Climacteric fruit ripening: Ethylene-dependent and independent regulation of ripening pathways in melon fruit

Cantaloupe melons have a typical climacteric behaviour with ethylene playing a major role in the regulation of the ripening process and affecting the ripening rate. Crossing of Cantaloupe Charentais melon with a non-climacteric melon indicated that the climacteric character is genetically dominant and conferred by two duplicated loci only. However, other experiments made by crossing two non-climacteric melons have generated climacteric fruit, indicating that different and complex genetic regulation exists for the climacteric character. Suppression of ethylene production by antisense ACC oxidase RNA in Charentais melon has shown that, while many ripening pathways were regulated by ethylene (synthesis of aroma volatiles, respiratory climacteric and degreening of the rind), some were ethylene-independent (initiation of climacteric, sugar accumulation, loss of acidity and coloration of the pulp). Softening of the flesh comprised both ethylene-dependent and independent components that were correlated with differential regulation of cell wall degrading genes. These results indicate that climacteric (ethylene-dependent) and non-climacteric (ethylene-independent) regulation coexist during climacteric fruit ripening. In addition, ethylenesuppressed melons allowed demonstrating that the various ethylene-dependent events exhibited differential sensitivity to ethylene and that ethylene was promoting sensitivity to chilling injury. Throughout this review, the data generated with melon are compared with those obtained with tomato and other fruit

An annotated checklist of Wisconsin sap and short-winged flower beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae, Kateretidae)

A survey of Wisconsin Nitidulidae and Kateretidae yielded 78 species through analysis of literature records, museum and private collections, and three years of field research (2000-2002). Twenty-seven species (35% of the Wisconsin fauna) represent new state records, having never been previously recorded from the state. Wisconsin distribution, along with relevant collecting techniques and natural history information, are summarized. The Wisconsin nitidulid and kateretid faunae are compared to reconstructed and updated faunal lists for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and south-central Canada. Literature and distributional records suggest at least 11 additional nitidulid species may occur in Wisconsin

A field and grenhouse study of the effects of two levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the growth and development of cantaloupes

In the continental United States the name cantaloupe is improperly applied to all varieties of muskmelons that are included in Cucumis melo var. reticulatus, the variety commonly grown in this country. Because such usage has resulted in the adoption of the name cantaloupe, this term will be used through this thesis. Probably no fruit offered to the American public is as appealing and tasty as the cantaloupe when the quality is good or as unappetizing when the quality is poor. The cantaloupe is offered to the public as a fruit to be purchased solely for the enjoyment of its flavor. A cantaloupe with poor flavor is worthless. Because of this assumption most of the research work in breeding and production of cantaloupes is done with one principal end in view: to produce high yielding varieties with improved flavor and qaulity (18).* The cantaloupe is difficult to grow in many areas. During its early stages of growth the plants need warm weather, ample soil moisture. and a dry atmosphere. Frequent rains or cloudy weather while cantaloupes are ripening may lower the quality of the fruit (4). These factors make successful cantaloupe culture in humid areas more difficult than the culture of many other vegetable crops. The mineral requirements of the cantaloupe have not been thoroughly investigated, This study was conducted in order to obtain a better under-standing of the mineral requirements of this crop when grown in unfavor-able, humid areas. Two experiments were designed to study the inter relationships of two levels each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the growth and development of cantaloupe plants and fruit

Testing the Market Integration in Regional Cantaloupe and Melon Markets between the U.S. and Mexico: An Application of Error Correction Model

Examine the integration between U.S. and Mexican cantaloupe and watermelon prices using cointegration and error correction model approach. Cointegration analysis shows significant post-2002 improvement in market integration, particularly in the speed at which the market adjusts to departures from its long-run equilibrium.cointegration, error correction model, Johansen test, market cointegration., Marketing,

Role of ethylene on various ripening pathways and on the development of sensory quality of Charentais cantaloupe melons

Charentais melons (Cucumis melo L., var cantalupensis Naud.) in which ethylene biosynthesis has been suppressed by an antisense ACC oxidase gene have been used to better understand the role of ethylene in the regulation of the ripening process of climacteric fruit and on the development of sensory qualities. We have shown that a number of biochemical and molecular processes associated with the ripening of climacteric fruit are ethylene-independent. In some cases, such as softening of the flesh, the same pathway comprises both ethylene-dependent and -independent components. The various ethylene-dependent events exhibit differential sensitivity to ethylene. The threshold level for degreening of the rind is 1 ppm, while 2.5 ppm are required to trigger the ethylene-dependent component of the softening process. The saturating level of ethylene for all these events is less than 5 ppm, which is by far lower than the internal ethylene concentrations found in the fruit at the climacteric peak (around 100 ppm). Detachment of the fruit influences the development of respiratory climacteric. Fruit remaining attached to the vine, although producing higher levels of ethylene, exhibit a reduced climacteric rise in respiration as compared to detached fruit. The response of antisense ACO fruit to exogenous ethylene in terms of respiration is higher in detached than in attached fruit. Ethylene-suppressed melons show a severe reduction of aroma volatiles production, particularly in ester production. In the biosynthetic pathway of aliphatic esters, the dehydrogenation of fatty acids and aldehydes appears to be ethylene-dependent. In contrast, alcohol acetylation comprises ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent components, probably corresponding to differentially regulated alcohol acetyl transferases. In terms of sensory quality, these data show that the extension of shelf-life through the inhibition of ethylene production has some beneficial effects on texture and sugar accumulation but is detrimental for the generation of aroma

Analysis of U.S. Demand for Imported Melons using a Dynamic Almost Ideal Demand System

Melons constitute an important part of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry even though they are produced only from May through December of each year. Import supplies from Latin American countries are used to make up for the domestic demand shortages. This paper investigates the U.S. demand for imported fresh and frozen melons using quarterly data on import volumes and unit prices. A static and a dynamic linear approximated almost ideal demand systems were estimated using ITSUR. Marshallian and Hicksian elasticities were used to analyze consumers’ responsiveness to price and income change in the short run and the long run.Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis, International Relations/Trade,

Kandungan Beta Karoten dan Aktivitas Penangkapan Radikal Bebas terhadap Dpph (1,1-difenil 2-pikrilhidrazil) Ekstrak Buah Blewah (Cucumis Melo Var. Cantalupensis L) secara Spektrofotometri Uv-visibel

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. Cantalupensis L.), a fruit containing some compounds, have activity to protect human body from free radical. The beta carotene (provitamin A) was recognized as antioxidant compound. Antioxidants could protect the body from cardiovascular damage caused by free radical. The aims of this study was to determine the levels of beta carotene and antioxidant activity (IC50) from Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis L. extract using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. Cantaloupe was extracted using n-hexan-acetone-methanol ratio (2: 1: 1). Identification of beta carotene was performed using 25% antimony trichloride reagent followed by TLC and UV-Vis spectrum test compared with beta carotene as standard. The content of beta carotene and free radical scavenging activity was measured spectrophotometrically at 425 nm. The beta carotene level of cantaloupe was 3.171 ± 0.150 %. The antioxidant activity, presented as IC50 value of cantaloupe extract, was 12.137±0.44 µg/mL and the antioxidant activity of standard beta carotene was 2.15 ± 0.172 µg/mL. The cantaloupe extract contained beta carotene compunds but the antioxidant activity of extract was lower than beta carotene standard

Chef Charles Says..., June 2012

The Food Assistance Program provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. Food Assistance can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. Produced bye Iowa’s Food Assistance Program, Department of Human Services