Temperature effects on dormancy,bud break and spear growth in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Summary

The effects of the length of chilling, chilling temperature and growing temperature on dormancy of asparagus crown buds and subsequent rates of spear growth were examined. The results showed that prior chilling enhanced bud break at low growing temperatures and stimulated the growth of spears.Thus, chilling should facilitate commercial production by hastening bud break and spear growth rates at lower temperatures. If sufficient chilling was given, the minimum temperature for rapid bud break was approx. 12.5°C for ‘Rutgers Beacon’ and ‘Jersey Giant’, and around 10°C for ‘UC 157’ and ‘Apollo’. The optimum chilling temperature appeared to be closer to 5°C than to 10°C or 2°C for ‘Rutgers Beacon’ plants grown at 12.5°C. Increasing the growing temperature had a significant effect on the relative spear growth rate (RSGR) in all cultivars. Prior chilling had no effect on the RSGR for ‘Dariana’ and ‘Apollo’; but, for ‘UC 157’, chilling plants at 5°C for 5 or 10 weeks increased growth rates at 12.5°C and at 20°C. These results demonstrate that release of bud dormancy and spear growth rates depended not only on the growing temperature, but also, at least in some cultivars at some temperatures, on the duration and temperature of chilling during the previous Winter.     

Strawberry Production,Growth and Development in Northern Climates

Abstract

This paper focuses on the cropping systems in northern European countries such as Norway and Finland. Winter injury commonly occurs in strawberry fields in northern climates and inadequate snow cover further aggravates the problem. During the last decade there has been an increase in programmed “out-of-season” strawberry production. Greenhouse producers aim for year-round production, whereas those using polyethylene tunnels extend the main production season to include May/June and September/October. The dominant strawberry cultivars in Nordic countries are ‘Senga Sengana’ for the processing industry and the Dutch cultivar ‘Korona’ is preferred for direct fresh market consumption due to its good flavor and high yields. Recently, ‘Honeoye’ has gained considerable interest among Danish and Swedish growers due to its high productivity and its relatively low susceptibility to grey mold. In Finland, the Norwegian cultivar ‘Jonsok’ is one of the most popular cultivars due to its high tolerance to winter injury and grey mold.     

Polyphenol composition and qualitative characteristics of fresh-cut lettuce in relation to cultivar,mulching, and storage

Summary

The characteristics and nutritional quality of fresh-cut vegetable products during shelf-life depend on the raw material as well as on pre- and post-harvest factors. In this work, three of the commercially most widespread lettuce cultivars (‘Montego’, ‘Great Lakes 118’ and ‘Salad Bowl’), characterised by different qualitative traits, were cultivated under two different conditions, processed using standard conditions for fresh-cut lettuce, packaged in plastic trays and stored for 9 d at 5°C. Visual and texture analyses were performed, with determinations of polyphenol composition and of anti-oxidant activity. The results showed that the concentration of polyphenols was different in the three varieties, and was highest in ‘Salad Bowl’. The main polyphenols found were chlorogenic acid and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside in ‘Montego’, chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucoside in ‘Great Lakes’, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, rutin and dicaffeoyltartaric acid in ‘Salad Bowl’.The practice of mulching during the growing period leads to an increase in yield; moreover, it also affects the total quantity of polyphenols, but not the qualitative pattern of polyphenols formed in each variety. During storage, a deterioration in sensory characteristics was observed, but this was not accompanied by any significant change in polyphenol content.     

Romina and Cristina: Two New Strawberry Cultivars with High Sensorial and Nutritional Values

ABSTRACT

The two cultivars (Romina and Cristina) recently released from the Marche Polytechnic University (Ancona, Italy) strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) breeding program, show high adaptability to non-fumigated soil. Furthermore, ‘Romina’ showed very early ripening, conic or bi-conic fruit shape, good taste with high sweetness, high firmness and shelf life, and high vitamin C and folate contents. ‘Cristina’ showed very late ripening, high productivity, large fruit of conical shape, good taste, and high vitamin C and folate contents. The European Union patents of ‘Romina’ and ‘Cristina’ have been transferred to the United States, and nursery production has begun following United States rules to determine future market interest.     

