Relationships between strawberry fruit quality attributes and crop load

Crop load can influence fruit quality in several horticultural species. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of calcium on crop quality traits in three short-day strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars (‘Ventana’, ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Candonga’) and to assess the relationships between crop load and quality parameters. The studies were conducted using a hydroponic system in a greenhouse. Calcium was added as Ca(NO₃)₂ at 2 mM, 3 mM, 4 mM and 5 mM. A completely randomized block design (4 Ca concentrations × 3 cultivars) with three replicates was used. Each replicate consisted of 12 plants grown in polyethylene bags (100 cm × 18 cm × 3 cm) filled with coconut peat. Titratable acidity, total soluble solids and firmness were measured throughout the experimental period. Calcium application had no effect on fruit quality attributes but the genotype effect was clear. At the end of the experiment (28th May, 2008), titratable acidity was positively related to the fresh weight of above-ground biomass and number of leaves respectively in the ‘Ventana’ and ‘Camarosa’ cultivars. Higher values of total soluble solids were found at low crop load in ‘Ventana’ but in ‘Camarosa’ this relation was not found. In ‘Candonga’, higher total soluble solids were linked to crop load. In ‘Ventana’, titratable acidity significantly decreased as crop load increased, and in ‘Camarosa’ high values of titratable acidity were found at different values of crop load. ‘Ventana’ seemed to be more sensitive to the effects of crop load patterns. Genotype was an important factor in determining fruit quality parameters.     

A comparison of the combined effect of water stress and crop load on fruit growth during different phenological stages in young peach trees.

Summary

The combined effect of fruit load and water stress on fruit water content and dry-matter accumulation was analysed for three phenological stages of fruit growth. Irrigation treatments were no irrigation during Stage I (NI-SI), Stage II (NI-SII), or Stage III (NI-SIII) compared with a fully irrigated control. Three thinning treatments were imposed within each irrigation treatment resulting in fruit loads ranging from low to high. Fruit harvests at the end of Stage I, II and III were used to determine total tree fruit fresh and dry matter after each stage of fruit development. Fruit water accumulation was highly sensitive to the effect of water stress at high fruit loads in all fruit developmental phases, but reductions in fruit water content were more apparent during Stages II and III than during Stage I. On the other hand, fruit dry-matter accumulation was relatively insensitive to water stress at any fruit load level and developmental stage. However, reductions in dry-matter accumulation were obtained during Stage III from those trees that were not irrigated during Stage I (NISI). Since these reductions occurred only for mid-to-high fruit load conditions, the decreases in fruit growth during Stage III appeared to be related to a carbon source limitation. The possible reasons for this source limitation are discussed.     

Wood age and leaf area influence fruit size and mineral composition of apple fruit

Summary

The influence of wood age, fruiting position and leaf area within the tree canopy on fruit mineral content and quality for several apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars was investigated. Size and Ca, Mg and K content of individual fruit on one-year (lateral and terminal positions), two-year and older than three-year wood were compared for cvs Royal Gala, Braeburn, Granny Smith and Fuji. Fruit on two-year spurs and one-year terminals was generally larger at commercial harvest than that on one-year laterals and spurs older than three years. Flower receptacles at full bloom were larger and fruit growth rates were greater from 60 to 100 d after full bloom on two-year spurs than on one-year laterals. Fruit Ca and Mg concentrations and contents at commercial harvest were highest for terminal fruit, but there was no consistent difference between fruit from other positions. One-year terminals had the greatest primary and bourse leaf areas, two-year spurs were intermediate and one-year laterals had the lowest areas of both leaf types. Removal of 50% of primary leaves and/or removal of bourse shoots from clusters at bloom reduced fruit Ca content at commercial harvest for two-year spurs, one-year laterals and one-year terminals. Bourse shoot removal also reduced Mg content for all positions. However there was no effect of leaf removal on fruit size or K content. Ca content of individual fruit increased curvilinearly with increasing total spur leaf area for fruit on two-year spurs and one-year terminals but not for fruit on one-year lateral clusters. Terminal fruit with total spur leaf areas and fruit size similar to those on two-year spur fruit had higher Ca content.     

