Apple Cultivation Research Articles

Performance of the ‘Anna’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Tropical Highlands: A review

The 'Anna' apple is a variety of low requirements of winter chill (250 to 300 chilling hours ≤7.2°C). This apple has essential health benefits and remarkable adaptive potential in tropical and subtropical areas affected by climate change. Thus, this review presents the significance of the 'Anna' apple cultivation, the phenological and eco-physiological modifications, and the current state of agronomic management when continuous crops are managed in tropical highlands. The production of this apple in tropical highlands has outstanding potential to obtain cyclical or continuous harvests (two harvests per year) in certain areas with specific environmental conditions, implementing a particular management system. In plantations, it is crucial to carry out some agronomic practices during the reproductive phenology so that the apple tree does not enter into an endodormancy. These are water stress - defoliation – tie-down branches, and the application of dormancy-breaking agents (flower-inducing compounds). In Colombia, ‘Anna’ variety was introduced in 1985 and is grown in areas with temperatures between 14 and 20°C, altitudes between 1700 and 2800 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.), with bimodal and monomodal rain regimes, and solar brightness between 800 and 2000 hours a year. The harvest is between 100 to 120 days after anthesis, with firmness values of 38.38N, a soluble solids content of 8.58°Brix, and total titratable acidity of 0.7% of the fruit. This documentation indicates a good production with great potential in terms of growth and development, earliness, and quality of the 'Anna' apple tree in Colombian highlands.

Regionally Adapted Model of an Ideal Malus×domestica Borkh Apple Variety for Industrial-Scale Cultivation in European Russia

Apple is one of the most common fruit crops in the Russian fruit-growing industry, with huge varietal diversity and a vast cultivation area. The key regions for industrial-scale apple cultivation are the Central, Central Chernozem, and North Caucasian Districts. The main disadvantage of the relevant apple cultivars, especially the ones intended for intensified horticultural practices, is their low resistance against abiotic stresses and the fruit’s low quality and poor marketable condition. In Russia, apple is a crop of strategic importance that is consistently included in the household food basket, so fruit producers hold new varieties to higher standards and expect them to outperform their predecessors in terms of yield per plant, resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses, and quality, as well as show strong competitiveness and a more rapid return on investment, while satisfying stricter requirements. The objective of the present study was to summarize the data on the phenotypic manifestations of economically valuable traits of the apple cultivars approved for use in the Russian Federation depending on the region of cultivation; to determine the parametric characteristics of the most valuable traits in the form of a model of an “ideal” regionally adapted industrial cultivar, and to identify the sources of the traits in the regions suitable for their production. A regionally adapted model of commercial apple cultivars, characterized by 28 features and properties divided into three groups and defining the cultivar’s resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses, yield per plant, product quality, and suitability for mechanized harvesting, is presented in this paper. In the European part of Russia, the optimal parameters of a commercial apple tree cultivar are as follows: plant height on a medium-sized rootstock under 3 m; potential yield per plant of at least 25–50 kg; high fruit uniformity above 80%; winter and late-winter harvest maturity period; high storability of over 210 days and good transportability; average fruit mass from 120 g to 220 g; juicy and shattering crisp pulp; small seed cavity; fragrant fruits with taste rating of at least 4.5 points; appearance rating of 5 points and attractive, mostly red, glossy color with natural wax bloom; regular, symmetric, but diverse shapes; content of sugar above 10%, ascorbic acid above 15 mg/100 g, organic acids up to 1% (for dessert varieties); content of soluble dry solids of at least 20%. The cultivars that come closest to the regionally adapted model of an ideal variety based on the set of features discussed are as follows: Feya, Soyuz, Orfej, Margo, Sirius, Noktyurn, Vasilisa Karmen, Florina, Dayton, Early Mac, Gala and Gala Schniga in the North Caucasian District; Svezhest’, Orlovskoe Poles’e, Aprel’skoe, Ven’yaminovskoe, Bolotovskoe, Vympel, Uspenskoe, Fregat, Bylina, Flagman, and Akademik Kazakov in the North Caucasian District; and varieties Imrus, Mayak Zagor’ya, and Bolotovskoe in the Central District. These cultivars are characterized by high resistance against weather anomalies, scab immunity, high yields, marketable quality, and storability. In addition, in southern regions, a prolonged bloom period acts as a protective adaptive response to low-temperature stress.

