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AbstractStone fruits, including peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and almonds, are economically significant crops that require careful nitrogen management to optimize growth, yield, and fruit quality. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial macronutrient for stone fruits, playing a vital role in leaf development, photosynthetic capacity, and in the formation of sugars and carbohydrates essential for fruit development. However, nitrogen application needs careful management, as both deficiency and excess of this nutrient element can adversely affect fruit size, quality, and yield. Excessive nitrogen can lead to decreased flesh firmness, reduced sweetness, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Additionally, nitrogen remobilization from senescing leaves to storage tissues is a key process that supports nutrient use efficiency and reduces reliance on external nitrogen inputs in deciduous fruit crops. The timing of nitrogen application is critical, with peak demand occurring during bud break, flowering, and fruit set. Among its method of application, fertigation has proven to be an effective method for delivering nitrogen, improving leaf nutrient status, vegetative growth, and fruit quality. The interaction between nitrogen fertilization and soil organic matter (SOM) is also significant, as nitrogen influences SOM dynamics and potentially enhance the soil fertility and structure. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on nitrogen fertilization in stone fruits, emphasizing the importance of balanced nitrogen management to achieve optimal growth, yield, and fruit quality. Despite extensive research globally, there is need to tailor nitrogen management practices to local conditions and improve sustainable stone fruit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit aroma of Japanese apricot is distinct, and the specific volatile compounds are not clearly known during fruit development and during post‐harvest stage. This study therefore aimed to explore the volatile compounds present during these stages. The volatile compounds were analysed by headspace solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. OAV, PCA and electronic nose techniques were used to determine the characteristic aroma components. Enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) was also applied to determine the activity of enzymes. The results showed that in the cultivars 'Xiyeqing' a total of 52 components that included 20 terpenes, 15 aldehydes, 9 esters, 3 ketones and 5 other substances were detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. While in the cultivar 'Xiaoyezhugan' a total of 49 components that included 25 terpenes, 7 aldehydes, 11 esters, 1 alcohol, 3 ketones and 2 other substances were also detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. We concluded that the characteristic volatile compounds of mature Japanese apricot fruit were (+)‐limonene, linalool, damascenone, β‐damascenone and nonanal, finding the basis for the fruity, floral and sweet aroma of the Japanese apricot fruit. Further analysis indicated that low temperature inhibited the synthesis of esters and terpenes, and dark conditions were more favourable to the synthesis of volatile compounds than light conditions. Short‐term storage of Japanese apricot fruit at room temperature and dark conditions was conducive for the maintenance of volatile compounds, and low‐temperature storage was the most destructive to the fruit volatile compounds. These findings form a theoretical foundation for exploring the specific volatile compound of Japanese apricot and helped to determine the optimal storage condition of post‐harvest stage for Japanese apricot fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial canker disease of stone fruits is a major concern in stone fruit‐growing countries worldwide. Pseudomonas spp. and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) are the primary pathogens involved in this disease. In spring, summer and autumn 2016, symptoms like those produced by Pseudomonas spp. and Xap were observed in almond, apricot, peach and nectarine orchards in central provinces of Iran (Qom, Isfahan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari). Gram‐positive cocci bacterial isolates were obtained from symptomatic trees. Following hypersensitivity and pathogenicity tests, isolates were divided into pathogenic and nonpathogenic groups, demonstrating the pathogenicity of some isolates on saplings of almond, peach and apricot. Multilocus sequence analysis was performed using the partial sequence of 16S rRNA region and four housekeeping genes, namely tuf, gap, dnaJ and rpoB, to determine the taxonomic classification of isolates, and revealed that pathogenic isolates identified as Staphylococcus warneri, while nonpathogenic isolates identified as S. warneri, S. epidermidis, S. hominis and S. saprophyticus. The isolates were further characterized by phenotypic and biochemical tests as well as by antibiotics assays. The unusual nature of the identified microorganism in the present study lies in the fact that, unlike most plant‐pathogenic agents, S. warneri is recognized worldwide as a cause of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Taken together, the bacterial canker disease caused by S. warneri appears to be a newly emerging disease of apricot, peach and almond trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water kefir is a product obtained through the fermentation of sucrose solution, usually with some kind of dried fruit addition, by a combined culture of micro-organisms which are contained within kefir grains. Its popularity is rising because of the simplicity of its preparation and its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, probiotic, and antibacterial effects. In this research, the water kefir production was studied in 250 mL jars, as well as in a horizontal rotating tubular bioreactor (HRTB). The first part of the research was conducted in smaller-scale (jars), wherein the optimal fruit and fruit portions were determined. These experiments included the addition of dried plums, apricots, raisins, dates, cranberries, papaya, and figs into 150 mL of initial sugar solution. Also, the optimal ratio between dried fruit and sucrose solution (0.2) at the beginning of the bioprocess was determined. The second part of this research was conducted using HRTB. The experiments in the HRTB were carried out by using different operational modes (constant or interval bioreactor rotation). A total of six different bioreactor setups were used, and in all experiments, figs were added at the beginning of the bioprocess (0.2 ratio between dried figs and sucrose solution). On the basis of the obtained results, the interval bioreactor rotation mode proved to be the better HRTB mode for the production of the water kefir, as the yield of the main fermentation products was higher, and their ratios were the most adequate for the quality of water kefir drink. The optimal results were obtained via HRTB setup 3/57 (3 min rotation, 57 min pause within 1 h) and rotation speed of 3 rpm. Furthermore, it is clear that HRTB has great potential for water kefir production due to the fact that HRTB experiments showed shorter fermentation times (at least five times) than water kefir production in jars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally available apricot seed shell as agro-waste was used for the preparation of adsorbents. The biochar was prepared at 370°C via pyrolysis and 80 mesh particle sizes were modified by 1N HCl. Nitrate adsorption and effect of co-ions from aqueous solution were studied under batch model using apricot seed shell powder (ASSP), apricot seed shell biochar (ASSB), and activated apricot seed shell biochar (AASSB). FTIR and pHPZC measurements were used to characterize the adsorbents. Based on the experimental findings, the optimum conditions follow pH 2, 0.3g dosage, initial concentration of 50 mg.L-1, and contact time of 90 min. The three forms of adsorbent exhibited good adsorption for nitrate. However, the maximum percentage removal of nitrate ions from the aqueous solution followed the order AASSB>ASSB>ASSP. The adsorption kinetic of nitrate ion was best fitted by pseudo 2nd order, and the parameters of adsorption isotherms elucidated favorable and improved sorption. This agro-waste could be used to develop sustainable adsorbents in water and wastewater treatment methods and has great potential to replace commercially available sorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various products can be made from high-nutritional fruits and can be consumed throughout the year. Traditionally, leather can be produced by using some fruits such as mulberry, grape, apricot, fig, and plum, and pomegranate is generally used in sour concentrate production. This study investigated some physicochemical properties, nutritional contents and consumer acceptance of sour concentrate and leather products obtained from chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit. Because of the characteristic astringent flavor of Aronia fruits, they cannot be consumed as raw fruit, they are consumed by processing into various products. The results revealed that sour concentrate and fruit leather contain high amounts of total phenols, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins and have high antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content of sour concentrate and fruit leather were found 2835.52 ± 258.70 mg GAE for 100 g DM and 2043.36 ± 59.60 mg GAE for 100 g DM, respectively. The sensory evaluation of sour and leather proved the acceptability by consumers. As a result of this study, it was concluded that new and healthy sour and leather can be produced commercially and alternatives to traditional products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to monitor apricot development and ripening through gene expression analysis of key candidate genes using the RT-qPCR technique. Eight apricot cultivars were selected to analyze phenological and genetic patterns from pre-ripening stages through to postharvest. In addition, 19 selected genes were analyzed in the contrasting cultivars 'Cebas Red' and 'Rojo Pasión' in different stages (two preharvest stages S1 and S2, one harvest stage S3, and two postharvest stages S4 and S5). This pool of genes included genes related to fruit growth and ripening, genes associated with fruit color, and genes linked to the fruit's nutraceutical aspects. Among the studied genes, Polygalacturonase (PG), Pectin methylesterase (PME), Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS), and Myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (INO1) were directly related to fruit maturation and quality. Significant differential expression was observed between the cultivars, which correlated with variations in firmness, shelf life, and sensory characteristics of the apricots. 