The global walnut market has undergone significant changes in recent years. New countries have emerged among the major producers, leading to a significant increase in production and intensified market competition. This study presents international trends in the walnut market. Hungary’s position is analyzed using the Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) and revealed comparative advantage (RCA), supported by cost-benefit and investment efficiency analyses. The results show that the international walnut market has become increasingly diversified, while Hungary’s competitiveness has weakened significantly between 2013 and 2024. The revealed comparative advantage has fallen below 1 for both shelled and kernel products, indicating a loss of comparative advantage. According to cost-benefit analyses, traditional plantations (no irrigation, terminal bud-bearing cultivars) have become unprofitable due to low yields and poor quality. In contrast, intensive plantations (high density, irrigation, and lateral-bearing cultivars) show high profitability and return on investment, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reaching 6,400 EUR per hectare and an internal rate of return exceeding 16%. Research highlights that the key to improving the sector’s profitability lies in vertical integration and the development of postharvest processes (drying, sorting, packaging). Hungary’s future competitiveness depends on increasing the share of intensive plantations, enhancing productivity, and strengthening value-added walnut processing.
A two-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3), triacontanol (TRIA), and humic acid (HA) on the overwintering success, growth, yield, and fruit quality of ‘Kent’ strawberries grown in a temperate climates. In Canada, particularly in regions such as Manitoba, the strawberry growing season is constrained by a short frost-free period and harsh winter conditions, which significantly impact plant growth and yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar-applied biostimulators on strawberry growth and productivity under these challenging climatic conditions. Results indicated that triacontanol at 100 ppm consistently yielded the highest total and marketable yields, increased leaf area and chlorophyll content, and improved wintering index. These findings suggest that triacontanol enhances stress tolerance, productivity, and fruit quality. Gibberellic acid also promoted berry size and improved firmness, although to a lesser extent than triacontanol. Humic acid provided moderate benefits for growth and yield improvement. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of biostimulators to enhance strawberry productivity and fruit quality in cold-temperate climates, supporting the optimization of agronomic practices.
Long-term conservation of elite Cannabis sativa genotypes is essential to maintain genetic fidelity in clonal propagation systems. This study aimed to evaluate and optimize the D-cryoplate technique for cryopreservation of C. sativa axillary buds, with particular emphasis on the role of explant dehydration before cryostorage. Axillary buds from micropropagated plants of two cultivars were encapsulated in calcium alginate on aluminum cryoplates, osmotically pretreated, dehydrated for 0–90 minutes, and immersed in liquid nitrogen. After cryostorage, the explants were rapidly rewarmed, recovered in vitro, and subsequently acclimatized under greenhouse conditions. Shoot regeneration was strongly dependent on dehydration time, with the highest regeneration rates (63–70%) observed after 60–70 minutes of dehydration. These optimal times corresponded to capsule water content of 21–28%. Short dehydration periods resulted in low regeneration due to freezing injury, while excessive dehydration significantly reduced explant viability due to desiccation stress. Shoots regenerated from cryopreserved axillary buds showed typical morphological development with growth parameters comparable to those of the noncryopreserved control. These results demonstrate that precise control of explant water content is critical for successful cryopreservation, and the D-cryoplate technique is an efficient and chemically safe strategy for the long-term preservation of elite C. sativa clonal germplasm.
The present study describes an improved, efficient method for in vitro propagation of the underutilized fruit tree, Dillenia indica L. Nodal segments obtained from a mature tree were used as initial explants for in vitro regeneration. Among the various cytokinin types (BAP, Kin, mT, and TDZ) and concentrations tested, MS medium containing 0.5 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine was optimal for shoot induction. Subculturing mother explants into fresh medium during subsequent passages significantly influenced shoot multiplication. A maximum of 5–7 shoots were regenerated after the third subculturing on MS medium containing 0.5 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine. Maximum rooting was achieved in MS medium containing 2 mg·L−1 indole-3-butyric acid. Approximately 80% of the plants survived acclimatization. A comparative study revealed significant changes in leaf micromorphology and architecture, including developmental and structural changes in venation patterns, trichomes, and stomata, in both in vitro-grown and fully acclimatized plants. This foliar micromorphological study elucidated the mechanism of adaptation of in vitro-regenerated plantlets during acclimatization. The current investigation could provide a foundation for the large-scale propagation and conservation of this medicinally important and underutilized fruit tree species.
