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Agronomy
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Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management
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Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 41992

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vasileios Ziogas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DEMETER, Chania, 73134 Crete, Greece
Interests: citrus; fruit quality; sustainability; postharvest management; crop management; abiotic stress; antioxidants; stress physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Konstantinos Papoutsis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
Interests: food science; antioxidants; postharvest physiology; fruit quality; plant physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the near future, the world’s population will face serious challenges due to continuous growth, global climate change, and limited natural resources. The agricultural sector needs to adapt to those challenges and provide sustainable methods in order to cover the global need for food while protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem. Fruit trees are, in many cultures, the primary source of vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fibers, and their health benefits are continuously highlighted by many research groups. Proper management techniques, from the initial stage of grove establishment to the annual cultivation principles, could mitigate the negative impact of climate change; preserve natural resources, such as water and nutrients within the root zone; optimize the usage of agricultural inputs; and provide quality fruits with superior nutritional value.

The postharvest treatments are equally as important as the preharvest ones. Proper postharvest fruit management could sustain fruit’s qualitative attributes, minimize pathogen-related losses, minimize chemical residues, and prolong shelf-life in order to meet future food needs. Proper and precise cultivation techniques coupled with the orthological usage of resources will lead towards more profitable and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Vasileios Ziogas
Dr. Konstantinos Papoutsis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fruit quality
  • sustainability
  • postharvest
  • preharvest
  • crop management
  • abiotic stress
  • climate change

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 172 KiB  
Editorial
Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management
by Vasileios Ziogas
Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020408 - 30 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1977
Abstract
In the near future, the world’s population will face serious challenges due to continuous growth, global climate change, and limited natural resources [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

20 pages, 4726 KiB  
Article
Crop Load and Thinning Methods Impact Yield, Nutrient Content, Fruit Quality, and Physiological Disorders in ‘Scilate’ Apples
by Ramandeep Singh Sidhu, Sally A. Bound and Ian Hunt
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 1989; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12091989 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3429
Abstract
Most apple cultivars produce too many flowers to enable consistent yields of high-quality fruit, thus, crop load management (thinning) is an integral part of orchard management in modern apple cultivation. Crop load is managed by thinning excess flowers and/or fruit from a tree, [...] Read more.
Most apple cultivars produce too many flowers to enable consistent yields of high-quality fruit, thus, crop load management (thinning) is an integral part of orchard management in modern apple cultivation. Crop load is managed by thinning excess flowers and/or fruit from a tree, however ideal targets vary between cultivars. In this two-year study, the effect of thinning methods at different levels of crop load on fruit quality and production, post-harvest storability and physiological disorders, and fruit and leaf nutrient content in ‘Scilate’ apples were investigated in southern Tasmania, Australia. Two thinning methods, artificial bud extinction (ABE) and hand thinning (HT), were compared at three levels of crop load: 3, 6, or 12 fruit cm−2 limb cross-sectional area (LCSA), described as low, medium, and high, respectively. During the second season, all the ABE and HT treatments received additional chemical thinning (CT). The results demonstrated that ABE consistently outperformed HT in terms of improved fruit set, return bloom, and fruit weight. The fruit quality parameters, such as flesh firmness, total soluble solids, dry matter content, malic acid content, and fruit shape, were also improved under the ABE regime, with these positive effects being the clearest in the second season. In general, high-quality fruits were obtained from the low and medium crop loads, while the fruit quality was poor for the high crop load trees, but the low crop load fruit had a slightly higher incidence of internal flesh browning (predominantly radial) and fruit softening after regular atmosphere storage. The crop load also impacted on the fruit and leaf mineral nutrient content, where fruit N, Ca, Mn, and Zn, and leaf N, Fe, Zn, and Cu content increased while fruit and leaf K declined with a higher crop load. High crop load, irrespective of the thinning regime, and HT with a medium crop load, induced severe biennial bearing, whereas, the fruit yield was relatively consistent with ABE, even with a medium crop load. We conclude that ABE with a medium crop load (around six fruit cm−2 LCSA) is an effective method of managing crop load and optimizing the fruit quality in ‘Scilate’ apples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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15 pages, 1173 KiB  
Article
Comparative Response of Mango Fruit towards Pre- and Post-Storage Quarantine Heat Treatments
by Saqib Javed, Huimin Fu, Amjad Ali, Atif Nadeem, Muhammad Amin, Kashif Razzaq, Sami Ullah, Ishtiaq A. Rajwana, Shafa Nayab, Vasileios Ziogas, Ping Liu and Syed Bilal Hussain
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061476 - 20 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3800
Abstract
The present study investigates the comparative effect of pre- and post-storage quarantine heat treatments (hot water treatment (HWT) and vapor heat treatment (VHT)) on the post-harvest performance of the mango fruit cv. ‘Chenab Gold’. The results indicate that the application of HWT at [...] Read more.
