Fruit Quality Research Articles

Effect of Tapioca and Tragacanth based edible coatings on the physiological, chemical, microbial, and phytochemical quality of Tomato fruits

AbstractIn recent years, edible coatings have emerged as a promising solution to extend the shelf life, and maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables. The purpose of the study was the development and application of gum Tragacanth and Tapioca‐based edible coatings to extend the storability and quality of tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L). Different treatments were prepared with combinations of Tragacanth gum (0.5, 1, 1.5 g) and Tapioca (1, 1.5, 2 g). Parameters such as weight loss, sugars, decay percentage, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and flavonoid contents, microbial counts, and sensory evaluation were measured during 14 days storage. Results revealed that the application of gum Tragacanth and Tapioca‐based coatings significantly reduced weight loss, decay percentage, and microbial counts of treated tomatoes as compared to the control group. The coated tomatoes exhibited improved sensory features, with a slower rate of softening, during the storage. There was a significant increment in total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity of coated fruits during 7 days of storage. The observed improvements in the postharvest quality attributes suggest that the gum Tragacanth and Tapioca‐based edible coatings have the potential to retain and enhance the nutritional and bioactive contents and shelf life of tomato.

Effects of Rainfall and Harvest Time on Postharvest Storage Performance of ‘Redson’ Fruit: A New Red Pomelo x Grapefruit Hybrid

‘Redson’ is a new triploid, red-fleshed pomelo × grapefruit hybrid. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of rainfall, harvest time, tree age, and yield on the postharvest storage performance of ‘Redson’ fruit. During 2022/23, two postharvest storage trials were conducted with early- and late-harvested fruit. The fruit from the early harvest retained good quality for up to 16 weeks of storage at 7.5 °C plus 1 week at 22 °C, whereas the late-harvested fruit suffered from a high decay incidence. During 2023/24, we expanded the postharvest trials to nine different fruit sets harvested from early season (late October) until the end of the season (January). Fruit quality was examined under the same storage conditions after 6 and 16 weeks, and the results indicated that early- and mid-season fruit retained good quality with minimal decay incidence even after prolonged storage for 16 weeks, whereas the late-season fruit suffered from significant decay incidences of 17–22% and a decline in flavor acceptability. Further analysis revealed strong and significant correlations between various rainfall parameters and harvest time and decay incidences. Overall, early-harvested fruit during the autumn had a superior postharvest storage performance, whereas late-harvested fruit during the rainy winter suffered from decay development.

Characterization of Prickly Pear plantations in semi-arid zones! A green revolution in East Algeria: Case of the Tébessa region

The study carried out on the prickly pear shrub, in three potential production sites belonging to the commune of Ain Zerga district of Tébessa in the extreme east of the Algerian arid zone. The aim of this study was to try to interpret the main characteristics and sources of variability of this shrub of multiple interests. Carried out in 2023 on orchards planted with adult Opuntia ficus indica, developed in 45 orchards divided into 15 per site located in three localities, namely Henchir Lahdid, El Guefaifia, and Ouled Mebarek. The trees are grown extensively, with production starting in the last week of May. The cactus shrub reaches an equivalent production (10.23) kg and a production of 11,137.65kg/ha. At the time of the commercial harvest, indicated by the change in skin color, we carried out a random collection of 05 fruits per orchard, i.e. 75 fruits per site (225 fruits); these fruits were evaluated by various measurements. Shrub-specific variables such as fruit position in the canopy, cladode length, width, density, and inter-line spacing, number and weight of fruits per tree and per cladode, and annual productivity were studied. These variables per cactus shrub and fruit changed significantly as a function of climatic and edaphic environmental conditions, i.e. site and altitude, while the number of seeds/fruits was conditioned by volume. Fruit weight varied greatly within the same tree, influenced by the number of fruits per tree and the surface area of the cladodes; this variability decreased for cladodes bearing more than six fruits. Interception of climatic conditions (light) and cladode dry weight were the sources of variability in fruit weight, whereas Opuntia plant/hectare density had no effect on fruit quality.

Genetic Variation, Polyploidy, Hybridization Influencing the Aroma Profiles of Rosaceae Family.

