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An integrated transcriptome and metabolome profiling was used to investigate how exogenous H2O2 affects amino acid metabolism and its underlying regulatory mechanism involved in post-harvest broccoli's yellowing and senescence processes. This approach found 86 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 28 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) associated with amino acid metabolism during broccoli storage in the Control, H2O2, and DPI (diphenylene iodonium, an H2O2 inhibitor) treatments on 2 or 4 d. Furthermore, H2O2 treatment promoted the biosynthesis and accumulation of amino acids (e.g., tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, arginine, lysine, histidine, and glutamate) while inhibiting the degradation of seven amino acids (e.g., tyrosine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, β-alanine, glutamate, and proline) into tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle precursor (pyruvate) and intermediates (fumarate, acetyl-CoA, and 2-oxoglutarate). This inhibition alleviated metabolic disorders and ammonium-induced toxicity of post-harvest broccoli. Additionally, H2O2 treatment promoted the NH3 conversion into glutamine and the urea cycle, further mitigating ammonium-induced toxicity. H2O2 treatment also down-regulated the expressions of S-adenosylmethionine synthases (SAM), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthases (ACS), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidases (ACO), which reduced the S-adenosyl-L-methionine content, thereby inhibiting ethylene biosynthesis from methionine. Therefore, this study provides insights into the role and potential underlying regulatory mechanism of H2O2 on amino acid metabolism during broccoli senescence, thus offering a theoretical basis for delaying senescence in post-harvest horticultural products by regulating their amino acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomopathogenic fungi play a significant role in regulating insect populations in nature and have potential applications in pest management strategies in different regions. Citrus spp. are among the important horticultural products in northern Iran, and the orchards are affected by different insect pests, especially mealybugs. This study aimed to isolate and identify entomopathogenic fungi associated with citrus orchard pests in northern Iran, focusing on Akanthomyces and Lecanicillium species on mealybugs. Through the samples collected from different regions within Guilan province, 12 fungal isolates were collected and identified based on the combination of morphological characteristics and molecular data. Akanthomyces lecanii, A. muscarius, Engyodontium rectidentatum, Lecanicillium aphanocladii and Lecanicillium rasoulzarei sp. nov. were identified. Of these, A. muscarius on Lepidosaphes sp., E. rectidentatum on Coccidae, and L. aphanocladii on Tetranychus urticae are reported as new fungal-host records from Iran. Moreover, a new species, Lecanicillium rasoulzarei, is illustrated, described, and compared with closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-adaptive stage (SAS) is defined as the period between harvest and pre-cooling in this study, which is extremely neglected in the field of postharvest horticultural products. This study aimed to investigate resistant responses and wound-healing activities during the SAS. Broccoli heads that needed cut-harvest were used as experimental materials, and the indices related to storage quality, reactive oxygen species, and phenylpropanoid metabolism were determined during 12 h after the harvest. The results showed that the quality of broccoli heads did not change significantly within 12 h after cut-harvest compared with the normal-growth group. The rapid water loss indicated that measures should be taken for water prevention during SAS. The cut-harvest group showed a significant accumulation of H2O2 after 3 h, which acted as a signal in regulating the antioxidant enzyme system. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase increased in cut-harvest broccoli stems during 0–6 h, 3–12 h, and 0–9 h, respectively, compared with those in normal-growth broccoli stems. The enhanced enzyme activity involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism and accumulated phenolic acids associated with wound healing at different time points during SAS demonstrated that the response time should be considered when regulating resistance and wound healing. This study focused on revealing the resistance and wound-healing activities of broccoli stems during independent growth after cut-harvest, thus providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent study and regulatory measurement in cut-harvest vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the packaging material is composed of fossil fuel-based plastics, which are non-biodegradable. Therefore, the biodegradable coating material developed from cellulose can be explored for applications like packaging, cutlery, bowls, straws, etc. The aim of the present study was to develop an agro-waste-based sustainable coating material using a waste-to-wealth approach. The study focused on transforming cellulose and cellulose nanofibre (CNF) derived from rice straw into biodegradable polymeric coatings. The cellulose and CNF were extracted from the rice straw using the alkali method and blended with gelatin, agar, and varied glycerol concentrations to initiate the study. Four polymeric coating variants were developed. Thus, the coating named NCG-2.5, incorporated with 1.2 g CNF, 2.5 ml glycerol, 1.15 g gelatin, and 0.55 g agar, exhibited significant improvements in properties as compared to the other samples. The polymeric coatings were characterized for their surface morphology, roughness, solubility, and physico-chemical properties using FTIR spectroscopy and TGA analysis. The NCG-2.5 exhibited the best potential in terms of promising coating and biodegradability properties, with 97% of weight loss within 7 days. Furthermore, the studies where the synthesized polymeric coating was applied to the surface of the banana proved a considerable delay in the enzymatic browning of the banana for up to 12 days. Thus, the study reflects the novel approach of value addition and utilization of waste agricultural resources for developing coating materials via a circular economy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland degradation and loss is continuing at an alarming rate in communal areas of Zimbabwe. Although poorly mapped at national scale, communal wetlands have been over utilized and undermanaged posing threats to the existence of these valuable ecosystems. The article examines the contestations and struggles in the use and protection of wetland ecosystems in communal areas of Zimbabwe, with special focus on Intunjambili wetland located in Matobo district. To solicit data, the study adopted a household questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews with key informants and field observations. The Ostrom theory (1990) was used as a lens to explore how contestations and struggles at wetland scale undermine wise use, as guided by the Ramsar framework. The study findings show that the majority of the households (90%) revealed that conflicts related to wetland use are experienced in the area. Chi-square test results show that there is an association between household head's socio-demographic characteristics (p < 0.05) and knowledge on conflicts in use and protection of communal wetlands. About 70% households highlighted that crop cultivation is a major threat to wetland protection as it is associated with excessive water abstraction that depletes ground water and disturbs the hydrology. The study recommends that profits obtained from the sale of horticultural products be reinvested to maintain the wetland, for example, buying fence to protect the wetland core area since it has been destroyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) technique shows enhanced ability to detect sub-surface bruises compared to planar illumination. However, conventional three-phase-shifting SFDI is limited by the speed of image acquisition, and the single snapshot methods using filtering windows suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio and image degradation, which has a negative impact on the detection accuracy. In this study, conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGANs) were adopted to do the image-to-image translation for single snapshot images. For training and testing of the cGANs, 750 single snapshot images of 'Red Fuji' apples were used as input, paired with the alternating component images demodulated by conventional SFDI as ground truth. Results show that at spatial frequencies of 100 m−1 and 200 m−1, the cGAN-predicted images present higher values of peak signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM) than images processed by filtering. Moreover, the trained cGANs