Opportunities for Horticultural Production in Podlaskie Voivodhsip: Pears for Fresh Fruit Market

Podlaskie Voivodship is located in a climatic zone perceived as unfavourable for pear production. This study examines production, trade and consumption of pears in Poland and argues that Podlaskie Voivodship can exploit the existing demand for pears in the region given the physiological opportunities resulting from the phenomenon known as parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpy permits production of pears despite the flower damaging spring frosts. Regionally important pear cultivars are recognized and consumed by residents in the area and in the neighbouring countries located to the East and Northeast of Podlasie. Although Podlaskie Voivodship plays a secondary role in tree fruit production in Poland, pear production is relatively more important in the region than in the country as a whole. Moreover, it appears that the pattern of large and small crops in the region and in Poland follow different pattern making Podlaskie Voivodship a reliable supplier of pears in when the pear crop may be particularly small in the country as a whole. The growing popularity of pears with Polish consumers and preferences for the familiar cultivars such as ’Beurre Alexandre Lucas’ or ‘Conference’ produced in the region bodes well for producers, but attention to quality is necessary in the very competitive fresh fruit market. Additional markets in the neighbroing countries may offer additional opportunities for growers, who could expand pear production and benefit the regional economy.Wojciech J. Florkowski: [email protected] Łysiak: [email protected] Wojciech J. Florkowski – Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, The University of GeorgiaDr inż. 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Toward New Value-Added Products Made from Anaerobic Digestate: Part 1—Study on the Effect of Moisture Content on the Densification of Solid Digestate

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely used for the sustainable treatment of biological wastes and the production of biogas. Its byproduct, digestate, is a valuable organic waste and needs appropriate management, which is one of the major concerns with a negative impact on the efficiency of biogas installations. One approach to extend the utilization of digestate as well as improve its handling and storage characteristics is compaction into pellets. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of digestate during cyclic loading and unloading in a closed matrix. The findings presented here may provide insights into the mechanisms of pellet formation for optimizing the production of pellets and improving their sustainable management. The study can be considered novel as it applied cyclic loading, for the first time, in view of densification modeling and pelleting prediction. A Zwick universal machine was used in the experiments. The moisture content of digestate was found to be 10–22%. Samples were loaded with a constant amplitude of 20 kN for 10 cycles. The distribution of energy inputs, including the total energy, energy of permanent deformations, and energy lost to elastic ones, was thoroughly evaluated. A decrease in the total loading energy was observed in the first cycle, in cycles 2–10, and after all 10 applied cycles due to the rise in the moisture content of digestate. Similar relations were also found for the nonrecoverable energy part. In subsequent cycles of loading/unloading, the values of total energy and permanent deformation energy fell asymptotically. One of the most noteworthy findings of the study was that the absolute values of elastic deformation energy were consistent across all the cycles and moisture levels. However, it was noted that the percentage of energy dissipated to elastic deformation in all cycles significantly increased as the moisture content increased. Loading, which contributed to elastic deformations, was identified as the key factor causing an increase in cumulative energy inputs, and the majority of the energy expended was dissipated. Dissipated energy was the only component that permanently altered the total energy required for compaction. Another important finding, which resulted from the analysis of successive courses of loading and unloading curves, was that the shape of the areas enclosed between the loading/unloading curves was significantly influenced by the moisture content of the digestate

Measurement of ethylene production as a method for determining the optimum harvest date of ‘Jonagored’ apples

The measurement of ethylene concentration in the apple core is considered a good method of determining OHD, but requires high accuracy and expensive equipment. The measurement of ethylene production seems to be a technologically easier method. During research conducted in the years 2003-2008, measurements of ethylene production were evaluated as a method for determining the harvest maturity of ‘Jonagored’ apples intended for storage. Measurements were carried out every 4-5 days starting a few weeks before the estimated harvest date. Apples were picked on four dates and after five months the loss of mass, firmness, TSS and TA was measured, the incidence of physiological disorders and fungal diseases was assessed and sensory tests were conducted to evaluate storability. Based on this evaluation it was determined which of those dates was OHD. After a period of low ethylene production, the production accelerated rapidly to reach an average level between 10.0 and 12.5 ppm kg-1 hr-1 on the OHD. Later, ethylene production rose still more sharply and quickly reached several dozens of ppm kg-1 hr-1. The accuracy of the new method was compared with other methods used to determine the maturity stage. The results obtained through the measurement of ethylene production showed the least deviation from the six-year average and only the results obtained using the Streif index method, which may be unreliable for some cultivars according to the literature, had a comparable margin of error

