Fruits

Introduction- Biological soil disinfestation (BSD) is becoming popular outside Okinawa, Japan and is often conducted by using low concentrations of ethanol to irrigate the soil. Okinawa has a subtropical climate, and its soil is unique and different from that of other regions of Japan. The effect of BSD on farms in Okinawa remains unclear due to a lack of research conducted in the area. Materials and methods- This study investigated the effect of BSD using low concentrations of ethanol on Jahgaru soil in Okinawa on the change in the oxidation/reduction potential (ORP), pH, and bud cells of the pathogen isolated from Fusarium root rot. Results and discussion- The pathogen of Fusarium root rot was identified as Fusarium vanleeuwenii based on multigene sequence analyses. The oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) values decreased in Jahgaru soil irrigated with 0.5% and 1.0% ethanol solutions, reaching below zero in 5 days. The pH values of the Jahgaru soil irrigated with 0.5% and 1.0% ethanol solutions for 14 days were significantly lower than in the soil irrigated with groundwater. Additionally, F vanleeuwenii bud cells in Jahgaru soil irrigated with 0.5% and 1.0% ethanol solutions perished within 7 days. Fungicidal activity had already started when the ORP values were not below zero and the pH value had not decreased within the 4 days after BSD started. Thus, fungicidal substances are possibly generated even in an aerobic environment. In the field, the occurrence of Fusarium root rot decreased after BSD treatment in soil irrigated with 0.5% ethanol solution compared with the previous year. Additionally, the Fusarium number 0-30 cm deep in the field significantly decreased after BSD treatment. Conclusion- Therefore, BSD treatment on Jahgaru soil irrigated with 0.5% ethanol solution is effective for preventing Fusarium root rot of lisianthus caused by F vanleeuwenii in the field.

is growing, with Kerala, India, facing challenges due to its warm, humid climate. Controlled environments, like greenhouses, are becoming popular, offering high-quality produce, greater yields, and off-season production despite the challenging conditions. Materials and methods - The experiment, conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and ten genotypes, assessed physico-morphological, nutritive, and biochemical parameters of fully matured fruits during the rabbi season (October to January). Results - The study revealed significant variations in cherry tomato genotypes. SLc.10 showed the largest fruit measurements (2.16 cm, 2.17 cm, 2.19 cm, 0.46 mm, length, diameter, fruit girth and thickness, respectively). Biochemical analysis showed wide ranges in TSS, acidity, vitamin C, phenol, carotenoid, a-carotene, and lycopene content, highlighting nutritional diversity among the genotypes. Discussion - The suitability of cherry tomato genotypes for Kerala's climate is crucial, as specific genotypes like SLc.10 demonstrated resilience and high performance under controlled conditions. Conclusion - In conclusion, SLc.10, SLc.1, SLc.2, and SLc.8 each offer unique advantages for cultivation in Kerala, with SLc.10 excelling in fruit characteristics and juice yield, while the others stand out for their sweetness, nutritional content, and adaptability.

