scholarly journals Supplemental Foliar Potassium Applications during Muskmelon Fruit Development Can Improve Fruit Quality, Ascorbic Acid, and Beta-carotene Contents

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.

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1030D-1030
Author(s):  
Gene E. Lester ◽  
John L. Jifon ◽  
Gordon Rogers

Muskmelonfruit[Cucumis melo L. (Retiulatus Goup)] sugar content is related to potassium (K)-mediated phloem loading and unloading of sucrose into the fruit. During fruit growth and maturation, soil fertility is often inadequate (due to poor root uptake) to satisfy the demand for K. Potassium uptake also competes with the uptake of Ca and Mg, two essential minerals needed for melon fruit membrane structure, function and postharvest shelf-life. Supplemental foliar-applied K could alleviate this problem especially during the critical fruit growth/maturation period. We conducted experiments to determine the effects of timing of supplemental foliar K applications on fruit quality and health attributes of orange-flesh muskmelon `Cruiser'. Plants were grown in a greenhouse and fertilized with a regular soil-applied N–P–K fertilizer throughout the study. Entire plants, including the fruit were sprayed with a solution of a novel glycine amino acid-complexed potassium (Potassium Metalosate, 24% K), diluted to 4.0 mL·L-1, 3 to 5 d after anthesis (fruit set) and up to 3 to 5 d prior to abscission (full-slip). Three sets of plants were either sprayed weekly, or bi-weekly or not sprayed (control). Fruit from plants receiving supplemental foliar K matured on average 2 days earlier, and had significantly higher fruit K concentrations, soluble solids, total sugars, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), beta-carotene, and were firmer than fruit from control plants. In general, there were few differences in fruit quality aspects between bi-weekly or weekly treatments. The data demonstrate that fruit quality and marketability as well as some of the developmentally induced K deficiency effects can be alleviated through foliar nutrition.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neide Botrel ◽  
Raphael Augusto de Castro e Melo

Abstract Pepino dulce (Solanum muricatum Aiton) or Pepino has been growing to produce edible, juicy and attractive fruits. The imported fruits and national small scale of Pepino dulce production are currently stored and commercialized under the absence of postharvest handling recommendations. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the quality aspects of Pepino dulce fruits in distinct ripening stages, forms of packaging and conditions of storage. The trial was conducted in a 2x2x2 factorial scheme - 2 ripening stages (ripe and immature) x 2 forms of packaging (with and without wrapping in plastic film) x 2 conditions of storage (room: 25 °C ± 2 ºC and 57% ± 5% of relative humidity (RH); cold: under refrigeration 10 °C ± 2 °C and 85% ± 5% of RH) – in a complete randomized block design. Fruit quality attributes, such as vitamin C, chemical and phenolic content, fruit color (mesocarp), firmness, dry matter content, total titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids and pH, were evaluated. Fruits showed a centesimal composition with low calories and a significant content of potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg), which can contribute to the daily supply of these elements. For commercialization purposes, the association of packaging (plastic wrapping film) and refrigerated storage (cold: 10 °C ± 2 °C and 85% ± 5% of RH) to maintain the characteristics of fruit quality after a 15 days period is more important than its individual use.


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.


2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Whiting ◽  
Gregory A. Lang

Canopy fruit to leaf area ratios (fruit no./m2 leaf area, F:LA) of 7- and 8-year-old `Bing' sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) on the dwarfing rootstock `Gisela 5' (P. cerasus L. × P. canescens L.) were manipulated by thinning dormant fruit buds. F:LA influenced yield, fruit quality, and vegetative growth, but there were no consistent effects on whole canopy net CO2 exchange rate (NCERcanopy). Trees thinned to 20 fruit/m2 LA had yield reduced by 68% but had increased fruit weight (+25%), firmness (+25%), soluble solids (+20%), and fruit diameter (+14%), compared to unthinned trees (84 fruit/m2). Fruit quality declined when canopy LA was ≈200 cm2/fruit, suggesting that photoassimilate capacity becomes limiting to fruit growth below this ratio. NCERcanopy and net assimilation varied seasonally, being highest during stage III of fruit development (64 days after full bloom, DAFB), and falling more than 50% by 90 DAFB. Final shoot length, LA/spur, and trunk expansion were related negatively to F:LA. F:LA did not affect subsequent floral bud induction per se, but the number of flowers initiated per bud was negatively and linearly related to F:LA. Although all trees were thinned to equal floral bud levels per spur for the year following initial treatment (2001), fruit yields were highest on the trees that previously had no fruit, reflecting the increased number of flowers initiated per floral bud. Nonfruiting trees exhibited a sigmoidal pattern of shoot growth and trunk expansion, whereas fruiting trees exhibited a double sigmoidal pattern due to a growth lag during Stage III of fruit development. Vegetative growth in the second year was not related to current or previous season F:LA. We estimate that the LA on a typical spur is only sufficient to support the full growth potential of a single fruit; more heavily-set spurs require supplemental LA from nonfruiting shoots. From these studies there appears to be a hierarchy of developmental sensitivity to high F:LA for above-ground organs in `Bing'/`Gisela 5' sweet cherry trees: trunk expansion > fruit soluble solids (Stage III) > fruit growth (Stage III) > LA/spur > shoot elongation > fruit growth (Stages I and II) > LA/shoot. Current season F:LA had a greater influence on fruit quality than prior cropping history, underscoring the importance of imposing annual strategies to balance fruit number with LA.


