Fruit Volume Research Articles

Evidence That Field Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naud.) Fruits Are Solids of Revolution.

In nature, the fruit shapes of many plants resemble avian eggs, a form extensively studied as solids of revolution. Despite this, the hypothesis that egg-shaped fruits are themselves solids of revolution remains unvalidated. To address this, 751 Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naud. fruits were photographed, and the two-dimensional (2D) boundary coordinates of each fruit profile were digitized. Then, the explicit Preston equation (EPE), a universal egg-shape model, was used to fit the 2D boundary coordinates to obtain the estimates of the EPE's parameters of each fruit. Under the hypothesis that egg-shaped fruits are solids of revolution, the fruit volumes were estimated using the solid of revolution formula based on the estimated EPE's parameters. To test whether the fruits are solids of revolution, the fruit volumes were measured by using a graduated cylinder and compared with the estimated volumes using the solid of revolution formula. The EPE was demonstrated to be valid in describing the 2D profiles of C. melo var. agrestis fruits. There was a significant correlation between the measured fruit volumes using the graduated cylinder and the estimated fruit volumes using the solid of revolution formula based on the estimated EPE's parameters. Acknowledging potential measurement errors, particularly fruit fuzz causing air bubbles during volume measurements, we recognize slight deviations between measured volumes and estimated values. Despite this, our findings strongly suggest that C. melo var. agrestis fruits are solids of revolution. This study contributes insights into the evolutionary aspects of fruit geometries in plants with egg-shaped fruits and introduces a practical tool for non-destructively calculating fruit volume and surface area based on photographed 2D fruit profiles.

Pengaruh Pemberian Pupuk Daun dan Pemangkasan Terhadap Produksi Belimbing (Averhoa carambola L.)

Flower and fruit loss and low fruit quality are complex problems faced in star fruit cultivation. The research aims to determine the effect of pruning twigs and applying foliar fertilizer on plant growth, quantity and quality of fruit. Factorial research using two treatment factors. . Factor I is the type of foliar fertilizer, consisting of D0 = No foliar fertilizer (control), D1 = SB foliar fertilizer (8-20-15), D2 = HP foliar fertilizer (10-40-15), and D3 = DN foliar fertilizer (10-30-37). Factor II is the interval for applying foliar fertilizer, consisting of I1 = once every 7 days interval, I2 = once every 10 days interval, and I3 = once every 14 days interval. The research used plant material of the same age, as replications, groups of plants were used that were differentiated according to the pruning model, namely P0 = Plants that were not pruned as replication I, P1 = Plants that only had their wiwilan branches pruned as replication II, and P2 = Plants that had their branches pruned wiwilan and clustered branches (remaining the good ones) as repetition III. The results showed that application of foliar fertilizer and pruning of branches increased the number of fruit, fruit weight and size of sweet star fruit. Pruning wiwilan branches and reducing clustered branches has the greatest effect on the number of fruit, fruit weight and fruit volume compared to other pruning intensities. The research results can be used as a reference for star fruit farmers in determining maintenance actions, especially in fertilizing and pruning to regulate the canopy. while increasing production.

The Implementation of Rotary POC Technology for Organic Fertilizer Production in Tarahan Village, South Lampung

Tarahan Village is one of the larger villages in Katibung District, South Lampung. Despite not being classified as an agricultural region, Tarahan Village exhibits remarkable productivity in cultivating vegetables and fruits. So far, organic waste from fruits and vegetables has been discarded and burned or used only for animal feed. The large volume of unprocessed fruit and vegetable waste causes various problems for village residents, both directly and indirectly. Besides that, the village's intensive horticultural farming activities have encouraged the increased use of inorganic fertilizers. This pollutes the environment and harms the soil, organisms that live in the soil, and humans who consume these horticultural products. The application of liquid organic fertilizer, specifically POC, is deemed necessary to effectively address the issue of fruit and vegetable waste management while ensuring the quality of organic horticultural products. A composter is a suitable technology employed for the production of liquid fertilizer. Since oxygen is crucial for microorganisms in decomposing organic matter, the POC produced through the aerobic composting process will mature more quickly and not produce offensive odors. The goal of implementing this technology is to spread the word that garbage can be turned into something valuable if managed properly, leading to a cleaner community and more economic opportunities. The rotary POC technology scheme consists of a plastic drum that is supported by an iron structure. The drum is furnished with a rotating lever designed for the purpose of stirring, thereby facilitating the uniform mixing of organic material upon the addition of the bioactivator. The agitation of the solution facilitates the efficient execution of the aeration process. The equipment scheme has been developed with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of composting with regard to both time management and the quality of the final outcomes. This technology has the potential to be an alternative solution for dealing with household waste, and the product in the form of POC has the potential to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers.

