Develipment of an effective and safe detection or control system is important for pest management. Attractants for male fruit files, e.g. methyl eugenol, are currently being used in fruit control in combination with insecticides. A single formulation that possesses both attraction and killing properties would improve control methods and cost effectiveness. We previously observed the attraction of oriental fruit flies to a basil plat in a yard and confirmed the attraction of male fruit flies to basil oil in the laboratory.

Wax application plays an important role in prolonging fruit quality, and the addition of imazalil (IMZ) furthermore protects fruit against green mould caused by Penicillium digitatum. The objectives of this study were to evaluate green mould control and quality preservation effects of carnauba or polyethylene citrus coatings supplemented with IMZ, as well as the effect of synthetic or horsehair brush types used on sweet orange fruit. Single applications of IMZ at 3000μgmL−1 at rates of 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8Lt−1 resulted in residues that increased with increasing coating loads on navel oranges (1.31 to 3.32μgg−1) and Valencia oranges (3.22 to 6.00μgg−1). Coating with IMZ generally provided poorer curative control (≈14%) than protective control (≈58%), with less sporulation in treatments using horsehair (≈59%) than synthetic brushes (≈64%). More fruit weight and firmness losses were found in fruit treated with the polyethylene coating (≈1.18 and ≈0.93 ratios of treated vs. untreated, respectively) and lower in carnauba treated fruit (≈0.76 and ≈0.74 ratios, respectively). However, polyethylene coatings resulted in shinier fruit before (≈10.85 shine ratio) and after storage (11.60), whereas carnauba coatings resulted in lower shine ratios (≈7.45 and 10.15, respectively). Gas (CO2) exchange ratios remained similar for both waxes (≈0.67). Higher polyethylene coating loads (1.8Lt−1) resulted in off-tastes similar to uncoated control fruit (≈2.21 rating on a 5-point scale) and higher than the rating for carnauba coated fruit (≈1.82) at this rate. Scanning electron micrographs showed an amorphous crystallised natural wax layer with uncovered stomatal pores on the surface of uncoated fruit. The thickness of the applied wax layer increased with increasing coating load. A single application of IMZ in wax provided good protective green mould control and sporulation inhibition, with differing effects on some fruit quality parameters due to coating and brush types.

The effect of several irrigation strategies on fruit quality at harvest and during cold storage at 5 °C of ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) was studied for three seasons. Irrigation treatments consisted of a control irrigated at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), a sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) where trees were irrigated at 50% of the ETc during the entire season, and three regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments. In the RDI regimes, severe water restrictions (25% ETc) were applied during one of three phases: flowering and fruit set (RDIfl.-fr.set), fruit growth (RDIfr.gr) or the final phase of fruit growth and ripening (RDIripe). Results showed that after 8 or 19 weeks at 5 °C plus 7 days of shelf life at 20 °C, some fruit quality attributes such as the soluble solids content (SSC), anthocyanins and fruit colour were enhanced by deficit irrigation. Higher SSC and more reddish colouration in the fruit peel were noted at harvest and during cold storage in pomegranates from SDI and RDIripe. On the other hand, higher juice anthocyanins content were obtained in the RDIfr.gr. fruit. Control fruit showed greater susceptibility to physiological disorders manifested as peel pitting, blemishes and sinking, and to weight loss with respect to deficit irrigation samples. Weight loss increased with storage time and SDI and RDIripe showed lower weight loss compared to the control treatment. Deficit irrigation, depending on the phenological period when water shortage is applied, can be then used as a field practice to control fruit ripening timing, enhance pomegranate fruit composition and improve fruit postharvest performance.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bark inversion on fruit weight, size and dry matter concentration of green kiwifruit (Actinida deliciosa ‘Hayward’). Kiwifruit growers received higher payment for their fruits if they could produce larger fruits with high dry matter concentration. In order to regulate fruit quality in kiwifruit, application of plant growth regulators, both natural and synthetic were used by kiwifruit growers. However, using plant growth regulators might be costly and sometimes may give negative effects to environment. Currently, only girdling technique is used as a cultural practice for regulating fruit quality in kiwifruit. As far as we know, there were no studies conducted on bark inversion in kiwifruit. In this present study, selected kiwifruit vines were subjected to bark inversion during late summer 2010 fruiting season. The vines without any bark inversion were treated as a control vines. Fruit lengths, maximum and minimum fruit diameter, were measured one week after the application of bark inversion and after harvesting. Fruit fresh weight, fruit dry weight, fruit size (fruit length × fruit diameter) and dry matter concentration were also evaluated at harvest. Preliminary results showed that fruit fresh weight, dry weight and fruit size at harvest from the bark inversion vines were significantly increased compared with control. Similarly, the dry matter concentration was also significantly higher in fruits from bark inversion than control vines. Additionally, bark inversion also affects the fruit length and the diameter increment of fruit at harvest.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to improve fruit quality, including health compounds, by improving light utilization for fruit crops under hail net. Four reflective mulches including plastics such as Extenday® and a bio‐degradable paper were spread in the alleyways of a cv. ‘Gala Mondial’ apple orchard on 10 August 2010 5 weeks before anticipated harvest. RESULTS: Reflective mulch affected neither fruit firmness nor sugar, but accelerated starch breakdown, indicative of riper fruits (smaller Streif index), compared with the uncovered grass alleyway (control). Reflective mulches also improved fruit quality such as red coloration of cv. ‘Gala Mondial’ apples. This was due to significantly enhanced flavonoids and anthocyanins. Flavonoids increased up to 52.4% in the Extenday® treatment (29.2 nmol cm⁻² in the grass control versus 44.5 nmol cm⁻² fruit peel with reflective mulch). Similarly, reflective mulch improved anthocyanin content in cv. ‘Gala Mondial’ peel up to 66% compared to grass control (14.5 nmol cm⁻² in control fruit versus 24.1 nmol cm⁻² with reflective mulch). The reflective mulch did not affect chlorophyll and carotenoid content in the ‘Gala’ fruit peel. CONCLUSION: Overall, the application of reflective mulches improved fruit quality in terms of better coloration and health compounds and accelerated ripening, leading to higher market value. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Pomegranates are commonly stored in Iran at temperatures higher than 10°C and RH≈70%. At this storage condition, the fruit are affected by desiccation and loss of quality. In this experiment, the effect of SmartfreshTM (1-MCP) at 1 µl L(-1) with hot water treatment (HWT) at 50°C for 5 min and the combination of these two treatments (SmartfreshTM+HWT) were studied in reducing the mentioned problems in ‘Malas Saveh’ pomegranate fruit. Untreated fruit was used as the control. The fruit were stored at 13°C for 45 days and thereafter, fruits were held further at 20°C for 7 days as a simulated shelf life. Fruit firmness, colour parameters and skin-shriveling index were evaluated at the end of storage and after holding, but the fruit quality characteristics were determined only after holding at 20°C. Results showed that the fruit firmness of SmartfreshTM treated fruits was higher than that of other treatments after storage, but after holding, there were no significant differences in fruit firmness among the tested treatments. HWT treated fruit, in contrast with other treated fruit, had lower L* value than the control fruit after storage and after holding. There were no significant differences in a* and b* among the treatments in this trial. The skin-shriveling index of SmartfreshTM treated fruits was significantly lower than that of other treatments after storage and after holding. The skin-shriveling indexes of HWT and SmartfreshTM+HWT treatments were lower than that of control after holding, while after storage, no significant differences in skin-shriveling indexes were observed among them. Fruit treated with SmartfreshTM had highest titratable acidity and lowest total soluble solids compared to other treatments. Titratable acidity of control fruits was lower than that of HWT and SmartfreshTM+HWT treatments, but there were no significant differences among the control, HWT and SmartfreshTM+HWT treatments in total soluble solids. SmartfreshTM treated fruit had greatest aril moisture and medium juice colour among the tested treatments at this experiment. Overall, SmartfreshTM treatment was more effective than hot water and combination treatments in maintaining the postharvest quality of pomegranate fruit during storage and under holding.

