Seasonal Applications of a Pyraclostrobin and Boscalid Mixture Do Not Impact Same-year Peach Fruit Quality Attributes

Quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides can improve the yield and quality of cereal crops in the absence of disease pressure through the so called “greening effect,” but little is known about the potential beneficial effects on deciduous tree fruit crops. In a multiyear and multicultivar study carried out in South Carolina (2005 and 2006) and California (2006), we examined the potential influence of the QoI fungicide pyraclostrobin on antioxidant activity and commercially important peach (Prunus persica) fruit quality attributes, including fruit size, coloration, firmness, soluble solids concentration, and yield. Experimental orchards were sprayed according to commercial guidelines to manage insect pests and diseases. A pyraclostrobin + boscalid mixture was applied up to five times per season starting 1 week after the physiological stage of “shuck off” until 1 to 2 weeks before harvest. Fruit size was measured weekly between “shuck off” and harvest, whereas the other fruit quality attributes were determined at harvest. Results indicate no consistent impact of the pyraclostrobin + boscalid mixture on same-year fruit size development or other fruit quality attributes in orchards with no or very little disease pressure. To our knowledge, this is the first in-depth evaluation of the potential effects of a QoI fungicide on commercially important tree fruit quality attributes.

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Tree Fruit Reflective Film Improves Red Skin Coloration and Advances Maturity in Peach

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.11.2.234 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 234-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Desmond R. Layne ◽

Zhengwang Jiang ◽

James W. Rushing

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Skin Color ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Fruit Samples ◽

Skin Coloration ◽

Experimental Treatments ◽

Soluble Solids Concentration

Replicated trials were conducted during the summers of 1998 and 1999 at commercial orchards in South Carolina to determine the influence of ground application of a metalized, high density polyethylene reflective film on fruit red skin color and maturity of peach (Prunus persica) cultivars that historically have poor red coloration. At each site there were two experimental treatments: 1) control and 2) reflective film (film). Film was applied 2 to 4 weeks before anticipated first harvest date by laying a 150-cm (5-ft) wide strip of plastic on either side of the tree row in the middles. Treatment areas at a given farm ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 ha (0.5 to 1.0 acre) in size and each treatment was replicated four times at each site. At harvest, two 50-fruit samples were picked from each plot per treatment. All fruit were sized and visually sorted for color (1 = 0% to 25%, 2 = 26% to 50%, 3 = 51% to 75%, and 4 = 76% to 100% red surface, respectively). A 10-fruit subsample was selected following color sorting and evaluated for firmness and soluble solids concentration (SSC). All cultivars tested (`CVN1', `Loring', `Bounty', `Summer Gold', `Sunprince', `Cresthaven' and `Encore') experienced significant increases in percent red surface when film was used in 1998 and 1999. This color improvement ranged from 16% to 44% (mean = 28%). On average, fruit from film were 4.2 N (0.9 lb force) softer and had 0.3% higher SSC than control fruit. Growers harvested more fruit earlier and in fewer harvests for film. Fruit size was not affected by film. Reflected solar radiation from film was not different in quality than incident sunlight. Film resulted in an increase in canopy air temperature and a reduction in canopy relative humidity during daylight hours.

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Influence of Preharvest and Postharvest Applications of Glycine Betaine on Fruit Quality Attributes and Storage Disorders of ‘Lapins’ and ‘Regina’ Cherries

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci14188-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (9) ◽

pp. 1540-1545 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Meng Li ◽

Huanhuan Zhi ◽

Yu Dong

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Glycine Betaine ◽

Skin Color ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Postharvest Treatment ◽

