First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th-2nd centuries BC)

Abstract During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods. Keywords Archaeobotany · Image analysis · Morphometric features · Prunus · Sardini

The hypersensitivity resistance of european plum to the Plum pox virus and its potential impact on the epidemiology of the virus

Since the detection of the Plum pox virus (PPV) different strategies for Sharka containment were developed. One of the most important one is the breeding of resistant cultivars. Other than in Prunus persica and in Prunus armeniaca, in Prunus domestica a type of natural resistance was detected which seems to be able to prevent the spread of PPV both over long and short distances. Therefore, this type of Sharka resistance which is based on a hypersensitive response and has been stable for more than 20 years is suggested to have the most beneficial impact on the epidemiology of the virus compared to other mechanisms of resistance or tolerance.Keywords: Sharka containment, Prunus domestica, plum breedin

Evaluation of Prunus domestica gum as a novel tablet binder

To evaluate binding potential of Prunus domestica gum in tablets formulations. Six tablet batches (F-1B to F-6B) were prepared by wet granulation method, containing Avicel pH 101 as diluent, sodium diclofenac as model drug using 10, 15 and 20 mg of Prunus domestica gum as binder and PVP K30 was used as standard binder. Magnesium stearate was used as lubricant. Flow properties of granules like bulk density, tapped density, Carr index, Hausner’s ratio, angle of repose as well as physical parameters of the compressed tablets including hardness, friability, thickness and disintegration time were determined and found to be satisfactory. The FTIR spectroscopic analysis showed that the formulation containing plant gum is compatible with the drug and other excipients used in tablets formulation. Hence the plant gum has role as a potential binder in tablets formulations. The dissolution profile showed that tablets formulations containing Prunus domestica gum 15 mg/200 mg of total weight of tablet as binder showed better results as compared to PVP K30.Para avaliar a propriedade aglutinante da goma Prunus domestica em formulações de comprimidos, seis lotes (F-1B para F-6B) foram preparados pelo método de granulação úmida, contendo Avicel pH 101 como diluente e diclofenaco de sódio como fármaco modelo, usando 10, 15 e 20 mg de goma de Prunus domestica como agente aglutinante e PVP K30 como aglutinante padrão. O estearato de magnésio foi utilizado como lubrificante. Propriedades de fluxo dos grânulos, como a densidade, índice de Carr, razão de Hausner, ângulo de repouso, bem como parâmetros físicos dos comprimidos, incluindo o tempo de dureza, friabilidade, espessura e desintegração foram determinados e se mostraram satisfatórios. A análise espectroscópica no FTIR mostrou que a formulação contendo goma vegetal é compatível com o fármaco e outros excipientes utilizados na formulação dos comprimidos. Assim, a goma vegetal tem papel potencial como aglutinante em formulações de comprimidos. O perfil de dissolução das formulações que contêm 15 mg/200 mg do peso total do comprimido em goma de Prunus domestica como aglutinante mostrou melhores resultados comparativamente ao PVP K30

Етнофармакология и фитохимия на някои представители на рода Prunus

Representatives of the Prunus genera, found in almost every country and continent, have been recognized not only for their delicious fruits and nuts, but also because of their beneficial properties. To date, numerous cultivars have been phytochemically studied, leading to the identification of various compounds including terpenes, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, fatty acids, and so on. Pharmacological studies on Prunus species have also revealed a variety of bioactive potentials including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, brain protecting, and other evidence based uses. This review covers articles, retrieved from scientific databases, using “Prunus” as search term (“all fields”) and with a specific time frame set for search. Information about Prunus amygdalus, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, Prunus avium, and Prunus cerasus was selected and summarized giving information about their ethnopharmacological uses, isolated phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities.Представители на род Prunus могат да бъдат открити в почти всяка страна и континент. Те са признати не само заради вкусните си плодове и ядки, но и заради полезните си свойства. Към днешна дата многобройни сортове са фитохимично проучени, което е довело до идентифицирането на различни съединения, включително терпени, танини, флавоноиди, фенолни киселини, каротеноиди, мастни киселини и др. Фармакологичните проучвания върху видовете Prunus разкриват различни биоактивни потенциали, включително антиоксидантни, противовъзпалителни, хиполипидемични, антидиабетни, предпазващи мозъка и други приложения, базирани на научни доказателства. Този обзор обхваща статии, извлечени от научни бази данни, използващи „Prunus“ като термин за търсене („всички полета“) и със специфична времева рамка, зададена за търсене. Подбрана и обобщена е информация за Prunus amygdalus, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus persica, Prunus domestica, Prunus avium и Prunus cerasus, давайки информация за техните етнофармакологични употреби, изолирани фитохимикали и фармакологични дейности

Doubled Haploid production in fruit crops.

