Nitrogen Application Rate and the Concentration of Other Macronutrients in the Fruit and Leaves of Gold Kiwifruit

ABSTRACT

Gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis ‘HORT16A’, marketed as ZESPRI?' ‘HORT16A’) is an important export crop for New Zealand. Nutrient management, including the application of nitrogen (N), for ‘HORT16A’ kiwifruit has mimicked strategies for the green (A. deliciosa ‘Hayward’) cultivar, however, physiological differences between Actinidia species necessitate the development of specific nutrient regimes for ‘HORT16A’ vines. In this trial, all nutrients, except N, were applied at levels comparable to commercial practice. The Control treatment received approximately 145 kg N ha/y, and was based on estimates of total N removed each year in the harvested fruit. The Zero-N treatment vines received all nutrients except N, and the High-N treatment received double the Control, approximately 295 kg N ha/y, for two consecutive seasons. The High-N treatment represents the upper limit of N application practices in commercial ‘HORT16A’ kiwifruit production. Zero-N fruit had higher calcium (Ca) and lower N concentration than High-N fruit in both seasons. Fruit potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were equivalent between these treatments in both seasons. Fruit phosphorus (P) concentration throughout the season was increased in the High-N treatment in both years. Fruit sizes were not different between treatments at final harvest in Year 1, being 130.5 ± 4.13 g, 125 ± 1.49 g, and 125 ± 3.29 g for the High, Control, and Zero-N vines, respectively. Larger fruit were harvested from the High-N vines (125 ± 4.69 g) in Year 2, than from either Control (113 ± 2.03 g) or Zero-N (118 ± 1.03 g) vines. Percent fruit dry matter (DM) content was higher in the Zero-N fruit (17.2 ± 0.06, 17.2 ± 0.06, and 16.8 ± 0.14 for Zero, Control, and High-N vines) at final harvest in Year 1. But values of fruit DM for all treatments were similar in Year 2 in spite of fruit size differences between treatments. Fruit DM for all treatments was slightly higher in Year 2 than in Year 1. Differences in fruit mineral concentration and fruit maturity at harvest may have contributed to increased incidence of low temperature breakdown (LTB) in the High-N fruit in Year 1. In Year 2, when fruit DM was higher in all treatments, yellow coloration was more developed. Total fruit N concentration was lower in Year 2 for all treatments than in Year 1, and LTB was minimal and not different between treatments.

Leaves from Zero-N vines had reduced N in both years compared with Control and High-N vines. In contrast, leaf Ca and Mg concentrations were reduced in High N-vines, compared with values recorded in Zero-N vines in both seasons. Leaf K concentrations were comparable between treatments in both seasons. Leaf sulfur (S) concentration was reduced under the High-N treatment, and leaf P levels were increased under the High-N treatment in both years.

These data demonstrate that N application influences the uptake and accumulation of other mineral elements in ‘HORT16A’ kiwifruit. In order to encourage desirable nutrient concentrations in both the fruit and leaves of ‘HORT16A’ kiwifruit, a reduction in N applied is suggested, and this would have little or no detrimental effect on vine performance over two seasons. Reduced N application will also reduce nitrate leaching which is estimated at 39 kg N ha/y under the Control treatment.     

Relating Leaf Nutrient Status to Fruit Quality Attributes in Litchi cv. ‘Mauritius’

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) ‘Mauritius’ is a popular export cultivar due to its attractive red color and excellent fruit quality. Three orchards were selected based on planting distance and routine pruning practices followed by each growing season. Orchards A and B are essentially similar regarding these production practices, whereas orchard C had overlapping canopies due to lack of routine pruning practices after each growing season and short planting distance. Canonical variate analysis was used as a statistical tool to compare fruit quality attributes from different orchards (A, B, and C) in terms of physical, chemical and sensory parameters and correlating to leaf nutrient status. The correlations and plot of loadings of the variates indicated that skin color (visual), color values (chroma and hue angle, h°), fruit weight, firmness, and consumer acceptability were the main factors that discriminated orchard C from the other two orchards. The soluble solids concentrations, titratable acidity and fruit taste were the quality attributes discriminating orchard A from orchard B. The relationship between the leaf nutrients and fruit quality attributes showed positive relationships between leaf potassium (K) and anthocyanin content and titratable acidity (TA); leaf phosphorus (P) and pericarp h°, leaf nitrogen (N) and fruit weight; leaf calcium (Ca) and fruit firmness.     