Introduction- Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) has become one of the major flowering plants in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. Simultaneously, many types of lisianthus diseases related to damping-off symptoms also increased dramatically. Objective and methods- To create a strategy for preventing these diseases, disease symptoms and pathogenic organisms of primary problematic diseases, such as sclerotial rot and bacterial wilt, with seasonal variation in the emergence of these diseases in Okinawa Main Island were investigated. Results and discussion- The disease was diagnosed as sclerotial rot (Kinkaku-byo) and the pathogen showed a 100% homology value to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum according to a BLAST search. The diseased lisianthus plants spread over the greenhouse and increased sharply during January and February when average daily temperatures almost dropped at below 20 degrees C even though many fungicides were sprayed. In the other greenhouse, the disease was diagnosed as bacterial wilt (Aogare-byo) and the pathogen was identified Ralstonia solanacearum, that belongs to Race 1 and Biovar 3 from the result of the carbohydrate fermentation test. The diseased lisianthus plants spread quickly over the greenhouse. Additionally, they appeared from October to December and dramatically increased to about 70% of the total number in the greenhouse. The ratio of farms where the sclerotial rot occurred against the 32 farms was 15.6% and where bacterial wilt occurred against the 32 farms was 9.4% in Okinawa Main Island. Conclusion- The pathogen of sclerotial rot was identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum according to a BLAST search. And the pathogen of bacterial wilt was identified as Ralstonia solanacearum, that belongs to Race 1 and Biovar 3. The diseased lisianthus plants with sclerotial rot spread over the greenhouse and increased sharply during January and February when average daily temperatures almost dropped at below 20 degrees C even though many fungicides were sprayed. The diseased lisianthus plants with bacterial wilt spread quickly over the greenhouse and they appeared from October to December. After that, bacterial wilt did not occur at the late growth stage of lisianthus when the temperature dropped below 24 degrees C. In the end, it dramatically increased to about 70% of the total number.

Introduction- Fruits have long been considered as natural healthy products that contain high contents of nutrients. However, different soil compositions, breeds, and climate conditions may affect the amount of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the same cultivar of fruit. This study explored the antioxidant properties of four special fruit cultivars of Taiwan, and the potential modulating ability of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) associated antioxidant gene expression in D-galactose treated mice. Materials and methods- This study extracted 'Taichiao 5' banana juice, `Tainon 1' guava, 'Tainon 15' pineapple, and 'Murcott' juice, and compared the results of several antioxidant capacity tests TPC, TAC, FRAP, TEAC and DPPH. The juices were fed ad libitum to mice and the mRNA expressions of liver were tested. Results and discussion- `Tainon 1' guava had the highest total phenolic contents (117.9 mg GAE 100 g1 FW) and total ascorbic acid content (124.8 mg 100 g1 FW) among all the tested groups. The mRNA expressions of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucocorticoid receptor showed significant downregulation in `Taichiao' banana and 'Tainon 15' pineapple groups, and considerably down-regulated expressions of glutathione peroxidase along with glucocorticoid receptor in `Tainon 1' guava and'Murcott' groups. Up-regulated expressions of Kelch-like ECHassociated protein 1 (Keap1) were shown in all sample groups. D-gal group fed with four fruit juices had appreciably expressed the increasing of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), superoxide dismutase, catalase (except for 'Tainon 1' guava, glutathione peroxidase, and glucocorticoid receptor in livers. Conclusion- The fruit samples in this study exhibited great antioxidant capacity, and modulated the expression of Nrf2 mediated gene against oxidative stress in D-galactose treated mice.

Introduction- Mandarin and orange are popular citrus varieties worldwide and suffer from sunburn in areas with high temperature and strong solar radiation, but the effect of sunburn on the anatomical differences and antioxidant responses of mandarin and orange fruits is not yet investigated. Materials and methods- The healthy and sunburned fruits of 'Shatangju' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and Anliu' orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) were compared as materials to study the pericarp anatomy and antioxidant responses, and their fruit sunburn rates for field production were investigated. Results and discussion- Due to their different susceptibility to sunburn, mandarin and orange fruits showed different pericarp anatomy and antioxidant responses. Compared to the healthy pericarp, the pericarp and cuticle thicknesses became significantly thicker, the epicuticular waxes became coarser, the organelles in the epidermal cell were damaged in the sunburned pericarp, the contents of superoxide anion (Or) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) were significantly increased, whereas the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly decreased. The increase in membrane lipid peroxidation resulted in fruit surface browning. Under the same conditions, the fruit sunburn rate of Shatangju' mandarin was significantly higher than that of 'Anliu' orange, the pericarp and cuticle thickness of 'Shatangju' mandarin were thinner than that of Anliu' orange, the oil gland in the flavedo layer of 'Shatangju' mandarin collapsed, all the organelles in the epidermal cell of 'Shatangju' mandarin were disassembled, and the antioxidant capacity of 'Shatangju' mandarin fruit showed a lower level. Conclusion- The thin-skinned 'Shatangju' mandarin fruit was more susceptible to sunburn than the thickskinned Anliu' orange fruit, which provides a reference for designing strategies to prevent fruit sunburn of mandarin and orange.