The interest of fruit breeders in haploids and doubled haploids (DH), lies in the possibility of shortening the time needed to produce homozygous lines compared to conventional breeding. Haplo-diploidization through gametic embryogenesis allows single-step development of complete homozygous lines from heterozygous parents. In a conventional breeding programme, a pure line is developed after several generations of selfing. With fruit crops, characterized by a long reproductive cycle, a high degree of heterozygosity, large size, and, sometimes, self-incompatibility, there is no way to obtain haploidization through conventional methods. This paper reviews the current status of research on doubled haploid production in the main fruit crops: Citrus, Malus domestica, Pyrus communis, Pyrus pyrifolia, Prunus persica, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Prunus armeniaca, Vitis vinifera, Actinidia deliciosa, Olea europaea, Morus alba, Actinidia deliziosa, [Musa balbisiana (BB)], Carica papaya, Annona squamosa, Feijoa sellowiana, Opuntia ficus-indica, Eriobotrya japonica. © Springer 2006

Prunus

The book of “Prunus” contains chapters on breeding, germplasm, fruit tree physiology, and production of Prunus species, written by authors from different parts of the world. Prunus is one of the most important fruit genera widely spread according to the various climatic and soil conditions. This wide adaptability of the Prunus genus gives an opportunity for it to be grown in many parts of the world. In modern taxonomy, subgenera of Prunus such as Amygdalus, Cerasus, Laurocerasus, Lithocerasus, Padus and Prunus include many species among which Prunus persica L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus avium L. are the main ones. Briefly, this book is on Prunus species, which is one of the main fruit and nursery plants grown in the world

TRS-measurements as a nondestructive method assessing stage of maturity and ripening in plum (Prunus domestica L.)

n plum fruit with dark red or blue blush colour covering the whole fruit, the change in ground colour from green to yellow during maturation and ripening is masked. Hence, the maturity stage is difficult to judge. Time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS) has been used as a nondestructive method to assess changes in important internal quality factors in ‘Jubileum’ plums (Prunus domestica L.). Absorption coefficients (µa) and scattering coefficients (µs) were measured at both 670 and 758 nm during 5 days of storage. The changes in soluble solids content, titratable acidity and firmness were as expected. No change in soluble solids content was observed, while the plums became less acid and softer during storage. The TRS-measurements of plums indicated that TRS could give interesting information on internal quality factors in plums as the absorption at 670 nm was closely related to firmness, TA and TSS at the time of picking. Absorption at 758 nm was more closely related to the quality parameters after storage. The study did not indicate that scattering could be used in assessing maturity stage in plum

Characterization of Plum Procyanidins by Thiolytic Depolymerization

The phenolic compounds of ?Green Gage? (GG) plums (Prunus domestica L.), ?Rainha Cla?udia Verde?, from a ?protected designation of origin? (PDO), in Portugal, were quantified in both flesh and skin tissues of plums collected in two different orchards (GG-V and GG-C). Analyzes of phenolic compounds were also performed on another GG European plum obtained in France (GG-F) and two other French plums, ?Mirabelle? (M) and ?Golden Japan? (GJ). Thiolysis was used for the first time in the analysis of plum phenolic compounds. This methodology showed that the flesh and skin contain a large proportion of flavan-3-ols, which account, respectively, for 92 and 85% in GJ, 61 and 44% in GG-V, 62 and 48% in GG-C, 54 and 27% in M, and 45 and 37% in GG-F. Terminal units of procyanidins observed in plums are mainly (+)-catechin (54?77% of all terminal units in flesh and 57?81% in skin). The GJ plums showed a phenolic composition different from all of the others, with a lower content of chlorogenic acid isomers and the presence of A-type procyanidins as dimers and terminal residues of polymerized forms. The average degree of polymerization (DPn) of plum procyanidins was higher in the flesh (5?9 units) than in the skin (4?6 units). Procyanidin B7 was observed in the flesh of all GG plums and in the skin of the Portuguese ones. Principal component analysis of the phenolic composition of the flesh and skin of these plums obtained after thiolysis allowed their distinction according to the variety and origin, opening the possibility of the use of phenolic composition for variety/origin identification

Assessments of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S.

To understand the likelihood of any risk of apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to domestic and foreign fruit export markets, knowledge of its host plant use is needed. Here, assessments of R. pomonella infestation of temperate, tropical, and subtropical fruit were made in the field and laboratory in Washington State, U.S. In field surveys in 2010– 2017 in central Washington, 6.7% of Crataegus douglasii and 6.1% of feral Malus domestica trees (both temperate plants) in fly-managed (insecticide- treated) sites were infested by larvae. In unmanaged sites, 54.1% of C. douglasii and 16.3% of feral M. domestica tree samples were infested. In field surveys of 36 types of temperate fruit in 2015–2018 in southwestern Washington, new host records for R. pomonella were one species and three hybrids of Crataegus, as well as Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca – all of which produced adult flies. In addition, Prunus avium was a new host record for Washington State, producing one adult fly. Prunus armeniaca x Prunus salicina and Vitis vinifera exposed to flies in the laboratory produced adult flies. Of 37 types of tropical and subtropical fruit hung in fly-infested M. domestica trees in southwestern Washington, only Mangifera indica produced puparia. Out of nine tropical and subtropical fruit types in laboratory tests, Musa acuminata x balbisiana produced puparia but no adult flies. Results provide a basis for further research and hypotheses concerning host use by R. pomonella and its potential impact on protecting both U.S. and tropical and subtropical fruit markets