scholarly journals Supplemental Foliar Potassium Applications with or without a Surfactant can Enhance Netted Muskmelon Quality

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene E. Lester ◽  
John L. Jifon ◽  
D. J. Makus

Netted muskmelon [Cucumis melo L. (Reticulatus Group)] fruit quality (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, total free sugars, and soluble solids concentration (SSC)) is directly related to plant potassium (K) concentration during fruit growth and maturation. During reproductive development, soil K fertilization alone is often inadequate due to poor root uptake and competitive uptake inhibition from calcium and magnesium. Foliar applications of glycine-complexed K during muskmelon fruit development has been shown to improve fruit quality, however, the influence of organic-complexed K vs. an inorganic salt form has not been determined. This glasshouse study investigated the effects of two K sources: a glycine-complexed K (potassium metalosate, KM) and potassium chloride (KCl) (both containing 800 mg K/L) with or without a non-ionic surfactant (Silwet L-77) on melon quality. Orange-flesh muskmelon `Cruiser' was grown in a glasshouse and fertilized throughout the study with soil-applied N–P–K fertilizer. Starting at 3 to 5 d after fruit set, and up to 3 to 5 d before fruit maturity at full slip, entire plants were sprayed weekly, including the fruit, with KM or KCl with or without a surfactant. Fruit from plants receiving supplemental foliar K had significantly higher K concentrations in the edible middle mesocarp fruit tissue compared to control untreated fruit. Fruit from treated plants were also firmer, both externally and internally, than those from non-treated control plants. Increased fruit tissue firmness was accompanied by higher tissue pressure potentials of K treated plants vs. control. In general, K treated fruit had significantly higher SSC, total sugars, total ascorbic acid, and β-carotene than control fruit. Fall-grown fruit generally had higher SSC, total sugars, total ascorbic acid and β-carotene concentrations than spring-grown fruit regardless of K treatment. The effects of surfactant were not consistent but in general, addition of a surfactant tended to affect higher SSC and β-carotene concentrations.

2005 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene E. Lester ◽  
John L. Jifon ◽  
Gordon Rogers

Muskmelon [Cucumis melo L. (Reticulatus Group)] fruit sugar content is directly related to potassium (K)-mediated phloem transport of sucrose into the fruit. However, during fruit growth and maturation, soil fertilization alone is often inadequate (due to poor root uptake and competitive uptake inhibition from calcium and magnesium) to satisfy the numerous K-dependent processes, such as photosynthesis, phloem transport, and fruit growth. Experiments were conducted during Spring 2003 and 2004 to determine if supplemental foliar K applications during the fruit growth and maturation period would alleviate this apparent inadequate K availability in orange-flesh muskmelon `Cruiser'. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and fertilized throughout the study with a soil-applied N-P-K fertilizer. Flowers were hand pollinated and only one fruit per plant was allowed to develop. Starting at 3 to 5 days after fruit set, and up to 3 to 5 days prior to fruit maturity (full slip), entire plants, including the fruit, were sprayed with a glycine amino acid-complexed potassium (potassium metalosate, 24% K) solution, diluted to 4.0 mL·L-1. Three sets of plants were sprayed either weekly (once per week), biweekly (once every 2 weeks) or not sprayed (control). Fruit from plants receiving supplemental foliar K matured on average 2 days earlier than those from control plants. In general, there were no differences in fruit maturity or quality aspects between the weekly and biweekly treatments except for fruit sugar and beta-carotene concentrations, which were significantly higher in the weekly compared to the biweekly or control treatments. Supplemental foliar K applications also resulted in significantly firmer fruit with higher K, soluble solids, total sugars, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and beta-carotene concentrations than fruit from control plants. These results demonstrate that carefully timed foliar K nutrition can alleviate the developmentally induced K deficiency effects on fruit quality and marketability.


2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Hanson ◽  
Ray-yu Yang ◽  
Jane Wu ◽  
Jen-tzu Chen ◽  
Dolores Ledesma ◽  
...  