Influence of rootstock on vegetative growth,fruit yield and quality in ‘Cuore di Bue’, an heirloom tomato

Summary

Heirloom tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) such as ‘Cuore di Bue’ are highly appreciated by consumers for their outstanding quality and flavour. Nowadays, they are often grafted onto vigorous rootstocks in order to overcome several soil-borne diseases. The present study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in Southern Italy. Plants of ‘Cuore di Bue’, an heirloom ‘oxheart’ tomato, were grown in a greenhouse either as non-grafted plants, or grafted onto two inter-specific (S. lycopersicum S. habrochaites) rootstocks (‘Beaufort F₁’ and ‘Maxifort F₁’) in order to evaluate their effects on vegetative growth, marketable yield, fruit quality, and the sensory properties of ‘Cuore di Bue’ tomato fruit. Growth analysis revealed that ‘Maxifort F₁’ enhanced plant growth, particularly in terms of leaf area and leaf fresh weight. Grafted plants had higher leaf area ratios (by 13%) and higher leaf dry weight fractions (by 18%) compared to non-grafted ‘Cuore di Bue’ plants. Marketable yields increased by 20 – 25% in grafted plants in both years. However, total soluble solids (TSS) contents, titratable acidity (TA), and TSS/TA ratios were not significantly affected by grafting.Vitamin C contents decreased by 14 – 20% in both years in the fruit of plants grafted onto either rootstock. The sensory profiles of fruit were not modified by grafting, although taste panelists expressed a higher preference for purchasing fruit from plants grafted onto ‘Maxifort F₁’. These results confirm that, when using the appropriate rootstock/scion combination, grafting can improve plant growth and the marketable yield of heirloom tomato fruit without reducing the sensory quality of the fruit or its biochemical parameters. However, grafting can reduce vitamin C contents and, thus, nutritional quality.     

Combining Plant Growth with Nutrient Content Measurements as a Method to Compare Nutrient Use by Different Raspberry Cultivars

ABSTRACT

Monthly above-ground destructive sampling and partitioning of the plant into distinct component parts for growth and nutrient element (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) analyses were used to compare elemental compositions in two red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivars (‘Willamette’ and ‘Haida’) grown in a uniformly managed field plot. Quantitative measurements showed that the two cultivars had different growth patterns. ‘Haida’ yielded greater fresh berry weight and dry matter content than ‘Willamette’ on a per floricane basis, but, because of fewer ‘Haida’ than ‘Willamette’ floricanes in the plot after standard commercial pruning practices, fresh berry yield was similar for both cultivars on a unit area basis. ‘Haida’ berries ripened slightly earlier than ‘Willamette’. Stem, lateral and leaf growth differed between the two cultivars. Although only whole above-ground accumulation (kg ha-1) of one (Ca) of the ten elements measured was different in the two cultivars, the amounts and patterns of all nutrients in the various plant components of floricanes and primocanes differed in significant ways. In some cases, element concentrations in a specific plant component differed between cultivars while dry matter accumulation differed in the opposite way resulting in the same total accumulation in the cane involved. In other cases, there was greater accumulation in one cane type (primocane vs. floricane) than the other such that there was similar accumulation of that element in the whole plant. For Ca, accumulation in primocanes was greater for ‘Willamette’ than ‘Haida’ whereas there was no difference of accumulation in floricanes which resulted in greater accumulation of Ca in the whole above-ground plant in ‘Willamette’. Maximum accumulation of the elements in floricanes occurred generally earlier in the growing season (July to September) than in primocanes (September to October), and these maxima were frequently at different times for the two cultivars, making comparisons of nutrient compositions in the two cultivars complex. Detailed sampling periodically over the growing season in combination with element analysis of these raspberry plant components as done in this study provided a better basis for comparing nutrients in raspberry cultivars than examining element concentrations of a specific plant component (e.g., leaves) sampled once during the growing season because patterns of nutrients over time in the cultivars differed.     

