Ceratitis capitata (or medfly) is one of the major pests currently affecting fruit crops in northwestern Argentinian Citrus-producing areas. Medfly populations are sustained in large exotic fruits, such as Citrus paradisi, Citrus aurantium and Citrus sinensis, which are known to hinder the activity of almost all native parasitoid species. Therefore, a feasible approach to controlling medfly involves the use of exotic parasitoids such as Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. In this study, the prediction that parasitoid females would be proficient at finding medfly larvae infesting the Citrus species mentioned earlier was tested. Particularly, the variation in fruit species preference by parasitoid females, the efficacy of the parasitoid to kill medfly and the effect of host density on parasitoid p...

...the crop group ``fruit, citrus, group 10.'' In the Federal...EPA expanded and revised the citrus fruit crop group. Changes...Tachibana orange, Tahiti lime, tangelo, tangor, trifoliate orange...and naming the new crop group citrus fruit group 10-10. EPA...

...vegetables, bulb vegetables, citrus fruit, cereal grains, cereal...Post harvest application on citrus crop group 10-10, stone...subgroup, bulb vegetables, citrus, cucurbit vegetables, fruiting...Tachibana orange, Tahiti lime, tangelo, tangerine,...

...petitioned for tolerances on citrus fruit group 10 and pome fruit...expanded and revised the existing citrus fruit group 10 and pome fruit...Tachibana orange, Tahiti lime, tangelo, tangor, trifoliate orange...and naming the new crop group citrus fruit group 10-10....

...vegetables, cucurbit vegetables, citrus fruits, grapes, tree nuts...Glufosinate-ammonium. Proposed Uses: Citrus: lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, mandarin, tangerine, tangelo, calamondin, kumquat...Flazasulfuron. Proposed Uses: Grape, citrus, sugarcane, Christmas...

Several mite species commonly attack cultivated citrus around the world. Up to 104 phytophagous species have been reported causing damage to leaves, buds and fruits, but only a dozen can be considered major pests requiring control measures. In recent years, several species have expanded their geographical range primarily due to the great increase in trade and travel worldwide, representing a threat to agriculture in many countries. Three spider mite species (Acari: Tetranychidae) have recently invaded the citrus-growing areas in the Mediterranean region and Latin America. The Oriental red mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein), presumably from the Near East, was detected in southern Spain in 2001. The Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor), is widely distributed in North, Central and South America. It was first reported in Europe in 1999 on citrus in Portugal; afterwards the mite invaded the citrus orchards in southern Spain. In Latin America, the Hindustan citrus mite, Schizotetranychus hindustanicus (Hirst), previously known only from citrus and other host plants in India, was reported causing significant damage to citrus leaves and fruits in Zulia, northwest Venezuela, in the late 1990s. Later, this mite species spread to the southeast being detected on lemon trees in the state of Roraima in northern Brazil in 2008. Whereas damage levels, population dynamics and control measures are relatively well know in the case of Oriental red mite and Texas citrus mite, our knowledge of S. hindustanicus is noticeably scant. In the present paper, information on pest status, seasonal trends and natural enemies in invaded areas is provided for these species, together with morphological data useful for identification. Because invasive species may evolve during the invasion process, comparison of behavior, damage and management options between native and invaded areas for these species will be useful for understanding the invader's success and their ability to colonize new regions. PMID:23135361

... caused or aggravated by food such as: • Citrus fruits • Fatty and fried foods • Garlic and onions • Mint ... drinks • Fatty or spicy food • Onions • Mint • Citrus fruits • Tomatoes and their byproducts Sleeping with one or ...

Native to southeast Asia, the citron (Citrus medica L.) was the first citrus fruit to be introduced to the Mediterranean area, in the third century BC, and remained its only citrus representative until the tenth century. The citron was used for its aroma - stemming from its essential oils in leaves and fruit peels - and as symbols in the Jewish religion. Subsequently, the cultivation of citron was extended significantly, peaking in the nineteenth century, when its fruits were used in cosmetics and confectioneries. The objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity of the Mediterranean citron with regard to the multiplication and dissemination practices that were related to its uses. We studied the polymorphisms of 27 nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic markers of 24 citron varieties, preserved in the citrus germplasm of INRA-CIRAD, San Giuliano, France. The composition of leaf essential oils was determined to establish varieties and phylogenic relationships between accessions. Other major citrus species were included in the molecular analysis, which demonstrated the existence of 13 genetically linked citrons, differing from other citrus species, based on low heterozygosity and specific alleles; these citrons were considered true-type citrons, confirmed by their convergent chemical profiles. We also detected a polymorphism in the chloroplastic genome in these 13 citrons, which, when combined with allelic diversity of 2.4 alleles per locus, suggests that multiple citrons were introduced to the Mediterranean area in last 2 millennia. We determined the genetic origin and relationships of several varieties, such as Corsican, which could have arisen from the selfing of Poncire Commun. We noted a higher-than-expected polymorphism rate among Mediterranean citron varieties, likely due to crossfecundation. The chemical leaf oil composition of several economical varieties, such as Corsican, is distinct and can increase the quality of specific agriculture products for the cosmetics and candy industries. PMID:22264998

Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), is the most serious pest of the native tephritid species in Australia and a significant market access impediment for fruit commodities from any area where this species is endemic. An area-wide management (AWM) program was implemented in the Central Burnett district of Queensland with the aim of improving fruit fly control and enhancing market access opportunities for citrus and other fruits produced in the district. The primary control measures adopted in the AWM system included bait spraying of commercial and non-commercial hosts and the year-round installation of male annihilation technology (MAT) carriers in both orchards and town areas. The MAT carrier used consisted of a dental wick impregnated with 1ml cue-lure [4-(4-acetoxyphenol)-...

...was measured by titration of barium hydroxide traps at regular...citrus fruit at 0.05 ppm; grass Forage (except Bluegrass) at 0.6 ppm; grass hay (except Bluegrass) at...plants (apples, citrus and grass) is well understood....

Citrus is the most important fruit produced in Uruguay. Citrus fruit, especially oranges, is destined for internal consumption and is also exported to Mercosur and European countries. Time to reach European markets is about one month. During this period, fruit is stored at low temperatures (5°C for ...

Abstract:- Although the mysteries of its history and origin remain unsolved, worldwide cultivation and high-demand production for citrus fruit (genus Citrus in family Rutaceae) make it stand high among fruit crops. Growth of the citrus industry, including rapid development of the processing technology of frozen concentrated orange juice after World War II, has greatly expanded with international trade and steadily increased consumption of citrus fruits and their products during the past several decades. Characterized by the distinct aroma and delicious taste, citrus fruits have been recognized as an important food and integrated as part of our daily diet, playing key roles in supplying energy and nutrients and in health promotion. With low protein and very little fat content, citrus fruits...

Citrus is a complex source of carotenoids with the largest number of carotenoids found in any fruit. Carotenoid concentration and composition vary greatly among citrus varieties. Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) predominantly accumulates ?-cryptoxanthin in the juice sacs. Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) predominantly accumulates violaxanthin isomers in the juice sacs. Lisbon lemon (Citrus limon Burm.f.) accumulates low level of carotenoids in the juice sacs. To elucidate the carotenoid accumulation in citrus fruit maturation, the expression of genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism was investigated in the three citrus varieties exhibited different carotenoid profile. The results showed that the carotenoid accumulation during citrus fruit maturation is highly regulated by the coordination of the expression for the genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism in both flavedo and juice sacs. ‘Tamami’ is a hybrid between ‘Kiyomi’ tangor (Citrus unshiu Marc. × Citrus sinensis Osbeck) and ‘Wilking’ mandarin (Citrus nobilis Lour. × Citrus deliciosa Ten.). To elucidate the mechanism of the accumulation of ?-cryptoxanthin in ‘Tamami’, a variety accumulating higher ?-cryptoxanthin than Satsuma mandarin, the expression of genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and catabolism was investigated in the juice sacs of ‘Tamami’. The results showed that the mechanism of ?-cryptoxanthin accumulation in ‘Tamami’ was similar to that in Satsuma mandarin. Furthermore, in the recent studies, possible factors, which regulate carotenoid concentration and composition in citrus juice sacs were investigated in vitro.   

... crackers and chips • Spicy, or acidic foods • Citrus fruits or juices such as orange, lemon, and grapefruit • ... chocolate. Avoid high fiber foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole wheat breads and cereals. ...

... citrus fruits can have acidic effects on tooth enamel, too, so eat them as part of a ... in dental health, by protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel. Fruits and vegetables are good choices for a ...

The benefit of windbreaks and copper sprays for control of citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri was investigated in a commercial citrus orchard located in a citrus canker endemic area in southern Brazil. Control of canker was evaluated as incidence and severity of lesions on foliage and by the effect on premature leaf and fruit drop for three production seasons. Effect of the treatments on fruit production was evaluated as incidence of citrus canker on prematurely abscised fruits and harvested fruits. Copper application significantly reduced damage to foliage and fruit, while windbreaks made little contribution to disease control. Copper sprays increased fruit yield for 3 years. This could be attributed to lower incidence of fruit with lesions and fewer fruits abscised ...

Summary Ants can play an important role in the success and impact of many species invasions, including weed species. This study, in a fragment of secondary forest in Viosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, evaluates the role of native leafcutter ants in the spread of the exotic plant Murraya paniculata, an alternative host of bacteria causing citrus greening disease. The foraging activity of leafcutter ants on fruits of ten M.paniculata plants was observed daily during August 2010. The only leafcutter ant species observed was Acromyrmex niger (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), which showed a preference to remove M.paniculata fruits to its nests, cleaning them and discarding the seeds on refuse piles afterwards. Murraya paniculata was the main plant whose seeds were deposited in refuse pil...

Lesions of citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), on citrus fruit preclude export to certain markets. Characterizing the population dynamics of bacteria in canker lesions in commercial orchards can help gauge risk associated with diseased fruit entering fresh markets. The aim...

The polymethoxylated flavones are one of several distinctive classes of flavonoids in citrus fruit, particularly in sweet orange (C. sinensis), sour orange (C. aurantium), and tangerines (C. reticulata). Processing byproducts of these citrus fruit are rich sources of polymethoxylated flavones, and ...

We investigated the potency of Citrus aurantifolia (Lime fruit), against pathogens, in the different forms in which this fruit plant is used locally (juice of the fruit, burnt rind of the fruit commonly known as “epa-ijebu” in the Yoruba dialect) and the oil obtained from steam distillation of the f...

The citriculture in Brazil, as well as in other important regions in the world, is based on very few mandarin cultivars. This fact leads to a short harvest period and higher prices for off-season fruit. The 'Okitsu' Satsuma (Citrus unshiu Marc.) is among the earliest ripening mandarin cultivars, and it is considered to be tolerant to citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri Schaad et al.) and to citrus variegated chlorosis (Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al.). Despite having regular fruit quality under hot climate conditions, the early fruit maturation and absence of seeds of 'Okitsu' fruits are well suited for the local market in the summer (December through March), when the availability of citrus fruits for fresh consumption is limited. Yet, only a few studies have been conducted in Br...

Abstract BACKGROUND: Citrus fruits contain many secondary metabolites displaying valuable health properties. There is a lot of interest in enhancing citrus quality traits, especially carotenoid contents, by agronomic approaches. In this study the influence of carbohydrate availability on maturity and quality criteria was investigated in clementine fruits during ripening. Fruiting branches were girdled and defoliated after fruit set to obtain three levels of fruit load: high (five leaves per fruit), medium (15) and low (30). RESULTS: Considering the soluble solid content/titratable acidity (SSC/TA) ratio, it was found that fruits of the high and medium fruit load treatments reached maturity 1.5 months later than fruits of the control. At the time of maturity the SSC/TA ratio of fruits of al...

The Sunkist Citrus Plant in Ontario, California, processes about 6 million pounds of citrus fruit per day to make products which include frozen concentrated juice; chilled, pasteurized, natural strength juice; molasses from peel; dried meal from peel; pectin; citrus oil; and bioflavonoids. The energy intensive operations at the plant include concentration, drying, and refrigeration. The objective of the two-year two-phase project is to identify an economically viable alternative to the existing method of meeting energy requirements. Progress on the technical work of Phase I is reported. The following are summarized: requirements (energy price projection, atmospheric emission requirements, citrus juice quality constraints, economic evaluations); characterization (basic citrus processing operations, energy consumption and fruit processed vs time, identification and measurement of energy uses, energy balance for a typical citrus juice evaporator); and thermodynamic analysis (heat pump model, thermal evaporator, and co-generation model).

