Check-All-That-Apply Questions including the Ideal Product as a Tool for Selecting Varieties in Breeding Programs. A Case Study with Mandarins

Obtaining superior quality varieties are one of the main objectives of fruit breeding programs worldwide. In this study, we investigate employing check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions, which include the ideal product, as a method to select new varieties according to consumer organoleptic quality requirements. To this end, mandarin cultivars were used as a case study. Four new cultivars from the IVIA breeding program (‘Pri-88′, ‘Pri-89′, ‘Pri-90′ and ‘Tri-707′), and two commercial cultivars related to them (‘Clemenules’ and ‘Oronules’), were evaluated by a consumer panel using the CATA questions method, which include their ideal product. Our results reveal that this method is a useful tool for selecting varieties based on consumer descriptions of their sensory properties in relation to those of their ideal cultivar. This allows the different consumer preference patterns and differences in sample perceptions to be taken into account. A penalty analysis was performed, including the ideal product, to identify the “must-have” attributes; i.e., those that consumers included in their ideal mandarin description and, whenever present in samples, they significantly increased acceptance. For the mandarins herein evaluated, these attributes are “refreshing taste”, “very aromatic”, “sweet”, “juicy”, “very intense taste”, “sour” and “not very fibrous”. The fruit characteristics that contributed to improve the quality of the new varieties vs. the original varieties were also identified. ‘Pri-89′ and ‘Tri-707′, obtained from ‘Clemenules’, came closer to consumers’ ideal variety, because besides the aforementioned “must-have” attributes, these mandarins have small segments. ‘Pri-90′ implied improvement in relation to ‘Oronules’ and is an appropriate variety for those consumers sensitive to bitterness and who like mandarins with a certain level of sourness.

Modern myrobalan plum cultivars of Belarusian breeding

Приводится оценка сортов алычи культурной белорусской селекции: Асалода, Витьба, Лодва, Лама, Ветразь-2, Сонейка, Панна, Мара, созданных в РУП «Институт плодоводства». Исследования проведены в отделе селекции плодовых культур РУП «Институт плодоводства» в течение 2015-2020 гг. Дана краткая характеристика продуктивности, качества плодов, устойчивости к плодовой гнили, зимостойкости. Установлены сроки цветения и созревания плодов. По комплексу хозяйственно ценных признаков выделены сорта Панна (Лама × Gaviota) и Ветразь-2 (Ветразь св.оп.). Сорта Мара и Асалода рекомендованы в качестве опылителей для современных сортов алычи культурной в условиях Беларуси. The article presents the result of evaluation of 8 myrobalan plum cultivars: ‘Asaloda’, ‘Vit’ba’, ‘Lodva’, ‘Lama’, ‘Vetraz-2’, ‘Soneika’, ‘Panna’, ‘Mara’ created in the Institute for Fruit Growing. The studies were carried out in The Fruit Breeding Department of the Institute for Fruit Growing in 2015-2020. The summary characterization of productivity, quality indices of fruits, susceptibility to brown rot, winter hardiness is presented. As a result of the research, date of full bloom and date of ripening were determined. ‘Panna’ (‘Lama’ × ‘Gaviota’) and ‘Vetraz-2’ (‘Vetraz’ o.p.) cultivars were selected for a complex of economic and biological characteristics. On the basis of the information, ‘Mara’ and ‘Asaloda’ cultivars are recommended as pollinators for modern myrobalan plum cultivars in Belarus conditions.

Seleksiyonla Elde Edilmiş Bazı Ceviz Genotiplerinde SRAP Tekniği Kullanılarak Genetik Çeşitliliğin Belirlenmesi

Turkey is among the few countries in terms of plant diversity. An example of this situation is the variation in walnut seedlings grown from seed throughout the country. The genetic material to be used in fruit breeding should be original and the genetic relations among the genotypes should be well elucidated. In this research, genetic diversity was investigated among the walnut genotypes selected from Uşak province of Turkey with the use of molecular markers. In this study, molecular results showed that the 19 SRAP primer combinations produced, on average, 171 bands in the accessions examined, of which 77.2% were polymorphic. Base lengths of the bands obtained from markers varied between 100-1500 bp. The similarity ratio of walnut genotypes varied between 0.21 – 0.85. According to the results of the study, it was determined that SRAP marker system can be used to determine genetic diversity among walnut genotypes.