Introduction- Nanoparticles (NPs) as a novel material (1-100 nm) have been widely applied in various fields due to their small size, large specific surface area, high reactivity, and excellent physical and chemical properties. In the agricultural field, research on NPs has explored their functions as fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides, antibacterial agents, and biosensors; so far there has not any research on seed germination been found. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the effects of NPs on seed germination of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Materials and methods- Okra seeds ('Xianzhi,'Red, 'Cream') were selected with nanomaterials (Carbon nanoparticles, Nano-SiO2, Nano-TiO2, Nano-Al2O3) to examine their germination characteristics including germination percentage, germination index, germination rate, vitality index, moisture content, and the effect on their morphological traits of early seedlings like shoot length, root length, stem diameter, fresh weight, and dry weight of the seedlings. The One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyse all the treatments and comprehensively evaluate the germination indices of okra seeds exposed to dif- ferent NPs. Results and discussion- Through membership function analysis, low concentrations of CNPs and SNPs are found to be beneficial for promoting the germination of okra seeds ('Xianzhi'). Significant dif- ferences between most parameters were found, and different concentrations of the same nanomaterial and different nanomaterials at the same concentration had been found to have distinct effects on seed germination and seedling growth, this may be related to the material properties. Conclusion- Taken all together the optimal impact on germination of seeds of varieties A and B was found in carbon nanoparticles at 7.5 mg L-1. These findings highlight the complexity of NP interactions, which appear to promote seed germination through its influence on plant physiology. Further research is necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic effects of nanomaterials on diverse seed varieties.

Introduction - The limequat (Citrus aurantifolia x Fortunella japonica) is a small hybrid fruit. Currently, the use of chitosan-based coatings for extended life of fruits along with herbal preservatives like plant extracts is highly appealing. Material and methods - In this study, two hydro-alcoholic extracts were obtained from Froriepia subpinnata (Persian name: Anarijeh) using the maceration method, with ethanol and water in ratios of 70:30 and 50:50. Phytochemical qualitative analysis was conducted, and the antibacterial activity of the extracts against E. coli and S. aureus was investigated. Subsequently, two different coating formulations (CH1 and CH2) were produced using chitosan and Anarijeh extract. An analysis was conducted to study the alterations in visual characteristics, weight loss, pH, TSS, total acidity, and vitamin C levels of limequats over an 18-day period of storage at ambient temperature. Results and discussion - The results indicated that the 70:30 extracts exhibited better antibacterial activity compared to the 50:50 extracts. Furthermore, the coating made with CH1 showed a positive effect on the preservation of limequats. Conclusion - The herbal-based coating has the potential to extend the shelf life of limequats.

Introduction- Mexico is one of the leading producers and exporters of mangoes worldwide. Nevertheless, local producers' selection and breeding practices have resulted in the development of varieties not cultivated commercially. However, the sensory value of these varieties has meant they have been preserved and are produced on a smaller scale. This study evaluated morphological and physicochemical changes of four varieties cultivated in Chiapas, Ataulfo, `Manifilla', `Oro' and 'Tommy Atkins'. Materials and methods- The physicochemical (moisture, ash, proteins, total soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity) and morphological changes during the ripening mango from Chiapas, Mexico, were described according to the IPGRI guide. The study was conducted using a completely random design in a factorial scheme, the first factor variety (`taulfo, `Manifilla', 'Tommy Atkins' and `Oro') and the second maturity stage (physiological and consumption maturity). Results and discussion- The average weights of ripe fruits were 252, 185, 269 and 653 g, for 'Ataulfo, `Manifilla', 'Oro' and 'Tommy Atkins, respectively, while their pulp content was 82, 77, 73, and 84%. Ataulfo' contained the highest total soluble solids (21%), followed by 'Tommy Atkins' (18%), 'Manililla' (16%) and 'Oro' (13%). Conclusion- The mango varieties named 'Ataulfo' and 'Tommy Atkins' have been found to have better pulp quality (% of fruit, degrees Brix), making them ideal for commercial use. On the other hand, the varieties `Manililla' and 'Oro' have a desirable proportion of pulp and peel, making them suitable for use in the

