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In this study, we developed an in-package colorimetric paper to monitor the ripeness of kiwifruit by detecting the release of aldehydes. Strongly hydrophobic composite films were prepared using chitosan as the matrix and beeswax as an additive. A piece of cellulose paper containing methyl red and bromocresol violet as color indicators was heat-sealed between two hydrophobic films to protect the indicators from the effects of fruit respiration and transpiration. The nucleophilic addition reaction between aldehydes and OH - (Cannizzaro reaction) changes the pH in the paper and triggers a color change in the indicators. As the kiwifruit ripens, the colorimetric paper changes from bluish-purple to dark red and then gradually to red. A mobile phone application was further used to measure the RGB values and link them to kiwifruit ripeness. This intelligent paper can be used for the accurate and convenient monitoring of produce in real time., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Investigating the effect of N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (CPPU) on the bulk optical properties of postharvest kiwifruit is helpful in understanding the mechanism of identification of CPPU-treated kiwifruit using spectroscopy and to develop effective optical sensing techniques. In this study, the absorption coefficient μ a and reduced scattering coefficient μ s ' of flesh and skin of kiwifruit treated with CPPU solutions at CPPU concentration levels (CCLs) of 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg L -1 were measured by using a single integrating sphere setup over the range 950-1650 nm during 12 weeks' storage., Results: Generally, at the same storage period, there was no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on flesh's μ a among the kiwifruit treated with different CCLs at absorption peaks of 970, 1190, and 1390 nm. The average flesh's μ s ' of kiwifruit treated with higher CCLs at 1190 nm were larger than those treated with lower CCLs, and there was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) between the kiwifruit treated with 0, 5 and 15 mg L -1 CPPU solutions except for week 6. Contrasted with the μ a and μ s ' of kiwifruit flesh, the μ a and μ s ' of skin had bigger standard deviations and larger fluctuations with storage time. Additionally, the CPPU-treated kiwifruit had higher moisture content, lower firmness, and larger cells than CPPU-untreated kiwifruit., Conclusions: This study indicates that the μ s ' of flesh has potential in identifying kiwifruit treated with different CCLs during storage. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Artificial intelligence systems have been employed for the development of predictive models that estimate many agricultural processes., Results: In present study, the predictive capabilities of artificial neural networks (ANNs) were evaluated with respect to assessing fruit firmness as a postharvest life index, with determinations made at four stages of storage: 1, 60, 120 and 180 days after harvesting. Single concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) on fruit (D 1 ), all of these nutrient concentrations (D 2 ), the ratios of the nutrient concentrations alone (D 3 ), and a combination of nutrient concentrations and their ratios (D 4 ), were considered., Conclusion: The results obtained showed that fruit firmness at 1 and 60 days after harvesting was not influenced by nutrients. However, the ANN model estimated fruit firmness of 120 and 180 days, respectively, for D 1 and D 3 more accurately than for the D 2 and D 4 datasets. Application of D 3 (nitrogen/calcium ratio) as the input dataset improved predictions of fruit firmness, with a correlation coefficient of 0.85 between the measured and estimated data. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

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Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an indicator of the nutritional value of freshly cut kiwifruit during storage at 4℃, and its degradation can be inhibited after ozone treatment (1 mg/L, 10 min). The aim of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanism affecting AsA metabolism in fresh-cut kiwifruit after ozone treatment. In this study, ozone treatment not only prevented the decrease in AsA/dehydroascorbic acid and delayed the accumulation of total soluble solids/titratable acidity, but also altered phytohormone levels differently. Transcriptomic profiling combined with cis-acting element and correlation analysis were performed to reveal that abscisic acid and salicylic acid synergistically delay AsA degradation under ozone-treatment conditions. Actinidia03760, encoding ascorbate peroxidase, could be specifically recognized by the bZIP transcription factor and is considered a key candidate gene for further research. Collectively, ozone treatment is a promising method for preserving AsA content and improving the nutrition of fresh-cut kiwifruit., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

WRKY transcription factors are essential for coping with various biotic stresses. Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa)-induced kiwifruit canker is a major problem restricting kiwifruit yield. Nevertheless, it's unclear how the kiwifruit WRKY genes respond to Psa. Through genome-wide identification, 112 WRKY members were found in 'Hongyang' genome in this work. Promoter analysis revealed that there were many cis-acting elements associated with stress responses in the AcWRKY gene's promoter region. According to transcriptomic analysis, 90 of the AcWRKY genes were differently expressed following Psa, salicylic acid (SA), or methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments. Almost all group III WRKYs were responsive to at least one of these treatments, with tissue-specific expression patterns. Quantitative RT-PCR study provided more evidence that Psa and SA treatments significantly induced the expression of the group III WRKY gene AcWRKY94, whereas MeJA treatment repressed it. AcWRKY94 was a transcriptionally active protein localized in the nucleus. Transient overexpression of AcWRKY94 in the leaves of 'Hongyang' enhanced the resistance of kiwifruit to Psa. Overexpression of AcWRKY94 in kiwifruit callus remarkably promoted the expression of PR and JAZ genes associated with SA and JA signals, respectively. These data imply that AcWRKY94 controls the signaling pathway dependent on SA and JA, thereby enhancing resistance to Psa. Taken together, this study establishes the basis for functional research on WRKY genes and provides important information for elucidating the resistance mechanism of kiwifruit canker disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

