INFLUENCE OF ELEVATION ON HONEYBEES Apis mellifera syriaca (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) FLIGHT ACTIVITIES AND ITS IMPACT ON FRUIT SET AND QUALITY OF WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus, CUCURBITACEAE)

Water conservation strategies are being investigated for watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] production in the Winter Garden region of southwest Texas. Our objective was to determine how yield and fruit quality of a triploid (cv. Summer Sweet 5244) and hybrid (cv. Summer Flavor 710) watermelon were affected by irrigation based on evapotranspiration (ET) rates and timing of application during spring. Irrigation treatments included constant 1.0 and 0.5 ET, three with varying ET before or after fruit set, and one with cycles of 1.0 and 0.5 ET. Fruit quality characteristics were measured at the unripe, ripe, and overripe maturity stages. Water deficit before or after fruit set decreased yield and fruit number. Flesh color was not affected by irrigation at any maturity stage. Soluble solid content at the ripe stage increased only in triploids irrigated with constant 0.5 ET or with 0.5 ET applied after fruit set. Triploid plants exposed to frequent cycles of water deficit set more and smaller fruit than hybrids. These data suggest that triploid watermelon types may have a different acclimation response to drought stress than diploid hybrids.

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Quality of Watermelon Juice Concentrated by Forward Osmosis and Conventional Processes

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8121568 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 1568

Author(s):

Rebecca R. Milczarek ◽

Carl W. Olsen ◽

Ivana Sedej

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Large Scale ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Forward Osmosis ◽

Soluble Phenolics ◽

Nutritional Components ◽

Watermelon Juice ◽

Juice Concentrate ◽

And Storage

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) juice is known for its refreshing flavor, but its high perishability limits its availability throughout the year. Watermelon juice concentrate has extended shelf-life and lower transportation and storage costs, but the conventional thermal evaporation process for concentrating juice degrades the nutritional components and sensory quality of the product. Thus, in this work, a large-scale, non-thermal forward osmosis (FO) process was used to concentrate fresh watermelon juice up to 65°Brix. The FO concentrate was compared to thermal concentrate and fresh juices, and to commercially available refrigerated watermelon juices, in terms of lycopene and citrulline content, total soluble phenolics, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties. The FO concentrate had statistically similar (p < 0.05) levels of all the nutrients of interest except antioxidant activity, when compared to the thermal concentrate. The reconstituted FO concentrate maintained the same antioxidant activity as the raw source juice, which was 45% higher than that of the reconstituted thermal concentrate. Sensory results showed that reconstituted FO concentrate resulted in highly liked juice, and it outperformed the reconstituted thermal concentrate in the sensory hedonic rating. This work demonstrates the possibility to produce a high-quality watermelon juice concentrate by forward osmosis.

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Phenology, production and quality of blueberry produced in humid subtropical climate

Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura ◽

10.1590/0100-29452018520 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

Author(s):

José Gilberto Sousa Medeiros ◽

Luiz Antonio Biasi ◽

Claudine Maria de Bona ◽

Francine Lorena Cuquel

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Subtropical Climate ◽

Blue Color ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Mass Size ◽

Fruit Mass

Abstract Studies on adaptation to the cultivation site are necessary for the recommendation of new cultivars. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenological development, productivity and fruit quality of eight blueberry cultivars from the rabbiteye group (Aliceblue, Bluebelle, Bluegem, Briteblue, Climax, Delite, Powderblue and Woodard) and two from the highbush group (Georgiagem and O’Neal) under humid subtropical conditions in the 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 cycles. Beginning and end of flowering, beginning and end of harvesting, fruit set, production, mass, diameter, pH, content of soluble solids, titratable acidity, ratio and coloring were evaluated. The evaluated cultivars presented flowering in the period from July to September, concentrating harvest in the months of November and December. The highest fruit set was observed in Delite, Climax, Briteblue and Powderblue cultivars. There were differences among cultivars regarding fruit mass, size, pH, content of soluble solids and acidity. The results showed that the cultivars exhibited blue color with few variations over the evaluation years. Cultivars with the best productive performance under humid subtropical climate conditions are Bluegem, Delite, Climax and Powderblue.

