Normal Harvest Research Articles

Impact of different harvest times on fatty acid profile, sterol, tocopherol and bioactive properties of hazelnut oil

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different harvest times of hazelnuts on their lipid profiles and bioactive compound accumulations. Tombul hazelnut cultivar was harvested at four different harvest stages, namely in PH (pre-harvest time), EH (early harvest time), NH (normal harvest time) and LH (late harvest time). According to the results of the study, oil accumulation continued up to NH but did not further increase into LH (from 49.58 to 58.54 mg/100 g). Oxidative stability indices changed positively due to decreased poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from 9.87 to 7.70% in LH. The highest total sterol amount was reached in LH (122.32 mg/100 g). Although the change in the tocopherol content in the oil was irregular with the progression of the harvest time, its amount in the nuts increased continuously. Total carotenoid, phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) peaked in EH and decreased to a minimum in LH.

Climate change adaptation stories: Co-creating climate services with reindeer herders in Finland

Reindeer husbandry in the Arctic region is strongly affected by the local climate. Reindeer herders are used to coping with adverse weather, climate, and grazing conditions through autonomous adaptation. However, today's rapidly changing Arctic environment poses new challenges to the management of herding activities. Finding means for combining traditional and scientific knowledge without depriving any of the systems of its fundamental strengths is hence deemed necessary. In this work, we apply a transdisciplinary framework for knowledge co-production involving international researchers and reindeer herders from different cooperatives in northern Finland. Through ‘climate change adaptation stories’, we co-explore how climate predictions can inform herders' decision making during the herding season. Relevant decisions include the anticipation of summer harvest time, the inopportune periods of cold weather in spring, and insect harassment in summer. Despite their potential benefits for climate-sensitive decisions, climate predictions have seen limited uptake, mainly due to their probabilistic nature and lower quality compared with shorter-term weather forecasts. The analysis of two different adaptation stories shows that seasonal predictions of temperature for May and June can successfully advise about the likelihood of having an earlier than normal harvest. This information can be obtained up to three months in advance, helping herders to better arrange their time for other activities. Likewise, sub-seasonal predictions of temperature during April and May can be useful to anticipate the occurrence of backwinter episodes, which can support herders in deciding whether to feed reindeer in pens for longer, avoiding putting the survival of calves at risk. This study, which would benefit from co-evaluation in real world settings and consideration of additional adaptation stories, sets the basis for a successful co-production of climate services with Arctic reindeer herders. This research shows the potential to enhance the resilience of Polar regions, offering opportunities for adaptation while supporting the sustainability and culture of traditional practices of Arctic communities.

Assessment of early maturity based on per cent reduction in yield by advancing date of harvest in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Breeding of short duration groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties with enhanced productivity is a priority area in the semi-arid tropical regions to evade the end-season moisture deficit stress and for summer cultivation where the harvesting of groundnut coincides with the on-set of monsoon. Eighteen advanced breeding lines were evaluated during rainy and summer seasons for productive capacity and earliness in maturity by estimating the relative reduction in yield and associated traits due to advanced harvesting by 10 or 20 days over normal harvest. During rainy season the test genotypes were also compared with two popular varietiesJL 24 and HNG 10 as checks. Harvesting the genotypes 20 days ahead of normal harvest lead to considerable loss in pod and kernel yield, the reduction being larger in summer. When harvesting was advanced by 10 days the relative yield reduction was considerably lower in some of the genotypes (1-4% pod and 3-4% kernel yield reduction during rainy season), and six genotypes recorded superior yield coupled with earliness in comparison to the best check. The genotypes PBS 11029, PBS 21031, PBS 30076, PBS 11066, PBS 15004 and PBS 28008 were found early in maturity during rainy season and PBS 21031 during summer asthey registered negligible lossin yield when harvesting was advanced. The proposed concept of least reduction in yield and its component traits when harvested early coupled with high productivity may be used as a field technique forscreening large number of advanced breeding linesto identify early and high productive genotypes.

