Small Fruit Size Research Articles

Hexose transporter CsSWEET7a in cucumber mediates phloem unloading in companion cells for fruit development.

In the fleshy fruit of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), the phloem flow is unloaded via an apoplasmic pathway, which requires protein carriers to export sugars derived from stachyose and raffinose into the apoplasm. However, transporter(s) involved in this process remain unidentified. Here, we report that a hexose transporter, CsSWEET7a (Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter 7a), was highly expressed in cucumber sink tissues and localized to the plasma membrane in companion cells of the phloem. Its expression level increased gradually during fruit development. Down-regulation of CsSWEET7a by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in smaller fruit size along with reduced soluble sugar levels and reduced allocation of 14C-labelled carbon to sink tissues. CsSWEET7a overexpression lines showed an opposite phenotype. Interestingly, genes encoding alkaline α-galactosidase (AGA) and sucrose synthase (SUS) were also differentially regulated in CsSWEET7a transgenic lines. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that CsAGA2 co-localized with CsSWEET7a in companion cells, indicating cooperation between AGA and CsSWEET7a in fruit phloem unloading. Our findings indicated that CsSWEET7a is involved in sugar phloem unloading in cucumber fruit by removing hexoses from companion cells to the apoplasmic space to stimulate the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) metabolism so that additional sugars can be unloaded to promote fruit growth. This study also provides a possible avenue towards improving fruit production in cucumber.

Characterization of indigenous brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)lines usingmorphological traits under Jharkhand condition

A total of 25 indigenous lines collected from different agroclimatic zones of Jharkhand were evaluated at Ranchi during rabi season of 2018-19 in randomized block design with three replications. The aim of present study was to assess the extent of genetic variation and identify most promising germplasm for improvement programme. Seventeen quantitative and forty qualitative characters were analysed as per DUS guidelines. Significant differences were recorded in most of the characters. The genotype RKML-11 exhibited highest number of primary branches (6.67) and produced maximum yield (38.54 t ha-1). Maximum fruit weight was recorded in RKML-28 (262.8 g). RKML-35 showed maximum value of fruit diameter (33.9 cm) but had minimum number of fruits per plant (6.7). However, RKML-21 showed maximum fruits per plant but had smallest fruit size (8 cm). RKML-26 exhibited precocious bearing habit, it was also second-best genotype in terms of yield (37.7 t ha-1). The lowest yield was recorded in the genotype RKML-25 (8.8 t ha-1). These accessions could be used as potential donors for hybridization program to develop high heterotic hybrids.

State and ways of purposeful conservation of gray Ukrainian breed and its use in the future breed formation process

The study of the gene pool of gray Ukrainian cattle on the basis of the State Enterprise “Polivanovka” was carried out in 2018–2020. They relied on retrospective and modern analysis of the population, using genetic, immunogenetic, breeding, zootechnical, statistical and biometric methods. The animals of this herd belong to two lines: Petushok 191U (62 %) and Shamrin XU-41 (38 %) and 20 families. They have a sturdy, dense and rough type of constitution. Average somatometric indicators correspond to the standard. The breed has good slaughter performance and beef properties. Slaughter yield in bulls reaches 58–59 %, fat – 2.5–3 %, protein: fat ratio – 1: 1.5, pulp in the carcass – 72–73 %, bones – 16–17 %, meat index – 4, 4–4.5. Animals with a high coefficient of inheritance pass on to their descendants specific breed characteristics (color, shape of horns, physique, acclimatization to various natural zones, adaptation to feeding conditions, increased resistance, small fruit size, long growth, stress resistance). The use of modern techniques made it possible to test erythrocyte antigens, serum proteins, isozyme erythrocytes and tissues, as well as polymorphism, the length of restriction DNA fragments. Of the 49 antigens of blood groups, 48 were found. There was a high frequency of them (45–92 %) A, G3, C1, C2, R2, W, X1, X2, E, F, Y, J, H1, Z and much lower ( 2–10 %) P1, P2, B1, J2, P1, R, C1, L, H2. Over the past 30 years, the number of alleles of the most informational system B has decreased from 41 to 14, among them breed-specific B, B2, G3, J1, Q, T1, G2, K, V, E, O. The narrowing of the allelic pool to this level indicates that the breed is on the verge of extinction. Analysis of biochemical markers of blood serum proteins albumin and post-albumin was found in three phenotypes AA, BB, and AB, post-transformation – also in three phenotypes FF, FS, and SS. In terms of hemoglobin, all studied animals of the herd are of type A. Restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA revealed polymorphism only for endonuclease Eco 471. Modern selection and genetic methods are able to maintain and preserve the specific properties of the breed, its structure, and genetic variability. Their use in combination with technological methods helps to prevent the disappearance of livestock and provide it with a worthy place in the world heritage of genetic resources. Our proposals are summarized in the "Concept of purposeful conservation of gray Ukrainian cattle and their use in the further breed-forming process." Key words: cattle, gray Ukrainian breed, condition, direction of use, offers.

