Regulation of skin color in ‘Aki Queen’ grapes: Interactive effects of temperature,girdling, and leaf shading treatments on coloration and total soluble solids

The interactive effects of temperature, girdling, and leaf shading treatments on the total soluble solids (TSS) content and coloration of ‘Aki Queen’ (Vitis labruscana) grapes were investigated. The TSS contents of berries were significantly higher in girdled plants than in plants with shaded leaves. Anthocyanin accumulation was greater at lower temperature (21 ± 2 °C) than at higher temperature (31 ± 2 °C) in both control and girdled plants, but anthocyanins did not accumulate in plants with shaded leaves at either temperature. Temperature did not influence TSS content. These results suggest that a high enough TSS content promotes anthocyanin synthesis under low temperature during maturation of ‘Aki Queen’ grape.     

Growth and development of Lilium longiflorum ‘Nellie White’ during bulb production under controlled environments : II. Effects of shifting day/night temperature regimes on scale bulblets

One-year old scale bulblets of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. ‘Nellie White’ (Easter lily) were grown for 107 days during growth period 1 (GP-1) in six growth chambers under constant day/night temperature regimes of 30/26, 26/22, 22/18, 18/14, 14/10 and 10/6 °C. Subsequently, half of the plants in each temperature regime were transferred to 18/14 °C and the other half continued at the six constant temperature regimes. Both groups of plants were grown for an additional 89 days in growth period 2 (GP-2). Continuous temperatures of 26/22, 26/22–22/18 and 26/22–18/14 °C produced the greatest increase in basal bulb fresh weight (the main planted bulb), basal bulb circumference and stem bulb fresh weight, respectively. However, shifting these optimal temperatures to 18/14 °C during GP-2 resulted in a lower increase in basal bulb fresh weight and circumference. The optimum range for stem bulb production was expanded to 30/26–14/10 °C by shifting to 18/14 °C. The greatest increase for basal root growth occurred at 14/10–10/6 °C and for stem root growth at 14/10 °C. The temperature shift did not affect either root type. Maximum increase for stem length was at 26/22 and 22/18 °C and for stem plus leaf weight at 14/10 °C under constant temperature regimes. Transferring the plants from 10/6 to 18/14 °C resulted in the greatest increase in stem length and from 10/6 and 14/10 to 18/14 °C in the greatest increase in stem plus leaf weight. The greatest increase in the number of leaves occurred at 26/22 and 10/6 °C, but this growth parameter was unaffected by shifting to 18/14 °C, indicating that leaf number was determined in GP-1. Bulbils developed only when bulbs at high GP-1 temperature regimes (30/26 and 26/22 °C) were transferred to 18/14 °C during GP-2. Lower temperatures tended to favor an increase in flower bud production under continuous temperature regimes, while shifting to 18/14 °C increased flower bud production after initially high and low temperatures. Meristem abortion was greatest at 30/26 °C followed by 26/22 °C, but was not affected by temperature shifts in GP- 2. Thus, it is concluded that the abortion was induced or initiated during GP-1.     

High temperatures and time to budbreak in low chill apricot ‘Palsteyn’. Towards a better understanding of chill and heat requirements fulfilment

The efficiency of different temperature cycles in inducing budburst of one-year-old shoots of the apricot cultivar ‘Palsteyn’ from dormancy was evaluated. Three replications of shoots were collected during two consecutive years from adult trees, following the accumulation of different amounts of chilling in the field. Thereafter, shoots were exposed to different temperature cycles in growth chambers, for 60 days. The temperature treatments included a continuous temperature of 5 °C; daily temperature cycles of 19/5 h at 5/15 °C, at 5/20 °C, and at 5/25 °C; and the same temperature cycles for the remainder of the 60-day period, after pretreatment at 5 °C for 30 or 45 days. After the temperature treatments, shoots were forced at 25 °C until budburst. The mean time to budburst (MTB) (in days) of lateral vegetative, terminal vegetative and reproductive buds was evaluated. The efficiency of the different treatments was greatly influenced by the date on which shoots were cut. High temperatures had a more positive effect on the reduction of MTB when chilling accumulation had occurred in the field instead of the growth chamber. After partial chilling accumulation in the field, high temperatures (25 °C) combined with low temperatures are more efficient than cycles of moderate temperatures (15 or 20 °C) to induce an earlier budburst. In view of these results, a parallel accumulation of both chilling and heat requirements after partial chilling accumulation is suggested. The application of these results could assist in the development of more accurate models for the prediction of the overcoming of dormancy and blooming.     

