Commercial Fruit Research Articles

Robust YOLO Approach for Mango Fruit Detection Using Computer Vision

In precision agriculture, on-tree fruit detection is a solution for automating many tasks which governs yield estimation, harvesting and quality monitoring. Among all tropical fruits, mangoes are the most widely consumed fruit and is a member of the cashew family. Mangoes have been cultivated in South and Southeast Asia for thousands of years. There are several cultivars of mango, which vary in size, shape, sweetness, skin colour and flesh colour. Mango is India’s most important commercial fruit crop, accounting for over 54% of all mangoes produced globally. This paper is a study conducted to detect the fruit using a simple non-destructive YOLOv7 deep architecture, a highly accurate object detection method with less error rate. A robust dataset, MangoNet of mango images which are annotated using labelImg tool, is used in the study. The detection of on-tree mangoes will be beneficial for the yield estimation of fruits. The YOLOv7 deep model is employed, incorporating transfer learning to enhance model efficiency and accuracy. The performance of the model is evaluated using the metrics mean average precision (mAP) and Intersection over Union (IoU). 99.5% accuracy is met in mAP@0.5. The results show the feasibility of on-tree mango detection with high precision and recall for automated agricultural systems. Python programming language with pyTorch library is used for the transfer learning. This work highlights the potential of YOLO approach to optimize the mango farming practices and contribute to the smart agriculture technologies.

Genome-wide association study identifies key quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fruit morphometric traits in avocado (Persea spp.)

BackgroundAvocado, a fruit crop renowned for its high nutritional value, has seen a steadily increasing market demand. However, breeding efforts for avocados have lagged those for other commercial fruits due to limited genomic research and germplasm resources. To address this shortfall, a genome-wide association study was conducted on 122 avocado accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (SHRS) germplasm collection. The study aimed to identify genetic markers and regions associated with various morphometric traits in avocado fruits, including fruit weight, length, width, diameter, seed weight, seed length, seed width, fruit seed ratio (FSR), and fruit shape index (FSI).ResultsLeveraging 4,226 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers obtained from genotyping arrays, fifteen markers were identified with strong associations with these traits, utilizing Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK) and Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU) models. Gene annotation analyses within a 200-kb window in the vicinity of significant SNPs revealed several genes associated with various metabolic pathways suggesting that some of them likely determine these fruit quality traits, which needs to be verified and validated. Our results, which were conducted at one location, provide directions for conducting future studies using high-resolution genotyping and long-term multi-year and multi-location trait evaluations for precisely identifying the causal SNP(s) and genes associated with these traits.ConclusionsThese markers reported in this manuscript provide valuable tools for applying marker-assisted selection (MAS) in avocado breeding programs aimed at enhancing fruit quality and value.

Transcriptome-based analysis reveals a role for PpCDF5 in the promotion of anthocyanin accumulation at a low nighttime temperature

For red pear, the anthocyanin content is a crucial factor determining the fruit skin color, which affects consumer preferences. Low overnight temperatures promote anthocyanin accumulation, but the molecular mechanism responsible is unclear. In this study, ‘Hongzaosu’ pear (Pyrus pyrifolia × Pyrus communis) fruit were treated with a low nighttime temperature (LNT, 16 °C) or a warm nighttime temperature (WNT, 26 °C), with sampling conducted within two diurnal cycles. The results showed that LNT promoted anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit skin. The structural anthocyanin biosynthetic genes PpCHS, PpF3H, and PpUFGT exhibited a rhythmic increase in expression at night under LNT. To examine the underlying mechanism, RNA sequencing was conducted using pear calli exposed to LNT and WNT for different durations (24, 48, 72, or 96 h). Transcriptome analysis revealed 285 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common to all pairwise comparisons of LNT- and WNT-treated calli of ‘Clapp's Favorite’ (P. communis) at the sampling time points. KEGG pathway and gene ontology enrichment analyses indicated that the common DEGs were enriched in secondary metabolic processes and phenylpropanoid metabolic processes, which are associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. The transcription factor PpCDF5, which was responsive to LNT, was selected for further study. Dual-luciferase assays showed that PpCDF5 activated the transcription of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes PpMYB10, PpCHS, PpF3H, PpDFR, PpANS, and PpUFGT. The yeast one-hybrid and EMSA assays demonstrated that PpCDF5 directly binds to the PpF3H promoter, which contains an AAAG motif. Overexpression of PpCDF5 in pear calli and transient overexpression in pear fruit both increased anthocyanin accumulation. The results indicate that PpCDF5 is involved in LNT-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in pear fruit and provide insights into the molecular regulation of commercial fruit coloration.

