Quality Of Cucumber Research Articles

Effect Effect of fruit size on physiological seed quality parameters of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

An experiment was carried out at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai during 2018 to find out the effect of fruit size on physiological seed quality of cucumber. Variation in fruit size of cucumber results in poor quality seeds. In order to overcome this obstacle fruit grading was done based on weight of fruit to obtain good quality seeds. Harvested fruits of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were categorized based on the weight into three different groups viz., Big (2.41kg), medium (1.66kg) and small (1.28kg). Observations on fruit and seed quality parameters were recorded. The results revealed that medium sized fruits recorded higher values compared to big and small sized fruits. The number of seeds/fruit recorded higher in medium sized fruit (935 numbers) followed by small (896 numbers) and big (876 numbers) sized fruits. The big, medium and small fruits were recovered to 1.52 %, 1.06% and 0.58% seeds respectively. The physiological quality characters measured in terms of seed germination revealed that seeds of medium sized fruits were recorded higher (80%) followed by seeds of big (82%) and small (65%). The seedling vigour measured through root (17.08cm) and shoot length (14.45cm), dry matter production (0.85g 10 seedlings-1) and vigour index (2522) also proved the superiority in medium sized fruits.

Effect of Brine Acidification on Fermentation Microbiota, Chemistry, and Texture Quality of Cucumbers Fermented in Calcium or Sodium Chloride Brines.

Commercial fermentation for bulk preservation of cucumbers relies on natural microbiota and approximately 1 M sodium chloride (NaCl) brines, resulting in large volumes of high-salt wastewater. An alternative process utilizing 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) as the only salt was developed to eliminate NaCl from fermentation brines for reduced environmental impact. This study determined the effect of brine acidification on the fermentation microbiota and texture quality of cucumbers fermented in CaCl2 brines. Cucumber fermentations were conducted in sealed glass jars for six independent lots of cucumbers in a randomized complete block design with a full-factorial treatment structure for brine acidification (acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, or nonacidified) and brining salt (1 M NaCl or 0.1 M CaCl2 ). Enterobacteriaceae spp. survived longer and were >1 log colony forming units/mL higher in fermenting cucumbers than in brines. Addition of 25 mM acetic acid to fermentation brines (but not the addition of hydrochloric acid at the same pH) reduced Enterobacteriaceae spp. in brines and cucumbers (P < 0.002) during the initiation of fermentation for both brining salts. However, acidification had no effect on texture quality of fermented cucumbers (P = 0.8235). Despite differences in early fermentation microbiota, fermentation of cucumbers in calcium chloride brines under controlled conditions, with or without acidification, resulted in high retention of tissue firmness. These results differ from fermentations in a commercial setting initiated in brines of neutral pH, indicating that production variables, such as air exposure, interact with brining in CaCl2 to negatively affect the texture quality of fermented cucumbers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study examined the effects of initial brine acidification on the course of lactic acid fermentation and resulting texture quality of cucumbers fermented in calcium or sodium salt brines. Fermentation brines containing acetic acid (the acid in vinegar) reduced the pH of the cucumber and the soil-associated Enterobacteriaceae spp. most rapidly, and favored the conversion of sugars to lactic acid. Interestingly, the texture quality was not affected by brine acidification, and all cucumbers fermented in calcium brines in the absence of air retained their firmness during fermentation and bulk storage.

Effect of Irrigation, some Plant Nutrients with Mulching on Growth and Productivity of Cucumber

This work was carried out during the two consecutive summers of 2016 2017 in the Experimental Station Farm, Faculty of Agriculture Natural Resources, Aswan University, Egypt on a soil sandy textured soil. This work aimed to study the effect of number of drip irrigation periods/week, foliar spray with some plant nutrients micronutrients Biostimulant and with or without mulching on growth, yield quality of cucumber. Certain physiological chemical characters plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, plant dry weight (g), chlorophyll, reducing sugars, acidity, vitamin C, soluble solids (TSS), No. of day to harvest, early yield (ton/fed.), average fruit weight (g), total yield (ton/fed.), chemical analyses of plants (N, P K %). The experimental design was a split-split plots system arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Number of drip irrigation periods/week (2 3), foliar spray with some plant nutrients i.e. (control distilled water, Zinc chelated (Zn 14 % EDTA) at 100 mg/l Iron chelated (Fe 13.0 % EDTA) at 500 mg/l seaweed extract 1000 mg/l) polyethylene mulching treatments i.e. without mulching, clear polyethylene mulch + sugar cane straw mulch black polyethylene mulch + sugar cane straw mulch. The obtained results revealed that 2 drip irrigation periods/week + black polyethylene mulch + sugar cane straw mulch + 1000 mg/l seaweed extract gave the significant effects in most studied characters under study during both seasons.

