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Horticulturae, Volume 10, Issue 12 (December 2024) – 18 articles

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20 pages, 3375 KiB  
Article
Planting System and Cultivar Influence Olive Key-Pests Infestation in an Olive-Growing Vocated Area
by Michele Cutrone, Francesco Maldera, Francesco Nicolì, Eustachio Tarasco, Juan F. Hermoso, Agustí Romero and Salvatore Camposeo
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121251 (registering DOI) - 26 Nov 2024
Abstract
Traditional and intensive planting systems have paved the way for the phenomenon of intensification, with the super high-density (SHD) system being the most prominent. This system has demonstrated high levels of profitability due to both the reduction in production costs achieved through complete [...] Read more.
Traditional and intensive planting systems have paved the way for the phenomenon of intensification, with the super high-density (SHD) system being the most prominent. This system has demonstrated high levels of profitability due to both the reduction in production costs achieved through complete mechanization and a significant increase in olive oil production per hectare, stemming from the more efficient utilization of resources such as light, water, and nutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a vocated olive-growing area, the phytosanitary status of a SHD olive orchard compared to a traditional one (TRD). The research focused on six key olive pests, considering the interaction between planting systems and eight cultivars in a semi-arid environment. The comparative analysis of pest infestations across the two planting systems revealed significant and complex patterns in pest population distribution and intensity. Overall, the planting system appeared to be the main factor influencing pest dynamics. The SHD olive orchard exhibited the highest infestation levels of Otiorhynchus cribricollis, Palpita unionalis, and Bactrocera oleae. Conversely, in the TRD system, the highest infestation levels of Saissetia oleae, Euphyllura olivina, and Prays oleae were observed. Moreover, the study highlighted a less pronounced effect of cultivars on the prevalence of all monitored key pests. These findings underscore the potential for developing more sustainable and effective pest management strategies tailored to specific planting systems. Furthermore, the results contribute to advancing eco-friendly control approaches and improving pest infestation management practices. Additional research will be necessary to deepen the understanding of these key pests and their interactions within different olive-growing systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM))
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15 pages, 6301 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor Gene Family in Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
by Weitong Cui, Zongle Xu, Yuhua Kong, Lin Yang, Hao Dou, Dangquan Zhang, Mingwan Li, Yuanyuan Chen, Shen Ding, Chaochen Yang and Yong Lai
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121250 - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a world-famous plant frequently subjected to various environmental stresses. Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF) has been shown to be essential for plant growth and for resistance to environmental stresses. This study utilized bioinformatics techniques to identify the [...] Read more.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a world-famous plant frequently subjected to various environmental stresses. Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF) has been shown to be essential for plant growth and for resistance to environmental stresses. This study utilized bioinformatics techniques to identify the SrHSF gene family in the rosemary genome. A total of 49 SrHSFs were detected, unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes. The SrHSF genes were classifiable into 3 subfamilies and contained in 14 subgroups. They were relatively conserved during the evolutionary process based on gene structure and conserved motif analysis. There were 22 kinds of cis-acting elements in the promoter regions of SrHSF genes, mostly related to hormones, stress, growth, and development. The interactions among 16 highly conserved SrHSF proteins were also identified. Gene collinearity analysis showed that 51 segmental duplication events were undergone among 41 SrHSF genes. Ka/Ks ratios were all less than 1, suggesting a purifying selection of SrHSF homologous genes. The expression pattern of SrHSF genes revealed that the majority of them are highly expressed in the secondary stems. After 0.1% MeJA treatment, SrHSF36 and SrHSF11 showed a significant upregulation in leaves. This research provides valuable insights into the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the SrHSF gene family. Full article
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13 pages, 1012 KiB  
Article
Chemical Profiling of Essential Oils from Main Culinary Plants—Bay (Laurus nobilis L.) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) from Montenegro
by Zoran S. Ilić, Ljiljana Stanojević, Lidija Milenković, Ljubomir Šunić, Aleksandra Milenković, Jelena Stanojević and Dragan Cvetković
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121249 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
The aim of the research was to determine the yield, chemical composition and free radical-scavenging activity of the essential oils (EOs) in the leaves and fruit of wild-grown bay (Laurus nobilis L.) and rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis L.)from the Montenegro coast. The bay [...] Read more.
