Foraging behavior of Osmia cornifrons in an apple orchard

An apple orchard consisting of a single commercial cultivar and of pollinizers such as Crab apples under the condition of natural pollination needs pollinators for stable fruit production. We investigated the foraging behavior of pollinators, especially Osmia cornifrons Radoszkowski, in order to evaluate their use instead of honeybees.     

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.     

Putting back what we take out,but how much?: Phosphorus and nitrogen additions to farmed Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ and Leucospermum ‘Succession’ (Proteaceae)

Proteaceae are adapted to low-nutrient soils in the various regions where they occur. However, harvesting of flowering stems for the cut-flower industry must eventually cause soil nutrient depletion sufficient to reduce yields. Different N forms, and N and P concentrations were supplied to two Proteaceae cultivars (Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ and Leucospermum ‘Succession’) in a controlled fertigation experiment, and appropriate concentrations for maximum growth with minimum nutrient accumulation or loss were determined. Small additions of N (0.025–0.1 mM) significantly improved growth of both cultivars growing on Strandveld sandy soil. Larger additions of N (up to 2 mM N) resulted in poor growth (both cultivars) and N accumulation in the soil (Safari Sunset). Small additions of P (<10 μM) significantly improved growth of both cultivars and resulted in no accumulation or loss of P in the soil. Larger additions of P (up to 500 μM) resulted in poor growth, P toxicity symptoms and P leaching from the upper soil layers. Best N forms in descending order of both plant visual appearance and vegetative yield were: urea ≥ ammonium nitrate > ammonium sulphate > calcium nitrate. Phosphorus toxicity symptoms were associated with increased concentrations of leaf P, Ca and Fe. Under conditions of maximum growth (10 μM P and 0.1 mM N) Safari Sunset removed 18 ± 0.6 g N, 1.5 ± 0.1 g P, 5.3 ± 0.6 g K and Succession removed 5.5 ± 0.2 g N, 0.3 ± 0.02 g P, 3.1 ± 0.5 g K over 6 months. At maximum growth, plants acquired more N and P amounts than were supplied, but supplying higher N and P concentrations adversely affected growth. Thus, a more complex or slow-release form of N and P than urea and soluble phosphate, respectively, may provide enough N and P to replace losses from the farm soil at the low concentrations required for proteas.     

Effect of high temperatures in the pre-blooming and blooming periods on ovule formation,pollen grains and yield of ‘Granada’ peach

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of high temperatures in the pre-blooming and blooming periods on the growth of sexual gametes and yield of ‘Granada’ peach. The experiment was carried out in the commercial orchard of Charqueadas, under the subtropical conditions of the Central Depression at Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (28°57′S; 51°37′W; 30 m alt.). Two treatments were tested: (1) trees in the greenhouse with partial ventilation and (2) trees in the orchard. The phenology, morphologic constitutions of the pollen grains, ovule growth, yield and germination (%) of pollen grains and fruit set were evaluated. High temperatures in the pre-blooming and blooming periods anticipated the break of dormancy and blooming. These conditions also delayed the female gametophytes (embryo sac) and promoted anomalies in the formation of male gametophytes. Those factors promoted low pollen viability and a lack of synchrony in fertilization, thereby generating low fruit set percentages and yield.     

Effect of organic treatments with calcium carbonate and bio-activator on quality of ‘Reinette’ apple cultivars

‘Reinette du Canada’ (RC) and ‘Reinette Grise du Canada’ (RG) apple (Malus × domestica Borkh) cultivars declared throughout the Community as Protected Designation of Origin ‘Manzana Reineta del Bierzo’ are severely affected by bitter-pit during storage. Pre-harvest treatments with calcium carbonate, authorized in organic production, and bio-activator Harpin protein were used to assess the effect on quality at harvest and during cold storage in both apple cultivars during 2007 and 2008. Bitter-pit at the end of storage was higher in ‘RC’ than in ‘RG’, due to the fact that K/Ca ratio in fruit was higher in ‘RC’. Harpin protein did not improve the quality of ‘Reinette’ apple cultivars. Calcium carbonate pre-harvest treatments were useful to decrease external and internal bitter-pit incidence of ‘Reinette’ apple cultivars after 90 days of storage, but differences at the end of storage were not significant. Therefore, calcium carbonate would be a useful product in organic production in order to decrease bitter-pit incidence in ‘Reinette’ apple cultivars during medium term storage.     

