Fruit Species Research Articles

Salinity and sodicity stresses differentially influence growth and physiology in sapota (Achras zapota L.)

Salt stress adversely affects the growth and physiological relations in most tree fruit species. Little is known about genetic variation for salt tolerance, and the physiological mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in sapota (Achras zapota), an underutilized fruit crop valued for its nutritive and medicinal properties. Here, we examined the effects of saline (ECiw 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS/m) and sodic (RSC 2.5 and 5.0meq/l) water treatments on plant growth, physiology, and ion homeostasis in the different genotypes of Sapota. Although saline and sodic treatments appreciably reduced the plant growth (i.e., by 20–50%) compared to salt-free plants, genotypes ‘CSRS-13’ and ‘CSRS-15’ performed better than others. Salt-induced reductions in leaf area were indicative of the ability of sapota to better acclimatize to prolonged salinity stress by regulating the biomass production. Saline and sodic irrigation treatments increased the leaf Na+ and decreased the leaf K+; albeit with clear-cut genotypic differences. We observed better ion homeostasis in genotype ‘CSRS-17’ under salinity stress, and better physiological adaptations in genotypes ‘CSRS-11’ and ‘CSRS-17’ under sodicity stress. Principal Component Analysis revealed strikingly different responses of sapota genotypes to ‘low’ and ‘high’ salinity/sodicity treatments. Strong cultivar-specific responses to salinity and sodicity stresses evinced the existence of genetic variation for salt tolerance in sapota. Overall, our findings demonstrated the feasibility of sapota cultivation in areas with moderate sodicity (RSC ∼2.5 meq/l), and moderate-to-high salinity (∼8.0 dS/m).

Integrated transcriptome and physiological analysis revealed core transcription factors that promote flavonoid biosynthesis in apricot in response to pathogenic fungal infection.

Integrated transcriptome and physiological analysis of apricot leaves after Fusarium solani treatment. In addition, we identified core transcription factors and flavonoid-related synthase genes which may function in apricot disease resistance. Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is an important economic fruit species, whose yield and quality of fruit are limited owing to its susceptibility to diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of P. armeniaca to diseases is still unknown. In this study, we used physiology and transcriptome analysis to characterize responses of P. armeniaca subjected to Fusarium solani. The results showed increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity during F. solani infestation. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which included 4281 upregulated DEGs and 3305 downregulated DEGs, were detected in P. armeniaca leaves exposed to F. solani infestation. Changes in expression of transcription factors (TFs), including bHLH, AP2/ERF, and WRKY indicated their role in triggering pathogen-responsive genes in P. armeniaca. During the P. armeniaca response to F. solani infestation, the content of total flavonoid was changed, and we identified enzyme genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. Ectopic overexpression of PabHLH15 and PabHLH102 in Nicotiana benthamiana conferred elevated resistance to Fspa_1. Moreover, PabHLH15 and PabHLH102 positively interact with the promoter of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes. A regulatory network of TFs regulating enzyme genes related to flavonoid synthesis affecting apricot disease resistance was constructed. These results reveal the potential underlying mechanisms of the F. solani response of P. armeniaca, which would help improve the disease resistance of P. armeniaca and may cultivate high-quality disease-resistant varieties in the future.

Diversity of wild edible fruits in the agroforestry area of Cigalontang Village, Tasikmalaya, Indonesia

