ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of micro-bubble water and two types of light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation (blue and red-blue) on the growth and morphology of three lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.). The growth in the above-ground portions of the two cultivars was reduced by the use of micro-bubble water depending on the type of LED irradiation employed. In particular the leaf weight

ABSTRACT Sweet potato is an important crop that produces starch, dietary fibre, β-carotene, and anthocyanin used as food and for industrial use. Recent studies have focused on the expression of genes involved in β-carotene and anthocyanin biosynthesis, and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has been the main technique used for assessing these genes. For RT-qPCR, suitable reference genes for gene

(2020). Journal of horticultural science and biotechnology – journal prize 2020. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology. Ahead of Print.

Chilli (Capsicum species) is an important spice and vegetable crop of the world. Capsicum species have been widely used in food as well as in pharmaceutical industries. This is because these species possess various phytochemicals with antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. There has been a continuous global demand for chilli as a commercial crop due to its food value and health benefits. It is very

Genome editing technology, which enables researchers to modify specific genomic loci, may be useful for accelerating the breeding of many fruit crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) genome. We first optimised the plant regeneration system to increase the genetic transformation efficiency for ‘Blue Muffin’ and ‘O’Neal’. We also

The aim of this work was to study the effect of postharvest light treatment as a potential degreening method on ‘Okitsu’ Satsuma mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco). Furthermore, a possible synergistic effect of light and ethephon treatment was also evaluated. For this, mature green fruit were harvested and treated. The treatments were: 1) exposing the fruit to increasing periods of time of photosynthetically

In ‘Yali’ pears (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) there is extra tissue formed on one side of the fruit, near the pedicel, causing a shape like a duck head termed Yatu, which is based on the Chinese phonetic alphabets of the raised duck head. The cell number of Yatu tissue has been known to be a direct factor influencing Yatu formation. The Yatu formation status among the fruits within an inflorescence

A stable transformation protocol using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 52 harbouring the recombinant plasmid pBI121-CycD2 for anther derived embryos of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. cv. ‘Dawuxing’ was established. Parameters optimised were the concentration of antibiotics and their combinations. Results showed that strain EHA 52 is completely not sensitive to carbenicillin at any concentration

The colour of fresh pods is one of the most important traits that affects the commercial value of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) beans. To investigate the genetic architecture, we firstly scored the fresh pod colour of cowpea for six generations in field trials. Afterwards, an F2 population of 150 recombinant individuals was derived from crosses between two high-generation inbred cowpea lines, ‘Baojia’

In this study, attempts were made to confirm the origin of mango (Mangifera indica L.) embryos produced in vitro through somatic embryogenesis by using explants which were presumed as of diverse origin using SSR markers. SSR markers used in the study detected a total number of 148 alleles per locus with the mean number of alleles ranging from 8 alleles (MiKVR–81) to 11 alleles per SSRs (MiIIHR–21478)

Productivity in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) can be recorded by measuring marketable or total yield. The first objective of this review was to determine if marketable yield can be predicted from total yield. The second objective of this review was to develop protocols to accurately determine the productivity of strawberry cultivars. Previous research has not examined the relationship between the

A novel species of monopartite begomovirus was detected in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas L (Lam)] originating from the experimental field of ICAR-AICRP on Tuber Crops (West Bengal), India. The plants showed a typical upward curling of leaves symptoms and reduction in plant height and was easily transmitted through the tuber and vine cuttings of infected plant. PCR-mediated detection using specific primers

Transgenic walnuts (Juglans regia L.) were produced in the presence of the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 and the plasmid pBI121. This plasmid contains a BADH gene driven by a CaMV 35S promoter. It further includes an NPTII gene as a selectable marker which, in turn, is driven by a NOS promoter. Somatic embryos of the walnut cultivar ‘Chandler’ were inoculated using an Agrobacterium suspension. Secondary

The main aim is to describe plant production systems and introduce bokashi technology for the advanced utilisation of food waste in Europe. The secondary objective is to demonstrate that the new Bokashi technology fertiliser products for field crops can improve soil fertility, plant health, yield and food quality in Europe. Bokashi technology is a straightforward yet innovative technology to recycle

There is a growing interest in the impact of light intensity and temperature on vegetable growth and dietary quality characteristics. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), as one of the model vegetables in plant factories, was grown under two light levels (G1: 160 µmol m–2 s–1, G2: 200 µmol m–2 s–1) with different day/night temperatures (T1: 20 ± 1°C/15 ± 1°C, T2: 24 ± 1°C/19 ± 1°C) to investigate mutual effects

Light intensity and nitrogen concentration in nutrient solutions are two main factors affecting the growth and nutritional quality of lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.). This study investigated the method of regulating vegetable cultivation through the interactive control of the light environment and solution ratio. A quadratic regression orthogonal model was developed to understand the role of light intensity