Geographical distribution and morphological diversity of red-fleshed kiwifruit germplasm (Actinidia chinensis Planchon) in China

The fruit flesh color of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is generally green or yellow when ripened. Developing kiwifruit cultivars with new fruit flesh color such as red-fleshed color has stimulated much interest for kiwifruit breeders and researchers recently due to its potentially importance for meeting the increasing and changing markets and consumers. In the present study, the whole geographical distribution and morphological variation of wild red-fleshed kiwifruit in China were investigated. In total of 56 accessions of red-fleshed kiwifruit were found across 19 separated localities, representing different ecological and climatic conditions throughout South and Central China. Characterization of nine horticulturally important fruit traits of all accessions showed that there are extensive variations in fruit shape, fruit hairs and as to red intensity, spread of the red pigments and background flesh color. The results presented here have updated the current knowledge on the natural distribution and ecological adaptation of wild red-fleshed kiwifruit resource, which should be valuable for kiwifruit agriculture such as the determination of planting areas of red-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars. The accessions with extensive morphological variation can also contribute to kiwifruit breeding in future such as developing new cultivars with red color flesh.     

施用有机肥对葡萄植株Hg富集的影响

【目的】以葡萄果树为研究对象,研究了不同剂量Hg胁迫下施用羊粪有机肥对不同生长期葡萄植株各部位Hg富集的影响,为利用有机肥控制葡萄Hg污染提供科学依据。【方法】采用盆栽试验,每个盆钵装过5 mm筛的风干土15 kg,土壤汞含量设置0、 1.5、 25 mg/kg 3个处理水平,以HgCl2固体粉末形式施入土壤,每个水平分别设置施用有机肥和不施用有机肥两种情况。供试有机肥为羊粪,并按12.5%施入土壤,混匀后放置平衡15 d,于4月8日定植葡萄苗,每盆移栽健壮无病、 生长状况基本一致的植株1株,每个处理重复6次。【结果】不管施用有机肥与否,葡萄花瓣、 果实、 枝条和叶片中的汞含量均随土壤Hg含量的增加而明显增加,而葡萄不同部位中Hg的富集系数却呈现出显著降低的趋势,且在各部位的大小顺序为叶片花枝条果实。葡萄叶片和枝条Hg含量及其富集系数基本上表现出了幼果期最高,成熟期最低的生长期富集特征。与未施有机肥处理相比,低Hg处理施用有机肥后使开花期葡萄枝条汞含量降低了69.16%; 高Hg处理施肥后使开花期、 幼果期和成熟期葡萄枝条汞含量分别降低了50.52%、 58.33%和48.35%,并使三个时期叶片汞含量的降低幅度比低Hg处理分别高出了26%、 29.70%和37%。在土壤Hg污染下,施用有机肥的葡萄各器官汞含量均低于未施肥处理,且高Hg处理下的Hg含量降低幅度大多高于低Hg处理。不管低Hg或高Hg处理,施肥使叶片汞含量在幼果期和成熟期降低均最突出,而低Hg处理施肥使枝条汞含量在开花期降幅最高,高Hg处理在幼果期降幅最高。【结论】施用有机肥后,葡萄花、 叶片、 枝条和果实受Hg污染胁迫的影响明显减轻,尤其土壤Hg含量越高,有机肥的这种抑制作用越明显。     

