Search Results (694)

Plum fruits are a valuable raw material to produce fermented beverages and a source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. However, information on changes in phenolic composition during plum wine production is still limited. In this study, the evolution of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity during maceration and fermentation of wine from the ‘Stanley’ cultivar was investigated. Total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity were determined spectrophotometrically, while individual compounds were identified by HPLC–DAD analysis. Eleven phenolic compounds were detected, including anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols. Neochlorogenic acid, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, and rutin were the predominant compounds in fruits and wines. Phenolic content in plum skin was more than twofold higher than in whole fruit (445.20 vs. 198.32 mg GAE/100 g FW), with markedly higher anthocyanins (180.08 vs. 36.73 mg CGE/100 g FW), while juice showed much lower levels (89.32 mg GAE/L and 1.08 mg CGE/L). Maceration increased phenolic content and antioxidant activity, whereas fermentation led to a gradual decrease in most compounds, likely due to polymerization and degradation reactions. The wine produced contained 10.80 ± 0.15% (v/v) ethanol. Principal component analysis differentiated samples according to phenolic profile and fermentation stage. Full article

This study systematically investigated differences in volatile flavor profiles among fermented green plum wines by integrating gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), sensory evaluation, and odor activity value (OAV) analysis with machine learning and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) based feature interpretation. The primary objective was to evaluate the applicability of machine learning algorithms for flavor profiling of green plum wine. The results indicated that floral and fruity aromas were predominant in samples NG9, YM7, and YM9. Most green plum wines contained high levels of esters, with ethyl benzoate (up to 4820.53 μg/L), ethyl octanoate (up to 2640.83 μg/L), and benzenecarbaldehyde (up to 3432.96 μg/L) being the major contributors. Among the six classification algorithms compared, fuzzy c-means clustering provided the most distinct clustering structure, identifying three distinct flavor categories. Six machine learning models were subsequently established, of which the decision tree (DT) model exhibited the highest performance, with an accuracy of 95.13%. SHAP analysis further revealed that ethyl octanoate, benzyl ethanoate, and 2-phenylethyl ethanoate exerted the greatest influence on model predictions. Overall, these findings highlight the effectiveness of machine learning as a robust tool for the classification and interpretation of flavor characteristics in fermented fruit wines, with broad applicability in flavor science. Full article

Nai plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. var. cordata) is a high-value fruit crop in southern China, yet its post-harvest quality is often compromised by fruit browning, a major constraint to storage and marketability. Addressing this challenge requires a deeper understanding of the species’ reproductive biology, which underpins both fruit set and cultivar improvement. In this study, we characterized the flowering biological characteristics of Nai plum accessions introduced from Yanling and Liuyang (Hunan Province) and Shaoguan and Lechang (Guangdong Province). Using field observations combined with microscopic and submicroscopic techniques, we documented flowering phenology, flowering dynamics, floral organ traits, pollen viability and stigma receptivity. The flowering period was in March, lasting 26–28 d, and the group blooming period was divided into three stages: Initial opening stage, Full blooming stage, and Final flowering stage. The single-flower opening process was divided into eight stages. Pollen viability followed a unimodal curve, peaking at the petal flattening stage (PF) across all accessions, though peak values varied by provenances. Stigmas were of the wet type, with receptivity following a weak–strong–weak pattern; peak receptivity occurred at early flowering (EF) and PF in most accessions. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S1) lasted for 7 h, and PF lasts for 28 h. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S2) lasted for 3 h, and the PF lasted for 11 h. Both the EF and the PF of Nai plum from Shaoguan (S3) lasted for 14 h. The bud white stage (BW) of Nai plum from Lechang (S4) lasted for 6 h and the EF lasted for 7 h. The EF of Nai plum from Liuyang (S5) lasts for 7 h, and the PF lasted for 28 h. These findings clarify the reproductive phenology and floral biology of Nai plum, providing foundational knowledge that can inform breeding strategies and cultivation practices aimed at improving fruit set and, ultimately, post-harvest quality. Full article

