Cherry Tomato Research Articles

Joint Impacts of Meloidogyne incognita and Soil Nutrition on Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme.

Strategies for plant nutrient resource allocation under Meloidogyne spp. infection and different soil nutrient conditions are not well established. In response, the objectives of this research are to determine if increased vegetative growth of Solanum lycopersicon var. cerasiforme (cherry tomato) under high nutrition enhances resistance to M. incognita and whether adaptive strategies for growth, reproduction, and nutrient uptake by cherry tomato infected with M. incognita alter nutrient availability. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions using high, medium, and low soil nutrient regimes. The research results indicate that the total biomass of cherry tomato was less in the presence of M. incognita infection under all three nutrient conditions, compared with plants grown in the absence of this nematode. However, the increase in the root/shoot ratio indicates that cherry tomato allocated more resources to belowground organs. Under the combined impacts of M. incognita infection and low or medium soil nutrition, the nitrogen content in root system tissues and the phosphorus content in shoot system tissues were increased to meet the nutrient requirements of galled root tissue and plant fruit production. It is suggested that plants increase the allocation of reproductive resources to fruits by improving phosphorus transportation to the aboveground reproductive tissues under low and medium nutrient conditions. Overall, the study highlights a significant impact of soil nutrient levels on the growth and resource allocation associated with M. incognita-infected cherry tomato. In response, soil nutrient management is another practice for reducing the impacts of plant-parasitic nematodes on crop production.

Investigation of Volatile Organic Compounds in Aromatic Phalaenopsis Cultivars Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Phalaenopsis is a globally popular potted plant possessing a few aromatic cultivars, but analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these cultivars is limited. Here, using nonaromatic cultivar Phal. Big Chili as a control, flower VOCs of four aromatic cultivars were investigated by headspace solid-phase microextraction in conjunction with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results revealed that 43 VOCs classified into seven categories were identified in the nonaromatic Phal. Big Chili and four aromatic cultivars. Hexyl acetate and hexan-1-ol were common VOCs in aromatic cultivars. On the basis of partial least squares discriminant analysis, the five cultivars were classified into three groups, the nonaromatic Phal. Big Chili (group 1) and the strong-aromatic Phal. Cherry Tomato (group 2) were easily distinguished from the other three aromatic cultivars (group 3). Moreover, 17 key VOCs with the different aromatic thresholds and characteristics were identified in the four aromatic cultivars, and the types and relative contents of key VOCs varied among the aromatic cultivars, resulting in different characteristics and intensities of floral fragrance in aromatic cultivars. In aromatic cultivars, the types and relative contents of key VOCs in Phal. Cherry Tomato significantly exceeded those in the other three cultivars. Eight key VOCs belonging to terpenoids, olefins, and alcohols had the highest relative contents in Phal. ‘Cherry Tomato’, which led to a strong and mixed aromatic type containing cedarwood, camphor, and mint fragrances.

Влияние пищевого биоактивного покрытия на основе альгината на сохранность томатов черри

Vegetables, as a necessary component of nutrition, must be supplied to the consumer fresh and not contain potentially hazardous substances. Packaging materials play a critical role in food safety. Their composition can not only provide barrier functions, but also protect products from oxidative and microbiological spoilage. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the receipt of new scientific data on the effect of a bioactive film based on alginate with the addition of protein hydrolyzate as an active component on the safety of cherry tomatoes. The purpose of the research is to establish the effect of a bioactive coating based on alginate on the safety of cherry tomatoes. Research methods. Weight loss during storage in the refrigerator and at room temperature was determined for cherry tomatoes packed in bioactive films and for a control sample without film. Changes in vitamin C content during storage were determined by titration. Microbiological indicators (content of coliform bacteria, yeasts and molds) were determined using Petritest express tests. Results. It was found that when cherry tomatoes are packaged in films, weight loss is reduced during storage for 9 days, while the addition of protein hydrolyzate to the film composition helped reduce losses. Storage at room temperature resulted in more significant weight losses. The decrease in vitamin C content did not significantly depend on the film composition. The results of microbiological studies showed that films with the addition of protein hydrolyzate, both when stored in a refrigerator and when stored at room temperature, have an inhibitory effect on the growth of yeast and mold, and coliform bacteria were not detected. Thus, film coatings based on sodium alginate with the addition of protein hydrolyzate as an active component have potential for packaging tomatoes to increase their shelf life and prevent microbiological spoilage.