Artificial Ripening of ‘Shiraz’ Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb. cv. ‘Shiraz’) Prior to Marketing

Abstract

Although it is one of the traditional fruits, persimmon production in Iran is only about 7,320 tons annually and there has been a decrease in cultivated acreage. The decrease in persimmon consumption can be attributed to the unpleasant astringency of the local Iranian cultivars. The producers' and handlers' lack of knowledge of techniques for removing astringency before sending the fruit to market has greatly influenced this issue. This study was conducted in order to develop recommendations for a simple and economical method for removing the fruit astringency of local cultivars. Fruits of a commercial cultivar (cv. ‘Shiraz’) in Fars province, Iran were harvested at the local commercial maturity stage (breaker stage). The fruits were dipped in ethanol (20, 35 and 50%), acetic acid (3, 6 and 10%), commercial vinegar, hot water (60°C) and tap water as control for 30 min. Some qualitative characteristics such as total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C, total acids, pH and tannic acid of the treated fruits besides fresh weight changes were measured at 4-day intervals after storage at room temperature. Results indicate that vitamin C and TSS were highest in the 20% ethanol, hot water and 35% ethanol treatments. Total acid was highest in 10 and 6% acetic acid treatments. Tannins were highest in the control treatment and lowest in the 20% ethanol, hot water followed by 35% ethanol. Fruit juice pH was also highest in the 20 and 35% ethanol and hot water. Although tannic acid and total acid declined after treatment, fruit juice pH and TSS increased. Weight loss was lowest in the ethanol 20, 35 and 50%, and hot water treatments, respectively. Results suggest the use of 20% ethanol treatment with ‘Shiraz’ persimmon before short storage and supply to markets would be beneficial in improving consumer acceptance besides being commercially economical and practical.     

Growth of Vitis vinifera L. and Vitis aestivalis Michx. as Affected by Temperature

Abstract

Four European (Vitis vinifera L.) winegrape cvs., ‘Semillon’, ‘Pinot Noir,’ ‘Chardonnay’, and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, and one American (Vitis aestivalis Michx.) winegrape cv. ‘Cynthiana’, were subjected to three temperature regimes in growth chambers set at 20/15°C, 30/ 25°C, or 40/35°C, for 16/8 hr day/night to determine the influence of temperatures on vine growth and development. In general, the best temperature for shoot and root growth 28 days after temperature treatments was 20/15°C for ‘Semillon’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, and ‘Cynthiana’, and 30/25°C for ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘Chardonnay’. Although 40/35°C reduced number of leaves, shoots, tendrils, and internodes, total leaf area (LA), and total shoot biomass of all the cultivars, the reduction was more pronounced in ‘Cynthiana’ than in the European cultivars. The average reduction in number of leaves at 40/35°C for the European cultivars was 47%, compared with 92% for ‘Cynthiana’. The two types of grapes adapted differently to high temperature. Shoot growth in the European cultivars continued under high temperature, whereas growth ceased in ‘Cynthiana’. Roots of ‘Cynthiana’, however, were less susceptible to the adverse effect of high temperatures than were the shoots. This study shows that the European cultivars were relatively more tolerant to high temperature than the American cultivar and they have a potential for production of wine in the climate of south central Kansas.     

Dietary Elements and Quality Parameters of 34 Old and Eight Commercial Apple Cultivars Grown at the same Site in South Tyrol,Italy

Apple is one of the most widely produced and consumed fruits worldwide and hence, complete data of apple composition are important for human diet. Currently, a limited number of cultivars dominate the market, while many others, with a potentially higher nutritional value, are neglected by consumers. The present work reports the content of the dietary elements potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) as well as the content of the macroelement nitrogen (N) of 34 old cultivars grown at the same site under identical conditions in South Tyrol, Italy. Their elemental composition was assessed along with quality parameters such as fruit weight, firmness, and soluble solid content and total acidity at harvest and post storage. For selected cultivars the measurements were performed over two or even three different harvest years. Comparison with eight commercial cultivars chosen to represent the fruit currently dominating the market was performed.Besides offering a valuable insight in the variation of dietary elements among old and commercial apple cultivars in up to three harvest years, this study, that complements current nutritional databases, recommends several old cultivars with high content of dietary elements for further study and eventual re-introduction in niche markets.     

