Search Results (52)

Although cold storage is commonly used to extend peach fruit shelf-life, chilling injury (CI) can develop during low-temperature storage conditions and be expressed during exposure to ambient temperature. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to characterize and compare the differences in CI occurrence as well as sugar metabolism-related genes and metabolites in ‘Red Haven’ peaches stored at 0 °C and 5 °C, followed or not by storage for 3 days (d) at 20 °C (to simulate retail shelf conditions for the evaluation of CI incidence), together with fruit stored at 20 °C, and to identify significant associations between peach CI and sugar metabolism via multivariate analysis. Fruit collected at commercial maturity was stored at 0 °C, 5 °C, and 20 °C and assessed at harvest (0 d) and at 1, 3, 5, 15, and 30 d of storage, followed or not by storage for 3 d at 20 °C. Peaches kept for 30 d at 5 °C plus 3 d at 20 °C exhibited CI, expressed as decreased expressible juice. CI susceptibility was associated with reduced sucrose and increased glucose and fructose, while sorbitol contents were also lower in fruit stored at 5 °C, compared to those stored at 0 °C. This was paralleled by decreased expression of sucrose biosynthesis-related genes and by increased expression of sucrose and sorbitol breakdown-related genes as early as after 5 d of storage at 5 °C. Sugar metabolism changes that occurred during cold storage were maintained after exposure for 3 d to a temperature of 20 °C. The correlations between the evaluated features implied that alterations in sugar metabolism can modulate changes in CI susceptibility. These findings suggest that storage at 0 °C better preserves the sucrose homeostasis of ‘Red Haven’ peaches, reducing CI risk. Full article

The main goal of this study was to investigate and better understand the evolution of the main non-destructive and destructive quality parameters of peach ‘Redhaven’ during ripening process. This study was conducted from 8 to 21 July 2023, during which peaches ‘Redhaven’ were harvested each second day from a commercial orchard located in Novaki Bistranjski. Maturity categories were defined according to different firmness thresholds: maturity for long-distance chain stores (H1), maturity for medium-distance chain stores (H2), maturity below the defined maximum firmness in order to preserve optimal quality traits (H3), ready to buy (H4), ready to eat (H5), and overripe (H6). The chlorophyll absorbance index was the non-destructive parameter that was mostly distinguished between maturity categories (r = 0.78 with firmness), followed by a* and h° ground colour parameters. During the first three maturity categories (H1–H3), firmness had a notably smaller correlation with titratable acidity and the ratio of total soluble solids and titratable acidity, which is not the case for a* and h° ground colour parameters, chlorophyll absorbance index, and the share of additional colour. During the last three maturity categories (H4–H6), non-destructive parameters are not reliable for maturity prediction. When ground colour parameters are measured near petiole insertion, mostly smaller segregation between maturity categories is obtained compared to when measured at the rest of the fruit. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content in peach juice notably corelated only in the last two maturity categories with L* ground colour parameter. Full article

Split pit is a key factor affecting the quality and yield of peaches; it refers to the failure of the endocarp to close along the suture line. There are significant cultivar-specific differences in peaches regarding their susceptibility or resistance to split pit. During fruit ripening, the stable lignification of the endocarp is crucial to prevent split pit. Excessively rapid and unstable fruit development caused by extreme environments seriously affects endocarp formation, leading to split-pit traits. The uneven distribution of phytohormones is one of the important reasons for uneven fruit growth and split pit. The mature dehiscence model of Arabidopsis thaliana provides important references for studying the molecular mechanism of split pit in peaches. This review summarizes the occurrence time, fruit characteristics, influencing factors, and existing research progress on the molecular mechanisms of peach split pit. Finally, it introduces the latest technical methods for studying the molecular mechanisms of split pit and provides future research directions. This paper aims to help breeders understand the possible causes of split pit in peaches, provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of split pit, and promote the sustainable development of the peach industry. Full article

Dictyophora indusiata is commonly utilized as a functional food in China and other Asian countries. The peach-shaped phase of this fungus is nutritionally and taste-wise similar to its mature fruiting bodies. However, there is limited research on the polysaccharides found in the peach-shaped D. indusiata. A heteropolysaccharide was extracted from the volva of peach-shaped D. indusiata (DIVP). Analyses using high-performance gel permeation chromatography, methylation and NMR revealed that DIVP comprises glucose, glucuronic acid, galactose, and mannose. Its structure features a backbone that consists of →3)-β-D-Glcp-(1→ units with branches at →4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and terminal α-Manp-(1→ residues. Physicochemical assessments including X-ray diffraction, thermal, zeta potential and viscosity characterization indicated that DIVP is a semi-crystalline polymer exhibiting excellent physical and thermal stability. Cytokine antibody array and proteome profiler human phosphokinase analyses demonstrated that DIVP downregulates the expression levels of cytokines and alters the phosphorylation status of 16 proteins in human U937 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharides, indicating its anti-inflammatory activity. These findings suggest that the polysaccharide from the volva of peach-shaped D. indusiata is primarily composed of β-1,3-glucan, which exhibits stable physicochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activity, providing a foundation for its potential use as an anti-inflammatory agent or functional food. Full article

