Yield and fruit quality of ‘Nova’ hybrid [Citrus clementina hort. ex Tanaka × (C. reticulata Blanco × C. paradisi Macfad)] and two Clementine varieties (C. clementina hort. ex Tanaka) as affected by self- and cross-pollination

Low yields of ‘Nova’ citrus hybrid are common in single variety plantings (plantings consisting of one variety) due to its sexual self-incompatibility. Self-incompatibility may be overcome by cross-pollination with other compatible varieties. Fruit quality and yield of ‘Nova’ citrus hybrid as well as of the ‘SRA63’ and ‘Marisol’ Clementines, when either they were self-pollinated in single variety plantings or each one of the two Clementine varieties was used as a pollenizer for ‘Nova’ in mixed plantings (plantings consisting of more than one variety), were investigated. The study was carried out for two successive years under the same environmental and cultural conditions using three single variety plantings (‘Nova’ × ‘Nova’, ‘SRA63’ × ‘SRA63’, ‘Marisol’ × ‘Marisol’) and two mixed plantings (‘Nova’ × ‘SRA63’, ‘Nova’ × ‘Marisol’).     

Response of watersprout growth to fruit load and intensity of dormant pruning in peach tree

Watersprout occurrence and growth were investigated over a two-year period in an early maturing peach cultivar (Alexandra) under different intensities of dormant pruning for fruited and defruited trees. A preliminary study focused on identifying the laws that determine the probability of presence and occurrence of watersprouts in relation to watersprout-bearing shoot (WBS) length. The increase in watersprout probability of presence and occurrence resulting from greater WBS length illustrated the high capacity of peach for sprouting. Watersprout lengths were measured, as well as the lengths of young shoots, one-year-old fruit-bearing shoots (FBSs) and older branches considered as WBS in order to evaluate total shoot growth within the tree. Watersprout number and total length tended to be higher under severe dormant pruning and in fruited trees than under light dormant pruning and in defruited trees. This stimulation of watersprout length appeared to compensate for the concomitant lower total length of young shoots, resulting in a constant overall vegetative growth rate for the whole tree. In the second year of the experiment, watersprouts were either removed by summer pruning or not in order to evaluate watersprout incidence on the rest of the tree. After light and severe watersprout removal (WSR), the annual diametrical growth of FBS tended to be higher and lower, respectively, compared to trees not submitted to summer pruning. Light WSR might favour light interception in the centre of the canopy, thus improving assimilate production and allocation to FBS, whereas severe WSR could prevent carbohydrate export from watersprouts to FBS. Under our conditions, the limit at which WSR intensity became detrimental for FBS diametrical growth appeared to be after approximately 75% of the watersprouts were removed. Severe WSR appeared likely to improve fruit diameter, whereas it had no significant impact on the percentage of soluble solids.     

翠冠与玉冠梨果实发育过程中色素、糖、酸累积特性研究

为进一步明确不同皮色梨品种果实色素、内在品质成分的变化特性,以褐皮梨新品系玉冠与绿皮梨品种翠冠为试材,测定了果实发育进程中纵横径、果皮与果肉色素含量的动态变化,以及在成熟至采收期间,可滴定酸、可溶性固形物、糖含量的变化特性。结果显示,2品种果实发育均呈"S"型曲线动态变化,果皮与果肉总叶绿素与类胡萝卜素含量及在测定期间的动态变化规律亦无显著差异。在成熟前14d至采收,果实生长趋缓,糖、酸含量急剧变化,2品种表现出各自特点,生产上应针对不同品种的内在品质形成特性,适期采收。     

Effects of deficit irrigation on biomass,yield, water productivity and fruit quality of processing tomato under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions

Processing tomato is a high water demanding crop, thus requiring irrigation throughout growing season in arid and semiarid areas. The application of deficit irrigation (DI) strategies to this crop may greatly contribute to save irrigation water. A two-year study was carried out in order to assess the effects of DI upon water productivity, final biomass, fruit yield and some quality traits of open-field processing tomato cv. Brigade in a typical semi-arid Mediterranean environment of South Italy. Four irrigation treatments were studied: no irrigation following plant establishment (V0); 100% (V100) or 50% (V50) evapotranspiration (ETc) restoration up to fruit maturity, 100% ETc restoration up to flowering, then 50% ETc restoration (V100-50). Total dry biomass accumulation was significantly depressed by early soil water deficit in V0; irrigation at a reduced rate (50% ETc) from initial stages (V50) or from flowering onwards (V100-50) did not induce any losses in final dry biomass. The marketable yield did not significantly differ among plots irrigated, but an averaged irrigation water saving of 30.4% in V100-50 and 46.2% in V50 was allowed as compared to V100. Marketable yield was negatively affected by the early water shortage in V0, due to the high fruit losses (>44%). The effects of DI on fruit quality were generally the converse of those on fruit yield. DI improved total soluble solids content, titratable acidity and vitamin C content. Water use efficiency was positively affected by DI, suggesting that the crop does not benefits from the water when this last is supplied to fulfil total crop requirements for the whole season. Yield response factor, which indicates the level of tolerance of a crop to water stress, was 0.49 for total dry biomass (Kss) and 0.76 for marketable yield (Ky), indicating that in both cases the reduction in crop productivity is proportionally less than the relative ET deficit. In conclusion, the adoption of DI strategies where a 50% reduction of ETc restored is applied for the whole growing season or part of it could be suggested in processing tomato, to save water improving its use efficiency, minimizing fruit losses and maintaining high fruit quality levels. This aspect is quite important in semi-arid environments, where water scarcity is an increasing concern and water costs are continuously rising.     

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruit quality attributes and phytochemicals under different crop load

Three apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars were subjected to different degrees of fruit thinning during pit hardening. At harvest fruit quality characteristics were assessed, along with phytochemicals’ concentration, such as carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and organic acids. Antioxidant capacity of the pulp was estimated by diphenyl picryl hydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Thinning improved fruit weight in two of the three cultivars with a subsequent decrease in fruit firmness, without significant effect on total soluble solid content and titratable acidity. The skin color was not influenced by thinning, but carbohydrate concentration and sweetness index increased. Total phenol concentration increased with thinning, without any similar increase of the major individual phenolic compounds detected (neo-chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid). The antioxidant capacity of the pulp was not influenced by thinning. In overall, thinning enhanced the pomological traits of apricot fruits as well as their phytochemical content.     

Pineapple organic acid metabolism and accumulation during fruit development

Developmental changes in pineapple (Ananas Comosus (L.) Merrill) fruit acidity was determined for a ‘Smooth Cayenne’ high acid clone PRI#36-21 and a low acid clone PRI#63-555. The high acid clone gradually increased in fruit acidity from 1.4 meq/100 ml 6 weeks from flowering, and peaked a week before harvest at ca 10 meq/100 ml. In contrast, the low acid clone increased in acidity 6 to 8 weeks after flowering, peaked 15 weeks after flowering at ca. 9 meq per/100 ml and then sharply declined in 2 weeks to 6 meq/100 ml. The increased in total soluble solids (TSS) of the low acid clone began 6 weeks after flowering and for the high acid clone at 12 weeks after flowering. The increase in titratable fruit acidity (TA) paralleled the changes in the citric acid content of both clones. Citric acid content increased from less than 1 mg/g at 6 weeks after flowering to 6 to 7 mg/g, 9 weeks later. The malic acid concentration in both clones varied between 3 and 5 mg/g and showed no marked changes just before harvest. The developmental changes in fruit potassium were significantly correlated with fruit acidity and fruit total soluble solids in both the high and low acid clones. Developmental changes in acid-related enzymatic activities showed an increase in citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7) activity that occurred a week before harvest, coincided with the peak in citric acid in the high acid clone. An increase in aconitase (ACO, EC 4.2.1.3) activity was observed just before harvest as the decline in acidity occurred in the low acid clone. The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), malate dehydrogenase (MDH, EC 1.1.1.37) and malic enzyme (ME, EC 1.1.1.40) did not parallel any changes in fruit acidity. The results indicated that the change in pineapple fruit acidity during development was due to changes in citric acid content. The major difference in acid accumulation occurred in the low acid clone just before harvest when acidity declined by one-third. The activities of citrate synthase and aconitase possibly played a major role in pineapple fruit acidity changes.     

Growth and quality of Brazilian accessions of Capsicum chinense fruits

Total fresh and dry weight of Capsicum chinense fruit accessions were inversely correlated with accumulation of dry matter, and fruits with a higher percentage of dry matter accumulated proportionally more total soluble solids. Based on regression analysis, a 1% increase in fruit dry weight was associated with a 0.28% improvement in total soluble content, up to a maximum total soluble solid content of 10.25%. Regardless of shape, larger fruits had thicker pericarps, and were therefore more suitable for open air fresh markets. Smaller fruits had thinner pericarps and higher concentrations of total soluble solids and were more appropriate for dehydration and paprika production. Dry fruits with color intensities greater than 200 ASTA units, as required for paprika production, were found in 18.4% of the analyzed accessions. A large number of accessions, close to 27%, had total capsaicinoid concentrations less than or equal to 1.9 mg g⁻¹ dry weight, and can be considered as sweet or light pungent fruits. A small percentage of accessions (2.5%) were classified as extremely hot fruits.     