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is among the most widely consumed vegetables worldwide and an important source of certain antioxidants (AO) including lycopene, β-carotene, and vitamin C. Improvement of tomato for content of AO and overall antioxidant activity (AOA) could potentially benefit human health in many countries. We evaluated 50 L. esculentum and three L. pimpinellifolium (L.) Mill. entries for contents of lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and two assays for antioxidant activity [anti-radical power (ARP) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (ILP)] for 2 years during the same period in south Taiwan. We detected high levels of genetic diversity for the AO and AOA measured in this study. Group means of the L. pimpinellifolium entries were significantly higher than L. esculentum group means for ARP, ILP, lycopene, ascorbic acid, phenolics, and soluble solids concentration, suggesting that introgression of alleles from L. pimpinellifolium may have potential to improve cultivated tomato for these traits. Ranking of entries for ILP and ARP were consistent between years, particularly for those entries with the highest means and these assays could be adopted by tomato breeders. Results from ILP and ARP assays were highly correlated (r = 0.82**) and it would be unnecessary to use both assays for tomato. Lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, soluble solids, and total phenolics were all positively correlated with ARP. Among AO, total phenolics content was most closely associated with ARP (r = 0.90**) and ILP (r = 0.83**); this suggests that phenolics make a major contribution to AOA in tomato fruit. Fruit size was negatively correlated with ARP (r = -0.74**) and ILP (r = -0.71**), indicating that combining large fruit size and high AOA will be challenging.


Author(s):  
. Chandni ◽  
Deepti Singh ◽  
Shirin Akhtar ◽  
Shiv Shankar Mahesh

Vegetable, due to higher neutraceutical component, are termed as protective food against various major and minor diseases. Scientific agro-techniques under optimum growing condition like temperature, relative humidity and light intensity, positively influence the qualitative and quantitative attributes of most of the vegetable crops including cherry tomato. It is one of potential vegetable crop, which is extensively utilized for table purpose and for preparing recipies in five star restaurants. Cherry tomato fetches higher prices in market due to good taste and higher nutrients, thus making qualitative attributes as an important factor to give higher returns to the farmers. Thus, this experiment was conducted to estimate the qualitative attributes in eighteen genotypes of cherry tomato grown under both open field and polyhouse conditions. The result of the study revealed that under open field condition, BRCT-30 was the best genotype with maximum value for lycopene content (6.62 mg 100-1 g FW) and β-carotene (2.30 mg 100-1 g FW), second maximum value for total soluble solids (7.85°Brix), third maximum value for reducing sugar and fourth highest position for ascorbic acid content (43.65 mg/100 g FW). Under polyhouse condition, the best genotype for quality parameters was BRCT-36 with maximum total soluble solids (10.81°Brix), lycopene (7.48 mg 100-1 g FW) and β-carotene (2.49 mg 100-1g FW) along with average range of values for ascorbic acid (72.36 mg 100-1 g FW) and titrable acidity (0.55 mg 100-1 g FW).


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Argenta Fante ◽  
Heloísa Helena de Siqueira Elias ◽  
Paôla de Castro Henrique ◽  
Ana Carolina Vilas Boas ◽  
Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Lima

Nowadays, the number of studies about fruit conservation as well as the benefits of consumption of foods rich in antioxidant compounds was increased. This study aimed to quantify antioxidant compounds and their activity and to evaluate the physical and chemical changes during the post-harvest storage of Eva's apple cultivars that were subjected to gamma irradiation at doses of 0; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 kGy. The antioxidant activity was measured by the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the β-carotene/linolenic acid methods. Levels of total phenolics, ascorbic acid, color, and soluble solids were evaluated. The results showed that, regardless of the irradiation dose, there was an increase in % SRL during post-harvest storage of Eva's apples. Low irradiation doses were able to preserve the phenolic compounds, maintain the ascorbic acid levels and avoid an increase in the soluble solids content.


2011 ◽  
Vol 236-238 ◽  
pp. 2769-2772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Hong Li ◽  
Cheng Jun Wang ◽  
Ai Li Wang ◽  
Yao Xiao ◽  
Yao Tang ◽  
...  

