Search Results (302)

Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.), belonging to the genus Prunus in the Rosaceae family, is one of the most widely cultivated deciduous fruit trees globally. Plums are renowned for their round, sweet fruits, which are rich in a variety of bioactive compounds and are deeply loved by consumers. However, in 2021, alarming reddish-brown–dark brown sunken lesions appeared on the fruits of Qingcui plums in Wanzhou, Chongqing, China. The pathogens were identified as Colletotrichum nymphaeae, Fusarium sulawesiense, and Fusarium pernambucanum. The present study further describes the growth patterns and pathogenic differences of these strains in different environments, elucidating their infection mechanisms and pathogenic characteristics; these findings provide a theoretical basis for the efficient management of plum brown spot disease. Additionally, we determined that fluazinam is the most effective control agent against the plum brown rot caused by these pathogens. Notably, this study is the first to document plum brown spot disease induced by C. nymphaeae in China. These findings are intended to provide a vital theoretical framework for the scientific management and control of plum brown spot; furthermore, they underscore the necessity of proactive prevention strategies in agricultural settings. Full article

European plum (Prunus domestica) orchards in the Kashi region, Xinjiang, China, suffer from fruit brown spot disease. The disease typically appears as red spots on the fruit surface that expand into brown necrotic lesions; affected fruit flesh can shrink, and fruits can harden and drop. We isolate and identify pathogens associated with this disease in this plum from five Kashi counties. Of 210 fungal isolates obtained through standard tissue isolation, Alternaria accounted for 84.8%, with the remainder comprising species of Aspergillus (9.5%), Diplodia (3.3%), and Neoscytalidium (2.4%). Using PCR amplification and sequencing of five loci, pathogens were identified using multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, combined with observations of colony and spore morphology. Multi-locus sequences of Alternaria isolates were highly homologous to those of the Alternaria alternata type strain, and we refer them to an A. alternata species complex. Pathogenicity tests confirm that Alternaria isolates reproduce brown spot symptoms on European plum fruits. By demonstrating that Alternaria is the primary pathogen causing brown spot disease in European plum in Xinjiang, we clarify both the fungal species composition and taxonomic placement of the dominant pathogen associated with this disease. Full article

The Chinese plum (Prunus salicina L.), ‘Zuili’, is a geographically protected cultivar that is valued for its high polyphenol levels and distinctive flavor. Light availability strongly influences sugar accumulation and secondary metabolism in plum fruit, yet the molecular processes associated with quality variation under protected cultivation remain unclear. Here, we compare three cultivation systems—multi-span greenhouse (M), retractable electric rain shelter (R), and conventional open field (CK)—to evaluate their effect on fruit quality using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Field trials showed that M treatment increased fruit sweetness by 28.10% versus CK (14.68 vs. 11.46 °Brix, p < 0.001) without yield loss and significantly improved vertical fruit diameter. RNA-seq analysis identified 7561 and 7962 upregulated genes in the M and R treatments compared to CK, respectively, with significant functional enrichment in pathways related to sucrose metabolism, light-response, and ethylene-mediated signaling. Untargeted metabolomic signaling identified 1373 metabolites, with shading treatments increasing the abundance of several sugar-conjugated compounds (e.g., epicatechin 3-O-(2-trans-cinnamoyl)-β-D-allopyranoside). Multi-omics integration revealed coordinated changes in gene expression and metabolite abundance, suggesting that controlled light environments are associated with the concurrent modulation of sugar metabolism and phenylpropanoid-related pathways. These patterns were supported by the upregulation of GT2-family glycosyltransferase genes and the accumulation of lignin-related flavonoid precursors, such as pinobanksin and pinobanksinol. Collectively, these results highlight statistically robust associations between light-regulated cultivation practices and fruit quality traits, providing a molecular framework for optimizing protected cultivation strategies to enhance both the sensory and nutritional attributes of P. salicina fruit without compromising yield. Full article

