Fruit Trees Physiology Research Papers (original) (raw)

This study investigated the effect of crude oil pollution and remediation on the fungi and bacteria communities of M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres using three sites - Unpolluted Site (UPS), Polluted and Treated Site (PTS), and Polluted and Untreated Site (PUS). Population of fungi in both M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres was highest in UPS while the bacteria population was highest in PUS and UPS in M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres, respectively. The highest similarity in fungi species was observed between UPS/PTS (67%) and PTS/PUS (87%) in M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres, respectively. Similarity in bacteria species was highest between UPS/PTS (50%) in M. indica rhizosphere while it was highest between UPS/PUS (60%) and PTS/PUS (60%) in E. guineensis rhizosphere. The diversity of fungi was highest at UPS in both M. indica (H ꞊ 1.04; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.63) and E. guineensis (H ꞊ 1.17; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.67) rhizospheres. Bacteria diversity in M. indica rhizosphere was highest in PUS (H ꞊ 0.70) when Shannon-Wiener index was used but highest in PTS (Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.42) when Simpson index was used; and highest in PTS (H ꞊ 039; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.20) for E. guineensis rhizosphere. Most of the evaluated attributes compared better in UPS; however, bacteria population and diversity in M. indica rhizosphere was highest in PUS and PTS, respectively. Get more articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-6-number-4-april-2015-jbes/

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- Nigerian Literature, Environmental Science, Forestry, Research Methodology

The anthocyanin in 'Sensation Red Bartlett' pear skin was characterized and quantified, and the effect of light quality on fruit color development was evaluated. Anthocyanin concentration was related to fruit chromaticity values. Pigments were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). One of two spots detected in the TLC chromatogram did not change color with molybdate sprays, indicating the possible presence of peonidin. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of a major and a minor pigment, which co-eluted with cyanidin 3-galactoside and peonidin 3-galactoside. Monomeric anthocyanins in the pear skin extract were 6.83 mg/100 g of fruit peel. To study light quality, gelatin filters allowing passage of different wavelengths of-light were attached over the exposed side of 'Sensation Red Bartlett' pears 1 month before harvest. Chromaticity was recorded before the filters were attached and after their removal at harvest using the Commission Internationale del'Eclairage (L*, a*, and b*) color space coordinates. Following color measurements, anthocyanin was extracted from individual skin disks. Skin beneath all filters yielded less hue than the control. Wavelengths that transmit above 600 nm had the largest effect on chroma, a*, and b* values. Fruit wrapped in aluminum foil to obscure all light had the highest luminosity. Wavelengths from 400 to 500 nm gave darker, less chromatic, and redder pear fruit. All treatments yielded higher anthocyanin content than the control. There was a tendency toward increased anthocyanin content with longer wavelengths. The simple linear regression of the log anthocyanin content on L* value and (a*/b*) 2 provided an R 2 = 0.41.

- by MARIA CLAUDIA DUSSI
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- Anthocyanins, Fruit Science, Fruit Trees Physiology

- by Nizar Nasrullah
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- Landscape Ecology, Genetics, Geography, Horticulture

Fruit samples analyzed in this paper were harvested in 2008 and 2009 from seven new sweet cherry cultivars, namely '

Olive trees native to the Middle East and Iraqi Kurdistan region, it can survive severe ecosystems including sandy and rocky soils with high calcite content and extreme temperature fluctuations between -7°C up to +45°C giving yields even with minimum rainfall requirement. Results show that olive is currently grown in a very limited area of less than 250 ha, under drip irrigation system, which mostly depended on supply of water from ground water in Sulaymaniyah governorate. In contrast, 90% of the world’s olive is dependent on precipitation. In addition, olive can grow and survive minimum rainfall of 300 mm and give satisfactory yields with rainfall of 500 mm without irrigation. The majority of olive fields were established in best fertile agricultural lands. Meanwhile, the
aforementioned lands are rich with montmorillonite, which swells when it is moisten and shrinks when it is dry. Therefore, resulting in deep cracks in the soil which causes breaking down of the roots and weakening of the trees. The total rainfall in Sulaymaniyah governorate, during the last 72 years (1941 to 2013), had dropped down below the minimum rainfall requirements for olive growing. This makes olive trees suitable and economic for utilizing sandy and rocky soils. Therefore, olive has a great role in the re-vegetation process of severe ecosystems and should be included in any program of renewing the Kurdistan region forest and developing green area which encourage the tourism in the Region and helping in beautifying and purifying the atmosphere from the poisonous
gases.

- by INNSPUB Journals and +1
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- Agronomy, Middle East Studies, Organic agriculture, Kurdish Studies
- by Sachin Tyagi
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- Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop genetic diversity, Crop Physiology

The jackfruit is member of the family Moraceae and it is
known as a Poor man’s™food€. All parts of its tree are used
either as human consumption, animal feed, timber and
medicinal purpose. Jack fruit is considered to be nutritious,
cool, delicious, satisfying and to prevent excessive formation
of bile, develop flesh, phlegm, strengthen the body and
increase virility. In general 100 gm of ripe jack fruit contain
72.0-94.0 gm of water, 16.0-25.4 gm of carbohydrates, 1.2-
1.9 gm of protein, 0.1-0.4 gm of Fat, 1.0-1.5gm of fiber ,0.03-
0.09 mg of thiamine, 20.0-37.0 mg of calcium, phosphorous,
38.0-41.0 mg of magnesium, 150-540 IU vitamin A. It
also contains phytonutrients, hence it is anti-cancer and
antihypertensive in nature and also rich in potassium, which
helps in the lowering of blood pressure. The extract from its seed, root and bark is supposed to be helpful in digestion
and used also in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery
.The root extract of jackfruit used as a remedy against skin
disease, asthma and fever .The heated leaves of jackfruit are
placed on wounds and the wood has a sedative property
its pith is said to be produce abortion. An ash produced by
burning the bark is supposed to be healing abscesses and
ear problems and the ash of jack fruit leaves burned with
corn and coconut shells, is used alone or mixed with coconut
oil to heal ulcers also. The dried latex yield of ortostenone,
convertible to artosterone,a compound with marked
androgenic actions .Bark of mature tree also supposed to be
useful in treatment of dysentery and releasing the placenta
after calving in cows . Its decoction and latex are used in the
treatment of asthma, prevent ringworm infection, and heal
cracking of the feet. The infusion of mature leaves and bark
is supposed to be effective in the treatment of diabetes, gall
stones and relieve asthma. Leaves believe to posses wound
healing effects, reduce pain, decrease abuses and relieve ear
problems.

