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

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.

Download Full-text

Rootstocks Influence Yield Precocity, Productivity, and Pre-Harvest Fruit Drop of Mandared Pigmented Mandarin

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10091305 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1305

Author(s):

Marco Caruso ◽

Alberto Continella ◽

Giulia Modica ◽

Claudia Pannitteri ◽

Riccardo Russo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Citrus Fruit ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Poncirus Trifoliata ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Citrus Paradisi ◽

Fruit Drop

Citrus fruit quality and scion productivity are influenced by the choice of rootstock. We aimed to evaluate the effect of rootstocks on yield and fruit quality of Mandared, a triploid pigmented mandarin. To do so, we established a rootstock field trial on a high pH soil (8.6) in which Mandared was grafted onto 11 rootstocks. These included some standard rootstocks, such as trifoliate orange ((Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.), Troyer citrange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. × P. trifoliata), Swingle citrumelo (Citrus paradisi Macf. × P. trifoliata), and C35 citrange (C. sinensis × P. trifoliata), as well as new releases from the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA, Acireale, Italy) and the University of California Riverside (UCR). The cumulative yield was measured over five consecutive years, while fruit quality was analyzed for two years. The trees on C35, C57 (Citrus sunki Hort. ex. Tan. × P. trifoliata), and C22 (C. sunki × P. trifoliata), started to set fruits one year earlier than the others. The trees on C57 provided some of the highest cumulative yields and canopy volumes. The production of Mandared grafted onto C57 was double that of Mandared grafted onto Troyer, while Mandared grafted onto C35 and C22 resulted in the best yield efficiency. The trees on Swingle and C57 significantly reduced the pre-harvest fruit drop, to which Mandared is particularly sensitive. However, grafting Mandared onto Swingle resulted in the highest variation among replicates, probably due to its high sensitivity to iron chlorosis. Most of the fruit quality parameters, such as fruit size, total soluble solids (TSS), and acidity were not significantly different among the rootstock treatments. However, fruits produced by Mandared grafted onto C22 had one of the highest rates of anthocyanin accumulation. The results indicate that C57, C35, and C22 were the most suitable rootstocks for Mandared in South-Eastern Sicily.

Download Full-text

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

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.18.4.678 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 678-684 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Schnabel ◽

C.H. Crisosto

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Attributes ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Tree Fruit ◽

Commercially Important ◽

Disease Pressure

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.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of crop yield and fruit quality in organic apple production

International Journal of Horticultural Science ◽

10.31421/ijhs/13/1/686 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

I. Gonda ◽

N. Rakonczás ◽

I. J. Holb

Keyword(s):

Vitamin C ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Total Acid ◽

Total Sugar Content ◽

Solids Concentration ◽

Apple Cultivars

In this study, crop yield and fruit quality parameters (soluble solid concentration, sugar, total acid, and vitamin C content) of 15 apple cultivars including old, resistant and currently grown cultivars. The highest fruit yield among all 15 cultivars was obtained on CV. Jonagold with 15.5 kg/tree, while the lowest yield was measured on the resistant cultivar Reanda with 8.1 kg/tree. There were no significant differences among the cultivars in fruit diameter ranging from 70 mm in the case of cv. Húsvéti rozmaring to 82 mm for cv. Mutsu. Values of soluble solids concentration of the cultivars varied between 15.5% for cv. Téli Banán and 19.2% for cv. Renora. Sugar content values showed a similar tendency to soluble solids content. The highest and lowest total sugar content was observed on cvs. Jonagold and Renora and cv. Retina with 17% and 12.4%, respectively. Total acid content values ranged between 0.18% and 0.53% for cvs. Jonagold and Remo, respectively. Values of vitamin C content for the 15 apple cultivars varied between 2 mg% and 4 mg% for cv. Retina and cv. Mutsu, respectively.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

Melatonin Treatment of Apricot Trees Leads to Maintenance of Fruit Quality Attributes during Storage at Chilling and Non-Chilling Temperatures

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11050917 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 917

Author(s):

Jorge Medina-Santamarina ◽

Pedro Javier Zapata ◽

Juan Miguel Valverde ◽

Daniel Valero ◽

María Serrano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Chilling Injury ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Melatonin Treatment ◽