As the third active gas signal molecule in plants, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) plays important roles in physiological metabolisms and biological process of fruits and vegetables during postharvest storage. In the present study, the effects of H 2 S on enhancing resistance against soft rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea and the involvement of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway in kiwifruit during the storage were investigated. The results showed that 20 μL L -1 H 2 S fumigation restrained the disease incidence of B. dothidea-inoculated kiwifruit during storage, and delayed the decrease of firmness and the increase of soluble solids (SSC) content. H 2 S treatment increased the transcription levels of genes related to JA biosynthesis (AcLOX3, AcAOS, AcAOC2, and AcOPR) and signaling pathway (AcCOI1, AcJAZ5, AcMYC2, and AcERF1), as well as the JA accumulation. Meanwhile, H 2 S promoted the expression of defense-related genes (AcPPO, AcSOD, AcGLU, AcCHI, AcAPX, and AcCAT). Correlation analysis revealed that JA content was positively correlated with the expression levels of JA biosynthesis and defense-related genes. Overall, the results indicated that H 2 S could promote the increase of endogenous JA content and expression of defense-related genes by regulating the transcription levels of JA pathway-related genes, which contributed to the inhibition on the soft rot occurrence of kiwifruit., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Actinidia arguta leaves (AAL) are traditionally consumed as a vegetable and as tea in folk China and Korea. Previous studies have reported the anti-diabetic effect of AAL, but its bioactive components and mechanism of action are still unclear., Aim of the Study: This study aims to identify the hypoglycemic active components of AAL by combining serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology and to elucidate its possible mechanism of action., Methods: Firstly, the effective components in mice serum samples were characterized by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS E . Furthermore, based on these active ingredients, network pharmacology analysis was performed to establish an "H-C-T-P-D" interaction network and reveal possible biological mechanisms. Finally, the affinity between serum AAL components and the main proteins in the important pathways above was investigated through molecular docking analysis., Results: Serum pharmacochemistry analysis showed that 69 compounds in the serum samples were identified, including 23 prototypes and 46 metabolites. The metabolic reactions mainly included deglycosylation, dehydration, hydrogenation, methylation, acetylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation. Network pharmacology analysis showed that the key components quercetin, pinoresinol diglucoside, and 5-O-trans-p-coumaroyl quinic acid butyl ester mainly acted on the core targets PTGS2, HRAS, RELA, PRKCA, and BCL2 targets and through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, endocrine resistance, and MAPK signaling pathway to exert a hypoglycemic effect. Likewise, molecular docking results showed that the three potential active ingredients had good binding effects on the five key targets., Conclusion: This study provides a basis for elucidating the pharmacodynamic substance basis of AA against T2DM and further exploring the mechanism of action., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The influence of endophytic microbial community on plant growth and disease resistance is of considerable importance. Prior research indicates that pre-treatment of kiwifruit with the biocontrol yeast Debaryomyces hansenii suppresses gray mold disease induced by Botrytis cinerea. However, the specific underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to analyze the composition of the endophytic microbiome of kiwifruit under three distinct conditions: the healthy state, kiwifruit inoculated with B. cinerea, and kiwifruit treated with D. hansenii prior to inoculation with B. cinerea. Results revealed a dominance of Proteobacteria in all treatment groups, accompanied by a notable increase in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Ascomycota emerged as the major dominant group within the fungal community. Treatment with D. hansenii induced significant alterations in microbial community diversity, specifically enhancing the relative abundance of yeast and exerting an inhibitory effect on B. cinerea. The introduction of D. hansenii also enriched genes associated with energy metabolism and signal transduction, positively influencing the overall structure and function of the microbial community. Our findings highlight the potential of D. hansenii to modulate microbial dynamics, inhibit pathogenic organisms, and positively influence functional attributes of the microbial community., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A biochar (KBC) enriched with O functional groups was prepared by torrefaction using lignin-rich kiwifruit branches (KBM) as a raw material, which was characterized, and then KBC was used to adsorb hexavalent chromium (Cr 6+ ) from water. The results showed that KBC contained more functional groups compared to KBM. The maximum adsorption of Cr 6+ by KBC could reach 143.64 mg·g -1 and also had better adsorption performance than other adsorbents reported in some other reports. Cr 6+ absorption by KBC was mainly a mechanism of electrostatic interaction and adsorption-reduction coupling. FTIR and XPS revealed that -OH, -COOH, CO and CC on KBC participated in Cr 6+ adsorption and new groups (C=O) were generated during the process of adsorption, which implied that a redox reaction occurred. 