Fruit Morphological Traits Research Articles

Correlations among New Mexico pod‐type green chile (Capsicum annuum) fruit morphology characteristics with destemming force

AbstractDestemming refers to the removal of the calyx and pedicel from chile (Capsicum annuum) fruit, and destemming force is the amount of force required to accomplish this removal. The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between destemming force and fruit width, fruit length, and pericarp thickness, along with the genetic potential for combining the easy‐destemming attribute with the preferred fruit morphology of New Mexico (NM) pod‐type green chile. This investigation will define optimal selection criteria for reducing destemming force, while preserving the distinctive morphology of NM pod‐type green chile. We quantified phenotypic and genetic variation of 285 F3 families from three populations developed from reciprocal crosses between three NM pod‐type cultivars and an easy‐destemming cultivar. The results show destemming force exhibited significant positive phenotypic correlations with pericarp thickness and fruit width (0.90 and 0.92, respectively) and fruit length (0.69). Genetic correlations for each of the three populations for fruit morphological traits ranged from 0.2 to 0.9, with pericarp thickness with the highest genetic correlation with destemming force. Narrow‐sense heritability values were between 0.2 and 0.8, with destemming force and fruit length consistently having higher narrow‐sense heritability values. These findings suggest a correlation between the expression of pericarp thickness and destemming force. The lower estimates for pericarp thickness indicate environmental influences may play a more significant role in determining trait expression. The information generated from this study will aid in the development of efficient cultivars suited for mechanical harvesting in NM pod‐type breeding programs.

Morphological traits of fruits and seeds of Ziziphus tree species growing in different land uses in Ethiopia

The practice of gathering and utilizing Ziziphus tree fruits serves as a key strategy to enhance nutrition and livelihoods employed by rural communities across various regions worldwide. Despite a burgeoning interest in and comprehension of their significance, there remains a dearth of information concerning the morphological attributes of both fruits and seeds essential for bolstering resistance against pests and diseases through breeding efforts. In this regard, comprehensive data pertaining to fruit dimensions (length, width, weight, and maturity level) and seed characteristics (length, width, and 100-seed weight) across three distinct land use types (LUT)—farmland (FL), home garden (HG), and roadside (RS)—were systematically gathered to ascertain the variability in traits among Ziziphus tree species in the Bosset and Bati districts of Ethiopia. Significant disparities in fruit and seed morphological traits were evident among different populations inhabiting the aforementioned LUTs. Notably, the most substantial mean measurements for fruit length (16 mm), width (18 mm), and weight (28 g), as well as seed width (6 mm), were documented within the farmland setting of Bosset. The highest mean seed length (7 mm) and 100-seed weight (5 g) were observed within farmland and home garden environments in Bati. Furthermore, a significant and positive correlation was determined between fruit length and width (r = 0.78), alongside the weight of ten fruits and width (r = 0.65). Ffruit maturity levels exhibited a negative correlation with weight but not with length and width dimensions. Similarly, seed length and width demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.88), while 100-seed weight exhibited a modest correlation with seed dimensions. Overall, findings suggest that the Bosset district boasts superior morphological traits, thereby indicating its potential for harboring robust stands and candidate trees conducive to selection for breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance against insect pests and diseases.

Morphological variation in blackthorn (<i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.) populations in the Northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula - Absence of geographical and environmental structure

Blackthorn (<i>Prunus spinosa</i> L., Rosaceae) is a deciduous, insect-pollinated, and animal-dispersed shrub or a small tree that naturally occurs throughout Europe. The aims of this study were to describe fruit morphological variability of natural populations in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula and to determine the impact of geographical and environmental conditions on shaping the species’ variability. In total, ten fruit and stone morphological traits were studied using data from twelve natural populations. e obtained data was analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. High morphological variability was determined both among and within the studied populations. However, our study revealed no clear eco-geographical differentiation of the studied populations. High morphological variability of the populations, but also the absence of geographical and environmental structuring of populations, could be attributed to the animal-mediated dispersal of fruits over greater distances, combined with the vegetative regeneration and high levels of seed flow among populations, as well as the influence of founder effect. Based on the conducted research, valuable information on intra- and interpopulation variability of fruits’ morphological traits was obtained, which can be useful in creating the guidelines for conservation, breeding, and afforestation programs.