Abstract. Kulsum NNS, Susandarini R. 2023. Diversity of wild edible fruits in the agroforestry area of Cigalontang Village, Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 4161-4167. Wild edible fruits are non-timber forest products that support the nutritional adequacy of communities around the forest. Scientific inventory and documentation of wild fruit plant diversity are important to reveal local resources' potential in supporting local communities food security. A study on wild edible fruits in the agroforestry area in Cigalontang Village aimed to document the diversity of fruit plant species and traditional knowledge of the community on food plants available from the forest. This study used semi-structured interviews with 63 respondents and guided fieldwork to identify natural habitats and collect specimens of wild edible fruits. The results showed that people of Cigalontang Village commonly consumed 49 wild edible fruit species belonging to 27 families. Zingiberaceae and Moraceae were two families with the highest number of wild edible fruit species mentioned by the respondents. All the fruits were consumed raw as fresh fruits, and some were known as ingredients for traditional medicine to treat minor health complaints. The community discussed the use of wild edible fruits with a review of the nutritional content based on relevant references. Results showed that the community used wild edible fruits for daily nutritional needs, not for sale. Both older and younger generations shared knowledge about the diversity of wild edible fruit plants and were closely related to local traditions kept within the frame of local wisdom. This knowledge, supported by local wisdom held by the community, is important to maintain the sustainability of fruit plant diversity and its conservation.

Comparative constraint-based modelling of fruit development across species highlights nitrogen metabolism in the growth-defence trade-off.

Although primary metabolism is well conserved across species, it is useful to explore the specificity of its network to assess the extent to which some pathways may contribute to particular outcomes. Constraint-based metabolic modelling is an established framework for predicting metabolic fluxes and phenotypes and helps to explore how the plant metabolic network delivers specific outcomes from temporal series. After describing the main physiological traits during fruit development, we confirmed the correlations between fruit relative growth rate (RGR), protein content and time to maturity. Then a constraint-based method is applied to a panel of eight fruit species with a knowledge-based metabolic model of heterotrophic cells describing a generic metabolic network of primary metabolism. The metabolic fluxes are estimated by constraining the model using a large set of metabolites and compounds quantified throughout fruit development. Multivariate analyses showed a clear common pattern of flux distribution during fruit development with differences between fast- and slow-growing fruits. Only the latter fruits mobilise the tricarboxylic acid cycle in addition to glycolysis, leading to a higher rate of respiration. More surprisingly, to balance nitrogen, the model suggests, on the one hand, nitrogen uptake by nitrate reductase to support a high RGR at early stages of cucumber and, on the other hand, the accumulation of alkaloids during ripening of pepper and eggplant. Finally, building virtual fruits by combining 12 biomass compounds shows that the growth-defence trade-off is supported mainly by cell wall synthesis for fast-growing fruits and by total polyphenols accumulation for slow-growing fruits.

The Potential for Underutilized Fruits of Northern India to Improve Food Security and their Role in Climate Resilient- A Review

Underutilized fruits or less known fruits are the storehouse of nutrition and can play an important role in providing food security to people. As the name indicates underutilized fruits are those fruits which are neglected and rarely eaten. However, these fruits are rich in carbohydrates, fats, proteins, energy, vitamins, folic acids and dietary fibers. Since the dawn of time, these fruits have also been employed in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for their medicinal properties. Due to the lack of outstanding flavor and attractive color, their consumption is quite low. The majority of these fruits have not gone through any domestication or selection processes. Their cultivation is extremely limited, and they primarily grow in the wild. These fruit species are appropriate for cultivation in disaster and drought-prone locations because of their resistance to biotic and abiotic challenges. The resistance genes present in these fruits can be utilized for the crop improvement program. In India, these fruits are mainly grown in a tropical wet and dry climate and also has importance in marginal land. To meet the nutritional needs of the expanding population, these fruits need to be domesticated and commercially grown. The cultivation of these fruits, which are a significant source of medicinal benefits, might assist in returning to the Ayurveda approach of treating various illnesses.