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.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (86) ◽  
pp. 170-176
Author(s):  
D.I. Matnazarova ◽  
◽  

The work summarized the literature data on the content of chemicals in blackberries grown in various regions of Russia and foreign countries. Much attention is paid to the level of accumulation of biochemical components: soluble solids, sugars, organic acids, vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and P (phenolic compounds). In the studied regions, a high accumulation of anthocyanins (307-651 mg / 100 g) and ascorbic acid (23.4-54.0 mg / 100 g) in blackberries was noted in the Republic of Adygea. The highest sugar content (9.9%) was in blackberries grown in the middle zone of Russia. The average content of the studied components depends not only on the region of cultivation, but, first of all, on the varietal composition of the crop. The study of 25 blackberry varieties bred in the USA, England and Australia in the Krasnodar Territory allowed us to identify the most adapted of them for cultivation in the south of Russia,the most promising varieties are Thornfree, Smoothstem and Black Satin. In the Republic of Belarus, blackberries are grown on personal subsidiary plots, the most common is the American Agavam variety, which is noted for its high sugar content and the content of P-active substances. At the Maikop Experimental Station. N.I. Vavilov, as a result of studying the biochemical composition of blackberry berries, the following varieties were identified: by the content of dry matter – Oregon, Black Satin, Thornfree; sugar content – Oregon, Silvon, Black Satin, Thornfree, Young; by the content of organic acids – Derrow, Raven (1.67%), Cherokki (1.87%); by the content of ascorbic acid – Himalaya (54.6 mg / 100 g), Derrow (45.8 mg / 100 g), Raven (45.4 mg / 100 g) and Cherokki (47.8 mg / 100 g).


2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Szot ◽  
Tomasz Lipa ◽  
Alina Basak

The chemical composition of strawberry fruit depends mainly on cultivar, fruit maturity degree and climatic conditions in the growing period. Fruit quality is also determined by a cultivation technology. The influence of two biostimulants (Atonik SL and Betokson Super 050 SL), which were used separately, in combination with each other or with the liquid fertilizer InsolCa, on yielding and fruit quality of two strawberry cultivars: ‘Senga Sengana’ and ‘Kent’, was tested. Betokson Super 050 SL + InsolCa tended to improve the yield of both cultivars. Significant differences compared to the control were evident especially in 2001. Fruits of ‘Senga Sengana’ started ripening later and had more ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and acidity than ‘Kent’. The use of Betokson Super 050 SL + InsolCa improved the content of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and sugar as well as acidity in strawberries of both cultivars. The use of Betokson Super 050 SL + Atonik SL significantly increased the content of ascorbic acid and sugar in fruits of both cultivars. ‘Kent’ strawberries also responded to the treatment with an increase in anthocyanin content and acidity.


2020 ◽  
pp. 6-16
Author(s):  
A. A. Balogun ◽  
C. C. Ariahu

A study was conducted to assess the performance of evaporative coolers for the storage of fruits and vegetables. The evaporative coolers used for this study consist of double-walled rectangular brick construction (1.29 × 2.55 × 2.56) m external and (1.13 × 1.27 × 2.08) m, internal, (length × width × height) with the inter-space filled with river bed sand saturated with water. In this study, ambient storage temperature ranged from 26.6 to 28.7oC with relative humidity which ranged from 64.7 to 85.2 percent. However, NBBEC storage recorded lower temperature within the range of 24.3 to 25.3oC and relative humidity which ranged from 88.8 to 91.2 percent while ABBEC storage recorded the least temperature which ranged from 23.0 to 24.1oC with highest relative humidity which ranged from 91.4 to 92.8 percent. The papaya fruits stored in the coolers and in ambient were evaluated for weight loss, total soluble solids, pH, total titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, beta carotene content and microbial load. TTA, ascorbic acid, beta carotene decreased; while pH and TSS increased with storage period. In ambient storage, fresh papaya fruits stored in evaporative coolers have lower microbial load compared to ambient storage with aluminum cladding of the cooler (ABBEC) further improving microbial quality and shelf life. The pawpaw fruits stored in the aluminum cladded burnt-clay-brick evaporative cooler (ABBEC) remained fresh and firm for ten days compared to three days in non-cladded burnt-clay-brick evaporative cooler (NBBEC) and four days in ambient storage.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 520b-520
Author(s):  
Randy R. Lee ◽  
John K. Fellman ◽  
Esmaeil Fallahi

The influence of flower bud position on bloom, fruit quality, and fruit maturity was investigated on `Rome Beauty' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.). Limbs on trees containing spur terminal flower buds and lateral flower buds were tagged and the number of blossoms counted every three days until bloom ended. At harvest, fruit from each bud type were selected and seed number, fresh weight, fruit quality characteristics, and onset of ethylene production were measured. Spur terminal flower buds began blooming earlier, blossomed for a longer period of time, and produced more blossoms than lateral flower buds. Fruit from spur terminal flower buds had more seeds, were heavier, and contained more starch than lateral bud fruit. Lateral bud fruit had higher pressure values, due to smaller size, and higher soluble solids, due to consumption of starch reserves. Fruit color and titratable acidity were not significantly different regardless of bud position. Spur terminal fruit started producing ethylene eight days later than lateral bud fruit, indicating they were maturing less quickly. Cultivars such as `Fuji', `Gala', and `Braeburn' display similar growth and fruiting habits.


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