Response of Growth Inhibitor Paclobutrazol in Fruit Crops

Paclobutrazol (PBZ; IUPAC name: (2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4, 4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol) is a triazol derivative and an antagonist of gibberellins. It has been shown to inhibit shoot growth in various perennial fruit trees. Paclobutrazol application reduced the number of shoots, transforming trees into a more desirable, spur-type growth habit as the vegetative sink was reduced. This compound induces an early and intense flowering, diminishing vegetative growth and reducing the extension of buds, allowing for ripening and the initiation of apical buds inflorescence. Besides, it also increases fruit set, the years following application as a carryover effect. An increase in return bloom is a common response to paclobutrazol treatment and has been reported for various fruit crops. Paclobutrazol is widely used to advance harvest maturity in various fruit crops and it improves fruit quality in terms of accelerated colour development, delayed and synchronized fruit maturation and control of preharvest fruit drop. It is known to improve fruit physical and fruit chemical characteristics. Fruit calcium is increased for 2–3 years due to carry over effect. It helps in the maintenance of better fruit quality during storage and influences nutrient uptake in various fruit crops including stone fruits. It has been characterized as an environmentally stable compound in soil and water environments with a long half-life under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The North American Plums (Prunus Spp.): A Review of the Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Relationships

North America is a center of diversity for Prunus species. Tree architecture, chilling requirement, heat requirement, fruit development period, fruit size, fruit texture, disease resistance, and adaptive changes to multiple environmental conditions are a few examples of the traits of which tremendous genetic variability is available in the native plum species. Wild native Prunus species constitute an important potential source of genetic diversity for stone fruit breeding and selection. A review of the North American plum taxonomic treatment and phylogenetic studies is described. Various studies have been done with three major groups being identified: Americana series, Chickasaw series, and Beach series.

Sea Almond as a Promising Feedstock for Green Diesel: Statistical Optimization and Power Rate Law Based Chemical Kinetics of Its Consecutive Irreversible Methanolysis

For successful industrial scale-up and effective cost analysis of transesterification process, presentation of complimentary research data from process optimization using statistical design techniques, chemical kinetics and thermodynamics are essential. Full factorial central composite design (FFCCD) was applied for the statistical optimization of base methanolysis of sea almond (Terminalia catappa) seed oil using response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with desirability function analysis on quadratic model. Reaction time had the most significant impact on the biodiesel yield. Optimum conditions for biodiesel yield of 93.09 wt% validated at 92.58 wt% were 50.03°C, 2.04 wt% catalyst concentration, 58.5 min and 4.66 methanol/oil molar ratio with overall desirability of 1.00. Ascertained fuel properties of the FAME were in compliance with international limits. GC–MS, FTIR and NMR characterizations confirmed unsaturation and good cold-flow qualities of the biodiesel. Based on power rate law, second-order kinetic model out-performed first-order kinetic model. Rate constants of the triglyceride (TG), diglycerides (DG) and monoglycerides (MG) hydrolysis were in the range of 0.00838–0.0409 wt%/min while activation energies were 12.76, 15.83 and 22.43 kcal/mol respectively. TG hydrolysis to DG was the rate determining step. The optimal conditions have minimal error and would serve as a springboard for industrial scale-up of biodiesel production from T. catappa seed oil.

Plum Breeding

Worldwide, plum is one of the main species, occupying an area of about 2,600,000 ha and ensuring production about 11,700,000 tons. Even though there are over 6000 plum cultivars belonging to 19–40 species, there is still the need to create new cultivars due to the demands of growers and consumers. In addition, the large plum-growing countries (Romania, Serbia, Germany, Bulgaria, etc.) have decreased production due to plum pox virus (PPV) attack. Therefore, these countries developed breeding programs with the following objectives: resistance/tolerance to PPV, productivity, fruit quality, late blooming, self-fertility, different ripening times, short growing period, spur fructification, etc. Using different breeding methods (controlled hybridization, open pollination, selection in wild population on Prunus sp., and mutagenesis), in the last years, over 450 plum cultivars were released, from which 70% represent European cultivars and 30% Japanese cultivars.

Flowering of Sweet Cherries “Prunus avium” in Tunisia

In Tunisia, the development of cherry growing is limited by two major constraints, namely, the chilling requirements and the self-incompatibility of some cultivars. In order to contribute to the development of this high added-value culture, which is capable to play an important socioeconomic role in rural and semi-forestry places, this study has set the main objective, characterization, and selection of best-suited cultivars to mild winter based on the blooming period. The plant materials used for this study are composed of the introduced cultivars, which are “Napoleon,” “Van,” “Moreau,” “Sunburst,” and “Stella,” and unknown cultivars, which are “V1,” “V2,” “V3,” “V4,” and “V5,” and a local one “Bouargoub.” Differential behavior between cultivars was shown for phenological stages (budbreak, flowering, maturity, and leaf fall), and this behavior is dependent in some cases on the cold requirement [chilling requirements (CR)]. The local cultivar “Bouargoub” recorded the lowest “CR” with early flowering and maturity.

Production Technology of Peach, Plum and Apricot in India

In this chapter production technology of peach, plum and apricot in India is elaborated in detail in relation to introduction, origin and distribution of crop, importance and uses, morphological features of tress, other related species involved, climate and soil requirement, varieties, propagation and raising of rootstocks, planting and planting densities, cropping systems, manure and fertilisers application, cultural practices, weed management, orchard floor management, after care training and pruning, pollination and pollinizers, flowering and crop regulation, use of growth regulators, fruiting in the crop, fruit thinning and drop, maturity and harvesting, post-harvest management, handling and storage, insects, pests and diseases, special production problems like low productivity, unfruitfulness and self-incompatibility, premature leaf fall, replant problem, alternate bearing and remedies and physiological disorders of the crop.