2D-COS and DFT calculations showed that the order of functional groups on KBC interacting with Cr 6+ was -OCH 3  > -COOH > -OH > phenolic hydroxyl, and the binding tightness of the different functional groups to Cr 6+ was -OCH 3 (the shortest displacement of both groups after the adsorption) > -COOH > -OH > phenolic hydroxyl. KBC has good regeneration performance, and it is a good adsorbent for Cr 6+ ., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present work evaluated kiwi juice addition alongside pasteurization (at 85 °C for 5 min) or microwave treatment (for 3 min) on the quality improvement of sugarcane juice. The juice was treated in the presence of kiwi juice (0-8%), and its physicochemical properties and microbial load were compared with raw juice. The study also highlighted the key enzymes causing sugarcane juice discoloration, peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), by quantifying kiwi juice constituents using GC-MS and monitoring their effects by molecular docking. Kiwi addition considerably raised (p < 0.05) acidity, ascorbic acid (54.28%), and phenolic compounds (32%), and decreased the POD and PPO activity of raw cane juice. Pasteurization in the presence of kiwi, rather than microwave treatment, has significantly (p < 0.05) increased the phenolic compounds and reduced POD and PPO activities until barley was detected. Molecular docking revealed that heptacosane, oleic acid, and melezitose are the primary kiwi components responsible for enzyme inactivation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To further explore strain potential and develop an aromatic kiwifruit wine fermentation technique, the feasibility of simultaneous inoculation by non-Saccharomyces yeast and lactic acid bacteria was investigated. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum, which have robust β-glucosidase activity as well as good acid and ethanol tolerance, were inoculated for simultaneous fermentation with Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Meyerozyma guilliermondii, respectively. Subsequently, the chemical compositions and sensory characteristics of the wines were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the majority of the simultaneous protocols effectively improved the quality of kiwifruit wines, increasing the content of polyphenols and volatile compounds, thereby enhancing sensory acceptability compared to the fermentation protocols inoculated with non-Saccharomyces yeast individually. Particularly, the collaboration between Lacp. plantarum and Z. rouxii significantly increased the diversity and content of esters, alcohols, and ketones, intensifying floral and seeded fruit odors, and achieving the highest overall acceptability. This study highlights the potential significance of simultaneous inoculation in kiwifruit wine production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed, and the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We have given due consideration to the protection of intellectual property associated with this work and that there are no impediments to publication, including the timing of publication, with respect to intellectual property. In so doing we confirm that we have followed the regulations of our institutions concerning intellectual property. We have provided a current, correct email address which is accessible by the Corresponding Author and which has been configured to accept email from g301327@126.com., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, our objective was to investigate the potential mechanisms of Actinidia chinensis Planch (ACP) for breast cancer treatment with the application of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics. "Mihoutaogen" was used as a key word to query the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database for putative ingredients of ACP and its related targets. DrugBank, GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and therapeutic target databases were used to search for genes associated with "breast cancer." Using Cytoscape 3.9.0 we then constructed the protein-protein interaction and drug-ingredient-target-disease networks. An enrichment analysis of Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway and gene ontology were performed to exploration of the signaling pathways associated with ACP for breast cancer treatment. Discovery Studio software was applied to molecular docking. Finally, the ligand-receptor complex was subjected to a 50-ns molecular dynamics simulation using the Desmond&#95;2020.4 tools. Six main active ingredients and 176 targets of ACP and 2243 targets of breast cancer were screened. There were 118 intersections of targets for both active ingredients and diseases. Tumor protein P53 (TP53), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Jun Proto-Oncogene (JUN), and Heat Shock Protein 90 Alpha Family Class A Member 1 (HSP90AA1) selected as the most important genes were used for verification by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The primary active compounds of ACP against breast cancer were predicted preliminarily, and its mechanism was studied, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future clinical studies., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Forchlorfenuron (1-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylurea, CPPU) and thidiazuron (N-Phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea, TDZ) are two widely used plant growth regulators in kiwifruit cultivation. They can promote fruit size, but it is unclear whether they have same effect on internal qualities, optical properties and cell structure of kiwifruit, and whether the kiwifruits treated with CPPU and TDZ can be identified based on optical properties. To answer these questions, the kiwifruits treated with 20 mg/L CPPU and 2 mg/L TDZ solutions were used as samples, and the untreated kiwifruits were used as control to investigate the optical properties (absorption coefficient μ a and reduced scattering coefficient μ s '), internal qualities (soluble solids content (SSC), firmness and moisture content) and microstructure of pulp tissue during the growth. Moreover, the relationship between the optical properties and internal qualities were analyzed, and the potential for identifying the kiwifruits treated with CPPU and TDZ based on optical properties was evaluated. The results showed that CPPU and TDZ increased the SSC and reduced the firmness of kiwifruits, but had some different effects on the moisture content and cell size. CPPU and TDZ did not influence the change trend of μ a and μ s ' with wavelength, but affected their values and the relationship with internal qualities. In general, the mean μ a of the kiwifruits treated with CPPU and with TDZ was the largest and the smallest at the absorption peaks (980 nm, 1190 nm and 1420 nm), respectively. The linear discriminant analysis modeling results showed that the spectra of μ a with μ s ' had greater potential in identifying the kiwifruits treated with CPPU/TDZ with accuracy of 75.76 %., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