The shelf-life of untreated (control) persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit was compared with fruit treated with 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 µl l–¹ 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 16 h at room temperature (20ºC) and kept for 28 d after treatment (DAT), and with fruit treated with the same levels of 1-MCP, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), or 1.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP plus MAP in cold storage at 0ºC for 90 DAT. Treatment with 1.0 or 2.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP prevented the decrease in fruit firmness, the change in peel colour index (from yellow-orange to red), and the decreases in fruit diameter and fresh weight (FW) seen in untreated control fruit and in fruit treated with 0.5 µl l–¹ 1-MCP at room temperature for 16 h and left for 28 DAT. Rates of ethylene production and respiration were suppressed by all 1-MCP treatments at 3, 7, and 14 DAT at room temperature. Under cold storage conditions, fruit firmness was higher in fruit treated with 2.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP, or with 1.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP plus MAP, than in untreated control fruit, or in fruit treated with MAP alone, 0.5 µl l–¹ 1-MCP alone, or 1.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP alone for 90 d at 0ºC. Persimmon fruit treated with 1.0 µl l–¹ 1-MCP plus MAP maintained the highest diameter and FW after cold storage for 90 d.

The tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is a key pest of tomato in Iran. It causes economic loss by reduction in fresh fruit quality and yield in tomato which could be suppressed using broad spectrum insecticides for 7-16 applications per season every year. The aim of this study was to introduce new and selective insecticides. This research carried out with 6 treatments and 4 replications in 2 provinces, Khorasan Razavi, and Ardebil in 2012.Treatments were included: thiodicarb 80% DF 1g/L indoxacarb 150% SC 0.25ml/L, flubendiamid (Takomi‎ض ‎20%WG) 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25 g/L and control (without application). The results showed that mean efficacies of insecticides were significantly different at =5%. In Ardebil province, indoxacarb (87.46%) and Takomi‎ض ‎0.25 g/L(97.2%) had the least and the most efficacy at 7 days after treatment whereas In Khorasan Razavi, the efficacies of thiodicarb (35.32%) and Takomi‎ض ‎0.25 (83.4%) were the least and the most efficacy respectively at 20 days after application. Also in both the provinces, the treatment of Takomi‎ض ‎0.15 g/L had lower effectiveness. Thus it can be used at optimized concentration (0.2g/L) against tomato fruit worm. 32/35 Key words: Takomi‎ض, indoxacarb, thiodicarb , flubendiamid and chemical control

Light conditions are poor around the lower trusses of tomato plants in a low truss number, high plant density production system. We determined the effects of leaf rearrangements above the fruit trusses on fruit maturation and quality in tomato plants pinched above the third truss and cultivated under a high-density growing system. Integrated solar radiation at first and second fruit trusses and surface temperature of fruits at second fruit truss were increased in plants treated with leaf rearrangements above the trusses compared with those of the control, and the maturation of fruits at the third truss treated with leaf rearrangement was 4.6 days earlier than that of the control. The concentration of ascorbic acid (AsA) in fruits of plants treated with leaf rearrangement was higher than that of control fruits. However, leaf rearrangement had no effect on yield and Brix of the fruit. These results indicated that higher solar radiation together with leaf rearrangement promoted fruit maturation and increased AsA content in the fruit of lower trusses of tomato plants cultivated under a low truss number, high plant density growing system.