Compatibility of wild rootstocks in the production of cherry tomato seedlings

Growing tomato crops is a highly significant activity in Brazil; however, several factors limit tomato productivity, mainly soil-borne diseases which, without proper control, can compromise the entire crop production. The proper use of grafting techniques emerges as an alternative to overcome barriers that limit tomato production in regions with unfavorable growth conditions. The use of rootstocks resistant to root diseases is seen as a viable option for tomato production. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the compatibility and efficiency of rootstocks for cherry tomatoes. A randomized block design was used, with five treatments and four replications; each plot consisted of 36 grafted seedlings. The treatments consisted of rootstocks of Eggplant, Jurubeba, Jilo, and Tomato (Intacto; Feltrin Sementes®), and a Control (cherry tomato without grafting). All rootstocks were compatible with cherry tomatoes. Moreover, seedlings grafted onto Jurubeba rootstocks presented results closest to the Control (cherry tomatoes). Seedlings grafted onto Jurubeba and Eggplant rootstocks presented the best results regarding vegetative development and total dry matter accumulation. Jurubeba and Eggplant rootstocks are viable alternatives for grafting cherry tomato seedlings. All utilized rootstocks can be further investigated for their resistance to root diseases affecting tomato crops.

Gelatin/sodium alginate-based biodegradable films functionalized by persimmon pectin/ovalbumin-stabilized neem essential oil Pickering emulsion: Application for cherry tomato preservation

This work aims to develop a biodegradable film with enhanced mechanical, water-barrier, and antimicrobial characteristics for the preservation of cherry tomatoes. Here, a persimmon pectin/ovalbumin (PN/OVA) stabilized-neem essential oil Pickering emulsion (NOPE) was added into the gelatin/sodium alginate-based blend matrix (GS). Even the biodegradability and transmittance of NOPE-rich film were decreased as compared to the control film, its flexibility, oxygen-barrier, and water-barrier performances significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 45.23 %, 32.32 %, and 37.02 %, respectively. The NOPE-loaded films destroyed the hyphal structure and reduced spore germination of Botrytis cinerea through slow-releasing neem essential oil (NO), in turn inhibiting the growth of B. cinerea. Finally, the prepared films were applied for cherry tomato preservation. Compared with the control, 2.0 wt%-loaded GS films greatly reduced the weight loss and disease incidence of cherry tomatoes by 57.33 and 72.4 %, respectively, owing to their excellent water resistance and slow-released properties. Thus, the addition of 2.0 wt% NOPE into GS film is of particular interest in the design of active biodegradable packaging films for fruit preservation.

Investigation of the horizontal collision damage behavior of fruit during transporting based on a new instrumented impactor

Horizontal collisions between fruit and rigid walls are a common occurrence in postharvest packaging and transportation. To address this issue, a novel high-precision instrumented impactor was developed, comprising a high-speed imaging system, an ejection device, and a force sensor. Results showed that the impactor was able to effectively simulate the horizontal collision process between various small spherical fruits (such as cherry tomatoes, plums, sweet cherries, and winter jujubes) and packaging materials at three velocities: slow, medium, and high. Output parameters included the impact force and impact time of the fruit acting on each packaging material, as well as the displacement, displacement rate, impact energy, rebound energy, and absorption energy of the fruit. During the horizontal collision simulation, it was observed that the winter jujube exhibited the largest impact force and the shortest impact time among the four types of fruit tested. Conversely, the sweet cherry demonstrated the lowest proportion of damage area when colliding with the EPE board compared to the rigid board and foam board. This study presents a powerful tool for investigating the horizontal collision behaviour between fruit and rigid plates.

