Analysis of apricot germplasm from the European ecogeographical group

Morphological, phenological and fruit quality traits of 55 apricot cultivars, including the most important clones grown in Spain, France and Italy, were evaluated using principal component analysis. Given that the studied material was made up of commercial cultivars, the range of variation observed was narrower than expected. Variation was observed for traits related to phenology and fruit quality. The only correlation observed between morphology and phenology was that of blossom and budbreak season being correlated with internode length. Harvest season was negatively correlated with acidity and not correlated with total soluble solids (TSS). Native cultivars from Spain and Tunisia are a good source of early ripening but they lack fruit size and postharvest handling qualities, respectively. The most appreciated fruit quality characteristics were present in several cultivars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

63个芍药品种的分类检索

2014—2016年对63个芍药品种及野生原种进行形态特征调查,选定叶缘、花器管中心皮的形态特征作为品种分类的关键性状,结合花型、花色制作芍药品种分类检索表,以期为芍药品种鉴定、应用及新品种选育提供有价值的参考依据。调查供试品种的花期、平均株高、叶片被毛、花态、花茎硬度、每茎最多开花量、花型、花色、心皮被毛、柱头与子房壁的颜色。以叶缘具齿及心皮被毛与否确定品种种源,结合花型、花色进行分类检索。用XTL-850P研究型体视显微镜,观察每个品种的叶缘、心皮被毛、子房及柱头颜色并拍照;花器官颜色的测定采用第6版英国皇家园艺协会比色卡(RHSCC)进行。调查显示：63个品种加原种的叶缘,均带有白色透明骨质细齿,鉴定为芍药(Paeonia lactiflora)种下的栽培品种;其中26个品种心皮光滑无毛,划分为芍药原种品种群;35个品种心皮被毛,划分为毛果芍药品种群;2个品种心皮瓣化无子房无法细分,确定划分为心皮瓣化芍药品种群;结合花型、花色、柱头与子房壁的色型,编制品种的分类检索表;芍药的花期随不同年份、不同地区的气候会有差异,但品种对应的早、中、晚花期的顺序无变化。供试芍药品种种源细分芍药原种品种群、毛果芍药品种群及心皮瓣化芍药品种群;心皮特征是鉴别芍药种下相似品种的关键性状,结合花型、花色、柱头与子房壁的色型编制的分类检索表方便芍药品种的辨识,对芍药品种分类、园林应用和新品种的审定等方面具有一定的参考价值。后期将扩大芍药品种数量规模,对中国芍药品种种源做全面系统的分析认证。     

Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in inter-specific almond × peach backcrosses breeding progenies

Nineteen agrochemical traits of 20 almond inter-specific backcrosses progenies were evaluated and compared for three consequence years to find out their phenotypic diversity and determine the relationships of fruit quality traits in almond × peach backcrosses breeding progenies. The variation was observed for traits of phenology parameters (blooming time, ripening time), Physical parameters (fruit weight, width, height, shape, thickness, skin pubescences, colour and flower type), chemical parameters (total sugar content, soluble solids content and acidity) and sensory parameters (attractiveness, taste, and flavor) and yield. Many fruit characteristics that are important to breeders are present in this collection. A high variability was found in the evaluated almond progenies and significant differences were found among them in all studied quality attributes. Year-by-year variations were observed for majority of traits. A significant correlation was found among the fruit height, fruit width, skin pubescences and yield. Fruit height showed a significant positive correlation with fruit weight and fruit thickness and some other traits and a negative correlation with the titratable acidity, skin pubescences and fruit flavour. A high negative correlation was found between the fruit weight and titratable acidity (?0.8). Low coefficients were got between the flower colour and skin pubescences. In addition, principal component analysis it possible to established similar groups of genotypes depending on their quality characteristics and to study relationships among pomological traits in almond progenies evaluated.     

