Deficit Irrigation to Enhance Fruit Quality of the ‘African Rose’ Plum under the Egyptian Semi-Arid Conditions

Evolved in South Africa and released to market in 2009, the ‘African Rose’ plum has been introduced and grown under the Egyptian semi-arid conditions since 2010. Within that time, this cultivar has faced significant fruit quality issues, mainly poor color and low total soluble solids (TSS). Several trials using foliarly applied growth regulators have been conducted, but with little conspicuous results on fruit yield and quality. There is very limited information about the relationship between irrigation regime and fruit quality for this cultivar. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of deficit irrigation on the quality of the ‘African Rose’ plum during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Five-year-old hedge growing trees were subjected to three deficit irrigation regimes: 100% (control), 80%, and 60% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) after the pit hardening stage until the end of the harvest season (May to June period) were evaluated. Results indicated that deficit irrigation positively enhanced the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), total phenols, and anthocyanins with improved fruit TSS and maturity index, although fruit yield, acidity, size, and firmness were decreased. Deficit irrigation could be suggested as a sustainable novel solution to improve the fruit quality of the ‘African Rose’ plum grown under the semi-arid conditions of Egypt. Although the total yield and some quality characteristics were not improved, the early harvested fruit with enhanced color and taste could be a good start for additional research to solve other quality-related issues under such conditions.

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Evaluation of Tropical Tomato for Growth, Yield, Nutrient, and Water Use Efficiency in Recirculating Hydroponic System

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10070252 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 252

Author(s):

Alex Williams Ayarna ◽

Satoru Tsukagoshi ◽

George Oduro Nkansah ◽

Na Lu ◽

Kazuya Maeda

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Block Design ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Nutrient Use ◽

The Tropics

The issue of low tomato production in the tropics like Ghana has been a long-standing challenge. The advent of greenhouse technology has not significantly improved the yield of tomato compared to Japan and the Netherlands. Immediate technological interventions are needed. Through hydroponics, the low-node order pinching at a high-density planting system has been recommended in some studies. This system was intended to be established in Ghana, and it would be expected to improve the yield and fruit quality of tomato. In effect, a study was carried out in the greenhouse, at Chiba University using this system. A tropical tomato cultivar (Jaguar) was evaluated with Momotaro York at 3.8 m s2 and pinched at the fourth truss. Data collected were water and nutrient use efficiencies, plant growth rate, dry matter partitioning, and fruit yield and quality, as well as some physiological characteristics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that Jaguar cultivar was two times more efficient in water and nutrient use than Momotaro York at first harvest. Root tissue density recorded in Jaguar was significantly lower compared to Momotaro York. The net assimilation rate (NAR) recorded was markedly higher in Jaguar than Momotaro York at last harvest. All the physiological attributes recorded in both cultivars were not significantly different. Plant dry mass (DM) recorded was similar in the two cultivars; however, the DM partitioned to fruits was 55% in Jaguar compared to 46.5% DM for Momotaro York. Fruit yield per area did not differ in the two cultivars. Fruit yields of 28.8 and 30 kg m−2 per year were recorded in Jaguar and Momotaro York, respectively. In comparison, this yield result is 1.2–1.25 times less and 14.4–15 times higher than current tomato yields recorded in Japan (greenhouse) and Ghana, respectively. Fruit quality, in terms of total soluble solids recorded in Jaguar cultivar being 5.4 %Brix, was within the 3.5–5.6 %Brix recorded in Ghana. This system could effectively enhance the yield and quality of tomato in the tropics as well as economising on the use of resources.

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Chemical thinning of 'BRS Kampai' peach trees

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.01353 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

Author(s):

Roseli de Mello Farias ◽

Caroline Farias Barreto ◽

Renan Ricardo Zandoná ◽

Carlos Roberto Martins ◽

Paulo Mello-Farias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Prunus Persica ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Full Bloom ◽

Fruit Abscission ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Peach Trees

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of thinning with metamitron on the fruit yield and quality of 'BRS Kampai' peach (Prunus persica) trees. The experiment was carried out in the municipality of Eldorado do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the 2016 and 2017 crop years. Treatments consisted of the application of 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg L-1 metamitron and of hand thinning 40 days after full bloom, besides control plants. Fruit abscission, effective fructification, number of fruits, and fruit yield per plant were evaluated. Regarding fruit quality, fresh fruit biomass, epidermis color, pulp firmness, soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity were assessed; fruits were also classified into diameter classes. For fruit abscission, the effect of the application of 100 mg L-1 metamitron is similar to that of hand thinning. Fruit yield and mean mass in all treatments with metamitron are similar to those obtained by hand thinning. The application of metamitron does not affect the fruit quality of peach trees. Chemical thinning with metamitron may be an alternative to hand thinning in peach trees used for the production of fruits for fresh consumption.