Salinity tolerance in tomato: Implications of potassium,calcium, and phosphorus

Abstract

The effect of salinity on the growth and yield of tomato plants and mineral composition of tomato leaves was studied. Five tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars, Pearson, Strain B, Montecarlo, Tropic, and Marikit, were grown in sand nutrient culture. The nutrient solutions applied consisted of a modified half‐strength Hoagland solution with 50 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), 3 mM potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄), 1.5 mM orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), and 10 mM calcium sulphate (CaSO₄). Stem height and number of leaves of tomato plants were not found to be significantly different but leaf and stem dry weight were reduced significantly in plants irrigated with saline nutrient solution in contrast with control plants. The total yield was reduced in plants that received saline treatments, but there was no significant difference in fruit number and fruit set percentage. The fruit electrical conductivity and total soluble solids were increased in plants irrigated with saline nutrient solution. Fruit pH was not found to be significantly different among salinity treatments. Mineral composition of tomato leaves were increased by addition of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) to the saline nutrient solution. The addition of K to the solution resulted in an increase in sodium (Na) leaf content. The amounts of K and magnesium (Mg) were not significantly different among salinity treatments. Calcium content was increased when CaSO₄ was added. Application of H₃PO₄ resulted in the highest amount of P in tomato leaves under saline conditions. The present study revealed that application of K, P, and Ca under saline conditions improved fruit electrical conductivity and total soluble solids. Sufficiency levels of the mineral nutrients K and P were obtained in tomato leaves when the appropriate nutrient was used in the saline solution.     

Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Rates on Growth,Yield, and Quality of Muskmelon in Semiarid Regions

Abstract

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. cv. ‘Polidor’) were grown under field conditions to investigate the effects of different nitrogen (N) levels (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha^{? 1}) on plant growth, water use efficiency, fruit yield and quality (weight, sizes, and water-soluble dry matter), leaf relative water content, and macro nutrition under three different irrigation regimes. Irrigation was applied based on cumulative class A pan evaporation (Ep). Plant treatments were as follows: (1) well-watered treatment (C) received 100% replenishment of Ep on a daily basis, (2) water-stressed treatment (WS) received 75% replenishment of Ep at three-day intervals, and (3) severely water-stressed (SWS): treatment received 50% replenishment of Ep at six- day intervals. Plants grown under C at 120 kg N ha^{? 1} produced significantly higher biomass (175.6 g plant^{? 1}), fruit yield (36.05 t ha^{? 1}), fruit weight (2.25 kg fruit^{? 1}), and leaf relative water content (93.5%) under increasing N levels than did the two deficit irrigation treatments. The WS or SWS treatments caused reductions in all parameters measured except water-soluble dry matter (SDM) concentrations in fruits compared with those receiving unstressed (C) treatment. The WS irrigation regime with 80 kg ha^{? 1} N significantly improved the fruit yield and size, plant dry matter, leaf area, and IWUE compared with the SWS regime. Increased N significantly enhanced foliar N in the unstressed plants. Increasing N rate in the SWS treatment did not increase fruit yield with the same trend found in the WS and C treatments with increasing N levels. The yield reduction under severe water shortage was much more severe at high N rates. Water use (ET) at the C treatment at 120 kg ha^{? 1} N ranged between 160 and 165 cm, while SWS reduced ET to 90 cm at 0 and 40 kg ha^{? 1} N. Nitrogen supply modified water use at C and WS irrigation regimes. Muskmelon yield response to N rate was quadratic and differed with the level of irrigation. This moderate water deficit (SW) may be an alternative irrigation choice with a suitable N application rate for muskmelon growers in arid and semi-arid regions if the goal is to irrigate an agricultural area with limited water supply for more growers, but not if it is maximizing economic yield. Growers should accept a significant yield reduction in exchange for water conservation.     

Boron toxicity in kiwifruit plants (Actinidia deliciosa), treated with nitrate,ammonium, and a mixture of both

The objective of this research was to study the effects of nitrogen (N) forms (NO₃^–, 2.6 mM; NH₄⁺, 2.6 mM; NO₃^–, 1 mM + NH₄⁺, 1.6 mM) on the growth and mineral composition of kiwifruit plants exposed to three boron (B) levels (0.025, 0.1, 0.3 mM). The kiwifruit plants were grown in a 1:1 sand : perlite mixture and irrigated daily with nutrient solutions. Shoot height, mean shoot dry weight, the number of leaves, mean leaf dry weight, and N concentration of NH₄‐treated plants were significantly higher compared to the NO₃^– treatment at all B levels. The concentration of 0.3 mM B significantly reduced shoot height for all N treatments. Boron toxicity symptoms appeared 14 days after starting the experiment, when plants were treated with 0.1 and/or 0.3 mM B. The nitrate supply reduced the B concentration of roots, but B levels of different leaf parts were hardly affected by the N form. Furthermore, the NH₄‐N form significantly reduced the Mg concentration of the leaves.     