Enhancing Sustainable Automated Fruit Sorting: Hyperspectral Analysis and Machine Learning Algorithms

Recognizing and classifying localized lesions on apple fruit surfaces during automated sorting is critical for improving product quality and increasing the sustainability of fruit production. This study is aimed at developing sustainable methods for fruit sorting by applying hyperspectral analysis and machine learning to improve product quality and reduce losses. The employed hyperspectral technologies and machine learning algorithms enable the rapid and accurate detection of defects on the surface of fruits, enhancing product quality and reducing the number of rejects, thereby contributing to the sustainability of agriculture. This study seeks to advance commercial fruit quality control by comparing hyperspectral image classification algorithms to detect apple lesions caused by pathogens, including sunburn, scab, and rot, on three apple varieties: Honeycrisp, Gala, and Jonagold. The lesions were confirmed independently using expert judgment, real-time PCR, and 3D fluorimetry, providing a high accuracy of ground truth data and allowing conclusions to be drawn on ways to improve the sustainability and safety of the agrocenosis in which the fruits are grown. Hyperspectral imaging combined with mathematical analysis revealed that Venturia inaequalis is the main pathogen responsible for scab, while Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum are the main causes of rot. This comparative study is important because it provides a detailed analysis of the performance of both supervised and unsupervised classification methods for hyperspectral imagery, which is essential for the development of reliable automated grading systems. Support Vector Machines (SVM) proved to be the most accurate, with the highest average adjusted Rand Index (ARI) scores for sunscald (0.789), scab (0.818), and rot (0.854), making it the preferred approach for classifying apple lesions during grading. K-Means performed well for scab (0.786) and rot (0.84) classes, but showed limitations with lower metrics for other lesion types. A design and technological scheme of an optical system for identifying micro- and macro-damage to fruit tissues is proposed, and the dependence of the percentage of apple damage on the rotation frequency of the sorting line rollers is obtained. The optimal values for the rotation frequency of the rollers, at which the damage to apples is less than 5%, are up to 6 Hz. The results of this study confirm the high potential of hyperspectral data for the non-invasive recognition and classification of apple diseases in automated sorting systems with an accuracy comparable to that of human experts. These results provide valuable insights into the optimization of machine learning algorithms for agricultural applications, contributing to the development of more efficient and accurate fruit quality control systems, improved production sustainability, and the long-term storage of fruits.

SOSIALISASI POTENSI PENGEMBANGAN TANAMAN LECI DI NEGERI HATIVE BESAR, KECAMATAN TELUK AMBON, KOTA AMBON, PROVINSI MALUKU

Lychee plants are commercial fruit plants, on Ambon Island they grow along the Negeri Hative Besar road. They are local lychee plants (Litchi chinensis Sonn Var. Amboinensis) which grow in home gardens as landscape plants and have not been commercially cultivated. This cultivar has adapted to the lowland environment, namely 5 - 400 m above sea level with rainfall of 2500-3000 mm/year, minimum temperature of 23.4-25.6°C and humidity of 82.3-87.4%. Lychee on Ambon Island is widely cultivated as a yard plant in Negeri Soya, Naku, Hatalai, Hukurila, Ema, Amahusu, Eri, Lateri, Tulehu, Hative Besar and Tawiri as well as other villages in the Lease Islands (Haruku Island, Saparua and Nusalaut), South Seram and West Seram. The yield of lychee fruit in these areas is still very low with a quality that cannot be maintained as an exotic fruit that has commercial economic value because the fruit skin cracks and its taste is sour because it has not received good praktice agrotechnology. The application of appropriate lychee cultivation technology through socialization activities, demonstrations and assistance in providing Complete Organic Liquid Plant Nutrition Landetox to lychee trees in the yards of the community in Negeri Hative Besar, Teluk Ambon sub-district, Maluku province has provided an increase in high yields with satisfactory lychee fruit quality and marketable as a promising source of income for the community.

