Fruit Quality Research Articles

Improving mangoes' productivity and crop water productivity by 24-epibrassinosteroids and hydrogen peroxide under deficit irrigation

In nature, plants are frequently subjected to a wide range of abiotic stresses that drastically reduce crop productivity. Deficit in irrigation is one of the main factors of abiotic stresses that affect agricultural productivity. Nevertheless, not much research has been done on how to use water with brassinosteroids (Br) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)in deficit water conditions in order to reach comparatively good values of mango tree growth, productivity, and fruit quality as well as crop water productivity (WPC). A split-plot experiment in a complete randomized block system design study with 3 regulated deficit irrigation levels i.e. 100% IR (Irrigation requirement), 80% IR, and 60% IR was implemented in 2022 and 2023, each irrigation regime was combined with the foliar application of distilled water (control), 1 mg/L Br, 10 mM H2O2, 1 mg/L Br + 10 mM H2O2. Foliar treatments were applied at 3 different phenological stages: flower bud induction and differentiation, full bloom, and beginning of fruit set. The results showed that fruit shape index and acidity significantly improved as irrigation volume increased, however, the proportion of fruit mineral content and fruit chemical characteristics was inversely correlated with the volume of water. Meanwhile, moderate regular deficit irrigation (80% IR) achieved marked increases in leaf minerals and total chlorophyll content, fruit quality, yield, and water use efficiency. Drought stress (60% IR) significantly decreased fruit set, fruit retention, yield traits, and fruit physical and chemical properties, at the same time, significant improvements in the content of stress indicators (proline, total phenols, and carotenoids) were observed compared with control. All treatments with Br and H2O2 alone or in combination under drought stress had a pronounced effect in this regard. Overall, foliar spray of 1 mg/L Br+10 mM H2O2 was the most powerful treatment that emended the unpropitious effect of water stress.

Heat Stress and Water Irrigation Management Effects on the Fruit Color and Quality of ‘Hongro’ Apples

Heat Stress and Water Irrigation Management Effects on the Fruit Color and Quality of ‘Hongro’ Apples

Exploration of a European-centered strawberry diversity panel provides markers and candidate genes for the control of fruit quality traits

Exploration of a European-centered strawberry diversity panel provides markers and candidate genes for the control of fruit quality traits

Extension of guava shelf life through the application of edible coating formulated with mango and lemon leaves extracts

Innovative green encapsulation techniques using natural plant bioactives provide a sustainable method for extending the shelf life of fruits. Given the inherent perishability of climacteric fruits like guava, characterized by accelerated respiration and ethylene production during ripening, our study is planned to explore the efficacy of incorporating leaf extracts of Mangifera indica L. and Citrus limon L. in combination with Gum Arabic (GA) for bioactive encapsulation of guava fruits. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used and a total of 15 experimental runs were set. Mango leaf extract (MLE) and lemon leaf extract (LLE) were employed at concentrations ranging from 500 to 2000 mg/L, while Gum Arabic (GA) was utilized in concentration ranging from 5% to 15%. The concentrations of MLE, LLE and GA were stored at 10±1 °C and 40–45% relative humidity for further usage. The selected analysis like total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity are chosen as responses. Central experimental runs like R2, R11 and R14 (1250 mg/L MLE, 1250 mg/L LLE and 10% GA) remained effective in terms of physical appearance and quality of guava. At the same time, R1 (2000 mg/L MLE, 1250 mg/L, and 15% GA), R7 (500 mg/L MLE, 1250 mg/L LLE and 15% GA), R13 (2000 mg/L MLE, 500 mg/L, and 10% GA) and R15 (1250 mg/L MLE, 2000 mg/L LLE and 5% GA) were not effective at preserving the fruit quality as compared to other treatments. The control is below in all quality attributes as compared to all fifteen treatments. It is concluded that the combined impact of MLE and LLE along with GA had good potential for preserving guava fruits for longer period as compared to control, where no treatment was given.

