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BACKGROUND: In blueberries, the total polyphenol contents, total anthocyanin contents, and antioxidant activities of fruits in blueberries and their relatives are becoming important targets for breeders. Recently, intersectional hybrids between Japanese wild species Shashanbo and highbush blueberry were produced using polyploid breeding for the first time. However, the polyphenol contents, antioxidant activities, and anti-cancer cell proliferation properties of the fruits of these intersectional hybrids have not been studied sufficiently. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine the anthocyanin contents, polyphenol contents, and antioxidant activities at each stage of fruit development in intersectional hybrids, and to examine the effects of the fruit extracts on anti-cancer cell proliferation properties using human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. METHODS: Freeze-dried fruit samples of three intersectional hybrids and their parents at five developmental stages were used to evaluate their polyphenol contents, anthocyanin contents, and levels of two types of antioxidant activities (DPPH and ORAC). The anti-cancer cell proliferation properties of each extract were also evaluated according to the survival rate of HL-60 cells. RESULTS: The total polyphenol contents in fruits of the intersectional hybrids gradually decreased as the fruits grew, but the contents increased slightly at the mature stage. Meanwhile, the total anthocyanin contents increased strongly to the mature stage. In addition, the fruit extract of intersectional hybrid JM1 was found to be more effective for inhibiting the growth of HL-60 human leukemia cells in vitro. Total polyphenol content correlated highly with antioxidant activities and anti-cancer cell proliferation properties. CONCLUSIONS: We clarified that the intersectional hybrids had produced have abundant bioactive compounds, high levels of antioxidant activities, and anti-cancer cell proliferation properties. The results proved the effectiveness of the use of Japanese wild Vaccinium species for the strategic breeding of blueberries with high levels of bioactive compounds.

BackgroundGRAS transcription factors perform indispensable functions in various biological processes, such as plant growth, fruit development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. The development of whole-genome sequencing has allowed theGRASgene family to be identified and characterized in many species. However, thorough in-depth identification or systematic analysis ofGRASfamily genes in foxtail millet has not been conducted.ResultsIn this study, 57GRASgenes of foxtail millet (SiGRASs) were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of theSiGRASgenes. Based on the number of conserved domains and gene structure, theSiGRASgenes were divided into 13 subfamilies via phylogenetic tree analysis. TheGRASgenes were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes, and members of the same subfamily had similar gene structures and motif compositions. Genetic structure analysis showed that mostSiGRASgenes lacked introns. SomeSiGRASgenes were derived from gene duplication events, and segmental duplications may have contributed more toGRASgene family expansion than tandem duplications. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed significant differences in the expression ofSiGRASgenes in different tissues and stages of fruits development, which indicated the complexity of the physiological functions ofSiGRAS. In addition, exogenous paclobutrazol treatment significantly altered the transcription levels of DELLA subfamily members, downregulated the gibberellin content, and decreased the plant height of foxtail millet, while it increased the fruit weight. In addition,SiGRAS13andSiGRAS25may have the potential for genetic improvement and functional gene research in foxtail millet.ConclusionsCollectively, this study will be helpful for further analysing the biological function ofSiGRAS. Our results may contribute to improving the genetic breeding of foxtail millet.

BackgroundAlternative splicing (AS) produces transcript variants playing potential roles in proteome diversification and gene expression regulation. AS modulation is thus essential to respond to developmental and environmental stimuli. In grapevine, a better understanding of berry development is crucial for implementing breeding and viticultural strategies allowing adaptation to climate changes. Although profound changes in gene transcription have been shown to occur in the course of berry ripening, no detailed study on splicing modifications during this period has been published so far. We report here on the regulation of gene AS in developing berries of two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties, Gewurztraminer (Gw) and Riesling (Ri), showing distinctive phenotypic characteristics. Using the software rMATS, the transcriptomes of berries at four developmental steps, from the green stage to mid-ripening, were analysed in pairwise comparisons between stages and varieties.ResultsA total of 305 differential AS (DAS) events, affecting 258 genes, were identified. Interestingly, 22% of these AS events had not been reported before. Among the 80 genes that underwent the most significant variations during ripening, 22 showed a similar splicing profile in Gw and Ri, which suggests their involvement in berry development. Conversely, 23 genes were subjected to splicing regulation in only one variety. In addition, the ratios of alternative isoforms were different in Gw and Ri for 35 other genes, without any change during ripening. This last result indicates substantial AS differences between the two varieties. Remarkably, 8 AS events were specific to one variety, due to the lack of a splice site in the other variety. Furthermore, the transcription rates of the genes affected by stage-dependent splicing regulation were mostly unchanged, identifying AS modulation as an independent way of shaping the transcriptome.ConclusionsThe analysis of AS profiles in grapevine varieties with contrasting phenotypes revealed some similarity in the regulation of several genes with developmental functions, suggesting their involvement in berry ripening. Additionally, many splicing differences were discovered between the two varieties, that could be linked to phenotypic specificities and distinct adaptive capacities. Together, these findings open perspectives for a better understanding of berry development and for the selection of grapevine genotypes adapted to climate change.

Large-fruit bud mutations are important factors in fruit tree breeding. However, little is known about the differences between varieties and bud mutations. The ploidy identification of Korla fragrant pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu) and its large bud mutation Zaomeixiang pear showed that the large-fruit characteristic was not caused by chromosome doubling. By counting mesocarp cells at different stages, we found that the number of cells increased continuously after pollination, and the difference was the greatest at 28 days after full bloom (DAFB), and was about 9.4 × 106. After 28 days, the difference in cell volume became bigger and bigger, so both the cell volume and cell number caused the difference in fruit size between Korla fragrant pear and Zaomeixiang pear. To obtain more insights into the differences in fruit size driven by cell division, we analyzed the endogenous hormones [indole ascetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), gibberellic acid (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA)], and the main sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol). The ZR content of Zaomeixiang pear was always greater than that of Korla fragrant pear at all stages. The ABA content was the opposite except for at 7 DAFB during cell division; the greatest difference was 30.87 ng/g, which appeared at 28 DAFB. ABA and ZR correlated negatively with cell number. After 7 DAFB, the ratio of IAA/ABA, ZR/ABA, and GA/ABA in Zaomeixiang pear was always greater than that for Korla fragrant pear at 28 DAFB. The difference in glucose content at 21 DAFB was the greatest, at 4.80 ng/g. Large amounts of sorbitol accumulated during whole-cell division. Glucose and sorbitol correlated positively with cell numbers. In summary, the data suggest that the different contents of glucose, sorbitol, ZR, and ABA, and the ratio of endogenous hormones might be related to cell division in Korla fragrant pear and Zaomeixiang pear. The result provides a theoretical basis for the large-size fruit’s high-quality production and genetic breeding of Korla fragrant pear and its bud mutation.

