Harvest Period Research Articles

Application of metabolomics in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines: a review

Plant metabolites are the components endowing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with therapeutic effects, and, simultaneously, they are the primary targets for quality control. From germplasm selection and origin determination to field management, growth duration, harvesting and processing, and, finally, storage and transportation, each step profoundly influences TCM quality. The complexity of these plant or herb metabolites poses numerous quality control challenges. Metabolomics, as a comprehensive and systematic approach, has demonstrated value in this field. This technique not only meets the requirements for studying the complex mechanisms of TCM but also has significant advantages in identifying the TCM components, including active components. Therefore, in this article, several key factors affecting the chemical characteristics and quality traits of TCM, including their origin, harvesting period, medicinal parts, and processing methods, are researched. Additionally, the current challenges of integrating metabolomics with other omics technologies (transcriptomics, spatial metabolomics, etc.) are discussed. Furthermore, a future development trends and prospects are highlighted. With the continuous deepening of research and ongoing updates in technological capabilities, metabolomics will play an increasingly important role in the quality control of TCM, providing more scientific and robust support for quality assurance and safety evaluation.

Multi-Indicator Comprehensive Quality Evaluation of Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem Herbs at Different Harvesting Periods

This study aimed to investigate differences in the leaf biomasses, chemical compositions, and pharmacological activities of Turpinia arguta histocultured seedlings and live seedlings at different harvesting periods (S1, S2, S3, and S4) in order to determine the optimal harvesting period. Eleven indexes, including biomass, key active components, secondary metabolites, nutrient content, and antioxidant activity, were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography and colorimetric methods during different harvesting periods. The weights of the 11 indexes were calculated by principal component analysis, and then a comprehensive quality evaluation was performed. The results showed significant differences in leaf biomasses, key active components, secondary metabolites, nutrient contents, and antioxidant activities between the different harvesting periods. The highest quality score was obtained for the S4 period, indicating that the quality of T. arguta was the best at this time and that the S4 period was the most suitable harvesting period. At this period (S4), the medicinal component content, antioxidant activity, and comprehensive quality score of the histocultured seedlings of T. arguta were higher than those of the live seedlings, indicating the importance of tissue culture technology in enhancing the quality of T. arguta. This study provides more novel and abundant information and reference for determining the appropriate harvesting period of T. arguta, with the aim of providing newer scientific guidance for the management of herbs.

Factorial experiment to identify two-way interactions between temperature, harvesting period, hydraulic retention time, and light intensity that influence the biomass productivity and phosphorus removal efficiency of a microalgae–bacteria biofilm

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the two-way interaction and main effects of four factors on biomass productivity and phosphorus removal efficiency of a microalgae–bacteria biofilm grown in municipal anaerobic digester centrate, with factor levels and operating conditions selected to mimic a pilot rotating algae biofilm reactor (RABR) at a water resource recovery facility (WRRF) in Utah. The two-way interactions of harvesting period × light intensity (LI), harvesting period × temperature, and LI × hydraulic retention time (HRT) had significant effects on biomass productivity: At high temperature and at low LI, highest biomass productivity was achieved with a 14-day harvesting period (25.5 and 10.9 g AFDW/m2/day, respectively), but at medium temperature and at high LI, highest biomass productivity was achieved with a 7-day harvesting period (16.1 and 16.4 g AFDW/m2/day, respectively). At high HRT, highest biomass productivity occurred at low LI (11.9 g AFDW/m2/day), but at low HRT, highest biomass productivity occurred at high LI (19.3 g AFDW/m2/day). Phosphorus removal was strongly influenced by LI (>70% removal at 1,600 μmol/m2/s) and occurred most rapidly during the first 2 days HRT (e.g. 2,270 TP/m2/day for days 0–2 vs. 217 mg TP/m2/day for days 2–4), which, in combination with chemical equilibrium modeling, suggests precipitation contributed significantly to phosphorus removal in this study.

