Effect of Drip Boron Fertigation on Yield and Fruit Quality in a High-Density Apple Orchard

2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2199-2213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Wojcik ◽  
Waldemar Treder
2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ersin ATAY ◽  
Seckin GARGIN ◽  
Ahmet ESITKEN ◽  
N. Pinar GUZEL ◽  
A. Nilgun ATAY ◽  
...  

Orchard performance is influenced by weed competition. In this study, the effects of weed competition on nutrient contents, chemical and physical fruit quality properties were sought. The study was carried out in a high-density apple orchard (‘Golden Delicious’/M.9) over two consecutive growing seasons. The effect of weed competition was studied at three different levels: weak, moderate and strong. Fruit firmness, soluble solids content, macronutrients (such as nitrogen, potassium and calcium) and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio in fruit were significantly affected by weed competition. Strong weed competition negatively affected soluble solids content and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio. In both trial years, soluble solids content was significantly higher in weak weed competition. In the first year of the study, soluble solids content ranged between 13.77±0.06% (strong weed competition) and 15.20±0.10% (weak weed competition). In the following year, soluble solids content values were determined as 13.13±0.23% in strong weed competition and 13.83±0.21% in weak weed competition. Weak weed competition showed superiority for fruit weight and potassium+magnesium/calcium ratio. As a whole, this study indicates that insufficient weed control in tree rows might be a limiting factor for fruit quality in high-density apple orchards.


2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Kalcsits ◽  
James Mattheis ◽  
Luca Giordani ◽  
Michelle Reid ◽  
Katie Mullin

One advantage of high-density apple orchard systems is homogeneity in fruit maturity and quality. However, even in modern orchard systems, variation in fruit quality occurs. ‘Honeycrisp’ apple is susceptible to numerous disorders including bitter pit, soft scald, and poor colour development. Heterogeneity in fruit quality and nutrient distribution can lead to variation in fruit storability. Here, we tested the effect of within-canopy position on fruit calcium and potassium concentrations, quality, and disorder development for fruit across nine representative high-density orchards. Calcium concentrations were greater in the upper part of the canopy compared with the lower part. Potassium was more evenly distributed within the canopy. Calcium concentrations and potassium-to-calcium ratios were significantly correlated with mean bitter pit incidence, which was between 20% and 30% in the lower half of the tree and <15% in the upper half. Fruit quality was significantly affected by the position in the canopy and was not constrained to only colour, but also other quality metrics such as dry matter, size, and firmness. Additionally, the internal ethylene concentrations (IECs) of fruit in the upper canopy were approximately 50% of the IECs for fruit from the lower canopy. With an increased emphasis on uniformity and predictability of fruit for long-term storage, these results underscore the importance of understanding variation within the canopy. Even for high-density systems, significant variation in fruit quality can occur and fruit from the upper canopy has lower disorder incidence and higher fruit quality than fruit from the lower canopy.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Xiaohu Jiang ◽  
Long He

Irrigation helps grow agricultural crops in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. Proper irrigation could improve both crop productivity and produce quality. For high density apple orchards, water relations are even more important. Most irrigation in tree fruit orchards is applied based on grower’s experience or simple observations, which may lead to over- or under-irrigation. To investigate an effective irrigation strategy in high-density apple orchard, three irrigation methods were tested including soil moisture-based, evapotranspiration (ET)-based and conventional methods. In soil moisture-based irrigation, soil water content and soil water potential sensors were measured side by side. In ET-based irrigation, daily ET (ETc) and accumulated water deficit were calculated. Conventional method was based on the experience of the operator. The experiment was conducted from early June through middle of October (one growing season). Lastly, water consumption, fruit yield and fruit quality were analyzed for these irrigation strategies. Results indicated that the soil moisture-based irrigation used least water, with 10.8% and 4.8% less than ET-based and conventional methods, respectively. The yield from the rows with the soil moisture-based irrigation was slightly higher than the other two, while the fruit quality was similar. The outcome from this study proved the effectiveness of using soil moisture sensors for irrigation scheduling and could be an important step for future automatic irrigation system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molla F. Mengist ◽  
Hamed Bostan ◽  
Elisheba Young ◽  
Kristine L. Kay ◽  
Nicholas Gillitt ◽  
...  