Background The oil-tea tree (Camellia oleifera Abel.) is a woody tree species that produces edible oil in the seed. C. oleifera oil has high nutritional value and is also an important raw material for medicine and cosmetics. In China, due to the uncertainty on maturity period and oil synthesis mechanism of many C. oleifera cultivars, growers may harvest fruits prematurely, which could not maximize fruit and oil yields. In this study, our objective was to explore the mechanism and differences of oil synthesis between two Camellia oleifera cultivars for a precise definition of the fruit ripening period and the selection of appropriate cultivars. Results The results showed that ‘Huashuo’ had smaller fruits and seeds, lower dry seed weight and lower expression levels of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in July. We could not detect the presence of oil and oil bodies in ‘Huashuo’ seeds until August, and oil and oil bodies were detected in ‘Huajin’ seeds in July. Moreover, ‘Huashuo’ seeds were not completely blackened in October with up to 60.38% of water and approximately 37.98% of oil in seed kernels whose oil content was much lower than normal mature seed kernels. The oil bodies in seed endosperm cells of ‘Huajin’ were always higher than those of ‘Huashuo’ from July to October. Conclusion Our results confirmed that C. oleifera ‘Huashuo’ fruits matured at a lower rate compared to ‘Huajin’ fruits and that ‘Huajin’ seeds entered the oil synthesis period earlier than ‘Huashuo’ seeds. Moreover, ‘Huashuo’ fruits did not mature during the Frost’s Descent period (October 23–24 each year).

Leaf damage/defoliation caused by pests or phytotoxic damage following chemical application can result in loss of leaf area at any time during the growing season. Four trials were conducted to examine the impact of severity and time of foliar damage on fruit set and quality in apple. Trees tolerated light to moderate leaf damage throughout the season with no significant effect on fruit set and thus crop load. Where 75% or more of the leaf surface was lost, fruit set was reduced and fruit quality was affected. Complete loss of leaves up to three weeks after full bloom (wAFB) resulted in very low or no fruit set, but from 9 wAFB crop load was not affected by leaf damage. Loss of terminal shoot leaves had no effect on fruit set, but spur leaves were critical early in the season with the impact lessening from 6 wAFB. This study has demonstrated that low levels of foliar damage have little effect on fruit size or quality, but high levels can impact on both set and quality. Fruit quality was reduced following leaf damage during the period 6–12 weeks after full bloom which is the critical period for cell division in the fruit as well as flower initiation for the following year. High levels of leaf damage also reduced fruit size in spite of reduced crop load levels, most likely the result of a reduction in carbohydrate assimilation during the cell division phase of fruit development.

Background Parthenocarpy results in traits attractive to both consumers and breeders, and it overcomes the obstacle of self-incompatibility in the fruit set of horticultural crops, including pear (Pyrus bretshneider). However, there is limited knowledge regarding the genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate parthenogenesis. Results Here, in a transcriptional comparison between pollination-dependent fruit and GA4-induced parthenocarpy, PbCYP78A6 was identified and proposed as a candidate gene involved in parthenocarpy. PbCYP78A6 is similar to Arabidopsis thaliana CYP78A6 and highly expressed in pear hypanthia. The increased PbCYP78A6 expression, as assessed by RT-qPCR, was induced by pollination and GA4 exposure. The ectopic overexpression of PbCYP78A6 contributed to parthenocarpic fruit production in tomato. The PbCYP78A6 expression coincided with fertilized and parthenocarpic fruitlets development and the expression of fruit development-related genes as assessed by cytological observations and RT-qPCR, respectively. PbCYP78A6 RNA interference and overexpression in pear calli revealed that the gene is an upstream regulator of specific fruit development-related genes in pear. Conclusions Our findings indicate that PbCYP78A6 plays a critical role in fruit formation and provide insights into controlling parthenocarpy.

The objective of this review was to report on advances in environmental, cultural, and physiological aspects of fleshy fruit cracking to reduce or avoid this disorder, which affects many fruit species. Cracking is a physiological disorder that limits the production and quality of fleshy fruits because it affects the exocarp and mesocarp, especially with climate change and variability. Fruit cracking is generated by external factors (agronomic and environmental) and internal factors, several of which require exhaustive study. The incidence of cracking varies widely according to climatic characteristics during fruit development, different fruit species and varieties, growth sites, and crop management. This physiological disorder is aggravated by increases in rain intensity, especially after a dry season or in areas with increased temperatures. Knowledge on causes of cracking has generated management strategies that involve genetic improvement, ecophysiological conditions, agronomic practices such as pruning, irrigation, and fertilization (mainly with Ca, Mg, B, and K), applications of plant growth regulators, and use of plastic covers, etc. For several fruit trees, these strategies are effective, but in species such as the cape gooseberry, cracking remains without a full explanation or effective management.

In this study, we investigated the impact of rainfall rate and temperature during fruit development on chilling injury (CI) of Queen pineapples (Ananas comosus L. Merr) after cold storage at 13 °C. The pineapples were induced to flower in October 2016 and May 2017. Rainfall and field temperature during fruit development were recorded. The fruit were harvested in March 2017 and October 2017 (135 d after anthesis), respectively. Visual appearance, CI score, lightness (L*) value, parameters related to membrane integrity, and the activities of enzymes related to browning of the tissue adjacent to the core were monitored in the fruit after 7 and 14 d of cold storage followed by room temperature storage (27 ± 1 °C) (RT) for 2 d. High CI incidence was associated with high rainfall rather than the field temperature (approx. 27–29 °C) during fruit development. The fruit harvested in March experienced higher rainfall during fruit development than the fruit harvested in October. The CI severity of the fruit harvested in March was greater than that of fruit harvested in October. The higher CI severity of the fruit harvested in March was accompanied with reduced membrane integrity as well as enzymatic browning compared to the fruit harvested in October. In conclusion, high rainfall during fruit development is a major factor for CI of Queen pineapple grown in tropical zones. The results of this investigation provide insight into the causes underlying the loss of fruit quality during storage and marketing.