'Rojo Pasión' displayed high levels of PG, associated with rapid maturation and shorter postharvest shelf life, whereas 'Cebas Red' exhibited lower levels of this gene, resulting in greater firmness and extended shelf life. Genes CCD4, CRTZ, and ZDS, related to carotenoids, showed varied expression patterns during growth and postharvest stages, with higher levels in 'Rojo Pasión'. On the other hand, Sucrose synthase (SUSY) and Lipoxygenase (LOX2) were prominent during the postharvest and growth stages, respectively. Additionally, GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (VTC2_5) was linked to better postharvest performance. This research provides valuable insights for future breeding initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and sustainability of apricot cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate, fast and lightweight dense target detection methods are highly important for precision agriculture. To detect dense apricot flowers using drones, we propose an improved dense target detection method based on YOLOv8, named D-YOLOv8. First, we introduce the Dense Feature Pyramid Networks (D-FPN) to enhance the model's ability to extract dense features and Dense Attention Layer (DAL) to focus on dense target areas, which enhances the feature extraction ability of dense areas, suppresses features in irrelevant areas, and improves dense target detection accuracy. Finally, RAW data are used to enhance the dataset, which introduces additional original data into RAW images, further enriching the feature input of dense objects. We perform validation on the CARPK challenge dataset and constructed a dataset. The experimental results show that our proposed D-YOLOv8m achieved 98.37% AP, while the model parameters were only 13.2 million. The improved network can effectively support any task of dense target detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document serves as a diagnostic protocol for Aromia bungii, commonly known as the red necked longhorn beetle. The beetle is originally from East Asia but has been introduced to Japan and Europe. It primarily infests Prunus species and is identified through signs such as larval frass accumulation, exit holes, and the presence of adults. Molecular tests are recommended for identification, especially when morphological examination is not possible. The document also provides a description and identification guide for Aromia bungii, including information on other similar species and details on larvae differentiation. It emphasizes the use of molecular methods for confirmation, particularly in new outbreaks, and offers guidelines for reporting and documentation. The document acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and organizations in its development and provides reference material and sequences for further research. [Extracted from the article]

The dependencies of the electrophysical characteristics of nanoporous carbon material (NCM) on the compaction degree of its particles have been investigated in the presented study. It has been found that the maximum value of the electrical conductivity is achieved at a pressure of 2.5 MPa. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the formation of O-compounds on the surface of the studied materials leads to a decrease in electrical conductivity. The correlation between structural-adsorption and electrical-conductive properties of NCMs has been established. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that an increase in the amount of potassium hydroxide results in a decrease in electrical conductivity due to the breakdown of small carbon particles and an increase in contact resistance, while the specific surface area enlarges due to the development of porosity and an increase in the total pore volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic suitability rationalization indicators based on meteorological data were collected from 20 national meteorological observation stations in and around the Ili River Valley from 1991 to 2020 to optimize agricultural planting structures, improve the utilization of climate resources, and effectively regionalize suitable planting areas for Shushanggan apricot in the Ili river valley. Additionally, the biological characteristics of the Shushanggan apricot and the key meteorological factors were influencd its growth and development. Subsequently, to develope a spatial distribution model for these climatic suitability indicators. By reclassifying and overlaying the four regionalization indicators, a comprehensive climate-appropriate regionalization for Shushanggan apricot was obtained cultivation in the Ili river valley. The analysis revealed that the cultivation of Shushanggan apricots in the Ili River Valley can be categorized into four distinct areas: most suitable, suitable, sub-suitable, and unsuitable. The most suitable planting areas are predominantly situated in the river valley plains and low mountainous regions, with altitudes ranging between 700 and 1200 m, particularly in the northern part of the Ili River Valley, the north segment of Wusun mountain, and the east segment of Xinyuan county. Sub-optimal planting areas are found in river valley plains and low mountainous regions, with altitudes below 700 m and between 1200 and 1500 m. Conversely, unsuitable planting areas are in mid-low mountainous regions above 1,500 m. These findings provide valuable insights for governmental bodies seeking to optimize agricultural cultivation structures in the Ili River Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aphid species infesting apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) was identified for the first time in 2016 in Europe. The invasive aphid was assigned to the species Myzus mumecola (Matsumura, 1917). The species is native to India and East Asia, and it was found to be highly invasive and is currently spreading throughout Europe. Records were confirmed for Italy, Hungary, Serbia, and Germany. For a phylogenetic analysis, wingless (apterae) adults were sampled in spring 2022 in Italy, as well as in Austria and Germany in spring 2023. Our study reports the first record of M. mumecola for Austria. In all three countries, the new pest caused heavy infestations overall in organically managed apricot orchards. Aphids were identified morphologically based on external characteristics, and damages were compared to those reported in the literature. COI and 12S barcoding analyses for aphid samples from Italy, Germany, and Austria were performed to attain a molecular characterization of sampled specimens and to confirm the morphological identification. Only a few COI sequences of M. mumecola were present in NCBI GenBank or BOLD Systems, and no sequences were available for 12S. Therefore, the results provide a deeper insight into the phylogeny of this spreading pest insect. The results of the COI barcoding showed no differences between the sampled populations and other M. mumecola populations from Europe and Japan, while reports from China showed significant differences. All 12S sequences showed no variability between populations from Austria, Germany, and Italy. A phylogenetic analysis of COI and 12S sequences with sequences from other aphid species from NCBI GenBank or sampled in Italy revealed a close relationship of this species with the damson‐hope aphid, Phorodon humuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been proven that natural apricot gum and the functional sour milk drink "Narine" fermented by L. helveticus MDC 9602, possess health-promoting and healing properties. The combined use of L. helveticus and apricot gum in dairy fermentation can create a new functional product with enhanced healing and organoleptic properties. Objective: To create a new functional fermented milk product by combining Apricot gum (AG) and L. helveticus, with improved health-promoting and sensory properties. Methods: For joint fermentation, 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% of raw AG were dissolved in milk preheated to 60°C, pasteurized at 85°C for 15 minutes, and cooled to 45°C. Subsequently, the samples were inoculated with L. helveticus culture at a concentration of 5% and incubated at 37°C. The clotted samples were then transferred to 5°C for ripening. Analysis of the samples was carried out at 1, 14, and 28 days of storage. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the DPPH-scavenging assay. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were quantified by the Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 colorimetric methods, respectively. Results: Apricot gum significantly stimulates the growth of the probiotic L. helveticus starter culture in microbiological medium and in milk. The stimulation of L. helveticus growth leads to a significant increase in the rate of coagulation and acidification of milk, improving the consistency and viscosity of Narine. The addition of AG extends the shelf life of the product in refrigerated storage, maintains a high viability count of the starter culture, and reduces syneresis and acidification. AG also significantly increases the antioxidant activity, which correlates with the viable cell count of L. helveticus. A synergistic increase in the viscosity of milk enriched with AG was discovered, depending on the degree of acidification. Conclusions: The high total phenolic content plays a key role in the biological activity of raw apricot gum. Most of the AG-induced changes, such as increased milk coagulation rate, enhanced antioxidant activity, and improved acidity, were found to be due to the promotion of starter culture growth. Raw AG can be used to increase the yield of bioactive peptides in LAB cultures and to improve the functional and sensory properties of yogurts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-pressed oils are rich sources of bioactive substances, which may protect triacylglycerols from degradation during frying. Nevertheless, these substances may decompose under high temperature. This work considers the content of bioactive substances in blends and their changes during high-temperature heating. Blends of refined rapeseed oil with 5% or 25% in one of three cold-pressed oils (rapeseed, coriander and apricot) were heated at 170 or 200 °C in a thin layer on a pan. All non-heated blends and cold-pressed oils were tested for fatty acid profile, content and composition of phytosterols, tocochromanols, chlorophyll and radical scavenging activity (RSA) analyzed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Moreover, the stability of phytosterols, tocochromanols, DPPH and ABTS values was determined in heated blends. All tocochromanols were lost during the heating process, in particular, at 200 °C. However, there were some differences between homologues. α-Tocopherol and δ-tocopherol were the most thermolabile and the most stable, respectively. Phytosterols were characterized by very high stability at both temperatures. We observed relationships between ABTS and DPPH values and contents of total tocochromanols and α-tocopherol. The obtained results may be useful in designing a new type of fried food with improved health properties and it may be the basis for further research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global biodiversity hotspots, wild fruit forests play key ecological functions, providing essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage, soil retention, and water conservation, and support food chains and biodiversity conservation through key species. Climate change, with rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, threatens wild fruit forests by reducing the habitats and numbers of key species, potentially turning these ecosystems from carbon sinks to sources and diminishing overall biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, research on how these changes affect important species' habitats and carbon dynamics remains insufficient. To address this, we analysed habitat suitability for three important species (Prunus armeniaca L., Malus sieversii, and Prunus ledebouriana (Schltdl.) Y.Y.Yao with the aim of informing conservation strategies. We used biomod2 to integrate environmental and species data using six methods, encompassing 12 models. We predicted overlapping geographical distributions of three species, analysing their ecological niches and environmental interactions using global datasets to understand their adaptations. This analysis revealed ecological niche shifts and reductions in resource utilisation in both current and future scenarios. Their distribution centres will move poleward under the influence of bioclimatic factors and human activities. In conclusion, protecting P. armeniaca, M. sieversii, and P. ledebouriana is essential for the conservation and overall health of wild fruit forest ecosystems. This study provides new insights into climate change, habitat loss, informing conservation and resilience strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTProlonged and excessive use of chemical fertilizers has resulted in serious harm to soil health and ecosystems. This study aimed to reduce the cultivation costs for apricot trees, nearly 1/3rd of which are spent on fertilizers. The research was conducted on fully grown apricot trees of the cultivar “New Castle,” in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The experiment consisted of fourteen treatment combinations evaluated in triplicate and statistically analyzed using a randomized block design (RBD). Results revealed that treatment T12 [50% Nitrogen (Calcium Nitrate) + 50% Nitrogen (Urea) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria + Vermicompost] resulted in the highest percent increase in tree trunk girth (6.82%), highest leaf chlorophyll content (3.00 mg g−1 fresh weight), leaf area (58.29 cm), fruit set (61.00%) and total yield (61.9 kg tree−1). In terms of nutrient status, T12 had the highest leaf N (2.95%), leaf K (2.60%), soil N (386.33 kg ha−1), soil P (51.00 kg ha−1) and soil organic carbon (1.81%). The highest net return and profit over recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) was also recorded in treatment T12. The results of this study show that judicious fertilizer use along with integrated organic manure and bio-fertilizers can reduce cultivation costs, improve soil health, and increase fruit production with minimum ecosystem damage.

Objective: To solve the problems of low accuracy and low efficiency, high labor intensity and high production cost of fresh fruit manual sorting in China. Methods: A new dynamic weighing type fruit sorting machine was developed based on the fruit weight classification method. This machine operated by initially collecting the weight of fruit through a high-precision weighing unit. The data collected was then processed in conjunction with a signal processing module and a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The processed data controlled an actuator, specifically a launcher, to execute the sorting based on the fruit's weight. This machine was capable of continuously performing loading, weighing (diameter ≤126 mm). Results: When the separation efficiency was 18 327, 14 400, 10 473 PCS/h, the average separation accuracy was 95.31%, 96.12%, 97.13%, and the damage rate was 1.09%, 1.11%, 1.15%, respectively. Fruit sorting speed significantly affected the sorting accuracy, but had no significant effect on fruit damage rate. Conclusion: The new dynamic weighing type fruit sorting machine can effectively improve the efficiency of fruit sorting and reduce the damage to fruit under the premise of keeping the sorting accuracy >95%.

Osteoarthritis (OA) poses significant therapeutic challenges, particularly OA that affects the hand. Currently available treatment strategies are often limited in terms of their efficacy in managing pain, regulating invasiveness, and restoring joint function. The APRICOTⓇ implant system developed by Aurora Medical Ltd (Chichester, UK) introduces a minimally invasive, bone-conserving approach for treating hand OA (https://apricot-project.eu/). By utilizing polycarbonate urethane (PCU), this implant incorporates a caterpillar track-inspired design to promote the restoration of natural movement to the joint. Surface modifications of PCU have been proposed for the biological fixation of the implant. This study investigated the biocompatibility of PCU alone or in combination with two surface modifications, namely dopamine-carboxymethylcellulose (dCMC) and calcium-phosphate (CaP) coatings. In a rat soft tissue model, native and CaP-coated PCU foils did not increase cellular migration or cytotoxicity at the implant–soft tissue interface after 3 d, showing gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines similar to that in non-implanted sham sites. However, dCMC induced an amplified initial inflammatory response that was characterized by increased chemotaxis and cytotoxicity, as well as pronounced gene activation of proinflammatory macrophages and neoangiogenesis. By 21 d, inflammation subsided in all the groups, allowing for implant encapsulation. In a rat bone model, 6 d and 28 d after release of the periosteum, all implant types were adapted to the bone surface with a surrounding fibrous capsule and no protracted inflammatory response was observed. These findings demonstrated the biocompatibility of native and CaP-coated PCU foils as components of APRICOTⓇ implants. Hand osteoarthritis treatments require materials that minimize irritation of the delicate finger joints. Differing from existing treatments, the APRICOTⓇ implant leverages polycarbonate urethane (PCU) for minimally invasive joint replacement. This interdisciplinary, preclinical study investigated the biocompatibility of thin polycarbonate urethane (PCU) foils and their surface modifications with calcium-phosphate (CaP) or dopamine-carboxymethylcellulose (dCMC). Cellular and morphological analyses revealed that both native and Ca-P coated PCU elicit transient inflammation, similar to sham sites, and a thin fibrous encapsulation in soft tissues and on bone surfaces. However, dCMC surface modification amplified initial chemotaxis and cytotoxicity, with pronounced activation of proinflammatory and neoangiogenesis genes. Therefore, native and CaP-coated PCU possess sought-for biocompatible properties, crucial for patient safety and performance of APRICOTⓇ implant. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, compotes, juices, and jams were produced using chokeberry, cherry, apricot, peach, apple (Idared and Champion), wild strawberry, or raspberry fruits. The anticholinesterase as well as antioxidant activities of fruits and preserves (freshly prepared and after 1, 5, and 10 months of storage) were compared. The loss (p < 0.05) of the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of freshly prepared products vs. corresponding fruits was observed (all preserves from raspberry, cherry juice and jam, apricot juice, and Idared and wild strawberry jams) while chokeberry juice and apricot compote increased the anti-AChE activity. In the case of the anti-BChE activity of freshly prepared products, no change (apricot juice and jam), the loss (chokeberry compote and jam, cherry juice and jam, Champion compote, p < 0.05), or the increase in the activity (peach and apple Idared, apricot compote, juice, apricot compote, raspberry juice, p < 0.05) were recorded. In most cases, the anticholinesterase activities of freshly prepared products vs. products stored for 10 months were retained, and no considerable losses of the biological activities were observed. Even after 10 months of storage, all of the preserves retained the anti-AChE activity (except apricot and Idared compotes, chokeberry, cherry and Idared juices, and chokeberry and apricot jams, p < 0.05). Similarly, the preserves retained the anti-BChE activity after 10 months of storage (at p < 0.05, except cherry, apricot, peach and Idared compotes, chokeberry juice and chokeberry, peach and raspberry jams, at p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated the impact of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation on apricot kernel oil extraction and the resulting quality characteristics of the oil. The seed kernels underwent physicochemical and antioxidant studies after being separated, gelatinized, and fermented. The results revealed 43.6 % of oil yield by fermentation. The extracted oil had a lower acid value (3.74 mg KOH/g), and peroxide value (4.25 meq/kg). The investigation of additional oil properties was included, like iodine value (100.26 mg KOH/g), saponification value (190.5 mg KOH/g), specific gravity (0.919), viscosity (4.62), moisture content (0.592 %), and refractive index (1.4836), which signifies optimum physicochemical parameters of oil. As per the FTIR data, some distinct functional groups like C-H stretch and C O, C C, CH3, OH, and R-O-R esters were found in the extracted oil. The oil's fatty acid composition, with 50.47 % saturated, 22.23 % mono-unsaturated, and 35.13 % polyunsaturated fatty acids, enhances stability, oxidative resistance, and nutritional value, justifying its favorable physicochemical properties. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the oil showed to have good antioxidant activity. Metabolic modeling of S. cerevisiae provided information about compounds received after fermentation. Hence, it can be concluded that fermentation is a suitable approach to extract apricot seed kernel oil with beneficial properties. [Display omitted] • Apricot seed kernel is a good source of oil, we can use it for multiple purposes. • Saccharomyces cerevisiae -based fermentation, we can get 43.6 % of oil. • Different beneficial fatty acids were obtained from this oil: Caprylic, Lauric, Margaric, Paullinic, Phthalic acid, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is, as a king of fruit, dominating fruit in consumer point of due to its delicious taste and flavour in India. Being a largest producing country in the world, it has more than thousand varieties in biodiversity. Though, the production the production is very low as compare to other country. Hence, the study has been framed to evaluate thirteen varieties and seven hybrids of mango at ripe stage for their morphological, physical and biochemical characters were made under South Gujarat agro-climatic conditions at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. Improvement in mango through hybridization is a very tedious and long task as it has more than seven years of juvenile phase. For the goal oriented improvement work, systematic morphological characterization of genetic material is the basic and necessary work which is useful for the selection of parental materials in improvement program as well as identification of different varieties. The experimental results revealed that the mango varieties/hybrids expressed the morphological variations from genotype to genotype. Among these twenty genotypes, seven characters for fruit viz., fruit shape (obovoid, round, ovate, elliptical, oblong); color of ripen fruit (yellow, green with red blush, greenish yellow, bright orange, saffron yellow, apricot yellow, cadmium yellow, golden yellow); fiber content (fiberless, medium, low, high); pulp texture (intermediate, soft, firm); beak type (perceptible, pointed, mammiform); sinus type (shallow, prominent, absent) and fruit apex (obtuse, round, acute) were examined and documented. The cultivar Rajapuri had the maximum fruit weight (974.33 g), length (17.63 cm), thickness (12.73 cm), peel weight (87.77 g) while stone weight (57.57 g) was highest in cv Baneshan. The maximum content of pulp percentage was noted in cv Totapuri (89.61 %). Among the chemical parameters, the maximum total soluble solids (TSS) was recorded in cv. Kesar (21.96 °Brix). The maximum total sugars (19.34 %), reducing sugars (6.08 %), non-reducing sugars (12.88 %) and minimum titrable acidity (0.17%) were recorded in cv Alphonso. The maximum ascorbic acid content was observed in cv Langra (55.73 mg/100g). Based on the overall performance of the mango cultivars Rajapuri, Baneshan and Totapuri were found better in physical properties whereas, Kesar, Alphonso and Langra exhibited their superiority in chemical qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on industrial atomization devices, the efficiency of atomization and fumigation has been improved through hardware and software modifications and process design of atomization and fumigation equipment. By adding three sets of medicine and fumigant boxes and introducing a high-pressure atomization machine and an ultramicro-atomization nozzle, the diversity of the atomization and fumigation options was increased and the automatic proportioning of fumigants (ratio ranges of 1:1-1:200) was achieved. The optimal pressure of the high-pressure atomization machine 5.0 MPa, whereas the optimal mode was intermittent atomization for 75 s when an acrylic fumigation box was used. In a storage warehouse of 550 m3, the optimal pressure for the high-pressure atomization machine was 6.5 MPa, whereas the optimal operation mode was continuous atomization for 7 min, followed by natural precipitation of the fumigant natural for 3 min. The ultramicro-atomization nozzles were installed at 1 m intervals and the placement area of the specimens for atomization and fumigation were located 50 cm away from the wall of the warehouse and vertically 0.5~1.0 m below the ultramicro-atomization nozzles. Fumigation treatment with 40 mmol/L salicylate (SA) was effective in maintaining the storage quality of 'Xiaobai' and 'Saimaiti' apricots. At the end of the 7 day storage period, firmness of 'Xiaobai' apricots was 8.72 N, whereas the soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acid (TA) contents were 15.9% and 0.49%, respectively, representing 1.66-, 1.10-, and 1.58-fold increase compared to those of the control group, respectively. The decay rate was 0 after treatment with 40 mmol/L SA. The firmness of the Saimaiti apricots was 9.01 N, whereas TSS and TA contents were 13.5% and 0.67%, respectively (1.57-, 1.69-, and 1.60-fold higher than those of the control group, respectively). The decay rate was also 0 for Saimaiti apricots fumigated using SA. These results provide insights and technical support for the application of atomization and fumigation technologies in the storage and preservation of fresh apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apiospora is widely distributed throughout the world, and usually identified as endophytes, pathogens or saprobes. In this study, six strains were isolated from Bambusaceae sp., Prunus armeniaca, Salix babylonica and saprophytic leaves in Shandong Province, China. Three new species were identified based on a multi-locus gene phylogenetic analysis using a combined dataset of ITS, LSU, TEF1α and TUB2 in conjunction with morphological assessments. Apiospora armeniaca sp. nov., Apiospora babylonica sp. nov., and Apiospora jinanensis sp. nov. have been comprehensively described and illustrated, representing significant additions to the existing taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is the production technology of dried apricots by the method of osmotic dehydration and the derived products that are formed in the process. An improved technology for processing the secondary product of apricot production has been proposed, which is based on increasing the osmotic pressure in the cells of plant raw materials by increasing the concentration of dry substances. The improved technology involves the use of the process of osmotic dehydration in a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of up to 55±5 °C as an alternative to the blanching process. This provides a reduction in drying time to 1 hour due to the partial transition of water from the fruit cells into the sugar solution. The spent osmotic solution contains biologically valuable substances. The mass fraction of dry substances in the spent solution decreased by 17.4 %. It was found that spent osmotic solutions contain 15.87±0.05 mg/100 carotenoids, which cause their orange color. Color stability is likely caused by the acidity of the osmotic solution (pH=3.7±0.05). As a result of hydrolysis, sucrose, which was the main component of the osmotic solution before dehydration of apricot fruits, is partially inverted into glucose (21.41±0.05) and fructose (19.99±0.05 g/100 g). Fortified sugar had a light beige color, pure without stains and impurities, sweet taste, and aroma of apricot. The jelly-like soft drink, made on the basis of a derivative product formed during the production of dried apricots, had a sweet taste, a slight aroma of apricot. The color of the meal is cream. Light straw-colored jelly, sweet in taste, with a faint aftertaste and aroma of apricot, had a jelly-like uniform consistency that can be cut. The study showed the possibility of practical application of derived products, which are usually disposed of, for production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