- by Sachin Tyagi
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- Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Postharvest OF Fruit, Fruits and Nuts

The baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a remarkable key tree species with different uses in many African countries. International interest in the species has intensified in recent years. Despite the wide distribution of the baobab in many African regions, the tree has been reported to be absent in Uganda. In 2015 and 2016, research trips in the Central, Western, Eastern and Northern Regions of Uganda were conducted to screen the cultivated and natural flora for baobabs. As a result, four vigorous baobab trees aged 9 and 22 years were identified in two gardens in the Iganga and Soroti Districts in the Eastern Region of Uganda. The origins of the planting materials were Nyala in Sudan and Mombasa in Kenya. To our knowledge, these are the first scientific records of baobab in Uganda and some research questions and key propositions are formulated based on this discovery.

- by Jens Gebauer and +1
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- Middle East & North Africa, Uganda, Plant Genetic Resources, Malvaceae

Los programas de extinción de frutos son de vital importancia en la fruticultura actual para la
obtención de fruta de alta calidad que le permita al productor competir en el mercado internacional.
El raleo remueve parcialmente las fuentes de giberelinas que se encuentran principalmente en las
semillas y previenen la formación de yemas de flor. Eliminado parte de las flores y los frutos, se logra
aumentar el tamaño de los frutos restantes y aumentar la relación hoja - fruto que debería ser de 30 a 40
hojas por fruto.
También se mejora la exposición de los frutos a la luz y una nutrición adecuada, se reduce el daño
por enfermedades y plagas y se logra una mejor distribución del peso en la estructura del árbol.
Un raleo temprano en la estación de crecimiento estimula la división y el alargamiento celular; los
frutos grandes poseen más células que los frutos pequeños. Cuando más tardíamente se realiza el
tratamiento menor es su efecto. La eliminación de frutos más chicos mejora el calibre por reducir la
competencia y aumentar el desarrollo de los frutos persistentes evitando la presencia de frutos pequeños en
la cosecha.
Los mercados mundiales han aumentado su exigencia en los últimos años en cuanto a los residuos
que puede contener la fruta y además han restringido y prohibido el uso de muchos productos raleadores
que en algunos casos continúan utilizándose pero con poco futuro a corto plazo. Por eso es necesario
experimentar con nuevos formulados y prácticas que permitan dar solución al problema que se presentará
en los próximos años.
En perales, la práctica de raleo químico es menos utilizada en el Alto Valle del Río Negro y Neuquén
debido al temor de ver afectada la fruta por la incidencia de heladas tardías. Además, los raleadores
comúnmente utilizados en manzanos tienen un efecto muy reducido como el ANA o directamente no tienen
efecto, como en el caso del Carbaril. A pesar de esto, en el cultivar ‘Williams’, pueden utilizarse distintos
principios activos, temprano en la estación de crecimiento del fruto y luego se debería realizar un
complemento manual. Los programas de raleo de frutos son de vital importancia en la fruticultura actual
para la obtención de fruta de alta calidad que le permita al productor competir en el mercado internacional.

The model RATP (radiation absorption, transpiration and photosynthesis) is presented. The model was designed to simulate the spatial distribution of radiation and leaf-gas exchanges within vegetation canopies as a function of canopy structure, canopy microclimate within the canopy and physical and physiological leaf properties. The model uses a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the canopy (i.e. an array of 3D cells, each characterized by a leaf area density). Radiation transfer is computed by a turbid medium analogy, transpiration by the leaf energy budget approach, and photosynthesis by the Farquhar model, each applied for sunlit and shaded leaves at the individual 3D cell-scale. The model typically operates at a 20–30 min time step. The RATP model was applied to an isolated, 20-year- old walnut tree grown in the field. The spatial distribution of wind speed, stomatal response to environmental variables, and light acclimation of leaf photosynthetic proper- ties were taken into account. Model outputs were compared with data acquired in the field. The model was shown to simulate satisfactorily the intracrown distribution of radiation regime, transpiration and photosynthetic rates, at shoot or branch scales.

- by Xavier LE ROUX
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- Photosynthesis, Modelling, 3D Modelling (Architecture), Tree Physiology

Partial fruit set failure phenomenon is one of the major problems that limit tree productivity of some date palm cultivars under hot arid regions. As an attempt to understand the nature of this problem, the effects of pollinator type and pollination method with bunch bagging following pollination on fruit set and bunch weight of 'Nabbut-Ali' and 'Sabbaka' date cultivars which are suffering partial fruit set failure were studied. The results showed that fruit set was not significantly affected either by pollinator type or pollination method in both cultivars during 2010 and 2011 seasons. Fruit set was higher in 2011 than 2010 season only in 'Nabbut-Ali' cultivar. In this respect, there were significant interaction effects between season and both of pollinator type and pollination method in 'Nabbut-Ali' cultivar. The pollinator 'Hada-8' produced lower bunch weight than all the other pollinators in 'Nabbut-Ali' cultivar. Also, the bunch weight was higher in the spray than in the traditional pollination. However, in 'Sabbaka' cultivar the bunch weight was not affected by pollinator type or pollination method. Bunch weight was higher in 2011 than 2010 season only in 'Nabbut-Ali' cultivar. The physical and biochemical quality characteristics of fruit were significantly affected by pollinator type and pollination method, upon cultivar, and were greatly lower in 2011 than 2010 season. Generally, under the conditions of Hada Al-Shame valley, neither of the used pollinators nor the pollination methods gave satisfactory level of fruit set in both 'Nabbut-Ali' and 'Sabbaka' date palm cultivars. Possibly, date palms have chilling requirements, upon cultivar, for subsequent normal flowering and fruit setting and this should be considered for each individual cultivar before cultivation in a certain region.

