Fruit Cultivation Research Articles

Identification and Functional Analysis of Key Genes Regulating Organic Acid Metabolism in Jujube Fruit

Organic acids are crucial indicators of fruit flavor quality, but the metabolic characteristics and regulatory genes of organic acids during jujube fruit development remain largely unexplored. In this study, the cultivar ‘Heigeda’ with a high organic acid content was used as the experimental material. The organic acid content was quantified, and key candidate genes were identified through transcriptome analysis. The results indicated that malic acid and citric acid were the main organic acid content in jujube fruit and increased gradually with fruit development. Transcriptome analysis identified nine genes associated with malic acid and seven with citric acid, with four genes co-regulating malic acid and citric acid. Functional assays by transient overexpression and silencing of these four genes in the jujube fruits revealed that overexpression significantly upregulated the malic and citric acid content. However, only the silencing of aconitase1 (ZjACO1) and aconitase3 (ZjACO3) significantly downregulated the content of malic and citric acids. Therefore, aconitase1 (ZjACO1) and aconitase3 (ZjACO3) are considered the key genes that regulate the metabolism of citric acid and malic acid in jujube fruits. Our study can enrich the regulation mechanism of the organic acid metabolism of jujube fruit and provide theoretical support for the efficient cultivation of jujube fruit.

Pre-sowing treatments for a better germination of Myrianthus holstii seeds

ABSTRACT The cultivation of the indigenous fruit and food security tree, Myrianthus holstii, is seriously constrained by its seed dormancy, change in land use and overexploitation, decreasing its wild population and limiting its on-farm planting in Rwanda. Therefore, we determined the effects of different pre-sowing treatments on the germination and seedling growth of M. holstii to promote its domestication in Rwanda, using mechanical nicking of seeds, boiling seeds in water for 5 min and sulphuric acid (98%) scarification for 15 and 30 min. The shortest acid-scarification produced the highest germination (93%) within 6 weeks after sowing and seedlings with longer heights and more leaves within 3 months, comparable to mechanical nicking, indicating that the two techniques are effective in improving the germination and seedling growth of M. holstii. However, mechanical scarification was recommended to small-scale farmers, since it is eco-friendly, economical and user-friendly to contribute to M. holstii domestication in Rwanda.

Research on the social functions of trade to support the development of marketability of farm products

In recent years, there has been a problem of reducing the marketability of agricultural products of farms for many types of goods. Among the key food products supplied by farmers, the negative dynamics of sales was noted for the sale of potatoes and vegetables. This situation is largely related to the annual fluctuations in agricultural production, which is especially evident in the cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops. Using econometric modeling based on the construction of regressions based on panel data, the article shows the negative impact of changes in production volumes on the percentage of marketability of farm products. Farmers, like other small-scale enterprises, do not have a developed marketing infrastructure, unlike agricultural organizations. Therefore, farms are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in production volumes, which create for them the problem of lack or excess of resources for sales. An important way to solve this problem is the activity of trade organizations aimed at implementing social functions to support the sale of farm products. In Russia, such social practices are being implemented by the largest representatives of the retail industry in a pilot mode in certain regions of the country. In particular, in some areas, agricultural aggregators are operating, launched by the “X5 Group” and “Magnit” retail chains, which perform technological and marketing functions to ensure the sale of farm goods. There are other social projects of trade organizations, for example, “Agrocontract” and “Farmer›s Island”, initiated by “X5 Group”, which involve the conclusion of direct contracts with farmers in order to reduce the purchase prices of goods and provide for the purchase of various unique goods from farmers. The expansion of the social functions of trade organizations will significantly overcome the existing problems of marketing farm products and provide such farms with sufficient income and profit for further self-development of activities.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Germination and Seedling Growth of Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis

The yellow (Passiflora edulis) and sweet (Passiflora alata) passion fruit plants hold significant economic importance in tropical fruit cultivation, valued not only for the quality of their fruit but also for their medicinal properties. Conventional propagation through seeds faces challenges due to irregular and slow germination, affecting the time required for seedling formation and the viability and uniformity of plantations. The use of plant growth regulators has been explored as a strategy to overcome these barriers, improving both the rate and uniformity of seed germination. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of seed imbibition with plant growth regulators on the germination and subsequent growth of yellow and sweet passion fruit seedlings. Gibberellic acid (GA3) and GA4+7 combined with 6-benzyladenine (GA4+7+6BA) were applied in five different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L−1 a.i.). The experiments were conducted in both laboratory and greenhouse conditions, following a completely randomized design with a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The varieties tested were ‘BRS Mel do Cerrado’ for sweet passion fruit and ‘IAC-275’ for yellow passion fruit. Quantitative parameters, such as germination percentage, germination speed index, fresh and dry biomass of roots and shoots, and enzymatic activity, were assessed. The results indicated that GA3, at higher concentrations, significantly enhanced both germination percentage and speed index in both Passiflora alata and Passiflora edulis when compared to the control. Additionally, seedlings treated with GA3 showed a marked increase in shoot and root biomass, particularly at concentrations of 500 and 750 mg L−1. Enzymatic assays revealed heightened catalase and peroxidase activities in treated seedlings, indicating improved stress tolerance. In contrast, the GA4+7+6BA treatment showed less pronounced effects on seedling growth. Overall, GA3 was more effective in enhancing germination and seedling growth in both species, suggesting its potential application in improving the propagation of passion fruit.

An integrated approach for assessing the health risks of pesticide residues on apple: From field dynamics to human exposure

The apple (Malus domestica), a cultivated fruit extensively grown in temperate regions worldwide, is abundant in nutrients and phytochemicals that promote health. However, the application of pesticides in apple cultivation raises significant concern regarding their influence on food safety. This study investigated the dynamic behavior of five pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, carbendazim, prochloraz, in apple trees, utilizing both field experiments and predictive modeling to analyze their distribution, transfer, and degradation patterns. Results from the field experiment revealed that at harvest, the residue levels of the five pesticides on apple were below international and national maximum residue limits. The dynamiCROP modeling results, corresponding to the field trial findings, demonstrated that these pesticides exhibited comparable dissipation patterns across various environmental compartments. The primary sources of pesticides in apples were the air and the fruit surface up to 10 days after application, while the soil and leaf surface became the main sources over time. The transferred pesticides adhered to the apple fruits at varying rates and persist therein. Choosing pesticides with lower impact scores helped reduce the impacts on human health and the environment. The assessment of health risks associated with consuming apples containing pesticide residues suggested that the impact on human health is acceptable. These findings were crucial for apple producers, as they enable the optimization of pesticide application timing to ensure compliance with food safety standards and help improve pesticide management strategies in agriculture. This study is essential for minimizing the environmental impact of pesticides and enhancing sustainable agricultural practices.

Sequential extraction of hawthorn pectin: An attempt to reveal their original mode of being in plants and functional properties

Hawthorn is rich in pectin, which is much higher than most cultivated fruits, but conventional extraction methods do not meet the requirements of low energy consumption and green production. Pectin in hawthorn is divided into soluble and insoluble parts, and with the ripening of hawthorn, the original pectin is converted into soluble pectin and pectic acid under the action of enzymes. Therefore, based on the characteristics of hawthorn pectin, this study sequentially extracted hawthorn pectin using water-soluble pectin (WSP) and hot acid-soluble pectin (HAP) method, verifying the feasibility of extracting hawthorn pectin with pure water at room temperature, and systematically analyzing and comparing the physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of the two methods. The combination of texture analysis and gel rheology revealed that WSP formed a more uniform and dense network structure during the gelation process. Additionally, microscopic observations and emulsification index results indicated that the emulsion prepared with WSP (WSE) had a smaller particle size and better stability. This indicates that hawthorn pectin is suitable for extraction with pure water at room temperature, which can maintain its good physical properties while reducing energy consumption, providing a new approach for the large-scale extraction of pectin in the food industry.