High temperature is an environmental stressor that severely threatens plant growth, development, and yield. In this study, we obtained a kiwifruit mutant (MT) of 'Hongyang' (WT) through 60 Co-γ irradiation. The MT possessed different leaf morphology and displayed prominently elevated heat tolerance compared to the WT genotype. When exposure to heat stress, the MT plants exhibited stabler photosynthetic capacity and accumulated less reactive oxygen species, along with enhanced antioxidant capacity and higher expression levels of related genes in comparison with the WT plants. Moreover, global transcriptome profiling indicated that an induction in genes related to stress-responsive, phytohormone signaling, and transcriptional regulatory pathways, which might contribute to the upgrade of thermotolerance in the MT genotype. Collectively, the significantly enhanced thermotolerance of MT might be mainly attributed to profitable leaf structure variations, improved photosynthetic and antioxidant capacities, as well as extensive transcriptome reprogram. These findings would be insightful in elucidating the sophisticated mechanisms of kiwifruit response to heat stress, and suggest the MT holds great potential for future kiwifruit improvement with enhanced heat tolerance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is a commercially important horticultural fruit crop worldwide. Kiwifruit contains numerous minerals, vitamins, and dietary phytochemicals, that not only responsible for the flavor but can also serve as adjuncts in the treatment of diabetes, digestive disorders, cardiovascular system, cancer and heart disease. However, fruit quality and shelf life affect consumer's acceptance and production chain. Understanding the methods of fruit storage preservation, as well as their biochemical, physiological, and molecular basis is essential. In recent years, eco-friendly (comprehensive and environmentally friendly) treatments such as hot water, ozone, chitosan, quercetin, and antifungal additive from biocontrol bacteria or yeast have been applied to improve postharvest fruit quality with longer shelf life. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in control measures, applications, and mechanisms related to water loss, chilling injury, and pathogen diseases in postharvest kiwifruit. Further studies should utilize genome editing techniques to enhance postharvest fruit quality and disease resistance through site-directed bio-manipulation of the kiwifruit genome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Actinidia Lindl. belongs to the family Actinidiaceae. Plants of this genus are popularly known as kiwifruits and are traditionally used to treat a wide range of ailments associated with digestive disorders, rheumatism, kidney problems, cardiovascular system, cancers, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, and diabetes among others., Aim: This review discusses the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical profile, and known pharmacological properties of Actinidia plants, to understand their connotations and provide the scientific basis for future studies., Materials and Methods: The data were obtained by surveying journal articles, books, and dissertations using various search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Web of Science. The online databases; World Flora Online, Plants of the World Online, International Plant Names Index, and Global Biodiversity Information Facility were used to confirm the distribution and validate scientific names of Actinidia plants. The isolated metabolites from these species were illustrated using ChemBio Draw ultra-version 14.0 software., Results: Ten (10) species of Actinidia genus have been reported as significant sources of traditional medicines utilized to remedy diverse illnesses. Our findings revealed that a total of 873 secondary metabolites belonging to different classes such as terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alcohols, ketones, organic acids, esters, hydrocarbons, and steroids have been isolated from different species of Actinidia. These compounds were mainly related to the exhibited antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, anticinoceptive, anti-tumor, and anticancer activities., Conclusion: This study assessed the information related to the ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical compounds, and pharmacological properties of Actinidia species, which indicate that they possess diverse bioactive metabolites with interesting bioactivities. Actinidia plants have great potential for applications in folklore medicines and pharmaceuticals due to their wide ethnomedicinal uses and biological activities. Traditional uses of several Actinidia species are supported by scientific evidences, qualifying them as possible modern remedies for various ailments. Nonetheless, the currently available data has several gaps in understanding the herbal utilization of most Actinidia species. Thus, further research into their toxicity, mechanisms of actions of the isolated bioactive metabolites, as well as scientific connotations between the traditional medicinal uses and pharmacological properties is required to unravel their efficacy in therapeutic potential for safe clinical application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for natural products as a mean of disease prevention or as an alternative to conventional medications. The driving force for this change is the growing recognition of the abundant presence of valuable bioactive compounds in natural products. On recent years Actinia arguta fruit, also known as kiwiberry, has attracted a lot of attention from scientific community due to its richness in bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamins, carotenoids and fiber. These bioactive compounds contribute to the fruit's diverse outstanding biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties. Due to these properties, the fruit may have the potential to be used in the treatment/prevention of various types of cancer, including glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, displaying 90 % of recurrence rate within a span of 2 years. Despite the employment of an aggressive approach, the prognosis remains unfavorable, emphasizing the urgent requirement for the development of new effective treatments. The preclinical evidence suggests that kiwiberry has potential impact on glioblastoma by reducing the cancer self-renewal, modulating the signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the cell phenotype and metabolism, and