Maintaining product quality in raisins throughout the introgression of powdery mildew resistance

The availability of powdery mildew-resistant raisin accessions will lower grower production costs and enhance the environment through reduced fungicide use. To achieve this objective, backcrossing has been employed with Vitis romanetii as the source of non-race-specific powdery mildew resistance. Initial crosses of powdery mildew-resistant F₁ hybrid B36-45 with seeded raisin cultivars ‘Rangspray’ and ‘Raisin de Palestine’ yielded seedless powdery mildew-resistant first-generation backcross selections C87-41 and C87-106, which were used to develop second-generation backcross populations. Principal component analyses consistently identified ‘wrinkle,’ ‘meatiness,’ ‘product attractiveness’ and ‘skin persistence’ as being the quality characteristics most important in discriminating among powdery mildew-resistant raisin accessions and commercial raisin cultivars. Raisin quality ratings were much improved across most evaluated characters in second-generation backcross families as compared with parental powdery mildew- resistant accessions C87-41 and C87-106. After two generations of backcrossing, powdery mildew-resistant raisin selections were identified with product quality characteristics similar to those of commercial raisin cultivars.     

Vegetative Growth,Productivity, Berry Quality Attributes and Leaf Macronutrients Content of Currants as Affected by Species and Cultivars

Bush vigor, berry physical traits and chemical composition, seasonal changes of leaf macronutrients content and leaf mineral status at mid-summer (120 DAFB, Days After Full Bloom) were evaluated in black, red and white currants and their cultivars which are grown on heavy soil, and with reduced cultural practices, except pruning, fertilization with cattle manure and weed control with herbicide, under western Serbian conditions. Results indicated that black currant had lower bush size, yield, bunch weight and number of berries per bunch, but had significantly higher berry weight as compared to red and white currants. Red and white currants had similar bush size, yield and bunch weight. Berries of black currant contained much higher levels of soluble solids content, acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics and flavonoids content than both red and white currants, whereas ripening index was similar. Leaf of black currants had lower macronutrients content, except leaf Mg, as compared with others. Very high excesses of all leaf macronutrients content, except in some cases for leaf N and Mg, were observed in currants in mid summer, i.?e. at 120 DAFB. Black currant showed the best balanced nutritional values, whereas red currant showed a wider imbalance in nutritional values. Beside currant species, strong effect of cultivar per se was found on the most of evaluated features. Generally, black currant cv. ‘Eva’, red currant cv. ‘Slovakia’, somewhat ‘Detvan’, and white currant cv. ‘Primus’ had higher bush size, better berry physico-chemical attributes and higher leaf macronutrients content than others. Finally, ‘Eva’, ‘Tatran’ and ‘Meridian’ showed the best balanced nutritional values at 120 DAFB.     

氮肥和硫肥对叶芥菜生长及营养品质的影响

 以叶芥菜‘雪里蕻’和‘包包青菜’为材料, 研究4个氮肥水平(10.3、100、200和300 kg·hm ^{- 2} ) 和2个硫肥水平(0和50 kg·hm^{- 2} ) 对植株生长和营养品质的影响。结果表明, 随氮肥量增加,两品种的株高、地上部鲜质量、产量、叶绿素、β - 胡萝卜素、游离氨基酸、地上部氮含量、地上部硫含量均显著提高, 雪里蕻的硝酸盐含量也显著提高, 两品种的干物质和可溶性总糖含量则降低。较低施氮量(小于100 kg·hm^{- 2} ) 对可溶性蛋白质含量有明显影响。在不施硫处理(供应KCl) 中, 氮肥对包包青菜硝酸盐含量没有显著影响; 而在施硫处理(供应K₂SO₄ ) 中, 增加氮肥量显著增加其硝酸盐含量。增施硫肥, 雪里蕻可溶性蛋白质和包包青菜硝酸盐均显著提高, 两品种地上部硫含量显著提高, 而对其它指标没有明显影响。     

