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Summary While oncology social workers are the primary providers of psychosocial services, they vary in what they do and how they work across different cancer care settings. Standards of Practice suggest that there exists a core or universal set of activities and tasks that are grounded in the values and principles of social work and apply across all settings. The purpose of this study was to identify activities that delineate and distinguish Competencies, Opportunities, Roles and Expertise (CORE) for oncology social work. Research was conducted using Concept Mapping, a structured and prescribed approach to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data while engaging stakeholders in the research process. Findings An expert panel of oncology social work practitioners, academicians, and leaders in the field (n = 35) generated 91 practice behaviors that were subject to card sorting and ratings of importance. A visual map consisting of six clusters best represented the statistical fit of the data (stress value = 0.18) while maintaining the most meaningful categorization of individual statements. These six domains were as follows: Clinical Assessment and Intervention (38 items; mean importance = 3.31); Professional Advocacy and Political Action (5 items; mean importance = 3.03); Case Management and Care Coordination (16 items; mean importance = 3.02); Patient Education and Advocacy (8 items; mean importance = 2.82); Organizational Support and Service (12 items; mean importance = 2.74); Professional Education (12 items; mean importance = 2.45). Application These results may inform initiatives related to social work education and training, credentialing and certification, health policy, research and advocacy on behalf of patients, families, communities, and the profession.

The extent to which oncology social workers (OSWs) are available and adapting to disruptions in service delivery throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to outline the initial impact of COVID-19 on oncology social work practice during the first six months of the pandemic. METHODS: As part of a nationwide investigation of workforce conditions for OSWs, three professional organizations surveyed their members to assess the effects of COVID-19 on changes to work hours, employment status, work setting, pay, and mode for patient contact (e.g., telephone or videoconference). FINDINGS: Among 939 OSWs, 20% reported a reduction in work hours, and two-thirds indicated a temporary shift in work to home, with most patient contact occurring primarily via telephone or videoconference. IMPLICATIONS: Results speak to the essential nature of oncology social work and the need for evidence to inform OSW training and advocacy efforts for however long the pandemic continues.

Funding Information: Guzewich, Smith, and Khayat were supported by the MSL Participating Scientist program. de la Torre Juarez, Newman, Kahanp??, Vi?dez-Moreiras, and Richardson were supported by the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Mason was supported by the NASA Postdoctoral Program, administered by the Universities Space Research Association. A portion of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004). Funding Information: Guzewich, Smith, and Khayat were supported by the MSL Participating Scientist program. de la Torre Juarez, Newman, Kahanpää, Viúdez‐Moreiras, and Richardson were supported by the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Mason was supported by the NASA Postdoctoral Program, administered by the Universities Space Research Association. A portion of this research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NM0018D0004). Publisher Copyright: © 2021. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Surface pressure measurements on Mars have revealed a wide variety of atmospheric phenomena. The Mars Science Laboratory Rover Environmental Monitoring Station pressure sensor data set is now the longest duration record of surface pressure on Mars. We use the first 2580 Martian sols, nearly 4 Mars years, of measurements to identify atmospheric pressure waves with periods of tens of minutes to hours using wavelet analysis on residual pressure after the tidal harmonics are removed. We find these waves have a clear diurnal cycle with strongest activity in the early morning and late evening and a seasonal cycle with the strongest waves in the second half of the martian year (Ls = 180–360°). The strongest such waves of the entire mission occurred during the Mars Year 34 global dust storm. Comparable atmospheric waves are identified using atmospheric modeling with the MarsWRF general circulation model in a “nested” high spatial resolution mode. With the support of the modeling, we find these waves best fit the expected properties of inertia-gravity waves with horizontal wavelengths of O(100s) of km.