Effect of high temperature stress on the reproductive growth of strawberry cvs. ‘Nyoho’ and ‘Toyonoka’

High temperatures are known to reduce fruit size and fruit weight in strawberry, but cultivar differences in the response to high temperature stress during the reproductive stage up to the second inflorescence have not been sufficiently reported. We examined the effect of two day/night temperature regimes on fruit set and fruit growth in two cultivars, ‘Nyoho’ and ‘Toyonoka’. A high day/night temperature of 30/25 °C reduced the number of inflorescences, flowers, and fruits in both cultivars compared with plants grown at 23/18 °C. The percentage of fruit set in ‘Nyoho’ was not significantly different between the two temperature treatments, while that in ‘Toyonoka’ was much lower at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C. Days to ripening was shorter at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C, and no cultivar differences were observed. Fresh weight of primary, secondary, and tertiary fruits was greater at 23/18 °C than at 30/25 °C in both cultivars, and no cultivar differences were observed, except in tertiary fruits. The diameter of fruits from all positions was also reduced at 30/25 °C in both cultivars. Relative growth rates of fruits showed two peaks in both cultivars and in both temperature treatments. Both peaks appeared earlier at 30/25 °C than at 23/18 °C. Percentage of fruit set at 30/25 °C in the second inflorescence was also significantly lower in ‘Toyonoka’ than in ‘Nyoho’. These results indicate that high temperature stress negatively affects the reproductive process in strawberry and that plant response to high temperature stress is cultivar-related in such responses.     

Effects of temperature on fruit thinning with ethephon in ‘Golden Delicious’ apples

The effect of temperature on the ability of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon), when applied at 20 mm stage of fruit development, to induce ethylene evolution of fruit and leaves and abscission of fruit and leaves was determined using 9-year-old root-bagged ‘Golden Delicious’/M.27 apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees in environment-controlled growth rooms. Ethephon at 400 μL L⁻¹ effectively thinned apples, and its thinning effect was not affected by increasing day/night temperature from 21.1/10 to 32.2/21.1 °C. Fruit ethylene evolution was enhanced by application of ethephon. Peak fruit ethylene evolution occurred 1 day after application of ethephon when day/night temperature was 32.2/21.1 °C whereas it occurred 2 days after application of ethephon at a day/night temperature of 21.1/10 or 26.7/15.6 °C. Ethephon increased leaf ethylene evolution drastically but it did not induce leaf abscission regardless of temperature.     

Prolonged high-temperature exposure differentially reduces growth and flowering of 12 Viola × wittrockiana Gams. cvs

Many cool season garden crops, including Viola × wittrockiana Gams. (pansy), exhibit reduced flowering outdoors during the warm summer months. Twelve pansy cultivars varying in summer garden performance were grown under either 20 ± 1.5 or 30 ± 1 °C (air temperature) to determine growth and flowering responses to prolonged high-temperature exposure and to identify selection criteria to screen pansies for flowering heat tolerance. Increasing temperature from 20 to 30 °C increased leaf number below the first flower on ‘Crystal Bowl Primrose’ and ‘Skyline White’ only. Flower bud number reduction at 30 °C versus 20 °C varied from 20% for ‘Crystal Bowl Purple’ to 77% for ‘Majestic Giants Red and Yellow’. Flower diameter reduction at 30 °C versus 20 °C ranged from 14% for ‘Skyline Beaconsfield’ to 44% for ‘Super Majestic Giants Ocean’. The percentage reduction in total color (flower number × estimated flower area) ranged from 60% for ‘Crystal Bowl Primrose’ to 88% for ‘Majestic Giants Rose Shades’. Based on a weighted base selection index, ‘Super Majestic Giants Canary’ and ‘Delta Yellow’ were identified as the most heat-tolerant cultivars, while ‘Super Majestic Giants Ocean’ and ‘Majestic Giants Rose Shades’ were identified as the most heat-sensitive. In a second experiment, root and shoot dry mass were determined after 10, 20, or 30 d when grown at 20 or 30 °C. Relative growth rate and root:shoot ratio were also calculated. After 30 d, ‘Crystal Bowl Primrose’, ‘Crystal Bowl Sky Blue’ and ‘Skyline White’ relative growth rates were lower at 30 °C versus 20 °C. Root:shoot ratio on day 30 was lower at 30 °C compared to 20 °C for six cultivars, but similar across temperature for five cultivars and higher for ‘Crystal Bowl Primrose’. Flower bud number at first flower was positively correlated with branch number, shoot dry mass at flowering, but not correlated with root dry mass at flowering, and negatively correlated with flower diameter and root:shoot ratio (either at flowering, or after 10, 20 or 30 d at 30 °C), suggesting that these traits may be useful when screening pansies for flowering heat tolerance.     