Quantified diet provides suggestions for habitat restoration for the world's rarest primate

Habitat restoration for endangered species requires sufficient understanding of species' feeding ecology. Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is the world's rarest primate species, with only one population of ca. 40 individuals living in Bawangling, Hainan Province, China. Limited habitat is the main factor restricting its population recovery. Previous studies suggested Hainan gibbons live in suboptimal habitats and recommended Lauraceae for habitat restoration. From September 2021 to December 2022, we used 5-min interval scans sampling method to collect quantitative data of feeding behavior of two Hainan gibbon groups. We totally tracked gibbons for 1477 h over 216 observation days and collected 17,249 feeding behavioral records. As a result, the two gibbon groups were observed to consume 146 plant species from 111 genera, 65 families. Fruits and figs from average 79 plant species contribute 85.36 % to the annual diet of each group. The larger number and higher proportion of fruit species in the annual diet comparing to those of other gibbon populations indicate that the habitat quality of extant Hainan gibbons is not as poor as previously thought. Meanwhile, species of Lauraceae are abundant in the habitat but contributed little to the gibbon's diet, thus should not be recommended for habitat restoration. We utilized four quantified indexes to filter three important food species lists, which can be reliable references for plant selection in habitat restoration. By clarifying these crucial misunderstandings and providing species lists for habitat restoration, our work again emphasizes the importance of quantified diet on habitat restoration for endangered species.

DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS ON TISSUE CULTURE MICROPROPRIATION IN EUPHORBIA MILII

In recent years, with the emergence of some important species in the field of ornamental plants, the interest in some species naturally grown in nature has started to increase and the Euphorbia milii species has started to create related demands both in commercial and hobby terms. In order to meet these demands, seedlings produced by appropriate methods are needed. Clonal propagation is very important in Euphorbia milii as in other fruit species. Tissue culture techniques are the leading methods in clonal propagation. Although there are various studies on production by tissue culture technique in Euphorbia milii species, it is known that different protocols used in tissue culture have different micropropagation efficiency. However, when commercial production is started, determining the most effective protocol and increasing the micropropagation efficiency will contribute to the reduction of both time and inputs. Studies on in vitro micropropagation have been carried out in Euphorbia milii plant and successful results have been obtained in each study. However, it is still not known exactly which protocol is more successful in the materials to be studied. From this point of view, in this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of different protocols on the micropropagation efficiency of Euphorbia milii plants. In present study, 3 different plant tissue culture protocol were used and, as obtained results, although plantlets were obtained from 3 protocols, the most successful protocol was the P1 protocol. The obtained findings are of a quality that can contribute to tissue culture production of Euphorbia milii plant and other scientific studies.

First Impressions of Studies on Tropical Fruit Species Adapted to Turkey

Türkiye, ılıman ve subtropik meyve türlerinin yetiştiriciliği açısından potansiyel öneme sahiptir. Küresel ısınmanın da etkisi ile son yıllarda tropik türlerinin yetiştiriciliğine ve tüketimine olan ilgi de artmaya başlamıştır. Batı Akdeniz Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü Müdürlüğü, Akdeniz Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi ve Antalya İl Tarım ve Orman Müdürlüğü ortaklığı ile yürütülen “Değişik Tropik Meyve Türlerinin Antalya Koşullarına Adaptasyonu Üzerinde Araştırmalar” konulu proje kapsamında, passiflora, pitaya, guava, longan, litchi ve mango türlerine ait çeşitler, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nden ithal edilmiştir. Proje sonucunda, Gazipaşa ilçesi Macar ve Yakacık lokasyonlarında mikroklima alanlarda tüm türlerin adapte olduğu saptanmıştır. Adaptasyon açısından, passiflora, guava, pitaya, longan, litchi ve mango; damak tadına uygunluk açısından mango ve litchi, meyve rengi, görünüm ve pazarlanabilirlik açısından ise pitaya ön plana çıkmıştır. Guava adaptasyonunun iyi olmasına rağmen raf ömrü ve tat açısından tercih edilebilir bulunmamıştır. Adapte olan türler ile ilgili günümüze kadar ülkemizde çoğaltma yöntemleri, döllenme biyolojisi ve kısıntılı sulama, suptropik iklim koşullarında açıkta ve örtüaltında yetiştiricilik, değişik terbiye sistemlerinin verim ve kalite üzerine etkileri gibi değişik konularda çalışmalar yapılmıştır. Bu makalede, Türkiye’de yetiştirilen tropik türleri ile ilgili, günümüze kadar geçen süreçte, adaptasyon çalışmalarının sonuçları ve adapte olan türler ile ilgili günümüze kadar yapılan çalışmalara değinilmiştir.