Prunus spinosa L. is a shrub with nutritional potential, yet limited information is available on the composition of its stone fruit and leaves. This study aimed to investigate and compare the macro and micronutrients, fatty acid profile, and lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant compounds in fruits and leaves, as well as their potential functional properties. The results revealed that leaves contain higher crude protein (10.94%) than fruits (6.46%) but lower crude fiber (13.86% compared to 22.16%). The iron (370.37 mg/kg) and manganese (43.57 mg/kg) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in leaves than in fruits (44.87 versus 7.02 mg/kg). The fruits’ lipid profile was rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (56.8%), whereas the leaves showed higher saturated fatty acids (38.3%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (43.7%). The leaves also presented significantly higher n-3 content (25.2%) compared with fruits (1.80%). The antioxidant compounds were higher in the leaves, with total vitamin E exceeding 1268 mg/kg, primarily α-tocopherol (1214.98 mg/kg) isoform, lutein (409.38 mg/kg), and astaxanthin (3.74 mg/kg), compared with only 74.75 mg/kg total vitamin E in the fruits. The total hydroxycinnamic polyphenols in leaves were 92.63% higher in leaves than in fruits, with anthocyanins at 63.23% and flavonols at 95.82%. Although the leaves demonstrated superior antioxidant potential and mineral content compared to the fruits, making it a promising candidate for nutraceutical and functional food applications, the fruits maintained a healthier lipid profile suitable for dietary fat intake. This comparative analysis highlights the distinct nutritional and bioactive composition of Prunus spinosa co-products. Full article

Plum peel is a major by-product of plum processing and a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This study aimed to optimize a black plum peel spread formulated with apple puree (20–40%) and plum puree (10–30%) using response surface methodology (RSM). Increasing apple puree up to 30% reduced acidity, firmness, cohesiveness, and consistency while improving sourness and overall acceptability. At 40%, apple puree decreased total acceptability and sourness while slightly increasing texture parameters. Increasing plum puree up to 20% lowered acidity, firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, viscosity, and sourness, but further increases to 30% reversed these effects. Both apple and plum purees enhanced antioxidant capacity in a concentration-dependent manner. The interaction between apple and plum purees notably affected the viscosity of the spread. Overall, plum puree had the strongest influence on texture and color, while apple puree primarily affected sensory acceptance. The optimal formulation was 32.01% apple puree and 28.16% plum puree (R² = 0.999). Developing a spread from black plum peel demonstrates a sustainable strategy for upcycling fruit-processing waste into nutritious, high-value products. This approach reduces environmental impact, supports circular food production, and creates new opportunities for functional spreads in the health-oriented food markets. Full article

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is the primary biochemical driver of browning and the subsequent decline of market quality in harvested fruit. In this work, a fully non-invasive analytical framework was built using Visible/Near-Infrared (VIS/NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modeling in order to estimate PPO activity in two commercially relevant plum cultivars (Khormaei and Khoni). A comprehensive comparative study was conducted utilizing multiple machine learning and linear regression techniques, including Support Vector Regression (SVR), Decision Tree (DT), and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). After acquiring the full VIS/NIR spectra, a suite of metaheuristic feature selection strategies was applied to compress the spectral space to roughly 10–15 highly informative wavelengths. SVR, DT, and PLSR models were then trained and benchmarked using (a) the complete spectral domain and (b) the reduced wavelength subsets. The results consistently demonstrated that non-linear models (DT and SVR) significantly outperformed the linear PLSR method, confirming the inherent complexity and non-linearity of the relationship between the spectra and PPO activity. Across all tests, DT consistently produced the strongest generalization. Under full spectra inputs, DT reached RPD values of 4.93 for Khormaei and 5.41 for Khoni. Even more importantly, the wavelength-reduced configuration further enhanced performance while substantially lowering computational cost, yielding RPDs of 3.32 (Khormaei) and 5.69 (Khoni). The results show that VIS/NIR combined with optimized key-wavelength DT modeling provides a robust, fast, and field-realistic route for quantifying PPO activity in plums without physical destruction of the product. Full article