Cone and fruit impacts on understory flammability depend on traits and forest floor coverage

BackgroundUnderstory flammability is affected by abscised plant tissue. Extensive research has shown how interspecific differences in leaf litter traits affect flammability; however, leaves represent only one component of the litter layer. Cones and fruit are also common constituents of the forest floor, yet surprisingly little is known about how flammability is affected by their presence. In this study, we ask how flammability is affected by cones and fruit trait differences, coverage differences, and varying species and coverage combinations. To address these questions, we compared cone and fruit morphological and chemical traits among longleaf pine, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, sweetgum, post oak, and water oak. We also used burn trials to compare fire behavior of single and mixed-species treatments at three coverage levels (10% of plot area (low), 30% (medium), and 50% (high)) integrated within a common mixed-litter layer under field conditions in central Alabama, USA.ResultsLike other plant tissues, cone/fruit dry matter, carbon, and lignin content promote fuel consumption and flame height, while nitrogen suppresses flammability. Single-species treatments produced distinct patterns in fire behavior, with longleaf pine cones consistently showing higher percent fuel consumption, flame height, and maximum smoldering temperature than sweetgum capsular heads. Mixed-species treatment results were less consistent; however, at high coverage, a representative upland three-way mixture (longleaf pine + sweetgum + post oak) showed significantly greater fuel consumption and flame height relative to a bottomland three-way mixture (loblolly pine + sweetgum + water oak) at high coverage. Medium cone/fruit coverage maximized flammability in most single and multi-species treatments and produced non-additive fuel consumption in mixtures containing longleaf pine and sweetgum.ConclusionOur results confirm that individual species’ cone and fruit flammability often parallels that of litter. Fire behavior in mixture is generally driven by the most flammable constituent species, but this result changes with cone and fruit coverage. Collectively, these results indicate that cones/fruit identity and coverage play an important role in understory flammability and should be integrated into fire behavior modeling efforts in monocultures and mixtures.

Genetic mosaic of the Mediterranean fig: comprehensive genomic insights from a gene bank collection.

High-depth whole-genome resequencing of 53 diverse fig tree genotypes yielded a rich dataset of genetic variants. We successfully identified 5,501,460 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1,228,537 insertions and deletions (InDels), providing a high-density and excellent-quality genetic map of the fig tree. We also performed a detailed population structure analysis, dividing the 53 genotypes into three geographical groups and assessing their genetic diversity and divergence. Analysis of structural variants (SVs) and copy number variations (CNVs) revealed their potential functional impact, particularly in plant-pathogen interaction and secondary metabolism. Metabolomic fingerprinting of fig genotypes uncovered extensive variation in primary metabolites and polyphenolic compounds, highlighting the influence of genotype on fruit quality traits such as nutritional content and bioactive compound composition. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified critical SNPs associated with fruit quality and morphological features. The discovery of significant candidate genes, such as AGL62, GDSL, and COBRA-like protein 4 genes, offers promising targets for marker-assisted selection and genome editing approaches to improve fig fruit morphological and quality traits. This extensive genomic analysis of fig trees enhances our understanding of the genetic basis of important agronomic traits and provides a rich resource for future research in this economically and nutritionally significant fruit.

Indigenous knowledge and nutritional and morphological characterization of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) varieties in Western Ethiopia.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moecnh) is a versatile crop that is widely grown in western Ethiopia, despite that it is less researched. This study, therefore, investigates the traditional knowledge, nutritional, and morphological characteristics of two commonly grown okra varieties (Kenketse and Sharma) in west Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire, checklist, and observations were used to collect primary data from households, key informants, and farms. In addition, proximate composition parameters like moisture content, total ash, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, utilizable carbohydrates, and gross energy fruits were measured through laboratory analysis. Fruit morphological traits, including fruit dimensions such as length and width, were determined using a digital Vernier caliper. For data analysis, SPSS software was used. The results revealed that the entire plant is used for both food and ethnomedicinal purposes. Curing ailments such as stomach pain, constipation, wound/cut, heart discomfort, back pain, malaria, diarrhea, and amoebae were among the medical benefits of okra. The proximate composition (%) on a dry matter basis of okra fruits differed significantly (p < .05) by cultivar type and drying method. Moisture (3.69%-5.24%), total ash (6.60%-8.01%), crude fat (4.87%-8.58%), crude protein (4.06%-5.23%), crude fiber (12.85%-15.26%), utilizable carbohydrate (56.42%-67.63%), and gross energy contents (326-341 kcal) were the ranges of the various proximate and energy levels. Morphological characteristics of fruit and leaf length, width, and length-to-width ratio varied with cultivar type, where Sharma had more than double the length of Kenketse (70.1 vs. 187.1 mm). Despite being an undervalued native vegetable crop in Ethiopia, the study's findings show that okra is a multipurpose vegetable for promoting human health and ensuring food and nutritional security. Therefore, stepping up its production, marketing, and consumption could help alleviate the food shortage and improve human nutrition and health in the study areas.

