Green Skin Color Research Articles

KARAKTERISASI TINGKAT KEMATANGAN BUAH KOPI MENGGUNAKAN PENDEKATAN STATISTIK

One of the most important stages in determining the quality of coffee is the process of selecting the physical quality of the coffee fruit. The characterization step at the coffee fruit maturity level can be carried out through processing methods based on coffee fruit image detection. This stage is carried out by recognizing the characteristics of coffee fruit based on the color of the coffee fruit. One of the characteristics of good coffee fruit, which has a red color without defects. The research used 20 samples of coffee fruit images (10 images of ripe coffee fruit and 10 images of unripe coffee fruit, respectively). Based on the image test data, it can be seen that the average test results of the calculation of characteristic parameters, namely the mean RGB of ripe coffee are all dominated by red skin color (ripe coffee). Likewise, the average test results of the calculation of characteristic parameters, namely the mean RGB of raw coffee, are all dominated by green skin color (raw coffee). Overall, the success rate of image processing for characterizing the maturity level of coffee fruit based on the color of the coffee fruit skin with a statistical approach method, which is 100%.

Effects of fruit baggings as preharvest treatments on the fruit quality of pineapple ‘MD-2’

The demand for fresh pineapple fruit is currently highest for the MD2 pineapple variety. Continuous efforts are made to enhance the quality of MD2 pineapples, including the fruit skin colour, flesh colour, sweetness, and minimizing sunburn damage. Bagging is one of the pre-harvest methods that can be employed for this purpose. This research aims to find suitable bagging materials that meet the industry's criteria and assess the severity of sunburn in each bagging treatment. A completely randomized design was used in this study, with six different bagging materials and pineapples aged 80 Days After Forcing (DAF). The bagging materials used were the control, blue Polyethylene (PE) bag, white PE bag, black patent bag, paper bag, and the existing cap-shaped bagging technique using recycled paper from banana bagging, as utilized by PT. Great Giant Pineapple. Each treatment involved 120 pineapple samples harvested at 140 DAF. MD2 pineapples without bagging were found to provide the best results according to PT. Great Giant Pineapple's criteria, with green skin colour (1.35%) and uniform yellow flesh (85.62%).

Fertilization and pruning improve vegetative growth and architecture of tropical lowland Borneo Prima Mandarin citrus

Vegetative growth of citrus can be increased through a combination of fertilization and pruning. Borneo Prima Mandarin (Citrus reticulata cv Borneo Prima) is a superior local commodity that is grown in lowlands. It has an interesting orange skin, while normally the tropical lowland citrus has a green skin colour. As a new commodity, Borneo Prima Mandarin has to be developed in order to increase production and improve quality. There is no specific cultural practices, so it needs to be developed, especially on fertilizing and pruning. The first experiment aims to observe the plant growth and architecture of plants grown in the orchard. The first factor was the nitrogen fertilization rate (0, 20, 40, 60 g N per tree per application) and the second was pruning (without pruning, open center pruning, hedge pruning). In the second experiment, the plants were applied with the same factors of experiment 1, but were grown on a root observation chamber sized 40 x 20 x 60 cm (length x width x height) which aims to observe the shoot root’s growth and the plant’s biomass. Nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect to the growth of the Borneo Prima Mandarin, i.e number of shoots and leaves. Twenty grams of nitrogen fertilizer per aplication was efficient to produce new shoots and leaves. Pruning treatments had significant effects towards the plant architecture (i.e reducing plant height, canopy shade projection and canopy length). Open center pruning and hedge pruning made the crown more open which increased the light interception. The shoot grew rapidly two weeks after fertilizing and also pruning. While the root grew rapidly after shoot dormancy.

