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Abstract Increased selenium (Se) content in fruits can supply Se in human body, but the effects of teas on the Se uptake in fruit trees are unknown. The effects of infusions of four teas (green, black, dark, and white) on the Se uptake of grapevine were studied to promote the Se uptake in fruit trees in this study. However, only black tea infusion increased the biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and soluble protein content of grapevine. Except for white tea infusion, other tea infusions also increased the catalase (CAT) activity of grapevine. Furthermore, the tea infusions increased the activities of adenosine triphosphate sulfurase (ATPS) and adenosine 5’-phosphosulfate reductase (APR), and decreased the activities of serine acetyltransferase (SAT) and selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT). Only the dark and white tea infusions increased the shoot total Se content by 86.53% and 23.32%, respectively (compared with the control), and also increased the shoot inorganic Se content and shoot organic Se content. Notably, four tea infusions decreased the organic Se proportion and increased the inorganic Se proportion in grapevine. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the root total Se content, ATPS activity, and ARP activity were closely associated with the shoot total Se content. The principal component and cluster analyses also showed that the ATPS activity, APR activity, root total Se content, and shoot total Se content were classified into one category. These findings show that black tea infusion can promote grapevine growth, while dark and white tea infusions can promote the Se uptake in grapevine.

Birds time their life cycle events to favourable windows in environmental conditions. In tropical environments, where photoperiod variation is small, birds show high variability in the timing of life cycle stages, yet these species have been severely underrepresented in phenology research. Here, we investigated temporal patterns in bird life cycles and resource availability in two sites in tropical Africa: Weppa (Nigeria, 7° N) and Elat (Cameroon, 3° N). In these sites we captured common bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus), a widespread generalist, and recorded breeding and moult over a 12‐month period. Simultaneously, we surveyed fruiting tree and arthropod abundance. Our aim was to quantify seasonal patterns in moult and breeding in bulbuls at both sites, and link them to fluctuations in local fruit and arthropod abundance and precipitation. Moult was more seasonal than breeding in both sites, and seasonality of both life cycle events was stronger in Nigeria than Cameroon. The peak timing for moult was 1.5 months earlier in Nigeria than Cameroon. Seasonal variation in abundance of fruiting trees and arthropods was different between sites, as were the associations with breeding and moulting. In Nigeria, we found a positive association between moult and arthropod abundance, and a negative one with fruiting tree abundance. In contrast, in Cameroon moult was associated with higher precipitation, while breeding occurred at times with higher fruit abundance. Our results provide evidence that, even in similar habitats separated by four degrees in latitude, seasonal patterns across three trophic levels are variable. Understanding links between environmental conditions and life cycle events can reveal potential vulnerabilities of tropical species, and guide conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon is classified as either pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) or non-PCNA on the basis of the loss of astringency in fruit. PCNA trait of persimmon has attracted much research attention owing to its economical merit, as there is no cost in removing astringency. To efficiently develop new PCNA cultivars in crossbreeding, marker-assisted selection plays a crucial role. Here, we describe a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker that can be used to select PCNA persimmon. A sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker used to screen for PCNA offspring is unsuitable for populations recently derived from two non-PCNA parents ('Yoshidagosho' and 'Toyoichi'), resulting in the selection of non-PCNA offspring as PCNA. To detect specific polymorphisms for these non-PCNA offspring, we analyzed fragment sizes of SCAR marker products by capillary DNA sequencing. A slightly lower-molecular-weight fragment at 353 bp was specifically detected in non-PCNA offspring but not in PCNA offspring. We treated the SCAR marker products with the StuI restriction enzyme and demonstrated that the smaller 353-bp fragment corresponded to allele a353-1, one of four previously identified sequence polymorphisms at the 353-bp peak, and a353-1 is linked to non-PCNA trait. Comprehensive analysis of 130 germplasms by the CAPS marker, detecting the truncated fragment after StuI treatment, indicated the presence of a353-1 in 38 non-PCNA cultivars. Our findings suggest the potential use of the CAPS marker for selecting PCNA offspring derived from these 38 non-PCNA cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different varieties of the same fruit tree can be classified as a fine granularity. Most them, only a single organ of fruit cannot fully extract the overall feature of the plant. It is also difficult to further improve the accuracy of recognition. Multiorgan features can be expected to recognize the fruit tree in current research. However, the inter-organ features can be interfered with each other in the multi-organ feature recognition. It is still challenging to accurately locate and distinguish different organ features. In this study, an organ segmentation (RSA-YOLOv8s) was proposed for the fruit and leaf using YOLOv8s target detection. The three parts of the model were improved, namely Backbone, Neck, and Head. A cross-stage local residual (Residual CSPLayer 2Conv, RC2) module was also designed in the Backbone part. The sensory field of each network layer was used to construct the hierarchical class residual links in each network layer. The dense and small target features were fully extracted after that. The Scale Spatial Pyramid Pooling (SSPP) module was designed in the Neck part. The spatial and scale information of the network were integrated to introduce 3D convolution. The higher-order and multi-scale features were extracted to detect the multi-scale targets. Furthermore, the Asymmetric decoupling detection head (ADDH) module was designed in the Head part. The regression of the model was realized to classify the features using an asymmetric structure. As such, the classification was focused on the center content, while the regression was the edge information. A total of 950 images of 17 fruit tree varieties were selected from the PlantCLEF2022 public dataset. The experimental results show that the precision rate, recall rate, F1 value and average precision of the RSA-YOLOv8s model were 83.2%, 87.9%, 85.5%, and 90.2%, respectively, in the recognition of fruit and leaf organ, which were 5.6, 6.6, 6.1 and 6.7 percentage points higher than those of the original, respectively; By contrast, the precision rate, recall rate, F1 value and mean precision were 88.2%, 91.7%, 89.9% and 94.3%, respectively, in the recognition of single organ, which were 6.4, 6.6, 6.5 and 7.2 percentage points higher than those of the original, respectively; The precision rate, recall rate, F1 value and the mean precision were 78.2%, 84.1%, 81.0% and 86.1%, respectively, in the recognition of leaf single organ, which were 4.8, 6.6, 5.6 and 6.2 percentage points higher than those of the original, respectively. In addition, the improved model was also applied into the 20 date varieties with a total of 3881 images. A recognition accuracy of 99.1% was achieved, which was 6.6% higher than that of the original model. The finding can provide a strong reference for the organ segmentation and variety recognition using multi-organ features, particularly for common fruit trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the urgent need for more