can be used for 'Crystal Fuji' apples and 'Crown' pears with performance robustness. This cGAN-based method would have potential applications for real-time, wild-field, sub-surface defects detection and quality assessment of horticultural and agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of pesticides enhances food production vastly, and it cannot be prevented; longer fresh produce is contaminated with health-threatening pesticides even though traditional processing methods can remove these pesticides from food surfaces to a certain extent; novel emerging technologies such as cold plasma, ultrasound, electrolyzed water, and pulsed electric field could more effectively dissipate the pesticide content in food without the release of toxic residual on the food surface. The present review focuses on applying emerging technologies to degrade pesticide residues in great utility in the food processing industries. This review also discusses the pesticide removal efficacy and its mechanism involved in these technologies. The oxidation principle in cold plasma is recently gaining more importance for the degradation of pesticide residue in the food processing industries. Analysis of the emerging physical processing methods indicated greater efficacy in eradicating pesticide residues during agriculture processing. Even though the technologies such as EO (99% reduction in dimethoate), ultrasound (98.96% for chlorpyrifos), and irradiation (99.8% for pesticide in aqueous solution) can achieve promising results in pesticide degradation level, the rate and inactivation highly depend on the type of equipment and processing parameters involved in different techniques, surface characteristics of produce, treatment conditions, and nature of the pesticide. Therefore, to effectively remove these health-threatening pesticides from food surfaces, it is necessary to know the process parameters and efficacy of the applied technology on various pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting the price of agricultural produce helps grower decide planting, harvesting, and trading time. Price forecasting of crops has garnered many researchers' attention, hence plenty of forecasting models already exist in literature. Price forecasting of horticultural products is still a lesser explored area for researchers. Pricing strategy of vegetables do not follow the same strategies as that of crops. Due to seasonality and short lifetime, maintenance of vegetables differ from other agricultural products. As horticultural products are generated in a very short time after plantation, close forecasting of price may provide farmers more profit by choosing vegetables for plantation and guiding the appropriate harvesting time. In this paper, we have analyzed the performance of some machine learning and statistical models in this front. The error metrics like Root Mean Square Error(RMSE), Mean Absolute Error(MAE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) have been used to study the performance of the models. We have proposed a Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM) based model for long-term price forecasting of vegetables like cabbage, Cauliflower, and Brinjal for some Indian markets. Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank test are used to analyze the employed models' similarity and dissimilarity. The experiment results indicate that the proposed model outshines other models. A short-term price forecasting model has also been experimented with in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging has been extensively investigated as an emerging, promising technique for measuring the quality and protection of horticultural and agricultural products over the past 20 years. This technology evolved from remote sensing and joins the machine vision and point spectroscopy realms to provide superior image segmentation for defect and contamination detection. In this paper, we have incorporated spatial and spectral information into hyperspectral imaging techniques. It can efficiently and non-destructively provide helpful information on both external physical and internal chemical characteristics of agricultural and food products. This paper has reviewed the sum of crucial aspect applications of hyperspectral imaging in precision agriculture. This paper reviews hyperspectral imaging's current and past development in the agriculture industry, such as classification, chromatic, climatic, convergence, etc. This analysis aims to refer to potential work on key issues and promote deployed end-user solutions to fulfill the existing global sustainability objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural subsidies are an important factor for influencing food production and therefore part of a food system that is seen as neither healthy nor sustainable. Here we analyse options for reforming agricultural subsidies in line with health and climate-change objectives on one side, and economic objectives on the other. Using an integrated modelling framework including economic, environmental, and health assessments, we find that on a global scale several reform options could lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in population health without reductions in economic welfare. Those include a repurposing of up to half of agricultural subsidies to support the production of foods with beneficial health and environmental characteristics, including fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products, and combining such repurposing with a more equal distribution of subsidy payments globally. The findings suggest that reforming agricultural subsidy schemes based on health and climate-change objectives can be economically feasible and contribute to transitions towards healthy and sustainable food systems. Springmann and Freund use an integrated modelling framework to show that coupling agricultural subsidies to producing foods with beneficial health and environmental characteristics can improve population health and lower greenhouse gas emissions without reducing economic welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant molecular identification studies have, until recently, been limited to the use of highly conserved markers from plastid and other organellar genomes, compromising resolution in highly diverse plant clades. Due to their higher evolutionary rates and reduced paralogy, low-copy nuclear genes overcome this limitation but are difficult to sequence with conventional methods and require high-quality input DNA. Aloe vera and its relatives in the Alooideae clade (Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae) are of economic interest for food and health products and have horticultural value. However, pressing conservation issues are increasing the need for a molecular identification tool to regulate the trade. With > 600 species and an origin of ± 15 million years ago, this predominantly African succulent plant clade is a diverse and taxonomically complex group for which low-copy nuclear genes would be desirable for accurate species discrimination. Unfortunately, with an average genome size of 16.76 pg, obtaining high coverage sequencing data for these genes would be prohibitively costly and computationally demanding. We used newly generated transcriptome data to design a customised RNA-bait panel targeting 189 low-copy nuclear genes in Alooideae. We demonstrate its efficacy in obtaining high-coverage sequence data for the target loci on Illumina sequencing platforms, including degraded DNA samples from museum specimens, with considerably improved phylogenetic resolution. This customised target capture sequencing protocol has the potential to confidently indicate phylogenetic relationships of Aloe vera and related species, as well as aid molecular identification applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public acceptance of treated sewage (TS) reuse in agriculture is a key element in successful implementation of TS reuse projects, but relevant research on the topic is limited. This study examined public willingness to accept (WTA) and willingness to pay (WTP) for agricultural products derived by irrigation with TS in Lorestan province, Iran, applying the contingent valuation (CV) method. The agricultural products determined for the study included corn, peaches, apricots, and plums, while TS was introduced in three qualities [Q1, complete TS treatment (i.e., physical treatment, aeration, and chemical treatment); Q2, partial TS treatment (i.e., physical treatment and aeration); and Q3, no TS treatment]. With reference to WTA, products irrigated with Q1 TS received 62.7% positive responses, while products irrigated with Q2 TS and Q3 TS received 21.3% and 17.0% positive responses, respectively. With reference to WTP, data showed that if the price of products derived by irrigation with TS was less than that of products irrigated with fresh water, some people would be willing to pay for these products (52.0% positive responses versus 