Responses of fruit growth,quality, and productivity to crop load in apple cv. Ultra Red Gala/MM111

The effects of three crop load densities (4, 6 and 8 fruit per cm² of the cross-section of each tree branch, BCSA) on fruit growth, yield, fruit quality and vegetative growth were studied in apples (Malus × domestica Borkh) Ultrared Gala/MM111, from the fourth leaf (2006–2007 season) to the sixth (2008–2009 season). The maximum fruit growth rate was reached between 90 and 108 days after full bloom (DAFB), with values above 2.6 g day⁻¹. Accumulated yields to the sixth leaf reached 181, 157 and 123 Mg ha⁻¹ in the high, medium and low crop loads, respectively. Mean fruit weight decreased with increasing fruit crop load but the yields of fruit weight over 194 g were similar in all crop loads; the highest crop load exceeded the lowest crop load by 18.8 and 27.5 Mg ha⁻¹ of fruit weight of more than 172 and 154 g, respectively. The yields of harvested fruit exceeding 75% with red coloring did not show major differences, while fruit classified as 50–75% with red coloring were less common in the low crop load. No major differences were found at the end of the study in vegetative growth in the different seasons, nor in plant size. The reduction in mean fruit weight and in the percentage of fruit with good coloring was compensated by the increase in yields, thus not resulting in an effective reduction in the quality of the harvested fruit. The level of plant development reached with a semi-vigorous rootstock and high fruit loads allowed obtaining high fruit yield earlier and of good quality.     

磁化水对红星苹果贮藏品质影响的研究

用磁化水处理红星苹果，能明显地保持红星苹果果实在贮藏期的硬度和可溶性固形物的含量，对呼吸强度有明显的抑制作用，从而提高红星苹果贮藏品质，延长果实寿命。     

Effects of deficit irrigation on fruit maturity and quality of ‘Braeburn’ apple

Effects of deficit irrigation (DI) on fruit maturity at harvest, ripening characteristics, and changes in fruit quality during and after storage of ‘Braeburn’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, irrigation treatments were a commercially irrigated control (CI), an early deficit irrigation (EDI) applied from 63 to 118 days after full bloom (DAFB), and a late deficit irrigation (LDI) applied from 118 DAFB to final harvest on 201 DAFB. Irrigation treatments in Experiment 2 were a commercially irrigated control (CI) and a whole-season deficit irrigation (WDI). These DI treatments all reduced volumetric soil water content. The LDI and WDI advanced fruit ripening but EDI did not. All DI treatments increased fruit total soluble solids (TSS) and firmness regardless of maturity but had little or no effect on titratable acidity. The differences in TSS started during fruit growth much earlier than the onset of ripening and were maintained during and following storage at 0°C. The differences in firmness also started during fruit growth and were maintained for at least 10 weeks of storage at 0°C.     

Random sample estimates of tree mean for fruit size and colour in apple

Data obtained in 2005 from thinning experiments with ‘Ariane’ and ‘Pitchounette’ apples (Malus × domestica L. Borkh.) were used to estimate tree mean fruit diameter (MD), weight (MW) and proportion of red overcolour (MC) using random samples. Twenty fruit per tree were taken from the boxes containing the fruit harvested at each picking. To avoid taking only fruit in the upper layers of the boxes, fruit from each tree were spread out on a table beforehand. The estimated values were compared with the true MD, MW or MC calculated from each picking and from the entire crop. Statistical techniques were used to assess agreement between the values obtained with estimation methods and the true values. Estimates obtained from a sample averaging ∼15–20% of total crop may range from 2 to 3% of the true mean diameter, and from 6.0 to 8.5% of the true mean weight. Estimates for MC obtained from the same samples may range from 10 to 25% of the true mean overcolour. The error margin associated with estimating fruit diameter and weight from the sampling method employed in this study seems to be small enough to consider it reasonably adequate to detect treatment differences that would be considered biologically or economically significant. Blind sampling and colour determination through image analysis are suggested as a means to obtain unbiased and objective data for fruit colour determinations.     