The effects of Trichoderma on preventing cucumber fusarium wilt and regulating cucumber physiology

In our previous studies, we identified 3 Trichoderma strains with anti-Fusarium oxysporum activity, including T. asperellum 525, T. harzianum 610, and T. pseudokoningii 886. Here, we evaluated the effects of these 3 Trichoderma strains on preventing cucumber fusarium wilt through pot culture and greenhouse culture experiments. All 3 Trichoderma strains demonstrated higher control effects toward cucumber fusarium wilt than previous studies, with efficacies over 78%. Additionally, inoculation with the 3 Trichoderma strains significantly promoted the quality and yield of cucumbers. Among the 3 strains, Trichoderma 866 was the most effective, with disease control efficacy of 78.64% and a cucumber yield increase of 33%. Furthermore, seedlings inoculated with Trichoderma exhibited significantly increased measures of plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, aboveground fresh weight, underground fresh weight, chlorophyll content, and nitric nitrogen content, as well as the activities of several stress-resistance enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and ascorbate oxidase (AAO). In addition, the plants inoculated with Trichoderma showed decreased cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the leaves. Together, our results suggest that T. asperellum 525, T. harzianum 610, and T. pseudokoningii 886 inoculations inhibit F. oxysporum infection, stimulate the metabolism in cucumbers, and enhance the activities of stress-resistance enzymes, which consequently promote the growth of cucumber plants, prevent cucumber fusarium wilt, and improve the yield and quality of cucumbers. T. harzianum is a commonly used biocontrol fungus, while few studies have focused on T. asperellum or T. koningense. In this study, strains of T. asperellum and T. pseudokoningii showed excellent plant disease prevention and growth promoting effects on cucumber, indicating that they also have great potential as biocontrol fungi.

Foliar Aspersion of Salicylic Acid Improves Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds, and Also the Fruit Yield in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on the yield and phytochemical content in hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). (1) Background: The importance of Mexico’s cucumber production is based on its cultivation in recent decades as one of the major winter crops; in addition, the production of vegetables under hydroponic systems has increased significantly during the last few years, with cucumber being one of the vegetables with a high economic potential. (2) Methods: A completely randomized experimental design with 15 repetitions was used. SA at five doses (0.075, 0.1, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 mM) and one control (distilled water) was sprinkled weekly on cucumber plants. The evaluated variables were yield (total fruit weight per plant), fruit parameters (length, size and firmness), and nutraceutical quality of cucumber. (3) Results: Low concentrations of SA improve the yield and high concentrations decrease it, but the nutraceutical quality of fruits is improved, as compared to the control treatment. (4) Conclusions: In order to obtain a higher content of bioactive compounds without affecting the yield and commercial quality of cucumber fruits, it is advisable to use the average concentration (0.15 mM) of SA.

Influence of Nutrient Solution Temperature on Its Oxygen Level and Growth, Yield and Quality of Hydroponic Cucumber

High nutrient solution temperature stress around root-zone (rhizosphere) is a major factor limiting hydroponic crop growth due to change in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in nutrient solution during the high-temperature seasons. This suggests that easier and economical control of root-zone temperature (RZT) could be an effective solution to the temperature stress for the crop plants in hydroponics. In this respect, the present investigation was undertaken to comprehend the influence of nutrient solution temperature on its oxygen level (ambient dissolved oxygen in feeding tank), growth, yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. The plants were cultivated in recirculating hydroponic system in a greenhouse with dimensions of 9 m wide &amp;times; 30 m long and total area of 270 m2 during three cropping periods in Oman viz. summer (June-August), fall (September-November) and spring (February-May) in two consecutive years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Three cooling treatments were applied viz. T1 (22 ᵒC), T2 (25 ᵒC) and T3 (28 ᵒC) through cooling nutrient solution besides non-cooled treatment T4 (33 ᵒC) as control. The plants were grown in pots filled with perlite medium in randomized complete design (RCD) with four replications. All the treatments received the same nutrient concentrations. The results showed that cooling of nutrient solution temperature influenced positively the levels of DO in the fresh nutrient solution feeding tank and drain nutrient solution for all cropping periods in both the years. Significant (p &amp;lt; 0.05) differences between the treatments were observed in oxygen consumption by the roots of cucumber in the cropping periods in both the years. High levels of oxygen consumptions were recorded with cooled RZTs as compared to that of control-non-cooled RZT for all cropping periods in both the years. All growth, production and quality attributes were positively influenced and greatly expressed by cooled root-zone temperature in the root-zone of cucumber with increased DO levels in nutrient solution. This study revealed that availability of optimum aeration (oxygen levels) in nutrient solution through cooling of nutrient solution temperature could be of significance for boosting cucumber yield as observed during all the growing periods especially in summer in Oman.