Fine-grained recognition of bitter gourd maturity based on Improved YOLOv5-seg model

Bitter gourd, being perishable, requires timely harvesting. Delayed harvesting can result in a substantial reduction in fruit quality. while premature harvesting leads to underdeveloped fruit and decreased yields, the continuous flowering pattern in bitter gourd underscores the significance of accurately assessing fruit growth and ensuring timely harvesting for subsequent fruit setting and development. The current reliance on the experience of production personnel represents a substantial inefficiency. We present an improved real-time instance segmentation model based on YOLOv5-seg. The utilization of dynamic snake convolution enables the extraction of morphological features from the curved and elongated structure of bitter gourd. Diverse branch blocks enhance feature space diversity without inflating model size and inference time, contributing to improved recognition of expansion stages during bitter gourd growth. Additionally, the introduction of Focal-EIOU loss accurately locates the boundary box and mask, addressing sample imbalances in the L2 stage. Experimental results showcase remarkable accuracy rates of 99.3%, 93.8%, and 98.3% for L1, L2, and L3 stages using mAP@0.5. In comparison, our model outperforms other case segmentation models, excelling in both detection accuracy and inference speed. The improved YOLOv5-seg model demonstrates strong performance in fine-grained recognition of bitter gourd during the expansion stage. It efficiently segments bitter gourd in real-time under varying lighting and occlusion conditions, providing crucial maturity information. This model offers reliable insights for agricultural workers, facilitating precise harvesting decisions.

R2R3-MYB transcription factor CsMYB60 controls mature fruit skin color by regulating flavonoid accumulation in cucumber.

Skin color is an important trait that determines the cosmetic appearance and quality of fruits. In cucumber, the skin color ranges from white to brown in mature fruits. However, the genetic basis for this important trait remains unclear. We conducted a genome-wide association study of natural cucumber populations, along with map-based cloning techniques, on an F2 population resulting from a cross between Pepino (with yellow-brown fruit skin) and Zaoer-N (with creamy fruit skin). We identified CsMYB60 as a candidate gene responsible for skin coloration in mature cucumber fruits. In cucumber accessions with white to pale yellow skin color, a premature stop mutation (C to T) was found in the second exon region of CsMYB60, whereas light yellow cucumber accessions exhibited splicing premature termination caused by an intronic mutator-like element insertion in CsMYB60. Transgenic CsMYB60c cucumber plants displayed a yellow-brown skin color by promoting accumulation of flavonoids, especially hyperoside, a yellow-colored flavonol. CsMYB60c encodes a nuclear protein that primarily acts as a transcriptional activator through its C-terminal activation motif. RNA sequencing and DNA affinity purification sequencing assays revealed that CsMYB60c promotes skin coloration by directly binding to the YYTACCTAMYT motif in the promoter regions of flavonoid biosynthetic genes, including CsF3'H, which encodes flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase. The findings of our study not only offer insight into the function of CsMYB60 as dominantly controlling fruit coloration, but also highlight that intronic DNA mutations can have a similar phenotypic impact as exonic mutations, which may be valuable in future cucumber breeding programs.

Methyl salicylate affects fruit quality and aroma compounds of cherry during cold storage

Cherries are easy to soften and rot during the period of storage. This work was performed to assess the impact of different concentrations of methyl salicylate (MeSA, 0.1 mmol·L−1, 1.0 mmol·L−1, 2.0 mmol·L−1) on fruit quality and aroma compounds of cherries (‘Meizao’ and ‘Labins’) during cold storage (0 °C). Results showed that 1.0 mmol·L−1 of MeSA had the greatest effect on decreasing the respiration rate, improving the firmness and maintaining the soluble solids content (SSC) of cherry fruits. The main volatile aroma compounds in ‘Meizao’ and ‘Labins’ cherries were benzyl alcohol, hexanal, trans-2-hexenal, benzaldehyde and 2-hexenal. Additional observations revealed that MeSA could increase the ester aroma compounds and delay the loss of alcohol, aldehyde, ketone and terpenoid aroma compounds in postharvest cherries. Therefore, MeSA could effectively improve the quality and inhibit aroma loss of cherry fruits during cold storage.

Optimizing ventilated packaging design for strawberries: Assessing the impact on fruit quality from farm to retailer using physics-based modeling