Productivity of olive trees with different water status and crop load

SUMMARY

A field experiment was conducted over two growing seasons to determine the combined effect of crop load and irrigation on yield components of olive trees (Olea europaea L. ‘Leccino’) planted at 6 m 3.8 m in a sandy-clay soil. Different crop loads were established by manual thinning of fruits. Drip irrigation was managed to maintain pre-dawn leaf water-potentials (PLWP) within the following ranges: (i) higher than –1.1 MPa (FI; fully irrigated); (ii) between –1.0 and –3.3 MPa (DI; deficit irrigated); or (iii) below –1.2 MPa, but not lower than –4.2 MPa (SI; severe deficit irrigated). The irrigation period lasted from 6 – 16 weeks after full bloom (AFB) in 2003, and from 5 – 19 weeks AFB in 2004. In 2003, full bloom was on 26 May; in 2004, it was on 3 June. Neither irrigation regime nor crop load affected flowering or flower quality the following Spring. The combined fruit yields [on a fresh weight (FW) basis] over both years in SI and DI trees were 49.0% and 81.6% of FI trees, respectively. The oil yields of SI and DI trees were 52.5% and 81.2% of FI trees, respectively. Fruit FWs in FI trees were greater than those of DI or SI trees at 8 weeks AFB. At harvest, FI trees bore the largest fruits, and SI trees the smallest fruits. The FWs of individual fruits at harvest in the FI and DI treatments decreased as crop load increased, but no such relationship was apparent for SI trees. The oil content of the mesocarp increased as PLWP increased from approx. –3.5 MPa to –1.5 MPa. The oil content of FI trees at harvest decreased from 53.1% to 45.7% dry weight as fresh fruit yield increased from 5 – 25 kg dm^–2 trunk cross-sectional area. However, crop load did not have any effect on the oil content of the mesocarp in DI trees. Fruit maturation was delayed by irrigation. Maturation index also decreased (indicating delayed maturation) as the crop load on FI or DI trees increased, but did not vary with crop level in SI trees.     

Influence of the water potential of the casing soil on crop yield and on dry-matter content,osmotic potential and mannitol content of the fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus

In the culture of the mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, significant amounts of water are taken up from the casing soil. The water potential of the casing soil was lowered by adding sodium chloride. A lowering of the water potential reduced crop yield, slowed fruit-body development and increased the dry-matter content of sporophores as a percentage of wet weight. Values for dry-matter content of the fruit bodies ranged from 6.7 to 11.5%. Regulation of dry-matter content is therefore possible by adjusting the concentration of salt in the casing soil. The total dry weight of all harvested fruit bodies of the first two flushes (breaks) from cultures with a low water potential in the casing soil (high salt) was as high as that of the crop of cultures with a high water potential (no salt added). The total concentration of osmotically active substances in the pressed juice of caps of fruit bodies increased with decreasing water potential of the casing soil. The increase in mannitol concentration of the press juice contributed significantly to this increase. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of osmotically active substances in the pressed juice and the increase in dry-water content of fruit bodies. Mechanisms of water uptake and movement from the casing soil to the growing fruit bodies are discussed.     

Pollen load affects fruit set,size, and shape in cherimoya

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) is a subtropical fruit crop that exhibits protogyny dichogamy and for which the original pollinators are not present in the main producing countries. Under such circumstances the achievement of profitable yields depends on hand pollination. The present work explores the effects of the amount of pollen applied on pollen–pistil interaction and on fruit set, size, shape and growth. Pollen dilution with Lycopodium spores reduced fruit set and size and favoured the appearance of misshapen fruits, whereas the application of double amount of pollen did not improve fruit size and increased fruit set only the first year. Pollen load did not affect fruit growth model, which always followed a double sigmoid pattern. Nevertheless, the slopes of the curves during the two rapid growth phases were higher when a larger amount of pollen grains was applied. Seed index (seed number per 100 g of fresh fruit weight) rose slightly as pollination level increased.     

苹果分根交替灌溉不同水量对树体生长和水分利用效率的影响

以3 a生分根盆栽嘎拉苹果为试材,研究了不同根域交替灌溉不同水量对树体生长和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,灌水量调控了苹果新梢二次生长的发生、生长时间和速率,每一根域每次灌水量为500 mL时,仅4/4根域灌水处理的新梢出现二次生长;灌水量为750 mL时,2/4、3/4和4/4根域灌水处理的新梢均出现二次生长;灌水量为1 000 mL时,1/4、2/4、3/4和4/4处理的新梢均有二次生长,其二次生长随着灌水根域的增多而时间提早,生长速率加快。每一根域灌水量相同时,植株主干、枝条、叶片、根系和总生物量随灌水根域增多而提高,750 mL与1 000mL根域灌水处理差异不显著。植株的水分利用效率随灌水根域的增多而降低。从确保树体正常生长和提高树体水分利用效率综合分析,2/4根域每次灌水750 mL为最佳灌溉方案。     

果树EST在果实发育和成熟研究中的应用

表达序列标签(EST)已成为植物功能基因组学研究的重要手段,在揭示植物生长发育机制方面起着重要作用。近年来果树EST研究与应用也得到快速发展,dbEST数据库中EST信息量超过5 000条的果树已达37种。着重介绍柑橘、葡萄、苹果、猕猴桃、桃、草莓和杨梅等果树EST在果实发育和成熟研究中的应用进展,并展望今后研究的热点和趋势。     