PURPOSE: As of 2016, an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors were living in the United States and the number of cancer survivors is expected to increase to 20.3 million by 2026. Numerous clinical studies have shown that comorbidities, such as obesity and diabetes, and unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity and heavy smoking, negatively influence overall quality of life and long-term survival of cancer survivors. Accordingly, survivorship programs seek to focus on overall wellness, including symptom management, monitoring for late effects of treatment, monitoring for recurrence, helping patients adapt healthy behaviors, and quality of life. This paper provides a broad overview of public health efforts to address the needs of cancer survivors. METHODS: To describe a range of examples of survivorship initiatives in comprehensive cancer control, we analyzed documents from comprehensive cancer control programs and coalitions and solicited detailed examples from several national partners. RESULTS: Comprehensive cancer control programs, coalitions, and partners are undertaking myriad initiatives to address cancer survivorship and building upon evidence-based interventions to promote healthy behaviors for cancer survivors across the country. CONCLUSION: A coordinated public health approach to caring for the growing population of cancer survivors can help address the long-term physical, psychosocial, and economic effects of cancer treatment on cancer survivors and their families.

Comprehensive cancer control celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2018. A dedicated group of national partners formed the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership (CCCNP) at the same time that CDC's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program was formed. The CCCNP has supported the development and growth of comprehensive cancer control from its inception. The CCCNP mirrors how coalitions function at the state, tribe, territory, and Pacific Island Jurisdiction level. We provide a national example of how 19 leading cancer organizations work together with a unified vision to support cancer control efforts in the United States (U.S.). What follows is an overview of the CCCNP, its vision, mission, and structure and a description of how this partnership has evolved over the past 20 years. The importance of collaboration is highlighted. Two states, South Dakota and Kansas, provide examples of how working with partners through the cancer coalition has advanced their state's cancer control agenda. Closing thoughts on the future work of the CCCNP are provided, including a continued focus on supporting health equity; better engagement and support of CCC coalition leaders; and informing efforts to develop a national cancer control plan for the United States.

The safety culture in the workplace may affect event reporting. We evaluated the relationship of safety culture and voluntary event reporting within a large network of ambulatory practices, most of which provided primary care.This study was an observational, retrospective cohort study. Patient safety event reporting rates for 35 ambulatory practices were collected using a standard tool (UHC Patient Safety Net [PSN]) and normalized based on the number of patient visits in each practice. The overall and domain-specific safety culture of each practice was measured with a validated instrument (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire [SAQ]), distributed to 828 employees in 2013. We compared safety culture scores and the average event reporting rates during a 4-month window before and after the survey distribution. Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between PSN reporting rates and SAQ results.The SAQ response rate was 87%. Practices varied widely in rates of reporting events, from 0.00 to 6.99 reports per 1000 total patient visits per month. Regression analyses indicated a positive association between PSN reporting rates and SAQ scores for the domains of overall culture (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.019; P = 0.004) and 4 safety culture domains: teamwork climate (IRR, 1.016; P = 0.019), safety climate (IRR, 1.018; P = 0.004), working conditions (IRR, 1.017; P = 0.006), and perceptions of local management (IRR, 1.016; P = 0.040).Our work provides new evidence to show that in the ambulatory setting more events and near misses are reported when there is a strong culture of safety.

Surgeons can more effectively meet the public's increased expectation of patient-centered care by directing attention to pain, non-pain symptoms, including depression and anxiety, in addition to the patient's personal preferences, resources, and support needs. Patient navigation and palliative care, both pioneered by surgeons, provide complementary frameworks for the screening, assessment and intervention needed to achieve enhanced patient outcomes including adherence to care, improved quality of life and patient satisfaction. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:621–628. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The adipose-derived hormone leptin maintains energy balance in part through central nervous system-mediated increases in sympathetic outflow that enhance fat burning. Triggering of β-adrenergic receptors in adipocytes stimulates energy expenditure by cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent increases in lipolysis and fatty-acid oxidation. Although the mechanism is unclear, catecholamine signalling is thought to be disrupted in obesity, leading to the development of insulin resistance. Here we show that the cAMP response element binding (CREB) coactivator Crtc3 promotes obesity by attenuating β-adrenergic receptor signalling in adipose tissue. Crtc3 was activated in response to catecholamine signals, when it reduced adenyl cyclase activity by upregulating the expression of Rgs2, a GTPase-activating protein that also inhibits adenyl cyclase activity. As a common human CRTC3 variant with increased transcriptional activity is associated with adiposity in two distinct Mexican-American cohorts, these results suggest that adipocyte CRTC3 may play a role in the development of obesity in humans.