Kiwifruit is very perishable especially at 20 °C. The quality of kiwifruit with 1-MCP treatment stored at 20 °C in modified packages was investigated. Three different polyolefin films, including 0.03mm thickness polyethylene (PE), 0.03mm and 0.05mm thickness poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) films, were used as packaging films. Kiwifruit were fumigated with 1-MCP to delay ripeness and then packaged with the three films and control (air). O2 and CO2 concentrations in the packages, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid were measured. MAP treatments could postpone the increase of TTS, inhibit the reduction of TA, and avoid the decrease of flesh firmness. Kiwifruit packaged in 0.05mm PVC obtained 33% TA more than control fruit and approximate 25 % retention of initial firmness. However, MAP didn’t maintain more ascorbic acid content of kiwifruit. In conclusion, MAP using polyolefin films combination 1-MCP treatment, especially 0.05mm PVC, might be more effective for preserving the quality of kiwifruit.


Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ratna Suthar ◽  
Cun Wang ◽  
M. Nunes ◽  
Jianjun Chen ◽  
Steven Sargent ◽  
...  

As a soil amendment, biochar can significantly improve soil quality and crop growth. Few studies, however, have explored biochar effects on crop quality. This study investigated the amendment effects of bamboo biochar pyrolyzed at different temperatures on plant growth and fruit quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Tomato ‘Micro-Tom’ plants were grown in a sand medium amended with 0, 1, and 3% of biochars produced at 300 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C, respectively. Plant growth was monitored, and fruit harvested at the red stage was analyzed for color, texture, soluble solids content, sugars, ascorbic acid, and acidity. Results showed that biochars produced at 300 °C and amended at 3% or pyrolyzed at 450 °C and amended at 1% increased plant growth index. Contents of glucose, fructose, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and sugar-to-acid ratios of fruits produced from the two treatments were significantly higher than the other treatments. The improved plant growth and fruit quality were related to the higher concentrations of NO3, P, Ca, and Mg in the growing media. Our results suggest that optimizing biochar use can be achieved by targeting biochar production conditions and application rate, which resulted in desirable amendment and fruit quality effects.


Author(s):  
Suchismita Jena ◽  
Ramesh K. Goyal ◽  
Anil K. Godhara ◽  
Abhilash Mishra

Aims:  To evaluate the potentiality of bio-extract coatings for achieving extended shelf life with enhance fruit quality attributes in pomegranate under ambient storage condition.  Study Design:  The lab experiment conducted in complete randomized design with three repetitions on Mridula cultivar of pomegranate.     Place and Duration of Study:  The experiment was conducted during September 2016 at department of fruit science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India. Methodology: Pomegranate freshly harvested fruits were coated with three bio-extracts coatings viz. Aloe vera (50,75 and 100%), ginger (1,2 and 3%) and mints (10,20 and 30%). The coated fruits were stored at ambient room condition in corrugated fiber board boxes for twelve days.  Periodically effects of bio-extract coatings, storage period and their interaction were observed for physiological loss in weight, decay loss, juice content, TSS: acid ratio, ascorbic acid content and anthocyanin content.    Results: Surface coating with Aloe vera extract 100% was found most effective in reducing physiological loss in weight (50% less reduction as compared to untreated control) whereas ginger extract 3% in reducing the decay loss of fruits (9.65%) as compared to untreated control (23.36%). Among various treatments, the coating of pomegranate fruits with Aloe vera extract 100% resulted in lowest total soluble solids to acid ratio (32.17%) and significantly highest content of juice (47.17%), anthocyanin (13.98 mg/100 g) and ascorbic acid (12.82 mg/100 g) of the fruits along with highest organoleptic rating. The quality attributes viz. total soluble solids to acid ratio, anthocyanin of fruits increased with progression of storage period, while juice content and ascorbic acid decreased. Conclusion: Bio-extract coating of Aloe vera (100%) substantially improved the shelf life with retaining better fruit quality attributes under ambient conditions and has the potential to substitute the prevalent chemical coatings for pomegranate.  