- by Mohamed Awad
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- Fruit Trees Physiology

This research integrates the agricultural study of trees with the sciences of representation, in order to describe the architectural form of an olive tree and to show a scientific visualization of the relationship between morphology and light interception in the canopy. The representation of plant architecture, manipulated with pruning operation for agricultural purposes of light optimization, describes the action of sunlight in the tree, testing the potential of digital design toolsespecially generative modelling. Through the design of a specific algorithm, the tree is interpreted like a fragmented photovoltaic panel, analysed using 14,000 control points corresponding to the leaves. The possibility to select these classes of elements becomes the instrument to explain the canopy structure, finding categories that describe and simulate the annual radiance and illuminance. The developed modelling process and its purely theoretical significance constitute the basis for a variety of applications in data analysis and comparison between different models, evaluations, theories, and operations.

- by Primo Proietti
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- Algorithms, Scientific Visualization, Visual Studies, Radiation

In the present work, olive-crop yields and olive oil physico-chemical quality were studied after three and six years of olive mill wastewater (OMW) spreading at three levels (50, 100 and 200 m3 ha-1 year-1). Olive yield showed improvements with OMW level. Insignificant difference in oil content and oil quality indices of the control and treatments amended by OMW was observed. Moreover, olive oil acidic composition showed invariability after all OMW rates application. However, the extracted oils from the three-treated olive plots presented the higher - tocopherol values. OMW spreading at different rates influenced significantly the oil total phenol contents. While
-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol contents showed increases after six successive spreading with a high percentage in the 100 OMW m3 ha-1 treatment, cholesterol and -7 - stigmastenol contents didn’t exhibit any significant difference between the experimented treatments. After OMW treatment, the olive oil quality was that of virgin extra category.

- by Ammar Emna and +1
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- Agronomy, Research Methodology, Educational Research, Wetting and Spreading

Planting multifunctional trees (e.g., fruit species) in cities can promote genetic conservation, economic activity, ecosystem services, and social cohesion. However, in Indonesia, the relationship between the abundance of fruit tree species and different city characteristics, including their involvement in the national smart city project, is still unknown. In this study, published reports and field surveys were used to evaluate the fruit tree distribution and its relationship with the characteristics of 224 of 514 Indonesian cities in order to identify tree species for multifunctional city greenery. This is the first study on the distribution of fruit tree species at the national level. The study identified 151 fruit species of 90 genera and 40 families, including large-sized fruits, such as avocados, breadfruit, coconuts, durians, jackfruit, and mangos. On average, cities contained 54 tree species, of which 21 (38.9%) were fruit trees. These findings indicate that cities are important contributors to the genetic conservation of local fruit trees, which can be further evaluated as new city greenery. However, a city’s involvement in the smart city project bore no relationship (p > 0.05) with the number of identified fruit species. Conversely, non-fruit species tended to be more diverse in smart cities. Since the presence of fruit species is associated with the city population, geographic position, climate, altitude, and attitude towards the fragility of sustainable conservation, introducing and maintaining these species as city greenery requires advocacy to city stakeholders.

- by Edi Santosa
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- Landscape Ecology, Genetics, Horticulture, Conservation Biology

We tested the hypothesis that whole-tree water consumption of olives (Olea europaea L.) is fruit load-dependent and investigated the driving physiological mechanisms. Fruit load was manipulated in mature olives grown in weighing-drainage lysimeters. Fruit was thinned or entirely removed from trees at three separate stages of growth: early, mid and late in the season. Tree-scale transpiration, calculated from lysimeter water balance, was found to be a function of fruit load, canopy size and weather conditions. Fruit removal caused an immediate decline in water consumption, measured as whole-plant transpiration normalized to tree size, which persisted until the end of the season. The later the execution of fruit removal, the greater was the response. The amount of water transpired by a fruit-loaded tree was found to be roughly 30% greater than that of an equivalent low-or nonyielding tree. The tree-scale response to fruit was reflected in stem water potential but was not mirrored in leaf-scale physiological measurements of stomatal conductance or photosynthesis. Trees with low or no fruit load had higher vegetative growth rates. However, no significant difference was observed in the overall aboveground dry biomass among groups, when fruit was included. This case, where carbon sources and sinks were both not limiting, suggests that the role of fruit on water consumption involves signaling and alterations in hydraulic properties of vascular tissues and tree organs.

- by Arnon Dag and +2
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- Olive, Transpiration, Fruit Trees Physiology, Fruit Load

The production and consumption of nuts are increasing in the world due to strong economic returns and the nutritional value of their products. With the increasing role and importance given to nuts (i.e., walnuts, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, almond) in a balanced and healthy diet and their benefits to human health, breeding of the nuts species has also been stepped up. Most recent fruit breeding programs have focused on scion genetic improvement. However, the use of locally adapted grafted rootstocks also enhanced the productivity and quality of tree fruit crops. Grafting is an ancient horticultural practice used in nut crops to manipulate scion phenotype and productivity and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. There are complex rootstock breeding objectives and physiological and molecular aspects of rootstock–scion interactions in nut crops. In this review, we provide an overview of these, considering the mechanisms involved in nutrient and water uptake, regulation of phytohormone...