Amongst fruits and vegetables, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are one of the most perishable products. Consequently, it is challenging to maintain their quality until they reach the consumer. Therefore, keeping optimal hygrothermal conditions around the berries from farm to the consumer is crucial to preserving them and avoiding food loss. Using ventilated packaging design is an established way to address this technological, economic, and environmental problem. Until now, strawberry packaging is often designed using a trial-and-error approach, and a multitude of packaging designs exist. Ideally, the packaging should be designed in such a way that it provides the best preservation of the fruit all the way from farm to retailer. This is challenging since the hygrothermal conditions change significantly along the supply chain. In this study, we use physics-based modeling to evaluate new strawberry packaging designs in regard to cooling performance, risk of condensation, mass loss, and respiration-driven shelf life of the fruit and assess their performance along the whole post-harvest export supply chain from Spain to Switzerland. Twelve packaging designs for strawberries with existing and newly-designed vent hole configurations were investigated. Simulations quantified how the berries physiologically and hygrothermally evolve inside these packages along the whole post-harvest supply chain. Implementing appropriate ventilation in open-and top-sealed trays for strawberries can help to minimize losses along the post-harvest supply chain. As commonly known, strawberries cool significantly faster in better-ventilated trays than in unventilated trays, and condensation-based time of wetness could be reduced by 45% by adding additional ventilation holes in a top-sealed tray. The height of the secondary packaging, the total opening area (TOA), the size, and the placement of the vents have a substantial influence on the performance of the packaging. We recommend a TOA between 5.5% and 7% and a diameter of the vents between 5 and 12 mm. Also, they should be evenly distributed. However, there is always a trade-off in packaging design: a reduced risk of condensation comes along with a higher mass loss of the strawberries. Strawberry packaging models enabled a unique insight into the evolution of the fruits along the supply chain and visualized the spatial distribution of condensation and mass loss inside the package.

A multilevel investigation to reveal the regulatory mechanism of lignin accumulation in juice sac granulation of pomelo

Granulation of juice sacs is a physiological disorder, which affects pomelo fruit quality. Here, the transcriptome and ubiquitinome of the granulated juice sacs were analyzed in Guanxi pomelo. We found that lignin accumulation in the granulated juice sacs was regulated at transcription and protein modification levels. In transcriptome data, we found that the genes in lignin biosynthesis pathway and antioxidant enzyme system of the granulated juice sacs were significantly upregulated. However, in ubiquitinome data, we found that ubiquitinated antioxidant enzymes increased in abundance but the enzyme activities decreased after the modification, which gave rise to reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents in granulated juice sacs. This finding suggests that ubiquitination level of the antioxidant enzymes is negatively correlated with the enzyme activities. Increased H2O2 is considered to be a signaling molecule to activate the key gene expressions in lignin biosynthesis pathway, which leads to the lignification in granulated juice sacs of pomelo. This regulatory mechanism in juice sac granulation of pomelo was further confirmed through the verification experiment using tissue culture by adding H2O2 or dimethylthiourea (DMTU). Our findings suggest that scavenging H2O2 and other ROS are important for reducing lignin accumulation, alleviating juice sac granulation and improving pomelo fruit quality.

FRUIT FRESHESS PREDICTION USING CNN

This Project proposes a methodology utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for the holistic assessment of fruit quality, encompassing freshness, ripeness, and health status. By integrating CNNs with multi-feature analysis, including image data and spectral signatures, the model aims to provide accurate classification of fruits into categories of fresh/rotten, ripe/unripe, and healthy/diseased. The methodology outlines data collection, preprocessing, feature extraction, CNN model development, evaluation metrics, and potential applications. Ensuring fruit quality is crucial for consumer satisfaction and food safety. Manual inspection is time-consuming and subjective, necessitating automated systems. This methodology proposes a CNN-based approach for comprehensive fruit quality assessment, addressing freshness, ripeness, and health status simultaneously. Key Words: CNN , Fresh/Rotten ,Fruit Quality, Deep Learning.

Fish Emulsions, Cyano-Fertilizer, and Seaweed Extracts Affect Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Plant Architecture, Yield, and Fruit Quality

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) were grown in a greenhouse to evaluate organic fertilizer and foliar seaweed application effects on plant architecture, yield, and fruit quality. Many organic fertilizers contain phytohormones intrinsically. Hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer and cyano-fertilizer treatments were applied in split applications every 7 days over a 135-day growing period. Control plants received no supplemental N. Each fertilizer treatment received applications of one of two different foliar seaweeds or no foliar seaweed in a 4 × 3 factorial design with three replications. Both hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizers and cyano-fertilizer increased the number of branches per plant compared to the N-deficient control. The plants receiving cyano-fertilizer or non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer yielded more than the N-deficient control, and those treatments received 2–3 times the auxin application as the hydrolyzed fish fertilizer. In addition, the leaves from the plants treated with non-hydrolyzed fish fertilizer contained substantially higher levels of abscisic acid, although no abscisic acid was detected in the fertilizers. Both seaweed products decreased the number of fruits that were “bell”-shaped and increased the number of “long”-shaped fruits. Organic fertilizers are complex matrices of nutrients, phytohormones, and other metabolites, making it very challenging to determine the mechanisms behind the observations.

