Horticulture Environment and Biotechnology最新文献

Determining anthracnose-infested mango can involve laborious and time-consuming assays, resulting in delayed postharvest management and decreased fruit marketability. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is proposed to detect the fungus in fully matured ‘Namdokmai Sithong’ mango. Inoculation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (1 × 10⁶ conidia/mL) was artificially made onto one side of the fruit’s peel at the center of mango fruit while the other side was left intact. Interactance measurements were conducted at both inoculated and intact locations for 104 mango samples every 24 h until anthracnose symptoms visibly appeared. The classification approaches included a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and a conventional artificial neural network (ANN). Results of our study revealed increased absorbance values corresponding with days after inoculation. Relatively high classification accuracies were obtained from all chemometrics approaches (˃ 89%). In the early hours after inoculation (24 h), the best classification result was obtained from the ANN model (98.1%), confirming that early detection was possible. Applications of PLS-DA and ANN are discussed.

This study aimed to investigate the difference in postharvest quality and storage tolerance of two sweet cherry cultivars with different susceptibility to cracking (‘Rainier’: less-susceptible, ‘Wanhongzhu’: more-susceptible). Cracking assays confirmed that ‘Wanhongzhu’ was more susceptible to cracking than ‘Rainier’, with the T₅₀ (the half time of fruit cracking in a given solution) of 5.53 and 22.27 h, respectively. During the storage, respiration rate, soluble solids content, titratable acid content, soluble protein content, ascorbic acid content, and firmness of ‘Wanhongzhu’ were higher than those of ‘Rainier’, but the color change and ethylene production were lower than those of ‘Rainier’. For the expression levels of cell wall metabolism-related genes, the expressions of Paβ-Gal, PaEXA4, PaaqpSIP2.1, and PaaqpPIP2.4 in ‘Wanhongzhu’ were higher than those of ‘Rainier’ during the storage, however, the expressions of PaPME, PaPEL.7, PaXTH, PaPAE.1, PaPOD and PaExp1 were lower than those of ‘Rainier’. Correlation analysis results suggest the expressions of cell wall metabolism-related genes in ‘Wanhongzhu’ had less effect on fruit quality than that in ‘Rainier’. Overall, compared with ‘Rainier’, ‘Wanhongzhu’ had better fruit quality during the low-temperature storage, but it was more likely to produce fruits cracking and rot, which shortens its shelf-life. Therefore, ‘Wanhongzhu’ is more suitable for short-term storage.

Lagerstroemia indica is a summer ornamental flowering tree, belonging to the Lythraceae family. Its flower color is a key ornamental characteristic. Recent research indicates that WRKY and bZIP transcription factors play important role in flower color formation. Based on the transcriptome database of L. indica, this study identified 85 LibZIPs and 61 LiWRKYs from the L. indica transcriptome database and analyzed their expression profiles using qRT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis divided LibZIPs into 11 subfamilies and LiWRKYs into six subfamilies. Nine LibZIPs and four LiWRKYs were found to have higher expression in colored samples compared to the white sample. LibZIP31, LibZIP65, LibZIP34, LiWRKY16, LiWRKY25, LiWRKY40, and LiWRKY67 may play important roles in flower color formation in L. indica. These results provide valuable information for further functional analysis of the bZIP and WRKY genes families in L. indica and help clarify their roles in flower color formation.

Plyatocodon grandiflorus is an important medicinal herb, its rhizomes are utilized as vegetables and as medicinal food. In this investigation, we were able to successfully isolate protoplasts from P. grandiflorus leaf mesophyll tissues in order to promote the development of calli. It has been determined what are the ideal conditions for protoplast isolation, involving the combination of enzymes, the osmoticum, and the length of enzyme digestion. For the most effective results, cell protoplast washing (CPW) medium with 1.0% Viscozyme® L + 3% Celluclast® 1.5 L + 0.5% Pectinex® XXL + 0.4 M mannitol and 8 h of incubation was used to isolate protoplasts from leaf mesophyll tissues. The thin alginate layer (TAL) approach was utilized to embed the protoplasts. Subsequently, TAL segments were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 3% sucrose, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 0, 0.56, 1.12 µM), and phytosulfokine (PSK, 0, 0.05, 0.1 µM). The optimal concentration of 2,4-D and PSK for initiation of protoplast division, multicell development, and micro-callus formation was predicted using response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD). Based on the CCD responses, it was determined that 1.12 µM 2,4-D and 0.065 µM PSK were the best concentrations to induce protoplast division and the formation of micro-calluses. The acquired results are valuable for P. grandiflorus protoplast isolation and culture; however, coordinated efforts are required for plant regeneration using callus produced from protoplasts.