15 traditional handmade cheese from Changji, Xinjiang were collected to investigate the performance of cheese-derived lactic acid bacteria in fermenting apricot jam. Finally, seven strains were selected by using traditional plate marking, physiological and biochemical analysis, and 16S rDNA gene sequencing methods. The strain's safety, high soluble solids resistance, high acid resistance, and some indicators, including number of viable bacteria, total acid, and basic physicochemical indicators were analyzed before and after the fermentation. After identification, the strain YP01 belongs to Lactobacillus reuteri. Strains YP04, YP09, YP17, and YP19 belong to Weissella confusa. Strains YP11 and YP12 belong to Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Among them, strains YP01, YP04, YP09, and YP17 have high growth activity and strong safety, while strains YP01 and YP04 have strong tolerance. The number of viable bacteria, total acids, and physiological-biochemical indicators before and after fermentation, as well as sensory quality, were measured during the fermentation of apricot jam using the above four lactic acid bacteria. The results showed that Lactobacillus reuteri YP01 was more suitable for apricot jam fermentation, followed by Weissella confusa YP04. Both of them had strong carbon source utilization capacity. Lactobacillus reuteri YP01 and Weissella confusa YP04 had the potential to ferment apricot jam, which could be used as potential fermenting strains for apricot jam fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Prunus sibirica seeds with rich oils has great utilization, but contain amygdalin that can be hydrolyzed to release toxic HCN. Thus, how to effectively reduce seed amygdalin content of P. sibirica is an interesting question. Mandelonitrile is known as one key intermediate of amygdalin metabolism, but which mandelonitrile lyase (MDL) family member essential for its dissociation destined to low amygdalin accumulation in P. sibirica seeds still remains enigmatic. An integration of our recent 454 RNA-seq data, amygdalin and mandelonitrile content detection, qRT-PCR analysis and function determination is described as a critical attempt to determine key MDL and to highlight its function in governing mandelonitrile catabolism with low amygdalin accumulation in Prunus sibirica seeds for better developing edible oil and biodiesel in China. Results: To identify key MDL and to unravel its function in governing seed mandelonitrile catabolism with low amygdalin accumulation in P. sibirica. Global identification of mandelonitrile catabolism-associated MDLs, integrated with the across-accessions/developing stages association of accumulative amount of amygdalin and mandelonitrile with transcriptional level of MDLs was performed on P. sibirica seeds of 5 accessions to determine crucial MDL2 for seed mandelonitrile catabolism of P. sibirica. MDL2 gene was cloned from the seeds of P. sibirica, and yeast eukaryotic expression revealed an ability of MDL2 to specifically catalyze the dissociation of mandelonitrile with the ideal values of Km (0.22 mM) and Vmax (178.57 U/mg). A combination of overexpression and mutation was conducted in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of PsMDL2 decreased seed mandelonitrile content with an increase of oil accumulation, upregulated transcript of mandelonitrile metabolic enzymes and oil synthesis enzymes (involving FA biosynthesis and TAG assembly), but exhibited an opposite situation in mdl2 mutant, revealing a role of PsMDL2-mediated regulation in seed amygdalin and oil biosynthesis. The PsMDL2 gene has shown as key molecular target for bioengineering high seed oil production with low amygdalin in oilseed plants. Conclusions: This work presents the first integrated assay of genome-wide identification of mandelonitrile catabolism-related MDLs and the comparative association of transcriptional level of MDLs with accumulative amount of amygdalin and mandelonitrile in the seeds across different germplasms and developmental periods of P. sibirica to determine MDL2 for mandelonitrile dissociation, and an effective combination of PsMDL2 expression and mutation, oil and mandelonitrile content detection and qRT-PCR assay was performed to unravel a mechanism of PsMDL2 for controlling amygdalin and oil production in P. sibirica seeds. These findings could offer new bioengineering strategy for high oil production with low amygdalin in oil plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an advanced method for apricot tree disease detection is proposed that integrates deep learning technologies with various data augmentation strategies to significantly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of disease detection. A comprehensive framework based on the adaptive sampling latent variable network (ASLVN) and the spatial state attention mechanism was developed with the aim of enhancing the model's capability to capture characteristics of apricot tree diseases while ensuring its applicability on edge devices through model lightweighting techniques. Experimental results demonstrated significant improvements in precision, recall, accuracy, and mean average precision (mAP). Specifically, precision was 0.92 , recall was 0.89 , accuracy was 0.90 , and mAP was 0.91 , surpassing traditional models such as YOLOv5, YOLOv8, RetinaNet, EfficientDet, and DEtection TRansformer (DETR). Furthermore, through ablation studies, the critical roles of ASLVN and the spatial state attention mechanism in enhancing detection performance were validated. These experiments not only showcased the contributions of each component for improving model performance but also highlighted the method's capability to address the challenges of apricot tree disease detection in complex environments. Eight types of apricot tree diseases were detected, including Powdery Mildew and Brown Rot, representing a technological breakthrough. The findings provide robust technical support for disease management in actual agricultural production and offer broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-(in)compatibility (SI) is a genetic barrier developed by flowering plants to prevent self-pollination and promote outcrossing. SI is one of the most important traits in stone fruit breeding and particularly in apricot. Indeed, researchers focused their interests on identifying and selecting self-(in)compatible apricot parents for breeding programs and cultivars for the installation of new plantations. In this context, SI was studied in a set of 65 Tunisian apricot accessions focusing on both S and M loci targeting the genes, S-RNase, SFB, and ParMDO, with different primer combinations. The amplification of the first and the second intron of the S-RNase gene allowed the identification of nine different S alleles. The S7 allele which is reported to be present only in Southern Europe and North Africa regions was the most frequent occurring in 24 genotypes. Moreover, self-pollination tests and amplification of the SFB and ParMDO gene insertions (SC and m haplotypes) producing pollen-part mutations (PPMs) that confer self-compatibility (SC) allowed us to correlate the presence of these two independent PPMs with SC for the first time within Tunisian apricot germplasm. Overall, nine accessions were found to be self-compatible carrying at least one self-compatible haplotype. The distribution of S alleles in the analyzed accessions supported the introduction of apricot to North Africa from the Irano-Caucasian region. Moreover, the detection of the self-compatible ParMDO m haplotype in Kairouan accessions similar to Spanish cultivars confirmed gene flow between Western European and North African apricots. All these results may provide relevant information for apricot breeding and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing agricultural water scarcity poses a current challenge of growing concern, exacerbated by climate change. This is particularly relevant for stone fruit trees, such as apricot, cultivated in semi-arid zones, where regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies are gaining attention to tackle the challenge. The RDI method involves optimizing various factors based on how the plant responds physiologically to indicators of its water needs. Among these indicators, water potential is considered the most reliable and influential measure. For