The aim of the research was to determine the yield, chemical composition and free radical-scavenging activity of the essential oils (EOs) in the leaves and fruit of wild-grown bay (Laurus nobilis L.) and rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis L.)from the Montenegro coast. The bay essential oil (BEO) yield was 0.88% in fruit and 2.65% in the leaves. The rosemary essential oil (REO) yield was 1.30%. BEOs obtained from the leaves and fruit display different compositions. Fifty components were identified in leaf BEO, with 1,8-cineole (39.4%), linalool (13.9%), α-terpinyl acetate (11.2%), sabinene (6.7%) and methyl eugenol (5.7%) being the most abundant ones. Fifty-five components were isolated from fruit BEO, with 1,8-cineole (34.2%), α-pinene (6.6%), sabinene (6.1%) and β-bisabolene (5.8%) being the main components. Twenty-seven components were identified in leaf REO, with the main components being camphor (31.9%), borneol (12.2%), 1,8-cineole (11.3%) and myrcene (10.7%). The BEOs isolated from leaves (EC50 value of 1.43 mg/mL) and fruit (EC50 value of 3.74 mg/mL) showed stronger antioxidant activity than REO (EC50 value of 5.00 mg/mL) during an incubation time of 20 min. The results obtained for the bay and rosemary EOs from Montenegro highlight their potential not only for culinary purposes but also as a source of antioxidants and for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild and Cultivated Culinary Plants)
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16 pages, 8996 KiB  
Article
Preharvest Applications Improve the Postharvest Storage and Quality of Tomato Fruits by Enhancing the Nutritional Value and Antioxidant System
by Adel M. Al-Saif, Mohamed E. M. Ahmed, Mohamed A. Taha, Ashutosh Sharma, Abdel-Nasser A. El-Sheshtawy, Ibrahim A. Abouelsaad, Rasha S. El-Serafy and Rehab M. Mahdy
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121248 - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
Tomato fruit’s quality, firmness, and resistance to hard postharvest handling and storage conditions can be raised via different preharvest applications, including fertilization. This study aimed to study the impact of preharvest field humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and salicylic acid (SA) treatments [...] Read more.
Tomato fruit’s quality, firmness, and resistance to hard postharvest handling and storage conditions can be raised via different preharvest applications, including fertilization. This study aimed to study the impact of preharvest field humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on the postharvest quality of tomato fruits. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design in five treatments as follows: 20 mL L−1 HA plus 2 g L−1 FA (T1), 20 mL L−1 HA plus 0.5 g L−1 SA (T2), 40 mL L−1 HA plus 2 g L−1 FA (T3), 40 mL L−1 HA plus 0.5 g L−1 SA (T4), and untreated plants (T5). HA was added as a soil supplementation, while FA and SA were applied as a foliar application. Tomato fruits were collected at the beaker stage and maintained at 12 °C and 95% relative humidity for the postharvest storage period. The results obtained revealed that all physicochemical traits were significantly influenced by all treatments applied when comparing with the control fruit. The firmness of tomato fruits was better retained with the HA plus FA treatments than HA plus SA. T3 treatment improved the carotenoids and total soluble solids by 10.0% and 92.0%, respectively, relative to the control fruits. By the end of the storage period, the highest reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and pectin content was exhibited by tomatoes subjected to T3 treatment followed by T1 and T4. Preharvest treatment enhanced antioxidant content enzymes of α-amylase, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) enzymes in tomato fruit during the storage period. Moreover, the T3 treatment recorded the lowest weight loss percentage (5.9%) by the end of storage period. The results revealed that combining preharvest HA and FA treatments effectively maintains the quality and shelf life of tomato fruits. Full article
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14 pages, 3024 KiB  
Article
Chemical Analysis and Biological Potential of Cotton Lavender Ethanolic Extract (Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Asteraceae)
by Katarina Radovanović, Dajana Vukić, Nebojša Kladar, Maja Hitl, Neda Gavarić and Milica Aćimović
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121247 - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Asteraceae) is a widespread medicinal and ornamental plant. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary and detailed chemical composition as well as the biological activity of ethanolic extract. As part of the preliminary characterization, the content of [...] Read more.
Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Asteraceae) is a widespread medicinal and ornamental plant. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary and detailed chemical composition as well as the biological activity of ethanolic extract. As part of the preliminary characterization, the content of total phenolics and flavonoids was determined, while the detailed characterization was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through four different tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH), and nitroso (NO) radicals, and lipid peroxidation (LP), as well as antihyperglycemic potential through the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Additionally, in silico molecular modeling was employed to link the chemical composition to the antihyperglycemic potential. Chemical characterization showed that cotton lavender is a valuable source of phenolic compounds, with ferulic and p-coumaric acids being the most abundant. Moreover, the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract was demonstrated in vitro. The potential mechanism of the antihyperglycemic effect is the inhibition of the enzyme α-glucosidase, which was further investigated in silico using molecular modeling methods. This analysis suggested rutin and quercetin as compounds responsible for anti-α-glucosidase activity. Cotton lavender ethanolic extracts, as a valuable source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, possess moderate antioxidant effects and notable antihyperglycemic activity. According to in vitro and in silico investigations, it could be a valuable herbal supplement to complement diabetes treatment in medicinal therapy. Full article
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24 pages, 9827 KiB  
Article
MSOAR-YOLOv10: Multi-Scale Occluded Apple Detection for Enhanced Harvest Robotics
by Heng Fu, Zhengwei Guo, Qingchun Feng, Feng Xie, Yijing Zuo and Tao Li
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121246 - 25 Nov 2024
Abstract
The accuracy of apple fruit recognition in orchard environments is significantly affected by factors such as occlusion and lighting variations, leading to issues such as missed and false detections. To address these challenges, particularly related to occluded apples, this study proposes an improved [...] Read more.
The accuracy of apple fruit recognition in orchard environments is significantly affected by factors such as occlusion and lighting variations, leading to issues such as missed and false detections. To address these challenges, particularly related to occluded apples, this study proposes an improved apple-detection model, MSOAR-YOLOv10, based on YOLOv10. Firstly, a multi-scale feature fusion network is enhanced by adding a 160 × 160 feature scale layer to the backbone network, which increases the model’s sensitivity to small local features, particularly for occluded fruits. Secondly, the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism is integrated into the C2fCIB convolution module of the backbone network to improve the network’s focus on the regions of interest in the input images. Additionally, a Diverse Branch Block (DBB) module is introduced to enhance the performance of the convolutional neural network. Furthermore, a Normalized Wasserstein Distance (NWD) loss function is proposed to effectively reduce missed detections of densely packed and overlapping targets. Experimental results in orchards indicate that the proposed improved YOLOv10 model achieves precision, recall, and mean average precision rates of 89.3%, 89.8%, and 92.8%, respectively, representing increases of 3.1%, 2.2%, and 3.0% compared to the original YOLOv10 model. These results validate that the proposed network significantly enhances apple recognition accuracy in complex orchard environments, particularly improving the operational precision of harvesting robots in real-world conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Automation for Tree Fruit Orchards and Vineyards)
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17 pages, 2464 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (Citrus reticulata) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators
by Iqra Arshad, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Yousaf Shani, Ghulam Farid, Wacław Jarecki and Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121245 - 25 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for Citrus reticulata production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) [...] Read more.
Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for Citrus reticulata production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) and nutrients (potassium and zinc) on fruit drop and juice volume in Citrus reticulata L. Field trials were conducted at three locations in Punjab, Pakistan (Layyah, Faisalabad, and Sargodha) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Nutrients (K and Zn at 100 mg/L each) and growth regulators (SA at 100 mg/L and IAA at 5 mg/L) were applied individually or in combination at three growth stages. Statistical analyses, including PCA, ANOVA, and GGE biplot, were used to identify the most effective treatments for improving fruit juice quality and reducing fruit drop. The combined foliar application of SA + K + Zn was the most effective across all parameters, except fruit drop, juice citric acid contents, and juice pH, which were negatively affected. The highest juice potassium content was observed with K application. The PCA and GGE biplot analysis indicated that the Sargodha orchard performed best, with the SA + K treatment being the most effective there, while SA + K + Zn showed the best results at Layyah and Faisalabad for reducing fruit drop, enhancing juice volume, and improving fruit quality. However, individual fruit, juice, and juice nutrient contents traits analyses revealed that the most significant improvements in fruit and juice quality were observed at the Sargodha site instead of Layyah and Faisalabad. The treatment SA + K + Zn proved to be the most stable and consistent in enhancing citrus fruit and juice quality across all three selected locations. The findings suggest that adopting the SA + K + Zn treatment could be a practical approach for citrus farmers aiming to enhance crop yield and fruit quality, thereby supporting agricultural productivity and export potential in Pakistan. Full article
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11 pages, 2741 KiB  
Article
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated BocPDSs Gene Editing in Chinese Kale Using the Endogenous tRNA-Processing System
by Yudan Wang, Rahat Sharif, Guangguang Li, Guoju Chen and Changming Chen
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121244 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 187
Abstract
Chinese kale is a native vegetable from the Brassicaceae family that is grown extensively in Southeast Asia and Southern China. Its low genetic transformation and gene editing efficiency hinder gene function research and molecular biology in Chinese kale. CRISPR/Cas9 is a useful tool [...] Read more.
Chinese kale is a native vegetable from the Brassicaceae family that is grown extensively in Southeast Asia and Southern China. Its low genetic transformation and gene editing efficiency hinder gene function research and molecular biology in Chinese kale. CRISPR/Cas9 is a useful tool for plant genome research due to its rapid development and optimization. This study targeted BocPDSs, (BocPDS1, BocPDS2) to establish an effective CRISPR/Cas9 system in Chinese kale. A tandemly arranged tRNA-sgRNA construct was used to express numerous sgRNAs to induce BocPDS1 and BocPDS2 double and single mutations, with a mutation rate of 61.11%. As predicted, several mutant plants showed an albino phenotype with a harbored mutation in an exon and intron region, highlighting the relevance of the intron. The presence of mutations in the intron region suggests that the cleavage process in Chinese kale, utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 shows a preference for AT-rich regions. The distinct and somewhat redundant functions of BocPDS1 and BocPDS2 are demonstrated by the complete albino phenotype of the double mutants and the mosaic albino phenotype of the individual BocPDS1 and BocPDS2 mutants. Specific gene editing modes, including base deletion, base substitution, and base insertion, were identified in the sequence of the target gene. Among them, short nucleotide insertions were the most common type of insertion, with base insertions having the highest frequency (61.54%). Furthermore, no instances of off-target gene editing were detected. The current work demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, which relies on endogenous tRNA processing, can effectively induce mutagenesis in Chinese kale. This finding establishes a theoretical basis and technical backbone for the more effective implementation of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in Chinese kale and Brassica plants. Full article
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17 pages, 2533 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Synergistic Role of Zinc in NPK Fertilization on the Agronomic Performance of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius)
by Muhammad Alamgeer, Hassan Munir, Saddam Hussain, Sudeep Adhikari, Walid Soufan, Jahangir Ahmed, Maryam Aslam and Saeed Rauf
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121243 - 24 Nov 2024
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Safflower is a multipurpose, underutilized annual crop that could be an alternate oilseed crop for normal and marginal lands around the world. Zinc as a nutrient plays a critical role in enzyme activity and nutrient absorption, leading to improved productivity and quality of [...] Read more.