Overcoming hybrid lethality in a cross between Japanese pear and apple using gamma irradiation and confirmation of hybrid status using flow cytometry and SSR markers

Although there have been some attempts to obtain intergeneric hybrids between Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) and apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) mature hybrids have not been generated due to hybrid lethality. Shoots from immature hybrid embryos were gamma irradiated and cultured at normal temperature conditions to obtain viable intergeneric plants. Gamma irradiation doses of 50 and 100 Gy cultured at 25 °C killed all shoots but there was one survivor at 150 Gy and 25 °C. Hybrid status of the shoot was confirmed by using morphology, flow cytometry and SSR markers. The intergeneric plant had similar leaf serrations to apple and similar petioles to Japanese pear. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the intergeneric shoot had a DNA content intermediate between the parents. SSR analysis showed one allele from each parent for all 16 SSR loci investigated. These data strongly suggest that the obtained shoot is a true hybrid between Japanese pear and apple.     

Growth and development of Lilium longiflorum ‘Nellie White’ during bulb production under controlled environments : I. Effects of constant,variable and greenhouse day/night temperature regimes on scale and stem bulblets

One-year-old scale and stem bulblets of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. ‘Nellie White’ (Easter lily) were grown under constant and variable growth chamber conditions and greenhouse conditions to compare growth and development and bulb production. Eight temperatures regimes were established using the following: six growth chambers set to provide day/night temperature regimes of 30/26, 26/22, 22/18, 18/14, 14/10 and 10/6 °C; a seventh growth chamber (VAR) programmed to begin at 22/18 °C, then decline in three 4–5 week steps to 10/6 °C, and subsequently increase in three 4–5 week steps to 22/18 °C to simulate seasonal field temperatures in the coastal bulb production area of northern California and southern Oregon; and a double layer polyethylene greenhouse (GH) set to begin cooling at 22 °C and heating at 18 °C. Ten percent of the scale bulblets and 35% of the stem bulblets failed to develop shoots (“no-shows”). “No-shows” increased with increasing temperature with a significant number starting at 18/14 °C. The moderately high GH temperature also induced “no-shows”. Maximum basal bulb (the main planted bulb) weight occurred at 26/22 °C for both bulblet types. Scale bulblets not only produced heavier basal bulbs with a larger circumference than stem bulblets, but also produced heavier stem bulbs. Stem bulb formation and production was maximized in the range of 18/14–26/22 °C and in the GH for scale bulblets. Stem bulb production from stem bulblets did not differ from zero. Scale bulblets produced more basal and stem roots than the stem bulblets at the end of the early growth period, but there was no significant difference at the end of the study. Root fresh weight was greatest in the range of 14/10–18/14 °C and declined at higher or lower temperatures. The VAR and GH treatments had similar root weights to those at 18/14 °C. Shoot length was maximized at 22/18 °C for stem bulblets and in the GH and at 22/18 °C for scale bulblets. Stem plus leaf (shoot) fresh weight was not statistically different between bulblet types with the exception of an increased weight for stem bulblets grown at 22/18 °C. Scale bulblets in the GH had greater stem plus leaf weights than scale bulblets in the other temperature regimes. Shoot leaf number was highest in stem bulblets at 22/18 °C and in the GH. In these two temperature treatments, more leaves were produced by stem bulblets than scale bulblets. In all other treatments, there was no significant difference in leaf number. Bulblet type had no effect on number of flowers produced. Flower number was maximum in the range 10/6–22/18 °C, decreased at 26/22 °C and in the GH, and was absent at 30/26 °C. For bulb production, reduced flowering is desired since flowers are generally removed during the outdoor bulb production period. Meristem abortion, which also causes a desirable reduction in flowers, was greater in scale bulblets. It occurred at 26/22 °C and was greater at 30/26 °C. Scale bulbs produced the largest main bulbs, with a maximum yield at 26/22 °C.     