Use of HANTS algorithm in Sentinel-2 images for interpolation of missing data: a case-study for soy agricultural areas in periods of growth and harvesting

Abstract. Information about the current state of an agricultural culture can be fundamental in decision making, varying from quantity of fertilizers to be used in an area to estimating the productivity of a harvest in a period to establish credits payment. Satellite images with reasonable spatial resolution like Sentinel-2 are a powerful tool to visualize agricultural areas production, especially with the application of multispectral indexes like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Yet, due to the limitation of temporal resolution of satellites and periods with large cloudy weather can make the analysis difficult. This study proposed the use of the harmonic analysis time series algorithm (HANTS) to aid the incompleteness of time series obtained by the available satellite images in a case study of soy culture in Brazil. By applying the algorithm, a harmonic interpolation is obtained to produce a full daily NDVI time series from the beginning to end of the study period, facilitating further analysis to obtain metrics of interest. In this study, time series with gaps on specified periods are created based on full time series, then interpolated and compared with the real ones based on root mean squared error (RMSE) to access its accuracy.

Aged Refuse Recycling to Treat Wastewater from Coffee Processing

Over the last two decades, the use of bioreactors filled with aged refuse extracted from closed areas of landfills has proven to be a viable alternative for the treatment of different types of wastewater. This study presents the results obtained during the evaluation of aged refuse used as filling material for a downflow bioreactor during the removal of the organic load present in wastewater generated in the wet processing of coffee. The tests were carried out over a period of 120 days, with 15 days to start up and stabilize the bioreactor and 105 days to perform treatability tests. The aged refuse, once extracted, was dried and sifted to a particle size of less than 50 mm. The bioreactor used had a cylindrical geometry (Ø = 0.20 m, and h = 3.40 m), and it was fed with hydraulic loads of 50, 100, and 150 L m−3 d−1. The analysis of the data obtained shows that the system studied achieves the removal of 98.3% of the initial organic load when fed with 150 L m−3 d−1. This showcases recycling aged refuse as a technically viable alternative to treat the wastewater generated during coffee processing. Also, the evaluated system has the advantage of needing a short period of time to achieve its stabilization, which turns out to be of great value, especially in its possible use in the treatment of residual water generated in the harvest of agricultural products where the period of harvest is very short.

Effects of Protected Cultivation on Agronomic, Yield, and Quality Traits of Yard-Long Bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis)

Protected cultivation is the sustainable approach to horticultural crop production under adverse climates. In this study, the performance of yard-long beans under three protected cultivations, including single-span polyhouse (SSP), five-span polyhouse (FSP), and insect-proof net house (IPN), is examined and compared to open field cultivation. The above protected cultivation can extend the harvest period of pods by 6–10 days, improve their quality, and increase yield by 15.6% to 25.1%, reducing the incidence and severity of thrips and Cercospora leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Among them, yard-long beans grown in SSP are longer and straighter in shape and have the lowest incidence and severity of pests and diseases and the highest levels of total polyphenols, total sugar, soluble protein, starch, and fiber. This indicates that protected cultivation has broad application in the production of yard-long beans. Through full subset regression analysis (FSRA), we report here that the yield and of yard-long bean occurrences of pests and diseases were highly impacted by climatic factors, especially UV radiation intensity and air temperature. These results have considerable implications for improving pod yield and quality and green prevention and control of pests and diseases through optimizing facility structure and fertilizer management.

Design and experiment of a deviation information detection mechanism for sugar beet harvesters based on agricultural machinery and agronomy integration

To address large geometric shape differences, poor ridge distribution straightness and the uncertain spatial distribution of beet roots during the harvesting period, as well as damage caused by the inaccurate row correction detection mechanisms of combine harvesters, this study conducts a design analysis and performance tests of deviation information detection mechanisms based on the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy. The agronomic process of mechanized sugar beet production was analyzed, the geometric dimensions of root tubers under typical planting patterns of typical varieties in main sugar beet production areas were measured, and a three-dimensional geometric model of beet root tubers was established. A device for measuring ridge shape and root tuber distribution was designed, and agronomic parameters during the harvesting period, such as plant spacing, ridge height, unearthed height, and deviation distance of beet root tubers, were measured and analyzed. A spatial model of ridge shape and beet root tuber growth distribution on the ridge during harvesting was established. The overall structure of the deviation information detection mechanism was analyzed and designed, and the structural forms and key parameters of key mechanisms, such as left‒right swing detection and up‒down floating profiling, were designed on the basis of agronomic parameter analysis. Using the missed detection rate as the evaluation index, field performance tests of the deviation information detection mechanism were conducted. The results revealed that when the average forward speed of the harvester was 0.84 m/s, the average missed detection rate of the deviation information detection mechanism was 0.56%. This method has high adaptability and detection accuracy and achieves a high level of integration for agricultural machinery (detection spatial region of the detection mechanism) and agronomy (beet root distribution spatial region). This study provides a technical basis and methodological reference for improving the quality and efficiency of automatic row correction combined with harvesting operations for crops such as sugar beets.