Higher evolutionary rates in life-history traits in insular than in mainland palms

Isolated islands, due to the reduced interspecific competition compared to mainland habitats, present ecological opportunities for colonizing lineages. As a consequence, island lineages may be expected to experience higher rates of trait evolution than mainland lineages. However, island effects on key life-history traits of vascular plants remain underexplored at broad spatiotemporal scales, even for emblematic island clades such as palms. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to evaluate potential differences in size and macroevolutionary patterns of height and fruit diameter among mainland, continental, and volcanic island palms. Further, phylogenetic beta-diversity was used to determine if lineage turnover supported an adaptive radiation scenario on volcanic islands. Volcanic island palms were taller than their continental island and mainland counterparts, whereas continental island palms exhibited smaller fruit size. Height and fruit size of palms evolved under evolutionary constraints towards an optimal value. However, scenarios of adaptive radiation and niche conservatism were not supported for the height and fruit size of volcanic and mainland palm clades, respectively, as expected. Instead, continental island palms exhibited higher evolutionary rates for height and fruit size. Insular palm assemblages (continental and volcanic) are composed of unique lineages. Beyond representing evolutionary sources of new palm lineages, our results demonstrate that insular habitats are important in shaping palm trait diversity. Also, the higher phenotypic evolutionary rates of continental island palms suggest disparate selection pressures on this habitat type, which can be an important driver of trait diversification over time. Taken together, these results stress the importance of insular habitats for conservation of functional, phylogenetic, and taxonomic diversity of palms.

КРУПНОПЛОДНОСТЬ У ТОМАТА Solanum lycopersicum L.: ГЕНЕТИЧЕСКИЕ ДЕТЕРМИНАНТЫ, ОРГАНОГЕНЕЗ И РАЗВИТИЕ ПЛОДА (обзор)