Screening of Venturia inaequalis virulence and resistance of Malus genotypes to apple scab using in vitro methodology

Abstract The apple scab induced by Venturia inaequalis is an economically significant disease of apples worldwide and is predominantly controlled by multiple fungicide applications. Therefore, resistant apple cultivation is important for long-standing disease control. The knowledge about cultivar resistance is mainly founded on their evaluation in orchard conditions and testing in a greenhouse that is laborious and requires a large space. This study evaluated apple cultivar resistance and the virulence of V. inaequalis strains by inoculating detached leaves and immature fruits. Nine V. inaequalis strains originating from different apple-growing regions and host genotypes were tested on eight apple genotypes. Microscopic and macroscopic symptom development and host tissue reactions were monitored during the experiments. The tested V. inaequalis strains and cultivars showed different levels of virulence and resistance, respectively. Cultivar ‘Lobo’ was scored as partially susceptible, with almost all strains tested. The incompatible interaction with or without host tissue reactions was observed only on the cultivar ‘Priscilla’ with all the strains and field populations tested. The results of this study using detached leaves and immature fruits were concordant with the data obtained in the cultivar evaluation trials in the orchards.

MIR390 Is Involved in Regulating Anthracnose Resistance in Apple

As an important cash crop in China, apple has a good flavor and is rich in nutrients. Fungal attacks have become a major obstacle in apple cultivation. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is one of the most devastating fungal pathogens in apple. Thus, discovering resistance genes in response to C. gloeosporioides may aid in designing safer control strategies and facilitate the development of apple resistance breeding. A previous study reported that 'Hanfu' autotetraploid apple displayed higher C. gloeosporioides resistance than 'Hanfu' apple, and the expression level of mdm-MIR390b was significantly upregulated in autotetraploid plants compared to that in 'Hanfu' plants, as demonstrated by digital gene expression (DGE) analysis. It is still unclear, however, whether mdm-MIR390b regulates apple anthracnose resistance. Apple MIR390b was transformed into apple 'GL-3' plants to identify the functions of mdm-MIR390b in anthracnose resistance. C. gloeosporioides treatment analysis indicated that the overexpression of mdm-MIR390b reduced fungal damage to apple leaves and fruit. Physiology analysis showed that mdm-MIR390b increased C. gloeosporioides resistance by improving superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity to alleviate the damage caused by O2- and H2O2. Our results demonstrate that mdm-MIR390b can improve apple plants' anthracnose resistance.

Interaction of MdWRKY24 and MdRGL in Response to Tree Dwarfing in Malus domestica

In apple cultivation, dwarf rootstocks are chosen for dense planting and intensive cultivation, which is beneficial to production management. Dwarf rootstocks are widely used in apple production in China. However, the dwarfing mechanisms of dwarf interstock are still unclear. Here, M9 and SH40 were selected as the dwarf interstocks for potted Fuji apples. The key transcription factor MdWRKY24 was screened via transcriptional sequencing. The open reading frame sequence of the MdWRKY24 gene was 657 bp in length, encoded 218 amino acids, and was located on the cell membrane. The MdWRKY24-overexpressing Arabidopsis line showed a dwarf phenotype and delayed flowering. The DELLA protein RGA-like (RGL) gene is a repressor of the gibberellin signaling pathway. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that MdWRKY24 could interact with MdRGL1/2/3. The results indicated that MdWRKY24 might affect plant dwarfing through the synergistic effect of MdRGL1/2/3. The MdWRKY24-MdRGL may be an important pathway underlying the gibberellin-mediated regulation of apple dwarfing.