Fisheries-induced life-history changes recover in experimentally harvested fish populations.

Overfishing is one of the greatest threats to fish populations. Size-selective harvesting favours faster juvenile growth, younger maturation, small adult body size and low reproductive output. Such changes might be slow to recover and ultimately threaten population fitness and survival. To study the recovery potential of exploited experimental populations, we compared life-history traits in three differently size-selected experimental lines (large-selected, small-selected and random-selected) after five generations of harvesting and 10 subsequent generations of recovery (i.e. cessation of harvesting). We show that after a recovery period twice as long as the harvesting period, the differences in adult body size among the selection lines have eroded. While there was still a significant body size difference among the selection lines, this did not translate to differences in reproductive success. Although size-selective harvesting causes phenotypic changes in exploited fish populations, we show that such changes are reversible if the recovery period is long enough.

Change Patterns of Major Functional Components in the Loquat Summer Shoot Leaf during Annual Growth

Loquat leaves are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and food processing as raw materials. To provide a theoretical basis for suitable harvesting periods based on the utilization of distinct components, the change patterns of major functional components in the annual growth of loquat leaves were investigated. In this study, the summer loquat leaves were sampled regularly during their annual growth, and the contents of seven main functional components and 13 monomer components were determined. The results showed that there was a regular change pattern for major functional components during loquat annual growth from Jul 2020 to Jun 2021; however, the change trend was different among different components. Among them, the contents of total flavonoids, total phenols, total triterpenoid acids, vitamin C, asiatic acid, quillaic acid, corosolic acid, and chlorogenic acid presented an overall upward trend. The content of maslinic acid showed a downward trend, whereas the content of neochlorogenic acid did not change much throughout the whole growth period. The content changes in the loquat leaves were affected by the light durations and temperature changes in different seasons, with mutual transit during the flowering and fruit growth processes. Sampling in May to June was found to be a most optimized option when applied in Chinese medicine processing; however, the degree of fibrosis is another indicator when it is used as food raw material. This study revealed the change pattern of major functional components of loquat leaves during the annual growth period and provides a theoretical basis for the reasonable harvesting period of loquat leaves as raw materials for processing different types of products.

Nontargeted metabonomics analysis of Scorias spongiosa fruiting bodies at different growth stages.

Scorias spongiosa is an edible fungus. In this study, a nontargeted metabonomic analysis was conducted on the fruiting bodies of this fungus at five growth stages, and the differences in metabolites and the related metabolic pathways during growth and development were analysed. This study revealed that the five growth stages of S. spongiosa fruiting bodies were associated with 15 pathways. These 15 metabolic pathways are speculated to play important roles in the growth of S. spongiosa fruiting bodies. Eleven bioactive substances were identified among the differentially expressed compounds. The content of six bioactive substances was highest at the S1 growth stage among all the growth stages. The metabolites related to sugar metabolism were enriched in three main pathways: pentose and gluconate interconversions, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle). These results suggested that the S1 growth stage can be selected as the harvest period of S. spongiosa in fruiting bodies to retain most of the bioactive substances. Pentose and gluconate interconversions, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the TCA cycle are related to changes in polysaccharide content during the growth of S. spongiosa fruiting bodies.

Effects of Harvest Time and Acacia crassicarpa Age on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Apis mellifera L. Honey in Tropical Indonesian Forests

The comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical profile of monofloral honey derived from Acacia crassicarpa, specifically in the Indonesian tropical forest ecosystem, has not been fully explored. The physicochemical characteristics of honey significantly influence its quality and consumer acceptance. Harvest time and the age of Acacia plants, which are suspected to affect honey’s physicochemical properties, are this study’s focal points. Our objective is to analyze the impact of harvest time and Acacia age on the physicochemical characteristics of honey. Using a complete randomized block design, treatments were administered at 14, 21, and 30 days of harvest within three Acacia age groups: 3, 8, and 18 months. The honey composition was assessed following the Indonesian National Standard 8664:2018 procedure. The statistical analysis determined the optimal harvest period for honey by assessing its physicochemical properties and comparing them to the Indonesian National Standard 8664:2018 procedure (SNI 8664:2018 standards). One-way analysis of variance evaluated the effects of harvest time and plant age on composition, followed by a least significant difference tests to identify significant differences between harvest times. Results indicate a significant influence of harvest time and Acacia age on all honey composition variables, including diastase enzyme activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, moisture level, sugar content, and acidity (P<0.01). Our findings suggest optimal honey harvest at 30 days, aligning with the 8th and 18th months of A. crassicarpa. Most variables met SNI 8664:2018 standards, except acidity levels. Further investigation is needed to discern the causes of acidity in Apis mellifera honey from Indonesian peat swamp forests.