According to structural and functional similarities, small GTP-binding proteins can be divided into five distinct families, in which, Ras-related nuclear protein (Ran) GTPases regulates proteins and RNA across nuclear envelope. To excavate differentially expressed proteins in the pistil after pollination, proteomics was recruited. One protein spot was identified as BoRAN3, was down-regulated expressed

Tropospheric ozone is an important ambient atmospheric pollutant component in urban areas. Determining plant reactions to ozone in plant growth and biochemical quality contents plays an important role in understanding plant metabolism. This study aimed to provide an understanding of the effect of ozone on early vegetative growth stage Pak-Choi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis). An experiment

The role of folic acid (FA) or its derivatives (folates) in plant responsiveness to drought stress is still unclear. Here we investigated the effect of foliar application of FA (50, 100 and, 150 µM/l) on snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown under two levels of surface drip irrigation (100% and 70% of water requirements) in two successive seasons of 2018 and 2019. The results showed that deficit

Tea oil obtained fromCamellia oleifera is a high-quality vegetable oil rich in squalene, a triterpenoid bioactive substance with several demonstrated health benefits. WRKY transcription factors in C. oleifera play essential roles in a wide range of physiological processes. To further develop C. oleifera as a functional material with genetic improvement, we constructed a tea oil seed transcriptome database

Tomato flowers are self-fertile, but require pollinators’ intervention to increase fruit setting. In this review paper, we present and discuss the current state of knowledge on tomato pollinators. Information on tomato pollinators was extracted from 49 scientific publications, 6 doctoral thesis documents, 4 books, 3 technical sheets, a compilation of conference abstracts and 3 internet publications

Galactose-binding lectins (GBLs) are a subdivision of jacalin-related lectins and known to perform an essential role in plant protective mechanisms against plant pathogens, fungi, and viruses. A cDNA sequence encoding GBL was cloned and the gene has an open reading frame (ORF) of 657 bp, encoding a protein of 219 amino acids. The protein is predicted to have a molecular weight and isoelectric point

Increasing the level of AsA and maintaining proper lignin content will improve the quality of celery (Apium graveolens L.). However, the study on the regulation mechanism of genes related to AsA and lignin metabolism in celery was limited, especially in yellow celery. In this study, the accumulation of AsA and lignin and the expression profiles of related-genes were detected in three kinds of yellow

In the context of global warming, mild winter temperatures could compromise the fulfilment of the chilling requirement (CR) for overcoming flower bud endodormancy, impacting on the yields of perennial species such as apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Long-term and site-specific data on air temperatures allowed us to explore the influence of yearly chill accumulation on the endodormancy release of flower

In this study, a total of 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to study the genetic diversity and population structure among 60 accessions of eggplant. Out of 20 SSR markers, 15 were found to be polymorphic which were subjected to statistical analysis by Power Marker and NTSYSPc software. The polymorphic SSR markers generated 46 alleles with an average of 3.06 alleles per locus. The PIC

Shrubs have an important role in the future design of urban landscapes. Due to city-densification and pressure on space, shrubs are increasingly preferred over trees for urban amenity plantings. In contrast to trees, however, relatively little information exists on how shrubs adapt to urban stress. This includes their responses to physical root injury, that might occur through trenching or transplanting

This study aimed to understand the involvement of agro-climatic conditions, external quality and defence system of Hass avocado fruits on blackspot disorder development after prolonged cold storage. The results prompt us to conclude that the weight of the fruits at harvest and weight loss during the storage period is involved in blackspot disorder development. Large incidence of lenticelosis in fruits

The Mulberry plant (Morus spp.) is known for several phytochemicals. One such phytochemical is 1-deoxyjirinomycin (DNJ), which is based, on an iminosugar. The presence of DNJ has been reported in various parts of the mulberry plants section, such as leaves, latex, and root bark. DNJ is a well-known anti-diabetic agent due to its alpha-glucosidase inhibition activity. Apart from this, DNJ also exhibits

The influences of preharvest calcium spray (PCS) and postharvest chitosan coating (PCC) treatments on the levels of sugar, organic acid, and phenolics were evaluated for Chinese dwarf cherry fruit during cold storage. An orthogonal method was applied using the decay rate as index. The optimised treatment was spraying 2.0% Ca(NO3)2 solution before 21 d of harvest and postharvest application of 0.1%

The fruits of Psidium guajava L., known as guava, are edible. The objectives of the study were to analyse the chemical composition of the skin, flesh, and pulp of two different Indian varieties of guava, e.g., Khaja and Allahabad at different stages of ripening (immature green, mature green, colour turning, ripe, and overripe), and to study the pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory properties of the fruit

