accumulation of phenol deposits at the union interfaces inhibited graft compatibility in many U. kirkiana combinations. Callus fusion technique can be used to identify partners with an outright graft incompatibility, especially for distant related plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The full commercial potential of wild loquat [Uapaca kirkiana (Muell. Arg.)], a fruit that is widely used for food and income in parts of Africa, is restricted by its short shelf life and variability in postharvest quality. We have evaluated within and among tree variability in fruit size and color at harvest, and changes of color, soluble solids concentrations (SSC) and pulp deterioration during storage, of fruit harvested during the maturation period. The relationships between fruit shape, size, seed number and SSC of fruit harvested at the ripe stage of maturity was also assessed. Size and color of fruit within and among trees at harvest varied greatly within the same location on the same harvest date. The a* values (redness) were more variable than for other color attributes, reflecting a range of fruit colors from greenish to brown. During a 6 day storage period, fruit color lightness and yellowness decreased, while redness increased, and variation in color attributes decreased. Although fruit color intensified during storage, the SSC of fruit after ripening was linked more with fruit color at harvest, with mean concentrations ranging from 6.7% to 13.8% among trees. When fruit were harvested four weeks later and categorized by color at harvest, SSC varied from 11.8% in greenish-yellow fruit to 14.5% in browner fruit. Pulp deterioration of stored fruit harvested unripe was observed by 6 days. The SSC of fruit harvested when ripe was not significantly correlated with shape, size or seed number. These observations have important implications for germplasm selection and collection of U. kirkiana for domestication purposes. Timing of harvest and/or postharvest sorting of fruit is likely to reduce variability in SSC during the postharvest period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]