Specific micromorphometric reactions of fruit trees to water stress and irrigation scheduling automation

Continuous recordings of diameter variations using LVDT gauges were made on potted or field grown apple and peach-trees to seek a reliable indicator of water stress. The first and general indication of water stress was the decrease and stoppage of daily growth in stem diameter. When water was sufficiently available in the soil, maximum daily shrinkage was a versatile indicator of transpiration stream intensity. When water availability in the soil strongly decreased two kinds of specific daily shrinkage patterns appeared: a) ‘peach-tree’ pattern, whose maximum daily shrinkage markedly increased as water stress became more severe, and b) ‘apple-tree’ pattern, where maximum daily shrinkage under severe water stress was smaller than its well watered value. Parameters for irrigation automation designs are proposed by processing both daily growth data and daily shrinkage data.     

Effect of fruit load on 9,10-ketol-octadecadienoic acid (KODA), GA and jasmonic acid concentrations in apple buds

The relationship between 9,10-ketol-octadecadienoic acid (KODA), GAs and jasmonic acid (JA) and flower bud formation influenced by fruit load in apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) was investigated. The endogenous KODA and JA concentrations in apical buds in plants subjected to flower thinning treatment (FTT), under which all flowers were removed were higher than those in plants subjected to heavy crop treatment (HCT), under which the number of leaves per fruit was adjusted to 20 from 60 to 120 days after full bloom (DAFB). In contrast, the gibberellic acid concentrations [total of gibberellin A₁ (GA₁) and gibberellin A₄ (GA₄)] in FTT plants were low compared with those in HCT plants. The result suggests that KODA and JA in contrast to GAs may have opposite effects on flower bud formation which is significantly influenced by fruit load in apples and that KODA and JA may also be associated with flower bud formation in apples.     

膜下滴灌量对甜瓜产量和品质的影响

开展不同滴灌量对甜瓜品质影响的研究,对于新疆等西北干旱地区生产优质甜瓜、节约水资源具有重要意义。膜下不同滴灌处理对甜瓜品质的影响研究结果表明:在新疆的气候条件下,田间持水量70%-80%的处理,甜瓜品质表现较好,8601和新密19可溶性固形物含量达到13.69%和16.75%,维生素C含量分别达到8.05、12.55mg/kg,小区产量也分别高于其他处理。     

果树节水灌溉研究进展

针对我国水资源缺乏、果树多年生、栽培面积大、经济效益高的特点,综述了工程节水技术和农艺节水技术在果树上的应用现状,分析了果树节水灌溉的理论体系及发展趋势。     

苹果凹果类病毒(ADFVd)的检测与序列分析

采集新疆焉耆地区的老果园的苹果树枝条、叶片和韧皮部,利用自行设计的方法提取总RNA,根据GenBank中的X99487序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR技术扩增出苹果凹果类病毒(ADFVd)特异条带,通过回收克隆测序,结果表明,获得的7条序列,有5条同源性很高,均在98%以上,另外2条的同源性只有85%左右,这7条序列均已在GenBank中登录(登录号:EU031497_EU031503)。在此基础上利用插入ADFVd目的DNA的质粒为模板,成功合成了地高辛标记的cDNA探针,该探针能很好地用于ADFVd的检测。同时利用原位RT-PCR技术,做了进一步检测,证明苹果叶片中有苹果凹果类病毒存在,主要分布在叶肉细胞的细胞核中。     

不同砧木对苹果树水分状况年变化的影响

苹果树各器官水势的年变化中，大部时间乔砧树高于矮化中间砧树，与半矮化中间砧树差异较小，与矮化中间砧树差异较大。水势较低影响树体营养生长而有利生殖生长。     

苹果果锈的发生及防治

<正>果面光洁度是衡量苹果品质的重要因素之一。在苹果果实生长过程中,果实表面出现黄褐色的斑块,称之为果锈。果实出现果锈后,外观变差,品质变劣,商品性降低,轻则销售价格下滑,重则失去商品价值,严重影响生产效益。2021年在甘肃省白银市平川区呈严重发生态势,该区宝积乡吊沟村和大湾村133.33 hm²苹果生产基地,果锈发生率高达35%以上,     

液体授粉对苹果坐果率及果实的影响

苹果液体授粉试验结果表明:液体授粉的花朵坐果率较自然授粉提高61.41%,花序坐果率提高13.73%;偏斜果率较自然授粉降低19.6%,果实纵径较自然授粉增加6.43 mm,果实横径较自然授粉增加8.27 mm。