Novel Strategies to Improve the Productivity and Quality of Vegetables and Fruits

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 5806

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Kauno 30, LT-54333 Babtai, Lietuva
Interests: microgreen; leaf lettuce; physiology; biochemistry; chemical analysis methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The quality of vegetables and fruits greatly depends on production/cultivation systems and may be modulated in response to (a)biotic stresses. The development of the new field or closed environment tested designs and modeling of vegetable and fruit productivity without losing quality in the production and supply chain, from the seed to the consumer’s plate, is a powerful tool to predict and improve the health benefits of horticultural products. Novel strategies must be supported on economic and environmental issues and must be smart, sustainable, inclusive. Therefore, in this Special Issue, articles (original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modeling approaches and methods) that focus on vegetable and fruit productivity, as well as quality, and its regulation including biochemistry, physiology, plant protection, metabolites, nutrition, and environment with respect to novel strategies are most welcome.

Dr. Giedrė Samuolienė
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • modern management practices
  • cultivation
  • growing media
  • balance between growth and development
  • phytochemicals and nutrient uptake

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 8276 KiB  
Article
Effects of Caprifig (Ficus carica var. caprificus) Storage Temperature and Duration on the Fruit Productivity and Quality of ‘Bursa Siyahi’ Figs
by Dilan Ahi Koşar and Ümran Ertürk
Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010078 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2901
Abstract
Caprification is the process of hanging caprifig fruits on edible fig trees to transfer the pollen inside the caprifig to the edible fig via the wasp (Blastophaga psenes) living in the caprifig. It needs to be repeated several times for the [...] Read more.
Caprification is the process of hanging caprifig fruits on edible fig trees to transfer the pollen inside the caprifig to the edible fig via the wasp (Blastophaga psenes) living in the caprifig. It needs to be repeated several times for the proper fruit set of edible figs. The present study was conducted to determine the change in the number of Blastophaga psenes, the duration of Blastophaga’s exit, and pollen viability in case the caprifigs to be used in the caprification process are stored until use. The number of Blastophaga and in vitro pollen viability were tested at day 0 (harvest day) and after 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 days of storage at three different temperatures (0, 4, and 8 °C). Afterwards, the effect of pollination frequency on the edible fig fruit set and quality was determined by using Blastophaga psenes as a vector in the pollination of stored caprifig fruits, pollinating five times with 4-day intervals and three times with 8-day intervals. Approximately a 50% reduction in the number of B. psenes was detected after 4 (180.22), 12 (174.11) and 16 (192.66) days of caprifigs storage at 0, 4, and 8 °C, respectively. The pollen germination percentage of the caprifigs increased with storage and was higher in those stored at 8 °C (43.96%) and 4 °C (41.70%). The highest fruit set was obtained when the caprifigs stored at 4 °C (76.41%) and 8 °C (71.38%) five times with 4-day intervals were used for pollination. The pollination practice repeated five times with 4-day intervals resulted in a lower proportion of extra-large fruits with a weight of >100 g, a higher proportion of fruits with no or slight ostiole damage and early ripening of fruits. These results suggest that B. psenes and pollen viability can be preserved by storing caprifigs at 4 or 8 °C and that fruit set and fruit characteristics would be positively affected with the use of stored caprifigs in the pollination practice repeated five times with 4-day intervals. Full article
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19 pages, 2136 KiB  
Article
Foliar Application of ZnO-NPs Influences Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Antioxidants Pool in Capsicum annum L. under Salinity
by Farzad Rasouli, Mohammad Asadi, Mohammad Bagher Hassanpouraghdam, Mohammad Ali Aazami, Asghar Ebrahimzadeh, Karim Kakaei, Libor Dokoupil and Jiri Mlcek
Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100908 - 5 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2482
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have been proven to helpfully improve plant tolerance to several abiotic stresses. However, no information has been reported concerning the role of ZnO-NPs on pepper plants under salinity stress. Hence, this research aimed to evaluate the growth and physiological [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have been proven to helpfully improve plant tolerance to several abiotic stresses. However, no information has been reported concerning the role of ZnO-NPs on pepper plants under salinity stress. Hence, this research aimed to evaluate the growth and physiological responses of pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants to ZnO-NP foliar application under salinity. Plants were subjected to 0 (control), 25 (S1), 50 (S2), and 75 mM (S3) NaCl salinity with a foliar spray of 0, 1000, and 2000 ppm ZnO-NPs. Significant reductions were recorded in the chlorophyll index (SPAD) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and in the activity and/or ratios of reduced ascorbate (AsA), reduced ascorbate/dehydroascorbic acid (AsA/DHA), reduced glutathione (GSH), reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), and K+ content. There was a significant increase in proline content, electrolyte leakage (EL), H2O2 content, guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) activities, and in Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio. Foliar treatments improved the salinity tolerance of the pepper plants by fortifying the antioxidant defense system, leaf fluorescence parameters, K+, and proline content, and in contrast, by decreasing the EL, Na+, and H2O2 levels. ZnO-NP foliar treatment efficiently improved the pepper plants’ physiological responses under salinity. Considering the overall results, 1000 ppm of ZnO-NPs would be advisable for the amelioration of salinity depression and to promote growth potential. However, at higher levels, the nanoparticle showed toxicity symptoms that limited its reliable applications. Full article
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