Cropping and Pruning Systems of Primocane Raspberries in the Subtropical Climate

Raspberry production is limited to cold temperate areas of high latitude due to the requirement of low temperatures for flowering and fruiting from most cultivars. However, primocane cultivars, as they are less demanding in cold conditions, represent a possible alternative that suits regions with a subtropical climate. The cultivar Heritage primocane raspberry was investigated in the Cwa climate, in three production systems (PS), during two crop cycles. In PS1, canes were hard pruned at ground level after primocane fruiting. In PS2, canes were tipped to promote subapical bud break for a second harvest. In PS3, canes were tipped again after the second harvest to induce a third harvest. PS1 had the lowest yield, however, after two cycles; in plants of this system it was observed the highest root weight, and starch content. Raspberries subjected to subapical pruning show lower carbohydrate storage in the root system. The production systems had little influence on fruit qualities, in both cycles. The cultivation of cv. Heritage raspberry primocane, in the subtropical Cwa climate can be carried out with sequential pruning, allowing for the production of commercial fruits with harvests distributed over the months, without any reduction in the postharvest quality of the fruits produced.

Expansion to new habitats and a new commercial host (Malus domestica) by Anastrepha ludens (Tephritidae) likely influenced by global warming

Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit-fly) is a highly polyphagous fruit fly species (Tephritidae) attacking wild and commercial fruit from Mexico to Panama. Here we report on a recent habitat and host range expansion as A. ludens lately started to attack apples (Malus domestica) in Mexico, a phenomenon likely influenced by global warming. We document natural infestations in apple-growing regions in the States of Nuevo León and Hidalgo, Mexico where A. ludens has started to attack the cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Rayada’ and ‘Criolla’. No infestations were found in the apple-growing region of Zacatlán, Puebla. To determine apple cultivar susceptibility to the attack of this emerging pest, we ran forced infestation assays in enclosed fruit-bearing branches in all three apple-growing regions and studied the metabolome of all fruit. A clear pattern emerged indicating that the cultivar ‘Golden Delicious’ was the most susceptible, with ‘Criolla’ exhibiting complete resistance in one location (Puebla). Although A. ludens can develop in this new host, development rates (egg—adult) and adult emergence were affected when compared with the performance in the natural host ‘Marsh’ grapefruit. Warmer temperatures and specific secondary metabolites of some apple cultivars are likely contributing to the territorial and host expansion of A. ludens.

Effects of Postharvest SO2 Treatment on Longan Aril Flavor and Glucosinolate Metabolites.

SO2 fumigation treatment (commonly known as sulfur treatment, ST) is a key method in the postharvest preservation of imported and exported fresh longan fruits, effectively reducing pericarp browning and enhancing color. Nonetheless, distinctive aromas, often referred to as "sulfur flavor", may develop in the aril during the extended preservation period. This study employed "Caopu" longan as the test material and patented SO2-releasing paper (ZL201610227848.7) as a treatment to perform a 35-day low-temperature (5 °C) storage of the fruit. The changes in glucosinolates (GSLs) and associated metabolites in the aril of treated fruit (ST) were examined utilizing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection and widely targeted metabolomics technology. The findings indicated that following 35 days of storage, nearly all control (CK) fruit pericarp turned to brown, resulting in an edible fruit rate of 75.41% and a commercial fruit rate of 0%. In contrast, the treated (ST) fruit demonstrated an edible fruit rate and a commercial rate of 99.44%, while the pericarp color changed from dark yellow-brown to light earthy yellow. The sulfur-containing metabolites identified in longan fruit aril predominantly consist of amino acids and their derivatives (60.44%), followed by alkaloids (15.38%), nucleotides and their derivatives (1.10%), and other types (23.08%), which include GSLs. SO2 treatment significantly reduced the content of oxidized glutathione in fruit aril but increased the content of GSLs and related amino acids and their derivatives. Via screening, 19 differential sulfur-containing metabolites were obtained between ST and CK, including 11 GSLs. The identified differential metabolites of GSLs were all increased, primarily comprising aliphatic GSLs, such as 1-hydroxymethyl glucosinolate, 2-Propenyl glucosinolate (Sinigrin), and 4-Methylsulfinylbutyl glucosinolate (Glucoraphanin). Pathway analysis showed that these differential metabolites were mainly involved in coenzyme factor synthesis, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and amino acid synthesis, among other pathways. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the causes of the special flavor of longan aril after SO2 treatment, which is a great concern for longan consumers. Moreover, this study provides a scientific basis for exploring the reasons and mechanisms for the development of the sulfur flavor in the SO2-treated fruits during postharvest storage.

