Scientia Horticulturae最新文献

{"title":"Differentiation of volatile organic compounds and sensory characteristics in the upper and lower flowers of grape hyacinth","authors":"Qian Lou ,&nbsp;Chuhan Zhi ,&nbsp;Jiayao Qin,&nbsp;Yishan Li,&nbsp;Hongwu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functional differentiation between sterile and fertile flowers is a key plant adaptation. While research has focused on visual traits, less attention has been given to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Grape hyacinth (<em>Muscari</em> spp.), with its stable inflorescence pattern of fertile (open) lower and sterile (closed) upper flowers, is an ideal model for such study, yet its VOC composition remains uncharacterized. From ten initially screened species, three representative ones—<em>M. azureum</em> (M1), <em>M. armeniacum</em> ‘Heavenly Blue’ (M2), and <em>M. aucheri</em> ‘Ocean Magic’ (M3)—were selected based on highly significant differences in aroma intensity between upper and lower flowers. Analyses revealed spatial differentiation in VOCs and corresponding sensory attributes: upper flowers produced fewer compounds and were enriched in myrtenol and 1-octen-3-ol, potentially facilitating long-distance pollinator attraction, whereas lower flowers released more diverse VOCs that may prolong visitor retention. Myrtenol and 1-octen-3-ol established characteristic grassy and oily base notes across species. The three species developed distinct aromatic profiles through specific compounds: M1 accumulated ethyl phenylacetate with cocoa nuances; M2 contained abundant myrtenol and eucalyptol with minty tones; and M3 displayed fruity notes due to synergistic interaction between (Z)-β-ocimene and methyl salicylate. Furthermore, 1-octen-3-ol exhibited context-dependent expression, presenting earthy notes at Relative Odor Contribution (ROC) ≥ 99 % but shifting to herbaceous and oily tones at ROC &lt; 50 %. In complex odor environments, myrtenol and acetophenone diverged from their typical minty and sweet-fruity profiles to instead contribute green nuances and modified minty characters. Additionally, sub-threshold ethyl phenylacetate helped shape the distinctive cocoa-fermented aroma in M1 through synergistic effects, further demonstrating how compound interactions dynamically modulate odor perception. This study demonstrates spatial differentiation of VOCs between upper and lower flowers in grape hyacinth and their potential ecological functions, providing new chemical insights into the evolution of floral traits and pollination strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114633"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pear PbrPAO14 modulates pollen tube growth in vitro via altering tip-localized H₂O₂ content","authors":"Yuzhen Qian,&nbsp;Haoran Wu,&nbsp;Lan Xu,&nbsp;Yuqian Wang,&nbsp;Kaijing Zhang,&nbsp;Yihu Sui,&nbsp;Xueping Zhang,&nbsp;Shuangshuang Jia,&nbsp;Nengbing Hu,&nbsp;Meilan Jiang,&nbsp;Yuxi Sun,&nbsp;Yingzhi Zhao,&nbsp;Ming Qian,&nbsp;Jingjing Qian","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyamine oxidase (PAO)-derived hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is known to participate in various plant growth and developmental processes. However, its role in pollen tube growth (PTG) of fruit trees remain elusive. In this study, we first identified 63 <em>PAO</em> members across four pear genomes, including 15 in <em>Pyrus bretschneideri</em>, and 16 each in <em>P. betulifolia, P. pyrifolia</em>, and <em>P. communis</em>. Phylogenetic analysis of 258 PAOs from 38 plant species classified them into seven distinct subclasses. The 63 pear PAOs were distributed across Subclasses I, III, IVa, IVb, and IVc, with members within each subclass exhibiting relatively conserved gene structures. Secondly, using <em>P. bretschneideri</em> as a model, tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that <em>PbrPAO14</em> were specifically and highly expressed in pollen and pollen tube (PT), was selected for further functional characterization. Thirdly, transient suppression of the peroxisome-localized <em>PbrPAO14</em> expression via antisense oligodeoxynucleotides significantly decreased PAO activity (by average 40 %), reduced apical H₂O₂ levels (by average 16 %) to increase PT length (by average 16 %). Furthermore, exogenous spermine and spermidine treatment markedly up-regulated <em>PbrPAO14</em> expression, while its expression suppression led to significant spermine accumulation in PT. Recombinant His-PbrPAO14 protein preferentially used spermine as a substrate, converting spermine to spermidine and putrescine via back conversion (BC) pathway, and generating H₂O₂. Our results suggested that pear <em>PbrPAO14</em> mainly regulates PTG by producing H₂O₂ via the BC pathway. This study advances our understanding of a PAO-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) source at the PT apex in the regulation of PTG, which significantly broadens the perspective on ROS dynamics in polarized cell growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114620"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of