Detection and Analysis of VOCs in Cherry Tomato Based on GC-MS and GC×GC-TOF MS Techniques.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a significant role in influencing the flavor quality of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The scarcity of systematic analysis of VOCs in cherry tomatoes can be attributed to the constraints imposed by detection technology and other contributing factors. In this study, the cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' was chosen due to its abundant fruit flavor. Two detection technology platforms, namely the commonly employed headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and the most advanced headspace solid-phase microextraction-full two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC×GC-TOFMS), were employed in the analysis. The VOCs of cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' fruits at red ripening stage were detected. A combined total of 1544 VOCs were detected using the two aforementioned techniques. Specifically, 663 VOCs were identified by through the HS-SPME-GC-MS method, 1026 VOCs were identified by through the HS-SPME-GC×GC-TOFMS, and 145 VOCs were identified by both techniques. The identification of β-ionone and (E)-2-nonenal as the principal VOCs was substantiated through the application of the relative odor activity value (rOAV) calculation and subsequent analysis. Based on the varying contribution rates of rOAV, the analysis of sensory flavor characteristics revealed that cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' predominantly exhibited green and fatty attributes, accompanied by elements of fresh and floral flavor characteristics. In conclusion, our study conducted a comprehensive comparison of the disparities between these two methodologies in detecting VOCs in cherry tomato fruits. Additionally, we systematically analyzed the VOC composition and sensory flavor attributes of the cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1'. This research serves as a significant point of reference for investigating the regulatory mechanisms underlying the development of volatile flavor quality in cherry tomatoes.

Ferrous sulfate combined with ultrasound emulsified cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion to cause ferroptosis in Escherichia coli O157:H7

The purpose of this study was to investigate ferroptosis in Escherichia coli O157:H7 caused by ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and to examine the synergistic effectiveness of FeSO4 combined with ultrasound-emulsified cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion (CALNO) on inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that FeSO4 could cause ferroptosis in E. coli O157:H7 via generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exacerbating lipid peroxidation. In addition, the results indicated that FeSO4 combined with CALNO had synergistic bactericidal effect against E. coli O157:H7 and the combined treatment could lead considerable nucleic acids and protein to release by damaging the cell membrane of E. coli O157:H7. Besides, FeSO4 combined with CALNO had a strong antibiofilm ability to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation by reducing the expression of genes related on biofilm formation. Finally, FeSO4 combined with CALNO exhibited the significant antibacterial activity against E. coli O157:H7 in hami melon and cherry tomato.

Fruit Quality and Plant Productivity of A Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) Grown under Different Irrigation Regimes during the Reproductive Phase

               The impact of water deficit severity and the specific growth stages at which water stress is applied have been found to have significant implications for both tomato yield and fruit quality. Recent findings have highlighted the influence of water deficits during the reproductive phase on tomato fruit quality. This study aimed to assess the effects of deficit irrigation on tomato fruit quality and overall plant productivity. Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) were grown in a greenhouse from August to November 2022. Three distinct watering regimes were implemented: Daily watering (T1), watering every 3 days (T2) and watering every 7 days (T3), starting from the flowering stage and continuing through subsequent plant development stages. The mean soil metric potentials (SMP) were −4.9, −29.7 and −52.8 kPa for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Various traits of fruit size, fruit biomass, total soluble solids (TSS), water content, glucose content and lycopene content were measured. Additionally, the overall plant biomass and root-to-shoot ratio were evaluated. The results revealed that traits of the fruit size, such as diameter, length, volume and fresh weight, were most favorable when plants were subjected to the T2 watering regime, while higher and lower watering frequencies led to smaller fruit sizes. Interestingly, the TSS concentration had the most pronounced response to drought stress, indicating increased fruit sweetness. However, the fruit water content, glucose content and lycopene content remained unaffected by the different watering regimes. Furthermore, plants subjected to the T3 with the minimum SMP at −196.4 kPa exhibited enhanced development of the root system, prioritizing resource acquisition such as water and mineral nutrients over shoot components. In conclusion, this study provided valuable insights for agricultural practitioners, offering a range of alternatives that can inform optimal irrigation strategies that effectively enhance the quality of cherry tomato yields. HIGHLIGHTS Water deficits during the reproductive phase have a notable impact on tomato fruit quality Three distinct watering regimes, including daily watering (T1), watering every 3 days (T2) and watering every 7 days (T3), were implemented, with mean soil metric potentials for T1, T2 and T3 recorded at −4.9, −29.7 and −52.8 kPa, respectively T2 watering regime resulted in the most favorable fruit size (diameter, length, volume and fresh weight), while higher and lower watering frequencies led to smaller fruit sizes Total soluble solid concentration showed a pronounced response to drought stress, indicating increased fruit sweetness, while glucose content and lycopene content were unaffected by different watering regimes The study provides valuable insights for agricultural practitioners, suggesting alternative irrigation strategies to enhance the quality of cherry tomato yields GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Enhancing the growth and zinc efficiency of cherry tomatoes by inoculating endophytic bacteria from zinc hyperaccumulator, Sedum alfredi Hance