Performance of some apple cultivars under tropical Zambian conditions

Summary

Ten apple cultivars (Malus domestica Bork) Ein Shemer, Anna, Rome Beauty, Tropical Beauty, Alexander, Orleans, Winter Banana, Black John, Starking Delicious and Red Delicious were evaluated for their suitability for tropical Zambian conditions. Winter Banana, Black John, Starking Delicious and Red Delicious, which were mostly high-chill cultivars, showed poor vegetative development: delayed budbreak, shoot growth and progressive loss of vigour and most of the trees died before maturity. Of the remaining low-chill cultivars, ‘Ein Shemer’ had the highest fruit yield at 49 6 2.3 kg tree²¹ and ‘Alexander’ the lowest (5.3 6 1.0 kg tree²¹). This response was due to the high number of fruits per tree, ‘Ein Shemer’ had up to 907 6 83.7 per tree whereas low yielding cultivars like ‘Rome Beauty’ and ‘Tropical Beauty’ had fewer than 106 6 25.3 fruits per tree. The individual fruit weight was inversely related to the total number of fruits per tree. It ranged from 58 6 5.1 g in Ein Shemer to 191 6 24.8 g in ‘Rome Beauty’.     

榆耳新品种‘吉肉1号’

榆耳新品种‘吉肉1号’是由地方品种‘yrzp-1’与野生榆耳菌株经“单—单”杂交选育而成。菌丝生长势强,子实体粉红色,覆瓦状叠生,单朵直径7.3 ~ 11.6 cm,鲜质量112 ~ 205 g,从接种到采收93 ~ 108 d,中早熟品种,每100 kg干料产鲜菇59 kg。     

Cultivars Resulting From Cherry Breeding in Germany

In Germany the sweet and sour cherry breeding is concentrated at the Julius Kühn-Institut in Dresden-Pillnitz. The main breeding goals are directed on sweet cherries for fresh market and sour cherries for processing. The selection of new cultivars is focused on fruit quality, high and stable fruit set and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. In result of the breeding activities in sweet cherry four new cultivars, ‘Narana’, ‘Areko’, ‘Swing’, ‘Habunt’, were selected. ‘Narana’ is an early ripening cultivar with good fruit characteristics. ‘Areko’ ripens in the middle of the cherry season some days before cultivar ‘Kordia’ and has large, firm fruits. The both cultivars ‘Swing’ and ‘Habunt’ are self-compatible and more recommended for the use in house gardening. In sour cherry breeding four new cultivars, ‘Coralin’, ‘Spinell’, ‘Jachim’, ‘Boas’, were selected. The cultivar ‘Coralin’ shows good characteristics for processing and mechanical harvest and is tolerant to fungus diseases on leaves. With the large and tasty fruits, the cultivar ‘Spinell’ is mainly suitable for fresh consumption. The both other cultivars ‘Jachim’ and ‘Boas’ have a pillar growth habit.     

羽衣甘蓝新品种‘红罗裙’和‘白罗裙’

 观赏花卉羽衣甘蓝‘红罗裙’和‘白罗裙’均是利用自交不亲和系杂交而成。‘红罗裙’圆叶类型, 成株心叶紫红色, 边缘微皱。‘白罗裙’圆叶类型, 着色早, 心叶乳白色。两个新品种心叶颜色鲜艳、纯正, 与外叶边缘绿色对比鲜明, 株型整齐紧凑, 观赏价值高, 观赏期长, 耐寒, 性状稳定。     

Evaluation of onion accessions for resistance to thrips in Brazilian semi-arid regions