Preserving snake fruit (Salacca zalacca) Voss) quality: Effective control of Peniophora salaccae SKRU002 with fungicides and biological agents

Peniophora salaccae (Russulales, Basidiomycota), a newly identified pathogen of Salacca zalacca, is a major cause of snake fruit rot, resulting in significant agricultural losses. This study evaluates the efficacy of chemical fungicides and biological controls against P. salaccae SKRU002, focusing on disease suppression and fruit quality preservation. Commercial fungicides (propiconazole®, prochloraz®, metalaxyl®, azoxystrobin®, thiram®) and Streptomyces philanthi strains RM-1-138 and RL-1-178 were tested. In vitro, prochloraz® (1000 μL mL−1) fully inhibited P. salaccae growth, outperforming other fungicides. Both S. philanthi strains exhibited strong antifungal activity through volatile and non-volatile compounds. Additionally, autoclaved (at 121 °C for 15 min) and diluted (1/1000) bacterial culture filtrates (BCF) from both strains achieved over 55 % inhibition of P. salaccae. In liquid culture, RM-1-138 (86.80 %) and RL-1-178 (80.86 %) demonstrated greater inhibition than metalaxyl® (9.34 %) and azoxystrobin® (56.84 %), though prochloraz® and propiconazole® remained the most effective (100 %). In vivo, untreated fruits inoculated with P. salaccae showed 100 % disease incidence, significant weight loss (13.28 %), color changes (L∗, a∗, and b∗), and reductions in total soluble solids, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity, while titratable acidity remained unchanged. Both biological and chemical treatments effectively controlled the pathogen and preserved fruit quality. These findings highlight the potential of S. philanthi strains and fungicides in managing P. salaccae, offering promising strategies for snake fruit cultivation.

EFFICACY OF A RANGE OF FUNGICIDES AGAINST FUNGAL DISEASES OF WALNUT IN THE SOUTHERN FRUIT-GROWING ZONE OF KAZAKHSTAN

The most widespread and effective method of protecting walnut trees from diseases is through chemical treatments. With the increasing variety of fungal pathogens affecting walnut trees in the southern zone of fruit production in Kazakhstan, there is a need to study the effectiveness of fungicides against these pathogens. Therefore, laboratory and field studies were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of several fungicides against the most common diseases of walnut trees caused by Fusarium and Alternaria fungi. The effectiveness of fungicides with different mechanisms of action was studied for the first time. The fungicides evaluated were Score (difenoconazole, 250 g/l), Horus (cyprodinil, 750 g/kg), Stroby (kresoxim-methyl, 500 g/kg), Luna Tranquility (fluopyram, 125 g/l + pyrimethanil, 375 g/l) against walnut diseases in the southern zone of fruit cultivation in Kazakhstan. The results of both laboratory and field experiments showed that the most effective fungicide against fungal pathogens on walnut was Score (difenoconazole, 250 g/l). Stroby (kresoxim-methyl, 500 g/kg) also demonstrated over 80% biological efficacy against Alternaria alternata. The results of this study will assist local growers in managing various fungal diseases in walnut plantations.

Molecular Markers for Analyses of Genetic Diversity within the Anastrepha fraterculus Complex with Emphasis on Argentine Populations.

The South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedmann) has a vast range extending from northern Mexico, through Central America, to South America where it is an extremely polyphagous pest of wild and cultivated fruits. It is a complex of cryptic species currently composed of eight recognised morphotypes: "Mexican", "Venezuelan", "Andean", "Peruvian", "Ecuadorian", and the three Brazilian morphotypes "Brazilian-1", "Brazilian-2", and "Brazilian-3". Molecular markers that can identify the member species of the complex are crucial for the implementation of effective pest control measures, such as the sterile insect technique. The object of this study was to evaluate the use of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence for discriminating several members of the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex (Mexican, Peruvian, and Brazilian-1) and a related species, Anastrepha schultzi Blanchard. The analysis highlighted significant genetic differentiation between the evaluated morphotypes, allowed their discrimination within the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex, and provided new insights into their genetic relationships. The ITS2 marker provides a basis for the development of taxonomic keys for the discrimination of the cryptic taxa within the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex. ITS2 also represents an important marker for the poorly studied species A. schultzi.

First report of basal rot of yellow dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus) caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Peru.

