Agronomy

Editorial

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3 pages, 169 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Fruit Growing: Cultivation Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture and Quality Produce

by Vasileios Ziogas

Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 207; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy14010207 - 17 Jan 2024

Viewed by 764

Abstract

During the last decade, climate change has had a direct impact on several plant-related aspects, such as physiological processes, disease–pest frequency, yield, and the qualitative composition of fruit [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

Research

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19 pages, 5026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytophthora Infection Reorients the Composition of Rhizospheric Microbial Assembly in Khasi Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

by Mridupol Handique, Popy Bora, Vasileios Ziogas, Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Prasanth Tej Kumar Jagannadham and Asish Kumar Das

Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 661; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy14040661 - 24 Mar 2024

Viewed by 856

Abstract

Phytophthora gummosis, foot rot, and root rot are considered major challenges to the citrus industry worldwide. Little is known about the Phytophthora–microbiome interaction, despite several studies demonstrating changes in the microbial composition of the rhizosphere following challenges by a pathogen. In the [...] Read more.

Phytophthora gummosis, foot rot, and root rot are considered major challenges to the citrus industry worldwide. Little is known about the Phytophthora–microbiome interaction, despite several studies demonstrating changes in the microbial composition of the rhizosphere following challenges by a pathogen. In the present study, we studied the microbial diversity and community structure in healthy rhizospheres and Phytophthora-infected rhizospheres of Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), a commercial cultivar extensively grown in the northeast of India. An exploratory study was conducted to identify Phytophthora-infected orchards of Khasi mandarin, and the isolated pathogen was confirmed as P. nicotianae based on its morpho-cultural and molecular characteristics coupled with pathogenicity tests. This study on culturable microbes established the dominance of Trichoderma spp. in the healthy rhizosphere, while the diseased rhizosphere showed the presence of Fusarium spp. A metagenomic study further revealed that the rhizospheres of Phytophthora-infected plants were dominated by species such as Bacteroidia spp., Patescibacteria spp., and Pythium spp., while the healthy Khasi mandarin rhizospheres had a more diverse community predominantly represented by Trichoderma, Penicillium, Linnemannia, Mortierella, Talaromyces, Saitozyma, Bacteroidetes, Pseudomonas, Cytophagia, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidia, Sphingobacteriia, Burkholderia, Bacillus, and Bradyrhizobium. Terrabacteria and FCB (Fibrobacterota, Chlorobiota, and Bacteroidota groups) were found to exist in higher relative abundance in disease-free soils than in Phytophthora-infected soils, while phylum Proteobacteria showed identical relative abundance in all soil types. The phyla represented by Pseudomonas, Flavobacteriia, Candidatus, Mycobacterium, Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Sphingomonas, and Cytophagia were the most common bacterial phyla in all soil samples, but healthy soil exhibited a greater abundance of Bacteroidetes, Pseudomonas, Cytophagia, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidia, Sphingobacteriia, Burkholderia, Bacillus, and Bradyrhizobium. Our study suggests that the presence of Phytophthora spp. in the rhizosphere alters microbial community structure, having potentially strong implications for plant health and productivity. These rhizosphere microbiome-derived citrus responses shed light on exploring effective management strategies for Phytophthora gummosis disease ailing Khasi mandarin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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18 pages, 6228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Triploid Seedless Nagpur Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) through Endosperm Rescue

by Vijayakumari Narukulla, Yogesh Lahane, Shashi Pandey, Krutika Fiske, Priya Uge, Kartiki Kawale and Vasileios Ziogas

Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2814; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13112814 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1070

Abstract

Nagpur mandarin is a popular table fruit across India and is exported to various countries. Only 1% of the total production is processed into various products. The development of seedless cultivars will boost agricultural incomes by enhancing the potential for export and processing. [...] Read more.

