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.     

Effects of bagging on fruit development and quality in cross-winter off-season longan

Clusters of cross-winter off-season longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour) cv. Chuliang were bagged with three types of bags: perforated translucent plastic bag (TPB), white adhesive-bonded fabric bag (WAFB) with about 70% light transmittance, and black adhesive-bonded fabric bag (BAFB) with <10% light transmittance. Bagging treatments began at 34 days after anthesis and continued until harvest. The results showed that bagging modified the microenvironment for fruit development. Bagging with TPB was most effective in increasing humidity, and air moisture within TPB maintained above 90% from 2 weeks after bagging. Bagging with BAFB or WAFB increased humidity most of the time, and the effect was more prominent when the weather was very dry (RH < 60%). All bag types tended to increase temperature and promoted fruit development, resulting in larger sized fruit. Bagging tended to promote early fruit drop but reduced late fruit drop, and the final fruit retention rate was not significantly affected by bagging. Bagging with different materials showed differential effects on incidence of fruit cracking. WAFB and BAFB reduced cracking incidence significantly as compared to the control (5.1% and 11.6% vs 32.8%). Sugar content was not significantly affected by bagging but organic acids including vitamin C (Vc) were considerably affected. Concentration of malic acid, the dominant organic acid in longan aril, was 605.6, 830.0, 1161.0 and 1428 μg/g FW in TPB, BAFB, WAFB and the control. Vc in the aril was significantly reduced by BAFB (108.4 μg/g FW), slightly increased by WAFB (183.9 μg/g FW) and significantly increased by TPB (264.5 μg/g FW) as compared with the control (174.7 μg/g FW). Pericarp of fruit bagged with TPB had a slightly higher content of Vc (1337 μg/g FW), while those bagged with BAFB (873.6 μg/g FW) and WAFB (787.4 μg/g FW) had significantly lower Vc contents than the control (1243 μg/g FW). The responses of oxalate and Vc contents in the aril and the pericarp to bagging treatments showed an opposite trend. The results suggested that WAFB increased fruit size and fruit retention rate while significantly reduced fruit cracking incidence and could be a promising practice for cross-winter longan production.     

Behavior of arazá (Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh) fruit quality traits during growth,development and ripening

The period between fruit set and full ripening of arazá fruit grown in the Colombian Amazonia was 55 ± 5 days. Three stages of a sigmoidal growth were identified and longitudinal and equatorial traits fitted a logistic model better than three-degree polynomial models. Fruit growth clearly exhibited three different physiological stages, identified as follows: S1, involving cellular division during the first 14 days; S2, maximum fruit growth, during which cellular expansion took place (up to day 50), and a final S3 state of 5 days to reach physiological maturity. After this time, the fruit can be harvested with a dull green coloration. Parenchyma was the principal fruit tissue, and no support tissues (sclerenchyma or collenchyma) were evident. The respiratory pattern of arazá fruit was climacteric, with maximum respiration rates of around 200 mg CO₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, preceded by a peak of ethylene production (20 μL C₄H₄ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), a change in skin color from green to yellow, a total soluble solids value of 5°Brix, an increase in the sucrose and fructose content up to 2.8 μmol g⁻¹, a pH which increased to 3 units, and a decrease in titratable acidity to 400 mmol H⁺ L¹⁻. Malic acid was the main organic acid in the edible pulp and ascorbic acid was present in a concentration of 17.8 μmol g⁻¹. Skin color (as measured by hue angle) combined with titratable acidity and fruit firmness can be recommended as harvest indices for arazá fruit.     

Morphogenic gradients of adventitious bud and shoot regeneration in epicotyl explants of Citrus

The in vitro responses of epicotyl explants from ‘Cravo’ rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osb.), ‘Foster’ grapefruit (C. paradisi Macf.), and ‘Pera’ sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osb.) were characterized for the first time. Further analysis was performed in ‘Cravo’ rangpur lime and ‘Foster’ grapefruit aiming to verify the in vitro morphogenesis of five distinct regions of the epicotyl under different treatments. It was observed the same general pattern of morphogenic gradient along the epicotyl axis in both citrus cultivars, with greater organogenic response as the distance of the explants from the cotyledonary node increased. This morphogenic gradient was influenced by factors related to plant material, composition of the culture medium, and conditions of incubation. The regions of the epicotyl farthest from cotyledons could be used as a source of explants in experiments of genetic transformation of the genotypes evaluated aiming to improve the efficiency of production of transgenic Citrus plants.     