The research was conducted to assess the impact of boiling duration on the physicochemical and phytochemical properties of orange seed oil. Orange seeds were extracted by hand from sweet orange fruits, then 100 g of seeds were steeped in water for 12 h, and then 20 g each cooked at 100 degrees C for 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min, respectively. The boiled seeds were dehulled, crushed, and defatted with 100% ethanol; extracted oil was kept in containers. The physicochemical, phytochemical properties of the oils were assessed. The phytochemicals were proanthocyanin 4.37 to 28.79 ppm, quinine 0 to 4.51 ug mL(-1), flavone 0 to 1.04 ug mL(-1), ribalinidine 0 to 7.87 ug mL(-1), sapogenin 0 to 9.88 ug mL(-1), kaempferol 0.00 to 5.49 ug mL(-1), phenol 0.65 to 2.39 ppm, phytate 1.83 to 3.92, and steroids 0.00 to 8.51 ppm. The physicochemical parameters were: fatty acid 2.113 to 3.637%, acid value 5.575 to 7.275, iodine value 19.133 to 24.050 mg g(-1) and peroxide value 10.60 to 22.80. Orange seed oils were high in phytochemicals and can be better utilized for food preparation when further refined.

Introduction- Luffa (Luffa cylindrica M. Roem.), a popular local vegetable food in Okinawa, has abundant nutrients including GABA, citrulline, and other free amino acids. Focusing on the contents of these functional compounds in luffa is important because they should be considered while registering it as Foods with Functional Claims in Japan. Incidentally, cut and pickled luffas ought to be browned during processing due to air exposure and other causes because most of the local varieties in Okinawa, including 'Southern Hechima', are browned. Objective and method- The degree of browning of cut and pickled luffas using the varieties was investigated along with polyphenol content and free amino acids, including GABA and citrulline. Results and discussion- Cut luffa of 'Southern Hechima' browned, whereas pickled luffa of this variety did not. Cut and pickled luffas of 'Chura Hechima (R)' and 'Ajimakura' did not brown. Among the free amino acids, Gln, GABA, Arg, Cit, Asn, Ala, and Ser contents were relatively high in each variety's cut and pickled luffas. The Gln, GABA, Arg, and Cit content levels in luffa are the same as those in spinach, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, and cucumber, respectively. Conclusion- According to this study's findings, luffa products have a high potential to be registered as Foods with Functional Claims for containing these free amino acids.