Heterosis and Responses to Selection in Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Improved Using Reciprocal Recurrent Selection.

Sweetpotato is a highly heterozygous hybrid, and populations of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) have a considerable importance for food security and health. The objectives were to estimate heterosis increments and response to selection in three OFSP hybrid populations (H1) developed in Peru for different product profiles after one reciprocal recurrent selection cycle, namely, H1 for wide adaptation and earliness (O-WAE), H1 for no sweetness after cooking (O-NSSP), and H1 for high iron (O-HIFE). The H1 populations were evaluated at two contrasting locations together with parents, foundation (parents in H0), and two widely adapted checks. Additionally, O-WAE was tested under two environmental conditions of 90-day and a normal 120-day harvest. In each H1, the yield and selected quality traits were recorded. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models. The storage root yield traits exhibited population average heterosis increments of up to 43.5%. The quality traits examined have exhibited no heterosis increments that are worth exploiting. The storage root yield genetic gain relative to the foundation was remarkable: 118.8% for H1-O-WAE for early harvest time, 81.5% for H1-O-WAE for normal harvest time, 132.4% for H1-O-NSSP, and 97.1% for H1-O-HIFE. Population hybrid breeding is a tool to achieve large genetic gains in sweetpotato yield via more efficient population improvement and allows a rapid dissemination of globally true seed that is generated from reproducible elite crosses, thus, avoiding costly and time-consuming virus cleaning of elite clones typically transferred as vegetative plantlets. The population hybrid breeding approach is probably applicable to other clonally propagated crops, where potential for true seed production exists.

Effect of "Late Harvest" of Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) on the Contents of Volatile Thiols in Furano Beauty, Furano Magical, and Cascade Varieties.

In recent years, many hop varieties with unique aromas, so-called "flavor hops", have been bred and grown. Here, we investigated the effect of late-harvested hops using three flavor hop varieties; Furano Beauty, Furano Magical, and Cascade. The sample hops were harvested at different days after flowering (DAF): DAF 45 (normal harvest), DAF 65, DAF 75, and DAF 85. We measured the volatile thiols in sample cones. The results indicated that 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentane-2-one contents showed almost no change or a slightly decrease with a delay in harvest, whereas 3-sulfanyl-4-methylpentan-1-ol (3S4MP) content in late-harvested samples increased several fold in comparison with normal-harvested samples. Additionally, 3S4MP contents in the beers brewed with DAF 65 samples were several times higher than those using DAF 45 ones. From these results, we propose a new method to control 3S4MP content in hop cones by changing its harvest date.

The Effect of Rain on Fiber and Yarn Quality of Cotton (G. hirsutum L.) Varieties in Two Different Growing Seasons

ABSTRACT Cotton fibers are the most important raw material of the textile industry. Clean collection of cotton fibers improves the quality of textile products. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of normal and late harvest period of different cotton varieties on cotton fiber and yarn properties. The HVI and AFIS values of the fibers obtained as a result of the late harvest period and the normal harvest period of different cotton varieties grown in the same field and obtained in different years, and the quality properties of the yarns obtained from these fibers were determined. As a result of the test, the quality characteristics were low due to the late harvest due to the exposure of the fibers to rain during the 2018 harvest period. According to the test results, the quality values of the fiber in the normal harvest period of 2019 and the yarns obtained from these fibers were better. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of late harvest period on fiber and yarn quality properties and thus on quality of textile products.

DAMPAK KEGAGALAN PANEN TERHADAP KETAHANAN PANGAN RUMAH TANGGA TANI PADI DI KABUPATEN BANYUMAS

This study aims to determine the impact of crop failure due to drought on household food security of rice farmers in Banyumas Regency which occurred during the second planting season in 2019. Analytical descriptive method was used in this study, with the technical implementation of the research using the survey method. The method of research analysis is by comparing the level of household food security of rice farmers in Banyumas Regency when farmers experience a normal harvest with when farmers experience harvest failure. Measurement of the level of food security using the Jonsson and Toole Model, namely by cross-classifying the Food Expenditure Share (FES) and Energy Adequacy Rate (EAR). After collecting and analyzing the data, it was found that crop failure did not affect the amount of energy adequacy ratio relative to farm households. However, crop failure affects the Share of Food Expenditure, where farming households that have high FES are increasing. With the increase in FES, this results in lower household food security, because FES and food security are inversely related. With the harvest failure, the number of farm households that are food resistant decreases, food vulnerability increases, food insecurity increases and food insecurity increases.