48.0% negative responses). Awareness had a significantly positive impact on WTA1 and WTA2 (products irrigated with Q1 TS and Q2 TS, respectively) as well as on WTP1, WTP2, and WTP3 (products irrigated with Q1 TS, Q2 TS, and Q3 TS, respectively). Similarly, information sources had a significantly positive effect on WTP1, WTP2, and WTP3. Overall, individuals with high levels of health risk perception and high awareness showed high WTA, while non-processed corn and men were associated with low WTA. Concerning WTP, individuals with high awareness and those who had access to information sources showed high WTP, while men were associated with low WTP. Information about the importance of TS reuse, reduction of prices of products derived by irrigation with TS, and promotion of public confidence in TS are essential to increase public WTA and WTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the major processed horticultural commodities subjected to adulteration are powders, edible oils and juices. This review covers the recent application in the field of vibrational spectroscopic techniques (near and mid-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging) for the determination of authenticity and adulteration in processed horticultural products with an emphasis on powders, edible oils and juices. The review highlights fundamental concepts, limitations and constraints associated with each spectroscopic technique in evaluating the authenticity and adulteration of processed horticultural products. Our findings suggest that the application of infrared spectroscopy (near and mid) is highly suitable for the assessment of powders, oils and juices, while Raman spectroscopy has shown potential in evaluating powders and edible oils. However, these spectroscopic tools still require improvement on measurement accessories and dynamic analytical methods for modern food inspection. Overall, the review of literature suggests that vibrational spectroscopy has the potential to fulfil the industrial need for quality control and authenticity assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper describes the research that underpins the development of EATS (the Environmental Assessment Tool for School meals), a life cycle-based decision support tool for local authorities and their contractors responsible for providing catering services to schools. The purpose of this tool is to quantify the carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF) of the meals served in order to identify hotspot meals and ingredients, and suggest simple, yet transformative, reduction measures. A case study is used to test the tool, comparing the impacts of 34 school meal recipes. Methods: The tool utilises secondary data to calculate values of CF and WF for a school meal from cradle to plate. This includes three phases: (1) food production, (2) transport of each ingredient to a generic school kitchen in the UK, and (3) meal preparation. Considerations for waste along the supply chain are included. After testing the tool against a set of nutritionally compliant meals, a sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the influence of the origin and seasonality of the ingredients, transport mode and cooking appliances used on the final results. Results and discussion: The results of the case study show the predominance of the production phase in the overall carbon footprint and that there is a strong tendency towards lower impacts for meat-free meals; however, this is not always the case, for instance some of the chicken-based meals present lower impacts than vegetarian meals rich in dairy ingredients. The sensitivity analysis performed on one of the meals shows that the highest value of CF is obtained when the horticultural products are out of season and produced in heated greenhouses, whilst the highest value of WF is obtained when the origin of the ingredients is unknown and the global average values of WF are used in the analysis; this defines a crucial data need if accurate analyses are to be uniformly possible. Conclusions: This article focuses on the potential offered by the public food sector for a transformative reduction in the environmental impact of urban food consumption. The results presented prove that careful menu planning and procurement choices can considerably reduce the overall environmental impact of the service provided without compromising quality or variety. This research thus supports those responsible for making these decisions via a user-friendly tool based on robust scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in healthy and ready-to-eat natural horticultural products. In this sense, fresh-cut and then microwaved cowpea can be considered a good option to stimulate legume consumption, since they are a source of proteins and bioactive compounds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of fresh-cut cowpea prepared to be eaten raw (immature seeds) or microwaved (seeds and pods). A Spanish landrace (accession BGE038474), which is well adapted to the cropping area, was selected. Fresh cowpea pods were washed with NaOCl (150 mg L−1, pH 6.5) and stored for 21 days at 8 °C under modified atmosphere packaging. Additionally, seeds obtained from hulled pods were equally disinfected, packaged, and stored for 7 days at 4 °C. The total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), sugars (raffinose, sucrose, glucose), and sensory attributes were evaluated in microwaved pods (700 W, 1 min), fresh seeds, and microwaved seeds. TPC and TAC increased after microwaving in both seeds and pods. Sucrose and glucose concentrations increased after microwaving, while raffinose was not detected after cooking. According to sensory quality, fresh (4 °C) and microwaved seeds maintained all the above attributes above the limit of usability until day 7, while pods were edible for up to 14 days if kept at 8 °C. These results indicate that cowpea seeds and pods (fresh-cut and then microwaved) are feasible and practical products to stimulate legume consumption from local landraces, especially in the absence of raffinose, which improves product digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to build a 3D statistical shape model of horticultural products is described. The framework consists of two parts. First, the surfaces of the horticultural products, which are extracted from X-ray CT scans, are registered to obtain meaningful correspondences between the surfaces. In the second part, a statistical shape model is built from these corresponded surfaces, which maps out the variability of the surfaces and allows to generate new, realistic surfaces. The proposed shape modelling method is applied to 30 Jonagold apples, 30 bell peppers, and 52 zucchini. The average geometric registration error between the original instance and the deformed reference instance is 0.015 ± 0.011 m m for the apple dataset, 0.106 ± 0.026 m m for the bell pepper dataset, and 0.027 ± 0.007 m m for the Zucchini dataset. All shape models are shown to be an excellent representation of their specific population, as they are compact and able to generalize to an unseen sample of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants have compensating mechanisms to alleviate the loss of vegetative and reproductive tissues by herbivores. In this study, we evaluated how reproductive traits (size and production of fruit and seed, as well as germination and viability of seeds) of Myrtus communis (myrtle) were affected by goat grazing exclosure of forest understory in the Doñana Natural Park. One hundred and fifty myrtles were selected in three sites with similar environmental characteristics, although with a different length of grazing exclusion: (1) exclosure for 2 years (GE2); (2) exclosure for 3 years (GE3); and (3) long ago grazed plots (GE15): non-accessible to goat for at least 15 years. Fruit production, fruit and seed morphology and seed viability and germination were evaluated. Length of exclosure to goats increased fruit production, mass and volume of the fruits and seed, and endocarp mass. However, seed viability was higher in more recently grazed plots (70-90%) than in GE15 plots (51%). The final balance of viable/germinable seeds produced by an average sized myrtle in each treatment showed that the recently grazed myrtles (GE2) produced nearly five times less seeds (1200) than the myrtles grazed 15 years ago (5500). However, myrtles recovered the ability to produce viable seeds quickly, almost tripling, each year of non-grazing the number of viable/germinable seeds. The results of this study indicated that goat grazing could affect regeneration of myrtle because it reduced reproduction output and the number of viable propagules. Future studies should evaluate other related ecological aspects, such as fruit consumption by potential frugivores and seed dispersal (distance and place of seed deposition). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity is essential to the evolutionary and adaptive potential of a species. Several empirical genetic studies have highlighted the importance of considering both neutral and adaptive genetic variation when characterizing microevolutionary dynamics. Genes at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have become excellent models for researching adaptive variation and natural selection, because of the crucial role they play against pathogens. The Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis , is one of the most common and well-studied Neotropical mammals and is characterized by generalist feeding habits, high dispersal capability, and abundant populations. Fifteen localities of Artibeus jamaicensis were genetically assessed using ten neutral microsatellites and one expressed MHC class II locus (DRB) in order to detect footprints of balancing selection. Extensive polymorphism was found at both markers. Overall, 161 alleles were identified at DRB exon 2 gene, and 315 at microsatellites. The observed and expected heterozygosity averaged over all localities (±SD) was 0.756 ± 0.15 and 0.885 ± 0.11, respectively, with all localities in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Pairwise genetic differentiation estimates were generally significant, but the overall differentiation was lower at DRB gene ( F st = 0.039) than at microsatellites ( F st = 0.154). We detected significant isolation by distance at microsatellite loci, but not at DRB exon 2 gene. STRUCTURE and BAPS analyses detected a population genetic structure made up of five defined clusters. Our results suggest that balancing selection has maintained the allele frequencies of DRB exon 2 gene across the distribution of A. jamaicensis in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The cultivation of pomegranate worldwide has increased sharply in the past few years, mainly due to the growing perception that this fruit has numerous medical benefits. Despite the proliferation of studies delving into the properties of pomegranate from a medical and dietary perspective, its analysis from an environmental perspective has yet to be carried out in depth. Hence, the present study aims at understanding the life cycle environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions derived from the cultivation, processing and distribution abroad of fresh pomegranate grown at an innovative farm in a hyper-arid area in the region of Ica (Peru). Methods: The international standards for life cycle methodologies were considered in order to obtain the overall carbon footprint (CFP) of fresh pomegranate cultivation, processing and distribution. Data acquisition was performed at the cultivation site and supported by the ecoinvent database, whereas GHG emissions were modelled using the IPCC 2007 method. In addition, biogenic carbon sequestration was included in the assessment, using two distinct models, a first one to model the aerial carbon sequestered by the pomegranate trees and a second, using the IPCC Soil Carbon Tool for soil storage. Results and discussion: Annual results show that on-site GHG emissions can be mitigated to a great extent in the first years of production thanks to biogenic carbon sequestration. However, through time, this tendency is reverted, and in years of maximum pomegranate productivity, GHG emissions are estimated to outweigh those linked to sequestration, despite the relevant minimization of emissions when using innovative irrigation schemes as compared to the conventional flood irrigation in the region. Conclusions: Despite the threat in terms of water depletion and security, the expansion of Peru's agricultural frontier in hyper-arid areas appears to be a feasible strategy for carbon fixation, although current agricultural practices, such as the use of machinery or electricity, need to be optimized to make positive the carbon balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The walnut-fruit forests ( Juglans regia L.) in southern Kyrgyzstan are considered to be biodiversity hotspots and of considerable economic and ecological importance to local populations. The fruiting ability and stability of these forests are, however, decreasing because of infrequent silvicultural interventions and non-existent natural regeneration. Continuous inventories and walnut harvest measurements were carried out on 18 trial and control plots over the course of 13 year. Results showed that i) thinning had a positive influence on diameter at breast height (dbh) increase, ii) dbh growth and crown area increases are strongly and positively correlated, iii) large crowns enhanced the production of fruits, and iv) temperature conditions had a major influence on the production of fruits. The above-mentioned points are particularly relevant for young plantations but are also valid for relatively old plantations (> 50 years). We conclude that regular thinning substantially improves diameter growth, fruit production and ability of trees to withstand wind and snow damage in both young stands and in older walnut-fruit forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccessibilites of heavy metals in vegetables grown around a waste-incinerator site were estimated using the physiologically based extraction test (PBET) method, to assess potential health risk to the local consumers. The average gastric and intestinal bioaccessibilities of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in vegetables varied within 3.2-9.4 and 0.8-5.3 %, 1.4-2.3 and 1.1-1.9 %, 25-46 and 13-26 %, 6.6-30 and 2.6-5.3 %, 11-29 and 7.1-23 %, respectively. Strong negative correlations were found between electrochemical potential (Δ E) and bioaccessibility for leaf mustard samples ( r = 0.857) and leaf lettuce samples ( r = 0.696). In addition, softness index (σp) and electrochemical potential (Δ E) exhibited a moderate but not significant relationship with bioaccessibilities on the basis of the multiple regression analysis (0.05 < p < 0.1). The total bioaccessible target hazard quotient (TBTHQ) of the five heavy metals was 2.5, with Pb being the major risk contributor. According to the TBTHQs of each group of vegetables, local consumers are experiencing adverse health effects by consuming most of the vegetables around waste-incinerator site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The winter in the Yangtze River Delta area of China involves more than 1 month of continuous low temperature and poor light (CLTL) weather conditions, which impacts horticultural production in an unheated greenhouse; however, few greenhouses in this area are currently equipped with a heating device. The low-cost and long-living light-emitting diode (LED) was used as an artificial light source to explore the effects of supplementary lighting during the dark period in CLTL winter on the vegetative characteristics, early yield, and physiology of flowering for pepper plants grown in a greenhouse without heating. Two LED lighting sets were employed with different light source to provide 65 μmol m s at night: (1) LED-A: red LEDs (R, peak wavelength 660 nm) and blue LEDs (B, peak wavelength 460 nm) with an R:B ratio of 6:3; and (2) LED-B: R and B LEDs at an R:B ratio of 8:1. Plants growth parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics were compared between lighting treatments and the control group. Results: Plants' yield and photosynthesis ability were improved by LED-A. Pepper grown under the LED-A1 strategy showed a 303.3 % greater fresh weight of fruits and a 501.3 % greater dry mass compared with the control group. Plant leaves under LED-A1 showed maximum efficiency of the light quantum yield of PSII, electron transfer rate, and the proportion of the open fraction of PSII centers, with values 113.70, 114.34, and 211.65 % higher than those of the control group, respectively, and showed the lowest rate constant of thermal energy dissipation of all groups. LED-B was beneficial to the plant height and stems diameter of the pepper plants more than LED-A. Conclusions: These results can serve as a guide for environment control and for realizing low energy consumption for products grown in a greenhouse in the winter in Southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene is an undesirable compound for the storage of horticultural products. The traditional fresh-keeping method of fruits and vegetables is refrigeration. However, even in refrigeration environment, ethylene is released by horticultural products themselves or other sources. The residual ethylene can accelerate maturation and corruption of horticultural products and thus should better be wiped away. The technique of dielectric barrier discharge was applied to decompose ethylene. Under electric discharge, many energetic and highly reactive species can be produced, which can react with and decompose the chemical compounds in contact with them. In this study, the efficiency of ethylene removal using dielectric barrier discharge reactor was studied. Ethylene removal rates were affected by many factors, such as gas discharge gap, wire distance, flow