Application of Homemade Organic Fertilizer for Improving Quality of Apple Fruit, Soil Physicochemical Characteristics, and Microbial Diversity

Application of the organic fertilizers can improve soil properties and agricultural product quality, while the in-depth effect of organic fertilizer needs further exploration. In this study, the apple fruit (Malus pumila Mill.) quality, soil physicochemical characteristics, and microbial community under different fertilizers including control without fertilizer (CK), composted manure (CM), biogas slurry (BS), and chemical fertilizer (CF) were systematically investigated, and each treatment was repeated three times in completely random block plots with equal NPK content of fertilizer applied in each treatment. The CM treated apple fruit were observed with the best vertical diameter (78.72 ± 4.32 mm), transverse diameter (87.51 ± 1.3 mm), and color index (L* = 55.48 ± 5.48, b* = 18.96 ± 1.86). Meanwhile, the CM and BS treated apple fruit had higher flesh firmness than that of CK and CF treatment, implying that the organic fertilization can improve the storability and crispy taste apple fruit. Furthermore, the total sugars, essential amino acid, crude protein, total acids, and soluble solid contents of apple fruit were also significantly improved by using CM and BS fertilizer due to the resulting higher N, P, and organics content in soil. The application of organic fertilizer also dramatically enhanced the bacterial and fungi diversity, which may contribute to better soil respiration. The results obtained in this study reveals the insight effect of organic fertilizer on improvement of fruit quality and soil health and can supply technical assistance to organic cultivation of apple.

A multinomial approach to sustainable and improved agricultural technologies vis-a-vis socio-personal determinants in apple (Malus domestica) cultivation

BackgroundExtreme poverty is widespread among farm families in the rural areas of developing countries including India. Farmers toil hard in their fields to meet the growing demands of their families. Different techniques and technologies have been generated at different research institutes, experimental stations, and farm science centers. However the same technology is not properly disseminated to the farmers and the farmers usually follow traditional practices at their farms leading to low production, productivity, and yield of major crops grown worldwide, hence threatening the livelihoods and food security of the world population in a general and farming community in particular. MethodsThe present study described the socio-personal characteristics, identified the stages and categories of technology adoption with help of multinomial logistic regression. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted to collect the data from the concerned apple growers. The study used mixed methods, combining focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a household survey. ResultsThe study found that only nine out of fifteen technologies disseminated in the area have been fully adopted with a greater proportion (42.5 %) of the apple growers classified as early adopters of the recommended sustainable and intensified improved practices. The adoption of scientific technology is always the central focus of policymakers and planners in the developing world. Important to note is that the growers are in their active (42 years) farming age and have acquired 22 years’ experience which is long enough to understand that traditional practices are not as productive compared to the recently improved/recommended practices. The study also revealed that the determinants of technology adoption are age, experience, level of education, annual income, extension contact, and scientific orientation. ConclusionThe study, recommends that policymakers should capitalize on the determinants to design better programs relating to the adoption of sustainable improved technologies that will help in alleviation of poverty and ensure food security.

Crop Load and Thinning Methods Impact Yield, Nutrient Content, Fruit Quality, and Physiological Disorders in ‘Scilate’ Apples

Most apple cultivars produce too many flowers to enable consistent yields of high-quality fruit, thus, crop load management (thinning) is an integral part of orchard management in modern apple cultivation. Crop load is managed by thinning excess flowers and/or fruit from a tree, however ideal targets vary between cultivars. In this two-year study, the effect of thinning methods at different levels of crop load on fruit quality and production, post-harvest storability and physiological disorders, and fruit and leaf nutrient content in ‘Scilate’ apples were investigated in southern Tasmania, Australia. Two thinning methods, artificial bud extinction (ABE) and hand thinning (HT), were compared at three levels of crop load: 3, 6, or 12 fruit cm−2 limb cross-sectional area (LCSA), described as low, medium, and high, respectively. During the second season, all the ABE and HT treatments received additional chemical thinning (CT). The results demonstrated that ABE consistently outperformed HT in terms of improved fruit set, return bloom, and fruit weight. The fruit quality parameters, such as flesh firmness, total soluble solids, dry matter content, malic acid content, and fruit shape, were also improved under the ABE regime, with these positive effects being the clearest in the second season. In general, high-quality fruits were obtained from the low and medium crop loads, while the fruit quality was poor for the high crop load trees, but the low crop load fruit had a slightly higher incidence of internal flesh browning (predominantly radial) and fruit softening after regular atmosphere storage. The crop load also impacted on the fruit and leaf mineral nutrient content, where fruit N, Ca, Mn, and Zn, and leaf N, Fe, Zn, and Cu content increased while fruit and leaf K declined with a higher crop load. High crop load, irrespective of the thinning regime, and HT with a medium crop load, induced severe biennial bearing, whereas, the fruit yield was relatively consistent with ABE, even with a medium crop load. We conclude that ABE with a medium crop load (around six fruit cm−2 LCSA) is an effective method of managing crop load and optimizing the fruit quality in ‘Scilate’ apples.