Under fasting conditions, increases in circulating concentrations of pancreatic glucagon maintain glucose homeostasis through induction of gluconeogenic genes by the CREB coactivator CRTC2. Hepatic CRTC2 activity is elevated in obesity, although the extent to which this cofactor contributes to attendant increases in insulin resistance is unclear. Here we show that mice with a knockout of the CRTC2 gene have decreased circulating glucose concentrations during fasting, due to attenuation of the gluconeogenic program. CRTC2 was found to stimulate hepatic gene expression in part through an N-terminal CREB binding domain that enhanced CREB occupancy over relevant promoters in response to glucagon. Deletion of sequences encoding the CREB binding domain in CRTC2 −/− mice lowered circulating blood glucose concentrations and improved insulin sensitivity in the context of diet-induced obesity. Our results suggest that small molecules that attenuate the CREB–CRTC2 pathway may provide therapeutic benefit to individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Seventy patients seeking treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD) were randomly assigned to 14 weekly individual sessions of interpersonal therapy (IPT) or supportive therapy (ST). We hypothesized that IPT, a psychotherapy with established efficacy for depression and other psychiatric disorders, would lead to greater improvement than ST. Patients in both groups experienced significant improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment. However, improvement with IPT was not superior to improvement with ST. Mean scores on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale decreased from 67.7 to 46.9 in the IPT group and 64.5 to 49.8 in the ST group. There were also no differences in proportion of responders between IPT and ST. Only for a scale measuring concern about negative evaluation (Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale) was IPT superior. Limitations of this initial controlled trial of IPT include a nonsequential recruitment strategy and overlap in the administration of the two therapies. It is recommended that future studies of IPT for SAD include a more carefully defined control therapy condition, different therapists administering each therapy, a larger sample, and a more rigorous strategy for long-term follow-up assessments.

Surgeons can more effectively meet the public's increased expectation of patient-centered care by directing attention to pain, non-pain symptoms, including depression and anxiety, in addition to the patient's personal preferences, resources, and support needs. Patient navigation and palliative care, both pioneered by surgeons, provide complementary frameworks for the screening, assessment and intervention needed to achieve enhanced patient outcomes including adherence to care, improved quality of life and patient satisfaction.

Background.In this paper, results are reported from a pilot study designed to test the feasibility of a proactive educational intervention delivered to callers of the Cancer Information Service (CIS). Methods.The study used a randomized two-group design (intervention vs control). Callers assigned to the intervention condition received a brief educational intervention at the end of usual service to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. As part of the intervention, key educational messages and materials drawn from the 5 A Day for Better Health program of the National Cancer Institute were provided to CIS callers over the telephone and then reinforced with two follow-up mailings. Results.Results from this pilot study indicated high levels of adherence to protocol by CIS Information Specialists who delivered the intervention to eligible CIS callers. Results obtained from the 4-week telephone follow-up interviews indicated that intervention subjects (n= 142) reported higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, averaging approximately 0.75 servings more per day (P< 0.01) than control subjects (n= 134). Conclusion.Nearly 80% of CIS callers endorsed the strategy of providing 5 A Day information at the end of usual service, even if such information was not specifically requested by the caller (i.e., the information was provided to CIS callers proactively).

