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China has abundant germplasm resources of pomegranate. Previous studies have analyzed the fruit quality of the cultivated and wild pomegranates collected from different regions of China. In this study, 45 pomegranate cultivars from Yicheng, Shandong province, China were used as materials. Principal component and cluster analysis was performed based on 18 fruit quality traits. There were significant differences in 18 fruit traits among 45 pomegranate cultivars. Nine principal components (PCs) were extracted by principal component analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 84.9%. PC1 and PC2 represented 20.9%, 14.3% of total variance respectively. The former was highly positively contributed by total flavonoid and phenolic content of juice, pericarp (FCJ, PCJ, FCP and PCP), and Vitamin C content of juice, while the latter was highly positively correlated with proanthocyanidins and total flavonoid content of seeds (PAS and FCS) and titratable acid content. According to the comprehensive scores, Yushiliu, Gangliu, Mantianhongsuan, Tianlvzi, Xinjianghongpi, Huaiyuanerbenzi, Xiaoqingpi, Damaya, Yichengheshunzhuangwuci, Taishanhong ranked as the top ten. The 45 pomegranate cultivars were clustered into four categories according to 18 fruit quality indicators, each group had unique characteristics. Most cultivars of group III had higher PCJ and proanthocyanidins content of pericarp, while most members of group Ⅳ had higher total anthocyanin contents, FCP and PCP, which suggested that the two groups were rich in functional substances and can be used for further processing. Therefore, the results would provide a method to comprehensively evaluate different cultivars and provide a reference for agricultural cultivation, industrial utilization and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the wintertime vertical distributions and source areas of aerosols, NO 2 , and HCHO in a coastal city of Dongying from December 2020 to March 2021, using ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) and a potential source contribution function (PSCF) model, respectively. Moreover, the chemical production sensitivity of O 3 at different height layers was analyzed using HCHO/NO 2 ratios. The results revealed that the wintertime averaged highest concentrations of aerosol (1.25 km−1), NO 2 (14.81 ppb), and HCHO (2.32 ppb) were mainly distributed at the surface layer, 100–200 m layer, and 200–300 m layer, respectively. Regarding the diurnal cycles, high concentrations of aerosol (>1.4 km−1) and NO 2 (>16.0 ppb) usually appeared in the early morning and late afternoon, while high concentrations of HCHO (>2.5 ppb) usually occurred during 12:00–15:00. The PSCF model revealed that the wintertime aerosol mainly originated from Shandong, northern Jiangsu, Korea, and the northwestern Mongolian Plateau. Below 200 m, NO 2 was mainly from western Shandong, whereas above 600 m, it was mainly from northern Shandong and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. The corresponding sources for HCHO were central and southern Shandong (below 200 m) and northern Shandong, northern Jiangsu, and southeastern BTH (above 600 m). In addition, the chemical production sensitivity of O 3 below 100 m was observed only in the VOC-limited regime. The percentages of O 3 production under the NO x -limited, NO x -VOC-limited, and VOC-limited regimes were 10.75% (31.18%), 4.30% (19.35%), and 84.95% (49.47%) at the 500–600 m (900–1000 m) layer. This study has guiding significance for the coordinated control of PM 2.5 and O 3 , and can assist in the implementation of regional joint prevention and control strategies for air pollutants. • The averaged wintertime NO 2 and HCHO profiles all exhibited a Gaussian shape. • The vertical potential sources of aerosol, NO 2 and HCHO were analyzed using PSCF. • O 3 chemical production sensitivity under 100 m was only VOC-limited. • The percentages of VOC-limited O 3 production at 500–600 were 84.95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]