influencing the consolidation of the tumor microenvironment. Even though, challenges such as the imprecise composition and concentration of bioactive compounds, and its low bioavailability after oral administration may be drawbacks to the development of kiwiberry-based treatments, being urgent to ensure the safety and efficacy of kiwiberry for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma. This review aims to highlight the potential impact of A. arguta bioactive compounds on glioblastoma, providing novel insights into their applicability as complementary or alternative therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Research into variations between kiwifruit varieties particularly their softening quality during storage is important in improving kiwifruit quality. The potential reasons for ripening quality differences between 'Cuixiang' (CX) and 'Hayward' (HWD) kiwifruit were analyzed by physiology and metabolomic data combined with the random forests learning algorithm. The results showed that the storability difference between the two varieties mainly resulted from differences in polygalacturonase (PG) and β-galactosidase activities. The 1 °C slowed the fruit softening process of both varieties by decreasing their PG activities. A total of 368 metabolites were identified and amino acid, carbohydrate, cofactors and vitamins, as well as nucleotide metabolism are key metabolic modules that affect the ripening differences of CX and HWD kiwifruit. A total of 30 metabolites showed remarkable ability in distinguish the ripening quality of CX and HWD kiwifruit, in which d-glucose, d-maltose, 2-hydroxybutyric acid, phenyllactate, and vitamin B2 were noteworthy for their potential application on the evaluation of kiwifruit taste and nutritional value. These findings provide positive insights into the underlying mechanism of ripening quality differences between CX and HWD kiwifruit and new ideas for identifying key metabolic markers in kiwifruit., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The central objectives of this paper are to enhance the understanding of how consumers in developed economies value credence attributes and to understand their preferences for red-pulp kiwifruit. To achieve this, we utilised the choice experiment method through surveys conducted in Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, targeting kiwifruit consumers through specific questionnaires. Regarding red kiwifruit, a significant percentage of those who are already familiar with them either purchase or intend to purchase them. What is equally interesting is the high percentage of those who declared themselves to be undecided about making a purchase. Specific marketing actions can be directed towards the following two categories: converting the intention to purchase into an actual purchase and shifting the current inclination towards an intention or act of purchase, for example, by improving the knowledge about this relatively unknown fruit. This paper contributes to the market chain by assessing consumers' choice and willingness to pay for red kiwifruit, while also comparing developed economy markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, kiwi is a new fruit specie and the creation, testing and introduction of winter hardy genotypes, adapted to the local harsh climate conditions represent a priority. The first kiwifruit orchards with A. deliciosa and A. arguta were planted in Romania in 1993, at Ostrov (Constanța County), on the border of the Danube River. In the same year, a common Italian-Romanian kiwifruit breeding program was initiated at the Faculty of Horticulture within the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. Since 1993, research has been carried out to determine the best methods of propagation, growing and kiwifruit orchard management. Genotypes phenology was studied every year in comparison with the climatic data. In parallel, physical and biochemical fruit characteristics were evaluated after ripening and during the storage. After some years of observations and tests, three kiwiberry elites were selected: ‘Vip Green’ (R8P23), ‘Vip Red’ (R8P20) and ‘Green Delight’ (R8P1). Other intra and interspecific crossings using A. deliciosa and A. chinensis were made and from the initial hybrids, some selected genotypes as R0P13, R1P9, R1P8 and R1P12, have good fruit characteristics and yield. The new selections have to be registered as cultivars and can be successfully cultivated on commercial orchards and in private gardens. This paper presents few results of the Actinidia spp. Romanian breeding program. Some fruit quality characteristics of the new kiwi selections and hybrids as average weight, fruit shape index, soluble solids content, dry matter, acidity and ascorbic acid are detailed. After more than two decades of research, it was demonstrated that A. deliciosa and A. chinensis can be grown in Romania in peach favorable areas, while A. arguta (kiwiberry or baby kiwi) can cover larger areas, suitable for plum cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit pomace is abundant in polysaccharides that exhibit diverse biological activities and prebiotic potential. This study delves into the digestive behavior and fermentation characteristics of kiwifruit pomace polysaccharides (KFP) through an in vitro simulated saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation. The results reveal that following simulated digestion of KFP, its molecular weight reduced by 4.7%, and the reducing sugar (C R ) increased by 9.5%. However, the monosaccharide composition and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characteristics showed no significant changes, suggesting that KFP remained undigested. Furthermore, even after saliva-gastrointestinal digestion, KFP retained in vitro hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities. Subsequently, fecal fermentation significantly altered the physicochemical properties of indigestible KFP (KFPI), particularly leading to an 89.71% reduction in C R . This indicates that gut microbiota could decompose KFPI and metabolize it into SCFAs. Moreover, after 48 h of KFPI fecal fermentation, it was observed that KFPI contributed to maintaining the balance of gut microbiota by promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria like Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium, while inhibiting the unfavorable bacteria like Bilophila. In summary, this study offers a comprehensive exploration of in vitro digestion and fecal fermentation characteristics of