sustainable fruit tree production, it is high time to find durable alternatives to the systematic use of phytosanitary products in orchards. To this end, resilience can deliver a number of benefits. Relying on a combination of tolerance, resistance, and recovery traits, disease resilience appears as a cornerstone to cope with the multiple pest and disease challenges over an orchard's lifetime. Here, we describe resilience as the capacity of a tree to be minimally affected by external disturbances or to rapidly bounce back to normal functioning after being exposed to these disturbances. Based on a literature survey largely inspired from research on livestock, we highlight different approaches for dissecting phenotypic and genotypic components of resilience. In particular, multisite experimental designs and longitudinal measures of so-called 'resilience biomarkers' are required. We identified a list of promising biomarkers relying on ecophysiological and digital measurements. Recent advances in high-throughput phenotyping and genomics tools will likely facilitate fine scale temporal monitoring of tree health, allowing identification of resilient genotypes with the calculation of specific resilience indicators. Although resilience could be considered as a 'black box' trait, we demonstrate how it could become a realistic breeding goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) is an important trace element for human body, and the fruit Se source is one option for human Se supplementation. To increase grapevine uptake of Se, grape seedlings were transplanted in soils supplemented with sodium selenite, and the concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 g L−1 chitosan were sprayed on grapevine seedling leaves. Next, the effects of chitosan on grapevine Se uptake were studied. The chitosan‐based foliar application increased the biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble protein content of grapevine. Chitosan application also increased the total Se, inorganic Se, and organic Se contents in grapevine. However, while the root organic Se was increased, the shoot inorganic Se was decreased. Compared to the control, the concentrations of 1, 2, 4, and 6 g L−1 chitosan increased the shoot total Se content by 9.29%, 12.39%, 17.70%, and 14.16%, respectively. Chitosan application also increased the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents in grapevine. Moreover, correlation, gray relational, principal component, and cluster analyses revealed that the root total Se, shoot total N, and root total K contents were the top three indicators closely associated with the shoot total Se content. Therefore, foliar‐based chitosan application on grape seedlings can promote the Se uptake in grapevine under sodium selenite supply, and 4 g L−1 is the best concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia lanceifolia, also locally referred to as "Pelh" (Mizo), is a significant and endemic medicinal edible fruit tree found in North East India. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-ulcer properties of a methanolic extract of G. lanceifolia fruit (GLME) against ethanol-induced gastric tissue damage in rats. Adult Wistar albino rats were given oral pretreatment doses of GLME (400 and 600 mg/kg of GLME in CMC solution) one hour before oral administration of absolute ethanol to assess their gastric mucosal injury protective properties. The control group received only carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), the ulcer control group received absolute ethanol (5 ml/kg) and the positive reference group received the anti-ulcer drug omeprazole 20 mg/kg. The GLME pre-treatment group (400 mg/kg) exhibited a significant decrease in gastric mucosal injury, as demonstrated by histological investigations and showed marked gastric mucosal protection, reduction or absence of lesions, and infiltration injury of the submucosal layer. Conversely, the ulcer control group showed severe damage to the gastric mucosa lining. There is a significant increase in pH and a decrease in the total acidity in GLME-pretreated rats compared to the ulcer control group (p<0.001). Further, there is significant percentage inhibition and decreased ulcer index at 400 mg/kg pre-treated dose compared to the the ulcer control group (p<0.001). Thus, in comparison to the ulcer control group, the current finding suggests that the methanolic extract of G. lanceifolia fruit rind extract has anti-ulcerogenic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of selenium (Se) uptake in fruit tree can improve the source of food Se for humans. In this study, the effect of various abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings was studied under Se stress. Only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promoted the growth of C. betacea seedlings by increasing the biomass and regulating the resistance physiology under Se stress. ABA also increased the Se content in C. betacea seedlings under Se stress. The concentration of ABA at 20 μmol/L got the maximum root Se and shoot Se contents, which increased by 76.64% and 55.83%, respectively, compared with the control. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the peroxidase activity and proline content had the first two closest relationship with the shoot Se content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress, and the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA is the optimum for Se uptake and growth of C. betacea. Under selenium (Se) stress, abscisic acid (ABA) promotes the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings, but only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promotes the growth of C. betacea seedlings. The shoot Se content is most closely correlated with the peroxidase activity and proline content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the stability of cacao clone production by analyzing the dynamics of pod production over time. It investigates correlations in multi-year production levels and explores how genetics influence both intra-annual and inter-annual temporal production dynamics of total and healthy pods. To address these questions, data were analysed from a clonal cacao trial conducted over a period of 18 years in Costa Rica. Longitudinal data analysis provided a clearer understanding of the link between yields over successive years. The best-fit model proved to be the ante-dependence model. This model indicated that the correlation between two successive years was relatively stable, and the correlation between years decreased as the interval between years increased. These correlations are also higher as the age of the trees increases. The clones differ more in terms of their production of healthy pods than total pod production. Four dynamic patterns, considering both intra- and inter-annual production, were identified, revealing differences in production timing and distinct peaks for each class. Inter-annual variability analysis revealed differences in healthy pod production among classes, with some displaying more sustainable production dynamics over 18 years. Intra-annual variability analysis showed significant variation in production periods among clones, with different production distributions throughout the year allowing selection of escape and or resistant clones. The study emphasized the importance of genetics in sustainable cacao production, with potential implications for clonal selection. It was suggested to combine clones of different classes to mitigate risks and spread harvests, emphasizing that resilience is a crucial criterion in cacao breeding programs to effectively meet new challenges. Further research is recommended to explore the influence of various environmental factors and facilitate more efficient selection in perennial crops, with the aim of selecting more resilient clones, a particularly important objective in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study proposes a new species of Eugenia sect. Phyllocalyx from Atlantic Forest remnants in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. The new taxon, Eugenia guapiassuana, is proposed based on literature