Background- Pear is one of the most important fruit species grown in the temperate zones of the globe. `LeConte' pear is considered one of the most widely cultivated varieties in Egypt. In fact, there was a tangible deterioration in pear orchards during the last two decades. There are many factors that affect productivity such as fire blight and self-incompatibility. For this purpose, 11 hybrids of F, pear genotypes previously obtained by crossing 'LeConte' x `YaLi' were compared with their parents in terms of some morphological parameters, leaf chlorophyll content, and fire blight susceptibility were studied. In addition, foliation and flowering time, cross-compatibility with female parent (LeConte) were investigated. Results- Two hybrids ('LY2,'LY6') showed vigor growth and one hybrid showed semi-vigor growth ('LY7'). Also, they had higher levels of leaf chlorophyll content with less susceptibility to fire blight, which had a positive effect on productivity. So that 'YaLi' is better for the transmission of fire resistance as male parent. Moreover, data showed that the leaves of all F, hybrids expanded before 'YaLi' by 7 days. Therefore, the flowering period of these hybrids coincided with that of 'LeConte: Partial cross-compatibility was found when the 'LeConte' flowers were pollenated with 'LY9' pollen. Conclusion- Eleven pear hybrids delivered from parents 'LeConte' and 'YAK They were promising under Egyptian conditions for increasing pear cultivars in the future where some were low chilling and can fruiting in our warm climate as 'LY9; some of them had less susceptibility of fire blight as 'LY2, 'LY3; 'LY4, `LY6, 'LY7', 'LY8 'LY9; 'LY11', whereas it is considered the main particular disease in Egypt. Also we can select dwarfing hybrids as 'LY3' and 'LY7' for intensive planting systems. The 'LY9' hybrid can be used as a pollinizer for 'LeConte', increasing the productivity of the main commercial cultivar in Egypt. Further study will continue and complete evaluation on all characteristics.

Introduction - Plantain banana is a major crop for food supply in tropical areas, while facing pests and diseases affecting fruit yield and quality. Within the agroecological transition context, the development of prophylactic methods aimed at avoiding the use of pesticides is an avenue worth exploring. Among these methods, an in vivo technique of mass propagation of shoots called PIF (from the French 'Plants Issus de Fragment de tige', meaning 'shoots resulting from corm fragments'), was developed in Cameroon to multiply and sanitize plantain shoots at the farm level. Despite showing promising results, studies on factors that could improve its efficiency are lacking. Materials and methods - The effects of three main factors (temperature, hormone and light) were investigated in separate assays within semi-controlled environmental conditions, in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, to measure how these factors affect the efficiency of the PIF technique during the reproductive stage. Five response variables were used to assess the number and the robustness of daughter shoots produced. Results and discussion - PIF technique performance increased with temperatures above 30 degrees C (> 15 shoots per corm, >25 roots per shoot, > 80 cm root length), LED light application for 15 minutes per day, and synthetic hormone supplementation. A moderate but significant virus sanitation potential of this technique was found, with up to 36.7% daughter plants sanitized from banana mild mosaic virus open perspectives for larger scale assays to refine an appropriate methodology allowing farmers to become more autonomous in healthy planting material satisfying the principles of agroecological transition.

Introduction - Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, making it prevalent in several countries. In the state of Nayarit, Mexico, limited information is available regarding the characterization of the genotypes; they vary depending on the growing areas. The objective of this study was to characterize four genotypes from the south coast, hypothesizing that there are verifiable differences between them. Materials and methods - Fifty-six fruits and 50 leaves were collected from ten trees of each genotype in an orchard in Las Varas. An ANOVA was conducted on the morphologic, physiologic, and physicochemical markers to assess differences between the genotypes. Results - Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in ten of the 19 parameters evaluated for morphologic markers, including the polar diameter of the fruit and the height of the leaf. The 'Karlita' genotype had the highest respiration rate (53.44 mL CO2 kg(-1) h(-1)), 'Licenciada' had the highest ethylene production (239.30 L kg(-1) h(-1)), and 'Karlita' had a weight loss of 8.88% at the end of its shelf-life. Physicochemical analyses of total soluble solids, peel firmness, and bulb color revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between the genotypes. Principal component analysis allowed the groups (genotypes) to be differentiated based on the covariation of multiple traits. Conclusions - The analyses conducted in this study facilitated the characterization and identification of differences between the genotypes, offering valuable insights for improving fruit management practices.