Large fruit in Solanum lycopersicum L. is the result of domestication. We were interested in the appearance of large fruits in tomato in connection with the practice task to get new tomato forms with large fruits for multi-tiered hydroponic and aeroponic installations for vertical fruit production in greenhouses. Using the technology of target tomato breeding we obtained the first special dwarf tomato varieties Natasha and Timosha with small fruits for multi-tiered hydroponic installations. Obtaining of large fruit in tomato is connected with genetic and epigenetic control of the trait (An. Frary et al., 2000; B. Cong et al., 2006; Z. Huang et al., 2011; S. Wang, et al., 2011; A.J. Monforte et al., 2014; L. Azzi et al., 2015). The goal of this review is to summarize data on genetic determinants the trait of “size/weight of the fruit”, analysis processes of organogenesis, hormone and metabolic regulation of fruit development. Analysis of papers dedicated to fruit weight increasing during domestication shows the availability of 37 loci involved in regulation of cell division and enlargement at four different stages of fruit development, starting from the phases of ovary development and fruit set to the phases of cell development and enlargement of cells which form the mature fruit. Some of these loci are connected with processes of hormonal plant development at the phase of anthesis, fertilization, formation of fruits and seeds, and so, they are involved in auxin (SlPIN4, SlTIR1, SlARF7, SlARF8, SlIAA9) and gibberellin (SlGA20ox1, SlDELLA1) signaling pathways. Others control cell enlargement during fruit development and maturing, and so, they are involved in regulation of primary (HXK1, SuSY, LIN5, TIV1, mMDH, cpFBP, SPA) and secondary (NOTABILIS/NCED1, FLACCA, Gal-LDH, GME) metabolism. Individual group of loci controls cell cycle at the period of ovary development (TAGL1, FAS, LC, SlWUS, SlIMA) and fruit growth (SlCDKA1, SlCDCB1, SlCDKB2 and SlCCS52A, SlWEE1, SlKRP1) (L. Azzi et al., 2015). The fw2.2 is the first locus which has been described in detail (An. Frary et al., 2000). Locus fw2.2 controls the small fruit size in S. lycopersicum and is semidominant to allele FW2.2 of large fruit size. With transgenic lines, it had been established, that locus fw2.2 is carried by cos50. Sequence analysis of the cos50 had identified two open reading frames. One of them contain a single recombinant event, which delimited “the rightmost” end of the fw2.2 (XO33). Because genetic mutation(s) causing change in fruit size must be to the left of XO33, cDNA44 cannot be involved and open reading frame is the likely cause of the small-fruit phenotype. Next studies indicated that fw2.2 acts as a negative regulator of cell division during the very early stages of fruit development following pollination. Thus, fw2.2 is one ofregulatory QTLs, such as achaete-scute, scabrous and Delta QTLs in fruit flies, teosinte-branched 1(tb1) in maize and Hox genes in animals (cited by B. Cong et al., 2006). Possible, locus FW2.2 is positive regulator of cell division, which is involved in interaction with cytoplasmic membranes mediated by the regulatory (beta)-subunits of CKII kinase, that is well known in yeast and animals where it forms part of cell cycle related with signaling pathway (B. Cong et al., 2006).

LARGE FRUIT OF TOMATO Solanum lycopersicum L.: GENETIC DETERMINANTS, ORGANOGENESIS AND FRUIT DEVELOPMENT(review)

Large fruit in Solanum lycopersicum L. is the result of domestication. We were interested in the appearance of large fruits in tomato in connection with the practice task to get new tomato forms with large fruits for multi-tiered hydroponic and aeroponic installations for vertical fruit production in greenhouses. Using the technology of target tomato breeding we obtained the first special dwarf tomato varieties Natasha and Timosha with small fruits for multi-tiered hydroponic installations. Obtaining of large fruit in tomato is connected with genetic and epigenetic control of the trait (An. Frary et al., 2000; B. Cong et al., 2006; Z. Huang et al., 2011; S. Wang, et al., 2011; A.J. Monforte et al., 2014; L. Azzi et al., 2015). The goal of this review is to summarize data on genetic determinants the trait of “size/weight of the fruit”, analysis processes of organogenesis, hormone and metabolic regulation of fruit development. Analysis of papers dedicated to fruit weight increasing during domestication shows the availability of 37 loci involved in regulation of cell division and enlargement at four different stages of fruit development, starting from the phases of ovary development and fruit set to the phases of cell development and enlargement of cells which form the mature fruit. Some of these loci are connected with processes of hormonal plant development at the phase of anthesis, fertilization, formation of fruits and seeds, and so, they are involved in auxin (SlPIN4, SlTIR1, SlARF7, SlARF8, SlIAA9) and gibberellin (SlGA20ox1, SlDELLA1) signaling pathways. Others control cell enlargement during fruit development and maturing, and so, they are involved in regulation of primary (HXK1, SuSY, LIN5, TIV1, mMDH, cpFBP, SPA) and secondary (NOTABILIS/NCED1, FLACCA, Gal-LDH, GME) metabolism. Individual group of loci controls cell cycle at the period of ovary development (TAGL1, FAS, LC, SlWUS, SlIMA) and fruit growth (SlCDKA1, SlCDCB1, SlCDKB2 and SlCCS52A, SlWEE1, SlKRP1) (L. Azzi et al., 2015). The fw2.2 is the first locus which has been described in detail (An. Frary et al., 2000). Locus fw2.2 controls the small fruit size in S. lycopersicum and is semidominant to allele FW2.2 of large fruit size. With transgenic lines, it had been established, that locus fw2.2 is carried by cos50. Sequence analysis of the cos50 had identified two open reading frames. One of them contain a single recombinant event, which delimited “the rightmost” end of the fw2.2 (XO33). Because genetic mutation(s) causing change in fruit size must be to the left of XO33, cDNA44 cannot be involved and open reading frame is the likely cause of the small-fruit phenotype. Next studies indicated that fw2.2 acts as a negative regulator of cell division during the very early stages of fruit development following pollination. Thus, fw2.2 is one ofregulatory QTLs, such as achaete-scute, scabrous and Delta QTLs in fruit flies, teosinte-branched 1(tb1) in maize and Hox genes in animals (cited by B. Cong et al., 2006). Possible, locus FW2.2 is positive regulator of cell division, which is involved in interaction with cytoplasmic membranes mediated by the regulatory (beta)-subunits of CKII kinase, that is well known in yeast and animals where it forms part of cell cycle related with signaling pathway (B. Cong et al., 2006).