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Addition of nitrogen had no effect on yield and quality of apples in an high density orchard carrying a dwarf rootstock

Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura ◽

10.1590/s0100-29452008000400044 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 1113-1118 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Paulo Roberto Ernani ◽

Douglas Antônio Rogeri ◽

Marcelo Machado Proença ◽

Jaques Dias

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Production ◽

High Density ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

N Addition ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Effect On Yield

The effect of N addition on apple yield and quality may vary according to the tree vigor. Apple trees developed over vigorous rootstocks had shown no response to N application in Brazil. In this study it was evaluated the effect of N addition to the soil on yield and quality of ´Royal Gala´ apples grafted on a dwarf rootstock (M.9). The orchard was planted in 1995 (2,857 trees ha-1) on an Oxisol containing 40 g kg-1 of organic matter and pH 6.0. The experiment was carried out from 1998 up to 2005. Treatments consisted of rates of N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 year-1 from 1998 to 2001, and respectively 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 afterwards), all broadcasted within the tree row in two equal splits, at bud break and after harvest, as ammonium sulfate. Addition of N to the soil had no effect on fruit yield over the six years regardless of the applied rate. Averaged across treatments and years, fruit yield was 52.3 t ha-1. Nitrogen in the leaves (average of 24 g kg-1) or in the fruits (average of 346 mg kg-1) as well as some attributes related to fruit quality (color, firmness, acidity, soluble solids, physiological disorders) were unaffected by N addition. Some plant parameters related to tree vigor, however, grew higher with the increase on N rate. Thus, it is not necessary to apply N to deep Brazilian soils containing high organic matter in order to assure good fruit quality and yield on high-density orchards carrying dwarf rootstocks probably because the N required for tree growth and fruit production is supplied from soil organic matter decay.

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Morphological, Leaf Nutrient, and Fruit Quality Characteristics of Diverse Tomato Cultivars under Organic Low-Input Management

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132112326 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (21) ◽

pp. 12326

Author(s):

Leangsrun Chea ◽

Cut Erika ◽

Marcel Naumann ◽

Inga Smit ◽

Bernd Horneburg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Plant Morphology ◽

Quality Characteristics ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Mineral Concentration ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Low Input ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Tomato Cultivars

Increasing fruit yield and quality of tomatoes under organic low-input conditions remains a challenge for producers and breeders. Therefore, it is necessary to identify superior tomato cultivars that are suitable for production and use as parents in breeding programmes. In the present study, the variations in plant morphology and fruit quality characteristics of tomato cultivars were assessed to reveal the traits associated with improved yield and fruit quality. Sixty diverse tomato cultivars were screened in 2015, and in 2016, a subset of 20 cultivars was selected for further evaluation under organic low-input conditions. The results showed high variability among cultivars in all 28 traits that were observed. Salad cultivars had lower plant growth and fruit quality (minerals, dry matter, total soluble solids, and total phenolics) by 10–70%, but they displayed 10–60% higher fruit yield and leaf minerals than cocktail cultivars. Salad tomato cultivars with superior yield and harvest index were mainly derived from breeding for intensive indoor production. Cocktail cultivars with superior yield were mainly derived from organic and outdoor breeding programs. There was a trade-off between fruit yield and quality, indicating a challenge for simultaneous improvement of yield and quality. The importance of Mg was highlighted because of its contribution to the fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality. Cultivars superior in one trait or trait combination under organic low-input conditions were identified to be used by producers and breeders as superior cultivars to meet their production targets and breeding objectives. The importance of Mg provides a novel path for further research on improving soil-available Mg in organic tomato production to enhance fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality in general.