‘Fengtang’ plum, a specialty fruit variety from Guizhou Province, is characterized by its high total soluble solids (TSS) and well-balanced sugar–acid ratio. In this study, widely targeted metabolomics (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with multivariate statistical analysis was employed to systematically monitor dynamic changes in sugar–acid metabolism across three critical developmental stages of the fruit: pre-veraison stage (PR), veraison stage (VR), and full veraison stage (FR). The aim was to elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms underlying high sugar accumulation. The results indicated that TSS content increased significantly during fruit maturation, reaching up to 17%, while titratable acid (TA) content continuously decreased. Consequently, the sugar–acid ratio rose substantially from 21.5 at the early stage to 43.8. A comprehensive metabolomic analysis led to the identification of 2003 metabolites, with notable emphasis on phenolic acids, amino acid derivatives, sugars, and other major classes. Key metabolic pathways from the KEGG database were also examined. Enrichment analysis of these pathways revealed that central metabolic routes—including fructose and mannose metabolism, galactose metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle—played crucial roles in the dynamic accumulation of sugar–acid components. Notably, oligosaccharides such as cottonseed sugar and pine trisaccharide were observed to accumulate significantly during fruit ripening. These findings clarify the metabolic foundation and mechanisms contributing to the high sugar quality of ‘Fengtang’ plum, thereby providing a theoretical basis for precise fruit quality regulation and the optimization of post-harvest preservation strategies. Full article

Climate change strongly influences the phenology of temperate fruit species, yet its long-term effects on Romanian plum orchards (Prunus domestica L.) remain insufficiently quantified. This study analyzes projected changes in the start (SGS), end (EGS), and duration (GSL) of the growing season under two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) throughout the 21st century. Using temperature-based phenological thresholds, SGS and EGS were modeled for six orchard clusters representing distinct regional and altitudinal conditions across Romania. Results reveal a consistent advancement of SGS and a marked extension of GSL, particularly under RCP 8.5, where the growing season may lengthen by up to 60 days compared with early-century conditions. Under RCP 4.5, changes are more moderate but directionally similar, indicating a robust climatic signal across all clusters. These findings highlight that earlier and longer vegetation periods may enhance fruit development potential but also increase risks associated with late spring frosts, heat stress, and pollination mismatches. Despite inherent model uncertainties, the convergence of trends suggests reliable projections that can support adaptive orchard management and long-term strategies for sustainable fruit production under a changing climate. Full article

To meet market demand for fresh ‘Dinosaur Egg’ Apricot plum and realize effective quality classification, this study developed a non-destructive quality evaluation method using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with cross-parameter feature fusion. Spectral data were preprocessed, and key bands were screened via Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS) and Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA). Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models for soluble solids content (SSC), moisture content (MC), and fruit firmness (FF) were established. Chemical index features were fused with FF-related preliminary features, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) optimized feature contribution. Final models showed high performance: SSC ($R_c^2$ = 0.9354, $R_p^2$ = 0.9302, $RMSE$ = 0.5212° Brix), MC ($R_c^2$ = 0.9367, $R_p^2$ = 0.9314, $RMSE$ = 5.037 × 10⁻⁵), and FF ($R_c^2$ = 0.8151, $R_p^2$ = 0.7986, $RMSE$ = 1.2710 N). This strategy improved the multi-quality detection accuracy, especially for FF, and provides technical support for intelligent fruit grading. Full article