affinity of different pumpkin hybrid combinations with cucumber grafting","authors":"Xue Lu,&nbsp;Meng Zhang,&nbsp;Mengchao Lei,&nbsp;Chunhui Wu,&nbsp;Weili Guo,&nbsp;Zhenwei Liu,&nbsp;Bihua Chen,&nbsp;Xinzheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To study the grafting affinity of different pumpkin hybrid combinations with cucumber, this paper selected ten root-knot nematode-resistant and wilt-resistant pumpkin hybrid combinations as rootstocks for cucumber grafting. Grafting survival rate, growth status of grafted seedlings, root system vitality, enzyme activity, and other indicators were measured. The results showed that among the ten pumpkin hybrid combinations, grafted cucumber seedlings exhibited superior growth indicators and higher CAT activity compared to self-rooted cucumber; The root activity and the SOD activity of nine pumpkin hybrid combinations grafted cucumber were higher than that of self-rooted cucumber; the POD activity of three pumpkin hybrid combinations grafted cucumber was significantly higher than that of self-rooted cucumber; and the MDA content of seven pumpkin hybrid combinations of grafted cucumber was lower than that of self-rooted cucumber. The above results indicated that grafting may reduce membrane lipid peroxidation by increasing the activity of protective enzymes in cucumber, thereby enhancing their resistance and improving their adaptability to a certain extent. The analysis of the membership function showed that the pumpkin hybrid combinations showing good performance before and after grafting were 487–2 × 112–2, 487–2 × LingchuanC1, Renhe-1 × LingchuanC1, and Renhe-1 × Daziwang-24. Analysis of enzyme activities at the junction of the rootstock and the scion indicated that the pumpkin hybrid combinations Fangshan × Renhe-1, 487–2 × 112–2, 487–2 × LingchuanC1, and Renhe-1 × LingchuanC1 grafted cucumber had lower callose synthase activity than other pumpkin hybrid combinations. Comprehensive membership function analysis indicated that the pumpkin hybrid combinations 487–2 × 112–2, 487–2 × LingchuanC1 and Renhe-1 × LingchuanC1 grafted cucumber have excellent grafting affinity advantage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114629"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suitability of Apium graveolens L. var. secalinum Alef. to hydroponic cultivation for baby leaf production","authors":"Alessandro Esposito,&nbsp;Filippo Vetrano,&nbsp;Alessandra Moncada,&nbsp;Eristanna Palazzolo,&nbsp;Caterina Lucia,&nbsp;Alessandro Miceli","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consumers are increasingly seeking innovative, healthy foods rich in nutraceuticals, driving the search for new or underutilized leafy vegetables. Leaf celery (<em>Apium graveolens</em> L<em>.</em> var. <em>secalinum</em> Alef.), a promising candidate for new food sources, stands out from ribbed celery with its smaller size and enhanced aroma. It is gaining global interest due to its high concentration of bioactive compounds, but it is presently cultivated only on soil in restricted regions. Significant knowledge gaps still exist regarding optimal agronomic management for its hydroponic baby leaf production and post-harvest cold storage as a minimally processed product. The necessity of adopting hydroponic systems for ready-to-eat leafy salads requires specific studies on techniques and nutrient management for novel vegetables like leaf celery. This research, for the first time, investigates the feasibility of producing fresh-cut suitable leaf celery baby leaves using a hydroponic ebb-and-flow cultivation system. We studied the effects of two plant densities (615 and 947 plants m⁻²) and three nutrient solution concentrations (NS) (only water, half strength, and full strength) on leaf celery growth, yield, and postharvest quality over two growing seasons (S1: winter/spring and S2: spring/summer). The experiment included two mowings per season to test the plant's regrowth capability, with morphological, biochemical, and yield characteristics assessed after each. Leaves from the first mowing of each trial were tested via sensory analysis and evaluated for shelf-life following minimal processing and cold storage (21 days at 4 °C). This research provides essential, globally transferable data for sustainable Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) by quantifying the yield, nutritional stability, and post-harvest longevity of this novel crop across critical seasonal and resource management variables. Results showed higher total yields in S1 (5.25 kg m⁻²) compared to S2 (2.76 kg m⁻²) using the full-strength NS, with nutrient availability effects varying by season and density. The full-strength NS maximized total yield, while the half-strength NS achieved the highest NUE (35.6 g DW g⁻¹ N in S1). Importantly, the baby leaves exhibited good vitamin and mineral content with consistent stability across growing seasons and mowings. Their sensory profile showed only minor differences between seasons, generally maintaining a good overall evaluation. Crucially, the leaves maintained a shelf-life exceeding 14 days across all tested treatments. Overall, leaf celery proved well-suited for hydroponic cultivation, yielding baby leaves with excellent shelf-life and nutritional quality, offering a viable high-value option for the fresh-cut market.