72 Background: The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer established a patient-centered standard regarding the delivery of a survivorship care plan to cancer patients. In response to recommendations from the 2006 National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, a working group developed a set of Continuum of Care standards to address the psychosocial needs of cancer patients. In 2009 Commission on Cancer members had met to discuss a strategic plan for addressing a major shift in accreditation standards from process to patient-centered care with a focus on patient outcomes. According to Cancer Program Standards: Ensuring Patient-Centered Care, the cancer program must implement a process to disseminate a comprehensive care summary and follow-up plan to patients with cancer who are completing cancer treatment. Programs are in full implementation mode and surveys monitoring this Survivorship Care Plan Standard have begun this year. The care plan provides guidance and recommendations for survivors and their healthcare providers to address the medical and psychosocial problems that may arise post-treatment. By delivering a plan, the patient is empowered with information about the treatment they have received, the recommendations for their care going forward, and recommended resources. Methods: Programs submit documentation to describe their process for delivery of care through an electronic activity report. Documentation of this standard includes method of delivery, identification of eligible patients, implementation process and tracking. This presentation will summarize program submissions for 2015-2016 and include an analysis of the details of the standard compliance as reported by accredited programs. Results: This analysis will include responses from all Commission on Cancer accredited programs reporting on this standard. The analysis will provide information about the trends in program implementation and compliance with the standard. Conclusions: This analysis will inform future decisions about the content of plans, the value of plan delivery to the provider and to the patient and summarize current practice.

Flower bud growth and ovule longevity of plum (Prunus domestics L.) cultivars Italian and Brooks and the effects of fall-applied ethephon and of temperature were studied. Fresh and dry weights of terminal flower buds were measured at l-week intervals from 50 days to 1 day before bloom in 1988. Buds were also analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, and B. After bloom, ovule longevity was determined using a fluorescence method after staining with aniline blue. Ovule longevity was determined in 1990 using shoots excised at full bloom from untreated and ethephon-treated trees of both cultivars and held in growth chambers for 18 days at 5, 10, 15, or 20C. 'Brooks' flower buds showed a higher accumulation of fresh and dry weight than 'Italian', and ethephon reduced bud weights in both cultivars. Ethephon did not affect mineral content of flower buds of 'Brooks', but 'Italian' flower buds contained a higher concentration of Ca and a lower concentration of P when treated with ethephon. Boron content was higher in the ethephon-treated buds of 'Italian' trees on some sampling dates. Ovule longevity was higher for 'Brooks' than for 'Italian' in both years. Ethephon treatment delayed ovule senescence in 'Italian' flowers, but had little or no effect on 'Brooks' flowers. Increasing temperatures induced faster ovule senescence in both cultivars. Chemical name used. 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon). Insufficient fruit set in plum trees may be due to a genetic predisposition for abnormal embryo sac development (Thomp- son and Liu, 1973), low temperature during and after bloom time (Jaumien, 1968), or B deficiency in the flowers that results in poor pollen tube growth (Hanson and Breen, 1985a). Poor fruit set may result from a shortened effective pollination period (EPP), the difference between ovule longevity and the time re- quired for the pollen tube to reach the egg sac (Stosser and Anvari, 1982; Williams, 1966, 1970). A short EPP can result from slow pollen tube growth rates and/or short ovule longevity. Fall ethephon applications delay flowering in several fruit tree

Ethephon at 0 or 500 mg 1−1 was applied to cultivar ‘Italian’ prune trees at 50% defoliation. Growth of flower buds of cultivars ‘Italian’ and ‘Brooks’ prune trees was measured during winter and early spring. Developing buds were sectioned to observe the development of the reproductive organs and vascular tissues. Ovule longevity, using fluorescence microscopy, was determined over a 2-week period after anthesis. Flower bud growth began earlier for untreated ‘Italian’ buds when compared with ethephon-treated buds. Terminal buds of both untreated and treated trees began growth before the first and second laterals. The growth rate did not differ between ethephon-treated and untreated flower buds of ‘Italian’ trees. Ethephon-treated buds had retarded pistil and vascular tissue development, in contrast to untreated ‘Italian’ buds. Ovule longevity in ‘Brooks’ during 2 weeks after anthesis was similar at the terminal and second lateral positions on a spur. Ovule longevity in ‘Italian’ flowers at lateral positions on spurs decreased more rapidly than in the terminal flower. Within 1 week after anthesis, 40% of second lateral flowers sampled had no viable ovules. Ethephon-treated ‘Italian’ trees had viable ovules in buds at all positions for the duration studied. However, at anthesis, only 1.2–1.3 ovules were viable in the flowers. Poor fruit set in ‘Italian’ prune trees is now also thought to be a function of the short ovule longevity of certain flowers.

