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The tolerances of strawberry fruit to postharvest CO2 treatments is an important factor in assessing their potential for extended storage and marketing, but little information on variation among cultivars is available. We have assessed differences in responses of seven strawberry cultivars (`Annapolis', `Earliglow', `Kent', `Honeoye', `Cavendish', `Jewel', and `Governor Simcoe') to high-CO2 atmospheres. Fruit were harvested at the orange or white tip stage of ripeness, kept in air, or 20% CO2 (in air), and sampled after 1, 2, or 7 days for analysis of firmness, color, and volatile concentrations. Berries from each cultivar were collected on three separate harvest dates. Flesh firmness measurements of all cultivars tested were higher when treated with high CO2, but the degree of firming was affected by cultivar and assessment time. For example, firmness of `Annapolis', `Earliglow', `Honeoye', and `Jewel' was consistently enhanced by CO2, compared with air, during storage. In contrast, firmness of `Kent' was not affected by treatment after 1 day of storage and benefits were relatively slight at each subsequent removal. Red color development of the fruits was affected by cultivar and treatment period, but not by CO2 treatment. Volatile accumulation varied greatly among cultivars. `Annapolis' for example, appears very tolerant of high-CO2 treatment levels as indicated by low accumulations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate in the fruit. In contrast, `Kent' and `Governor Simcoe' accumulated large amounts of these compounds. This study indicates that differences in cultivar responses to CO2 should be considered by growers planning to store fruit under these conditions to extend marketing options. Research supported in part by the North American Strawberry Growers Association.
Postharvest CaCl2 pressure infiltration improves firmness and storage quality of apples but is still in the experimental stages. Its effectiveness could be increased if we had a better understanding of how Ca affects the tissue at the cellular level. `Golden Delicious' fruit were harvested from a commercial orchard and were pressure-infiltrated with CaCl2 (0%, 2%, or 4% w/v), stored for 6 months at 0C, and then for 7 days at 20C. Between harvest and the end of storage at 20C, the net breakdown of galactolipids and phospholipids decreased with increasing CaCl2 in infiltration solutions. During 0C storage, CaCl2-infiltrated fruit maintained greater concentrations of conjugated sterol lipids, and these lipid classes are thought to be closely associated with the plasma membrane. As membrane lipid alterations are viewed as a central factor in the senescence of fruits, Ca (from postharvest infiltration) may serve a major role in regulating fruit quality losses through its interactions with cell membranes.
Annual-hill strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) production with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation is gaining popularity in North Carolina. Two experiments (E1 and E2) were conducted on a Wagram loamy sand (Arenic Kandiudult) in 1992 and on a Norfolk sandy loam (Typic Kandiudult) in 1993 to investigate the effects of fall-applied N and spring-applied N and K on `Chandler' strawberry yield and fruit quality. E1 treatments included factorial combinations of banded fall-applied N (0, 34, and 67 kg·ha-1) and drip spring-applied N (0, 0.19, 0.37, 0.56, and 0.75 kg·ha-1·d-1 and 0, 0.37, 0.75, and 1.12 kg·ha-1·d-1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively). E2 treatments included combinations of drip spring-applied N (0.56, 1.12, 1.68, and 2.24 kg·ha-1·d-1) and K (0.46, 1.39, and 2.32 kg·ha-1·d-1 and 0, 0.75, 1.49, and 2.24 kg·ha-1·d-1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively). There were no significant interactions among main effects for any of the measured variables. Market yield maximized with total N at ≈120 kg·ha-1 with one-half banded in the fall and the remainder drip-applied in the spring. Fruit firmness decreased with increasing N rate. Fruit pH and concentrations of total acids and soluble solids were not affected by N treatments, but soluble solids increased as the harvest season progressed. Plant crown number was not affected by N treatment but crown yield increased with N rate similar to market yield. There was no response to drip-applied K for any variable in either year. Based on soil test, fall-applied K (broadcast-soil incorporated) met the K requirements both years.
The primary objective of this research was to determine the evapotranspiration (ET) rates of 10 well-watered St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] genotypes under field conditions and in a controlled-environment chamber with a high evaporative potential. A secondary objective was to correlate ET rate to leaf extension rate, shoot density, and abaxial and adaxial leaf blade stomatal densities. Overall ET rates among genotypes were not significantly different in the field study, but they were significantly different under the higher evaporative potential of the chamber study. ET rates under field conditions were not correlated to ET rates under chamber conditions. ET rates were not correlated to leaf extension rates in the field or chamber. ET rates in the chamber were correlated neither with shoot nor with stomatal densities. Overall ET rates in the field study were not correlated to stomatal densities, but were correlated to shoot density (r = 0.77).
A disease of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) characterized by a vine decline and a cortical root rot was first observed in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in 1986. In 1990, isolations from diseased plants collected from four commercial production fields yielded the fungus Monosporascus cannonballus. Pathogenicity tests with eight isolates confirmed Koch's postulates; however, there were differences in aggressiveness observed among isolates. M. cannonballus is an ascomycete fungus that typically produces only one (rarely two), round, jet-black ascospore per ascus. There is no known asexual stage. Temperature optimum of one isolate was 35 C. The optimum pH for growth was 6-7, but it grew well up to pH 9. M. cannonballus was first reported on muskmelon in 1970 from Arizona and recently was found in Japan under glass house culture. The presence of this fungus in Texas marks only the third report of this species worldwide, although a similar species (M. eutypoides) is the cause of a collapse of melon plants in Israel.
A microcomputer program has been developed to keep records on energy, labor costs, product pricing, and revenue predictions for greenhouse and nursery production. The program manages plant production data, potentially enabling the grower to improve production and profits. The grower can use the program to determine how much it costs to produce individual plants, to ascertain labor costs and where to reallocate employees. Advertising and other indirect costs can be included to determine cost of production on a per-plant or per-square-foot basis.