The fragrance and aroma of Rosaceae plants are complex traits influenced by a multitude of factors, with genetic variation standing out as a key determinant which is largely impacted by polyploidy. Polyploidy serves as a crucial evolutionary mechanism in plants, significantly boosting genetic diversity and fostering speciation. This review focuses on the Rosaceae family, emphasizing how polyploidy influences the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are essential for the aromatic characteristics of economically important fruits like strawberries, apples, and cherries. The review delves into the biochemical pathways responsible for VOC biosynthesis, particularly highlighting the roles of terpenoids, esters alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenolics, hydrocarbons, alongside the genetic mechanisms that regulate these pathways. Key enzymes, such as terpene synthases and alcohol acyltransferases, are central to this process. This review further explores how polyploidy and hybridization can lead to the development of novel metabolic pathways, contributing to greater phenotypic diversity and complexity in fruit aromas. It underscores the importance of gene dosage effects, isoenzyme diversity, and regulatory elements in determining VOC profiles. These findings provide valuable insights for breeding strategies aimed at improving fruit quality and aligning with consumer preferences. Present review not only elucidates the complex interplay between genomic evolution and fruit aroma but also offers a framework for future investigations in plant biology and agricultural innovation.

Effect of Tree Density on Yield and Fruit Quality of the Grafted Hazelnut Cultivar 'Tonda Francescana®'.

Optimizing planting density is crucial for balancing resource competition, light penetration, and tree productivity in orchard systems. This study investigateed the impact of planting density on the yield and fruit quality of the hazelnut cultivar 'Tonda Francescana®' grafted onto Corylus colurna L. rootstocks. The research aimed to assess how different planting densities influenced light penetration, canopy volume, yield, and the nutritional profile of hazelnuts during their sixth growing season. Three planting densities were tested: 625, 1250, and 2500 trees per hectare (low, medium, and high density, respectively). The results show that medium-density planting provided the best balance between light availability, canopy development, and yield efficiency. The synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) was more prominent in the medium-density system (80.2% and 10.3%, respectively), suggesting a favorable metabolic response to moderate competition for resources. In contrast, high-density planting yielded the most per hectare (2898 kg/ha) but exhibited lower individual tree productivity (1.16 kg). Low-density planting had the highest light penetration (53%) but lower overall yield (822 kg/ha) and quality, with greater starch accumulation in the fruit. In general, medium-density planting optimized both yield and kernel quality, with potential implications for orchard management and breeding strategies to enhance hazelnut production and nutritional value.

Dimethyl trisulfide reduces postharvest anthracnose and enhances mango quality, and a potential molecular mechanism against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Mango anthracnose, mainly caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is the major destructive postharvest disease of mango during storage and transport. Dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), an organic volatile found in some microorganisms or plants, inhibited growth of C. gloeosporioides in vitro, but its effects on mango anthracnose and its molecular mechanisms of action have not been well characterized. In this study, the EC50 of DMTS against Colletotrichum spp. from mango mainly ranged from 2.3 to 20.0 μL/L. In vivo, the fumigation rates of 20 μL/L of DMTS for 24 h, or 80 μL/L for 3 h or 6 h could effectively reduce severity of anthracnose (natural inoculum) on postharvest mangoes with inhibitory effects of 61.7 %, 65.7 %, and 69.4 %, respectively, as observed 10 days after treatment. Furthermore, there was no detectable DMTS residue in mango skin or flesh, and an overall improvement in the quality of the fruit with higher soluble solids, total sugars, vitamin c, and β-carotene, and lower titratable acidity than the non-treated control. In addition, DMTS could significantly reduce ergosterol content in mycelia of C. gloeosporioides, and gene expression analysis showed DMTS significantly suppressed expression of ergosterol biosynthesis-related genes Cgerg6 and Cgerg11 after mycelia were exposed to DMTS. Knock-out mutants for each of these two genes showed reduced sensitivity to DMTS. After gene complementation in situ, the sensitivity of complementary transformants to DMTS was restored to that of the parental strain. Therefore, we concluded that the genes Cgerg6 and Cgerg11 are involved in an interaction with the antifungal activity of DMTS. This is the first study to demonstrate a control effect of DMTS on mango postharvest anthracnose resulting in reduced disease severity and enhanced fruit quality. Transformant studies also revealed some potential molecular mechanisms of the antifungal activity of DMTS that may lead to improved management of mango postharvest anthracnose.