numerous apricot varieties and diverse geographic locations, research consistently shows that implementing water reduction strategies during non-critical developmental stages of floral bud development or fruit growth does not significantly impact crop yield. However, it does lead to reduced vegetative growth, which could offer additional benefits in crop management. Furthermore, the implementation of RDI strategies leads to advantageous improvements in fruit quality, particularly storage capacity and morphometric and chemical fruit characteristics, such as total soluble solids content. This scoping review study suggests that RDI is a feasible strategy to address water scarcity in apricot cultivation; however, further studies focused on continuous water monitoring alternatives are necessary to optimize RDI techniques. Future research should prioritize optimizing RDI for different growth stages, exploring advanced technologies for precise implementation, and assessing environmental impacts, while addressing research gaps including the influence of climate variability and the interaction with other agronomic practices, to refine RDI strategies and enhance apricot orchard sustainability and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of apricot cultivation is greatly threatened by frost damage to flower buds during the dormancy period. One of the most important aspects of the evaluation of cultivars is therefore the determination of their frost tolerance. In this paper, the frost hardiness of flower buds of 16 apricot cultivars was investigated in three dormancy periods, applying a standardised artificial freezing test protocol and determining LT50 values. The results showed that both the genotypes and the yearly climatic conditions had a significant effect on frost tolerance. A genotype generally determines the potential maximum of its frost tolerance ('Sweet Red' and 'Primaya' were very sensitive to frost every year, while 'Harlayne' and 'Rózskajszi C.1406' could be considered as frost hardy). Flower buds can reach different levels of frost resistance each year depending on the temperature conditions during the hardening and dehardening periods. From the point of view of yield security, it is essential when planning an orchard, to take into account and harmonise the frost hardiness of the cultivars selected and the growing site conditions. Therefore, it is very important to have adequate information about the frost hardiness of different apricot cultivars, which should be included in cultivar descriptions. This paper is intended to contribute to this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin and development of agriculture and its relationship with climate change are hotly debated topics among environmental archaeologists. In this study, we analyzed wood charcoal materials from the Neolithic Xinglong site in northern China in order to understand the woody vegetation around the site and how early millet farmers shaped local woodlands. Our results suggest that the area around the Xinglong sites during 8700–7000 yr BP was primarily woodlands, including Prunus sibirica shrubs, Ulmus and Acer forests, and Populus stands near waterways. From 8000 to 7000 yr BP, the warm and humid climate probably contributed to the expansion of Acer, Rhamnus, and Juniperus, and may have facilitated the development of early millet agriculture. Among these ancient wood fragments that we studied, the high percent of Prunus charcoal appears to indicate an abundance of fruit trees, which might have constituted the main component of local vegetation. Meanwhile, the wood taxa illustrate the existence of a variety of ecological habitats, and it is logical to assume that people made full use of the locally available wood resources. Notably, Populus and Ulmus were the dominant sources of fuel. The results of tree-ring curvature analyses indicate that people mainly collected trunks or large branches of Ulmus, Populus, Acer, and Juniperus timbers. We interpret the increasing use of Prunus twigs and the declining percentage of Prunus charcoal in the period between 8000–7000 yr BP as indicating that people started to protect and manage wild fruit trees. They may have started pruning to acquire more food resources as part of the cultural responses and adaptation strategies employed by these early millet cultivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews two recent novels, "And All Eternity Shook" by Jacob Bender and "The History of Honey Spring" by Darin Cozzens, which provide insightful fiction from an insider perspective of the Mormon community. "And All Eternity Shook" follows the story of Elder David Warner, a missionary who returns home to find his mother's cancer has worsened, while "The History of Honey Spring" features Jim Ray, a young man who inherits a ranch and navigates post-traumatic stress disorder from the Vietnam War. The novels differ in their narrative style and emotional approach, but both offer complex portrayals of Mormon experiences and communities. [Extracted from the article]

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Pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment has been shown to improve the quality of dried fruits in terms of antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds. In this study, apricots were pretreated with PEF at different field strengths (0.7 kV/cm; 1.2 kV/cm and 1.8 kv/cm) at a frequency of 50 Hz, and electric pulses coming in every 20 µs for 30 s, prior to freeze−drying and air−drying treatments. PEF treatments were carried out at different field strengths. The impact of different pretreatments on the quality of dried apricot was determined in terms of physical properties, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and metabolite profile. PEF pretreatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased firmness of all the air−dried samples the most by 4–7−fold and most freeze−dried apricot samples (44.2% to 98.64%) compared to the control group. However, PEF treatment at 1.2 kV/cm did not have any effect on hardness of the freeze−dried sample. The moisture content and water activity of freeze−dried samples were found to be significantly lower than those of air−dried samples. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that air drying caused the loss of fruit structure due to significant moisture loss, while freeze drying preserved the honeycomb structure of the apricot flesh, with increased pore sizes observed at higher PEF intensities. PEF pretreatment also significantly increased the antioxidant activity and total phenol content of both air−dried and freeze−dried apricots. PEF treatment also significantly (p < 0.05) increased amino acid and fatty acid content of air−dried samples but significantly (p < 0.05) decreased sugar content. Almost all amino acids (except tyrosine, alanine, and threonine) significantly increased with increasing PEF intensity. The results of this study suggest that PEF pretreatment can influence the quality of air−dried and freeze−dried apricots in terms antioxidant activity and metabolites such as amino acids, fatty acids, sugar, organic acids, and phenolic compounds. The most effective treatment for preserving the quality of dried apricots is freeze drying combined with high−intensity (1.8 kv/cm) PEF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharka, caused by plum pox virus (PPV), is by far the most harmful disease of stone fruits (genus Prunus). Although Italy is a major producer of stone fruits, and sharka has spread in most Italian regions since its first identification in the 1970s, information on the diffusion of the disease in Italy results still scattered and incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, the present review aimed to firstly provide a historical overview of sharka in Italy, summarizing outcomes on the disease achieved since the first identification of its causal agent PPV. Data retrieved from a variety of sources (i.e., published literature, official reports and personal communications) showed that (i) sharka spread across almost the whole Italian peninsula as only Liguria, Umbria and Aosta Valley regions officially result disease-free; (ii) the regions with higher rates of infected districts are not always those more dedicated to the production of stone fruits; (iii) only the three major PPV strains causing sharka, i.e., PPV-Dideron (D), PPV-Marcus (M), and PPV-Recombinant (Rec), have been reported in Italy; and (iv) only apricot, peach and plum (i.e., widespread and economically relevant species) are hosts of PPV, with different scenarios among regions. A focus on Tuscany (Central Italy) showed that, (i) sharka has been reported since the 1990s, but extensive PPV monitoring campaigns were run from 2013 to 2021, especially in nurseries; (ii) higher number of symptomatic and PPV positive samples were recorded in farms, mostly in the Arezzo and Florence districts; and (iii) only PPV-M and PPV-Rec strains seem still present. We believe that the present overview will benefit and encourage both researchers for future investigations on sharka and farmers that have to manage the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-incompatibility (SI) systems in plants prevent self-pollination and mating among relatives, enhancing genetic diversity in nature but posing challenges in almond production and breeding. S-allele composition alongside the flowering periods of these cultivars enables the anticipation of cross-compatibility and optimal cultivar combinations for the allocation of pollinating trees in production. In the current study, 65 materials containing 61 almond (Prunus dulcis) germplasm resources, of