Effects of shortening the maturity period on harvesting costs of autumn cauliflowers

A dynamic programming technique has been used to analyse the effects of maturity pattern and length of cutting period on the economics of harvesting 18 crops of cauliflower. In particular it has been used to evaluate the effect of shortening the harvest period by cold treatment of the transplants. The cold treatment reduced the maturity period of crops to the extent that, in some instances, a single, once-over harvesting policy was more profitable than making a series of harvests. The best policies for once-over and selective harvesting have been computed for both hand and machine cutting of the crop and the factors influencing the choice of policy have been discussed.     

Effect of the plant raising environment,transplant weight and date of transplanting on the subsequent growth and development of leeks (Allium porrum L.) grown for early production

Leek transplant weight at planting was greater for a given period of growth at 23°C than at 9°C but was unaffected by nutrition. A single line fitted to all the data, using a time-scale based on ‘effective day-degrees’ (with a base of 4°C and an upper limit of 23°C) accounted for over 76% of the variance in transplant weight at planting. Plant weight at harvest was positively related to transplant weight and fitting straight lines to each of the early and late harvest data sets from all the experiments accounted for 75% of the variance in plant weight at harvest. There were no ‘carry-over’ effects of temperature or nutrition from the plant-raising phase other than those on transplant weight. It was calculated, using data from two of the experiments where transplanting date was a factor, that yields fell by between 0.4 to 1.61 ha“1 for each week’s delay in planting over the period early April to mid-June. This loss in yield could be compensated by planting larger plants; 300 g plants could be produced in early August by planting 0.6 g, 0.9 g and 1.7 g plants in mid-April, mid-May and early/mid-June, respectively. The number of plants with flower initials at harvest increased with an increase in transplant weight and exceeded 10% with transplants of 0.5 g fresh weight or more and, for comparable transplant weights, was substantially greater from plants raised at 9° than 12°C. Flower initials were present even in crops from plants raised at 23°C. Transplants raised at 9°C produced up to 30% bolters at harvest but bolters were almost completely absent in crops established from plants raised at 12°C, 18°C or 23°C. Small plants (<0.4 g fresh weight) with 2-3 visible true leaves responded to cold.     

Development of alternate cut-flower rose greenhouse temperature set-points based on calorimetric plant tissue evaluation

Energy utilization for heating is one of the most expensive greenhouse climate control operations. The temperature set-point is determined by many interrelated environmental, physiological, and economic factors but is fundamentally driven by the required growth rate of the plant or crop for quality and profitability. Temperatures are maintained to maximize production and affect timing of harvest of greenhouse-grown crops. In general, winter greenhouse environments for most cut-flower roses are heated to a target temperature of 16–18 °C. For rose, such temperature targets are based on grower experience along with horticultural research and should be considered a compromise across all factors. In the current research we studied the concept of “potential growth rate” (PGR), based on a thermodynamic growth model and how PGR relates to the typical temperature recommendation (TTR) for set-points for greenhouse heating and cooling in commercial horticultural production. PGR of specific growing organs (leaves, shoot tips, roots, etc) can be deduced using calorespirometric measurements in relation to various environmental factors such as temperature effect on biomass production. This research consisted of two facets: (1) determination of cultivar-specific alternate TTRs based on calorimetric PGR measurement and then (2) testing these TTRs in greenhouse rose flower production. The results of this study suggested that TTRs for the cultivar ‘Kardinal’ can be lowered at the time of bud emergence, when this cultivar can tolerate a lower temperature. Also, since the cultivar ‘Milva’ can tolerate lower temperature at time of leaflet unfolding, the current TTR can be adjusted to reflect this. We investigated a set of alternate TTRs by growing rose plants on movable carts and shifting them to various pre-determined night temperature conditions. During the relevant growing stages, half of the plants were given a cold night temperature (14 °C) treatment, while control plants were left in the normal greenhouse temperature (18 °C). This procedure was repeated for three flushes of flowering rose shoots. Flower shoots were counted and weighed (fresh and dry); shoot length was measured several times per week. It was found that the predictions were valid and (with one exception) no significant effect on the number of flowers, their quality or biomass was caused by this procedure. The implication of this work is that heating cost can be reduced for some rose cultivars by allowing night temperatures to be lower than the typical recommendations for those cultivars that show high metabolic activity at such cooler conditions.     