Determination of seventeen sugars and sugar alcohols in fruit juice samples using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combining response surface methodology design

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for all organisms to sustain their life activities and probably the most common organic substances in nature, whose main source is grains, starchy vegetables and fruits. To clarify the content and distribution of sugars and sugar alcohols in different fruit species samples accurately, a rapid and sensitive hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-ESI-MS/MS) method combining ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) purification was developed for quantitative determination seventeen sugars and sugar alcohols in fruit juice. In this method, the targets were firstly extracted from 1 g of fruit juice sample using 40 mL double-distilled water by ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) for 10 min according to the optimization of response surface methodology (RSM) design. Then, 1.0 mL of UAE extracted solution was cleaned using an amino (NH2) SPE cartridge in the following SPE procedure. Seventeen compounds were separated in 25 min using the HILIC column by a gradient with 0.1% of ammonium hydroxide and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The HILIC-MS/MS method was validated, with the following studies including limit of detection, linearity range, stability and recovery. The limits of detection (LOD) were between 1.2 and 228 ng/g and linear correlation coefficients (R2) were more than 0.994. The average recoveries of 17 sugars and sugar alcohols ranging from 81.8 to 114.9%. The results showed that inter-day and intra-day precision were found to be within acceptable range. The strategy was successfully used for profiling of sugars and sugar alcohols in various fruit juice matrices.

Current Approaches in Viticulture Mechanization

Viticulture, known as grape cultivation, has a rich history spanning thousands of years. Grapevine is one of the oldest fruit species cultivated in the world and is still one of the most basic agricultural activities today. Throughout the centuries, techniques in vineyard management have evolved following advances in technology and machinery. In recent years, especially the wine industry has been experiencing a significant transition to viticulture mechanization due to increasing productivity, cost reduction and the gradual decrease of skilled labour force. This transition allows cultural processes in vineyard cultivation to be carried out more effectively both in a timely manner and in accordance with its purpose. In addition, with the introduction of technology, this mode of production becomes more attractive for the young population, which tends to move away from agricultural activities. In this article, prominent mechanization applications in grape cultivation and current approaches on a global scale are examined.

Ecological characteristics of natural and culturated species, their comparison in Prunus genus

Plum species are found native throughout the nothern hemisphere, but mostly in the temperate zone. The earliest writings about plum date back some 2000 years (De Candolle, 1894; Cullinan, 1937) puts the age of plums at 2000-4000 years old (Bagenal, 1954). However, the stone core findings suggest a greater past. The question is difficult to conclude because the large number of species of the genus are taxonomically unclear and spread over a wide geographical area. The taxonomic position of stone fruit species and varieties can also be different, especially for Prunus species (Kárpáti, 1967; Terpó, 1974; Raming & Cociu, 1991; Faust & Surányi, 1997; Surányi, 2013). The study analyzes the average relative ecological value measurement numbers of 75 species, including 120 cultivars, in terms of diversity and similarity. It is novel that, based on the sources, the author used the Ellenberg-Borhid values for the European, Asian, North American and other species, expanding them with transitional subgenera (e.g. Microcerasus). It was also possible to pay attention to a North African, Central and South American Prunus/Prunophora species. Following the accounting of economic and fruiting values, the species, subspecies, and varieties of the European and Mediterranean regions are the finalists, but species hybrid plums, rootstocks, or Prunus species whose values have not yet been known can play a role. Although the kéköny is a known species, it can become a cultivated fruit species due to the high antioxidant content of the fruit (Hegedűs & Halász, 2019).

Seed dispersal syndrome predicts ethanol concentration of fruits in a tropical dry forest.