Identifikasi Kematangan Buah Mentimun Berbasis Citra Digital Menggunakan Jaringan Syaraf Tiruan Backpropagation

Cucumber, cucumber, or cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) are plants that produce edible fruit. Especially in NTB cucumber production in 2015 reached 5,224 tons with a harvest area of 326 hectares. It is at number five after onions, chili, tomatoes and cabbage [2]. There are several parameters that can affect the quality of cucumbers, one of which is the shape, level of planting age and maturity [5]. Maturity of cucumbers can be recognized physically in terms of skin texture and color. The identification process of physical properties conventionally still has many disadvantages including the time needed is relatively long and produces a variety of products due to the limitations of human visuals. This becomes an obstacle so that it requires the application of computer image processing technology, especially in agriculture. Because of this, the researchers proposed using GLCM as feature extraction and using Backpropagation artificial neural networks for testing and training so that the research resulted in an accuracy of 89.6%. DOI : 10.29408/jit.v2i1.976

PRODUÇÃO E QUALIDADE DE FRUTOS DE PEPINEIRO EM DIFERENTES CONCENTRAÇÕES DE SOLUÇÃO NUTRITIVA

Cucumber is a vegetable crop widely consumed fresh and appreciated by a source of vitamins and minerals. It is a crop suitable for cultivation in protected environment, but little research has been carried out to improve the cultivation of this species under such conditions. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of nutrient solution on yield and fruit production and quality of cucumber grown in coconut fiber substrate. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse utilizing design in randomized block, with four replications and five plants per plot, were evaluated five concentrations of nutrient solution (12.5; 17; 25; 50 and 100% that after dilution resulted in electrical conductivities of 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.3 and 3.8 dS m -1 , respectively). At 84 days after transplanting fruits of cucumber were harvested to evaluate yield and fruit quality. The reduction of nutrient concentration in the standard nutrient solution from 100% to 12.5% did not affect cucumber production. Biometric characteristics mean weight, longitudinal diameter, fruit storage thickness and titratable acidity are reduced as a function of the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution from 1.0 to 3.8 dS m -1 . The concentration of nutrients in the solution was 67.5% of the standard nutrient solution, corresponding to 111.58 g of N-KNO 3 , 50.00 g of P-MAP, 62.44 g of K-KCl, 241.50 g of Ca-CaNO 3 and 120.00 g of Mg-MgSO 4 , provide satisfactory yield and better physical-chemical quality of cucumber fruits.

Influence of physiological and health quality on the vigor of cucumber seeds

ABSTRACT The physiological performance of seeds is related to their physiological quality and seed vigor, while their health quality may interfere with germination and early seedling establishment in the field due to the interaction of microorganisms associated with seeds. The study aimed to evaluate the physiological performance and health quality of cucumber seeds and to verify the relationship between these attributes. The physiological quality of cucumber seeds was evaluated by standard germination tests, first count of germination, controlled deterioration test, electrical conductivity test, seedling emergence, emergence speed index, and traditional accelerated aging and aging modified with saline for 48, 72, and 96 h. The health quality of cucumber seed lots was evaluated by blotter test. Stratification of cucumber seed lots by seedling emergence was similar to seedling emergence by controlled deterioration test, first count of germination, and electrical conductivity results. The cucumber seed lots evaluated showed high germination rates; however, lots 1 and 3 had a better performance in vigor tests than lots 2 and 4. Fungi detected in the blotter test were Alternaria sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., and Penicillium sp. Seed lots 2 and 4 had low vigor evaluated by seedling emergence and controlled deterioration, and showed a higher incidence of Penicillium sp. in the evaluation of health quality of seeds. The incidence of Penicillium sp. may negatively affect the vigor of cucumber seeds evaluated by seedling emergence and by controlled deterioration test.