Impact of Harvest Delay and Barley Variety on Grain Nutritional Composition and Mycotoxin Contamination

This study investigated the effects of delayed harvesting, varying meteorological conditions, and barley variety on Fusarium spp. infection rates, nutritional composition, and mycotoxin contamination in barley grains. Field experiments were conducted from 2020 to 2022 and involved two barley varieties: ‘Laureate’ for malting and ‘Luokė’ for feed. The results indicated that the dominant Fusarium species isolated were F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides, F. tricinctum, and F. equiseti. These tended to increase in number with delayed harvest times and were more prevalent during harvest periods of higher precipitation (p < 0.05). Malting barley had higher starch and lower protein content compared to feed barley (p < 0.05). Delayed harvesting generally increased dry matter, crude fat, and crude ash contents while decreasing crude protein, zinc, and iron contents (p < 0.05). Mycotoxin analysis revealed significant differences under specific weather conditions. HT-2 toxin levels were higher under slightly warmer and wetter conditions during flowering, with harvest conditions similar to the long-term average. Zearalenone levels increased with dry, warm growing seasons followed by rainy harvests. Nivalenol and enniatin levels increased with rainy growing seasons and dry, warm harvests. Deoxynivalenol concentrations did not reach the limit of quantification throughout the study. No consistent trend was observed for higher contamination in any specific barley variety (p > 0.05). The strongest correlations between mycotoxins and nutritional value indicators were observed with less-studied mycotoxins, such as nivalenol and enniatins, which exhibited negative correlations with crude protein (p < 0.01), crude fat (p < 0.05), and zinc (p < 0.01), and positive correlations with crude ash (p < 0.05) and phosphorus (p < 0.01).

Mini Tractor Operated Groundnut Digger Cum Inverter: A Concept

Groundnut holds a pivotal role in Indian agriculture, serving as a critical crop contributing to both the economic and nutritional sectors of the country. Timely harvesting of groundnut is a crucial phase in its cultivation, particularly during peak seasons, when labor shortages can lead to delays, resulting in significant yield losses. To mitigate labor constraints during peak harvesting periods and ensure timely operations, a conceptual model of a groundnut digger has been proposed. This digger is designed to uproot, collect, and transport groundnut plants, inverting them as it moves through the field. The groundnut digger consists of two primary units: a digging unit and a conveying unit. The digging unit is engineered to penetrate the soil to a precise depth, extracting the groundnut plants along with the attached pods to the surface. The conveying unit is responsible for lifting the plants and transporting them to a pod-inverting mechanism, which inverts the plant to reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination in the pods due to excessive soil moisture.

The Effect of Transition to Close-to-Nature Forestry on Growing Stock, Wood Increment and Harvest Possibilities of Forests in Slovakia

The aim of the study is to quantify the impacts of a possible transition to close-to-nature forestry in Slovakia and to compare the expected development of the total volume production, growing stock, merchantable wood increment and harvesting possibilities of forests in Slovakia with current conventional management using the FCarbon forest-growth model and available data from the Information System of Forest Management. The subject of the study was all forest stands available for wood supply (FAWS). The simulations were run in annual iterations using tree input data aggregated over 10-year-wide age classes. The calculation of wood increments was based on available growth models. In the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, stock losses were based on the actual intensity of wood harvesting in the reference period 2013–2022. In the scenario of the transition to close-to-nature forest management, the losses were specifically modified from the usual harvesting regime at the beginning, to the target harvesting mode in selective forest at the end of the simulated period. With the modelling method used, a gradual increase in forest stocks occurred in both evaluated scenarios in the monitored period, namely by 10% in the case of BAU and by 23% in the case of close-to-nature forest management until 2050. In absolute mining volume, CTNF is by 5–10% lower than BAU management, with the difference gradually decreasing. The results show that the introduction of close-to-nature forest management will temporarily reduce the supply of wood to the market, but this reduction will not be significant and will be compensated by a higher total volume production, and thus also by increased carbon storage in forests.