Physiological responses associated to substrate water availability of Rosa ‘Eurored’ plants grown in soilless greenhouse conditions

The aim of the present study was to provide a better insight into the adaptive processes to water deficit of Rosa hybrid plants grown in soilless cultivation. Rose plants were grown in a greenhouse under two water regimes, corresponding to 100% and 67% of the irrigation needs. Watering was stopped for 0, 72, and 96 h (dry-down period) and photosynthetic parameters, water relations, chlorophyll fluorescence, carbohydrate and ion content were determined.     

Yield and fruit quality of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apple trees protected by white anti-hail net

Covering apple orchards with nets protects them from hailstorms but this changes the amount and quality of the light supplied to the trees. This study was carried out to assess the effects of shade provided by white protection net on yield and fruit quality of apple orchards in Southern Brazil, along three growing seasons (2002/2003, 2003/2004, and 2004/2005). ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apple trees (on MM111 rootstock, raised as slender spindles, with a spacing of 5.5 m × 3 m) were left uncovered (control trees) or covered with white net. The white net reduced the photosynthetically active radiation (λ = 400–700 nm) accumulated over the trees’ canopy along a day by 18.4%, leading to a higher leaf chlorophyll content in both cultivars, and a higher specific leaf area in ‘Gala’. The shade provided by the net did not affect yield and increased fruit average weight in both cultivars. At harvest, the number of seeds per fruit and severity of russet were not affected by netting in both cultivars, as well as the incidence of watercore in ‘Fuji’. The main beneficial effects of the white net were the reduced incidence of sunburn on ‘Gala’, reduced incidence of bitter pit during cold storage in both cultivars, and reduced incidence of apple scab at harvest and of decay after cold storage in ‘Fuji’. Fruit fly damage in ‘Gala’ (assessed in one season) was reduced by netting. However, netting affected negatively some fruit quality attributes. ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apples from trees protected by the net had a poor skin color (pale blush and a more intense green background color) at harvest. The net reduced flesh firmness and SSC, and increased the starch index of ‘Gala’ apples at harvest, and reduced flesh firmness and SSC, assessed after cold storage and shelf life, in fruits of both cultivars.     

Effects of defoliation on fruit growth,carbohydrate reserves and subsequent flowering of ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines

A partial defoliation study was carried out on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines with the aim of evaluating effects on fruit yield, changes in concentration of carbohydrates, and return bloom. At full bloom, ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vines trained to the pergola system were submitted to 0% (control), 50% and 75% defoliation in the 2.0 m wide central horizontal area of the canopy. This area represents the vine ‘replacement cane zone’ (RCZ), whereas the remaining external area represents the ‘fruiting zone’ (FZ). Removing 50% of the leaves resulted in a small (−9 g in the RCZ and −3.3 g in the FZ), but significant, reduction in fruit weight compared to the control vines. More severe defoliation (75%) reduced fruit weight by 13 g in the RCZ and 7 g in the FZ. The defoliation treatment reduced the concentrations of starch and total soluble carbohydrates (glucose + fructose + sucrose) in the shoots and starch in trunk bark compared to those in control vines. The treatments caused a large reduction in return bloom, expressed as number of flowers per winter bud, by about 25% and 53% in vines with 50% and 75% defoliation, respectively.     

糯玉米新品种甘甜糯3 号的选育

甘甜糯3 号是以彩色糯玉米单交种（白糯J38×紫糯J40）作母本,用具有超甜和糯双纯合
基因的甜糯型自交系甜糯7 作父本选育的彩色糯玉米一代杂种,是目前国内新型的一个鲜食玉米类型。株
高232 cm,穗位高105 cm,抗倒伏,持绿性好,适应性广,品质优良,果穗锥形,一般每667 m² 产鲜果
穗1 100 kg 左右,出苗到鲜穗采收106 d（天）左右,适宜于西北春玉米区种植。     

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.     