Quality Properties ◽

Weight Losses ◽

Key Points ◽

Chilling Temperatures ◽

Postharvest Ripening

The effects of preharvest melatonin treatment on apricot crop yield and fruit quality properties at harvest and during storage have not yet been investigated. Apricot trees, of the ‘Colorado’ and ‘Mikado’ cultivars, were sprayed with 0.1 mM melatonin at three key points of fruit development. Fruit were harvested at commercial ripening stage and yield was higher in melatonin treated trees than in the controls. Fruit were stored at 1 and 8 °C for 21 and 28 days, respectively. Samples were taken weekly and left at 20 °C for 1 day. Weight losses, as well as reduction in firmness and acidity, were delayed in fruits from melatonin treated trees, showing an effect of treatment on delaying the postharvest ripening process, which was attributed to a reduced ethylene production in both cultivars and at both storage temperatures. In addition, chilling injury symptoms were observed in apricots stored at 1 °C, which were reduced by preharvest melatonin treatment. Moreover, apricot from melatonin-treated fruit retained higher total phenolic content than the controls after 14 days of storage, although the phenolic profile was not affected by treatment. Thus, melatonin could be a useful tool for practical purposes to improve apricot crop yield and maintain fruit quality properties during storage.

Download Full-text

Melatonin Treatment to Pomegranate Trees Enhances Fruit Bioactive Compounds and Quality Traits at Harvest and during Postharvest Storage

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10060820 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 820

Author(s):

José M. Lorente-Mento ◽

Fabián Guillén ◽

Salvador Castillo ◽

Domingo Martínez-Romero ◽

Juan M. Valverde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Storage Period ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

First Year ◽

Quality Traits ◽

Postharvest Storage ◽

Melatonin Treatment ◽

Total Soluble Solids

The effect of melatonin pomegranate tree treatments on fruit quality and bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity at harvest and during storage at 10 °C for 60 days was assayed in two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020. In the first year, trees were treated with 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM of melatonin along the developmental fruit growth cycle, and results showed that bioactive compounds (total phenolics and total and individual anthocyanins) and antioxidant activity at harvest were higher in fruits from melatonin-treated trees than in controls. Other fruit quality parameters, such as firmness, total soluble solids and aril red colour, were also increased as a consequence of melatonin treatment. In fruit from control tress, firmness and acidity levels decreased during storage, while increases occurred on total soluble solids, leading to fruit quality reductions. These changes were delayed, and even maintenance of total acidity was observed, in fruit from melatonin-treated trees with respect to controls, resulting in a fruit shelf-life increase. Moreover, concentration of phenolics and anthocyanins and antioxidant activity were maintained at higher levels in treated than in control fruits during the whole storage period. In general, all the mentioned effects were found at the highest level with the 0.1 mM melatonin dose, and then it was selected for repeating the experiment in the second year and results of the first year were confirmed. Thus, 0.1 mM melatonin treatment could be a useful tool to enhance aril content on bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and health beneficial effects and to improve quality traits of pomegranate fruit, at harvest and during postharvest storage.

Download Full-text

The impact of location, row direction, plant density and rootstock on the sunburn damage of apple cultivars

International Journal of Horticultural Science ◽

10.31421/ijhs/11/1/554 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Racskó ◽

J. Nagy ◽

Z. Szabó ◽

M. Major ◽

J. Nyéki

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Plant Density ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Apple Seedling ◽

Apple Cultivars ◽

The Impact ◽

Crab Apple

The effect of row direction (N-S, E-W), plant density (conventional and intensive) and rootstock (M9, MM106 and crab apple) on the sensitivity of 41 apple cultivars to sunburn injury was studied at 6 locations (Derecske, Kálmánáaza, Nagykutas, Nagylapos, Siófok, Tornyospálca). During the observations the cultivars had rootstock-specific properties in respect of sunburn-susceptibility. Accordingly, the injury was decreased in the order: M9, MM106 and seedling rootstocks. The differences in sensitivity depend on the canopy of trees, caused finally by the growing vigour of rootstocks. Accordingly, the highest value of sunburn injury was observed on M9 rootstock, because this rootstock has a dwarfing effect upon the scion cultivars. Thus, vegetative area of these trees grow very slowly and the foliage is not enough compact to protect the fruit from solar radiation. The size and density of the foliage increased in the order: M9, MM 106 and crab apple seedling as rootstock. Moreover, relationships were demonstrated between the diameter of upper part of the crown, the leaf area, the number of fruits per tree and the injury of sunburn. Authors categorized the cultivars in respect of values of sunburn incidence: 1. „Not sensitive", II. „Moderately sensitive" and HI. „Strongly sensitive" categories were constituted. Generally, Topaz and Gala cultivars showed low damage (or were free from symptoms), in contrast to this, Golden mutants suffered relatively much. The most sensitive cultivar was Jonica on all the three rootstocks. We searched for relationship between the fruit quality parameters and the frequency of sunburn. Significant correlation was found in the cases of fruit size and the extent of cover-colour. The latter is interpreted with the fact that the best coloured fruits are found on the periphery of crown as a consequence of more intense irradiation.

Download Full-text