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114619"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating UAV multi-sensor imagery and machine learning for non-destructive estimation of nitrogen nutrition index in tea plants","authors":"Zhipeng Li ,&nbsp;Shuting Gong ,&nbsp;Xinle Jiang ,&nbsp;Wentian Yang ,&nbsp;Wenmei Wang ,&nbsp;WenJun Qian ,&nbsp;Yu Wang ,&nbsp;Zhaotang Ding ,&nbsp;Kai Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate diagnosis of nitrogen status is globally crucial for precise fertilization and optimal management in tea plantations. The Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) provides a robust quantitative measure of N sufficiency, yet its practical application in tea plants has been limited due to the lack of established critical nitrogen dilution curves (CNDC) and validated non‑destructive monitoring methods. To address this, this study developed a novel UAV‑based multi‑source remote sensing approach for NNI estimation in tea plants, innovatively combining LiDAR with multispectral (MS) and visible‑light (RGB) data to capture complementary structural and spectral information. Field experiments involving three tea varieties under six N treatments were conducted, and NNI estimation models were built by integrating three feature selection methods (Boruta, RFE, ElasticNet) with four machine learning algorithms (SVM, PLS, RF, GPR). The results demonstrated a significant nitrogen fertilization effect, with NNI values ranging from 0.36 to 1.16, increasing with nitrogen application. Single-source remote sensing features selected by the three algorithms exhibited the performance ranking of MS &gt; RGB &gt; LiDAR. Multi‑sensor feature fusion significantly outperformed single‑sensor models. The optimal model, integrating Boruta-selected MS+RGB features with GPR, achieved the highest accuracy (R²=0.7346, RMSE=0.0878, RPD=1.6987). This model provides an accurate and non‑destructive tool for field‑scale monitoring of tea nitrogen status, supporting precision fertilization that can reduce fertilizer application in tea cultivation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114614"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling heat requirements for fruit development in three pistachio cultivars in central Spain","authors":"Sara Álvarez ,&nbsp;Pablo Garcia-Estringana ,&nbsp;Abel Barrios ,&nbsp;Jesús Alegre ,&nbsp;Lidia Núñez ,&nbsp;Laura Salcedo ,&nbsp;Hugo Martín ,&nbsp;Eduardo Fernández-Suela ,&nbsp;Noelia Ramírez-Martín ,&nbsp;José Manuel Mirás-Avalos","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pistachio (<em>Pistacia vera</em> L.) is a crop with a high economic importance that is expanding in the Mediterranean basin. Understanding how pistachio growth stages vary with environmental conditions is crucial because decisions about irrigation, fertilization, and pest control must align with tree physiological needs at each stage. However, a description of the phenological stages of pistachio is lacking in the areas covered by this study. In this study, the growth of the fruit and kernel were measured in three pistachio cultivars: ‘Kerman’, ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’ in six plots located in central Spain to establish predictive models based on heat accumulation. The growing degree days (GDD) necessary to reach 90% full fruit area were similar for the three cultivars, around 450 GDD. In contrast, the thermal units required to reach 90% of full kernel area and length differed among cultivars: ‘Kerman’ had the highest needs, while ‘Lost Hills’ had the lowest. Fruit dry weight started at 200 GDD and continued until 2000 GDD, whereas kernel area started its expansion at 900 and continued until 2000 GDD. These findings suggest that deficit irrigation could be applied between 450 and 900 GDD, without compromising pistachio yield. A model previously proposed in California underestimated both fruit volume and kernel length when applied to our calibration dataset. Conversely, the model calibrated in the current work performed better and can be considered satisfactory for assessing kernel length and fruit volume as a function of cumulative GDD. These results provide essential insights into the phenological development of pistachio growing in cold-winter regions, aiding farmers to take informed decisions for an efficient orchard management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114634"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silicon mitigates copper toxicity of Citrus sinensis (L.) by improving nutrient status, root development, photosynthetic performance and antioxidant response","authors":"Zeng-Rong Huang,&nbsp;Wenqing Shi,&nbsp;Xing Xiong,&nbsp;Yu Zhou,&nbsp;Fei Lu,&nbsp;Faxin Li,&nbsp;Yu Chen,&nbsp;Ningwei Lai,&nbsp;Li-Song Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China