Cultivation of yellow dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus) in Peru has recently expanded (Verona-Ruiz et al. 2020). In August 2021, approximately 170 of 1,110 dragon fruit cuttings (15.3%) in the university's nursery (6°26'10'' S; 77°31'25'' W) showed basal rot symptoms. Initial symptoms included small brown spots on the base of stems, expanding towards the top that became soft and watery. All symptomatic plants eventually died, i.e., a severity of 100%. The disease was more prevalent on cuttings during the rooting phase than on well-established cuttings. We collected five symptomatic cuttings from throughout the nursery. Four sections of 1 × 1 cm2 of tissue adjacent to the diseased area were excised from each cutting, immersed for 1 min in 2% NaClO, rinsed twice with sterile distilled water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium (four sections per Petri plate, five plates), and incubated at 25°C for 7 days. Morphologically similar mycelia grew from all sections, and five monosporic isolates were obtained, one per plate. Colonies grew fast, reaching 60 to 64 mm in 7 days, and produced violet-white cottony aerial mycelia with orange sporodochia on PDA, and abundant macro- and microconidia on synthetic nutrient-poor agar. Macroconidia were straight to slightly curved, typically with 2 to 3 septa, 16.6 to 23.3 × 1.7 to 3.7 µm (n = 30); microconidia were oval or kidney-shaped, and commonly hyaline, 6.7 to 16.4 × 2.5 to 4.7 µm (n = 40). Genomic DNA was extracted from isolate AFHP-100, then the ITS region and the TEF1 and RPB2 partial genes were amplified and sequenced (Accession numbers PP977433, OR437358, PP537149) following Gardes and Bruns (1993) and O'Donnell et al. (1998). We conducted a BLASTn search of ITS sequence against the NCBI "nr" database and local 'megablast' searches of TEF1 and RPB2 sequences against FUSARIUM-ID v.3.0 (Torres-Cruz et al. 2022). We found 100%, 98.19 to 99.84%, and 98.81 to 99.76% identities in ITS, TEF1, and RPB2 sequences, respectively, to the ex-epitype and other reference strains of Fusarium oxysporum (CBS 144134, NRRL26406, among others). A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with a TEF1-RPB2 concatenated dataset with FUSARIUM-ID sequences also showed isolate AFHP-100 was F. oxysporum. A pathogenicity test was carried out by inoculating wounded healthy roots of three cuttings with submersion in a 5 × 106 conidia/ml suspension for 25 min. Then, the inoculated plants were planted in sterile soil. One cutting with wounded roots submerged in sterile water served as a control. In parallel, sterile soil was inoculated with 20 mL of the conidial suspension, and another three healthy cuttings were planted. A cutting planted in noninoculated soil also served as a control. Basal rot symptoms developed in all inoculated plants after 25 days. After re-isolation, the same fungus, corroborated based on micromorphology and TEF1 sequence (PP335689), was recovered, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The isolate was deposited in the KUELAP Herbarium (voucher KUELAP-3214), located and administered by the National University Toribio Rodriguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, in Chachapoyas, Peru. Fusarium oxysporum has been reported to cause basal stem rot in Bangladesh and Argentina (Mahmud et al. 2021; Wright et al. 2007), and stem blight in Malaysia (Mohd Hafifi et al. 2019) on dragon fruit. This is the first report of F. oxysporum causing basal rot in S. megalanthus in Peru. This fungus is among the most destructive plant pathogens, and the rapid expansion of the crop in Peru requires a comprehensive knowledge of the biotic factors influencing production. Therefore, this report is foundational to implementing proper control strategies.

UTILIZING SURPLUS GEDONG GINCU MANGOES AS CHIPS TO IMPROVE FAMILY ECONOMIES IN JEMBARWANGI VILLAGE

This community service activity (PKM) was conducted in Jembarwangi Village, Tomo Subdistrict, Sumedang Regency, West Java, known for its cultivation of the exotic Indonesian fruit, Gedong Gincu mango. The village faces significant challenges during the harvest season. When the harvest is abundant, mangoes that do not meet export market criteria (grade Ab1) or local market criteria (grade Ab2) accumulate and rot, potentially harming the environment. To address this issue and boost the local economy, the Community Service Program (KKN) introduced the idea of processing these mangoes into value-added products, namely Gedong Gincu mango chips. However, after the KKN program ended, the activities ceased as the community still required ongoing support. Universitas Sangga Buana YPKP Bandung, supported by the PKM Program from Hibah Bima Dikti 2024, is aiding Jembarwangi Village to market the Gedong Gincu mango chips produced and generate significant profits. The methods used include direct demonstrations of mango chip-making techniques, interactive discussions, and practical training with the local community. The results showed high enthusiasm from the residents, but further support is needed to achieve the desired outcomes. The results of this training are detailed in the article titled "Utilizing Surplus Gedong Gincu Mangoes as Chips to Improve Family Economies in Jembarwangi Village."