Determination of Seed Physiological Maturity and Invigoration using Plasma-Activated Water and Ultrafine Bubble Water on Okra Seeds

Seeds physical and physiological qualities are primarily determined by seed physiological maturity. Seed enhancement technology has developed rapidly, including using ultrafine bubbles (UFB) and plasma-activated water (PAW) to increase seed viability. This study aimed to determine seed physiology maturity on okra seed to get the optimal harvesting period seeds and to examine the most effective seed enhancement plasma-activated water and ultrafine-bubble Water. The first experiment was arranged using completely randomized design with fruit maturity as the single factor, harvested at 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks after anthesis (WAA), with three replications. The second experiment used factorial completely randomized design; the first factor is seed lots with different storage times (fresh seed and one-year storage seed), and the second factor seed invigoration using UFB (20 ppm dissolved oxygen) and PAW (10-, 20-, and 30-min exposure) as the second factor. Untreated seeds were used as control. Fifty seeds were used in each treatment. Okra seed physiological maturity was reached at 5 WAA based on seed dry weight, germination capacity, seedling vigor, and speed of germination. The pod color at 5 WAA is olive brown, and seed testa has dark greyish purple. Plasma-activated water at 10 minutes exposure increased the vigor index of seed lots stored for one year by 86% and PAW20 by 87%. Plasma activated water at 10-, 20- and 30-minutes exposures significantly increased the seedling vigor index and germination speed of fresh seeds harvested at 5 WAA.

Characterization of Changes in Ripening Process of Volatile Apple Compounds Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS Analysis

The aim of this study was to identify the aromatic compounds present in different apple varieties and to gain insights into the changes in the aromatic compounds during ripening. Three apple varieties (“Red Astrachan”, “Ning Qiu”, and “Golden Delicious”) at different stages of ripening were selected for this study; their peel and pulp were analyzed via headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and 30 volatile compounds were identified. The samples’ differences were analyzed using heat map cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and an independent samples t-test. The results showed that the content of aromatic compounds in the peel was higher than that in the pulp. The relative content of esters in the aromatic compounds of the three apple varieties followed the order of pulp > peel and “Ning Qiu” > “Golden Delicious” > “Red Astrachan”. This suggests that “Ning Qiu” combines the advantages of its parents in terms of its aroma content. The highest concentrations of aroma compounds in “Red Astrachan” and “Ning Qiu” accumulate before the ripening stage, and care should be taken to choose an appropriate harvesting time according to the different needs during production. The main compounds of “Red Astrachan” are aldehydes and C8 esters, while those of “Ning Qiu” and “Golden Delicious” are alkenes and esters. After analyzing the relative odor activity values (rOAVs) of key volatile compounds and their aroma descriptors during the harvest period, acetic acid pentyl ester, butanoic acid hexyl ester, hexanoic acid hexyl ester, and 2-ethyl-1-Hexanol were found to contribute the most to the overall flavor of the peel and pulp. “Ning Qiu” combines the parental advantages of the concentrated peel of “Red Astrachan” and the astringent pulp of “Golden Delicious”, with compounds in its composition that give a pleasing aroma. Mature “Ning Qiu” fruits have a more intense aroma and fruity flavor. The development of flavor-specific varieties has provided the theoretical basis for future research in molecular hybridization, molecular-assisted breeding, and the molecular biology of apple flavor synthesis and metabolism.

Thermal performance of solar dryer using bio-composite insulation material based on date palm waste for drying of hot chili: experimental investigation in Algerian Sahara

This paper investigates the thermal efficiency of solar dryers using different insulation materials, focusing on a bio-composite derived from discarded date palm residues. The current study introduces this sustainable material, created from local palm waste, as insulation material in Solar Air Heaters (SAHs) for agricultural products drying purposes. Thus, two SAH models are designed, fabricated and compared for their thermal efficiencies: the first one used the bio-composite (Model A) as insulation material and the second one is equipped with a polystyrene sheet in the rear insulation (Model B). The thermal performance of these models are assessed, alongside the drying kinetics of Algerian chili at different maturity stages under the climate of Biskra, Algeria. A local product that we aim to promote (Arab chili), widely used in southern Algeria during the harvest period in summer and early spring. It is generally grown using traditional techniques despite its very delicious taste, while (Gazelle’s horn) chili is grown in greenhouses throughout the year. Although the polystyrene-insulated SAH shows slightly better thermal efficiency, the bio-composite model achieves satisfactory drying temperatures, drying chili in 5 hours and 30 minutes.