Effects of microplastic pollution on agricultural soil and crops based on a global meta‐analysis

AbstractAgricultural soil serves as a crucial reservoir for microplastics (MPs), necessitating an understanding of their global‐scale environmental impacts and potential risks that they pose to agricultural soil and crops. Little is known about the potential impact of MPs in agricultural soils, compared with MPs in aquatic sediments, especially their effects on crop traits. The purpose of our study was to explore whether different types, concentrations, sizes, and exposure time of MPs, as well as soil conditions (such as soil pH or organic matter concentration), have different effects on soil properties and crop traits. In addition, differences between soil and crop enzymes in response to MPs were compared in detail. Network analysis was used to understand the current research progress on MPs in agricultural soil. Furthermore, utilizing 63 publications and 3268 observations, a meta‐analysis was conducted to analyze the effects of MPs on soil properties and crop traits. Our result showed that China has contributed the most to MP research. Crop traits, rather than soil properties, were more sensitive to MPs, significantly increasing crop biochemical traits (p &lt; 0.05) and decreasing crop morphological traits (p &lt; 0.001). MPs significantly inhibited fruit, shoot, and root morphological traits by 13.34% (p &lt; 0.05), 9.7% (p &lt; 0.001), and 6.65% (p &lt; 0.001), respectively; inhibited crop physiological traits such as photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration by 9.1% (p &lt; 0.001), 34.44% (p &lt; 0.001), and 14.74% (p &lt; 0.05), respectively; inhibited crop biochemical traits such as organic and inorganic metabolites， and improved enzyme activity by 11.37% (p &lt; 0.001), 10.07% (p &lt; 0.001), and 10.16% (p &lt; 0.001), respectively. MPs decreased soil enzyme activities of leucine aminopeptidases and sucrase by 7.22% (p &lt; 0.01) and 27.26% (p &lt; 0.001), respectively, and increased peroxidase, acid phosphatase, catalase (CAT), and urease activities by 59.21%, 7.34%, 6.86%, and 13.13%, respectively. MPs increased crop enzyme activities of CAT and malondialdehyde by 12.71% and 14.82%, respectively. Conclusively, the effect of MPs on crop traits warrants considerable attention and an urgent need to explore whether MPs cause differences between crops with regard to crop traits.

Morphological Diversity of an Underutilized and Wild Edible Fruit (Cordia) Species in Three Districts of Bastar Region of Chhattisgarh, India

The multipurpose deciduous tree Cordia dichotoma belongs to the family Boraginaceae and it is variously called as Glueberry, Goonda, Lasora and locally as ‘Bohaar’ in Bastar (Chhattisgarh). The diversity in morphological traits in Cordia species were marked and identified at different locations of three districts of Bastar region to assess phenotypic morphological variation and to estimate genotypic and phenotypic variability for various morphological traits of fruits for future use. The quantitative traits like fruit weight, length, and diameter are important quality traits in many horticultural crops are used in genetic diversity studies. The underutilized fruits are advantageous crops being hardy in nature and tolerate extreme climatic conditions and possess high potential to provide nutritional and social benefits. The present investigation is performed for the identification, morphological analysis and diversity exploration with respect to food value of underutilized and wild edible fruit Cordia dichotoma found in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. A Total of ten numbers of representative trees of Cordia species from each district were selected for morphological and silvicultural studies. It is found that genotype of Cordia has morphological variations in the region. Two species of Cordia i.e., Cordia obliqua and Cordia dichotoma were taken for the study. This study revealed that source/provenance Jagdalpur and Dantewada had Cordia species with better fruit size than district Kondagaon source, also morphological variations of Cordia species in different sources or provenance with respect to fruit fresh weight, pulp weight, peel weight, pulp and peel ratio revealed that Cordia dichotoma G. Forst has better fruit size and pulp percentage.