We compared evapotranspiration (ET) rates for 11 Zoysia genotypes, encompassing two species and their hybrid, maintained at nonlimiting soil moisture under field conditions and in an environmental chamber of high evaporative potential. ET rate relationships to leaf area [leaf extension rate (LER)], canopy resistance [shoot density (SHD)], and internal resistance [abaxial (AB) and adaxial (AD) leaf blade stomatal densities] characteristics were determined. Three-year ET rate means were not significantly different among genotypes in the field study, but ET rates among genotypes differed significantly under the higher evaporative potential of an environmental-chamber study. ET rate was not significantly correlated with LER for either the data from the field or the chamber. ET rates of both types of tests also were not significantly correlated with SHD or AB or AD leaf blade stomatal density. Data from field and environmental-chamber research suggest that differences of individual morphological traits among the 11 zoysiagrasses do not influence the ET rate when measured from minilysimeters maintained at nonlimiting soil moisture.
Possible boron (B) deficiency symptoms were observed on avocado (Persea americana Mill. `Sharwil') grown in Kona, Hawaii. To determine the B requirement of young, `Sharwil' avocado trees, two greenhouse experiments were conducted. In a soil study, seven B treatments (0, 3.7, 11, 22, 44, 89, and 178 mg·kg–1 soil fines) were applied to 1-year-old grafted `Sharwil' avocado trees grown for 13 weeks in a Tropofolist soil. Due to the low and variable fractions of soil fines in this rocky soil, extractable soil B concentration did not appear to be a good predictor of B requirements by avocados. Adequate foliar B concentrations in `Sharwil' avocado trees based on dry weight and area of new leaves ranged from 37 (±3) to 65 (±4) and from 31 (±10) to 78 (±13) mg·kg–1 (dry-weight basis), respectively. (Means are followed by standard errors of the mean in parentheses.) In a hydroponics study, 6-month-old grafted `Sharwil' avocado trees were supplied with four levels of B (0, 1, 10, and 100 μm). At 11 months after B treatment initiation, leaves with deformed margins and a “shot-hole” appearance were first observed at a solution level of 0 μm B. At 14 months after B treatment initiation, foliar B concentrations that were associated with 12% to 14% incidence of deformed leaves ranged from 9.8 to 13.5 mg·kg–1 (dry-weight basis). Although `Sharwil' avocados are reportedly susceptible to B deficiency, foliar B concentrations required for adequate growth and those associated with B deficiency symptoms are similar to those for other cultivars.
'Meyer' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) is a popular turfgrass species for transition zone golf course fairways and tees because it is generally winter hardy while providing an excellent playing surface with minimal chemical and irrigation inputs. However, its functionality declines readily on many of the shaded areas on these courses. Reduced irradiance causes excessive shoot elongation, reduced tillering, and weak plants that are poorly suited to tolerate or recover from traffic and divoting. Trinexapac-ethyl (TE) effectively reduces gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis and subsequent shoot cell elongation. The objective of this study was to determine if monthly applications of TE would reduce shoot elongation of 'Meyer' zoysiagrass and improve stand persistence under two levels of shade. Shade structures were constructed in the field that continuously restricted 77% and 89% irradiance. A mature stand of 'Meyer' was treated with all combinations of three levels of shade (0%, 77%, and 89%) and three levels of monthly TE application [0, 48 g·ha-1 a.i. (0.5×), and 96 g·ha-1 a.i. (1×)] in 1998 and 1999. In full sun, the 0.5×-rate reduced clipping production by 17% to 20% over a four-week period and the 1×-rate by 30% to 37%. Monthly application of TE at the 1×-rate increased 'Meyer' tiller density in full sun and under 77% shade. Both rates of TE consistently reduced shoot growth under shade relative to the shaded control. Only the monthly applications at the 1×-rate consistently delayed loss of quality under 77% shade. The zoysiagrass persisted very poorly under 89% shade whether treated or not with TE and plots were mostly dead at the end of the experiment. Our results indicate TE can be an effective management practice to increase 'Meyer' zoysiagrass persistence in shaded environments. Chemical name used: 4-cyclopropyl-α-hydroxy-methylene-3,5-dioxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid ethyl ester (trinexapac-ethyl)
Storage systems for tissue-cultured plants offer versatility in managing labor to meet market availability. Storage systems that minimize growth and yet sustain photosynthetic and regrowth potential require temperature, light quality, and light intensity to be manipulated for plantlet quality during and after storage. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Botrytis Group `Green Duke') plantlets were cultured photoautotrophically (without sugar) or photomixotrophically (with sugar) on cellulose plugs in liquid medium in vitro for 3 weeks at 23°C and 150 μmol·m–2·s–1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF). To determine the conditions that yield a zero carbon balance, plantlets were subsequently stored for 3 days under different temperatures (1°C, 5°C, 10°C, 15°C), different light intensities (1.6 PPF, 4.1 PPF, 8.6 PPF), and different light spectra (white, blue, red). Plantlets stored under 5 PPF and 5°C maintained a zero carbon balance. Subsequently, plantlets were stored for 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 5°C under darkness or 5 PPF of white, red or blue light. Stem elongation was observed for plantlets stored under blue light. Plantlets stored under red light were characterized by increased chlorophyll, increased specific leaf mass (leaf dry mass per unit leaf area, SLM), increased starch in leaf tissue, and increased total soluble sugars in leaf and stem tissue. Plantlets grown with sucrose were characterized by increased dry mass, regardless of light treatment. After 8 weeks, plantlets grown with or without sucrose and stored in darkness did not survive acclimatization to greenhouse.