Preharvest Salicylic Acid and Oxalic Acid Decrease Bioactive and Quality Loss in Blackberry (cv. Chester) Fruits during Cold Storage

In this study, we investigated the effects of preharvest oxalic acid (2.5 mM (OA1) and 5 mM (OA2)) and salicylic acid (0.5 mM (SA1) and 1 mM (SA2)) treatments on the storage and quality of blackberry cv. Chester. We applied salicylic acid and oxalic acid to the plants seven and fourteen days before harvest and recorded the physiological, physicochemical, and external appearance characteristics of the fruits during the cold storage period (nine days). The results showed that the treatments decreased ethylene production by 29.5% (SA1) at harvest and by 28.5% (SA2) at the end of the storage period. In addition, the respiration rate was reduced between 13.0% (OA2) and 28.0% (SA2) compared to the control. Although fruit weigh loss increased as storage extended, the highest losses were observed in control with 1.35%. Titratable acidity decreased from harvest (0.46%) to the end of storage (0.39%) in the control, whereas it ranged from 0.52% (SA1) to 0.62% (OA1) in the treatment groups. Malic acid and syringic acid were the dominant organic acid and phenolic, respectively, and although their content decreased continuously in the control group, no loss was observed in the treated groups after the sixth day. These effects were positively reflected in the external appearance of the fruits, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and properties related to antioxidant activity. As a result of the cumulative evaluation of all parameters, it can be suggested that Chester fruits can be stored for nine days in marketable quality with the SA2 applications. Among oxalic acid concentrations, 2.5 mM can be recommended for phytochemical accumulation at harvest and short-term storage of three days

Effects of the fruiting period and growing seasons on market quality in goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.)

Progression of the vegetation period and change of year are associated with variations in general climatic parameters, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, radiation, precipitation, wind speed and others. Only limited knowledge is available about the effects of these parameters on the characteristics of quality of fruits especially those with successive ripening such as goji berry. In our study, fruits of goji berry were characterised based on physico-chemical properties within four different harvest periods, in two consecutive years. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the pomological characteristics were superior at the beginning of the production season, while the phytochemical properties were better at the end. Fruit length, width and weight characteristics were noted to decrease from the first harvest to the last by 21%, 18% and 33%, respectively, while the total anthocyanin, phenol and antioxidant activity properties increased by 264%, 48% and 105%, respectively. There was a decrease in fruit weight, fruit length and fruit width up to 15.9%, 18.3% and 6%, respectively and were directly associated with yield due to sink competition among fruits. Providing high ripening index that ensures more acceptable fruits, with high soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) seems to be a very important breeding objective to meet consumer demands thanks to superior organoleptic quality. According to correlations, the synthesis of phenolic compounds increased in parallel with SSC rise and TA, which improved pomological properties too. It is thought that the obtained results may indicate the cultural processes and evaluation methods to be used for the harvested fruits

Determination of Antibacterial Effect of Different Plant Essential Oils Against Erwinia amylovora

WOS: 000490344100004Fire Blight caused by Erwinia amylovora is a disease of plants belonging to Rosaceae family of 39 different genera and 128 species. Integrated disease management is preferred by combining different methods in the disease control. Nowadays, studies on alternative methods to control of the disease were intensified. One of these methods is using of essential oils obtained from medical and aromatic plants. In this study, antibacterial activity of 16 different plant essential oil was investigated against to Erwinia amylovora in vitro conditions. Seven essential oils (Allium sativum, Cinnamomi ceylanici, Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula officinalis, Mentha arvensis, Syzygium aromaticum and Thymus vulgaris) inhibited successfully the growth of Erwinia amylovora in vitro conditions. The higher antibacterial efficacy was produced by the six plant essential oil except Cymbopogon citratus, compared to streptomycin. Essential oils from A Ilium sativum, Cinnamomi ceylanici and Mentha arvensis were obtained in 16.44, 15.11 and 12.94 mm inhibition zones, respectively and these essential oils had the highest antibacterial effects. These effective essential oils was found as promising in this disease control

An Analysis on Some Reciprocal Pear Hybridization Combinations in Terms of Transferring Resistance to Fire Blight

ALTAY, Yasin/0000-0003-4049-8301; Mertoglu, Kerem/0000-0002-0490-9073;WOS: 000510269500001Since it has a wide variety, pear can be grown in all temperate zones and high-altitude areas of tropical and subtropical climates of the Earth. on the other hand, most of the cultured pear varieties are susceptible to fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora, and their susceptibility is threatening pear cultivation. the lack of a certain solution to fire blight, the harmful effects of the chemicals on environment and human health and the increasing demand for organic products, give priority to breeding new resistant rootstocks and varieties in control of the disease. Due to the polygenic nature of fire blight resistance and the complexity of its mechanism, controlled hybridization is generally used in breeding programs. in order to determine the effect of the parents for the transmission of fire blight resistance, hybridizations are also carried out reciprocally. in the study which was carried out for this aim, susceptibility levels of the F1 hybrids, obtained from the reciprocal combinations of fire blight resistant 'Kieffer' and the susceptible 'Williams', 'Santa Maria' and 'Akca' cultivars, were evaluated. While 'Kieffer' x 'Santa Maria' was found the most resistant combination to fire blight, 'Akca' x 'Williams' was found as the most susceptible one. in addition, it has been determined that F-1 hybrids obtained from 'Kieffer' x 'Santa Maria' and 'Akca' x 'Williams' hybridization combinations and their reciprocals are different in terms of disease resistance, while there was no difference in resistance in F-1 hybrids of 'Williams' x 'Santa Maria' combination and its reciprocal combination.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TOVAG 110O938, TOVAG 106O719]We would like to thank TUBITAK for funding the projects that the study material obtained (TOVAG 106O719 and TOVAG 110O938)