The host list for the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), includes nearly 100 fruit trees including citrus. In south Florida, it is primarily a pest of dooryard fruit trees including Surinam cherry, Eugenia uniflora; loquat, Eriobotrya japonica; and tropical almond, Terminalia catappa;...

Understanding leaf and fruit abscission is essential in order to develop strategies for controlling the process in fruit crops. Mechanisms involved in signalling leaf and fruit abscission upon induction by abscission agents were investigated in Citrus sinensis cv. ‘Valencia’. Previous studies have s...

Fertilization in citrus is a cultural practice with great importance as it affects significantly the quality of fruit. In this work we evaluated the effects of organic versus conventional farming systems on internal and external characteristics of citrus, with particular emphas...

Seasonal population of the fruit-piercing moths Eudocima spp. was monitored throughout the citrus growing seasons in a citrus orchard and in site adjacent to secondary forest from July 2007 to June 2009. The moth was detected practically throughout the year with activity lowest during the wet months...

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl neohesperidosides of hesperetin (brutieridin, 1) and naringenin (melitidin, 2) were isolated and detected from the fruits of bergamot (Citrus bergamia). The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. PMID:19572741

The goal of this study was to develop an image processing method to detect green citrus fruit in individual trees. This technology can be applied for crop yield estimation at a much earlier stage of growth, providing many benefits to citrus growers. A hyperspectral camera of 369-1042nm was employed to acquire hyperspectral images of green fruits of three different citrus varieties (Tangelo, Valencia, and Hamlin). First, a pixel discrimination function was generated based upon a linear discriminant analysis and applied to all pixels in a hyperspectral image for image segmentation of fruit and other objects. Then, spatial image processing steps (noise reduction filtering, labeling, and area thresholding) were applied to the segmented image, and green citrus fruits were detected. The results ...

Label-free LC-MS/MS-based shot-gun proteomics was used to quantify the differential protein synthesis and metabolite profiling in order to assess metabolic changes during the development of citrus fruits. Our results suggested the occurrence of a metabolic change during citrus fruit maturation, where the organic acid and amino acid accumulation seen during the early stages of development shifted into sugar synthesis during the later stage of citrus fruit development. The expression of invertases remained unchanged, while an invertase inhibitor was up-regulated towards maturation. The increased expression of sucrose-phosphate synthase and sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase and the rapid sugar accumulation suggest that sucrose is also being synthesized in citrus juice sac cells during the later stage of fruit development. PMID:21841177

... by drinking citrus juice at mealtime. A Zen macrobiotic diet usually presents many more problems than a vegetarian diet. With a macrobiotic program, important foods (animal products, vegetables, and fruit) ...

...27419-8300. Active ingredient: Paclobutrazol. Proposed Use: Seed treatment for broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Contact...Use: Watermelon; Crop Group 10-10-Citrus Fruit Group; Sunflower subgroup 20B. Contact: Emily Hartman, Registration...

A fruit rot, similar to brown rot, occurred on extremely early ripening Satsumas in Saga Prefecture in the early autumn of 1999. A single species of Phytophthora was isolated from the affected fruit. After nonwounding inoculation of healthy fruits of Citrus spp. including Satsuma with the isolated fungus, the fungus was reisolated from fruit with symptoms similar to those in nature. On the basis of its morphology and molecular analysis of the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer regions, the pathogen was identified as P. palmivora. This is the first report of P. palmivora as a causal pathogen of citrus brown rot in Japan.

Recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that high dietary consumption of fruit and vegetables results in lower risks of diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of fruit extract (Citrus unshiu Marc.) on glucose tolerance in GK rats, a model of type 2 diabetes. After 10 weeks administration of the fruit extract, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests revealed significant decrements of blood glucose levels after glucose loading. Our findings further support an advantageous association of fruit consumption with diabetes.   

Citrus seeds represent substantial wastes of citrus-processing. Oils extracted from orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (Citrus limon) and tangerine (Citrus reticulata) seeds were investigated. The seeds were removed from the fruits, washed, dried at room temperature, ground and the oils extracted using a Soxhlet extractor. The seed oils were analyzed in terms of the lipid content, fatty acid, tocopherol and carotenoid compositions, total phenolic content, oxidative stability and the radical-scavenging activity. The oil content of citrus seeds ranged from 34.92 to 41.66%. The oils showed high degrees of unsaturation and essential fatty acids. Oils exhibited also natural antioxidants specially tocopherols and phenolic compounds. Oxidative stability and antioxidant activity were influenced by unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherol contents in the analyzed oils.   

Citrus Black Spot (CBS), caused by Guignardia citricarpa, was detected for the first time in Ghana and in West Africa. The disease was first observed in the Eastern Region in 1999 with typical disease symptoms including hard spot, virulent spot and false melanose were observed on several citrus species. A survey revealed that the disease has reached epidemic levels in the citrus-producing areas of the Eastern and Ashanti regions and is spreading rapidly within these areas and to other regions of the country. Currently, CBS is the most important fruit disease of citrus in Ghana, causing about 22% crop loss. Although the disease does not cause postharvest decay and the internal quality of the fruit is not affected, significant amounts of blemished fruit are discarded at the markets. Disease ...

Label-free LC-MS/MS-based shot-gun proteomics was used to quantify the differential protein synthesis and metabolite profiling in order to assess metabolic changes during the development of citrus fruits. Our results suggested the occurrence of a metabolic change during citrus fruit maturation, where the organic acid and amino acid accumulation seen during the early stages of development shifted into sugar synthesis during the later stage of citrus fruit development. The expression of invertases remained unchanged, while an invertase inhibitor was up-regulated towards maturation. The increased expression of sucrose-phosphate synthase and sucrose-6-phosphate phosphatase and the rapid sugar accumulation suggest that sucrose is also being synthesized in citrus juice sac cells during the later...

BACKGROUND: The genus Cucumis contains two species of important vegetable crops, C. sativus, cucumber, and C. melo, melon. Melon has iconographical and textual records from lands of the Mediterranean Basin dating back to antiquity, but cucumber does not. The goal of this study was to obtain an improved understanding of the history of these crops in the Occident. Medieval images purportedly of Cucumis were examined, their specific identity was determined and they were compared for originality, accuracy and the lexicography of their captions. FINDINGS: The manuscripts having accurate, informative images are derived from Italy and France and were produced between 1300 and 1458. All have an illustration of cucumber but not all contain an image of melon. The cucumber fruits are green, unevenly cylindrical with an approx. 2:1 length-to-width ratio. Most of the images show the cucumbers marked by sparsely distributed, large dark dots, but images from northern France show them as having densely distributed, small black dots. The different size, colour and distribution reflect the different surface wartiness and spininess of modern American and French pickling cucumbers. The melon fruits are green, oval to serpentine, closely resembling the chate and snake vegetable melons, but not sweet melons. In nearly all manuscripts of Italian provenance, the cucumber image is labelled with the Latin caption citruli, or similar, plural diminuitive of citrus (citron, Citrus medica). However, in manuscripts of French provenance, the cucumber image is labelled cucumeres, which is derived from the classical Latin epithet cucumis for snake melon. The absence of melon in some manuscripts and the expropriation of the Latin cucumis/cucumer indicate replacement of vegetable melons by cucumbers during the medieval period in Europe. One image, from British Library ms. Sloane 4016, has a caption that allows tracing of the word 'gherkin' back to languages of the geographical nativity of C. sativus, the Indian subcontinent. PMID:21798859

The chinese citrus fly is one of the key pests in Bhutanese mandarin orchards that lays eggs in developing fruit that cause pre-mature fruit drop. In this study it is used as a "model subject" to explore the integration of technical, social and administrative domains of knowledge. The confinement of...

Commercial coatings used for citrus fruit include carnauba- and shellac-based waxes or resins, which provide an attractive shine to the fruit, but are not necessarily made of 100% food grade ingredients. A new formulation containing only food grade ingredients was tested, along with an experimental...

Literature review for electronic review journal “Stewart Postharvest Review” on the subject of alternatives to the fungicides for postharvest use on citrus fruit. This review contributes to the development of practical technologies to reduce postharvest fruit losses without the use of synthetic fung...

Field experiments conducted in citrus and olive orchards in Chios, Greece, aimed in developing lure and kill systems for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) respectively. Yellow, sticky-coated, plastic, hollow spheres (7.5 cm d...

Current information on the use of ionizing radiation for improving the storage of subtropical fruits like citrus, grapes, and avocados is reviewed. The feasibility of applying radiation either alone or in combination with other physical or chemical treatments for the control of postharvest fungal diseases is considered. Irradiation effects on the physiology of the fruits as related to respiration, ethylene evolution, changes in major chemical constituents, and quality are discussed. The recent trends in the possible use of irradiation as an alternative treatment to chemical fumigants for disinfestation of citrus and avocados and the prospects for the future application of irradiation for preservation of some of these fruits are outlined. 128 references.

This study was conducted to assess the genetic basis and develop a regression model for a QTL trait, fruit setting of a full sib population of 164 hybrids obtained between 'Clementine' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco 'Clementine) and 'Orlando' tangelo' (Citrus paradisi Macf. 'Duncan'xC. reticulata Blanco 'Dancy'). Fruit setting of a 164 full sib population field-planted in 2007 was evaluated by visual counting of fruits in 2008, 2009, and 2010. We estimated linkage groups and effects of QTLs by using MapQTL5. Based on interval mapping, seven linkage groups of the maternal and eight linkage groups of the paternal maps harboured QTLs of the fruits setting, covering a total 300 of 1744cM Citrus map. Only three segments were associated with all three-year data (one in 'Clementine' and two i...

Citrus fruit is widely consumed and provides ascorbate for human health. The ascorbate content in pulp is generally higher in orange (Citrus sinensis Osb.) than in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.). However, what contributes to such difference is still unknown. In the present study, ascorbate accumulation, expression profiles of genes involved in l-galactose pathway and activity changes of enzymes related with l-ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation and recycling were investigated during fruit development and ripening in fruit pulp of Satsuma mandarin and orange. As fruit ripens, total ascorbate (T-ASC) or AA content increased in mandarin whereas fluctuated on a relatively high level in orange. Concentrations of T-ASC or AA in pulp of orange were over 1.5-fold higher than that in pulp of Satsu...

Mature valencia orange trees were sprayed with hydrochloric acid solutions (pH 7.8, 2.0, 1.0, and 0.5) in the field at the full bloom stage and at one month after fruit set. Potted valencia orange and dwarf citrus trees, four species of plants native to Merritt Island, and four agronomic species were exposed to various pH levels of simulated acid rain under controlled conditions. The acid rain was generated from dilutions of hydrochloric acid solutions or by passing water through an exhaust generated by burning solid rocket fuel. The plants were injured severely at pH levels below 1.0, but showed only slight injury at pH levels of 2.0 and above. Threshold injury levels were between 2.0 and 3.0 pH. The sensitivity of the different plant species to acid solutions was similar. Foliar injury symptoms were representative of acid rain including necrosis of young tissue, isolated necrotic spots or patches, and leaf abscission. Mature valencia orange trees sprayed with concentrations of 1.0 pH and 0.5 pH in the field had reduced fruit yields for two harvests after the treatment. All experimental trees were back to full productivity by the third harvest after treatment.