rate, ethylene initial concentration and humidity. The kinetics of ethylene removal was studied. To disintegrate ethylene, the optimal discharge gap was 3 mm, wire distance 0.5 mm, gas flow rate 3.5 L min and humidity 61 %. Two kinetics models were selected for ethylene decomposition, and experimental results could fit the model with a maximum absolute error of 4 %. With optimal discharge condition, ethylene can totally be removed. In the future, decomposition of ethylene by dielectric barrier discharge technology will be a promising method to keep fruits and vegetables fresh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Cu-based fungicide can pose a risk to nearby surface water bodies due to the run-off of accumulated Cu from agricultural soils. In 2008, we conducted a reconnaissance survey of the presence and concentration of copper in sediments at 18 sites within the Yarra River Catchment, an important horticultural production system in south-eastern Australia. Observed Cu concentrations in sediment samples from the study sites (mean (95 % confidence interval) 12.0 (10.6–13.6)  mg/kg dry weight) were similar to the concentrations present in the samples from the reference sites (mean (95 % confidence interval) 12.0 (6.7–16.8)  mg/kg dry weight). The data on Cu and other metals in the sediments suggest that that there is unlikely to have been wide spread, diffuse, off-site transport of Cu from the soils of horticultural properties to nearby surface waterways in the Yarra River Catchment and that that observed sediment metal concentrations are unlikely to pose an ecological risk to sediment-dwelling organisms at the study sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled atmosphere (CA) has been widely used to help extend the shelf life and maintain the quality of horticultural products. In the present study, broccoli ( Brassica oleracea L. cv. Youxiu) florets were stored under CA with high levels of O 2/CO 2 at 15 °C, including 100 % O 2, 80 % O 2 + 20 % CO 2, 60 % O 2 + 40 % CO 2, 40 % O 2 + 60 % CO 2, and air (control), to determine the effects of CA on storage period and on some physiological properties during storage. The results showed that compared with the control, the treatments combining O 2 and CO 2 effectively extended the storage period and inhibited respiration rate, ethylene production, and reductions in weight loss, chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid levels. Moreover, the CA treatments inhibited the increases in both superoxide radicals (O 2−·) production rate and hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) level and reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, which could be beneficial in delay of senescence by alleviation of oxidative damage. In addition, broccoli florets exposed to CA conditions maintained lower activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase that are responsible for scavenging of O 2−· and H 2O 2 and alleviating lipid peroxidation. Among the treatments, the maximum efficacy was observed with a CA of 40 % O 2 + 60 % CO 2, which prolonged the storage period of broccoli heads to 17 days (d) compared with 4 d under air treatment. Conversely, 100 % O 2 treatment accelerated senescence and deterioration in the quality of broccoli, resulting in a shorter storage period. These results suggest that the establishment of an appropriate CA condition with high levels of O 2/CO 2 may be an ideal strategy for maintaining the quality of broccoli florets during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvista™, a sprayable formulation of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), has recently been developed for preharvest use on horticultural products, whereas SmartFresh™ is a widely used 1-MCP treatment for products after harvest. The effects of Harvista™ on apple fruit ripening when sprayed at different maturities and on expression patterns of ethylene biosynthesis and receptor genes during storage have been investigated. Harvista™ applied to on-tree maturing apple fruit at an average starch pattern index of 2.5 resulted in a higher at-harvest firmness value compared with those treated at a starch pattern index of 1.5 and 3.5. This indicates that the timing of the Harvista™ application is critical. An application of Harvista™ led to better postharvest fruit firmness retention as well as reduced ethylene production. In addition, both preharvest and postharvest 1-MCP treatments resulted in contrasting responses in the expression patterns of two ethylene biosynthesis genes and in differentially suppressing effects on four ethylene receptor genes. Furthermore, the combined application of Harvista™ + SmartFresh™ resulted in greater fruit firmness retention and longer ethylene suppression. The expression profiles of these genes during on-tree fruit maturation prior to Harvista™ application were also characterized. Different regulation patterns of receptor genes could contribute to differential effects by 1-MCP treatments. The potential roles of Harvista™ to manipulate the ripening process as well as the molecular mechanism influencing 1-MCP treatment efficacy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The quality of agricultural and horticultural products and its modulation by fertilization has increasingly received attention. However, whereas the importance of magnesium (Mg) as an essential plant nutrient is well established, the impact of Mg nutrition on quality parameters has only been rarely addressed. Scope: This review aims at evaluating the available knowledge on the influence of Mg on produce quality. A short discussion on the term quality as used in this review is followed by an overview of the various functions of Mg in plant metabolism in relation to quality aspects. Finally, the available literature on Mg-associated effects on crop quality is critically surveyed. The question whether Mg application beyond yield optimum further improves crop quality is specifically addressed. Conclusion: Increasing Mg supply on Mg-deficient sites tends to increase the quality of agricultural crops, particularly when the formation of quality traits is dependent on Mg-driven photosynthesis and assimilate translocation within the plant. In fruits and vegetables, ratios of Mg to other nutrients like Ca and K were shown to be a more reliable indicator of the quality response than the Mg status alone. Moreover, it is concluded that Mg doses beyond those required for maximum yield rarely induce a further improvement of produce quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in temperature as a result of anthropogenically generated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are likely to impact key aspects of horticultural production. The potential effect of higher temperatures on fruit and nut trees' ability to break winter dormancy, which requires exposure to winter chilling temperatures, was considered. Three chill models (the 0-7.2°C, Modified Utah, and Dynamic models) were used to investigate changes in chill accumulation at 13 sites across Australia according to localised temperature change related to 1, 2 and 3°C increases in global average temperatures. This methodology avoids reliance on outcomes of future GHG emission pathways, which vary and are likely to change. Regional impacts and rates of decline in chilling differ among the chill models, with the 0-7.2°C model indicating the greatest reduction and the Dynamic model the slowest rate of decline. Elevated and high latitude eastern Australian sites were the least affected while the three more maritime, less elevated Western Australian locations were shown to bear the greatest impact from future warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kinetic method has been developed for the determination of nitrite in fruit juice samples. The method is based on the catalytic effect of nitrite with the oxidation of Nile Blue A (NBA) by KBrO3 in the sulfuric acid medium. The optimum conditions obtained are 1.2 mM sulfuric acid, 0.034 mM of NBA, 2.8×10-3 M KBrO3, reaction temperature of 20 °C, and reaction time of 100 s at 595.5 nm. Under the optimized conditions, the method allowed the quantification of nitrite in a range of 0.2-800 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.02 μg/mL. The method was applied to the determination of nitrite in 15 brands of fruit juice samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports evidence of increased chlorpyrifos contamination in sediment and water in Lake Naivasha following its intensive application in the horticultural farms in the catchment area. Analytical results show that levels of chlorpyrifos residues were influenced by climate-induced rainfall pattern with higher levels reported during period of heavy precipitation with significant decrease during low rainfall. On average, the levels ranged between 14.8 and 32.8 ng g-1 in sediment during rainy season compared to a range of 8.5-16.6 ng g-1 in the dry season. Additionally, the mean concentration