FRUIT FORMATION, MARKETABLE YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF TOMATO VARIETIES GROWN UNDER PROTECTED CULTURE IN TWO AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES DURING THE RAINY SEASON

Grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a common practice in many parts of the world and has recently received increased interest in the United States. The present study was designed to evaluate early season growth, yield, and fruit quality of watermelon in response to grafting and in the absence of known disease pressure in a fumigated system. Field experiments were conducted using standard and mini watermelons (cv. Exclamation and Extazy, respectively) grafted onto 20 commercially available cucurbit rootstocks representing four species: giant pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and interspecific hybrid squash [ISH (C. maxima × Cucurbita moschata)]. Nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ were included as controls. To determine early season growth, leaf area was measured at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after transplant (WAT). At 1 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the smallest leaf area; however, at 3 WAT, nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ produced the largest leaf area in 2015, and no differences were observed in 2016. Leaf area was very similar among rootstocks in the ‘Extazy’ study, with minimal differences observed. Marketable yield included fruit weighing ≥9 and ≥3 lb for ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’, respectively. In the ‘Exclamation’ study, highest marketable yields were observed in nongrafted ‘Exclamation’, and ‘Exclamation’ grafted to ‘Pelops’, ‘TZ148’, and ‘Coloso’, and lowest marketable yields were observed when using ‘Marvel’ and ‘Kazako’ rootstocks, which produced 47% and 32% of nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ yield, respectively. In the ‘Extazy’ study, the highest marketable yield was observed in nongrafted ‘Extazy’, and ‘Kazako’ produced the lowest yields (48% of nongrafted ‘Extazy’). Fruit quality was determined by measuring fruit acidity (pH), soluble solids concentration (SSC), lycopene content, and flesh firmness from a sample of two fruit from each plot from the initial two harvests of each year. Across both studies, rootstock had no effect on SSC or lycopene content. As reported in previous studies, flesh firmness was increased as a result of grafting, and nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ and ‘Extazy’ had the lowest flesh firmness among standard and mini watermelons, respectively. The present study evaluated two scions with a selection of 20 cucurbit rootstocks and observed no benefits in early season growth, yield, or phytonutrient content. Only three of 20 rootstocks in each study produced marketable yields similar to the nongrafted treatments, and no grafted treatment produced higher yields than nongrafted ‘Exclamation’ or ‘Extazy’. Because grafted seedlings have an associated increase in cost and do not produce increased yields, grafting in these optimized farming systems and using fumigated soils does not offer an advantage in the absence of soilborne pathogens or other stressors that interfere with watermelon production.

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Analysis of Length of Growing Season in Some Agro-ecological Zones Using Non-parametric Trend Test

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb11210314 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 241-248

Author(s):

Olumuyiwa Idowu OJO ◽

Charity C. TEMENU ◽

Masengo Francois ILUNGA

Keyword(s):

Rainy Season ◽

Daily Rainfall ◽

Growing Season ◽

Trend Test ◽

Rainfall Characteristics ◽

Land Preparation ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Agricultural Enterprise ◽

Savannah Zone ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

The ever increasing population and consequently increase in demand for food and the increasing exploitation of the land justifies the need for adequate studies on rainfall as an important factor affecting agricultural production. The date of the onset of rains is an important factor in planning agricultural operations such as land preparation and sowing. The study conducted agro-statistical analysis of rainfall characteristics over three different zones of Nigeria. Daily rainfall data were collected for the period between 1971 and 2005 for 6 stations and were subjected to standard analysis to determine trends and variations in the onset dates, cessation dates, length of rainy season, number of wet days, drought episodes. The results showed that the inter-annual variability of the onset dates is higher than that of cessation dates with a progressive shift in both onset and cessation dates. The length of rainy season varied from 77-291 days in Guinea zone, 77-243 days for Savannah and 73-155 days for the Sahel. Changes in the length of growing season ranged between -9 and -10 for Guinea zone, -21 and 11 days for Savannah zone and -28 and 20 days for the Sahel. Similarly, the numbers of wet days have declined over Nigeria. The information presented in this study are to serve as input for proper land and water resources management for productive agricultural enterprise across the three major agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.

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Physico-chemical properties and microbiological status of admixture and single-hive honey produced in Ghana

10.21203/rs.3.rs-861909/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rofela Combey ◽

Prosper Dordunu ◽

Isaac Kwame Badu ◽

Peter Quandahor

Keyword(s):

Clostridium Botulinum ◽

Micrococcus Luteus ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Codex Alimentarius ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Moisture Contents ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Microbiological Status ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