198 Background: In response to recommendations from the 2007 Institute of Medicine report, Cancer Care for the Whole Patient, the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer developed a set of Continuum of Care standards, including a patient-centered standard regarding the delivery of psychosocial distress screening to all cancer patients. According to Cancer Program Standards 2012: Ensuring Patient-Centered Care, the accredited cancer program must implement a process to integrate and monitor on-site psychosocial distress screening and referral for the provision of psychosocial care. Patients experience psychological, social, financial, and behavioral issues that can interfere with their treatment plan and adversely affect outcomes. Screening processes result in the identification of distressed cancer patients and assessment and referral pathways to ensure appropriate psychosocial care provision can be obtained. The standard was established in 2012 with a 2015 implementation period allowing programs time to develop a screening, assessment, and referral process tailored to their patient population. Methods: Programs submit documentation to describe their process for delivery of care through an electronic activity report. Documentation of this standard includes the timing for delivery of the psychosocial distress screening tool; methodology; the specific tools selected with preference to validated and reliable screening tools; and a process for assessment, referral and documentation. This presentation will summarize the program submissions for 2015 and include an analysis of the details of the standard compliance as reported by accredited programs. Results: This analysis will include responses from all Commission on Cancer accredited programs reporting on this standard. The analysis will provide information about the trends in the timing, methods, and tools used by programs implementing a psychosocial distress screening process. Conclusions: This analysis will inform future decisions about standardization of a screening process and the feasibility of pooling data across centers.

Ethylene evolution was measured from greenhouse-grown ‘Jerseyglo’ peach fruits beginning 29 days after anthesis. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels were measured in the pericarp and seed tissues of individual fruits on a single shoot when variable ethylene evolution was noted. Despite hand-pollinating all flowers on the same day, variability within the shoot existed in fruit fresh weight, IAA levels, and ethylene evolution. Seed IAA concentration increased as fruit and seed fresh weight increased and ranged from 106 to 1572 ng. g−1. As pericarp fresh weight increased, IAA levels in this tissue decreased. Ethylene evolution rates ranged from 0.21 to 1.07 nl. g.−1 h−1 and were not correlated with IAA concentration in seed, pericarp, or the whole fruit. High rates of ethylene evolution from the whole fruit occurred prior to increased IAA concentration in the seed. Fruits were excised from field-grown ‘Redskin’ peach trees beginning 40 days after full bloom. Fruits from field sampled shoots appeared to be more physiologically advanced than the greenhouse-grown ‘Jerseyglo’ fruits. Pericarp IAA concentration was low, ranging from 2.8 to 6.5 ng. g−1. Seed concentrations accounted for 75% of the IAA found in the fruit and ranged from 239 to 1042 ng. g−1. As with greenhouse-grown samples, whole fruit IAA concentration tended to decrease as fruits increased in fresh weight.

A tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) breeding line (81B416) with' resistance to anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum dematium was crossed to three susceptible genotypes. Parental, F1, F2, and backcross populations were analyzed in the cross with `US28', while parental, F1, and F2 populations were tested in crosses of 81B416 with `US141' and 81B9. Inheritance of resistance was primarily additive, but 3- and 6-factor scaling tests indicated the presence of dominance and epistatic effects. The average broad-sense heritability estimate was 0.57; narrow-sense heritability was estimated at 0.42.