of chlorpyrifos in water ranged between 8.61 and 22.4 μgL-1 during rainy season and below detection limit (bdl) -13.6 μgL-1 in dry season as quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Meanwhile, independent t test analysis indicated that there was significant difference in concentration at p≤0.05 between the seasons with respect to sediment and water samples. This demonstrated that climate-induced variations had considerable influence on contamination. While diazinon and carbofuran were equally applied intensively, their levels were below the detection limit in the all the samples analyzed. ELISA results were validated by the capillary-HPLC photodiode-array detector instrument analysis, and statistical comparison showed no significant difference between them. It was evident that chlorpyrifos residues determination in water and sediment by ELISA can be a useful strategy in environmental management and monitoring program, and a complimentary analytical tool to high performance liquid chromatography. Levels of chlorpyrifos detected in sediment and water were found to exceed recommended criteria for protection of aquatic life and preservation of water quality and may be hazardous if not regularly monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organically produced, harvested, and dried fruit samples bought at organic markets in Kayseri, Turkey have been analyzed for their trace element contents. In the determinations, flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) was used. This pilot study is the first to be performed for organically produced, harvested, and dried fruit samples from Kayseri, Turkey. The copper, iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations were found to be 1.6-15.5, 10.3-144, 23.0-211, and 23.3-91.6 μg/g, respectively. The cobalt, lead, cadmium, chromium, and nickel concentrations in all analyzed organic fruit samples were below the quantification limits of FAAS. SRM 1570A spinach leaves and SRM 1515 apple leaves were used to check the accuracy of the procedure. The results for the dried fruit samples found in this work were compared with the values from some studies from the world. The results found in the presented work may also be useful for future studies about organically produced, harvested, and dried fruit samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Product category rules (PCRs) provide category-specific guidance for estimating and reporting product life cycle environmental impacts, typically in the form of environmental product declarations and product carbon footprints. Lack of global harmonization between PCRs or sector guidance documents has led to the development of duplicate PCRs for the same products. Differences in the general requirements (e.g., product category definition, reporting format) and LCA methodology (e.g., system boundaries, inventory analysis, allocation rules, etc.) diminish the comparability of product claims. Methods: A comparison template was developed to compare PCRs from different global program operators. The goal was to identify the differences between duplicate PCRs from a broad selection of product categories and propose a path toward alignment. We looked at five different product categories: milk/dairy (two PCRs), horticultural products (three PCRs), wood-particleboard (two PCRs), and laundry detergents (four PCRs). Results and discussion: Disparity between PCRs ranged from broad differences in scope, system boundaries, and impacts addressed (e.g., multi-impact vs. carbon footprint only) to specific differences of technical elements. The differences primarily reflected the different purposes of the PCR (e.g., label/report), the different standards they were based on (e.g., ISO 14025/PAS 2050), the use of different product categorization systems, or simply the result of being developed independently. Differing degrees of specificity and terminology between PCRs allowed for varied interpretation-at times making direct comparison difficult. For many of the differences between PCRs, however, there was no clear rationale why they could not be consistent in the future. Conclusions: These results were used to outline a general guidance document for global alignment of PCRs which recommends (1) alignment of PCRs for different purposes, (2) provision of guidance for the adoption of aspects of other PCRs, and (3) provision of greater specificity on content. The overall recommendations also suggest collaboration among program operators to facilitate alignment on issues that evolve from independent development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, due to the increasing consciousness of quality in the food and health sector, much progress has been made in developing non-invasive techniques for the evaluation or inspection of internal qualitative parameters of fruits, vegetables, and processed foodstuffs considering, e.g., moisture content, soluble solid content, acidity, and mechanical properties. This paper reviews the theoretical and technical principles as well as the recent achievements and applications of light backscattering imaging for nondestructive evaluation of food and agricultural produce. The results suggest the potential use of this emerging technique in the food industry. Further attempts are pointed out to improve its performance through utilizing advanced image processing coupled with artificial intelligence techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of cyhialothrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, and deltamethrin in vegetables produced and consumed in Sonora, Mexico. A total of 345 samples were collected from cluster sampling of markets and fields. Approximately 9% of the samples tested positive for pyrethroids (residue range 0.004-0.573 mg kg). Based on the results, the potential toxicological risk of human exposure to the pyrethroid insecticides measured in vegetables appears to be minimal, with the estimated exposure being 1,000 times lower than admissible levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tarim Basin, in northwestern China, is the largest continental basin in the world, and hosts desert landscapes as well as extensive oasis agriculture. Many horticultural products come from this basin. However, since the 1950s, frequent river flow interruptions have occurred in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Thus, the natural ecology of the basin has undergone significant changes because of recent human economic and social activities. In particular, water resource development and utilization along with climate changes have had a significant impact on the area. To prevent further deterioration of the environment, the Central Government implemented a water conveyance project in 2000. Based on this project, Chinese scientists, together with those from overseas, have conducted extensive research on the historical evolution of the area, and the physiological and ecological responses of the natural vegetation around the Tarim Desert Highway. Progress has been made in the areas of environmental protection and ecological conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical countries, the processing steps of peeling and cutting are carried out mainly by hand under ideal conditions for microbial growth. For the production of high-quality, safe products, procedures, which minimize the direct contact between product and personnel, must be applied. A pilot lot was developed that combines robotics, water jet, and image processing techniques in an integrated process of peeling and cutting tropical fruits for minimizing losses in the process and increase hygiene standards required. The present results show the potential of the system to improve the quality of post-harvesting processing of agricultural products such as fruit and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentration of trace elements such as Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn were measured in cereals, pulses, vegetables, fish, meat, milk, egg, and water samples collected around Kakrapar, Gujarat, India. A wide variation of the trace element concentration was observed among all the dietary matrices. The concentration of Fe is comparatively more in all the dietary matrices. The concentrations of these elements are translated into intake rates through ingestion pathways. Daily intake (milligrams/day) of Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn by adult population of Kakrapar, Gujarat were 16.5 ± 6.2, 3.3 ± 1.2, 1.8 ± 1.0, and 3.6 ± 1.3, respectively. Dietary sources of Fe, Cu, and Ni by Kakrapar adult population are comparable with RDA. In case of Zn, the daily dietary intake is comparatively lower than that of RDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Nutrient profile models have the potential to help promote healthier diets. Some models treat all foods equally (across-the-board), some consider different categories of foods separately (category specific). This paper assesses whether