多胺在果实生长发育中的作用研究进展

多胺是广泛存在于植物体内的具有生物学活性的低分子量脂肪族含氮碱。它在植物的胚胎发育、花和果实的发育等生长发育过程具有重要的调控作用,同时在延缓植物衰老和抗逆境等方面也具有重要意义。近几年的研究表明多胺代谢同植物开花坐果、果实发育甚至果实品质特性密切相关。概述了多胺对果实坐果,膨大与衰老等果实发育生理过程的影响,并对多胺在果实逆境发育中的作用进行了探讨,对多胺在果实发育过程中可能的调控作用机理以及外源多胺在植物开花坐果上的应用潜力进行了讨论,并展望了多胺作用分子机理的研究前景。     

Drying half of the root-zone from mid fruit growth to maturity in ‘Hass’ avocado (Persea americana Mill.) trees for one season reduced fruit production in two years

We tested the effect of extended drying of half the root system on fruit yield and fruit Ca concentration, an indirect measure of fruit quality, in avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv Hass). In a field experiment on a sandy soil, withholding irrigation and plastic sheeting was used to dry the root-zone beneath the whole canopy (DD) or half the canopy (WD), compared with well-watered trees (WW). The irrigation water contained added nutrients and was slightly saline. Yield, shoot growth, leaf conductance, leaf and fruit water status and mineral concentrations of leaves and fruit were studied. The responses of treated trees were assessed in the following season during which normal irrigation practices were restored. With respect to yield, the WD treatment behaved the same as the DD treatment. It reduced yield by more than half and proportionately more than the reduction in water supply thus reducing irrigation efficiency. Re-watering did not restore yield of WD or DD-trees in the next season. The WD and DD treatments had no effect on the concentration of Ca in the fruit mesocarp and so are unlikely to affect fruit quality. The main impact of reduced water supply on the trees was fruit abscission and this was linked to dry soil around the roots rather than the water status of the leaves or fruits. We conclude that extended drying of half of the root-zone in one season reduced irrigation efficiency for two seasons by promoting the abscission of developing fruit to the same extent as occurred when the whole root system was exposed to extended drying.     

Influence of time of harvest and maturity index on olive oil yield and quality

Harvesting plays a major role in the virgin olive oil production line, being the most expensive single component, but also due to its significant effect on the whole year's produce. Previous studies have focused on the effects of harvest timing on either oil yield or quality. Here we determined the separate and combined effects of harvesting date, fruit maturation, cultivar and fruit load on olive oil quality and quantity. Cultivars typical to the Middle East region were selected: the traditional cv. Souri and the newer cv. Barnea, grown under intensive conditions. The results demonstrate fundamental differences between the two cultivars with respect to harvest strategy. In high-yielding ‘Barnea’, oil accumulation continued throughout the ripening season resulting in increasing yield of oil with time while maintaining high quality. Hence, exploiting the production potential in ‘Barnea’ requires late harvest and advanced fruit maturity. However, in heavily loaded ‘Souri’, oil accumulation was accompanied by early massive shedding of fruits. Furthermore, late harvest and advanced maturation in ‘Souri’ were associated with a sharp increase in free fatty acids combined with a rapid decline in polyphenol content, and in MUFA to PUFA and saturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratios, all resulting in loss of oil quality. Rapid decline in oil yield coupled with deterioration of oil quality call for early harvesting at low maturity index in ‘Souri’. In medium-yielding trees of both cultivars, maturation progressed more rapidly, resulting in earlier harvest to utilize optimal oil potential.     

主干形桃树对光截获能力和果实产量品质的影响

以6a生八月脆桃为试材,在果实成熟期观测分析了2种树形(主干形和开心形)对光截获能力和果实产量及品质的影响。结果表明,2种树形同一层次的平均单果质量、着色指数、光洁度差异不显著;果实硬度和可溶性固形物有显著差异,果实硬度表现为主干形﹥开心形,可溶性固形物则表现为开心形﹥主干形。对光截获能力的影响表现为主干形>开心形;叶面积指数、果实产量指标均表现为主干形高于开心形;果实产量是开心形的2.11倍。桃树主干形是高光效、高产树形。     

外源褪黑素对桃生长及果实品质的影响

[目的]探讨外源褪黑素对桃生长和果实品质的影响.[方法]以早熟桃'早蜜'为试材,于果实膨大期对其叶片喷施不同浓度的褪黑素,测定了桃果实成熟期的新梢生长量、生理状况和果实品质指标.[结果]50?150 pmol?L-1的褪黑素处理能促进桃新梢的生长,增加其茎长和茎粗.150μmol L1褪黑素提高了桃叶片超氧化物歧化酶活...     

Improving fruit quality,nutritional value and yield of Zaghloul dates by the application of organic and/or mineral fertilizers

A field study was carried out during the years 2007 and 2008 on 30-year old Zaghloul cultivar growing in clay soil. Mineral fertilization sources: N, ammonium nitrate or NPK, ammonium nitrate + calcium superphosphate + potassium sulphate, and organic sources: chicken manure (CM), cow dung (CD) and composted domestic refuse (CDR) were applied either alone or in combinations in order to study their influence on the yield and fruit physical and chemical quality characteristics. The results revealed that applying organic manure alone or in combination with mineral NPK increased palm yield as compared to mineral fertilization alone (NPK or N). In general, fruit weight, flesh weight, length, diameter and dry weight were increased, while fruit moisture content decreased by the application of organic manures either alone or in combination with mineral NPK as compared to the mineral N. Higher fruit TSS and total sugars content were obtained by the application of organic manures alone or in combination with mineral NPK as compared with mineral fertilization alone (NPK or N). Overall values of fruit minerals content did not differ among the different treatments. Organic manures fertilization (especially CM and CD) resulted in decreasing fruit lead, cadmium, nitrate and nitrite contents more than mineral fertilization. In general, the application of organic manures either alone or in combinations with mineral NPK did not differ from each other in their effect on yield and fruit quality.     

Influence of growing area and harvest date on the organic acid composition of olive fruits from Gemlik variety

Organic acids (oxalic, citric, galacturonic, tartaric, malic, lactic and succinic) contents of Gemlik variety olive fruits from five different cultivation areas of South Anatolia (Turkey), harvested in six collection dates (September, October and November of crop years 2006 and 2007), were determined by HPLC/DAD. Citric acid was the major compound (∼45%), followed by succinic (19%) and galacturonic acids (∼16%). The olive fruits of Antalya location showed the lowest and Karaman, Alanya and Hatay locations had the highest levels of total organic acids, especially on the early and late harvest. Significant interactions between “location”, “harvest date” and “crop year” were found, regarding the concentrations of citric, lactic, oxalic, tartaric and malic acid (3-way and 2-way interactions), which means that the effect of one factor (e.g. “location”) on an acid's concentration is not constant across the levels of the other factor. For succinic and galacturonic acids's concentrations, all interactions between the considered factors were statistically significant, except the 2-way interaction between “harvest date” and “crop year” which was no significant, meaning that the effect of factor “harvest date” on the succinic and/or on the galacturonic acid's concentrations does not vary significantly from one level of factor “crop year” to other. Significant mean differences were found in the concentrations of individual organic acids according to harvest time, which indicated generally a decline as harvest date moved on or no significant changes in some cases. Our results showed that rainfall and altitude of the location seemed to have more marked effects than temperature, on the levels of some organic acids such as malic, oxalic and succinic acids. The grouping of locations formed in Principal Component Analysis were quite different according to crop years, as for the first crop year (2006) “oxalic, citric, tartaric and succinic” and “lactic, malic, galacturonic” acids were the two groups of variables mainly responsible for discrimination, while for the following crop year (2007) “galacturonic, tartaric, oxalic, lactic”; “succinic, citric” and “malic” acids were the three groups responsible for the formation of clusters.     