Assessment of knowledge index of farmers about the cultivation of apple (Malus domestica) in temperate regions of Kashmir valley

Apple is one of the important fruits grown in different regions, including India. In India, it is mainly cultivated in temperate regions of Kashmir valley due to its well suited climatic conditions. In Kashmir, most people are directly or indirectly dependent on apple cultivation for their livelihood. Apple is considered to be Kashmir’s eye as it produces 80% share of total fruit produced in the country and is the mainstay of the economy with revenue of around Rs 1500 crores. More than seven lakh families, i.e., above 50% of the population in the valley, are associated with this industry and almost 3.5 lakh hectares of land is under apple cultivation. The area under apple fruit has increased, but the production and productivity has not improved to a satisfactory level. Adopting improved technologies plays an important role in achieving the goal of higher production and productivity in Kashmir valley. A wide gap exists between the available technologies and its actual adoption by the apple growers was reflected through poor yield at the grower’s field. This disparity was entirely due to a lack of knowledge and awareness about various innovative techniques and technologies developed at different research stations. The study was carried out in various regions of Kashmir valley that were purposefully chosen to have the most area under apple cultivation. The study used a multistage sampling procedure. The study found that the mean knowledge index of apple growers in district Shopian was 51.75 percent, followed by the apple growers in district Baramulla (46.76%) and the least mean knowledge index (41.36%) was found among the apple growers of district Budgam. However, the overall mean knowledge index from all three districts was 46.62 percent. The study also found that apple growers’ knowledge index is determined by age, experience, education, media exposure, innovative proneness, scientific orientation, and risk orientation. Furthermore, apple growers need to follow innovative techniques and technologies to increase the production and productivity of apple fruit, maximize returns, and ensure food security.

Geo-economic Feasibility of Apple Orchards Across Physiographic Divisions in Kashmir Valley, India

Financial investments in apple cultivation in Kashmir valley are increasingly recognized as key drivers of economic growth and employment creation. This paper presents a comprehensive economic analysis across physiographic divisions using precise economic indices that include cost-benefit analysis, project evaluation method and other socio-economic determinants. It relies on a primary survey of 866 farm-households selected across four physiographic divisions of the Kashmir valley viz- valley floor, karewas, foothills and side valleys. Results reveal that the karewas fetch the highest returns from an investment owing to its ideal geographical conditions. On contrary, the non-karewas belt was found to be trailing in one or more economic indices although the financial feasibility of investment in apple cultivation was still found satisfactory. The study affirms that agricultural land-use decisions at the micro-scale should be determined by the site-specific attributes and that economic indices are largely dictated by physical characteristics of land itself. While demonstrating the utility of land-use decisions in light of geographical factors, our results can assist both farmers and policy-makers to design a more adapted land use strategy for fostering financial investments in apple cultivation in the valley.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS AND PLANT NUTRIENT CONTENT OF LEAVES IN THE APPLE ORCHARDS

This study was carried out in 42 orchards located in the lowland of Develi, where the apple cultivation is intense in Kayseri province. The analyses were made to determine pH, CaCO3, EC, organic matter, available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) in soil samples and nitrogen (N), P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and boron (B) in leaf samples. In the study, the relationships between some physical and chemical properties of the soils and the plant nutrient content of the leaves were evaluated by correlation analysis. In the study, between some physical and chemical properties of soils and the nutritional elements of soils and leaves were found important statistical relations. These relationships were mostly between soil samples rather than leaves. On the other hand, the pH and EC values of the soils showed less significant relationships with the nutrient contents of the samples according to the organic matter and CaCO3 contents of soils. It was determined that the organic matter content of the soils had a positive relationship with all the investigated elements except phosphorus. It has been determined that the relationship between the CaCO3 content and nutritional elements in the soils is statistically significant, it has a positive correlation with potassium and calcium and a negative correlation with other investigated elements. No significant relationships were found between the nutrient contents of the soils and the macro element contents of the leaves. While some important statistical relationships were determined between nutrient contents of the soils and micro element contents of the leaves, the highest correlation was determined between copper and boron contents. It was determined that the copper content of the leaves was positively related to the phosphorus, potassium and magnesium content of the soils and negatively related to the manganese content of the soils.