Safflower is a multipurpose, underutilized annual crop that could be an alternate oilseed crop for normal and marginal lands around the world. Zinc as a nutrient plays a critical role in enzyme activity and nutrient absorption, leading to improved productivity and quality of oilseeds. However, imbalances between NPK and Zn can result in antagonistic interactions, leading to nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, this field experiment at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, was conducted to explore the synergistic effects of NPK and Zn on safflower growth, yield, and oil content. Safflower accession (UAF-SAFF-100) was treated with ten different combinations of zinc and NPK having different concentrations, i.e., T0 = control, T1 = NPK at 40:40:40 kg ha−1, T2 = NPK at 50:50:40 kg ha−1, T3 = NPK at 60:60:40 kg ha−1, T4 = NPK at 70:70:40 kg ha−1, T5 = NPK at 80:80:40 kg ha−1, T6 = T1 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T7 = T2 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T8 = T3 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, T9 = T4 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1, and T10 = T5 + zinc at 7.5 kg ha−1. The results indicated that the application of T9 (NPK @ 70:70:40 kg/ha−1 + zinc @ 7.5 kg/ha−1) showed the most promising results in terms of growth and yield attributes. This treatment significantly improved key metrics such as capitulum diameter, the number of capitula per plant, seed yield, petal yield, and oil content. Thus, this treatment (T9) is proposed as an effective strategy for enhancing safflower growth and productivity, particularly in semi-arid regions. This study underscores the importance of optimizing nutrient management to achieve superior crop performance and suggests that tailored NPK and Zn applications can be a promising approach to maximizing safflower yield and oil quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Nutrition)
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16 pages, 1969 KiB  
Article
Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Capacity of Alkaloids from Microencapsulated Extract of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Biomass
by Brianda Giselle Germán-Soto, José Basilio Heredia, Nayely Leyva-López, Erick Paul Gutiérrez-Grijalva, Melissa García-Carrasco, Pedro de Jesús Bastidas-Bastidas and Laura Aracely Contreras-Angulo
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121242 - 23 Nov 2024
Viewed by 321
Abstract
Eggplant is a vegetable grown worldwide, and due to quality standards, large amounts of biomass are generated after harvest. Biomass is considered a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility (BA) and antioxidant capacity of [...] Read more.
Eggplant is a vegetable grown worldwide, and due to quality standards, large amounts of biomass are generated after harvest. Biomass is considered a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility (BA) and antioxidant capacity of microencapsulated alkaloids from eggplant fruit biomass. Eggplant biomass was collected, and the total alkaloid content, antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP, and ORAC), and alkaloid profile (UPLC/MS) were determined before and after the in vitro digestion of encapsulated and non-encapsulated alkaloids. In vitro digestion significantly reduced the total alkaloid content and antioxidant capacity of alkaloid-rich extracts. Microencapsulation increased the bioaccessibility of alkaloid-rich extracts threefold, and the antioxidant capacity increased by up to 50%. The antioxidant capacity of digested microcapsules increased, and their bioaccessibility was higher than that of non-encapsulated alkaloids. Solamargine and solasonine decreased by 17 and 15% BA, respectively, during in vitro digestion; however, microencapsulation protected these alkaloids during in vitro digestion and enhanced their content. This study demonstrates that microencapsulation is a feasible option to protect alkaloids and preserve their antioxidant capacity during gastrointestinal digestion, as well as to give added value to eggplant plant biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vegetable Production Systems)
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15 pages, 3805 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Genome Size and Ploidy Level of Pears (Pyrus spp.) in Relation to Their Morphological Traits
by Jonáš Fiala, Eliška Zezulová and Tomáš Nečas
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121241 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 403
Abstract
In this study, 53 pear genotypes were evaluated, including 19 Asian varieties, 7 botanical species and 13 new interspecific hybrids. The ploidy level and nuclear DNA content were determined by flow cytometry. In addition, the morphological traits and their possible correlations with the [...] Read more.