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of inoculating with different fungi on the structural characteristics of soil fungal communities and the nutrient absorption of blueberry plants. The fungi DSE (Phialocephala fortinii), SS (Penicillium pinophilum), ZB (Cladosporium cladosporioides), QMK (Chaetomium globosum), and LZ (Schizophyllum commune) were selected for this study. The soil fungal diversity and community structure in the blueberry rhizosphere were compared after inoculation with these different mycorrhizal fungi. The fungal diversity in the blueberry rhizosphere soil was significantly higher after inoculation with DSE, QMK, and ZB than after inoculation with SS and LZ. The dominant class, order, family, and genus of soil fungi were Eurotiomycetes (25.49–36.91%), Eurotiales (24.78–35.00%), Aspergillaceae (24.47–34.74%), and Penicllium (24.34–34.63%), respectively. Among all the fungal treatments, DSE led to the highest abundance of dominant classes, orders, families, and genera. Inoculation with SS, LZ, and DSE increased the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in blueberry plants. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were highest in DSE-inoculated plants. The nitrogen content was significantly higher in ZB-inoculated plants than in the control. A TOPSIS analysis showed that among the five fungi, DSE was the best strain to improve the diversity of the blueberry rhizosphere fungal community and promote nutrient uptake by blueberry plants, followed by LZ and ZB. These findings provide scientific data for the development and utilization of soil microbial resources, and provide useful information for improving the cultivation and production of blueberries.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) is a tropical vegetable crop of high economic importance. Cucumber is not only used as food but also the source of several antioxidant nutrients like β carotene and ascorbic acid. The present study was aimed to characterize gynoecious-parthenocarpic and monoecious cucumber lines along with their hybrids for qualitative, quantitative and quality parameters and regression modelling to predict the most sensitive characters influencing yield and nutrient contents (β carotene and ascorbic acid). Characterization revealed conspicuous variation in different qualitative and quantitative characters among the parental lines and hybrids. The gynoecious and parthenocarpic parent Pusa Parthenocarpic produced elongated fruits with acute shaped blossom and peduncle ends while, the other two monoecious and non-parthenocarpic parents, Devgiri and Seven Star produced cylindrical fruit with obtuse ends. All the monoecious × gynoecious hybrids expressed predominantly gynoecious sex form and late parthenocarpy. The monoecious parent recorded higher yield as compared to the gynoecious parent. Acute fruit shape at peduncle end was the sole qualitative character which positively influenced the ascorbic acid content of fruit. Regression modelling revealed fruit length, crispy fruit texture and total chlorophyll content to be most influential towards yield in a positive direction. This study confirmed the strategy of combining qualitative and quantitative characters to enhance yield and nutrient content which can be utilized to develop high yielding and functionally rich cucumber genotypes.

Ber fruit is highly nutritious and rich in bioactive compounds known to have several health benefits. However, the significant loss of such compounds during long-term storage is a concern. Retaining its quality during post-harvest by natural preservatives could be a novel approach towards sustainability. In the present study, a novel composite edible coating of beeswax and polyphenols was developed. Beeswax, a lipid-based material with anti-transpiration properties, was derived from honeycomb and polyphenols with huge antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were extracted from underutilized fruit, karonda. The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the effect of this composite coating on the storage life of ber fruits. For this, beeswax (2%) alone or impregnated with the polyphenols at different concentrations 0.5% (300 mg/L), 1% (600 mg/L) and 1.5% (750 mg/L) was applied on the fruit's surface. The effect of this composite edible coating on the physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant enzymes activities of ber fruits was studied for 28 days during cold storage. The results revealed that the combination of beeswax coating with karonda polyphenols markedly reduced spoilage and maintained the firmness of ber fruit during storage. The coating has resulted in higher retention of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage. The treated fruits showed delayed ripening by slowing down the synthesis of carotenoids as compared to the control fruit. Further, the coating resulted in the lower activities of cell wall degrading enzymes like pectin methyl esterase and cellulase enzymes in the stored ber fruits. Moreover, the concentrations of karonda polyphenols (KPP) have worked in a dose-dependent manner in the coating system, as beeswax with 1.5% KPP was found to be more effective in maintaining the quality and nutritional potential of ber fruit during storage.