Evaluation of yields on new varieties of hybrid watermelon

Watermelon is a very important commodity in food security, especially horticultural products. Watermelon hybrid varieties are proven to be able to increase production and income for watermelon farmers. Watermelon breeding continues to produce superior varieties. Pure strains of watermelon as parents in the propagation or production of hybrid watermelon seeds, are necessary for crosses between parents to produce F1 hybrids. Evaluation and selectionare important stages in a plant breeding program. The purpose of this study was to obtain information on theproduction of hybrid watermelons from the research team of the Politeknik Negeri Lampung watermelon breeder.This study used a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments (varieties) repeated three times. The results of the observations were analyzed using the LSD test at the 5% level. The results showed that the varieties WM200701 and WM200702 had dark skin color and red flesh. Sweetness level data were significantly different by 9.3 °brix andl0.15 °brix when compared to control (8.9 °brix). Varieties WM 200703 and WM 200706 have bright green skin color with thin stripes with red and yellow flesh color. WM 200704 and WM 200705 have red flesh and dark green skin with thick striations. WM 200703 has the highest fruit weight of 4.63 kg per fruit. The six hybrid varieties tested have the potential to be submitted for registration of the F1 hybrid watermelon variety.

Characterization of bottle gourd genotypes for DUS traits

Ninety-one bottle gourd genotypes were characterized for 13 different qualitative traits and 4 quantitative traits as per the DUS (Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability) guidelines of PPV&FRA. The observations pertaining to the morphological descriptor and quantitative traits, the genotypes were grouped into different categories. All the genotypes were monoecious with tri-lobed leaves except JBG-51 which had penta-lobed leaves. Ovary length (on the day of anthesis) and peduncle length were maximum in IC-0146365 and Pusa Santusthi, respectively. Fruit shape at marketable maturity was elongated curved in maximum number of genotypes and the check Arka Bahar. Most (79.1%) of the genotypes were with straight neck, few (2.2%) had crooked neck and 18.7% had no neck at marketable maturity stage. Variability was also observed for fruit skin colour at marketable maturity stage. Seventy-one (78%), 13 (14.28%) and 4 (4.39%) genotypes had light green, mottled and green skin colour, respectively. On the basis of shape of apex at peduncle end of fruit, the genotypes were grouped as raised, flat and depressed. There was variation in intensity of pubescence on the fruit surface of different genotypes. Seed texture at marketable maturity stage, seed shape, and intensity of brown colour of seed testa were also recorded in order to differentiate the genotypes morphologically. The expression of characters remained consistent over two consecutive seasons indicating their uniformity. These genotypes can be successfully utilized as reference for protection of other varieties under PPV&FR Act, identification and grouping of bottle gourd varieties and for development of elite varieties/hybrids.

Ozone treatment on cucumber and tomato during simulated retail storage

AbstractThe effect of storage temperature and ozone treatment on the post-harvest quality of cucumber and tomato was investigated. Cucumber and tomato were stored together with or without gaseous ozone treatment at 20 °C and 14 °C for 16 days. Firmness, color, weight loss, DA index and decay percentage of samples were evaluated during storage period. The results showed that the combination of ozone treatment and cold storage could maintain the quality of these horticultural products and decreased the decay incidence. Additionally, this combination also reduced the weight loss of samples during storage. Furthermore, ozone treatment maintained the green skin color of cucumber. No sign of chilling injury occurred during storage at 14 °C. Commodities stored with approximately 0.1 ppm gaseous ozone at 14 °C retained the firmness compared to other treatments until the end of the experiment. This study suggests a promising use of gaseous ozone treatment in storage chamber where ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive vegetables are stored together.