Studying fruit traits and their interactions with seed dispersers can improve how we interpret patterns of biodiversity, ecosystem function and evolution. Mounting evidence suggests that fruit ethanol is common and variable, and may exert selective pressures on seed dispersers. To test this, we comprehensively assess fruit ethanol content in a wild ecosystem and explore sources of variation. We hypothesize that both phylogeny and seed dispersal syndrome explain variation in ethanol levels, and we predict that fruits with mammalian dispersal traits will contain higher levels of ethanol than those with bird dispersal traits. We measured ripe fruit ethanol content in species with mammal- (n = 16), bird- (n = 14) or mixed-dispersal (n = 7) syndromes in a Costa Rican tropical dry forest. Seventy-eight per cent of fruit species yielded measurable ethanol concentrations. We detected a phylogenetic signal in maximum ethanol levels (Pagel's λ = 0.82). Controlling for phylogeny, we observed greater ethanol concentrations in mammal-dispersed fruits, indicating that dispersal syndrome helps explain variation in ethanol content, and that mammals may be more exposed to ethanol in their diets than birds. Our findings further our understanding of wild fruit ethanol and its potential role as a selective pressure on frugivore sensory systems and metabolism.

Is phosphine an ideal candidate for fruit fly disinfestation in Java apple, Syzygium samarangense?

Java apple, Syzygium samarangense, a nutritionally rich fruit species cultivated in Southeast Asia is prone to fruit fly infestation. Since no commercial management protocols currently exist for disinfesting java apple against fruit flies, the present study investigated the suitability of phosphine fumigation for post-harvest disinfestation of java apple fruit. Fruit exposed to gravid female Bactrocera dorsalis overnight were subjected to phosphine fumigation at concentrations ranging from 0.14 to 2.78 mg/L for 24, 48 and 72 h at ambient conditions. Gas chromatographic analysis of the PH3 concentration revealed that approximately 65% of phosphine gas was lost in treatment chambers fumigated with highest concentration of 2.78 mg/L for 72 h. B. dorsalis eggs could be mitigated by exposing java apple fruit to a concentration × time product of 16.67 mg/L-h of PH3 or more. Fumigating fruit at PH3 concentrations below 0.69 mg/L for 24 h and 48 h did not significantly change the color of treated fruit. Furthermore, the texture of the fruit post PH3 fumigation remained unaffected. Phosphine treated java apple fruit showed no trace of phosphine residues at exposures shorter than 72 h. In conclusion, phosphine can be a viable treatment for the management of B. dorsalis eggs in S. samarangense fruit at lower concentrations and shorter durations without affecting the fruit quality.

Morpho-physiological effects of irrigation with saline water in ex vitro plants of Juglans regia ‘Sorrento’

Soil salinization is a global problem limiting growth and economical yield in fruit species including walnut. Knowledge of the response of varieties and cultivars to salinity can represent an important contribution to future walnut plantation in areas affected by soil salinization. Juglans regia ‘Sorrento’ is a commercially important Italian variety. The present work aimed to explore the morpho-physiological response to NaCl-induced stress in ‘Sorrento’ plants using clonally propagated ex vitro plantlets to reduce the impact of genetic variation. Ex vitro acclimatized plants were exposed to salinity conditions by irrigating pot soil with half-strength Hoagland solution containing 100 mM NaCl for 20 days. Salt-induced effects on plant growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, osmolality, membrane injury and on activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) in leaves were evaluated. Morphological and growth parameters were not significantly altered by salt stress with respect to the control. Slight differences in leaf necrosis and absence of injury in the membranes, stable content of photosynthetic pigments, and an increase in G-POD activity were also found in salt-treated plants. These results collectively suggest that ‘Sorrento’ has potential for the cultivation in salinized environments.

Single-Bud Expression Analysis of Bud Dormancy Factors in Peach.