Abstract in portuguese Citrus é a principal fruteira no mundo, tendo, portanto, profundos impactos econômicos, sociais e culturais em nossa sociedade. Nos últimos anos, o conhecimento sobre a biologia reprodutiva de plantas tem aumentado consideravelmente, principalmente em função de trabalhos desenvolvidos com plantas-modelo. Todavia, a informação produzida nessas espécies nem sempre pode ser aplicada a citrus, fundamentalmente porque citrus é uma cultura arbórea perene com uma biolo (more) gia reprodutiva muito peculiar e incomum. A regulação do crescimento e desenvolvimento do fruto em citrus é um fenômeno complexo e dependente de muitos fatores externos e internos que podem operar tanto seqüencialmente como simultaneamente. Os elementos e mecanismos pelos quais estímulos ambientes e endógenos afetam o crescimento do fruto vêm sendo interpretados, e esse conhecimento pode auxiliar a prover ferramentas que permitiriam otimizar a produção per se, além da obtenção de frutos com maior valor nutricional, o objetivo precípuo da Industria de Citrus. Neste artigo, revisam-se os avanços que vêm ocorrendo na fisiologia da frutificação de citrus durante os últimos anos; apresenta-se, também, o status atual de pesquisas mais relevantes nessa área. Abstract in english Citrus is the main fruit tree crop in the world and therefore has a tremendous economical, social and cultural impact in our society. In recent years, our knowledge on plant reproductive biology has increased considerably mostly because of the work developed in model plants. However, the information generated in these species cannot always be applied to citrus, predominantly because citrus is a perennial tree crop that exhibits a very peculiar and unusual reproductive bio (more) logy. Regulation of fruit growth and development in citrus is an intricate phenomenon depending upon many internal and external factors that may operate both sequentially and simultaneously. The elements and mechanisms whereby endogenous and environmental stimuli affect fruit growth are being interpreted and this knowledge may help to provide tools that allow optimizing production and fruit with enhanced nutritional value, the ultimate goal of the Citrus Industry. This article will review the progress that has taken place in the physiology of citrus fruiting during recent years and present the current status of major research topics in this area.

Penicillium spp. are the major postharvest pathogens of citrus fruit in Mediterranean climatic regions. The induction of natural resistance constitutes one of the most promising alternatives to avoid the environmental contamination and health problems caused by chemical fungicides. To understand the bases of the induction of resistance in citrus fruit against Penicillium digitatum, we have used a 12k citrus cDNA microarray to study transcriptional changes in the outer and inner parts of the peel (flavedo and albedo, respectively) of elicited fruits. The elicitor treatment led to an over-representation of biological processes associated with secondary metabolism, mainly phenylpropanoids and cellular amino acid biosynthesis and methionine metabolism, and the down-regulation of genes related to biotic and abiotic stresses. Among phenylpropanoids, we detected the over-expression of a large subset of genes important for the synthesis of flavonoids, coumarins and lignin, especially in the internal tissue. Furthermore, these genes and those of ethylene biosynthesis showed the highest induction. The involvement of both phenylpropanoid and ethylene pathways was confirmed by examining changes in gene expression and ethylene production in elicited citrus fruit. Therefore, global results indicate that secondary metabolism, mainly phenylpropanoids, and ethylene play important roles in the induction of resistance in citrus fruit. PMID:21726388

BioLure, a synthetic food attractant for Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)) that uses a combination of three chemical components (ammonium acetate, trimethylamine hydrochloride and putrescine), was deployed in MultiLure traps in predominantly native forests, non-native forests,...

Abstract Strains of Pseudomonas syringae are effective in controlling postharvest diseases of citrus fruits, and antagonistic activity has been correlated with in vitro production of lipodepsipeptides. Additionally, biocontrol agents can induce a range of defence mechanisms of resistance in citrus tissue that result in a broad spectrum of metabolic modifications, such as systemic acquired resistance, induced systemic resistance and production of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of syringomycin (syrB1) and syringopeptin (sypA) synthetase genes from P.syringae pv. syringae biocontrol strains in vitro on different culture media and in vivo on citrus fruits (Citrus sinensis cv. Tarocco) during the interaction with Penicillium digitatum by quantitati...

Abstract With respect to disease risk for the quarantine fungus Guignardia citricarpa on citrus fruit an accurate diagnosis for routine analysis is required. Also, when inspections have to be performed on imported citrus fruits, a fast detection method is urgently needed. A fast automated DNA extraction method based on magnetic beads combined with a real-time PCR assay was optimized to improve and advance the routine diagnosis of citrus black spot disease. Real-time PCR was used for detection of the pathogen G. citricarpa in planta. A specific primer/TaqMan probe combination that discriminates between G. citricarpa and the harmless citrus endophyte Guignardia mangiferae, was designed based on the internal transcribed spacer region of the multi-copy rDNA gene. Co-amplification of target DNA...

The Asian citrus psyllid (AsCP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a highly competent vector of the phloem-inhabiting bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus associated with the citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB). Commonly referred to as citrus greening disease in the USA, HLB causes reduced fruit yields, quality, and ultimately tree death and is considered the most serious citrus disease. HLB has become a major limiting factor to the production of citrus worldwide. Studies of HLB have been impeded by the fact that C. Liberibacter has not yet been cultured on artificial nutrient media. After being acquired by a psyllid, C. Liberibacter asiaticus is reported to replicate within the psyllid and is retained by the psyllid throughout its life span. We therefore hypothesi...

The volatile compounds in three selected citrus fruits from Asia, Indonesian Pontianak orange (Citrus nobilis Lour. var. microcarpa Hassk.), Indian Mosambi (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) and Philippine Dalandan (Citrus reticulata Blanco), were characterized. The volatile compounds from the headspace of the citrus juices were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) prior to separation with gas chromatograph (GC) and identification by mass spectrometry (MS). The volatile compounds of the juices were extracted by diethyl ether for quantitative analysis, using GC-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). A total of 51 compounds were detected in Pontianak orange, 50 in Mosambi and 41 in Dalandan juice. They comprise terpenes, carbonyls, alcohols, esters and hydrocarbons, with limonene as the main co...

For the purpose of evaluating Kijitsu, the content of synephrine in dried unripe citrus fruits was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography after cleaning up the MeOH extract with an ion exchange cellulose column. Among them, Citrus unshiu had the highest amount of synephrine. No difference was found between C. hassaku and C. aurantium. The synephrine content decreased corresponding with an increase in diameter of Kijitsu. PMID:2355312

Melanogenesis is a complex process that modulates skin pigmentation to defend photodamage. Citrus is the most widely produced fruit crop in the world. People ingest various citrus fruits in their common diets. In the present study, the acid-hydrolyzed and un-hydrolyzed extracts of orange-type citrus fruits were subjected to analyze flavonoid compositions and assess their effects on melanin synthesis in murine B16-F10 melanoma cells. The acid-hydrolyzed extracts of Citrus sinensis, C. reticulata, and C. aurantium enhanced melanin production. Based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the most abundant flavonoids that were found in citrus hydrolyzed extracts were hesperetin and naringenin. Hesperetin exhibited the most potent activity on melanin synthesis and induced tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression. Moreover, hesperetin stimulated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and glycogen synthase kinase-3? (GSK3?), and subsequently induced the accumulation of ?-catenin. This study suggests that the citrus constituent hesperetin might have protective melanogenic potential as a cosmeceutical agent against skin photodamage. PMID:22266363

Seedlessness is a highly desirable trait in fresh fruit. Citrus varieties, such as Clementine mandarin and other related species, show parthenocarpic fruit development without seeds due to self-incompatibility. In spite of that, these fruits frequently contain seeds as a result of cross-pollination by insects with compatible pollen from other citrus cultivars grown nearby. To solve this problem using a biotechnological approach we aim at the destruction of ovules and/or seeds by directing the expression of a toxic gene using the promoter of an ovule and/or seed specific gene. With the purpose of isolating this kind of genes we constructed two cDNA libraries from ovules and seeds at different developmental stages of the Clementine mandarin (Citrus clementina cv. Clemenules). A total of 1,01...

Biocontrol efficacy of an antagonistic yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus was evaluated individually or in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) against green mold of citrus fruit caused by Penicillium digitatum. Their effects on postharvest quality of citrus fruit were also investigated. The results indicated that the antagonistic activity of K. marxianus at 1x10^8CFU/mL on green mold of citrus fruit was enhanced by 2% SBC treatment. In artificial inoculation trials, disease control after 3 and 6days, respectively, with the mixture of K. marxianus and 2% SBC (18.33%, 58.33%) was significantly improved over that obtained with K. marxianus (41.67%, 70.00%) or SBC (43.33%, 81.67%) alone. The combination of K. marxianus with SBC was as effective as the imazalil treatment in natural infection t...

Rind quality is a critical factor affecting the external appearance and marketability of citrus fruit, especially for fresh consumption. Among many factors affecting citrus rind quality, tree age is the most important, but remained unexplored. This study aimed to explore the effects of tree age on rind and fruit quality of 'Kinnow' mandarin, the most important mandarin cultivar in Pakistan. For this purpose 'Kinnow' mandarin trees of different age (3, 6, 18 and 35 years), growing in a commercial orchard in the main citrus growing district, Sargodha, (latitude 32^o03'N and longitude 72^o40'E), were used. Fruit were harvested at commercial maturity from internal and external canopy positions and assessed for various physico-chemical characteristics as well as rind macro- and micro-nutrients....

Peel damage originated by wind is the main abiotic cause of citrus fruit discards for export in Uruguay. Natural windbreaks such as Eucalyptus and Casuarinas have not been effective in reducing it. This research was carried out during three years in a citrus orchard situated in the coastal plain of Uruguay (35^o SL). The purpose of this work was to study wind climate inside the orchard, fruit seasonal sensitivity, basal leaf effect on the onset and evolution of peel damage, and the efficiency of artificial windbreaks to reduce fruit discard of 'Ellendale' tangor. Average wind velocity in the orchard did not exceed 5ms^-^1. First peel scars were evident two weeks after petal fall and damaged fruit percentage importantly increased during the first stage of fruit growth. Low energy vortexes c...

The flavedo extracts of twenty-one varieties of citrus fruits (oranges, satsumah, clementine, mandarins, tangor, bergamot, lemon, tangelos, kumquat, calamondin and pamplemousses) grown in Mauritius were examined for their total phenolic, flavonoid and vitamin C contents and antioxidant activities. Total phenolics correlated strongly with the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) scavenging activity assays (r>0.85). Based on their antioxidant activities in these three assays nine citrus fruits namely, one orange, clementine, tangor and pamplemousse variety, two tangelo varieties and three mandarin varieties, were further characterized for their flavanone, flavonol and flavone levels by HPLC and their antioxida...

The ESR spectra of the stalks and skins of a selection of unirradiated and [gamma]-irradiated citrus fruits have been obtained. The spectra from the stalks and skins of unirradiated fruits exhibit only a single line, the intensity of which varies markedly from fruit to fruit. The spectra from irradiated stalks exhibit extra features which can be used to detect irradiation, particularly at higher doses. The spectra obtained from the skins of the irradiated fruits also exhibit radiation-induced features which can easily be used to detect irradiation even at the lowest dose examined (2 kGy). The spectra from the irradiated skins show a high degree of reproducibility from fruit to fruit. These observations suggest that ESR spectroscopy could form the basis of a viable test to determine the radiation history of these fruits. (Author).

