scholarly journals Yield and Fruit Quality of Sixteen Fragaria vesca Accessions Grown in Southern Florida

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1396-1403
Author(s):  
Alan Chambers ◽  
Pamela Moon ◽  
Yuqing Fu ◽  
Juliette Choiseul ◽  
Jinhe Bai ◽  
...  

Fragaria vesca is a diploid strawberry species that produces gourmet, aromatic fruits with only limited commercial production because of its relative obscurity. Most F. vesca research focuses on genetics and fruit aroma, but yield and fruit quality data across diploid accessions are lacking. Sixteen F. vesca accessions were grown in replicated field plots in southern Florida to measure field performance and fruit quality over multiple harvests during a single growing season. Accessions ‘Reine des Vallees’, ‘Baron Solemacher’, ‘Fragolina di Bosco’, and ‘Reugen’ all had significantly higher yield (115–140 g/plot/week) and fruit number (117–139 fruit/plot/week) compared with ‘Bowlenzauber’, ‘Attila’, ‘Ali Baba’, and ‘Pineapple Crush’ (31–57 g/plot/week and 32–60 fruit/plot/week) during peak production. Total average yield ranged from 240 g (‘Pineapple Crush’) to 1194 g (‘Baron Solemacher’) per plot of 10 plants. Fruit number and fruit yield were highly correlated (R2 = 0.96) for all accessions, and there was no significant difference in fruit weight among accessions through the entire season. Total soluble solids ranged from 10.9 to 13.5 °Brix, and fructose, glucose, sucrose, and total sugars ranged from 15.3 to 22.1, 13.5 to 20.0, 0.1 to 2.7, and 29.7 to 42.5 mg/g, respectively, fresh weight. Acidity ranged from 1.00% to 1.18% citric acid and was not consistently significantly different among accessions over multiple harvests. Forty-two aroma compounds were putatively identified over three harvests for each accession and included mostly esters and ketones with a few alcohols, terpenes, and aldehydes. The majority of these compounds were similarly abundant over harvests and among accessions with a few exceptions, including methyl anthranilate. These results are the first in-depth study of yield and fruit quality for a large number of F. vesca accessions that could lead to increased cultivation of this species for local markets.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-486
Author(s):  
Josiéle Garcia Dutra ◽  
◽  
Roberta Marins Nogueira Peil ◽  
Tatiana da Silva Duarte ◽  
Cesar Valmor Rombaldi ◽  
...  

Substrate-filled pots are growing systems commonly used for vegetable farming. However, few are the studies available relating them to mini-watermelon cultivation. Our study presents a growing system using substrate-filled troughs and leachate recirculation as a low-cost and less environmentally harmful soilless cultivation system for mini-watermelons. For a growing system to be viable and provide high fruit yield and quality, several aspects must be studied, including substrate physical properties and reuse potential in successive crops, besides plant management-related aspects. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the effects of a trough system and substrate reuse on changes in the properties of raw rice husk and on fruit yield and quality for mini-watermelons at different stem training. To this purpose, two trials were conducted using nutrient solution recirculation systems. In the first, we evaluated the effects of pot and trough systems. In the second, first- and second-use substrates were compared in the trough system. In both trials, one and two-stem training systems were analyzed. The results of the first trial show that the trough system had a greater positive impact on substrate water holding capacity (WHC), which increased from 7.9 to 15.6%, while the pots increased substrate WHC only to 11.2%. However, both systems neither affected fruit yield (8 kg/m² on average) nor fruit quality. The two-stem training promoted higher fruit yields (4.2 kg/plant) and contents of total soluble solids - TSS (11.4 °Brix) but did not affect average fruit weight. Moreover, the one-stem training provided higher fruit number (7.3 fruits/m²) and fruit yield (9.7 kg/m²). In the second trial, the reused substrate showed a higher WHC (12.4%) than the one used for the first time (9.9%). The reused substrate also provided better results in terms of fruit yield and quality (5.9 fruits/m², 5.3 kg/m², and 10.5o Brix). In the second trial, two-stem training also increased average fruit weight, and hence yields per plant. Nevertheless, the stem number did not affect fruit number per plant, fruit yield per square meter, and fruit quality.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 748E-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Elkner* ◽  
David H. Johnson

