The genetic variability,inheritance and inter-relationships of ascorbic acid, β-carotene,phenol and anthocyanin content in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is rich source of dietary antioxidants, minerals and nutrients. Dietary antioxidants have been known as beneficial for enhancing the fitness, preventing certain diseases and even mitigating the effects of ageing. The objectives of the present study were to determine variability and inheritance of antioxidants, to identify antioxidant rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. The genotypes, namely Ofra, Chandler, Festival and Camarosa showed higher concentrations of dietary antioxidants and therefore could be useful in future breeding. Results indicate that the effect of the genotypes on antioxidant contents is stronger than that of the environment. The high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean (<40%) for ascorbic acid and β-carotene contents could be improved by heterosis breeding. However, selection and hybridization would be effective tools to enhance the phenols and anthocyanin content, and yield potential as these traits showed high heritability (>80%) and high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%). Positive direct effect on fruit yield was highest for phenol content (0.609) which is also fairly close to its correlation coefficient (0.765) indicating that a direct selection based on phenol content would be most effective and that the phenol content could be used as a reliable biochemical marker to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. The information could also be used for developing antioxidant rich cultivars, i.e. ‘Breeding Strawberry for High Antioxidants’.     

Wood hydraulic and mechanical properties induced by low water availability on two ornamental species Photinia × fraseri var. Red Robin and Viburnum opulus L.

Deficit irrigation at the nursery stage induces drought acclimation through the establishment of avoiding mechanisms and hardening processes. In this experiment, we hypothesized that water deficit would affect wood hydraulic conductivity and mechanical properties with effects on the leaf water potentials of two ornamental species, Photinia × fraseri var. Red Robin and Viburnum opulus L.The experiment was conducted in a nursery (Pistoia, Italy) during summer 2011. Individuals were arranged in three plots under three watering regimes. The control plot (C) received an amount of water replacing that lost via evapotranspiration, while two plots were maintained under severe water deficit (SWD = 33% C) and moderate water deficit (MWD = 66% C).Water deficits reduced stem diameter in both species without changing wood density (D). Concerning mechanical properties, stiffness (E) and strength (YS) of Photinia resulted higher in Photinia than in Viburnum, which did not show differences between treatments in either E or YS, whereas in Photinia, E was lower in SWD (P < 0.05) than in C. Photinia was also characterized by higher k without significant differences between treatments while Viburnum showed a lower conductivity and a significant reduction of k_h under SWD (P < 0.05). Despite this, in field conditions the two species had similar behaviour concerning the leaf water status, showing a reduction of Ψ under SWD.A longer acclimation period would probably be necessary to induce major changes in wood mechanical properties, but the similarity of responses on leaf water status in MWD and C might indicate that a reduction to 66% of water need might be sufficient to maintain the level of turgor necessary for plant physiological functioning.     

Interaction of Crop Load and Irrigation on Yield,Fruit Size,Color and Stem-end Splitting Ratio of Apple c.v. ‘Gala,Galaxy’

In this study, the interaction between crop load and irrigation level on yield, fruit size, skin color and stem-end splitting fruit ratio in the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ grafted on rootstock M9 were investigated. Six irrigation programs were applied during the whole growth season: deficit irrigation (rates of 0.25 kc, 0.50 kc, 0.75 kc), full irrigation (rate of 1.00 kc), excess irrigation (rate of 1.25 kc) and non-irrigation (rates of 0.00 kc of “Class A” pan evaporation coefficient). Four crop loads in each irrigation application were performed by hand thinning after the June drop as a- a low crop load (3 fruits cm^?2 TCA), b- a medium crop load (5 fruits cm^?2 TCA), c- a heavy crop load (7 fruits cm^?2 TCA), and d- an un-thinned crop load (>?7 fruits cm^?2 TCA). The total tree yield increased with crop load and irrigation levels. Fruit size was significantly increased by the low crop load. Irrigation increased the fruit size compared to non-irrigation treatment. Further 0.75 kc, 1.00 kc and 1.25 kc irrigation treatments significantly increased the fruit length. Irrigation reduced the fruit flesh firmness. While the low crop load increased the skin red color, it decreased the fruit skin brightness. The yellowness of skin decreased with increasing in the irrigation amount. Irrigation reduced the skin brightness and yellowness, but it increased red color. Crop load and irrigation significantly affected the stem-end splitting fruit ratio. While the splitting fruit ratio increased with a decrease in the crop load, it decreased with an increase in irrigation amount, relatively. Consequently, the low and medium crop load treatments would be beneficial to increase the ratio of marketable fruits without any significant losses in yield for ‘Gala’ apple, especially under 0.75 kc deficit irrigation treatment.     