Risk evaluation of solar greenhouse cucumbers low temperature disaster based on GIS spatial analysis in Tianjin, China

To plan the cucumber cultivation area scientifically, improve the quality of cucumber and avoid meteorological disaster risks, this article evaluates low temperature disaster risk of greenhouse cucumber in Tianjin, China. Solar greenhouses are the main carriers for facility agriculture in North China which usually do not carry heating and supplementary lighting equipments. Consequently, growth and development of crops are still indirectly influenced by the greenhouse outside weather in some extent. In recent years, low temperature disaster of cucumber during overwintering periods happens frequently which brings large influence on cultivation and production of cucumbers in Tianjin. This research takes three types of solar greenhouses with different heat-retaining capacities as the facility carriers to evaluate the low temperature disaster risk of cucumbers grown in different greenhouses. First, study the corresponding relationship between microclimate elements in greenhouse and meteorological elements out of greenhouse based on assurance rate method and conduct the indexes caused cucumber low temperature disaster in different greenhouses at different development stages. Then, construct the risk evaluation model for low temperature disaster based on natural disaster risk evaluation theory. Finally, the low temperature disaster risk zone-division is realized based on GIS spatial analysis function to evaluate cucumber low temperature disaster risk comprehensively.Abbreviations:SG: solar-greenhouse; Cucu: cucumber; LTD: low temperature disaster; RE: risk evaluation; GIS: geographic information system; TJ: Tianjin

基于力学和图像特征的盐渍海参品质分级方法研究

基于力学和图像特征的盐渍海参品质分级方法研究

Using hot water as a pretreatment to extend the shelf life of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) under cold storage conditions

AbstractCucumber is one of the important horticulture crops that need to extend its shelf‐life under storage conditions. The effect of hot water pretreatment on physical, chemical, and texture properties of cucumbers under cold storage conditions were studied. Experiments included 9 treatments start by submerge the cucumbers in hot water at different temperatures (25, 40, 55 °C), each treatment was running for different times (5, 15, and 25 min), then compared with control treatment. All treatments were stored under cold storage conditions (4 °C ± 1, 85–90%, RH) for four storage periods (3, 6, 9, 12 days), at each storage period changing in cucumber properties were measured. Statistical and regression analysis were conducted to the obtained data. Results revealed the best treatment (submerge in water bath 55 °C for 5 min) had the lowest value of volume 357 mm3, weight loss (24.70%), firmness loss (5.35%), and had the best appearance, color during cold storage and shelf life compared with other treatments. However, significant differences were found between all treatments on texture and chemical properties of cucumber. It may be possible to use this treatment in a packinghouse as a safe commercial treatment to extend the shelf‐life and maintain quality properties of cucumber under cold storage conditions.Practical applicationsCucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important fruiting vegetables especially in Saudi Arabia. Maintaining the postharvest qualities and quantities are an important standard to enhance global food supply in an effective manner to a large extent. High temperature and low relative humidity and Lack of interest to postharvest technology especially in Al‐Ahsa, Saudi Arabia are the most important environmental factors affecting the quality of cucumbers, as well as, consumer acceptance for it offered at the department of products. To improvement the cucumbers quality, the present work was taken‐up with an aim to optimize the postharvest conditions of cucumber after harvest process. The optimized conditions were found to maintain vegetables with satisfactory sensory qualities using hot water pretreatments after harvest which consider one of the important factor to determine the shelf stability of any food. Therefore, improving the postharvest conditions will always ensure quality production.

In vitro study of biocontrol potential of rhizospheric Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.\xa0cucumerinum