Abstract in spanish Estudios epidemiológicos han demostrado que el consumo de frutas y vegetales se asocia con efectos beneficiosos sobre la salud humana, incluyendo reducción del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV). Las frutas y sus jugos contienen compuestos que inhiben la oxidación de Lipoproteínas de Baja Densidad (LDL), un proceso clave en el desarrollo de la lesión arterial. Se ha desarrollado un estudio para determinar el contenido de compuestos fenólicos, la actividad (more) captadora de radicales libres y el efecto sobre la oxidación de LDL, de jugos de cítricos cultivados en el suroeste de Antioquia (Colombia). Cinco variedades de cítricos fueron analizadas: Citrus sinensis valencia, Citrus reticulata clementina, Citrus reticulata oneco, Tangelo orlando, Tangelo mineola. Se demostró que en estos jugos no existe correlación entre el contenido de compuestos fenólicos y la actividad captadora de radicales libres (ACRL), sin embargo, se encontró una alta capacidad para inhibir la oxidación de LDL Abstract in english Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of fruits and vegetables are associated with beneficial effects on human health including the reduction of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Fruits and their juices contain phytochemicals that inhibit in vitro the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, a key process involved in the generation of arterial lessions. We developed an study to examine the phenolics compound content of citrus juice cultivated in the southw (more) est of Antioquia, Colombia, its free radical scavenger activity and in vitro effect on LDL oxidation. Five citrus varieties were analyzed: Citrus sinensis valencia, Citrus reticulata clementina, Citrus reticulata oneco, Tangelo Orlando and Tangelo mineola. The results showed that no correlation exists between phenolic compounds content and free radical scavenger activity in the citrus juices analyzed. However a high inhibitory capacity of LDL oxidation was found

Penicillium spp. are among the major postharvest pathogens of citrus fruit. Induction of natural resistance in fruits constitutes one of the alternatives to chemical fungicides. Here, we investigated the involvement of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the induction of resistance in Navelate oranges by examining changes in the metabolic profile of upon eliciting citrus fruits. By using both HPLC-PDA-FD and HPLC-PDA-QTOF-MS allowed the identification of several compounds that seem to be relevant for induced resistance. In elicited fruits, a greater diversity of phenolic compounds was observed in the flavedo (outer coloured part of the peel) when compared to the albedo (inner white part). Moreover, only small changes were detected in the most abundant citrus flavonoids. The coumarin scoparone was among the compounds with the highest induction upon elicitation. Two other highly induced compounds were identified as citrusnin A and drupanin aldehyde. All three compounds are known to exert antimicrobial activity. Our results suggest that phenylpropanoids and their derivatives play an important role in the induction of resistance in citrus fruit. PMID:23017410

The most common hosts for the West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) are fruit in the family Anacardiaceae (mango [Mangifera L.] and mombin [Spondias L.] species). However, similar to many of the tropical fruit flies of major economic importance, this species attacks several other families of crop fruit, including Annonaceae (cherimoya, Annona cherimola Mill.), Myrtaceae (guava, Psidium L.), Oxalidaceae (carambola, Averrhoa carambola L.), Passifloraceae (granadilla, Passiflora quadrangularis Mill.), and Sapotaceae [mamey sapote, Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H. E. Moore & Steam]. In the family Rutaceae the economically important genus Citrus has been reported and until recently considered a host for this fruit fly. In this study, we reviewed the taxonomy of A. obliqua, tested specific chemicals that may inhibit oviposition, compared egg-to-adult survival of A. obliqua on preferred hosts and on grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi Macfad.), and measured fruit tissue-specific developmental rates of A. obliqua and the known citrus breeding Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), from egg to pupae. Our literature review shows much confusion concerning the taxonomy of this and related Anastrepha species, including synonymies and confusion with other species. The deterrent effect of the highest concentration of flavonoids for oviposition, although significant, was not absolute. Experiments carried out under laboratory conditions showed 15-40 times greater survival of A. ludens (whose preferred hosts include Rutaceae) on grapefruit compared with A. obliqua for both tree attached and harvested fruit. Experiments of survival of developing stages over time showed that the two species oviposit into different tissues in the fruit, and mortality is much higher for the West Indian fruit fly in the flavedo and albedo of the fruit compared with the Mexican fruit fly. PMID:21404839

Citrus yellow mosaic virus (CYMV) was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in leaf samples of sweet orange, Rangpurlime, Pumello pink and acid lime and also in twig bark, fruit rind, fruit juice except fruit rag of sweet orange cv. Sathgudi, where all the positive samples showed bright amplification of the 726 bp band except in fruit rind. The CYMV could be detected by the biotin labelled probe of CYMV up to 1:100 dilutions by TE and TNE extraction methods in sweet orange cv. Sathgudi as well as Rangpurlime.

The Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a polyphagous pestiferous insect with a geographical range encompassing highly variable environmental conditions. Considering that cryptic species have been recently found among South American representatives of the same taxonomic group as A. ludens, we tested whether or not some populations of A. ludens have evolved assortative mating as an isolating mechanism that maintains intrapopulation genetic differences and behavioral adaptations to local conditions. Males and females stemming from widely separated locations with similar environmental conditions and males and females stemming from populations within individual-flight range, but collected in different hosts (a native and an exotic one), mated randomly amongst themselves when placed in a field cage. Despite the fact that sibling males and females from two distinct populations also mated randomly amongst themselves, siblings engaged in significantly longer copulations than non-siblings, indicating that perhaps adults discriminated mates with similar genetic compositions. Our results have important practical implications as A. ludens is the most devastating pest of citrus in Mexico and Central America, and large-scale releases of sterile flies are used to control it. PMID:19063753

We investigated the effects of chronic administration of fruit extract (Citrus unshiu MARC) on the endothelial dysfunction seen in aortae from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. A ten-week administration of this fruit extract preserved acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, but not sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced endothelium-independent relaxation, in the diabetic aorta. In age-matched control rats, chronic administration of the fruit extract had no influence on the ACh- or SNP-induced aortic relaxation. The increased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels seen in STZ-induced diabetic rats were not normalized by fruit-extract treatment. These results suggest that Citrus unshiu MARC extract preserves endothelial function in the aorta in STZ-induced diabetic rats without lowering plasma cholesterol. This beneficial effect may be due to this extract protecting of nitric oxide against inactivation by oxygen free radicals.   

Abstract in portuguese Foi instalado um experimento de seleção de porta-enxertos para a lima-ácida-'Tahiti' (Citrus latifolia Tanaka), em dezembro de 1988, na Estação Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro-SP, com o objetivo de conhecer seu comportamento e oferecer novas opções de plantio para as condições ecológicas semelhantes às daquela região. A variedade copa, originária do BAG-Citros do IAC, localizado no Centro de Citricultura Sylvio Moreira, Cordeirópolis-SP, é um clon (more) e nucelar de 'Tahiti', denominado IAC-5. Os porta-enxertos, que tiveram a mesma origem, foram: tangerinas-'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Cleópatra'(Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan.); 'Batangas' e 'Oneco' (Citrus reticulata Blanco); trifoliata-EEL (Poncirus trifoliata Raf.); limão-'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osbeck); limão-'Volkameriano Catania 2' (Citrus volkameriana Tan. & Pasq.); tangelo-'Orlando' (C. reticulata Blanco x Citrus paradisi Macf.); citrumelo-'Swingle' (P. trifoliata Raf. X C.paradisi Macf.); citrange-'Morton' (P. trifoliata Raf. X C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck) e laranja-'Caipira DAC' (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck). Com relação à produção, avaliada no período de 1991 a 1998, os porta-enxertos de melhor comportamento foram o tangelo-'Orlando', citrange-'Morton' e citrumelo-'Swingle'. As mais baixas produções ocorreram nos porta-enxertos de tangerina e de laranja-'Caipira DAC'. O limão-'Cravo' apresentou produção intermediária e proporcionou curta vida útil às plantas. Abstract in english In 1988 an experiment was established in Bebedouro, SP (Brazil), in order to evaluate eleven rootstocks for 'Tahiti' lime (Citrus latifolia Tanaka). Scion variety was the IAC 5 cultivar, from IAC germplasm bank at Cordeirópolis, SP; all rootstocks were also obtained at that institution. A randomized blocks design was used as statistical model, with eleven blocks and one plant per treatment. The eleven treatments were: 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka), 'Cleópatra'( (more) Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan.), 'Batangas' and 'Oneco' (Citrus reticulata Blanco) mandarins; EEL trifoliate (Poncirus trifoliata Raf.); Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck); 'Catania 2 Volkamer' lemon (Citrus volkameriana Tan. & Pasq.); 'Orlando' tangelo (C. reticulata Blanco x C. paradisi Macf.); 'Swingle' citrumelo (P. trifoliata Raf. X Citrus paradisi Macf.); 'Morton' citrange (P. trifoliata Raf. X C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck) and 'Caipira DAC' sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck). Yield was evaluated annually from 1991 to 1998; drought resistance was evaluated in 1991, 1994 and 1995; fruit features were assessed in 1997 and canopy height and diameter were measured in 2000. Highest mean yields were associated to 'Orlando' tangelo, 'Morton' citrange and 'Swingle' citrumelo rootstocks. The lowest yields were related to mandarins and 'Caipira DAC' sweet orange. Plants with 'Rangpur' lime as rootstock bore intermediate yields and their productive life was short.

  The isotope ratio of monoterpene hydrocarbons in citrus essential oils of different origins was measured by ordinary high-resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS). The isotope ratio (Ir) was determined by the ratio of the isotope peak intensity (m/z 137) to the molecular mass peak intensity (m/z 136) of the monoterpene hydrocarbons. The accuracy of Ir was examined by measuring monoterpene hydrocarbon standards and 13C-labeled compounds. The isotope fingerprints based on the values of monoterpene hydrocarbons from lemon, lime and yuzu essential oils were determined. These citrus essential oils were also discriminated by a principal component analysis of their Ir data. The characteristic vectors showed that ?-terpinene, ?-pinene and ?-phellandrene were important components for distinguishing between the citrus species. It is suggested that this technique will be applicable to evaluate the quality, genuineness and origin of citrus fruits and their products.   

The productivity and the geographical distribution of most commercially important Citrus varieties are markedly affected by environmental low temperatures. As gene engineering has been shown to be a favourable alternative to produce germplasm with improved cold tolerance, a broad group of cold regulated genes have been previously identified from several Citrus spp. By contrast, little information regarding the cold stress response of pigmented sweet orange varieties is available although they might provide a pivotal contribution to define the whole events occurring in cold exposed Citrus fruits. In our work, the transcriptome analysis based on subtractive hybridisation was performed in order to emphasise the overall induction in gene expression after the exposure of blood oranges [(Citrus ...

The final contents of primary and secondary metabolites of the ripe fruit depend on metabolic processes that are tightly regulated during fruit ontogeny. Carbohydrate supply during fruit development is known to influence these processes but, with respect to secondary metabolites, we do not really know whether this influence is direct or indirect. Here, we hypothesized that the sensitivity of clementine fruit metabolism to carbohydrate supply was conditional on fruit developmental stage. We applied treatments increasing fruit load reversibly or irreversibly at three key stages of clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.) fruit development: early after cell division, at the onset of fruit coloration (color break) and near maturity. The highest fruit load obtained by early defoliation (irreversible) had the highest impact on fruit growth, maturity and metabolism, followed by the highest fruit load obtained by early shading (reversible). Final fruit size decreased by 21 and 18% in these early irreversible and reversible treatments, respectively. Soluble sugars decreased by 18% in the early irreversible treatment, whereas organic acids increased by 46 and 29% in these early irreversible and reversible treatments, respectively. Interestingly, total carotenoids increased by 50 and 18%, respectively. Changes in leaf starch content and photosynthesis supported that these early treatments triggered a carbon starvation in the young fruits, with irreversible effects. Furthermore, our observations on the early treatments challenge the common view that carbohydrate supply influences positively carotenoid accumulation in fruits. We propose that early carbon starvation irreversibly promotes carotenoid accumulation. PMID:22882610

In a previous European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) analysis, we found an inverse association between total intake of vegetables, onion and garlic, and risk of intestinal gastric cancer (GC) and between citrus fruit and risk of cardia GC. The aim of this study is to reanalyze the effect of fruit and vegetables (F&V), based on a longer follow-up and twice the number of GC cases. Subjects are 477,312 men and women mostly aged 35 to 70 years participating in the EPIC cohort, including 683 gastric adenocarcinomas with 11 years of follow-up. Information on diet and lifestyle was collected at baseline. A calibration study in a subsample was used to correct for dietary measurement errors. When comparing the highest vs. lowest quintile of intake, we found an inverse association between total intake of V&F and GC risk [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57-1.04; p for trend 0.02], between fresh fruit and risk of the diffuse type (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.36-0.97; p for trend 0.03) and an inverse association between citrus fruit and risk of cardia cancer (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.38-1.00, p for trend 0.01). Although calibration revealed somewhat stronger inverse associations, none of the risks reached statistical significance. There was no association between total or specific vegetables intake and GC risk. The inverse association between fresh fruit and citrus fruits and risk of GC seems to be restricted to smokers and the Northern European countries. Fresh fruit and citrus fruit consumption may protect against diffuse and cardia GC, respectively. PMID:22473701

Key message The altered ultrastructure and composition of cuticular wax from ?glossy Newhall? (MT) fruits lead to its glossy phenotype. A novel mutant derived from the wild-type (WT) ?Newhall? navel orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Newhall), named ?glossy Newhall? (MT), which produced much more glossy fruits that were easily distinguishable from the WT fruits was characterized in this report. The total wax loads of both WT and MT fruits varied considerably during the fruit development. The most abundant wax fraction of WT mature fruits was triterpenoids, followed by aldehydes, alkanes, fatty acids, primary alcohol and cholesterol. The total wax load in MT mature fruits was reduced by 44.2?% compared with WT. Except for the minor wax components of primary alcohol and cholesterol, the...

