scholarly journals Irrigation Scheduling to Increase Muskmelon Fruit Biomass and Soluble Solids Concentration

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Long ◽  
Kerry B. Walsh ◽  
David J. Midmore ◽  
Gordon Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Sugar Accumulation ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

A common practice for the irrigation management of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. reticulatus group) is to restrict water supply to the plants from late fruit development and through the harvest period. However, this late fruit development period is critical for sugar accumulation and water stress at this stage is likely to limit the final fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC). Two field irrigation experiments were conducted to test the idea that maintaining muskmelon plants free of water stress through to the end of harvest will maximise sugar accumulation in the fruit. In both trials, water stress before or during harvest detrimentally affected fruit SSC and fresh weight (e.g., no stress fruit 11.2% SSC, weight 1180 g; stress fruit 8.8% SSC, weight 990 g). Maintaining plants free of water stress from flowering through to the end of harvest is recommended to maximise yield and fruit quality.

scholarly journals Morphological and Physiological Changes during Fruit Growth and Maturation of Seven Melon Cultivars

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1025-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Miccolis ◽  
Mikal E. Saltveit
Keyword(s):  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Flesh Color ◽  
Santa Claus ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
General Decline ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

External color, length, diameter, fresh weight, C02 production, internal C2HA concentration, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), flesh color, and seed cavity diameter were measured during fruit growth and maturation of seven melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L., Inodorus Group, Naud. cv. `Amarelo', `Golden Beauty Casaba', `Honey Dew', `Honey Loupe', `Juan Canary', `Paceco', and `Santa Claus Casaba') of known age. There was no increase in C02 production either during ripening (e.g., loss of firmness and increased SSC) or with increasing C2H4 levels in fruit from any of the seven cultivars. There was a significant decline in respiration only at the second sampling date, which ranged from 14 to 18 days after anthesis. Respiration measured 1 week later was substantially higher and was followed by a general decline. This post 14- to 18-day rise in respiration was not a climacteric since it occurred well in advance of other ripening characteristics, e.g., loss of firmness, increase in SSC, or rise in internal C2H4. The increase in internal C2H4. coincided with or followed attainment of full fruit size, while flesh softening and the rapid rise in SSC preceded the rise in internal C2H4, concentration. Respiration declined from 67 to 18 ml CO2/kg per hour by day 43 in all cultivars, except `Honey Dew' and `Honey Loupe'. Respiration in `Honey Loupe' remained above 23 ml CO2/kg per hour and showed a rise to 32 ml/kg per hour on day 53. Respiration in `Honey Dew' did not fall below 18 ml CO2/kg per hour until day 53. As with internal C2H4 levels, there was no correlation between changes in and any marked change in the other signs of ripening that were measured.

scholarly journals Genetic Control of Fruit Sugar Accumulation in a Lycopersicon esculentum × L. hirsutum Cross

1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Stommel ◽  
Kathleen G. Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽  
Major Gene ◽  
Reducing Sugar ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Sugar Accumulation ◽  
Additive Effects ◽  
Mature Fruit ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Donor Parent ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Fruit of the cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) store predominantly glucose and fructose whereas fruit of the wild species L. hirsutum Humb. & Bonpl. characteristically accumulate sucrose. Reducing sugar and sucrose concentrations were measured in mature fruit of parental, F1, F2, and backcross (BC1) populations derived from an initial cross of L. esculentum `Floradade' × L. hirsutum PI 390514. Generational means analysis demonstrated that additive effects were equal to dominance effects for percentage of reducing sugar. It was determined that a single major gene, dominant for a high percentage of reducing sugar, regulates the percentage of reducing sugar in tomatoes. We propose that this gene be designated sucr. Only additive effects were demonstrated to be important for glucose: fructose ratios. Using L. hirsutum as a donor parent for increasing total soluble solids concentration in the cultivated tomato is discussed.

scholarly journals Irrigation Regimes Affect Fruit Soluble Solids Concentration and Rate of Water Loss of `O'Henry' Peaches

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1169-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos H. Crisosto ◽  
R. Scott Johnson ◽  
Juvenal G. Luza ◽  
Gayle M. Crisosto
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Prunus Persica ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Storage Performance ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Irrigation Treatments ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

The effect of irrigation management strategies on the quality and storage performance of `O'Henry' peaches [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] was studied for two seasons. The deficit irrigation treatment induced a higher fruit soluble solids concentration and lower fruit weight. The excess irrigation treatment, compared to the optimum treatment, increased the rate of fruit water loss without altering fruit quality and storage performance. Scanning electron microscope observations indicated a higher density of trichomes on fruit from the deficit and optimum irrigation treatments than from the excess irrigation treatment. Light microscopy studies indicated that fruit from deficit and optimum irrigation had a continuous and much thicker cuticle than fruit from the excess irrigation treatment. These differences in exodermis structure may explain the high percentage of water loss from fruit from the excess irrigation treatment compared to the deficit and optimum irrigation treatments.

scholarly journals Irrigation Cutback a Reliable Tool for Soluble Solids Improvement in Processing Tomato