survey, examination of herbarium material and field work. We herein provide a morphological description, including comments on fruit taste, along with information on distribution, habitat, phenology, vernacular name, taxonomy and conservation status. Figures showing fresh and dry material and a map of the occurrence records are also presented. Eugenia guapiassuana is morphologically similar to E. involucrata and E. superba, and these species are contrasted in the discussion. Following an assessment, the conservation status of Eugenia guapiassuana is provisionally determined as Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(iii)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To optimize operating conditions and the selection of pesticides suitable for spraying from UAVs, we evaluated the coverage of sprayed droplets in the range of 0.001–100% coverage by constructing an indoor spraying device. With the device, the coverage rate decreased with the horizontal distance from the nozzle, and the complementary log–log transformed value of the coverage was approximated by a quadratic function of the distance. The natural logarithm of the deposited pesticide amount could be linearly expressed by the complementary log–log transformed value of the coverage. Different probit regression equations were obtained between the coverage rate of sprayed droplets and egg mortality of Panonychus citri due to four acaricides: spiromesifen, etoxazole, milbemectin, and acynonapyr. From the probit regressions, conventional spraying achieved 90% egg mortality with 150 mg/L spiromesifen (19–23% coverage rate), 50 mg/L etoxazole (14%), 10 mg/L milbemectin (98%), and 67 mg/L acynonapyr (92%). Ultra-low-volume concentrate spraying for UAVs achieved the same with 15,000 mg/L spiromesifen (0.017%), 5000 mg/L etoxazole (1.116%), 1000 mg/L milbemectin (1.339%), and 6667 mg/L acynonapyr (8.868%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rio Grande cherry (RGC) (Eugenia involucrata DC.) is a native fruit species from the Atlantic Forest, in Brazil. The fruits from RGC show high potential for fresh consumption and industrial processing, besides their medicinal properties. The cultivation of RGC can also presents afforestation and reforestation purposes. This species is usually propagated by seed, but challenges with this method have been reported, such as low seed viability after storage and limited seed availability throughout the year. To develop a different propagation protocol and facilitate propagation for this species, we evaluated the response of in vitro cultivated RGC using nodal explants from aseptic in vitro germinated seedlings. We evaluated the effects of nine culture media compositions (MS, ½ MS, ¼ MS, WPM, ½ WPM, ¼ WPM, JADS, SP and modified SP); combinations of plant growth regulators, 6-benzylaminapurine (BAP; 0.0; 4.4; 11.1 and 22.2 µM) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 0.0 and 0.5 µM); and different substrates for plant acclimatization. The use of JADS medium supplemented with 11.1 µM BAP for in vitro bud initial induction followed by subculture of in vitro obtained shoots in JADS supplemented with 4.4 µM BAP were indicated in the multiplication process. JADS medium without plant growth regulators was superior for shoot development and rooting formation. Plants were acclimated with the use a combination of commercial potting with vermiculite. Therefore, a robust protocol for the in vitro establishment, multiplication and acclimation of this native fruit species was obtained.Key message: An efficient micropropagation protocol from juvenile tissue explants of Rio Grande cherry tree (Eugenia involucrata DC.), a native fruit tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry, the integration of trees, crops, and animals, is expected to increase environmental sustainability of fruit production compared to traditional orchards. Virtual experiments with models would allow the performance and sustainability of these systems to be evaluated in a range of pedoclimatic and management scenarios, taking into account the interactions of fruit trees with crops. The models should represent tree and crop growth in 3D, run simulations over the whole life cycle of the orchard, and account for management practices that influence tree-crop interactions. We reviewed existing fruit tree and agroforestry models and have proposed a decision tree to guide future modellers in choosing a model that meets their simulation objectives. None of the reviewed models met all requirements, but we identified improvements that could be made to two existing models to accurately simulate temperate fruit tree based agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nanoparticles have gained attention as efficient alternatives to conventional agricultural chemicals, there is limited knowledge regarding their effects on herbivorous insect behavior and plant physicochemistry. Here, we investigated the effects of foliar applications of nano-silica (SiO2NPs) and nano-selenium (SeNPs), and bulk-size silica (SiO2) on the choice behavior of the arrowhead scale insect on mandarin orange plants. One leaf of a bifoliate pair was treated with one of the three chemicals, while the other was treated with water (control). The respective SiO2, SeO2, calcium (Ca), and carbon (C) content levels in the leaf epidermis and mesophyll were quantified using SEM–EDX (or SEM–EDS); leaf toughness and the arrowhead scale density and body size were measured. First-instar nymphs preferred silica-treated leaves and avoided SeNP-treated leaves. SiO2 content did not differ between control and SiO2NP-treated leaves, but was higher in bulk-size SiO2-treated leaves. The SiO2 level in the control leaves was higher in the SiO2NP treatment compared with that in the control leaves in the bulk-size SiO2 treatment. Silica-treated leaves increased in toughness, but SeNP-treated leaves did not; leaf toughness increased with mesophyllic SiO2 content. The insect density per leaf increased with leaf toughness, SiO2 content and, in the SiO2NP treatment, with epidermal C content. There was no correlation between SeO2 content and insect density. This study highlights the potential uses of SeNPs as an insect deterrent and of silica for enhancing leaf toughness and attracting scale insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Birds time their life cycle events to favourable windows in environmental conditions. In tropical environments, where photoperiod variation is small, birds show high variability in the timing of life cycle stages, yet these species have been severely underrepresented in phenology research. Here, we investigated temporal patterns in bird life cycles and resource availability in two sites in tropical Africa: Weppa (Nigeria, 7° N) and Elat (Cameroon, 3° N). In these sites we captured common bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus), a widespread generalist, and recorded breeding and moult over a 12‐month period. Simultaneously, we surveyed fruiting tree and arthropod abundance. Our aim was to quantify seasonal patterns in moult and breeding in bulbuls at both sites, and link them to fluctuations in local fruit and arthropod abundance and precipitation. Moult was more seasonal than breeding in both sites, and seasonality of both life cycle events was stronger in Nigeria than Cameroon. The peak timing for moult was 1.5 months earlier in Nigeria than Cameroon. Seasonal variation in abundance of fruiting trees and arthropods was different between sites, as were the associations with breeding and moulting. In Nigeria, we found a positive association between moult and arthropod abundance, and a negative one with fruiting tree abundance. In contrast, in Cameroon moult was associated with higher precipitation, while breeding occurred at times with higher fruit abundance. Our results provide evidence that, even in similar habitats separated by four degrees in latitude, seasonal patterns across three trophic levels are variable. Understanding links between environmental conditions and life cycle events can reveal potential vulnerabilities of tropical species, and guide conservation efforts.