Introduction - Soil and water salinity lead to the disruption of ion homeostasis by inhibiting the uptake of K, Ca, Mg, NO3 and accumulation of sodium and chloride ions. Since there is no report on the interaction of salinity on the content of guava macro elements. Material and methods - The present study is focused on the exogenous foliar application of putrescine (0, 250 and 500 ppm) on Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl (in leaves and roots) of salt-exposed guavas (0, 5 and 10 dS m-1 sodium chloride). Results and discussion - In the present study, NaCl caused an increased in Na, Cl (in leaves and roots), Ca (in leaves), Mg and K (in roots). Salt decreased Mg and K in leaves but Ca in roots. The exogenous application of 500 ppm putrescine (under 5 and 10 dS m-1 NaCl), provided better salt tolerance to guava seedlings through an increase in K/Na of leaves and roots, relocation of Mg and Ca in leaves and roots. Conclusion - It seems that Na ion sequestration into the vacuole is the main compo-nent of the salt stress tolerance mechanism in guava plants.

Introduction - Genetic diversity is considered the basis of breeding programs and enables plant breeding. Jambolan fruit is a rich source of vitamin C, sugars, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and phenolic compounds. The phenotypic evaluation of the jambolan plant morphotypes in Hormozgan province was the objective of this study. Materials and methods - In this research, vegetative (leaf top surface, underside hue, and leaf shape), reproductive (flowering initiation, duration, quantity, habit, abscission, and color), seed (length, diameter, weight, and color), fruit (bearing initiation, shape, color, length, diameter, weight, L, a*, b*, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanin, and sugar) and leaf (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and chlorophyll fluorescence) traits were compared across seventeen jambolan morphotypes. Results and discussion - Most of the quantitative and qualitative parameters showed high variability. The correlation analysis indicated significant positive and negative relations between important characteristics. According to principal component analysis, eleven components accounted for 91.14% of the total variation, and the fruit and seed's quantitative traits were the main factors. Conclusion - The studied morphotypes were classified into two groups based on pH, total sugar, TSS, fruit length, and leaf chlorophyll content. This study's results emphasize the jambolan plant's significance as a valuable genetic resource for future breeding programs.

Introduction - The key issue of commercial banana cultivation is the use of healthy planting material and its availability at affordable cost, especially to the small and marginal farmers. This study aims to address the seed system of banana for the world's largest banana producing country through the largest research system, the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project (Fruits) with support of ICAR-NRCB as technology inventor Materials and methods - Study was carried out at nine banana growing states of India. Low-cost structure (polythene shade and agroshade net) and few locally available low-cost materials were used to standardize the technique and media for low-cost multiplication through macropropagation of nine regional varieties of nine states and one common variety ('Grand Naine'). Field performance of macropropagated banana plants were evaluated at respective research stations of nine states with standard package of practices of respective regions and compared with conventional method (sucker grown plant). Results and discussion - The standardized media composition and technique of low-cost farmers' friendly technology (macropropagation) recorded average multiplication rate of 17.26 number of plantlets per corm of regional varieties and 22.15 plantlets per corm in 'Grand Naine' These banana plants performed better with respect to early and uniform flowering, plant growth, yield and quality of fruit and profit margin to the growers (B:C ratio), compared to sucker raised plants, in the states of Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar Yield increase of macropropagated plant was 7.9 1 / 4 to 1 / 4 9.3 1 / 4 % in different regional varieties and 6.77 to 70.99% in 'Grand Naine' over the conventional source of planting materials (sucker raised plants). The macropropagated banana plants recorded earliness in flowering by 8.20 to 90.05 days in 'Grand Naine' and 6.79 to 91.52 days in regional varieties, as compared with the variety of plants raised from suckers. Based on the results of three multiplication cycles of banana macropropagation and three crop cycles of evaluation (MLT) trial, the technology was transferred to clients (farmers, nurserymen, growers' association) in nine states for wide scale technology adoption and promotion of rural enterprise. Conclusion - Macropropagation is a low-cost and simple technology for multiplication of better -quality planting materials of region -specific banana variety, using low-cost structure (polythene shade and agro-shade net) and few locally available low-cost materials (saw dust, vermicompost, banana suckers, etc.). This low-cost farmers' friendly technology has been standardized and adoption process started for the major banana growing states in India (Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar) and conceptualized as a strategic seed system approach to the small and marginal holding commercial cultivation of regional banana varieties, for sustainability of production and boosting rural enterprise.