Storage of apples in different methods in the valley region of Uzbekistan

Apple, which is rich in various vitamins and trace elements, plays important role is in daily diet of mankind. Noteworthy, daily consumption of apple helps people to get rid of anemia, which stated in the famous the Laws of Medicine by Avitsenna. The objective of the research is to study and analyze current state of cultivation of apples around the world as well as the country, the types and importance of nutrients, and efficiency of different storage options. During the experiments, Renet Simirenko, Golden delishes and Boyken varieties, which are local varieties for this province, have been studied in refrigerated, ordinary natural warehouses, as well as in simple natural warehouses with ventilation technology. According to the results, the main identified factors influencing the quality of apples during storage, were the temperature of the synthesis of ethylene hormone storage chamber, relative humidity, improved ventilation rate, the dependence of its design parameters on the design of a simple natural warehouse and products stored in refrigerated and ordinary natural warehouses.

Effectiveness and efficiency improvement strategy of apple agroindustry supply chain management

The apple agroindustry involves several members integrated from upstream to downstream. The existence of this relationship requires the identification, measurement, and evaluation of the supply chain to determine an improvement strategy. The purpose of this research is to identify the supply chain structure, analyze the supply chain performance, added value, and risk, and formulate a strategy for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the supply chain. The identification of supply chain structures was analyzed using descriptive analysis, supply chain performance using SCOR and AHP, added value using a modified Hayami model, risk analysis using HOR, and strategy formulation using ANP. The research results reveal that the supply chain structure of the apple agroindustry consists of six structures. The supply chain performance of farmers is included in the marginal category, while collectors and industries are included in the average category. The added value of farmers was the lowest, while the collectors and industries were relatively high. There are still many risks in the supply chain, with more than ten risk priorities for each supply chain member. An alternative strategy for improving effectiveness and efficiency is technology development and innovation. This is done by providing apple cultivation and post-harvest technology for highlands, packaging technology for fresh apples, automatic machines for production, digital promotion to expand product sales up to a national scale, and further development can add a product tracking system to maintain product safety.

Determination of Weeds Flora in Apple Orchards of Iğdır Province and Approaches of Farmers to Solve the Problems

This study was conducted to determine the weed species, their frequency, and density of weeds in the apple orchards of Iğdır province, as well as the approaches of the farmers in the region to solve the weed problems and their control methods. Surveys were conducted in 50 apple orchards in 2020. Besides, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 100 farmers engaged in apple growing. A total of 53 weed species belonging to 15 families, including 1 parasite, 2 narrow-leaved, and 12 broad-leaved weeds were identified. The highest number of weeds among these identified families were Asteraceae (12 species), Poaceae (12 species), and Brassicaceae (9 species), respectively. The weeds with the highest frequency were Bromus tectorum (84%), Echinochloa crus-galli (84%), and Trifolium pratense (82%). The weeds with the highest density were determined as T. pratense (76.44 plant/m2), Seteria viridis (74.62 plant/m2), and Alopecurus myosuroides (70.96 plant/m2). In the current study, 96% of the farmers stated that the weeds were very dense in the apple orchards and the weed species with the highest density were A. myosuroides (80%), Poa trivialis (74%), and Hordeum murinum (73%). They stated that none of the farmers engaged in apple cultivation in Iğdır province used chemicals for controlling weeds. In addition, when the opinions of the farmers were taken, they stated that they mow the weeds in the apple orchards and use them to feed their livestock. As a result, it is seen that the farmers do not manage weeds in the apple orchards of Iğdır province and the density of weeds in the apple orchards is very high.

