Effects of Altitude on Phenological Periods with Some Quality Features in Raisins and Molasses

In this study, the effects of different altitudes on the physicochemical properties and aroma compounds of astragalus honey were investigated. As the altitude increased, the moisture content of honey samples decreased. Similarly, as the altitude increased, the acidity and the diastase activity of samples increased. Aroma compounds were identified and quantified using the GC-MS-FID. It was determined that with the increasing altitude, the total amount of the alcohol compounds decreased, and the total amount of the lactone compounds and the norisoprenoid compounds increased with the decreasing altitude. Moreover, 11 different aroma compounds with an odor activity value above one were detected. From these compounds, Limonene, (E)-Linalool oxide, (Z)-Linalool oxide, and acetic acid were determined as the powerful odor active compounds in all of the honey samples. The first data on the change of aroma compounds in honey with the effect of altitude were obtained through this study. Novelty Impact Statement Honey, in which many different plant sources are used in the production by honey bees, is an important food item worldwide with its economic and nutritive value. Aroma compounds play an important role in the quality of honey, which is named according to the plant origin from which it is obtained. Through this study, it has been tried to reveal the relationship between the sensorial quality of honey and climate change depending on changing altitude. Hence, in a climate change scenario, the results obtained from this study can help us know what climatic conditions are best for producing high-quality astragalus honey.

<p>Glucosinolates (GS) are amino acid derived secondary metabolites present specifically in Brassicaceae family. The effect of altitude (2800 m - 4000 m) on GS contents and seed quality characteristics in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was investigated. The total GS in radish seed was 147.5±21.5 μmol/g DW, which included five aliphatic and four indolic GS compounds. Increasing altitude was related linearly to increase in total GS contents (R2 = 0.759). Among individual GS, glucoraphanin and glucoraphenin showed consistently increasing trend with altitude. Increasing altitude is related linearly to increase in 100 seed weight (R2 = 0.266) and seed yield per plant (R2 = 0.849). A steady decreasing trend was observed in seed moisture content (R2 = 0.831) and siliqua length (R2 = 786) with increasing altitude. Altitude of plant origin was positively correlated with GS contents (r = 0.900, p≤ 0.01), seed weight per plant (r = 0.919, p≤ 0.01) and geometric mean diameter (r = 0.661, p≤ 0.01), and negatively correlated with siliqua length (r = -0.880, p≤ 0.01), moisture content (r = -0.884, p≤ 0.01) and seed vigour index (r = -0.547, p≤ 0.01). Our results indicate that the concentration of GS in radish seed and seed quality traits can be significantly increased by growing plants at higher altitude.</p>

Stem water potential-based regulated deficit irrigation scheduling for olive table trees

The role of environment in fruit physiology has been established; however, knowledge regarding the effect of altitude in fruit quality traits is still lacking. Here, skin tissue quality characters were analyzed in peach fruit (cv. June Gold), harvested in 16 orchards located in low (71.5 m mean), or high (495 m mean) altitutes sites. Data indicated that soluble solids concentration and fruit firmness at commercial harvest stage were unaffected by alitute. Peach grown at high-altitude environment displayed higher levels of pigmentation and specific antioxidant-related activity in their skin at the commercial harvest stage. Skin extracts from distinct developmental stages and growing altitudes exhibited different antioxidant ability against DNA strand-scission. The effects of altitude on skin tissue were further studied using a proteomic approach. Protein expression analysis of the mature fruits depicted altered expression of 42 proteins that are mainly involved in the metabolic pathways of defense, primary metabolism, destination/storage and energy. The majority of these proteins were up-regulated at the low-altitude region. High-altitude environment increased the accumulation of several proteins, including chaperone ClpC, chaperone ClpB, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1, TCP domain class transcription factor, and lipoxygenase. We also discuss the altitude-affected protein variations, taking into account their potential role in peach ripening process. This study provides the first characterization of the peach skin proteome and helps to improve our understanding of peach's response to altitude.

