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Abstract
‘Freshmarket 9’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) sets over a wide range of temperatures (16° to 36°C) and humidities (above 80%), a characteristic that extends its production periods in spring and fall. ‘Freshmarket 9’ is a firm, deep-round tomato with superior crack resistance and is suited to vine ripe harvest. It is resistant to race 1 of Fusarium oxysporum Schl. f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) Synder and Hansen (fusarium wilt) and Stemphylium solani Weber (gray leaf spot). ‘Freshmarket 9’ was released in 1982 by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Abstract
‘Processor 40’ is a jointless, square-round type tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) adapted to hand or machine harvest, lye peeling, and to processing as peeled whole tomato or tomato products. Its vine is small and determinate and the fruit are borne on short, stiff stems which hold much of the fruit off the ground. A large percentage of the fruit are set on terminal inflorescences which tends to concentrate the yield to the exterior of the plant. ‘Processor 40’ will set fruit at higher than normal temperatures (up to 36°C) with relative humidities of 80% and higher. It is resistant to race 1 of Fusarium oxysporium Schl. f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) Snyder and Hansen (Fusarium wilt) and to Stemphylium solani Weber (gray leaf spot). ‘Processor 40’ was released in 1982 by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Abstract
Infection by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassie) Goid and subsequent symptom expression were investigated on ‘Perlita’ and ‘TAM Uvalde’ muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) at 3 spring planting dates. Infection exceeded 80% within 49 days of planting in both cultivars at all planting dates. Symptom expression at harvest was significantly greater in ‘Perlita’ than ‘TAM Uvalde’ for all planting dates, indicating a useful level of tolerance in ‘TAM Uvalde’.
Phlorizin is known for its role in reducing glucotoxicity and has a long history of use in diabetes research. In addition, its contribution to the pool of total phenolics adds to the overall health benefits attributed to fruit. Phlorizin is limited to Rosaceae family plants, of which apple comprises its current commercial source; however, limited information exists regarding its biodiversity among apple taxa. A subset of 22 taxa from a core collection of apple accessions representative of the global genetic diversity of apple was used to investigate the biodiversity of phlorizin present in apple shoots and in fruit relative to total phenolic content and free radical scavenging capacity. Fruit and shoots were harvested from the USDA Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, N.Y. Validation and quantification of phlorizin was conducted using a rigorous high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure. Total phenolics in fruit, assayed using a Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalents, ranged from 227 to 7181 mg·L-1
and were strongly related to 2,2' azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) antioxidant capacity for the core collection (r= 0.778). On a molar basis, phlorizin had lower antioxidant capacity than other major phenolic compounds present in apple fruit, but was more effective than ascorbic acid. Phlorizin yield in dormant apple shoots, expressed as percent weight, ranged from 0.9% to 5.5%. A rapid, 96 well micro-plate spectrophotometric assay was also developed to aid in the screening of multiple samples for selection of high phlorizin yielding apple taxa. Spectrophotometry overestimated phlorizin content as expected, but the calibration curve between HPLC and spectrophotometry was acceptable, r 2 = 0.88.
Increasing environmental concerns and legislation in many states and in other countries require that we take a more comprehensive sustainable “best management” approach to production techniques in nursery and greenhouse operations. This is particularly important because these production facilities are typically intense users of resources that are applied to relatively small land areas. We have developed an online knowledge center to facilitate the implementation of more sustainable practices within the nursery and greenhouse industry. A web-based knowledge center provides the most cost-effective mechanism for information delivery, as our potential audiences are extremely diverse and widespread. We currently have a registered user database of over 450 educators, growers, and industry professionals, and undergraduate and graduate students. A gateway website provides an overview of the issues and the goals of the project. The associated knowledge center currently has 25 in-depth learning modules, designed in a Moodle learning management framework. These learning modules are designed to actively engage learners in topics on substrate, irrigation, surface water, and nutrient and crop health management, which are integral to formulating farm-specific strategies for more sustainable water and nutrient management practices. Additional modules provide assessment and implementation tools for irrigation audits, irrigation methods and technologies, and water and nutrient management planning. The instructional design of the learning modules was paramount because there can be multiple strategies to improve site-specific production practices, which often require an integration of knowledge from engineering, plant science, and plant pathology disciplines. The assessment and review of current practices, and the decision to change a practice, are often not linear, nor simple. All modules were designed with this process in mind, and include numerous resources [pictures, diagrams, case studies, and assessment tools (e.g., spreadsheets and example calculations)] to enable the learner to fully understand all of the options available and to think critically about his/her decisions. Sixteen of the modules were used to teach an intensive 400-level “Principles of Water and Nutrient Management” course at the University of Maryland during Spring 2008 and 2009. The water and nutrient management planning module also supports the nursery and greenhouse Farmer Training Certification program in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Agriculture provides continuing education credits for all consultants and growers who register and complete any module in the knowledge center. Although these learning resources were developed by faculty in the eastern region of the United States, much of the information is applicable to more widespread audiences.