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 753-758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R DeEll ◽  
Dennis P Murr ◽  
Behrouz Ehsani-Moghaddam

The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene action, on the ripening and quality of Fantasia nectarines were examined. Fruit were harvested from two commercial orchards and subsequently exposed to 1 μL L-1 of 1-MCP for 24 h at 0°C. Following treatment, fruit were held at 0°C for 0, 2, or 4 wk, and then assessed for quality during a ripening period at 23°C. 1-MCP treatment improved postharvest firmness retention in nectarines after 0 and 2 wk at 0°C plus 4 days at 23°C. Soluble solids concentration (SSC) was lower in nectarines treated with 1 MCP and held for 0 or 4 wk at 0°C, compared with similar non-treated fruit. The peel ground color change from green to yellow was also delayed by 1-MCP. Nectarines treated with 1-MCP exhibited less CO2 and hydrophobic volatile production during 14 days at 23°C, compared with non-treated fruit. The overall inhibition of fruit ripening by 1-MCP appears transitory in Fantasia nectarines. Chilling injury was observed after 4 wk of storage at 0°C and 1-MCP-treated fruit had less visual chilling-related injury but greater chilling-induced flesh hardening. Further research is needed to determine the effects of 1-MCP on different chilling injury symptoms in nectarines. Key words: 1-MCP, fruit quality, ripening, storage, shelf-life, Prunus persica


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-238
Author(s):  
Angela D. Myracle ◽  
Zakkary J. Castonguay ◽  
Amber Elwell ◽  
Renae E. Moran

Fruit quality and consumer acceptance were measured in 14 plum cultivars. In 2015, six cultivars of asian plum (Prunus salicina) and one cultivar of american plum (Prunus americana) were harvested partially ripe and tree-ripe. In 2016, three types of plums, asian, american, and european (Prunus domestica), were harvested tree-ripe. Within most cultivars in 2015, partially ripe fruit were rated as highly as tree-ripe fruit using a hedonic rating from 1 to 9 with 1 being dislike extremely and 9 being like extremely. ‘Obilnya’ and ‘Abundance’ were rated higher than ‘Shiro’ and ‘Methley’ at both stages of ripeness and higher than ‘Vanier’ at the partially ripe stage. ‘Early Golden’ and ‘Spring Satin’ were rated higher than ‘Shiro’ and ‘Methley’ at the tree-ripe stage. In 2016, seven cultivars (Obilnya, Kahinta, Superior, Toka, Castleton, Early Italian, and Rosy Gage) were scored at the desired consumer acceptance level. ‘Shiro’ and ‘Caçak’s Best’ received overall acceptability scores below the level of acceptability. Plum type had minimal effect on scores for texture, sweetness, sourness, and overall liking. European cultivars received lower color scores than american and asian plums. Soluble solids concentration (SSC) ranged from 6.7% to 13.6% in asian plums, from 14.8% to 19.8% in american plums, and from 15.3% to 22.1% in european plums. Overall consumer acceptance of american and european cultivars was as good as for asian cultivars.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 652b-652
Author(s):  
P.M. Perkins-Veazie ◽  
J.K. Collins ◽  
N. Maness ◽  
B. Cartwright

High populations of melon aphid (aphis gossypii) reduce cantaloupe plant growth and yield; effects on subsequent fruit quality are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fruit quality from plants with high and low aphid populations. Up to 50% of melons from plants having high aphid populations were unmarketable due to surface sooty mold. Melons from plants with high or low aphid populations, but not cultivars, were similar in flesh quality. The internal color of `Perlita' and `Sweet Surprise' was a more yellow hue while that of `TAM Uvalde' was more orange. `Sweet Surprise' melons were lower in percent soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity, but were higher in mg fructose/ml juice compared to the other cultivars. A trained taste panel of 30 people evaluated melons from 2 cultivars showing little damage from melon aphid infestations and from 2 cultivars exhibiting high damage. All melons had similar taste qualities with acceptable sweetness, flavor, odor and texture. These results show that high aphid populations deleteriously affect cosmetic appearance, but not flesh quality, of melons.


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