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit cracking is a serious economic problem, affecting fruit quality and yield. During abiotic stress, the imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism causing membrane damage might increase the susceptibility of pericarp to changing environment and then affect fruit cracking. To further validate the relationship between ROS metabolism and fruit cracking,

In plants, spermidine synthase (SPE) received detailed investigation due to its key roles in the biosynthesis of spermidine, a major form of polyamine. However, there is no report on the identification and characterisation of SPE in edible mushrooms. Here, a full-length cDNA of a gene encoding a potential SPE was isolated from fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus. Homology search, InterPro inquiry

Tea oil camellia (Camellia oleifera) is a perennial evergreen shrub or small tree. Enhancing oil content is an important breeding objective in this species. In this study, we (i) used the high-throughput RNA-seq to discovery SNP sites located in target genes involved in lipid biosynthesis, (ii) determined genetic relationship among 102 accessions based on SNP-seq data, and (iii) identify SNP loci associated

(2020). Correction. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology: Vol. 95, No. 4, pp. 540-540.

This study evaluated the performance of 55 intermediate-day onion cultivars (Allium cepa L.) in southeastern Korea, and clustered the cultivars based on bulb maturity and marketable bulb yield (MBY). Days from transplanting to bulb initiation (DTB) ranged from 146 to 177. Fresh bulb weight (FBW) and MBY were lower in early or mid-maturing cultivars than in late-maturing ones. The cultivar ‘Eomcheongnan’

This study assessed the effects of the application of coatings formed by mixtures of chitosan (Chi; 5 g L−1) and Mentha piperita L. essential oil (MPEO; 1.25 and 0.6 mL L−1) on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of mango cv. Tommy Atkins during 30 d of cold storage (12°C, 85% relative humidity). Decreases in titratable acidity and increases in pH values during storage were overall less accentuated

In the present study, effects of foliar application of 150 µM Jasmonic acid (JA), an endogenous plant growth regulator, on alleviation oxidative stress resulted from without (0 mM), low (50 mM), moderate (150 mM), and high (300 mM) NaCl in bitter melon (Momordica charantia) seedlings was investigated. High salt stress significantly decreased growth components including root length, leaf morphological

Solubilization of inorganic P-sources and production of siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by Beauveria brongniartii were quantified and then, the effects of biofertilization using B. brongniartii on the plant growth, fruit yield and quality of Capsicum chinense were evaluated. Beauveria brongniartii solubilized more P from Ca3(PO4)2 (158.95 mg L−1) than FePO4 (31.7 mg L−1) and produced siderophores

Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah & Hirschmann is a limiting factor in guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) production around the world. An alternative to address this problem is the use of resistant root-knot nematode rootstocks. However, the guava nursery system which is based on herbaceous stem cutting propagation needs to be modified as a rootstock produced via cutting must be grafted

The cultivation of vegetables under tunnels is considered a promising alternative to the use of chemicals to manage insect pests. However, higher temperatures under covers hinder their use in warm regions. We investigated the effect of high tunnels covered with plastic film or small or large mesh insect-nets on the performances of tomato plants in Tanzania over two years. Control plants were grown

Climate change and overpopulation threaten many fruit tree species in Africa. This study evaluated the yield of Balanites aegyptiaca, a popular species throughout the continent. Productivity was monitored in natural populations over 5 years across two climatic zones in Burkina Faso. The yield of 72 trees in each climatic zone was estimated using the yield of different sized branches. Yield varied significantly

The most widely used source of onion cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) is controlled by a single nuclear gene and a cytoplasmic factor, and the sterility trait can be recovered by the dominant nuclear gene (Ms). Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has a great potential in the selection of male sterility lines and maintainer lines. In this study, two markers at the Ms loci and one cytoplasm marker were used

Sweet potato weevil (Cylas punticollis Boheman) is a serious pest throughout sub-Saharan Africa. A study to evaluate 51 sweet potato genotypes for their tolerance to the weevil was conducted in a controlled experiment of no-choice arena. Genotype Tainung was the most susceptible to C. puncticollis. Genotypes Obugi and 5 Nyandere were the most tolerant to C. puncticollis. Many of the genotypes that

Male flower induction and androgenesis in three genotypes of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), two Beth alpha F1 hybrids (BT1 and BT2, gynoecious) and Dastgerdi (DTG, monoecious), were evaluated. Induction of male flowers in gynoecious cucumber cultivars was assessed by single and combinatorial spraying of AgNO3 (3 mM), GA3 (1.5 mM) and CoCl2 (3 mM) after the first true leaf emergence. After 6 weeks from

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of some chemical compounds on the post-harvest life of alstroemeria cut flowers. The experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments were: Nano-silver (1, 3, 5 and 10 mg l−1), salicylic acid (30, 50, 200 and 300 mg l−1), spermine (5, 10 and 20 mg l−1), essential oils of dill (5, 10, 50 and 100