Genetic and morphological diversity in populations of Annona senegalensis Pers. occurring in Western (Benin) and Southern (Mozambique) Africa.

Understanding morpho-genetic diversity and differentiation of species with relatively large distributions is crucial for the conservation and sustainable management of their genetic resources. The present study focused on Annona senegalensis Pers., an important multipurpose wild plant, distributed exclusively in natural ecosystems but facing several threats. The study assessed the genetic and morphological diversity, structure, and differentiation of the species in populations from Western (Benin) and Southern (Mozambique) Africa. The material was evaluated to ascertain the environmental (climatic) determinants of the variation within this species. Four sub-populations comprised of 154 individuals were phenotyped based on nineteen plant, fruit, and leaf morphological traits and further genotyped using ten polymorphic nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) markers. The results indicated strong differences in plant, fruit, and leaf morphological traits between Western and Southern populations. Furthermore, the studied populations were characterized by high genetic diversity, with an average genetic diversity index of 1.02. Western populations showed higher heterozygosity values (0.61-0.71) than Southern populations (0.41-0.49). Western and Southern populations were clearly differentiated into two different genetic groups, with further genetic subdivisions reflecting four sub-populations. Genetic variation between regions (populations) was higher (69.1%) than among (21.3%) and within (9.6%) sub-populations. Four distinct morphological clusters were obtained, which were strongly associated with the four genetic groups representing each sub-population. Climate, mainly precipitation and temperature indexes, explained the relatively higher variation found in morphological traits from Western (40.47%) in relation to Southern (27.98%) populations. Our study suggests that both environmental and genetic dynamics play an important role in the development of morphological variation in A. senegalensis.

Analytical and bioluminescence-based non-invasive quality assessment of differentially grown strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. ‘Asia’) during household refrigeration storage

Strawberry is a typical spring fruit, for which consumer demand is particularly high; however, information is scarce on the comparison of quality traits of strawberries of local and imported origin during household refrigeration storage. That is why we sought to answer the question of to what extent the quality of strawberries changes during 5 days of household refrigeration storage. The choice of methods was focused on fast and at the same time informative analytical methods: pH, total antioxidant capacity, and lipid oxidation. Furthermore, a non-invasive imaging technique: ultra-weak bioluminescence measurement was carried out along with the determination of fruit morphological (weight, height, width, and color) and analytical (antioxidant capacity and lipid oxidation) traits. The data indicate that the longer strawberries are cultivated in the same plantation, the smaller their fruit weight and the lower their fruit quality become.In addition, the results cast light on a controversial fact: despite the fact that the sample from the store had the finest appearance, as determined, its antioxidant capacity was the lowest for the duration of home refrigeration storage, indicating the lowest nutritional value.This was validated by the lipid oxidation levels, which were defined by the amount of malondialdehyde as well as by the rate of ultra-weak bioluminescence. The research underlines the exceptional value of local fruits over importand provides valuable information to customers, encouraging them to purchase strawberries from local farms in order to not only support the local economy but also to adopt a more health-conscious attitude. In addition, ultra-weak bioluminescence testing offers a non-invasive method for assessing fruit quality.

Disclosing the determinants, drivers and predictors of bird depredation on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) production