Studies in the use of fall ethephon to delay bloom in peach and prune were carried out during 1985-87. In 'Italian' prune, ethephon at 250 and 500 mg-liter-' at 10% leaf-drop stage delayed bloom 13 and 16 days, respectively. Only a 5- and 7-day bloom delay occurred when applied at 50% leaf-drop stage. Fruit set and yield were not reduced in 'Italian' prune when ethephon was applied at the 50% leaf-drop stage. Early applications, from vegetative maturity to the 10% leaf-drop stage, did not reduce yield in prune when trees had been previously defoliated with 3.0% urea. Early leaf removal, before vegetative maturity, caused reduction in peach flower and fruit num- ber. In several peach cultivars, all the ethephon treatments were detrimental to flower density, fruit set, and yield, in spite of bloom delay. The ethephon-treated prune trees yielded more than the untreated trees in 1987 as a result of frost avoidance. Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, yield, fruit set, defoliation

`Napoleon' grafted onto Colt, F/12-1, and MxM60 rootstock were planted into three types of tree holes: augered; backhoed, and backhoed plus fumigation. The auger treatment resulted in lower yields, smaller trunk cross-sectional area (TSCA), and smaller canopy volume when compared to backhoed holes. Fumigation had no significant effect. Trees on Colt rootstock were more precocious, had a smaller TCSA and canopy volume, greater cumulative yield efficiency, and, in 1987, the smallest fruit weight. The yield efficiency of Colt was the highest until 1988, when it was surpassed by MxM60, but was still similar to F/12-l. Yields were highest on trees of MxM60 in 1987 and 1988.

An excised twig assay was developed to evaluate cherry geno-types for their tolerance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. One-year-old wood was collected at monthly intervals from October until January of `Royal Ann', `Corum', and a number of cherry rootstock. The rootstock included; F/12–1 and Giessen (GI) and M × M selections. A 2-cm incision (“^”-shaped flap) was made on each twig. A 20-μl droplet of inoculum or water was placed onto each incision. The inoculum was prepared with one avirulent (K4) and three virulent strains (W4N54, AP2, B15) concentrations (105, 106, or 107 cfu). Inoculated twigs were placed in test tubes and incubated at 15C in high relative humidity for 3 weeks. After incubation, twigs were evaluated for gummosis production (0–3, 0 = no gummosis), incision browning (1–4, 1 = yellow pith), and callus production (0–1, 0 = no callus). The concentration of bacterial suspension had no effect on symptom development. No gummosis or browning was observed on twigs inoculated with water or the avirulent strain. Based on the gummosis and browning ratings, rootstock M × M 2, M × M 39, M × M 60, GI 148-1, GI 154-2, and GI 154-4 were found to be resistant to these three strains of P. syringae in this assay. Root-stock F 12-1, GI 169–15, GI 172–9, and GI 173-9 were found to be tolerant.

Dormant coffee (Coffea arabica L.) flower buds require water stress to stimulate regrowth. A xylem specific watersoluble dye, azosulfamide, was used to quantify the uptake of water by buds after their release from dormancy by withholding water. In non-stressed flower buds, the rate of water uptake was generally slower and variable. In stressed flower buds, the rate of uptake tripled from one day to 3 days after rewatering and preceded the doubling of fresh and dry weight of buds. Free, ester, and amide IAA levels of developing flower buds were measured by GCMS-SIM using an isotope dilution technique with [13C6] IAA as an internal standard. Throughout development, the majority of IAA was present in a conjugated form and the dominant form was amide IAA. The proportions of amide and free IAA changed rapidly after plants were water stressed until day 3, and preceded the doubling of fresh and dry weight. Correlation coefficients of 0.9, 0.7, and 0.7 (p

An excised twig assay was developed to evaluate cherry genotypes for their tolerance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. One-year-old wood was collected at monthly intervals from Oct. until Jan. of `Napoleon', `Corum', and a number of cherry rootstock. The rootstock included F/12-1, Giessen (GI), and M×M selections. Twigs were inoculated with one avirulent and three virulent strains. Evaluation of incision browning, callus, and gummosis production were made after incubation for 3 weeks. Based on gummosis is and browning ratings, all the rootstocks tested were found to be more tolerant than `Napoleon' and `Corum' to the 3 strains of Pseudomonas syringae used. No gummosis or browning was observed on twigs inoculated with water or the avirulent strain.Plant signals extracted from cherry leaves have been shown to control expression of virulence genes in P. syringae. Crude aqueous extracts from `Napoleon' twigs induced the syrB::1acZ fusion in P. syringae strain B3AR132 Other rootstocks are currently being evaluated for their ability to induce virulence in P. syringae pv. syringae