Role of methyl jasmonate application regime on fruit quality and bioactive compounds of sweet cherry at harvest and during cold storage

In the study, it is aimed to determine whether the harvest can be delayed with the application of MeJA in sweet cherry fruits. For this purpose, some of the fruits were collected on the estimated harvest date, while some were kept on the tree for an extra week. Delayed harvest caused a significant increase in fruit mass of control and MeJA treatment performed 1 week before the estimated harvest. On the other hand, in MeJA treatments made 2 or 3 weeks before estimated harvest, there were no significant differences between harvest dates in terms of fruit mass. Fruit firmness showed a significant decrease because of delayed harvest in both control and MeJA treatments. Firmness measured in late harvested fruits was lower in MeJA treatments compared to the control. Control fruits had higher cracking index than fruits treated with MeJA at normal harvest and delayed harvest date. Delaying harvest resulted in increases in vitamin total phenolics, total flavonoids, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity of fruits in both control and MeJA treatments. In the study, the effect of MeJA applications on the change in fruit quality characteristics during storage was also investigated. Compared to the control, MeJA treatments reduced weight loss and respiration rate during storage. The total phenolics, total flavonoids, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activities measured during the storage period were also found to be higher in MeJA applications compared to the control. Practical applications The study provides knowledge on the cold storage of sweet cherry. It presents the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) sprayed on trees in different regimes before harvest on the quality characteristics and bioactive compounds of sweet cherry during harvest and cold storage.

Progression of Kernel Mold on Hazelnut.

Hazelnut kernel mold, caused by a number of fungal species, has been a chronic problem in Pacific Northwest hazelnut production areas for many years. Two highly susceptible breeding selections and two commercial cultivars were used to investigate kernel mold development over time and possible correlations with rainfall. Nuts were allowed to naturally fall onto orchard soil, regularly collected, cracked open, and evaluated for kernel mold. Disease progress for each selection or cultivar was evaluated each year with both linear and exponential models. The general progression of kernel mold was similar for the two breeding selections and cultivars Ennis and Lewis, where kernel mold increased slowly during the nut dropping period but more rapidly after normal harvest. An exponential model described disease progress better than a linear model for 8 of the 10 significant disease progress curves examined. Although some years had significantly higher estimated rates of disease increase, this parameter was inversely related to the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The incidence of kernel mold did not significantly increase over time for 8 of the 18 disease progress curves examined, including 6 of 8 curves for commercial cultivars. The relationship between initial kernel mold incidence and AUDPC was described well with a simple linear model indicating that initial disease incidence appeared to be a good predictor of AUDPC. The longer nuts remained on the ground, especially after harvest, the higher the incidence of kernel mold. Kernel mold incidence was not significantly correlated with rainfall totals for any period of time from flowering to harvest. Multiple harvests ending shortly after all nuts have fallen should result in lower incidence of kernel mold for growers.

Effect of Harvest Time and Insect Control as Agriculture Practices on Maize Ear Rot Disease and Kernels Contamination by Some Mycotoxins

Under field conditions, reaction of maize (Zea mays) genotypes against ear and kernels rot disease was studied under natural infection at two different harvest time and insect control at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, seasons 2019 and 2020. In the field, split-plot design with three replicates was applied, maize hybrids were allocated in main plots, harvest time and insect control were assigned in sub plots. Results concluded that, hybrids of TWC353, SCs176 and 131 showed the highest mean ears rot infection and contamination with fumonisin (FB1) and aflatoxins, as well as the lowest yield weight. In reverse to, SCs10, 128 and 130 hybrids, they recorded the lowest response to disease infection and toxin contamination beside they gave the highest yield. Moreover, interaction between harvest time showed that, insect control by Pestban insecticide with normal harvest followed by early harvest led to yield enhancement and caused reduction on ear rot disease and its severity, FB1 and aflatoxins accumulation compared to normal harvest without controlling insects. Concerning of interaction between maize genotypes and insect control with normal harvest, it was found a reduction in grains contamination by toxins in most tested maize hybrids as a result to reduction of ear rot disease which affected by controlling of insect injury by Pestban insecticide, followed by interaction between early harvest and maize hybrids.