Application Frequency ◽

Storage Disorders

This study aimed to evaluate whether preharvest or postharvest application of glycine betaine (GB) has the potential to improve fruit quality [fruit firmness (FF), size, skin color, soluble solids content (SSC), and titratable acidity (TA)] and susceptibility to storage disorders (peduncle browning, pitting, and decay) in ‘Lapins’ or ‘Regina’ sweet cherries, and to determine whether factors such as application frequency or timing impacted the efficacy of GB spraying. Adding 2 or 4 g·L−1 GB to hydro-cooling water (0 °C) as postharvest treatment did not affect fruit size, skin color, SSC, TA, peduncle browning, or pitting development; however, it did result in fruit softening and a low incidence of decay. GB applied preharvest at 2 or 4 g·L−1 once at 1 week before harvest (1WBH) was more effective for retaining FF and less peduncle browning and pitting compared with postharvest treatment. Increasing the preharvest GB application frequency from one time (1WBH or pit hardening) to three times (pit hardening, straw color, and 1WBH) enhanced FF and TA levels and resulted in lower pitting. The reduction in fruit size was observed for ‘Regina’, but not for ‘Lapins’. Changes in the contents of phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) were unaffected by GB at harvest, whereas three GB sprays increased the total nitrogen (N) content. Compared with ‘Lapins’, ‘Regina’ allowed more calcium (Ca) uptake by GB and ultimately had firmer flesh. In conclusion, three preharvest applications of 4 g·L−1 GB showed great potential to improve quality attributes, to reduce the susceptibility to storage disorders, and to increase the Ca content of ‘Regina’ cherries.

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In Pursuit of the Perfect Peach: Consumer-assisted Selection of Peach Fruit Traits

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.50.8.1202 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (8) ◽

pp. 1202-1212 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mercy A. Olmstead ◽

Jessica L. Gilbert ◽

Thomas A. Colquhoun ◽

David G. Clark ◽

Robert Kluson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Size ◽

The United States ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Peach Fruit ◽

Farmers Market ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Texture Size ◽

Good Flavor

Despite production of the first domestically produced peach of the calendar year in the United States, the subtropical peach industry faces marketing challenges, particularly with small fruit size. Although important, size is only one aspect of fruit quality, and not inclusive of all possible fruit quality attributes. Thus, this research asked consumers to identify an “ideal” peach given a combination of possible peach fruit quality attributes to help determine their influence on consumer purchase. These attributes were verified with farmers’ market intercept studies. The top attributes that fostered purchase likelihood included flavor, texture, size, and firmness. Psychophysics studies showed that consumers preferred peaches that were sweet, juicy, round, with freestone or semifreestone characteristics, whereas consumers were less likely to purchase peaches with mealy, dry, or meaty textures. Young consumers (ages 18–24) preferred crisp, firm peaches with good flavor, whereas older consumers (ages 51–65) preferred sweet, melting-texture peaches. Farmers’ market intercept studies found consumers (ages 45–65) preferred melting-texture peaches with good flavor that led to increased overall liking. In addition, in the farmers’ market studies, aroma and flavor were important attributes and were highly correlated with overall liking. Objective measurements of total soluble solids (TSS) were not correlated with overall liking, indicating that although the nationwide experiment found consumers desired sweet peaches, other attributes may contribute more favorably to overall liking.

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Rootstock, Canopy Architecture, Bark Girdling, and Scoring Influence on Growth, Productivity, and Fruit Quality at Harvest in ‘Aztec Fuji’ Apple

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci13348-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (11) ◽

pp. 1629-1633 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Esmaeil Fallahi ◽

Michael J. Kiester ◽

Bahar Fallahi ◽

Shahla Mahdavi

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Training System ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Canopy Architecture ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Fuji Apple ◽

