Traditional Fruit Research Articles

Application of nondestructive techniques for peach (Prunus persica) quality inspection: A review.

Peaches are highly valued for their rich nutritional content. Traditional fruit quality accessing methods (i.e., manual squeezing the fruit for firmness) are both subjective and destructive, which tend to diminish the integrity of fruit samples, consequently undermining their market value. Compared to traditional detection methods, nondestructive technology offers efficient and noninvasive solutions for rapidly and accurately assessing internal external quality of peaches. This can significantly enhance product classification and quality assurance while reducing the need for extensive human resources and minimizing potential physical damage to peaches. This review provided a comprehensive overview of nondestructive techniques for peach quality evaluation, including visible/near-infrared spectroscopy, machine vision technology, hyperspectral imaging, dielectric and optical properties, fluorescence spectroscopy, electronic nose/tongue, and acoustic vibration methods. It also evaluates the effectiveness of each technique in assessing internal quality, maturity, and disease detection of peaches. The advantages and limitations of each method were also summarized. This study focuses specifically on peaches and encompasses all existing nondestructive testing methods, providing valuable insights and references for future studies in the field of peach quality analysis using nondestructive testing methods.

The art of tartness: the genetics of organic acid content in fresh fruits.

Organic acids are major determinants of fruit flavor and a primary focus of fruit crop breeding. The accumulation of organic acids is determined by their synthesis, degradation, and transport, all of which are manipulated by sophisticated genetic mechanisms. Constant exploration of the genetic basis of organic acid accumulation, especially through linkage analysis, association analysis, and evolutionary analysis, have identified numerous loci in recent decades. In this review, the genetic loci and genes responsible for malate and citrate contents in fruits are discussed from the genetic perspective. Technologies such as gene transformation and genome editing as well as efficient breeding using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) are expected to break the bottleneck of traditional fruit crop breeding and promote fruit quality improvement.

Advancing Robotic Fruit Picking: Adaptive End-Effector Approach

In modern agriculture, the demand for efficient fruit picking methods is constantly increasing due to labor shortages and the need to improve productivity. Traditional fruit picking methods often rely on manual labor, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to inconsistency. This study aims to develop a novel end effector for agricultural fruit picking robots, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of fruit picking through highly flexible and adaptive design. It can effectively handle fruits of diverse types, shapes, and hardness. By adopting a three-finger scheme and independent servo motor control, the simulated movements of human hands are realized. Shape memory alloy (SMA) and electroactive polymer (EAP) as intelligent driving materials, as well as flexible materials such as silicone, are explored to optimize the grip performance and fruit protection of the actuator. High-precision visual and tactile sensors are also integrated to support the accurate identification of fruits of different maturity. The performance of the actuator is evaluated through advanced data analysis techniques, including descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing and regression analysis. The findings suggest that the proposed design optimization measures based on data analysis results can further enhance the adaptability and efficiency of the robot in future applications, thereby addressing the challenges faced in modern agricultural practices and contributing to increased productivity and sustainability in the agriculture sector.

Comparative Study on the Mechanism of Macrophage Activation Induced by Polysaccharides from Fresh and Dried Longan.

Longan (Dimcarpus longan Lour.) is a kind of traditional fruit used as a medicine and a food. Fresh longan is primarily consumed as a fruit, whereas dried longan is commonly employed for medicinal purposes. The differences in the immunomodulatory activities and mechanisms of polysaccharides between dried and fresh longan remain unclear. The present study comparatively analyzed the mechanisms of macrophage activation induced by polysaccharides from dried (LPG) and fresh longan (LPX). The results revealed that LPG and LPX differentially promoted macrophage phagocytosis and the secretion of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6. RNA-seq analysis revealed that LPG and LPX differentially affected gene expression in macrophages. The LPG treatment identified Tnf and chemokine-related genes as core genes, while myd88 and interferon-related genes were the core genes affected by LPX. A comprehensive analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that LPG initiated macrophage activation primarily through the TLR2/4-mediated TRAM/TRAF6 and CLR-mediated Src/Raf1 NF-κB signaling pathways. LPX initiated macrophage activation predominantly via the CLR-mediated Bcl10/MALT1 and NLR-mediated Rip2/TAK1 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Interestingly, the non-classical NF-κB signaling pathway was activated by polysaccharides in both dried and fresh longan to elicit a slow, mild immune response. LPG tends to promote immune cell migration to engage in the immune response, while LPX facilitates antigen presentation to promote T cell activation. These findings contribute insights into the mechanisms underlying the differences in bioactivity between dried and fresh longan and their potential applications in immune-enhancing strategies and functional-food development.