A transcription factor, PbWRKY24, contributes to russet skin formation in pear fruits by modulating lignin accumulation

Abstract Skin color is one of the major traits of fruit appearance quality in pear (Pyrus), which affects the fruit commodity value. Russet skin protects pear fruits from environmental stresses and its formation process is closely linked to lignin accumulation. However, the molecular regulatory networks underlying russet skin formation in pear fruits involve complex secondary metabolic pathways and remain elusive. Here, we explored the regulatory mechanisms underlying lignin accumulation in pear skin based on transcriptome sequencing, co-expression network analysis, and gene expression profiling. We identified a WRKY transcription factor gene, PbWRKY24, that regulates russet skin formation in pear fruits. The relative expression of PbWRKY24 in russet pear skin was significantly correlated with lignin content. We then verified the function of PbWRKY24 in lignin accumulation via genetic transformation. DNA affinity purification sequencing revealed that PbWRKY24 directly binds to the promoter of a lignin biosynthesis gene, PbPRX4. This binding was confirmed by yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Overexpression of PbPRX4 in pear skin stimulated lignin accumulation and consequently promoted russet skin formation. This study provides a glimpse into the intricate lignin biosynthesis mechanisms during russet skin formation in pear fruits, which is of practical significance to pear breeding for fruit quality.

Status and Integrated Management of White Mango Scale on Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) in Ethiopia: A Review

Mango is attacked by many insect pests which reduce the quality and productivity of the crop. Among the insect pests attacking mango plant, white mango scale is the most devastating insect pest. White mango scale is a new insect pest and a major problem of mango production in Ethiopia. It has been determined that the white mango scale is a new, quickly increasing, and devastating insect pest of mango. It emerged as an upsetting insect pest that now harms mango output, resulting in 50 to 100% losses and forcing the plant out of production in the majority of Ethiopian mango-growing regions. Because there are fewer quarantine restrictions and easier applicability through transport agents, the insect has spread quickly across the country since it was first discovered in 2010. In a short period of time, the insect invaded nearly all of Ethiopia's mango-growing regions, and the country was placed on the list of countries affected with the new white mango scale. Its polyphagous behavior and sucking the plant sap, the insect pest severely harms mango shoots, twigs, leaves, branches, and fruits, which results in significant fruit quality and quantity losses. The insect's hard white scales make it difficult to control with chemical pesticides, in addition to other uncontrolled activities. Although no recognized chemical control methods for the white mango scale are successful, other management strategies for the pest include cultural, biological, chemical, and integrated pest management. White mango scale damage had an impact on the economy, society, environment, and other factors. Therefore, urgently coordinated actions against this uncontrolled white-scale dissemination and the harm it causes in Ethiopia are required.

Increasing Productivity and Fruit Quality of ‘Mutsu’ Apple Orchard by Dwarfing Treatments

The aim of this 2022 study was to evaluate the effect of tree growth-limiting treatments on the tree yield and quality of ‘Mutsu’ apples. The experiment was established on 7-year-old trees on M.9 rootstock in a commercial orchard in Wilga near Warsaw. Growth-limiting treatments included unilateral root pruning, spraying the trees with Regalis Plus 10 WG at various times, and spraying with Flordimex 480 SL. Eight combinations were used, with four replicates of 20 trees per repetition. The measurements included fruit set, length of this year’s shoots, yield per tree, average fruit weight, and the size structure of the yield. The distinctive physiological status of the apples was assessed directly after harvest, directly after 8 months of storage under CA conditions (1.5% CO2, 1.5% O2, 1 °C, >92% RH) and after an additional 7 days of shelf-life. Spraying trees with Regalis Plus 10 WG from the balloon stage onwards, irrespective of the treatment with root pruning, was most effective in both inhibiting long-stem growth and increasing tree yield (by almost two times) by increasing the number of apples per tree. The growth response of long-stemmed apple trees to both unilateral root pruning and Ethephon spray was significantly lower than it was to Regalis Plus 10 WG spray and had relatively little effect on their yield. Regalis Plus 10 WG resulted in a clear reduction in average fruit weight (by about 100 g), which, in the case of the large-fruited cultivar ‘Mutsu’, should be seen as an advantage. Its application from the balloon stage onwards promoted higher apple firmness at harvest and after simulated handling preceded by long-term storage.