Dynamic interplay between soil microbial communities, enzyme activities, and pear quality across planting years

Few studies have been reported on the effect of planting years on fruit quality and soil of pear trees. In this study, four planting years (T5, T20, T30, and T40) of Cuiguan pears were used to analyze fruit quality, rhizosphere soil enzymes, and microbial diversity of pear trees, and their correlations. The results showed that the content of sucrose, reducing sugar and ascorbic acid in Cuiguan Pear showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing with the increase of planting years, in which the highest content was found in 20- and 30-year-old fruits, and the highest content of total acid was found in 5-year-old fruits. Rhizosphere soil enzyme activities varied with planting year, with the highest protease activity in 20-year-old soil, phosphatase and urease in 30-year-old soil, polyphenol oxidase in 5-year-old soil, and sucrase in 40-year-old soil. The microbial diversity index and the number of OTUs showed an increasing and decreasing trend with the increase of planting years. Among the top 11 bacteria in pear rhizosphere soil average relative abundance, with Bradyrhizobium decreasing in relative abundance at the peak pear fruiting stages (T20 and T30), while Acidothermus showed an increasing trend in relative abundance with increasing planting years. RDA analysis showed that there were differences in the microbial community structure of pear trees at different planting years, and that both sucrose and reducing sugar contents in pears were positively correlated with T20 and T30, ascorbic acid content was positively correlated with T40, whereas the total acid content was positively correlated with T5, and that T20 was positively correlated with soil protease and phosphate mono esterase activities, and that T30 was positively correlated with polyphenol oxidase and urease activities, whereas T40 was positively correlated with sucrase activity. In summary, with the increase of planting years, changes in soil microbial community structure and soil enzyme activity have a significant impact on pear quality formation, and the results of the study provide a theoretical basis for scientific management of pear orchards.

Alternaria in berry: Effects on its quality, pathogenic mechanisms and potential control strategies

AbstractIn recent years, the production and demand of berries in the world have gradually increased, but the infection of fungal pathogens has become one of the important factors restricting the production and sales of fresh berries. It has been found that Alternaria can cause a variety of plant diseases and fruit rot worldwide. This review introduces the effect of Alternaria infection on berry quality, including physical, chemical and physiological aspects, and discusses the possible infection mechanisms. In addition, Alternaria produces toxins during infections and seriously threatens the safety of berries and consumer health. Therefore, the prevention and control measures of Alternaria are systematically summarized. This review provides the basis for further optimization of postharvest preservation technology and fruit quality, to prolong the shelf life of berries. We can realistically expect to control plant diseases with increasing efficiency, which is conducive to improving the quality and safety of postharvest berry fruits.

Transcriptional Landscape and Dynamics Involved in Sugar and Acid Accumulation during Apple Fruit Development.

In fleshy fruit, sugars and acids are central components of fruit flavor and quality. To date, the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of sugar and acid during fruit development remain largely unknown. Here, we combined ATAC-seq with RNA-seq to investigate the genome-wide chromatin accessibility and to identify putative transcription factors related to sugar and acid accumulation during apple (Malus domestica) fruit development. By integrating the differentially accessible regions (DARs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we generated a global dataset of promoter-accessibility- and expression-increased genes (PEIGs). Using this strategy, we constructed a transcriptional regulatory network enabling screening for key transcription factors and target genes involved in sugar and acid accumulation. Among these transcription factors, five fruit-specific Dof (DNA binding with one finger) genes were selected to confirm their regulatory effects, and our results showed that they could affect sugar or acid concentration by regulating the expression of sugar or acid metabolism-related genes in apple fruits. Our transcriptional regulatory network provides a suitable platform to identify candidate genes that control sugar and acid accumulation. Meanwhile, our dataset will aid in analyzing other characteristics of apple fruit that have not been illuminated previously. Overall, these findings support a better understanding of the regulatory dynamics during apple fruit development and lay a foundation for quality improvement of apple.