Fusarium wilt is an economically important disease of cucumber caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc). It causes severe losses in the yield and quality of cucumber and is extremely difficult to control conventionally using chemical fungicides. Biological control offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticide for sustainable plant disease management. In this context, biocontrol activity of rhizosphere soil bacteria was investigated against Foc in vitro. Thirty-five rhizobacterial isolates were screened for antagonistic activity in dual culture, and isolate BA5 showed the highest antagonistic activity (58.33% mycelial growth inhibition) against Foc. Maximum fungal biomass reduction (90.20%) was found in King’s B broth in shake flask culture. Cell-free culture filtrate and ethyl acetate crude extract inhibited mycelial growth of Foc by 56.66 and 25.0%, respectively. Further, the selected isolate produced siderophores, volatile compound(s), hydrocyanic acid, and protease. Siderophores and volatile compound(s) were involved in the isolate-induced antagonism. In addition, the isolate exhibited several plant growth-promoting traits, including phosphate and zinc solubilization, ammonia production, organic acid production, and in vitro biofilm formation. Based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical characteristics, and phylogeny analysis, the isolate BA5 was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the 16S rDNA sequence was submitted in the NCBI GenBank under the strain name RKA5. Because of the novel antifungal and plant growth promotion potentials, the strain can be used as a promising biocontrol agent against the fungal pathogen Foc.

Effect of Seaweed Aqueous Extracts and Compost on Vegetative Growth, Yield, and Nutraceutical Quality of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit

The objective of this research was to evaluate the production and phytochemical quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruits, in response to the foliar application of different seaweed extracts. This study was carried out under shadow mesh conditions in the autumn–winter agricultural cycle at the Instituto Tecnológico de Torreón, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. The experimental design was completely random, using six treatments with six repetitions each. The treatments evaluated were: Macrocystis pyrifera, Bryothamnion triquetrum, Ascophyllum nodosum, Grammatophora spp., Macrocystis integrifolia, and a control treatment with inorganic fertilization. The substrate used was a mixture of sand and vermicompost. The yield, commercial size, and phytochemical compounds of the fruit were evaluated. Results showed that the yield using Steiner solution (6.75 kg m−2) was higher than that obtained with Bryothamnion triquetrum algae (6.07 kg m−2). Regarding the phenolic content, the extracts surpassed the control treatment, with Macrocystis pyrifera and Macrocystis integrifolia being statistically equal, with values of 47.37 and 43.73 mg equiv. of Ac. Gallic 100 g fresh weight, respectively. The antioxidant capacity by ABTS+ and DPPH+ methods was higher using the treatment with Macrocystis pyrifera algae with 149.4 and 454.1 μM equiv Trolox/100 g fresh base, respectively. This treatment also presented the highest value of vitamin C with 5.07 mg/100 g fresh base, being 27% greater than the control treatment. Algae extracts increased the quality of the fruits by obtaining the highest antioxidant capacity, making their use a viable option to minimize the application of conventional fertilizers, thereby attenuating the effects on the environment and improving the health of the population.

Impact of heating location and mechanical ventilation on climate distribution inside a greenhouse cucumber crop

Cucumbers grown in heated greenhouses represent an important economic activity in western France (Loire Atlantique). Heating makes it possible to crop three times a year, but with high energy consumption, corresponding to 20-40% of the total cost. It is therefore necessary to improve energy efficiency while maintaining the productivity and quality of cucumbers. With this in mind, two heating treatments were tested inside a greenhouse compartment (307 m(2)): one with heating tubes at a low position inside the canopy and the second one with heating tubes at the upper limit of the canopy. Considering a second, identical greenhouse compartment, the impact of adding mechanical ventilation (5 volumes h(-1)) was also tested. These compartments were equipped with sensor chains (temperature and humidity probes). Each chain consisted of four series of sensors placed at different heights. Additional thermocouples measured leaf and fruit temperatures. The results indicate that a lower location of the heating pipes reduced the vertical temperature gradient and also increased the temperature at the bottom of the plants. Ventilation also contributed to homogenization of the vertical distribution of temperature and humidity and favoured higher temperatures at the bottom of the canopy. It is therefore expected that heating pipes at the bottom of the canopy combined with ventilation could increase the energy efficiency of the greenhouse. Assessment of fruit and leaf temperatures also showed that the risk of reaching the dew point on fruits and leaves was reduced when heating was at the lowest position and when ventilators were running.