Effect of Fruit Pruning and Potassium Application on Growth and Production of Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis).

This study aims to determine the effect of fruit pruning and the application of Potassium on the growth and production of strawberry plants (Fragaria chiolensis). This study used a randomized block design (RBD) with two factors. The first factor was fruit pruning consisting of 4 levels: P0 = No pruning, P1 = 1 pruning, P2 = 2 pruning, P3 = 3 pruning. The second factor is Potassium fertilizer consisting of 4 levels: K0 = 0 g/plant, K1 = 2 g/plant, K2 = 4 g/plant, and K3 = 6 g/plant. The results showed that pruning 3 fruits/plant increased plant height, fruit weight, fruit volume, sugar content, fresh weight, and dry weight. Applying potassium fertilizer up to a dose of 6 g/plant can increase plant height, flowering time, fruit weight, fruit volume, sugar content, wet weight, and dry weight. The interaction between fruit pruning and potassium application had no significant effect on all observed parameters.

Quality management in the import and sale of tropical and subtropical fruits

An analysis of the dynamics of the market for fruits imported to Russia has been carried out. The market volume, exporters, and sales volume of tropical fruits in Russia have been studied. The factors shaping the quality of tropical fruits are considered. When ensuring logistics, customs clearance, and storage in distribution centers, it is necessary to take into account the actual degree of maturity of climacteric fruits and manage technological regimes at all stages of product distribution, with regard to the physiological state of the product. The work studies the influence of temperature conditions of storage and ripening of avocado fruits on the duration of storage of fruits and the intensity of the processes responsible for their ripening. The values of respiration intensity and ethylene concentration during storage of avocado fruits, which make it possible to determine the degree of ripeness of the fruit and control the duration of their storage, have been established.

Effect of Pre-Harvest Fruit Bagging on Fruit Quality Characteristics of Different Guava Cultivars during Rainy Season

The present investigation was carried out on 6-7 years old grafted guava plants at Guava Demonstration Centre, Bhuna, Haryana, India during the rainy season (2019-20). During the experiment, the fruits of different guava cultivars viz. Hisar Safeda, Hisar Surkha, Allahabad Safeda, and Shweta were bagged with different bagging materials immediately after the fruit set. Results showed that the fruits bagged with blue polythene exhibited maximum fruit volume (113.96 ml) and organoleptic score (8.8), while the minimum (95.30 ml and 6.3, respectively) values were observed in the control. The highest fruit firmness (6.62 Kg/cm2) was observed with green polythene, while the minimum (5.03 Kg/cm2) was in control. Additionally, bagged fruits showed better peel colour development. The fruit drop was also reduced in all treatments except for the control (20%), yellow paper (12.78%), and green paper (11.66%). Fruit drop was minimum in transparent polythene (5.55%) and green polythene. On the other hand, Decay loss was eliminated in yellow paper, green paper, blue paper, cotton cloth, and muslin cloth bags, and significantly reduced in all the treatments except the control (8.88%). Among the cultivars, the maximum fruit firmness (5.98 Kg/cm2) was recorded in Hisar Safeda, whereas the least firmness (5.64 Kg/cm2) was in Allahabad Safeda. In conclusion, pre-harvest bagging of fruits was found promising in enhancing the quality attributes of various guava cultivars which can also be applied in real farm situations to enhance the yield as well as the quality of guava crop.

Genetic Variability And Correlation Studies For Growth, Yield And Quality In Strawberry (Fragaria Ananassa Duch.)

The traits viz., fruit nutritional quality, yield, day neutral nature to be improved in strawberry and hence the present study was undertaken to identify the nature of variability present in the promising advanced strawberry genotypes and to detect the association among yield and yield component traits in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Fourteen advanced genotypes were evaluated to study genetic variation and the relationship between yield and its components using a randomized complete block design during the year 2021. The results showed significant variance among genotypes of all traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all the characters was slightly higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), which signified the presence of environmental influence to some degree in the phenotypic expression of characters. The leaf area index had the highest PCV (30.71) and GCV (30.82). The genetic advance was recorded maximum for fruit yield per plant (228.24), whereas genetic advance as a percent of mean was highest for leaf area index (63.05) followed by shelf life of fruits (61.95). The highest heritability (h2, 95.22) was coupled with higher genetic advance (228.24) estimated for fruit yield per plant, which indicated that the character is controlled by additive genes and therefore further improvement could be brought by selection. Being octoploid, the inheritance of traits is complex in strawberry and the identified heritable traits in the study would be helpful for strawberry improvement breeding programs. Fruit yield was significantly and positively associated with most of the characteristics except flowering duration, fruiting duration, and volume of fruit at both genotypic and phenotypic levels; therefore, these are important prerequisites to formulate a successful strawberry improvement program.

Gamma irradiation of eggplant seeds influences plant growth, yield and nutritional profile in M1 generation

The study examines agromorphological traits and nutrient compositions in three genotypes of eggplants (Solanum melongena ‘African Beauty F1’ and ‘Melina F1’ and S. aethiopicum ‘Kotobi’) grown from seeds irradiated by gamma rays (γ-ray) with 100 Gy. Experiments were carried out in the screenhouse and experimental field of Crop Science Department, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Completely randomised design with four replications and randomised complete block design with three replications was used in the screenhouse and field experiments respectively. Eggplant × γ-ray effect reduced (p ≤ 0.05) seedling emergence, plant height and number of leaves in the nursery at 2 and 4 weeks after sowing. In the field, these traits were consistently lower for irradiated Melina F1 and Kotobi (p > 0.05) at ten weeks after transplanting. Irradiated African Beauty F1 had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) upper canopy leaf area (429.54 cm2), higher (p > 0.05) plant height and stem width; lower (p > 0.05) number of branches and leaves. Un-irradiated and irradiated Kotobi had the highest (p ≤ 0.05) fruit load, lower (p ≤ 0.05) fruit volume, weight and yields over four harvest intervals. Carbohydrate and energy contents of Kotobi fruits grown from 100 Gy gamma-ray irradiated seeds were concurrently improved (p ≤ 0.05). Gamma ray irradiation had both positive and negative influences on the agromorphological traits, mineral composition and nutrient profile of eggplants. However, 100 Gy dose of irradiation had a negative effect on fruit characteristics in general. From the results of this study, inconsistent variations in the agromorphological traits of the irradiated eggplants of the three varieties were reported. Therefore, the goal of mutation breeding in eggplant should not undermine the importance of the eggplant genotype as well as the actual radiation dose.

Humic Acid for Soil Quality Improvement with Application of Scan Automation on Seedless Watermelon Cultivation

Purpose: Sustainable agricultural intensification needs to be well developed. Therefore, food and agricultural production activities can be continuously produced without damaging the ecosystems and environment. One that can be used is a plant biostimulant based on humus. This research was conducted to examine the effect of humic acid as a soil biostimulant and the impact of its use on the yield of seedless watermelon cultivated on marginal land. This study involve IoT technology through monitoring soil quality which is carried out based on the concept of precision agriculture using the farm management system (FMS) Agrooscan tool. Methods: The study used humic acid factor for five treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L). Observations included soil conditions monitored with Agrooscan instruments such as soil pH, nutrients (N, P, K), as well as measuring plant height, fruit weight, fruit volume and total sugar content (Brix). Results: The results showed that application of humic acid increased the nutrient content in the soil and significantly affected soil pH and seedless watermelon yields. The 8 g/L treatment gave the highest soil N and K values, and was significantly different from no treatment (control). Conclusions: Thus, exogenous use of humic acid as a soil nutrient supplement can be used to help increase marginal land use, including in the development of seedless watermelon cultivation. The use of Agrooscan as a tool to scan soil conditions plays a very important role in maintaining the quality of nutrients so that the growth of watermelon cultivation can run better.