Microbial biofertilizers, an innovative and eco-friendly strategy for nutritional improvement, could be utilized for zinc (Zn) efficiency and biofortification. Endophytic bacteria with Zn solubilizing and plant growth-promoting capacities were isolated from hyperaccumulator S. alfredi, and their impacts on the growth and Zn efficiency of cherry tomatoes under Zn-deficiency conditions were investigated. The results showed that most endophytic bacteria promoted the growth of tomato seedlings, while only specific endophytic bacteria played a role in Zn accumulation. Among them, inoculation with SaBA1, SaPS2, SaEN1, and SaPA1 not only significantly increased the fresh weight (FW) of tomato's young leaves by 3.1 to 3.6 times, but also raised the soil available Zn concentration by 0.58–0.92 mg/kg and improved the Zn accumulation in young leaves by 18 % to 30 %. The results indicated that these four bacteria could activate the availability of soil Zn, regulate the distribution of Zn in plants, and enable tomatoes to maintain healthy growth and development under Zn-deficiency conditions. This revealed their immense potential in enhancing crop yield, improving crop Zn nutrition, and boosting crop Zn efficiency.

Effects of foliar iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) application on photosynthetic parameters, distribution of mineral elements, magnetic behaviour, and photosynthetic genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) plants

This study aims to examine the effect of foliar magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (IONP) application on the physiology, photosynthetic parameters, magnetic character, and mineral element distribution of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The IONP suspension (500 mg L−1) was sprayed once (S1), twice (S2), thrice (S3), and four times (S4) a week on seedlings. Upon 21 days of the treatments, photosynthetic parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, photosynthetic yield, electron transport rate) were elucidated. Inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to determine the mineral elements and abundance of magnetic power in the seedlings. In addition, the RT-qPCR method was performed to quantify the expressions of photosystem-related (PsaC, PsbP6, and PsbQ) and ferritin-coding (Fer-1 and Fer-2) genes. Results revealed that the physiological and photosynthetic indices were improved upon S1 treatment. The optimal dosage of IONP spraying enhances chlorophyll, carotenoid, electron transport rate (ETR), and effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Y(II)) but substantially diminishes non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). However, frequent IONP applications (S2, S3, and S4) caused growth retardation and suppressed the photosynthetic parameters, suggesting a toxic effect of IONP in recurrent treatments. Fer-1 and Fer-2 expressions were strikingly increased by IONP applications, suggesting an attempt to neutralize the excess amount of Fe ions by ferritin. Nevertheless, frequent IONP treatment fluctuated the mineral distribution and caused growth inhibition. Although low-repeat foliar applications of IONP (S1 in this study) may help improve plant growth, consecutive applications (S2, S3, and S4) should be avoided.

