Coffea arabica L. is an economically important crop grown in diverse geographical regions of Yemen. This study aimed to characterize the physical, chemical, and biological properties of Yemeni green coffee bean varieties collected from eight major coffee-producing areas in Hajjah Governorate. Bean physical traits, including length, diameter, bulk density, and weight, were recorded, and methanolic (MeOH) extracts were prepared to determine total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents, caffeine level, mineral composition, antiradical capacity (using DPPH and ABTS tests), and enzyme inhibitory effects (against α-amylase and α-glucosidase). The tested varieties displayed notable characteristics. Physical analysis showed that the beans had the following ranges of length (8.2–10.07 mm), diameter (5.4–7.1 mm), density (0.6–0.72 g per cm3), and weight (14.2–16.6 g per 100 beans). Phytochemical analysis revealed varied content of phytochemicals, with different ranges of TPC (50.09–98.07 mg GAE g−1), TFC (1.77–4.55 mg QE g−1), and caffeine (8.4–13.19 mg g−1). Among the macro-elements, potassium was the most abundant, which ranged from 8.0 to 10.7 mg g−1. Biological tests showed strong antiradical effects, with IC50 values ranging from 0.315 to 1.003 mg mL−1 for anti-DPPH activity and from 0.7419 to 1.6366 mg mL−1 for anti-ABTS effect. A stronger anti-enzyme effect was observed against α-glucosidase (0.89–1.93 mmol ACAE g−1) compared to the α-amylase (0.34–0.67 mmol ACAE g−1) inhibition. Overall, the evaluated samples had physical and biochemical profiles that were comparable to and, in some cases superior to, those of well-known local and international coffee varieties.
This study provides a comparative analysis of pollen morphology and viability in seven representative species of the Juglans, Carya, and Pterocarya genera of the Juglandaceae family to inform hybridization breeding programs. Pollen morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MTT staining was used to determine the decay of pollen viability under 4°C cold storage conditions. Combined with pollen tube length measurement, the study characterizes interspecific differentiation in these traits and discusses the observed patterns in relation to species’ domestication status. The results showed significant differences in pollen morphology among species: Carya illinoinensis pollen was the largest, while Pterocarya stenoptera pollen was the smallest. Juglans species had a larger number of germinal apertures, while Carya and Pterocarya species had fewer. Furthermore, the distribution of germinal apertures differed between genera. Interspecific variation was observed in pollen tube length, with Juglans regia showing the longest pollen tubes, whereas no significant differences were detected among P. stenoptera, Carya cathayensis and Juglans nigra. In terms of pollen viability, domesticated species, such as J. regia and C. illinoinensis, exhibited higher initial viability than wild species, but subsequently declined more rapidly. The extremely high sterility rate (0.16 ± 0.05%) of pollen from J. hopeiensis is consistent with the hypothesis of its hybrid origin. Pollen size and pollen tube length showed patterns associated with viability decline, potentially suggesting a trade-off between initial reproductive efficiency and long-term preservation capacity. Further investigation is needed to determine if these patterns are linked to domestication history. This study provides empirical data on interspecific pollen differences, offering a foundational reference for hybrid breeding in Juglandaceae.
To establish precise canopy management strategies for high-quality table grape production, this study evaluated the interactive effects of trellis systems and lateral shoot management strategies on canopy microclimate, leaf physiology, and berry quality in two table grape cultivars. A two-factor experimental design (trellis sysem × lateral shoot management) was applied separately to each of two table grape cultivars: Vitis vinifera cv. Victoria and Vitis labrusca× V. vinifera cv. Kyoho. Two trellis systems, HTC (horizontal overhead trellis with horizontal canopy) and VTC (vertical trellis with V-shaped canopy), and three lateral shoot management strategies – S1 (early shoot topping), S2 (dynamic lateral shoot management), and S3 (single pre-harvest leaf removal) – were evaluated. Dynamic lateral shoot management (S2) generally optimized canopy microclimate, reducing the cumulative duration of high-temperature (≥35°C) exposure in the fruit zone, while enhancing leaf net photosynthetic rate and photosystem II efficiency. Berry quality responses to treatment combinations showed cultivar specific patterns. For “Victoria,” the VTC-S2 combination was associated with increased total soluble solids (TSS) and sugar/acid ratio; for “Kyoho,” the HTC-S2 treatment was associated with improved sugar/acid ratio, anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and fruit coloration. Two-way ANOVA indicated that most physiological and quality parameters were significantly influenced by trellis system, lateral shoot management, and their interaction. Integrating dynamic lateral shoot management (S2) with cultivar‑adapted trellis systems may offer a promising approach for table grape production. These findings provide a basis for further investigation into cultivar‑specific canopy management strategies under similar conditions.
In the Canary Islands, “Hass” avocado (Persea americana Mill.) production relies predominantly on seedling rootstocks, which show considerable genetic variability and inconsistent yield performance. Although locally selected clonal rootstocks tolerant to P. cinnamomi have existed for decades, their productive performance has not been formally evaluated. This study evaluated the yield performance of four locally selected clonal rootstocks (“Julian,” “ICIA-2,” “ICIA-3” and “ICIA-4”), bred for tolerance to this pathogen, against two seedling controls commonly used in commercial nurseries. The trial was conducted in Tenerife, Spain, over six seasons, with statistical analysis focused on three seasons of full productive phase (2022–2024). Yield per tree, number of fruit and mean fruit weight were analyzed using mixed models with rootstock, season and their interaction as fixed effects. Rootstock, season and their interaction significantly affected yield per tree, with “ICIA-2” significantly outperforming the seedling controls in two of the three analytical seasons. Yield differences were primarily driven by fruit number rather than fruit size. A pronounced alternate bearing pattern was observed across all rootstocks, although differences among rootstocks were not statistically significant. When expressed per unit area, yields of the best-performing rootstock considerably exceeded regional and national averages for Spain. These results highlight rootstock selection as an underexploited opportunity in the Canary Islands and beyond.
The adoption of hedgerow systems in olive cultivation has enabled full harvesting mechanization and management efficiency. However, the limited number of suitable cultivars adapted remains a critical constraint for the widespread adoption of this system. Therefore, there is an urgent need for testing the suitability of traditional and newly bred cultivars. This study presents a comprehensive, long-term evaluation (from 2014 to 2022) of oil content and composition in three traditional (“Arbequina,” “Arbosana,” and “Koroneiki”) and three recently bred cultivars for hedgerow system (“Lecciana,” “Oliana,” and “Sikitita”). Among all the traits evaluated, genotype played a dominant role in determining oil composition, particularly oleic and linoleic acid levels, while year effects were notably strong for fruit moisture content and oil yield. “Koroneiki” consistently showed superior oil stability index (OSI) due to its high oleic acid and phenol content. Among the new cultivars tested, “Oliana” had lower oil content and OSI, “Lecciana” stood out for its higher OSI values, while “Sikitita” exhibited high extractability. Only minor differences among cultivars were found for the main organoleptic attributes. The findings highlight that no single cultivar excels across all traits, which underscores the need for extended trials to accurately assess cultivar performance, and guide cultivar choice in hedgerow systems to balance productivity, quality, and OSI under variable conditions.