Physiological Responses of Leymus Chinensis to Long-Term Salt,Alkali and Mixed Salt-Alkali Stresses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel exposed to long-term salt, salt-alkali, and alkali stress in order to elucidate how L. chinensis can survive under alkaline-sodic soils. L. chinensis (30 days after germination) were stressed with salt [SS; sodium chloride (NaCl)], mixed salt-alkali [MS; molar ratio of NaCl: sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) = 2:1] and alkali salt (AS; Na₂CO₃) at four different levels of sodium (Na⁺) concentration (0, 75, 150, and 300 mM) for 60 days. L. chinensis showed 100% survival rate at all treatments except 300 mM SS (33.3%) and AS (18.9%). The growth and physiological parameters of survival plants were measured. As anticipated, growth of L. chinensis was inhibited after stresses, which reflected in the decline of plant height, dry weight and tiller number following the increased Na⁺ concentration. The content of Na⁺, proline, and soluble sugar in L. chinensis increased with the increasing Na⁺ concentration, suggesting that L. chinensis need to accumulate inorganic and organic solutes for resisting osmotic stress induced by various salt stresses. These processes ensure the water balance that can provide a relative normal physiological environment for L. chinensis. Potassium (K⁺) content of L. chinensis kept at a relative lower level than control to ensure the normal physiological processes. Chlorophyll content of stressed plant increased slightly compared to control plants, which can produce more energy for L. chinensis resisting various stresses. The increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content of stressed plants showed the damage of various stresses. Among the three treatments (SS, MS, and AS), the injury extent for L. chinensis can be expressed by AS>SS>MS, and MS was the most complicated for the counterbalance effects of soil electrical conduction and pH.     

Influence of Polyethylene Mulch,Irrigation Regime,and Potassium Rates on Field Cucumber Yield and Related Traits

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) was field grown from April 2001–July 2001 to determine the effects of mulch, irrigation regime, and potassium (K) rates on yield and related traits (i.e., leaf relative water content, water-use efficiency, and macronutrition). This was a factorial experiment with two irrigation levels (125% A pan daily versus 75% A pan every three days), two mulch levels (mulched versus unmulched), and three K₂O levels (20, 40, or 60 g/m²). Plants receiving reduced water application (75% A pan every 3 days) showed significant reductions in all parameters when compared with well-watered plants (125% A pan daily). The use of black polyethylene mulch (BPM) covers improved the plant dry matter, chlorophyll concentrations, fruit yield, and relative water content in leaves of well-watered plants and also improved K availability to the plants by keeping soil moisture higher than that of stressed plants without mulch. Using BPM increased plant water-use efficiency compared with that under the reduced water (RW) treatment. Reduced water application enhanced electrolyte leakage compared with that recorded under the well-watered (WW) treatment. Mulching decreased electrolyte leakage under the RW treatment. Increased K rates significantly enhanced leaf K in the mulched and WW plants. However, increased K rates did not increase leaf K in the RW plants. Reduced water application reduced leaf concentrations of all nutrients tested, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). However, mulching enhanced the concentrations of these elements, although their concentrations were still lower than those under the WW treatment. These results clearly indicate that field-grown number plants under mulched treatments were less stressed under semi-arid conditions and also that mulched treatments increased K availability to the plants.     

湘西猕猴桃种植基地土壤和猕猴桃中重金属积累状况研究

对湘西主要猕猴桃种植基地的土壤和猕猴桃植株中As、Pb、Hg、Cd、Cr等重金属的累积状况进行了分析研究。研究结果表明:6个猕猴桃种植地区的土壤中重金属积累均不明显,湘西有1地区土壤中镉(4.900 mg·kg~(-1))、汞(0.634 mg·kg~(-1))含量有所超标外,其余各地区各重金属含量均在国家标准范围以下;同时各地区重金属的综合污染指数P综均远小于0.7,有5处基地无重金属污染现象发生,符合绿色猕猴桃种植基地土壤所需标准,可以安全生产。各地区猕猴桃枝干、叶片中各种重金属(镉、汞除外)的含量都很小;猕猴桃对土壤中重金属镉具有较强的吸收能力,其枝干中镉含量达到12.73%。6个地区猕猴桃果实中各重金属的含量都低于或远低于国家标准值,属于无污染的绿色水果。通过综合分析可得,湘西猕猴桃主要种植地土壤状况良好,果实无重金属残留现象。     