Improving SSC detection accuracy of cherry tomatoes by feature synergy and complementary spectral bands combination

The visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectroscopy technique has been extensively employed for the non-destructive detection of soluble solids content (SSC) in fruit. However, some existing algorithms and modeling optimization methods for improving the detection accuracy of SSC may be applicable to specific conditions and not universal. To break through this bottleneck problem, we propose a potentially universal strategy based on feature synergy and spectral bands combination of multiple detection modes. Firstly, compared with the commonly used halogen lamp, the xenon lamp was utilized to cover the ultraviolet (UV) range and match the characteristic information of different sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose). Furthermore, the spectral fusion method was employed to combine the reflectance and transmittance spectra to improve the cherry tomatoes SSC prediction accuracy with comprehensive data in the UV/VIS/NIR region. Finally, the best results were achieved by the partial least square regression (PLSR) model with spectral bands fusion, yielding the results of R2p, RMSEP, and RPD as 0.9653, 0.1998%, and 5.31, respectively. The same conclusion can also be verified when predicting the SSC in strawberries. Overall, this strategy is potentially universal to improve the prediction accuracy of SSC in fruit by matching light source spectra with characteristic absorption, as well as utilizing comprehensive spectral information in the 200–1100 nm range, providing valuable insights for the practical application of nondestructive detection of fruit internal quality.

Real-time statistical algorithm for cherry tomatoes with different ripeness based on depth information mapping

Rapid and non-destructive automatic statistics of cherry tomatoes at different ripeness stages help better manage resources during harvesting, storage, and transportation processes. Currently, the inspection of cherry tomatoes (ripeness assessment and counting) still faces challenges, such as excluding background cherry tomatoes, detecting heavily obscured ones, and tracking similar feature extraction across frames. This study presented a statistical algorithm for cherry tomatoes with different ripeness. Firstly, a complete field of view was achieved by stitching images from dual cameras. Then, during the detection phase, the proposed depth information mapping and morphological operations were employed to filter out background cherry tomatoes effectively. Secondly, the SimAM attention module was introduced to enhance the focus of the YOLO v7-tiny model on small and occluded targets. The ReID feature extraction model was replaced with the lighter and more powerful MobileNeXt model, with the input resolution adapted to 64 × 64 based on the morphological characteristics of cherry tomatoes. Finally, the statistics of cherry tomatoes at different ripeness levels were conducted using the improved DeepSORT algorithm. The ablation experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The improved YOLO v7-tiny has a mAP of 87.3 % on the dataset, combining depth information mapping with morphological operations. Compared with the original DeepSORT algorithm, the improved DeepSORT algorithm has RMSE decreased by 15.46 to 3.11, and R2 increased by 0.071 to 0.998. The statistical algorithm enables real-time statistical of the number of cherry tomatoes at different ripeness levels during inspection.

Development and Characterization of Modified Gelatin-Based Cling Films with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities and Their Application in the Preservation of Cherry Tomatoes.

The utilization of functional cling films presents a promising approach to alleviate post-harvest spoilage caused by microbial activity, oxidative metabolism, and moisture loss in agricultural products. To overcome the environmental problems of conventional packaging materials, in this study, we developed functional fruit and vegetable cling films based on glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride and rosemarinic acid cross-linked gelatin (RQ-GEL). The results indicate that the prepared RQ-GEL film possesses excellent UV light barrier properties and mechanical performance. RQ-GEL inhibited S. aureus and E. coli by 93.79% and 92.04%, respectively. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities were as high as 87.69% and 84.6%. In the cherry tomato preservation experiment, when compared to uncovered samples, the RQ-GEL group had a 29.77% reduction in weight loss and a significant 26.92% reduction in hardness. Meanwhile, the RQ-GEL group delays the decline of fruit total soluble solids and titratable acidity content, and prolongs the preservation period of cherry tomatoes. Hence, RQ-GEL cling film is poised to emerge as a promising packaging material for the post-harvest preservation of agricultural products.

Robust construction of konjac glucomannan/polylactic acid nanofibrous films incorporated with carvacrol via microfluidic blow spinning for food packaging