Effect of reciprocal transfers of onion sets between inductive and non-inductive temperatures on the incidence of bolting and bulbing and seed yield

The experiment was conducted at the experimental grounds of the School of Plant Sciences, University of Reading during 1996. Onion sets (22.5 mm diameter) of two cultivars (Hygro and Delta) were transferred from a low (10 °C) to a high (30 °C) temperature and vice versa on six occasions at 15 days intervals. Two control treatments where sets remained at 10 and 30 °C throughout were also included in the experiment for comparison. In both cultivars (Hygro and Delta), plants did not flower when sets were maintained at 30 °C throughout or when given 15 days at 10 °C followed by 30 °C for 75 days. Highest percentage of bolting was observed when sets were maintained for the longest period at 10 °C followed by the shortest period at 30 °C or when given 10 °C throughout. Highest number of florets and seed yield per umbel was recorded in treatments where sets were maintained at 10 °C for 90 days. Mean bulb weight increased where sets remained for longer period at higher temperature (30 °C) either before or after transfer. Bulb yield m⁻² increased when sets were initially stored at 10 °C for a short period followed by 30 °C throughout.     

Parameters of inner quality of the apple scab resistant and susceptible apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Individual organic acids and sugars were analysed in the fruits of scab resistant and susceptible apple cultivars. The total sugars ranged between 128.2 and 191.6 g/kg, and the total organic acid between 5.1 and 13.4 g/kg. In the flesh and peels of different apple varieties single phenolics (gallic, protocatehuic, chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acid, phloridzin, epicatechin, catechin, quercitrin and rutin) were analysed together with their total phenolic content (TPC). ‘Golden Delicious’ was the cultivar with the lowest TPC whereas ‘Rubinola’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Goldrush’ had the highest level of TPC in the pulp. Peels showed a 2–9 times higher phenolic content than the pulp. ‘Goldrush’ had the highest content of TPC in its peel. The total antioxidant capacity of peels was about 2–5 times higher than respective pulps. Scab resistant apple cultivars had significantly higher content of some single and total phenolic contents in comparison with the scab susceptible, especially the pulp.     

Putrescine and carnauba wax pretreatments alleviate chilling injury,enhance shelf life and preserve pomegranate fruit quality during cold storage

Keeping in mind to reduce chilling injury and retain quality; pomegranate (Punica granatum L., cv. Mridula) fruits were treated with putrescine, carnauba wax and putrescine + carnauba wax prior to cold storage at 2 °C. Before analyzing physical, physiological and biochemical parameters fruits were subjected to post cold storage exposure at 20 °C for 3 days. Untreated fruits developed rapidly chilling injury, with main symptoms being brown discolouration of the skin, surface pitting, weight and firmness loss during storage. All these undesirable changes were significantly delayed by putrescine + carnauba wax application. Respiration and ethylene evolution rate were also brought down by combined application of putrescine and carnauba wax treatment. The superiority of combine treatment over other applications seems arises due to additive benefit of antisenescence and barrier properties of putrescine and carnauba wax, respectively.     

Effect of set-size and storage temperature on bolting,bulbing and seed yield in two onion cultivars

The effects of three set-sizes (12.5, 17.5 and 22.5 mm in diameter) and seven storage temperatures (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) on bolting, bulbing and seed yield in two onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars ‘Hygro’ and ‘Delta’ were investigated. The incidence of bolting increased linearly with set-size and curvi-linearly with decreasing storage temperature. Time to inflorescence emergence and floret opening showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the earliest inflorescence emergence and floret opening occurring at 5 °C and the latest at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’. Seed yield per umbel also showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the lowest seed yield occurring at 30 °C for ‘Hygro’ and at 25 °C for ‘Delta’ and the highest seed yield at 5 °C. For a seed crop, storage of large sets (22.5 mm) of these cultivars at 5 °C for 120 days appeared to be optimum with 5–12% higher seed yield per umbel than that of 90 days storage. Bulb yield showed a curvi-linear response to storage temperature with the highest bulb yield occurring at 25 °C and the lowest at 5 °C.     