Phallus impudicus is a fungus used as a medicine and nutrient-rich food. However, the shelf life of mature Phallus impudicus is only a few hours. Therefore, research on its preservation technology is essential for improving its economic value. This study investigated the effects of hexanal concentrations (25–100 μL/L) and treatment time (4–8 h) on the inhibition of peach-shaped Phallus impudicus (CK) maturation and found that the maturation rate was 25% under optimal conditions of 25 μL/L hexanal treatment for 6 h. Quantitative transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses were conducted among CK, mature Phallus impudicus (M-P), and hexanal-treated peach-shaped Phallus impudicus (H-P-P). In total, 2933 and 2746 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 156 and 111 differentially abundant lipids (DALs) were identified in CK vs. H-P-P and M-P vs. H-P-P, respectively. Functional analysis demonstrated that hexanal treatment inhibited phospholipase D gene expression and reduced phosphatidic acid abundance, thereby inhibiting the activation of the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and the signal amplification of the cell wall integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. These blocked signal transductions inhibited the gene expression of most β-glucanases, chitinases and chitin synthases, further affecting cell wall reconstruction. Moreover, hexanal treatment enhanced membrane stability by reducing the monogalactosyl diglyceride/digalactosyl diacylglycerol ratio and increasing the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio. This study contributed to the development of hexanal treatment as a postharvest preservation technology for Phallus impudicus. Full article

This study investigated corn pericarp, a by-product of the nixtamalization process, in developing sustainable films for fruit coatings. These films were evaluated for their optical, structural, barrier, and mechanical properties. The results showed that the pericarp films were transparent, had heterogeneous surfaces, and exhibited favorable mechanical and barrier properties, suggesting their potential as fruit coatings. The pericarp films significantly extended shelf life when applied to peaches and tejocotes postharvest. The films slowed the maturation process, as evidenced by minimal changes in peel and mesocarp color for up to five days for tejocotes and even longer for peaches. Additionally, coated fruits showed slower rates of weight loss, firmness reduction, and decreases in titratable acidity, total soluble solids, and total sugar content compared to control samples. These findings demonstrate the potential of corn pericarp films as effective coatings for extending the shelf life of stone fruits. Full article

Peach (Prunus persica), a significant economic fruit tree in the Rosaceae family, is extensively cultivated in temperate and subtropical regions due to its abundant genetic diversity, robust adaptability, and high nutritional value. Originating from China over 4000 years ago, peaches were introduced to Persia through the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty and gradually spread to India, Greece, Rome, Egypt, Europe, and America. Currently grown in more than 80 countries worldwide, the expansion of peach cultivation in Egypt is mainly due to the development and utilization of peach varieties with low chilling requirements. These varieties exhibit unique phenotypic characteristics such as early maturity, reduced need for winter cold temperatures, low water requirements, and high economic value. In this study, a systematic analysis was conducted on the genetic characteristics and kinship relationships of peaches with low chilling requirements in Egypt. We conducted a comprehensive evolutionary and Identity-by-Descent (IBD) analysis on over 300 peach core germplasm resources, including Egyptian cultivars with low chilling requirements, to investigate their origin and genetic characteristics. The evolutionary analysis revealed that ‘Bitter almond’ is closely related to China’s wild relative species Prunus tangutica Batal, while ‘Early grand’ shares one branch with Chinese ornamental peach cultivars, and ‘Nemaguard’ clusters with some ancient local varieties from China. The IBD analysis also indicated similar genetic backgrounds, suggesting a plausible origin from China. Similarly, the analysis suggested that ‘Swelling’ may have originated from the Czech Republic while ‘Met ghamr’ has connections to South Africa. ‘Desert red’, ‘Early swelling’, and ‘Florida prince’ are likely derived from Brazil. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic characteristics of Egyptian peach cultivars. They offer a significant foundation for investigating the origin and spread of cultivated peaches worldwide and serve as a valuable genetic resource for breeding low chilling requirement cultivars, which is of considerable significance for the advancement of peach cultivation in Egypt. Full article