is the world's largest producer of citrus fruits. However, soil acidification and irrational copper (Cu) application in citrus orchards frequently induce Cu toxicity, restricting the sustainable development of the citrus industry. Studies have shown that silicon (Si) fertilization effectively mitigates the toxicity of heavy metals. However, research on Si-mediated alleviation of Cu toxicity in citrus species remains limited. In the present study, sand-cultured seedlings of sweet orange [<em>Citrus sinensis</em> (L) Osbeck Cv. Xuegan] were subjected to eight treatments containing 2 Cu concentrations (0.5 μM and 300 μM) and 4 Si concentrations (0, 1, 3, and 5 mM). The effects of those treatments on biomass accumulation, Cu and Si distribution, root architecture, nutrient uptake, leaf photosynthetic performance and antioxidant systems were investigated to reveal the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying Si-mediated alleviation of Cu toxicity in <em>C. sinensis</em> seedlings. The present results verified that supplementation with Si at an optimal level promoted C. sinensis Cu tolerance by decreasing Cu translocation, maintaining nutrient homeostasis, improving photosynthetic performance, and activating the antioxidant defense in <em>C. sinensis</em>. Overall, the present results indicated that 3 mM Si is more beneficial against 300 μM Cu stress in <em>C. sinensis</em> seedlings. The results identified the benefits of Si in woody plants and will provide a necessary reference for Cu detoxification in acidified citrus orchards of South China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 114622"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Irrigation and fertilization improved vegetative growth and fruit development of winter jujube in plastic shed production through enhanced photosynthetic capacity and nutrient uptake","authors":"Xiaoqiang Liu ,&nbsp;Fuquan Lv ,&nbsp;Xiaoshu Pan ,&nbsp;Ying Qu ,&nbsp;Lei Shi ,&nbsp;Shuai He ,&nbsp;Fucang Zhang ,&nbsp;Feihu Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114616","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Understanding the nutritional status and photosynthetic performance of orchard crops under different irrigation and fertilization regimes is crucial for optimizing vegetative growth and promoting fruit development. To address this, the present study aimed to explore the relationships among growth indicators, photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate: Pn, stomatal conductance: g&lt;sub&gt;s&lt;/sub&gt;, transpiration rate: Tr, instantaneous water use efficiency: WUE&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt;), nutrients uptake (total nitrogen: N, total phosphorus: P, total potassium: K), and fruit development and weight based on structural equation modeling (SEM) under varied irrigation and fertilization treatments, and develop the appropriate irrigation and fertilization management strategy for sustainable winter jujube production in plastic shed. A two-year field experiment on winter jujube irrigation and fertilization management was conducted in southern Xinjiang, China, during 2023 and 2024, involving 16 drip-fertigation treatments. Treatments were as follows: four irrigation amounts (W&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;: 60% ETc, W&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;: 80% ETc, W&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;: 100% ET&lt;sub&gt;C&lt;/sub&gt;, and W&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;: 120% ETc) and four fertilization rates (N-P-K, F&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;: 192-96-150 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, F&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;: 256-128-200 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, F&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;: 320-160-250 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;, and F&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;: 384-192-300 kg ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt;). Results indicated that W&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; improved the N content of stems, leaves and fruits compared with W&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;. The F&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; could increase the P content and K content of fruits. The Tr was more sensitive to water and fertilizer than the Pn, resulting higher the WUE&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt;. Irrigation and fertilization had extremely significant effects on pruning amounts (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01), while the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) exhibited a decreasing tendency as the irrigation amount increased. The W&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;F&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; could inhibit excessive vegetative growth while promoting fruit development. Moreover, the Logistic equation fitting for fruit volume revealed that the start time (&lt;em&gt;t&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;) of the rapid fruit volume accumulation period range from 55.47 to 71.59 days after flowering (DAF), and the end time (&lt;em&gt;t&lt;/em&gt;&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) of the rapid fruit volume accumulation period range from 82.96 to 114.17 DAF in both years. The fresh fruit weight increased and then declined with the increase of fertilization rates. The SEM analysis revealed that the N content was the primary influencing factor for fruit volume and weight, with standardized path coefficient of 0.836 and 0.715, respectively (both &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). Additionally, growth indicators (e.g., new shoot length) exerted an indirect negative effect on fresh fruit weight. Collectively, irrigation and fertilizer can promote vegetative growth and fruit development of winter jujube by enhancing photosynthetic capacity and nutrient uptake, highlighting their critical role in ","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114616"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing kiwifruit cultivar selection through integrated quality evaluation: An entropy weighted-analytic hierarchy process approach for balancing biochemical and sensory attributes","authors":"Zhu Gao ,&nbsp;Dan Zhang ,&nbsp;Jipeng Mao ,&nbsp;Yukun Zhu ,&nbsp;Dongliang Yao ,&nbsp;Mengfei Lin ,&nbsp;Liuyi Pan ,&nbsp;Xiaoling Wang ,&nbsp;Lu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a high-value fruit, kiwifruit’s quality characteristics are jointly influenced by cultivar and production environment. However, current issues in China’s main production regions, such as a narrow cultivar structure and insufficient regional distinctiveness, highlight the urgent need for systematic evaluation of quality differences among cultivars to guide industrial optimization. This study investigated 32 commercially cultivated kiwifruit varieties grown in same climatic region, conducting statistical analysis and comprehensive evaluation on 20 quality indicators encompassing fruit appearance, flavor, and nutritional attributes. The results revealed significant differences in fruit quality both between and within species. Objective evaluation methods (membership function principal component analysis, and entropy weight) and a combined subjective-objective approach (entropy weighted-analytic hierarchy process, EW-AHP) were employed to establish comprehensive fruit quality evaluation models. Among these, the EW-AHP model exhibited the highest consistency with sensory evaluations, confirming its reliability. According to the EW-AHP model, ‘Hongyang’, ‘Fenghuang 1′, and ‘Cuiyu’ ranked highest due to their high sugar and low acid content, securing the top three positions. Seven other cultivars—‘Donghong’, ‘Hongshi 2′, ‘Huayou’, ‘Qihong’, ‘Lushanxiang’, ‘Yunhai 1′, and ‘Cuixiang’—also ranked within the top ten owing to their superior flavor and nutritional profiles. In contrast, cultivars such as ‘Jintao’, despite their appealing appearance, scored lower in comprehensive evaluation due to their high acidity. The proposed EW-AHP method effectively mitigates biases inherent in single evaluation approaches, providing a scientific basis for regional cultivar selection and precise alignment with consumer markets. This study holds significant implications for advancing the high-quality development of the kiwifruit industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"357 ","pages":"Article 114618"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regulation of nectarine flesh browning through pre-harvest application of chitosan coatings","authors":"Zhu Li ,&nbsp;Xupeng Zeng ,&nbsp;Yue Chen ,&nbsp;Huihuang Shi ,&nbsp;Biting Shao ,&nbsp;Rui Gong ,&nbsp;Zhongjing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2026.114613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nectarine (<em>Prunus persica</em> L.) is a popular economic fruit, but flesh browning during low-temperature cold storage severely limits its storage period and commercial value, with existing studies on pre-harvest chitosan treatment focusing on single metabolic pathways. This study explored the regulatory effect and mechanism of pre-harvest 1.5 g/L chitosan spraying (4 times, 7-day interval) combined with (0±0.5)°C cold storage on 'Zhongyou No.4′ nectarine browning. Results showed the treatment delayed browning onset from week 2 to 3, reduced browning index, and maintained fruit quality. Mechanistically, it synergistically regulated multiple metabolic pathways: preserving mitochondrial function for energy supply, balancing mineral elements (K, Ca, B) to stabilize cell structure, inhibiting cell wall-degrading enzymes, maintaining sucrose-hexose balance, and enhancing ROS scavenging capacity. This work fills the gap of multi-metabolic network regulation research, providing a safe and effective technical and theoretical basis for nectarine cold storage preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"356 ","pages":"Article 114613"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}