Winter forage crop mixtures are very important sources of quality forage as well as the benefits they bring to the soil and the main crop. In areas where year-round production is carried out, leaving the soil fallow during the winter months and producing maize-maize or cotton-cotton causes fatigue in the soil and facilitates the increase of pests. For this purpose, forage yield and quality characteristics of 12 different winter forage crop applications (4 pure and 8 mixtures) were investigated between 2014-2016 in Büyük Menderes basin. The experiment was designed according to the split-plot experimental design in randomized blocks and mowing operations were carried out in 2 different phenological periods with 4 replications. Hay yield (kg da-1), ADF (%), NDF (%), ADL (%), crude protein ratio (%), crude protein yield (kg da-1) and relative feed value averages were measured. According to the results obtained from the experiment, there are differences between crude protein ratio and relative feed values. When analyzed in line with the production purpose, 75% forage pea + 25% oat mixtures stand out in terms of crude protein yield, while 55% forage pea + 45% annual ryegrass stands out in terms of relative feed value. Due to the changes in mowing times depending on the characteristics, it is thought that it would be ideal to perform mowing operations between 50%-100% flowering.

This study aims to determine some morphological characteristics of two-year-old common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis Mill.) seedling and to determine the quality classes of the seedlings according to Turkish Standards Institute’s (TSI) seedling quality standards and sturdiness quotient values. As a study material, two-year-old common hornbeam and oriental hornbeam seedlings, grown from seed obtained from three different altitudes as lower (0-400 m), mid (400-800 m) and upper (800-1200 m) in the Trabzon-Maçka watershed were used. The seedlings were grown in seedbeds in open nursery conditions of Karadeniz Technical University Forestry Faculty Research and Application Greenhouse. Seedling length and root collar diameter were measured in two-year-old seedlings. The sturdiness quotient was calculated with the data of the measured seedling morphological characteristics. Quality classes were classified according to TSI seedling quality standards determined for hornbeam seedlings. The highest mean seedling length for common hornbeam was determined as 48.76 cm at the 3rd altitude level, while the highest mean seedling length for oriental hornbeam was found as 38.90 cm at the 2nd altitude level. The mean root collar diameters for were varied between 4.97-5.23 mm in common hornbeam and 4.62-5.09 mm in oriental hornbeam. As a result of variance analysis, statistically significant differences (p

Effect of Altitude on Fruit and Oil Quality Characteristics of ‘Mastoides’ Olives

Olive fruit of cv 'Mastoides' grown on two locations at altitudes of 100 and 800 m were harvested at three dates and used for determination of average weight, fruit oil and moisture contents and the following oil quality characteristics: titratable acidity, peroxide value, K 232,270 coefficients, total phenol, tocopherol and chlorophyll content as well as fatty acid and phenol composition. Towards maturation, fruit moisture content decreased but oil content increased. Titratable acidity of oil of both altitudes was low, with higher the oil obtained from fruits from 100 m. Oil peroxide value was higher in the oil of fruits from 800 m at all harvest times and it showed an increase towards maturation in both locations. Total phenol content was higher in oil from 100 m elevation and showed a gradual decrease towards maturation at both altitudes. The ratio unsaturated saturated fatty acids was higher in oil of fruits from 800 m at the first two harvest dates but did not differ significantly at the third harvest. Only α-tocopherol was found in the oil from both elevations. Some phenolic compounds were detected in the first harvest but disappeared with fruit maturation, while other compounds not detected in the first harvest appeared later. Elevation influenced not only the phenol content but also its composition.

Camellia chekiangoleosa Hu. (C. chekiangoleosa) is a typical high-altitude oil-tea Camellia species. Due to altitude being an important factor affecting crop growth and quality, the influence of environmental conditions associated with low (60 m) and high (600 m) altitudes on the economic and quality characteristics of fruit ripening was assessed in this study. Our investigations showed that altitude has no influence on the growth pattern of C. chekiangoleosa fruit shells and seed oils, and the differences in samples between different altitudes gradually decreased with the ripening of C. chekiangoleosa. Nevertheless, mature C. chekiangoleosa fruit shells and seed oils from low and high altitudes showed some differences. Specifically, the fruit shells of C. chekiangoleosa cultivated in low-altitude areas contained more soluble sugar, protein, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and tea saponin. Meanwhile, low-altitude cultivation elevated the abundance of α-tocopherol, β-sitosterol, β-amyrinol, flavonoids, and polyphenols in mature seed oils but decreased the oil yield. Moreover, few effects of altitude on fatty acid composition were observed in mature seed oils. Cluster and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the influence of altitude on the quality of mature seed oils was strongly associated with oil yield and α-tocopherol. Taken together, the present study suggests that when cultivating C. chekiangoleosa in low-altitude regions, more energy should be devoted to improving oil yield. The results of the fruiting process and quality trait variation in C. chekiangoleosa during the low-altitude introduction process can provide an important theoretical basis for the introduction and cultivation of this oil-tea species.