Bioactive Compounds of Blueberries: Post-Harvest Factors Influencing the Nutritional Value of Products

Blueberries, besides having commonly-recognized taste properties, are also a valuable source of health-promoting bioactive compounds. For several decades, blueberries have gained in popularity all over the world, and recent years have seen not only an increase in fresh consumption, but also in the importance of blueberries for the processing industry. Blueberry processing mostly consists of freezing and juicing. Recently, more attention has been drawn to dewatering and drying, which are promising areas for developing novel blueberry products. Processing affects each biologically-active compound in a different way, and it is still unknown what changes those compounds undergo at the molecular level after the application of different processing technologies. This work presents the most recent state of knowledge about the pre-treatment and processing methods applied to blueberries and their influence on the content of biologically-active compounds. The presentation of methods is preceded by a brief overview of the characteristics of the blueberry species, a description of the chemical composition of the fruit and a short note about the main growing areas, production volumes and the management of fruit crops

Weather Conditions, Orchard Age and Nitrogen Fertilization Influences Yield and Quality of ‘Łutówka’ Sour Cherry Fruit

Nitrogen fertilization is a basic agrotechnical orchard treatment, and affects quality and size of the crops. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of sour cherry fruit of the ‘Łutówka’ cultivar. The course of climatic conditions in relation to the timing of flowering and fruiting was analyzed. The trials were carried out in three different experimental sour cherry orchards (quarters) with different planting dates (1999, 2001 and 2002) located at the experimental orchard of the Poznań University of Life Sciences in Poland. In each orchard, three levels of fertilization were used: control without fertilization, fertilization at a dose of 60 kg N ha−1 and fertilization at 120 kg N ha−1. Increasing the dose of N did not have a significant effect on sour cherry yield. However, it resulted in a reduction of fruit weight, extract content, acidity and TSS/TA ratio, whereas the brightness (L*) and redness (a*) of the fruit surface color increased. Temperature and precipitation had the greatest influence on the course of flowering, fruiting and fruit ripening. Particularly important was the course of climatic conditions at the beginning of the growing season, especially during flowering, when there is a high risk of spring frosts. The timing of flowering and fruiting was correlated with the sum of active temperatures. The greatest relationship for the flowering date was found for SAT (sum of active temperatures) when the base temperature equals 11 °C and the temperature for the harvest date equals 9 °C

Quality Attribute-Price Relationship: Modernization of the Sweet Cherry Sector in Poland

This study describes the development of sweet cherry production in Poland in the context of relationship between quality attributes and wholesale prices as well as modernization of orchards creating opportunities for increased exports. Global demand for sweet cherries increases because of their perceived unique health benefits, but the fruit must have the desired quality attributes. The link between quality attributes and prices is illustrated using the wholesale prices collected during the harvest season in years of limited and normal crop in Poland, respectively. Among the discussed varieties is ‘Cordia’ which dominates in the modern orchards. As the sweet cherry production declines in the region, with the introduction of modern production technology, the increasing yields and volume produced creates opportunities for increased exports also to countries outside the EU

Effect of the Climatic Conditions in Central Europe on the Growth and Yield of Cornelian Cherry Cultivars

Fruit of Cornelian cherry can be used fresh or processed, and cultivation practices are developing in this direction. Due to the rarity of its cultivation, Cornelian cherry is harvested from natural sites of occurrence. However, the fruit from natural sites is of lower quality than the cultivars, as their seedlings differ in terms of fruit ripening. The objective of this experiment was the evaluation of approximately a dozen cultivars in terms of growth and fruit yield under the conditions of Central Europe. The effect of climatic conditions on the onset date of particular phenological stages was also assessed. All the analysed cultivars are suitable commodity crops, but they should be accurately selected depending on the direction of production. The first phenological stage of Cornelian cherry is the appearance of inflorescences before the development of leaves. The start of particular phenophases depends on the temperature and precipitation. Cornelian cherries cultivated under ecological conditions show satisfactory fruit size and generally a small percentage of stone. Most cultivars have an elongated fruit shape, and the shape factor decreases with their growth and ripening. The fruit grows along a double sigmoid, and its first intensive growth occurs following the extinction of intensive shoot growth