Responses of growth, fruit yield, quality and water productivity of greenhouse tomato to deficit drip irrigation

Agriculture is the largest consumer of scarce water resources and irrigation serves as the sole source of water for greenhouse tomato production. It is an urgent task to seek an appropriate deficit irrigation strategy that is beneficial for high marketable yield, fruit quality, saving irrigation water and ultimately improving water use efficiency. A four-season experiment was conducted on drip-irrigated greenhouse tomato during Autumn 2015-Spring 2017 with three irrigation regimes, i.e., 100 %ETc (crop evapotranspiration) (W1), 75 %ETc (W2) and 50 %ETc (W3). The results showed that aboveground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), plant height and fruit yield increased with increasing irrigation amount. However, soluble solids, vitamin C and soluble sugar of tomato fruits were lowest under W1. W2 markedly reduced unmarketable fruits and more small-sized fruits were harvested at the late stage under W1. Through fitting the relationship between cumulative temperature and aboveground biomass using logistic equations, it was found that average duration of the rapid growth period (td) and the time when growth rate reached the maximum value (tm) increased as irrigation amount decreased. Conversely, the maximum growth rate during the rapid growth period (vm) decreased with the increase of water deficit. The highest total water consumption (278.05 mm), lowest total yield water use efficiency (25.12 kg m−3) and marketable yield water use efficiency (22.87 kg m−3) were obtained under W1. The smallest total water consumption (27.01–50.75 mm) occurred at the blooming and setting stage. Based on the results of path analysis, aboveground biomass and average fruit weight were important indexes affecting yield positively. It is concluded that deficit drip irrigation with 75 %ETc has the potential of supporting tomato growth, improving marketable yield and WUE as a result of less unmarketable yield and bigger fruit size.

Mechanical Crop Load Management (CLM) Improves Fruit Quality and Reduces Fruit Drop and Alternate Bearing in European Plum (Prunus domestica L.)

(1) Background: With ca. 10 million tons of annual production worldwide, the plum (Prunus ssp.) ranks as a major fruit crop and can suffer from small fruit size, premature fruit drop and alternate bearing, which are addressed in this paper using a range of crop load management (CLM) tools. (2) Methods: Sixty 10-year-old European plum cv. “Ortenauer” trees on dwarfing St. Julien INRA GF 655/2 rootstock (slender spindle; 4.25 × 2.80 m) in a commercial orchard near Bonn (50°N), Germany, were thinned in 2 years and flower intensity assessed in the following year. Thinning was performed either mechanically (type Bonn/Baum) or chemically, with ATS (ammonium thiosulfate) or ethephon (Flordimex), or by a combination of mechanical and chemical methods, to improve fruit quality and the proportion of Class 1 fruit. Adjacent un-thinned trees served as controls. (3) Results: Natural fruit drop in June was reduced from 290 fruits per tree in the un-thinned controls to 265 fruits after ATS blossom treatment, and to 148 fruits after mechanical thinning at 380 rpm at a 5 km/h tractor speed at full bloom. The un-thinned control trees developed a large number of small, undersized fruits. The yield of Class 1 fruits increased per tree from 47% in the un-thinned controls, up to 69% after crop load management. Sugar content and fruit firmness were unaffected. (4) Conclusions: The study has shown that fruit quality (i.e., fruit size) and financial returns could be improved by either mechanical (380 rpm at 5 km/h) or chemical thinning, or a combination of both.