Effect of the concentration and ionic form of nitrogen (N) on photosynthesis, growth and fruit production of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the main effects and the interactions of nitrogen (N) concentration and ammonium (NH4+): nitrate (NO3-) proportion in the nutrient solution, on net photosynthesis, plant growth, production and quality of fruits on blueberry (Vaccinium corimbosum L.) plants. The studied factors were N concentration (0.6 and 6.0 mM) and NH4+: NO3- proportion (100 % NH4+, 50 % NH4+ - 50 % NO3- and 100 % NO3-). 243 days after the experiment establishment net photosynthesis (PN) was measured and a day after, leaf area (LA), shoots fresh weight (SFW) and roots fresh weight (RFW) were determined. Fruit yield (FY), fruit diameter (FD) and Brix degrees (oBrix) were evaluated in four harvests along fruit production period. The results showed higher values on PN, LA, SFW, FY and FD in plants that received 6.0 mM N as NH4+; nevertheless, N concentration altered the NH4+: NO3- proportion effects and at 0.6 mM N only FY and FD maintained such a pattern. It is concluded that N concentration modifies the effect of NH4+: NO3- proportion and it is proposed that the effects of both factors on photosynthesis, growth and fruit production of blueberry were mediated by their interaction with plant carbohydrates availability.

High-temperature stress in strawberry: understanding physiological, biochemical and molecular responses.

Heat stress reduces strawberry growth and fruit quality by impairing photosynthesis, disrupting hormone regulation, and altering mineral nutrition. Multi-omics studies show extensive transcriptional, post-transcriptional, proteomic and metabolomic under high temperatures. Garden strawberry is a globally cultivated, economically important fruit crop highly susceptible to episodic heat waves and chronically rising temperatures associated with climate change. Heat stress negatively affects the growth, development, and quality of strawberries. Elevated temperatures affect photosynthesis, respiration, water balance, hormone signaling, and carbohydrate metabolism in strawberries. Heat stress reduces the size and number of leaves, the number of crowns, the differentiation of flower buds, and the viability of pollen and fruit set, ultimately leading to a lower yield. On a physiological level, heat stress reduces membrane stability, increases the production of reactive oxygen species, and reduces the antioxidant capacity of strawberries. Heat-tolerant varieties have better physiological and biochemical adaptation mechanisms compared to heat-sensitive varieties. Breeding heat-tolerant strawberry cultivars involves selection for traits such as increased leaf temperature, membrane thermostability, and chlorophyll content. Multi-omics studies show extensive transcriptional, post-transcriptional, proteomic, metabolomic, and ionomic reprogramming at high temperatures. Integrative-omics approaches combine multiple omics datasets to obtain a systemic understanding of the responses to heat stress in strawberries. This article summarizes the deciphering of strawberry responses to heat stress using physiological, biochemical, and molecular approaches that will enable the development of resilient adaptation strategies that sustain strawberry production under global climate change.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Color Formation in the Peel of an Evergreen Pomegranate Cultivar 'Danruo No.1' During Fruit Development.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit crop that has been cultivated worldwide and is known for its attractive appearance and functional metabolites. Fruit color is an important index of fruit quality, but the color formation pattern in the peel of evergreen pomegranate and the relevant molecular mechanism is still unknown. In this study, the contents of pigments including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and chlorophyll in the peel of 'Danruo No. 1' pomegranate fruit during three developmental stages were measured, and RNA-seq was conducted to screen key genes regulating fruit color formation. The results show that pomegranate fruit turned from green to red during development, with a dramatic increase in a* value, indicating redness and anthocyanins concentration, and a decrease of chlorophyll content. Moreover, carotenoids exhibited a decrease-increase accumulation pattern. Through RNA-seq, totals of 30, 18, and 17 structural genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis and chlorophyll metabolism were identified from differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Transcription factors (TFs) such as MYB, bHLH, WRKY and AP2/ERF were identified as key candidates regulating pigment metabolism by K-means analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The results provide an insight into the theory of peel color formation in evergreen pomegranate fruit.

Effects of NH4+-N: NO3−-N ratio on growth, nutrient uptake and production of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) under soilless culture

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a small pulp shrub, which prefers to grow on a soilless culture. For soilless culture, nutritional management remains typically vital for blueberry production. However, the effect of different nutritional treatments on blueberry growth and production is largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate to formulate a specific nutritional treatment for blueberry. The results showed that NH4+-N: NO3−-N ratios significantly affected the growth, nutrient uptake, physiological characteristics, and flowering, as well as the fruiting characteristics of blueberry plants. The number of shoots and top projection area was increased considerably by 25:75 treatment. In contrast, 50:50 treatment promotes plant height, shoot length, and stem thickness, increasing chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic capacity, and P, Ca, and Mg in leaves. In contrast, 50:50 treatment promotes the flowering fruiting rate and prolongs the blueberry flowering period. The maximum soluble sugar contents were noted in 25:75, while maximum starch contents were reported in the 50:50 treatment. The treatments 100:0 and 75:25 promote early flowering and accelerate fruit set. Notably, NH4+-N: NO3−-N ratios; 50:50 treatment significantly encourages plant growth, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic capacity, and fruit setting rate in blueberry plants. These findings suggested that NH4+-N: NO3−-N ratios 50:50 is the most appropriate treatment that significantly promotes vegetative growth and enhances production in blueberry plants. This study provides valuable information for improved blueberry production under a controlled environment.