The amount of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was measured in peach fruits by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selective ion monitoring using an isotope dilution assay with [13C6]IAA as an internal standard throughout the growing season. Ethylene evolution of the fruit was also measured. IAA levels were 25 nanograms per gram fresh weight, 18 days after anthesis. Both IAA levels and rates of ethylene evolution declined to their lowest levels (7 nanograms IAA per gram fresh weight and 0.01 nanoliter ethylene per gram per hour) in the second stage of fruit growth. Endogenous levels of free-IAA and ethylene evolution increased in the last stage of peach fruit development to 32 nanograms per gram fresh weight and 0.27 nanoliter per gram per hour, respectively. IAA amounts peaked in the ovules 67 days after anthesis.

During the 1984 growing season, trees of ‘Loring’ peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) on ‘Halford’ rootstocks were divided into the following components; fruit, leaves, shoots, 1-year wood, 2-year wood, frame, and roots. The sampling dates were coincident with key fruit and tree developmental stages: dormant, 15 days after full bloom, the end of Stages I and II of fruit developement, harvest, and 45 days after harvest (leaf fall). At the beginning of Stage II, four additional trees per remaining sampling date were hand-thinned to 15 cm between fruit. Initially, the mean dry weight of trees was 27.1 kg. Unthinned and thinned trees increased 43% and 39%, respectively, in dry weight by 45 days after harvest. Dormant hand-pruning removed about 4 kg of growth. This amount represented nearly the entire season's dry weight of shoot, 1-year-old, and 2-year-old wood growth. The proportion of total tree weight in fruit was increased at harvest in unthinned trees, whereas leaf and 2-year wood dry weight was reduced. A modified harvest index, the proportion of total annual increase distributed to fruit, was 0.50 for unthinned trees and 0.37 for thinned trees. The ratio of annual dry weight increase per unit leaf area was 0.33 and 0.27 kg·m−2 leaf area for unthinned and thinned trees, respectively. The maximum mean leaf area was estimated to be 62.9 × 103 m2·ha−1. The greatest leaf area density, measured at the end of Stage II, was 7.7. Absolute growth rates of vegetative components were highest during Stage II of peach fruit growth, and intermediate during Stage I.

A simple and rapid procedure for the purification of indole-3-acetic acid prior to gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectrographic analysis was developed using an amino anion exchange minicolumn and a short high resolution C18 column. Since multiple samples can be prepared at one time, the procedure is more rapid and the sample preparation time is reduced to one-third that normally required. In addition, the final recovery was improved by 40 to 50% over that of a solvent partitioning procedure.

The rate of ethylene evolution of peach fruit (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and ACC content of peach pericarp/mesocarp and seeds was determined during development. Ethylene measurements of whole fruit began 18 days after anthesis (DAA), and ACC quantification was started 32 DAA. ACC levels and ethylene evolution followed similar patterns during stages I and II of fruit growth. At 39 DAA, there was an increase in ethylene evolution and extractable ACC concentration of both pericarp and seeds; however, variability was high at this time. Ethylene evolved by nondeveloping fruit of the “second wave” and “June drop” increased after senescence of the ovule was observed. By 49 DAA, ethylene production and ACC concentration reached a minimum that lasted until a 10-fold increase in ethylene evolution was detected in late stage III. This 10-fold increase in ethylene occurred in four different peach cultivars sampled at “firm-ripe” stage. Seeds excised at 67 DAA, which were incubated for 6 hr in ambient O2 conditions, evolved 400 nl·g−1·hr−1 ethylene and ACC concentration averaged 54 nmol·g−1 fresh weight. It is suggested that in split-pit fruits, ethylene generated by the seeds may accelerate fruit maturation and ripening. Chemical name used: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC).