Apple Fruit Growth and Quality Depend on the Position in Tree Canopy

Modern apple orchard systems should guarantee homogeneity of fruit internal and external qualities and fruit maturity parameters. However, when orchards reach productive age, a variation of these parameters takes place and mostly it is related to uneven light distribution within the tree canopy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the canopy position’s effect on fruit internal and external quality parameters. This is the first study where all the main fruit quality and maturation parameters were evaluated on the same trees and were related to the light conditions and photosynthetic parameters. Four fruit positions were tested: top of the apple tree, lower inside part of the canopy, and east and west sides of the apple tree. Fruit quality variability was significant for fruit size, blush, colour indices, total sugar content, dry matter concentration, accumulation of secondary metabolites and radical scavenging activity. Fruit position in the canopy did not affect flesh firmness and fruit maturity parameters such as the starch index, Streif index and respiration rate. At the Lithuanian geographical location (55°60’ N), significantly, the highest fruit quality was achieved at the top of the apple tree. The tendency was established that apple fruits from the west side of the canopy have better fruit quality than from the east side and it could be related to better light conditions at the west side of the tree. Inside the canopy, fruits were distinguished only by the higher accumulation of triterpenic compounds and higher content of malic acid. Light is a main factor of fruit quality variation, thus all orchard management practices, including narrow two-dimensional tree canopies and reflecting ground covers which improve light penetration through the tree canopy, should be applied.

Segregation of oil palm fruit ripeness using color sensor

Oil palm is an important industry that has contributed to income and support to the economic sector especially for Malaysia and Indonesia. However, most of the equipment in the oil palm industry is still operated manually. This work developed a system to separate bunches of oil palm fruit using color sensors according to maturity level. Fruit color plays a decisive point in determining fruit maturity. Here, a specific threshold point of red green blue (RGB) was obtained for the determination of the maturity level of oil palm fruit. Point values of < 120, 120 < x < 150 and > 150 represent the maturity levels of unripe, under ripe and ripe, respectively. This paper is the first to report the RGB points for use in the development of automated oil palm segregation system in the oil palm plantation industry. Thus, this paper will pave the way in producing an accurate and reliable oil palm separation system, which in turn has a positive effect in reducing human error. In the future, a set of sensors is proposed to detect a bunch of the oil palm fruits. This further can speed up the segregation process and more suitable for adaptation to the industry.

The Influence of Rootstock on Fruit Ethylene, Respiration, Index of Absorbance Difference, Fruit Quality, and Production of ‘Aztec Fuji’ Apple under a Full-crop Condition

Selection of dwarfing rootstocks that facilitate optimum production of high-quality fruit is crucial in modern high-density apple orchards. In addition to tree growth and yield, rootstocks can influence fruit maturity of scion cultivars in apples. In this study, the impact of 17 rootstocks on fruit maturity, yield, and quality attributes of ‘Aztec Fuji’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) at harvest were evaluated in a season when all trees were in a “full-crop” condition. Keeping sealed fruit at room temperature, a typical climacteric pattern was observed in ethylene evolution, respiration, and oxygen consumption, peaking after 5–7 days in fruit from trees on all rootstocks. During the ripening period, ethylene evolution and respiration rates in fruit from trees on Supp.3, G.3001, and G.202 were often in the high-range category, whereas those on CG.4004, CG.4214, G.41N, and B.9 were in the midrange category and those on M.9Pajam2, M.26EMLA, and G.11 were in the low-range category. Evolved ethylene and respiration in fruit from trees on M9.T337 steadily and slowly increased from 7 days after harvest (7DAH) to 13 days after which harvest (13DAH) ethylene sharply increased, signaling occurrence of climacteric peak, while respiration declined after the peak of 13DAH. In fruit from trees on most rootstocks, the rates of oxygen consumption had inverse relationships with the rates of respiration, so that fruit from trees on M9.T337 had higher and those on G.41N and Supp.3 had lower rates of oxygen consumption. Trees on G.41N, CG.4004, and M.26EMLA had higher and those on CG.4003 had lower yield per tree than trees on other rootstocks. Trees on B.9 and M.9T337 were most yield efficient among trees on all rootstocks. Trees on CG.4004 had larger fruits than those on other rootstocks. Considering all fruit maturity, quality, and yield attributes, CG.4004 seems to be a good choice of rootstock for ‘Aztec Fuji’ under the conditions of this study.