Biological evaluation of nutritional traditional fruit Mangifera camptosperma against diabetes and hyperlipidemia

IntroductionThe objective of the study was to determine antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Mangifera camptosperma leaves extract using streptozotocin-induced animal model. MethodsThe leaves of M. camptosperma extracted with hydroethanolic (50:50) solvent using soxhlet apparatus. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often given as an adjuvant to alleviate diabetic symptoms. The plant extracts were used to determine presence of phytochemicals present in them using different tests. Diabetes was induced on animals using streptozotocin (STZ) 50 mg/kg through intra-peritoneal route. Oral administration of M. camptosperma extract at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg was used to assess its antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects. ResultsThe phytochemical analysis showing presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, and flavonoids. The diabetic control group had blood glucose levels of 102 mg/kg and 126 mg/kg, respectively, after receiving the test medication, but the diabetic rats treated with the extract showed a substantial decrease to 90.11 ± 5.71 (200 mg/kg) and 82.12 ± 3.99 (400 mg/kg). If compared to the diabetic control group, the administration of 400 mg/kg of M. camptosperma for 21 days resulted in a substantial decrease (p < 0.05) in serum total cholesterol (106.12 ± 5.94 mg/dL) and triglyceride (83.11 ± 4.04 mg/dL), as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol (36.15 ± 3.04 mg/dL). This study found that while administered to diabetic rats, M. camptosperma lowered blood glucose levels and improved lipid profiles. DiscussionIt can be concluded from the study that the plant extract may be useful in treating hyperlipidemic and type-2 diabetes as an alternative medicine.

Non‐destructive grading technique for mangoes using a flexible impedance sensing system and YOLOv5s_CBAM

AbstractFlexible sensors for food quality control are experiencing rapid development. The purpose of this study is to address the time‐consuming issues associated with traditional fruit grading methods by utilizing a homemade flexible impedance sensing system (FISS). A customized spiral slide system was innovatively designed in the study to simulate the grading process on a fruit assembly line with multimodal features for low power consumption and non‐destructive evaluation. FISS integrated components such as a camera, spiral slider, 3D printed slider, latex ball, flexible impedance electrodes, and back‐end measurement circuits and successfully achieved accurate food quality assessment by using a visual classification model for primary grading based on YOLOv5s‐CBAM and an impedance feature classification model for secondary grading of mangoes based on the coefficient of variation method and threshold coefficient method. With an impressive assessment accuracy of 97.07% and a classification speed of up to 3 s/piece, the system successfully classified mangoes into seven grades covering overripe, fully ripe, ripe, unevenly ripe, unripe, underripe, and rotten states. By eliminating the reliance on complex instruments and expensive equipment, FISS provides a cost‐effective alternative for food quality control, significantly reducing operational costs.Practical applicationsThe purpose of this study is to address the time‐consuming issues associated with traditional fruit grading methods by utilizing a homemade flexible impedance sensing system (FISS). A customized spiral slide system was innovatively designed in the study to simulate the grading process on a fruit assembly line with multimodal features for low power consumption and non‐destructive evaluation. FISS integrated components such as a camera, spiral slider, 3D printed slider, latex ball, flexible impedance electrodes, and back‐end measurement circuits and successfully achieved accurate food quality assessment by using a visual classification model for primary grading based on YOLOv5s‐CBAM and an impedance feature classification model for secondary grading of mangoes based on the coefficient of variation method and threshold coefficient method. With an impressive assessment accuracy of 97.07% and a classification speed of up to 3 s/piece, the system successfully classified mangoes into seven grades covering overripe, fully ripe, ripe, unevenly ripe, unripe, underripe, and rotten states. By eliminating the reliance on complex instruments and expensive equipment, FISS provides a cost‐effective alternative for food quality control, significantly reducing operational costs.