Advancement and efficacy of plant growth regulators in Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk) - A review

Ber (Ziziphus maurtiana) is an important minor fruit crop of India. Over the years the crop is now widely domesticated and commercial orchards of Ber are now available. With wide commercialization, many physiological problems, i.e. flowers and fruit drop, embryo abortion, poor flowering and fruit setting, abnormal and small size fruits etc. were observed which cause huge loss to the growers. In order to minimize these problems, over the years many experiments and advancement have been done, and among them, usage of plant growth regulators is one of the most adopted methods and is utilized to improve flowering fruiting and yield with improved fruit quality. The current review discusses the role of different plant growth regulators and how they influence each fruit character. This information could be useful to the researchers in planning further advance research in this aspect and for the commercial growers to decide the proper treatments to mitigate the problems.

Evaluation of certain pomological and phenological traits of selected asian pear varieties growing in Middle European conditions

The cultivation and breeding of new pear tree varieties have great potential, especially with the changing climate. The introduction of genetic resources and varieties from regions with a high genetic diversity can have a positive effect on the cultivation of pear trees in our region. In this experiment, a total of 23 Asian pear varieties originating from Japan and China were assessed. Based on the values obtained, the varieties were sorted, and suitable varieties for the conditions of the Czech Republic were selected. The early-maturing varieties that proved to be promising were ‘Shinseiki’ and ‘Zao Su Li’ due to their refreshing juiciness, plasticity and ease of cultivation. generally low demand. The ‘Shinseiki’ bears medium- to small-sized fruits (103 g on average). The size of the fruits of the evaluated cultivar ‘Zao Su Li’ can reach very large sizes (255 g on average). The medium-maturity varieties suitable for the conditions of the Czech Republic were ‘Hosui’ and ‘Dangshansu Li’ (ripening on the September 11–19 on average) and another interesting variety, ‘Kirgizkaja zimnaja’. Other suitable medium-maturity varieties are ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Sha Li’ and ‘Pung Su’. Of the assessed late-maturing varieties, the promising ones were ‘Ya Li’ and ‘Mut Chen’, especially due to their relatively high storability under cold storage.

Urban Park Design for Bird Diversity: Theory and Application in Landscape and Site Scales

There has been a new approach of creating urban park not solely for plants, but also for birds. This paper provides recommendations for urban park as bird habitat based on ecological theories, i.e. theory of island biogeography, theory of succession, intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH), and competitive exclusion principles. Empirical data from previous field research and literature study were used to come up with recommendations. Urban areas still able to provide good habitat for birds, although its diversity is lower than in natural areas. In a landscape scale, to get a high diversity of bird, urban parks should be large, close to each other, preferably connected to each other, and compact in shape. As for successional stages, various mid-stages will promote bird richness, except for early and climax stages. This is also supported by IDH, which stated that mid-disturbance habitat will harbor a maximum bird number. As for planted species in site scales, various plants should be provided to diversify food for birds, including those that producing nectars, seeds/grain, and small-size fruits. Aquatic freshwater habitat (ponds, rivers, marshes) also will invite birds that feed on small fishes, macro-zoobenthos, and water-related insects. In Indonesia, anthropogenic disturbance might also reduce bird diversity.