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a major threat to global tomato production. Two field trials were conducted in 2023 (wet season) and 2024 (dry season) at the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, to evaluate the use of neem leaf powder in the management of bacterial wilt of tomato. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Neem leaf powder (Azadirachta indica) was applied to two tomato cultivars, ‘Tandino’ and ‘Dan Syria’, at 15, 30, and 45 g, while untreated (0 g) and streptomycin-treated plots served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Application of streptomycin and 45 g of neem leaf powder 9 weeks after transplanting showed population densities of 1.5 and 1.4 total cfu·g−1 soil (2023) and 1.4 and 1.0 cfu·g−1 soil (2024), which were significantly lower than the population densities of 8.6 (2023) and 8.0 (2024) cfu·g−1 soil recorded in untreated plots. After application of streptomycin and 45 g of neem leaf powder, wilt severity scores of 0.7 and 1.3 (wet season) and 0.7 and 1.0 (dry season) were observed, which was significantly lower than 5.0 in each season in untreated plots. Application of 45 g neem leaf powder resulted in a yield of 432.4 and 437.4 g of fruit per plant, which was significantly higher than the 2.8 and 2.4 g on untreated plots in 2023 and 2024, respectively. It was found that application of 45 g of neem leaf powder can reduce the severity of bacterial wilt in tomatoes and thus increase fruit yield.
Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. cantaloupensis) is a climacteric fruit that is highly susceptible to post-harvest deterioration. Although early harvesting can extend the shelf life of the fruit, it often results in lower sugar content and poorer flesh color. This study investigated the effects of ethephon and its application time on the sugar content and quality of early-harvested ‘Red Aroma’ cantaloupe fruits during storage. Fruits were treated with 100 ppm ethephon at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days after harvest or left untreated (control). For ethephon treatment, fruits were immersed in the solution for 1 minute and air-dried before storage under ambient conditions (28 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 5% RH) for 21 days. The results showed that ethephon application on day 6 after harvest significantly accelerated sugar accumulation (sucrose, fructose, and glucose) and enhanced flesh coloration, although it also accelerated flesh color degradation. This treatment maintained fruit quality for up to 12 days. Therefore, treatment with 100 ppm ethephon on early-harvested fruit 6 days after harvest is considered most effective in improving sugar content and overall quality of stored fruit.
Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is a small-fruit crop of key economic importance, widely cultivated for fresh consumption and processing, and valued in traditional medicine. Vegetatively propagated material is subject to increased pathogen pressure, especially viruses, viroids, and phytoplasmas, leading to growth suppression, yield losses of up to 50%, and heightened susceptibility to secondary infections. Ensuring healthy, pathogen-free planting stock is therefore a priority in production and breeding. This review synthesizes current knowledge on cryopreservation methods applicable to raspberry, with particular emphasis on their suitability for virus eradication (shoot-tip cryotherapy) and identifies the technical parameters that determine procedural success. Cryopreservation and cryotherapy protocols based on vitrification (including variants based on plant solution vitrification and droplet vitrification) and encapsulation-dehydration were analyzed. The focus was on shoot apical meristems as the starting material and on combining cryotherapy with other sanitation procedures, for example thermotherapy. Among the available approaches, the highest post-thaw regeneration rates were obtained with vitrification protocols and with encapsulation-dehydration. Efficiency increases when cryotherapy is combined with thermotherapy. Success is strongly influenced by explant size and physiological state, preculture conditions (for example sucrose concentration), cryoprotectant composition and exposure time, and cooling and warming profiles. Beyond its role in the long-term conservation of genetic resources, cryopreservation is an effective tool for sanitizing raspberry material. Shoot-tip cryotherapy enables the production of virus-free plants, which is crucial for establishing healthy plantations and breeding programs. Incorporating standardized protocols into nursery certification systems may accelerate the dissemination of clean stock and, in the long term, reduce production losses. The evidence reviewed confirms that optimized cryopreservation protocols provide a reliable framework for both long-term conservation of germplasm and the regeneration of healthy raspberry planting material.
The green globular body is a unique, organized tissue that emerges from explants in pteridophyte tissue cultures. This article describes the first comprehensive study of in vitro regeneration of Adiantum trapeziforme via green globular bodies. Green globular bodies were induced on the rhizomes of sterile sporophytes of Adiantum trapeziforme. The green globular bodies were used as explants for additional proliferation and regeneration. The study evaluated the concentrations of basal salts, sucrose, tryptone, and plant growth regulators. The results showed that the presence of 6-benzyladenine inhibited the proliferation and regeneration of green globular bodies, whereas while increasing the concentration of α-naphthaleneacetic acid to 5 mg·L−1 led to the highest proliferation and drastically impeded the development of green globular bodies. Hyponex No. 1 fertilizer, especially at 3 g·L−1, with a proliferation rate up to 8.8 times, was a better salt source than Murashige and Skoog medium. In the sucrose concentration test, 30 g·L−1 sucrose resulted in the highest proliferation rate. Furthermore, medium with a higher tryptone concentration inhibited the proliferation of green globular bodies. Green globular body differentiation medium containing 2 g·L−1 Hyponex, 30 g·L−1 sucrose, 2 g·L−1 tryptone, and pH 5.8 resulted in the highest bud induction rate, averaging 18.6 buds. Paraffin sections were examined to observe the development of green globular bodies induced by the rhizome. In the soil containing perlite, 100% of regenerated shoots successfully formed roots during acclimation.