Mature Dictyophora indusiata fruiting bodies are brittle and broken easily during storage. Peach-shaped Dictyophora indusiata before maturity respond well to refrigerated maintenance, but some cannot resume their development after storage. This study analyzed the effects of refrigerated storage and transportation on the restarted development of Dictyophora indusiata fruiting bodies using quantitative transcriptome analysis. The refrigerated (4 °C, 3 d) peach-shaped Dictyophora indusiata (CK) was used as the control. After induction treatment for 3 d (26 ± 2 °C, 95 ± 3% RH), 81.25% of CK could achieve restarted development and mature (D-M), whereas 18.75% failed (D-P) to restart. Quantitative transcriptome analysis revealed that 1389 and 4451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the D-P and D-M groups when compared with the results for the CK group, respectively. DEG annotation and functional analysis revealed that D-P did not initiate energy and nutrient metabolism. Most DEGs involving the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway and the MAPK signaling pathway were significantly downregulated or unchanged in the D-P and significantly upregulated in the D-M groups. These results suggested that the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway may play a crucial role in transmitting environmental signals and initiating the morphogenesis of CK, and that the downstream MAPK signaling pathway may be responsible for signal transmission, thereby regulating cellular activities. This study provides a theoretical basis for regulating the growth and development of postharvest Dictyophora indusiata fruiting bodies. Full article

In the realm of agricultural automation, the efficient management of tasks like yield estimation, harvesting, and monitoring is crucial. While fruits are typically detected using bounding boxes, pixel-level segmentation is essential for extracting detailed information such as color, maturity, and shape. Furthermore, while previous studies have typically focused on controlled environments and scenes, achieving robust performance in real orchard conditions is also imperative. To prioritize these aspects, we propose the following two considerations: first, a novel peach image dataset designed for rough orchard environments, focusing on pixel-level segmentation for detailed insights; and second, utilizing a transformer-based instance segmentation model, specifically the Swin Transformer as a backbone of Mask R-CNN. We achieve superior results compared to CNN-based models, reaching 60.2 AP on the proposed peach image dataset. The proposed transformer-based approach specially excels in detecting small or obscured peaches, making it highly suitable for practical field applications. The proposed model achieved 40.4 AP for small objects, nearly doubling that of CNN-based models. This advancement significantly enhances automated agricultural systems, especially in yield estimation, harvesting, and crop monitoring. Full article

Peaches and nectarines have a short shelf life even when harvested at appropriate physiological maturity. Market life is increased by storage at low temperatures. However, chilling injury symptoms can appear, causing physiological disorders and limiting shipping potential. The rootstock effect on the post-harvest quality has hardly been explored. Thus, the principal aim of this work was to study the influence of seven different Prunus rootstocks on the “Big Top” nectarine cv, considering harvest and post-harvest quality parameters and their correlation with chilling injury disorders. Basic fruit quality traits, individual sugars and organic acids analyzed by HPLC and other biochemical compounds such as relative antioxidant capacity, total phenolics content, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C and related enzyme activities (PAL, POD, PPO) were considered. In addition, correlations with possible candidate genes for chilling injury (CI) tolerance were searched by qPCR. Although a low susceptibility to CI symptoms has been found in “Big Top”, rootstocks “PADAC 9902-01”, “PADAC 99-05” and “ReplantPAC” exhibited lower CI symptoms. A statistically significant influence of the evaluated rootstocks was found concerning the parameters of this study. Phenols and anthocyanins seem to be important parameters to be considered in the prevention of chilling injury disorders. Moreover, PAL1, PPO4, PG2 and LDOX genes relative expressions were positively associated with chilling injury susceptibility. This study opens new perspectives for understanding peach fruit adaptation and response to cold storage temperatures during the post-harvest period. Full article

The BES1 transcription factor family was unique and critical in plants. The BES1s played roles in the Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway and participated in the plant’s development, maturation, and stress response process. This study investigated the function of the BES1 gene family of 48 horticultural crops by phylogenetic and genomic colinearity network analysis. In addition, the transcriptional regulatory networks had analyzed the process during biotic stress, abiotic stress, fruit development, and postharvest of kiwifruit and peach. The study illustrated a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of the BES1 family in plant genomes and the prediction of growth and development of kiwifruit and peach fruits and maturation-related BES1 members, laying the foundation for further functional studies of BES1 genes in the future. Full article

Callus induction is a key step in establishing plant regeneration and genetic transformation. In this study, we present a comprehensive large-scale investigation of the callus induction rate (CIR) in peach trees, which revealed significant variability within the peach germplasm. Notably, the late-maturing cultivars exhibited significantly higher levels of CIR. Moreover, cultivars characterized as having high CIR exhibited potential for the development of adventitious roots (ARs) during callus induction, and a positive correlation was observed between CIR and the ability to regenerate ARs. However, long-term subculture callus lost root regeneration capacity due to changes in cellular morphology and starch and flavonoid content. Additionally, PpLBD1 was identified as a good candidate gene involved in the regulation of callus adventitious rooting in peach trees. Our results provide an insight into the mechanisms underlying callus induction and adventitious root development and will be helpful for developing regeneration systems in peach trees. Full article

The effects of different fruit load treatments during peach growth and development on the internal and external quality of peach fruit were studied. At 47 days after full bloom, the plant materials were divided into four treatments: about 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of fruit were retained. The results showed that as the fruit load was reduced during fruit growth and development, the fruit weight, size, soluble solid contents (SSC), total sugar content, sugar/acid ratio and color quality increased, while the flesh firmness, index of absorbance difference (IAD) and total acid content decreased. Compared with the control treatment in which the fruit were not thinned, the weight of individual mature fruit increased by 24.52%, 39.73% and 51.68% under three fruit thinning treatments (in which about 75%, 50% and 25% of the fruit were left on the tree). SSC increased by 30.78%, 37.63% and 49.69%; total sugar content increased by 13.58%, 22.33% and 31.42%; and the sugar-acid ratio increased by 13.25%, 13.59% and 19.47%, respectively, under the three conditions. In addition, the longitudinal, transverse and lateral diameters of fruit increased to varying degrees when the fruit load was reduced. Furthermore, the fruit firmness and IAD value of fruit skins decreased, and fruit ripening was advanced when the fruit load was reduced. The results showed that fruit quality and flavor were improved significantly by fruit thinning. Full article

The olecranon honey peach is China’s national geographic identification product because of its crisp texture and high sweetness. In recent years, new field management practices have been developed. In this study, fruits (‘SJH’) grown through new planting methods, i.e., black bags combined with bio-organic fermentation fertilizer, were compared with those (‘SBY’) grown by conventional planting methods, i.e., using a chemical fertilizer without bagging, to determine their effects on improving fruit quality. At maturity, the ‘SJH’ was significantly higher than ‘SBY’ in terms of weight, hardness, and sugar content by 14.43%, 19.55% and 9.66%, respectively. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology analysis was performed on ‘SJH’ and ‘SBY’ to identify the main regulatory pathways involved in fruit development, especially focusing on cell-wall biogenesis and sugar metabolism. We identified a total of 1660 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ‘SJH’ and 5673 genes in ‘SBY’ throughout the development. A clustering analysis of DEGs revealed that the expression patterns of key genes involved in cell-wall biogenesis and sugar metabolism pathways in ‘SJH’ differed from those in ‘SBY’, such as cellulose synthase-like protein D (CS-LPD), sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthase (SUS). The new cultivation technology promoted soluble sugar accumulation and cell-wall synthesis through molecular regulation, which improved the sweetness and sensory quality of the fruit. These findings contribute towards to the development of novel ideas for the better cultivation of peaches and provide a deeper investigation into the molecular mechanism of their development. Full article

Fruit softening is an important characteristic of peach fruit ripening. The auxin receptor TIR1 (Transport Inhibitor Response 1) plays an important role in plant growth and fruit maturation. Still, little research has been conducted on the relation of TIR1 to the softening of peach fruits. In this study, the hardness of isolated peach fruits was reduced under exogenous NAA treatment at low concentrations. At the same time, the low concentration of NAA treatment reduced the transcription level of PpPG and Ppβ-GAL genes related to cell wall softening and PpACS1 genes related to ethylene synthesis. The transient overexpression of the PpTIR1 gene in peach fruit blocks caused significant down-regulation of the expression of early auxin-responsive genes, ethylene synthesis, and cell wall metabolic genes related to fruit firmness. Through yeast two-hybrid technology, bimolecular fluorescence complementary technology, and a firefly luciferase complementation imaging assay, we were able to unveil an interaction between PpTIR1 and PpIAA1/3/5/9/27 proteins. Furthermore, it was determined that the interaction depended on auxin and its type and concentration. These results show that the PpTIR1-Aux/IAA module has a possible regulatory effect on fruit ripening and softening. Full article