Research was conducted at the University Orchard, Horticultural College and Research Institute, to investigate the extent of pollen production, pollen fertility, fruit set, fruit growth and seed set as well as seedling vigour when two wild relatives of papaya (Vasconcellea cauliflora and Vasconcellea candamarcensis) are involved in the hybridization programme as male parents with three papaya cultivars (CO 7, TNAU Papaya CO 8 and Pusa Nanha) as female parents. Among the two wild relatives, V. candamarcensis was more polleniferous but with significantly lesser pollen viability and germination than V. cauliflora. Among the six intergeneric crosses, although the fruit set ranged from 60.00% to 93.33% the fruit retention till harvest was only 30.77 per cent to 35.71 per cent. The study also revealed metaxenic influence of wild parent on the growth of the fruits derived after crossing. Seed set was observed only with CO 7 as female parent but the seed size and weight, germination and seedling vigour recorded by intergeneric crosses of CO 7 with Vasconcellea were found to be low. The implications of the observations are discussed in relevance to employing the wild relatives for improvement of papaya.

Capsicum chinense Jacq. is classified under the Solanaceae family, which is an extensively consumed spice and vegetable globally. Therefore, to gain more knowledge and insight into the diversity of Capsicum chinense Jacq. metabolites, a total of 18 placental tissues from various development stages were collected and untargeted metabolomics was conducted by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) analysis established the existence of distinct metabolite distribution patterns as observed at 16 days post anthesis (DPA), compared with the metabolites at 36 and 48 DPA groups, whereas there was a difference in metabolites between the orange ripening period (B) and the red ripening period (C), which intersected with each other. Furthermore, several pathways including metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, ABC transporters, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, pentose and glucoronate pathways, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, cutin, biosynthesis of suberine and wax were significantly enriched across the fruit ripening stages. The capsaicin content was observed to be less in the early ripening stages, but gradually increased to a high concentration during the late ripening stages. In conclusion, our study findings submit a suitable approach for interpreting the biochemical variances of non-targeted metabolomics in hot pepper developmental stages, as well as offer new findings that can be applied in the development strategies in breeding of Capsicum chinense Jacq.

In many regions, water limitations are increasing because of frequent and persistent droughts and competition for water resources. As a result, growers in these regions, including those producing blueberries, must limit irrigation during drier years. To identify the most critical periods for irrigation, we evaluated the effects of soil water deficits during various stages of fruit development on different cultivars of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The study was conducted for 2 years in western Oregon and included two early season cultivars, ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Duke’, a midseason cultivar, ‘Bluecrop’, and two late-season cultivars, ‘Elliott’ and ‘Aurora’. Volumetric soil water content and stem water potentials declined within 1 to 2 weeks with no rain or irrigation in each cultivar and were lowest during the later stages of fruit development. Water deficits reduced berry weight by 10% to 15% in ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Elliott’ when irrigation was withheld in the second year during early or late stages of fruit development and by 6% to 9% in ‘Aurora’ when irrigation was withheld in either year during the final stages of fruit development. However, water deficits only reduced yield significantly in ‘Aurora’, which produced 0.8 to 0.9 kg/plant fewer fruit per year when irrigation was withheld during fruit coloring. In many cases, water deficits also reduced fruit firmness and increased the concentration of soluble solids in the berries, but they had inconsistent effects on titratable acidity and sugar-to-acid ratios. As a rule, water deficits were most detrimental during later stages of fruit development, particularly in midseason and late-season cultivars, which ripened in July and August during the warmest and driest months of the year.

Meyvecilikte ekonomik bir üretim için kültürel uygulamaların ve hasadın doğru zamanda yapılması önemlidir. Meyve tür ve çeşitlerinde meyvelerin büyüme, gelişme ve olgunlaşma dönemlerindeki fiziksel ve kimyasal değişimlerin bilinmesi uygulanacak kültürel işlemler ile hasat zamanının belirlenmesinde önem arz eder. Bu çalışmada ülkemizin kayısı üretim ve ihracatında önemli paya sahip Hacıhaliloğlu kayısı çeşidinin; meyve gelişim dönemindeki fiziksel ve kimyasal değişimlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada Hacıhaliloğlu kayısı çeşidinde çiçeklenme sonundan hasada kadar geçen sürenin 110 gün olduğu, bu sürenin ilk bir aylık periyodunda hasattaki meyve boyunun yaklaşık %75’ine, meyve genişliği ve kalınlığının %50’sine ulaşıldığı, meyve ağırlığındaki artışın yaklaşık %50’sinin ise son bir aylık periyotta gerçekleştiği belirlenmiştir. Fitokimyasal analizlerde; meyve olgunluğu arttıkça SÇKM, pH ve toplam şeker içeriğinin arttığı buna karşılık TEA değerinin düştüğü görülmüştür. Meyve kabuk rengi ölçümlerinde; L renk değerinde kısmi bir artış gözlenirken, a ve b renk değerlerinin çağla döneminden hasat dönemine yaklaştıkça yükseldiği görülmüştür. Sonuç olarak; Hacıhaliloğlu kayısı çeşidinin meyvelerindeki fiziksel gelişimin büyük bölümü çağla döneminin ilk bir aylık periyodunda gerçekleşirken, meyvelerdeki tatlanma ve renklenme gibi kalite parametrelerinin hasada yakın dönemde yükseldiği belirlenmiştir., For fruit grawing, it is important to carry out cultural practices and harvest at the right time. To know the physical and chemical changes in the growth, development and ripening periods of the fruit species and varieties are important in determining the harvesting time and cultural processes. This study was carried out to determine physical and chemical changes of Hacıhaliloğlu apricot cultivar, which has an important share in apricot production and export of Turkey, in fruit development period.In the study, it was found that the period between flowering and harvesting was 110 days in Hacıhaliloğlu apricot cultivars. In the first month of this period, approximately 75% of the fruit length, 50% of the fruit width and thickness were reached and 50% of the increase in the fruit weight reached in the last month.In phytochemical analyzes; it was observed that the increase in fruit maturity, TSS, pH and total sugar content increased, while TA value decreased. In fruit skin color measurements; it was observed that a and b color values increased, while a partial increase in L color value was observed as fruits approached harvest period.As a result; Most of the physical development of the fruits of Hacıhaliloğlu apricot cultivar was realized in the first one month period of the unripe fruit period, but it was determined that the quality parameters such as sweetening and coloring of fruits increased in the period closed to harvest.