Heat treatment and harvest date interact in their effect on superficial scald of ‘Granny Smith’ apple

A study was made of the effect of hot water dips (HWD) at temperatures of 42, 44, 46 and 48 °C (HWD 42 °C, HWD 44 °C, HWD 46 °C and HWD 48 °C, respectively) for 3 min on development of superficial scald and the concentration of α-farnesene and conjugated trienols (CT), CT₂₅₉, CT₂₆₉, CT₂₈₁, as well as OD₂₀₀ on Granny Smith apple fruits harvested on three dates and stored 125 days in air at 2 °C. HWD 48 °C efficiently decreased surface scald in the second and third harvest. α-Farnesene and CT were measured spectrophotometrically and by HPLC. No clear relationship of OD₂₀₀ and scald development was observed. Correlation of scald index and OD₂₀₀ at the end of storage was negative for the second harvest date. There was no significant correlation between the scald index and CT₂₅₉. Scald index was positively correlated with CT₂₆₉ after 80 days for the second and third harvest and at the end of storage for the second harvest. CT₂₈₁ was spectrophotometrically detectable only at the end of the storage, for the third harvest date, in control, HWD 42 °C, and HWD 44 °C. HWD 42 °C had significantly higher CT₂₈₁ compared to HWD 44 °C and control. HPLC analysis of control samples revealed presence of CT₂₈₁ in all three harvest dates, and presence of at least two components, as was the case of CT₂₅₉ and CT₂₆₉. The ratio of these two components was different for all three CT species. Fruit maturity was an important factor determining the response of fruit to heat and occurrence of superficial scald. The results indicate that a successful treatment using HWD to control superficial scald may be obtained after further research and that there are still some questions on the role of different CT's in scald biochemistry that should be addressed in future research.     

Effect of hot acetic acid solutions on postharvest decay caused by Penicillium expansum on Red Delicious apples

The objective of this research was improvement of apple hot water treatment efficiency by using acetic acid. The apples (cultivar Red Delicious) were treated using hot acetic acid solutions (1, 2 and 3%) at 50 °C for 1, 2 and 3 min. The results of in vitro study showed that treatment with acetic acid at 50 °C can significantly reduce the growth of Penicillium expansum spores. The treatment of apples with 50 °C acetic acid solutions, in particular 2% acetic acid solution for 3 min or 3% acetic acid solution for 2 min, had significant impacts in reducing the extent of decay of the fruit during the short time storage experiment, while this effect was not significant in the long-time storage.     

Induction of bulb maturity of Ornithogalum thyrsoides

The influence of bulb maturity at bulb harvest on growth and flowering response of Ornithogalum thyrsoides Jacq. ‘Chesapeake Starlight’ was investigated. Experiments were designed to determine if bulb maturity can be induced by bulb storage temperatures and whether bulb maturity can be evaluated by flowering responses. Bulbs with all senesced leaves at harvest were considered “mature” or with emerging young leaves and re-growing young roots were considered “immature”. Bulbs were potted after 0, 3, and 6 weeks of 30 °C or 2 weeks of 10 °C given either in the middle or at the end of 6 weeks of 30 °C. Mature bulbs, as compared to immature bulbs, took longer for leaves to emerge when control bulbs that did not receive any temperature treatment after harvest were planted upon harvest. Leaf emergence of the immature bulbs was significantly earlier than that of the mature bulbs. Mature bulbs which received 30 °C for 3 weeks (30 °C/3 week) flowered 31 days faster than immature bulbs and all bulbs flowered. Leaf emergence and flowering of mature and immature bulbs that received 30 °C/6 weeks or 2 weeks of 10 °C in the middle of 6 weeks of 30 °C (30 °C/2 weeks–10 °C/2 week–30 °C/3 weeks) did not differ from each other. Maturity can be induced by storing immature bulbs at 30 °C/6 weeks. Maturity, as evaluated by flowering percentage and days from leaf emergence to flowering, can be induced in O. thyrsoides. Immature bulbs can, therefore, be harvested for later forcing as long as bulbs are treated with 30 °C/6 weeks. It is proposed that maturity can be correlated with the speed of flowering and bulbs can be harvested at immature physiological state for forcing. Postharvest high-temperature treatment can be used to force immature bulbs that were harvested before the senescence of the leaves.     

Study and prediction of quality changes in garlic cv. Perla (Allium sativum L.) stored at different temperatures

White and purple garlic is harvested in the Bajio region of Mexico from February to August and then stored at room temperature. A complete study of quality changes under different conditions and how these conditions interact to determine the shelf life of the product has been lacking, nor have objective parameters to predict shelf life been determined. Six batches of 360 bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. Perla were stored for 190 days at 0 °C, 0 °C and 70% relative humidity (RH), 5, 20, 30 °C, and at room temperature (RT) (17.7 ± 7 °C). The weight loss, subjective firmness of the bulbs, clove penetration resistance, hue value, internal sprouting index, soluble solids and dry matter content of the cloves were recorded periodically. The weight loss and internal sprouting index had a negative correlation on the subjective firmness, penetration resistance, and hue of the cloves. Storage at 5 °C, 20 °C, and RT induced sprouting, and subsequent growth had an effect on a loss of firmness and color. Complete sprouting (>100%) induced a weight loss of 9–11% at these temperatures. In order to maintain an adequate safety margin for marketing, we propose an internal sprouting index of 50% to determining the effective shelf life of garlic cv. ‘Perla’. In accordance with this criterion and in conditions studying, shelf life at 0 °C was 155 days; at 5 °C and RT it was 80 days; and at 20 °C it was 60 days. These results lead us to conclude that it is possible to estimate the shelf life of garlic using the internal sprouting index.     