Fruit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key determinants of plum flavor quality, and esters contribute strongly to the fruity aroma of ripe fruit. However, the molecular basis of cultivar differences in ester formation during ripening has not been systematically clarified. Here, we characterized pulp VOC profiles across ripening in three Chinese plum (Prunus salicina) cultivars (‘WeiWang’ (WW), ‘WeiDi’ (WD), and ‘KongLongDan’ (KLD)) and integrated transcriptome analysis with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify genes associated with ester accumulation. HS-SPME-GC-MS identified 38 VOCs, mainly esters, aldehydes, and alcohols, with ‘WW’ showing the highest total VOC abundance. During ripening, esters became the predominant volatile class in ‘WW’ and ‘WD’, in agreement with their fruity sensory characteristics, whereas ‘KLD’ maintained a more balanced composition of fruity and green-related volatiles. Transcriptomic analyses highlighted Prunus salicina alcohol acyltransferase 3 (PsAAT3) as the most abundant AAT transcript in pulp and strongly induced in ‘WW’. Transient overexpression of PsAAT3 in the low-ester background increased butyl acetate and hexyl acetate by 4.8- and 2.2-fold, respectively. WGCNA further identified ester-associated modules and candidate transcription factors co-expressed with PsAAT3 (JA2L, HY5, NAC073, and PHL13). As a result, this study identifies PsAAT3 as a key determinant of high-ester aroma in Chinese plum and provide candidate targets for aroma improvement and flavor-oriented breeding. Full article

Plum pomace (PP), a key by-product of plum juice processing, is a rich yet underutilized source of dietary fiber. However, its high-value exploitation is severely limited by the lack of efficient extraction and modification technologies. This study optimized the extraction of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from plum pomace (PP) via Design of Experiments (DOE), and evaluated their modification effects. Alkaline extraction was screened as the optimal method for IDF, and orthogonal experiments determined the optimal conditions: solid-to-liquid ratio 1:20 g/mL, 14 g/L NaOH, 60 °C, and 80 min, achieving a high extraction yield of 62.18%. For SDF, enzymatic extraction was superior, and response surface methodology (RSM) optimized the process to a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:15.5, 1.0% enzyme dosage, 61.5 °C, and 92 min, with a yield of 29.3%. Physical, chemical, and biological modifications all significantly enhanced SDF’s water/oil-holding capacity, cholesterol/glucose adsorption capacity, and cation exchange capacity. Biologically modified SDF showed the most significant enhancement, with WHC of 5.58 ± 0.05 g/g, OHC of 4.38 g/g, CAC of 7.68 mg/g, and CEC of 3.28 mmol/g. These results provide technical support for the high-value utilization of PP and lay a foundation for its application in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Full article

This study explores the potential of seeds from fruit and vegetable processing waste as feedstocks for biodiesel biocomponent production. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), obtained through a transesterification reaction, were extracted using ultrasound-assisted extraction and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. A total of 31 to 34 individual FAME compounds were identified across all samples. The fatty acid profiles varied both quantitatively and qualitatively depending on the raw material; however, unsaturated FAMEs predominated over saturated ones in all cases. The highest proportions were observed for γ-linolenic acid (C18:3n6), particularly in apple, melon, lemon, and pumpkin seeds. Substantial contributions of oleic acid (C18:1n9c) were found in apple, quince, cherry, and melon seeds, while linolelaidic acid (C18:2n6t) dominated in melon, pumpkin, quince, and cherry seeds. The highest total FAME contents were recorded for apple, melon, lemon, and pumpkin seeds, while the lowest values were observed in apricot and pepper seeds. Among the materials studied, grape seeds proved to be the most promising feedstock, exhibiting a favorable cetane number and a beneficial fatty acid profile characterized by high monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content, low polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, and a moderate fraction of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Plum and peach seeds also showed significant potential, but their higher PUFA levels may compromise oxidative stability and could require antioxidant supplementation or blending with MUFA-rich feedstocks. Full article

The physicochemical properties and volatile composition of fruits are critical determinants of fruit quality and processing performance. This study evaluated major green plum cultivars from Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces by analyzing fruit morphology, nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and volatile profiles. Multivariate statistical analyses, including orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA), were applied to comprehensively assess cultivar-dependent quality differences. EH exhibited the highest total acid and glucose contents, whereas MD showed superior soluble solids, total sugars, solid–acid ratio, and several organic acids and sugars. Yunnan cultivars generally showed higher flavonoid contents and stronger antioxidant activities than Sichuan cultivars. Citric acid was the predominant organic acid. A total of 97 volatile compounds were identified. Ten volatile compounds were detected in all eight varieties, including butyl acetate, hexyl acetate, and butyl butyrate. EH and MD released the higher volatile, and PCA-based comprehensive evaluation ranked the cultivars as follows: EH, MD, EY, YZ, PX, EZ, DY and DN. Therefore, EH and MD exhibited superior overall quality in physicochemical properties and volatile composition. These findings provide a theoretical basis for evaluating green plum quality and their rational utilization in production and processing. Full article

Plum pox virus (PPV) is one of the most destructive pathogens affecting stone fruit trees. It causes sharka disease and severe yield losses. The genetically modified plum cultivar ‘HoneySweet’ was developed to provide long-lasting resistance to PPV via RNA interference. Long-term field trials of ‘HoneySweet’ have been conducted in the Czech Republic since 2001, involving the artificial inoculation of the cultivar with PPV alone, and with apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) in combination. This study evaluates the impact of viral infection on tree growth after 24 years in the field. Growth parameters—trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and canopy volume—were measured and analysed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The results show that infected trees exhibit significantly reduced growth compared to non-infected controls, with the strongest inhibition observed in trees inoculated with PPV + PDV + ACLSV. The presence of ACLSV had the most pronounced negative effect on growth, while PDV did not significantly influence tree vigour. These findings emphasise the importance of using virus-free rootstocks and certified planting material to prevent growth suppression in HoneySweet orchards. Full article

Cultivated species of the Prunus genus are of great economic importance worldwide and can be severely affected by viral diseases that compromise both yield and fruit quality. Among the most significant is Potyvirus plumpoxi (PPV), the causal agent of sharka disease, which has a direct and severe impact on stone fruit production. In this study, high-throughput RNA sequencing was employed to detect and characterize viruses present in commercial peach and apricot orchards located in different regions of Spain. After processing five samples, a total of ten viruses were identified, with PPV being the predominant virus in all analyzed samples, specifically the Marcus strain (PPV-M), which is described as one of the most aggressive PPV strains. In addition, other viruses were detected with high sequencing depth, including Luteovirus nucipersicae (nectarine stem pitting associated virus, NSPaV) and Peach-associated luteovirus (PaLV). Single-nucleotide variation (SNV) analysis of PPV-M populations revealed specific mutations distributed across the viral genome. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses indicated the presence of multiple infection sources of European origin. These results highlight the presence of PPV-M in Spain, providing evidence of different routes of exchange of infected plant material. These findings underscore the need to strengthen monitoring programs, certification of planting material, and phytosanitary control measures to limit the dissemination of viruses and minimize their impact on stone fruit production. Full article

Polyphenols are key dietary bioactive compounds, reducing oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. This study investigated the in vitro antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of some edible fruits (apricots, plums, figs) and vegetable (parsley) extracts related to their phytochemical profile. Plum extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity (ABTS IC₅₀ 1.733 ± 0.079 mg/g; DPPH IC₅₀ 1.593 ± 0.069 mg/g; FRAP 23.161 ± 1.094 mM Fe²⁺), linked to its high chlorogenic and caffeic acids content. Parsley displayed the most potent AChE inhibition (IC₅₀ 0.825 ± 0.026 mg/g), associated with an elevated flavonoids level (TFC 12.874 ± 0.534 mg QE/g) and the presence of ferulic and vanillic acids. Apricot was characterized by notable gallic, syringic, and chlorogenic acids, supporting moderate neuroprotective potential. Figs showed weaker radical scavenging ability but provided a balanced profile of protocatechuic, caffeic, and syringic acids. Correlation analysis revealed specific compound–activity associations, including syringic and vanillic acids with DPPH scavenging capacity, p-coumaric acid with TPC, and gallic/ferulic acids with AChE inhibition. Effect-directed HPTLC confirmed chlorogenic acid as a major contributor to the antioxidant capacity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comparatively integrate spectrophotometric antioxidant assays, UHPLC-based quantitative phenolic profiling, effect-directed HPTLC bioautography, and AChE inhibition analysis across three edible fruits and one vegetable frequently co-consumed in Mediterranean-type diets, enabling a cross-species compound–activity correlation framework. These species exhibit distinct but complementary phytochemical and biofunctional profiles. Their combined use may support the formulation of functional foods with synergistic antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits. Full article