The YABBY gene family plays a vital role in the polarity development of lateral organs. Here, we isolated a BoYABBY1 (BoYAB1) gene from Bambusa oldhamii and encodes for 167aa protein. This gene contains a zinc-finger motif in its N terminus and a YABBY domain in its C terminus. Based on multiple sequence alignment, BoYAB1 was shown closely related to OsYAB1 from rice with a sequence identity of 88

Five recessive and non-allelic genes, ms-1, ms-2, ms-3, ms-4 and ms-5 possessing unique phenotypes govern male sterility in muskmelon. An inbred MS-1, having recessive ms-1 gene, refined at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (India) has been successfully utilised for the development of commercial F1 hybrids. Since the transfer of a recessive gene is tedious and time-consuming, it is very difficult

Transcriptional regulation is the most important tool for enhancing flavonoid biosynthesis of plants. The grapevine VvMYBF1 gene has been shown to be involved in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. However, very little is known about its roles in tolerance to abiotic stresses. In this study, VvMYBF1 gene was cloned from grapevine. Its overexpression significantly increased accumulation of flavonoids

The plant growth regulators are the organic chemical compounds, other than nutrients and vitamins, which modify or regulate physiological processes in an appreciable measure in the plant when used in small concentration. They are known to influence fruit set, retention, yield and quality of fruit crops. Fruit trees are considered high-value crops and even small modifications in production efficiency

Cytosolic FBA functions in the sucrose biosynthetic pathway and is also a key enzyme in glycolytic pathways in higher plants. In this paper, a cytoplasmic FBA gene (designated CoFBA1) expressed specifically in the endosperm of coconut was identified and cloned. Prediction analysis suggested that the subcellular location of CoFBA1 was the cytoplasm. Then, CoFBA1 was cloned into the pCAMBIA1300s vector

Physiological adaptations, biochemical changes and growth performances of two sweet potatoes, Japanese Yellow (JPY) and Blackie (BLK), under NaCl salt stress were evaluated. Fallen leaves in JPY under 50 mM NaCl for 21 d were evidently observed, resulting in reduced leaf area (~60% reduction to that of control). Na+ content in the root of sweet potato BLK under salt stress was higher (54.18 mg g–1

The prevention of certain chronic diseases has been related to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) consumption. The demand for high-quality tomatoes has, therefore, increased rapidly. As a climacteric fruit, tomato will only ripen to full colour postharvest. Trusses of mature-green greenhouse tomatoes of a red (‘Cherry Little Wonder’) and a yellow cultivar (‘Goldilocks’) were illuminated, preharvest,

A short, pre-storage fumigation with hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas at 0, 100, 250 and 500 µL L−1 affected development of a range of senescence characteristics of Navel and Valencia oranges and ‘Afourer’ mandarins during storage at 20°C for five weeks. The greatest beneficial effect was observed with fumigation at 100 µL L−1 H2S which resulted in reduced incidence of calyx drop, calyx browning and fungal

(2020). Statement of Retraction. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology: Vol. 95, No. 3, pp. 406-406.

A hand-held, chlorophyll content meter [the delta absorbance (DA) meter] was used to develop an optimal harvest maturity model for ‘Minneiska’ apples (Malus domestica Borkh). Fruit from four commercial orchards in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada, were sampled weekly (25 fruit per location) over eight consecutive harvests during the 2011–2013 growing seasons. At each harvest, 60 fruit were measured

Seed dormancy is an adaptation key to survival in conditions unsuitable for growth. In pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne), phytohormones participate in the release of seed dormancy. However, the involvement of carbohydrate metabolism in this process is still unclear. In the present study, we determined the sucrose, starch, and glucose levels during seed dormancy release. Sucrose and starch content decreased

Plantacyanin (PLC) plays an important role in plant growth, development, and responses to metal cation stress. However, the function of PLC in tea remains unclear. In this study, three PLC genes were identified from the tea plant. Protein sequences and structure analyses indicated that the CsPLCs contained four conserved sites, and furthermore, promoter analysis showed that the genes were involved

Vegetable cultivation in closed tunnels in the Tropics is impeded by high temperatures and poor pollination. This study compared the performance of cucurbits cultivated in open plots, in closed tunnels totally covered with small or large mesh nets (nethouse), and in open tunnels with a plastic film roof (rain shelter) in Tanzania over two seasons. Information was collected on climatic conditions, insect

(2020). Supporting initiatives which combat climate change. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology: Vol. 95, No. 3, pp. 405-405.

Chemical thinning of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) has been practised for 50 years but it remains an unpredictable part of apple production with large variations from year to year and within years. Carbohydrate availability to support young fruitlet growth may play a significant role in apple tree response to chemical thinners, especially when the carbohydrate supply is the limiting factor for fruit