Transcriptomic and gene expression analysis have greatly facilitated the identification and characterization of transcriptional regulatory factors and effectors involved in dormancy progression and other physiological processes orchestrated during bud development in peach and other temperate fruit species. Gene expression measurements are most usually based on average values from several or many individual buds. We have performed single-bud gene analysis in flower buds of peach across dormancy release using amplicons from the master regulatory DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) factors, several jasmonic acid biosynthetic genes, other genes related to flowering development, cell growth resumption, and abiotic stress tolerance. This analysis provides a close view on gene-specific, single-bud variability throughout the developmental shift from dormant to dormancy-released stages, contributing to the characterization of putative co-expression modules and other regulatory aspects in this particular tissue.

Application of the OECT-Based In Vivo Biosensor Bioristor in Fruit Tree Monitoring to Improve Agricultural Sustainability

Water scarcity is a major concern in agriculture worldwide. Fruit trees are severely affected by water deprivation in terms of growth, fruit yield, and quality. Plant monitoring combined with efficient irrigation is pivotal to achieve good quality standards and improve agricultural sustainability. This study reports the use of in vivo sensing technology to monitor fruit tree species continuously, in real time and in vivo, through an Organic Electrochemical Transistor (OECT)-based biosensor called Bioristor. The sensor was applied to grapevines, apples, and kiwis, revealing its capability to trace the plant water status for the whole productive cycle. A correlation between the sensor response index (R) and environmental parameters such as air humidity and temperature were recorded for fruit species. The day/night oscillation of the ionic content in the transpiration stream varies during plant growth and fruit maturation and during severe drought stress. Bioristor promptly detected the occurrence of drought stress. The gate current (Igs) trend supports the reduction in the saturation of the system due to the lower water availability. The use of Bioristor-acquired indices can be used to improve precision irrigation techniques according to the real plant needs.

Survey of diseases affecting tropical fruit trees in Central Panay Island, Philippines

The study aimed to determine the diseases infecting the foliage and stems of tropical fruit trees such as durian (Durio zibethinus L.), langsat (Lansium domesticum), mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), pomelo (Citrus maxima), and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), the species most affected, resistant and susceptible species. The study was conducted at the DBP Forest within the school reservation of the West Visayas State University-College of Agriculture and Forestry, Lambunao, Iloilo, Panay Island, Philippines. The data gathered were tabulated and analyzed using descriptive statistics. There were eleven evident foliage diseases infecting the fruit trees, including anthracnose, chlorosis, curling, leaf blight, leaf rust, leaf spot, mosaic, powdery mildew, tar spot, shot hole, and sooty molds were recorded. The shot hole disease was observed in five species of fruit trees, while chlorosis infected only pomelo. The powdery mildew was found to have the highest percentage of foliage infection, and the least was chlorosis. There were three kinds of disease infecting the stems that were evident during the time of the survey, including canker, stem rust, and dieback. Three of the five species of fruit trees surveyed were associated with stem diseases, including durian, mangosteen, and pomelo. Moreover, it was found that the rambutan and mangosteen were the most susceptible species infected by foliage diseases and durian for stem diseases.

The diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit species in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Suwardi AB, Syamsuardi, Mukhtar E, Nurainas. 2023. The diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit species in Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 3245-3257. Sumatra Island is recognized as the distribution center of tropical fruit species in Indonesia. However, increased human activity threatens the existence of edible wild fruit plants in nature. The study aims to assess the diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit plant species in Sumatra, Indonesia. The study was conducted in four provinces: West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and Bengkulu. For the sampling, a modified line transect method was used. A total of 331 wild edible fruit plant species at four studied sites in Sumatra consisted of 73 families. The highest number of fruit plant species was recorded in West Sumatra Province, i.e., 176 species, followed by Jambi (172 species), Riau (121 species), and Bengkulu (76 species). The diversity of wild edible fruit plant species was higher in West Sumatra Province (3.85) but lower in Riau Province (3.25). Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Baccaurea lanceolata (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea macrocarpa (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea polyneura Hook.f., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T.Anderson, Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.fil. ex J.Anderson, Mangifera foetida Lour., Mangifera laurina Blume, Mangifera odorata Griff., and Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. were the most frequently recorded wild fruit plant species in all of the study area. However, 74 wild edible fruit plant species were recorded only in West Sumatra, 45 in Riau, 79 in Jambi, and 9 in Bengkulu. Among the 331 wild edible fruit species in the present study, 1 taxon was classified as endangered (0.30%), 9 taxa (2.72%) as vulnerable, 11 taxa (3.32%) as near threatened, and 139 taxa (41.99%) as least concern, and 171 taxa (51.67%) as Data Deficient.