速生大白菜新品种30 快菜的选育

30 快菜是以大白菜DH 系P35 和自交不亲和系175 为亲本配制而成的半结球食用型速生大白菜一代杂种。生长期30 d（天）左右,生长速度快,包心早,株型直立,叶片绿色、无茸毛、叶缘全缘,质地柔软,田间调查结果表明高抗病毒病。株高25 cm,叶片数达到10 片时即可采收。从播种到采收25～45 d（天）,一般产量3 000 kg·（667 m ²）^-1 左右,适合全国各地种植。     

Identification of S-alleles in pear (Pyrus communis L.) cv. ‘Rocha’ and other European cultivars

In this work we report the cloning and identification of S-RNase alleles responsible for gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) of ‘Rocha’ pear and of 13 other European pear cultivars that might be used as its pollinators. Partial sequences of S-RNase alleles were amplified by PCR with specific primers hybridising in conserved regions of previously identified S-RNase alleles of Pyrus communis, cloned and sequenced and the S-genotype of eight pear cultivars was fully determined. Three cultivars (‘General Léclerc’ (SqSl), ‘Tosca’ (SbSl) and ‘Alexandrine Douillard’ (SbSk)) shared no S-alleles with ‘Rocha’ (SaSe) and shall be totally compatible with this cultivar. None of the cultivars analysed showed an identical amplification pattern to the one observed in ‘Rocha’, so the other cultivars shall be at least semi-compatible. One new allele was identified in P. communis cv. ‘Beurré d’Avril’ (designated as St). The determination of both S-RNase alleles of cvs ‘Rocha’, ‘Beurré Precoce Morettini’ (SeSk) and ‘Tosca’ and the identification of one S-RNase allele in cvs ‘Carapinheira’ (Sb), ‘Amêndoa’ (Se), ‘Pérola’ (Sk) and ‘Beurré d’Avril’ (St) are important contributions for the effort recently developed worldwide to establish groups of sexual compatibility among European pears.     

In vitro shoot proliferation and enhancement of rooting for the large-scale propagation of yellow bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris ‘Striata’)

Continuous and rapidly proliferating axillary shoots were raised from axillary buds in secondary branches of adult field culms and nursery grown 1-year-old tissue culture-raised plants of Bambusa vulgaris ‘Striata’. Shoots continuously proliferated in a MS medium containing 4 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). The effects of indole butyric acid (IBA) levels, a pretreatment with thidiazuron (TDZ) (1-phenyl-1-([1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl])urea) and illumination on rooting, were investigated after 6 months of shoot proliferation. A rooting medium with IBA at 3 mg L⁻¹ was optimum for root induction. Shoots of adult field culms that were proliferated in the presence of BA when induced to root in this medium resulted in 40% rooting in 27 days. In vitro shoots raised from 1-year-old tissue cultured plants showed 92% rooting under the same conditions. Rooting was enhanced when the relatively difficult-to-root in vitro shoots from adult field culms were pretreated with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ TDZ for two to three subcultures before placing in the root induction medium. Continuously illuminated shoots pretreated with TDZ for three subcultures showed 100% rooting compared to 83% rooting of shoots that were exposed to a 12 h photoperiod. These findings have been applied in the large-scale propagation of this species.     

Fractal characteristics of two-dimensional images of ‘Fuji’ apple trees trained to two tree configurations after their winter pruning

The structural diagrams of apple trees are the comprehensive reflection of the effects of their training and pruning as well as their physiological and ecological characteristics and yield. However, there have been few research reports on the characteristics of the structural diagrams of apple trees. The study investigated the fractal dimension numbers and fractal characteristics of the two-dimensional images of 5-year-old and 10-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple trees trained to the tall spindle configuration and the open-center configuration employing box-counting in combination with the image processing technology of the Photoshop. The two-dimensional images of apple trees with the different configurations differed and varied with their ages. The fractal dimension numbers of the two-dimensional images of the 10-year-old apple trees with the tall spindle configuration and with the open-center configuration were 1.6625 and 1.6531 respectively while the fractal dimension numbers of the two-dimensional images of the 5-year-old apple trees with the tall spindle configuration and with the open-center configuration were 1.6429 and 1.6377 respectively. As the age of the apple trees increased, the spatial quantities and distributions of trunks and branches got slightly intensified, and the fractal dimension numbers of their two-dimensional images and the apple yield increased correspondingly. The comparison of the fractal characteristics of the apple trees with the same age, which were trained to the different configurations, revealed that under the same age, the branch quantities and the apple yield of the apple trees with the tall spindle configuration were higher than those with the open-center configuration, so that under the same age the fractal dimension numbers with the tall spindle configuration were higher than those with the open-center configuration. These results showed that the fractal dimension number of the two-dimensional images of apple trees depended upon their trunk and bough distribution and at the same time it increased with their apple yield as well. Therefore, the fractal dimension numbers of the two-dimensional images of apple trees could be employed as an indicator for assessing training and pruning effects on apple trees and their fruit yield.     