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Olive (Olea europaea) is a tree species whose seedling grows slowly and the propagation by seed is time consuming and increases the probability of genetic alterations. The most appropriate method to propagate olive is the use of shoot cutting as asexual propagation; however, semi-hardwood olive cutting is hard-rooting. The purpose of the current research was to facilitate rooting on shoot cutting of olive cv. Mari using the concentrations of 2, 3, and 4 g l−1 of indolebutyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), singularly and in combination with each other. Used cultivation bed was sand. The research was done as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Rooting percentage, root number, root length, and root fresh and dry weights were measured. Based on the results of this experiment the highest percentage of rooting (83.30%), maximum root number (17.09), longest root (22.67 cm), and dry (2.30 g) weight were obtained in cuttings treated with 3 g l−1 NAA together with 3 g l−1 IBA. The highest fresh weight (4.83 g) was obtained in cuttings treated with 4 g l−1 NAA together with 3 g l−1 IBA. The lowest percentage of rooting, maximum root number, shortest root, and lowest fresh and dry weights were obtained in control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit tree productivity is generally low and highly variable in the tropics. Quantifying yield gaps and their determining factors provides levers to increase production, but yield gap of fruit trees remains poorly explored at the tree scale. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, we adapted the concept of yield gap to define the production gap at the tree scale to integrate tree endogenous factors (cultivar, age, and crown dimensions). The production gap (Pg) was defined as the difference between potential tree production (Pp) and actual tree production (Pa). The concept was implemented for mango trees in West Africa. We estimated these production indicators on 280 mango trees for two years, covering a wide range of fruit load, age, cultivars, and cropping systems (extensive, diversified, and intensive) found in Senegal. Actual production was estimated yearly using ground tree image analysis. Attainable production (Patt, a locally constrained approximation of Pp) was estimated based on tree endogenous and climatic factors using stochastic frontier analysis. Our results showed that attainable production increased with tree crown area and trunk diameter, whereas the effects of tree density, temperature, and solar radiation were cultivar-dependent. On average, the actual production reached 63% of the attainable production. The production gap was higher in extensive orchards (Pg = 58% of Patt) compared to diversified (Pg = 29% of Patt) and intensive (Pg = 32% of Patt) orchards. Based on production gap estimation, we identified the drivers of mango production variation among cultivars and cropping systems in West Africa. This study demonstrates the usefulness of adapting yield gap methodology to the tree scale to analyze production gaps in diverse fruit tree-based cropping systems. Measurement of production gaps allows the integration of tree features and their variability to upscale and improve the estimation of yield gaps at the orchard scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial in "Frontiers in Plant Science" discusses the use of mutational breeding techniques, from induced mutations to site-directed mutagenesis, in developing new cultivars in various crop plants and fruit trees. The article highlights the importance of mutational breeding in improving multi-gene quantitative traits for tolerance to abiotic stress, especially in the context of climate change. Different studies presented in the editorial demonstrate the application of chemically and physically induced mutations in crops like wheat, barley, bean, pear fruit tree, and Arabidopsis, showcasing the potential for creating biodiversity and enhancing plant improvements. The authors emphasize the significance of combining mutational breeding with DNA sequencing and marker-assisted selection for crop improvement and resilience to environmental challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops.

The domestication process in long‐lived plant perennials differs dramatically from that of annuals, with a huge amount of genetic exchange between crop and wild populations. Though apple is a major fruit crop grown worldwide, the contribution of wild apple species to the genetic makeup of the cultivated apple genome remains a topic of intense study. We used population genomics approaches to investigate the contributions of several wild apple species to European and Chinese rootstock and dessert genomes, with a focus on the extent of wild–crop gene flow. Population genetic structure inferences revealed that the East Asian wild apples, Malus baccata (L.) Borkh and M. hupehensis (Pamp.), form a single panmictic group, and that the European dessert and rootstock apples form a specific gene pool whereas the Chinese dessert and rootstock apples were a mixture of three wild gene pools, suggesting different evolutionary histories of European and Chinese apple varieties. Coalescent‐based inferences and gene flow estimates indicated that M. baccata – M. hupehensis contributed to the genome of both European and Chinese cultivated apples through wild‐to‐crop introgressions, and not as an initial contributor as previously supposed. We also confirmed the contribution through wild‐to‐crop introgressions of Malus sylvestris Mill. to the cultivated apple genome. Apple tree domestication is therefore one example in woody perennials that involved gene flow from several wild species from multiple geographical areas. This study provides an example of a complex protracted process of domestication in long‐lived plant perennials, and is a starting point for apple breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pear (Pyrus), walnut (Juglans) and kiwifruit (Actinidia) are important cash crops in China. Recently, symptoms of branch canker or dieback have been frequently observed in many orchards in Henan Province and have resulted in high losses of fruit production. In this study, symptomatic branches were collected for aetiological isolation from three hosts during 2020 and 2021. Seven isolates from these hosts were identified as one novel species, based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated sequences of the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA (ITS), translation elongation factor 1α (TEF), β‐tubulin (TUB), histone (HIS) and calmodulin (CAL). We proposed the name Diaporthe actinidiicola and completed Koch's postulates to confirm pathogenicity. Host range evaluation indicated that D. actinidiicola could infect all inoculated fruit trees (pear, kiwifruit, walnut, apple [Malus] and peach [Prunus]) and the isolates from different hosts were most virulent on their original host. This study characterizes a novel Diaporthe species from three different hosts in China and contributes useful data for practicable disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis provides a solution for maintaining and genetically improving crop or fruit varieties with desirable agronomic traits. For the fruit tree pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), despite some successful applications, the existing somatic embryogenesis protocols are limited by low availability of explants and susceptibility to browning. To address these problems, in