Harnessing nature’s chemistry, this study explores the enhanced biomedical potential of Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell (Kakadu Plum) by transforming its aqueous leaf and fruit extracts into bio-inspired gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The synthesis process was optimized by varying the Au³⁺/extract ratio and pH, with nanoparticle formation verified through UV–visible spectrophotometry, TEM, and DLS analyzes. Kakadu Leaf extract–conjugated AuNPs (AuKLs), synthesized at pH 8 with a 1:25 Au³⁺/extract ratio, produced the smallest and most uniform particles (21.1 nm; PDI 0.17). In contrast, fruit extract alone failed to generate stable nanoparticles, highlighting the pivotal role of leaf phytochemicals as natural reducing and stabilizing agents. Biological evaluations revealed that both the crude leaf extract and AuKLs possessed strong antioxidant capacity, while the AuKLs further exhibited selective anticancer activity effectively inhibiting breast cancer (MCF-7) and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell proliferation without harming normal mammalian breast (MCF10A) cells. A combined 2:1 leaf-to-fruit extract formulation yielded well-stabilized AuNPs (AuKPLs) with biomedical properties comparable to AuKLs, though the fruit extract alone contributed minimally to both nanoparticle formation and biological performance. Overall, this study demonstrates that the phytochemical richness of T. ferdinandiana leaves enables the green synthesis of small, stable, and bioactive gold nanoparticles. The resulting nanoconjugates, AuKLs and AuKPLs, hold considerable promise for future pharmacological and therapeutic applications, bridging traditional plant-based medicine with modern nanotechnology. Full article

The antifungal activity of natural extracts, essential oils (EOs), and pure volatiles against Monilinia fructicola, the main causal agent of brown rot of stone fruits, was evaluated in in vitro tests. Cinnamon (CI), lemongrass (LE), geraniol (GE), and myrrh (MY) EOs were the most effective antifungal agents and, hence, selected as ingredients of composite edible coatings (CECs) formulated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and lipidic components. In in vivo curative experiments with ‘Black Gold’ plums artificially inoculated with M. fructicola and incubated for up to 10 days at 20 °C, brown rot incidence was reduced by up to 49% with CECs containing 4 g/kg LE, 2 g/kg GE, or 5 g/kg MY. These CECs were then evaluated for brown rot control and quality maintenance of ‘Angeleno’ plums stored for up to 6 weeks at 1 °C and 90% RH, followed by a shelf-life period of 4 days at 20 °C. After 3 weeks, CECs containing GE and MY reduced brown rot incidence by 45 and 70%, respectively. After 6 weeks plus shelf life, all CECs reduced brown rot severity (lesion size) by 30–50%. Regarding fruit quality, coated plums showed higher firmness than uncoated control plums, and the CEC containing GE significantly reduced weight loss after 6 weeks plus shelf life. Moreover, physicochemical quality attributes (titratable acidity, soluble solids content, and volatile compounds) and sensory properties (overall flavor, off-flavor, firmness, and external appearance) of coated plums were not negatively affected by CEC application. Furthermore, all coated plums exhibited more gloss than uncoated fruit. Overall, the CEC-GE formulation was the most effective in reducing decay and maintaining the postharvest quality of cold-stored plums, showing the best potential as a sustainable alternative for plum postharvest preservation. Full article

The growing demand for ‘clean label’ functional foods necessitates the development of products that are not only health-promoting but also possess high sensory quality. Fruit mousses are an excellent matrix for fortification, appealing to a wide consumer base. This study aimed to enrich a conventional apple–plum mousse with vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil, employing an encapsulation strategy based on endogenous fruit pectin. Three mousse variants were produced: a control (traditional), one fortified via the encapsulation of vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil in a pectin-based nanoemulsion, and one fortified via the direct addition of the bioactive compounds. The products were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), colorimetry, texture analysis, rheology, fatty acid profiling, and sensory evaluation (profiling and ranking). SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful formation of spherical submicron capsules (approx. 100–300 nm) within the fortified mousse. Encapsulation resulted in significantly lower colour change (ΔE = 6.07 ± 0.03) compared to direct addition (ΔE = 11.16 ± 0.03). The fortified mousses exhibited approximately 16–20% lower hardness (0.21–0.22 N vs. 0.25 N) and threefold lower adhesiveness (0.06–0.08 N·s vs. 0.19 N·s) compared to the control. Rheological analysis indicated that fortification did not compromise the structural stability of the mousses (G′ > G″ across 0.1–10 Hz). The fatty acid profile was significantly improved in the fortified variants, with a three-fold increase in linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6 c: from 16.90% to 55–56%) and the introduction of γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-6: 0.38–0.39%). Sensory ranking revealed no significant differences in overall quality between the control and fortified mousses (p > 0.05). Pectin present in fruits can be effectively utilised to encapsulate vitamin D₃ and sea buckthorn oil, allowing the successful development of a functional fruit mousse with an improved nutritional profile and retained sensory quality. Encapsulation proved to be a superior fortification method, offering better protection of bioactive compounds and a lesser impact on the product’s original colour. Full article