Effects of harvest time on seed vigor, enzyme activity and gene expression of conventional japonica rice

ABSTRACT Seed vigor is greatly influenced by harvest time. In this study, three conventional japonica rice varieties were used to investigate the optimal harvest time. Germination potential (GP), germination rate (GR), germination index (GI), vigor index (VI), mean germination time (MGT), field emergence rate (FER) and controlled deterioration germination rate (CDGR) were determined in 2018 and 2019. The results showed that seed vigor was firstly increased and then decreased with the increase in harvest time. Seed vigor reached maximum at approximately 50 days after flowering (DAF) while their yields had no significant changes compared to those at the normal harvest time (69 DAF). Compared to 69 DAF, GP, GR, GI, VI, FER, CDGR at 50 DAF were enhanced by 17.9%-113.3%, 1.4%-13.5%, 9.1%-35.8%, 19.8%-64.4%, 18.8%-130.3%, 7.5%-44.1%, respectively, and MGT was decreased by 10.0%-100.2%. On the basis, the changes in law of enzyme activity and gene expression related to seed vigor were analyzed. Interestingly, there were similar changing trends with seed vigor in peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX), and gene expression of CAT3, OsAPX2, OsCSD3 with the increase of harvest time. Our study suggests that timely early harvest is effective for seed production of conventional japonica rice.

Effect of shade cloth on the evolution of nutrient concentrations in apple tree leaves

Shade cloth or netting for reducing incident light is used commonly in apple (Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh.) orchards. However, this technology generates physiological and nutritional changes in plants that can require modifications in the management of commercial orchards. To contribute to the knowledge of nutritional changes in apple ‘Fuji’ leaves using shade cloths, a research was conducted in a commercial orchard in south-central Chile during three seasons. Two treatments (control without shade cloth and 30 % shade cloth cover) were evaluated with three replicates in a split-split plot design. Results showed changes in leaf nutritional concentrations in each season and among seasons. The use of shade cloth increased leaf concentrations of N, Mg, S, Mn, and Na. Results also suggest that reference concentrations for N, Mg, S, Mn, and Na nutrients for nutritional status analysis (between 16 and 20 wk after bud break) in the normal harvest period of apple ‘Fuji’ samples in orchards managed with shade cloth should be 2.09 %–2.24 % for N, 0.20 %-0.25 % for Mg, 0.12 %-0.15 % for S, 130−320 mg kg−1 for Mn, and 83−221 mg kg−1 for Na. In conclusion, the nutritional concentration in leaves of apple tree orchard is partially affected by the shade cloth use.

The impact of production shocks on maize markets in Ethiopia: implications for regional trade and food security

In this article, we demonstrated the dynamic impact of a bumper harvest and drought shocks on the maize market and on the trade regime in Ethiopia. Regional market integration of Ethiopia’s white maize market with the South Sudan and Kenyan maize markets was also examined using cointegration analysis. Despite the renewed conflict in South Sudan, Addis Ababa maize market is cointegrated with Juba’s maize market. The simulation analysis indicated that a 20% increase in maize yield could reduce the maize price by 81%. This implies a decrease in the maize price level of 70% (110 USD/t) below the export parity price. This makes maize exports profitable and shifts the trade regime from autarky to an export parity regime. On the other hand, the effect of a drought could increase maize prices by 61% in the short run (within the year). At the current market price, the domestic maize price is wandering between the border prices and it is unprofitable to export maize. Therefore, lifting the export ban, even during normal harvest seasons, would not do any harm to the domestic maize price.