Physicochemical and sensorial properties of tomato leathers at different drying conditions.

Tomato leather as a healthy alternative to traditional fruit leathers was formulated. A tray dryer with changing temperature (50, 60, and 70°C) and relative humidity (5%, 10%, and 20%) was used to achieve the best product in terms of color, water distribution, lycopene content, mechanical, and sensorial properties. Color change was the highest at 70°C due to the Maillard reaction. Lycopene content was also the highest at 70°C. Time domain-NMR relaxometry showed that water distribution of all samples was homogeneous and similar to each other. Processing conditions affected mechanical properties significantly. The highest tensile strength was observed at 70°C, possibly due to the denatured proteins. Sensory analysis indicated better flavor development at 70°C, whereas overall acceptability of samples was higher at 50°C. The results of this study showed the main processing parameters of tomato leather with a minimal amount of ingredients, with acceptable mechanical and sensorial properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Tomato leather was produced by using minimal amount of ingredients. Taste of the leather was found acceptable, as a salty snack food. Therefore, this product can be produced economically and it has a high potential to be consumed as an alternative to conventional fruit leathers.

Evaluation of the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of tshui wine made from the fruit of Grewia coriacea Mast

This study focused on the variability of physico-chemical and microbiological quality properties of wine made from the traditional fruit juice of Grewia coriacea Mast) commonly known as "tshui", widely consumed and appreciated in Congo Brazzaville. Samples of sweet must (intermediate product) taken every 5 days for 30 days during alcoholic fermentation were used for the various physico-chemical and microbiological analyses. These analyses were carried out using standard physicochemical and microbiological methods. Physicochemical results showed that the wine obtained had a density of 1.04±0.2, a pH of 3.2 ±0.4, a total acidity of 1.3 ± 0.2, a Brix degree of 13.7±2.1%, an alcohol degree of 5.2± 1.6%, a vitamin C content of 1.7 ± 0.2 (Kcal/100 ml) and a temperature of 26.2±0.5 °C. Polyphenols and anthocyanins in the wine increased as a result of the high alcohol content and yeast-induced acidification. Microbiological analysis revealed that yeasts, with 1.7×108 cfu/mL, were the dominant microflora in the wine, while the lactic acid bacteria isolated belonged to the Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc genera.

Towards a sustainable business model for rubber agroforestry in Indonesia

Agroforestry systems, particularly rubber agroforests, are crucial for Dayak communities in Indonesia, providing economic benefits and vital assets for their livelihoods. Two common types in Simpang Dua sub-district are tembawang (traditional fruit gardens) and rubber agroforests. Both have flourished for generations but they now face threats of conversion due to declining rubber prices and the oil palm boom. Tembawang is considered more resilient due to better protection of tenure rights under local customary law and its greater provision of socioeconomic benefits. In some instances, rubber agroforests are only maintained because of their deep rooted social and cultural importance, but they have potential to still be economically valuable. Rubber agroforests can provide a diversified income, offering resilience against volatile rubber markets, and although oil palm provides higher income in the short term, rubber agroforests can provide higher income over the entire system cycle. Long-term financing is essential to improve yields and product quality, to support smallholder rubber agroforests, but obtaining this type of financing is difficult. Obstacles include low rubber prices, poor-quality latex, a lack of productivity of agroforestry crops and low attention from investors, financiers, and markets. Non-commercial financial support, including technical support, could help strengthen farming practices and market-based instruments, including carbon payments, could help stabilise farmers' income. The expansion, however, of large-scale oil palm plantations has shifted the rural labour force from rubber smallholders to plantation workers. Efforts to address these challenges include the establishment of a rubber processing and collective marketing unit, UPPB, to improve market access and prices for smallholder farmers. Founded in 2022, the unit aims to arrange collective marketing and provide technical capacity for farmers to meet the specifications of Standard Indonesia Rubber. By aggregating rubber slabs, farmers can earn up to 25% higher prices than individual farmers, but irregular supplies from farmers and low prices are affecting their success. Despite facing challenges, local farmers' groups remain resilient in organising themselves to improve their systems with the support of NGOs. Commitment from government and private sector stakeholders is additionally needed to further promote sustainable and inclusive rubber agroforestry businesses.