The present study investigates the comparative effect of pre- and post-storage quarantine heat treatments (hot water treatment (HWT) and vapor heat treatment (VHT)) on the post-harvest performance of the mango fruit cv. ‘Chenab Gold’. The results indicate that the application of HWT at 48 °C for 60 min or VHT at 47 °C for 25 min after 21 days under cold storage enhanced the ethylene production and fruit weight loss, while decreasing fruit firmness and vitamin C content. Noticeably, the post-storage heat treatments ruptured the fruit and destroyed their market value. However, fruit treated with HWT or VHT at harvest exhibited slow weight loss, better skin color, and maintained biochemical attributes as compared to the control when kept under ambient storage conditions. Taken together, the application of hot water before storage has a positive influence on mango fruit quality, while post-storage heat treatment has a devastating impact upon fruit quality and shelf life, cancelling its potential commercial application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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17 pages, 646 KiB  
Article
Calcium Sprays and Crop Load Reduction Increase Fruit Quality and Postharvest Storage in Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.)
by Maritza Matteo, Juan Pablo Zoffoli and Marlene Ayala
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040829 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3438
Abstract
In many fruit trees, the thinning of buds, flowers, or fruits is used to increase the leaf area-to-fruit ratio (LA:F) and reduce competition for carbohydrates. Meanwhile, calcium (Ca) sprays during fruit development are also used to increase fruit quality and postharvest storage. Such [...] Read more.
In many fruit trees, the thinning of buds, flowers, or fruits is used to increase the leaf area-to-fruit ratio (LA:F) and reduce competition for carbohydrates. Meanwhile, calcium (Ca) sprays during fruit development are also used to increase fruit quality and postharvest storage. Such practices have been recommended to increase fruit firmness and reduce fruit cracking in sweet cherries. To understand the effects of foliar Ca sprays and crop load reductions in the combination ‘Lapins’/‘Colt’, trained as the Kym Green Bush, a factorial experiment to determine the interactions between both managements was established in the Central Valley of Chile during the 2018/2019 growing season. Two levels of crop load (CL) were established—thinned (50% crop load) and unthinned (100% crop load) during Stage I of fruit development (31 days after full bloom, DAFB). Three timings of foliar applications of CaCl2 (TFA; 0.8%) were evaluated: early 26 DAFB, later 39 DAFB, or late 62 DAFB. Natural fruit contents and concentrations of Ca were determined on unsprayed control trees. Fruit from the thinned trees were significantly larger and heavier and had a higher titratable acidity than unthinned trees did. Significant interactions between TFA and CL were observed for SSC, without a clear trend. Thinned trees were less affected by pedicel detachment, browning, and fruit decay after 45 d of storage (0 °C). In unthinned trees, a foliar CaCl2 spray at Stage I allowed a higher fruit firmness than CaCl2 sprays at Stage II and III of fruit development. The CaCl2 applications at 39 or 62 DAFB reduced the incidence of cracking in thinned trees. Natural Ca concentrations decreased during fruit development, indicating a cessation of Ca import and a dilution by subsequent growth. Our results suggest that the early reduction of crop load has positive effects on fruit quality and condition during storage, and early Ca sprays (Stage I) improve fruit textural properties, even under high crop loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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15 pages, 898 KiB  
Article
Development Changes in the Physicochemical Composition and Mineral Profile of Red-Fleshed Dragon Fruit Grown under Semi-Arid Conditions
by Akath Singh, Saurabh Swami, Nav Raten Panwar, Mahesh Kumar, Anil Kumar Shukla, Youssef Rouphael, Leo Sabatino and Pradeep Kumar
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020355 - 31 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4108
Abstract
Red-fleshed dragon fruit offers an array of bioactive compounds. Its cultivation is gaining momentum in India, including in arid and semi-arid conditions. Among various factors, the fruit developmental stages and climatic conditions of locations greatly influence the biosynthesis and actual contents of different [...] Read more.