Residual behavior and risk assessment of butralin in peanut fields.

Butralin is widely used to control single-leaf weeds and some dicotyledons. The application of butralin in the environment may cause residue beyond regulation criteria and residual toxicity. Therefore, it is important to detect and supervise the dissipation behavior of butralin in edible raw food and in the environment. The aim of this study was to monitor butralin in peanuts and soil under farmland conditions and examine the likely dietary risk assessment of butralin for Chinese people on the basis of residual concentrations. A method for the analysis of butralin residue and its dissipation in peanut plants and soil under field conditions was investigated. The results show that an analytical method for the quantization of butralin in peanuts and soil utilizing gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) was developed. Standard recovery experiments using three different butralin spiking levels of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0mgkg-1 in different samples (i.e., peanut kernels, shell, seedling, stalk, and soil) were conducted. The recoveries of butralin from all matrices ranged from 86 to 108% with relative standard deviations from 3 to 6% (n = 5). The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 0.01mgkg-1. After storage at - 20°C for 365days, the degradation rate of residues of butralin in peanut kernels was less than 30%, which met the storage stability test criteria for pesticide residues in stored commodities of plant origin. The dissipation half-lives of butralin ranged from 4.2 to 6.6days and 4.6 to 6.6days in peanut seedlings and soil, respectively, in farmland ecosystems. At the normal harvest time, the final residue concentrations of butralin in peanuts and soil were all below the LOQ. The final total risk quotient (RQ) values were much lower than RQ = 100%, which indicated that the long-run fitness risk associated with butralin residue in different groups of registered crops is correspondingly low for people in China. The current research results could offer guidance for the rational use of butralin and provide data support for the building of maximum residue limits (MRLs) in China.

Effects of using LED supplementary lighting to improve photosynthesis on growth and yield of strawberry forcing culture

Most strawberry fruits in Japan are produced under forced-production culture, using June-bearing cultivars. Strawberry plants are transplanted in a heated greenhouse in autumn and the normal harvest period is from late November to June. Insufficient solar radiation for fruit loading during the winter sometimes causes a decline in growth and yield. Therefore, we investigated the effects of supplementing natural light with artificial lights using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse (2400 m(2) in area) located in Yamamoto town, Miyagi prefecture, Japan (37.961°N, 140.877°E). Strawberry plants were transplanted in an elevated bed. We ran two experiments: experiment 1 was on light quality [photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) ratio of red light to blue light], while experiment 2 examined various lamp positions relative to the plants. In experiment 1, strawberry plants were exposed to three different qualities of light (red-to-blue ratios of 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1) with LED lamps (peak blue wavelength 450 nm, peak red wavelength 660 nm, SFL 120 BR-ERx). In experiment 2, LED lamps of two light qualities (red-to-blue ratios of 3:1 and 4:1) were installed in three different positions (above, in the middle, and at the bottom of treatment containers). Yields increased in almost all supplementary-light treatments relative to controls in both experiments. In experiment 1, the yield was higher when the PPFD ratio was 3:1 or 4:1 than when it was when 2:1. In experiment 2, strawberry yield increased by about 10% relative to the control, but no significant difference was observed among light positions or light quality. In addition, no increase in total dry weight was observed as a result of supplemental lighting, but the fruit distribution ratio (fruit dry matter/total dry matter) increased. It is possible that morphological changes caused by supplemental LED lighting led to the increase in fruit yield.