Aplikasi ZPT Atonik pada Berbagai Konsentrasi terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Perkembangan Buah Jambu Madu Deli Hijau (Syzygium aqueum)

Honey water guava (Syzygium aqueum) is a new fruit variety, but not many have cultivated it. This guava comes from the Myrtaceae family which has 3 varieties, the shape of the fruit is like a bell with a reddish green skin color, the taste is sweet like honey. This study aims to describe the growth and development of green deli honey guava fruit at different atonic concentrations and to obtain the best concentration. This research was conducted in Pancakarya Village, Ajung District, Jember Regency, in November 2020 - January 2021, with an altitude of 50 m above sea level. This study used a non-factorial randomized block design (RAK), with 6 treatments, repeated 4 times, a total of 24 research objects. The treatments studied were F0 = Control, F1 = 20 ml/L, F2 = 40 ml/L, F3 = 60 ml/L, F4 = 80 ml/L, F5 = 100 ml/L. Data were analyzed by means of variance (Anova), if significantly different, followed by a 1% BNT test. The results showed that the Atonic concentration of F3 treatment (60 ml/L) gave optimal results on diameter, length, unit weight and fruit sugar content. And not significantly different to the parameters of the resistance of the stump and the overall weight of the fruit This research should be carried out during the dry season, so that PGR can be absorbed maximally by the fruit.

Metabolome and transcriptome profiling provide insights into green apple peel reveals light- and UV-B-responsive pathway in anthocyanins accumulation

BackgroundIn nature, green apple are associated with the accumulation of chlorophyll, while red apple varieties are associated with anthocyanins accumulation. Notably, in this study, the green skin color apple variety ‘white winter pearmain’ treated with ultraviolet-B (UV-B) exhibited red skins and marked anthocyanin accumulation, while visible light could not. But there are few reports on the biosynthesis difference of anthocyanins in green apple by visible light and UV-B-treatment. Here, we explored the difference of metabolites and genes expression level in green apple by transcriptomic and metabolic.ResultsThe metabolic analysis revealed that there were 152 and 178 significantly changed metabolites in the visible light and UV-B-treated green apple, respectively, compared to the control, and flavone, flavonol, and anthocyanin were the most significantly increased; and transcriptomic analysis showed that 37,110 and 37,709 differentially expressed genes, including 382 and 475 transcription factors (TFs) were detected in light and UV-B-treatment fruit, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) results confirmed changes in the expression levels of genes encoding metabolites involved in the flavonoid synthesis pathways. The flavonoid metabolic flux in the UV-B treatment increased the accumulation of cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3, 5-diglucoside compared to under the light-treatment. Furthermore, we performed qRT-PCR analysis of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes and predicted the gene of MD00G1134400 (a UDP glucose-flavonoid 3–0-glucosyltransferase) may be a candidate gene for anthocyanins accumulation and highly expressed in UV-B-treatment fruit. Expression profiles of several transcription factors of the families MYB, bHLH, NAC were highly correlated with the content of the anthocyanin.ConclusionsThe composition and contents of anthocyanins in green apple in UV-B-treatment very greatly. A series of metabolites and candidate genes were revealed through combined analysis of metabolome and transcriptome. These results provide an important data for dissecting candidate genes and molecular basis governing green apple color formation in response to visible light and UV-B light.

Shelf-life of guavas coated with biodegradable starch and cellulose-based films

Guava is a perishable fruit susceptible to post-harvest losses. So, the development of biodegradable films based on acetylated cassava starch (ACS) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) could be an alternative to increase guavas (Psidium guajava L.) shelf life. Films were characterized by solubility, opacity, water vapor transport, and thickness. Mass loss, texture, titratable acidity, soluble solids, vitamin C, and skin color of the fruits were analyzed. The films with higher HEC concentration were more transparent and hygroscopic. Guava coated with 75% HEC and 25% ACS or 100% HEC films increased firmness, maintained green skin color and reduced ripeness, lasting for 13 days, ensuring that the ACS and HEC based films can increase guavas shelf life, besides decrease environmental impacts of non-biodegradable packages.