Phenotypic diversity among local Spanish and foreign peach and nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] accessions

Phenotypic data for tree and fruit characteristics was collected over three consecutive years from a germplasm collection of 94 peach and nectarine accessions representing both traditional Spanish as well as foreign cultivars with widespread global plantings. All accessions were grown at the Experimental Station of Aula Dei located in the Ebro Valley (Northern Spain, Zaragoza) under a Mediterranean climate. Tree traits evaluated included bloom and harvest date, vigor, yield, yield efficiency and flower and leaf characteristics. Fruit traits included fresh weight, firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, levels of individual soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol), vitamin C, total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, relative antioxidant capacity and ripening index. Extensive variability was observed for most qualitative and quantitative traits with significant correlations identified between many traits. While the traditional Spanish accessions demonstrated good adaptability to the northern Spain evaluation site, opportunities for continued improvement in tree and fruit quality traits were demonstrated by an extensive phenotypic variability within the germplasm collection.     

叶幕整形方式对新疆主要红色酿酒葡萄生长和果实品质的影响

研究叶幕整形方式对厂形树形红色酿酒葡萄叶幕和果域微环境、光合特性、果实品质的影响,为提高新疆酿酒葡萄品质提供有效方法。设置篱壁形和V形2个叶幕整形方式,于果实膨大期、转色期、成熟期对叶幕下果域温度、湿度以及2种叶幕形不同位置叶片光合有效辐射强度与光合生理指标进行测定;于果实成熟期对果实外观品质及可溶性固形物与可滴定酸,果皮和种子中的黄酮、多酚、原花青素、单宁等含量进行测定。试验结果表明,与篱壁形叶幕相比,V形叶幕改善叶幕整体光照情况较好,可提高日差值、果域湿度、叶幕内部叶片的光合能力、果穗松散度、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸和酚类物质含量。因此在新疆天山北麓生态条件下,采用V形叶幕整形方式更有助于提高果实品质。     

Multivariate analysis of vineyard peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] germplasm collection

Thirty vineyard peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] genotypes were studied to determine the overall degree of polymorphism and to detect similarities among genotypes. The variation was observed for traits related to phenology, morphology, yield and fruit quality. Many fruit characteristics that are important to breeders are present in this collection. The majority of important correlations were determined between the characteristics representing fruit size (fruit width, fruit height, fruit weight and stone weight) and between those ones representing fruit quality (fruit attractiveness, taste, flavour and soluble solids content). Cluster and principal component analysis showed a considerable phenotypical diversity in the vineyard peach germplasm. Clustering of genotypes was in accordance with its purpose (fresh consumption or rootstocks production). Parameters with high discriminating values were those related to fruit size and fruit quality.     

Self-pollination vs. cross-pollination in almond: pollen tube growth, fruit set and fruit characteristics

Pollen tubes reaching the ovary, fruit set and the main fruit characteristics of six self‐compatible genotypes (‘Marta’, ‘Antoñeta’, ‘Guara’, ‘Lauranne’, ‘S2332’ and ‘S4017’) of almond were studied after self‐ or cross‐pollination. No significant differences after self‐ or cross‐pollination were found in the number of pollen tubes reaching the ovary, the percentage of ovaries finally penetrated, fruit set and fruit characteristics. The results showed the possibility of obtaining suitable fertilization, yields and quality of fruits by self‐pollination of self‐compatible almond cultivars in a single cultivar orchard.     

两个杏品种不同成熟期果实品质变化研究

以金太阳(Prunus armeniaca Golden-sun)和魁金杏(Prunus armeniaca Kuiijn)为试材,研究其在绿熟期、商熟期和完熟期果实中类黄酮、类胡萝卜素等品质指标的变化。结果表明：两个杏品种果实单果重、可溶性固形物、Vc含量、可溶性糖、类黄酮和类胡萝卜素含量均随着果实的成熟不断升高,在完熟期达到最高,魁金高于金太阳;果实硬度和有机酸含量均随着果实成熟度的增加而降低,在完熟期达到最低,魁金低于金太阳,魁金果实品质优于金太阳。     

Assessment of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit texture by a combined acoustic-mechanical profiling strategy