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Fruit production and quality of mini-watermelon with different number of stems, in troughs cultivation system and substrate reuse

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2021v42n2p471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 471-486

Author(s):

Josiéle Garcia Dutra ◽

◽

Roberta Marins Nogueira Peil ◽

Tatiana da Silva Duarte ◽

Cesar Valmor Rombaldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Plant Management ◽

Cultivation System ◽

Fruit Number ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

The One

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.

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Deficit Irrigation in Vitis labruscana Bailey ‘Concord’ in Central Washington

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci11450-16 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 450-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jason E. Stout ◽

Joan R. Davenport ◽

R. Troy Peters

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Water Availability ◽

Deficit Irrigation ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Commercial Practice ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Vitis Labruscana ◽

New Strategy ◽

Sudden Decrease

Drought conditions in the western United States have limited water availability for the irrigation of agricultural products. This can have a dramatic impact on yield and quality of specialty perennial crops, such as juice grapes (Vitis labruscana Bailey). Washington State juice grape industry typically irrigates to 100% of crop-specific evapotranspiration (ETc) throughout the season to minimize yield loss. However, as conditions have limited water availability, growers need a new strategy to cope with the limited water supply. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) applies less water than plant ETc and has been shown to improve fruit quality in red wine grapes (Vitis vinifera). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of RDI treatments on the yield and quality of ‘Concord’ juice grapes as compared with current commercial practice. The treatments reduced the amount of water applied between bloom and veraison by 25% (−25%), 33% (−33%), and 45% (−45%) from the control application. The results of this 4-year study initially indicated a dramatic decrease in yield in the −45% treatment (7.5 Mg/ha) as compared with the control treatment (19.2 Mg/ha); however, yield for the RDI treatments recovered in the subsequent seasons and was not statically different from the control. There were no statistical differences in fruit quality between treatments. This indicates that RDI has the potential to decrease water applied between bloom and veraison without impacting fruit quality; however, to avoid a sudden decrease in yield, it would be necessary to gradually reduce water applications over several years.

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Foliar Potassium Fertilization and its Effect on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato Grown under Loam-sandy Soil and Semi-arid Conditions

International Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.3923/ijar.2011.593.600 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 593-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Besma Ben Dkhil ◽

Mounir Denden ◽

Samia Aboud

Keyword(s):

Sandy Soil ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Arid Conditions ◽

Potassium Fertilization ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Effect On Growth

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Forage yield and quality of buffel ‘H‐17’ and Urochloa hybrids at different regrowth ages under semi‐arid conditions

Grassland Science ◽

10.1111/grs.12278 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 277-284

Author(s):

Jonathan Raúl Garay Martínez ◽

Benigno Estrada Drouaillet ◽

Yuridia Bautista Martínez ◽

Álvaro Bernal-Flores ◽

Sergio Iban Mendoza Pedroza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forage Yield ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Arid Conditions ◽

Semi Arid

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Effect of different staking methods and stem pruning on yield and quality of summer tomato

Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.3329/bjar.v41i3.29714 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 419-432

Author(s):

MS Alam ◽

N Islam ◽

S Ahmad ◽

MI Hossen ◽

MR Islam

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Block Design ◽

Total Yield ◽

Point Of View ◽

Fruit Firmness ◽

Economic Point ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Agriculture Research Institute

The study was carried out during summer of 2012 with BARI hybrid tomato 4, planted in the Olericulture farm of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh to find out the response of plants to some staking and pruning treatments on yield, fruit quality and cost of production. A two factor experiment consisting of three staking methods and four level of pruning, laid out in complete block design with three repetitions. Plants were staked on inverted V? shaped staking, high platform and string. The plants were pruned to two stem, three stem, four stem and no pruning as control. Results showed that significantly the highest total number of fruits per plant (37.1), marketable fruits per plant (33.7), yield per plant (1.68 kg) and total yield (44.6 t/ha) were produced by the plants having the treatment string staking with four stem. The highest fruit set (43.50%) was found in the plants staking with string having three stems. Plants grown on string staking allowing two stem gave the maximum length (4.71 cm), diameter (4.83 cm) and weight (53.4g) of single fruit as well as maximum fruit firmness (3.43 kg-f cm-2). From the economic point of view, it was apparent that summer tomato produced by string staking with four stem pruning exhibited better performance compared to other treatment combinations in relation to net return and BCR (2.10).Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(3): 419-432, September 2016

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