Size Controlling

The increasing scarcity of land and water for agriculture mandates an efficient use of these natural resources. Establishment of high-density orchards with the use of a size-controlling rootstock, in combination with a suitable canopy architecture, is an efficient method for fruit production. However, less attention has been paid to the use of size-controlling practices such as trunk girdling in these modern orchard systems. The impacts of two rootstocks, two tree architectures, and three levels of bark cambium cuts (girdling or scoring) on growth, yield, fruit quality attributes at harvest, and leaf nitrogen (N) in ‘Aztec Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied in 2015 and 2016. Trees on Nic 29 had larger canopies, higher yields, and larger fruit, but lower fruit color, sunburn, and firmness than those on Bud 9. Trees with a tall spindle (TS) architecture had higher yield in 2016, higher fruit soluble solids and firmness in 2015, higher fruit russet in 2016, but shorter terminal growth in both 2015 and 2016 and lower leaf N in 2015 than did those with a central leader (CL) training system. Trees receiving a bark girdling in 2015 (BG15) or score girdling in 2015 and 2016 (SG1516) had significantly higher yield than trees on nongirdled trees (NOGD) in 2016. Bark girdling or score girdling in 2015 (BG15 or SG15) increased fruit weight (size), color, and firmness at harvest in the same year, although differences for score girdling were not always significant. However, BG15 or SG15 did not have a “carryover” effect and did not affect fruit size, color, or firmness at harvest in 2016. When bark scoring was repeated in 2016 (SG1516), fruit size was increased in 2016. On the basis of the results of this 2-year study, it appears that bark girdling in one year is sufficient to increase fruit size of the current year and the yield in the following year. If larger fruit size is the critical objective of fruit production, annual score girdling needs to be practiced. However, a further long-term study is needed to monitor the carryover effects of cambium girdling and scoring on tree performance and fruit quality attributes in the subsequent years.

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Bagging Organic Peaches Reduces Physical Injuries and Storage Decay with Minimal Effects on Fruit Quality

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15391-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 52-58

Author(s):

David Campbell ◽

Ali Sarkhosh ◽

Jeffrey K. Brecht ◽

Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman ◽

Oscar Liburd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Chlorophyll Concentration ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Brown Rot ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Cultural Practice ◽

Organic Production ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Soluble Solids

Fruit bagging is an acceptable cultural practice for organic production that provides a physical barrier to protect fruit. It can reduce pest and pathogen injury for a variety of fruit crops, but quality attributes have been inconsistent for peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] and other bagged fruit. A 2-year experiment on a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic-certified peach orchard in central Florida was conducted to analyze the effects of a commercially available paper bag designed for fruit protection and cardinal quadrant (north, south, east, and west sides) of the tree canopy on low-chill peach ‘TropicBeauty’ fruit quality. Protective bags appeared to delay fruit maturity. Flesh firmness and chlorophyll concentration of bagged fruit were 31% and 27% greater than unbagged fruit, respectively. Bagged fruit were protected as demonstrated with a reduction in mechanical injury by 95%, fruit fly injury by 450%, and scab-like lesions by 810%. Bagging reduced fruit brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) at harvest and 7 days after harvest; unbagged fruit were 2 and 3.5 times more likely to have rot at harvest and 7 days after harvest, respectively. Fruit bags did not affect yield, fruit size, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, peel lightness, peel hue angle, or flesh color. Overall, canopy cardinal quadrant location had minimal effect on fruit quality or fruit injury. These results demonstrate that bagging peach fruit protects against various pests and diseases but has minimal effects on fruit quality. Broad adoption of this technology is highly dependent on available labor, market demands, and profitability but may be suitable for producers using direct-to-consumer market channels.

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U.S. Southeastern Peach Growers Preferences for Fruit Size and External Color versus Resistance to Brown Rot Disease

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04667-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 576-584

Author(s):

Zongyu Li ◽

R. Karina Gallardo ◽

Vicki A. McCracken ◽

Chengyan Yue ◽

Ksenija Gasic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Disease Resistance ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Brown Rot ◽

Fruit Color ◽

Primary Data ◽

Rot Disease ◽

Large Improvement

U.S. peach (Prunus persica) growers are challenged by the need to protect their orchards from economically damaging diseases and deliver fruit with the quality expectations of the supply chain. This study focuses on the U.S. southeastern peach sector, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia. This region offers a useful case to analyze growers’ preferences for both fruit quality and disease resistance. We collected primary data from peach operations in 2016 and 2018. In both surveys, a discrete choice experiment was used to advance the understanding of how peach growers in the southeastern United States value fruit quality (i.e., fruit size and external color) vs. disease resistance [i.e., brown rot (Monilinia fructicola)]. The sample of growers surveyed in 2016 growers placed a greater importance on the fruit quality attribute that would imply higher returns, that is, fruit size (expressed as fruit diameter) compared with improvements in brown rot resistance and external fruit color. Meanwhile, the sample of growers surveyed in 2018 placed a higher importance to brown rot resistance and external fruit color compared with fruit size. Findings consistent for the 2 years are that growers are willing to pay for larger rather than smaller improvements in brown rot resistance, and that a large improvement in brown rot resistance is more important than external fruit color.