this study, we developed an effective system for induction of high-vigor pomegranate somatic embryos derived from stem explants. The usage of stem explants breaks through the difficulty in obtaining material, thus making our system suitable for widespread commercial production. To enhance the performance of our system, we identified the optimal explants, subculture cycles and combination of basal media and plant growth regulators for each step. The results showed that inoculating stem explants onto a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) achieved the best induction rate and growth status of pomegranate calli (induction rate = ~72%), and MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L NAA was the optimal condition for the induction of embryogenic calli and somatic embryos (induction rate = ~74% and 79%, respectively). The optimal subculture period for embryogenic calli was found to be 30–35 days. Strong roots were then induced in the developed somatic embryo seedlings, which survived and grew well after transplantation to the natural environment, indicating the good vitality of the induced pomegranate somatic embryos. Together, our system provides a solution to mass somatic embryo induction and plant regeneration of pomegranate and lays a foundation for future genetic transformation and bioengineering improvement of pomegranate with favorable agronomic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the types of scarification that can be used to accelerate the development process of the tamarind crop (Tamarindus indica L.), increasing crop production. Fruit trees along with other species that have seeds with hard testa are a challenge for the producer, because they take longer to germinate than the rest of the species, however by determining an effective scarification method this process will be more efficient in the production of tamarind. The methods used in this trial are very common in other species, such as physical scarification in water, chemical scarification with a certain cleaning product and biological scarification with beneficial organisms; these methods were adapted to this crop with very good results obtaining more than 80% germination and 99% germination capacity, without using certified seeds, also one of the most important things is that each treatment is easily accessible to the producer, that is why it is concluded that using scarification decreases the development time of this fruit tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to challenges caused by climate change, apple (Malus ×domestica) breeding programs must quickly develop more resilient cultivars. One strategy is to breed for various bloom times. Members of the genus Malus, including domesticated apple, wild species, and hybrids, exhibit striking variations in the bloom date. Although bloom time is strongly influenced by chilling requirements, other aspects of floral development in Malus and their contributions to bloom time are less known. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential connections between predormancy flower development and final bloom time in Malus species. We performed a phenological analysis of flower development in wild and domesticated apple with extreme differences in bloom time over the course of one developmental season. We tracked histological changes in the floral apex of representatives of three early-blooming Malus genotypes (M. ×domestica ‘Anna’ PI 280400, M. orthocarpa PI 589392, M. sylvestris PI 633824) and three late-blooming genotypes (M. angustifolia PI 589763, M. angustifolia PI 613880, M. ×domestica ‘Koningszuur’ PI 188517). Our study documented their floral meristem progression and organ development and expanded on current staging systems for apple flower development to describe the changes observed. The developmental trajectories of each genotype did not group according to bloom category, and we observed variations in the floral development stage at the time of dormancy onset.

At the expense of irreversible biodiversity loss, industrial modern agriculture is expanding in tropical regions. The conversion of forests to large scale monoculture plantations has fragmented and reduced habitat complexity, and altered biotic communities. However, the establishment of agroforestry orchards as a part of a conservation set-aside programme may aid biodiversity by providing a wider range of ecological niches to support more diverse bird fauna within industrial monoculture plantations. Thus, in this study, we compared avian biodiversity assemblages (species richness, abundance, and functional bird groups) between two types of agricultural production (agroforestry orchards and agriculture monocultures) in Peninsular Malaysia with the aim of assessing the applicability of the conservation set-aside. We measured 14 predictor variables consisting of habitat attributes, vegetation health, and insect food availability, to determine the key ecological drivers for avian biodiversity in tropical agriculture matrices. Across the study area, we recorded 6,284 birds from 110 species (42 families) via point count sampling. Our results revealed that agroforestry orchards were able to support greater avian biodiversity assemblages in terms of species richness and abundance compared to monoculture plantations. Bird species richness and abundance were driven by 10 out of 14 predictor variables, with arthropod order richness, vegetation health, land-use type and season having significant influence on both models. Bird functional groups were attributed to 11 predictor variables with vegetation health, land-use type and season having the most influence over all bird groups. Our findings highlight the potential of agroforestry orchards as conservation set-aside for avian biodiversity in industrialised monoculture plantation landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro culture, ensuring rapid multiplication and production of plant material under aseptic conditions, represents an excellent tool for ex-situ conservation of tree species biodiversity and can be used for the conservation, among others, of endangered and rare crops. Among the Pyrus communis L. cultivars that have been abandoned over the years due to changed cultivation requirements, but which are still used today in breeding programs, there is the 'Decana d'inverno'. Pear is generally considered a recalcitrant species for in vitro propagation due to weak multiplication rate, hyperhydricity, and susceptibility to phenolic oxidation. Therefore, the use of natural substances like neem oil (although little explored) represents one of the options to improve the in vitro plant's tissue culture. In this context, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of adding neem oil (0.1 and 0.5 m L L−1) to the growth substrate in order to optimise the in vitro culture of the ancient pear tree cultivar 'Decana d'inverno'. The neem oil addition resulted in an increase in the number of shoots produced especially at both concentrations used. On the contrary, an increase in length of proliferated shoots was observed only with the addition of 0.1 mL L−1. The neem oil addition did not affect the explants viability, fresh and dry weights. Therefore, the present study demonstrated for the first time the possibility of using neem oil to optimise the in vitro culture of an ancient pear tree cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As spring frost proves to be an increasing risk throughout Slovenia and Europe, a better assessment of frost risk is needed. The statistical