Introduction - The Cropping Systems Model-Aloha-Pineapple is a computer model that simulates pineapple growth and development and predicts flnal yield. The unique physiological characteristics of the cultivar 'MD-2' were added to the model to be more representative of the current and more common cultivars. The model has the potential to interpret fundamental processes related to crop response to environmental conditions in terms of growth and productivity. Materials and methods - Experimental data from 'MD-2' plants were used. The plants were grown in three environments in Costa Rica differing in temperature and solar radiation, using managed and standard agribusiness practices. Soil water and nutrients were considered non-limiting factors for growth and were uniformly controlled. Model evaluation was conducted for the prediction of phenological stage of physiological maturity using actual data from production flelds of a Costa Rican pineapple export company. Results and discussion - The model was improved by adding and enhancing the simulation of five vegetative and six reproductive phenological stages. Model evaluation was satisfactory based on the statistical analysis for all experiments that were conducted. Conclusion - The modeling approach alnaturally fowering fruit and for forcing.

Introduction - Dragon fruit cultivation in Karnataka, India, is expanding, but the total cultivated area of over 3,000 ha cannot meet domestic demand. Imports from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka dominate the market. Limited consumption for table purposes highlights the need for nutritional data, essential for integrating dragon fruit into regular diets. This study aims to provide such data, focusing on the nutrient composition of both red and white fleshed dragon fruits. Materials and methods - Nutritional and biochemical composition of dragon fruit (Hylocereus) species H. undatus (fruits with white pulp and pink skin), and H. polyrhizus (fruits with red pulp and pink skin) were investigated to develop the nutritional composition data for dragon fruit and compare the difference between both types. Results and discussion - The dragon fruit flesh unveiled significant differences in TSS, crude fat, crude fiber, carbohydrate, vitamin C, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity between the genotypes. The red -fleshed variety exhibited significantly higher levels of TSS, crude fat, crude fiber, vitamin C, TPC, TFC and antioxidant actiity The fruit of H. polyrhizus is very rich in natural pigment known as betalains. Conclusion - These findings underscore the genetic diversity and distinct biochemical compositions between the two dragon fruit genotypes, particularly emphasizing the nutritional richness of the red -fleshed variety.

Introduction - Moringa oleifera Lam. is an economically important plant owing to its content of bioactive substances such as glucosinolates, which are indolic aromatic phytocompounds with a hypoglucemic pharmacological effect. It is important to know which plant organ contains the greatest amount of glucosinolates, and in what part of the year. Objective - To identify and quantify glucosinolates in extracts from M. oleifera plant organs cultivated in Morelos, Mexico. Materials and methods - Phytochemical analysis was carried out using high -performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) of M. oleifera plant organ extracts obtained from maceration in different solvents (water, ethanol, and methanol), collected in the rainy and dry seasons. Results and discussion - The glucosinolate content was greatest in the methanol extract. The optimum mobile phase for the separation of compounds was n -butanol, npropanol, acetic acid, and water (3:1:1:1). A greater yield was obtained in the dry season in extracts from tender leaves (137 mg mL -1 ) than from mature leaves or flowers; in the rainy season, the greatest yield was in the extract from the flowers (97 mg mL -1 ). The accumulation of glucosinolates depends on various factors, such as the time of year. However, additional research is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved. Conclusion - There was greater production of glucosinolates in M. oleifera plants in tender leaves during the dry season and in flowers during the rainy season. Analysis with HPTLC-ESI-MS/MS identified the hypoglucemic glucosinolates acetyl4-alpha-rhamnopyranosyloxy-benzyl glucosinolate and 4-alpha-rhamnopyranosyloxy-benzyl glucosinolate.