Multiple pre-harvest treatments with acibenzolar-S-methyl reduce latent infection and induce resistance in muskmelon fruit

Muskmelons (cv. Yindi) were sprayed with 100 mg a.i. L⁻¹ acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) four times at four different stages: flowering, the young fruit, the fruit enlarging period and the netting periods. Analyses were performed 1 week after each ASM treatment. Results showed that the incidence of total latent infection (caused by all observable fungi) and the incidence of relative latent infection (caused by Alternaria alternata or Fusarium spp.) were significantly lower in sprayed muskmelons than in the control fruit. Moreover, the reduction in the incidence of latent infection was greater with increased ASM treatments. The control of latent infection by ASM resulted in reduced incidence of postharvest decay and improved fruit appearance and firmness after 10 d of storage. In addition, the activities of peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase increased significantly in treated muskmelons. ASM treatments also contributed to the accumulation of phenolic compounds, lignin and flavonoids. Increases in defense-related enzyme activities and in particular metabolite levels were observed in plants with more ASM treatments. These results suggest that multiple ASM treatments could induce disease resistance in muskmelons and could be an ideal strategy for preventing latent infection in fruits.     

厚皮甜瓜新品种甬甜7 号的选育

甬甜7 号是以高代自交系YW06-1 为母本,以YW10-3 为父本杂交选育而成的脆肉型厚皮
甜瓜一代杂种。果实椭圆形,平均单果质量约1.8 kg;果皮米白色,布细密网纹;果肉浅橙色,中心折光
糖度一般在15% 以上,口感松脆、细腻;春季果实发育期40 d（天）左右,全生育期100～110 d（天）;
夏秋季果实发育期38 d（天）左右,全生育期80 d（天）左右。田间调查表明较抗蔓枯病,一般产量
1 080～2 400 kg ·（667 m ²）^-1,适宜华东地区春季和秋季设施栽培。     

Fruit set and embryo rescue in crosses using parthenocarpic ‘Mopanshi’ persimmon

The ‘Mopanshi’ persimmon is a seedless, astringent parthenocarpic cultivar that does not produce male flowers. After pollination using four non-astringent cultivars (‘Zenjimaru’, ‘Nishimurawase’, ‘Okugosho’ and ‘Hanagosho’), seeds were produced to different degrees. ‘Mopanshi’ fruits pollinated with ‘Zenjimaru’ produced far more seeds than those pollinated with the other three cultivars. The ratio of abnormal seeds obtained from the fruits pollinated with ‘Hanagosho’ was higher than that obtained from the fruits pollinated with the other three cultivars. Most embryos degenerated in the early to late stages of seed development. Immature embryos were cultured in a modified MS medium (half of NO₃ in MS medium + 0.4 μM BA + 0.1 μM IBA) with the greatest success (52–80%) from embryos taken from fruits 60–80 days after pollination. Seedlings failed to initiate radicles so they were transferred to dark culture conditions for 8 days or to a rooting media that contained 3% sucrose and 1% Chinese ink. The seedlings on the medium darkened with ink rooted at greater than 90.83% compared to 75.83% for dark cultured seedlings. This study demonstrated that ‘Mopanshi’ persimmon could be used as a female parent in crosses, but embryos needed to be moved to tissue culture conditions to continue to develop and form plantlets.     

Effect of synthetic auxins on fruit development of ‘Bing’ cherry (Prunus avium L.)

The main cherry cultivar grown in the warm climate of Israel, ‘Bing’, produces relatively small fruit. Over three consecutive years (2003–2005), application of 50 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid [2,4-DP; as its butoxyethyl ester (Power™)], 10 mg l⁻¹ 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyloxyacetic acid [3,5,6-TPA; as the free acid (Maxim^®)], or 25 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) plus 30 mg l⁻¹ naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.3% Amigo™), at the beginning of pit-hardening when fruitlet diameter was ca. 13 mm caused appreciable and significant increases in fruit size and total yield, except when the crop load was heavy. Anatomical studies revealed that the main effect of these synthetic auxins was via direct stimulation of fruit cell enlargement. The above auxins had no negative effect on fruit quality, either at harvest or after 1 month of storage at 0 °C, or on return yield in the following year.