Postharvest Application of 1-MCP to Green or Yellow Banana for Extending Storability and Shelf-Life
Acta Horticulturae, 2012
Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Mango Ripening
Acta Horticulturae, 2001
A cell-free xylan synthesizing enzyme system from <italic>Avena sativa</italic>
Plant and Cell Physiology, Jun 1, 1973
Is the Acoustic Response of Fruits a Measure of Firmness or of Turgor?
Acta horticulturae, Jun 1, 2001
Origin, history, production and processing
CABI eBooks, 2005
This chapter covers the history of cultivation of longan and litchi (Litchi chinensis); litchi pr... more This chapter covers the history of cultivation of longan and litchi (Litchi chinensis); litchi production in China, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Indonesia, southern Africa, Australia, North America, Brazil, Mexico and Israel; longan production in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and USA; drying and canning of longan and litchi fruits; products from litchi and longan (juice and nectar, and frozen fruits); and international trading of longan and litchi.
Use of Anti-Fungal Gene Synergisms for Improved Foliar and Fruit Disease Tolerance in Transgenic Grapes
Original objectives . 1. Test anti-fungal gene products for activity against Uncinula necator, As... more Original objectives . 1. Test anti-fungal gene products for activity against Uncinula necator, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea. 2. For Agrobacterium transformation, design appropriate vectors with gene combinations. 3. Use biolistic bombardment and Agrobacterium for transformation of important cultivars. 4. Characterize gene expression in transformants, as well as level of powdery mildew and Botrytis resistance in foliage of transformed plants. Background The production of new grape cultivars by conventional breeding is a complex and time-consuming process. Transferring individual traits via single genes into elite cultivars was proposed as a viable strategy, especially for vegetatively propagated crops such as grapevines. The availability of effective genetic transformation procedures, the existence of genes able to reduce pathogen stress, and improved in vitro culture methods for grapes, were combined to serve the objective of this proposal. Effective deployment of resistance genes would reduce production costs and increase crop quality, and several such genes and combinations were used in this project. Progress The efficacy of two-way combinations of Trichoderma endochitinase (CHIT42), synthetic peptide ESF12 and resveratrol upon the control of growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium digitatum were evaluated in vitro. All pairwise interactions were additive but not synergistic. Per objective 2, suitable vectors with important gene combinations for Agrobacterium transformation were designed. In addition, multiple gene co-transformation by particle bombardment was also tested successfully. In New York, transformation work focused on cultivars Chardonnay and Merlot, while the technology in Israel was extended to 41B, R. 110, Prime, Italia, Gamay, Chardonnay and Velika. Transgenic plant production is summarized in the appendix. Among plants developed in Israel, endochitinase expression was assayed via the MuchT assay using material just 1-5 days after co-cultivation. Plants of cv. Sugraone carrying the gene coding for ESF12, a short anti-fungal lytic peptide under the control of the double 358 promoter, were produced. Leaf extracts of two plants showed inhibition zones that developed within 48 h indicating the inhibitory effect of the leaf extracts on the six species of bacteria. X fastidiosa, the causal organism of Pierce's disease, was very sensitive to leaf extracts from ESF12 transformed plants. Further work is needed to verify the agricultural utility of ESF12 transformants. In New York, some transformants were resistant to powdery mildew and Botrytis fruit rot. Major conclusions, solutions, achievements and implications The following scientific achievements resulted from this cooperative BARD project: 1. Development and improvement of embryogenesis and tissue culture manipulation in grape, while extending these procedures to several agriculturally important cultivars both in Israel and USA. 2. Development and improvement of novel transformation procedures while developing transformation techniques for grape and other recalcitrant species. 3. Production of transgenic grapevines, characterization of transformed vines while studying the expression patterns of a marker gene under the control of different promoter as the 35S CaMV in different part of the plants including flowers and fruits. 4. Expression of anti-fungal genes in grape: establishment of transgenic plants and evaluation of gene expression. Development of techniques to insert multiple genes. 5. Isolation of novel grape specific promoter to control the expression of future antimicrobial genes. It is of great importance to report that significant progress was made in not only the development of transgenic grapevines, but also in the evaluation of their potential for increased resistance to disease as compared with the non engineered cultivar. In several cases, increased disease resistance was observed. More research and development is still needed before a product can be commercialized, yet our project lays a framework for further investigations.