In this study, 53 pear genotypes were evaluated, including 19 Asian varieties, 7 botanical species and 13 new interspecific hybrids. The ploidy level and nuclear DNA content were determined by flow cytometry. In addition, the morphological traits and their possible correlations with the genome size were analyzed. One triploid genotype was found. The Asian varieties had a lower average genome size (553.4 Mbp) than the European varieties (564.1 Mbp). The average nuclear DNA content was 1.14 pg/2C for the diploid genotypes and 1.77 pg/2C DNA for the triploids. The Asian varieties had significantly larger leaves than the European ones. Pyrus calleryana had the smallest flowers and P. Caucasica the largest, but the varieties showed no significant differences in flower size. The pollen grain size ranged from 37.7 to 59.0 μm. However, there were no significant correlations between the genotype groups or genome sizes. The Asian cultivars had, on average, smaller stomata (28.4 μm) than the European cultivars (31.6 μm). The largest stomata size was measured for the triploid genotypes (37.9 μm). There was a positive correlation between the genome size and stomatal length and a negative correlation between the genome size and leaf length, leaf width and flower diameter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2))
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12 pages, 6219 KiB  
Article
Design and Ventilation Optimization of a Mechanized Corridor in a Solar Greenhouse Cluster
by Ming He, Xinxia Jiang, Xiuchao Wan, Yiming Li, Qinglu Fan and Xingan Liu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121240 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 267
Abstract
Corridors play an important role in the mechanized production of fruits and vegetables in solar greenhouse clusters. A corridor structure that is suitable for the automated production of solar greenhouse clusters is designed in this paper. To increase the corridor’s ventilation efficiency and [...] Read more.
Corridors play an important role in the mechanized production of fruits and vegetables in solar greenhouse clusters. A corridor structure that is suitable for the automated production of solar greenhouse clusters is designed in this paper. To increase the corridor’s ventilation efficiency and enhance the temperature environment, the computational fluid dynamics method is applied to analyze the effects of corridor structure, ventilation mode, wind speed, and direction on internal temperature and humidity. Studies have indicated that an erroneous layout of the corridor structure may result in the formation of accumulated temperature and heat concentration inside, and ventilation within the corridor is essential. The corridor’s ideal dimensions are 3.2 m high by 5 m wide, and it has an internal wind speed and cooling rate that are superior to other structural factors. The ventilation method adopts a combination of top and bottom ventilation, and when the bottom window opening is 70%, there is a good ventilation effect inside the corridor. The corridor has an excellent ventilation effect when the wind speed is 2 m/s and the wind direction is east or west. This study supports the intensive and sustainable growth of greenhouse vegetable production by providing guidance for the planning and corridor design of solar greenhouse clusters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultivation and Production of Greenhouse Horticulture)
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14 pages, 1060 KiB  
Article
Impact of Salinity and Biostimulants on Cherry Tomato Yield and Quality
by Ida Di Mola, Lucia Ottaiano, Eugenio Cozzolino, Christophe El-Nakhel, Nunzio Fiorentino, Maria Eleonora Pelosi, Youssef Rouphael and Mauro Mori
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121239 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 374
Abstract
Salt stress causes several detrimental effects on the growth and production of cultivated plants; therefore, scientists have investigated several strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress, including the application of biostimulants. In our research, we tested four salinity levels of irrigation [...] Read more.
Salt stress causes several detrimental effects on the growth and production of cultivated plants; therefore, scientists have investigated several strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress, including the application of biostimulants. In our research, we tested four salinity levels of irrigation water (tap water and water at 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 dS m−1, EC0, EC3, EC6, and EC9, respectively) and two biostimulant applications (untreated plants—Control and plants treated with an extract from seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum—Bio) on a cherry-type tomato. The marketable tomato yield linearly decreased with increasing salinity stress in both treated and untreated plants. However, biostimulant application boosted the production, on average, by 53.2%, significantly impacting only the Control and EC3 treatments. Regarding qualitative traits, no interaction between the factors was detected, except for color parameters. Nonetheless, salinity, particularly in the two less stressed treatments, led to an increase in total soluble solids, firmness, lipophilic antioxidant activity, and ascorbic acid, while the biostimulant improved plant biomass, total soluble solids, firmness, and hydrophilic antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum elicited a beneficial response in tomato plants subjected to low levels of salt stress, as well as in optimal irrigation condition. Full article
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17 pages, 2768 KiB  
Article
The Antioxidant Profile of Some Species of Microgreens Cultivated on Hemp and Coconut Substrate Under the Action of a Biostimulator Based on Humic Acids
by Alina Elena Marta, Florina Stoica, Ștefănica Ostaci and Carmenica Doina Jităreanu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121238 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Microplants are vegetables, grains and aromatic herbs that are consumed in the stage of young plants, without roots, developed after the germination stage, in the stage of cotyledons and which have a high content of nutrients (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, lutein, β-carotene, [...] Read more.