Maturity stage at harvest and storage temperature to maintain postharvest quality of acerola fruit

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata D.C.) is native to Central and Northern South America and is considered a super-fruit due to its high vitamin C content. Acerola postharvest life is highly dependent on the maturity stage at harvest and storage temperatures. The objectives of this study were to determine the ideal harvest maturity and storage temperature for 'Flor Branca' and 'Junko' acerolas produced in the São Francisco Valley in the Northeast of Brazil. Acerolas 'Flor Branca' and 'Junko' were harvested at maturity stages green (green skin color at 18 days after full bloom), turning (initial skin color changes from green to red at 20 days after full bloom) and red (red skin color at 22 days after full bloom) and were stored at 8, 10 and 12 °C with RH of 90–95% for 14 days. Green fruit with density lower than 1 g cm−3 were used due to the capacity to change skin color from green to red after harvest. Fruit harvested at maturity stage green showed better storage potential than fruit harvested at more advanced stages. Storage temperatures of 10 °C for 'Flor Branca' and 12 °C for ‘Junko’ acerolas harvested at maturity stage green maintained fruit quality without chilling injury, keeping the fruit greener with higher ascorbic acid content and flesh firmness during 14 days of storage. Lower storage temperatures resulted in chilling injury incidence in ‘Flor Branca’ and ‘Junco’ acerolas. In both acerola cultivars, harvest at maturity stage green resulted in lower fruit decay incidence and weight loss during 14 days of storage. According to the results, ‘Flor Branca’ and ‘Junco’ acerolas should be harvested the maturity stage green with density lower than 1 g cm−3 and stored at 10 °C and 12 °C, respectively, in order to maintain high fruit quality.

1-Methylcyclopropene affects ethylene synthesis and chlorophyll degradation during cold storage of ‘Comice’ pears

Loss of green skin color and the onset of senescent scald (scald) in ‘Comice’ pears affect fruit quality and reduce the market value. To understand the molecular mechanisms of chlorophyll degradation in the skins of ‘Comice’ pears, fruit were exposed to 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0.15 and 0.3 μL L−1 and stored at -1.1 °C for up to six months. The results showed ethylene production rate, and respiration rate were significantly inhibited in pears treated with 1-MCP at 0.15 and 0.3 μL L−1. Senescent scald was eliminated, and the amount of extractable juice (EJ) remained constant, and chlorophyll degradation was retarded. However, the ripening capacity was inhibited. Ripening capacity recovered (by 14 days following warming to room temperature) in pears treated with 1-MCP at the lower concentration (0.15 μ L L−1) but the fruit treated with 1-MCP at the higher concentration (0.3 μL L−1) failed to ripen. The expressions of the ethylene synthesis genes (PcACS1, PcACS4, PcACS5, and PcACO1) and receptor genes (PcETR1, PcETR2, PcETR5, and PcERS1) were upregulated during storage in the control fruit but were significantly repressed by the 1-MCP treatments. In contrast, the expression of PcACS2 was upregulated by the 1-MCP treatments. The expressions of the chlorophyll degradation genes (PcPPH, PcNOL, PcSGR1, and PcPAO) were significantly higher in the control fruit but suppressed in the 1-MCP-treated fruit. The transcription levels of PcRCCR and PcCLH1 decreased during the six months of cold storage period and 1-MCP had little effect on their expressions. The correlations between chlorophyll degradation and the ethylene synthesis genes and signal-related genes indicated that 1-MCP delayed chlorophyll degradation by inhibiting the ethylene production rate and suppressing the expressions of the PcPPH, PcNOL, PcSGR1, and PcPAO genes, which were closely associated with the chlorophyll catabolic pathway in ‘Comice’ pears.

Effect of edible coating on shelf life and quality of local mango cv. Rangkuai of Mizoram

Highly nutritious, delicious and attractive looking fruits of mango which are generally consumed fresh undergo high amount of post-harvest losses. An experiment was taken up to study the impact of different edible coatings viz., olive oil, wax, chitosan, carboxy methyl cellulose, aloe gel on shelf life and quality of local mango cv. Rangkuai collected from Saiha district of Mizoram; kept in ambient condition. Results of the experiment showed that fruit coated with wax remained dark green skin colour (L: 28.73, a: -18.55, b: 26.03) and pulp colour was slightly yellowish orange (L: 63.69, a: -2.38, b: 60.78), whereas fruit skin colour at control had slightly light green colour with yellowness (L: 35.87, a: -18.88, b: 38.58) with completely dark orange colour pulp (L: 44.21, a: 23.32, b: 52.34) at 12 days after storage (DAS). Waxed mango fruits had minimum weight loss (1.18%) and high amount of ascorbic acid (19.92 mg/100 g) and carotenoids (4.64 mg/100 g) even after 12 DAS. Maximum shelf life was observed in waxed mango (19.65 days) as the fruit decay was only 10.05%.