The emission of ethylene from climacteric fruit banana (Musa x paradisiaca L.) and non climacteric fruits lemon (Citrus limon Burm. F.) at different stages of ripening (from a few days after setting to full maturity stage) by the Laser Photoacoustic Spectroscopy System, developed in ENEA Frascati, was measured. A high ethylene production rate from mature banana fruit was found, as expected for climacteric fruit. Significant differences between ethylene emitted by the lemon after setting stage and by the young fruit were observed. Also ethylene emission from lemon fruits at different ripening stages (from light green to turning and full ripe) was detected. Depending on the ripening stage, differences in ethylene emission rates were found, although the emissions were low as expected for non-climacteric fruit.

The citrus fresh market demands the production of seedless citrus fruits, as seedy fruits are not accepted by consumers. The recovery of triploid plants has proven to be the most promising approach to achieve this goal, since triploids have very low fertility, are generally seedless and do not induce seeds in other cultivars by cross pollination. Triploid plants can be recovered by 2x × 4x sexual hybridization. In this work, we present an effective methodology to recover triploid plants from 2x × 4x hybridizations based on in vitro embryo rescue, ploidy level analysis by flow cytometry and genetic origin of triploid plants. The pollen viability of diploid and tetraploid citrus genotypes was analyzed by comparing the pollen germination rate in vitro. The pollen viability of tetraploid (doub...

Citrus fruit compounds have many health-enhancing effects. In this study, using a luciferase ligand assay system, we showed that citrus auraptene activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-{alpha} and PPAR{gamma}. Auraptene induced up-regulation of adiponectin expression and increased the ratio of the amount of high-molecular-weight multimers of adiponectin to the total adiponectin. In contrast, auraptene suppressed monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Experiments using PPAR{gamma} antagonist demonstrated that these effects on regulation of adiponectin and MCP-1 expression were caused by PPAR{gamma} activations. The results indicate that auraptene activates PPAR{gamma} in adipocytes to control adipocytekines such as adiponectin and MCP-1 and suggest that the consumption of citrus fruits, which contain auraptene can lead to a partial prevention of lipid and glucose metabolism abnormalities.

Abstract in english The studies on polyembryony in Citrus reported in this paper show that there is a great variability in the degree of polyembryony among the seeds, fruits and trees of a same form or variety of Citrus. Seeds from different crops of the same plant also show considerable variation in the degree of polyembryony. In order to obtain reliable data on the degree of polyembryony in Citrus the samples for study should include a great number of seeds taken from several fruits of dif (more) ferent trees. Since there is a yearly variation on the degree of polyembryony it was found necessary to study samples from several crops. The average number of embryos was determined by direct examination of individual seeds. Determinations based on the number of plants developed from every seed always give lower results as many embryos do not grow into seedlings.

Due to an increased expectation of food products that respect high quality and safety standards, there is a need for the growth of accurate, fast, objective and non-destructive technologies for quality determination of food and agricultural products. For this purpose, a diagnostic system based on laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) was developed at ENEA Frascati Molecular Spectroscopy Laboratory (Italy). In the design of the photoacoustic detector, particular emphasis was placed in attaining a high sensitivity in detecting ethylene (ET) down to sub-parts per billion level (minimum detectable concentration 0.2 ppb). This was required due to the necessity to monitor and follow up ET production at a single fruit scale. ET is normally synthesised in very low amounts by healthy citrus fruits; however stress conditions such as pathogen attack may induce a substantial increase in the synthesised ET. In the present paper, the comparison between the ET emitted by healthy oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) cv Navel and by Phytophthora citrophthora infested Navel orange fruits are reported. The obtained results show a well evident increase in ET emission from the infested fruit with respect to the healthy one, even 24 h after the inoculation with the pathogen; at that time the tissue necrosis was not yet visible, and the fruit was also not yet damaged. The possibility to perform a real time non-destructive detection of ET traces makes the LPAS a powerful tool for monitoring the healthy state of the citrus fruits.

Significant losses can occur after the harvest during the storage and marketing of citrus fruit in California due to green and blue molds, caused by P. digitatum and P. italicum, respectively. Currently, both diseases are controlled by application of the fungicides imazalil, sodium ortho-phenyl phen...

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient in a healthy diet. Many citrus fruits contain large amounts of vitamin C. You can test for vitamin C using a chemical called indophenol. Indophenol is an indicator of how much vitamin C is in a sample.

Seven putative protease inhibitor (PPI) cDNAs, representing four protein families, were isolated from a grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Maef. Cv. Marsh) immature fruit flavedo cDNA library. Clones represented: legume Kuntiz inhibitors (LkiL-1, LkiL-2, LkiL-3), potato trypsin inhibitor I (PtiIL-1), serp...

Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant with narrow therapeutic window, has been used widely in transplant patients. Grapefruit juice and pomelo have been reported to increase the blood levels of tacrolimus. Zhi Ke and Zhi Shi, the ripe peels and unripe fruits of Citrus aurantium which is chemotaxonomicall...

The levels of the flavanones naringin, hesperidin, narirutin, eriocitrin, neohesperidin and neoeriocitrin, and the flavone diosmin were evaluated in fruits of several exotic citrus (citron, pummelo, sour orange, papeda, mandarin and lemon). The highest total flavonoid content was detected in sour or...

Green lemons (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.) were imaged for chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) 30 min after immersion of the fruit into 55 °C water for 5 min to determine if CF could be used to identify areas of hot water-induced rind injury prior to the appearance of visible symptoms. Fluorescence was varia...

15 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables.-- PMID: 19325166 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Apr 2009. | Full-text version available Open Access at the publisher's site via "Versión de editor/Publisher version" link. | Carotenoids are the main pigments responsible of the colouration of Citrus fruits. The ?...

Mycosphaerella is one of the largest genera of plant pathogenic fungi with more than 1,000 named species, many of which are important pathogens causing leaf spotting diseases in a wide variety of crops including cereals, citrus, banana, eucalypts, soft fruits, and horticultural crops. A few species ...

Attractiveness of 26 plant essential oils to the Mexican fruit fly was investigated in citrus orchard experiments. Anise, rose/grape seed, and tea tree oils were more attractive than unbaited traps, but none approached the attractiveness of Advanced Pheromone Technologies’ AFF lure, a synthetic foo...

Citrus belongs to an important economical group of crops. Fruits have a distinguished and pleasant taste partly due to the presence of terpenes. Furthermore, these terpenes potentially play a role in the resistance against pathogens such as insects and fungi. The aim of this thesis was therefore to ...

This is a literature review of fruit, vegetable and grain processing wastes. The factors affecting water usage and methods of conservation were examined. Various processes were investigated which included the pulp recovery from caustic peeled tomato skin, the dewatering of citrus, washing leafy vegetables with recycled process water and the potato processing industry.

Over the past two decades, a number of researchers around the world tried to develop a citrus harvesting robot. However, no commercial harvesting robot is yet available in the market. Both technical and economic factors have hindered the commercialization of robotic harvesting. Fruit detection in the orchard under natural daylight condition is still a challenging a task. This paper presents a study of using multispectral imaging to enhance citrus fruit detection in the field under natural daylight condition. The multispectral imaging is composed of a 12-bit monochrome camera fitted with a filter wheel which carries six optical band pass filters covering the spectrum identified to have a high discriminability between orange fruits and leaves. Multispectral images of mature orange fruit targets were acquired in the field under natural lighting condition. Pattern recognition techniques such as linear discriminant classifier and artificial neural networks were developed to segment the fruit by classifying the fruit pixels from the background pixels. A modified watershed transform combined with blob analysis was used to detect the individual fruits in a cluster. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to transform the multispectral images and to identify the wavelengths or combination of wavelengths that could improve detection of fruit from the canopy background.   

Abstract in portuguese Foram amostrados à época de colheita, na Estação Experimental de Limeira, do Instituto Agronômico, frutos cítricos de nove cultivares comerciais pertencentes a diferentes espécies: Citrus sinensis - "baianinha", "hamlin", "pêra", "natal" e "valência"; Citrus reticulata -"cravo"; Citrus paradisi - "marsh-seedless"; Citrus aurantifolia - "taiti"; híbrido Citrus sinensis X Citrus reticnlata -"murcote". Os frutos foram fracionados em casca, polpa mais suco, e sement (more) es. No material seco e moído, procederam-se às determinações dos treze elementos essenciais às plantas e mais sódio, alumínio e cobalto. As quantidades de nutrientes extraídas por tonelada de fruto fresco foram calculadas com base nas proporções e teores de umidade das partes dos frutos. Os nove cultivares estudados extraíram as seguintes quantidades médias de elementos em gramas por tonelada de fruto fresco: N-1.906; P-173; K-1.513; Ca-526; Mg-127; S-137; B-2,2; Cl-24,7; Cu-1,2; Fé-6,6; Mn-2,8; Mo-0,008; Zn-0,9; Co-0,003; Na-43,5; Al-7,6. Os dados obtidos são semelhantes aos encontrados na literatura de outros países para os citros em geral. Há, no entanto, quase sempre, uma inversão na relação nitrogênio-potássio. Os cultivares com maior capacidade de extração de macro e micronutrientes foram as laranjas natal e valência, e o de menor capacidade, o limoeiro taiti. As sementes em geral contiveram os maiores teores de nutrientes, porém a sua ocorrência nos frutos é em pequena proporção, atingindo o máximo de 3% na tangerina-cravo. Abstract in english Fruit samples of nine cultivars of citrus were collected at the Limeira Experiment Station, State of São Paulo. The fruits belong to several species: Citrus sinensis -"Baianinha", "Hamlin", "Pêra", "Natal", and "Valencia" sweet oranges; Citrus reticulata - "Cravo"-tangerine; Citrus paradisi -"Marsh-seedless" grapefruit; Citrus aurantifolia - Tahiti lime; hybrid Citrus sinensis X Citrus reticulata -"Murcott" tangor. The fruits were sectioned in skin, pulp with juice, and (more) seeds. It was determined the proportion among these parte and their water content. The concentration of all plant nutriente plus sodium, aluminum and cobalt was determined on the dried material. These data allowed the estimation of nutrient removal per metric ton of fresh fruit. The average of removed elements expressed in gramms per ton of fresh fruit of the nine cultivars follows this order: N-1,906; P-173; K-1,513; Ca-526; Mg-127; S-137; B-2.2; Cl-24.7; Cu-1.2; Fe-6.6; Mn-2.8; Mo-0.008; Zn-0.9; Co-0.003; Na-43.5; Al-7.6. The seeds showed to be organs where there is larger percentual quantity of the majority of macronutrients, except for K which is more abundant in the pulp plus juice. The cultivars Natal and Valencia showed the greatest nutrient removal, and Tahiti lime the lowest.

Abstract in portuguese O Brasil é considerado o maior produtor de citros e o maior exportador de suco de laranja. Doenças de pós-colheita representam uma grande perda para a citricultura, sendo que para a exportação de frutos são rígidas as exigências com relação a isenção de resíduos químicos nos mesmos. Patógenos de importância em pós-colheita de citros incluem o Penicillium digitatum, agente causal do bolor-verde e o Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, agente causal da antracnos (more) e. Dada a importância econômica que representam estas doenças dos frutos cítricos, tanto em termos de comprometimento da qualidade e dificuldade de controle, a busca de alternativas adicionais que possam viabilizar a capacidade produtiva e garantir a obtenção de frutos com excelentes padrões de qualidade torna-se imprescindível. Portanto, estudou-se os efeitos dos extratos aquosos do flavedo de Citrus aurantifolia var. Tahiti, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus subrufescens (syn. Agaricus brasiliensis), albedo de Citrus sinensis var. Valência e do ácido jasmônico no controle póscolheita do bolor verde e da antracnose e na indução de resistência em frutos de laranjeira Valência (Citrus sinensis). Foi possível observar que o extrato aquoso do flavedo (C. aurantifolia) apresentou efeito inibitório sobre os patógenos, quando tratados em pós-colheita, em função da redução dos sintomas e esporulação. Porém, os extratos de albedo (C. sinensis), L. edodes, A. subrufescens e o ácido jasmônico não apresentaram efeitos sobre P. digitatum e C. gloeosporioides. Abstract in english Brazil is considered to be the biggest citrus producer and orange juice exporter. Post-harvest diseases represent a great loss in the citriculture, and for many fruits to be exported they should be free of chemical residues. In relation to some pathogens of importance in post-harvest, it can be mentioned Penicillium digitatum (green-mold) and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (anthracnose). Because of the economical importance of these diseases for citric fruits, in terms of (more) compromising quality and control difficulties, the search for alternative control measures that can make possible to improve the producing capacity of the producers and the obtaining of fruits with excellent quality are indispensable. Therefore, it was studied the viability of the control of post-harvest diseases in Valência orange fruits (Citrus sinensis) by using the biotic agents flavedo (Citrus auratifolia cv. Tahiti), Lentinula edodes, Agaricus subrufescens (syn. Agaricus brasiliensis), albedo (Citrus sinensis cv. Valência) and the abiotic agent jasmonic acid. It was possible to observe that the aqueous extracts from the flavedo (C. aurantifolia) inhibited the pathogens in Valência orange fruits when treated in post-harvest, based upon symptom and sporulation reduction. On the other hand, the albedo (C. sinensis), L. edodes, A. subrufescens and jasmonic acid had no effects on P. digitatum and C. gloeosporioides in the fruits.