Effect of the olive fruit size on the parasitism rates ofBactocera oleae(Diptera: Tephritidae) by the figitid waspAganaspis daci(Hymenoptera: Figitidae), and first field releases of adult parasitoids in olive grove

SummaryThe olive fruit flyBactrocera oleae(Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the major pest of olives worldwide. The figitid wasp,Aganaspis daci(Hymenoptera: Figitidae), is a larval-prepupal endoparasitoid of fruit fly species, and it was found to successfully parasitize medfly larvae in field-infested figs in Greece. To assess the potential ofA. dacias a biological control agent againstB. oleae, we studied the effect of olive fruit size on parasitism rates ofA. dacion 2ndand 3rdinstar larvae ofB. oleae, by using fruit of different size (cultivar ‘Chalkidikis’) and wild olive fruit. In addition, we conducted releases ofA. dacifemales in a pilot olive grove in Volos, Magnesia. From July to October, we released 200A. dacifemales/0.1 ha/week, followed by olive fruit sampling to estimate olive fruit infestation levels and the parasitism rates ofA. daci. Laboratory trials revealed that fruit size and larvae instar were predictors of parasitism success ofA. daci, with parasitism rates higher for small-size fruit of the cultivar “Chalkidikis” and the 3rdinstar larvae ofB. oleae. In field trials, noA. daciadults emerged from the olive fly infested fruit.

Variation of Eugenia uniflora L. fruit quality attributes in the south of the Argentine Gran Chaco

ABSTRACTPitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) is an under-utilized berry in Argentina characterized by high bioactive compound content, sweet flavour, and high antioxidant capacity. The variation of fruit quality attributes of pitanga, as an input for further domestication programs, was evaluated. Pitanga fruits from three different provenances were collected in 2015 in Santa Fe province (Argentina), and their quality attributes for the fresh market and processing were evaluated. Variance component analysis was performed to test intra- and inter-provenance variation on fruit quality. Differences in mean values between provenances were tested by multivariate analysis of variance. About 70% to 82% of the total variance of fruit size was attributed to intra-provenance variability. Also, significant differences between provenances were found in most of the studied quality attributes. When compared to pitangas from Brazilian provenances, the pitangas tested here showed smaller fruit size (−75% fruit weight and −43% diameter), but same proportion of edible portion (≈77%). Pitanga ideotypes for the fresh market should have bigger sized fruits than observed in our research. However, pitanga ideotypes for fruit pulp processing should have a high percentage of edible portion and nutrients regardless of fruit size. Our data thus show that the tested fruits would have a high potential for fruit processing but not for the fresh market. Further research addressing sensory attributes of candidate phenotypes is recommended.

Crop Regulation in Guava: A Review

Guava (Psidum guajava L) is one of the most promising fruit crops of India and is considered to be one of the exquisite nutritionally valuable and remunerative crops. In recent years guava is getting popularity in the international trade due to its nutritional value and processed products. It is hardy, prolific bearer and highly remunerative fruit crop. Its cultivation is done on the commercial scale. There are mainly three bahar season of the guava fruit viz., Ambe bahar, Mrig bahar and Hasth bahar. Continuous bearing results in reduction of yield with small size fruits. The heaviest flowering is observed in rainy season cropping, but, the fruits of this season crop are rough, insipid in taste, poor in quality, less nutritive and are heavily attacked by many insects, pests, and diseases. In order to overcome this problem and to force a full crop in any of the three seasons, as required by the grower and the traders, bahar treatment is practiced. The main objective of crop regulation is to force the tree for rest and produce profuse blossom and fruits during any one of the two or three flushes. The methods to be followed for crop regulation depend on climatic factors, cropping pattern, extend of the damage by the disease and pests, market and industry demand, cultivar, etc. Crop regulation is achieved by the various techniques like water management to induce stress, pruning of shoots and roots at different levels and at different times, training of shoots and manual or chemical thinning of flowers.