Effect of Fruitlet Thinning on Apple Production and Quality under High Density Plantation

This study, conducted within the Experimental Block of the Division of Fruit Science at SKUAST-K, Shalimar, India, was aimed to thin 5-year-old Fuji Zehn Aztec apple plants. The research was carried out during the years 2020 and 2021and implemented a Randomized Complete Block Design with 11 treatments, including control and various other thinning methods. Chemical and hand thinning were practised at the 12 mm king fruitlet diameter stage. Among the treatments, T9 (NAA+BA@15+140ppm) demonstrated significant results, with the highest trunk girth increment (0.41 cm), annual shoot extension growth (65.46 cm), leaf area (34.71 cm2), fruit drop (39.26%), and the least reduction in return bloom (52.22%). Additionally, T9 resulted in maximum fruit length (79.98 mm), fruit diameter (89.00 mm), fruit weight (224.90 g), fruit volume (197.86 cm3), Soluble Solid concentration (15.87%), SSC : acidity (40.08), total sugar content (11.07%), anthocyanin content (7.14 mg/100g), ascorbic acid content (6.94 mg/100g), and received the highest organoleptic rating score (4.87). However, the highest yield (21.97 kg/tree), yield efficiency (1.50 kg/cm2), fruit firmness (8.36 kg/cm2), hue angle (68.57°), and acidity (0.59%) were recorded in the control group. Notably, T1 (Hand thinning @ 2 fruitlets retained per cluster) achieved the highest fruit retention (97.97%) and the maximum leaf-to-fruit ratio (27.50). These findings shed light on the potential benefits and trade-offs associated with different fruitlet thinning methods in high-density apple plantations. Understanding these effects can aid orchard management practices to optimize both production and fruit quality.

Deficit drip irrigation improves kiwifruit quality and water productivity under rain-shelter cultivation in the humid area of South China

Comprehending crop responses to water deficit at different growth stages is crucial for developing effective irrigation strategies. Different water deficit treatments (WDTs) were applied to the kiwifruit vines to investigate the effect of water deficit during different growth stages on the fruit quality, yield, and water productivity (WP); subsequently, the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution method (TOPSIS) was employed to determine optimal treatments for kiwifruit cultivation. A total of 17 irrigation treatments were applied, including one control treatment (CTL, full irrigation) and four WDTs (denoted as D15%, D25%, D35%, and D45% respectively) during the bud burst to leafing (I), flowering to fruit set (II), fruit expansion (III), and fruit maturation (IV) stages. Results showed that WDTs during I, II, III, and IV decreased evapotranspiration (ET) over the whole growth period of kiwifruit vines by 1.2–3.8, 1.5–4.4, 4.7–14.3, and 6.9–21.3% compared with CTL, respectively. WDTs during stages I and II increased fruit volume (Vf) and fruit weight (FW), while exhibiting no significant impact on yield, WP, and chemical quality of kiwifruit. WDTs during stage III improved fruit firmness (Fn), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA); however, it also caused severe reduction in Vf, FW, yield, and WP. Appropriate WDTs during stage IV significantly improved Fn, TSS, TA, vitamin C (Vc), and WP without compromising Vf, FW, and yield of kiwifruit. The IV-D25% treatment was determined to be the optimal treatment for improving fruit quality and WP of kiwifruit while maintaining yield, which increased TSS, TA, Vc, and WP by 9.1, 6.1, 19.2, 4.6%, respectively; the combination of D25%, D25%, full irrigation, and D25% treatments during stages I, II, III, and IV should be a viable irrigation strategy to simultaneously achieve high yield, quality, and WP of kiwifruit.

A heuristic tomato-bunch harvest manipulator path planning method based on a 3D-CNN-based position posture map and rapidly-exploring random tree

The environment of tomato bunches is complex, and the fruit volume is relatively large, so manipulator picking-harvest motion planning should consider not only how to pick, but also how to avoid obstacles after picking tomato bunches and harvesting them from the complex environment, which puts forward strict requirements for picking-harvest motion performance. However, existing sampling-based algorithms still have problems of blind expansion and low efficiency. To solve these problems, a heuristic tomato-bunch harvest manipulator path planning method based on a 3D-CNN (convolution neural network)-based position posture map (PPM) and rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) is proposed in this paper. This method comprehensively considers the sampling effectiveness of the whole process of picking and harvesting, search speed, path cost and manipulability of the manipulator, combining a sampling-based path planning algorithm and deep learning framework. The method utilizes CNN and FCN(Fully Connected Neural Networks) for generating a heuristic cost map where each voxel has a cost-to-go value toward the target and an optimal target posture value to guide the expansion tree. In addition, the sampling space of obstacle avoidance planning is reduced by a spatial partition method, and the difficulty caused by the increase in the volume of the end-effector clamping fruit is solved by prioritizing the planning of the fruit harvest path and then planning the picking path. On the basis of the above research, a large number of harvest experiments have verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Research and experimental results show that, based on the PPM-RRT algorithm, the picking-harvest time of a single tomato bunch is 13 s, and the success rate is close to 100%. Compared with state-of-the-art sampling algorithms, the planning time is reduced by more than 70%, the path length is reduced by more than 24%, and the manipulability of the manipulator is increased by 38.9%. The proposed path planning method is effective in complex environments.