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Evapotranspiration-based Irrigation Systems and Nitrogen Effects on Yield and Fruit Quality at Harvest in Fully Mature ‘Fuji’ Apple Trees over Four Years

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci12393-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 38-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Esmaeil Fallahi ◽

Bahar Fallahi ◽

Michael J. Kiester

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Mature Trees ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Fuji Apple

In a long-term study between 2008 and 2011, the use of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), when a precise crop coefficient value (Kc) was used, provided a reliable irrigation scheduling for determination of water requirement for ‘Autumn Rose Fuji’ apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh) fully mature trees. Water use, yield, and fruit quality attributes at harvest were examined under various irrigation and nitrogen (N) systems that were scheduled using ETc. Trees with a full sprinkler (FS) system received ≈39% to 41% more water than those with a full drip (FD) system during the period of 2008–11 growing seasons. On average, mature trees with an FS system received 5927.6 L (944 mm), whereas those with an FD system received 3610.3 L of water per tree (554.9 mm) per growing season over the period of 2008 through 2011. Fruit from trees with FS and FD were larger, whereas those with 50% FS were smaller than those from all other treatments. Trees with 50% FS treatment received a higher volume of water but had smaller fruit size than those with 50% FD or 65% FD. Averaging values over 4 years revealed that applications of any form of deficit irrigation (DI), either by microjet irrigation or drip, increased fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC) and firmness but decreased water core at harvest. Considering yield, and quality attributes in this study, a well-calculated ETc-based FD irrigation system is recommended over any other irrigation regime. If application of deficit water is mandated, application of 65% FD is preferred over 50% FS, as trees with 65% FD treatment received less water while had larger fruit than those of 50% FS. Trees receiving 80 g N/tree had lower fruit color and russet than those receiving 40 g N/tree. However, other yield and quality attributes were unaffected by the rate of N fertigation.

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Instrumental and Sensory Evaluation of Fruit Quality for ‘Ryan's Sun’ Peach Grown under Deficit Irrigation

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.21.6.712 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 712-719 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Gerardo Lopez ◽

M. Hossein Behboudian ◽

Gemma Echeverria ◽

Joan Girona ◽

Jordi Marsal

Keyword(s):

Sensory Evaluation ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Consumer Preference ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Global Scale ◽

Sensory Attributes ◽

Soluble Solids

The dwindling water supply, on a global scale, is making deficit irrigation (DI) more a necessity than a choice. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the effects of DI on fruit quality. Only instrumental evaluation of quality has been reported in the literature and, to the best of our knowledge, no sensory evaluation has been reported for any DI fruit including peach (Prunus persica). We applied four irrigation treatments for 50 days before harvest to ‘Ryan's Sun’ peach and evaluated fruit quality and sensory attributes. Treatments were: full irrigation (FI), no irrigation (NI), FI followed by NI (FI/NI), and NI followed by FI (NI/FI). NI reduced fruit size, delayed fruit maturity, and increased fruit dry matter concentration (DMC) compared with FI. NI also increased fruit soluble solids concentration (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA). A trained taste panel indicated that NI increased fruit firmness, crispness, and sourness, but it reduced sweetness, juiciness, and the intensity of peach flavor. A panel of consumers indicated reduced preference for NI fruit. Consumer preference was similar between NI/FI and FI fruit but was reduced in FI/NI fruit. There were no significant correlations between the instrumental quality parameters and sensory attributes. We conclude that NI before harvest impaired organoleptic peach quality. If only a small amount of water is available during the 50 days before harvest, peach organoleptic quality could be improved if this water is applied just before harvest.