叶面喷施沼液肥对温室香瓜茄叶片光合特性、果实产量和品质的影响

以香瓜茄为材料,在日光温室条件下,于果实发育期叶面喷施沼液肥,研究沼液肥施用浓度及其与土壤追肥配合对香瓜茄叶片光合特性和果实产量与品质的影响.结果表明,稀释100倍沼液肥处理的叶片总氮和叶绿素质量分数分别为35.7 g·kg-1和1.129 mg·g-1,显著高于稀释400倍沼液肥的处理和对照,沼液肥配合土壤追肥时叶片...     

金冠苹果树冠内光质构成及其与果实品质的相关性

应用CI-700AB/HR2000光纤光谱仪,研究了田间自然光照条件下金冠苹果树冠内的光质分布及其与果实品质的相关性。结果表明,UV-A、可见光、总辐射、紫光和蓝光,在树冠内分布从上到下、由外到内依次减弱,并与果肉总糖、抗坏血酸、果皮花青苷和类胡萝卜素的分布呈极显著正相关,与果肉可滴定酸和果皮叶绿素呈极显著负相关;UV-B与此相近,但与抗坏血酸呈不显著负相关;红外线则与可见光相反。     

Low leaf to fruit ratio delays fruit maturity of ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry on Gisela 5

Canopy leaf to fruit ratio (L:F) of 6-year-old ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry trees on Gisela 5 rootstock was manipulated at the end of stage II (38 DAFB) of fruit development. While control trees showed a L:F ratio of 0.7:1 without alteration, on other trees young fruit were manually removed to yield L:F ratios of 2:1 and 3:1, respectively. All leaves and young fruit on trees were counted 30 DAFB. The effect of altering the source–sink ratio of whole trees on sweet cherry fruit quality parameters (fruit increment, fruit mass, color, total soluble solids content, contents of individual sugars and organic acids) was evaluated in the study. High leaf area to fruit (LA:F) ratios influenced significantly darkest fruit color, higher fruit mass, higher total soluble solids content and higher ratio between sugars and acids, which corresponded to better ripening stage. Contents of glucose, fructose and sorbitol, but not sucrose, sum of individual sugars, and the content of malic acid differed significantly among fruit of the different treatments. Fruit of the most advanced maturity stage (treatment 3:1) had the highest quality. Each day of improved L:F ratio counts towards better sweet cherry fruit quality. The results show that low L:F ratio influenced prolonged ripening process and delayed fruit maturity of ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry.     

不同成熟度大团蜜露水蜜桃货架期间品质与代谢差异性研究

以大团蜜露水蜜桃为试材,测定了果实采后货架期间的呼吸速率、果实硬度、可溶性固形物含量、维生素C含量、果肉色差L*值、丙二醛含量,以及果实内SOD、POD、CAT、PG、CX等相关酶的变化,结果表明,货架期间,九成熟果实呼吸强度高,果实内含物质消耗的多,货架品质差;七成熟果实能保持较高的硬度,但呼吸速率较八成熟果实高,可溶性固形物、维生素C含量低,风味不足;八成熟果实采收后可以推迟果实呼吸高峰的出现和降低呼吸高峰值,能保持较高的可溶性固形物含量、维生素C含量,维持较高的SOD、POD、CAT等保护酶活性,丙二醛含量较低,生理活性强,有较长的果实货架生理周期,因此,八成熟可作为大团蜜露水蜜桃的货架、保鲜的适宜采收期。     

