Background Rain-induced fruit cracking is a major physiological problem in most sweet cherry cultivars. For an in vivo cracking assay, the 'Christensen method' (cracking evaluation following fruit immersion in water) is commonly used; however, this test does not adequately simulate environmental conditions. Herein, we have designed and evaluated a cracking protocol, named 'Waterfall method', in which fruits are continuously wetted under controlled conditions. Results The application of this method alone, or in combination with 'Christensen method, was shown to be a reliable approach to characterize sweet cherry cracking behavior. Seventeen cherry cultivars were tested for their cracking behavior using both protocols, and primary as well as secondary metabolites identification was performed in skin tissue using a combined GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS platform. Significant variations of some of the detected metabolites were discovered and important cracking index-metabolite correlations were identified. Conclusions We have established an alternative/complementary method of cherry cracking characterization alongside to Christiansen assay.

中文翻译：

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甜樱桃果实开裂：后续测试方法和品种代谢筛选。

背景雨水引起的果实开裂是大多数甜樱桃品种的主要生理问题。对于体内开裂试验，通常使用“克里斯滕森法”（水果浸入水中后的开裂评估）；但是，该测试不能充分模拟环境条件。在此，我们设计并评估了一种名为“瀑布法”的裂化方案，其中水果在受控条件下持续润湿。结果 单独应用这种方法，或与'Christensen 方法结合使用，被证明是表征甜樱桃开裂行为的可靠方法。使用两种协议测试了 17 个樱桃品种的开裂行为，使用组合的 GC-MS 和 UPLC-MS/MS 平台在皮肤组织中进行初级和次级代谢物鉴定。发现了一些检测到的代谢物的显着变化，并确定了重要的裂解指数-代谢物相关性。结论 我们已经建立了一种与 Christiansen 测定一起表征樱桃裂化的替代/补充方法。