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), valued by consumers for their sensory and nutritional qualities, have a limited shelf life. Preliminary results showed that 14-day storage of blueberry fruits at 3.5 °C enveloped in edible films made of biopolymers containing red onion extract delayed quality decline. Analysis of the films revealed higher antioxidant content in the 5% and 10% extracts compared to the films without extract. The decline in berry firmness was significantly delayed in the fruits enveloped with films containing 5% or 10% extract. When wrapped with a film with red onion extract, the berries darkened and reddened, but this had no effect on the total soluble solids and antioxidant content. This is the first report on the use of red onion-based films in blueberry fruit during short-term storage. Further research is needed to enhance the appearance of the film, specifically the color changes from onion extracts. The effect of agronomic management and genotype on blueberry quality requires further investigation.
This study aims to explore ways to improve the postharvest green preservation of cowpea pods and subsequent quality changes during frozen storage. Chlorophyll content was the main evaluation indicator. In single-factor and orthogonal experiments, the best results were obtained by storing sliced pods at −20 °C after blanching them at 100 °C for 50 seconds in a mixture containing 0.09% baking soda and 1.5% soybean oil, with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1 : 10. These conditions resulted in the highest chlorophyll and vitamin C content, reduced weight loss and decay rates, and superior sensory quality, significantly extending market quality from 15 to 25 days of storage.
In this experiment, the ‘Green Crisp’ plum (Prunus salicina) was used as a test material to investi-gate the mechanisms of water penetration and develop necessary measures to prevent fruit cracking due to overwatering. The results suggest that both root rain cover and fruit surface cover can reduce the occurrence of fruit cracking. However, the fruit surface is the main source of water entering the fruit, with the carpopodium being a secondary source. Water uptake from the fruit surface is more likely to cause fruit cracking than from the roots. Therefore, blocking excessive water uptake from the fruit surface is more important than from the roots. The complete cover provided by the canopy significantly reduces excessive water uptake by the roots and fruit surface, leading to a reduced incidence of fruit cracking. However, a small portion of fruits may still experience transverse cracking at the top, possibly due to nutrient imbalances. The method of preventing cracking by full canopy cover is worth popularizing, but further research into the causes and control measures under sheltered conditions is also necessary.
Parthenocarpy is considered one of the most effective strategies for fruit production under unfavorable environmental conditions that hinder pollination and fertilization. Extreme temperatures, whether excessively low or high, negatively affect pollen production and viability, often requiring external intervention for successful fruit set. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of parthenocarpy on various vegetable crops cultivated in Afghanistan. Recent studies have compared the performance of parthenocarpic vegetable fruits with their pollinated counterparts. Findings indicate that key phytohormones, including gibberellins, cytokinins, and auxins, play a crucial role in fruit development in the absence of pollination. In conclusion, parthenocarpy in fruit vegetables leads to the production of seedless fruits and pods, enhances fruit set, increases yield, improves fruit quality, increases total soluble solids, extends shelf life, ensures uniformity, and can result in smaller, lighter fruits while increasing the number of fruits per plant. Additionally, in certain fruit vegetables, parthenocarpy can affect fruit shape, flavor, and β-carotene metabolism during storage. To optimize productivity and quality, it is recommended to use appropriate methods and phytohormones, depending on the available infrastructure.
The western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), a global agricultural pest, poses a serious crop threat to crops. Chlorogenic acid is a bioactive phytochemical pesticide that controls various insect pests. This study determined the susceptibility of western flower thrips to chlorogenic acid and other common insecticides, as well as the susceptibility of several field-collected populations to chlorogenic acid. Cross-resistance to four common insecticides was also measured. Chlorogenic acid had the highest toxicity of all insecticides tested. All field-collected populations were susceptible to chlorogenic acid, and little cross-resistance was detected between chlorogenic acid and other tested insecticides. Furthermore, analysis of cytochrome P450 enzyme activity in western flower thrips following treatment with LC50 of chlorogenic acid suggests that increased cytochrome P450 activity could be involved in chlorogenic acid detoxification. The sublethal effects of chlorogenic acid were then assessed, and it was found that treatment with LC25 of chlorogenic acid prolonged the duration of two developmental stages, reduced fecundity, and decreased the survival rate of treated western flower thrips compared to untreated insects. Overall, these findings demonstrate substantial toxicity and significant sublethal effects of chlorogenic acid on western flower thrips, suggesting that overexpression of cytochrome P450 genes may be associated with chlorogenic acid detoxification.