Production of Nephelium lappaceum Seedlings using Different Volumes of Tubes and Cultivation Densities

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) fruit is a potential non-timber forest in tropical countries such as Indonesia due to its high economic potential. However, it is necessary to know the silvicultural aspects of the species in order to produce high-quality seedlings. The volume of the tube used and the spacing between seedlings can influence the quality of the seedlings. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the production of seedlings of N. lappaceum through different densities of seedlings per tray and volumes of tubes. The experiment was installed in the nursery of the Technology Foundation of the state of Acre in Rio Branco. A completely randomized design with two factors (2 × 3) was adopted, considering two volumes of tubes, 110 cm³ and 180 cm³, and three seedling densities per tray, 1/3, 2/3, and 3/3. After 120 days, it was observed that the seedlings produced in tubes with a volume of 180 cm3 had greater aerial length and stem diameter in relation to the density of seedlings per tray, seedlings produced in less dense trays (1/3) had a higher Dickson quality index. Therefore, it is inferred that seedlings of N. lappaceum are favored when tubes with a volume of 180 cm³ and a density per tray of 1/3 are used. Keywords: Dickson quality index, fruitful species, initial growth, non-timber forest product, seedling production

Improvement of rooting and growth in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cuttings with organic biostimulants

Seaweed extracts have shown profoundly positive effects on crop growth, quality and reproduction in diverse agricultural and horticultural crops. Seaweed extracts can be used to promote the rooting and growth of cuttings in perennial fruit species like kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). In this study, the cuttings were treated with 1, 5, 10 and 50% solutions of G Sap (Gracilaria edulis), K Sap (Kappaphycus alvarezii), AN (Ascophyllum nodosum), EM (Ecklonia maxima), HA (Humic acid) and control (water) for 6 h as base dipping. Subsequently, the treatments of G Sap, K Sap, AN, EM, HA and control were repeated every 15 days for a period of six months as application of 50 ml solutions in the potted cuttings. All the treatments exhibited significant effects on the rooting percent in all the kiwifruit cultivars, namely ‘Monty’, ‘Abott’, ‘Hayward’, ‘Allison’ and ‘Bruno’ (P ≤ 0.01) as compared to the control. Shoot and root growth parameters including leaf number per cutting, number of roots per cutting, number of branches, plant height, shoot diameter, root length, root diameter and root weight were all positively increased with the application of seaweed extracts (P ≤ 0.05). Cuttings treated with seaweed extract exhibited significantly higher levels of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids), metabolites (total carbohydrates and soluble phenols) and less electrolyte leakage as compared to the control cuttings. Significant positive and negative correlations were observed between biochemical parameters combined with plant nutrient concentration. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1 and PC2 (first two principal components) accounted for 75% of the entire variation. While, PC1 accounted for 63% of the total variation, PC2 accounted for 11% of the total variation. The leaves and the roots of kiwifruit cultivar ‘Hayward’ treated with G Sap at 10%, K Sap at 10%, AN at 10%, EM at 10%, HA at 10% exhibited higher expression of all four root promoting candidate genes (GH3-3, LBD16, LBD29 and LRP1) compared to the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that, seaweed extract and humic acid can be used as a suitable alternative to synthetic hormones for promoting the rooting and growth of kiwifruit cuttings.