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 763C-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.K. Hartz* ◽  
P.R. Johnstone ◽  
M. LeStrange ◽  
J.J. Nunez ◽  
E.M. Miyao
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Soil Moisture Stress ◽  
Flexible Tool ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Soluble solids concentration (SSC) is a major quality factor for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown for processing. The effects of early irrigation cutback were investigated in a series of drip-irrigated field trials in California from 2000-03. Irrigation cutback was initiated from 4-7 weeks preharvest, with irrigation volume reduced to 30% to 70% of reference evapotranspiration. Early irrigation cutback was compared to full irrigation until cutoff 2-3 weeks preharvest. SSC was monitored from the initiation of deficit irrigation until harvest, with breaker-stage fruit sampled at approximately 10-day intervals; additionally, early-maturing fruits were tagged on the plant at breaker stage and retrieved at harvest for SSC analysis. Fruit yield, overall SSC, and brix yield (Mg·ha-1 fruit solids) were evaluated at commercial maturity. Fruit SSC increased in response to soil moisture stress, with late-maturing fruit as much as 2.0 °Brix higher than fruit maturing before significant moisture stress. However, once a fruit reached the breaker stage of maturity, its SSC did not increase regardless of subsequent soil moisture stress. Across field trials, yield decline resulting from early irrigation cutback was matched by a corresponding increase in overall SSC, resulting in equivalent brix yield in all test fields. We conclude that the early irrigation cutback provides a flexible tool for SSC management and that °Brix monitoring of breaker-stage fruit can augment soil moisture monitoring to tune irrigation management to field-specific conditions.

scholarly journals Flowering, Vegetative Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality in Muskmelons under Saline Conditions

1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 868-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Mendlinger ◽  
Michael Fossen
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Salt Tolerant ◽  
Flower Production ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

The muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars Topmark, Galia, No. 1, and BG-84-3 (BG) were examined in a field test for the influence of increased salt concentration (700, 2500, 5000, 7500, and 10,000 ppm) on flower production, vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality. Increased salinity did not affect the number or timing of staminate and pistillate flowers produced. Increased salinity significantly and to the same extent reduced vegetative growth in the four cultivars. Increased salinity did not affect the number of fruit produced in the four cultivars but reduced mean fruit weight in three. Mean fruit weight and yield of `BG' were not reduced; i.e., `BG' was salt tolerant. Increased salinity increased the soluble solids concentration and slightly improved fruit appearance of all cultivars.

scholarly journals Wine Grape Response to Foliar Particle Film under Differing Levels of Preveraison Water Stress

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1392-1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Shellie ◽  
D. Michael Glenn
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Wine Grape ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

We investigated how foliar application of kaolin particle film influenced diurnal leaf gas exchange, leaf water potential, yield, and berry maturity of a red (‘Merlot’) and white (‘Viognier’) wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar under differing levels of water stress over two growing seasons (2005 and 2006) in the warm, semiarid climate of southwestern Idaho. Net diurnal stomatal conductance (g S) was increased by particle film and the effect varied according to vine water status. Particle film delayed the onset of diurnal decline in g S under mild water stress (leaf water potential ≈ –1.2 MPa) but had no influence on leaf gas exchange when vines were under greater water stress (leaf water potential ≈ –1.4 MPa). Correlation between soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity (‘Viognier’) and between berry fresh weight and yield (‘Merlot’) was higher with than without particle film, suggesting that particle film may attenuate the influence of other factors affecting expression of these traits. Particle film was associated with an increase in berry weight in ‘Merlot’ and with an increase in berry soluble solids concentration in ‘Viognier’, suggesting that the film may increase vine-carrying capacity. Midday leaf water potential throughout the growing season was not influenced by particle film. Fruit surface browning was observed on deficit-irrigated, particle film-treated vines on exposed clusters on the west side of the canopy, indicating that the film did not eliminate development of heat stress symptoms on fruit under the most extreme environmental conditions evaluated in this study.

Citrus Irrigation Management

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davie Mayeso Kadyampakeni ◽  
Kelly T. Morgan ◽  
Mongi Zekri ◽  
Rhuanito Ferrarezi ◽  
Arnold Schumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Physiological Activity ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Leaf Expansion ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Irrigation Frequency ◽  
Citrus Production

Water is a limiting factor in Florida citrus production during the majority of the year because of the low water holding capacity of sandy soils resulting from low clay and the non-uniform distribution of the rainfall. In Florida, the major portion of rainfall comes in June through September. However, rainfall is scarce during the dry period from February through May, which coincides with the critical stages of bloom, leaf expansion, fruit set, and fruit enlargement. Irrigation is practiced to provide water when rainfall is not sufficient or timely to meet water needs. Proper irrigation scheduling is the application of water to crops only when needed and only in the amounts needed; that is, determining when to irrigate and how much water to apply. With proper irrigation scheduling, yield will not be limited by water stress. With citrus greening (HLB), irrigation scheduling is becoming more important and critical and growers cannot afford water stress or water excess. Any degree of water stress or imbalance can produce a deleterious change in physiological activity of growth and production of citrus trees.  The number of fruit, fruit size, and tree canopy are reduced and premature fruit drop is increased with water stress.  Extension growth in shoots and roots and leaf expansion are all negatively impacted by water stress. Other benefits of proper irrigation scheduling include reduced loss of nutrients from leaching as a result of excess water applications and reduced pollution of groundwater or surface waters from the leaching of nutrients. Recent studies have shown that for HLB-affected trees, irrigation frequency should increase and irrigation amounts should decrease to minimize water stress from drought stress or water excess, while ensuring optimal water availability in the rootzone at all times.

