Journal of Horticulture and Postharvest Research
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Jun 2023

Diverse commercial cultivars as well as wild pomegranate genotypes are widespread throughout Iran. Such diversity considered as backbone of breeding programs. This study was aimed to comparative analysis of fruit traits of eight local pomegranate cultivars and a well-known, commercially adapted, “Wonderful” cultivar.

The fruits were harvested and transferred to the laboratory. The fruit, aril and skin parameters were measured and the data was analyzed as completely randomized design with three replications.

The results clearly showed diverse differences among cultivars. The highest fruit weight, length, width, aril weight, aril diameter, aril fresh/dry weights, skin fresh/dry weights were found in “Gavkoshak”. The highest calyx length and skin thickness were recorded in “Galookandeh”. The “Torsh Oud”, “Faroogh”, “Galookandeh” and “Rubab” were detected to have hard seeds. The highest TSS, skin / aril anthocyanin and sucrose content were found in “Wonderful”. The maximum amount of glucose and fructose were observed in the “Rubab”. The results finally showed that “Gavkoshak” and “Rubab” cultivars had the greater ranks in terms of their physical fruit parameters. In terms of chemical properties, the best cultivars were “Wonderful” and “Rubab”. The “Rubab”, “Gavkoshak” and “Wonderful” are recommended as superior cultivars for either pomegranate production or future breeding programs. Limitations: There was no limitation. 

Originality/Value:

The “Wonderful” is an introduced one and the comparative analysis of pomegranates of Fars origin concurrently with this new plant material would be valuable. Furthermore, the pomological traits of these local cultivars were not also studied earlier.

Cucumbers are an important fruit vegetable consumed as a salad or cooked in the world. Among the most used and consumed cucumbers, there are domestic cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) and wild cucumbers (Cucumis metuliferus E.). Despite their importance, the agro-morphological characteristics of cucumbers were not well known. The objective of this research was to assess the agro-morphological characteristics of four varieties of cucumber (green and white C. sativus, bitter and non-bitter C. metuliferus).

A cultivation trial of these cucumber varieties was carried out in Randomised Complete Block Design with four replications at the application farm of the Agroforestry Department Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor, Senegal. Different parameters of growth leave chlorophyll content, 50% flowering days, and yield were studied.

The analysis of variance of growth parameters, chlorophyll content, 50% flowering days, and yield parameters between varieties showed significant variation. The variety green C. sativus was distinguished from the other varieties by better vegetative growth and leaves chlorophyll content (46.91±10.04 SPAD value) and early flowering (29.75±0.5 days). In terms of germination rate, weight, and circumference of fruits, the variety white C. metuliferus recorded higher values with 96±2%, 468.25±99.28 g, and 23.85±2.98cm respectively. Thus, the two wild cucumber varieties (bitter and non-bitter) showed relatively low values on most of the parameters except in terms of the number of ramifications and leaves. Leaves chlorophyll content varied significantly according to the period of the day and the status of leaf development. The higher chlorophyll content was recorded in the noon (44.76±9.45 SPAD value) and old leaves (44.49±7.09 SPAD value).

Research limitations: 

Further genotypic and nutritional characterizations were required for a better understanding of the difference between cucumbers. Originality/Value: The results showed great variability between the varieties studied for all the morphological, phenological, physiological, and yield characteristics.

Pistachio is one of the strategic products of Iran. To maintain the position of this strategic product in the global market and to increase its production, potential areas in other parts of the country should be identified and orchards with suitable cultivars should be developed. To this end and to determine the adaptability of five pistachio cultivars with different climatic conditions of Khorasan-Razavi province, a trial was conducted.

Cultivars including: Akbari, Fandoghi, Badami-Sefid, Ahmadaghaei and Kalleghoochi were investigated in seven selected orchards in Neyshabour, Bajestan, Torbat-e-Jam, Khoshab, Gonabad, Bardaskan and Mahvalaat cities in a RCBD during 2019-2021.

 Despite damages caused by storms, the Badami-Sefid cultivar had the highest yield in Bajestan. At Feyzabad the most product was Ahmadaghaei with 18 kg per tree, followed by Badami-Sefid and Akbari, followed by Kalleghoochi and Fandoghi with 9 kg/tree. But in other areas such as Gonabad, where strong winds blow normally, Ahmadaghaei, with strong cluster connected to the tree branch, and hence wind cannot cause much damage to the crop, seems suitable for cultivation, as well as Akbari. In case of the Akbari cultivar, its chilling requirement should be considered.

Research limitations: 

More varieties of pistachios were not found in the orchards. Originality/Value: The results showed that Badami-Sefid cultivar due to its maximum height and width of the crown, high production capacity and adaptation to different climatic conditions of Khorasan province is suitable for areas of the country that are similar to the climatic conditions of Mahvalaat.

Purslane plant is used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This study aimed to study some physiological and biochemical reactions of Portulaca oleracea to salinity stress and the effect of silica fertilizer application in reducing the harmful effects of salinity stress on climatic conditions of Behbahan city in southwestern of Iran.

Purslane seeds were planted in plastic pots. Salinity treatment was considered at two levels of 0 and 200 mM NaCl and silica fertilizer treatment were considered at two levels of 0 and 2g/l.

Results revealed that with increase salinity concentration, plant height, amount of soluble sugar, amount of soluble protein and chlorophyll b significantly decreased. The use of silica fertilizer had a positive effect on the mentioned traits in comparison with its non-use. Based on the results, the use of silica fertilizer increased plant height, soluble sugar, and soluble protein by 16.19, 25.35 and 28.74%, respectively, compared to its non-use in salinity conditions on the Portulaca oleracea plant, which is very important due to the salinity of a large areas of agricultural lands in Iran. Research limitations: No limitations were founded.