Abstract Honey is commonly used as a food sweetener in Ghana and it is one of the most important food products with enormous nutritive benefits. In recent times, the increasing concern about sugar related diseases such as diabetes has led to increased consumption of honey in Ghana. This study assessed the physico-chemical properties and microbiological quality of honey collected from supermarkets and apiaries across six major agro-ecological zones of Ghana. In all, 57 honey samples were analyzed for pH, colour, solid sugars and moisture contents, whereas 46 samples were assessed for their microbiological status. The results showed that honey produced in Ghana had significantly wider variations in pH, moisture (p=0.000), solid sugar (0.000) and RI (0.000) within and across the six agro-ecological zones. Similarly, wider variations of these indices occurred between honey harvested from single hives and the admixtures. The results also showed that most of the honey produced in Ghana are characteristically amber in colour, while fewer samples appear black. Honey from the Northern region had the widest variation in colour, ranging from light amber to black. Most of the honeys studied (66.7% of samples) contained solid sugar contents which is either below the CODEX Alimentarius recommendation of 80 %, while 33.3% of the samples contained levels within the recommended ranges. Moreover, the admixture had higher solid sugar contents than single hive honey. About 66% of the honey studied had moisture content above the 20% recommended by USDA and Codex Alimentarius. In addition, the single hive honeys had higher moisture contents than the admixture honeys. The results also revealed that admixtures possess higher RIs than single hive honey. The honey samples assessed in this study were contaminated with bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Citrobacter amalonaticus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Providencia rettgeri, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis) and fungi genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Mucor. Further, 45% of the total samples were above the USDA acceptable limits of microorganisms considered safe for foods and honey. Moreover, significant levels of bacterial and fungal contamination of honey samples; significantly high means of bacterial counts were observed in honey from both admixture and apiaries than fungi. Interestingly, Clostridium botulinum was isolated from a few samples of honey. Only 7% of the total honey samples from Greater Accra, Western, Volta, Eastern and Northern regions contained Clostridium botulinum and this was the first time this organism is being reported in the country. However, contamination levels were below USDA acceptable limits of 1 x 104 CFU per gram for detected samples. Therefore, the honey studied can be considered safe for consumption. This notwithstanding, the study has demonstrated the need for monitoring the quality of honey produced in the country to ensure the safety of consumers.

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Effects of Root Cooling on Plant Growth and Fruit Quality of Cocktail Tomato during Two Consecutive Seasons

Journal of Food Quality ◽

10.1155/2019/3598172 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

F. He ◽

B. Thiele ◽

M. Watt ◽

T. Kraska ◽

A. Ulbrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Cooling Water ◽

Root Temperature ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Horticultural Crops ◽

Functional Quality ◽

The Impact

Understanding the effects of root temperature on plant growth and key food components of horticultural crops under greenhouse conditions is important. Here, we assess the impact of root cooling on plant growth and fruit quality of two cocktail tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum cv “Amoroso” and cv “Delioso”) during the winter of 2017-2018 and the summer of 2018. Plants were grown hydroponically on rockwool under different root temperatures (16–27°C and 10°C) from the 2nd inflorescence to harvest inside the greenhouse. A root temperature of 10°C was controlled independently from air temperature (18–23°C in winter and 21–29°C in summer) by circulating cooling water. Reductions of marketable yield per plant (7.9–20.9%) in both cultivars were observed in response to root cooling in winter, but not significantly in summer. In most cases, root cooling had a positive effect on the functional quality (sugars, vitamin C, and carotenoids levels). In the case of “Delioso,” glucose concentration increased by 7.7–10.3%, vitamin C by 20–21%, and lycopene by 16.9–20.5% in both seasons. “Amoroso” exhibited only higher consistent values in glucose with increments between 6.9 and 7.8% in the two seasons. The levels of elements decreased by root cooling, with statistically significant reduction of N, P, S, and Fe by 12.1–15.7% in “Delioso” in winter and P and Zn by 9.1–22.2% in both cultivars in summer. Thus, manipulation of root temperature could be a feasible method to improve the overall fruit quality of cocktail tomato; however, this effect was also dependent on cultivars and other environmental factors.

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Impact of AVG Preharvest Spray and Soil Injection on Yield and Quality of Melon

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.5.1249 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 1249-1252 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel I. Leskovar ◽

Smiljana Goreta ◽

Jose A. Franco

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Root Zone ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Postharvest Quality ◽

Real Field ◽

Fruit Firmness ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Spray Method

The aim of this study was to determine whether aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), an inhibitor of ethylene synthesis, would affect earliness, increase yield, and improve overall at harvest and postharvest quality of melon (Cucumis melo L. group Cantalupensis, `Sol Real'). Field experiments were conducted during two seasons with AVG (124 g·ha–1 a.i.) applied as spray or soil injected into the root zone with a single or double application between 7 d and 21 d before harvest. The AVG soil injection method increased earliness compared with AVG spray in one season. Total marketable yield increased with AVG injection but not with the AVG spray method compared with the control. Regardless of method of application, AVG did not affect fruit firmness, rind thickness, netting, or soluble solids content when measured at harvest. However, AVG spray decreased fruit size and seed cavity in one season. Similarly, AVG spray did not affect fruit quality after storage, whereas AVG soil injection increased fruit firmness. Overall, melon yield and fruit quality responses to preharvest AVG applications were superior for the soil injection than the spray method.