Microplants are vegetables, grains and aromatic herbs that are consumed in the stage of young plants, without roots, developed after the germination stage, in the stage of cotyledons and which have a high content of nutrients (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, lutein, β-carotene, proteins and fibers, etc.), which makes them functional, concentrated foods capable of feeding the world’s ever-growing population. The significant amounts of antioxidants in microgreens have the role of neutralizing free radicals and reducing their harmful impact on human health. The microgreens studied were spinach (Spinacia oleracea) cultivar ‘Lorelay’, mustard (Sinapis alba) cultivar ‘White’ and radish (Raphanus sativus) cultivar ‘Red Rambo’, tested on hemp and coconut substrates and under the influence of the organic biostimulator Biohumussol, based on humic acids. The antioxidant content of the plants was determined by analyzing total carotenoids, lycopene, chlorophyll, β-carotene, polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as the antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH methods. The obtained results indicated that the reaction of the plant material depends on the composition of the substrate and the presence of the applied biostimulator. The highest contents of substances with an antioxidant role were obtained from the microgreens on the hemp substrate, especially mustard and radishes, and the biostimulator proved to be compatible with the spinach microgreens. Full article
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27 pages, 2820 KiB  
Article
Identification and Analysis of the Content of Biologically Active Substances of Juniper Cone Berries and Their Antioxidant Activity
by Myroslava Hrytsyna, Ivan Salamon, Ruslan Peleno and Vladimira Vargova
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121237 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Juniper cones are widely used in the food industry and medicine. The aim of this study was to identify juniper growth sites with the highest concentrations of carbohydrates, fats, organic acids and phenols in their cone berries, as well as to assess their [...] Read more.
Juniper cones are widely used in the food industry and medicine. The aim of this study was to identify juniper growth sites with the highest concentrations of carbohydrates, fats, organic acids and phenols in their cone berries, as well as to assess their antioxidant properties. Research was conducted on 23 different populations from Slovakia, along with fruits purchased from commercial sources in Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic. The content of fermentable sugars in industrial samples was higher in Juniperus communis than in J. oxycedrus (360 and 197 g/kg, respectively), and 20% higher in samples from Albania than those from Slovakia. The carbohydrates included glucose and fructose; the latter was 35% less. We selected groups based on a cluster analysis of the content of organic substances in juniper cone berries and their antioxidant activity, collected from different Slovakian populations. So, based on the conducted research, it was established that the content of organic substances, particularly sugars, in cone berries decreased with elevation in the mountains and was the best at medium altitudes. At the same time, the antioxidant effect was better in cone berries collected on the north side at all altitudes. The best in terms of the content of phenols and antioxidant activity were the populations located on the northern, rather steep slopes in the lowlands of the Slovak Carpathians. These indicators fell with the increase in altitude in the mountains, especially from the southern side. The best places to collect raw materials are populations from middle latitudes: Chhrámec, Teplá dolina, lokalita 1, Horné lazy, Iliaš, Priechod-South, Priechod-West, Spišsky hrad, Selčianske sedlo, Cerovo, Poprad, Kišovce–Hôrka, Ostrá hora, Teplá dolina 2, Kráľová 2, and Kráľová 1. The cone berries can be used as the raw material base for producing the Slovak national alcoholic drink “Borovichka”. Full article
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12 pages, 3391 KiB  
Article
The Transcription Factor BrNAC19 Acts as a Positive Regulator of the Heat Stress Response in Chinese Cabbage
by Shuai Yuan, Xiaoping Yong, Yuxin Lu, Yuxin Lei, Weijian Li, Qiuli Shi and Xiuhong Yao
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121236 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 412
Abstract
The frequent occurrence of excessive heat events driven by global warming poses a great threat to plant growth and food security. To survive in heat stress (HS) environments, plants have evolved sophisticated response mechanisms, and the transcriptional network that controls the expression levels [...] Read more.