In recent years, the application of biopolymer-based nanofibers prepared via microfluidic blow spinning (MBS) for food packaging has continuously increased due to their advantages of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and safety. However, the poor spinnability, undesirable water barrier capacity, and loss of antibacterial and antioxidant properties of biopolymer-based nanofibers strictly restrict their real-world applications. In this work, carvacrol (CV) incorporated konjac glucomannan (KGM)/polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibrous films (KP-CV) were produced by MBS. The FTIR spectra and XRD analysis revealed the hydrogen bonding interactions among CV, PLA, and KGM, thus significantly improving the TS of KP-CV nanofibrous films from 0.23 to 1.27 MPa with increased content of CV from 0 % to 5 %. Besides, KP-CV nanofibrous films showed improved thermal stability, excellent hydrophobicity (WCA: 128.19°, WVP: 1.02 g mm/m2 h kPa), and sustained release of CV combined with good antioxidant activities (DPPH radical scavenging activity: 77.51 ± 1.57 %), and antibacterial properties against S. aureus (inhibition zone: 26.33 mm) and E. coli (inhibition zone: 22.67 mm). Therefore, as prepared KP-CV nanofibrous films can be potentially applied as packaging materials for the extended shelf life of cherry tomatoes.

Advancing Food Preservation: Sustainable Green-AgNPs Bionanocomposites in Paper-Starch Flexible Packaging for Prolonged Shelf Life.

In the pursuit of enhancing food packaging, nanotechnology, particularly green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs), have gained prominence for its remarkable antimicrobial properties with high potential for food shelf-life extension. Our study aims to develop corn starch-based coating materials reinforced with G-AgNPs. The mechanical properties were examined using a uniaxial tensile tester, revealing that starch coated with the highest G-AgNPs concentration (12.75 ppm) exhibited UTS of 87.6 MPa compared to 48.48 MPa of control paper, a significant (p < 0.02) 65% increase. The assessment of the WVP showcased a statistical reduction in permeability by up to 8% with the incorporation of the hydrophobic layer. Furthermore, antibacterial properties were assessed following ISO 22196:2011, demonstrating a strong and concentration-dependent activity of G-AgNPs against E. coli. All samples successfully disintegrated in both simulated environments (soil and seawater), including samples presenting G-AgNPs. In the food trial analysis, the presence of starch and G-AgNPs significantly reduced weight loss after 6 days, with cherry tomatoes decreasing by 8.59% and green grapes by 6.77% only. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of environmentally friendly packaging materials, aligning with the UN sustainable development goals of reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.

Impact of treated wastewater on plant growth: leaf fluorescence, reflectance, and biomass-based assessment.

The study evaluated the impact of treated wastewater on plant growth through the use of hyperspectral and fluorescence-based techniques coupled with classical biomass analyses, and assessed the potential of reusing treated wastewater for irrigation without fertilizer application. Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) were irrigated with tap water (Tap), secondary effluent (SE), and membrane effluent (ME). Maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) of tomato and cabbage was between 0.78 to 0.80 and 0.81 to 0.82, respectively, for all treatments. The performance index (PI) of Tap/SE/ME was 2.73, 2.85, and 2.48 for tomatoes and 4.25, 3.79, and 3.70 for cabbage, respectively. Both Fv/Fm and PI indicated that the treated wastewater did not have a significant adverse effect on the photosynthetic efficiency and plant vitality of the crops. Hyperspectral analysis showed higher chlorophyll and nitrogen content in leaves of recycled water-irrigated crops than tap water-irrigated crops. SE had 10.5% dry matter composition (tomato) and Tap had 10.7% (cabbage). Total leaf count of Tap/SE/ME was 86, 111, and 102 for tomato and 37, 40, and 42 for cabbage, respectively. In this study, the use of treated wastewater did not induce any photosynthetic-related or abiotic stress on the crops; instead, it promoted crop growth.

Bumblebee Foraging Dynamics and Pollination Outcomes for Cherry Tomato and Pear Varieties in Northern China.

Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) have strong environmental adaptability and high pollen transfer efficiency, making them well-suited pollinators of economic crops. However, bumblebee pollination is still not widely applied in northern China due to the lack of data on foraging behavior and pollination effects. We conducted a three-year experiment involving cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pears (Pyrus spp.) treated with bumblebee pollination to evaluate the foraging behavior and pollination effects on these two crops. Results showed that B. terrestris had enhanced foraging activities as daytime temperatures rose from 18 °C to 26 °C, as indicated by the increased number of bees leaving the hive and returning bees carrying pollen in greenhouses in winter. There were two peaks in the foraging activity of bumblebees in pear orchards in early spring, which was closely related to the temperature change in the daytime. Undoubtedly, cherry tomatoes treated with B. terrestris had higher fruit setting rate, weight, seed number, and fruit yields compared to those with hormone 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatments, as well as a lower rate of deformed fruits. B. terrestris pollination can significantly increase the fruit setting rate and fruit yield of pears, compared with open pollination, and can fully achieve the effect of hand pollination. B. terrestris pollination can improve cultivation efficiency, increase yield, and produce more economic benefits. Moreover, it can also contribute to reducing hormone residues and ensure the safety of agricultural products. We recommend its application to cherry tomatoes in greenhouses in winter and potential application to pears in orchards in early spring in northern China. However, the risk to local bumblebee species of introducing commercially available bumblebees into orchards should be considered and evaluated in future research. This study provides both empirical support and a theoretical basis for the selection of bumblebees as pollinators in the production of economically important crops and the improvement of crop cultivation management in northern China.

Grapefruit essential oil combined with UV-C treatment: A technology to improve the microbial safety of fresh produce

This study investigated the use of grapefruit essential oil (GEO) in combination with ultraviolet-C (UV-C) to improve the microbial safety of fresh produce. The potent components of GEO, including d-Limonene, tramadol, Ocimene, 1-(benzyloxy) urea, and linalyl propionate, were identified. The combined treatment of 0.8% (w/v) GEO followed by UV-C at 100 mJ/cm2 resulted in reduced levels of E. coli O157:H7 and HuNoV surrogates (MNV-1 and TV) on cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and blueberries, with observed reductions of 1.92–3.96 log10 CFU or PFU/g, exceeding the reductions achieved with either treatment alone. This approach also reduced the time to complete inactivation of the microbial population from 10 to 8 min. TEM showed that GEO induced denaturation of bacterial membranes and viral capsid proteins, which enhanced the UV-C antimicrobial effect. Furthermore, the microbial reductions achieved by this approach remained effective during 7-day storage at 4 °C, and subsequent sensory evaluations indicated no adverse effects on the quality of the fresh produce. This approach effectively improves the safety of fresh produce while maintaining quality. Industrial relevanceThis study shows that the combination of grapefruit essential oil (GEO) with UV-C significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 and Norovirus surrogates on cherry tomatoes, lettuce and blueberries, shortened the time to complete inactivation of the microbial population and maintained efficacy during storage without compromising produce quality. This method demonstrated the potential to control foodborne pathogens while maintaining the quality of fresh produce.

Polycaprolactone/chitosan electrospun nanofibrous membranes loaded Chinese yam polysaccharide for active food packaging

In this study, the electrospun nanofibrous membranes were prepared by blending electrospinning technology with Polycaprolactone/Chitosan (PCL/CS) as a spinning carrier and Chinese Yam Polysaccharide (CYP) as active material. The membranes were characterized and antimicrobial tested to determine whether they have potential value as food packaging. The results of SEM showed that the nanofiber membranes with different concentrations had good fiber morphology, the average fiber diameter was 313 ± 178 nm–426 ± 237 nm, and the PDI value indicated that the nanofiber was polydisperse. The addition of CYP enhanced the hydrophilicity and water solubility of the nanofiber membranes, but the mechanical strength of the membranes decreased. The spectra of FTIR and DSC indicated that the PCL/CS nanofiber membrane successfully loaded CYP, and the 4 % CYP nanofiber membrane had the best thermal stability. In vitro release tests also showed that most fibrous membranes still released CYP (56.4–81.7 %) after 240 h. In addition, the antibacterial zone diameter of PCL/CS/10 % CYP nanofiber membrane against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was 22.01 ± 1.23 mm and 18.40 ± 0.84 mm, respectively, showing obvious antibacterial effect. In the tomato antibacterial experiment, PCL/CS/10 % CYP nanofiber membrane effectively delayed the water-loss rot of cherry tomato and kept the weight loss rate of fruit at 17.6 ± 0.14 %. The results showed that PCL/CS/10% CYP nanofiber membrane had the best effect as active food packaging.