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。     

采前喷钙对中华寿桃采后贮藏品质及褐变的影响

通过生长期树冠喷施Ca(NO3)2,研究了采前喷钙对中华寿桃采后贮藏品质及其褐变的影响。结果表明,喷钙处理后中华寿桃果皮和果肉钙含量分别提高了11.5%和16.1%,果实硬度提高了7.8%,增强了果实贮藏过程中硬度的保持力,贮藏过程中可溶性固形物和可滴定酸含量及变化不受喷钙处理的影响(α=0.05);与对照相比,虽然处理果实呼吸高峰推迟1d出现,但喷钙处理对中华寿桃采后呼吸的抑制效果并不明显;此外,喷钙处理还提高了冷藏后货架期间果实总酚含量和多酚氧化酶活性,并且显著抑制细胞膜脂氧合酶的活性(α=0.05);采前喷施硝酸钙处理虽然没有明显抑制中华寿桃冷藏4周后货架期间果肉的褐化,但对抑制果实褐腐症状效果显著。     

Effects of foliar application of calcium chloride and urea on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pomegranate fruits

The effects of urea and calcium chloride and their combinations on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pomegranate fruits were studied over 2 years. Aqueous solutions of urea at 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% and calcium chloride at 0%, 2% and 4% were applied on two branches of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. cv Malase-Yazdi) at full bloom (FB) and 1 month after full bloom (1MAFB) stages. Urea at concentrations of 1% and 2% significantly increased aril size, fruit length and diameter. Calcium chloride at concentrations of 2% and 4% significantly increased average fruit weight and ascorbic acid (AA) content. Both urea and calcium chloride increased soluble solid content (SSC) at all of the used concentrations. In the first time of spraying, higher level of treatments reduced titratable acidity (TA), but the second time of spraying did not significantly affect the TA.     

大棚番茄光合速率与果实发育生理指标的关系

以大棚番茄为试材,测定了其叶片光合速率并计算出日均光合速率、果实维生素C、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质、酸度的变化。结果表明:光合速率的增大可促进番茄果实内维生素C、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、有机酸的合成;番茄果实的发育过程中,随果实的成熟,可溶性糖、维生素C、有机酸的含量逐渐增加,而可溶性蛋白质的含量则逐渐降低。     

Strawberry fruit quality attributes after application of plant growth stimulating compounds

Strawberry plants cv. Camarosa were treated with different plant growth stimulators, in order to examine their effect on both yield and product quality. The treatments comprised an untreated control and a mixture of a seaweed extract plus a commercial mixture of nitrophenolates and a commercial mixture of an auxin (phenothiol) plus gibberellic acid at two dose rates. The plant growth stimulators increased marketable yield and fruit size, while they had no significant impact on fruit juice pH, titratable acidity and total soluble solids concentration. Furthermore, they had no significant effect on fruit organic acid and carbohydrate concentration and on fruit color, although they enhanced total anthocyanin concentration. The antioxidant activity of the fruit juice was slightly higher in the fruits of control treatment, which could be the result of their higher total phenol, o-diphenol, flavonoid and flavanol concentration. When a taste panel took place, the panelists gave the best score to those fruits deriving from plants treated with the mixture of auxin plus gibberellic acid.     

1-MCP对草莓果实采后生理及品质的影响

以转色期丰香草莓为材料,测定了经0.3～0.9μL/L1-MCP处理后果实采后呼吸速率、抗氧化酶活性、活性氧积累以及果实品质的变化规律。结果表明,1-MCP处理抑制草莓果实呼吸作用,维持较高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和较低的脂氧合酶(LOX)活性,同时降低超氧阴离子(O·2)产生速率、H2O2积累和丙二醛(MDA)含量,有利于保持果实品质。     

Effect of phosphite fertilization on growth,yield and fruit composition of strawberries

Traditionally, phosphates (Pi, salts of phosphoric acid, H₃PO₄) have been used for plant fertilization, and phosphites (Phi, salts of phosphorous acid, H₃PO₃) have been used as fungicides. Nowadays several Phi fertilizers are available in the EU market despite the fact that in research trials Phi has often had a negative influence on plant growth. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of a Phi fertilizer on plant growth, yield and fruit composition of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Experiments were carried out with ‘Polka’ frigo plants in South Estonia in 2005 and 2006. The number of leaves per plant, total and marketable yields, fruit size, fruit ascorbic acid content (AAC), soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), anthocyanins (ACY) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were recorded.     