Xylem water transport from the parent plant plays a crucial role in fruit growth, development, and the determination of quality. Attempts have been made to partition the hydraulic resistance of the pathway over the course of development, but no consensus has been reached. Furthermore, the issue has not been addressed in the context of changing plant and fruit water status under water deficit conditions. In this study, we have conducted a rigorous investigation into the developmental changes that occur in the hydraulic properties of tomato fruits and their pedicels under well-irrigated and water deficit conditions, based on hydraulic measurements, fruit rehydration, dye-tracing, light and electron microscopy, and flow modeling. We found that a decline in water transport capacity during development did not occur in the xylem pathway leading up to the fruit, but within the fruit itself, where the effect might reside either inside or outside of the xylem pathway. The developmental pattern of the hydraulic resistance of the xylem pathway was not significantly influenced by water deficit. The changes in xylem flow between the fruit and the parent plant resulting from the reduced driving force under water deficit could explain the reduced accumulation of water in the fruit. This study provides new insights that aid our understanding of xylem water transport in fleshy fruits and its sensitivity to water deficit from a hydraulic perspective.

Grape diseases are major factors causing severe diminution in its fruit development. Unfavorable climatic conditions are one of the principal dangers for grape disease development. Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, Anthracnose, Stem borer, Black Rot, Leaf Blight are widespread grape leaf vermin and diseases, which cause stern monetary losses to the grape industry. Devices ready to quantify the climate conditions in real-time for disease onset are hence crucial to perform timely diagnosis and precise detection of grape leaf diseases. This will ensure the healthy growth of grape plants, further controlling the spread of diseases. This paper discusses the requirements for building a consistent grape disease detection framework that would encourage headways in agribusiness. The primary aim of this work is to adapt an Internet of Things (IoT) based approach to predict the occurrence of Downey and Powdery Mildew grape diseases at an early stage. The sensor values received are transmitted to the Central Server with the help of the IoT device NodeMCU. At the server side, an analysis is made based on weather conditions. Further notification to the farmer is sent if weather properties are conducive for disease onset. The exclusivity of the system lies in using a rain gauge sensor along with the temperature sensor to predict the occurrence of grape diseases. This system realizes an overall accuracy of 94.4% for Downey Mildew and 96% for Powdery Mildew. Experimental results suggest the projected model can proficiently recognize Downey and Powdery Mildew grape diseases.

Background NAC transcription factors (TFs) are plant-specific proteins encoded by a large gene family. They play important roles in diverse biological processes, such as plant growth and development, leaf senescence, and responses to biotic or abiotic stresses. Functions of a number of NAC TFs have been identified mainly in model plants. However, very few studies on NAC TFs have been conducted in the fruit tree of kiwifruit. Results Genome-wide NAC genes were identified and their phylogeny, genomic structure, chromosomal location, synteny relationships, protein properties and conserved motifs were analyzed. In addition, the fruit developmental process was evaluated in a new kiwifruit cultivar of Actinidia eriantha ‘Ganlu 1’. And expressions for all those NAC genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR method in fruits of ‘Ganlu 1’ during its developmental process. Our research identified 142 NAC TFs which could be phylogenetically divided into 23 protein subfamilies. The genomic structures of those NAC genes indicated that their exons were between one and ten. Analysis of chromosomal locations suggested that 116 out of 142 NACs distributed on all the 29 kiwifruit chromosomes. In addition, genome-wide gene expression analysis showed that expressions of 125 out of 142 NAC genes could be detected in fruit samples. Conclusion Our comprehensive study provides novel information on NAC genes and expression patterns in kiwifruit fruit. This research would be helpful for future functional identification of NAC genes involved in kiwifruit fruit development.

Postharvest decay in pears is a disease complex caused by several fungal pathogens. To understand the presence of these pathogens on flower and fruit tissues at early stages of fruit development, we collected samples from two commercial pear orchards in southern Oregon at five stages of fruit development: cluster bud, full bloom, petal fall, fruitlets, and field bins during commercial harvest. We recovered four common postharvest decay pathogens, Alternaria spp., Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium herbarum, and Penicillium expansum, which varied in frequency across these stages, suggesting that pathogens may initially infect flowers and fruitlets well before conventional preharvest fungicide sprays. In a separate experiment, we applied four fungicides early in the growing season and/or shortly before harvest to determine when treatment was most effective in reducing the recovery rate of these pathogens and reducing storage rot. The recovery of Alternaria spp., B. cinerea, and P. expansum from flowers and fruitlets was reduced by 33, 47, and 33%, respectively, with bloom-time fungicide applications compared with nontreated control treatments. In addition, the fungicide program that included bloom-time application, preharvest application, and postharvest application resulted in significantly lower storage rot incidence compared with preharvest and postharvest application only. Syllit (dodine) reduced the storage rot incidence by 71%, Inspire Super (difenoconazole + cyprodinil) by 52%, Nevado (iprodione) by 36%, and Merivon (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin) by 33% compared with nontreated control treatments.

Fruits, as the reproductive organs of many higher plants, are an integral part of a balanced diet, providing rich nutrients and bioactive substances for our health. Over the years, the research on fruit development, quality formation and stress response has deepened, which sheds light on the regulatory mechanism and application of fruit quality improvement. Among the many regulatory factors, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding RNAs, ranging from 20 to 24-nt, which post-transcriptionally regulate target gene expression. miRNAs and their functions have been extensively examined in plants especially in model species, and they play critical roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes in response to endogenous developmental signals and external environmental cues, respectively. In fruit crops, the function of miRNAs and their regulation have also been under intensive study. In particular, the novel roles of miRNAs that have not been revealed in the model annual species have been unraveling, which reflect the genetic, physiological, and developmental complexity of gene regulation in fruit crops. Here we review the current research progress achieved, specifically in fruit crops, with a focus on the function of miRNAs in the control of fruit development and quality as well as response to various stresses. The future prospects of miRNAs for quality-targeted fruit breeding are also discussed.

The photosynthetic light response of commercial blackberry cultivars (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) is largely unexplored, although they are frequently grown in full sun. In this experiment, light response curves of floricane leaves from the cultivars Natchez, Apache, Navaho, and Von were examined throughout the following production stages: before shiny black fruit were present (before harvest, BH), during peak production of fruit (peak harvest, PH), and when most fruit had fallen from plants or any remaining were dull black (after harvest, AH). Each cultivar was evaluated between an irradiance of 2000 and 0 μmol·m–2·s–1. The estimated maximum photosynthetic rate (photosynthetic capacity, PNmax) was greater BH than AH across all cultivars, whereas ‘Natchez’ had a greater PNmax BH and PH compared with the other cultivars. During AH, all cultivars had a similar PNmax. The BH response curves declined under the highest irradiance measured, whereas the PH and AH response curves remained stable at similarly high irradiance. Of the four cultivars, Apache, Navaho, and Von appeared to be more photosynthetically limited than Natchez under increasing irradiance. Based on the cultivar-specific performance observed, blackberry response to light is a relevant trait that breeding programs should consider for improving cultivar adaptability to local and regional conditions.

The characteristics of rootstock have impacts scion’s nutritional status, resistance to environmental stresses and adaptation to a specific region. Thus the performance of a cultivar is largely dependent on the rootstock-scion interactions. In this study, seasonal variations in mineral nutrients of ‘Nova’ and ‘Robinson’ mandarin cultivars budded on different citrus rootstocks were investigated under Dortyol-Hatay (Turkey) ecological conditions. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents of the leaves exhibited slightly similar trends with each other. In general, these nutrients decreased from January to March-April and increased in the subsequent growing season until mid- and late summer, then decreased again until December. Similar trends were also observed in calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations of leaves. Leaf Ca and Mg concentrations decreased from January to March, then increased during fruit development until July-August and decreased again during autumn and winter. Also, micro elements such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) increased from January to May–June and then gradually decreases began during the growing season until December. Throughout the entire growing season, mean macro nutrients such as N, K and Ca concentrations ranged from 1.89% (‘Nova’/Carrizo citrange) to 2.02% (‘Robinson’/Carrizo citrange), from 1.10% (‘Robinson’/Carrizo citrange) to 1.39% (‘Nova’/Carrizo citrange) and from 2.62% (‘Nova’ /sour orange) to 3.48% (‘Robinson’/Troyer citrange), respectively. Phosphorus and Mg concentrations showed slightly similar trends and varied between 0.14–0.16% and between 0.31–0.39%, respectively. The ranges of mean micro nutrients such as Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations were between 65.3 and 75.4 mg kg−1, 33.7 and 39.6 mg kg−1, 64.1 and 70.6 mg kg−1, and 10.5 and 11.4 mg kg−1, respectively. It can be concluded that rootstock-scion relations can cause considerable differences in seasonal nutrition of mandarin cultivars.

Seasonal progression in the nutritional concentration of fruit peel, pulp, and leaves of mandarin cultivar Kinnow (KN) and W. Murcott (WM) were evaluated at monthly intervals during fruit developme...

Agronomic crops engineered with resistance to 2,4-D or dicamba have been commercialized and widely adopted throughout the United States. Because of this, increased use of these herbicides in time and space has increased damage to sensitive crops. From 2014 to 2016, cucumber and cantaloupe studies were conducted in Tifton, GA, to demonstrate how auxinic herbicides (namely, 2,4-D or dicamba), herbicide rate (1/75 or 1/250 field use), and application timing (26, 16, and 7 d before harvest [DBH] of cucumber; 54, 31, and 18 DBH of cantaloupe) influenced crop injury, growth, yield, and herbicide residue accumulation in marketable fruit. Greater visual injury, reductions in vine growth, and yield loss were observed at higher rates when herbicides were applied during early-season vegetative growth compared with late-season with fruit development. Dicamba was more injurious in cucumber, whereas cantaloupe responded similarly to both herbicides. For cucumber, total fruit number and relative weights were reduced (16% to 19%) when either herbicide was applied at the 1/75 rate 26 DBH. Cantaloupe fruit weight was also reduced 21% and 10% when either herbicide was applied at the 1/75 rate 54 or 31 DBH, respectively. Residue analysis noted applications made closer to harvest were more likely to be detectable in fruit than earlier applications. In cucumber, dicamba was detected at both rates when applied 7 DBH, whereas in cantaloupe, it was detected at both rates when applied 18 or 31 DBH in 2016 and at the 1/75 rate applied 18 or 31 DBH in 2014. Detectable amounts of 2,4-D were not observed in cucumber but were detected in cantaloupe when applied at either rate 18 or 31 DBH. Although early-season injury will more likely reduce cucumber or cantaloupe yields, the quantity of herbicide residue detected will be most influenced by the time interval between the off-target incident and sampling. Nomenclature: 2,4-D; dicamba; cucumber; Cucumis sativus, L.; cantaloupe; Cucumis melo var. cantalupo; Ser.

The main objective of the study is to assess the key harvesting time based on the comparative evaluation of the total sugar and phenol contents and also their health beneficial antioxidant potentiality during the stages of fruit development of three mango cultivars, viz. Amrapali, Laxmanbhog, and Gooti, to extend the post-harvest storage and shelf-life for mango fruit consumption and processing. The study reflects that the gross total sugar contents (30–80 mg/g) of all three varieties were the same at the final stage of ripening, while there were remarkable differences in phenol and antioxidant contents. Total phenol contents (TPCs) in the epicarp and mesocarp region of fruits were ranged from 10 to 95 µg/g and 7 to 40 µg/g, respectively, in the different varieties. The Amrapali variety showed the highest TPC in the epicarp in stage one (95 µg/g) than the other cultivars. The antioxidant capacity of this variety gradually increased with the ripening stages which were quite contradictory to the other two varieties. The greater antioxidant activity of Amrapali and Laxmanbhog was observed throughout the developmental stages than the wild cultivar, Gooti. These results indicate that the late 3rd stage or early 4th stage would be the key harvesting time and post-harvest storage with extended shelf-life with reduced incidence of anthracnose and other fruit spoilage diseases. The high sugar and antioxidant contents in these cheap fruits, apart from delicacies, could contribute a valuable source of antioxidants to all classes of people in their daily diet.

Commercial cultivars of kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) can have green-fleshed or yellow-fleshed fruit depending on their chlorophyll degradation ability. In recent years, an increasing number of yellow...

BACKGROUND: Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), known as “golden fruit”, has excellent potential for immune-regulation, anti-inflammation and anti-cancer due to its health-promoting secondary metabolites. The lack of genetic information in public databases has been a constraint for the genetic improvement of red raspberry. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the work was to find the key genes relating with the secondary metabolite pathways. METHODS: De novo assembly transcriptome sequencing of red raspberry (‘Heritage’ variety) fruit in different development stages was performed using an Illumina Hiseq platform. Transcriptome was obtained by the de novo assembly through Trinity assembler. Coding sequences were successfully characterized using databases including non-redundant protein (NR), euKaryotic Ortholog Groups of proteins (KOG), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript sequence per Million base pairs sequenced (FPKM) method was used to calculate the differentially expressed unigenes. RESULTS: In total, 205,880 unigenes with an average length of 1120 bp and an N50 of 2005 bp were obtained, of which 182,443 unigenes were annotated. Non redundant (NR) annotation showed that a majority of the best hits (58.6%) are wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Additionally, the unigenes were also annotated in euKaryotic Ortholog Groups of proteins database and Gene ontology database, and mapped the KEGG pathways. We predicted that 8331 TFs from the unigenes database and these TFs were classified into 94 different common families. The major families were associated with the C2H2 (9.19%), followed by the C3H (4.60%), MYB-related group (4.23%), bZIP (4.13%) and B3 (4.03%). These results were considered to be involved in the regulation of metabolic and secondary metabolic biosynthesis. Totally, 3,369, 3,461 and 441 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in period 2 vs period 1, period 3 vs period 2 and period 4 vs period 3 paired comparisons, respectively. These DEGs were analyzed based on BLASTx, which were mapped to 22 KEGG pathways associating with secondary metabolites during red raspberry fruit ripening, involving anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, etc. To validate the high-throughput sequencing results, six target genes involved in secondary metabolite pathways of red raspberry fruit were tested by qRT-PCR. The results of qRT-PCR assay were generally consistent with the results of RNA sequencing. CONCLUSION: The transcriptome sequencing of the red raspberry fruit at different development stage in this study enriched the genetic information resources of this variety, and will discover the genes relating with secondary metabolic pathways, benefiting to engineer high-quality plants with enhanced active ingredients.

Tomato crop requires some of the basic practices during cultivation to obtained high yield and quality attributes without affected from adverse biotic and abiotic factors. These attributes can be maintained though several ways, which will have beneficial for the farmers to fetching better economy from the quality produce into the domestic market or by, export. Among the various practices, fruit bagging has emerged as an effective method. Bagging is a physical protection method which not only improves the visual quality of fruit by promoting skin coloration and reducing blemishes but can also change the micro-environment for fruit development, which can have several beneficial effects on internal fruit quality. Seven different type of bagging (Fruit covering materials) were applied in five randomized selected plants from each plot. These seven bagging are News Paper bagging, Butter Paper bagging, Transparent Polythene Bagging, Black polythene bagging, Muslin net (cloth) bagging, jute bagging and No bagging (control). Different treatments have been shown various effects viz: significantly highest fruit yield (3.136 kg/plant) has been recorded under butter paper bagging. Lowest fruit yield was recorded under control (2.250 kg/plant) closely followed by jute bag bagging (2.752 kg/plant). Significantly highest ascorbic acid (27.33 mg100-1g) was recorded in butter paper bag while lowest ascorbic acid content (19.36 mg100-1g) was recorded in control fruits.

Climatic alterations affect the physiology, growth and production of the feijoa, a native plant to the higher zone between Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. In Colombia, optimal growth temperatures are between 13 and 21°C (16°C). Very high temperatures (>32°C) affect pollination and fruit set, but low temperatures down to -4°C in adult plants do not cause significant damage. Thus, feijoa is a well-adapted plant to cold conditions since 3.04°C has been found as the base (minimum) temperature for the phase between flower bud and fruit set, while 1.76°C was measured as the base temperature for fruit development. The plant requires a minimum of 1000 hours of direct sunlight/year (optimum≥1500); the pyramidal form of the tree favors the entry of light into the crown organs. In the crown of a feijoa tree, trained with three branching levels of horizontal bent primary laterals, the outer middle quadrant produces the largest fruits, compared to those that grow in the upper quadrant. The reduced fruit growth is due to the excessive incidence of light (especially UV) and heat on these fruits on the periphery of the tree. In Colombia, altitudes between 1800 and 2700 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.) are adequate for growth and production of this fruit, while lower elevations favor the incidence of fruit flies. Precipitations between 700 and 1200 mm/year (max. 2000 mm) benefit the vegetative and reproductive performance of the tree, with an important drier season at the beginning of the reproductive season (flowering and fruit set). Due to the strength of its branches and the small, thick leaves, the tree is relatively wind resistant.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an economically important cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) crop cultivated globally for its nutritional benefits. Fruit development in watermelon is characterized by fast fruit expansion attributed to unique biological processes. Myeloblastosis (MYB) family genes play important roles in plant growth and development, especially R2R3-MYB-type genes. However, the evolution of R2R3-MYB family genes in the watermelon genome and whether they participate in the regulation of watermelon fruit development remain unknown. To address these questions, duplication modes of R2R3-MYB family genes were identified and their expression profiles were investigated during watermelon fruit development. A total of 48 duplicated gene pairs were identified among the 89 R2R3-MYBs in watermelon. Segmental and transposed duplication events play major roles in the R2R3-MYB family gene expansion process. The ratio of nonsynonymous mutation and synonymous mutation analysis indicated that all the duplicated R2R3-MYBs experienced negative selection. Gene structures and cis-element compositions in promoter sequences exhibited abundant divergences between the R2R3-MYB duplicated genes. Transcriptome analyses of seed, rind, and flesh during fruit development showed that only two duplicated gene pairs had significantly similar expression patterns, whereas divergent expression profiles were found between the remaining duplicated gene pairs. Tissue-specific and development stage-specific divergent expression patterns demonstrated that neo-functionalization occurred between watermelon R2R3-MYB duplicated genes. The current study provides valuable information for further functional analyses of R2R3-MYBs in watermelon.

Peanut pods develop underground, which is the most salient characteristic in peanut. However, its developmental transcriptome remains largely unknown. In the present study, we sequenced over one billion transcripts to explore the developmental transcriptome of peanut pod using Illumina sequencing. Moreover, we identified and quantified the abundances of 165,689 transcripts in seed and shell tissues along with a pod developmental gradient. The dynamic changes of differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were described in seed and shell. Additionally, we found that photosynthetic genes were not only pronouncedly enriched in aerial pod, but also played roles in developing pod under dark condition. Genes functioning in photomorphogenesis showed distinct expression profiles along subterranean pod development. Clustering analysis unraveled a dynamic transcriptome, in which transcripts for DNA synthesis and cell division during pod expansion were transitioning to transcripts for cell expansion and storage activity during seed filling. Collectively, our study formed a transcriptional baseline for peanut fruit development under dark condition.

The present investigation was conducted on ten varieties of mango collected from orchard at ANDUAT, Kumarganj, Ayodhya to study physical and biochemical parameters during various stages of fruit development. Highest total sugar content was observed in Amrapali (6.52%) at 30 days and 13.05% at 60 days after fruit setting. Maximum ascorbic acid content was recorded in Gilash (26.73 mg/100g) at 30 days, Langra (23.32mg/100g) at 60 days and Gulabkhas (19.83 mg/100g) at 90 days after fruit setting. Maximum beta carotene content was noticed in Amrapali (124.94 µg/100g) at 30 days and 90 days (3543.80µg/100g). Maximum crude fibre content was noticed in Gilash (1.28%) at 30 days and (1.11%) at 60 days. Dashehari variety was found to contain highest amount of total sugar while highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in Gilash at 30 days and Gulabkhas at 90 days.

Fruit development studies were taken up in white and pink types of wax apple trees aging twelve years old at Goa, India. The study was initiated with the onset of flowering in November during the year 2018. After tagging the flowers on anthesis, samples were drawn periodically to record parameters like fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter (upper, middle and lower), quality or biochemical parameters like total acids and sugars. Relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated for all parameters and graphs were generated. In both the types, fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter increased in a sigmoidal pattern. The quality characters like TSS, total acids and total sugars also showed a sigmoidal pattern of increase whereas the increase in reducing sugars exhibited a double sigmoidal pattern of increase. It was evident from the curves that there was pronounced peak in growth rate between 21 and 28 days after anthesis for fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit length and diameter, in both pink and white types of wax apple.

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are ranked eighth in value for vegetable production in the United States (USDA-NASS, 2019). Due to the high value of bell peppers, disorders such as blossom-end rot (BER) can cause significant losses in yield by up to 35% for growers. BER is the symptom of a calcium (Ca2+) deficiency that may occur during periods of cell expansion when the supply of Ca2+ may be lower than demand. In this study, we determined the temporal patterns of the fruit Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]) and accumulation in three separate studies under field and greenhouse conditions. In the three experiments, [Ca2+] during fruit development showed varied patterns: it remained constant, decreased transiently during the cell expansion phase, or displayed a more gradual sustained decrease. However, in the three experiments, fruit Ca2+ accumulation increased during development as fruit size increased. In two experiments, the distal part of the fruit had lower [Ca2+] than the proximal end. However, there was no correlation between [Ca2+] in various fruit sections with BER incidence. Seeds and placental tissue had increased [Ca2+] and several other macro- and micronutrients; this spatial distribution of Ca2+ coupled with subcellular Ca2+ distribution should be explored in future studies. The temporal pattern of Ca2+ accumulation in this study suggests that fruit Ca2+ uptake continues throughout fruit development. Therefore, Ca2+ application during bloom and early fruit development may prevent or minimize Ca2+ deficiency disorders in bell pepper.

Changes in the composition of nectarine cuticular waxes along with variations in fruit conductance and brown rot susceptibility during development suggest a role for cuticular waxes in fruit permeability and defence., The cuticle is composed of cutin and cuticular waxes, and it is the first protective barrier to abiotic and biotic stresses in fruit. In this study, we analysed the composition of and changes in cuticular waxes during fruit development in nectarine (Prunus persica L. Batsch) cultivars, in parallel with their conductance and their susceptibility to Monilinia laxa. The nectarine waxes were composed of triterpenoids, mostly ursolic and oleanolic acids, phytosterols, and very-long-chain aliphatics. In addition, we detected phenolic compounds that were esterified with sugars or with triterpenoids, which are newly described in cuticular waxes. We quantified 42 compounds and found that they changed markedly during fruit development, with an intense accumulation of triterpenoids during initial fruit growth followed by their decrease at the end of endocarp lignification and a final increase in very-long-chain alkanes and hydroxylated triterpenoids until maturity. The surface conductance and susceptibility to Monilinia decreased sharply at the beginning of endocarp lignification, suggesting that triterpenoid deposition could play a major role in regulating fruit permeability and susceptibility to brown rot. Our results provide new insights into the composition of cuticular waxes of nectarines and their changes during fruit development, opening new avenues of research to explore brown rot resistance factors in stone fruit.

Changes in apple (Malus domestica Bork.) peel PSII photochemical process during fruit development under high solar radiation field conditions were analysed by the JIP-test to increase understanding on energy dissipation and susceptibility to photooxidative damage. Fruits growing exposed (E), non-exposed (NE) or suddenly exposed (SU) to high solar radiation were evaluated at three developmental stages. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a fluorescence transient (OJIP), were affected by high solar radiation and development. Minimum fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, maximum quantum yield of photochemistry, and specific fluxes per cross section decreased in E and SU fruits. JIP parameters were a sensitive indicator of high solar radiation stress in apple peel. Peroxidative damage was observed in E fruits at each stage of development and in SU fruits at early and mid-stages. By delineating the photochemical events induced by solar radiation in apple fruits at different developmental stages, our findings might help to increase understanding on susceptibility of apple to photooxidation damage depending on the light environment and developmental stage they are exposed to.

With the progress of chemical synthesis technology, structurally modified brassinosteroids (BRs) with greater stability, under field conditions have been synthesized on a commercial scale and registered as plant growth regulators for specific horticultural crops. In both fundamental and application-oriented research, BRs and their analogues play prominent roles in various physiological processes including, seed development and germination, flower sex expression, fruit development, improvement of quantity and quality of crops, and resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. It is worthy to note here that the involvement of BRs in plant protection from adverse environmental stress and pesticides seems to have good prospects, since BRs appear nontoxic and environmentally friendly. It is well known that horticultural crops have a great variety of produce organs as well as high yield and output values. Moreover, their production is susceptible to sub-optimum environmental conditions, especially in facilities cultivation. Thus, practical application of BRs to horticultural crops for enhancing crops production and protection may have a promising prospect in the near future.

In the past decade, FL citrus industry has been struck by Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease caused by the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Besides tree decline, HLB causes a sharp increase in mature fruit drop before harvest, leading to a substantial reduction in citrus production. The aim of the study was to provide insights in HLB-associated mature fruit drop. For HLB-affected ‘Valencia’ and ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), trees exhibiting severe symptoms (“severe trees”) had a significantly higher rate of mature fruit drop compared with mildly symptomatic ones (“mild trees”). Interestingly, dropped fruit were smaller than those still attached to tree branches regardless of the symptom levels of trees; overall, fruit of severe trees were smaller than mild trees. The result suggests a negative effect of HLB on fruit growth that may lead to a high incidence to drop subsequently at maturity. This possibility is further supported by the difference in immature fruit size as early as 2 months after bloom between severe and mild trees. Although HLB-triggered phloem plugging due to callose deposition in citrus leaves, which results in disrupted carbohydrate transport, has been documented in literature, the results of the histological analysis demonstrated no consistent pattern of callose deposition in the mature fruit pedicel in relation to the drop incidence. Additionally, sugar concentration in juice was not significantly different between dropped and attached fruit, providing evidence that carbohydrate shortage is not the case for dropped fruit and thus not the predominant cause of HLB-associated mature fruit drop. Notably, the midday water potential was significantly lower for severe than mild trees during the preharvest period (2 weeks before harvest of the current crop) in late March, which was also the second week after full bloom of return flowering. This suggests that altered tree water status due to HLB might limit fruit growth during the initial stage of fruit development (immediately after flowering) and/or increase the incidence of mature fruit abscission, leading to elevated preharvest fruit drop. Together, the results suggest that in the presence of HLB, strategies to increase fruit size and minimize additional stresses (especially drought) for the trees may improve mature fruit retention.

Fruit skin color is an important characteristic of fruit quality. The light-mediated regulation on fruit skin coloration in Actinidia arguta remains unclear. To better understand the role of light in fruit skin coloration, we performed bagging treatments in both on-tree and off-tree ‘Hongbaoshixing’, which is a kind of all-red-typed A. arguta cultivar. Non-bagging kiwifruits were used as control. For off-tree fruits, there was no difference between non-bagging and bagging treatments. For on-tree fruits, physiological and molecular changes were investigated during fruit development in non-bagging and bagging treatments. Phenotypic identification and the hue angle measurement showed that the stage of most significant color difference between non-bagging and bagging treatments was 130 days (after full bloom). Determination of five anthocyanin components suggested cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-xylose-galactoside made a main contribution to the fruit skin coloration. Gene expression profiles and cluster analysis showed AaLDOX and AaUFGT were highly expressed at 130 days and obviously clustered into the same class in non-bagging treatment, respectively. Correlation analysis suggested only AaLDOX expression was significantly correlated with anthocyanin content in non-bagging treatment while no correlation in bagging treatment. Similar results was observed for MYB1 transcription factor. The result of subcellular localization showed that AaLDOX was located in the cytoplasm, indicating AaLDOX is indeed structural gene that encodes leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase participated in anthocyanin biosynthesis. All results were used to establish a possible working model, showing that light is indispensable for normal fruit skin coloration, and bagging treatment suppresses anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation mainly by inhibiting AaMYB1 and AaLDOX expression in A. arguta.

Apple core rot, an economically important disease worldwide, appears both before and during harvest. Current gaps in understanding of the infection cycle impede progress toward more effective management of this disease. The fungus Trichothecium roseum is the main pathogen of core rot on apple in China. In this study, we used fluorescent labeling to trace colonization of T. roseum in floral tissues, characterizing routes of penetration to the core of ‘Fuji’ apples. T. roseum infected petals, anthers, filaments, stigmas and separated styles of flowers, and floral debris served as inoculum for core infection. In field inoculations, T. roseum entered styles initially through stylar fissures and colonized pluricellular hairs of these fissures during early stages of fruit development. Subsequently, hyphae grew along the extending fissures, which are continuations of stylar fissures located between stylar bases and carpel cavities. The hyphae remained in the extending fissures from mid-June to late July. When fruit developed an open sinus in late July, the sinus eventually fused with extending fissures and carpel cavities in late August, hyphae invaded carpel cavities, and ultimately fruit flesh via cracks on carpel cavity walls. Our results revealed for the first time the routes by which T. roseum penetrates apple fruit, and provided significant insights for strategic management of core rot.

Analysis of 30 tomato cultivars with different fruit locule numbers revealed four cultivars with multi-locular fruits carrying a null mutation in the SlFAS gene. It was shown that cultivars with more than two fruit locules contain two SNPs, associated with the multi-locule trait, at the locule number locus. Co-expression profile of SlFAS, SlYABBY2 and SlYABBY5 genes was determined in a young bud and at three stages of fruit development in three tomato cultivars contrasting in the fruit locule number. In the Cœur de bœuf cultivar (≥10 locules), SlFAS transcripts were absent in all analyzed tissues. In addition, compared with the Red Cherry (2 locules) and Viking (5–6 locules) cultivars, in the Cœur de bœuf bud and fruits, the transcription levels of SlYABBY2 and SlYABBY5 were considerably lower and higher, respectively.