Evgeny Nikolaevich Sedov: a leading breeder of pome fruit crops in Russia

Acad. Evgeny Nikolaevich Sedov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Scientist Emeritus, is an outstanding researcher and breeder, author of 90 apple and pear cultivars, founder of a scientific school specializing on priority trends in pome fruit breeding: – development of adaptable triploid apple cultivars with regular fruiting, high marketability of fruits, and increased self-fertility; – development of apple cultivars immune or highly resistant to scab; – development of triploid apple cultivars with immunity to scab; – development of columnar apple cultivars for super-intensive orchards and main technology elements for their cultivation; – development of apple cultivars with improved biochemical composition of fruits with higher content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and Р-active substances (vitamin Р).

Advances in fruit breeding in Nepal

Nepal has spent about six decades on fruit development and research in different species. Fruit breeding particularly local and exotic germplasm collection started after 1950s and has gained momentum after the formation of commodity programme in 1972 AD. Major researches in the past were focused on indigenous and exotic genotype collection, evaluation, selection, propagation protocol standardization and adoptive trials. Some good ground works have already been done in major fruits such as apple, pear, plum, persimmon, kiwifruit, citrus, litchi, guava, pomegranate, walnut, papaya, banana and mango. The major public institutions involved in fruit breeding are Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) following Agriculture and Forestry University. Some of the private nurseries like Everything Organic Nursery, Kavre and Technology Demonstration Centre of ICIMOD, Lalitpur were also involved in introduction and maintenance of indigenous and exotic fruit species. National Centre for Fruit Development, Kirtipur; Tropical Region Horticulture Centre, Nawalpur; Temperate Horticulture Farm, Satbanj, and Horticulture Farm, Marpha collected many local and exotic fruits and maintained at field gene bank. Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot has introduced 25 spur type apple cultivars and maintained in field gene bank. National Citrus Research Programme, Paripatle has introduced, collected and maintained 130 genotypes including exotic and indigenous landraces of citrus. Two varieties of acid lime ‘Sunkagati-1’ and ‘Sunkagati-2’ have been released and one variety ‘Terhathum Local’ has been registered. ‘Khoku Selection’ of mandarin orange has also been registered. Banana varieties 'Malbhog', 'Willium Hybrid' and 'G9' has been selected by participatory varietal selection and registered. To strengthen fruit breeding in the nation, NARC needs to be restructured with special focus on fruit researches. Establishment of national fruit commodity programs along with establishment of Tropical Fruit Research Station in Province 2 and Temperate Fruit Research Station in Province 5 at national level can streamline NARC's fruit breeding researches.

The flower flies and the unknown diversity of Drosophilidae (Diptera): a biodiversity inventory in the Brazilian fauna

Diptera is a megadiverse order, reaching its peak of diversity in Neotropics, although our knowledge of dipteran fauna from this region is grossly lacking. This applies even to the most studied families, such as Drosophilidae. Despite its prominence, most aspects of the biology of these insects are still poorly understood, especially those linked to natural communities. Field studies on drosophilids are highly biased towards fruit-breeding species. Flower-breeding drosophilids, however, are worldwide distributed, especially in tropical regions, although being mostly neglected. The present paper shows the results of a biodiversity inventory of flower-breeding drosophilids carried out in several localities in Brazil, based on samples of 125 plant species, from 47 families. Drosophilids were found in flowers of 56 plant species, from 18 families. The fauna discovered turned out to be mostly unknown, comprising 28 species, with 12 of them (> 40%) still undescribed. Not taking into account opportunistic species, two-thirds of the flower-exclusive diversity was undescribed. The Drosophila bromeliae species group was the most representative taxon, with eight species (six undescribed), including four polyphagous and four Solanum-specialized species. This specialization on Solanum is reported for the first time for Drosophilidae. Other taxa of restricted flower-breeding drosophilids were the Drosophila lutzii species group and two species of the genus Zygothrica Wiedemann. Some specimens of the genera Cladochaeta Coquillett, Rhinoleucophenga Hendel and Scaptomyza Hardy were found, but their relations to flowers are unclear. Additionally, ten species of broad niche were found using flowers opportunistically. Localities and host plants were recorded for all species collected.