Identification of the effect of ripening conditions on the yield of rose hips and their processed products

Wild rose hip fruit, pulp, beverage, nectar, as well as technological methods and tools are taken as the object of research. Rose hips have a, bright red color and a rich chemical composition, which makes it a very important raw material for industry. However, insufficient research slows down this work and makes the use of raw materials inefficient. With this in mind, the aim was to study the mechanical and technological characteristics of the femur, which are considered important for industrial processing. The reflection of ripening conditions on the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of rose hips, as well as the influence of processing methods, especially hot processing, on the quality of the product has been established. Research has shown that the percentage of fruit cultivation in the Dashkasan region was the lowest, and the highest in the Gadabay region, and the Goygol region took an intermediate position. The Latin hardness of fruits grown in Dashkasan region was 6.41 N. Gadabay region with 5.56 N and Goygol region with 5.47 N. This indicator plays an important role in the storage and processing of fruits. As a result of the treatment, the amount of dry matter in fruit, pulp and beverage increased slightly, titratable acids, ascorbic acid and pH decreased. An increase in total phenolic compounds was observed during the initial heat treatment of the raw material and was noted to be much lower in the pulp and beverage. Hot treatment had a reducing effect on the amount of ascorbic acid, which is considered one of the main components of indicators in the thigh. The obtained results can be used in individual family farms and in the food industry

Physiological and biochemical responses of the achachairu tree (Garcinia humilis) to prolonged flooding

Flooding and waterlogging create hypoxic or anoxic soil conditions that negatively affect the physiology of wild and cultivated tropical fruit trees. The achachairu (Garcinia humilis) is a slow-growing tropical fruit tree endemic to the Bolivian Amazon region. Like many tropical trees, G. humilis is increasingly affected by flooding events that may threaten its natural and cultivated areas, but its physiological and biochemical responses to prolonged flooding have not been reported. This study assessed the physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses of G. humilis to prolonged flooding of different durations for up to 30 d Physiological variables measured included leaf gas exchange [net CO2 assimilation (A), stomatal conductance of H2O (gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci)], leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), and the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm). Antioxidant responses, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GTR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), ascorbic acid (AsA), and glutathione (GSH); reactive oxygen species (ROS); and lipid peroxidation indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Results indicate that G. humilis is very tolerant of flooding periods of at least 30 d, which causes approximately a 50 % reduction in net A but no measurable negative impact on other physiological variables, including LCI and Fv/Fm. Flooding caused an increase in ROS and malonaldehyde (MDA), which were countered by a robust antioxidant response that possibly contributed to improved flooding tolerance. Plants continued to grow during the flooding period, and A recovered to nearly pre-flooding levels 90 d after plants were unflooded.

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.

A first de novo transcriptome assembly of feijoa (Acca sellowiana [Berg] Burret) reveals key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis.

Acca sellowiana [Berg] Burret, a cultivated fruit tree originating from South America, is gaining the attention of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries due to their high content of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds in fruits, leaves, and flowers. Flavonoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. They also play a crucial role in plant immune response. Despite their importance, the lack of research on A. sellowiana genomics and transcriptomics hinders a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind flavonoid biosynthesis and its regulation. Here, we de novo assembled and benchmarked 11 A. sellowiana transcriptomes from leaves and floral tissues at three developmental stages using high-throughput sequencing. We selected and annotated the best assembly according to commonly used metrics and databases. This reference transcriptome consisted of 221,649 nonredundant transcripts, of which 107,612 were functionally annotated. We then used this reference transcriptome to explore the expression profiling of key secondary metabolite genes. Transcripts from genes involved in the flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways were identified. We also identified 4068 putative transcription factors, with the most abundant families being bHLH, C2H2, NAC, MYB, and MYB-related. Transcript expression profiling revealed distinct patterns of gene expression during flower development. Particularly, we found 71 differentially expressed transcripts representing 14 enzymes of the flavonoid pathway, suggesting major changes in flavonoid accumulation across floral stages. Our findings will contribute to understanding the genetic basis of flavonoids and provide a foundation for further research and exploitation of the economic potential of this species.