Bird intake and damage to fruits of Phoenix dactylifera is a common problem in date palm cultivation regions. Though plant vegetative characteristics and fruit nutritional values influence frugivory behavior in passerines, there is little knowledge about these parameters for sparrows feeding on dates, as most previous studies have focused on the impact of farm organization and location on the feeding choice made by sparrows. This study aimed to examine the effects of date palm tree traits and its fruit morphology and biochemical traits on the level of damage caused by hybrid sparrows to date fruits of three different date palm cultivars. In a traditional date palm plantation, three date varieties (Degla-Beida, Deglet-Nour and Ghars) were analyzed. The estimates of date production loss were correlated to several tree morphometrics and fruit morphological and biochemical traits, including the number of bunches/tree, bunch height, number of pedicels/bunch, number of dates per strand, total production/tree, and date fruit traits (length, width, weight, volume, pulp weight, ratio pulp weight/date weight, sugar content, water content and pH). We demonstrated that sparrows were attracted to bunches with low height and high fruit density, but they showed no interest to number of bunches per tree, number of pedicels per bunch, total number of dates and production per tree. Regarding date morphology, large and heavy dates were more likely to be selected by sparrows, although an unclear relationship was found between production loss per tree and date length, width and volume. In terms of fruit biochemical traits, sparrows damage rates increased with the increase in fruit pH, moisture, and total and reducing sugars. The average rate of lost dates per tree was 9.2 ± 7.66%, 8.4 ± 5.16%, and 3.9 ± 1.71% for Ghars, Deglet-Nour, and Degla-Beida, respectively. Significant differences were observed between cultivars in the amounts of damaged dates still on bunches or fallen on the ground. The hierarchical choice of dates by sparrows was also confirmed. Our results showed that soft dates were more preferred by sparrows than semi-soft and dry ones. The findings of this study indicated that it is necessary to provide extensive protection for highly attacked cultivars in palm groves.

Performance prediction of F1 crosses in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) based on morphological and molecular divergence

Identifying potential F1 hybrid combinations based on the parental diversity can increase the breeding efficiency and saves the opportunity cost of time. In this work, the genetic diversity between eggplant genotypes was measured by Mahalanobis D2 statistics and Sequence Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) molecular markers. The genetic distances (GD) were correlated with heterosis and trait wise mean performance of F1 crosses generated in a line ? tester mating design for prediction of F1 performance for agronomically important traits. The cluster analysis performed based on the Mahalanobis D2 distance grouped all the eleven genotypes into two clusters and three clusters were formed based on the SRAP marker data. The polymorphic information content value generated by the 30 SRAP marker combinations ranged from 0.09 to 0.77 with a mean value of 0.38. For yield, the F1 combinations exhibited the mid parent heterosis ranged from 3.99% to 83.34% and the heterobeltiosis from -35.67% to 57.19%. GD based on both phenotypic values and molecular marker data successfully predicted the heterotic patterns in the number of fruits per plant and other fruit morphological traits such as fruit length and fruit breadth which is a significant outcome of the study. A multiple linear regression model that included GD, GCA and SCA was more significantly correlated with heterosis for fruit yield than any genetic parameter alone.

High-throughput Characterization of Fruit Phenotypic Diversity among New Mexican Chile Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Using the Tomato Analyzer Software

Fruit architecture and morphology-related traits are among the determinants of fruit diversity and are major contributors to yield and yield potential in chile pepper (Capsicum spp.). This study aimed to characterize 105 genotypes of a Capsicum diversity panel consisting of cultivars, breeding lines, landrace, and wild species belonging to twelve different pod (fruit) types, for 32 morphometric Tomato Analyzer (TA) descriptors. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into eight clusters based on the TA descriptors. A multivariate principal component analysis yielded two principal components, PC1 and PC2, which explained 53.24% and 10.11% of the variation in fruit diversity, respectively. The basic measurements—namely, perimeter, area, width midheight, maximum width, height midwidth, maximum height, and curved height were the most discriminating descriptors with a maximum contribution to the overall fruit shape. There was a strong, positive correlation for basic measurements and fruit shape index, whereas blockiness was negatively correlated with distal angle macro. Additive genetic effects and high heritability for the fruit traits were observed. Results of this study will provide valuable information to breed high-yielding chile pepper cultivars based on fruit morphology traits.

Studies on genetic variability and relationship of bael (Aegle marmelos (L) Correa) using morphological and molecular markers

Bael (Aegle marmelos (L) Correa) is an important underutilized fruit crop of India. A total of 25 bael trees were selected from 356 bael trees of Sakharayapattana in Chikkamagalur district, Karnataka, India based on the fruit morphological traits (fruit weight, pulp weight, skull thickness, seed weight per fruit, No. of seeds per fruit, No. of locules per fruit, No. of seeds per locule, pulp wt. : seed wt.). These 25 trees were evaluated for phenotypic and genotypic variations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. RAPD and ISSR markers showed significant polymorphism among the trees. Jaccard’s genetic similarity value of RAPD and ISSR was found in the range of 0.00–0.95 and 0.06–0.56, respectively suggesting a moderate level of genetic diversity. The present study revealed that molecular markers can be successfully utilized for determining genetic diversity and relationship of bael trees for further varietal improvement.