Effects of Rhizobacteria Application on Leaf and Fruit Nutrient Content of Different Apple Scion–Rootstock Combinations

The plant pomological characteristics and physiological behaviors of genotypes in modern apple cultivation could be different depending on the use of rootstock, changing growth ecology and application of biological control agents. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of rhizobacteria application on leaf and fruit nutrient contents in different apple scion–rootstock combinations. This study was carried out with seven standard cultivars (Scarlet Spur, Red Chief, Fuji, Jeromine, Galaxy Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Reinders) budded on M.9 and MM.106 rootstocks. In the experiment, trees were sprayed by a nitrogen + phosphorus solvent rhizobacteria three times, with an interval of 15 days in the spring period. The effect of rhizobacteria application on leaf and fruit nutrient contents was statistically significant and provided generally significant positive contributions, except for leaf Mg content. Comparing both rootstocks, the positive effect of bacterial application was higher on the M.9 rootstock for leaf N and B content and fruit N and Fe content, and on the MM.106 rootstock for other nutrient content. While the effects of bacterial application on the basis of cultivars were generally positive, the highest positive contribution was made in leaf P content (10.7%) and fruit Mn content (32.1%) of the Fuji cultivar. Considering the total increase in nutrients in scion–rootstocks combination, rhizobacteria application had a positive effect on the leaf nutrient contents in Golden Reinders/MM.106, but not leaf K content. The highest increases in leaves of scion-rootstock combinations were determined as 4.0% in N content in Granny Smith/M.9, 14.1% in P content in Scarlet Spur/MM.106, 7.1% in K content in Fuji/MM.106, 4.4% in Ca content in Jeromine/M.9, and 14.0% in Mg content in Granny Smith/MM.106. The highest increase in fruit nutrient contents was between 4.9% (N content) and 13.5% (Ca content) for macro elements, and between 9.5% (Cu content) and 41.8% (Mn content) for microelements. The results of the present study may provide significant leads for further studies on this subject.

Land Suitability Assessment for Apple (Malus domestica) Production in Sentele Watershed in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Apple (Malus domestica) is cultivated in Southern Ethiopia. However, the crop is being grown in without affirming the suitability of the land for its cultivation. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the suitability of the land of Sentele Watershed for apple production in Southern Ethiopia. Integrating GIS and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, which is widely used in multi-criteria decision-making for tackling multi-attribute decision-making problems in real situations, was used in this study. In the application techniques, most attributes that determine apple growth, climate, edaphic, topography, and current land use/land cover were combined. In determining the weights of the attributes, the opinions of experts and experienced apple orchard workers were considered, and an agricultural land suitability map was produced as highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and least suitable. The methodology was based on the land evaluation developed by FAO (1976) that suggests biophysical diagnostic factors, which most strongly influenced the cultivation of apples. Criteria were defined, background information was gathered, and a raster surface was created. The layers are reclassified, weighed, and then the output layers are overlaid with the background information such as a map of topography to see the best potential sites and to prepare the final suitability map. The final apple suitability map showed that only 2.2% of the total land is highly suitable, 32% is moderately suitable, and 52.1% is marginally suitable, and it requires detailed investigation and careful decision over other land uses to invest in it. 13.7% is the least suitable for apple cultivation. It is concluded that about 34% of the total land of the study area is suitable for apple production, and about 66% is unsuitable. The results imply that it is necessary to take improvement measures such as irrigation, species selection, removing leaves (defoliation), and appropriate land-use planning in most of the land of the watershed before investing in apple cultivation and production, and it is necessary to expand apple production in the future only in areas that are highly and moderately suitable for producing the crop in the study area.

Preventive Effects of Thinned Apple Extracts on TNF-α-Induced Intestinal Tight Junction Dysfunction in Caco-2 Cells through Myosin Light Chain Kinase Suppression.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction and elevation of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. Tight junctions (TJ) control the paracellular barrier of the gut. Thinned apples are an indispensable horticultural agro-waste for apple cultivation, but are disposed by most farmers. This study aimed to elucidate the preventive effect of thinned apple extracts (TAE) on the intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by TNF-α treatment in Caco-2 cells. The differentiated Caco-2 monolayers were pre-treated with mature apple extract (MAE) and TAE for 1 h and then incubated with 100 ng/mL TNF-α for 24 h. The TJ integrity was estimated by measuring the value of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the flux of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran through paracellular transport. TAE had a better protective effect on the intestinal epithelial barrier than MAE did. Western blot results showed that TAE pre-retreatment elevated TJ protein levels such as claudin-1, -4, and -5. Moreover, TAE inhibited the interaction between zonula occludens proteins (ZO)-1 and occludin by reducing the tyrosine phosphorylation of ZO-1. The mechanisms underlying TAE-mediated attenuation of TNF-α-induced TJ disruption included suppression of myosin light chain kinase and NF-κB p65 protein levels. Therefore, thinned apples could be a sustainable ingredient for functional foods to prevent IBD.

