The conservation and characterization of fruit tree genetic resources are essential for sustainable breeding and crop improvement. The present study aimed to characterize the morphological, pomological, and biochemical diversity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genetic resources collected from the Eastern Anatolian Region of Türkiye. Twenty-one autochthonous accessions conserved in the fruit genetic resources collection of the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute were evaluated under uniform environmental and soil conditions. Three trees per genotype were assessed, and replicated samples were collected from each tree for all measured traits. Morphological traits (tree vigor, leaf blade length, fruit shape, juice color, etc.), pomological traits (fruit size and color parameters, etc.), and chemical characteristics (soluble solid, pH, total acidity, glucose, fructose, total sugar, malic acid, and vitamin C) were analyzed through multivariate statistical approaches. Substantial phenotypic and biochemical variability was observed among the evaluated genotypes. Tree vigor of the sweet cherries differed from weak to very strong. Fruit shapes of the accessions were 23.81
Elucidating the physiological and biochemical responses of ornamental plants to drought stress and nitric oxide-mediated amelioration strategies is essential for developing sustainable production systems under climate change scenarios. However, comprehensive assessments of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) effects on morpho-physiological traits, oxidative stress responses, and metabolic pathways in drought-stressed ornamentals remain limited. We evaluated the effects of foliar SNP applications at 0, 50, 100, and 150 µM on Calendula officinalis L. grown under three irrigation regimes: 100
Strawberry yield and quality in semi-arid regions depend critically on genotype selection and propagation method. We evaluated six cultivars (Rubygem, Amiga, Sweet Ann, Kabarla, Festival, and Fortuna) propagated via frigo and fresh seedlings under open-field conditions in Diyarbakır, Turkey, across two consecutive years to determine optimal cultivar-propagation combinations for challenging environmental conditions. Genotype and seedling type significantly influenced yield, color parameters, soluble solids, phenolic compounds, organic acids, sugars, and ascorbic acid (p ≤ 0.05). Frigo seedlings ensured earlier flowering and 123
Heavy metal contamination poses significant challenges to sustainable viticulture, necessitating innovative approaches to protect grapevine health and productivity. However, comprehensive evaluations of antioxidant-mediated protection against cadmium toxicity in integrated physiological systems remain scarce. We assessed mineral homeostasis, organic acid metabolism, and sugar accumulation in three-year-old Vitis vinifera L. cv. Ökuzgözü berries exposed to graduated cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0–20 ppm) with and without 50 µM Trolox supplementation. Treatment effects were highly significant across all measured parameters (p < 0.001). Notably, Trolox application consistently demonstrated protective efficacy, maintaining nitrogen content at 1.53
Pear paste is a traditional Chinese product valued for its lung-moistening and antitussive effects. This study systematically evaluated the quality attributes and in vitro antioxidant profiles of pear pastes prepared in 2023 from 11 cultivars harvested in Henan Province, China. Multivariate analysis showed that genotype was the primary determinant of final product quality, with PC1 explaining 84.1% of the variance. Total phenolic content (TPC) ranged from 1052.8 to 1997.6 mg/kg, and total flavonoid content (TFC) from 478.1 to 1747.9 mg/kg across cultivars. Four cultivars displayed distinct advantages: ‘Akizuki’ (pronounced Maillard browning), ‘Wanxiu’ (highest free amino acids, 29.82 mg/g), ‘Hongzaosu’ (highest TPC, 1997.6 mg/kg; TFC, 1747.9 mg/kg; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 88.9 μmol TE/g), and ‘Huangguan’ (highest sensory score, 83.33; clarity, 87.65%). Antioxidant capacity was governed by a synergistic network of native phenolics, flavonoids, and Maillard reaction products, with the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays recommended for consistent evaluation. These findings highlight the critical role of cultivar selection in tailoring the color, flavor, antioxidant activity, and overall quality of pear paste.