- by Thomas Gradziel
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- Fruits and Nuts, Pomology, Plants, Almond

In the area of primary domestication, the fruit of the citron tree (Citrus medica L.), and to a limited extent its leaf and flower, have traditionally been used as a raw condiment, candied, or more rarely, salted. In the area of secondary domestication – the hot Mediterranean climate – culinary uses multiplied during an active phase of cultivar development in the 10 to 16th centuries. In the 19th century, citron products were widely used in the gastronomy of Northern Europe, mainly in sweet dishes. The establishment and dissemination by the Tintori nursery in Tuscany of a remarkable collection of citron trees and, later, the appearance on markets of the fingered 'Buddha's Hand' cultivar revived interest in citron tree products. Initial results from a methodical examination of their current culinary applications reveal a positive contribution to savoury cuisine as a result of contemporary cooking, maceration and extraction techniques. Cultivars are selected specifically for these different uses.

- by Peter Nahon
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- Agronomy, Food Science, Gastronomy, Fruits and Nuts
- by VERONICA N ONJORO
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- Education, Social Sciences, Social Media, Graceful Trees on 13 Edges

- by Saadat Sarikhani
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- Fruits and Nuts, Pomology, Plants, Almond

To assess the spatial distribution of photosynthetic capacity within an isolated 20-year-old walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) crown, the distribution of relevant leaf characteristics was measured. Variations in leaf dry weight per area (Wa), and nitrogen concentration on a weight (Nw) and area basis (Na), were studied in relation to solar irradiance along one vertical and two horizontal transects, on July 30 and September 3. In addition, the concentrations of total nonstructural carbon on a weight (TNCw) and area basis (TNCa) were measured on July 30. Concurrently, the spatial distribution of daily integrated leaf irradiance within the crown was simulated by a three-dimensional radiation transfer model over a one-week period before sampling at each date. Within the crown, high spatial heterogeneity was observed for Wa (from 50 to 140 g m−2), TNCa (from 4 to 17 g m−2) and Na (from 1.2 to 3.6 g m−2). Although TNCw and Nw were not correlated and only weakly correlated to daily leaf irradiance, respectively, Wa, TNCa and Na were strongly correlated to daily leaf irradiance. The relationship between observed Na and simulated daily leaf irradiance was used to assess the spatial distribution of Na within the crown at each date. Total leaf nitrogen in the foliage was estimated to be 339 g in late July and 317 g in early September. For the whole crown (i.e., 1729 current-year shoots), Na increased strongly with basal shoot diameter (an index of shoot ‘‘vigor’’), highlighting the fact that large shoots were mainly located in sunlit locations and exhibited high photosynthetic capacity.

- by Xavier LE ROUX
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- Tree Physiology, Walnut, leaf mass per Area, Leaf Nitrogen

Mast fruiting represents a synchronous population behaviour which can spread on large landscape areas. This reproductive pattern is generally perceived as a synchronous periodic production of large seed crops and has a significant practical importance to forest natural regeneration in order to synchronize cuttings. The mechanisms of masting are still argued and models of this phenomenon are uncommon, so a stochastic approach can cast significant light on some particular aspects. Trees manage to get synchronized and coordinate their reproductive routines. But is it possible that trees get synchronized by chance, absolutely random? Using a Monte Carlo simulation of seeding years and a theoretical masting pattern, a stochastic analysis is performed in order to assess the chance of random mast fruiting. Two populations of 100 trees, with different fruiting periodicity of 2-3 years and 4-6 years, were set and the fruition dynamic was simulated for 100 years. The results show that periodicity itself cannot induce by chance the masting effect, but periodicity mathematically influences the reproductive pattern.

- by Ciprian Palaghianu
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- Forest Ecology, Forest Growth Modelling, Fruticultura, Forest Modelling

The biochemically based leaf photosynthesis model proposed by Farquhar et al. (1980) and the stomatal conductance model proposed by Jarvis (1976) were parameterized for walnut. Responses of photosynthesis to CO2 and irradiance were used to determine the key parameters of the photosynthesis model. Concurrently, stomatal conductance responses to leaf irradiance (Q), leaf temperature (Tl), water vapor pressure deficit at the leaf surface (D), and air CO2 concentration at the leaf surface (Cs) were used to parameterize the stomatal conductance model. To test the generality of the model parameters, measurements were made on leaves from a 20-year-old tree growing in the field, and from sunlit and shaded greenhouse-grown seedlings. The three key parameters of the photosynthesis model (maximum carboxylation rate Vcmax , electron transport capacity Jmax , and dark respiration rate Rd) and the key parameter of the conductance model (reference stomatal conductance, gsref) were linearly correlated with the amount of leaf nitrogen per unit leaf area. Unique relationships could be used to describe nitrogen effects on these parameters for leaves from both the tree and the seedlings. Our data allowed separation of the effects of increasing total photosynthetic apparatus per unit leaf area from the effects of partitioning nitrogen among different pools of this apparatus for foliage acclimation to leaf irradiance. Strong correlations were found between stomatal conductance gs and Q, D and Cs , whereas the relationship between gs and Tl was weak. Based on these parameterizations, the model adequately predicted leaf photosynthesis and stomatal conductance when tested with an independent set of data obtained for the tree and seedlings. Total light-driven electron flows derived from chlorophyll fluorescence data obtained at different leaf temperatures were consistent with values computed by the model. The model was also tested with branch bag data acquired from a three-year-old potted walnut tree. Despite a relatively large variance between observed and simulated values, the model predicted stomatal conductance and photosynthesis reasonably well at the branch scale. The results indicate that the photosynthesis-conductance model developed here is robust and can be applied to walnut trees and seedlings under various environmental conditions where water is non-limiting.