Configuration of the Volatile Aromatic Profile of Carob Powder Milled From Pods of Genetic Variants Harvested at Progressive Stages of Ripening From High and Low Altitudes

Carob powder is increasingly valued as a substitute for cocoa and as a flavor-enhancing component of processed foods. However, little is known about the impact of preharvest factors such as fruit maturity, genotype and altitude on its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) composition. The current study examined the VOCs composition of powder milled from pods of two genotypes cultivated at 15 and 510 m altitude and harvested at six progressive stages of maturity, ranging from fully developed immature green (RS1) to late ripe (RS6). Fifty-six VOCs categorized into acids, esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, furans, and alkanes were identified through HS-SPME GC-MS analysis. Maturity was the most influential factor, followed by altitude and least by genotype. Aldehydes and alcohols correlated positively (r = 0.789; p < 0.001), both accumulated in immature carobs and decreased with progressive ripening, resulting in the attenuation of green grassy aroma. Conversely, acids increased with ripening and dominated the carob volatilome at full maturity, correlating negatively with aldehydes and alcohols (r = −0.835 and r = −0.950, respectively; p < 0.001). The most abundant VOC throughout ripening (17.3-57.7%) was isobutyric acid, responsible for the characteristic cheesy-acidic-buttery aroma of carob powder. The pleasurable aroma detected at the immature stages (RS2 and RS3) was traced to isobutyrate and methyl isobutyrate esters, rendering unripe green carob powder a potential admixture component for improving the aroma of novel food products. Lower altitude favored the accumulation of acids linked to less pleasant aroma, whereas isobutyric acid was more abundant at higher altitude. This constitutes a significant indication that higher altitude enhances the characteristic carob-like aroma and sensory quality of carob powder.

UJI TINGKAT KEMATANGAN BUAH MANGGA MENGGUNAKAN PIGMEN ANTOSIANIN DARI BUNGA TELANG (Clitoria ternatea)

<em>Increased consumption of fruit requires consumers to understand how to choose good and ripe fruit. The level of fruit maturity can be known based on physical characteristics, including the parameters of size, weight, skin color, fragrance of the fruit, and the level of hardness of the fruit flesh. Determining the level of fruit maturity based on physical characteristics has a weakness that is subjective and inconsistent. Making indicators based on natural dyes, namely anthocyanins, to determine the level of sweetness of the fruit. The purpose of this research is to use anthocyanin pigments as an indicator of fruit sweetness level to determine fruit maturity. This research is an experimental laboratory and qualitative descriptive analysis with stages; Sample Extraction, Indicator Making, Indicator Application, Fruit Acidity Testing, Data Analysis. Based on the results of the study, there were quite visible color differences on toothpicks after being inserted into the fruit samples with a sweet taste and the fruit samples with a sour taste. The indicator shows that fruit with a sour taste (pH &lt; 3) changes color from blue to reddish purple. If the taste is not too sour (pH 5), it does not experience a significant color change. In conclusion, the anthocyanins in telang flower can be used as an indicator solution because they have a blue color at neutral pH, a reddish color at pH = 2, the red color fades at pH = 3 and 4, and there is no color change at pH 5.</em>

Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveal Novel Formation Mechanism of Early Mature Trait in Kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha)

Kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha) is a peculiar berry resource in China, and the maturation period is generally late. Fortunately, we found an early mature A. eriantha germplasm. In order to explore the formation mechanism of its early mature trait, we determined the main carbohydrate and endogenous hormone content of the fruit, and used off-target metabolomics and transcriptomics to identify key regulatory metabolites and genes. We found that early mature germplasm had faster starch conversion rate and higher sucrose, glucose, and fructose content when harvested, while with lower auxin (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and zeatin (ZR) content. Through the non-targeted metabolome, 19 and 20 metabolites closely related to fruit maturity and early maturity were identified, respectively. At the same time, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that these metabolites were regulated by 73 and 99 genes, respectively, especially genes related to sugar metabolism were mostly. Based on above, the formation of early mature trait of A. eriantha was mainly due to the sucrose decomposition rate was reduced and the soluble solid content (SSC) accumulated at low levels of endogenous hormones, so as to reach the harvest standard earlier than the late mature germplasm. Finally, ten single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were developed which can be used for the identification of early mature trait of A. eriantha.

Effect of Enhanced UV-B Radiation on Fruit Maturity and Quality, and Leaf Photosynthesis in ' Guifei ' Mango

(1) Background: Investigating the characteristics of photosynthetic physiological changes of leaves in Mangifera indica L. cv. 'GuIfei' under enhanced UV-B radiation, natural light exposed trees were regarded as control, and 96 kJ&middot;m-2&middot;d-1enhanced UV-B radiation was artificially simulated in the field; (2) Methods: The changes of fruit maturity and fruit quality, leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic pigments contents, photochemical reaction, activities of photosynthetic enzymes and their genes expressions were determined; (3) Results: Compared with CK, the percentage of mature fruits of the treatment was significantly increased, and fruit quality was better. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the contents of photosynthetic pigment, Hill reaction activity and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) of the treatment leaves showed a significantly higher trend than CK. The activities of Rubisco and RCA, and the expression of Rubisco genes rbcL and rbcS were significantly increased; (4) Conclusions: 96 kJ&middot;m-2&middot;d-1 enhanced UV-B radiation treatment improved Rubisco activity through increasing the expression of Rubisco genes rbcL and rbcS, thereby enhancing the CO2-fixing capacity and dark reaction capacity of leaves. Based on this, it raised the net photosynthetic rate of leaves, which promoted the early maturity of 'Guifei' mango by the fast accumulating photosynthetic products.