诱抗剂处理对甜瓜叶部病害和果实品质的影响

以抗病品种银帝和感病品种卡拉克赛为材料,在露地条件下研究了几种植物提取液和苯并噻二唑(BTH)处理对甜瓜主要叶部病害及果实大小和品质的影响。结果表明,BTH、中草药提取液和侧柏提取液对甜瓜叶部各种主要病害的发生都有明显的抑制效果,尤其对白粉病的抑制效果最好,平均防效达75%。4种诱导剂中,BTH对各种病害的防效都较稳定,平均达51.44%,且在幼果期和伸蔓期+幼果期的预防效果均较植物提取液好。采前诱抗处理能明显提高两品种甜瓜果实品质及抗病品种(银帝)的产量,但对感病品种卡拉克赛产量影响不显著;初花期BTH处理可增加果肉厚度、提高可溶性固形物含量,并能改善果实经济性状。     

Differences in fruit colour development,anthocyanin content,fruit quality and consumer acceptability of eight ‘Gala’ apple strains

The effect of strain on fruit colour development, chromaticity values and anthocyanin content, fruit quality and consumer acceptance was evaluated on eight ‘Gala’ apple strains (Malus domestica Borkh.) at the IRTA (Spain), during a period from 4 weeks before to 1 week after commercial harvest. Based on fruit colour, measured with a Minolta CR-200 portable tristimulus colorimeter, and anthocyanin content, the most coloured strains were ‘Royal Beaut’, ‘Buckeye Gala’ (both semistriped) and ‘Ruby Gala’ (blushed). ‘Brookfield’ and ‘Schniga’ (both striped) provided an intermediate level of colour, while ‘Galaxy’ and ‘Mondial Gala’ (both striped) were the least coloured ones. The most important increase in colour development was recorded from 2 weeks before the commercial harvest and continued also increasing after harvest. Highly coloured strains developed a red colour on both fruit sides with greater average of fruit surface coloured, while the less coloured strains exhibited different colouration between sides, more bicolour fruits and lower average of fruit coloured.     

利用多元统计法简化夏橙果实品质的评价指标

为科学地简化柑橘果实品质的评价指标,采用主成分分析、系统聚类及主成分聚类法,以湖北秭归地区生长的6个夏橙品种为材料,对测得的果实单果质量、出汁率、可溶性固形物含量、可滴定酸含量、抗坏血酸含量、果皮着色强度、果肉着色强度等18项常规指标进行了分析。主成分分析结果表明,这18项指标反映的夏橙品质可用4个主成分来表示(累计贡献率达100%),其中,前2个主成分囊括了所检测的18项品质指标,累计贡献率高达83.47%。利用上述4个主成分的值对6个夏橙品种进行聚类,在最大距离为1.0时,奥林达夏橙、无核夏橙、红夏橙和蜜奈夏橙归为一类;伏令夏橙、康贝尔夏橙分别单列为一类。聚为一类的夏橙品种果实品质相近,与实际口感和测得的色泽评价数据相吻合。根据这4个主成分对18项品质指标的特征向量进行主成分聚类,可将这些指标划分为6类,分别从这6类指标中挑选出果形指数、可溶性固形物、囊瓣数、抗坏血酸、果肉色调角及总可溶性糖等6个有代表性的指标,用这6个指标对夏橙品质聚类,在最大距离为1.0处,聚类结果与用4个主成分聚类结果相同,初步表明用以描述夏橙果实品质的18个指标可能简化为6个指标。     

不同果袋对丰水梨果实发育微环境及采后冷藏品质的影响

选择10种不同类型的果袋对丰水梨果实进行套袋处理,研究了套袋对果实发育微环境及采后冷藏品质的影响。结果表明,套袋改变了果实生长发育的微环境,套袋果实在冷藏过程中品质发生了不同变化,如冷藏80d时大部分套袋处理果实的硬度、可溶性固形物、维生素C和可滴定酸含量均显著高于对照,表明套袋处理有效地维持冷藏过程中果实的内在品质。在10种果袋类型中,外黄内黑的双层袋(编号为D-6)套袋处理的果实在冷藏80d时品质最佳。     

施用有机肥对凯特杏果实品质和产量的影响

以12年生的凯特杏为试材,连续3年进行了施有机肥处理对其果实品质和产量的影响试验,结果表明,在凯特杏果园施肥管理中应注重有机肥施入,即每667 m~2施2 800kg有机肥,可保证果实生长发育,增加果园产量和品质。