- by Xavier LE ROUX
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- Photosynthesis, Modelling, Photosynthesis and respiration, Tree Physiology

To optimize the number and timing of trunk injections for season-long control of apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), we evaluated 1-2 and 4 seasonal and cross-seasonal injections of potassium phosphites and synthetic fungicides and quantified residues in leaves and fruit. Phosphites accumulated in the canopy at the highest concentrations, aligned well in time with scab suppression, and gave better leaf scab control of 41.8-73.5% than propiconazole (16.9-51.5%) or difenoconazole + cyprodinil (5.4-17.4%). More injections of phosphites controlled leaf scab better than fewer (23.7% vs. 48.2%), and more fungicide injections resulted in 21.9-51.1% better leaf scab control than fewer. Leaf scab control with phosphites was 3.2-13.9% better with 4 cross-seasonal compared to 4 seasonal injections, while 1-2 seasonal compared to 1-2 cross-seasonal injections improved scab control for 4.2-22.1%. On shoots, injected phosphites provided comparable or for 4.4-10.5% and 22.3-41.4% better scab control than spray standards. On fruit, injected phosphites slightly improved control compared to sprayed phosphites or the sprayed fungicide standard (33.4-40.8%). Two seasonal injections of phosphites controlled shoot scab 5.7% better than 9 spray applications. Five sprays of difenoconazole + cyprodinil controlled scab better than their injections. Fruit residues of phosphites reached 2.8 ppm and declined in all treatments except in 2 seasonal injections and phosphite sprays. Cyprodinil and difenoconazole fruit residues reached 0.02 and 0.07 ppm and declined sharply towards the end of the season. These were far below the USA, Codex, and EU MRL-s of 1, 0.8 and 0.5 ppm for difenoconazole, and 1.7, 2 and 1 ppm for cyprodinil, respectively.

- by Rismita Sari
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- Landscape Ecology, Genetics, Geography, Horticulture

- by Louise Ferguson
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- Fruits and Nuts, Pomology, Plants, Almond

This trial was carried out to study the relationship between irrigation and vegetative and productive activity and fruit quality of table olives (Olea europaea), cultivar ‘Ascolana tenera’. Irrigation every 15 days, with c. 0.4 m/tree at each irrigation, from the end of June to mid September, induced higher leaf surface area, photosynthesis, and transpiration during the entire growing period compared to the control. This led to an overall positive effect on total production per tree. Fruit weight, volume, and pulp/pit ratio all increased. Water availability influenced cell division more than cell expansion. Fruit shape was not influenced. Irrigation had no substantial delaying effect on ripening. With irrigation, pulp water content increased, and firmness and fruit sugar content decreased slightly, but after preservation in brine, pulp water content, and the sensory characteristics of the olives (flavour, texture, and detachment of the pulp from the pit) from irrigated and non‐irrigated olives were not substantially different. Irrigation improved the commercial value of the fruit by increasing size, higher pulp/pit ratio, and more intense fruit colouring.

- by Primo Proietti
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- Irrigation, Photosynthesis, Olive Oil, Irrigation water Management

This study was conducted on Picual olive seedlings grown at the greenhouse of National Research Center, Dokki, Giza governorate, Egypt. This investigation was performed to study the effect of applying crystalon (20: 20: 20 NPK) at four rates (0, 25, 37.5 and 50% g N/year/plant) as soil application twice monthly (from March till October) parallel with monthly N sprays during the growing season at of different N sources i.e. urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and crystalon at 0.5% for each. At the end of the season, percentage of plant height increment, leaves number per plant, shoots number per plant, stem diameter, leaves dry weight (%), roots number, root length were determined and recorded. The obtained results showed that combination of soil application with crystalon at 50g N/year and foliar application with urea at 0.5% led to markedly increment of plant height, leaves number and roots number more than other treatments. Meanwhile, shoots number was clearly higher with soil application of crystalon at 50 g N/year + foliar application with crystalon at 0.5%. Also, crystalon application as soil application at 37.5 g N/year + foliar application with crysalon at 0.5% improved root growth and recorded higher increasing in root length in comparison with the other applications. Finally, stem diameter and leaf dry weight had high values with soil application at 50 g N/year + foliar application with calcium nitrate at 0.5%. Generally, these results indicated that applying crystalon at 37.5g/year combined with urea spray at 0.5% was the most effective on growth performance. In addition, the foliar application could reinforce fertilization programs and enhancement it's efficiency.

- by Nabil Mustafa
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- Plant Tissue Culture, Abiotic Stress, Fruit Trees Physiology

Quality characters are influenced by many factors and among them the most warranted is the
physiological maturation of the seed. In rising any plantation seed serve as the base material, which is
characterized for its potentiality only based on its quality, which is spoken in terms of seed germination
and seed vigour. Tree crops which are having continuous flowering habit, the maturity levels vary with
seeds and collection of fruit for seeds is also mostly depends on ground collection. Hence studies in
four important oil yielding tree species viz., Pongamia pinnata, Simarouba glauca, Azardirachta indica
and Madhuca longifolia for identification of visual indices for seed maturation based on fruit colour that
correlates well with seed quality. The results revealed that seeds of dark brown fruits of P. pinnata
(96%), dark pink fruits of S. glauca (95%), yellow fruits of A. indica (100%) and greenish black fruits of
M. longifolia (80%) registered maximum germination and seedling vigour in terms of seedling growth
characters compared to fruits of various colours in all the species indicating that fruit colour could
serve as the symptom of harvest index that could be employed for the selection of quality fruits for
obtaining quality seeds.