The Possibility of Using Fruit-Bearing Plants of Temperate Climate in the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most dangerous metabolic diseases. The incidence of this disease continues to increase and is often associated with severe complications. Plants and natural plant products with a healing effect have been successfully used in the treatment of many disease entities since the beginning of the history of herbalism and medicine. At present, great emphasis is placed on the biodiversity of crops and the replacement of the monoculture production system of popular temperate climate plants, such as apple, pear, plum, and vine, with alternative fruit species. Very promising fruit plants are Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas); mulberry (Morus alba); bird cherry (Prunus padus); sour cherry (Prunus cerasus); plants of the genus Amelanchier, Sorbus, and Crategus; medlar (Mespilus germanica); quince (Cydonia oblonga); plants of the genus Vaccinium; and wild roses. When promoting the cultivation of alternative fruit-bearing plants, it is worth emphasizing their beneficial effects on health. This systematic review indicates that the antidiabetic effect of various parts of fruit plants is attributed to the presence of polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, which have different mechanisms of antidiabetic action and can be used in the treatment of diabetes and various complications associated with this disease

Thinning Methods to Regulate Sweet Cherry Crops—A Review

In perennial fruit crops, bearing can be influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, germplasm, rootstocks, and cultivation methods. Cherries, one of the most important and popular fruit species from the temperate climate zone, achieve high prices on the market. New agricultural technologies and environmental factors force a change in the approach to cherry cultivation. Old-type cherry orchards, with their high demand for water, nutrients, and manual work, are replaced by orchards of self-pollinating cherry cultivars grown on dwarf rootstocks. These changes make it necessary to search for ways to regulate fruiting, in particular to thin buds, flower, and fruit. In light of environmental regulations and consumer pressure, thinning methods are being sought that either do not involve the use of chemicals or that use eco-friendly chemical agents. This review examines recent progress in understanding the effect of thinning methods on the physiology, tree growth, and fruit quality of cherries; discusses horticultural practices aimed to ensure regular cropping and their influence on fruit quality; and provides suggestions for future research

Influence of technological instruments on the course of vibration tests carried out on the inductor of vibrations for 120 mm mortar cartridges

Artykuł przybliża zagadnienie właściwego doboru oprzyrządowania technologicznego do adaptacji 120 mm naboi moździerzowych podczas badań laboratoryjnych na wzbudniku drgań. Celem pracy jest określenie wpływu zmodyfikowanego oprzyrządowania technologicznego na przebieg testów wibracyjnych w odniesieniu do oprzyrządowania wyjściowego, którego projekt wraz z wykonaniem uwzględniającym mocowanie na wzbudniku drgań i dopasowaniem względem badanej próbki zmieniał się na podstawie prowadzonych prób. Aspekty związane z udoskonaleniem uchwytu technologicznego będącego elementem pośrednim pomiędzy urządzeniem wibracyjnym, a badaną próbką mają istotny wpływ na przebieg testów wibracyjnych, które dla porównania przeprowadzono na głowicy i stole ślizgowym wzbudnika. Każdy test jest obciążony działaniem niekorzystnych zjawisk, które po części wynikają z konstrukcji systemu wibracyjnego, jednak na poziom utrudnień i kierunek ich działania wpływa również dobór odpowiedniego uchwytu technologicznego oraz doświadczenie operatora urządzenia. Dlatego do zrównoważenia dysproporcji związanych z ograniczeniami wzbudnika drgań, a wykonaniem i mocowaniem uchwytu do 120 mm naboju moździerzowego pomocne jest uwzględnienie opisanych w artykule odpowiednich wytycznych i zasad. Sposób postępowania po napotkaniu problemów i ich rozwiązanie jest na bieżąco przedstawiane w oparciu o badania wibracyjne sprawdzające odporność 120 mm naboi moździerzowych na narażenia mechaniczne w postaci drgań sinusoidalnych.The paper deals with a proper selection of technological instruments for fixing 120 mm mortar cartridges into the vibrations inductor at laboratory testing. The work was aimed to find out the influence of modified technological instruments on the course of vibration tests in comparison to an original design which had been changed along with performed trials to take into account the fixation on the vibrations inductor and matching with the tested sample. Aspects connected with the improvement of the technological handle, which is a transitional device between the vibrating system and tested sample, have essential impact into the course of vibration tests which were conducted both on the head and the sliding table of the inductor for comparison. Each test is burdened by actions of adverse effects which are partially caused by the design of the vibrating system, and hence the experience of operator and selection of suitable technological handle are also important for coping with difficulties. For this reason it may be helpful to use some recommendations described in the paper for balancing disproportions connected with the limitations of the vibration inductor and fabrication and fixation of the handle for 120 mm mortar cartridge. The way of coping with encountered difficulties is presented directly with proposed solutions on the base of vibration tests examining the resistance of 120 mm mortar cartridges against mechanical loads in the form of sinusoidal vibrations