Mechanisms governing melon fruit skin pigmentation: Insights from transcriptome sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analyses

Fruit skin color is a critical agronomic trait determining fruit quality, but the mechanisms governing melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit skin pigmentation remain inadequately characterized. We performed cytological, transcriptomic, and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) comparative analyses on two near-isogenic lines (NILs) at different developmental stages: the green-skinned (GS) and white-skinned (WS) melon. The enriched functions among the 536 identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to chloroplast development, pigment metabolism, and photosynthetic pathway. The genes in these pathways were downregulated in the WS line, potentially contributing to the decreased chlorophyll content and abnormal chloroplast development in WS. WGBS analysis revealed that the levels of genomic DNA methylation in WS progressively exceeded those in GS as the fruits developed. The integrated analysis of the transcriptome and methylome identified DMR-associated DEGs (CHLI, CRD1, PORA, and HCAR) involved in chlorophyll metabolism. Notably, PORA exhibited downregulated expression and was hypermethylated in WS fruits during two developmental stages, showing a coordinated expression with the chlorophyll contents in developing WS and GS fruits. Furthermore, we identified a transcription factor gene, MELO3C011576, that was closely associated with the expression of PORA and chlorophyll levels across three developmental stages in both NILs. We speculate that PORA positively regulates chlorophyll biosynthesis in the two NILs, with its expression may be co-controlled by DNA methylation and transcription factors.

Clpf encodes pentatricopeptide repeat protein (PPR5) and regulates pink flesh color in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.).

The gene controlling pink flesh in watermelon was finely mapped to a 55.26-kb region on chromosome 6. The prime candidate gene, Cla97C06G122120 (ClPPR5), was identified through forward genetics. Carotenoids offer numerous health benefits; while, they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Watermelon stands out as one of the richest sources of carotenoids. In this study, genetic generations derived from parental lines W15-059 (red flesh) and JQ13-3 (pink flesh) revealed the presence of the recessive gene Clpf responsible for the pink flesh (pf) trait in watermelon. Comparative analysis of pigment components and microstructure indicated that the disparity in flesh color between the parental lines primarily stemmed from variations in lycopene content, as well as differences in chromoplast number and size. Subsequent bulk segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and genetic mapping successfully narrowed down the Clpf locus to a 55.26-kb region on chromosome 6, harboring two candidate genes. Through sequence comparison and gene expression analysis, Cla97C06G122120 (annotated as a pentatricopeptide repeat, PPR) was predicted as the prime candidate gene related to pink flesh trait. To further investigate the role of the PPR gene, its homologous gene in tomato was silenced using a virus-induced system. The resulting silenced fruit lines displayed diminished carotenoid accumulation compared with the wild-type, indicating the potential regulatory function of the PPR gene in pigment accumulation. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of the forward genetics underlying watermelon flesh traits, particularly in relation to carotenoid accumulation. The findings lay essential groundwork for elucidating mechanisms governing pigment synthesis and deposition in watermelon flesh, thereby providing valuable insights for future breeding strategies aimed at enhancing fruit quality and nutritional value.

Adaptation and Agricultural Significance of Syzygium cumini L. in Saline Environments: A Global Perspective on Jamun Cultivation and Salt Stress Resilience

Syzygium cumini L., known commonly as jamun, is a fruit tree with significant adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, particularly saline soils. This review comprehensively explores the adaptation mechanisms of jamun to saline environments and its agricultural significance on a global scale. Given the increasing soil salinization worldwide, understanding the resilience of crops like jamun is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices in salt-affected regions. Jamun is native to the Indian subcontinent but has been cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Its ability to withstand various abiotic stresses, especially soil salinity, makes it an ideal candidate for cultivation in areas prone to such conditions. This review highlights the physiological and biochemical responses of jamun to high salinity, including ion regulation, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant activity. These mechanisms help the plant maintain growth and productivity in environments where many other crops fail. Additionally, the review discusses the importance of jamun in traditional medicine and its nutritional benefits, emphasizing its potential for enhancing food security in saline-affected areas. The fruit's rich composition of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals underscores its nutritional value, making it a beneficial addition to the diet in regions with limited crop diversity due to salinity. Furthermore, the paper addresses the agricultural practices conducive to maximizing jamun's yield in saline environments, including suitable propagation techniques and water management strategies. It also explores the genetic diversity within Syzygium cumini species, which could be leveraged to breed varieties with enhanced salt tolerance and better fruit quality. In conclusion, the global cultivation of jamun not only contributes to biodiversity but also offers a viable solution for agricultural productivity in salt-impacted soils. Continued research and development efforts are essential to optimize cultivation practices and expand the use of jamun in saline agriculture.