Effects of water and fertilizer deficit regulation with drip irrigation at different growth stages on fruit quality improvement of kiwifruit in seasonal arid areas of Southwest China

For a long time, seasonal drought occurs frequently in Southwest China, and the management of water and fertilizer in kiwifruit orchards has no quantitative standards, which seriously affects the yield and quality of kiwifruit. Therefore, the effects of water and fertilizer deficit regulation with drip irrigation (WFDRDI) on the quality of kiwifruit at different growth stages were explored to achieve water and fertilizer saving, and green and efficient production of kiwifruit. We select ‘Jin Yan’ kiwifruit and set two water deficit levels (WD20% and WD40%) and three fertilizer deficit levels (FD15%, FD30% and FD45%) at bud burst to leafing stage (stage I), flowering to fruit set stage (stage II), fruit expansion stage (stage III) and fruit maturation stage (stage IV), respectively, with a full irrigation and fertilization as the control treatment (CK) in 2017 and 2018. Results showed that the WFDRDI at stage II and III had significant effect on fruit physical quality of kiwifruit, specifically, the III-WD40%FD30% and III-WD20%FD45% treatments significantly increased fruit firmness by 13.62 and 15.59% (P<0.05), respectively; the II-WD40%FD15% and III-WD40%FD15% treatments significantly increased dry matter by 8.19 and 6.47% (P<0.05), respectively; the III-WD20%FD15% treatment significantly increased single fruit weight and fruit volume by 9.33 and 12.65% (P<0.05), respectively; the II-WD20%FD15% treatment significantly increased fruit water content by 1.99% (P<0.05). The WFDRDI had an obvious effect on fruit chemical quality of kiwifruit. The III-WD20%FD45%, IV-WD40%FD15% and IV-WD20%FD30% treatments significantly increased vitamin C (Vc) content by 69.96, 36.96 and 34.31% (P<0.05), respectively; the III-WD40%FD15% and IV-WD40%FD15% treatments significantly increased total soluble solid (TSS) content by 3.79 and 17.05% (P<0.05), respectively, and significantly increased soluble sugar content by 28.61 and 34.79% (P<0.05), respectively; the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose also had a significantly increasing trend, which was increased significantly by 5.58–19.63%, 40.55–60.36% and 54.03–54.92% in the III-WD40%FD15% and IV-WD40%FD15% treatments (P<0.05), respectively; sugar–acid ratio was increased significantly in the IV-WD40%FD15% treatment by 64.65% (P<0.05). The degree and duration of water and fertilizer deficit had a comprehensive effect on fruit quality of kiwifruit. The WFDRDI at stage II and III contribute to improving fruit physical quality, and the threshold of water and fertilizer deficit were 20 and 15%, respectively; stage III and IV are the critical periods for improving fruit chemical quality by water and fertilizer coupling effect, and the threshold of water and fertilizer deficit were 40 and 15%, respectively. Therefore, aiming at precise water and fertilizer saving, the I-WD20%FD30%, II-WD40%FD15%, III-WD40%FD15% and IV-WD40%FD15% treatments under WFDRDI during the whole growth period of kiwifruit were the best mode to improve quality and production of kiwifruit.

Nutri-hormonal Manipulation for Yield and Quality Improvement in Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Aims: To study the effect of nutrients and plant growth regulators through foliar spray on yield and quality characteristics of guava var. Arka Kiran.&#x0D; Study design: Randomized Block Design (RBD).&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The experimental trial was conducted at a Farmer’s field in Theethipalayam village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu during 2022-2023.&#x0D; Methodology: The current study included six treatments and three replications. Three-year-old guava trees with uniform size, growth, and bearing habit were chosen for imposing treatments. Observations on fruit yield, physical and quality characteristics of guava were recorded.&#x0D; Results: Fruit diameter (6.30 cm), Fruit weight (168.17 g), fruit volume (146.46 ml), fruit yield (16.53 kg/tree) and the number of fruits per tree (98.35) were recorded maximum in plants treated with nutri-hormonal spray-I. The best-quality fruits in terms of increased TSS (12.08), ascorbic acid (185.35 mg/g), reducing (3.15%), non-reducing (4.19%), and total sugars (7.35%) and reduced acidity (0.40%) were also recorded in the same combination.&#x0D; Conclusion: The foliar application of nutrients and PGRs spray-I can be advocated to improve the yield and quality attributes of guava.