Spatiotemporal evolution and suitability of apple production in China from climate change and land use transfer perspectives

AbstractApple production in China, the world's largest apple producer and consumer, is challenged by a huge and growing population coupled with rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. China's apple output has increased continuously over the past 42 years with distinctive spatial differences. Herein, changes in the spatial patterns of apple production increases, and their potential impact factors in China are described at the provincial level. Between 1978 and 2019, the centre‐of‐gravity of apple production shifted southwest towards the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the main water source for agricultural irrigation in North China. Analysis of absolute and relative growth of apple output reveals that the Loess Plateau, characterised by fragile habitat and low land productivity, has gradually become a major contributor to apple production. Despite annual increases in apple output, apple production system has become more fragile and unstable overtime, especially in the Shaanxi‐Gansu region where apple cultivation is prevalent. With continuous changes in policy, the amount of forest transfer (i.e. the area of other land use types converted to forest) has significantly affected the impact of standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index on apple production increases in China. Thus, to prevent the degradation of new forests, a differentiated management and protection system should be implemented for apple planting sub‐regions. This should include altering subsidy policies on apple production, enhancing soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau and strengthening ecological management of forests and grassland.

Identification of Candidate Genes Associated With Tolerance to Apple Replant Disease by Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis.

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a worldwide economic risk in apple cultivation for fruit tree nurseries and fruit growers. Several studies on the reaction of apple plants to ARD are documented but less is known about the genetic mechanisms behind this symptomatology. RNA-seq analysis is a powerful tool for revealing candidate genes that are involved in the molecular responses to biotic stresses in plants. The aim of our work was to find differentially expressed genes in response to ARD in Malus. For this, we compared transcriptome data of the rootstock ‘M9’ (susceptible) and the wild apple genotype M. ×robusta 5 (Mr5, tolerant) after cultivation in ARD soil and disinfected ARD soil, respectively. When comparing apple plantlets grown in ARD soil to those grown in disinfected ARD soil, 1,206 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on a log2 fold change, (LFC) ≥ 1 for up– and ≤ −1 for downregulation (p < 0.05). Subsequent validation revealed a highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.91; p < 0.0001) between RNA-seq and RT-qPCR results indicating a high reliability of the RNA-seq data. PageMan analysis showed that transcripts of genes involved in gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis were significantly enriched in the DEG dataset. Most of these GA biosynthesis genes were associated with functions in cell wall stabilization. Further genes were related to detoxification processes. Genes of both groups were expressed significantly higher in Mr5, suggesting that the lower susceptibility to ARD in Mr5 is not due to a single mechanism. These findings contribute to a better insight into ARD response in susceptible and tolerant apple genotypes. However, future research is needed to identify the defense mechanisms, which are most effective for the plant to overcome ARD.

The Economic Impact of Climate Change on the Local Apple

An unavoidable climate change has an impact on agricultural production. This study aims at determining farmers’ knowledge concerning climate change and farmers’ behavior in apple cultivation, as well as it aims at investigating the impact of climate change on apple productivity, environmental damage, and apple prices. Primary data were collected using structured interviews to farmers of apple. Structural Equation Model (SEM) is employed to analyze the effect of climate change on production, environment and price changes. The results showed farmers possessed knowledge concerning climate change based on information mainly received from television and their perceived experience. Climate change causes the increase of warmer air temperatures, drought, and the need for product facilities, like fertilizers and pesticides. However, it causes the decrease of apple production. Climate change has a significant negative effect on apple productivity and the economic value of apples. The environment also has a negative effect on apple productivity at a lower level of significance. During climate change, apple productivity has a negative effect on apple prices, It means that the higher the apple productivity is, the lower the apple price will be. Hence, climate change caused the impact of a decrease in the economic value of local apple agribusiness in Malang Raya.