- by Mariappan Natraj
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- Fruit Trees Physiology

variability in canopy attributes, i.e. between plants or between organs, may largely contribute the value of plant production. For example, there is the case of fruit distribution in horticultural crops and knot distribution in timber trees. On the one hand, fruit quality depends on local assimilate supply, water status and fruit temperature (Génard & Huguet 1996), i.e. a number of local properties related to microclimate in the fruit zone (Tustin, Hirst & Warrington 1988). On the other hand, knot distribution results from axillary shoot development, the morphology of which depends on local carbon supply (Sprugel, Hinckley & Schaap 1991; Takenaka 1994; Kellomäki & Strandman 1995). In both cases, spatial variations in fruit and wood properties are likely to be related to local exchanges between the vegetation and the atmosphere. Several three-dimensional (3D) models simulating carbon and/or water exchanges between plants and the atmosphere at the intracanopy scale have been proposed in the literature. In these models, canopy structure was abstracted as an array of 3D cells (also called voxels) (Myneni 1991; Chen et al. 1994; Desmarez et al. 2000) or geometrical shapes accounting for individual plants (e.g. Thorpe et al. 1978; Wang & Jarvis 1990). These models were aimed at scaling up from the leaf to the canopy, i.e. simulating carbon and/or water exchanges at the canopy scale as the result of the 3D canopy structure and leaf properties. To our knowledge, such models have not been tested and used at the intraplant scale. In this article, we propose a 3D model combining radiation transfer, energy balance and photosynthesis, for simulating carbon sources and water losses at the intracanopy scale. The model does not include soil water balance and uptake of water by roots.The model was tested against light, transpiration and photosynthesis measurements at the shoot or branch scale within the crown of an isolated walnut tree.

- by Xavier LE Roux
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- Photosynthesis, Modelling, Biological Sciences, Tree Physiology

- by Kourosh Vahdati
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- Fruits and Nuts, Pomology, Plants, Almond

Winter chill, which temperate trees require in order to overcome dormancy, is expected to decrease substantially in the future in most deciduous fruit tree growing areas. Several mathematical models have been developed in different regions to quantify chill requirements of tree species and cultivars. The Dynamic model has emerged as the most plausible and reliable model, yet all chill models have been found inadequate in at least some growing regions. Accurate models are crucial for the development of quantitatively appropriate climate change adaptation strategies for temperate orchards. To demonstrate the importance of model choice we compared the outputs from 13 agricultural and forest chill models using past and projected future weather data for nine sites in Chile, Tunisia and Germany. To evaluate chill risk, we used a weather generator calibrated with 45 years of temperature data to generate 100 years of synthetic temperature records per scenario for multiple climate scenarios. Chill was computed for 10 past scenarios and projected for 60 future scenarios (for 2050 and 2085 according to greenhouse gas concentration scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, using projections from 15 climate models). Results show that estimations differ substantially across chill models, even for the same sites and scenarios. The "Chilling Hours" model and the "Chilling Rate" function showed high sensitivity across regions in future scenarios. The "North Carolina", "Utah", "Modified Utah" and "Low Chill" models all suggest negative chill levels for past and future scenarios in Tunisia (despite the thriving fruit tree industry there). Only two models projected chill decreases in all sites. In Mediterranean climate areas (central Chile and Tunisia) the "Dynamic" and "Positive Utah" models forecasted similar chill reductions for future scenarios, whereas in temperate locations (Germany) the "Dynamic" model forecasted lower chill increase compared with the "Utah" and "Positive Utah" models. Despite the "Dynamic" and the "Positive Utah" models showing similar performance among climates, the "Dynamic" model appears to be the best current option, due its more physiologically credible structure. However, further research is needed to develop or identify models that are valid across wide climatic gradients. Our results show that a major source of variation and inaccuracy in chilling assessments is the choice of the chill model used to make the assessment.

- by Cory Whitney
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- Climate Change, Tree Fruit, Chilling Heat Requirement, Chilling

Seedlings of seven temperate tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus L., Betula pendula Roth, Fagus sylvatica L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Juglans regia L., Quercus petraea Matt. Liebl. and Quercus robur L.) were grown in a nursery under neutral filters transmitting 45% of incident global irradiance. During the second or third year of growth, leaf photosynthetic capacity (i.e., maximal carboxylation rate, V cmax , maximal photosynthetic electron transport rate, J max , and dark respiration, R d) was estimated for five leaves from each species at five or six leaf temperatures (10, 18, 25, 32, 36 and 40 °C). Values of V cmax and J max were obtained by fitting the equations of the Farquhar model on response curves of net CO2 assimilation (A) to sub-stomatal CO2 mole fraction (c i), at high irradiance. Primary parameters describing the kinetic properties of Rubisco (specificity factor, affinity for CO2 and for O2 , and their temperature responses) were taken from published data obtained with spinach and tobacco, and were used for all species. The temperature responses of V cmax and J max , which were fitted to a thermodynamic model, differed. Mean values of V cmax and J max at a reference temperature of 25 °C were 77.3 and 139 µmol m –2 s –1 , respectively. The activation energy was higher for V cmax than for J max (mean values of 73.1 versus 57.9 kJ mol –1) resulting in a decrease in J max /V cmax ratio with increasing temperature. The mean optimal temperature was higher for V cmax than for J max (38.9 versus 35.9 °C). In addition, differences in these temperature responses were observed among species. Temperature optima ranged between 35.9 and above 45 °C for V cmax and between 31.7 and 43.3 °C for J max , but because of data scatter and the limited range of temperatures tested (10 to 40 °C), there were few statistically significant differences among species. The optimal temperature for J max was highest in Q. robur, Q. petraea and J. regia, and lowest in A. pseudo-platanus and F. excelsior. Measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence revealed that the critical temperature at which basal fluorescence begins to increase was close to 47 °C, with no difference among species. These results should improve the parameterization of photosynthesis models, and be of particular interest when adapted to heterogeneous forests comprising mixtures of species with diverse ecological requirements.