A preliminary study on some features of two new resistant apple cultivars in a multi-row planting system

The aim of this work was to report preliminary results on some features of two new resistant apple cultivars (cvs. ‘Galiwa’ and ‘Story Inored’) in multi-row system in the early bearing years of the orchard. Trees were planted in spring of 2015 in double row design (3.5 m+1.4 m x 1.0 m) with planting density of 5357 tree/ha. According to our results cv. ‘Story Inored’ presented more vigorous growth, than cv. ‘Galiwa’. Trees of cv. ‘Story Inored’ reached 2.7 m in the third year, but cv. ‘Galiwa’ could reach only 1.95 meter. Due to late spring frost 100% yield loss was observed in the second year. In 2017 cv. ‘Galiwa’ produced 5.3 kg/tree (25 fruit/tree), while cv. ‘Story Inored’ presented 7.7 kg/tree (50 fruit/tree). Average yield was 28.4 t/ha for cv. ‘Galiwa’, as ‘Story Inored’ reached 41.3 t/ha in the third year. Cultivar ‘Galiwa’ reached the required fruit size (79.1 mm), but its coloration was weaker (43% fruit surface color). Cultivar ‘Story Inored’ can be described with smaller fruit size (69 mm) and higher percentage of surface color (93%).

Effects of gibberellic acid applications on induction of partenocarpy in black myrtle fruits

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is an evergreen aromatic and medicinal bush native to the Mediterranean Basin. It has long been considered an important fruit since ancient times especially because of its use for medical purposes. Myrtle oil is also conventionally produced from the leaves by traditional distillation methods. Myrtle fruits are consumed fresh by people of the Mediterranean Basin. The common complaints by the consumers is the small fruit size as well as the high number of seed in fruits. The main aim of this study was to test the impact of the application of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on seed counts and seedlessness (parthenocarpic fruit) in black myrtles by utilizing 50, 100 and 200 ppm GA(3) applications. GA(3) was applied as spray to the leaves a week before bud break and blooming period. None of the three GA(3) applications at the bud break stage had any significant effects on fruit characteristics whereas some GA(3) applications at the blooming period reduced seed numbers and fruit set in considerable amounts. The highest seed numbers per berry were recorded 14.72 from 200 ppm GA(3) and 12.96 from 100 ppm GA(3) applications at bud break stage. On the other hand, average seed numbers per berry were reduced to 3.01, 2.80 and 3.96 by bloom applications of 50, 100 and 200 ppm of GA(3), respectively.

Preliminary physicochemical and sensory characterization of new “Picota”-type cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L.)

The Jerte Valley (Extremadura, Spain) has been clearly distinguished for the cultivation of traditional sweet cherry landraces (mainly ‘Ambrunes’, ‘Pico Negro’ and ‘Pico Colorado’), which are generally known as “Picota”-type cherries because they are usually harvested stemless. Additionally, these cultivars are included into the Protected Designation of Origin “Cereza del Jerte”. These autochthonous “Picotas” are highly appreciated in European markets, especially in England, because of their outstanding organoleptic characteristics. Notwithstanding, several technical problems restrict the sustainability of “Picota”, mainly small fruit size and self-incompatibility. In this work, thirteen new selections “Picota”-type obtained from the Sweet Cherry Breeding Program of CICYTEX were evaluated in one harvest season (2016), concerning quality parameters and sensory properties. Physicochemical parameters such as fruit size, weight, skin colour, flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity and sensory properties (external appearance, skin colour, colour intensity, sourness, sweetness, ‘Ambrunes’ taste, crispness, texture and acceptance) were assessed at commercial maturity stage. Among quality characteristics evaluated, skin colour, fruit size and weight showed a prominent role in the segregation of the new selections, followed by flesh firmness and titratable acidity. However, TSS was not so decisive as the previous ones, because the cultivars showed a narrow range, whose values varied between 19-25 °Brix. According to sensory analysis, as relevant results, new selections of “Picota”-type that received the highest scores for global acceptance were directly related to those cultivars that showed fruits with higher size and dark-coloured skin.