Concentration of Heavy Metals in Traditional and Industrial Fruit Juices from Iran: Probabilistic Risk Assessment Study.

Exposure to heavy metals can endanger the health of exposed people in the long term. The consumption of fruit juice is increasing; it is important to estimate the health risk of consumers due to heavy metals. The current study was carried out for the analysis of toxic metals (lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd)) and essential elements (copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)) in 60 samples of traditional and industrial fruit juices (10 samples of different brands of apple, orange, grape, peach, mango, and pineapple) in Hamadan, West Iran, using inductivity coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. The validation protocol included precision of the analytical method; recovery, the determination of the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantification (LOQ), and linearity were measured. Moreover, risk assessment was detected using target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR) by the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) model. The ranking of metal concentration in traditional and industrial fruit juices was Zn > Cu > As > Pb > Cd. In all samples, concentrations of heavy metals in industrial fruit juices were higher than traditional fruit juices p < < 0.001. The level of metals in all samples was lower of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Iran Standard (IS) permissible limit set for drinking water. In terms of non-carcinogenic, values of toxic elements for children and adult in traditional and industrial fruit juices were 1.6E-3 and 1.72E-3 and 2.6E-3 and 1.85E-3, respectively. The 95th percentile of CR in adults and children due to both industrial and traditional fruits juices was higher than 1E-6; hence, reducing the concentration of As in fruit juices should be conducted. Consumption of fruit juice can increase carcinogenic risk of consumers. Therefore, it is recommended to consume it with caution.

Modeling sunset yellow removal from fruit juice samples by a novel chitosan-nickel ferrite nano sorbent

Analysis of food additives is highly significant in the food industry and directly related to human health. This investigation into the removal efficiency of sunset yellow as an azo dye in fruit juices using Chitosan-nickel ferrite nanoparticles (Cs@NiFe2O4 NPs). The nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using various techniques. The effective parameters for removing sunset yellow were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD). Under the optimum conditions, the highest removal efficiency (94.90%) was obtained for the initial dye concentration of 26.48 mg L−1 at a pH of 3.87, a reaction time of 67.62 min, and a nanoparticle dose of 0.038 g L−1. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model had a better fit for experimental data (R2 = 0.98) than the other kinetic models. The equilibrium adsorption process followed the Freundlich isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 212.766 mg g−1. The dye removal efficiency achieved for industrial and traditional fruit juice samples (91.75% and 93.24%), respectively, confirmed the method's performance, feasibility, and efficiency. The dye adsorption efficiency showed no significant decrease after five recycling, indicating that the sorbent has suitable stability in practical applications. variousThe synthesized nanoparticles can be suggested as an efficient sorbent to remove the sunset yellow dye from food products.

Sprayable oxidized polyvinyl alcohol with improved degradability and sufficient mechanical property for fruit preservation.

Besides their limited preservation capacity and low biosafety, traditional fruit preservation procedures exacerbate "white pollution" because they utilize excessive plastic. Herein, an environmentally friendly one-pot method was developed to obtain degradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), where the hydroxyl radicals generated through the reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and iron ions functioned to oxidize PVA. The oxidized PVA (OPVA-1.0) with abundant ketone groups, reduced crystallinity, and short molecular chains was completely degraded into H2O and CO2 after being buried in the soil for ∼60 days. An improvement in its degradation rate did not weaken the mechanical properties of OPVA-1.0 compared to other modified PVA films because the adverse effect of decreased crystallinity on its mechanical performance was offset by its ion coordination. Alternatively, the tensile strength or toughness of OPVA-1.0 was enhanced due to its internal multi-level interactions including molecular chain entanglement, hydrogen bonding, and metal coordination bonds. More interestingly, OPVA-1.0 was water-welded into various products in a recyclable way owing to its reversible physical bonds, where it was sprayed, dipped, or brushed conformally onto different perishable fruits to delay their ripening by 5-14 days. Based on the cellular biocompatibility and biosafety evaluations in mice, OPVA-1.0 obtained by the facile oxidation strategy was demonstrated to alleviate "white pollution" and delay the ripening of fruits effectively.

