History of Controlled Environment Horticulture: Ancient Origins

In the first century CE, two Roman agricultural writers, Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella and Gaius Plinius Secundus (Pliny the Elder), referred to proto-greenhouses (specularia) constructed for the Emperor Tiberius (42 BCE–37 CE) presumably adjacent to his palace, the Villa Jovis on the Isle of Capri. Pliny stated in Historia Naturalis (Book 19, 23:64) that the specularia consisted of beds mounted on wheels that were moved into the sun, and on wintry days withdrawn under the cover of frames glazed with transparent stone (lapis specularis) to provide fruits of cucumis. According to Pliny, this was “a delicacy for which the Emperor Tiberius, had a remarkable partiality; in fact there was never a day on which he was not supplied it.” The cucumis fruits described by Columella and Pliny, long mistranslated as cucumbers, Cucumis sativus, were in fact long-fruited melons, Cucumis melo subsp. melo Flexuosus Group. They are known today as vegetable melons, snake melons, and faqqous, and were highly esteemed in Rome and ancient Israel.

Debaryomyces hansenii, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, and Ulvan as Biocontrol Agents of Fruit Rot Disease in Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

The indiscriminate use of synthetic fungicides has led to negative impact to human health and to the environment. Thus, we investigated the effects of postharvest biocontrol treatment with Debaryomyces hansenii, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, and a polysaccharide ulvan on fruit rot disease, storability, and antioxidant enzyme activity in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus). Each fruit was treated with (1) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii, (2) 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila, (3) 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (4) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii + 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila, (5) 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila + 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (6) 1 × 106 cells mL−1 of D. hansenii + 1 × 108 CFU mL−1 of S. rhizophila + 5 g L−1 of ulvan, (7) 1000 ppm of benomyl or sterile water (control). The fruits were air-dried for 2 h, and stored at 27 °C ± 1 °C and 85–90% relative humidity. The fruit rot disease was determined by estimating the disease incidence (%) and lesion diameter (mm), and the adhesion capacity of the biocontrol agents was observed via electron microscopy. Phytopathogen inoculation time before and after adding biocontrol agents were also recorded. Furthermore, the storability quality, weight loss (%), firmness (N), total soluble solids (%), and pH were quantified. The antioxidant enzymes including catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and phenylalanine ammonium lyase were determined. In conclusion, the mixed treatment containing D. hansenii, S. rhizophila, and ulvan delayed fruit rot disease, preserved fruit quality, and increased antioxidant activity. The combined treatment is a promising and effective biological control method to promote the shelf life of harvested muskmelon.

In-vitro and In-vivo effects of Cu-Melo Seed´trypsinseed´trypsin Inhibitor on Angiogenesis and Tumor Characteristics in Balb-c Mice With Breast Cancer

BackgroundMelon seeds as an excellent supply of protease inhibitors may have a protective role against tumor progression and angiogenesis. However, its effects on angiogenesis and the mechanism of its motion on cancer progression remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bioactive compounds of melon seed on the expression of angiogenesis genes in breast cancer cell lines.MethodsTrypsin inhibitor (TI) was purified from the seed powder of Cucumis Melo. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined for TI, extract of melon seed powder (EXT), and tamoxifen (TAM) by MTT test. Also, breast tumor was induced by subcutaneous injection of MC4-L2 cell line in blab-c inbreed mice breast tissue. After tumor growth, mice were treated with TI, EXT, and TAM to examine their effects on the tumor characteristics and the expression of the angiogenesis-related genes including MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF using the RT-PCR method.ResultsTI, EXT, TAM, and adjuvant treatment of TI+TAM resulted a reduction in expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF. All treatments improved the breast tumor characteristics and the necrosis. The Real Time-PCR method verified the positive effects of the treatments on the breast cancer cell line and tumors.ConclusionThe results indicated that treatments with trypsin Inhibitor Purified from Cucumis Melo Seeds and also combination therapy of trypsin inhibitor and tamoxifen can be considered as an alternative therapy in breast cancer patients. Further studies are warranted.

Quality attributes of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) fruit under pre-harvest and post-harvest treatment with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the most delicious fruits popularly cultivated in tropical regions due to its sweet-juicy taste, attractive flavor and bioactive composition. Extending cantaloupe shelf-life during handling and distribution is very necessary to upgrade its commercial value. Methyl jasmonate (MJeA) and salicylic acid (SA) are bio-regulators widely applied on either pre- or post-harvest to extend the shelf life and maintain fruit quality during storage. In this investigation, the possibility of both pre-harvest (7 days before harvesting) via spraying and post-harvest (immediately after harvesting) evaluated by dipping on cantaloupe fruit by either MJeA (3 mM) or SA (3 mM) separately; in combination with MJeA/SA (1.5/1.5 mM/mM) for 30 s. These fruits were kept at 24±0.5 oC for 28 days of storage. In 7 day-interval, fruits were sampled to verify firmness, weight loss, decay rate, total soluble solid, carotenoid, vitamin C, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content. Results revealed that there was a significant difference in quality attributes between the treated samples and the control ones. However, there was no significant difference in quality attributes on either pre-harvest or post-harvest treatments by MeJA and SA reagents. Incorporation of MJeA/SA (1.5/1.5 mM/mM) by either pre-harvest or post-harvest maintained the most firmness (52.10±0.11 N or 52.37±0.08 N), total soluble solid (18.08±0.05 oBrix or 18.15±0.04 oBrix), carotenoid (46.97±0.02 µg/100 g or 47.10±0.03 µg/100 g), vitamin C (26.04±0.02 mg/100 g or 26.17±0.02 mg/100 g), total phenolic content (117.86±0.05 mg GAE/100 g or 119.75±0.09 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (84.04±0.02 mg QE/100 g or 84.20±0.02 mg QE/100 g) as well as the least weight loss (3.74±0.01% or 3.66±0.03%) and decay rate (1.42±0.01% or 1.26±0.03%) at the end of 28 days of storage. The synergistic effect of MeJA and SA would be a promising alternative to preserve cantaloupe fruit quality with a long shelf life.

PENGUJIAN BERBAGAI FORMULASI PUPUK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL TANAMAN MELON (Cucumis melo L) PADA LAHAN KERING MASAM

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) contains various important vitamins and minerals, while melon consumption in Indonesia is still far below the standard. The increase in melon production every year has not met the needs of melons. Intensification of acid dry land is one of the efforts to increase melon production, because of the vast potential of the land, but it is necessary to improve the soil properties. The purpose of this study was to test the formulations on the growth and yield of melon plants on acid dry land. The study was conducted in a greenhouse using a non-factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD), with 8 treatments, namely: (A) without Lime + Phonska NPK Fertilizer (100%); (B) without Lime + Phonska NPK Fertilizer + Cow Manure (50%:100%); (C) without Lime + Phonska Npk Fertilizer + Petrobio Fertilizer (50%:100%); (D) without Lime + Phonska NPK Fertilizer + Cattle Fertilizer + Petrobio Fertilizer (50%:50%:50%); (E) with Lime + Phonska NPK Fertilizer (100%); (F) with Lime + Phonska Npk Fertilizer + Cow Manure (50%:100%); (G) with Lime + Phonska Npk Fertilizer + Petrobio Fertilizer (50%:100%); (H) with Lime + Phonska Npk Fertilizer + Cow Manure + Petrobio Fertilizer (50%:50%:50%) with 4 replications. Data analysis used Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the fertilizer formulation with additional lime had a significant effect on fruit weight, fruit diameter, and fruit harvest age. Fertilization formulation without the need for high doses of organic fertilizer to achieve optimal yields.