Coffee‐Tree Floral Analysis as a Mean of Nutritional Diagnosis

Abstract

Plant part analysis for evaluating the nutritional state of the crops is a practice commonly used. The analysis of flowers can allow an earlier diagnosis of nutritional deficiencies, excesses or unbalances, which facilitates its correction before the occurrence of irreversible losses in productivity and quality. The objective of this study were to determine the coffee tree (Coffea arabica L.) flower nutrients sufficiency ranges, to compare and correlate concentrations of nutrients observed in flowers and leaves collected 90 days after bloom, and to correlate the concentrations of nutrients in flowers and leaves with fruit yield. Samples of 26 experimental plots were collected. The plots were set up in nine different orchards five to nine years old and with 3000–5000 plants/ha, in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Eleven experimental plots were selected with mean yield greater than 7.0 kg/plant of coffee berry for the calculation of the nutrients sufficiency ranges. The concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), boron (B), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were similar in flowers and leaves, whereas those of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) differed among the parts. There was correlation among the contents of N, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in flowers and in leaves. For flowers a model of six variables and for leaves a model of eight variables explained 80% of the variation in the mean yield of the coffee tree plants. It is concluded that, flowers permit earlier diagnosis and greater precision in the diagnosis of the nutritional state of the coffee tree.     

葡萄籽提取物对采后猕猴桃青霉病的抑制效果与机理

为探讨葡萄籽提取物(GSE)对采后猕猴桃接种青霉菌后青霉病的防治效果,本试验以贵长猕猴桃为试材,通过测定猕猴桃果实发病率、病斑直径以及与果实抗病相关物质的含量和防御相关酶的活性,研究GSE对采后猕猴桃果实青霉菌的作用效果。结果表明,GSE处理延迟了猕猴桃在损伤接种扩展青霉(Penicillium expansum)后果实发病率的上升,抑制了果实病斑直径的扩大。同时,GSE处理极显著提高了猕猴桃果实总酚和总类黄酮含量,降低了膜降解标志性代谢产物丙二醛(MDA)含量以及脂氧合酶(LOX)活性,提高了猕猴桃果实几丁质酶(CHI)、β-1,3葡聚糖酶(GLU)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性。接种扩展青霉后,接种前期GSE处理显著提高了果实的多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性,接种后期GSE处理显著提高了苯丙氨酸氨解酶(PAL)活性。综上,GSE处理通过激活抗氧化防御代谢从而提高了猕猴桃果实对青霉病的抗性。本研究为利用GSE防治青霉病研究提供了理论指导和技术参考。     

Effects of fertilizer rate,application timing and plant spacing on yield and nutrient content of bell pepper

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var annuum L.), cv Pip, transplants were established at 31 and 46 cm in‐rows on bare soil and drip irrigated on a twice weekly schedule. A base rate of fertilizer was applied either in one preplant application or in two (preplant and first flower set) or three (preplant, first flower set, after the midseason harvest) split applications. Additional fertilizer was applied in excess of the base rate on a predetermined schedule or after significant yield decline ('as needed'). Concentrations of 12 elements in leaf and fruit tissues were determined throughout the growing season. The three‐split application of the base rate of fertilizer increased total yield. Plants spaced at 46 cm had increased total and marketable yield in one year. Interactions of fertilizer treatment and plant spacing did not affect total yield. In one year when additional fertilizer was applied ‘as needed’, plants spaced at 31 cm produced more marketable yield than plants spaced at 46 cm. Nutrients in leaves and fruit did not respond to fertilizer treatment or spacing. In leaves and fruit, concentrations of elements increased, decreased/or stayed the same in both years. For leaves, exceptions were Cu, Mn, and N. For fruit, exceptions were Al, Fe, K, and N. A base level application of fertilizer applied preplant was sufficient to support marketable fruit production.     