To meet consumer demand for high-quality fruit and replace traditional subjective assessment methods, there is a growing interest in objective, quantitative, and non-destructive testing techniques within the agricultural and food industries. This study explores the integration of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with machine learning for the quality detection of apricot–plum hybrids, aiming to provide a rapid and efficient technical approach. Two cultivars, ‘Fengweimeigui’ and ‘Weidi’, were selected for analysis. The relationships between various quality attributes were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation. Raw spectral data were preprocessed using Savitzky–Golay (SG) smoothing, and principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to reduce the high dimensionality of the spectral data. The scores of the first 15 principal components (PCs) were extracted as input features for the subsequent models. A comparative study was conducted between backpropagation neural network (BPNN) and support vector machine (SVM) models. The results indicated that during the color-break period, significant differences existed across all quality indicators except for dry matter content, with significant correlations observed among these parameters. The results demonstrated that BPNN achieved the best predictive performance for total phenols content, peel L*, peel b*, vitamin C content, flavonoids content, soluble solids content, soluble sugars content, and soluble protein content in ‘Weidi’ and ‘Fengweimeigui’ from the color-turning to the ripening stages. The ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{P}}^2$ values for these indicators were 0.968, 0.966, 0.950, 0.939, 0.939, 0.923, 0.921, and 0.905, respectively, with residual predictive deviation (RPD) values exceeding 3.0. These findings indicate that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a feasible tool for the rapid detection of plum–apricot quality. However, the model performance for Flesh a* requires further optimization. In conclusion, the combination of NIR spectroscopy and machine learning enables the rapid, efficient, and non-destructive quality assessment of plum–apricot hybrids, providing robust technical support for maturity prediction and quality control in commercial production. Full article

Genetic and climatic factors influence the nutritional content of fruit, with vitamin C being a key component. Using HPLC, we quantified the amount of vitamin C in cherries, apricots, plums, and apples from 2022 to 2024. Contents ranged from 1.6 to 24.6 mg/100 g fresh weight basis (FW), with apples and plums displaying the highest coefficient of variation (32.53% and 45.25%). The highest content was consistently found in accession ‘HL827’, which exceeded 20 mg/100 g FW. Cherries reached up to 12.1 mg/100 g FW in 2023 (‘13590′), but decreased to 1.9 mg/100 g FW in 2024 (‘Jacinta’). Apricots showed high fluctuation, with ‘Betinka’, ‘Candela’, and ‘HL08-052’ exceeding the 30% variance coefficient. Accessions that remained stable (‘HL96-266’) maintained a low variance only. Plums were the most sensitive, experiencing low vitamin C content under hot and dry conditions. Regression analysis identified temperature (NTavg-20) as the dominant climatic driver in plums and cherries (R² = 0.999, p < 0.05 and R² = 0.995, p < 0.05) respectively, whereas apples and apricots showed negligible responses (R² ≤ 0.210). These findings underscore the importance of genotype/environment interactions at the local level and highlight the value of stable accessions as valuable resources for breeding cultivars with high and resilient vitamin C content. Full article

Minimalist architecture is widely discussed as an aesthetic strategy, yet how its spatial logic shapes environmentally responsive everyday dwelling remains under-theorised in building research. This study reframes minimalist residential space as environmental intelligence—an architectural capacity to structure environmental exchange and mediate sensory perception through spatial organisation. Using a qualitative comparative design, we synthesise relevant theory and analyse four canonical minimalist houses (Farnsworth House, House in a Plum Grove, Moliner House, and House N) through a five-principle analytical matrix (simplicity, openness, functionality, materiality, and balance). Across cases, we examine how spatial attributes shape sensory experience and indicate passive environmental potential (daylighting, ventilation potential, and thermal-buffering potential) while explicitly distinguishing inferred potential from empirically verified performance. Results show that minimalism is not a uniform style but a spectrum of spatial strategies: degrees of openness/enclosure, boundary layering, and material articulation recalibrate environmental awareness and comfort-related behaviours, suggesting pathways for design-led low-energy living with reduced technological dependence. The paper contributes an operational framework for linking spatial design decisions to sensory–environmental mediation and identifies transfer limits and future needs for simulation or in situ measurement in contemporary low-energy housing. Full article