Application of CO2-Laser Micro-Perforation Technology to Freeze-Drying Whole Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.): Effect on Primary Drying Time and Fruit Quality

Freeze-drying (FD) processing preserves foods by combining the most effective traditional technologies. FD conserves the structure, shape, freshness, nutritional/bioactive value, color, and aroma at levels similar to or better than those of refrigerated and frozen foods while delivering the shelf-stable convenience of canned/hot-air-dehydrated foods. The mass transfer rate is the essential factor that can slow down the FD process, resulting in an excessive primary drying time and high energy consumption. The objective of this study was to reduce the FD processing time using CO2 laser technology to improve product competitiveness in the preservation of whole strawberries. The research process consisted of the selection and characterization of fresh strawberries, followed by preparation, pre-treatment, freeze-drying, a primary drying time assessment, and a quality comparison. Experiments were carried out using strawberries without micro-perforation and with five and eight micro-perforations. Quality parameters were determined for fresh, frozen/thawed, and freeze-dried/rehydrated strawberries. It was found that the primary drying time can be significantly reduced by 20% (95% CI) from 26.7 h for non-perforated fruits to 22.3 h when five micro-perforations are made on each strawberry. The quality parameters used to evaluate the strawberries did not show significant differences when comparing frozen/thawed fruits with freeze-dried/rehydrated fruits. The experiments conducted in this study showed that freeze-drying may efficiently compete with freezing technology when processing whole strawberries.

Storage Temperature Affects the Accumulation of Phenolics in Fresh-Cut Melon by Accelerating the Sucrose Decomposition

To accurately evaluate the role of storage temperature in improving the quality of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, the effects of two storage temperatures (5 °C and 15 °C) on the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism in fresh-cut melon (cv. Yugu) cubes were determined. A higher temperature (15 °C) expedited sucrose decomposition in the melon cubes at the early stage of storage, resulting in higher levels of glucose and fructose. This effect was corroborated by increased activities of acid invertase (AI), neutral invertase (NI), and sucrose synthase cleavage (SS-c), along with higher expressions of CmAI1/2, CmNI1/2, and CmSS1/2 in the melon cubes at 15 °C. Additionally, the higher activity and gene expression of hexokinase in melon cubes at 15 °C led to an increase in the utilization rate of sugars toward downstream metabolic pathways. Moreover, the melon cube storage at 15 °C elevated the activities and gene expressions of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumaric acid: CoA ligase (4CL), thereby increasing the synthesis of phenolics. Sucrose showed a significant negative correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL5/7 and CmC4H1/3. However, hexokinase displayed a significant positive correlation with PAL, C4H, and 4CL, as well as with CmPAL1, CmPAL3-9, CmC4Hs, and Cm4CLs. These findings demonstrate that a higher-temperature storage of melon cubes can accelerate the phenylpropanoid pathway and sucrose metabolism by regulating the activity and gene expression of related enzymes, thereby inducing phenolic accumulation. These results also indicate that lower-temperature storage is not conducive to the conversion of sugars into phenolics in fresh-cut melon. Therefore, the temperature can be appropriately and briefly raised in the production and preservation process of fresh-cut melon to obtain higher levels of phenolics.

Comparative mineral and biochemical characterization of Citrus reticulata fruits and leaves to citrus canker pathogens, Xanthomonas axonopodis

Pakistan’s economy greatly benefits from citrus production since these fruits are sold and consumed all over the world. Although citrus fruits are easy to cultivate, they are susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These challenges, as well as difficulties in obtaining the proper nutrients, might negatively impact fruit yields and quality. Citrus canker is another complicated problem caused by the germ Xanthomonas axonopodis. This germ affects many types of citrus fruits all over the world. This study looked closely at how citrus canker affects the leaves and the quality of the fruit in places like Sargodha, Bhalwal, Kotmomin, and Silanwali, which are big areas for growing citrus in the Sargodha district. What we found was that plants without the disease had more chlorophyll in their leaves compared to the sick plants. Also, the healthy plants had better amounts of important minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus in their fruits. But the fruits with the disease had too much sodium, and the iron levels were a bit different. The fruits with the disease also didn’t have as much of something that protects them called antioxidants, which made them more likely to get sick. This study helps us understand how citrus canker affects plants and fruit, so we can think of ways to deal with it.