Investigation of Solar Powered Drying System Potential in Niğde Province

Storage of the foods obtained by plant and animal production is as important as their cultivation. Crops cultivated around the world lose 28-36% of total yield during the process from agricultural land to consumption. With the most of this loss occurs after harvest and harvest, it can be reduced by suitable machines and appropriate methods to be used. Niğde is in third place in the list of cities with the highest apple production in Turkey. In addition, it is seen that the potential of the region to benefit from solar energy is quite high with 8.02 hours of daily sunshine duration and 1550-1800 kWh m-2 total solar radiation values. In line with the information given, Niğde province stands out as an important opportunity for apple drying processes using solar-powered drying methods. In this study, suitable drying methods that can be used for agricultural products in general and methods that can be used in Niğde province have been investigated and with the using the information obtained from previous studies related to the region its examined that the solar drying system and machines that can be developed for the province of Niğde are specified.

Predicting Size and Length of Apple at Harvest

This study aims to know the time between apple production and marketing to help decision makers for apple products at Washington, in the USA. In order to do so, it needs an application of OLS for a linear and non- linear model for diameter apples and length apple over the years 2010-2013. The diameter or size apple linear model includes DAFB, FB, latitude, mean80, years, and FB. The results indicated that all independent variables are significant and Adj R-squared explains about 75 percent of diameter apple. While the length apple linear model includes DAFB, years, FB, longitude, elevation, latitude, mean120, and mean70.The resulted sate that all independent variables are significant and Adj-R-squares illuminates about 84percent of size apple. Moreover, Actual value and predicted values for linear and nonlinear models are very close. Thus, those models can help farmers make a good decision for apple industry, and achieve to get best size and length for their apple crop.

Apple Pomace as a Sustainable Substrate in Sourdough Fermentation

Innovations range from food production, land use, and emissions all the way to improved diets and waste management. Global apple production has amounted to over 87 million tons/year, while 18% are processed, resulting in 20–35% (apple fruit fresh weight) apple pomace (AP). Using modern AP management, integrated knowledge in innovative fermentation demonstrates opportunities for reducing environmental pollution and integration into a circular economy. With this association in view, integrating AP flour during sourdough fermentation increases the nutritional value, highlighting a new approach that could guide innovative fermented foods. In this study, the wheat flour (WF) and AP flour were mixed at different ratios, hydrated with water (1:1 w/v), and fermented using a selective culture of Fructilactobacillus florum DSM 22689 and baker’s yeast (single and co-culture). Sourdough fermentation was monitored and analyzed for 72 h. Results suggested that AP may be an important source of organic acids and fermentable sugars that increase nutritional sourdough value. AP flour addition in WF had a positive effect, especially in fermentations with 95% WF and 5% AP, mainly in co-culture fermentation.

Fungal canker agents in apple production hubs of Iran

To identify apple canker casual agents and evaluate their pathogenicity and virulence in apple production hubs including West Azarbaijan, Isfahan and Tehran provinces; samples were collected from symptomatic apple trees. Pathogenic isolates on the detached branches were identified as Cytospora cincta, Diplodia bulgarica, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Eutypa cf. lata. E. cf. lata was reported as a potential apple canker causal agent in Iran for the first time based on the pathogenicity test on the detached branches, whereas it caused no canker symptoms in apple trees until 6 months after inoculation. Currently, E. cf. lata seems to be adapted to a single city. C. cincta, D. bulgarica and N. dimidiatum caused canker symptoms in apple trees. “C. cincta” and also “C. cincta and N. dimidiatum” were the most widespread and aggressive apple canker species, respectively, associated with apple canker in Iran. Therefore, they are considered to be the main threat to apple production in Iran and should be carefully monitored. Disease progress curve, area under the disease progress curve and optimum temperatures were determined for mentioned species. It is concluded that the establishment of each species occurs in appropriate areas and times in terms of the optimum temperature for their growth.

Evapotranspiration Partition and Dual Crop Coefficients in Apple Orchard with Dwarf Stocks and Dense Planting in Arid Region, Aksu Oasis, Southern Xinjiang

Crop coefficients are critical to developing irrigation scheduling and improving agricultural water management in farmland ecosystems. Interest in dwarf cultivation with high density (DCHD) for apple production increases in Aksu oasis, southern Xinjiang. The lack of micro-irrigation scheduling limits apple yield and water productivity of the DCHD-cultivated orchard. A two-year experiment with the DCHD-cultivated apple (Malus × domestica ‘Royal Gala’) orchard was conducted to determine crop coefficients and evapotranspiration (ETa) with the SIMDualKc model, and to investigate apple yield and water productivity (WP) in response to different irrigation scheduling. The five levels of irrigation rate were designed as W1 of 13.5 mm, W2 of 18.0 mm, W3 of 22.5 mm, W4 of 27.0 mm, and W5 of 31.5 mm. The mean value of basal crop coefficient (Kcb) at the initial-, mid-, and late-season was 1.00, 1.30, and 0.89, respectively. The Kc-local (ETa/ET0) range for apple orchard with DCHD was 1.11–1.20, 1.33–1.43, and 1.09–1.22 at the initial, middle, and late season, respectively. ETa of apple orchard in this study ranged between 415.55–989.71 mm, and soil evaporation accounted for 13.85–29.97% of ETa. Relationships between total irrigation amount and apple yield and WP were developed, and W3 was suggested as an optimum irrigation schedule with an average apple yield of 30,540.8 kg/ha and WP of 4.45 kg/m3 in 2019–2020. The results have implications in developing irrigation schedules and improving water management for apple production in arid regions.

Analysis of the state and global trends in the cultivation and breeding of apple trees

The objective of the research is to analyze scientific and technical literature, to identify trends in world production and trends in apple breeding. The article uses official data from the FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Statistics Division). In addition, the information from the websites of the Federal State Statistics Service and the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Gossortcommission" - the State Commission for Selection Achievements, Test and Protection - were used. Statistical reports for the period from 2000 to 2019 were taken for analysis. The volume of fruits produced in the world is increasing every year. Apple production is in third place in the world, second only to coffee and olives. The leading apple suppliers are China, USA, Turkey, Poland, Iran, Italy, India, France, Russia, Chile. In 2000-2019 the gross harvest of apples increased from 59 million tons. up to 87 million tons, while the number of cultivated areas decreased from 5.4 to 4.7 million hectares. The main producing regions of this crop are Asia (60.7%), Europe (22.1%), America (12.9%), Africa (3.2%) and Oceania (1.1%). At the same time, the world production of apple trees has significantly stepped towards intensification, thanks to new cultivars and new cultivation technologies. Over the past twenty years, global apple production has grown significantly due to the intensification of production and the introduction of new breeding cultivars.