Cell Size and Pretransplant Nutritional Conditioning Influences Early Vine Growth and Yield of Transplanted Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 594e-594
Author(s):  
Charles J. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Cell Volume ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Research is needed to better understand the influence of cell volume and fertility on watermelon transplant size and field performance in order to determine the most economic production practices. `Jubilee' watermelon transplants were grown using a 4 x 4 factorial experimental design consisting of 4 cell volumes (30.7, 65.5, 147.5, and 349.6 cm3) and 4 fertility rates (0, 1/4, 1/2, and full-strength Hoagland's solution). Transplant shoot dry weight significantly increased as cell volume and fertility increased. Increasing cell volume linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early and total harvest in 1995. The average weight per watermelon significantly increased for early-harvested fruit but not for total harvest as cell volume increased in 1995. Soluble solids concentration linearly increased with increasing cell volume for early and total harvests in 1995. Cell volume had no significant influence on the harvest parameters measured in 1997. In 1995, increasing fertility linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early harvests. Increasing fertility increased the soluble solids concentration linearly for early-harvested watermelons in 1997 but not in 1995. Fertility rate had no significant influence on any of the other harvest parameters measured in 1995 and 1997. The growing conditions and disease pressure in 1997 reduced melons/ha, yield, and soluble solids content when compared to 1995 values. The half-strength Hoagland's solution produced the greatest number of watermelons/ha, tons/ha, and the highest soluble solids concentration in 1995 and 1997. Pretransplant nutritional conditioning had no significant effect on total `Jubilee' watermelon production in Louisiana for 1995 and 1997.

scholarly journals Postharvest Application of Chelated and Nonchelated Calcium Dip Treatments to Commercially Grown Honey Dew Melons: Effects on Peel Attributes, Tissue Calcium Concentration, Quality, and Consumer Preference following Storage

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene E. Lester ◽  
Michael A. Grusak
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Storage Life ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Ripe Fruit ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Postharvest Application ◽  
Peel Color ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Commercially grown honey dew fruit [Cucumis melo (Inodorus group)] typically are harvested before abscission because fruit cut unripe have a longer storage life than fully ripe fruit. However, because fully ripe fruit contain higher concentrations of soluble solids (predominantly as sugars), an attribute that increases their preference among consumers, methods are being explored to extend the storage life of fully ripe fruit. In this study, fully abscised honey dew fruit were evaluated for tissue attributes and consumer preference following postharvest dipping in either chelated or nonchelated calcium (Ca) solutions. Calcium sources were an amino acid-chelated Ca, ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-chelated Ca, or calcium chloride (CaCl2), with each provided at three different rates. Fruit were evaluated at harvest, and after 14 or 22 days commercial storage. Evaluations were peel surface changes (color and disorders), hypodermal-mesocarp tissue Ca concentration, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, and consumer preference of the edible flesh. Peel color became yellowed and lighter during storage for all fruit, with higher Ca rates resulting in more intensely yellowed fruit. Hypodermal-mesocarp tissue Ca concentration was 0.90 mg·g-1 of fresh weight (900 ppm) at harvest, and declined in all fruit by 22 days storage. Peel disorders (disease and spotting) were none to slight for all fruit by 14 days storage, but by 22 days storage disease incidence ranged from none to severe, depending on the Ca source and rate. Fruit firmness declined in all fruit throughout storage, with the smallest declines measured in fruit treated with the amino acid-chelated Ca. Soluble solids concentration of fully ripe fruit was 12.3% at harvest, and showed either no decline or slight declines with storage among the treatments. Consumer preference was highest for freshly harvested fruit, but fruit were desirable even after 22 days storage across all treatments. Postharvest application of Ca at ≤0.16 m Ca in an amino acid-chelated form, versus EDTA-chelated Ca or CaCl2, slowed honey dew melon senescence so that after 22 days of commercial and retail storage the fruit were of high marketable quality, and there was no detrimental effect on consumer preference for the edible flesh.

scholarly journals Prestorage Heat Treatment as a Means of Improving Poststorage Quality of Apples

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Klein ◽  
Susan Lurie
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Ethylene Production ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Optimum Temperature ◽  
Major Benefit ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

The benefits conferred by a prestorage heat treatment on poststorage quality of apples (Malus domestics Borkh.) were measured on `Anna', a non-storing early cultivar, and `Granny Smith', a long-storing late cultivar. The major benefit was a decrease in rate of apple softening, both during OC storage and during simulated shelf life at 20C. Soluble solids concentration was not affected by heat treatment, but titratable acidity was reduced. Ethylene production after heat treatment and storage was similar to or higher than that of control apples, but respiration was lower. The optimum temperature and time combination for prestorage treatment of both cultivars was 4 days at 38C.

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