Assessment of genetic diversity among okra genotypes through PCA and correlation analysis for fruit tenderness, and morphological and yield traits

Assessment of genetic diversity among okra genotypes through PCA and correlation analysis for fruit tenderness, and morphological and yield traits

Biochar Enhances Plant Growth, Fruit Yield, and Antioxidant Content of Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in a Soilless Substrate

Biochar soil amendment can improve growing medium water and nutrient status and crop productivity. A pot experiment was conducted using Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme plants to investigate the effects of biochar amendment (20% application rate) on a soilless substrate, as well as on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. During the experiment, substrate characteristics, plant morphological traits, and root and leaf C/N content were analyzed at three sampling points defined as early stage (36 days after germination), vegetative stage (84 days a. g.), and fruit stage (140 days a. g.). Fruit morphological traits, titratable acidity, lycopene, and solid soluble content were measured at the end of the experiment. Biochar ameliorated substrate characteristics (Nav increase of 17% and Ctot increase of 13% at the beginning of the study), resulting in a promotion effect on plant root, shoot, and leaf morphology mainly at the vegetative and fruit stages. Indeed, at these two sampling points, the biochar-treated plants had a greater number of leaves (38 and 68 at the vegetative and fruit stages, respectively) than the untreated plants (32 and 49, respectively). The biochar also increased leaf area with a rise of 26% and 36% compared with the values measured in the untreated plants. Moreover, the amendment increased twofold root length, root surface area, and root, stem, and leaf biomasses in comparison with untreated plants. Regarding plant productivity, although fruit morphology remained unchanged, biochar increased flower and fruit numbers (six times and two times, respectively), acidity (75%), lycopene (28%), and solid soluble content (16%). By unveiling promoting changes in morphological traits, fruit number, and antioxidant content occurring in cherry tomato plants growing in a biochar-treated soilless substrate, it could be possible to highlight the importance of biochar for future applications in the field for enhancing plant production and fruit quality in a sustainable agriculture framework.

Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on Plum (Prunus domestica L.) Grown on Two Rootstocks at Harvest and at the Postharvest Period

Plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as cytokinins (6-benzyladenine; BA) and gibberellins (GAs), are widely used in fruit production. This study focused on the plum cultivar “Čačanska rodna” (P. domestica L.) grafted on vegetative rootstock “WaVit” and generative rootstock Prunus cerasifera, with interstock Prunus spinosa. PGR treatments included 50 mg L−1 and 100 mg L−1 of BA and 200 mg L−1 of gibberellin A3 (GA3) and non-treated control. Pomological characteristics of plum fruits were examined at harvest, while physicochemical properties were analyzed at harvest and after 28 days of cold storage and 4 days of shelf life. GA3 and BA application changed the fruit morphological traits, improved skin strength, and increased carotenoid, anthocyanin and sucrose content while decreasing the titratable acidity at harvest. The beneficial effects of higher sucrose, anthocyanin and carotenoid levels persisted in all PGR-treated fruits after cold storage and shelf life. GA3-treated fruits had firmer flesh, stronger skin and higher total soluble solids (TSS) content, while in BA-treated plums, these effects were rootstock-dependent. The physical properties and chemical composition of plum fruit in the postharvest period suggest beneficial effects of the applied PGR treatments. Moreover, these chemical treatments might have prolonged the beneficial impact on fruit storability, nutritional profile and sensory properties. Based on our results, GA3 preharvest treatment can be included in standard cultivation practices within contemporary production systems of European plums not only to improve fruit quality at harvest but also to improve the storage potential and nutritional value, regardless of the rootstock used.

Phenotypic Variation and Peel Contribution to Fruit Antioxidant Contents in European and Japanese Plums.