AbstractFruit quality traits play a significant role in consumer preferences and consumption in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L). The objectives of this study were to construct a high-density linkage map and to identify the underlying genetic basis of fruit quality traits in blueberry. A total of 287 F1 individuals derived from a cross between two southern highbush blueberry cultivars, ‘Reveille’ and ‘Arlen’, were phenotyped over three years (2016–2018) for fruit quality-related traits, including titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids, and fruit weight. A high-density linkage map was constructed using 17k single nucleotide polymorphisms markers. The linkage map spanned a total of 1397 cM with an average inter-loci distance of 0.08 cM. The quantitative trait loci interval mapping based on the hidden Markov model identified 18 loci for fruit quality traits, including seven loci for fruit weight, three loci for titratable acidity, five loci for pH, and three loci for total soluble solids. Ten of these loci were detected in more than one year. These loci explained phenotypic variance ranging from 7 to 28% for titratable acidity and total soluble solid, and 8–13% for pH. However, the loci identified for fruit weight did not explain more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. We also reported the association between fruit quality traits and metabolites detected by Proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis directly responsible for these fruit quality traits. Organic acids, citric acid, and quinic acid were significantly (P < 0.05) and positively correlated with titratable acidity. Sugar molecules showed a strong and positive correlation with total soluble solids. Overall, the study dissected the genetic basis of fruit quality traits and established an association between these fruit quality traits and metabolites.


HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Lexie McClymont ◽  
Ian Goodwin ◽  
Desmond Whitfield ◽  
Mark O’Connell ◽  
Susanna Turpin

Vegetative growth, orchard productivity, fruit quality and marketable yield were evaluated for rootstock (D6, BP1 and Quince A), tree density (741–4444 trees/ha), and training system (Open Tatura trellis, two-dimensional vertical and three-dimensional traditional) effects on young trees of the blush pear cultivar ‘ANP-0131’. ‘ANP-0131’ is a vigorous scion and vegetative growth, precocity, and yield were influenced by the selected rootstocks. Tree density and training system treatments exerted a substantial effect on canopy radiation interception while increasing tree density improved yield. Increasing tree density from 2222 (high density) to 4444 (ultra-high density) trees/ha did not improve cumulative yield. Crop load affected fruit size, such that “marketable” yield (yield of fruit weighing between 150 and 260 g) was greatest for trees on D6 rootstock and trained to Open Tatura trellis at high and ultra-high densities.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Peck ◽  
Preston K. Andrews ◽  
John P. Reganold ◽  
John K. Fellman