Pectin Cross-Linking Dynamics and Wall Softening during Fruit Ripening
Our study was designed to elucidate the chemical determinants of pectin cross-linking in developi... more Our study was designed to elucidate the chemical determinants of pectin cross-linking in developing fruits of apple and peach and to evaluate the role of breakage cross-linkages in swelling, softening, and cell separation during the ripening. Peaches cell walls soften and swell considerably during the ripening, whereas apples fruit cells maintain wall firmness but cells separate during late stages of ripening. We used a &quot;double-reduction&quot; technique to show that levels of non-methyl esters of polyuronic acid molecules were constant during the development and ripening and decreased only in overripe fruit. In peach, methyl and non-methyl esters increased during the development and decreased markedly during the ripening. Non-methyl ester linkages in both fruit decreased accompanied fruit softening. The identity of the second component of the linkage and its definitive role in the fruit softening remain elusive. In preliminary examination of isolated apples cell walls, we found that phenolic compounds accumulate early in wall development but decrease markedly during ripening. Quantitative texture analysis was used to correlate with changes to wall chemistry from the fresh-picked ripe stage to the stage during storage when the cell separation occurs. Cell wall composition is similar in all cultivars, with arabinose as the principal neutral sugar. Extensive de-branching of these highly branched arabinans pre-stages softening and cell-cell separation during over-ripening of apple. The longer 5-arabinans remain attached to the major pectic polymer rhamnogalacturonan I (RG I) backbone. The degree of RG I branching, as judged from the ratios of 2-Rha:2,4-Rha, also decreases, specially after an extensive arabinan de-branching. Loss of the 4-Rham linkages correlated strongly with the softening of the fruit. Loss of the monomer or polymer linked to the RG I produce directly or indirectly the softening of the fruit. This result will help to understand the fruit softening and to have better control of the textural changes in fruit during the ripening and especially during the storage. &#39;Wooliness&#39;, an undesirable mealy texture that is induced during chilling of some peach cultivars, greatly reduces the fruit storage possibilities. In order to examine the hypothesis that the basis for this disorder is related to abnormality in the cell wall softening process we have carried out a comparative analysis using the resistant cultivar, Sunsnow, and a sensitive one, Hermosa. We investigated the activity of several pectin- and glycan-modifying enzymes and the expression of their genes during ripening, chilling, and subsequent shelf-life. The changes in carbohydrate status and in methyl vs. non-methyl uronate ester levels in the walls of these cultivars were examined as well to provide a basis for comparison of the relevant gene expression that may impact appearance of the wooly character. The activities of the specific polygalacturonase (PGase) and a CMC-cellulase activities are significantly elevated in walls of peaches that have become wooly. Cellulase activities correlated well with increased level of the transcript, but differential expression of PGase did not correspond with the observed pattern of mRNA accumulation. When expression of ethylene biosynthesis related genes was followed no significant differences in ACC synthase gene expression was observed in the wooly fruit while the normal activation of the ACC oxidase was partially repressed in the Hermosa wooly fruits. Normal ripening-related loss of the uronic acid-rich polymers was stalled in the wooly Hermosa inconsistent with the observed elevation in a specific PGase activity but consistent with PG gene expression. In general, analysis of the level of total esterification, degree of methyl esterification and level of non-methyl esters did not reveal any major alterations between the different fruit varieties or between normal and abnormal ripening. Some decrease in the level of uronic acids methyl esterification was observed for both Hermosa and Sunsnow undergoing ripening following storage at low temperature but not in fruits ripening after harvest. Our results support a role for imbalanced cell wall degradation as a basis for the chilling disorder. While these results do not support a role for the imbalance between PG and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activities as the basis for the disorder they suggest a possible role for imbalance between cellulose and other cell wall polymer degradation during the softening process.
Gibberelllic Acid Reduces Sensitivity of Persimmon Fruits to Ethylene
Springer eBooks, 1989
“Triumph” persimmon (Diospyros kaki) trees were sprayed with 50mg.1−1 GA3 2 weeks prior to harves... more “Triumph” persimmon (Diospyros kaki) trees were sprayed with 50mg.1−1 GA3 2 weeks prior to harvest. The harvested fruits were exposed to 0, 1, 103 100 μ1.1−1 ethylene at 20°C or -1°C in air or in a controlled atmosphere (1.5–2.0% CO2, 3.0–3.5% O2) for various times. In the absence of ethylene, GA3 delayed fruit softening at both temperatures and storage atmospheres. Ethylene accelerated the softening of both GA3-treated and untreated fruits. The minimum dose required to accelerate was dependent on the duration of exposure, the storage temperature and GA3 pre-treatment. The sensitivity of GA3-treated fruit was ten times less than that of the controls, irrespective of environmental storage conditions.
Postharvest Treatments of Lychee Fruit as Revealed in Fruit Surface Morphology and Enzyme Activity
Acta horticulturae, Jun 1, 2001
Physiological Effects of Controlled Atmosphere Storage on 'Fiesta Red' Nectarines
Acta horticulturae, Jun 1, 1995
Performance of ‘Coscia’ pear (<i>Pyrus communis</i>) on seven rootstocks in a warm climate
Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology, 2007
Summary The vegetative and reproductive performance of ‘Coscia’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) growing ... more Summary The vegetative and reproductive performance of ‘Coscia’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) growing on seven rootstocks [OHF 69, OHF 97, OHF 513 and BP 1 (P. communis), clonal seedling (Davis AxB) of P. betulifolia, and quince BA 29 and EMA (Cydonia oblonga)] were compared over an 8-year period. The trial was conducted at the Experimental Orchard Farm Station in northern Israel, on a well-drained soil with pH 7.5. Trees were planted in December 1998 at a distance of 4.0 m 2.0 m, and trained with a central axis. The most vigorous trees were on P. betulifolia seedling, followed by BP 1 and the three OHF rootstocks (69, 97, 513). All the above rootstocks demonstrated greater vigour than quince BA 29 or EMA. The reason for this effect, at least in part, appeared to be the excellent water status (high midday stem water potential values) of trees on P. betulifolia in comparison with the other rootstocks. The highest cumulative yields per tree were harvested from trees on P. betulifolia and BP 1, followed by the three OHF rootstocks (69, 97, 513). However, the highest cumulative yield of large fruit (> 60 mm) was obtained from trees on P. betulifolia, followed by the OHF series and BP 1. The two quince rootstocks had the lowest cumulative yield, and the lowest yield of large fruit. A positive correlation was found between the vigour of the tree, as affected by the rootstock, and both total yield and fruit size. We conclude that, in a warm climate, yield efficiency is not the only parameter that should be taken into account, and building a strong tree for the weak scion cultivar is the first requirement for establishing an orchard. Fruit quality at harvest and during cold storage were examined for fruit from three rootstocks only. The highest soluble solids content values at harvest were obtained in fruit grown on quince EMA, compared to values for BP 1 and P. betulifolia fruit.
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