Consumer concern about poor taste of fresh apricots is increasing and knowledge about the more suitable production requirement is essential. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on environmental effect on fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits from 162 genotype were collected from nine locations from 3006-3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The altitude had a marked influence on date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture and TSS content. For every 100 m increase in altitude, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 day, respectively. Inverse relationship between altitude and fruit weight (R2=0.310) was observed. For every 100 m increase in altitude the fruit weight decrease by 0.5 g. Fruit moisture content decreased significantly with increase in elevation (R2=0.585). Decrease in moisture content was 1.9% for every 100 m increase in elevation. Altitude showed linear relationship with fruit TSS content (R2=0.726). For every 100 m increase in altitude, the fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix. Knowledge from the present study on the impact of altitude on fruit quality characters provides a useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit quality

To determine the effect of harvesting date and altitude on olive oil quality, a field experiment was done in two locations (400 and 700) meters above sea level. Olive fruits were sampled eight times and tested for oil quality characteristics. Oil content increased with delaying fruit harvest at high altitude. Oil content was greater at low altitude than high altitude. Oil quality was influenced by harvest date at both locations. Peroxide and acidity value increased significantly with late harvesting at both locations. Oil produced at lower altitude had higher acidities than oil produced at higher altitude. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, and arachidic) and unsaturated (palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic) were influenced by harvesting dates and altitude, whereas palmitoleic acid was not affected at low altitude. Palmitic acid dominated the saturated fatty acids. The content varied with harvesting dates at both locations. Oleic acid was about 68% of the total fatty acids in oil produced from both locations. In general, a slight reduction in oleic acid was observed with advances in fruit ripening, whereas linoleic acid increased with fruit ripening at both altitudes. Linolenic and palmitoleic acids contents fluctuated among harvests. Oil produced from the higher altitude had a higher ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid compare to oil produced at the lower altitude.

Volatile composition and sensory and quality attributes of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruits as affected by water stress

Prediction of grain protein content and gluten quality of bread wheat in the early vegetation period by optical sensors

The hazelnut, which is known to be among the homelands of Anatolia, has been grown in our country for centuries. Hazelnut cultivation in Turkey dates back to ancient times. In the province of Ordu, the hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul are mainly cultivated but other varieties are also grown. This study was carried out between 2022-2023 to determine the effects of altitude and location difference on the fruit characteristics of hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul grown in Fatsa (300 m), İkizce (590 m) and Kumru (400 m) districts of Ordu province. In the study, the lowest average values for nut and kernel fruit weight, nut and shell thickness and kernel size were obtained from trees at 400 m altitude, while the highest values were obtained from trees at 590 m altitude. According to the results, the altitude had a different effect on the weight of the nuts and kernels depending on the variety. While the weight of nuts and kernels increased with increasing altitude in Çakıldak and Palaz varieties, these values decreased in Tombul variety. As a result some fruit quality characteristics of hazelnut varieties grown at different altitudes in Ordu province were found to be different.

The hazelnut, which is known to be among the homelands of Anatolia, has been grown in our country for centuries. Hazelnut cultivation in Turkey dates back to ancient times. In the province of Ordu, the hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul are mainly cultivated but other varieties are also grown. This study was carried out between 2022-2023 to determine the effects of altitude and location difference on the fruit characteristics of hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul grown in Fatsa (300 m), İkizce (590 m) and Kumru (400 m) districts of Ordu province. In the study, the lowest average values for nut and kernel fruit weight, nut and shell thickness and kernel size were obtained from trees at 400 m altitude, while the highest values were obtained from trees at 590 m altitude. According to the results, the altitude had a different effect on the weight of the nuts and kernels depending on the variety. While the weight of nuts and kernels increased with increasing altitude in Çakıldak and Palaz varieties, these values decreased in Tombul variety. As a result some fruit quality characteristics of hazelnut varieties grown at different altitudes in Ordu province were found to be different.