The citrus black fruit fly (Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby) is an important pest of citrus originated in Southeast Asia and its first record in the new world was in Jamaica in 1913. In Brazil, it was detected in 2001 in the state of Para and more recently it was detected in Sao Paulo in 2008. This pest that attacks over 300 species of plants, but its main host are citrus. It is an A2 quarantine pest, because it is not spread throughout the country. The objective of this study was to test doses of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 Gy of gamma irradiation for disinfection of eggs of the citrus black fruit fly in leaves of citrus plants. Treatment consisted of 5 replicates with 60 eggs each. Evaluations were performed in the following periods: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after irradiation. Under the conditions assayed, it could be concluded that a dose of 200 Gy caused 100% mortality of Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby eggs and could be recommended as a successful quarantine processing against infested plants. (author)

The content of proline and various compounds deriving from its metabolism (4-hydroxy-L-proline, N-methyl-L-proline, N,N-dimethylproline, and 4-hydroxy-L-prolinebetaine) was determined in fruits and seeds of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poit), growing in the Calabria region (South Italy). A HPLC-ESI-tandem mass spectrometry method, which allowed rapid determination of L-proline, 4-hydroxy-L-proline, N-methyl-L-proline, N,N-dimethylproline, and 4-hydroxy-L-prolinebetaine in juice and extracts of bergamot fruit with minimum sample preparation and short analysis time (about 10 min), is presented. Proline and 4-hydroxy-L-proline levels in the samples were also determined by HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection and the results compared to those obtained with HPLC-ESI-tandem mass spectrometry. For the first time, the presence of N-methyl-L-proline and 4-hydroxy-L-prolinebetaine in the fruits of a plant of the Citrus genus is reported. PMID:21128667

A citrus NAM, ATAF, and CUC (NAC)-like gene (CitNAC) was isolated from fruit tissues of Citrus sinensis Osbeck using complementary DNA (cDNA) amplified fragment length polymorphism and rapid amplification of cDNA ends techniques. Its full length was 988?bp in which 781?bp form the open reading frame, coding for a protein of 264 amino acids. Sequence comparison revealed that CitNAC possesses the general structural features at the N terminus of the NAC domains. Phylogenetic analysis results showed that CitNAC was closely related to AtNAP and PeNAP, which are involved in plant organ senescence. Gene expression analysis showed that the messenger RNA level of CitNAC was just detected in fruit peel and pulp during fruit ripening or senescence stage. The observed expression pattern of CitNAC alon...

The use of wax coatings enriched with antifungals has significantly contributed to quality maintaining of harvested citrus fruit. On the other hand, interest in essential oils (EOs) as an alternative to synthetic fungicides has recently gained momentum. In this study, Cinnamomum zeylanicum EO was incorporated into a variety of commercial citrus waxes (shellac, carnauba, paraffin and polyethylene). The biological activity of these formulations against green and blue rots as well as their viscosity and adherence to the orange fruit surface were evaluated. Excellent disease control was achieved with C. zeylanicum EO incorporated in shellac and/or carnauba wax compared to other EO-wax formulations. Disease control by EO-waxes seems to depend not only on the volume that remains on the fruit ski...

Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) is recognized as a pest of citrus, apples, and blackberries in South America. In Mexico, it is mainly found in fruit of the family Myrtaceae and has never been reported infesting citrus. Here, we sought to determine whether females stemming from Mexican A. fraterculus populations (collected in the state of Veracruz) would lay eggs in 'Valencia' oranges and 'Ruby Red' grapefruit and, if so, whether larvae would hatch and develop. We worked under laboratory and seminatural conditions (i.e., gravid females released in fruit-bearing, bagged branches in a commercial citrus grove) and used Anastrepha ludens (Loew), a notorious pest of citrus, as a control species. Under laboratory conditions, A. ludens readily accepted both oranges and grapefruit as oviposition substrates, but A. fraterculus rarely oviposited in these fruit (but did so in guavas, a preferred host) and no larvae ever developed. Eggs were deposited in the toxic flavedo (A. fraterculus) and nontoxic albedo (A. ludens) regions. Field studies revealed that, as was the case in the laboratory, A. fraterculus rarely oviposited into oranges or grapefruit and that, when such was the case, either no larvae developed (oranges) or of the few (13) that developed and pupated (grapefruit), only two adults emerged that survived 1 and 3 d, respectively (5-17% of the time necessary to reach sexual maturity). In sharp contrast, grapefruit exposed to A. ludens yielded up to 937 pupae and adults survived for >6 mo. Therefore, the inability of Mexican A. fraterculus to successfully develop in citrus renders the status of Mexican A. fraterculus as a pest of citrus in Mexico as unsubstantiated. PMID:14977105

An analytical method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of 6 amines and 20 flavonoids in fruits and extracts of 30 Citrus species, including C. aurantium, near-Citrus relatives, and dietary supplements by liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The separation was achieved with a Phenomenex Synergi Hydro reversed-phase column using gradient mobile phase of sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) and acetonitrile. Elution was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV at 254, 280, and 330 nm. Among the amines analyzed, synephrine, the main component, was present in the levels from 0.11 to 2.0 mg/g dry weight in 21 Citrus species and 0.07 to 18.62% in dietary supplements claiming to contain C. aurantium. The flavanones and flavones were analyzed in the same Citrus samples and were species-specific. The levels of flavones were very low compared with those of flavanones. The method facilitated the simultaneous quantification of 6 amines and 20 flavonoids in various Citrus species, the distinction between the different Citrus species, and the analysis of dietary supplements containing C. aurantium. PMID:16526438

Penicillium digitatum causes green mold on citrus, resulting in severe postharvest fruit decay and economic losses in many citrus-producing areas of the world. Forty isolates of P. digitatum were cultured from citrus groves, packinghouses, and local markets in Taiwan, and assessed quantitatively for their sensitivity to thiabendazole (TBZ) fungicide. Sensitivity assays using a 96-well microtiter plate revealed that, of 40 isolates examined, only one isolate collected from fruit produced in Taiwan and two isolates from Florida-imported citrus fruit were sensitive to TBZ. The concentration of TBZ causing a 50% growth reduction (EC(50)) was less than 1 ?g/mL. The remaining 37 isolates could tolerate high concentrations of TBZ, with an EC(50) greater than 80 ?g/mL. Overall, more than 97% of P. digitatum isolates tested in Taiwan were found to be resistant to TBZ. In vitro assays also revealed the ineffectiveness of TBZ for controlling a TBZ-resistant isolate on sweet oranges. A sequence analysis of ?-tubulin genes revealed that all TBZ-resistant isolates displayed a single transversion point mutation, resulting in a change at either amino acid 198 (glutamic acid?glutamine) or 200 (phenylalanine?tyrosine). The repetitive use of a single fungicide over several decades has favored the selection and dominance of TBZ-resistant isolates of P. digitatum. PMID:21868117

The aim of this randomized and double blinded pilot clinical trial was to investigate the anti-diabetic efficacy of the Rauvolfia-Citrus (RC) tea in humans. We have earlier shown that a combination of calorie-restriction and chronic administration of the RC tea to the genetic diabetic (BKS-db) mice resulted in the normalization of blood sugar, reduction in lipid accumulated in the mice eyes and prevention of the degeneration of the otherwise brittle BKS-db pancreas. The tea is made by boiling foliage of Rauvolfia vomitoria and fruits of Citrus aurantium and is used to treat diabetes in Nigerian folk medicine.

Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata) and other endemic citrus fruits have been cultivated for several hundred years in the Ryukyu Islands. Citrus fruits contain high levels of functional phytochemicals, including specific and appealing aroma compounds. We analyzed the volatile compounds in immature and mature peel of 10 citrus fruits grown on Okinawa by GC-MS analysis. In addition, we used HPLC to quantify synephrine and six polymethoxyflavones (PMFs: sinensetin, hexamethoxyflavone, heptamethoxyflavone, nobiletin, natsudaidain, and tangeretin). All local citrus cultivars showed unique aroma profiles. The volatile compositions of ‘Kabuchii’ (C. keraji hort. ex Tanaka var. kabuchii) had high contents of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3.90–5.17%), ‘Keraji’ (C. keraji hort. ex Tanaka) was high in esters (12.15–19.10%), and ‘Ogimikuganii’ (C. depressa Hayata) was high in ?-terpinene (21.17–29.60%) and p-cymene (6.49–9.84%). The highest levels of synephrine were found in immature peel of ‘Tokunibu’ (C. nobilis Lour.) (8.97 mg·gDW?1), ‘Izumibeni’ (C. tangerina hort. ex Tanaka) (7.03 mg·gDW?1), and ‘Ogimikuganii’ (5.17 mg·gDW?1). There were high levels of PMFs in immature peel of ‘Ogimikuganii’ (20.62 mg·gDW?1), ‘Kabuchii’ (20.66 mg·gDW?1), ‘Oto’ (C. oto hort. ex Yu. Tanaka) (12.52 mg·gDW?1), and ‘T-132’ (C. tankan Hayata) (18.95 mg·gDW?1), each of which showed a unique profile. Our results suggested the scope for effective utilization of the waste, including thinned fruits, from shiikuwasha and tankan, that major cultivars in Okinawa.   

...bait treatment to eradicate non-native and invasive Tephritid fruit flies which are responsive to the attractant, methyl eugenol; March 6, 2012 to March 6, 2015. Contact: Debra Rate. Georgia Department of Agriculture Specific exemption: EPA...

The aim of this research is to establish a new kind of simple and rapid method to determine amino acids and metal elements in Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ougan fruit. The high-performance liquid chromatography pre-column derivation method was used to test the contents of amino acids found in the cv. fruit. The results showed that there were 17 kinds of amino acids in the fruits of two different mature periods. They could be separated easily within 30 min. The correlation coefficients between the peak area of amino acid and the content of the amino acid were above 0.99. The sample-added recovery rate of amino acids was between 96.0% and 102.4%. Meanwhile, the microwave-aided dissolving procedure was adopted for dissolving of the cv. fruit to determine the 15 metal elements in the cv. fruit...

Influence of chilling temperature, intermittent warming (IW) and fungicidal wax coating was evaluated during storage of ?Nagpur? mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco). Fruits were light green coloured with slight colour-break at the start of storage. Waxed and non-waxed fruits were stored at 3.5??C (constant), 2?weeks at 3.5??C followed by IW for 1?week at 19.5??C (cycle) and at 6.5??C (constant), and were evaluated immediately after 30, 45, 60, 75?days and also after 1?week holding at ambient condition (24???2??C, 60?70% RH). There was no chilling injury to fruit under IW treatment irrespective of coating. At 3.5??C (constant) chilling injury appeared after 45?days during 1?week holding and thereafter increased at each storage interval. Wax coated fruit had lower chilling injury. Fruit und...