KFP, providing valuable insights for potential development of KFP as a prebiotic for promoting intestinal health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is responsible for the kiwifruit bacterial canker, the most severe disease of Actinidia spp. The use in agriculture of antibiotics and cooper-based compounds is increasingly being restricted, demanding for new sustainable alternatives to current agrochemicals. We aimed to characterize the anti-Psa potential of essential oils (EOs) of Mentha pulegium and Satureja montana and investigate if they elicit the plant-host hormonal defenses. The EOs were characterized through gas-chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (MS). Pulegone (78.6%) and carvacrol (43.5%) were the major constituents of M. pulegium and S. montana EO, respectively. Only S. montana EO showed relevant anti-Psa activity in vitro. To evaluate if the EOs also elicited host defenses, in vitro shoots were treated with 2 mg shoot -1 of EO-solution and subsequently inoculated with Psa three days later. Shoots were analyzed 10 min, three days (and 10 min after Psa-inoculation), four and ten days after EO application. The up/down regulation of RNA-transcripts for hormone biosynthesis, Psa biofilm production and virulence genes were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Phytohormones were quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). S. montana EO showed the most promising results as a defense elicitor, increasing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) by 131.07% and reducing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels by 49.19%. Decreases of salicylic acid (SA), and gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) levels by 32.55% and 33.09% respectively and an increase of abscisic acid (ABA) by 85.03%, in M. pulegium EO-treated shoots, revealed some protective post-infection effect. This is the most comprehensive research on the Psa's impact on phytohormones. It also unveils the protective influence of prior EO exposure, clarifying the plant hormonal response to subsequent infections. The results reinforce the hypothesis that carvacrol-rich S. montana EO can be a suitable disease control agent against Psa infection. Its dual action against pathogens and elicitation of host plant defenses make it a promising candidate for incorporation into environmentally friendly disease management approaches. Nonetheless, to fully leverage these promising results, further research is imperative to elucidate the EO mode of action and evaluate the long-term efficacy of this approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Actinidia eriantha polysaccharide (AEPS) is a potent adjuvant with dual Th1 and Th2 potentiating activity. linc-AAM has been previously proved to facilitate the expression of immune response genes (IRGs) in AEPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages. However, its role in mediating adjuvant activity of AEPS remains to be elucidated. In this study, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from wide-type (WT) and linc-AAM knockout C57BL/6J mice treated with AEPS were subjected to transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. linc-AAM deficiency inhibited M1 and M2 immune responses in BMDMs induced by AEPS. In mechanisms, AEPS facilitated the expression of IRGs and activated BMDMs through NF-κB-linc-AAM-JAK/STAT axis. Furthermore, linc-AAM knockout inhibited cytokine and chemokine production, immune cell recruitment as well as immune cell migration to draining lymph nodes at peritoneal cavity in mice induced by AEPS. More importantly, linc-AAM deletion reduced the adjuvant activity of APES on antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses to ovalbumin in mice. This study has for the first time demonstrated the role of lncRNAs in regulating the adjuvant activity of polysaccharides and its mechanisms. These findings expanded current knowledge on the mechanism of action of adjuvant and provide a new target for the design and development of vaccine adjuvants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Actinidia arguta ('Weiki', 'Skarlet September Kiwi') and Actinidia kolomikta ('Lande') fruit extracts against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The extracts were also tested regarding polyphenol profile and Lascorbic acid content (UHPLC-DAD-MS), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS). 'Scarlet September Kiwi' showed the strongest anti-AGEs activity studied with BSAGLU (IC 50 = 2.68) and BSA-MGO (IC 50 = 18.06) models. The highest anti-AChE activity was found for the 'Lande' extract (IC 50 = 4.56). 'Lande' showed the highest L-ascorbic acid content (8271.96 µg/g dw), ABTS (312.42 µmol TE/g dw) and DPPH (282.01 µmol TE/g dw) values. 'Scarlet September Kiwi' revealed the highest individual phenolics concentration (2321.43 µg/g dw). The contents of (+)-catechin and L-ascorbic acid were significantly correlated with anti-AChE activity. This research sheds new light on the bioactivity of Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta fruit elucidating the role of (+)-catechin and L-ascorbic acid in prevention of Alzheimer's disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Green kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa var. Hayward) is a fruit with important nutritional attributes and traditional use as a laxative. In this work, we studied in vitro the colonic fermentation of a standardized green kiwifruit powder (Kiwi FFG®) using representative intestinal microbial content of mildly constipated women. Static (batch) and dynamic configurations of the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) were used to estimate the impact of Kiwi FFG® in the human gut. Analysis of metabolites revealed a significant butyrogenic effect of the kiwifruit powder and, consistently, butyrate-producing bacterial populations (i.e., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Cluster IV, Roseburia spp.) were greatly increased in the dynamic gastrointestinal model. Bifidobacterium spp. was also found boosted in the microflora of ascending and transverse colon sections, and a significant rise of Akkermansia muciniphila was identified in the transverse colon. Reporter gene assays using human intestinal cells (HT-29) showed that kiwifruit fermentation metabolites activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transcriptional pathway, which is an important regulator of intestinal homeostasis and immunity. Moreover, modulation in the production of human interleukins (IL-6 and IL-10) in Caco-2 cells suggested a potential mild anti-inflammatory effect of the kiwifruit powder and its gut microbiota-derived metabolites. Our results suggested a potential health benefit of Kiwi FFG® in the gut microbiota, particularly in the context of constipated people., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This research work was conducted in the context of an Academic-Industry collaboration financially supported by the Walloon Region (Belgium) to investigate innovative nutritional ingredients to stimulate transit and improve intestinal health. The industrial partner Ortis S.A. coordinated the project. The University of Liège declare no conflict of interest in the results herein presented. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Bagging is an effective cultivation strategy to produce attractive and pollution-free kiwifruit. However, the effect and metabolic regulatory mechanism of bagging treatment on kiwifruit quality remain unclear. In this study, transcriptome and metabolome analyses were conducted to determine the regulatory network of the differential metabolites and genes after bagging. Using outer and inner yellow single-layer fruit bags, we found that bagging treatment improved the appearance of kiwifruit, increased the soluble solid content (SSC) and carotenoid and anthocyanin levels, and decreased the chlorophyll levels. We also identified 41 differentially expressed metabolites and 897 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the bagged and control 'Hongyang' fruit. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that the increase in SSC after bagging treatment was mainly due to the increase in D-glucosamine metabolite levels and eight DEGs involved in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolic pathways. A decrease in glutamyl-tRNA reductase may be the main reason for the decrease in chlorophyll. Downregulation of lycopene epsilon cyclase and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase increased carotenoid levels. Additionally, an increase in the levels of the taxifolin-3'-O-glucoside metabolite, flavonoid 3'-monooxygenase, and some transcription factors led to the increase in anthocyanin levels. This study provides novel insights into the effects of bagging on the appearance and internal quality of kiwifruit and enriches our theoretical knowledge on the regulation of color pigment synthesis in kiwifruit., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Improving fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) is an effective way to reduce the fertilizer use and non-point source pollution in agriculture production in China. Existing research related to fertilizer use efficiency ignores the impact of famers' social networks, which can significantly affect the fertilizer use and its efficiency. This paper analyzed the impact of social networks on fertilizer use efficiency and the mediator effect of green fertilization technology adoption, based on the calculation of fertilizer use efficiency of 569 kiwifruit farmers in Shaanxi province of China surveyed in 2021 by using stochastic frontier method. The results show that the FUE of kiwifruit production ranged within 0.1027-0.9945, with an average value of 0.333, which showed great variability, and fertilizer input had an average 66.7% reduction potential without reducing output. Social networks and its four dimensions all had a significant positive impact on FUE, in which network trust and network learning had a greater impact on FUE. Farmers' adoption of green fertilization technology played a positive mediator effect in the process of social networks influencing their fertilizer use efficiency, which was mainly promoted by network trust and learning. Farmers' experience in agricultural production, joining the cooperative, the quantity of village agricultural supply points had a significant positive impact on fertilizer use efficiency, while age and gentle of the head of household had a significant negative impact of fertilizer use efficiency. Planting scale had a U-shape impact on FUE. Policies aimed at improving FUE and reducing non-point source pollution should, therefore, focus on improving the social networks of farmers, especially young farmers, strengthening network trust, promoting network learning, network reciprocity and network interaction, strengthening the research and development and extension of green fertilization technology, encouraging farmers to join agricultural cooperative, improving village production conditions, guiding sustainable agricultural production., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Soluble solids content (SSC) is particularly important for kiwifruit, as it not only determines its flavor, but also helps assess its maturity. Visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy has been widely used to evaluate the SSC of kiwifruit. Still, the local calibration models may be ineffective for new batches of samples with biological variability, which limits the commercial application of this technology. Thus, a calibration model was developed using one batch of fruit and the prediction performance was tested with a different batch, which differs in origin and harvest time. Four calibration models were established with Batch 1 kiwifruit to predict SSC, which were based on full spectra (i.e., partial least squares regression (PLSR) model based on full spectra), continuous effective wavelengths (i.e., changeable size moving window-PLSR (CSMW-PLSR) model), and discrete effective wavelengths (i.e., competitive adaptive reweighted sampling-PLSR (CARS-PLSR) model and PLSR-variable importance in projection (PLSR-VIP) model) respectively. The R v 2 values of these four models in the internal validation set were 0.83, 0.92, 0.96, and 0.89, with corresponding RMSEV values of 1.08 %, 0.75 %, 0.56 %, and 0.89 %, and RPD v values of 2.49, 3.61, 4.80, and 3.02, respectively. Clearly, all four PLSR models performed acceptably in the validation set. However, these models performed very poorly in predicting the Batch 2 samples, with their RMSEP values all exceeding 1.5 %. Although the models could not be used to predict exact SSC, they could still interpret the SSC values of Batch 2 kiwifruit to some extent because the predicted SSC values could fit a specific line. To enable the CSMW-PLSR calibration model to predict the SSC of Batch 2 kiwifruit, the robustness of this model was improved by calibration updating and slope/bias correction (SBC). Different numbers of new samples