The genus Helleborus belongs to the family Ranunculaceae and comprises about 22 species, which are distributed across Europe and West Asia. Hellebores are popular as garden perennials, pot plants, cut flowers, and medicinal plants. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of sucrose level (20, 30, 40, and 50 g·L−1), mineral salts content (50%, 100%, 150% of Murashige and Skoog 1962 medium – MS), growth regulators (BAP – 6-benzylaminopurine, 2iP – 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino) purine, kinetin, GA3 – gibberellic acid, IBA – indole-3-butyric-acid), and white light sources (fluorescent and LED) for multiplication and in vitro rooting Helleborus of ‘Molly’s White’ and ‘Anna’s Red’. Additionally, the post-effect of white, blue, and red light (LED) used during the storage of shoots at a temperature of 15°C for 3 months in glass jars and plastic vessels on the subsequent in vitro rooting and on ex vitro acclimatization was investigated. The results presented here showed that sucrose and nitrogen salts were more critical for axillary shoot branching and subsequent in vitro rooting in both hellebore genotypes than the concentration of growth regulators in the multiplication and rooting media. Low level of sucrose (20 g·L−1) and standard content of mineral salts (100% in the MS medium) were optimal for the development of axillary shoots. The medium composition used in the multiplication experiments markedly affected the rooting ability of both cultivars. The sucrose/nitrogen salts ratio in the multiplication medium was more critical for subsequent rooting than the type and concentration of growth regulators or the composition of the rooting media. Genotype ‘Molly’s White’ exhibited the best rooting after multiplication on the medium with high (40 g·L−1) and low (20 g·L−1) sucrose levels, but ‘Anna’s Red’ only on the medium with low sucrose content (20 g·L−1). The white LED increased the multiplication and rooting rates of both hellebores compared with white fluorescent light. Plastic vessels significantly increased root number in both hellebore genotypes. The post-effect of white, blue, and red light (LED) used during the storage of cultures had a weak influence on ex vitro acclimatization compared to in vitro rooting. Genotypic differences in multiplication rate, rooting ability, and ex vitro acclimatization efficiency were observed.
Leaf senescence is an irreversible growth process that determines plant productivity and survival, especially under environmental stress. Among water stresses, drought and submergence significantly influence senescence pathways through distinct molecular mechanisms. Drought stress accelerates leaf senescence by impairing photosynthesis, reducing leaf expansion, and disrupting water balance, with transcription factors such as NAC, WRKY, and AP2/ERF playing critical roles in its regulation. In particular, the NAC transcription factor family modulates key senescence-associated genes, while WRKY and AP2/ERF members coordinate stress responses through ABA-dependent and independent pathways. Submergence, on the other hand, induces ethylene-mediated senescence, primarily through hypoxia-induced metabolic shifts and light deprivation. ERF transcription factors, particularly ERFVII, regulate hypoxia-responsive genes, whereas bHLH and WRKY transcription factors contribute to ethylene-induced senescence. Furthermore, NAC family regulators, along with EIN3, modulate dark-induced senescence under submergence, revealing mechanistic overlap with natural senescence processes. Recent advances further reveal that epi-genetic modifications dynamically alter chromatin accessibility, activating or suppressing senescence. Moreover, posttranslational regulation through ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and autophagy modulates senescence, with the proteasome accelerating it and autophagy delaying it through selective protein turnover. This review comprehensively explores the transcriptional regulation of leaf senescence under drought and submergence stresses, along with epigenetic and posttranslational regulation, and emphasizes the role of key transcription factor families. Understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms regulating leaf senescence under these contrasting water stresses is critical for developing stress-resilient crops and enhancing agricultural sustainability in the face of climate change.
The research aimed to evaluate whether plant population density of the leek cultivars ‘Jumper’ F1 and ‘Matejko’ F1, and the method of pseudostem etiolation could improve leek yield. The row spacing variants were 45 cm, 60 cm, and 70 cm, with a plant spacing of 15 cm within each row. Seedlings were planted either one or two per hole. Etiolation was launched at the BBCH 17 (7th leaf >3cm) growth stage, with the stems either hilled up with the soil from the inter-rows or shaded with vertical panels of black agrotextile, with a shading height of 20 cm. The planting scheme significantly affected leek growth and development parameters. The largest leaf area and plant and pseudostem mass were observed with the 70 × 15 cm planting; however, the yield per hectare was the lowest. The F1 Matejko cultivar yielded higher in the variant with a 45 × 15 cm planted singly and etiolated under black agrotextile. For growing F1 ‘Jumper’, it is recommended to plant two seedlings per hole at a density of 45 × 15(2) or 60(2) x 15 cm, etiolated under black agro-textile. The obtained results will help to improve the leek cultivation technology.