DETERMINANTS OF FARMER’S PERCEPTION OF PROSTEPHANUS TRUNCATUS (HORN) DAMAGES AND LOSSES ON STORED MAIZE IN TOGO AND BENIN (WEST AFRICA)

Prostephanus truncatus is one of the most damaging post-harvest pests of stored maize in Africa. Research Institutions disseminated Various control strategies during the 1990s in West Africa with significant results. What is farmers’ perception of this pest in decades after those control strategies? This study aimed to assess determinants of farmers’ perception of current damages and losses caused by Prostephanus truncatus on stored maize in southern of the two countries (Benin and Togo). 300 maize farmers (150 from Togo and 150 from Benin) were randomly selected from 10 villages per country. Descriptive statistics were used in addition to Logit and Tobit regression analysis. The results showed that 38% of farmers (35% in Togo and 41% in Benin) still perceive Prostephanus truncatus as the most damaging pest of stored maize. Logit's results showed that factors influencing farmers’ perception of Prostephanus truncatus were group membership, contact with extension agents, and period of maize harvesting. The results from the Tobit regression model showed that factors such as the maize variety, the form of maize storage (with husk), and the storage period influence the extent of damage and loss caused by Prostephanus truncatus. Farmers still perceive Prostephanus truncatus as the main post-harvest pest causing high damage and losses on maize. It is recommended that further dissemination of maize storage technology to reduce postharvest losses.

Rapid discrimination and authentication of Lushan Yunwu tea with different harvest periods based on Nano-ESI-MS combined with chemometric analysis

The economic value and flavor of tea with different harvest periods vary greatly. Therefore, rapid discrimination and authentication are important for quality control and commercialization of tea. Nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-MS) is an emerging technique in food authenticity and traceability due to the minimal sample preparation required and short analysis time. In this study, Nano-ESI-MS method was established for rapid discrimination and authentication of Lushan Yunwu tea (LYT). The results showed that Nano-ESI-MS could not only effectively distinguishing LYT of different harvest periods but also differentiating Mingqian tea adulterated with 5% Yuhou tea and Autumn tea, respectively, with 58 and 17 compounds were considered as markers, respectively. The decision tree and linear discriminant analysis were used to identify the adulteration of tea with classification accuracy of models of training and validation sets were higher than 99.2% and 86.9%, respectively. Moreover, Nano-ESI-MS was used to track the changes of these compounds during tea processing, including amino acids, caffeine, and catechins. The Nano-ESI-MS method could be regarded as a powerful analytical tool for rapid discrimination and authentication of tea.

Determination of the Effects of Aminoethoxyvinilglycine (AVG) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) Applications on Pre-Harvest Fruit Drop Amount and Fruit Quality in Hakko Pear Cultivar

This study was conducted to determine the effects of pre-harvest Aminoethoxyvinylgylcine (AVG) and Gibberellic acid (GA3) applications on the pre-harvest fruit drop amount and fruit quality in the 'Hakko' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivar grafted on BA29 rootstock in a private orchard in the Bala district of Ankara in 2021-2022. It was conducted in an orchard belonging to a producer. 50-100-150 mg/l AVG and 25-50-75 mg/l GA3 were applied 4 weeks before the estimated harvest date. Fruits are harvested at full maturity date; Pomological properties such as cumulative drop percentage, yield, fruit weight, fruit width and length, fruit stem width and length, fruit flesh firmness, fruit color, and chemical properties such as soluble solids content (SSC), pH and titratable acidity (TA) were evaluated. It was observed that all doses of AVG and GA3 during the harvest period reduced the cumulative casting rate compared to the control application (6.78%). In general, the yield per tree was found to be high in GA3 applications. In both AVG and GA3 applications, its effects on fruit weight, fruit width and length, fruit flesh firmness, SSC and pH were found to be statistically significant. It was observed that in both AVG and GA3 applications, the amount of fruit drop pre-harvest decreased and fruit quality characteristics were better than the control.