The aim of our research was to fi nd out how weather affects the starting date of blooming.
To this end, we examined how various meteorological conditions affected the start of blooming
in years with different weather (dry, wet, cold, warm, sunny, cloudy). We also examined
the distribution and deviation of the starting dates. We wanted to fi nd out whether there was
a signifi cant connection between the start date and the length of blooming: whether an early
beginning leads to longer blooming, and whether a later start date causes the end of blooming
to occur faster. The results confi rmed that at the cultivation site examined, earlier start
also meant longer blooming for the three sour cherry varieties. Of meteorological variables,
we used maximum temperature, potential evaporation, the difference between day and night
temperatures, as well as climatic water balance for the statistics. Apart from these we modeled
temperature indexes (Winkler, Huglin) and climatic water balance, which is the difference
between the precipitation and potential evaporation.
The start date of blooming showed closest correlation with the average difference between
day and night temperatures of the 30-day period preceding the start of blooming. We also
found signifi cant correlation with the thermal indexes, the maximum temperature, climatic
water balance and potential evaporation.

- by MARIA CLAUDIA DUSSI and +2
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- Environmental Sustainability, Fruits and Nuts, Plant Physiology, Plant Phisiology

In the present work, olive-crop yields and olive oil physico-chemical quality were studied after three and six years of olive mill wastewater (OMW) spreading at three levels (50, 100 and 200 m3 ha-1 year-1). Olive yield showed improvements with OMW level. Insignificant difference in oil content and oil quality indices of the control and treatments amended by OMW was observed. Moreover, olive oil acidic composition showed invariability after all OMW rates application. However, the extracted oils from the three-treated olive plots presented the higher tocopherol values. OMW spreading at different rates influenced significantly the oil total phenol contents. While -sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol contents showed increases after six successive spreading with a high percentage in the 100 OMW m3 ha-1 treatment, cholesterol and -7-stigmastenol contents didn’t exhibit any significant difference between the experimented treatments. After OMW treatment, the olive oil quality was t...

- by EMNA AMMAR
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- Agronomy, Research Methodology, Educational Research, Plant Biology

A three-dimensional model of radiative transfer and leaf gas exchange was used to quantify daily carbon (C) assimilation of all fruit-bearing shoots (FBS) in an early maturing 6-year-old peach tree (Prunus persica L. Batsch) with a heavy crop load. For a sample of FBS (n = 36), growth of fruit and leafy shoots was measured every 1-2 weeks from 24 days after bloom (DAB) until harvest, between 93-101 DAB. The objective was to relate shoot C assimilation with harvested fruit mass for each shoot to test the hypothesis that variation in C supply contributes significantly to variation in fruit growth within and among FBS. Mean C assimilation of the sampled shoots was 0.07 g C fruit-1 day-1 , but varied between 0.014 and 0.32 g C fruit-1 day-1. This indicates that C availability for fruit growth would have varied significantly among individual FBS if they were autonomous. Mean fruit dry mass on each FBS varied between 0.716 and 7.68 g C at harvest, and most of the variation originated among, not within, individual FBS. However, there were no correlations between the mean and standard deviation of fruit mass and fruit relative growth rate when each was plotted against shoot C assimilation, indicating that factors such as those regulating C demand of fruit, or C transfer among individual FBS, may be more important in controlling variability in fruit growth than intra-crown variability in shoot C assimilation. Under the study conditions, FBS were non-autonomous for C, because a model of fruit and leafy shoot growth was unable to reproduce the observed growth without supplementary contribution of C from shoots without fruit.

- by Xavier LE Roux
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- Carbon, Photosynthesis, Plant Biology, Ecology

Theproductionandconsumptionofnutsareincreasingintheworldduetostrongeconomic returns and the nutritional value of their products. With the increasing role and importance given to nuts (i.e., walnuts, hazelnut, pistachio, pecan, almond) in a balanced and healthy diet and their beneﬁts to human health, breeding of the nuts species has also been stepped up. Most recent fruit breeding programs have focused on scion genetic improvement. However, the use of locally adapted grafted rootstocks also enhanced the productivity and quality of tree fruit crops. Grafting is an ancient horticultural practice used in nut crops to manipulate scion phenotype and productivity and overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. There are complex rootstock breeding objectives and physiological and molecular aspects of rootstock–scion interactions in nut crops. In this review, we provide an overview of these, considering the mechanisms involved in nutrient and water uptake, regulation of phytohormones, and rootstock inﬂuences on the scion molecular processes, including long-distance gene silencing and trans-grafting. Understanding the mechanisms resulting from rootstock×scion×environmental interactions will contribute to developing new rootstocks with resilience in the face of climate change, but also of the multitude of diseases and pests.

- by Kourosh Vahdati and +3
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- Fruits and Nuts, Pomology, Almond, Fruit tree breeding (scion and rootstock)

Carbohydrate availability is a key factor determining fruit growth in apple (Malus ·domestica) and other fruits. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating fleshy fruit growth in response to changes in carbohydrate availability are not well understood. In this study, carbohydrate availability was manipulated by reducing fruit load, and its effects on apple fruit growth, cell production and expansion, and the expression of genes associated with these processes was investigated. Reduction of fruit load during early fruit development led to a rapid increase in early fruit growth. The increase in fruit growth was associated with a transient increase in sorbitol and fructose concentrations and altered expression of sorbitol dehydrogenase and sucrose synthase genes.