The principal objective of the work is to identify an economically viable alternative to the existing method of meeting the energy requirements of citrus fruit processing that will substantially reduce the overall energy usage of citrus processing plants. The components which will make up the alternative systems include: evaporators, dryers, refrigeration units, heat pumps, heat engines, heat exchangers, thermal storage units, and ancillary components. These components will be used to form the five operational units of the citrus processing plant. These operational units are: evaporation, drying, refrigeration, pasteurizing and canning, and the plant electrical load that consists of operations such as conveying and juice extraction. The five operational units are then interrelated to varying degrees with respect to energy exchange to form different types of alternative systems. The approach, work plan, and progress of technical work are summarized. (MCW)

Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) from citrus genus are of particular interest because of their broad spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-atherogenic properties. Recently, the exploration into the beneficial health properties of PMFs in citrus fruits has dramatically increased. However, the supply of pure PMFs in the in vivo study is a limiting factor due to the difficulties in large-scale isolation of the interested PMFs. Therefore, the development of an efficient and a scalable separation method of PMFs is necessary and significant. In this paper, we report a newly developed method for efficient and relatively large-scale isolation of four PMFs from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel by employing supercritical chromatography (SFC): nobiletin, tangeretin, 3,5,6,7,8,3',4'-heptamethoxyflavone and 5,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone. PMID:17035106

Abstract Large quantities of wastes are produced during the industrial transformation of citrus fruit, and these constitute a serious problem. However, instead of disposing of them, they can be used to obtain by-products rich in bioactive compounds. One such by-product is the orange juice waste water generated in the process of obtaining citrus fiber. The aim of this study was to characterize the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the orange juice waste water of a citrus by-product by determining the pH, soluble solids, color, reduction of residual nitrite and total antioxidant activity, along with the content of phenolic compounds, organic acids and sugars. The orange juice waste water decreases the nitrite levels and shows a high capacity to reduce the formation of free ra...

KEY MESSAGE : The altered ultrastructure and composition of cuticular wax from 'glossy Newhall' (MT) fruits lead to its glossy phenotype. A novel mutant derived from the wild-type (WT) 'Newhall' navel orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Newhall), named 'glossy Newhall' (MT), which produced much more glossy fruits that were easily distinguishable from the WT fruits was characterized in this report. The total wax loads of both WT and MT fruits varied considerably during the fruit development. The most abundant wax fraction of WT mature fruits was triterpenoids, followed by aldehydes, alkanes, fatty acids, primary alcohol and cholesterol. The total wax load in MT mature fruits was reduced by 44.2 % compared with WT. Except for the minor wax components of primary alcohol and cholesterol, the amounts of all major wax fractions in MT mature fruits were decreased in varying degrees. The major reduction occurred in aldehydes that decreased 96.4 % and alkanes that decreased 81.9 %, which was consistent with scanning electron micrographs of MT mature fruit surfaces that showed a severe loss of wax crystals. Hence, aldehydes and alkanes were suggested to be required for wax crystal formation in 'Newhall' navel orange fruits. PMID:22892682

Acrocomia aculeata is a perennial, fruit-producing palm tree, native to tropical forests. Its fruits have spurred interest because of their significant potential for use in the cosmetic industry and as feedstock for biofuel. In the present study, the genetic structure and mating system in Acrocomia ...

Fluorimetry has been used to detect the luminescence in vivo of native organic volatiles emitted from the surface of various fruits. This luminescence near the surface of fruits was visualized in the visible spectral region as color photo-images using different excitations. While the origin of this ...

Euterpe oleraceae is a large palm tree indigenous to the Amazon River and its tributaries and estuaries in South America. Its fruit, known as acai, is of great economic value to native people. In this study, a standardized freeze-dried acai fruit pulp/skin powder was used for all analyses and tests....

Oxidizing compounds such as sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are widely used in food sanitization because of their antimicrobial effects. We applied these compounds and metals to analyze their antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum, the causal agent of citrus green mold. The MICs were 300 ppm for NaClO and 300 mM for H2O2 when these compounds were individually applied for 2 min to conidia suspensions. To minimize the concentration of these compounds, we developed and standardized a sequential treatment for conidia that resulted in loss of viability on growth plates and loss of infectivity on lemons. The in vitro treatment consists of preincubation with 10 ppm of NaClO followed by incubation with 100 mM H2O2 and 6 mM CuSO4 (cupric sulfate). The combination of NaClO and H2O2 in the presence of CuSO4 produces a synergistic effect (fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.36). The sequential treatment applied in situ on lemon peel 24 h after the fruit was inoculated with conidia produced a significant delay in the fungal infection. The in vitro treatment was effective on both imazalil-sensitive and imazalil-resistant strains of P. digitatum and Geotrichum candidum, the causal agent of citrus sour rot. However, this treatment inhibited 90% of mycelial growth for Penicillium italicum (citrus blue mold). These results indicate that sequential treatment may be useful for postharvest control of citrus fruit diseases. PMID:19722397

The post-harvest shelf life of maximum of fruits and vegetables is very limited due to their perishable nature. In India more then 20-25 percent of fruits and vegetables are spoiled before utilization. Despite being the world's second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, in India only 1.5 percent of the total fruits and vegetables produced are processed. Maximum amounts of fruit and vegetable juices turn bitter after extraction due to conversion of chemical compounds. In spite of being under utilized, the utilization of highly nutritive fruits and vegetables is very limited due to high acidity, astringency, bitterness, and some other factors. While improving flavor, palatability, and nutritive and medicinal value of various fruit juices such as aonla, mango, papaya, pineapple, citrus, ber, pear, apple, watermelon, and vegetables including bottle gourd, carrot, beet root, bitter gourd, medicinal plants like aloe vera and spices can also be used for juice blending. All these natural products are valued very highly for their refreshing juice, nutritional value, pleasant flavor, and medicinal properties. Fruits and vegetables are also a rich source of sugars, vitamins, and minerals. However, some fruits and vegetables have an off flavor and bitterness although they are an excellent source of vitamins, enzymes, and minerals. Therefore, blending of two or more fruit and vegetable juices with spices extract for the preparation of nutritive ready-to-serve (RTS), beverages is thought to be a convenient and economic alternative for utilization of these fruits and vegetables. Moreover, one could think of a new product development through blending in the form of a natural health drink, which may also serve as an appetizer. The present review focuses on the blending of fruits, under-utilized fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, and spices in appropriate proportions for the preparation of natural fruit and vegetable based nutritive beverages. PMID:21929332

The Asian citrus psyllid (AsCP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a highly competent vector of the phloem-inhabiting bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus associated with the citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB). Commonly referred to as citrus greening disease in the USA, HLB causes reduced fruit yields, quality, and ultimately tree death and is considered the most serious citrus disease. HLB has become a major limiting factor to the production of citrus worldwide. Studies of HLB have been impeded by the fact that C. Liberibacter has not yet been cultured on artificial nutrient media. After being acquired by a psyllid, C. Liberibacter asiaticus is reported to replicate within the psyllid and is retained by the psyllid throughout its life span. We therefore hypothesized that C. Liberibacter asiaticus could be cultured in vitro using psyllid cell cultures as the medium and investigated the establishment of a pure culture for AsCP cells. Several commercially available insect cell culture media along with some media we developed were screened for viability to culture cells from AsCP embryos. Cells from psyllid tissues adhered to the plate and migration was observed within 24 h. Cells were maintained at 20 degrees C. We successfully established primary psyllid cell cultures, referred to as DcHH-1, for D. citri Hert-Hunter-1, with a new media, Hert-Hunter-70. PMID:19440802

Alicyclobacillus spp. is an important thermoacidophilic, spore-forming spoilage bacterium that is a major concern for beverage and juice industries. In order to develop effective control strategies and adequately address the prevalence of contamination sources, it is necessary to characterize Alicyclobacillus' ecology in fruit, juice and beverage production and processing environments. Alicyclobacillus spp. isolates were collected from juice, beverage, ingredients, and environmental samples over a period of ten years. A total of 141 isolates were characterized as Alicyclobacillus spp. by 16S rRNA analysis and the most frequently isolated species was found to be Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (45%), A. acidocaldarius subsp. acidocaldarius (30%), and A. acidocaldarius (11%). The majority of thermotolerant sporeformers isolated from apple juices and concentrates was found to be A. acidoterrestris (24 out of 36 total apple isolates); while A. acidoterrestris was most frequently associated with citrus, citrus concentrates, and their associated environments, isolated by University of Florida (UF) (15 out of total 28 UF citrus isolates). However, A. acidocaldarius and subsp. acidocaldarius were frequently isolated by Cornell University (CU) (29 out of 35 CU citrus isolates), from citrus juices made from concentrate. Four major haplotypes of Alicyclobacillus spp. were identified based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the 141 isolates tested. The Allelic Types (ATs) matched the phylogenetic analysis grouping of the different Alicyclobacillus spp. based on the isolation source. Our results suggest a predisposition for certain ATs of Alicyclobacillus spp. depending on juice or ingredient isolation source. PMID:20674056

Trophic interactions involving predators, herbivores, and plants have been described in terrestrial systems. However, there is almost no information on the effect of trophic interactions on microbial phyllosphere community abundance, diversity, or structure. In this study, the interaction between a parasitoid, an insect herbivore, and the fungal phyllosphere community is examined. Parasitoid wasps have an indirect negative impact on fungal community diversity. On the citrus phyllosphere, the exotic wasp species, Amitus hesperidum and Encarsia opulenta, may parasitize the citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi). If parasitism levels are low, the blackfly may produce significant amounts of honeydew secretions on the surface of the leaf. Honeydew deposition provides a carbon-rich substrate for the development of fungal growth persisting as sooty mold on the leaves. Leaves from sooty mold-infested grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) trees were collected from multiple orchards in south Texas. The effect of different levels of exotic parasite activity, citrus blackfly, and sooty mold infestation on phyllosphere mycobiota community structure and diversity was examined. Our results suggest the presence of the parasitoid may lead to a top-down trophic cascade affecting phyllosphere fungal community diversity and structure. Additionally, persistent sooty mold deposits that have classically been referred to as Capnodium citri (and related asexual morphological forms) actually comprise a myriad of fungal species including many saprophytes and potential fruit and foliar pathogens of citrus. PMID:19125306

Abstract in english Plant hormones play a crucial role in integrating endogenous and exogenous signals and in determining developmental responses to form the plant body throughout its life cycle. In citrus species, several economically important processes are controlled by phytohormones, including seed germination, secondary growth, fruit abscission and ripening. Integrative genomics is a powerful tool for linking newly researched organisms, such as tropical woody species, to functional stud (more) ies already carried out on established model organisms. Based on gene orthology analyses and expression patterns, we searched the Citrus Genome Sequencing Consortium (CitEST) database for Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) consensus sequences sharing similarity to known components of hormone metabolism and signaling pathways in model species. More than 600 homologs of functionally characterized hormone metabolism and signal transduction members from model species were identified in citrus, allowing us to propose a framework for phytohormone signaling mechanisms in citrus. A number of components from hormone-related metabolic pathways were absent in citrus, suggesting the presence of distinct metabolic pathways. Our results demonstrated the power of comparative genomics between model systems and economically important crop species to elucidate several aspects of plant physiology and metabolism.

Inspection of citrus canker is crucial due to its fast spread, high damage potential, and massive impact on export and domestic trade. This research was aimed to develop a prototype for real-time citrus canker detection. An inspection module was developed on a one-line commercial fruit sorting machine. Twenty tungsten halogen spotlights coupled with an aluminum dome painted with white diffuse paint provided reflectance illumination to the fruits in the detection chamber. The camera unit was a two-band spectral imaging system, which mainly consisted of a beamsplitter, two bandpass filters with central wavelengths at 730 and 830nm, and two identical monochrome cameras. Using an exposure time of 10ms, the imaging system can capture narrowband images without blurring from samples moving at a s...

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB), associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus and transmitted by the Asian psyllid Diaphorina citri, is the most serious disease of citrus worldwide because of crop devastation and difficulty to control. Since 2004, approximately 3 million trees were eliminated in attempts to limit its spread in Brazil. Where HLB becomes endemic, the disease progression in the orchard and the increasing symptom severity throughout the tree canopy can be relatively fast, greatly reducing the economic life of affected orchards because of tree decline and yield reduction. Although the majority of the fruit from symptomatic branches drop before harvest, a significant amount of affected fruit remain attached, are available for harvest, and can affect juice q...

To effectively recover polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) from Citrus depressa fruits, different types of extractors were combined in two types of multi-stage extraction systems. The 2-stage extraction system utilized the caterpillar and twin-screw presses, and the 3-stage extraction system utilized the caterpillar, roller, and twin-screw presses. Material balance and distribution of PMFs, extraction rate, and electric power consumption of each stage and total system were evaluated. Compared with single extraction, multi-stage extraction improved the efficiency of PMF recovery in the juice from the fruit; there was no significant difference between the 2- and 3-stage extraction systems. More than 30% of the PMF content was recovered in the juice by these systems. The multi-stage extraction system for Citrus depressa allows production of second- and third-stage juices which contain higher concentration of PMFs and reduction of extraction residue.   