Texture of apple fruit originates from anatomic traits related to cell wall architecture and is one of its most important quality characteristics, thus there is the desire to better understand the different factors which contribute to apple texture. Here we present a novel approach based on the simultaneous profiling of the mechanical and acoustic response of the flesh tissue to compression, using a texture analyzer coupled with an acoustic device. The methodology was applied to a 86 different apple cultivars, measured after two months postharvest cold storage and characterised by 16 acoustic and mechanical parameters. Statistical treatment of the data with principal component analysis (PCA) allowed for the identification of three groups of variables, the mechanical ones being clearly distinguished from the acoustic ones. Moreover, the distribution of the apple cultivars in the multivariate PCA plot allowed characterisation of the cultivars according to their textural performance. Each cultivar was analyzed also with non-destructive vis/NIR spectroscopy in order to determine impartially the ripening stage. Sensory evaluation by panellists was performed on a selected group of cultivars and sensory data correlated with the acoustic-mechanical data. The results demonstrate the good performance of our combined acoustic-mechanical strategy in measuring apple crispness as it is perceived by human senses.     

Effect of prolonged cold storage on the sensory quality of peach and nectarine

To maintain peach and nectarine quality after harvest, low temperature storage is used. Low temperatures induce physiological disorders in peach, but the effect of cold storage on the sensory quality of the fruit before it is damaged by chilling injury syndrome remains unclear. To evaluate the cold storage effect on the sensory quality two peach cultivars (’Royal Glory’ and ‘Elegant Lady’) and two nectarines (’Ruby Diamond’ and ‘Venus’) were harvested at a standardized firmness level and subjected to quality evaluations and sensory analysis at harvest and after storage at 0 °C for 35 d. For both time points, a supplementary ripening followed such that homogeneous flesh firmness and suitability for consumption was achieved.The fruit segregation through the Durofel firmness (DF), evaluated using a non-destructively method (Durofel device), allowed the formation of a uniform group of fruit in terms of flesh firmness (FF), showing scores between 45.1 and 55.9 N. The average FF in fruit ripened immediately after harvest was 22.9 N and 25.6 N in fruit ripened after cold storage for 35 d.The “acceptability” of fruit is highly correlated with “aroma”, “sweetness”, “juiciness”, “texture” and “flavor”. Only the “acid taste” parameter had no significant correlation with “acceptability” or with the other parameters evaluated.It is possible to conclude that the sensory quality and acceptability of peach and nectarine are characteristic of each cultivar and change, depending on the time elapsed after harvest. In general, it was confirmed that nectarine cultivars have a more consistent quality than peach cultivars.     

GA4+7 plus BA enhances postproduction quality in pot tulips

Previously we reported that postproduction quality of pot ‘Seadov’ tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) was significantly increased by GA₄₊₇ plus BA in a manner dependent on the concentration and stage of flower development at application. In these experiments, we extended the survey to 20 tulip cultivars to further evaluate the effects of GA₄₊₇ plus BA sprays for enhancing postproduction flower and leaf quality. The senescence symptom of the cultivars fell into three categories: wilting, wilting-abscission (abscission shortly after tepal wilting) and abscission (abscission without wilting), with the majority of the cultivars belonging to the wilting and wilting-abscission categories. Pots bearing six plants were sprayed with a range of GA₄₊₇ plus BA concentrations at marketable stage and placed in a simulated consumer environment (SCE). GA₄₊₇ plus BA significantly enhanced individual flower and postproduction longevity, but the effect was dependent upon the senescence category of the cultivar. In general, GA₄₊₇ plus BA increased individual flower and postproduction longevity of wilting-type cultivars at concentrations above 10 mg L^?1, while longevity of wilting-abscission-type cultivars was only enhanced by 50 mg L^?1. Abscission-type cultivars were not affected by any concentrations of GA₄₊₇ plus BA. Regardless of floral senescence category, leaf yellowing was significantly reduced by GA₄₊₇ plus BA sprays in those cultivars showing postproduction leaf yellowing. GA₄₊₇ plus BA did not induce leaf and stem elongation in most cultivars. Only ‘Yellow Baby’, the shortest cultivar, showed elongation of stem and leaf by GA₄₊₇ plus BA at concentrations above 25 mg L^?1. Spray applications of GA₄₊₇ plus BA can be useful to enhance flower and leaf quality in pot tulips.     

Influence of pollination modes on yield components in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.)