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Melatonin Treatment of Pomegranate Trees Increases Crop Yield and Quality Parameters at Harvest and during Storage

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050861 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 861

Author(s):

Jorge Medina-Santamarina ◽

María Serrano ◽

Jose M. Lorente-Mento ◽

María E. García-Pastor ◽

Pedro J. Zapata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Melatonin Treatment ◽

Weight Losses ◽

Developmental Growth

With the aim to study the effect of melatonin treatment of pomegranate trees on crop yield and fruit quality at harvest and during storage, two experiments were carried out in two consecutive years: 2017 and 2018. In the first year, trees were treated with melatonin (at 0.1 and 1 mM) along the developmental growth cycle and fruit quality parameters were evaluated at harvest and during storage at 10 °C for 90 days. Treatments with melatonin led to an increase of crop yield (number of fruits per tree and kg per tree), as well as higher fruit quality attributes, such as fruit size (diameter and weight), color, total soluble solids (TSS), and total acidity (TA), especially with the 0.1 mM dose. Then, in the second year, melatonin at 0.1 mM was selected for repeating the pre-harvest treatments with similar results in terms of crop yield and fruit quality parameters. During storage, pomegranate fruit treated with 0.1 mM melatonin maintained higher quality attributes than controls, such as TSS, TA, and firmness and lower weight losses were observed in fruit from treated trees, in both trials. In addition, the content of the major sugars (glucose and fructose) and organic acids (malic, succinic and ascorbic acid) were higher in melatonin-treated than in non-treated fruit. These results suggest that pre-harvest melatonin treatment could be a useful tool to increase pomegranate crop yield as well as fruit quality parameters at harvest and their maintenance during storage due to an effect of melatonin on reducing the postharvest ripening process.

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Early performance of micropropagated trees of several Malus and Prunus cultivars on their own roots

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps93-111 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 73 (3) ◽

pp. 847-855 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H. A. Quamme ◽

R. T. Brownlee

Keyword(s):

Sweet Cherry ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Sour Cherry ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Flesh Firmness ◽

Golden Delicious ◽

Early Performance ◽

Peach Trees

Early performance (6–8 yr) of Macspur McIntosh, Golden Delicious, and Spartan apple (Malus domestica Borkh.); Fairhaven peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.]; Montmorency sour cherry (P. cerasus L.); and Lambert sweet cherry (P. avium L.) trees, tissue cultured (TC) on their own roots, was compared with that of the same cultivars budded on commercially used rootstocks. TC trees of all apple cultivars were similar in size to trees budded on Antonovka seedling or M.4 and exceeded the size of trees budded on M.26. They were delayed in flowering and in cropping compared with trees budded on M.26 and M.4. No difference in titratable acidity, soluble solids, flesh firmness, weight, flavor, and color between fruit from TC trees and from trees on M.4 and Antonovka seedlings was detected in 1 yr of measurement. However, fruit from TC Golden Delicious was more russeted and fruit from TC Spartan had more soluble solids. The difference in fruit appearance between TC and budded trees may result from a root-stock effect or a difference in budwood source, because Spartan fruit from trees on M.4 was more russeted than Spartan fruit from TC trees, but was not different from Spartan fruit from trees on Antonovka seedling. Trees of Macspur McIntosh on TC M.26 and on stool-layered M.26 were similar in size and yield efficiency. TC Fairhaven was larger in size than Fairhaven on Siberian C seedling, but was less yield efficient. No difference in fruit size, flesh firmness, or color was detected between fruit harvested from peach trees on the different roots. Montmorency and Lambert TC and on F12/1 were similar in tree size, respectively, but Montmorency and Lambert TC were more yield efficient than on F12/1. Fruit of TC Lambert was lighter in color and had higher titratable acidity than that of Lambert on F12/1, perhaps a result of earlier fruit maturity. Key words: Apple, peach, sweet cherry, sour cherry, self-rooted, rootstocks

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