Herein, we studied the variation in leaf and fruit morphological traits and antioxidant contents in 43 local and foreign cultivars (cvs) grown under the same experimental conditions in the widely cultivated plum species Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina. The peel contribution of fruit bioactive compounds in a serving portion, correlations among the examined parameters, and group patterns in each plum species were also studied. The species and cvs were sufficiently separated. Compared to Japanese cvs, European cvs had less elongated leaves and smaller and sweeter fruit with less total phenol and antioxidant capacities. The Japanese cvs ‘Red ace’ and the widely grown ‘Black Amber’, together with the European ‘Tuleu Dulce’, ‘BlueFre’, and the landrace ‘Asvestochoriou’ make up groups with rich dietary sources of phytochemicals. The peel tissue contained higher total phenols and antioxidant capacities compared to the flesh, while the peel/flesh ratios varied widely among the cvs (6.6-fold). The variation in the antioxidant contents was lower among the cvs calculated per serving portion (3.7-fold); yet the peel tissue contribution was equal to that of the flesh (48.6%), signifying its high nutritive value. We observed increased sweetness in the fruit in the later-harvested cultivars, while cvs with more blue- and red-colored peel generally contained higher antioxidant contents mainly in the European plums. Moreover, larger fruit sizes were positively correlated with larger and more elliptic leaf shapes. In conclusion, the significant role of the genotype and the peel tissue as a source of bioactive compounds in plums were outlined with prospects of utilization in future breeding programs.

European traditional tomatoes galore: a result of farmers' selection of a few diversity-rich loci.

A comprehensive collection of 1254 tomato accessions, corresponding to European traditional and modern varieties, early domesticated varieties, and wild relatives, was analyzed by genotyping by sequencing. A continuous genetic gradient between the traditional and modern varieties was observed. European traditional tomatoes displayed very low genetic diversity, with only 298 polymorphic loci (95% threshold) out of 64943 total variants. European traditional tomatoes could be classified into several genetic groups. Two main clusters consisting of Spanish and Italian accessions showed higher genetic diversity than the remaining varieties, suggesting that these regions might be independent secondary centers of diversity with a different history. Other varieties seem to be the result of a more recent complex pattern of migrations and hybridizations among the European regions. Several polymorphic loci were associated in a genome-wide association study with fruit morphological traits in the European traditional collection. The corresponding alleles were found to contribute to the distinctive phenotypic characteristic of the genetic varietal groups. The few highly polymorphic loci associated with morphological traits in an otherwise a low-diversity population suggests a history of balancing selection, in which tomato farmers likely maintained the morphological variation by inadvertently applying a high selective pressure within different varietal types.

Mapping of genetic loci controlling fruit linked morphological traits of melon using developed CAPS markers.

Fruit morphology traits are important commercial traits that directly affect the market value. However, studying the genetic basis of these traits in un-explored botanical groups is a fundamental objective for crop genetic improvement through marker-assisted breeding. In this study, a quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping strategy was used for dissecting the genomic regions of fruit linked morphological traits by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) based cleaved amplified polymorphism sequence (CAPS) molecular markers. Next-generation sequencing was done for the genomic sequencing of two contrasted melon lines (climacteric and non-climacteric), which revealed 97% and 96% of average coverage over the reference melon genome database, respectively. A total of 57.51% non-synonymous SNPs and 42.49% synonymous SNPs were found, which produced 149 sets of codominant markers with a 24% polymorphism rate. Total 138-F2 derived plant populations were genotyped for linkage mapping and composite interval mapping based QTL mapping exposed 6 genetic loci, positioned over distinct chromosomes (02, 04, 08, 09, and 12) between the flanking intervals of CAPS markers, whichexplained an unlinked polygenic architecture in genome. Three minor QTLs of fruit weight(FWt2.1, FWt4.1, FWt9.1), one major QTL of fruit firmness(FrFir8.1), one major QTL of fruit length(FL12.1), and one major QTL of fruit shape (FS12.1)were determined and collectively explained the phenotypic variance from 5.64 to 15.64%. Fruit phenotypic correlation exhibited the significant relationship and principal component analysis also identified the potential variability. Multiple sequence alignments also indicated the significant base-mutations in the detected genetic loci, respectively. In short, our illustrated genetic loci are expected to provide the reference insights for fine QTL mapping and candidate gene(s) mining through molecular genetic breeding approaches aimed at developing the new varieties.