Red-fleshed dragon fruit offers an array of bioactive compounds. Its cultivation is gaining momentum in India, including in arid and semi-arid conditions. Among various factors, the fruit developmental stages and climatic conditions of locations greatly influence the biosynthesis and actual contents of different bioactive compounds and mineral contents of the fruit. The changes in physical attributes, and bioactive and mineral content in red-fleshed dragon fruit grown in semi-arid conditions in India were assessed and quantified at six developmental stages. Significant changes occurred in the physical attributes of the fruit and the bioactive compounds and mineral content during the fruit maturation stages of the red-fleshed dragon fruit. The fruit physical characteristics, such as fruit size, fruit and pulp weight gain, peel thickness, and fruit firmness, along with eating quality parameters, such as soluble solids, sugars, acidity and soluble proteins, were observed at optimum at 35 days after anthesis (DAA). The decrease in total phenolics (29.96%), total flavonoids (41.06%), and vitamin C (75.3%) occurred throughout the fruit development stages, whereas the content of betalains, which was detected initially at 25 DAA, increased (48.6%) with the progression of the fruit development stages. However, the antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity demonstrated variable trends throughout the fruit maturation period. There was an increasing trend in all the minerals up to 35 days, followed by a slight decrease, except for phosphorus content, which increased until the last stage of evaluation. The colour characteristics, in conjunction with the bioactive and antioxidant potential determined in the present study, suggest that red-fleshed dragon fruit can be harvested at 35 DAA for long-distance transportation, and from 35 to 40 DAA for local marketing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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14 pages, 1757 KiB  
Article
Effects of Melatonin Treatment on Sweet Cherry Tree Yield and Fruit Quality
by Alberto Carrión-Antolí, José Manuel Lorente-Mento, Juan Miguel Valverde, Salvador Castillo, Daniel Valero and María Serrano
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12010003 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3940
Abstract
The effects of preharvest melatonin treatment, applied as foliar spray at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM concentration at three key points of fruit development (pit hardening, initial colour changes and 3 days before harvesting), on crop yield and fruit quality properties at harvest [...] Read more.
The effects of preharvest melatonin treatment, applied as foliar spray at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM concentration at three key points of fruit development (pit hardening, initial colour changes and 3 days before harvesting), on crop yield and fruit quality properties at harvest was evaluated in three sweet cherry cultivars, ‘Prime Giant’, ‘Lapins’ and ‘Sweet Heart’, and two years, 2019 and 2020. The results showed that melatonin treatment had no effect on crop yield, except for the ‘Lapins’ cultivar, in which increases were found. However, decayed and cracked fruit percentage was decreased in all cultivars in 2020 when adverse weather conditions occurred and commercial crop yield was increased, especially for 0.3 mM dose. Fruit quality traits at harvest, such as fruit weight, colour, firmness, total soluble solids and titratable acidity, were enhanced by melatonin treatments in all sweet cherry cultivars and in both years. Moreover, bioactive compounds, such as total phenolics and total and individual anthocyanins, were also found at higher levels in fruit from melatonin-treated trees with respect to controls. Thus, taking into account all these effects, 0.3 mM melatonin foliar spray, at three key points of fruit developmental stages, could be a useful tool to improve crop yield and quality traits of sweet cherries, especially their content on bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties and health beneficial effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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16 pages, 5983 KiB  
Article
Canopy Spraying of Abscisic Acid to Improve Fruit Quality of Different Sweet Cherry Cultivars
by Alson Time, Claudio Ponce, Nathalie Kuhn, Macarena Arellano, Boris Sagredo, José Manuel Donoso and Lee A. Meisel
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11101947 - 28 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3541
Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a major role in promoting ripening in sweet cherry, a non-climacteric fruit. Exogenous application of ABA has been performed to study fruit ripening and cracking, but this growth regulator is not used for commercial production. To determine the potential [...] Read more.
Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a major role in promoting ripening in sweet cherry, a non-climacteric fruit. Exogenous application of ABA has been performed to study fruit ripening and cracking, but this growth regulator is not used for commercial production. To determine the potential of this growth regulator to improve sweet cherry fruit quality, ABA canopy spraying was assayed in four cultivars. Canopy spraying of S-ABA significantly: (1) enhanced sweet cherry fruit color in ‘Glenred’, ‘Lapins’ and ‘Bing’ cultivars, but not in ‘Royal Rainier’ (a bi-colored cultivar), and (2) decreased fruit size and firmness in ‘Lapins’, ‘Bing’ and ‘Royal Rainier’. Seasonally reproducible effects were seen in ‘Lapins’ (mid/late-maturing) but not in ‘Glenred’ (early-maturing). Canopy spraying of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) decreased color and increased fruit size in ‘Lapins’, but not in ‘Glenred’. Direct application of ABA on fruits attached to the tree, without application to the foliage, increased ‘Lapins’ fruit color without reducing size. These results suggest a localized fruit response to exogenous ABA application on fruit color development, but that a decrease in fruit size may be due to the effects of exogenous ABA on the tree canopy foliage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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11 pages, 863 KiB  
Article
Effect of Harvest Date on Mango (Mangifera indica L. Cultivar Osteen) Fruit’s Qualitative Development, Shelf Life and Consumer Acceptance
by Giuseppe Gianguzzi, Vittorio Farina, Paolo Inglese and Maria Gloria Lobo Rodrigo
Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040811 - 20 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4234
Abstract
The qualitative characteristics of mango fruits change throughout their development process and are also influenced by their duration. Harvesting at different times after the fruit set affects external and internal quality and the post-harvest behavior and management possibilities of the fruits. The objective [...] Read more.
The qualitative characteristics of mango fruits change throughout their development process and are also influenced by their duration. Harvesting at different times after the fruit set affects external and internal quality and the post-harvest behavior and management possibilities of the fruits. The objective of this study was to assess the evolution of the most important physicochemical and organoleptic parameters of cv. Osteen fruits concern the length of their stay on the plant and also to their post-harvest management. For this reason, fruits were harvested progressively in ten pickings. The study showed that mango fruits that are kept on the tree reach the best quality traits, corresponding to their physiological maturation. The length of the storage period needed to reach the consumption point varies greatly according to the harvesting moment and to the different environmental parameters, which also affect the organoleptic and physicochemical quality of the fruits. The number of days after full flowering were confirmed to be the primary information to consider when planning harvest with commercial use of the fruit, but interesting indications can be acquired through the definition of non-destructive (hardness, color) or destructive (dry matter) parameters. The data collected help improve mango fruit′s post-harvest management practices, to provide a product with constant quality and homogeneity to the consumer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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10 pages, 434 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Methyl Anthranilate-Based Repellent on Chemical Composition and Selected Physiological Parameters of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.)
by Grzegorz Mikiciuk, Piotr Chełpiński, Małgorzata Mikiciuk, Ewa Możdżer and Arkadiusz Telesiński
Agronomy 2021, 11(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020256 - 30 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4393
Abstract
Maturing sweet cherry fruits are exposed to damage caused by birds. In order to repel birds from orchards, it is increasingly common to use repellents based on plant extracts and compounds that undergo complete biodegradation. One such compound is methyl anthranilate (2-aminobenzoic acid [...] Read more.
Maturing sweet cherry fruits are exposed to damage caused by birds. In order to repel birds from orchards, it is increasingly common to use repellents based on plant extracts and compounds that undergo complete biodegradation. One such compound is methyl anthranilate (2-aminobenzoic acid methyl ester), which has an irritating effect on birds’ senses of taste and smell. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of methyl anthranilate-based repellent (commercial name: Goose Chase/Fruit Shield) on the chemical composition and selected physiological parameters of sweet cherry cv. ‘Burlat’. The repellent containing methyl anthranilate (26.4%) was applied in the form of a foliar spray seven days prior to fruit harvest at a 1% concentration (500 dm3∙ha−1 of working liquid). In the study, methyl anthranilate-based repellent was found to have no influence on the chemical composition of fruits and leaves or the selected physiological parameters of sweet cherry cv. ‘Burlat’. Moreover, the use of methyl anthranilate did not affect the cracking susceptibility of sweet cherry fruits. This compound may constitute an interesting alternative to support sweet cherry orchard protection against birds and in organic cultures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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Review

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16 pages, 724 KiB  
Review
Drought and Salinity in Citriculture: Optimal Practices to Alleviate Salinity and Water Stress
by Vasileios Ziogas, Georgia Tanou, Giasemi Morianou and Nektarios Kourgialas
Agronomy 2021, 11(7), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071283 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5706
Abstract
Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing [...] Read more.
Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied. This review paper emphasizes and summarizes the crucial role of the above factors in the sustainability of citriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Principles and Practices in Fruit Tree Production and Postharvest Management)
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