The Potential Use of Hot Water Rinsing and Brushing Technology to Extend Storability and Shelf Life of Sweet Acorn Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Acorn squash fruits (Cucurbita pepo L.) are very sweet and are an excellent source of nutrients and vitamins. Very little information is available about their optimal storage temperature or how to extend their shelf life. The present goal was to elucidate the best storage temperature of this fruit, and to evaluate hot water rinsing and brushing (HWRB) technology to maintain fruit quality for several months. The optimal storage temperature was found to be 15 °C. However, treating the fruits with HWRB at 54 °C for 15 s and then storing them at 15 °C significantly maintained fruit quality for 3.5 months, as indicated by higher fruit firmness, lower decay incidence, and improved retention of green skin color.

Optimal storage temperature and 1-MCP treatment combinations for different marketing times of Korla Xiang pears

Maintenance of green color is the primary indicator of quality in the market evaluation of Korla Xiang pears at present and can generally be achieved through early harvesting and decreasing the storage temperature, but the fruit quality was reduced by early harvesting, and the decreasing storage temperature increased the risk of chilling injury. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal storage parameters for different storage times and to find ways to preserve the green skin color of pears. Specifically, we analyzed the effects of the ethylene inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), combined with low temperature on quality and maintenance of the green color of Korla Xiang pears during storage. We found that 1-MCP and/or low temperature reduced the loss of green color at 20°C after being removed from cold storage. In addition, 1-MCP significantly inhibited the decline of titratable acid and ascorbic acid but had no significant effect on fruit firmness and total soluble solids. Low temperature with or without 1-MCP inhibited the release of ethylene, inhibited the decline in the stalk preservation index, inhibited the increase in decay rate and weight loss rate during storage, and inhibited the increase in the core browning index after 225 days of storage. Different storage temperatures had different effects on the quality of Korla Xiang pears. Despite inhibiting ethylene release, a storage temperature of −1.5°C increased the respiration rate. Storage at −1.5°C caused core browning early during storage due to chilling injury, whereas at 2°C core browning occurred late during storage due to senescence. In late storage, 1-MCP had no significant effect on the maintenance of Korla Xiang pear quality at 2°C. Based on these results, we determined the optimal combinations of low temperature and 1-MCP treatment to maintain pear quality while avoiding chilling injury. For different marketing times, the optimal conditions for storage until New Year's Day (a storage duration of 90 days) are 2°C or 1-MCP combined with 2°C. For storage until the Spring Festival (a storage duration of 150 days), the optimal conditions are 0°C or 1-MCP combined with 0°C, and for storage until May (a storage duration of 225 days), the best conditions are 1-MCP combined with −1.5°C.

Effect of carboxymethylcellulose/candelilla wax coating containing potassium sorbate on microbiological and physicochemical attributes of pears

The main objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a coating composed of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), candelilla wax and potassium sorbate (KS) as a post-cold-storage treatment to prevent fungal infections in pears stored under simulated retail display conditions. Moreover, the effect of coating on the physiology and biochemistry of pears was investigated. The coating was very effective against Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia fructigena, while Rhizopus nigricans was the most resistant to KS. The KS-free coating also delayed the fungal growth rate, probably due to modification of the gaseous atmosphere within the fruit tissues. Coated pears showed slower ripening than the uncoated samples, as indicated by unaffected green skin color and inhibited loss of firmness. Unfortunately, coating induced anaerobic respiration and the symptoms of superficial scald in pears. Overall, the results showed that KS can be added into a coating formulation to control fungal growth; however, CMC-based emulsion is not a suitable carrier for KS, when coating is intended to be applied to pears exposed to postharvest cold storage.