Evaluation of the Quality of Commercial Fruit Bags for Developing Export-grade Mango Fruit Bag Base Papers

Evaluation of the Quality of Commercial Fruit Bags for Developing Export-grade Mango Fruit Bag Base Papers

Host Status of Persian Lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) to Oriental Fruit Fly and Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawai'i.

We investigated the host status of harvest-ready green Persian lime, Citrus x latifolia Tan. (Rutaceae), to Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis [Hendel]) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using laboratory and field studies. In forced-infestation small cage exposures (using 25 × 25 × 25 cm screened cages with 50 gravid females) and large olfactometer cage tests (using 2.9 × 2.9 × 2.5 m walk-in screened cages with 100 gravid females), punctured limes were infested by Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly at low rates compared to papaya controls, whereas undamaged intact fruit was not infested. Field collection and packing of 45,958 commercial export-grade fruit and subsequent incubation to look for natural infestation resulted in no emergence of fruit flies. Forced infestation studies in the field using sleeve cages to enclose fruit with a high density of fruit flies (50 gravid females) on the tree also showed no infestation. Commercial export-grade Persian lime fruit should be considered a conditional nonhost for Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly.

Responses of 'Flordaguard' and 'MP-29' Prunus spp. rootstocks to hypoxia and high root zone temperature.

Selecting the right rootstock is crucial for successful fruit production and managing both biotic and abiotic stresses in commercial fruit orchards. To enhance the resilience of peach orchards, this study evaluated the physiological and biochemical responses of Prunus spp. rootstocks , 'Flordaguard' and 'MP-29,' under normoxia (sufficient oxygen content) or short-term hypoxia (low-oxygen content) and ambient or high temperature (40°C) in the root zone. Physiological responses measured were net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, intercellular CO2 concentration, water use efficiency, the leaf chlorophyll index, and the maximum potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II. The leaf concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, boron, zinc, manganese, iron, and copper were also analyzed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants analyzed were superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, proline content, glycine betaine content (GB), lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide (O2 -) concentration, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration. When subjected to root zone hypoxia or high temperature individually, 'MP-29' performed better physiologically than 'Flordaguard'. However, when root zone hypoxia and high temperature were combined, 'MP-29' performed better biochemically with enhanced antioxidant activity, osmolyte content, and nutrient absorption. Nutrient analysis of leaves revealed that 'MP-29' had higher N, P, K, Ca, and B concentrations than 'Flordaguard'. Consequently, 'MP-29' demonstrated greater tolerance to short-term exposure to the combined effects of high root zone temperature and hypoxia. This research contributes to identifying a suitable rootstock within the Prunus genus able to withstand root zone conditions that often result from severe weather events commonly experienced in Florida and other parts of the world.

A sensitive Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalyst designed for visual determination of total antioxidant capacity in fruit juice

Fruit juice is kind of popular beverage food worldwidely, and its total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is generally considered as an important index for people’s rational diet, thus accurate evaluation of its TAC is essential for human health guidance. Herein, we constructed a sensitive Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalyst that was delicately cored with magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) and encapsulated with manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoshells for fast and accurate TAC colorimetric analysis in fruit juice. The data showed the fabricated Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalysts performed with remarkable oxidase mimetic activities and could catalyze oxidization of colorimetric substrate without additional H2O2, and the limit of detection (LOD) was about 0.39 μM for ascorbic acid (AA) evaluation. Applied in commercial fruit juice products, the fabricated Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalysts showed a reliable and visual assessment for the accurate TAC analysis. In addition, the fabricated Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalysts could be easily recycled due to their intrinsic superparamagnetic property. Together, an intellegent Fe3O4@MnO2 nanocatalyst was well developed for visual TAC analysis in fruit juice with convenient applications in future.