With over 300 species, the genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is one of the largest in the Syrphidae family. Regarding its immature stages, information is scarce, since they are described for only 22 species. The known larvae of Eumerus can be phytophagous on the underground parts of live plants or saprophagous in decaying plant materials of many sorts. Eumerus vestitus Bezzi, 1912 is a widely distributed species with records in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic Regions. In the Palaearctic, E. vestitus is present in the Arabian Peninsula, Cyprus, Greece, Israel/Palestinian Authority, North Africa, and Syria. It is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN European Red List of Hoverflies due to the destruction of its habitat. Several puparia of E. vestitus were obtained from larvae collected in supermarket plums in Israel. In this work, the E. vestitus puparium is described in detail using a scanning electron microscope and stereomicroscope and compared with those of other members of the Eumerus obliquus (Fabricius, 1805) group, which E. vestitus belongs, and with members of other species groups. Our work also confirms a long-standing and broad occurrence of E. vestitus in Israel and records plum fruit as a new host plant for the species. Full article

Traditional soaking plum wine production is time-consuming and often results in high levels of bitter amygdalin and toxic cyanide, posing health risks. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize pulsed electric field (PEF) parameters, developing a novel process integrating kernel detoxification and PEF pretreatment to mitigate these hazards, enhance the characteristic aroma (benzaldehyde), and shorten the maceration cycle. The experimental results showed that the contents of bitter amygdalin and cyanide in plum kernels after detoxification and PEF pretreatment were reduced by 62.34% and 59.62%, respectively, compared with the control group, and the contents of both were further reduced with the addition of plum flesh for further soaking in the new process. In addition, the PEF pretreatment also increased the amount of benzaldehyde extracted by 4.63% compared to the control group and resulted in a 10.53% reduction in equilibration time. Moreover, compared to the previous whole-fruit maceration process, the new process resulted in a 37.5% reduction in the final plum wine production cycle. This study provides a practical solution for improving the safety and efficiency of plum wine production and supports the industrial application of PEF technology. Full article

This study adheres to the principles of the circular economy by valorising fruit processing waste—specifically, the oil cake remaining after the cold pressing of plum seeds—for the production of new biopolymer packaging material. This study investigates the effects of incorporating Satureja montana essential oil (SMeo) on the properties of plum oil cake (POC)-based biofilms for potential food packaging applications. The mechanical, physico-chemical, barrier, structural, thermal, and biological properties of the POC-based film were investigated. The results showed that the addition of SMeo had the greatest impact on improving the water vapor barrier permeability (up to 48%). Antimicrobial analyses showed outstanding results against bacteria, yeasts, and molds, with the most pronounced inhibition observed for A. ochraceus and S. aureus. On the other hand, structural analysis confirmed that the 3% SMeo sample underwent the greatest changes, as indicated by the appearance of new bonds originating from oil–biopolymer interactions. This observation was further supported by thermal analysis, which showed that films containing SMeo degraded more rapidly than the control in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction in tensile strength values (up to 35%) suggests that SMeo-loaded POC films are more suitable for use as coatings rather than standalone packaging materials. Full article