Sugar lowering in fermented apple-pear juice orchestrates a promising metabolic answer in the gut microbiome and intestinal integrity

Excessive sugar consumption in young people, who are the major consumers of sugary drinks, combined with limited physical activity, is an important determinant of obesity. Despite their natural appeal, fruit juices have a similar sugar content to that of sugary drinks and once metabolized, they may induce the same biological response. This study aimed to verify whether fermentation processes can make juice consumption healthier and whether reduced-sugar juices have a specific impact on intestinal function. We designed a tailored fermentation of apple-pear juices with lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, which resulted in a reduction of sugar content (27–66%) and caloric intake, and an increase in mannitol content. The impact of newly developed apple-pear juices on gut microbiome composition and functionality was evaluated in vitro using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME). Promising changes were found in the gut microbiota and its metabolic responses and functionality, targeting pathways related to obesity and weight loss (lipopolysaccharide and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism). Additionally, the fermented apple-pear juices positively modulated the intestinal epithelial features. While the simulation of the study simplifies the complex in vivo conditions, it suggests that low-sugar fermented apple-pear juices can elicit targeted responses in the gut ecosystem, contributing to healthier alternatives to traditional fruit juices.

Analyzing Optimal Marketing Channels in the Vegetable Supply Chain: Exploring Factors Influencing Marketing Channel Selection

Potato is amongst most important vegetables being used in kitchens of ordinary and common men. The income elasticity of demand of potato is relatively high as compared with other vegetables. In Pakistan, the traditional fruit and vegetable markets and considered to be the places of pure competition and farmers are linked to these markets via different marketing channels. This study delves into the analysis of optimal marketing channels within the vegetable supply chain, with a focus on understanding the factors that influence the selection of these channels. The study used cross-sectional primary data gathered from different supply chain actors, including 120 potato growers, 20 retailers, 20 consumers, 16 commission agents, and 16 wholesalers from two districts of Punjab, namely Okara and Chinote. This research employs a two-fold methodology. First, it involves the identification of the optimal marketing channel among five alternatives using a unique ranking technique methodology. Second, it employs regression analysis with binary endogenous treatment to discern the factors affecting the choice of marketing channels. The study sheds light on the intricacies of marketing channel decisions in the vegetable supply chain, offering insights into the preferences and considerations of stakeholders in the Okara and Chinote districts of Punjab, Pakistan. The findings of the study contribute not only to the understanding of optimal channel selection but also to the broader knowledge of the factors that influence these decisions. These insights are valuable for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing strategies within the agricultural sector, benefiting farming communities and the country as a whole.

Effects of tartary buckwheat in enhancing bioactive compounds and sensory properties of traditional fruit kombucha beverage

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesTartary buckwheat (TB) has high nutritional value, is gluten‐free, and has adaptability to cold climates, which makes it a valuable crop for agriculture. Few high‐value‐added products are made using TB.FindingsAddition of TB significantly increased (p &lt; .05) the contents of total phenolic and flavonoid in pineapple kombucha (PK) beverage, especially the amount of rutin. In addition, TB contributed abundant organic acids to kombucha beverage, especially acetic acid, citric acid, and malic acid. Although addition of TB increased the sourness and astringency of the beverage, it also contributed toward a unique buckwheat aroma by increasing the abundance of volatile compounds such as esters. In addition, there was no significant difference (p &gt; .05) in the sweetness, bitterness, and pineapple flavor between TBPK and PK beverages.ConclusionThe developed kombucha beverage using TBPK infusion is advantageous over traditional fruit kombucha in terms of providing abundant nutrients as well as a pleasant flavor and has the potential to be used to develop a functional beverage with multiple health benefits.Significance and NoveltyIn this study, TB with high nutritional value was used for the first time as a fermentation substrate to enhance bioactive compounds and sensory properties in traditional kombucha beverages.

Mainstreaming traditional fruits, vegetables and pulses for nutrition, income, and sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa: the case for Kenya and Ethiopia.