不同施氮水平下不同氮利用效率小黑麦植株氮素积累分配特性

采用土培盆栽试验,以小黑麦氮高效利用品种‘Clxt82’、‘PI429186’和氮低效利用品种‘Clxt74’为材料,研究0(不施氮)、0.033 g(N)·kg-1(低氮)和0.066 g(N)·kg-1(正常氮)3个不同施氮水平下,各生长时期氮素在器官间和器官内不同功能性氮素分配的特性。结果表明:氮高效利用品种在氮素不足的条件下优势更明显,抽穗期高效利用品种和低效利用品种间生物量的差异随施氮量的增加而减小,在不施氮、低氮和正常供氮时‘Clxt82’、‘PI429186’地上部生物量分别为‘Clxt74’的1.55倍、1.19倍、1.06倍和1.79倍、1.35倍、1.30倍。不同生育时期,小黑麦氮积累量均随施氮量的增加而显著增加,低氮和正常供氮处理,在分蘖期、拔节期氮高效利用品种氮积累量均显著高于低效利用品种,而在抽穗期差异则不大。随施氮量的增加,氮素在叶片和穗部的分配比例减小,在茎的分配比例增大;分蘖期和拔节期,氮高效利用品种茎中氮素分配比例小于低效利用品种,叶片氮素分配比例则大于低效利用品种。抽穗期氮高效利用品种穗部氮素分配比例大于低效品种,而叶部则相反。各生育时期各器官不同形态氮素含量总体上随施氮量的增加而增加。不施氮和低氮处理,拔节期氮高效品种‘Clxt82’、‘PI429186’叶片营养性氮含量是低效品种‘Clxt74’的1.31倍、1.76倍和1.12倍、1.35倍,而结构性氮含量则是低效品种的86.12%、64.01%和80.82%、71.51%;抽穗期氮高效品种‘Clxt82’、‘PI429186’叶片营养性氮含量是低效品种‘Clxt74’的1.01倍、1.11倍和1.04倍、1.13倍,结构性氮含量为低效品种‘Clxt74’的74.99%、63.08%和75.78%、62.84%;各时期品种间功能性氮素含量差异不大。低氮条件下氮高效利用品种通过降低结构性氮素含量、增加营养性氮素含量来满足氮素的利用和体内循环。     

Application of wood ash compared with fertigation for improving the nutritional status and fruit production of kiwi vines

Application of wood ash can potentially improve the fertility of acid soils and the nutritional status of crops. However, there is limited information about the effectiveness of this practice with fruit trees. The application of wood ash as a fertilizer in a kiwifruit plantation—both with and without fertigation/irrigation—was compared with that of a conventional fertigation program in a completely randomized field experiment on an acid soil in northwest (NW) Spain. The effects on plant nutritional status and on fruit yield, as well as environmental effects, were evaluated over a period of 2 y. The application of wood ash led to modest increases in soil pH and extractable nutrients (phosphorus, P; calcium, Ca; magnesium, Mg; potassium, K; boron, B). However, no consistent effects in foliar nutrient concentrations were found. Ash application led to an increase of up to 45% in the number of fruits produced, which was mainly attributed to the inputs of Ca and Mg. Although moderate increases in soil available manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) after ash application were recorded, there were no changes in heavy‐metal concentrations in leaves or fruits. From the results of the study it can be concluded that wood ash can be used to improve the growth conditions of kiwi vines on acidic soils. Wood ash should be applied at rates adapted to the liming needs of the soil, while also taking into account the chemical composition of the ash.     

Suitable organ(s) in wild Cucumis africanus for the production of nemafric-BL phytonematicide

Cucurbitacin B in fruit of wild watermelon (Cucumis africanus) is an active ingredient in products that range from pesticides to various medicines. Reports suggested that cucurbitacins occur in all parts of C. africanus, without specifying whether they are equally distributed or not. Should the active ingredient not be equally distributed in all organs, it would not be prudent to combine the organs for those products that are produced from raw organs of C. africanus plants, like the phytonematicides. A study was, therefore, conducted to determine whether cucurbitacin B was equally distributed in all organs of C. africanus plants. Cucurbitacin B was quantified from oven-dried organs (52°C for 72?h) using isocratic elution Shimadzu HPLC Prominence. Concentration of cucurbitacin B was higher in fruit than in other organs, where the concentrations were not different. Relative to cucurbitacin B concentration in fruit, leaves, roots and vines had 94%, 70% and 67% less cucurbitacin B concentrations, respectively. In conclusion, leaves, roots and vines would introduce the dilution effect when combined with fruits in product development and should therefore not be included.     