across-the-board or category-specific nutrient profile models are more appropriate tools for improving diets.Subjects/Methods:Adult respondents to a British dietary survey were split into four groups using a diet quality index. Fifteen food categories were identified. A nutrient profile model provided a measure of the healthiness of all foods consumed. The four diet quality groups were compared for differences in (a) the calories consumed from each food category and (b) the healthiness of foods consumed in each category. Evidence of healthier diet quality groups consuming more of healthy food categories than unhealthy diet quality groups supported the adoption of across-the-board nutrient profile models. Evidence of healthier diet quality groups consuming healthier versions of foods within food categories supported adoption of category-specific nutrient profile models.Results:A significantly greater percentage of the healthiest diet quality group's diet consisted of fruit and vegetables (21 vs 16%), fish (3 vs 2%) and breakfast cereals (7 vs 2%), and significantly less meat and meat products (7 vs 14%) than the least healthy diet quality group. The foods from the meat, dairy and cereals categories consumed by the healthy diet quality groups were healthier versions than those consumed by the unhealthy diet quality groups.Conclusions:All other things being equal, nutrient profile models designed to promote an achievable healthy diet should be category specific but with a limited number of categories. However models which use a large number of categories are unhelpful for promoting a healthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To develop a short food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that can be used among young women in Southampton to assess compliance with a prudent dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, and low consumption of sugar, white bread, and red and processed meat.Methods:Diet was assessed using a 100-item interviewer-administered FFQ in 6129 non-pregnant women aged 20–34 years. In total, 94 of these women were re-interviewed 2 years later using the same FFQ. Subsequently, diet was assessed in 378 women attending SureStart Children's Centres in the Nutrition and Well-being Study (NWS) using a 20-item FFQ. The 20 foods included were those that characterized the prudent dietary pattern.Results:The 20-item prudent diet score was highly correlated with the full 100-item score (r=0.94) in the Southampton Women's Survey (SWS). Both scores were correlated with red blood cell folate (r=0.28 for the 100-item score and r=0.25 for the 20-item score). Among the women re-interviewed after 2 years, the change in prudent diet score was correlated with change in red cell folate for both the 20-item (rS=0.31) and 100-item scores (rS=0.32). In the NWS a strong association between the 20-item prudent diet score and educational attainment (r=0.41) was observed, similar to that seen in the SWS (r=0.47).Conclusions:The prudent diet pattern describes a robust axis of variation in diet. A 20-item FFQ based on the foods that characterize the prudent diet pattern has clear advantages in terms of time and resources, and is a helpful tool to characterize the diets of young women in Southampton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous analysis of economic and environmental performance of horticultural crop production requires qualified assumptions on the effect of management options, and particularly of nitrogen (N) fertilisation, on the net returns of the farm. Dynamic soil-plant-environment simulation models for agro-ecosystems are frequently applied to predict crop yield, generally as dry matter per area, and the environmental impact of production. Economic analysis requires conversion of yields to fresh marketable weight, which is not easy to calculate for vegetables, since different species have different properties and special market requirements. Furthermore, the marketable part of many vegetables is dependent on N availability during growth, which may lead to complete crop failure under sub-optimal N supply in tightly calculated N fertiliser regimes or low-input systems. In this paper we present two methods for converting simulated total dry matter to marketable fresh matter yield for various vegetables and European growth conditions, taking into consideration the effect of N supply: (i) a regression based function for vegetables sold as bulk or bunching ware and (ii) a population approach for piecewise sold row crops. For both methods, to be used in the context of a dynamic simulation model, parameter values were compiled from a literature survey. Implemented in such a model, both algorithms were tested against experimental field data, yielding an Index of Agreement of 0.80 for the regression strategy and 0.90 for the population strategy. Furthermore, the population strategy was capable of reflecting rather well the effect of crop spacing on yield and the effect of N supply on product grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Colorado River shows low levels of perchlorate derived from aerospace- and defense-related fuel industries once located near the Las Vegas Wash. At sufficiently high dosages perchlorate can disrupt thyroid function by inhibiting uptake of iodide. The Colorado River is the primary source of irrigation water for most food crops grown in Southern California and Southwestern Arizona. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential perchlorate exposure from food crops produced in the lower Colorado River region (LCRR). The major food commodities produced in the region were sampled and perchlorate levels were determined by ion chromatography followed by detection using either conductivity or tandem mass spectrometry, depending on analyte levels. The Monte Carlo module of the Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model (DEEM™) was used to derive an estimate of the 2-day average perchlorate intakes. Data were derived assuming that individuals residing in the LCRR get their fruits and vegetables from within the LCRR as well as from other areas in the United States, or assuming individuals living in the LCRR get their fruits and vegetables from the LCRR only. Perchlorate exposure estimates derived in this study are comparable to exploratory estimates by the US Food and Drug Administration. For infants and children, over 50% of the estimated perchlorate exposure was from milk. The relative impact of vegetables and fruit toward perchlorate exposure increased by age through adulthood. Cumulative perchlorate exposure estimates based on this hypothetical analysis could approach or exceed the NAS reference dose (RfD) for some population groups as drinking water levels exceeded 6 μg/l. However, few individuals are exposed to perchlorate in drinking water at levels above 4 μg/l in the United States and very few would be exposed to perchlorate levels exceeding the RfD, whether consuming food crops from within or outside the LCRR.Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2009) 19, 359–368; doi:10.1038/jes.2008.26; published online 28 May 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews practical policy lessons from trade in a dietary supplement (or nutraceutical) processed from Terminal/a ferdinandiana (Combretaceae), which contains extremely high levels of natural ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Most production is from wild harvest by Aboriginal people, who get USD 14 per kilogram (kg) for picked, sorted fruit. However, the main Australian company involved is struggling to get the 12 tons/year it requires, and could market much more. Although Aboriginal people ideally should benefit economically from harvest of T. ferdinandiana, there are major challenges to this objective, including Australia's high labor costs compared to Asia, Africa, and Latin America where T. ferdinandiana can be grown. In addition, although Australia is a signatory to and plays a leading role in the international Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), this has meant lithe in practice so far. "Cultural branding" and certification of organic, wild harvested T. ferdinandiana fruit collected by Aboriginal people working in partnership with commercial companies offers a possibility for Aboriginal people to continue to benefit from wild harvest or enrichment plantings. However, even the establishment of commercial horticultural production within Australia faces several challenges. For Australia to maintain and develop the international market, future development of this bush food must include: (a) implementation of existing international and national policies on protection of genetic resources; (b) formation of a producer association to increase production efficiencies; (c) functioning partnerships between Aboriginal producers and commercial partners that guarantee and expand reliable supply and develop cultural branding and certification as marketing tools; and (d) scientific