Effect of prolonged cold storage on the production capacity of strawberry plants

After cold storage for various periods (42, 99, 155, 189, 227 and 259 days) strawberry waiting-bed plants cultivar ‘Elsanta’ were planted on six dates between January and August. Plant performance was evaluated simultaneously in a growth chamber under controlled environmental conditions and in a greenhouse. Starch content in the crown tissue was clearly reduced during the cold storage period.

In the greenhouse trials a variable decline in fruit number and yield per plant was found in relation to the length of cold storage and the temperature conditions during the growth and harvest period. Also in the growth chamber, under a constant temperature regime, a significant decline in the number of flowers per plant developing up to anthesis was observed after increasing periods of storage. This indicates that it is not only stressing climatical conditions after planting which are influencing the performance of cold stored plants. Also, the length of cold storage strongly affects plant vigour and productivity. This is related to the carbohydrate status of the plants after cold storage.     

果树抗寒性的遗传与育种研究进展

冻害胁迫下果树体内的水分从生长的组织流失迁移,在其周围区域形成冰核保护生长组织,不形成冰核发生冻害;ABA和Ca(2+)在植物低温胁迫的信号转导中起重要作用;DTA法测定的LTH温度与花芽的半致死温度一致;果树杂种后代的抗寒性遗传具有母性遗传特点。还总结了近年来发展起来的果树抗寒性鉴定的有效方法以及部分抗寒资源,以期为果树抗寒育种的亲本选择及不同品系抗寒力的早期鉴定提供参考依据。     

大蒜内芽生长特点与最佳冷藏入库期的研究

以河南广泛栽培的宋城大蒜为试材,研究了常温贮藏大蒜和不同入库期大蒜在冷藏条件下内芽生长的特点,结果表明:宋城大蒜通过休眠期的时间约在8月上中旬,即收获后的70-75d;通过休眠后,在常温下大蒜内芽开始缓慢生长,8月底大蒜内芽生长速度迅速加快,9月1日内芽平均长度为1.81cm,是7月1日(0.65cm)的2.74倍,芽瓣比已达58.77%,超过瓣长的1/2,大蒜最佳冷藏入库期为7月底至8月初。按照某些大蒜进口国要求进口大蒜内芽长度不能超过瓣长1/3的标准,8月中旬以后,在河南宋城大蒜已失去为出口而进行低温冷藏的价值。     

鲜枣贮藏期病害研究进展

对鲜枣采后贮藏期间发生的生理性病害和侵染性病害进行了概述。贮藏期易发生的生理性病害主要包括枣果的酒化、褐变和低温伤害;病原菌在田间的潜伏侵染和采后的伤口侵染是引起枣果贮藏病害的主要原因,其病原菌的种类既有真菌也有细菌。枣果病原菌潜伏侵染的病理机制是今后侵染性病害的研究热点。减少枣果的采后病害可以通过田间综合防治、采收及采后处理过程中避免机械损伤和入库前的消毒处理等措施来解决。生物防治是控制枣果采后病害的研究新方向。     

芥菜类蔬菜种子休眠破除技术的研究

采用常温、低温和变温处理的方法对5个芥菜变种开展了种子休眠敏感性试验,试验结果表明,在各芥菜变种材料开花期和采收期一致的情况下,以芥菜完成后熟(2017年采收)的种子为对照(CK),常温下进行种子发芽率测试,结球芥菜、茎瘤芥菜和大头菜无休眠现象,大叶芥菜17W170与分蘖芥菜17W306与各自对照间有显著差异;具休眠现象的芥菜种子,低温3 d处理及干燥种子变温处理可明显提高芥菜类种子发芽率。因此,芥菜类蔬菜不同变种存在不同程度的休眠,而低温和变温处理是打破芥菜类蔬菜种子休眠的实际有效方法。     

京白梨果实采后PG、糖苷酶和LOX活性变化及其基因表达特性

 以京白梨为试材,测定贮藏期间果实多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（PG）、糖苷酶（β-Gal、α-L-Af）及脂氧合酶（LOX）活性及其基因表达变化及对1-MCP和低温的响应。结果表明,果实软化呈慢（3 d内）、快（3 ~ 9 d）、慢（9 d后）的变化趋势;PG、β-Gal、α-L-Af和LOX活性及其基因表达量均随果实软化呈不同程度增加,且β-Gal和LOX的活性均在果实采收后3 d内上升快,其基因的表达量亦迅速增加,由此认为β-Gal和LOX可能在果实软化早期起着更为重要的作用。经1-MCP处理和冷藏后,β-Gal、α-L-Af、LOX和PG的活性及基因表达显著受抑,延缓了果实软化进程,且1-MCP对β-Gal和LOX的抑制作用最强烈,尤其在处理前期。在果实冷藏过程中PG和β-Gal活性基本维持原有水平,其基因表达在贮藏前期受到抑制,LOX活性和基因表达均维持在极低水平,说明LOX对低温较其它酶敏感。因此认为,PG、β-Gal、α-L-Af和LOX均不同程度地参与了京白梨果实的后熟软化,在早期软化阶段β-Gal和LOX可能起着更为重要的作用,1-MCP对β-Gal和LOX活性和基因表达具有更显著的调控作用,而低温可能主要是通过抑制LOX活性和基因表达来抑制果实软化。     

嫁接提高蔬菜作物抗逆性及其机制研究进展

嫁接广泛应用于蔬菜作物的生产实践中,可显著提高蔬菜作物抗逆性,提高蔬菜作物产量、改善品质。本文综述了近年来嫁接在提高蔬菜作物抗病性、耐盐性、耐寒性、耐热性、耐旱性、耐弱光、抗涝性和耐重金属胁迫方面的研究进展,重点阐述了嫁接提高蔬菜作物抗病性、耐盐性和耐寒性的生理及分子生物学机制,可为嫁接在蔬菜作物上的有效应用和抗逆栽培研究提供理论依据。     

北京地区甜玉米采后品质的影响因素调查与分析

以北京地区9家甜玉米生产销售企业为调查对象,分析影响甜玉米采后品质的相关因素,探究延长甜玉米货架期的采后保鲜措施。结果表明:北京地区影响甜玉米采后品质的因素主要有品种、采收温度、预冷温度及方法、产品分级、包装材料、运输方式、贮藏温度等;根据销售要求选择适宜的品种,气温较低时进行采收,采用碎冰预冷的方式快速降温,长期坚持采取分级措施,选用适宜的包装材料、运输方式、贮藏温度等可以延长甜玉米的货架期。     

1-MCP处理对不同采收成熟度‘徐香’猕猴桃保鲜效果的影响

以‘徐香’猕猴桃为试材,研究了4个采收期(盛花期后1301、381、46和154 d)1-MCP(1-甲基环丙烯)浓度为0.5μL/L处理24 h后,在(2±1)℃下贮藏后的保鲜效果。结果表明:1-MCP能够显著降低‘徐香’果实低温贮藏过程中呼吸速率、乙烯释放速率,延缓果实硬度、可滴定酸的下降以及可溶性固形物的上升;4个采收期的1-MCP处理果实出库后均能正常后熟,但品质和保鲜效果存在差异,其中Ⅱ、Ⅲ期处理果实在贮藏期结束时保持较高的硬度、可滴定酸和VC含量,并且110 d时失重和腐烂率较低;货架期末硬度、糖酸比相对较高,失重率和腐烂率较低。由此推断‘徐香’猕猴桃盛花期后138~146 d采收品质好,此时的1-MCP处理效果最佳。     

果实采后变温生物学的研究进展

温度是影响果实代谢过程、品质与贮藏寿命的重要因子。变温生物学主要研究温度波动变化对果实采后生理生化、品质和贮藏效果的影响。综述了预冷处理、冷冲击处理、贮前热处理、间歇升温处理和低温处理等变温处理技术对果实采后贮运过程中与果实衰老相关的酶活性、CO2和乙烯释放等生理生化特征，以及对果实品质和贮藏寿命等的影响。     

Fruit thinning in ‘Conference’ pear grown under deficit irrigation: Implications for fruit quality at harvest and after cold storage

Fruit thinning in pear is feasible for mitigation of water stress effects. However, it is not well known how fruit quality at harvest and after cold storage is affected by pre-harvest water stress. Even less is known about the effects of fruit thinning on quality under these circumstances. To elucidate these, we applied deficit irrigation (DI) and fruit thinning treatments to ‘Conference’ pear over the growing seasons of 2008 and 2009. At the onset of Stage II (80 and 67 days before harvest in 2008 and 2009, respectively), two irrigation treatments were applied: full irrigation (FI) and DI. FI trees received 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). DI trees received no irrigation during the first three weeks of Stage II to induce water stress, but then received 20% of ETc to ensure tree survival. From bud-break until the onset of Stage II and during post-harvest, FI and DI trees received 100% of ETc. Each irrigation treatment received two thinning levels: no thinning leaving commercial crop load (∼180 fruits tree⁻¹), and hand-thinning at the onset of Stage II leaving a light crop load (∼85 fruits tree⁻¹). Under commercial crop loads, DI trees were moderately water-stressed and this had some positive effects on fruit quality. DI increased fruit firmness (FF), soluble solids concentrations (SSC) and acidity at harvest while no changes were observed in fruit maturity (based on ethylene production). Differences in FF and acidity at harvest between FI and DI fruit were maintained during cold storage. DI also reduced fruit weight loss during storage. But fruit size was reduced under DI. Fruit thinning under DI resulted in better fruit composition with no detrimental effect on fresh-market yield compared to un-thinned fruit. Fruit size at harvest and SSC values after five months of cold storage were higher in fruit from thinned trees than fruit from un-thinned trees. Fruit thinning increased fruit ethylene production, indicating advanced maturity. This may lead to earlier harvest which is desirable in years with impending drought. Fruit thinning is therefore a useful technique to enhance pear marketability under water shortage.     

Fruit temperature and crown removal on the occurrence of pineapple fruit translucency

The roles of fruit temperature and crown removal in the occurrence of pineapple fruit translucency were determined. Pineapple fruit translucency began to appear 2–4 weeks before harvest. Flesh tissue became very susceptible to high temperature and the cell electrolyte leakage rapidly increased 4 weeks before harvest. During the early stage of fruit development, electrolyte leakage of fruit flesh was reduced by covering fruit in the field with clear-plastic or a postharvest heat treatment (48°C, 24 h). In contrast, flesh tissue electrolyte leakage was increased by the postharvest heat treatment when the fruit age was 4 weeks before harvest or older. Covering fruit with clear-plastic during the last 3 weeks of fruit development decreased titratable acidity (TA) and increased translucency severity. The effects of temperature on fruit translucency occurrence was divided into two stages: the period earlier than 6 weeks before harvest and the period from 6 weeks before harvest to harvest. This division was based upon high fruit temperature 8 weeks before harvest or earlier reduced electrolyte leakage of the fruit flesh tissue, but increased leakage when the fruit age was 4 weeks before harvest or older. Crown removal either at an early or late stage of fruit development did not have any significant effect on fruit weight or translucency occurrence. The results suggested that the crown did not play a significant role in pineapple fruit development and translucency occurrence.     

Preventing cold storage disorders in nectarines

A storage experiment was aimed at preventing low temperature storage disorders in nectarine fruits, of cvs July Red and Autumn Grand. Fruit was either cooled immediately after harvest or kept at 20°C for 48 h, before transfer to controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions at 0°C. Combinations of 0, 10, 15 and 20% C02 with 8 and 16% 02 were assayed. The fruit was evaluated following cold storage, 31 days after harvest, and after four and eight days under ‘shelf conditions’ (ripening at 15-18 °C). Warming of the fruit at 20°C before cold storage prevented woolliness in the absence of elevated C02 levels but did not affect internal browning and increased reddish discoloration; further, it enhanced water loss and ripening, increasing fruit softening markedly. Conversely, high C02 delayed fruit ripening in CA storage, keeping the fruit firmer, and preventing the development of woolliness, internal browning and reddish discoloration during ripening, the best results being mostly obtained with 20% C02. 02 levels assayed did not show clear effects, but decreased 02 concentration in absence of high C02 showed some benefit in ‘July Red’. No deleterious effect of C02 concentrations even as high as 20% could be detected. Thus, even though high C02 in CA conditions showed promise for controlling disorders and preventing over-ripening, further work is needed on other cultivars, and lower 02 concentrations should be investigated before making a general recommendation.     

冷藏与辐照对山药保鲜效果的比较研究

以铁棍山药为试材,研究冷藏与不同剂量γ射线辐照后常温贮藏期间山药的发芽及重量损失情况,并分析了不同处理样品的感官指标和可溶性总糖、粗蛋白、水分及灰分含量。结果表明:冷藏和70~100 Gy剂量辐照均可有效地抑制山药的发芽、减少重量损失率,100 Gy处理贮藏期间的重量损失比70 Gy显著减小,且贮藏期越长,冷藏和辐射处理减少山药重量损失的效果越显著;冷藏和辐照保鲜90 d的山药品质优良,冷藏的保鲜效果优于辐照。     

Effects of method of harvest and interval between harvests on edible leaf yield in fluted pumpkin

Two crops of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook.f.) were grown in the field and the effects of 3 methods of harvest and 4 intervals between harvests were studied.Frequent harvests (3- or 4-week intervals) yielded more edible leaf than infrequent harvests (6- or 8-week intervals) by inducing greater branching, allowing for more flushes and providing between and regular timing for taking advantage of new flushes following each harvest. Although significant differences in yield were not obtained among the 3 methods of harvest, harvesting by pruning appeared to be preferable, because it is a faster operation than either hand-picking or alternation of harvest-pruning and hand-picking methods. Extra benefits in harvest-pruning could come from yield of tender apical shoots which are also edible.     

The influence of temperature,daylength and calendar date on cold tolerance of Rhododendron

Summary

Physical factors changing the acclimation and deacclimation processes that lead to cold (frost) tolerance and susceptibility in Rhododendron cv. Hatsurgiri are reported. Interactions between photoperiod and temperature which encouraged acclimation were studied by exposing detached leaves 0°C to –10°C, and assessing resulting injury using ion efflux and visual scoring. Combinations of short days (8 h) and exposure to 5°C resulted in the greatest cold tolerance. Exposure to long days (18 h) or 20°C reduced the cold tolerance of leaves. Application of each environmental factor, separately, increased cold tolerance compared with control tissues. When photoperiods were maintained at 12 h, exposing leaves to 5°C during the dark period enhanced cold tolerance compared with a 20°C dark period. Continuous 5°C applied during both light and dark periods encouraged greatest cold tolerance. Deacclimation from the cold tolerant state was accelerated by both higher temperature and longer photoperiods, but temperature was predominantly the more significant factor. Application of short days combined with low temperatures significantly delayed deacclimation. But even in this environment cold tolerance decreased over time, possibly through the action of endogenous annual rhythms. Cold tolerance changed with calendar time even when external environmental conditions were maintained at constant values and plant morphology was apparently unchanged.     

成熟度及贮藏环境对迷你冬瓜果实品质的 影响

以春丰迷你冬瓜果实为试材，研究不同采收成熟度及贮藏环境对迷你冬瓜果实贮藏期间品质
的影响。结果表明，低成熟度的果实虽采收时营养价值高，但不耐贮藏，贮藏3 d 后果皮即出现皱缩现象；
高成熟度的果实耐贮性好，贮藏100 d 后外观仍保持良好，且在地下室环境中贮藏能延缓果实品质下降的
速度；在冷藏环境下各成熟度的果实贮藏20 d 后出现腐烂症状。分析认为：短期贮藏可选择花后15 d 的
嫩瓜冷藏；长期贮藏则应选择花后30 d 或45 d 的老熟瓜在地下室相对低温的环境中贮藏。