Muscari muglaensis (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from southwestern Anatolia

A new species, Muscari muglaensis Eker, H.Duman & Yıldırım sp. nov. (Asparagaceae) from Turkey, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to M. weissii, M. comosum, M. cycladicum and M. elmasii, but differs mainly by its large bulbs and fruit structure from M. weissii and M. comosum, and long pedicels of fertile flowers and transversely growing raceme in fruit from M. cycladicum and M. elmasii. In this study, a comprehensive description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, detailed illustration, geographical distribution, conservation assessment, identification key, observations, and taxonomic comments on the new species are presented.

Comparison of the Mass Tissue Strength of Strawberry Fruit between Vertical and Horizontal axes

BackgroundStrawberry fruit has a thin skin layer, so it is very susceptible to tissue mass damage during post-harvest handling. This article compares the strength of the strawberry mass tissue between the vertical and horizontal axes using a compression test at different speeds and compressibility levels. ResultsThe results showed that the mass tissue damage of strawberries was greater when compressed from the horizontal axis than from the vertical axis. The loading from the vertical axis obtained a combined mechanical response between the fruit structure and mass tissue cells, while from the horizontal axis the mechanical response was obtained only from the fruit structure. During compression, the fruit undergoes 3 phases of deformation, namely elastic, plastic, and permanent mass tissue damage. In the elastic deformation phase, the fruit mass tissue has not been damaged. Along with the duration of the compression, mass tissue damage has started to occur. ConclusionThe outer mass tissue of a strawberry is more susceptible to damage than the deep mass tissue. Therefore, the post-harvest handling process from agricultural land to the hands of consumers requires gentle handling to maintain fruit quality. The percentage of mass tissue damage of strawberries can be minimized if arranged vertically in the package. The percentage of fruit mass tissue damage obtained from this study can be used to predict changes in fruit volume non-destructively.

Morpho-anatomical structure and development of fruit in Asyneuma canescens (Саmpanulaceae)

The most usual fruit type in the family Саmpanulaсеае is an inferior multi-seeded capsule. In Саmpanula and related genera, A. Kolakovsky determined a new type of capsule, characterized by a specialized organ, axicorn. Some types of axicorn capsules were determined depending on the way of dehiscence. In Campanula, capsule dehiscence is called axicorn-fissuricidal mode, while in Asyneuma – axicorn-valvate mode with scaliformis valves. The precise differences between slit and valve so far have not been identified. In this connection, we performed the study of the inner fruit structure and dehiscence in Asyneuma canescens intending to compare the results with those for Саmpanula species. Anatomical fruit structure was studied under a light microscope on temporary preparations of transversal and longitudinal sections. For the first time, the obtained data provide precise characteristics of the inner fruit morphology, the anatomy of the fruit wall, and dehiscence mode in A. canescens. The survey revealed predominance in the ovary of a synascidiate zone with axile placentation. In the anatomical structure of the fruit wall, there we found a parenchymatous mesocarpium, non-lignified exo- and endocarpium, and lignified elements of fruit – axicorns, located in the small upper part of the septa. Fruit dehiscence in A. canescens occurs in two steps. First, during early flower development, narrow-oval dips are formed on the septum radii; during the fruiting period, a hippocrepiform slit at the lower margin of each dip develops. At this time axicorns detach from the central column of the ovary following a curved direction, meaning the formation of the septifragal slit. During the second stage, the longitudinal slits are formed from the lowest point of the hippocrepiform slit to the fruit base. These slits facilitate seed release from the capsule. Fruit in A. canescens we define as an inferior trilocular syncarpous capsule with two-stage, hippocrepiform and laminar dehiscence. Our study confirms resemblance of anatomical structure and dehiscence mode of fruit in A. canescens and species of the section Rapunculus of the genus Cаmpanula with erect capsules. We consider it inexpedient to accept the new fruit type for A. canescens, because differences compared with species of Cаmpanula are derivative and concern the small size of the axicorn slit and the appearance of additional slits only.

Investigation of the Maturity Changes of Cherry Tomato Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The maturity of tomato fruit is normally characterized by external color, and it is often difficult to know when fruit have achieved commercial maturity or become over-mature. The internal structure of tomato fruit changes during development and this study investigates the utility of nondestructive measurement of tomato fruit structure as a function of maturity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The objective of this work is to use analysis of internal tomato fruit structural measurements to characterize maturity. Intact cherry tomato fruit were harvested at six different maturity stages. At each stage of maturity, the internal structure of the fruit was measured using a series of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance (MR) images. Qualitative and quantitative image analyses were performed to correlate internal fruit structure with maturity. Internal structural changes observed in the pericarp region of the tomato fruit are highly correlated with fruit maturity. MR image information combined with classical analysis techniques provides a more complete understanding of structure and physicochemical changes in tomato fruit during maturation. This study demonstrates that MRI is a useful analytical tool to characterize internal changes in agricultural produce as the produce matures. This technique can be applied to almost any agricultural produce to monitor internal physical changes due to external impact, maturity stage, variation in climate, storage time, and condition, or other factors impacting quality.

Investigation of the Maturity Changes of Cherry Tomato Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The maturity of tomato fruit is normally characterized by external color and it is often difficult to know when fruit have achieved commercial maturity or become over-mature. The internal structure of tomato fruit change during development and this study investigates the utility of nondestructive measurement of tomato fruit structure as a function of maturity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The objective of this work is to use analysis of internal tomato fruit structural measurements to characterize maturity. Intact cherry tomato fruit were harvested at six different maturity stages. At each stage of maturity, the internal structure of the fruit was measured using a series of 2D magnetic resonance (MR) images. Qualitative and quantitative image analyses were performed to correlate internal fruit structure with maturity. Internal structural changes observed in the pericarp region of the tomato fruit are highly correlated with fruit maturity. MR image information combined with classical analysis techniques provides a more complete understanding of structure and physicochemical changes in tomato fruit during maturation. This study demonstrates that MRI is a useful analytical tool to characterize internal changes in agricultural produce as the produce matures. This technique can be applied to almost any agricultural produce to monitor internal physical changes due to external impact, maturity stage, variation in climate, storage time and condition or other factor impacting quality.

Seed development and its relationship to fruit structure in species of Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae) with fleshy fruits

In Bromeliaceae, fruit type and seed morphology have been used to distinguish the subfamilies. We studied seed and fruit development of three species of Bromelioideae (Aechmea bromeliifolia, Billbergia distachia and Neoregelia bahiana) relating seed characters to fruit structure. Aechmea bromeliifolia has few ovules per locule inserted within the apical portion of the ovary and the seeds are larger, with a long chalazal appendage, growing towards the fruit base. In B. distachia and N. bahiana, the ovules are numerous and subapically to centrally inserted in the ovary; the seeds are smaller, with a radial disposition, and the chalazal appendages are short (B. distachia) or absent (N. bahiana). The chalazal appendages grow during seed development, and thus their presence/length may be related to the number of ovules/seeds per locule and to the disposition of the ovules inside the locules. The fruits are berries, and juiciness is promoted by mesocarp cells and by substances secreted inside the locules by the placental obturator at later stages of fruit development. These fruit and seed features are strategies for zoochory and provide evidence that each species studied is dispersed by a different type of animal.