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Variabilities in Rainfall Onset, Cessation and Length of Rainy Season for the Various Agro-Ecological Zones of Ghana

Climate ◽

10.3390/cli3020416 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 416-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Leonard Amekudzi ◽

Edmund Yamba ◽

Kwasi Preko ◽

Ernest Asare ◽

Jeffrey Aryee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rainy Season ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Agro Ecological Zones

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DOSES DE POTÁSSIO VIA FERTIRRIGAÇÃO NA PRODUÇÃO E QUALIDADE DE FRUTOS DE MELANCIA EM PARNAÍBA, PI

Irriga ◽

10.15809/irriga.2005v10n3p205-214 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 205-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aderson Soares Andrade Júnior ◽

Nildo Da Silva Dias ◽

Luiz Gonzaga Medeiros Figueredo Júnior ◽

Rossini Daniel ◽

Valdemir Queiroz Ribeiro

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Plant Nutrition ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Chemical Quality ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Titrable Acidity ◽

Marketable Fruit

DOSES DE POTÁSSIO VIA FERTIRRIGAÇÃO NA PRODUÇÃO E QUALIDADE DE FRUTOS DE MELANCIA EM PARNAÍBA, PI Aderson Soares Andrade Junior1; Nildo da Silva Dias1; Luiz Gonzaga Medeiros Figueredo Junior2; Rossini Daniel2; Valdenir Queiroz Ribeiro11Embrapa Meio-Norte, Teresina, PI, [email protected] de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual do Piauí, Parnaíba, PI. 1 RESUMO Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes doses de potássio via fertirrigação em melancia (Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum. & Nakai), cultivar Crimson Sweet, foi conduzido um experimento na área experimental da Embrapa Meio-Norte, localizado no município de Parnaíba, PI, durante os meses de setembro a dezembro de 2004. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por cinco doses de K2O (0, 40, 80, 120 e 160 kg ha-1). Foram avaliadas as produções total e comercial, sólidos solúveis totais (SST), acidez total titulável (ATT) e pH. Não houve efeito das doses de K2O sobre a qualidade química dos frutos de melancia. A produção comercial dos frutos aumentou com a adubação potássica até a dose de 92,02 kg ha-1 de K2O. UNITERMOS: Citrullus lanatus, nutrição de plantas, irrigação localizada. ANDRADE JUNIOR, A.S.; DIAS, N.S.; FIGUEREDO JUNIOR, L.G.M.; RIBEIRO, V.Q.; DANIEL, R. POTASSIUM DOSES THROUGH FERTIGATION ON WATERMELON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY IN PARNAÍBA, PI, BRAZIL 2 ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different potassium doses applied through fertirrigation to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum. & Nakai), cv. Crimson Sweet. The experiment was carried out at an area of Embrapa Meio-Norte in Parnaíba, Piauí State, Brazil, from September to December, 2004. The experimental design was a completely randomized block, with four replications and five potassium doses (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1). The total and marketable yield, total soluble solids (TSS), total titrable acidity (TTA) were evaluated. Results showed that the chemical quality of watermelon fruits was not significantly affected by potassium doses. The marketable fruit yield increased until potassium dose was 92.02 kg ha-1 of K2O. KEYWORDS: Citrullus lanatus, plant nutrition, drip irrigation.

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(4) 1-MCP Preharvest Spray Application to Synchronize Harvest and Improve Fruit Quality of Cantaloupe

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.4.1015a ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 1015A-1015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daniel Leskovar ◽

Shinsuke Agehara ◽

Smiljana Goreta

Keyword(s):

Fruit Quality ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Fruit Firmness ◽

Spray Application ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Application Timing ◽

Late Planting ◽

Early Planting

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 1-MCP preharvest spray application on harvest synchrony, maturity, fruit quality, and marketable yield of cantaloupe. Seeds were planted in a commercial field on 16 Mar. (early planting, cv. Caravelle) and 4 Apr. (late planting, cv. Mission) 2005. Standard plant population, fertilization, irrigation, and pest control practices were followed. We evaluated three 1-MCP rates (5, 10, or 25 g·ha-1 a.i.) at three preharvest spraying times for the early (22, 15, and 7 days before harvest, DBH) or once for the late planting experiment (4 DBH). An additional test (late planting) compared fruit quality after storage for melons dipped with 1-MCP (0 or 10 mg·L-1). Fruits were harvested six times during June 2005 (early planting) and once on 19 July 2005 (late planting) and fruit quality parameters were measured at harvest and after storage. The preharvest 1-MCP application slightly delayed maturity and improved early harvest synchrony, but did not affect total marketable or yield by fruit size regardless of timing or rate of application. There was no effect of 1-MCP rate or application timing on fruit quality at harvest or after cold storage, except for an increased in fruit firmness (10%) in one of the six harvests. However, fruits treated with 1-MCP spray at 25 g·ha-1 a.i. (late planting) had higher firmness than those treated with lower rates after 9 days of storage. In addition, 1-MCP postharvest dipping significantly improved fruit firmness; however, a `greening' was evident in the fruit surface. Our results suggest that cantaloupe fruit quality was less affected by early preharvest spray application of 1-MCP applied at less than 25 g·ha-1 a.i. as compared to postharvest applications.

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