This study documented existing knowledge on traditional fruits, vegetables and pulses in Kenya and Ethiopia. The aim was to identify neglected and underutilized species with high potential for food security, for their economic value and contribution to sustainable agriculture, based on a literature review and confirmation of existing data by local experts. In order of priority, the top 5 fruit species in Kenya are Tamarindus indica L., Adansonia digitata L., Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., for vegetables are Amaranthus spp., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Solanum spp., and Cleome gynandra L. Top fruits in Ethiopia are Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf., Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., Cordia africana Lam., and Mimusops kummel A. DC., for vegetables are Brassica carinata A. Braun, Cucurbita pepo L., and Amaranthus spp. In both countries, priority pulse species (no ranking) are Phaseolus lunatus L., Sphenostylis stenocarpa (A.Rich.) Harms, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, and Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. Generally, these priority species are good sources of key nutrients known for their inadequate dietary intakes in sub-Saharan Africa, represent a safety net for household income, and contribute positively to ecosystem resilience in existing agricultural systems. Complete, accurate and reliable nutrient composition data are needed to raise consumer awareness about their nutritional and health benefits. Since women play a central role in traditional food systems, their empowerment, and hence resilience, increase the positive impact they can have on the households' dietary diversity. In particular, introducing small-scale processing techniques and marketing strategies could enhance their supply and consumption.

The effect of agricultural trade openness on fruit prices in Korea

This study investigates the effect of agricultural trade openness on fruit prices in South Korea considering the quality improvement originating from agricultural trade policies by examining the U‐shaped relationship between agricultural openness and fruit prices. Utilising the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and annual data from the period 1988–2019, we find that while an increase of agricultural openness leads to a reduction in fruit prices, an increase of square of agricultural openness leads to a rise of fruit prices in the long‐run. In other words, our hypothesis of a U‐shaped relationship between agricultural openness and fruit prices is satisfied. This finding implies that determining the optimal amount of high‐quality fruit is important for fruit farmers' income. Additionally, Korea should divide the fruit consumer price index (CPI) into high‐quality and traditional fruit to solve the problem of an increase in fruit CPI without an actual increase in the price of traditional fruit.

Total Flavonoid Contents and the Expression of Flavonoid Biosynthetic Genes in Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Scions Growing on Lakoocha (Artocarpus lakoocha) Rootstocks.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a traditional fruit tree of 15-30 m height in the tropics. The presence of size-controlling rootstock in the species is not known. A small tropical tree species, lakoocha (Artocarpus lakoocha), was recently identified as a potential vigor-controlling rootstock, conferring over a 65% reduction in breadfruit tree height. To better understand the intriguing scion/rootstock interactions involved in dwarfing, we investigate flavonoid accumulation and its regulation in breadfruit scions in response to different rootstocks. To this end, we isolated a chalcone synthase cDNA, AaCHS, and a full-length bifunctional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase cDNA, AaDFR, from breadfruit scion stems. The expression of both AaCHS and AaDFR genes was examined over the period of 16 to 24 months following grafting. During the development of the dwarf phenotype, breadfruit scion stems on lakoocha rootstocks display significant increases in total flavonoid content, and show upregulated AaCHS expression when compared with those on self-grafts and non-grafts. There is a strong, positive correlation between the transcript levels of AaCHS and total flavonoid content in scion stems. The transcript levels of AaDFR are not significantly different across scions on different rootstocks. This work provides insights into the significance of flavonoid biosynthesis in rootstock-induced breadfruit dwarfing.