UMBU TREE (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam. - Anacardiaceae): FROM EXTRACTIVE TO PLANTED CULTURE IN BRAZIL

Umbu tree (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) is botanical species native to the Caatinga that plays significant cultural and economic role in Northeast Brazil. The aims of this study to evaluate the trend in umbu fruit production over a period of 21 years and to discuss the cultivation of the species, associated with its socioeconomic and environmental advantages in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil. Data on extractive production and the monetary value of umbu fruit were obtained from the official platform of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Silvicultural aspects cultivation, management, and its market was obtained from specialized literature. Descriptive statistics on the data set and a trend analysis through regression model fitting was carried out using JMP® software. A downward trend in umbu tree fruit was estimated for most states, except for Alagoas, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte. Alagoas was the only one with the best average variation (74.6%) in production and price (US$ 0.83) per kg of production via extractivism. The cultivating through plantations for commercial fruit umbu production is an alternative to overcome the declining trend in extractivism, ensuring continuation of family income and environmental protection of umbu tree populations in their natural habitats.

Effect of mineral fertilizers on the yield and growth parameters of watermelon in Kazakhstan

Abstract The study aims to determine the optimal regimes of mineral fertilization for the yield of commercial watermelon fruits. The research goal is to analyze how fertilization regimes affect the growth parameters of this plant, such as weight per fruit and average fruit weight per plant. The research subjects are watermelon varieties, such as two Crimson Sweet varieties (including hybrid Producer Hollar) and Kholodok. The study involved a field survey on the territory of Zhana Tau, a farm located in the Aktobe area of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The experimental design encompassed the following fertilizer applications: Variant I – N30P40K60, Variant II – N60P60K120 and Variant III – N90P60K120. The study found that mineral fertilizers have a significant impact on the yield and growth parameters of watermelon fruits. After the application of N30P40K60, the weight per fruit was 8.13 kg for Crimson Sweet and 8.35 kg for Kholodok. The highest fruit weight indicator, 11.45 kg, was achieved when hybrid Producer Hollar was cultivated with N90P60K120. The highest yield (55.9 t/ha) was recorded when growing hybrid Producer Hollar with N90P60K120. The yield of the Crimson Sweet and Kholodok varieties, with the same level of fertilization, amounted to 49.6 t/ha and 51.2 t/ha, respectively. Correlation-regression analysis of the data on watermelon yield showed that this parameter tends to increase with the increase in the use of mineral fertilizers. Therefore, further research may focus on studying the influence of even higher levels of each macroelement and their combined effects on crop structure and fruit quality in watermelon cultivation.

Research on prediction of yellow flesh peach firmness using a novel acoustic real-time detection device and Vis/NIR technology

Firmness is a critical indicator for predicting fruit ripeness, optimal harvest date, and shelf life. In this study, a novel fruit acoustic real-time detection prototype device and a conventional visible near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy real-time detection device were used to collect acoustic and spectral signals from yellow flesh peaches to jointly predict their firmness. The acoustic and optical signals were generated into one- and two-dimensional feature data by complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and Gramian angular field (GAF) data processing methods. Based on these data, a variety of yellow flesh peach firmness prediction models were constructed in this study, including partial least square (PLS), support vector regression (SVR), Swin Transformer (SwinT), and SwinT-PLS/SVR. The experimental results showed that the SwinT-PLS model based on the fusion of competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling (CARS)-acoustic image features and CARS-Vis/NIR spectral features showed the best prediction performance (R2P = 0.951, the RMSEP = 0.443 N/mm, RPDP = 4.339), and the prediction performance is significantly higher than that of the prediction model based on single acoustic and Vis/NIR spectral data. The method proposed can fast, non-destructively, accurately predict fruit firmness and has excellent prospects for commercial real-time fruit sorting applications.

Effect of Leaf and Seed Powder Based Edible Coating with Beeswax and Clove Essential Oil on the Shelf Life of Guava (Psidium guajava) cv. Allahabad Safeda

The guava is thought to be India's most significant commercial fruit crop. Due to their high respiration rate, vulnerability to different pathogens, and mechanical damage that can quickly deteriorate the quality and concised its shelf life. Nonetheless, the purpose of the experiment was to investigate how guava's edible coatings affected its postharvest quality and shelf life. Guava fruits were treated by seven treatments of different concentrations of beeswax, guava leaf powder, neem leaf powder, tamarind seed powder, and clove oil with different combinations were used as edible coating were studied in a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. All seven treatments were used to examine the impact of edible coating materials on the physical and chemical properties. Under ambient conditions, the variations in physiological and chemical parameters were seen. The findings of present study showed maximum fruit weight (120.29 g), highest vitamin C (163.19 mg/100g), maximum acidity (0.49%) and antioxidant activity (35.43%) obtained from T4 [Neem leaves powder (2%) + Beeswax (1%)+ clove oil (1%)] compared with untreated fruits. The result suggested that the applications of [Neem leaves powder (2%) + Beeswax (1%) + clove oil (1%)] as an edible coating material in guava fruit is more effective than other treatments to improve the shelf life of Guava.