Effect of different mode of pollination on quantitative and qualitative parameters of muskmelon

Pollinators are the prime facie to maintain the diversity in universe. Hence, research on “Studies on pollinators of muskmelon (Cucumis melo Linnaeus)” was carried out at Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, SD Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during summer 2021. The mode of pollination had a highly significant effect on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of muskmelon. The mean percent fruit set, weight of fruit (kg), the volume of fruit (liter), length of fruit (cm), girth of fruit (cm), number of seeds per fruit and total soluble solid (%) in open and close pollination were 15.76 % and 10.52 %, 0.74 kg and 0.39 kg, 0.71 liters and 0.38 liter, 11.43 cm and 9.10 cm, 37.06 cm and 28.42 cm, 557.53 seeds and 401.30 seeds and 10.02 % and 8.66 %, respectively. These results indicated that pollinators are highly influenced the production of muskmelon.

Plant growth and yield performance of pomegranate varieties under hot arid eco-system

Five pomegranate varieties were evaluated for vegetative growth and yield for five years during 2017-2021 under a hot arid eco-system. No significant difference was observed among varieties with respect to vegetative characters except canopy volume. The maximum canopy volume was observed in cultivar Jalore seedless (1.73 m3) followed by Bhagwa (0.78 m3) and minimum in variety Ganesh (0.40 m3). The physical fruit parameters and yield attributing characters were recorded as superior in Jalore Seedless exhibited maximum fruit weight (189.8 g), fruit volume (127.2 cc), test weight (282.2 g), total aril weight/fruit (123.8 g), number of fruits/plant (66.6) and yield/plant (12.63 kg) followed by Ganesh and minimum was recorded in Phule Arakta with fruit weight (128.2 g), fruit volume (89.2 cc), test weight (174.0 g), number of fruits/plant (46.2) and yield/plant (5.00 kg). Aril weight (0.28 g), aril length and width (9.99 x 7.22 mm) were also observed to be significantly high in Jalore Seedless. A non-significant difference in juice per cent was observed among Mridula, Jalore Seedless and Bhagwa, with a maximum in cultivar Mridula (58), followed by Jalore Seedless and Bhagwa (50.4) and a minimum in Ganesh (37.4). The highest juice TSS was found in Jalore Seedless (17.02 °Brix) followed by Ganesh (16.52 °Brix) and Bhagwa (15.18 °Brix), while it was significantly lower in Mridula (13.26 °Brix). Based on vegetative growth, fruit physical parameters and fruit yield the performance of Jalore Seedless was superior over the other four varieties under a hot arid environment.

The Preparation of Virgin Coconut Oil Using Acid from Passion Fruit Extract at Different Temperature and Incubation Time

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a liquid coconut product with a translucent color, a characteristic coconut aroma, and long shelf life. VCO can be made in various ways, including enzymatic, centrifugation, acidification, etc. In this study, the acidification method was used to manufacture VCO whereby the acid used is sourced from passion fruit. This study aims to determine the effect of passion fruit juice addition on the preparation virgin coconut oil. Several variables were employed in the current study, including passion fruit volume of 5 and 8 ml, incubation time of 12 hours and 24 hours, and incubation temperature of 36 and 48 °C in a Factorial Design. The amount of coconut was 660 grams and 660 ml distilled water. The results showed that the production temperature greatly influenced the free fatty acids produced. The best treatment was obtained on VCO with 8 ml passion fruit addition, 12 hours of formation time and 48°C incubation temperature, with 0.12% free fatty acids.