Nagpur mandarin is a popular table fruit across India and is exported to various countries. Only 1% of the total production is processed into various products. The development of seedless cultivars will boost agricultural incomes by enhancing the potential for export and processing. At present, only a couple of commercially seedless varieties are available, but these have yet to become popular. A research study was undertaken to quickly develop a high-quality seedless variety of Nagpur mandarin by combining the available technologies, viz., endosperm rescue, somatic embryogenesis, and mini-grafting, at CCRI, Nagpur. Complete plantlets of C. reticulata Blanco cv. Nagpur mandarin was successfully regenerated from hybrid endosperm tissue via somatic embryogenesis after attempting various permutations and combinations of media at various stages of regeneration, right from the primary callus to complete plantlet production. Maximum response (93.33%) and survival (91.67%) for primary callus induction were obtained in Murashige and Tucker (MT) + Malt Extract (ME) + Casein Hydrolysate (CH) (500 mg/L) +2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (2 mg/L) medium. Maximum stimulation for embryogenesis and morphogenesis occurred in 2MT + CH (500 mg/L) + adenine sulfate (ad.s) (2 mg/L) + Benzyl Adenine (BA) (0.25 mg/L). The highest response (95.84%) for shoot differentiation occurred in MT + adenine sulphate (2 mg/L) + Gibberellic Acid (GA3) (1 mg/L) + BA (1 mg/L) (94.85%). The surviving plantlets were tested for ploidy status through flow Cytometry, chromosomal counting/cytogenetic technique, leaf morphology, stomatal characteristics, and the appearance of prominent thorns. In initial evaluation trials, the fruits of the triploid field-planted trees were found to be commercially seedless. These results demonstrated the recovery of stable triploids from the hybrid endosperm via somatic embryogenesis, which is the first of its kind in the field of Citrus triploid breeding in India. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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14 pages, 16481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Density Espalier Trained Mangoes Make Better Use of Light

by Kare P. Mahmud, Paula T. Ibell, Carole L. Wright, Dave Monks and Ian Bally

Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2557; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13102557 - 4 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1234

Abstract

Mango productivity and fruit quality in Australia can be improved through transforming low-density plantings to high-density plantings and intensive training systems. Several planting density and training systems were established in Australia to investigate optimizing light interception and distribution, yield and fruit quality, and [...] Read more.

Mango productivity and fruit quality in Australia can be improved through transforming low-density plantings to high-density plantings and intensive training systems. Several planting density and training systems were established in Australia to investigate optimizing light interception and distribution, yield and fruit quality, and to reduce tree vigor and biennial bearing through the manipulation of canopy architecture. In this research, we studied light relations and yield in conventional low-density commercial orchards of different ages and investigated light relations and yield of ‘National Mango Breeding Program NMBP1243’, ‘Keitt’ and ‘Calypso’ grafted to ‘Kensington Pride (KP)’ rootstock in a replicated experiment. Trees were trained to five planting systems: high-density espalier and conventional, medium-density single leader and conventional, and low-density conventional. Our study in commercial orchards showed that maximum yield was ~16,000 kg/ha when light interception reached ~49% and declined at higher levels of light interception. In the high-density intensive training systems, we found that light interception increased with canopy volume, with high-density espalier training systems intercepting more available light compared to medium-density training systems and low-density conventional trees. Yield/ha increased to ~50,000 kg/ha in espalier training systems when light interception was ~40%. Light interception, canopy volume and yield/ha varied between varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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19 pages, 5661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Bud Load on Berry Quality, Yield, and Cluster Compactness in H4 Strain Grapevines

by Adel M. Al-Saif, Moustafa A. Fahmy, Galal A. Baghdady, Ahmed M. Abd El-Razik, Elbaz A. Kabsha, Mohammed H. Farouk and Ashraf E. Hamdy

Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13092431 - 20 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1063

Abstract

The Thompson Seedless (Sultanina) seedless variety of grapes is an important crop in Egypt, both for local consumption and export. In recent years, the H4 strain of this grape variety has gained popularity due to its high productivity. However, a drawback of this [...] Read more.

