Greenish stains are sometimes observed on the surface of the mature fruits of the citrus cultivar 'Setomi'. These stains, as well as melanoses, decrease the commodity value of the 'Setomi' fruit. Two types of greenish stains have been observed: a smooth surface type and a cracking surface type. Greenish stains were observed on the 'Setomi' fruit in all orchards surveyed in this study; however, the occurrence rate of the damaged fruit varied among orchards. This situation suggested that the greenish stains represented a plant disease. Indeed, during the course of this study, some fungi were isolated from the greenish stains, which were inoculated on the 'Setomi' fruit. This inoculation resulted in certain symptoms resembling the greenish stains, but the specific fungus causing the stains remains unclear. In addition, periodical applications of manzeb WP from the beginning of June to September could decrease the incidence of greenish stains.

Magallanes pummelo fruit were treated with various chitosan concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0%) along with a commercial wax and stored at ambient conditions (26.6-29.0°C and 73.5-88.3% RH). At 9 and 12 weeks after treatment (WAT), waxed fruit showed the least weight loss while this did not vary between the control and the chitosan-treated fruit. Control fruit had higher L* and hue values relative to the chitosan-coated lots. Waxing or coating with chitosan did not affect the L* value, chroma, degree of granulation, juice content up to 9 WAT, and decay of pummelo fruit. Hue increased with time. Lower percentage of granulation was observed in control, 1.5 and 2.0% chitosan-coated fruit. Fruit wax seemed to promote granulation relative to untreated fruit. Treated fruit showed higher pH and TSS:TA while control fruit had higher TA and TSS. Fruit treated with chitosan and wax showed better appearance due to its reduced color changes (delay in the change of color from green to yellow), lesser shriveling and better visual quality at the later part of storage.

After harvest, the fruit ripens and stem-end rot (SER) starts to develop, leading to significant fruit losses. SER is caused by diverse pathogenic fungi that endophytically colonize the stem during fruit development in the orchard or field and remain quiescent until the onset of fruit ripening. During the endophytic-like stage, the pathogenic fungus colonizes the phloem and xylem of the fruit stem-end; after fruit ripening, the fungus converts to a necrotrophic lifestyle, while colonizing the fruit parenchyma, and causes SER. The fruit stem-end is colonized not only by pathogenic fungi, but also by various nonpathogenic endophytic microorganisms, including fungi, yeast and bacteria. However, little is known about the fruit stem-end endophytic microbiome, which could contain new and existing biocontrol agents. To control fruit SER, treatments such as ripening inhibition, harvesting with the stem, application of chemical or biological fungicides, or physical control such as heat treatments, cold storage, or exposure to light have been suggested. This review focuses on the characterization of SER pathogens, the stem-end microbiome, and different pre- and postharvest practices that could control fruit SER.

The study evaluated the efficacy of a sprayable formulation of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to delay fruit maturation on the tree in comparison to aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). 1-MCP (150 mg L-1) and AVG (124 mg L-1) were sprayed to 'Imperial Gala' and 'Royal Gala' apple trees from two commercial orchards, 7 and 28 days before commercial fruit harvest maturity, respectively, during four consecutive years. Untreated trees were used as control. Fruit were harvested weekly, during four weeks from the 7th day after 1-MCP spray and assessed one day after harvest. The extent of fruit maturation delay on the tree by 1-MCP and AVG was quantified by linear regression analysis of fruit firmness as a function of harvest date. The estimated date when apple fruit reached firmness of 71.1 N on the tree was delayed for 5.3 to 5.6 days by 1-MCP and for 9.0 to 9.4 days by AVG in comparison to the control, depending on cultivar-orchard. Indices of fruit maturity and quality at harvest were also estimated by linear regression analysis for the estimated date when fruit reach flesh firmness of 71.1 N on the tree. 1-MCP and/or AVG treated fruit had similar or lower ethylene production rates, starch index, titratable acidity and red color and similar or greener background color than control, at estimated harvest dates when fruit of all three treatments reached the same firmness of 71.1 N. 1-MCP and AVG treatments did not affect rates of fruit growth. However, at estimated dates when fruit of all treatments reached the firmness of 71.1, 1-MCP and AVG treated fruit were 2.1 to 7.1% larger than control fruit.

Bagging fruit with plastic, paper, and two-layer commercial bags was evaluated for control of insect pests and diseases in an experimental apple orchard planted with ‘Red Delicious’ trees. Results from fruit damage evaluations at harvest showed that bagging significantly reduced fruit damage from direct apple pests compared with non-bagged control plots, and generally provided similar levels of fruit protection when compared with a conventional pesticide spray program. Of the three bagging materials evaluated, plastic bags provided numerically higher levels of fruit protection from insect pests, and two-layer commercial bags provided numerically higher levels of fruit protection from fruit diseases. Fruit quality as measured by percentage Brix was higher in non-bagged control plots than all other treatment plots. Fruit quality as measured by fruit diameter was not significantly different among treatments. Plastic and two-layer commercial bags generally required less time to secure around apple fruit than paper bags. The proportion of bags that remained on fruit until harvest ranged from 0.54–0.71 (commercial bags), 0.64–0.82 (plastic bags), and 0.32–0.60 (paper bags), depending on the year.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of CO₂ fertilization on vegetative and reproductive growth and fruit yield of plants grown in a commercial strawberry farm. Leaf length and width were 14.3 and 12.2% lower in the CO₂ fertilization than in the control (without CO₂ fertilization), respectively. Photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration rate were significantly lower in the CO₂ fertilization than that in the control treatment. The fresh and dry weights of fruit grown in the CO₂ fertilization were 19.9% and 27.3% higher, respectively, in January. Total yield was higher at 6 to 8 weeks when the CO₂ was applied, but it was not significant. When the fruit carbohydrate concentration was measured in triplicate at a 3-day intervals from the 6th to 13th of January, the sucrose concentration was initially lower in the CO₂ fertilization than that in the control. However, at the second and last time points, it was higher, about 41 μgㆍg-¹ (30 μg / fruit) and 21 μgㆍg-¹ (89 μg / fruit), respectively, than the control. Both glucose and fructose were also about 14 μgㆍg-¹ (68-73 μg / fruit) higher than the control treatment groups at the last time point. Vertical and horizontal hardness, soluble sugar content, and acid content of fruit grown with CO₂ fertilization were slightly higher than the control, although there was no statistical significance. Together, these data suggest that a long-term CO₂ fertilization for a protected cultivation of strawberry crop can reduces vegetative growth, but improves reproductive growth and fruit quality.

The investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of different doses of gamma rays (100, 200, 300, 400, 500Gy and zero doses as control) on various morphological aspects of Abelmoschus esculentus. A comparison of the results of different doses with control showed that gamma irradiation significantly affected various parameters. Days to germination were almost the same as compared to control, but 400Gy took minimum days to germination. Germination % was 100% both in control and the irradiated plants. 100Gy took minimum days for flower initiation as compared to control and other doses. Fruit initiation early occurred in 100Gy as compared to other doses, and fruit maturation occurred early in 300Gy as compared to control. Plant height was significantly increased at 500Gy as compared to control. Number of fruits per plant was significantly decreased at 200Gy as compared to control. Fruit length decreased in all doses but in control fruit length was maximum. Number of seeds per fruit was maximum at control, fresh and dry weights of seeds were increased in control as compared to other doses. The number of nodes decreased in all doses but in the control the numbers of nodes were maximum. Branches were increased in100Gy as compare to 200, 300,400,500Gy as well in control. Numbers of leaves were increased in 300Gy as compared to other doses.

The aim of this research was to improve fruit quality and fruit colouration using four-year-old ‘Braeburn Hillwell’ apple trees on M9 (3×1 m spacing) by employing reflective ground covers and biostimulants at Klein-Altendorf, nr. Bonn, Germany (50°N). Two reflective ground covers were spread on both sides of tree rows seven weeks before anticipated harvest and two biostimulants were applied twice – four and two weeks before harvest. Adjacent trees of the same row without reflective ground cover or without biostimulants served as control. For each treatment, ten replicate trees plus one border tree either side were employed and all trees hand thinned to the same number of fruit at the end of July, i.e., one month prior to the treatment. Apple trees with Extenday® and Lumilys® yielded from 69 to 44% well-coloured fruit (with 75-100% fruit colouration) compared with 16-26% in the control. No differences in sugar content (°Brix) and fruit firmness (kg cm(-2)) were observed as a result of the reflective mulches. Starch breakdown in fruit exposed to seven weeks reflective mulch was significantly delayed compared with the control resulting in retarded maturation of fruit with reflective mulches. In 2015, a year with delayed maturation, biostimulants showed neither effects on inner and external fruit quality nor on fruit with >75% surface colour. Trees treated with the biostimulants Wuxal®ATRiun or Sunred® did not improve the percentage of well-coloured fruits (75-100% fruit surface with red colouration) compared with the untreated control; Sunred® improved the portion of fruit >25% colouration by 15%. Similarly, inner and external fruit quality showed no significant differences in fruit firmness, sugar content and starch degradation. An economic analysis showed an economic advantage, if the reflective mulches are used more than once a year.

The present research work was carried out under Horticulture Garden, Department of Horticulture (Fruit & Fruit Tech.), Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour to examine the response of pre-harvest foliar application of micronutrients and growth regulators on yield attributes of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) 'Purbi'. The results indicate that the micronutrients and plant growth regulators had beneficial effect on flowering, fruiting, fruit retention and fruit yield. The maximum fruit set (48.64%), fruit retention (25.36%) and number of fruits tree(-1) (4982) were recorded with application of NAA (20 ppm) in comparison to control. A minimum fruit drop (74.64%) and fruit cracking (7.96%) was also obtained with application of NAA (20 ppm) while the maximum fruit drop (82.94%) and fruit cracking (13.92%) was recorded under control. The highest fruit yield tree(-1) was recorded with application of NAA (20 ppm) (102.98 kg) followed by 2,4-D (10 ppm) whereas it was recorded minimum in control (56.96 kg). The length, width, volume and weight of fruits were significantly influenced by the application of different micronutrient and growth regulators with maximum fruit length (4.29 cm), width (3.7 cm), volume (18.86 cc) and weight (20.67 g) in the pre-harvest application of NAA (20 ppm), which was statistically at par with foliar spray of 2,4-D (10 ppm), ZnSO(4) (0.50%) and borax (0.75%). However, minimum fruit length (3.36 cm), width (3.62 cm), volume (14.52 cc) and weight (15.76 g) were recorded under control. Therefore, from the experiment, it can be said that the foliar spray of micronutrients and growth regulators were very useful to enhance the yield of litchi orchard significantly.

Abstract The crop load of European plums must be adjusted to achieve high quality with adequate size and skin color in order to attend market requirements. The present study had the objective to investigate the effects of chemical and mechanical thinning, applied isolated and in combination of both, at different phenological stages of Katinka plum growing in Southern Germany. The following thinners were tested: mechanical thinning, chemical thinning with Ammoniumthiosulfate - ATS, Ethephon, Prohexadione-Calcium and Gibberellin. Mechanical thinning treatment isolated or associated with ATS. Significantly increased fruit drop and reduced the yield. It also, increased fruit size and fruit weight when compared to the control plants. Also Ethephon increased fruit drop and fruit size when compared to the control plants. Among to other chemical treatments, no positive effects were observed for fruit thinning when compared to the control plants.