Black plum peel is a by-product of the processing of black plum and contains nutritional properties of black plum that can be utilized in the production of innovative food products. In this study, different percentages of black plum peel powder (5, 10, and 15%) and citric acid (0, 1 and 2%) were used in sponge cake formulation and physico-chemical properties (moisture content, acidity, pH), antioxidant capacity, cooking loss, texture characteristics (hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, springiness, resilience and adhesiveness) and sensory attributes (hardness, adhesiveness, porosity, springiness and overall acceptance) were evaluated using Response Surface Methodology. Increasing the levels of black plum peel powder and citric acid resulted in higher moisture content, acidity, antioxidant capacity, cohesiveness, resilience and overall acceptance of the black plum peel cake, while the pH decreased. The linear effect of citric acid had the most significant influence on moisture content, acidity, antioxidant capacity, sensory hardness, adhesiveness and overall acceptance whereas pH, cohesiveness, and resilience were most influenced by the linear term of black plum peel powder. Porosity and springiness were impacted with quadratic parameter of citric acid and cooking loss was affected by the quadratic term of black plum peel powder. Response Surface Methodology proved to be an effective tool for optimizing the sponge cake formulation, with high model adequacy indicated by R² values of 0.92–0.99, non-significant lack-of-fit (p > 0.05), and adequate precision > 10, identifying 2% citric acid and 11.56% black plum peel powder as the optimal concentrations. Compared to control cake, the optimized formulation showed slightly higher moisture content, significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity, and similar or improved overall acceptability, demonstrating its functional and sensory advantages. The black plum sponge cake is an economical, enriched cake with higher quality that utilizes a by-product of the plum industry. Full article

This study investigated the effects of Potentilla fruticosa planting on plant community succession in a spoil heap, analyzed changes in soil enzyme activities under different planting methods, and explored the relationships between soil enzyme activities and plant community diversity across these planting approaches. This experiment selected Potentilla fruticosa planted under different restoration modes (covered with soil, covered with straw curtain, not covered) in Shuanglonggou gangue Mountain, Tianzhu County, Gansu Province, as the research object. The growth status and activities of soil urease, alkaline phosphatase, catalase and sucrase and their correlation were measured in different repair modes in the untreated waste rock (CK). The results showed that (1) the Simpson dominance index and Pielou evenness index decreased to a certain extent under the condition of plant community analysis; Shannon diversity index decreased in the case of curtain covering, but increased in the other two treatments. The richness index of Margalef increased to some extent, and reached the maximum when the curtain was covered. (2) The activity of soil urease and alkaline phosphatase was the lowest in the plots covered by straw curtain, and the activity was 104.4 μg/d/g and 334.5 μg/d/g, respectively. (3) The change in soil catalase activity was not obvious with the increase in soil depth, and the catalase activity in deep soil reached the maximum of 945.3 μg/d/g in the mulch soil sample. (4) The planting of golden dew had a certain effect on the activity of sucrase in shallow soil, and the maximum sucrase activity reached 15.3 μg/d/g under the condition that the planting of Potentilla fruticosa was not covered. (5) Soil urease activity and soil alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly positively correlated with plant community diversity index, while soil catalase activity and soil sucrase activity were negatively correlated with plant community diversity. (6) The total nitrogen content in the soil shows a significant positive correlation with soil urease activity. While soil alkaline phosphatase activity is significantly negatively correlated with soil moisture content, it shows a highly significant positive correlation with soil total nitrogen content. Furthermore, soil sucrase activity demonstrates a highly significant positive correlation with soil bulk density and soil available phosphorus content. To sum up, the planting of golden plum can promote the ecological restoration of gangue mountain soil, and provide a theoretical and scientific basis for ecological restoration and soil quality improvement in the Qilian Mountain mining area. Full article