Medium-sized triploid watermelons were evaluated in southeast Pennsylvania in 2002 and 2003 to determine the best adapted cultivars for this region. The 2002 season was unusually hot and dry, while 2003 was unusually cool and wet. Yields and fruit quality were compared for the eight cultivars that were grown both seasons to determine the effect of weather on seedless watermelon. Cooler temperatures reduced total fruit number and total yield but not average fruit weight or soluble solids. Researchers evaluating triploid watermelons over several seasons can compare size and °Brix among cultivars, but will need to be cautious when predicting total yields.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
Scheila Lucia Ecker ◽  
Clevison Luiz Giacobbo ◽  
Leandro Galon ◽  
Adriana Lugaresi ◽  
Gian Carlos Girardi

The objective of this work was to verify the influence of planting density on productivity and fruit quality of the fig tree. The design was used in three blocks, the plants of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos were submitted to three planting spacings: 5 x 0.5 m; 5 x 1.0 m; and 5 x 1.5 m. The evaluated characteristics were: length of branches; average weekly growth of branches; fruit size; average fruit weight;soluble solids (°Brix); yield of mature fruits; productivity of green fruits; accumulated productivity; and dry mass of fruits.The length of the branches was not influenced by planting spacing, the plants conducted at lower densities presented higher productivity, both of green fruits and accumulated productivity.Plants submitted to lower planting density produced fruits with higher dry matter, but these were smaller in size, but without significant difference for those submitted to lower density. It wasconcluded that productivity is directly affected by fig planting density, but not all the qualitative aspects of the fruits were affected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (37) ◽  
pp. 60-69
Author(s):  
Mirela Calinescu ◽  
◽  
Ivona Mazilu ◽  
Emil Chitu ◽  
Madalina Butac ◽  
...  

The aim of this paper was to study the influence of low vigor rootstocks on the 'Regina' cherry cultivar. The study was conducted at Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Arges county, Romania between 2019 and 2021. A bifactorial experiment was set up, with A factor-the rootstock ('Gisela 3', 'Gisela 5', 'Gisela 12' and 'Weigi 2') and B factor-the study year (2019, 2020 and 2021). Fruiting and vegetative growth data (fruit production, the trunck cross-section area-TCSA, the annual increase of TCSA, the productivity index and the ratio between the fruit production and the annual increase of TCSA), as well as fruit quality data (fruit mass, firmness, pH, total soluble content, chromatic coordinates of epicarp color and chlorophyll fluorescence) were collected. 'Gisela 5' rootstock recorded the highest value of TCSA annual increase (11.46 kg/cm2) and had also the highest cromatic coordinates values: colour brightness (25.68), red pigment (15.61) and yellow content (4.12).The highest vigor of the cultivar 'Regina' was observed in 'Weigi 2' rootstock variant (with an TCSA value of 44.71 cm2), given that 'Weigi 2' TCSA annual increase was similar to 'Gisela 5'. 'Gisela 3' rootstock stood out for its fruit highest pH (3.97), fruit yield (13.51 t/ha), lowest vigor (TCSA=24.19 cm2), smallest annual TCSA increase (6.11 cm2), highest productivity index 0.219 kg/cm2) and highest fruit production to annual TCSA increase ratio (1.79 kg/cm2). Taking into account climatic accidents that marked the spring of 2021, on the average of the study years, the cultivar 'Regina' grafted on the rootstock 'Gisela 12' was distinguished by fruit weight (10.02 g), firmness (66.53 units HPE Bareiss) and TSS (16.03°Brix) on the background of the lowest fruit yield. A negative very signifficant correlation between fruit yield and fruit quality traits (weight, firmness and total soluble solids) was found.


HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Andersen ◽  
Brent V. Brodbeck

There is increasing interest in the culture of satsuma citrus in the states bordering the northern Gulf of Mexico. Yield, tree size, and fruit quality of mature ‘Owari’ and ‘Brown Select’ satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marcovitch) on Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. (‘Rubidoux’ and ‘Flying Dragon’) were evaluated in north Florida. Canopy area and volume, yield, and fruit quality data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial design with scion and rootstock as the main effects. There were no scion × rootstock interactions. Overall average yield per tree was 16, 88, 91, 143, and 101 kg in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Yield was influenced by scion (higher for ‘Brown Select’) in three of five years, and by rootstock every year (higher for ‘Rubidoux’). Yield per tree was ≈2-fold greater for trees on ‘Rubidoux’ compared with ‘Flying Dragon’; the highest yield was recorded for ‘Brown Select’ on ‘Rubidoux’. Yield per m2 canopy area was often similar since canopy area was often ≈2-fold greater for trees on ‘Rubidoux’. For three of the five years, fruit weight was greater for ‘Brown Select’ (average = 157 g) than ‘Owari’ (average = 146 g), with no rootstock effect. Soluble solids of juice averaged 10.0 °Brix and were higher for trees on ‘Flying Dragon’ than on ‘Rubidoux’ in three of five years. Juice pH averaged 3.67 and was unaffected by scion or rootstock. Trees were not subjected to freeze protection and were not damaged by minimum temperatures as low as −9.4 °C, except for 2014/15. A rating of defoliation after a freeze on 19 Nov. 2014 (−5.6 °C) indicated that cold hardiness varied by scion (greater for ‘Brown Select’) and rootstock (greater for ‘Rubidoux’). Differences in cold hardiness did not persist when assessed later in the winter. Successful satsumas production can be achieved in north Florida in the absence of a severe freeze event.


HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1698-1702
Author(s):  
Guang-Lian Liao ◽  
Xiao-Biao Xu ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Min Zhong ◽  
Chun-Hui Huang ◽  
...  

Jinyan (Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis) is one of the gold-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars currently being promoted in south China. However, its fruit dry matter is usually less than 16%, which seriously affects fruit quality including taste and flavor. This causes a financial loss to growers: not only are the prices paid for the fruit low because of their bad reputation for quality, but some orchards have been removed. Improvement of fruit quality is essential. In this study, a method is described for squeezing and twisting flowering shoots before flowering and removing the distal vegetative parts of flowering shoots after fruit set. The effects on fruit quality were determined. The dry matter of fruit was increased by 6.6%. Fruit size also increased as did the chlorophyll a content and the chlorophyll:carotenoid ratio. The significantly increased fruit dry matter, resulting in significant increases in fruit soluble solids concentrations (P < 0.01), thereby possibly improving fruit taste. Fruit weight, fruit length, and carotenoid and ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly enhanced in comparison with controls (P < 0.01), increasing by 20%, 7%, 12%, and 19%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in soluble sugar concentrations, titratable acid concentrations, and the reduced chlorophyll b concentrations. This research provides a practical method to increase fruit dry matter, and hence a way to allow fruit quality to reach commercial requirements for cultivars such as Jinyan, which under previous management systems had significant shortcomings in fruit flavor and taste.


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.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 551-557
Author(s):  
Gurjot Singh Pelia ◽  
◽  
A K Baswal ◽  

Prevalence of heavy soil is a major problem for fruit cultivation under Punjab conditions consequently leading to deficiency of several micro-nutrients including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) which adversely affects the growth and productivity. In this view, a study was planned to investigate the effect of foliar applications of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), iron sulphate (FeSO4), and manganese sulphate (MnSO4) on vegetative growth, reproductive growth and fruit quality of papaya cv. Red lady. Plants sprayed with ZnSO4 (0.4 %) exhibited significantly highest plant height, plant girth, number of leaves, petiole length; initiated an earliest flowering and fruiting; and improved fruit quality viz., fruit weight, fruit length, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentrations, ascorbic acid content, total phenols content, and total carotenoids content as compared with the control and all other treatments. In conclusion, foliar application ZnSO4 (0.4 %) significantly improved plant growth and fruit quality in papaya cv. Red lady.


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.


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