Nutrient status of apple orchards in Canterbury,New Zealand. 1. Levels in soil,leaves and fruit and the prevalence of storage disorders

Abstract

The nutrient status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) of 26 Cox's Orange Pippin and 20 Braeburn apple orchard sites in the Canterbury region of New Zealand was evaluated by soil, leaf and fruit analysis. Concentrations of available nutrients in soils ranged widely but those in leaves and fruit were generally confined to a relatively narrow range. Concentrations of leaf N were high in the study area, as were levels of extractable soil P, and it is suggested that reductions in fertilizer additions of these nutrients would generally be appropriate.

Soil, leaf and fruit nutrient contents were generally not well correlated with one another. The only highly significant correlations (P≤0.001) were between leaf and fruit Ca for Cox's and soil and fruit Mg for Braeburn. The poor correlations were attributed to the empirical nature of soil tests, the presence of large nutrient reserves within the tree framework and the effects of cultural and environmental factors on nutrient uptake and translocation by the trees.

The storage disorders bitter pit and senescent breakdown in Cox's and lenticel blotch pit in Braeburn were observed in apples harvested from some of the study sites. Such disorders were generally associated with low concentrations of Ca (≤.2.5 mg/100 g) in samples of cortical plugs taken from fruit at harvest.     

Boron and zinc deficiencies and toxicities and their interactions with other nutrients in soybean roots,leaves, and seeds

In many parts of the world, soils deficient and/or toxic in micronutrients reduce potential soybean (Glycine max) yields. The objective of our study was to grow plants in low to high concentrations of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) to determine how B and Zn deficiencies and toxicities affect soybean growth and interact with other essential nutrients in roots, leaves, and seeds. We found that B significantly affected levels of all essential nutrients except manganese and iron, while Zn significantly affected all essential nutrients in at least one plant tissue tested. Some of the physiological responses and nutrient interactions were cultivar-dependent. This study showed how deficiencies and toxicities of B and Zn affect plant growth and how B and Zn fertility interacts with many of the other essential nutrients.     

Effects of Boron and Paclobutrazol on Growth,Fruit Set,Nutrient Uptake,and Alternate Bearing of Muye Red Bayberry

Alternate bearing, resulting mainly from boron (B) deficiency, and excessive fruits in the alternate years of red bayberry trees are the most important limiting factors for production. This investigation was conducted on 18-year-old Muye red bayberry trees (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zuca) in a commercial red bayberry orchard located in Laxi County, Zhejiang Province in 2006–2007.The results indicated that foliar application of paclobutrazol (PB) significantly increased the vegetative growth parameters (i.e., spring shoot incident and spring shoot length). Spring shoot incidents and spring shoot lengths of red bayberry were increased with increasing PB concentrations, but the optimum fruit yield and quality were obtained from foliar-applied PB at 100–200 mg L^?1 at full bloom. Foliar application of PB increased the contents of N and K in the leaves with increases of PB concentrations up to 300–600 mg L^?1. Fruit quality of red bayberry trees treated with PB or and boron fertilizer (BF) was improved at full bloom. Foliar application of PB reduced the percentage of fruit set by 62.1% in the year after treatment with PB but increased the yield by 49.0% the following year. Foliar application of PB at 100–300 mg L^?1 gave the most significant improvement in fruit quality: increase in fruit weight, soluble solid content, and the ratio of soluble solids (SS)?/?total acidity (TA) and decrease in total acidity. Foliar application of BF slightly reduced the fruit yields in the current year but significantly increased those the following year. Combined application of BF and PB or application of PB alone markedly reduced the fruit yields in 2006 by 40.5% and 43.8%, respectively, but markedly increased those by 44.6% and 17.8% in 2007, respectively. The effects of alleviating alternate bearing of red bayberry for different treatments followed the order of combined application of FB + PB > PB > BF > control. It is suggested that PB and BF can be used to alleviate alternate bearing.