Consumption of Cherry out of Season Changes White Adipose Tissue Gene Expression and Morphology to a Phenotype Prone to Fat Accumulation.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the consumption of cherry out of its normal harvest photoperiod affects adipose tissue, increasing the risk of obesity. Fischer 344 rats were held over a long day (LD) or a short day (SD), fed a standard diet (STD), and treated with a cherry lyophilizate (CH) or vehicle (VH) (n = 6). Biometric measurements, serum parameters, gene expression in white (RWAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues, and RWAT histology were analysed. A second experiment with similar conditions was performed (n = 10) but with a cafeteria diet (CAF). In the STD experiment, Bmal1 and Cry1 were downregulated in the CHSD group compared to the VHSD group. Pparα expression was downregulated while Ucp1 levels were higher in the BAT of the CHSD group compared to the VHSD group. In the CAF-fed rats, glucose and insulin serum levels increased, and the expression levels of lipogenesis and lipolysis genes in RWAT were downregulated, while the adipocyte area increased and the number of adipocytes diminished in the CHSD group compared to the VHSD group. In conclusion, we show that the consumption of cherry out of season influences the metabolism of adipose tissue and promotes fat accumulation when accompanied by an obesogenic diet.

An Economic Analysis of the Effects of Harvest Timing on Yield, Quality, and Processing Contract Price for three Potato Varieties

Harvesting potatoes at or near physiological maturity increases the likelihood of producing high quality tubers which contributes to producing high quality processed end-product. Some growers harvest earlier than recommended in order to meet contract requirements and supply processors with early potatoes. Early harvest impacts the incentive-adjusted price (IAP) and revenue even after an early harvest incentive is applied. This study utilized a typical frozen processor contract and compared the economic impact of harvest timing (early, normal, and late) on the IAP of three potato varieties: Russet Burbank, Clearwater Russet, and Alpine Russet, grown in field trials at Parma, Idaho during 2014 and 2015. Contract quality incentives included percent of tubers greater than 170 g, percent sugar ends, percent of U.S. No. 1’s, and specific gravity. When compared to normal or late harvest, early harvest resulted in a decrease in the IAP and overall profit due to a significant reduction in specific gravity. Early harvest incentive did not offset the loss of revenue with Russet Burbank, but did offset revenue loss with Clearwater Russet and Alpine Russet. Clearwater Russet and Alpine Russet had significantly lower sugar end scores than Russet Burbank. Clearwater Russet consistently produced higher specific gravities and Alpine Russet produced larger tubers compared to Russet Burbank. Clearwater Russet and Alpine Russet have agronomic characteristics that can provide an increase in IAP over Russet Burbank.

National survey of Salmonella prevalence in lymph nodes of sows and market hogs.

Livestock are known to harbor Salmonella in their gastrointestinal (GI) tract and lymphatic tissues. Pathogens may be transferred from the GI tract to external carcass surfaces during normal harvest procedures but can be mitigated by antimicrobial carcass interventions. Lymph nodes (LNs) are typically encased in fat and are protected from antimicrobial carcass surface treatments, thus serving as a possible root cause of foodborne illnesses attributed to Salmonella in meat products. Members of the pork industry are committed to food safety and want to better understand Salmonella as a potential contaminant in pork products. To establish a baseline of Salmonella prevalence in porcine LNs across the United States, 21 commercial pork harvest facilities, representing northern (n = 12) or southern (n = 9) geographical regions, participated in this study. As processing volumes allowed, 25 carcasses were selected from each establishment. From each carcass, left and right superficial inguinal LNs (n =1,014 LNs) were removed and pooled to yield one sample per animal or n = 507 total LN samples. Salmonella prevalence rates differed (P < 0.05) between hog types in both regions. Specifically, 6.4% of market hog and 37.0% of sow samples were Salmonella positive in the northern region. This was reversed in the southern region as 13.0% of market hog and 4.8% of sow samples were Salmonella positive. There also was a difference (P < 0.05) in prevalence rates between northern and southern regions for sows, but not market hogs (P > 0.05). Type of chilling method (conventional, blast, or other) used at each market hog facility (n = 12) was documented. In the northern region, prevalence rates of Salmonella across chilling types were as follows: 20.0%, 2.7%, and 1.3% positive samples for conventional, other, and blast chill methods, respectively. In the southern region, 20.0% of samples were positive for conventional, 0.0% for blast, and 12.0% for other chilling methods. In both regions, samples from conventionally chilled carcasses returned more (P < 0.05) positive results than any other chill method. Overall, the higher rate of Salmonella prevalence in northern sows warrants further investigation, and members of the pork industry would benefit from the identification of possible methods to address the presence of Salmonella in porcine LNs.