Originality/Value:

 This study showed that silica fertilizer, compared to its non-application, increased plant height and photosynthetic pigments and reduced the harmful effects of salinity stress on Portulaca oleracea. Therefore, both in the condition of lack of salinity and in the condition of salinity stress, the use of silica fertilizer is suggested in comparison with its non-use in order to improve the measured traits.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is an economically important fruit crop affected by anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The study was carried out to test two essential oils; Citronella oil and Cinnamon oil and two leaf extracts; Lantana camara and Ocimum tenuiflorum on four occasions of fruit development as pre-treatment assay in the field condition. Research

Essential oils were prepared as an emulsifier and leaf saps were extracted from dried leaves and both were set to 10% concentration. The experiment was conducted in a two-factor factorial experiment with Randomized Complete Block Design. Five treatments including the control were applied for four blocks representing stages of fruit development. Disease severity (0–5 scale) and disease severity index were calculated and statistically analyzed using ANOVA, MINITAB and Tukey’s pairwise analysis.

According to the obtained results, four occasions of application of the selected treatment were highly significant with a minimum level of DSI (34.67 ± 4.62). L. camera leaf extract was highly effective as a pre-treatment with the least values for disease severity percentages (5.78 ± 0.43), disease severity score (0.3 ± 0.17) and disease severity index (26.67 ± 6.36). Research limitations: Flower bud initiation was delayed than the date expected due to the unpredicted heavy rainy condition.

Originality/Value: 

The most effective block treatment interaction was shown on three occasions of application of L. camera leaf extract. This study facilitated the development of the most promising pre-harvest management strategy to control anthracnose disease which causes by the fungal pathogen C. gloeosporioides.

The main aim of the present research was to evaluate the growth performance and genetic variation in diallel crosses of melon.

To investigate general and specific combining abilities and how genes act in eight melon populations, one-way diallel crosses were performed at Zahak Agricultural Research Station in 2019. Then, parental seeds and hybrids were planted in the spring of 2020 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Fruit length, fruit width, number of fruits per plant, cavity diameter, fruit weight, total soluble solids, plant length, durability (number of days to crushing), flesh thickness, and yield were examined.

The results of the analysis of variance showed significant differences among the population for all traits. The results of diallel based on method 2 model 1 of a Griffing showed that general and specific combining abilities for the traits are statistically significant at the 5% level of statistical probability. The additive effects of genes on cavity diameter, total soluble solids, and shelf life were observed, expressing the possibility of selection in early generations for these traits. Research limitations: No limitations were founded.

Originality/value: 

The additive effects of genes on cavity diameter, total soluble solids, and shelf life were observed, expressing the possibility of selection in early generations for these traits also durability or shelf life is the most important trait in vegetables especially in melon so, based on these results cross Sefidak × Yellow ivaneki was the best cross for improvement of this trait.

Low temperature storage is commonly used to extend papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit storability. The optimal recommended storage temperature is below 10 °C for export and distant markets. However, chilling injury (CI) disorder occurs at 10 °C or lower temperatures (5-8 °C) during prolonged cold storage. Chilling injury affects fruit quality and consumer preference. Therefore, the study investigated the potential of postharvest polyamine dips to improve the quality and shelf-life of ‘Solo’ papaya fruit.

Mature papaya fruit were treated with putrescine (PUT) dips (0, 1, 2 or 3 mM) and stored for 21 days at 7.5 °C plus 6 days at ambient temperature.

The results showed that 2 and 3 mM PUT treatment significantly (P<0.05) reduced mass and firmness loss compared to 1 mM PUT dips and untreated fruit. The same trend was observed in peel colour change. Furthermore, the results showed that 2 mM PUT treatment retained lower titratable acid and total soluble solids values compared to control fruit. Research limitations: The study did not focus on Put mode of action including antioxidant system response.

Originality/Value: 

The study demonstrated that 2 and 3 mM PUT postharvest dips reduce ‘Solo’ papaya pathological and physiological disorders during low temperature long storage. Therefore, 2 mM has the potential to improve postharvest quality by reducing the onset/development of pathological and physiological disorders under low temperature storage thereby benefitting exporters.

Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a lucrative crop with a year-round demand. However, seasonality in fruiting causes market glut. Therefore, potential of gibberellic acid (GAs), brassinolide (BL) and salicylic acid (SA) as preharvest foliar sprays on widening narrow harvest window alongside improved fruit quality were studied.

Experiments were performed on five-year-old 30 lime trees of cv. Monaragala Local. Trees were treated with aqueous solutions of GA (12.5, 25.0, 37.5 mg L-1), BL (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mg L-1) and SA (1, 2 and 3 mmol L-1) at 4-5 mm and 12-15 mm diameter stages of fruit growth.

Two higher doses of GA (25.0 and 37.5 mg L-1) delayed lime fruit maturity by ≈25 - 40 days while the highest dose of BL (1.5 mg L-1) and the lowest dose of SA (1.0 mmol L-1) advanced fruit maturity by ≈75-80 days significantly (p<0.05). Treatment with PGRs resulted in improved fruit weight, size, shape, firmness, and peel colour compared to the control. Research limitations: High cost of plant growth regulators specially BL hampered its commercial applicability.

Originality/Value: 

preharvest foliar application of 37.5 mg L-1 GA which delayed the fruit maturity by ≈40 days and 1.0 mmol L-1 SA which hastened the maturity by ≈80 days could be recommended to expand the existing acute harvest window along with improved fruit quality