The role of agroecological systems in cation interaction and aggregate formation in drylands of northeastern Brazil

Agroecological production systems are used in dryland agroecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to verify their contributions, especially with regard to the functionality of soil attributes. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of soil use and management on the structural, hydraulic, and chemical attributes of a Haplic Cambisol in the Apodi Plateau, RN, Brazil. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with treatments distributed in a 5×3 factorial arrangement corresponding to five sampling locations (fruit farming, horticulture, agroecological, intercropping of Zea mays and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), and three soil layers (0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30 m), in addition to the correlation matrix and principal component analysis as multivariate statistical techniques. The parameters evaluated included soil pH, nutrient levels (available P, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), total organic carbon, soil density, total porosity, field capacity, permanent wilting point, available water, aggregation, aggregate stability, weighted mean diameter of aggregates, and the content of organic matter, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in different soil aggregate classes. The study concluded that continuous soil use practices such as intercropping Z. mays and V. unguiculata and horticulture significantly reduce nutrient availability, organic carbon content, moisture, and soil aggregation. However, areas under agroecological management and fruit cultivation, which involve minimal soil disturbance, promote the improvement of these properties.

India's growing trade in high-value crops with South Asian countries: Prospects of crop diversification

Despite having no comparative advantage in fruits and vegetables export in the world market, India exhibits a comparative advantage over most South-Asian countries, with the exceptions of Afghanistan and Bhutan. Trade balance index (TBI) showed that vegetables like tomatoes (HS Code 0702), cucumbers and gherkins (HS Code 0707), leguminous vegetables (HS Code 0708) and fruits like bananas (HS Code 0803), citrus (HS Code 0805) and fruits and nuts, provisionally preserved (HS Code 0812), emerged as India's major export vegetables and fruits for the study period. As trade liberalisation and market access for agricultural products expands between countries, there will be a greater need for the country to focus on diversifying its agriculture, particularly by emphasizing the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Keywords: Comparative advantage, export competitiveness, fruits, vegetables. JEL Codes: F13, F18, Q02, Q17.

Pineapple Detection with YOLOv7-Tiny Network Model Improved via Pruning and a Lightweight Backbone Sub-Network

High-complexity network models are challenging to execute on agricultural robots with limited computing capabilities in a large-scale pineapple planting environment in real time. Traditional module replacement often struggles to reduce model complexity while maintaining stable network accuracy effectively. This paper investigates a pineapple detection framework with a YOLOv7-tiny model improved via pruning and a lightweight backbone sub-network (the RGDP-YOLOv7-tiny model). The ReXNet network is designed to significantly reduce the number of parameters in the YOLOv7-tiny backbone network layer during the group-level pruning process. Meanwhile, to enhance the efficacy of the lightweight network, a GSConv network has been developed and integrated into the neck network, to further diminish the number of parameters. In addition, the detection network incorporates a decoupled head network aimed at separating the tasks of classification and localization, which can enhance the model’s convergence speed. The experimental results indicate that the network before pruning optimization achieved an improvement of 3.0% and 2.2%, in terms of mean average precision and F1 score, respectively. After pruning optimization, the RGDP-YOLOv7-tiny network was compressed to just 2.27 M in parameter count, 4.5 × 109 in computational complexity, and 5.0MB in model size, which were 37.8%, 34.1%, and 40.7% of the original YOLOv7-tiny network, respectively. Concurrently, the mean average precision and F1 score reached 87.9% and 87.4%, respectively, with increases of 0.8% and 1.3%. Ultimately, the model’s generalization performance was validated through heatmap visualization experiments. Overall, the proposed pineapple object detection framework can effectively enhance detection accuracy. In a large-scale fruit cultivation environment, especially under the constraints of hardware limitations and limited computational power in the real-time detection processes of agricultural robots, it facilitates the practical application of artificial intelligence algorithms in agricultural engineering.