which two were hybrids and the remaining four were peach (Prunus persica) germplasms, were used for the S-RNase genotype. The results showed that 55 genomic samples were amplified by PCR to obtain double-banded types, which identified their complete S-RNase genotypes, while the rest of the samples amplified only a single band, identifying one S-RNase gene in the S gene. A total of 30 S-RNase genes were identified in Prunus dulcis, Prunus webbii, Prunus persica, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus salicina, and Prunus cerasifera. Sequence analysis revealed polymorphisms spanning from 313 to 2031 bp within the amplified fragment sequence. The S57-RNase gene exhibited the highest frequency at 31.75% among the identified materials, with S1S57, S10S57, and S7S57 being the predominant S genotypes. A new S-RNase gene, named S65, was identified with a sequencing length of 1483 bp. Its deduced amino acid sequence shared 98.24% similarity with the amino acid sequence of the S-RNase gene on GenBank, with the highest homology. Furthermore, according to the findings, 65 materials belong to eight S genotype cross-incompatibility groups (CIG) and one semi-compatibility or compatibility group (0). Among them, most of the seven main almond germplasm resources and 35 cultivars can be cross-pollinated. The results of the study can lay the foundation for pollinator tree allocation and breeding hybrid parent selection in almond production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rootstock 'Rootpac R' is not used for apricots. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of 'Rootpac R' in comparison to the widely used 'Myrobalan 29C' rootstock. The evaluation of the rootstocks was conducted in combination with 16 scion cultivars to assess their effects on vegetative traits and mortality. The total height of the trees on 'Rootpac R' initially surpassed the 'Myrobalan 29C' trees. By the end of the fourth year, both rootstocks showed comparable heights with 'Rootpac R' standing at 317 cm and 'Myrobalan 29C' standing at 307 cm. Both rootstocks exhibited comparable TCSA values of 5 cm2 initially; 'Rootpac R' surpassed 35% compared to 'Myrobalan 29C'. Canopy space occupancy assessments revealed that 'Rootpac R' initially demonstrated superior space utilization, occupying 8% of the designated volume compared to 4% for 'Myrobalan 29C'. By the fourth year, 'Rootpac R' exhibited a higher occupancy rate of 65% compared to 50% for 'Myrobalan 29C'. For apricot cultivars, such as 'Bergeron', 'C. óriás', 'Gönci magyarkajszi', 'Lady Cot', 'Tardif de Valance', and 'Tom Cot', 'Rootpac R' exhibited survival rates beyond the fourth season, highlighting its effectiveness for these varieties. Based on these results, 'Rootpac R' rootstock could be useful in apricot growing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is one of the major concerns of the current century. Net shading and foliar application of salicylic acid are options to protect plants against heat stress. This study investigated the protective effects of shading net and salicylic acid on vegetative growth, flowering and fruit attributes of apricot. Experimental treatments included net shading (green-50%) and salicylic acid (0.1 mM; three times foliar application), which were applied on trees of three apricot cultivars. The study was performed in the Horticultural Research Station of Horticultural Department, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran in years 2019-2020. Shoot recurrent growth length, flower density, flowers, and fruits drop percentage, and fruit quality characteristics, as well as relative water content of leaf, cell membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated. Net shading could reduce leaf temperature by an average of 4.5 °C. It also increased the shoot recurrent growth length and flower density. The yield and quality of apricot fruits were affected by cultivar under the shade condition. The shading reduced evaporation and improved the water status (RWC) of apricot leaves and photosynthetic systems function. Since the net shading caused a delay on fruit ripening time and has negative effect on fruit coloring, the proper time for netting is near or after fruit harvesting especially in early ripening cultivars. Foliar application of salicylic acid in three intervals increased flower bud formation. Salicylic acid increased the leaf relative water content and photosynthetic system function. The results showed that salicylic acid made apricot trees more tolerant to heat stress. In general, application of green 50% net-shading after fruit harvesting is a chose of interest to improve flower formation and vegetative growth and SA application will reduce stress all the time of application during hot growth season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the total factor productivity (TFP) of the South African deciduous fruit sector over an 8-year period (2014–2021), using industry-level data for five fruit types (apples, pears, plums, apricots, and peaches). TFP growth was estimated using the Färe-Primont (FP) index and decomposed into technical change (TECH) and efficiency change (TFPE). The results show that the TFP of the industry increased by 27% (3.53% per year) due to a 35% (4.38% per year) increase in technical change, while TFPE decreased by 6% (−0.81% per year). The TFPE breakdown into technical efficiency (OTE) and scale-mix efficiency (OSME) reveals that 6% decrease in OSME was entirely responsible for TFPE slowdown, while OTE remained unchanged. While both sub-sector contributions were significant, stone fruit grew at a faster rate (32%, or 4.05% per year) than the pome sub-sector (21%, or 2.74% per year). Overall, entire industry, sub-sectors, and fruit types show that TECH was key to TFP growth, whereas TFPE slowed it. Investments in efficiency support programmes have the potential to enhance sector growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The globose scale (GS), Sphaerolecanium prunastri (Boyer de Fonscolombe) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea), has invaded wild apricot forests in their native range in Central Eurasia threatening the ancestral germplasm resource. Biological control efficacy of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) against the globose scale was assessed in laboratory and field experiments. Results: In the laboratory, Harmonia axyridis has a high feeding capacity on GS with numbers consumed daily increasing with temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 °C), reaching an upper asymptote of 160–200 scales per day. In field cage experiments, efficacy of biological control (EBC) against first instar (49–99%) and second instar nymphs (20–80%) increased with GS density. When ants were present, control efficiency was reduced by 10–15%. In open-field experiments without cages, EBC was comparatively lower regardless of duration and how H. axyridis were released whether as adults, eggs cards or a mixture of adults and eggs cards. Conclusions: In the long term, biological control with this ladybird predator could be considered as part of an IPM program package that includes banning or delaying mowing grass and understory plants in the forests that offer pollen and nectar for natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, apricot trees suffering from bacterial canker disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae were treated in orchards through the application of antibiotics or copper‐based drugs. However, considering the disadvantages of the long‐term use of chemical pesticides and antibiotics, there has been an increasing interest in phages, which have a lytic effect on bacteria, as biopesticides in recent years. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of phage TE, isolated from wastewater in Turkey, from this perspective. Through scanning electron microscopy and phylogenetic analysis, we classified phage TE as belonging to the order Caudovirales and the family Strabovoridae. The phage TE exhibited a robust host lysis efficiency, with 280 infectious phage particles produced per bacterial cell in just 15 min. In experimental trials, treatment with phage TE resulted in an impressive 82% inhibition of bacterial canker disease in apricot leaves, highlighting its effectiveness as a phage therapy agent. Furthermore, phage TE exhibited long‐term stability when stored at 4°C without cryoprotectant and displayed tolerance to a wide temperature (−20°C to 50°C) and pH (2–12) range but its tolerance to UV‐C was very low. The genome and bioinformatics analyses of P. syringae phage TE have identified distinct protein level differences between other phages of the same species, despite sharing similarities at the nucleotide level. These findings suggest the potential use of phage TE as a biocontrol agent, offering a promising solution to control apricot bacterial canker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for roughage in the animal nutrition industry has led to the search for various alternative roughage. In this context, as a result of the research, tree leaves have the potential to be considered as a nutritious and balanced forage source for animals. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the usability of apple (Malus domestica), apricot (Prunus armeniaca), cherry (Prunus avium), grape (Vitis vinifera), and umber mulberry (Morus rubra) leaves in ruminant nutrition. As a result of the research, nutritional contents of tree leaves (dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, crude oil, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, tannin), in vitro gas, carbon dioxide and methane gas production, in vitro gas post-production rumen fluid volatile fatty acid contents were found to be different from each other (P<0.05). In addition, although metabolic energy, organic matter digestion, digestible dry matter, dry matter consumption and relative feed values were found to be different in tree leaves (P<0.05), the highest values of these parameters were found in mulberry leaves. Metabolic energy (ME-J/kgDM) in grape, mulberry, apple, apricot and cherry is 9.24, 10.69, 10.07, 10.24, 9.33, organic matter digestibility (OMD-%) is 56.49, 58.98, 54.46, 57.34, and 58.31, respectively. has been detected. In the volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid of the leaves after in vitro gas production; Total volatile fatty acid (TVFA-mmol/L) was defined as 69.16, 76.25, 66.04, 68.63, and 65.24, acetic acid (AA-mmol/L) was determined as 44.90, 48.52, 41.93, 46.82, and 43.62, respectively. As a result of our detailed studies, it has been determined that the leaves of various fruit trees stand out with their considerable nutritional content. The most important reason for the differences in the findings is that the nutritional content of tree leaves is different from differs. As a result of our comprehensive study, these nutritional content differences offer significant potential for using leaves of various fruit trees as a source of forage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied five common perishable fruits in terms of their polyphenols dynamic, minerals distribution, scavenger activity and the effects of 50% ethanolic extracts on the viability of Caco-2 cells in vitro, over a period of time between T = 0 and T = 5/7 days, typically the end of their shelf life. Altogether, there were few changes found, consisting of either an increase or a decrease in their chemical and biological attributes. A slow decrease was found in the antioxidant activity in apricot (−11%), plum (−6%) and strawberry (−4%) extracts, while cherry and green seedless table grape extracts gained 7% and 2% antioxidant potency, respectively; IC50 values ranged from 1.67 to 5.93 μg GAE/μL test extract. The cytotoxicity MTS assay at 24 h revealed the ability of all 50% ethanol fruit extracts to inhibit the Caco-2 cell viability; the inhibitory effects ranged from 49% to 83% and were measured at 28 µg GAE for strawberry extracts/EES, from 22 µg to 45 µg GAE for cherry extracts/EEC, from 7.58 to 15.16 µg GAE for apricot extracts/EEA, from 12.50 to 25.70 µg GAE for plum extracts/EEP and from 21.51 to 28.68 µg GAE for green table grape extracts/EEG. The MTS anti-proliferative assay (72 h) also revealed a stimulatory potency upon the Caco-2 viability, from 34% (EEA, EEG) and 48% (EEC) to 350% (EES) and 690% (EEP); therefore fruit juices can influence intestinal tumorigenesis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is an economically important fruit tree in Beijing, China. However, canker diseases have become one of the main threats to apricot production. In the present study, a field survey was conducted in apricot orchards in Beijing and the disease incidence of apricots was surveyed (75.7%). Thirty fungal strains were isolated from branches of apricots. Five species were identified through multilocus phylogenetic (rDNA internal transcribed spacer [ITS], large subunit [LSU] and tef1‐a for Botryosphaeriales; ITS, act, rpb2, tef1‐a and tub2 for Cytospora) and morphological analyses, including two new species (Cytospora huairouensis and C. prunina) and three known species (C. leucostoma, Diplodia gallae and Phaeobotryon rhois). C. leucostoma and P. rhois were identified as the causal agents of canker of apricot by pathogenicity tests conducted on 3‐year‐old plants in the greenhouse. The current study contributed to a theoretical basis for predicting the potential risk of apricot canker in Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appropriate drying method is crucial for producing high-quality dried apricots. In this study, the effects of four drying methods, hot air drying (HAD), infrared drying (IRD), pulse vacuum drying (PVD), and vacuum freeze-drying (VFD), on the drying kinetics and physical and nutritional characteristics of apricot slices were evaluated. PVD required the shortest time (16.25 h), followed by IRD (17.54 h), HAD (21.39 h), and VFD (34.64 h). VFD resulted in the best quality of apricot slices, with the smallest color difference (ΔE = 13.64), lowest water activity (0.312 ± 0.015) and browning degree (0.35), highest color saturation (62.84), lowest hardness (8.35 ± 0.47 N) and shrinkage (9.13 ± 0.65%), strongest rehydration ability (3.58 ± 0.11 g/g), a good microstructure, and high nutrient-retention rates (ascorbic acid content: 53.31 ± 0.58 mg/100 g, total phenolic content: 12.64 ± 0.50 mg GAE/g, and carotenoid content: 24.23 ± 0.58 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (DPPH: 21.10 ± 0.99 mmol Trolox/g and FRAP: 34.10 ± 0.81 mmol Trolox/g). The quality of PVD-treated apricot slices was second-best, and the quality of HAD-treated apricot slices was the worst. However, the energy consumption required for VFD was relatively high, while that required for PVD was lower. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the large-scale industrial production of dried apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to analyze the potential of two lignocellulosic wastes, namely peach and apricots stones, to adsorb 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) pesticide from an aqueous solution. Both equilibrium and kinetic adsorption tests were performed. The maximum adsorption capacity achieved was 41.5 mg g−1 at 50 °C. The fitting of the experimental results to several empirical equilibrium models was studied, being Langmuir model the one that best fitted the adsorption data for both adsorbents. The thermodynamic analyses confirmed that 2,4-D adsorption on both lignocellulosic wastes was endothermic, spontaneous, and of a physisorption nature. For the kinetic study, the effects of multiple factors were examined including initial pH, adsorption temperature, 2,4-D initial concentration, and adsorbent dose. The results support the feasible use of these wastes as adsorbents in water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is one of the best methods to preserve the quality of fresh fruits and prolong their shelf life. This study focuses on Prunus armeniaca L. cv. 'Diaogan' (commonly known as Diaogan apricot) sourced from Xinjiang, China to explore the impact of two natural drying methods (shade drying and open-air drying in the rocky desert) on the drying kinetics, color, textural characteristics, microstructure, chemical properties, and antioxidant capacity of Diaogan apricots. The experimental results indicate that throughout the natural drying process, the time required for open-air drying in the rocky desert was reduced by 26.47% compared to shade drying. The L*, a*, and b* values of the shade- and ventilation-dried Diaogan apricots were higher than those sun-dried in the rocky desert, exhibiting a lower color difference (ΔE) than apricots dried through rocky desert sun drying. Specifically, the ΔE for shade-dried Diaogan apricots was 19.66 ± 0.24. The Diaogan apricots dried in the rocky desert exhibited greater hardness, lower elasticity, stronger adhesiveness, and higher chewiness compared to those dried in the shade, with the hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness being, respectively, 14.71%, 18.89%, and 35.79% higher. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that the high temperatures experienced during open-air drying in the rocky desert caused rapid dehydration of the Diaogan apricot's skin, leading to clogging and crust formation in the flesh pores, along with deformation or tearing of the tissue structure, ultimately resulting in poor rehydration ability. After drying, there was a significant increase in the soluble solids in the Diaogan apricots, whereas titratable acidity, total phenols, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In summary, the quality of dried Diaogan apricots post-drying is dependent on the natural drying method employed, with shade drying resulting in superior quality of Diaogan apricots compared to open-air drying in the rocky desert. This study offers fundamental data and serves as a theoretical reference for the industrialized production of apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulant products are recognized for their ability to improve the agronomic parameters of plants and the qualitative and nutraceutical parameters of fruits and confer greater resistance to plants under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. In our study, we tested three different biostimulants on cultivar "Lady Cot" apricot plants: animal-derived protein hydrolysate, plant-derived protein hydrolysate, and one based on algae to evaluate their effects on improving the agronomic parameters of plants and fruit quality. The product that stood out for providing positive effects was the protein hydrolysate-based product, which increased plant production by 53.80% and yield efficiency by 56.38%. At the same time, it also increased the fruit's diameter growth by approximately 8.3%, showing positive effects on fruit weight as well. The animal-derived protein hydrolysate also reduced acidity by 13.8% and showed a significant increase compared to the control in terms of total polyphenols. Additional research is scheduled to validate these results and ascertain which categories of biostimulant products are most effective in enhancing the agronomic, qualitative, and sensory characteristics of other apricot cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]