The frequent occurrence of excessive heat events driven by global warming poses a great threat to plant growth and food security. To survive in heat stress (HS) environments, plants have evolved sophisticated response mechanisms, and the transcriptional network that controls the expression levels of HS-inducible genes serves as an essential component of this process. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) play key regulatory roles in the abiotic stress responses of plants. However, the functional roles of NAC TFs in the heat stress response of Chinese cabbage remain elusive. In the present study, we identified the Brassica rapa NAC family transcription factor BrNAC19 as a close homologue of Arabidopsis NAC019 and found that it serves as a positive regulator of the HS response. BrNAC19 displayed inducible gene expression in response to HS, and its subcellular localization showed that it was localized in the nucleus. Heterologous expression of BrNAC19 significantly enhanced the heat tolerance of plants and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under HS conditions. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that BrNAC19 directly targeted and promoted the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (CSD1) and catalase 2 (CAT2), two antioxidant-enzyme coding genes in Chinese cabbage. Altogether, our results suggest that BrNAC19 enhances heat stress tolerance by positively regulating the expression of genes involved in the HS response and ROS scavenging and exhibits potential as a target gene in Chinese cabbage breeding to increase heat stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetable Genomics and Breeding Research)
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19 pages, 4988 KiB  
Article
Pistachio Phenology and Yield in a Cold-Winter Region of Spain: The Status of the Cultivation and Performance of Three Cultivars
by Lidia Núñez, Hugo Martín, José Manuel Mirás-Avalos and Sara Álvarez
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121235 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 279
Abstract
In recent years, pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivation is undergoing a great expansion in Spain, which is promising for regions where water and winter chilling are not limiting. Many areas of Castilla y León (Spain) provide suitable conditions for pistachio production, but [...] Read more.
In recent years, pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivation is undergoing a great expansion in Spain, which is promising for regions where water and winter chilling are not limiting. Many areas of Castilla y León (Spain) provide suitable conditions for pistachio production, but heat requirement could be a limiting factor. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the status of pistachios in Castilla y León and the relationships between phenology and agroclimatic conditions and (ii) to assess the performance of three pistachio cultivars (‘Kerman’, ‘Lost Hills’, and ‘Golden Hills’) in a plantation within this region. This work describes the phenological and productive behavior of three pistachio varieties in seven orchards over three years. The chilling requirements were exceeded, and heat accumulation was sufficient to complete the cycle in all seasons. Bloom and harvest occurred later in ‘Kerman’ than in ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’. In general, ‘Kerman’ had higher nut yield than the other two cultivars but also had more non-split and blank nuts, aspects that should be considered for future plantations. Despite the interannual variability in yield, a trend to increase the production with water received was observed, but this also affected the quality and modified the splitting percentage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Fruit Production Systems)
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14 pages, 5015 KiB  
Article
Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Improve In Vitro Growth of Blueberries
by Luca Regni, Daniele Del Buono, Maurizio Micheli, Simona Lucia Facchin, Arianna Cesarini, Dario Priolo and Primo Proietti
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121234 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 357
Abstract
Nanotechnology offers promising applications in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield, and antioxidant defenses. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the in vitro growth of two blueberry cultivars, Brigitta and Duke. The ZnO-NPs [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology offers promising applications in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield, and antioxidant defenses. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the in vitro growth of two blueberry cultivars, Brigitta and Duke. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized biogenically using an extract of Lemna minor L., which is a free-floating aquatic plant, as a capping and modulating agent, and were added to the plant’s growth media at different dosages (0, 2, 6, and 18 mg L−1). The ZnO-NPs significantly increased the shoot number, fresh biomass, and dry weight in both cultivars without affecting shoot vitality, length, or basal callus formation. Moreover, the increases in carotenoids in both cultivars, as well as chlorophyll and and soluble proteins in the ‘Brigitta’ cultivar, confirm the prompted benefits and possibly evidence genotype-specific metabolic adaptations in response to ZnO-NPs. These results demonstrate that biogenic ZnO-NPs can effectively promote the in vitro growth of blueberry explants, offering improvements in micropropagation efficiency. Full article
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