The effects of self, wind and open pollination on yield components were investigated in five strawberry genotypes, the cultivars ‘Dukat’, ‘Paula’, ‘Redgauntlet’, ‘Senga Sengana’ and the breeding clone B-302. Investigations were also conducted to look for additional plant characteristics associated with strawberry yield components after various modes of pollination. Such characteristics would facilitate the indirect selection of highly self-compatible strawberry genotypes. The greatest effect of self pollination was observed in B-302 and ‘Redgauntlet’, while the least effect of autogamy was shown m Paula. Conversely, the last cultivar revealed the greatest effect of entomophily, whereas the greatest effect of wind pollination was observed in ‘Dukat’. Relationships between yield components and some flower and pollen characteristics after various pollinations indicated that the degree of self compatibility in strawberry can be predicted from the pollen grain length and the pollen size index. Genotypes producing long pollen grains with large size indices exhibited the greatest effect of autogamy. Anther size, especially length. Which correlated more strongly with yield components than width, could also be used as an index of autogamy in the strawberry. Pollen yield per flower an self compatibility.     

Inheritance of shelf life and other quality traits of tomato fruit estimated from F<Subscript>1</Subscript>’s,F<Subscript>2</Subscript>’s and backcross generations derived from standard cultivar, <Emphasis Type="Italic">nor</Emphasis> homozygote and wild cherry tomato

A tomato cultivar with high quality fruit and a long shelf life is a main goal in tomato breeding and it would be achieved using wild germplasm. The objective of this work was to explore the inheritance for fruit quality traits, especially fruit shelf life, in three tomato crosses using a standard Argentinean cultivar (Ca, cv ‘Caimanta’), a ripening mutant (nor, homozygous for the nor gene) of Solanum lycopersicum, and a wild cherry type (Ce, LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The wild parent had a shorter fruit shelf life than the mutant genotype but higher than Ca. When the Ce genotype was analyzed in hybrid combination, the F₁ (Ca×Ce) was similar to the wild genotype for shelf life whereas the F₁ (nor × Ce) had a longer shelf life. Both F₁ crosses and backcrosses to the cherry type genotype had significantly lower fruit weight than the cultivated genotypes but higher than the cherry type parent. In the F₂ analysis, it was found that the inheritance underlying quality traits is complex since non allelic interactions were detected. A significant additive genetic variance was found for fruit shelf life as well as for other fruit quality traits in each cross. The genetic parameters analyzed by mean values and variances in parental, F₁ and F₂ and backcross generations indicated that the cross between the normal ripening cultivar and LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme offers the best possibility to obtain long shelf life tomato genotypes with good fruit quality.     

The effect of delaying harvest date on fruit quality and storage of late highbush blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

The effect of delaying harvest on fruit quality and storage life was measured for the late-season highbush blueberry cultivars ‘Aurora’, ‘Elliott’ and ‘Liberty’. In all three cultivars as fruit ripened, there was a steady decline in TA while SS remained stable, indicating that the fruit were becoming sweeter. This was supported by taste panel perceptions of greater sweetness associated with later harvested fruit. There was also a significant overall reduction in fruit firmness and storage life as the percentage of blue fruit at harvest increased; however, a significant interaction for storage life between crop ripeness and cultivar was observed, indicating that the fruit of some cultivars were less influenced by overall crop ripeness than others. The storage life of ‘Elliott’ was significantly affected negatively by crop ripeness, while ‘Aurora’ and ‘Liberty’ were not. ‘Liberty’ produced the highest percentage of sound fruit of the three cultivars and its fruit stored the longest, suggesting that ‘Liberty’ and ‘Aurora’ fruit can be left longer on the bush before harvesting than ‘Elliott’ without significantly damaging storage life. This would allow ‘Aurora’ to develop a sweeter flavor before shipping. The physicochemical and sensory evaluations were highly correlated, suggesting that TA, SS and firmness can be used as predictors of consumer preferences.     

The influence of auxin type on the array of somaclonal variants generated from somatic embryogenesis of eggplant, Solanum melongena L.