Located on a 20-ha commercial apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchard in the Yakima Valley, Washington, a 1.7-ha study area was planted with apple trees in 1994 in a randomized complete block design with four replications of three treatments: organic (ORG), conventional (CON), and integrated (INT). Soil classification, rootstock, cultivar, plant age, and all other conditions except management were the same on all plots. In years 9 (2002) and 10 (2003) of this study, we compared the orchard productivity and fruit quality of `Galaxy Gala' apples. Measurements of crop yield, yield efficiency, crop load, average fruit weight, tree growth, color grades, and weight distributions of marketable fruit, percentages of unmarketable fruit, classifications of unmarketable fruit, as well as leaf, fruit, and soil mineral concentrations, were used to evaluate orchard productivity. Apple fruit quality was assessed at harvest and after refrigerated (0 to 1 °C) storage for three months in regular atmosphere (ambient oxygen levels) and for three and six months in controlled atmosphere (1.5% to 2% oxygen). Fruit internal ethylene concentrations and evolution, fruit respiration, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), purgeable volatile production, sensory panels, and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were used to evaluate fruit quality. ORG crop yields were two-thirds of the CON and about half of the INT yields in 2002, but about one-third greater than either system in 2003. High ORG yields in 2003 resulted in smaller ORG fruit. Inconsistent ORG yields were probably the result of several factors, including unsatisfactory crop load management, higher pest and weed pressures, lower leaf and fruit tissue nitrogen, and deficient leaf tissue zinc concentrations. Despite production difficulties, ORG apples had 6 to 10 N higher flesh firmness than CON, and 4 to 7 N higher than INT apples, for similar-sized fruit. Consumer panels tended to rate ORG and INT apples to have equal or better overall acceptability, firmness, and texture than CON apples. Neither laboratory measurements nor sensory evaluations detected differences in SSC, TA, or the SSC to TA ratio. Consumers were unable to discern the higher concentrations of flavor volatiles found in CON apples. For a 200 g fruit, ORG apples contained 10% to 15% more TAA than CON apples and 8% to 25% more TAA than INT apples. Across most parameters measured in this study, the CON and INT farm management systems were more similar to each other than either was to the ORG system. The production challenges associated with low-input organic apple farming systems are discussed. Despite limited technologies and products for organic apple production, the ORG apples in our study showed improvements in some fruit quality attributes that could aid their marketability.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meiling Gao ◽  
Xiaoxue Liang ◽  
Xiujie Liu ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
Hongguo Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundWatermelon is an important vegetable crop with dual use of both fruit and seeds. Understanding the genetic basis of fruit quality and seed size-related traits is important for efficient marker-assisted breeding in watermelon. Linkage mapping in watermelon segregating populations using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) provides insights into genetic control of fruit- and seed-related traits and genome collinearity in commercial watermelon cultivars. ResultsIn the present study, we conducted QTL mapping of 12 horticulturally important traits on external and internal fruit quality and seed size/weight using segregating populations derived a cross between two commercial varieties. A high-density genetic map was developed with GBS which contained more than 6,000 SNP loci in 1,004 bins with a total map length of 1261.1 cM and average marker interval of 1.26 cM or 329 kb. Phenotypic data of fruit rind color (RC), rind stripe pattern (RSP), flesh color (FFC), fruit diameter (FD), fruit length (FL), fruit shape index (FSI), fruit weight (FW), Brix content central (BCC), Brix content edge (BCE), seed length (SL), width (SW), and weight (20SWT) were collected from two locations in two years. QTL analysis identified 47 QTL for the 12 traits, of which 24 had moderate- or major-effects, and 34 were novel QTL not identified in previous studies. The QTL for RSP were identified overlapped with previous reports, and mapped the QTL to a small interval on chromosome 6. From the detected novel QTL, we identify FD (qfd2.1), FL (qfl2.1) co-located with FSI (qfsi2.1) QTL on chromosome 2, and the minor QTL qfw3.2 co-located with previously reported fruit shape QTL (qfd3.1, qfl3.1, qfsi3.1), and SW (qsw10.1) co-located with 20SWT QTL (q20swt10.1) on chromosome 10, and 5 minor QTL (qbcc2.1, qbcc5.1, qbce2.1, qbce2.2, qbce5.1) were found to be likely new locus for Brix content.ConclusionWe conducted GBS consisting of 120 F2 individuals and developed a high-density linkage map with more than 6,000 SNP loci in 1004 bins in watermelon. We identified 47 QTL for 12 fruit and seed related traits including 34 novel QTL. Our work expands the molecular breeding toolbox for watermelon to improve the yield and fruit quality.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2815
Author(s):  
André Luiz Kulkamp de Souza ◽  
Márcia Wulff Schuch ◽  
Samila Silva Camargo ◽  
Robson Rodrigues Pereira ◽  
Edson Luiz de Souza ◽  
...  

Worldwide, peach propagation has been performed mainly by grafting scions of desirable cultivars on rootstocks obtained from seeds. There are, however, other potential propagation methods not widely adopted due to the limited reports on the field performance of the resultant trees. This study addressed this knowledge gap and investigated the field performance of peach trees of the cultivar Maciel that were established in an orchard (5.0 m × 1.4 m spacing) in 2011. The trees were trained in a "Y" system, with seedlings from three propagation techniques: 1) Conventional System (CS) - vegetative bud grafting of the scion on the rootstock of the Okinawa cultivar obtained from seed; 2) Rootstock by Minicutting (RM) - vegetative bud grafting of the scion on the rootstock of the Okinawa cultivar obtained by minicutting in a semi-hydroponic system; 3) Self-Rooting (SR) - self-rooting of the scion in a semi-hydroponic system. The vegetative, productive, and fruit quality parameters were assessed during 2012 and 2013. The Maciel peach trees that were propagated by the SR technique were found to have similar or even superior field performance to those propagated by the CS. The RM propagation method was also found to be an important potential alternative to peach propagation, since this it combines two techniques (cutting and grafting) to reduce tree vigor, especially if the goal is high-density planting.


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