The Thompson Seedless (Sultanina) seedless variety of grapes is an important crop in Egypt, both for local consumption and export. In recent years, the H4 strain of this grape variety has gained popularity due to its high productivity. However, a drawback of this strain is that the grape clusters become densely packed, resulting in small berries and reduced overall quality. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of pruning severity and bud load on the growth, yield, and quality of H4 grapes. The study included several different treatments, namely T1 Control: (10 canes × 12 buds), T2: (8 canes × 6 buds), T3: (8 canes × 8 buds), T4: (8 canes × 10 buds), T5: (8 canes × 12 buds), T6: (6 canes × 13 buds), T7: (8 canes × 13 buds), T8: (10 canes × 13 buds), and T9: (12 canes × 13 buds). The behavior of the buds, vegetative growth, yield, and quality of the grapes were analyzed. The results showed that pruning of the H4 strain with either 8 canes and 10–12 buds per cane, or 6 canes with 13 buds, produced the best results in terms of managing excessive fruit production, achieving a balance between vegetative growth and yield, and improving the physical and chemical characteristics of the grape clusters and berries. Overall, maintaining 8 canes with 10–12 buds per cane or 6 canes with 13 buds is recommended for obtaining maximum crop yield and quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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16 pages, 3889 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rootstocks Alter the Seasonal Dynamics and Vertical Distribution of New Root Growth of Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz grapevines

by Kare P. Mahmud, Stewart K. Field, Suzy Y. Rogiers, Sharon Nielsen, Yann Guisard and Bruno P. Holzapfel

Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2355; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13092355 - 11 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 841

Abstract

Minirhizotron tubes were installed to monitor root growth dynamics of mature Shiraz grapevines in a rootstock trial established in the hot climate Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The vertical root distribution and seasonal root growth dynamics of Shiraz on own-roots and [...] Read more.

Minirhizotron tubes were installed to monitor root growth dynamics of mature Shiraz grapevines in a rootstock trial established in the hot climate Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The vertical root distribution and seasonal root growth dynamics of Shiraz on own-roots and Shiraz grafted on the rootstocks Ramsey, 140 Ruggeri and Schwarzmann was studied for five seasons across a seven-year period to a depth of 60 cm. New root production was significantly influenced by genotype, soil depth, season, growth stage and year. Soil moisture and soil temperature were monitored at 10, 30 and 60 cm in the last two seasons. Soil moisture at 30 cm and soil temperature at all three depths were significant predictors of root growth. New root numbers were significantly higher in 140 Ruggeri than the other rootstocks. To the depth studied, 140 Ruggeri roots were evenly distributed from the topsoil down, whereas the majority of roots of Schwarzmann and Shiraz were located at intermediate depths in the 10–40 cm ad 20–40 cm zones respectively, while Ramsey roots were found at 20 cm or below. Depending on genotype, root growth occurred across several phenological stages but tended to peak at flowering. In some years we observed root growth in early and late winter at rates exceeding that of autumn, and this was associated with warmer temperatures during this period. In general, the seasonal dynamics of root growth attributes were found to be influenced by abiotic factors, but mainly determined by genotype. The insights gained from this study can help us better understand the interplay between rootstock, environment, and management, and predict how different rootstock genotypes may perform under changing climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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14 pages, 659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece

by Vasileios Ziogas, Epameinondas Kokkinos, Antonia Karagianni, Evgenia Ntamposi, Apostolis Stilianos Voulgarakis and Syed Bilal Hussain

Agronomy 2023, 13(9), 2265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13092265 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1011

Abstract

Lemon is a prominent citrus fruit that supports regional economies worldwide. Several agronomic and fruit quality attributes are affected by the rootstock selection, thus its selection is essential for a successful grove. This study aims to compare the agronomic and quality attributes of [...] Read more.

Lemon is a prominent citrus fruit that supports regional economies worldwide. Several agronomic and fruit quality attributes are affected by the rootstock selection, thus its selection is essential for a successful grove. This study aims to compare the agronomic and quality attributes of four lemon cultivars (‘Mikrokarpo Messaras’, ‘Nouvel Athos’, ‘Femminello Commune,’ and ‘Zia gara Bianca’) grafted onto three rootstocks (‘Sour Orange’, ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’, and ‘Volkameriana’). The yield and rootstock/scion ratio were estimated along with fruit morphological characteristics (size, equatorial, and polar diameter). Internal fruit quality was also estimated (total soluble solids, total acidity, juiciness, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total antioxidant activity). ‘Volkameriana’ rootstock stood out among the studied rootstocks, as all grafted lemon varieties increased their productivity. Its combination with the Italian cultivar ‘Femminello Commune’ exhibited enhanced tree vigor and tree yield. For all studied cultivars, the use of ‘Volkameriana’ or ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks decreased the total soluble content and total acidity, increased the ascorbic acid content, and did not influence the TSS/TA ratio, total phenols or total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the vigorous ‘Volkameriana’ and ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks are a promising replacement for ‘sour orange’. This research provides valuable insights into the potential use of ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ as a rootstock for lemons, as existing literature is rather limited. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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15 pages, 4535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Induction of Polyploidy in Citrus Rootstocks through In Vitro Colchicine Treatment of Seed-Derived Explants

by Vijayakumari Narukulla, Yogesh Lahane, Krutika Fiske, Shashi Pandey and Vasileios Ziogas

Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1442; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13061442 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1781

Abstract

Polyploidy, frequently observed in citrus species, aids in achieving better adaptation to environmental stresses. In this context, the current work aims to develop stable tetraploids in citrus rootstock cultivars, viz., Rough lemon, Rangpur lime and Alemow, through in vitro colchicine treatments. Seed-derived explants [...] Read more.

Polyploidy, frequently observed in citrus species, aids in achieving better adaptation to environmental stresses. In this context, the current work aims to develop stable tetraploids in citrus rootstock cultivars, viz., Rough lemon, Rangpur lime and Alemow, through in vitro colchicine treatments. Seed-derived explants were obtained by culturing sterile seeds on MS basal media. Seedlings with a size of 5–8 mm (hypocotyl) were exposed to colchicine treatment. After treatment, the surviving seedlings were minigrafted onto six-month-old rootstock for better growth. Colchicine concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and control for durations of 16 or 24 h were tested with respect to the induction of polyploidisation. Treatment with 0.1% colchicine for 24 h resulted in high rates of mutation for polyploidisation and showed the highest tetraploid induction percentage (18.3%) in all the rootstock cultivars. High colchicine concentration and long exposure time decreased the survival of the observed seedlings. Flow cytometry and cytological methods were used for confirmation of autotetraploidy in the analysed samples. The surviving seedlings were identified on the basis of morphological and cytological variables, such as leaf area and stomata size, which significantly increased with increasing ploidy level. The proposed method was found to be an effective way to induce the polyploidy in Rangpur lime, Rough lemon and Alemow rootstocks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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14 pages, 1473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Harvest Time on the Fruit Quality of Kinnow and Feutrell’s Early Mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

by Meryam Manzoor, Syed Bilal Hussain, Muhammad Akbar Anjum, Mudassar Naseer, Riaz Ahmad and Vasileios Ziogas

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 802; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy13030802 - 9 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

The intrinsic and extrinsic traits of citrus fruits change throughout their developmental process, and, therefore, to ensure the highest quality, fruit must be harvested at an appropriate stage of maturity. In a 2-year study, mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivars (Kinnow and Feutrell’s [...] Read more.

The intrinsic and extrinsic traits of citrus fruits change throughout their developmental process, and, therefore, to ensure the highest quality, fruit must be harvested at an appropriate stage of maturity. In a 2-year study, mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) cultivars (Kinnow and Feutrell’s Early) grafted on rough lemon (C. jambheri Lush) rootstock were selected to analyze the effect of harvest time on their physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant potential in two consecutive growing seasons in the Multan region of South Pakistan, which has a subtropical climate. Fruits were harvested from commercial citrus groves at intervals of one month (from September to February). The results showed that different maturity stages/harvesting dates have a significant effect on the fruit quality and yield characteristics of mandarin cultivars. An increase in fruit weight, juice content, total soluble solids, ripening index, juice pH, and total sugar content was observed with the advancement of fruit maturity, while juice acidity, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, and vitamin C content had a decreasing trend towards fruit maturity. Overall, both cultivars showed similar profiles to the change in fruit quality traits during growth and development, but their amounts showed great variation. Based on the comprehensive consideration, Kinnow attained the maximum fruit quality and yield values from mid-January to February, whilst Feutrell’s Early attained the maximum values of these parameters from mid-December to mid-January, attributing to higher consumer acceptability. This study demonstrated that harvest time plays a key role in controlling the fruit quality and yield of mandarin cultivars. In practice, harvest time should be highly considered for the fresh and processed citrus market and industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruit Growing: Production Practices and Post-Harvest Management)

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