Evaluation of Hungarian bred sweet cherry cultivars on Hungarian bred Mahaleb rootstocks

Evaluation of ten cherry rootstocks (‘Bogdany’, Cerasus mahaleb ‘Cemany’, ‘Egervar’, ‘Erdi V’, ‘Korponay’, ‘Magyar’, ‘SM 11/4’, P. avium ‘C. 2493’, ‘GiSelA 6’, control: ‘INRA SL 64’ rootstock) combined with early ripening sweet cherry cultivars (‘Petrus℗’, ‘Vera℗’, ‘Carmen℗’) was studied in non-irrigated conditions in central Hungary. The trial was set up at the Experimental Fields of NARIC Fruit Culture Research Institute at Research Station of Erd. The aim of our study was to find suitable rootstock(s) for novel bred Hungarian sweet cherry cultivars. It can be stated after eight years of investigation that ‘Petrus℗’ is the most vigorous cultivar, followed by ‘Vera℗’ and ‘Carmen℗’. ‘GiSelA 6’ rootstock showed the lowest vigor among examined rootstocks and ‘INRA SL 64’ was the most vigorous rootstock in the trial. The trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) of ‘Petrus℗’ combinations grafted on ‘INRA SL 64’, ‘SM11/4’ and ‘Bogdany’ was significantly bigger than on ‘C. 2493’, ‘Egervar’ and ‘GiSelA 6’ rootstocks. Other rootstocks such as ‘Erdi V’, ‘Korponay’, ‘Magyar’ and ‘Cemany’ indicated high to moderate high vigor for ‘Petrus℗’. The ’Vera℗’/‘GiSelA 6’ and ‘Korponay’ combination had significantly smaller TCSA compared to most of ‘Vera℗’ combinations. In the case of ‘Carmen℗’, rootstock ‘INRA SL 64’ and ‘Cemany’ showed high vigor, ‘Erdi V’, ‘C. 2493’, ‘Egervar’, ‘Korponay’ generated medium vigor and ‘GiSelA 6’ produced low vigor. ‘Petrus℗’ produced high yield and the smallest fruit size among observed cherry cultivars. ‘C.2493’ had lower cumulative yields than other rootstocks for ‘Carmen℗’ but only ‘C.2493’ had a positive effect on fruit size as more than 40% of examined fruits were larger than 28.1 mm in diameter. There were no significant differences in cumulative yields of ‘Vera℗’ between rootstocks, but larger fruit size was produced by ‘C. 2493’, ‘Erdi V’ and ‘SM 11/4’. On the basis of the value-yield index, which was calculated by actual market price per fruit size category, ‘Vera℗’ was the most valuable on ‘Egervar’, ‘INRA SL 64’, ‘and ‘Erdi V’ rootstocks.

Sour cherries for fresh consumption

The previous use of sour cherry is determined by their distribution and their fruit characteristics. The sour cherry growing in Europe is mainly limited to eastern, southeastern and central Europe. Because of the high acid and the low sugar contents as well as the small fruit size of the most cultivated varieties, the sour cherry is mainly used in fruit processing. In result of the breeding progress in recent decades new sour cherry cultivars have been developed with a balanced sugar-acid ratio. Additional some of these cultivars show an increased fruit size and good fruit firmness. Sour cherries with these fruit characteristics will be a very good option for the fresh market in the future. As first experiences show, the sour cherry can successfully enrich the fresh fruit assortment in the summer time.

Behavior of leaf nutritional status in ‘on’ and ‘off’ year bearing trees of ‘Bengal’ litchi (Litchi chinensis)

The major problems reported in litchi in several countries include irregular flowering, poor fruit retention, small fruit size and alternate bearing. This study assessed the time course (all-year-round, on a monthly basis) of the leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations, in ‘on’ and ‘off’ year bearing ‘Bengal’ litchi trees. In December 2012, fifty uniform trees, half of them with a heavy fruit load (‘on’ year) and the other half with a very light crop load (‘off’ year) were tagged to trace their nutritional status. The trees were twelve years old, with an approximately 5 m canopy diameter and 4 m in height, and have received the same cultural practices and fertilization since the orchard establishment. Leaves were sampled monthly from December 2012 to November 2013 and analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and boron (B). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means compared by multiple range test at 5% probability. Leaf analysis showed differences between ‘on’ and ‘off’ year bearing trees for N, K, Mn and Cu. Leaf macronutrients were higher in the 4th month and lower around the 10th month, whereas leaf micronutrients were higher around the10th month and lower in the 4th month. These results open the possibility to use leaf analysis as a tool to predict potential yield and manage fertilization accordingly to minimize alternate bearing in litchi.