Influences of day and night temperatures on flowering of Fragaria x ananassa Duch., cvs. Korona and Elsanta,at different photoperiods

The effects of photoperiod (12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 h), day temperature (12, 15, 18, 24 or 27 °C) and night temperature (6, 9 or 12 °C) and their interactions on flower and inflorescence emergence were investigated by exposing 4 week old runner plants of strawberry cvs. Korona and Elsanta during a period of 3 weeks. A daily photoperiod of 12 or 13 h resulted in the highest number of plants with emerged flowers. A photoperiod of 14 h or more strongly reduced this number, while no flowers emerged at a photoperiod of 16 h. Plants exposed to photoperiods of 12 or 13 h flowered earlier and had longer flower trusses. A day temperature of 18 °C and/or a night temperature of 12 °C were optimal for plants to emerge flowers and resulted in the shortest time to flowering. A night temperature of 6 °C strongly reduced the number of plants that emerged flowers, especially when combined with lower day temperatures. Photoperiod and temperature had no effect on the number of inflorescences, all flowering plants produced on average one inflorescence. The number of flowers on the inflorescence increased with decreasing day temperature and when photoperiod was raised from 12 to 15 h. In general, ‘Korona’ was more sensitive to photoperiod and temperature as ‘Elsanta’, and had a lower optimal day temperature for flower emergence. Results of this experiment may be used to produce high quality plant material or to define optimal conditions when combining flower induction and fruit production.     

Changes of physicochemical quality,phenolics and vitamin C content in hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta and its hybrid) during storage

The effect of storage and the stage of maturity of hardy kiwifruits on the physicochemical quality, phenolics (TPC) and ascorbic acid content (AAC), as well as antioxidant activity (AA) were studied in this work. The phenolic compounds in hardy kiwifruits were separated and characterized by HPLC. The investigation was carried out on the two cultivars of Actinidia arguta – ‘Weiki’, ‘74-49’ and the hybrid of A. arguta and Actinidia purpurea (‘D14’). Fruit firmness rapidly decreased and the soluble solid content (SSC) increased for all cultivars during the first 14 days of storage at 1 °C. The AAC and TPC in vine ripe fruits were similar to the ones of the fruits of storage harvest maturity (8–10% SSC). AA content depended on the clone and either decreased during storage or remained almost unchanged. There was an increase in TPC after 7 days of keeping the fruits in a cold store chamber at the temperature 1 °C, but a longer period of storage caused a decrease in these compounds. AA (at harvest for storage purposes) was higher than that of vine ripe fruits and the ability to absorb free radicals slightly decreased during storage. There was a strong correlation between AAC, TPC and AA. That means that phenolics and vitamin C affect the antioxidant activity of hardy kiwifruits.     

Effects of low temperatures on sexual reproduction of ‘Tainong 1’ mango (Mangifera indica)

Prevailing ambient temperature during the reproductive phase is one of important factors for seed and fruit set in different plant species. In mango (Mangifera indica L.), natural low temperatures during flowering induced seedless fruits. Here the sexual reproduction process of ‘Tainong 1’ mango at low temperatures (diurnal maximum temperature < 20 °C) was studied. For comparison, we also examined this process at “normal” temperatures (diurnal maximum ranging from 25 to 30 °C, diurnal average temperature > 20 °C). Results showed: natural low temperatures significantly affected pistil and male gametophyte development, resulting in pollen grains with low viability. Meiotic chromosomal irregularities, including univalents, multivalents, laggards, bridges and micronuclei were detected at higher incidences and significantly greater proportions of nucleolus fragmentation and dissolution were detected when temperatures were low. Pollen tube growth was retarded under low temperature stress, either in vivo or in vitro. The virtual absence of sexual reproduction of ‘Tainong 1’ mango at low temperatures appears to be due largely to slow growth of pollen tube in vivo and to a low rate of successful fertilization.