Consumer‐oriented intelligent ripening control system for post‐ripening fruit

AbstractTo address the issues commonly encountered in traditional fruit ripening processes, which include reliance on manual experience, low efficiency, single control parameter, and significant fluctuations, a new intelligent fruit ripening control system has been designed. This system is based on a mathematical modeling algorithm, which allows for more effective and precise control over the ripening process. To ensure that the ripe fruits are transported to the fruit processing center in a low ripeness state, the proposed system adopts a strategy of precise control of temperature and ethylene, as well as range control of other environmental parameters. The RSSA‐PID model is used for ethylene and temperature control, which has high smoothness, fast response time, and high stability. Compared with the traditional PID model, the RSSA‐PID model has better dynamic performance and stability. Finally, the proposed system is applied to the ripening process of post‐ripening fruits, and the results show that the system achieves intelligent ripening, precise control, and low power consumption. The temperature and ethylene concentration are controlled within a variation of no more than 0.5%, and the humidity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are maintained within reasonable thresholds. Overall, this paper provides a promising solution for the ripening process of post‐ripening fruits, which can benefit the fruit industry by improving the efficiency and quality of the supply chain.Practical ApplicationThe ripening chamber environment is a dynamic equilibrium environment with non‐linear characteristics because the fruits in the ripening chamber are constantly exchanging substances and energy with the environment through respiration and transpiration. An intelligent ripening control system (IRCS) for post‐ripening fruits is proposed in this paper (Figure 1). The whole ripening process runs automatically, which significantly reduces the ripening time and saves a lot of post‐processing time. The shorter ripening time combined with the latest intelligent software and hardware means that only as much energy as is actually needed is consumed. If the sales market changes, the fruit can be stored under air conditioning (CA) until the scheduled delivery date without significant further ripening and losses and complaints can be minimized.

Bacterial Leaf Spot of Plum Caused by Sphingomonas spermidinifaciens in Guangxi, China.

Plum (Prunus salicina L.) is a traditional fruit in Southern China and is ubiquitous throughout the world. In August 2021, leaves of plum trees showed water-soaking spots and light yellow-green halos with incidence exceeding 50% in Babu district in Hezhou, Guangxi (N23°49'-24°48', E111°12'-112°03'). To isolate the causal agent, three diseased leaves collected from three different trees growing in different orchards were cut into 5 mm × 5 mm pieces, disinfected with 75% ethanol for 10 sec, 2% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min and rinsed three times in sterile water. The diseased pieces were ground in sterile water and then kept static for about 10 min. Ten-fold serial dilutions in water were prepared and 100 µL of each dilution from 10-1 to 10-6 were plated on Luria-Bertani (LB) Agar. After incubation at 28℃ for 48 h, the proportion of isolates with similar morphology was 73%. Three representative isolates (GY11-1, GY12-1 and GY15-1) were selected for further study. The colonies were non-spore-forming, yellow, round, opaque, rod shaped, convex with smooth and bright neat edges. Biochemical test results showed that the colonies were strictly aerobic and gram-negative. The isolates were able to grow on LB agar containing 0-2% (w/v) NaCl and could utilize glucose, lactose, galactose, mannose, sucrose, maltose and rhamnose as a carbon source. They displayed a positive reaction for H2S production, oxidase, catalase and gelatin, but negative for starch. Genomic DNA of the three isolates was extracted for amplification of the 16S rDNA with primers 27F and 1492R. The resulting amplicons were sequenced. Additionally, five housekeeping genes atpD, dnaK, gap, recA, and rpoB of the three isolates were amplified using the corresponding primer pairs and sequenced. The sequences were deposited in GenBank (16S rDNA, OP861004-OP861006; atpD, OQ703328-OQ703330; dnaK, OQ703331-OQ703333; gap, OQ703334-OQ703336; recA, OQ703337-OQ703339; and rpoB, OQ703340-OQ703342). The isolates were identified as Sphingomonas spermidinifaciens based on the phylogenetic tree inferred by maximum-likelihood using MegaX 7.0 of the concatenated six sequences (multilocus sequence analysis, MLSA) compared with sequences from different Sphingomonas type strains . Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested on healthy leaves of the two-year-old plum plants in a greenhouse. The leaves were wounded by a sterilized needle and sprayed with bacterial suspensions prepared in PBS (Phosphate buffer saline) at OD600=0.5. PBS buffer solution was used as negative control. Each isolate was used to inoculate on 20 leaves per plum tree. The plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain high humidity. Dark brown-to-black lesions were observed on leaves 3 days post incubation at 28℃ with constant light. The average diameter of lesions was 1 cm after seven days, but the negative controls were symptomless. Bacteria reisolated from the diseased leaves were the same as the ones used for inoculation on the basis of morphological and molecular identification, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Plant disease caused by a Sphingomonas species has been reported on mango, pomeand Spanish melon. However, this is the first report of S. spermidinifaciens causing leaf spot disease of plum in China. This report will help to develop effective disease control strategies in the future.