QUALITY OF ORGANIC BANANA PRODUCED IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT The northern semiarid region of Minas Gerais is an important producer of irrigated Prata-Anã banana variety, which is highly susceptible to fusarium wilt. The organic cultivation of resistant varieties may be an phytosanitary alternative, also adding value to fruits. This study aimed to characterize banana varieties produced in organic system based on chemical and physical assessments at post-harvest. Prata-Anã, BRS Platina, Fhia-18, BRS Conquista and BRS Tropical varieties were characterized at the point of harvest (green) and mature (stage six of maturation), by chemical and physical assessments. At the point of harvest, BRS Conquista and BRS Tropical banana varieties had more intense green skin color. ‘BRS Conquista’ presented lower fresh weight, shorter length and diameter than the other varieties. BRS Platinum variety had more fruit fresh mass, length and diameter. Mature Prata-Anã, BRS Platina, Fhia-18, BRS Conquista and BRS Tropical banana varieties showed no difference in soluble solids, pH, titrable acidity and ratio; BRS Platina variety had more intense yellow skin color and lower pulp/skin ratio. Greater dropping resistance occurred in BRS Conquista variety and BRS Tropical was less resistant. Prata-Anã banana variety showed higher firmness. Banana varieties differed more by the physical characteristics (skin color, size, dropping resistance, firmness and pulp/skin ratio) in relation to chemical characteristics.

Epigenetic regulation of MdMYB1 is associated with paper bagging-induced red pigmentation of apples.

Paper-bagging treatment can transform non-transcribed MdMYB1 - 2 and MdMYB1 - 3 alleles into transcribed alleles through epigenetic regulations, resulting in the red pigmentation of a normally non-red apple cultivar 'Mutsu.' Anthocyanin biosynthesis in apples is regulated by MdMYB1/A/10, an R2R3-Type MYB gene. 'Mutsu,' a triploid apple cultivar harboring non-transcribed MdMYB1-2 and MdMYB1-3 alleles, retains green skin color under field conditions. However, it can show red/pink pigmentation under natural or artificial ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light exposure after paper-bagging and bag removal treatment. In the present study, we found that in 'Mutsu,' paper bagging-induced red pigmentation was due to the activation of non-transcribed MdMYB1-2/-3 alleles, which triggered the expression of downstream anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in a UV-B-dependent manner. By monitoring the epigenetic changes during UV-B-induced pigmentation, no significant differences in DNA methylation and histone modifications in the 5' upstream region of MdMYB1-2/-3 were recorded between the UV-B-treated fruit skin (red) and the fruit skin treated only by white light (green). In contrast, bag treatment lowered the DNA methylation in this region of MdMYB1-2/-3 alleles. Similarly, higher levels of histone H3 acetylation and trimethylation of H3 tail at lysine 4, and lower level of trimethylation of H3 tail at lysine 27 were observed in the 5' upstream region of MdMYB1-2/-3 in the skin of the fruit immediately after bag removal. These results suggest that bagging treatment can induce epigenetic changes, facilitating the binding of trans factor(s) to MdMYB1-2/-3 alleles, resulting in the activation of these MYBs after bag removal.

γ-Irradiation effects on appearance and aroma of ‘Kensington Pride’ mango fruit

γ-Irradiation doses of 0.5 (target) and 1.0 (high) kGy were applied as insect disinfestation treatments to 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit. The effects of these treatments on fruit physicochemical properties and aroma volatile production were investigated and compared to non-irradiated controls. There were no significant effects of the irradiation treatments on flesh total soluble solids content. However, the loss of green skin colour usually associated with fruit ripening was inhibited by irradiation at both 0.5 and 1.0 kGy by approximately 32 and 52%, respectively, relative to non-irradiated fruit. Fruit exposed to 0.5 and 1.0 kGy exhibited a 58 and 80% reduction in emission of a-terpinolene volatiles, respectively. Thus, γ-irradiation at 0.5 and 1.0 kGy can have an adverse effect on 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit aroma volatile production and skin colouration.