From Outside to Inside: The Subtle Probing of Globular Fruits and Solanaceous Vegetables Using Machine Vision and Near-Infrared Methods

Machine vision and near-infrared light technology are widely used in fruits and vegetable grading, as an important means of agricultural non-destructive testing. The characteristics of fruits and vegetables can easily be automatically distinguished by these two technologies, such as appearance, shape, color and texture. Nondestructive testing is reasonably used for image processing and pattern recognition, and can meet the identification and grading of single features and fusion features in production. Through the summary and analysis of the fruits and vegetable grading technology in the past five years, the results show that the accuracy of machine vision for fruits and vegetable size grading is 70–99.8%, the accuracy of external defect grading is 88–95%, and the accuracy of NIR and hyperspectral internal detection grading is 80.56–100%. Comprehensive research on multi-feature fusion technology in the future can provide comprehensive guidance for the construction of automatic integrated grading of fruits and vegetables, which is the main research direction of fruits and vegetable grading in the future.

Eugenia elapparensis (myrtaceae), a new species from southern western ghats, india and a correction on the lectotypification of eugenia calcadensis

A new species, Eugenia elapparensis, from southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India is described and illustrated. It is very similar to Eugenia calcadensis, but differs in habit, leaf, floral and fruit characters. Additionally, lectotypification of E. calacadensis is also provided.

Exogenous Melatonin as Pre- and Postharvest Application on Quality Attributes, Antioxidant Capacity, and Extension of Shelf Life of Papaya

Papaya is widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates due to its high yield potential and high returns. The vital hormone melatonin, regulating various biological processes in plants, is eco-friendly and less harmful to humans than other chemicals. This study aims to enhance the quality and antioxidant enzyme activities and lessen postharvest senescence in papaya cv. CO 8 fruits during both ambient (32 ± 2 °C and 55 ± 5% RH) and cold storage (10 ± 2 °C and 90–95% RH) as exogenous melatonin (EMT) is applied in varying concentrations. An optimum melatonin dose of 1.5 mM was applied as a pre-harvest spray 15 days before harvest and a postharvest dip proved effective in prolonging shelf life (under ambient it prolonged to day 9 and under cold storage up to 28 days) and delaying ripening and softening. Exogenous melatonin application enhanced antioxidant activity, reduced weight loss, maintained firmness, delayed ripening enzymes, and lowered ethylene and CO2 levels. For instance, control fruits had weight losses between 7.42% and 10.09%, while fruits treated with 1.5 mM melatonin showed 5.74% and 9.06% weight loss under ambient and cold storage, respectively. In conclusion, applying EMT (1.5 mM) could be an economically viable and environmentally benign way to lessen senescence after harvest and preserve the qualities of the papaya fruit during ambient and cold storage.

Predicting physicochemical properties of papayas (Carica papaya L.) using a convolutional neural networks model approach.

The current state of quality assessment methods for agricultural produce, particularly fruits, heavily relies on manual inspection techniques, which could be subjective, time-consuming, and prone to human errors. Consequently, there have been emerging trends and needs for non-destructive methods to evaluate fruit quality accurately and practically. This research aimed to develop a novel approach for predicting the physicochemical properties of papayas using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model that combines image analysis and weight assessment. This study involved capturing images of papayas at different ripening stages, measuring papaya weights, and determining various physicochemical properties such as texture, pH, total soluble solids, and seed weight. A total of 532 images were obtained from 132 papayas, and an additional 1064 images were generated through image augmentation. The dataset was divided into three sets with an 8:1:1 ratio for training, validation, and testing. The CNN model was trained using papaya images and weights as input values to predict and estimate the physicochemical property values. Model performance was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) as metrics. The CNN model, integrated with image processing, could predict the diverse physicochemical properties of papayas with high accuracy. The MSE values estimated for the training and validation sets were 0.0284 and 0.1729, respectively. The R2 values for the test dataset ranged from 0.71 to 0.94. These findings demonstrate that CNN-based models could provide detailed and quantitative insights, facilitating improved understanding and management of papaya quality while enhancing predictive modeling accuracy in agriculture. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research introduces a new method for accurately predicting the quality of papayas using a computer model. Instead of relying on manual inspection, which can be slow and prone to errors, this model uses images of papayas and their weights to predict properties, including texture, pH, total soluble solids, and seed weight. This can help manage papaya quality better while also improving agricultural production and transportation processes.