were randomly selected for updating and SBC, and the minimum number of samples for updating and SBC was finally determined to be 30 and 20, respectively. After calibration updating and SBC, the new models had average R p 2 , average RMSEP, and average RPD p values of 0.83 and 0.89, 0.69 % and 0.57 %, and 2.45 and 2.97, respectively, in the prediction set. Overall, the methods proposed in this study can effectively address the issue of poor performance of calibration models in predicting new samples with biological variability and make the models more robust, thus providing important guidance for the maintenance of SSC online detection models in practical applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Flavonoids from Actinidia arguta Sieb. Zucc. can reduce uric acid in mice. However, the molecular basis of its biosynthesis is still unclear. In this paper, we used a combination of extensively targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis to determine the types and differences of flavonoids in the fruit ripening period (August to September) of two main cultivated varieties in northern China. The ethanol extract was prepared, and the potential flavonoids of Chrysin (Flavone1), Rutin (Flavone2), and Daidzein (Flavone3) in Actinidia arguta Sieb. Zucc. were separated and purified by HPD600 macroporous adsorption resin and preparative liquid chromatography. The structure was identified by MS-HPLC, and the serum uric acid index of male Kunming mice was determined by an animal model test.125 flavonoids and 50 differentially regulated genes were identified. The contents of UA (uric acid), BUN (urea nitrogen), Cr (creatinine), and GAPDH in mouse serum and mouse liver glycogen decreased or increased in varying degrees. This paper reveals the biosynthetic pathway of uric acid-reducing flavonoids in the fruit of Actinidia arguta Sieb. Zucc., a major cultivar in northern China, provides valuable information for the development of food and drug homologous functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid softening of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) fruit significantly reduces its marketing potential. Therefore, the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the softening of A. arguta fruit was investigated. Results indicated that A. arguta fruit treated with 1-MCP maintained a higher level of firmness, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids content, relative to non-treated fruit. Fruit treated with 1-MCP and placed in long-term cold storage had higher sensory scores, as determined by a taste panel and supported by electronic nose and tongue data. Notably, 1-MCP delayed the degradation of cell wall components, including pectin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, by reducing the activity of cell-wall-modifying enzymes. In addition, 1-MCP reduced the activity of carbohydrate metabolism-related enzymes, resulting in fruit with higher levels of starch and sucrose and lower levels of glucose, fructose and sorbitol. Collectively, these results indicate that 1-MCP can be used to delay the softening of A. arguta fruit and extend its storage and shelf life., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Botrytis cinerea is a pathogenic fungus to fruit, biocontrol is a promising approach to relieve this issue. In this study, Vishniacozyma victoriae is an endophytic yeast extracted from kiwifruit, was used to enhance the resistance of host to B. cinerea. The results showed that lesion diameter of the kiwifruit inoculated with B. cinerea was 55.16 %, 50.57 %, and 48.07 % lower than that of inoculated with V. victoriae + B. cinerea on 4th, 8th, and 12th day, respectively. On 12th day, the total organic acid content and energy charge of kiwifruit inoculated with B. cinerea were 19.25 % and 7.95 % lower than those inoculated with V. victoriae + B. cinerea. These indicated that V. victoriae used the organic acids and energy of host to colonize in the wound, which prevented B. cinerea from contacting the host. Accordingly, V. victoriae is a promising biocontrol yeast to inhibit the infection of B. cinerea on kiwifruit., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The kiwi plant is dioecious, and its sex is generally identified from flower morphology at blossoming, which takes several years. It is quite necessary but challenging to on-spot identify the plant sex in juvenile stage. Here the target DNA was obtained by screening the Friendly boy (FrBy) gene which is sex-related for different kiwi plant species. Its complementary sequence was divided into two parts as primer DNA and further attached to different gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The connection between target DNA and primer DNA will promote the formation of plasmonic dimers. Dark field microscopy (DFM) can distinguish particles in different aggregation states. Various conditions were optimized based on the standard of increasing the proportion of dimers while reducing that of large aggregates. Furthermore, two Raman reporters (RR) are separately labeled on the nanoprobes, and the plasmonic dimers lead to a tremendous Raman enhancement of two reporters located at the dimer nanogap. Double-blind tests proved the feasibility of this method on the actual samples of kiwi plant leaves. Our SERS method is sensitive, specific, and reliable for rapid sex identification analysis at the kiwi seeding stage, with great promise for decision-making in field management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Actinidia polygama has been used as a traditional medicine for treating various diseases. In the present study, 13 compounds, including three new monoterpenoids (1-3), were isolated from the leaves of A. polygama to investigate the bioactive constituents of the plant. The structures were characterized by analyzing spectroscopic and chiroptical data. These compounds were preliminarily screened for their ability to increase insulin secretion levels after glucose stimulation. Of these, 3-O-coumaroylmaslinic acid (4) and jacoumaric acid (5) showed activity. In further biological studies, these compounds exhibited increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) activity without cytotoxicity in rat INS-1 pancreatic β-cells as well as α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, both compounds increased insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) expression. Hence, these compounds may be developed as potential antidiabetic agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)