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.), native to subtropical to temperate regions, has highly perishable fruit. Cell wall degradation and microbial invasion during prolonged storage reduce the storage potential and commercial value of the product. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the potential of moringa leaf extract (MLE) (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%) to enhance storage potential and postharvest quality of persimmon fruits at 0 ± 1 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 60 days. The results demonstrated that prestorage application of 30% MLE to persimmons significantly delayed the increase in weight loss and disease incidence in coated fruits compared to the control. Additionally, persimmon fruit treated with MLE substantially reduced metabolic changes such as soluble solids content and ripening index, while maintaining maximum titratable acidity and preserving maximum ascorbic acid content compared to untreated fruit. Moreover, application of MLE noticeably maintained higher levels of bioactive compounds, including total phenolic content and antioxidant radical scavenging activity, compared to untreated fruit. Subsequently, the application of MLE regulated oxidative stress by reducing the maximum levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, while maintaining the maximum activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase during prolonged storage. Furthermore, fruits coated with MLE treated with 30% MLE notably maintained maximum firmness and mitigated deterioration by inhibiting the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes such as polygalacturonase, cellulase, and pectin methylesterase. They also maintained quality traits compared to the control until the end of storage. Consequently, this study highlights the potential of MLE as a sustainable and eco-friendly way to maintain postharvest persimmon fruit quality during extended storage.
In our previous study, sensitive broccoli cultivars exhibited adverse effects on head yield after just 3 days of waterlogging. Mature plants of sensitive cultivars show severely reduced water content under waterlogging stress. This phenomenon suggests a strong correlation between impaired water uptake under waterlogged conditions and broccoli tolerance to such conditions. In this study, the relationship between these factors was assessed by focusing on the root system, using a primarily morphological approach in three characteristic cultivars, and comparing changes in biomass, water content, root length, internal root structure, and hydraulic conductivity under hypoxic conditions (AIR−). Hypoxia caused by hydroponic cultivation without aeration reduced shoot biomass and substantially increased the shoot-to-root dry weight ratio and leaf area-to-root dry weight ratio in the sensitive cultivars ‘Sawayutaka’ and ‘First Star’. The interaction between aeration and cultivar affected internal root structure but, not root length, radial barriers to oxygen loss, or lignin and suberin deposition. Hypoxia reduced xylem area in the roots of the sensitive cultivars but not in the tolerant ‘Shigemori’. Moreover, the tolerant cultivar maintained high hydraulic conductivity under hypoxic conditions. These results suggest that maintaining root xylem size and hydraulic conductivity, even under hypoxic conditions, may enhance broccoli tolerance to waterlogging.
This study aimed to find a method for 16-week in vitro storage of ‘Raja Sereh’ banana using chlormequat chloride (Cycocel, CCC) as a growth retardant. Shoot multiplication was carried out using kinetin to obtain aseptic shoots. The results showed effective shoot multiplication on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6.0 mg·L−1 6-furfurylaminopurine (KIN) and 0.175 mg·L−1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In vitro storage in media containing CCC at concentrations of 5.0 mg·L−1 and 7.5 mg·L−1 without subculturing inhibited growth, reducing plantlet height and the number of shoots and leaves, inhibiting leaf length, while leaf width increased. Subculturing the plantlets on fresh medium without CCC showed that the banana plantlets retained their regenerative potential and formed new shoots and roots. This study concluded that CCC could be a potential growth retardant for the slow-growth storage of ‘Raja Sereh’ banana and its application in agricultural practices for banana propagation and preservation.
This study aimed to develop for in vitro germination of zygotic embryos and to establish an acclimatization procedure for the production of Butia yatay palm plants under controlled conditions. B. yatay fruits were mechanically scarified for seeds extraction prior to isolation of zygotic embryos. Embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium with a combination of plant growth regulators. Acclimatization consisted of transferring plants to sterilized or unsterilized soil-sand substrates, with or without polyethylene cover. Embryos cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium with 0.1 mg·L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.1 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine achieved 90% germination. After fungicide treatment and transplanting into sterilized soil mix in shaded conditions, the plants were covered with polyethylene, which resulted in a 67% acclimatization success rate.