EXPORT POTENTIAL OF KYRGYZSTAN IN THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

The article examines the export potential of Kyrgyzstan in the agro-industrial complex. The unique geographical location of the country and eco-friendly agriculture contribute to the cultivation of fruits with a large amount of useful micronutrients. In such conditions, Kyrgyz products receive certificates of compliance with international standards. Financial and non-financial export support measures by the Government of the country and the EAEU help farmers to promote their products on international markets.In turn, in the UAE one can observe an increase in the popularity of organic products, including dried fruits. Customs agreements have been concluded between the countries, contributing to stable cooperation. To assess the prospects of trade relations between the countries, the authors conducted a PEST and SWOT analysis. The article presents recommendations for the promotion of Kyrgyz dried fruits in the UAE market.

First report of postharvest pear bitter rot caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in Italy.

The fungal genus Colletotrichum includes numerous important plant pathogenic species, some of which causes fruit bitter rot as well as leaf lesions (leaf black spot) on major crops, leading to yield losses (Fu et al. 2019; Talhinhas & Baroncelli, 2023). C. acutatum was reported associated with black spot on fallen, immature fruit of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) in New Zealand (Damm et al. 2012); however, to our knowledge, this species has not been reported in Italy or nowhere else. In 2022, a significant increase of anthracnose symptoms was observed on pears in Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. Symptoms, such as round brown lesions of 1 to 4 cm, appeared on more than 50% of refrigerated stored fruit. These symptoms were undetectable at the end of September 2022 and appeared after a five-month period of storage (February 2023) at 4°C (e-Xtra 1A and B). Fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic pears after surfaces sterilization with 96% ethanol by culturing necrotic tissue pieces on Potato Dextrose Agar at 25°C in the dark (e-Xtra 1C and D). Cultures were shades of coral color, from opalescent to sunkist coral, with slight aerial mycelium becoming grey and darker with age. When observed from the reverse side, the color was pink and, with age, became coral orange to dark amaranth. Conidia observed with a light microscope appeared hyaline and fusiform, 8 to 16 × 2.5 to 4 μm, with two pointed ends or one rounded end. (e-Xtra 1E) One reference isolate, named L51, was used for molecular characterization. Total genomic DNA was extracted, and the ITS region of rDNA amplified using the universal primers ITS1 and ITS4, then sequenced. The resulting sequences were 100% identical to those of C. acutatum (NR_144794.1: strain CBS 112996 ITS region; from TYPE material). Based on Damm et al. (2012), partial ACT, GAPDH, CHS and TUB2 gene sequences were also amplified and sequenced (GenBank Accession numbers: ITS: OR882016, ACT: OR882013, GAPDH: OR882011, CHS: OR882012, TUB2: OR882010), to characterize the isolates. Additionally, the multilocus phylogenetic analysis carried out with the obtained and reference sequences (Damm et al. 2012) revealed the species of analyzed isolates and confirmed the BLAST results, identifying the strain as C. acutatum (e-Xtra 1F). Koch's postulates were performed on 10 'Kaiser' pears. Surfaces sterilized fruits with 96% ethanol were subjected to wound inoculation with a conidial suspension (106 conidia ml-1) while 10 fruit were used as negative control and inoculated with sterile water. Following an incubation period of 8-14 days at 15-20°C, symptoms around the inoculation site resembled those initially observed, while the negative control showed no symptoms. Fungal colonies re-isolated from the lesions exhibited the same morphological characteristics as the original isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pear bitter rot caused by C. acutatum in Italy and in Europe (Talhinhas & Baroncelli, 2023). Yet, bitter rot had not been recognized as a notable issue in pear cultivation. Nevertheless, given that pears rank as the 8th most cultivated fruit globally and economically very significant for the Emilia Romagna region in Italy the emergence of pear bitter rot caused by Colletotrichum species has the potential to evolve into a significant worldwide problem, warranting further investigation.