An improved micropropagation protocol for the recalcitrant plant Capsicum – a study with ten cultivars of Capsicum spp. (C. annuum,C. chinense,and C. frutescens) collected from diverse geographical regions of India and Mexico

Capsicum spp. is a commercially important crop of the Solanaceae family, well-known for its multipurpose use as a vegetable, spice, medicinal and ornamental plants. The genus Capsicum is a recalcitrant species in terms of in vitro morphogenesis and plant regeneration. An efficient method was developed for multiple shoot regeneration in 10 cultivars of Capsicum collected from diverse geographical regions of India and Mexico. Seeds germinated in vitro on a half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3.0 % sucrose. Nodes of the in vitro germinated seedlings were used as explant for micropropagation. The combination of the 6-benzylaminopurine, indole-3-acetic acid, and spermidine was found to be the best for multiple shoot induction. However, the optimum responcse varied accompanied by different cultivers with maximum 8.9 ± 0.52 (Capsi-10) to 15.3 ± 0.69 (Capsi-5) multiple shoot per explant. Depending on the cultivar, multiplied shoots were successfully rooted with maximum 18.4 ± 0.20 (highest for Capsi-9) to 36.8 ± 0.29 (highest for Capsi-5) roots per shoot on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l^?1 indole-3-butyric acid, 1.0 mg l^?1 α-naphthalene acetic acid, and 1.5 mM spermidine. Finally, the micropropagated plantlets were acclimatized with 40.0–86.7 % survival rate, depending on different cultivars.     

The effect of thermal environment,planting date and crown size on growth,development and yield of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Elsanta

Summary

The effects of environmental conditions, planting date and crown size on the timing, intensity and duration of cropping in the strawberry Fragaria × ananassa cv. Elsanta were investigated. Temperature was positively correlated with the rate of progress to fruiting whereas crown size had no effect. The first fruit reached harvest maturity after an estimated 891 day-degrees had elapsed above a base temperature of 2.9°C for waiting bed plants and 831 day-degrees above a base temperature of 2.4°C for cold stored plants. Temperature was negatively correlated with total yield, berry number and average berry weight for both waiting bed and cold stored plants of different crown sizes. Yield, berry number and average berry weight were positively correlated with crown size. The effect of temperature on the yield components appeared to be due to its effect on vegetative growth of the plants: canopy development was more limited at warmer temperatures. These results can be used to generate models to predict the effect of growth environment on cropping in strawberry.     

Evaluation of Pomological and Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Compositions of Local Pear Varieties (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus communis</Emphasis> L.) Grown in Gumushane,Turkey

The aim of the present research was to investigate the fruit quality of twenty different local pear varieties (Pyrus communis L.), namely Ahlat, Ankara, Arpa, B?ld?rc?n, Çermai, Cinci, Gelin Bo?an, Hac? Hamza, Hah?r, Kabak, K?z?l, Kokulu, Mehrani, Menendi, Sulu, ?algam, Tokat Sultan?, Tur?u, Yaz, and Yaz Meyri?i, grown in Gumushane province in terms of pomological and morphological characteristics and chemical compositions. The fruit mass, fruit width and length, fruit stem thickness and length, fruit kernel width and length, hardness of pulp, number of seeds, leaf width and length, leaf stem length and thickness, and water soluble dry matter (WSDM) of the pear fruits have been determined as pomological and morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the chemical compositions of the pear varieties have been evaluated in terms of protein, ash, sucrose, fructose, glucose, total sugar, titratable acidity, moisture, and mineral element levels.Both pomological and morphological results demonstrated that the local pear varieties are important in terms of rehabilitation studies and detailed selection studies on these local varieties should be performed. The chemical analyses result of the pear varieties revealed that there is no component that may be harmful to human health when consumed, and also these varieties contains the necessary amount of mineral elements.     

Berry Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of cv. Trakya Ilkeren (<Emphasis Type="Italic">V. vinifera</Emphasis> L.) as Influenced by Various Doses of Pre-Harvest Hydrogen Peroxide and Phenylalanine Applications

Uneven grape ripening, leading to decreases economic valued of grapes is one of the main problems faced by grape growers in early table grape growing. In recent years, there has been increasing concern about improving of fruit quality in fruit crops. Among the various quality improvement methods, different types of foliar compounds are used for this purpose and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and phenylalanine (Phe) can be given as examples to some of these chemicals. This research was carried out during the 2015 growing season by using early ripening table grape cv. Trakya Ilkeren. In the study, it was assessed that how different doses of hydrogen peroxide (0, 10, 20 and 40?mM) and phenylalanine (0, 1, 2 and 4?mM) affected physical and biochemical properties of cv. Trakya Ilkeren. In terms of physical properties, doses of hydrogen peroxide and phenylalanine had only significant effects on grape firmness and cluster length. The best results were obtained from 4?mM Phe application (6.76?N) in grape firmness and were obtained from applications of 10, 20 and 40?mM H₂O₂ (23.66, 23.86 and 23.99?cm) and applications of 1, 2, and 4?mM Phe (23.95, 24.46 and 24.88?cm) in cluster length. However, most of biochemical properties were considerably affected by doses of hydrogen peroxide and phenylalanine except for juice pH and p-value. It was recorded that the highest total phenolic compounds contents varied from 3571.28 (10?mM H₂O₂) to 3871.22?mg GAE kg^?1 fw (40?mM H₂O₂) compared to 0?mM application (2591.48?mg GAE kg^?1 fw). In terms of total anthocyanin content, the highest mean was recorded for 4?mM Phe application (330.56?mg GAE kg^?1 fw) than 0?mM application (168.79?mg GAE kg^?1 fw). As a result, 4?mM Phe application particularly improved the most of biochemical properties in cv. Trakya Ilkeren.     