This paper reports ethylene production, expression levels of ethylene precursor’s genes, as well as carotenoid content and expression levels of carotenoid biosynthesis genes, during postharvest ripening of three different papaya genotypes of contrasting origin (2 creoles and 1 commercial) and pulp color (yellow, orange and red), under conditions that promote ethylene formation and under those inhibiting ethylene. Our study showed that naturally ripened papaya fruits presented relatively high ethylene production levels that was correlated with changes in expression levels of both ethylene precursor’s genes (CpACCs1, CpACCs2, CpACCo1 and CpACCo2), and carotenoid biosynthesis genes (CpPSY, CpZDS, CpLCY-β2, CpCHX-β). However, when papaya fruits were treated with an ethylene inducer (Ethephon; 2.5 g L^− 1 of 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid) fruits ripened faster (two days earlier than controls), and they also showed a higher ethylene peak and higher expression levels of both ethylene precursors genes and carotenoid biosynthesis genes, than control fruits. In contrast, papaya fruits treated with an ethylene inhibitor (1-MCP; 300 nL L^− 1 of 1-methylcyclopropene) never ripened (in fact they did not show changes in fruit firmness, °Brix, pH or acidity), and they showed very low ethylene production and low expression levels of ethylene precursors genes, as well as showing low expression of carotenogenic genes, throughout the postharvest ripening process. Correlation analysis showed that increased ethylene production was highly correlated with increased expression of both ethylene precursors genes and carotenoids biosynthesis genes, but the specific carotenogenic genes induced by ethylene differed among commercial and creole papaya genotypes.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a key regeneration process in plant. AcSERK1 is a gene specifically expressed in the early stage of SE in pineapple (Ananas comosus), suggesting that the promoter of SERK1 might contain specific cis-acting element regulating SE. To identify embryonic cell-specific element in the SERK1 promoter, a series of binary plant transformation vectors with GUS (β-glucuronidase) reporter gene were systematically analyzed by transient gene expression system in wild-type and transgenic pineapple embryogenic callus. Histochemical and quantitative GUS assays demonstrated that the activity of the AcSERK1 upstream regulatory sequence lacking − 921 to -911 or -910 to -880 was significantly reduced in the embryonic callus of the pineapple, and these two regions were needed for the embryonic cell-specific. Besides, a promoter lacking − 943 to -922 was shown to significantly increase GUS activity in embryogenic callus, suggesting repressive elements exist in this region. Our data of stable transformation assays confirmed again the 5’ upstream regulatory sequence (-921 to -880) of the AcSERK1 gene is an essential functional region. Our findings lay the basis for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of AcSERK1 gene in the regulation in early stage of SE.

This study investigated the differences in light intensity, photosynthetic efficiency, and growth characteristics of paprika plants cultivated in a semi-closed greenhouse covered with low-iron diffuse glass (SG-LDG) and a conventional greenhouse covered with low-iron regular glass (CG-LRG). There was no significant difference in light intensity between the SG-LDG and CG-LRG from the apical meristem to below 100 cm. However, below 150 cm, the SG-LDG showed higher light intensity than the CG-LRG. The light response curve and atmospheric CO₂ response(A-C_a) curve, which represent photosynthetic efficiency, were not significantly affected by crop canopy differences between the two greenhouses during the early cultivation stage. However, after 12 weeks of planting, SG-LDG showed higher photosynthetic efficiency. The J_max and V_cmax values showed no differences between the plants in the two greenhouses until 4 weeks after planting. 12 weeks after planting, plants in SG-LDG showed higher J_max and V_cmax values than those in CG-LRG. All the growth characteristics of plants cultivated in SG-LDG were superior to those of plants cultivated in CG-LRG. Therefore, the improvement in light intensity and photosynthetic efficiency at the lower positions of plants in SG-LDG is considered to have a positive impact on crop quantity and quality.