research into improving I ferdinandiana fruit yields and production methods, based on improved resource management and efficient processing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contract farmers in central Honduras have been producers of Asian vegetables for American markets since 1989. Contract farming holds the potential to provide benefits to small farmers who would otherwise be unable to access export markets but production relations between firms and farmers are often asymmetric and can be exploitative. Poor communication and legacies of mistrust between commodity agriculture and small farmers lead to ambiguities in the contracting system that are misinterpreted by both firms and farmers, creating social tensions between contracting parties. This article will consider how farmers' navigation of the contracting system and competition between export firms has led to changes in the system. Through competition for a limited pool of outgrowers, firms adjust their policies in favor of farmers without explicit attempts of labor organization on the part of the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Flight tunnel and electrophysiological assays with male Choristoneura rosaceana Harris (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were conducted to investigate the non-competitive mechanisms of communication disruption caused by microencapsulated (MEC) (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (3M MEC-LR®) formulated with and without horticultural oil (Purespray Green®). Male C. rosaceana were exposed for 1 h by resting on metal surfaces sprayed with either water, 2% oil in water, MEC-LR® in water, or MEC-LR® + 2% oil in water. In one experiment, sprayed surfaces were allowed to age up to 47 days in a laboratory fume hood prior to moth exposure to examine the effect of ageing on the disruptive efficacy of the formulations. In flight tunnel assays with calling females, males exposed to MEC or MEC + oil treatments for 1 h were significantly disrupted up to 1 h after exposure, and both treatments were effective for 47 days. Electroantennograms revealed no reduction in antennal sensitivity when measured 75 s after a 1-h exposure. Collectively, these results support habituation as a key mechanism of communication disruption for C. rosaceana exposed to the MEC formulations tested here. Male proximity to the pheromone-treated surfaces appears to be important in maintaining a disruptive effect as MEC treatments age and pheromone release rates decline. The addition of 2% oil increased the number of microcapsules deposited on sprayed surfaces and caused a moderate but significant increase in the disruptive effect of the MEC formulation. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie disruption by MEC formulations, and how an adjuvant like horticultural oil may enhance these mechanisms, may lead to improvements in this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between environmental and economic performance from the resource-based theory within firms of the fresh fruit and vegetables sector. This study considers that the adoption of environment-friendly practices has a greater influence on firms’ opportunities and abilities in the agricultural sector than in manufacturing sectors and leads to closer links between performance variables. The reference for this empirical analysis is a panel data of horticultural farming-marketing firms in Spain. The voluntary environmental programmes and the heterogeneity of their application lead us to regard acquiring a competitive advantage as a relevant driver to improve environmental performance in this sector. A simultaneous equations model is suggested reflecting the differential environmental effect and the assumption of endogeneity among variables. The results show a positive impact of environmental differentiation on profitability and market share, also suggesting that the perception of this positive experience implies greater environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although smallholder farmers have practised irrigation in Kenya, the introduction small-scale irrigation for horticultural production is relatively a recent development. The increase in irrigation practice has been promoted by the rapid increase in the growth of the horticultural industry. This research examined factors influencing irrigation of horticultural crops on smallholdings in Kenya. The key informants were smallholder irrigation farmers (including low-cost drip), representatives of the irrigation industry, Non Governmental Organisations and the government. The informants were interviewed in a survey of semi-structured open-ended questionnaires. The main problems reported were inadequate technical support service, unreliable water supply, and poor marketing of produce. The government policy on promotion of low cost technology was apparently not clear to the extension staff. Manufactures considered the sector especially the low-cost drip irrigation too small to promote actively. Some of these factors are likely to present a major challenge to developers in the promotion of smallholder irrigation technology in parts of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years interest in polyphenols as a nutrient in vegetables and fruits has increased because of polyphenols’ positive effects on human health. The interest focuses on the sensory properties of polyphenols and their influence on the taste of fruits and derived products. This article presents the development of a bioanalytical measurement technique enabling the determination of the total polyphenol content (TPC) of fresh grapes within a few minutes. Furthermore this technique allows the control of TPC during production processes, e. g. fermentation of wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental variance components associated with year, tree, and harvest date were estimated for fruit softening after harvest in apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.) to determine their relative importance and design optimum sampling strategies to discriminate genotypes in apple breeding. Fruit were stored after harvest under 20± 2 ∘C and 80± 5%RH. Softening was evaluated by adapting the change in firmness during storage to a linear regression and defining the regression coefficient as the softening rate. Environmental variances associated with genotype × year interaction, among trees, year × tree interaction, and among harvest dates were all very small, namely, 2.7, 0.1, 5.2, and 5.7%, respectively, to the total variance obtained from the analysis of variance for the softening rate. The variance associated with genotype, at 57.3%, was very large. On the basis of the number of fruit necessary for firmness measurements, two times harvest is an efficient strategy to determine a genotype mean for the softening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of fruit availability on chimpanzee party size was investigated in the montane forest of Kahuzi. Seasonal variation in both fruit availability and party size was examined. Fruit abundance per se does not affect chimpanzee party size. However, seasonality and distribution patterns of fruits are both determinant ecological factors that control the size of chimpanzee parties at Kahuzi. There was no correlation between fruit abundance and the spatial distribution of fruits. When fruits were clumped and available in large amounts for a long period, chimpanzee party size increased, or otherwise decreased when fruits were highly available for only a limited period. Tree species that produced only a small amount of ripe fruit throughout the year did not affect the foraging party size of chimpanzees. Temporal and spatial variability in fruit abundance seems to constrain grouping patterns of chimpanzees at Kahuzi more so than in other chimpanzee habitats previously described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable isotope dilution assays were developed for the quantification of the folate vitamers 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, tetrahydrofolate, 10-formylfolate and pteroylglutamic acid in food samples by using deuterated isotopomers as internal standards. Vitamers and their labeled analogues were analyzed simultaneously by HPLC/MS/MS using selected reaction monitoring, which allowed a higher specificity than other methods published previously. Sample preparation involved treatment by protease in sequence with α-amylase and rat serum deconjugase, followed by anion exchange chromatography. The detection limits for 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, tetrahydrofolate, 10-formylfolate and pteroylglutamic acid were found to be 0.5, 1.2, 1.5, 0.6 and 2.6 µg/100 g fresh weight, respectively. Using the new method, folate contents were determined in meat, cereals, and vegetables. Data were in good agreement with literature data, except results for broccoli, which were much lower than reported in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]