approach presented in this article consists of the conditional probability that the last spring frost occurs before budburst or flowering. The analysis was conducted using two separate phenological models and phenological data of various grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), apple (Malus domestica), and sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties in locations across Slovenia. The increase in risk of spring frost for grapevine ranged from 1 to 1980, from 0.06 to 12 for apple, and from 1 to 180 for sweet cherry. Overall, the varieties most prone to frost proved to be Refošk (Teran) and Merlot grapevine varieties as well as the Germersdorf sweet cherry variety. We have identified the location in the hilly region with moderate climate where the Bobovec apple variety is grown as the least exposed to frost. Although counterintuitive, the GDD generally proved somewhat more efficient than the two-phase phenological model BRIN, although not in all cases. For the purpose of the study, the phenological models were calibrated, and the model parameters can serve as invaluable information for further research of this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaya fruit (Carica papaya) has different degrees of ripening within each fruit, affecting its commercial market value. The fruit characteristics of "Tainung No. 2" Red papaya were investigated at the stem-end, middle, and calyx-end across 3 ripening stages and categorized based on fruit skin coloration: unripe at 16 weeks after anthesis (WAA), half-ripe at 18 WAA, and full-ripe at 20 WAA. The fruits maintained an elliptical shape during ripening with a ratio of 2.36 of the length to the width. The peel and pulp color changed from green to white to yellow during ripening, regardless of the three parts. In the pulp, soluble solid contents increased, and firmness decreased during ripening but did not differ among the three parts. Individual nutrient contents, including metabolites and minerals, changed dynamically between the ripening stages and fruit parts. Total carbohydrates and proteins, N, and K, were accumulated more at the stem-end during ripening; meanwhile, fructose, glucose, Mg, and Mn were accumulated more at the calyx-end. In the principal component analysis, ripening stages and fruit parts were distinctly determined by the first and second principal components, respectively. Understanding the nutrient and metabolite dynamics during ripening and their distribution within the fruit can help optimize cultivation practices, enhance fruit quality, and ultimately benefit both growers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nanoparticles have gained attention as efficient alternatives to conventional agricultural chemicals, there is limited knowledge regarding their effects on herbivorous insect behavior and plant physicochemistry. Here, we investigated the effects of foliar applications of nano-silica (SiO2NPs) and nano-selenium (SeNPs), and bulk-size silica (SiO2) on the choice behavior of the arrowhead scale insect on mandarin orange plants. One leaf of a bifoliate pair was treated with one of the three chemicals, while the other was treated with water (control). The respective SiO2, SeO2, calcium (Ca), and carbon (C) content levels in the leaf epidermis and mesophyll were quantified using SEM–EDX (or SEM–EDS); leaf toughness and the arrowhead scale density and body size were measured. First-instar nymphs preferred silica-treated leaves and avoided SeNP-treated leaves. SiO2 content did not differ between control and SiO2NP-treated leaves, but was higher in bulk-size SiO2-treated leaves. The SiO2 level in the control leaves was higher in the SiO2NP treatment compared with that in the control leaves in the bulk-size SiO2 treatment. Silica-treated leaves increased in toughness, but SeNP-treated leaves did not; leaf toughness increased with mesophyllic SiO2 content. The insect density per leaf increased with leaf toughness, SiO2 content and, in the SiO2NP treatment, with epidermal C content. There was no correlation between SeO2 content and insect density. This study highlights the potential uses of SeNPs as an insect deterrent and of silica for enhancing leaf toughness and attracting scale insects.

Abstract Background Spring frosts pose an important threat to orchard productivity in temperate zones and projections do not exclude damaging events in the future. However, there is no up-to-date and systematic comparison of the effectiveness and conditionality of the existing passive and active damage prevention strategies. This systematic review seeks to answer the questions “How do the performances of spring frost damage reduction strategies in temperate fruit orchards compare?” and “How do environmental conditions affect the effectiveness of frost damage reduction strategies in temperate fruit orchards?”. Methods This review covers a large range of on-field strategies for the protection of flowering orchards against damage inflicted by late spring frost. All major temperate fruit tree crops and grapevines were included, provided that the performance of frost damage reduction was compared against a control in terms of bud and flower survival, yield and delays in flowering time, or ambient temperature change. Articles and reports were collected between June and October 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection and regional indexes and from the databases Scopus, FAO AGRIS, USDA Agricola, CAB Abstracts and the Groenekennis database of the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands, as well as from relevant institutional websites and the Chinese scholarly search engine ‘Baidu’. Biases resulting from inadequate randomisation, incomplete reporting or deficient study designs were reported. Temporal and spatial research trends and gaps were mapped based on 104 selected studies (from 8970 identified studies). Data was extracted for every experiment that an article reported on, leading to 971 data points. Groups of frost protection methods were compared in terms of effectiveness whereby environmental factors were examined to explain the variation of the effectiveness by means of mixed linear models. Review findings Most included studies originate from the United States and Europe more than from the temperate fruit production regions in Asia. An increase over time in the research on foliar applications, including growth regulation hormones was observed. Apple, peach and more recently grapevine were the most researched fruit types, followed by cherry and pear. The validity of the selected studies was generally low as measures of variability were reported only occasionally. Therefore, only descriptive comparisons of effectiveness were undertaken between intervention classes by fruit types. Sprinkler systems were found to perform best for most studied outcomes, while the emerging biochemical solutions revealed mixed results. The performances of resource-intensive heating systems did not outperform low-resource techniques such as tunnels or coverings of individual buds. The lack of reporting standards did not allow extensive correlations with ambient factors and reduced the transferability of the review’s findings. A need for standard protocols for experiments and reporting is therefore apparent. Conclusions In this field, strong shortcomings in the documentation of experimental setups and reporting standards were exposed. Implications for policy making are limited while for research recommendations to reduce bias and increase comparability are put forward.

Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), an important free amino acid in plant tissues, plays an essential role in all stages of plant growth and development. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of GABA on the nutrient absorption of loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] seedlings. The effects of applying exogenous GABA in different concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 g L−1) on the nutrient uptake of loquat seedlings were studied. GABA increased the biomass (dry weight) and contents of photosynthetic pigments in loquat seedlings to a certain extent. GABA concentration exhibited a quadratic polynomial regression relationship with the biomass. Exogenous GABA in different concentrations increased the total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents in loquat seedlings, whereas only 0.5 and 1.0 g L−1 of GABA increased the potassium (K) content. Similarly, GABA concentration also had a polynomial regression relationship with the total N, P, and K contents. Compared to the control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g L−1 of GABA increased the shoot total N content by 27.30, 32.99, 15.41, and 12.93%, respectively, and also increased the shoot total P content by 26.12, 37.52, 21.99, and 9.61%, respectively. Furthermore, correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the carotenoid content, root biomass, and soil alkali-hydrolyzable N concentration were the indicators most closely associated with the uptakes of N, P, and K in shoots. This study shows that exogenous GABA can promote the growth and nutrient uptake of loquat seedlings at an optimum concentration of 1.0 g L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting has been utilized to develop horticultural crops to increase plant vigor, yield potential, and tolerance to various environmental stresses. Grafting employs selected rootstocks of the same species or near relatives. Moreover, dwarfing is a desirable feature for intensive cultivation and efficient orchard management. However, information on the regulatory mechanisms of rootstock-induced vigor control remains unclear. Numerous studies comprehend the physiological and molecular mechanism of rootstock control scion vigor, which has significantly improved our understanding regarding vigor control processes in apple, litchi, pear, citrus, etc. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of rootstocks on scion vigor and hormonal mechanisms involved in dwarfing, such as auxin (IAA), cytokinins (CK), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acids (GAs), and brassinosteroids (BR). This study will provide fascinating information for future studies on rootstock-induced dwarfing effects and accelerate the breeding of dwarfing rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia spp., is one of the most important postharvest diseases of stone fruits worldwide. Brown rot resistance in peach is a polygenic trait controlled by multiple genes with a small effect. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of genomic prediction (GP) for brown rot resistance in peach using eight contrasting methods (GBLUP, rrBLUP, BayesA, BayesB, BayesC, Bayesian Ridge Regression, Bayesian Lasso and RKHS). A testing panel of 38 cultivars/advanced selections and 288 F1 individuals from 27 pedigree-related breeding families with 'Bolinha' and/or 'Contender' or almond source of resistance was phenotyped over six seasons (2015 to 2020). GP models outperformed MAS models under five-fold cross validation, and low to moderate predictive accuracy (PA) was achieved by fitting GP model for wounded (W) (0.092−0.449) and low PA for non-wounded (NW) disease severity index (0.129−0.295). An alternative cross validation approach using disease severity index recorded in lab to predict field disease incidence (FDI) in unphenotyped accessions revealed moderate correlation (0.548−0.553). Genomic predicted breeding value distinguished accessions with low FDI from those with high FDI. The results presented here demonstrated feasibility of incorporating GP in peach breeding.

Soil in most areas of the world is selenium (Se) deficient, which results a low Se content in agricultural products. To improve the fruit tree Se accumulation, the effects of different Artemisia argyi water extract concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400-fold dilutions) on the growth and Se accumulation of peach seedlings were studied by a pot experiment. A 300- and 400-fold dilution of A. argyi water extract increased the root and shoot biomass (dry weight), leaf chlorophyll a content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and peroxidase (POD) activity of peach seedlings, but decreased the leaf chlorophyll a/b. Different A. argyi water extract concentrations had no significant effects on peach leaf chlorophyll a content of peach seedlings, but increased the leaf carotenoid content, catalase (CAT) activity, and soluble protein content. Different A. argyi water extract concentrations increased the total Se, inorganic Se, and organic contents in roots and shoots of peach seedlings to some extent. Furthermore, A. argyi water extract concentration exhibited a linear relationship with the root and shoot total Se contents. Compared with the control, the 100-, 200-, 300-, and 400-fold dilutions of A. argyi water extract increased the shoot total Se content by 18.95%, 31.31%, 39.32%, and 51.59%, respectively. Different A. argyi water extract concentrations also increased the leaf Se metabolism-related enzyme activities of peach seedlings, including the activities of adenosine triphosphate sulfurase (ATPS), adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APR), and serine acetyltransferase (SAT), as well as selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT) to some extent. Moreover, correlation and grey relational analyses revealed the root total Se content, CAT activity, and ATPS activity to be closely associated with the total shoot Se content. Therefore, applying A. argyi water extract can thus promote the growth and Se uptake of peach seedlings, and the future study should focus on the application effects of Se uptake in peach fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divergence processes in crop‐wild fruit tree complexes in pivotal regions for plant domestication such as the Caucasus and Iran remain little studied. We investigated anthropogenic and natural divergence processes in apples in these regions using 26 microsatellite markers amplified in 550 wild and cultivated samples. We found two genetically distinct cultivated populations in Iran that are differentiated from Malus domestica, the standard cultivated apple worldwide. Coalescent‐based inferences showed that these two cultivated populations originated from specific domestication events of Malus orientalis in Iran. We found evidence of substantial wild‐crop and crop–crop gene flow in the Caucasus and Iran, as has been described in apple in Europe. In addition, we identified seven genetically differentiated populations of wild apple (M. orientalis), not introgressed by the cultivated apple. Niche modelling combined with genetic diversity estimates indicated that these wild populations likely resulted from range changes during past glaciations. This study identifies Iran as a key region in the domestication of apple and M. orientalis as an additional contributor to the cultivated apple gene pool. Domestication of the apple tree therefore involved multiple origins of domestication in different geographic locations and substantial crop‐wild hybridization, as found in other fruit trees. This study also highlights the impact of climate change on the natural divergence of a wild fruit tree and provides a starting point for apple conservation and breeding programmes in the Caucasus and Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and quality of plant residue deposited on the soil and the size of the canopy are conditioning factors for edaphic fauna, mainly due to changes in temperature, soil cover and the supply of food resources. Thus, according to their genetic characteristics, plant species can influence the abundance and diversity of soil invertebrates in different ways. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different provenances of Spondia tuberosa on the edaphic mesofauna community. The experimental area is located in the municipality of Contendas do Sincorá, Bahia, Brazil, and is composed of five different provenances of Spondias tuberosa. Mesofauna sampling was performed using the modified Berlese-Tullgren funnel method. The provenances did not influence the total density or richness of the mesofauna. However, it was possible to observe changes in the diversity indexes and in the relationship between mesofauna and dendrometric variables. The Lontra-Minas Gerais provenance (L) provided greater evenness between the mesofauna groups among the studied provenances. Together with América Dourada-Bahia (AD), this provenance favored the occurrence of detritivorous organisms, while Livramento de Brumado-Bahia (LB) and Macaúbas-Bahia (M) provide more conducive microhabitats to the occurrence of a greater number of the edaphic mesofauna groups. Thus, L and AD can optimize biological processes such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient mineralization, while L, LB and M can be more favorable to the overall biological health of the soil. These differences should be taken into account when choosing Spondias tuberosa provenances, since they can determine changes in biological processes and soil function, especially in semi-arid climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis provides a solution for maintaining and genetically improving crop or fruit varieties with desirable agronomic traits. For the fruit tree pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), despite some successful applications, the existing somatic embryogenesis protocols are limited by low availability of explants and susceptibility to browning. To address these problems, in this study, we developed an effective system for induction of high-vigor pomegranate somatic embryos derived from stem explants. The usage of stem explants breaks through the difficulty in obtaining material, thus making our system suitable for widespread commercial production. To enhance the performance of our system, we identified the optimal explants, subculture cycles and combination of basal media and plant growth regulators for each step. The results showed that inoculating stem explants onto a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) achieved the best induction rate and growth status of pomegranate calli (induction rate = ~72%), and MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L NAA was the optimal condition for the induction of embryogenic calli and somatic embryos (induction rate = ~74% and 79%, respectively). The optimal subculture period for embryogenic calli was found to be 30–35 days. Strong roots were then induced in the developed somatic embryo seedlings, which survived and grew well after transplantation to the natural environment, indicating the good vitality of the induced pomegranate somatic embryos. Together, our system provides a solution to mass somatic embryo induction and plant regeneration of pomegranate and lays a foundation for future genetic transformation and bioengineering improvement of pomegranate with favorable agronomic traits.

Crossbreeding within narrow genetic resources increases the homozygosity of the offspring. Resultant inbreeding depression can reduce the yield potential of the offspring. Slow progress in breeding programs because of inbreeding has been suggested in persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.), but quantitative evidence has been limited. Here we assessed how inbreeding affects a population's yield-related traits by using sequence-based genotyping. To find a reliable inbreeding estimation method that considers persimmon's hexaploidy, we screened nine marker-based inbreeding estimators (FM) and various read-depth thresholds for genotype calling; the results suggested that the Loiselle–Huang (LH) FM and a read-depth threshold of 10 were optimal. After validating 11,379 variant sites selected under the optimal read-depth threshold, we calculated the LH FM of 97 breeding populations by using the dosage genotypes of 47 cross parents. In these populations, LH FM successfully identified the less inbred populations and confirmed that the inbreeding level was significantly reduced by a pseudo-backcross strategy designed to widen the genetic diversity of the breeding population. In regression analyses using mean phenotypic value and LH FM of the 97 populations as response and explanatory variables, respectively, we detected significant reductions of fruit weight, yield, and tree vigor at the first fruit-bearing age, and delay of the first fruit-bearing age itself as inbreeding progressed; the other eight FM showed similar trends. These results indicate that inbreeding depression occurs in yield-related traits in persimmon and that employing FM would help breeders increase the chance of developing less inbred cultivars with higher yield potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Spring frosts pose an important threat to orchard productivity in temperate zones and projections do not exclude damaging events in the future. However, there is no up-to-date and systematic comparison of the effectiveness and conditionality of the existing passive and active damage prevention strategies. This systematic review seeks to answer the questions "How do the performances of spring frost damage reduction strategies in temperate fruit orchards compare?" and "How do environmental conditions affect the effectiveness of frost damage reduction strategies in temperate fruit orchards?". Methods: This review covers a large range of on-field strategies for the protection of flowering orchards against damage inflicted by late spring frost. All major temperate fruit tree crops and grapevines were included, provided that the performance of frost damage reduction was compared against a control in terms of bud and flower survival, yield and delays in flowering time, or ambient temperature change. Articles and reports were collected between June and October 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection and regional indexes and from the databases Scopus, FAO AGRIS, USDA Agricola, CAB Abstracts and the Groenekennis database of the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands, as well as from relevant institutional websites and the Chinese scholarly search engine 'Baidu'. Biases resulting from inadequate randomisation, incomplete reporting or deficient study designs were reported. Temporal and spatial research trends and gaps were mapped based on 104 selected studies (from 8970 identified studies). Data was extracted for every experiment that an article reported on, leading to 971 data points. Groups of frost protection methods were compared in terms of effectiveness whereby environmental factors were examined to explain the variation of the effectiveness by means of mixed linear models. Review findings: Most included studies originate from the United States and Europe more than from the temperate fruit production regions in Asia. An increase over time in the research on foliar applications, including growth regulation hormones was observed. Apple, peach and more recently grapevine were the most researched fruit types, followed by cherry and pear. The validity of the selected studies was generally low as measures of variability were reported only occasionally. Therefore, only descriptive comparisons of effectiveness were undertaken between intervention classes by fruit types. Sprinkler systems were found to perform best for most studied outcomes, while the emerging biochemical solutions revealed mixed results. The performances of resource-intensive heating systems did not outperform low-resource techniques such as tunnels or coverings of individual buds. The lack of reporting standards did not allow extensive correlations with ambient factors and reduced the transferability of the review's findings. A need for standard protocols for experiments and reporting is therefore apparent. Conclusions: In this field, strong shortcomings in the documentation of experimental setups and reporting standards were exposed. Implications for policy making are limited while for research recommendations to reduce bias and increase comparability are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]