Interactive effects of elevated carbon dioxide and nitrogen availability on fruit quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Elevated CO2 and high N promote the yield of vegetables interactively, whilst their interactive effects on fruit quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) are unclear. We studied the effects of three CO2 concentrations (400 μmol mol−1 (ambient), 625 μmol mol−1 (moderate) and 1 200 μmol mol−1 (high)) and nitrate levels (2 mmol L−1 (low), 7 mmol L−1 (moderate) and 14 mmol L−1 (high)) on fruit quality of cucumber in open top chambers. Compared with ambient CO2, high CO2 increased the concentrations of fructose and glucose in fruits and maintained the titratable acidity, resulting in the greater ratio of sugar to acid in moderate N, whilst it had no significant effects on these parameters in high N. Moderate and high CO2 had no significant effect on starch concentration and decreased dietary fiber concentration by 13 and 18%, nitrate by 31 and 84% and crude protein by 19 and 20% averagely, without interactions with N levels. The decreases in amino acids under high CO2 were similar, ranging from 10–18%, except for tyrosine (50%). High CO2 also increased the concentrations of P, K, Ca and Mg but decreased the concentrations of Fe and Zn in low N, whilst high CO2 maintained the concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in moderate and high N. In conclusion, high CO2 and moderate N availability can be the best combination for improving the fruit quality of cucumber. The fruit enlargement, carbon transformation and N assimilation are probably the main processes affecting fruit quality under CO2 enrichment.

Use of digestate as an alternative to mineral fertilizer: effects on growth and crop quality

ABSTRACTNowadays, the recycling of organic wastes represents a key factor for improving soil and crop quality with socio-economic and environmental benefits. In recent years, the production of digestate significantly increased with a crescent need to be sustainable disposal. The use of digestate as soil amendment has been widely studied but few researches evaluated the digestate effects on crop quality. Since it has been proven that digestate increased soil fertility, we hypothesized that it could increase crop quality as organic fertilizers do. To verify this hypothesis, we analyzed the effects of two digestates on Cucumber quality. Cucumber was chosen because it is an important old crop used worldwide as fresh food, and in cosmetic and pharmaceutic industries. Results showed that digestates increased its content of phenols and flavonoids with antioxidant activity. Neohesperidine and hesperitin with well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties as well as naringin and narirutin with the power of reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications were manifested only in digestate amended cucumbers. These results highlighted the potentiality of digestates not only as crop growth promoter but also as phytochemical inducers representing a good option for the production of high-quality food with reduced chemical mineral fertilizer inputs.

Determination of Postharvest Quality of Cucumbers Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electronic Nose Combined with Chemometric Methods

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in water status and flavor characteristics of cucumbers during postharvest storage and to trace the quality attributes using partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machine (SVM). The results showed that four distinct water populations were identified in cucumbers by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the changes of water mobility and distribution occurred mainly in pulp of cucumbers. Flavor characteristics of cucumbers at different storage stages were distinguished by electronic nose (e-nose), and four clusters could be achieved through hierarchical clustering analysis. Comparison of two models, excellent prediction performances for firmness, pH, SSC, and ΔE of postharvest cucumbers were obtained using a combination method of e-nose technology and SVM algorithm. This study indicated that there were significant changes in the quality parameters of cucumbers during postharvest storage, which were related to water status and flavor characteristics. The combination of e-nose technology with the SVM algorithm offers a promising technique to monitor cucumber quality.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the effects of grafting on sugar and α-linolenic acid metabolisms in fruits of cucumber with two different rootstocks

Flavor quality in cucumber is affected by different rootstocks, but the molecular mechanism is largely unclean. To clarify the differences of sugar and aromatic compounds, cucumber (cucumis sativus) fruits from plants of self-grafted (SG) or grafted onto figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia; G1) or ‘Weisheng No.1’ rootstock (Cucurbita moschata ⅹCucurbita moschata hybrids; G2) were performed the transcriptome analysis. We obtained 1013 and 920 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from G1 and G2 compared to SG respectively, in which 453 genes were co-expressed. Functional annotations showed many DEGs were involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism, fructose metabolism and α-Linolenic acid metabolisms, 20 DEGs were selected from the 3 pathways to validate sequencing accuracy by quantitative real-time PCR. The gene relative expression levels were concurrent with RNA-seq results and sugar and aromatic compounds content phenotypes. Moreover, some vital transcript factors and transport proteins were analyzed. These findings indicate that different rootstocks could induce significantly changes in the physiological profiling and transcripts of sugar- and aromatic flavor-related genes. This study provides a novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of fruit quality regulated by candidate genes.

Effectiveness of almond gum trees exudate as a novel edible Coating for improving postharvest quality Of cucumber (cucumissativus l.)

Effectiveness of almond gum trees exudate as a novel edible Coating for improving postharvest quality Of cucumber (cucumissativus l.)