Assessment of Elite Mulberry Genotypes for Fruit Traits and Biochemical Composition

This study aimed to identify the most promising mulberry genotypes for fruit production by evaluating fruit characteristics, biochemical traits and nutritional composition. Eight elite mulberry genotypes were selected from the mulberry germplasm unit at the Department of Sericulture, GKVK, Bengaluru. The saplings were raised and transplanted into the main field 90 days after planting, following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a spacing of 5 × 3 feet, with three replications per genotype. The results revealed that among the eight genotypes, ME-0006 exhibited superior fruit characteristics, with the highest values for fruit length (3.16 cm), fruit width (2.01 cm), fruit weight (3.02 g) and fruit yield per plant (166.55 g). Biochemical analyses indicated that ME-0220 had the highest total soluble solids (TSS) (19.71°B), carbohydrate content (166.49 mg/g), anthocyanin (38.41 mg/g), and zinc content (mg/100g). Genotype ME-0006 recorded the highest calcium content (153.80 mg/100 g), while MI-0014 showed the highest levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Additionally, ME-0086 was notable for its higher content of micronutrients and vitamin C (34.17 mg/100 g). These findings may provide valuable insights for selecting mulberry genotypes with superior fruit yield and biochemical properties, which can be further utilized in breeding programs and commercial mulberry fruit cultivation.

The Effect of Putrescine and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Treatments on Fruit Quality Characteristics of Strawberry (Kabarla cultivar) During Cold Storage

Strawberry is a fruit species that must be harvested at full ripening and at the same time has an extremely short shelf life and deteriorates rapidly. Therefore, it is important to extend the shelf life after harvest. In this study, putrescine and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were applied during cold storage in order to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of strawberry fruit. The commercial ripening fruit were treated with 1 mM putrescine and stored in MAP for 20 days. The quality characteristics such as weight loss, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, fruit color, organic acid and phenolic content were measured and analyzed on days 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 of storage. At the end of 20 days of the cold storage, the highest weight loss was in control treatment (%). The decrease in soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) values during cold storage was slowed down by MAP and putrescine treatments. Organic acids and phenolic compounds were significantly affected by storage time and MAP and putrescine treatments. After 20 days of the cold storage, citric acid (748.91 mg 100 g -1) and malic acid (258.34 mg 100 g-1), which were determined as basic organic acids, were highest in putrescine treatment. Shikimic acid (0.77 mg 100 g-1) and isocitric acid (112.58 mg 100 g-1) as phenolic compounds were highest in MAP and MAP+ putrescine treatments, respectively. These results releaved that the application of putrescine and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) during cold storage significantly extends the market life of strawberries by preserving their quality attributes.

Strawberry growth and dry matter partitioning due to fertigation systems

Strawberry cultivation possesses unique features, including the need for high-quality seedlings adapted to the cultivation environment and proper fertigation management. These elements influence plant growth and production. This study evaluated the growth and dry matter partitioning of strawberry plants of the cultivar "Albion" at different seedling ages (0, 14, 28... 196 DAT) using two fertigation methods: open-loop and closed-loop systems. Fifteen evaluations occurred throughout the cultivation cycle, spanning from planting to 196 days after transplanting (DAT), with the study replicated over two consecutive years. We evaluated dry matter partitioning among roots, stems, leaves, senescent leaves, flowers, commercial fruits, and non-commercial fruits. We also measured root volume and length, besides counts of leaves, flowers, and both commercial and non-commercial fruits. Despite no significant differences between fertigation systems for most variables, the closed-loop system shows promise, contingent on proper nutrient solution management. The partitioning analysis revealed that fruits, followed by leaves, were the primary consumers of photoassimilates.

Exploring the nutraceutical elixirs of commercial fruit and vegetables and wild edible plants with ethnomedicinal importance

Exploring the nutraceutical elixirs of commercial fruit and vegetables and wild edible plants with ethnomedicinal importance