Effects of Polyethylene Film Liner, 1-Methylcyclopropene, and Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Treatments on Fruit Quality Attributes of ‘Tonewase’ Persimmon Fruits During Cold Storage

This study was carried out over two consecutive years to evaluate the effects of polyethylene (PE) film liner, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) treatments on fruit quality attributes of ‘Tonewase’ persimmon in cold storage. Fruit was harvested at two different levels of maturity, at a normal commercial harvest date in the first year and 10 days earlier in the second year. The PE film liner treatment significantly suppressed losses of fresh weight during cold storage, compared with the other treatments in both years. However, peel color variables (L*, a*, and b*) in the calyx-end regions declined when treated with the PE film liner, compared with the other treatments in both years. None of the treatments affected ethylene production and fruit decay was not detected during storage between the treatments. The highest level of fruit softening was observed in persimmon fruit treated with the PE film liner, while the softening rate in the other treatments was less than 50% at the end of cold storage. Fruits in all treatments were unmarketable after 2 months of storage. For the persimmon fruit harvested at the normal harvest date, the treatment with 1-MCP resulted in the highest average respiration rate and the lowest soluble solids content (SSC), compared with fruit in the other treatments. For the persimmon fruit harvested at the early harvest date, flesh firmness of fruit treated with the PE film liner declined significantly, but less so than for fruit in the other treatments by the end of storage, whereas the SSC and respiration rate were not affected by any of the treatments during cold storage. The PE film liner significantly reduced fresh weight loss during cold storage and flesh firmness and peel color were significantly affected by this treatment in second year. Overall, the results suggested that fruit harvest time in terms of fruit maturity and PE film liner treatment would retain greater fruit quality attributes during storage.ibuting to cholinesterase inhibition decreases during preharvest and postharvest fruit maturation.

Evaluating operator harvest technology within a high-fidelity combine simulator

Farming today is more complex than it has ever been. Operators are increasingly reliant on technology to aid and improve harvest performance. New harvest technology is under development that will advise harvest operators on the proper adjustment of machine harvest settings, as well as automatically adjust these machine settings without operator intervention, improving the harvest performance of the machine, and reducing the cognitive load of the operator. In this work a high-fidelity, interactive harvest combine simulator is used to understand how harvest operators currently use existing harvest technology, and to evaluate the performance improvements provided by new prototype machine control algorithms and human control interface designs. The interactive harvest simulator is used to assess an intermediate advising step for machine controls adjustment compared with a path using fully autonomous machine adjustment. Testing novel harvest technologies using the virtual environment of the combine simulator introduces a specific set of constraints and challenges that are not found in most other vehicle simulation applications, including the need for accurate physical and visual crop flow representations and a requirement for realistic machine responses to a wide variety of operator input commands. Using a high-fidelity combine simulator for testing allows unique harvest scenarios to be repeated by experienced operators in a controlled virtual environment.This study evaluates operator acceptance, performance, and feedback for two novel pieces of harvest technology, Advisor and Director. Advisor is an operator-in-the-loop system providing feedback on proper machine control adjustments during normal harvest operations. Director is designed to continuously monitor the overall harvest health and autonomously adjust the combine harvest settings. In this study, operators harvested the same virtual field twice, first using Advisor, and a second time using Director. Operators overwhelmingly perceived both the Advisor and Director systems as optimizing the harvest performance of the combine and recommended both Advisor and Director. The results presented in this work show that both systems improved the perceived harvest performance, although the Advisor was not as highly rated. Participants recommended the automated nature of Director, and both operator feedback and physiological measures indicates that this harvest technology reduced the cognitive load of the operator. This work demonstrates two main points. First, the interactive combine simulator can be used for evaluating novel harvest technology in the lab. Second, that operators can quickly acclimate to automation within the combine and were able to harvest in a more productive manner when using higher levels of automation.