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Effect of Fertilizers on the Incidence of Anthracnose Disease, Yield and Quality of Mango

Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development ◽

10.3329/jard.v5i1.1461 ◽

1970 ◽

pp. 70-78

Author(s):

MNA Chowdhury ◽

MA Rahim

Keyword(s):

Key Words ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Combined Effect ◽

Anthracnose Disease ◽

Untreated Plant ◽

Combined Application ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Treated Plant

Effect of different fertilizers on the control of anthracnose disease, yield and quality of mango cv Amrapali was investigated. Application of combined fertilizers gave the highest fruit set, fruit retention and fresh fruits, therefore, produced the highest yield per plant and per hectare. The highest number of healthy fruits was found from 2nd year crop and the lowest was obtained from 1st year. The highest (8.47 t/ha) yield was obtained from 2nd year and the lowest (4.58 t/ha) was obtained from 1st year crop. Among the treatments, combined application of NPK, ZnSo4, Gypsum and Cowdung gave the highest (50.67) number of healthy fruits and the lowest (16) was obtained from untreated plant. The highest (12.41 t/ha) yield was obtained from combined application of NPK, ZnSo4, Gypsum and Cowdung and the lowest (3.88 t/ha) was obtained from untreated plant. In respect of combined effect, the highest (15.22 t/ha) yield was obtained from 2nd year x T9 treated plant and the lowest (2.95 t/ha) was found in untreated 1st year plant. Key words: Mango, fertilizers, anthracnose, yield. DOI = 10.3329/jard.v5i1.1461 J Agric Rural Dev 5(1&2), 70-78, June 2007

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Effect of Time of Pollination on Fruit Set, Seed Yield and Seed Quality of Okra Hybrid (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences ◽

10.18782/2582-2845.8300 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 517-521

Author(s):

D. Sruthi ◽

Keyword(s):

Seed Yield ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Abelmoschus Esculentus

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Effect of Watermelon Rind (Citrullus lanatus) Addition on the Functional, Pasting and Microbiological Quality of Sorghum Based Mumu

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety ◽

10.9734/ejnfs/2019/v10i130099 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 72-83

Author(s):

Stephen T. Gbaa ◽

Samuel A. Ahemen ◽

Christiana O. Ameh

Keyword(s):

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Pasting Properties ◽

Viable Count ◽

Sorghum Flour ◽

Watermelon Rind ◽

Microbial Analysis ◽

Pasting Temperature ◽

Powder Addition

The effect of watermelon rind powder addition on the functional, pasting and microbiological quality of Sorghum based mumu was evaluated. Sorghum-based mumu was prepared from composite flours of 85:15, 75:15, 70:15 and 65:15% roasted sorghum flour and roasted partially defatted groundnut flour respectively and included with 0, 10, 15 and 20% watermelon rind powder respectively which were known as sample A, B, C and D accordingly. Subsequently, the functional, pasting properties and microbial quality was assessed. Functional properties values; Bulk density (0.89 to 0.80mg/100g), reconstitution index (4.99 to 4.89) and swelling index (2.35 to 2.20) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increase in watermelon powder addition while water absorption (10.36 to 10.97g/g), oil absorption (10.33 to 10.79) and foam capacities (12.46 to 13.85%) increased with increase in watermelon rind powder. The pasting properties; peak (302.22 to 292.44 RVU), trough (156.44 to 150.00 RVU) and Final viscosities (412.69 to 400.76RVU), and breakdown (149.95 to 140.59RVU) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increased in watermelon rind powder while setback viscosity (101.05 to 115.59RVU), pasting temperature (59.32 to 62.02oC) and pasting time (4.93 to 5.13mins) increased. Microbial analysis revealed the following ranges: Total viable count, 0.5x102 to1.0x102 cfu/g, fungi count of 6.1x101- 9.9x101 cfu/g and no coliform was detected. Overall, addition of watermelon rind powder showed good functional, pasting and microbiological qualities of sorghum based mumu.

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