- by Madhumita Dash
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- Carbohydrates Metabolism, Thinning, Fruit Trees Physiology, Malus domestica BORKH

There is presently no consensus about the factor(s) driving photosynthetic acclimation and the intra-canopy distribution of leaf characteristics under natural conditions. The impact was tested of local (i) light quality (red/far red ratio), (ii) leaf irradiance (PPFD i), and (iii) transpiration rate (E) on total non-structural carbohydrates per leaf area (TNCa), TNC-free leaf mass-to-area ratio (LMA), total leaf nitrogen per leaf area (Na), photosynthetic capacity (maximum carboxylation rate and light-saturated electron transport rate), and leaf N partitioning between carboxylation and bioenergetics within the foliage of young walnut trees grown outdoors. Light environment (quantity and quality) was controlled by placing individual branches under neutral or green screens during spring growth, and air vapour pressure de®cit (VPD) was prescribed and leaf transpiration and photosynthesis measured at branch level by a branch bag technique. Under similar levels of leaf irradiance, low air vapour pressure de®cit decreased transpiration rate but did not influence leaf characteristics. Close linear relationships were detected between leaf irradiance and leaf Na , LMA or photosynthetic capacity, and low R/FR ratio decreased leaf Na , LMA and photosynthetic capacity. Irradiance and R/FR also influenced the partitioning of leaf nitrogen into carboxylation and electron light transport. Thus, local light level and quality are the major factors driving photosynthetic acclimation and intra-canopy distribution of leaf characteristics, whereas local transpiration rate is of less importance.

- by Xavier LE ROUX
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- Photosynthesis, Tree Physiology, Transpiration, Leaf Nitrogen

- by Jamil Jalal
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- Agronomy, Middle East Studies, Organic agriculture, Kurdish Studies

Tu Bishvat, and a message of hope jpost.com/judaism/article-690311 With new COVID variants, seemingly never-ending vaccines, mandates causing tensions between government and citizens, and travel restrictions forcing the separation of families and friends this winter, there is a prevalent feeling of uncertainty. The upcoming holiday of Tu Bishvat reminds us that despite it all, the Jewish people is always a nation with hope.

- by Rabbi Menachem Levine
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- Spirituality, Hebrew Bible, Jewish Mysticism, Jewish Philosophy

The objectives of the study were to identify the relevant hydraulic parameters associated with stomatal regulation during water stress and to test the hypothesis of a stomatal control of xylem embolism in walnut (Juglans regia× nigra) trees. The hydraulic characteristics of the sap pathway were experimentally altered with different methods to alter plant transpiration (E plant) and stomatal conductance (g s). Potted trees were exposed to a soil water depletion to alter soil water potential (Ψsoil), soil resistance (R soil), and root hydraulic resistances (R root). Soil temperature was changed to alter R root alone. Embolism was created in the trunk to increase shoot resistance (R shoot). Stomata closed in response to these stresses with the effect of maintaining the water pressure in the leaf rachis xylem (P rachis) above −1.4 MPa and the leaf water potential (Ψleaf) above −1.6 MPa. The same dependence of E plant andg s on P rachis or Ψleaf was always observed. This sugges...

- by Xavier LE Roux
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- Soil, Drought Stress, Biological Sciences, Plant Physiology

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pests of deciduous fruit trees in Egypt. The reproduction, survival, and life table parameters of T. urticae on Kostata and Hachiya Persimmon cultivars leaves were studied under laboratory conditions of 15, 20, 25 and 30 ± 2ºC, 70 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D. The shortest period of incubation, immature stages and female longevity were 3.27, 8.92 and 12.98 days, while these periods for males were 3.35, 7.8 and 11.8 days at 30ºC on Kostata persimmon variety, respectively. 30 ºC gave the maximum value of intrinsic rate of increase (r m) 0.243 and 0.297 individuals/♀/ day on and maximum net reproductive rate (Ro) 47.51 and 63.47 individuals/♀ on Kostata and Hachiya varieties, respectively. Maximum fecundity was obtained on Kostata variety at 30ºC at day 15 as 8.93 eggs/♀/day. It was concluded that the Hachiya variety was more favorable for T. urticae than Kostata variety resulting in the highest fecundity and reproduction at 30°C.

- by Ashraf Elhalawany
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- Biology, Life Table, Persimmons, Fruit Trees Physiology

The temporal dynamics of N remobilization was studied in walnut (Juglans nigra regia) trees growing in sand culture. Trees were fed with labeled N (15 N) during 1999 and unlabeled N in 2000. Total N and 15 N contents in different tree compartments were measured during 80 d after bud burst and were used to estimate N remobilization for spring growth. The seasonal (and occasionally diurnal) dynamics of the concentration and 15 N enrichment of the major amino acids in xylem sap were determined concurrently. Sap flow velocity was also measured for sample trees. A new approach coupling amino acid concentrations to sap flow velocity for quantifying N remobilization was tested. A decrease of the labeled N contents of medium roots, tap roots, and trunk was observed concurrently to the increase in the labeled N content of new shoots. Remobilized N represented from previous year storage 54% of N recovered in new shoots. Arginine, citruline,-amino butyric acid, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid always represented around 80% of total amino acid and amide N in xylem sap and exhibited specific seasonal trends and significant diurnal trends. N translocation was mainly insured by arginine during the first 15 d after bud burst, and then by glutamic acid and citruline. The pattern of N remobilization estimated by the new approach was consistent with that measured by the classical labeling technique. Implications for quantifying N remobilization for large, field-growing trees are discussed.

- by Xavier LE ROUX
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- Stable isotope ecology, Tree Physiology, Nitrogen, Tree growth

Seedlings of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. Halford) were mechanically wounded or inoculated with mycelium of Cytospora leucostoma (Pers.) Fr. Bark samples for histological study were taken from margins of visibly affected areas at varying times after treatment. Histological examination revealed that host responses to wounding and pathogen colonization were basically similar, differing only in timing and extent of responses examined. Nonspecific host responses included gum production, changes in cell wall polysaccharides, cell wall lignification, and formation of suberized impervious tissues as part of the process of necrophylactic periderm formation. The presence of the fungus was associated with inhibited differentiation of living tissues; and, as a result, host processes responsible for impervious tissue and necrophylactic periderm formation were affected adversely.