Relationship between tipburn and leaf mineral composition in strawberry

Malformation of emerging leaves with distortion of leaf tips, a condition known as tipburn, is frequently observed in strawberry. Calcium (Ca) deficiency has been considered the main cause of tipburn. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relationship between leaf mineral composition and the incidence of tipburn in three short-day strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivars (‘Ventana’, ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Candonga’) submitted to different concentrations of Ca. The studies were conducted in 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 replications was used. Each replicate consisted of 12 plants grown in a polyethylene bag (100 cm × 18 cm × 3 cm) filled with coconut peat. Crown diameter and tipburn incidence were evaluated throughout the experimental period, and at the end of the experiment leaf mineral composition was assessed. In general, plants with larger crown diameters had a greater incidence of tipburn. The ‘Candonga’ cultivar had the smallest incidence of tipburn, while the ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Ventana’ cultivars were more susceptible. There was no correlation between level of Ca applied and incidence of tipburn. The incidence of tipburn was associated with foliar K:Ca and K:Mg ratios. Ratios above 3.40 for K:Mg and 1.77 for K:Ca represented a risk of more than 50% of tipburn incidence, when overall means for all cultivars and levels of Ca were used.     

Tree performance and fruit yield and quality of ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma mandarin grafted on 12 rootstocks

The citriculture in Brazil, as well as in other important regions in the world, is based on very few mandarin cultivars. This fact leads to a short harvest period and higher prices for off-season fruit. The ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) is among the earliest ripening mandarin cultivars, and it is considered to be tolerant to citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri Schaad et al.) and to citrus variegated chlorosis (Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al.). Despite having regular fruit quality under hot climate conditions, the early fruit maturation and absence of seeds of ‘Okitsu’ fruits are well suited for the local market in the summer (December through March), when the availability of citrus fruits for fresh consumption is limited. Yet, only a few studies have been conducted in Brazil on rootstocks for ‘Okitsu’. Consequently, a field trial was carried out in Bebedouro, São Paulo State, to evaluate the horticultural performance of ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma mandarin budded onto 12 rootstocks: the citrandarin ‘Changsha’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) × Poncirus trifoliata ‘English Small’; the hybrid Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) × ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (P. trifoliata (L.) Raf. × Citrus paradisi Macfad.); the trifoliates (P. trifoliata (L.) Raf.) ‘Rubidoux’, ‘FCAV’ and ‘Flying Dragon’ (P. trifoliata var. monstrosa); the mandarins ‘Sun Chu Sha Kat’ (C. reticulata Blanco) and ‘Sunki’ (Citrus sunki (Hayata) Hort. ex. Tanaka); the Rangpur limes (C. limonia Osbeck) ‘Cravo Limeira’ and ‘Cravo FCAV’; ‘Carrizo’ citrange (Citrus sinensis × P. trifoliata), ‘Swingle’ citrumelo (P. trifoliata × C. paradisi), and ‘Orlando’ tangelo (C. paradisi × Citrus tangerina cv. ‘Dancy’). The experimental grove was planted in 2001, using a 6 m × 3 m spacing, in a randomized block design. No supplementary irrigation was applied. Fruit yield, canopy volume, and fruit quality were assessed for each rootstock. A cluster multivariate analysis identified three different rootstock pairs with similar effects on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of ‘Okitsu’ mandarin. The ‘Flying Dragon’ trifoliate had a unique effect over the ‘Okitsu’ trees performance, inducing lower canopy volume and higher yield efficiency and fruit quality, and might be suitable for high-density plantings. The ‘Cravo Limeira’ and ‘Cravo FCAV’ Rangpur limes induced early-ripening of fruits, with low fruit quality. ‘Sun Chu Sha Kat’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarins and the ‘Orlando’ tangelo conferred lower yield efficiency and less content of soluble solids for the latter rootstock.     

Effect of propagation material on some quality attributes of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa, var. Selva)

In the Mediterranean region, cold-stored plants (summer planting system) are used as the main strawberry planting material (plant establishing period July–August). However, recently fresh plants (winter planting system) have also started being used for strawberry production (plant establishing period October–November). As the plantations originated from cold-stored or fresh plants differ in plant growth and yield, some differences in fruit quality have also been expected; therefore, the objective of the current study was to compare fruit quality of plants originated from different propagation material. Cold-stored plants were well developed before the beginning of the spring harvest, while fresh plants continued growth concomitantly with fruiting. The harvesting period of cold-stored plants lasted 4–6 weeks (second week of April–second half of May). Fresh plants produced fewer and larger fruits than cold-stored plants, but for a longer harvest period, which lasted throughout all summer. Differences in soluble solids and dry matter content between the fruits from cold-stored and fresh plants were observed in the first three sampling dates in both years of the experiment. In some sampling dates, significant differences in anthocyanin, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content, were observed between fruits of plants originated from different propagation material.     