A classification and recognition model for multiple fruit tree leaf diseases

Abstract Fruit tree leaf diseases affect both fruit survival rate and orchard revenue. Rapid and accurate identification of tree leaf diseases not only prevents the spread of diseases but also ensures healthy tree growth and improves fruit quality. Existing models mostly focus on individual types of tree leaf diseases, with limited applications in the identification of multiple tree leaf diseases. In response to the insensitivity of current classification models to disease region features and the issue of increased error rates due to the presence of similar diseases, this study proposes a residual network model based on the ECA channel attention mechanism and meta-Acon adaptive activation function.The model employs ResNet34 as the backbone network and incorporates the ECA module after each residual block to focus on relevant information. Additionally, a new activation function called meta-Acon is introduced to enhance the model's generalization ability through its dynamic learning capability. Finally, the model's recognition performance is improved by fusing bottom-level features with features from other layers using the Feature Pyramid Network (FPN).Experimental results on a dataset augmented with Mosaic processing show that the FPEM-ResNet34 model achieves a classification accuracy of 98.46%. Compared to other common models such as VGG-16, Inception-V1,AlexNet, and ResNet50, the proposed method mentioned in this paper demonstrates more effective improvement in the accuracy of tree leaf classification, making it highly valuable for practical applications..

A New Kiwi Fruit Detection Algorithm Based on an Improved Lightweight Network

To address the challenges associated with kiwi fruit detection methods, such as low average accuracy, inaccurate recognition of fruits, and long recognition time, this study proposes a novel kiwi fruit recognition method based on an improved lightweight network S-YOLOv4-tiny detection algorithm. Firstly, the YOLOv4-tiny algorithm utilizes the CSPdarknet53-tiny network as a backbone feature extraction network, replacing the CSPdarknet53 network in the YOLOv4 algorithm to enhance the speed of kiwi fruit recognition. Additionally, a squeeze-and-excitation network has been incorporated into the S-YOLOv4-tiny detection algorithm to improve accurate image extraction of kiwi fruit characteristics. Finally, enhancing dataset pictures using mosaic methods has improved precision in the characteristic recognition of kiwi fruits. The experimental results demonstrate that the recognition and positioning of kiwi fruits have yielded improved outcomes. The mean average precision (mAP) stands at 89.75%, with a detection precision of 93.96% and a single-picture detection time of 8.50 ms. Compared to the YOLOv4-tiny detection algorithm network, the network in this study exhibits a 7.07% increase in mean average precision and a 1.16% acceleration in detection time. Furthermore, an enhancement method based on the Squeeze-and-Excitation Network (SENet) is proposed, as opposed to the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and efficient channel attention (ECA). This approach effectively addresses issues related to slow training speed and low recognition accuracy of kiwi fruit, offering valuable technical insights for efficient mechanical picking methods.

Conventional and Nano-Zinc Foliar Spray Strategies to Improve the Physico-Chemical Properties and Nutritional and Antioxidant Compounds of Timor Mango Fruits under Abiotic Stress

Zinc deficiency is common under heat stress, and further research is needed to determine how to enhance the fruit quality of mango trees through the use of three forms of zinc, namely Zn-NPs, zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and chelated zinc (Zn-chelated), as a foliar spray. This research was carried out using ten treatments to investigate the effect of zinc forms on the fruit quality of Timor mango trees. With a few notable exceptions, every fruit quality measurement (physical characteristics, chemical properties, mineral contents, and antioxidant compounds) responded to every treatment looked into; however, the extent of the reaction differed depending on the fruiting measurement. Furthermore, the Zn-NPs created a larger difference in the fruiting measurements than the ZnSO4 and Zn-chelated forms. ZnO NPs at 100 ppm ranked first, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and zinc EDTA in the second spray, followed by ZnO NPs in the first spray and ZnSO4 in the second, for all mineral content and antioxidant compound measurements and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics. In contrast, the lowest levels of minerals and antioxidant compounds and most of the fruit physico-chemical characteristics were found in the controls. The outcomes of the other treatments after the three treatments lay somewhere between these two extremes, and this pattern was detected throughout two seasons. Spraying Timor mango trees with nano, chelated, and sulfate zinc can be considered a safe and environmentally friendly natural method for improving fruit quality in abiotic stress regions.