Performance of ‘Discovery’ apple on M.9, M.26 and MM.106 rootstocks at two densities

Summary

The apple rootstocks M.9, M.26, and MM.106 were evaluated for their efficiency in bringing ‘Discovery’ apple trees into production. The experiment, carried out over a ten- year period compared two planting densities at 1666 and 3333 trees per ha. Tree vigour differences between rootstocks were measured in term of trunk growth, tree volume, weight of branches pruned off and final weight of the above-ground parts of the trees. Fruit production is presented both as total yield and as the weight of first class fruit. Fruit colour development is also shown. Cropping efficiency is calculated and presented in relation to the different vigour measurements. The results confirm that ‘Discovery’ is slow to come into production. M.9 was the most productive rootstock, but due to vigour differences MM.106 gave the same yields per tree, although the latter had the lower yield efficiency. M.26 performed poorly; its vigour was similar to M.9 but it produced the lowest yields.     

Influence of Bagging on Color,Anthocyanin and Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Genes in Peel of Red Colored Mango <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cv</Emphasis>. ‘Lily’

Sunlight influences many morphological, biochemical and molecular changes in fruits and the most important is color change associated with the development of pigments. The exposure to sunlight influences the anthocyanin content of the fruit peel. With the aim to understand the influence of bagging of fruits on the mango peel color, anthocyanin and expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, an experiment was conducted by covering fruits of red colored cv. ‘Lily’ with muslin cloth. The observations were recorded for fruits of control (non-bagged) and fruits developing in shade. In bagged fruits, the color of peel changed towards lightness and yellowness. The reduction in anthocyanin was observed up to 17 times in bagged and shaded fruits. We also observed the down-regulation of all anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in fruits under bagged and shaded conditions. This study reports the influence of bagging and shade on anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and subsequent change in the color of fruit peel.     

中国园艺学会西甜瓜专业委员会<民政部(社)证字3145-4>(国家西瓜甜瓜品种网WWW.NCVCN.NET)

<正>商品瓜,市场价,2014年种植西瓜甜瓜市场风险提示西瓜甜瓜自1984年政府主管部门放开计划生产之后,是农业生产中商品属性最强的种植作物之一,同时也是受市场供求关系影响最大、销售价在不同时空条件下波动最剧烈的农产品之一,因此,过去30年西、甜瓜曾多次出现生产规模的快速增长,为农民增加经济收入有突出贡献,但也多次出现供求失衡,西瓜在主产区市场价跌卖难的伤农情况。     

Shade coffee in Hawai‘i – Exploring some aspects of quality,growth, yield,and nutrition

In a harsh (Kunia) and an ideal (Kona) growing region of Hawai‘i, sun grown Coffea arabica L. was compared to coffee shaded with varying degrees of black and aluminized shade cloth, macadamia trees, and a novel, spray-on shade composed mostly of kaolin. Shading did not appreciably affect organoleptic quality. Shading resulted in statistically different yields in the macadamia (16% of sun) and kaolin (199% of sun) treatments in the second year compared to full sun treatments in their respective locations, although a negative, linear trend was observed with increased shading. The lack of significant differences in yields between the shade cloth and sun treatments was likely a result of large yield variation among replicates. Bean sizes differed little between shade treatments and the percentage of defects and broken beans were generally not significantly different among the treatments in Kunia. Kona bean sizes and characteristics were not different. Shading reduced surface leaf temperatures and increased specific leaf area but generally did not affect lateral nodal growth. Leaf nutrient concentration differed between treatments.     

中国园艺学会西甜瓜专业委员会<民政部(社)证字3145-4>(国家西瓜甜瓜专业网WWW.NCVCN.NET)

<正>西瓜甜瓜科研教学专业领域成就斐然,新世纪国家科技奖三重唱据2015年园艺瓜果学专题编写会议资料,近年在国家、地方政府大力支持下,西瓜甜瓜学科研究创新体制不断健全,科研经费投入大幅增加,研究的公益性、基础性不断加强,如种质资源搜集保存与创新,基因组与分子育种技术,设施连作障碍机制及治理,重大病虫害绿色可持续控制等均有进展;在应用技术研究中更重视生产与国内外市场需求的相关性,在强调经济效益的同时,不断重视食品安     

中国园艺学会西甜瓜专业委员会<民政部(社)证字3145-4>(国家西瓜甜瓜专业网WWW.NCVCN.NET)

<正>2015年国家西瓜甜瓜品种试验年会工作安排据农业部农技种[2014]440号文,2015年安排小果型西瓜、无籽西瓜、中果型西瓜品种、厚皮甜瓜品种及薄皮甜瓜生试总计5组品种区试及生试,有关承试单位应按试验方案要求,在田间试验结束15天后,将试验数据表及总结电子版等发邮件到主持单位,汇总核对后再将正式书面总结9月10日前寄到试