Somaclonal variation is a possible source of variation in plant breeding. To apply this approach to eggplant breeding, somaclonal variations were observed among plants regenerated through somatic embryogenesis induced by 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Variations including leaf shape, plant height, flower number per cluster, fruit shape, anther number per flower and pollen fertility were compared among ? 300 plants (R₀). Although these variations were confirmed among plants regenerated using both auxins, the frequencies of somaclonal variations in leaf shape, plant height, fruit shape and pollen fertility in the NAA experiment were higher than those in the 2,4-D experiment. Variations in flower number and anther number were also confirmed among plants from both experiments, although no significant differences in their frequency were observed. Subsequently, the inheritance of variations (leaf shape, fruit shape, and flower number) observed in R₀ was investigated from generation to generation (R₁). Variations in leaf shape and fruit shape were inherited while those in flower number were not. From these results we concluded that, although a high frequency of somaclonal variations were observed among plants from both methods, embryogenesis with NAA was more efficient than 2,4-D in eggplant.     

Instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of blueberry fruit from twelve cultivars

We compared the instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of blueberry fruit from ten highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars, Chanticleer, Weymouth, Hannah's Choice, Duke, Bluecrop, Coville, Berkeley, Bluegold, Elliott and Lateblue and two rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum Aiton) cultivars, Coastal and Montgomery, grown in New Jersey. Cultivars varied in sensory intensity and acceptability scores. Highbush cultivars, Coville and Hannah's Choice, scored highest among the cultivars in sensory scores for intensity of blue color, juiciness, sweetness and blueberry-like flavor and for acceptability of appearance, color, fruit size, sweet/tart balance, flavor and overall eating quality. In contrast, rabbiteye cultivars, Coastal and Montgomery, and the highbush cultivars, Elliott and Weymouth, scored lowest among the cultivars in sensory scores for intensity of bursting energy, skin toughness, texture during chewing, juiciness, and blueberry-like flavor and for acceptability of appearance, color, fruit size, flavor and overall eating quality. Analytical quality characteristics of surface color, size, compression firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, and aromatic volatile concentration also varied among cultivars, but no instrumental measurement adequately predicted consumer acceptability scores. The overall eating quality of blueberry fruit was best correlated with flavor scores followed by sensory scores for intensity of juiciness, bursting energy and sweetness and for acceptability of appearance.     

Texture profiling of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) during fruit development,ripening and storage

Blueberries are ‘soft fruit’, a name which underlies the impact that fruit texture plays in their marketability. Worldwide blueberry production has been increasing in the last years, and they are now the second most economically important soft fruit after strawberry. During pre- and postharvest ripening, fruit softening represents the most dramatic change, leading to important losses in quality during storage. To support the FEM breeding program toward the creation of new blueberry accessions with superior texture, we used a novel texture analyzer TAXTplus to improve the phenotyping resolution, a fundamental step for a more reliable and precise selection of the most suitable ideotypes. In this work change in the mechanical profile of the blueberry cultivar ‘Brigitta Blue’ was initially assessed during berry development, maturation and postharvest ripening, revealing important textural variations. In addition, this novel equipment was exploited to compare the fruit texture behavior at two specific stages, maturity and after postharvest cold storage, on a set of 49 different blueberry and hybrids cultivars and selections. A multivariate statistical approach, including principal component analysis, was employed to analyze the dataset related to the textural parameters, according to their performance. Finally a storage index, originally defined for apple fruit texture, was adopted to depict the different storage potential of a set of blueberry cultivars.     

Partial resistance of barley to leaf rust,Puccinia hordei. IV. Effect of cultivar and development stage on infection frequency

Summary The cultivar effect on infection frequency (IF) was studied in the seedling and adult plant stages of 15 spring barley cultivars. In both stages the cultivar effects were highly significant. The cultivars L94 and Vada represented the extremes. Vada having about 2 1/2 times fewer uredosori than L94. Between cultivars and development stage clear interactions occurred. Pauline f.i. had the same low IF as Vada in the seedling stage, but in the adult plant stage its IF was about 70% higher. Also other effects could influence the cultivar effects. Increasing leaf age appears to increase IF. The cultivar effect also seemed to depend on the level of IF. At high levels the cultivars differed far less than at low levels of IF. The cultivar effect on IF appeared correlated with partial resistance in the field (r=0.7) through a high correlation with the cultivar effect on latent period (r=0.8).