Enhancing Anna Apples’ Productivity, Physico-Chemical Properties, and Marketability Using Sprays of Naphthalene Acetic Acid and Inhibitors of Ethylene for Alleviating Abiotic Stresses

In order to improve the resistance of apples to stresses (abiotic stresses) during hot and dry summers to enhance their productivity and marketability, Anna apple trees were treated with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), 1-methlcyclopropene (1-MCP), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), alone, or in combination, in two successive seasons. All treatments significantly increased the yield per tree, the average fruit volume, fruit diameter, and fruit weight compared to the control (growing under hot and dry summers without any treatments). All treatments significantly reduced the apple size, total soluble solid (TSS) content, anthocyanin content, carotenoid content, total sugar solids, and sugar percentage, and they led to fruit softening, loss of fruit weight, firmness, breakdown percentage, as well as a decreased polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity at one-week post-harvest (except for 20-ppm NAA) in comparison with the control. Trees treated with 320-ppm 1-MCP + 250-ppm AVG exhibited maximum yield per tree, fruit firmness, and no-reducing sugars or starch. On the other hand, the 20-ppm NAA produced the maximum TSS content, total sugars, with a reduced sugar percentage, carotenoid and anthocyanin fruit content, and (TSS)/acidity ratio. The application of 320-ppm 1-MCP + 250-ppm AVG effectively delayed the harvest for 14 days compared to the control. Our results show that the sprays of NAA and inhibitors of ethylene had a significant effect on the productivity and marketability of Anna apples under abiotic stresses.

Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Quality Attributes of Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis L. Osbeck) CV. Phule Mosambi

Effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) approach on the growth, yield, and quality of sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] cv. Phule Mosambi was investigated. Eleven treatments were imposed in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) for two seasons (2019 and 2020) and among the treatments, T11 [50% RDN + 20kg FYM/tree + 25% N from Castor Cake + 10ml Bio NPK Consortium + Micronutrient foliar spray (1% Grade IV)] recorded the maximum incremental plant height (35.28 cm), plant spread N-S (45.73 cm), plant spread E-W (45.32 cm) and canopy volume (0.061m3). Similarly treatment T11 significantly increased several yield parameters viz., the maximum fruit length (8.11cm), fruit diameter (7.96 cm), fruit weight (241.91 g), fruit volume (251.17 cc), no. of fruits per tree (255.17), yield (61.81 kg per tree and 17.18 t/ha) in pooled data. Amid quality traits, T11 stood significantly superior with respect to total sugar (6.99 %) content; it also showed higher sugar: acid ratio (14.27), ascorbic acid content (40.11 mg/100 ml pulp). Hence this particular treatment can be adopted preferably in sweet orange cultivation at middle Gujarat (India). Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(2): 345-355, 2023 (June)

Fruit Photosynthesis: More to Know about Where, How and Why.

Not only leaves but also other plant organs and structures typically considered as carbon sinks, including stems, roots, flowers, fruits and seeds, may exhibit photosynthetic activity. There is still a lack of a coherent and systematized body of knowledge and consensus on the role(s) of photosynthesis in these "sink" organs. With regard to fruits, their actual photosynthetic activity is influenced by a range of properties, including fruit anatomy, histology, physiology, development and the surrounding microclimate. At early stages of development fruits generally contain high levels of chlorophylls, a high density of functional stomata and thin cuticles. While some plant species retain functional chloroplasts in their fruits upon subsequent development or ripening, most species undergo a disintegration of the fruit chloroplast grana and reduction in stomata functionality, thus limiting gas exchange. In addition, the increase in fruit volume hinders light penetration and access to CO2, also reducing photosynthetic activity. This review aimed to compile information on aspects related to fruit photosynthesis, from fruit characteristics to ecological drivers, and to address the following challenging biological questions: why does a fruit show photosynthetic activity and what could be its functions? Overall, there is a body of evidence to support the hypothesis that photosynthesis in fruits is key to locally providing: ATP and NADPH, which are both fundamental for several demanding biosynthetic pathways (e.g., synthesis of fatty acids); O2, to prevent hypoxia in its inner tissues including seeds; and carbon skeletons, which can fuel the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites important for the growth of fruits and for spreading, survival and germination of their seed (e.g., sugars, flavonoids, tannins, lipids). At the same time, both primary and secondary metabolites present in fruits and seeds are key to human life, for instance as sources for nutrition, bioactives, oils and other economically important compounds or components. Understanding the functions of photosynthesis in fruits is pivotal to crop management, providing a rationale for manipulating microenvironmental conditions and the expression of key photosynthetic genes, which may help growers or breeders to optimize development, composition, yield or other economically important fruit quality aspects.