Characterization and Evaluation of Ridge Gourd [Luffa acutangula(Roxb.) L.] Germplasm

Fifty one ridge gourd germplasm were evaluated for yield and qualitative traits during 2011–14. There were significant differences among the germplasm for all the 11 quantitative and nine out of 22 qualitative parameters studied. Regarding plant growth habit, 34 had long vines, 16 had medium long vines and only one germplasm, IC92618 had short vines. Fifteen germplasm lines recorded dark green fruit skin colour, 33 had green coloured fruits and only three germplasm had light green coloured fruits, hence this variability can be exploited for developing green and dark green coloured varieties which are very much preferred in different markets. With respect to fruit taste, 29 lines had normal fruit taste, 18 lines were sweet and four lines, viz., IC92625, IC92685, IIHR-17 and IIHR-51 had bitter fruits. Among the germplasm evaluated, IC20404 (5.2 and 41.3) showed earliness in terms of node number as well as days for appearance of first female flower followed by IC23259 (6.0 and 41.2). Arka Sumeet and Co-1 recorded highest fruit length and fruit weight which are the important yield contributing fruit parameters. IIHR-21 recorded the highest mean value for fruit yield per vine (2.8 kg) followed by IIHR-6 (2.6 kg). This variability present among the germplasm evaluated for yield and quality parameters can be effectively utilized for the improvement of ridge gourd, with IIHR-6 and IIHR-21, the most promising germplasm as common parents and ‘Arka Sumeet’ and ‘CO-1’ as partners to develop character specific hybrids with maximum yield potential.

TABLE GRAPE BREEDING AT THE BEIJING INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY AND POMOLOGY

A breeding program was started in the Institute of Forestry and Pomology 40 years ago aiming to develop early ripening table grape cultivars with ?Muscat? flavor and good adaptability for local areas. Since that time approximately 150,000 hybrid plants have been grown resulting from 2,500 hybridizations. To date, twelve table grape cultivars have been released, among them, ten cultivars were obtained by interspecific hybridization in the species of Vitis vinifera, and two cultivars were selected from interspecific hybridization between V. vinifera and Vitis labrusca. ?Aishenmeigui? is a seedless cultivar with a purple-reddish color and sweet ?Muscat? flavor. It matures extremely early, usually at middle to late July. ?Zaomeiguixiang? is a cultivar with a color and eating quality that is similar to its female parent ?Muscat of Hamburg? but matures four weeks earlier. ?Xiangfei? is a green seeded cultivar that matures at early August with very strong ?Muscat? flavor and crisp flesh, average berry weight is 7-8 g. ?Zaomanao? is a red seeded cultivar that matures at the third to fourth week of July and has good resistance to cold. ?Cuiyu? is a seeded cultivar with yellow green skin color and good resistance to disease. ?Ruiduxiangyu? is a very crispy and sweet cultivar, with good cluster shape, berry size over 18 mm, and like its male parent ?Xiangfei?, has ?Muscat? flavor. ?Yanhong? is a late ripening seeded cultivar with good resistance to disease. ?Ruiducuixia? is a seeded cultivar that matures in early August, with beautiful red color and very crisp flesh. ?Zizhenzhu? has purple skin color with good shipping quality. ?Ruiduwuheyi? is a late ripening seedless cultivar with purple reddish color; natural berry weight is 7.8 g. ?Fenghou? is selected from the seedlings of ?Kyoho? but with firmer flesh and better shipping quality. ?Ruifengwuhe? is from a seedless mutation of ?Pione? and it matures in middle September. These cultivars have been used in the Beijing area and have spread to some northern provinces. The program aims to release more seedless cultivars with ?Muscat? flavor.