Interactive effects of planting time and mulching on ‘Chandler’ strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Studies were conducted in ‘Chandler’ strawberry with the aim to optimize planting time and mulching material under the semi-arid region of north Indian plains. Three planting times viz., mid-September, mid-October and mid-November and three mulch materials viz., black polyethylene (50 μm), clear polyethylene (50 μm) and paddy straw (10 cm thickness) were tried with three replications in a split plot design. Mid-September planting favoured plant growth, enhanced flowering (77.3 days), which resulted in production of significantly larger fruit (13.0 g) and higher yield (174.4 g/plant) with fruit having higher TSS (9.23%), acidity (1.22%) and ascorbic acid content (44.1 mg/100 g of pulp) with lesser incidence of albinism (9.6%) and botrytis rot (8.1%) than other plantings. Plants mulched with black polyethylene have significantly better growth, and they flowered (80.2 days) and fruited early (29.2 days), and produced larger fruit (12.6 g) and higher yield (172.4 g/plant), with slightly higher incidence of albinism (20.1%), but with lower incidence of botrytis rot (7.3%) than those mulched either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. Planting time × mulching interaction has significantly influenced plant growth; flowering and fruiting; fruit yield and quality, and albinism and botrytis rot. Plants have best growth parameters like, plant height (11.2 cm), crown spread (24.1 cm) and leaf area (87.9 cm²), they took lesser days to flowering (73.7 days) and fruiting (31.3 days), produced larger fruit (13.7 g) and higher yield (191.3 g/plant) with fruit having higher TSS (9.41%), acidity (1.17%) and higher ascorbic acid content (46.4 mg/100 g pulp) with a slightly higher incidence of albinism (10.3%), but comparatively lower incidence of botrytis rot (5.2%) when planted during mid-September and mulched with black polyethylene than other plantings and mulched either with clear polyethylene or paddy straw. These studies indicated that strawberry could be planted in mid-September with black polyethylene mulch under semi-arid regions of India for early fruiting, and higher yield of better quality fruits.     

Fruit yield and quality of strawberry plants transformed with a fruit specific strawberry pectate lyase gene

Two transgenic strawberry lines (Pel 1 and Pel 3) containing the open reading frame of a fruit specific strawberry pectate lyase gene (FaplC) under the control of the CaMV35S promoter have been obtained to evaluate the role of this gene on fruit softening. Ripen fruits from both lines showed a significant down-regulation of FaplC, being the percentage of silencing of 84 and 71% on Pel 1 and Pel 3, respectively. The agronomic behaviour of transgenic plants was evaluated during two consecutive years. Fruit set increased in the two transgenic lines when compared with control plants, although Pel 1 showed a significant reduction on fruit weight. Firmness of full ripen fruits from Pel lines was significantly higher than control fruits, while color and soluble solids were not affected. The increase of firmness in Pel lines was maintained when ripe fruits were stored for 3 days at 25 °C. Histological analysis of ripe fruits showed lower intercellular spaces and a higher degree of cell to cell contact area in transgenic fruits when compared with controls. Altogether, these results suggest a direct relationship between pectate lyase gene expression and strawberry fruit softening.     

The effectiveness of grafting to improve tomato fruit quality

The possibility of applying grafting to improve fruit quality has been scarcely investigated. Different shoot tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes were grafted onto distinctly-different tomato rootstocks and the effect of the rootstock on two important fruit quality parameters, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA), was studied under both non-saline and saline conditions. Increased SSC and TA in fruits from grafted plants grown under saline conditions were observed on different grafting combinations. One of these rootstocks (cv. Radja) was able to induce increases in both fruit yield and fruit quality traits of the scion. When recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the crossing of the cultivated tomato and wild tomato (Solanum cheesmaniae) were tested as rootstocks, using the commercial hybrid ‘Boludo’ as scion, the rootstock also improved SSC and TA when grafted plants were grown under non-saline conditions. On the whole, these results show the effectiveness of grafting with respect to upgrading of fruit quality in tomato, which is of great importance as grafting is a rapid and efficient alternative to achieve this goal.