This study aimed to evaluate onion accessions regarding their resistance to Thrips tabaci Lindeman, in order to enable the development of cultivars that are resistant to this pest. The experiments were carried out without chemical control, in a randomized block design with three replications, in Petrolina, PE and Juazeiro, BA. Six evaluations of thrips populations were carried out starting 15 days after transplanting, each one after 7 days. Simple correlations were estimated among all variables. Statistical differences were observed for the number of adults in different evaluations, while the number of nymphs showed no statistical differences. The largest average yields of commercial bulbs were observed for ‘Vale Ouro IPA 11?, ‘BRS Alfa São Francisco’, ‘Franciscana IPA 10? and ‘Sirius F1? while ‘Red Creole’, ‘Creole Mercosul’ and ‘Conquista’ had the lowest yield. The bulb commercial yield had simple negative correlations with nymph degree of infestation (DI) in the four evaluation phases and adult DIs at 22 days. Negative correlations between commercial bulb yield and central angle of the plant were observed, indicating that plants with higher bulb yield have a lower angle of the central leaves. The results of the study suggest that the resistance mechanism is due mainly to tolerance to the pest.     

The King Fruit versus Lateral Fruit Thinning Effects on Yield and Fruit Quality in Apple

ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to determine the king versus lateral fruit thinning effects on yield and fruit quality of ‘Elstar’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Starkrimson Delicious’, ‘Ultra Red’, ‘Topred’, and ‘Jonagold’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars grafted on MM106 rootstock in 2002-2003. Removal of the king fruit (KFR) treatment partially increased the yield in ‘Jonagold’, ‘Elstar’, and ‘Granny Smith’ cultivars while the effects were different by years in “Starkrimson Delicious”. Leaving of the king fruit (KFL) treatment gave better results in the ‘Topred’ cultivar, and similar effects were obtained from both treatments in ‘Ultra Red’ cultivar. Non-significant differences were obtained from both treatments with respect to fruit weight in the ‘Topred’, ‘Starkrimson Delicious’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Granny Smith’ cultivars. Leaving of the king fruit treatment increased the fruit weight significantly in ‘Elstar’ and ‘Ultra Red’ cultivars in 2002. The values of fruit flesh firmness (lb), total soluble solids content (%), pH, titratable acidity (%), total and invert sugar quantity (g/100 g^?1) were not found to be significantly different between the treatments with a few exceptions. The ‘KFR’ treatment that removed the dominant effect of the king fruit can be recommended for the ‘Elstar’ and ‘Jonagold’ cultivars because this treatment increased the yield and did not decreased the fruit weight significantly in these cultivars except for ‘Elstar’ in 2002. On the other hand ‘KFL’ treatment can be recommended for the ‘Granny Smith’, Topred’ and ‘Ultra Red’ cultivars. Although this treatment decreased the yield of ‘Granny Smith’ it increased the mean fruit weight 45.6-62.7 g in the two experiment years. ‘Starkrimson Delicious’ did not show clear response to the treatments.     

芦笋新品种‘冠军’

 ‘冠军’芦笋是从‘阿波罗’优选雌株系与‘荷兰全雄’的优选株系杂交后代中选育出的一代杂种。生育期260 d,植株生长旺盛,平均茎高220 cm。白笋种植色泽洁白,绿笋种植整体色泽浓绿。笋条直,粗细均匀,质地细嫩,包头紧密,不散头,无空心,无畸形。一级笋率92.6%,平均产量22 500 kg · hm^-2。抗茎枯病,适宜白笋、绿笋栽培。     

Highbush Blueberry Cultivar Trial in Ontario,Canada

ABSTRACT

A replicated trial of eleven cultivars was planted at Simcoe, Ontario in 1991. Plants were first harvested in 1994. After eight harvest seasons, ‘Bluegold’ was the highest yielding cultivar, averaging 6.8 t/ha, and ‘Toro’ had the largest berries, averaging 1.81 g per berry. ‘Bluetta’ was the earliest cultivar with on average 50% of its yield picked by 16 July and ‘Elliott’ the latest, with on average 50% of its yield picked by 27 August. Overall, ‘Duke’ proved to have the best combination of characteristics of the early cultivars, and ‘Nelson’ was the most impressive late cultivar.