Potassium sorbate (KS), a common food preservative, was evaluated to control postharvest decay of citrus fruit. Significant advantages of KS over the commonly used sodium bicarbonate, which similarly improved fungicide performance, are the relatively low salt concentration of KS, the absence of sodium, and its lower pH, so disposal of used KS solutions would raise fewer regulatory issues. The influence of KS concentration and pH (pH 4-9) on the germination of spores of Penicillium digitatum was determined alone or in combination with four postharvest citrus fungicides, imazalil (IMZ), thiabendazole (TBZ), pyrimethanil, and fludioxonil. The EC95 concentrations of KS to inhibit spore germination were lowest from pH 4-6. To control green mold on inoculated fruit, KS was compatible with these ...

Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of Alternaria brown spot (ABS), causes necrosis on leaves, twigs, and fruit, reducing the productivity and quality of fruits. Tangerines and their hybrids are highly susceptible to the disease. Species, hybrids, and cultivars of Citrus from the germplasm bank of the Estacao Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated in 2004 and 2005 with respect to their resistance to A. alternata, both through natural infection and by inoculation. Detached leaves were also used to demonstrate susceptibility or resistance to the disease. Ten cultivars of Satsumas (Citrus unshiu), and 14 cultivars of Clementine mandarin (C. clementina) did not show any symptoms of the disease in their leaves, either through natural infection or when in...

A comprehensive transcriptome analysis using a citrus 22K oligoarray was performed to identify ethylene-responsive genes and gain an understanding of the transcriptional regulation by ethylene in mandarin fruit (Citrus unshiu Marc.). In the 72h after ethylene treatment, 1493 genes were identified as ethylene-responsive with more than 3-fold expression change, and an interesting aspect of gene regulation by ethylene was observed, namely, that more than half of the ethylene-responsive genes were repressed. This aspect might suggest that ethylene demotes numerous biological processes and plays an important role in fruit ripening and senescence. Ethylene repressed the transcription of most genes involved in photosynthesis, chloroplast biogenesis, and sugar metabolism, while it induced the tran...

Nowadays, the detection of fruit infected with Penicillium sp. fungi on packing lines is carried out manually under ultraviolet illumination. Ultraviolet sources induce visible fluorescence of essential oils, present in the skin of citrus and which are released by the action of fungi, thus increasing the contrast between sound and rotten skin. This work analyses a set of techniques aimed at detecting rotten citrus without the use of UV lighting. The techniques used include hyperspectral image acquisition, pre-processing and calibration, feature selection and segmentation using linear and non-linear methods for classification of fruits. Different methods such as correlation analysis, mutual information, stepwise, and genetic algorithms based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) are studied...

The effect of infection of Citrus sinensis (var. Navelina) fruits with Penicillium digitatum was studied at gene expression and metabolite levels. In this study, expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway was studied in the flavedo (outer coloured part of the peel) and albedo (inner white part) in response to pathogen infection. Results of the time-course experiment showed that maximal expression of 10 out of 17 phenylpropanoid genes analysed occurred at 48h post-inoculation, when decay symptoms started to appear, and mRNA levels either kept constant or decreased after 72h post-inoculation. To further investigate the putative involvement of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the defence of citrus fruit, changes in the metabolic profile of both tissues infected with P. digitatu...

Two species of tephritid fruit flies of economic importance, Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly, Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]) and Natal fruit fly (C. rosa Karsch) cause economic losses in the South African deciduous fruit industry of approximately US$3 million per annum. A third species, marula fruit fly, C. cosyra (Walker), causes damage to citrus and sub-tropical fruits in the north-eastern part of the country. In 1999 a sterile insect technique (SIT) programme against Medfly was initiated over 10,000 ha of table grapes with a goal of cost-effective, ecologically compatible suppression of Medfly. The SIT programme was extended to two other fruit production areas in 2004. Although results in all three SIT areas have been mixed, populations of wild Medflies, as well as associated pesticide usage and control costs, have been reduced since the start of sterile fly releases. Reasons for the partial degree of success and the relatively slow expansion of Medfly SIT to other areas include economic, operational and cultural factors, as well as certain fruit production practices. Before fruit fly-free areas can be created, deficiencies in the ability to mass-rear Natal fruit fly need to be overcome so that an SIT programme against this species can be initiated. Any fruit fly suppression or eradication campaign will be severely compromised by any introductions into South Africa of exotic fruit fly species. The risk of such introductions is increasing as trade with and travel to the country increases. A Plant Health Early Warning Systems Division has been initiated to formulate fruit fly detection and action plans. Melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae [Coquillett]), Asian fruit fly (B. invadens Drew, Tsurutu and White) and peach fruit fly (B. zonata [Saunders]), which are all well established in parts of Africa and/or Indian Ocean islands, have been identified as presenting the highest risk for entering and becoming established in South Africa. An exotic fruit fly surveillance programme has been started, focusing on detection at ports of entry and in fruit production areas. Any detection of an exotic fruit fly will trigger a reaction plan involving a delimiting survey, a feasibility study, quarantine measures and control actions. These initiatives signal significant progress towards implementing programmes aimed at creating fruit fly-free areas and putting in place exotic fruit fly detection and action plans that will protect the valuable South African export fruit industry. (author)

Citrate, a major determinant of citrus fruit quality, accumulates early in fruit development and declines towards maturation. The isomerization of citrate to isocitrate, catalyzed by aconitase is a key step in acid metabolism. Inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase activity early in fruit development contributes to acid accumulation, whereas increased cytosolic activity of aconitase causes citrate decline. It was previously hypothesized that the block in mitochondrial aconitase activity, inducing acid accumulation, is caused by citramalate. Here, we investigated the effect of citramalate and of another aconitase inhibitor, oxalomalate, on aconitase activity and regulation in callus originated from juice sacs. These compounds significantly increased citrate content and reduced the enzyme's activity, while slightly inducing its protein level. Citramalate inhibited the mitochondrial, but not cytosolic form of the enzyme. Its external application to mandarin fruits resulted in inhibition of aconitase activity, with a transient increase in fruit acidity detected a few weeks later. The endogenous level of citramalate was analyzed in five citrus varieties: its pattern of accumulation challenged the notion of its action as an endogenous inhibitor of mitochondrial aconitase. Metabolite profiling of oxalomalate-treated cells showed significant increases in a few amino acids and organic acids. The activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and aspartate kinase, as well as these of two ?-aminobutyrate (GABA)-shunt enzymes, succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSAR) and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSAD) were significantly induced in oxalomalate-treated cells. It is suggested that the increase in citrate, caused by aconitase inhibition, induces amino acid synthesis and the GABA shunt, in accordance with the suggested fate of citrate during the acid decline stage in citrus fruit. PMID:21528417

Pasture farming has a long-standing tradition in Uruguay, but it is threatened now as soy, rice, citrus fruit, sugar cane and especially forest wood are getting sought after as animal feed and power generation materials. While forests are growing, the country's energy policy is aiming at a 50 percent share of renewable energy sources in primary energy supply. This makes Uruguay a leading country in Latin America. (orig.)

Emphasis is given to the initial effects of radiation and how they may reflect on the mechanisms of radiation injury as well as on the physiological responses of the fruit. Increased solubilization of the citrus tissues which occurs after massive doses of radiation can influence greatly the expression and interpretation of subsequent analyses. This is demonstrated for ascorbic acid and sulfhydryl measurements. Several parameters of irradiation have been controlled or defined to categorize firmly the effects of the treatment. (auth)

Twenty cultivars of citrus fruit were harvested at two stages of development: young fruit (weight about 2.5 g per fruit) and fully ripe fruit of which the ascorbate oxidase (AAO) activities were determined. Among the different cultivars, the specific activity of AAO in the young fruits ranged from 47 to 2120 units per mg protein, while fully ripe fruits had AAO specific activity ranging from 18 to 97 units per mg protein. Significant differences were also observed between tissue types in the AAO specific activity with the highest activity in the albedo (64-70%), followed by the flavedo (26-34%) and the pulp (2-3%). Further examination of the seasonal changes in AAO specific activity in the peel (flavedo and albedo) of Satsuma mandarin fruit indicated the highest AAO activity when a fruit weight was between 2-4 g. The AAO activity then decreased as the fruit became more mature. Similar changes in the pattern of AAO specific activity were also observed for the different harvest years 1994 and 1995.   

Despite considerable research conducted on 'Tahiti' lime [Citrus latifolia (Yu Tanaka) Tanaka] in several countries, few long-term studies have focused on rootstock effects on fruit production and quality under non-irrigated conditions. As for many other fruit crops, rootstock studies for 'Tahiti' lime are often based on the evaluation of several horticultural responses simultaneously, instead of considering multivariate statistical approaches which may provide with more comprehensive information. Consequently, a trial was installed to evaluate the horticultural performance of non-irrigated 'Tahiti' lime trees budded onto the following 12 rootstocks: 'HRS 801' and 'HRS 827' hybrids; 'Rubidoux', 'FCAV' and 'Flying Dragon' trifoliates; 'Sun Chu Sha Kat' and 'Sunki' mandarins; 'Cravo Limeira'...

A pectinesterase (E.C. 3.1.1.11, pectin pectylhydrolase) from the ripening stage of fruits of a miniature-fruited red type tomato (Mini-tomato) was purified 247 fold with yield of 26% by ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 15,000 by gel filtration and SDSPAGE. The optimum activity was at pH 7.0 and at 50°C. The enzyme was stable between pH 6 and 7 and at temperatures below 50°C. The Km value was estimated to be 0.48% for citrus pectin as the substrate. Chelating reagents were the effective inhibitors of the enzyme.   

The global citrus industry is continually confronted by new technological challenges to meet the ever-increasing consumer awareness and demand for quality-assured fruit. To face these challenges, recent trend in agribusiness is declining reliance on subjective assessment of quality and increasing adoption of objective, quantitative and non-destructive techniques of quality assessment. Non-destructive instrument-based methods are preferred to destructive techniques because they allow the measurement and analysis of individual fruit, reduce waste and permit repeated measures on the same item over time. A wide range of objective instruments for sensing and measuring the quality attributes of fresh produce have been reported. Among non-destructive quality assessment techniques, near-infrared (...

The effect of infection of Citrus sinensis (var. Navelina) fruits with Penicillium digitatum was studied at gene expression and metabolite levels. In this study, expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway was studied in the flavedo (outer coloured part of the peel) and albedo (inner white part) in response to pathogen infection. Results of the time-course experiment showed that maximal expression of 10 out of 17 phenylpropanoid genes analysed occurred at 48h post-inoculation, when decay symptoms started to appear, and mRNA levels either kept constant or decreased after 72h post-inoculation. To further investigate the putative involvement of the phenylpropanoid pathway in the defence of citrus fruit, changes in the metabolic profile of both tissues infected with P. digitatum was studied by means of HPLC-PDA-FD. Metabolite accumulation levels along the time course suggest that flavanones, flavones, polymethoxylated flavones and scoparone are induced in citrus fruit in response to P. digitatum infection, although with different trends depending on the tissue. PMID:23017425

We investigated the antioxidative flavonoid glycosides in the peel extract of lemon fruit (Citrus limon). Six flavanon glycosides: eriocitrin, neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin, and three flavone glycosides: diosmin, 6,8-di-C-?-glucosyldiosmin (DGD), and 6-C-?-glucosyldiosmin (GD) were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Their antioxidative activity was examined using a linoleic acid autoxidation system. The antioxidative activity of eriocitrin, neoeriocitrin and DGD was stronger than that of the others. Flavonoid glycosides were present primarily in the peel of lemon fruit. There was only a small difference in the content of the flavonoid glycosides of the lemon fruit juice from various sources and varieties. Lemon fruit contained abundant amounts of eriocitrin and hesperidin and also contained narirutin, diosmin, and DGD, but GD, neoeriocitrin, naringin, and neohesperidin were present only in trace amounts. The content of DGD, GD, and eriocitrin was especially abundant in lemons and limes; however, they were scarcely found in other citrus fruits. The content of flavonoid compounds in lemon juice obtained by an in-line extractor at a juice factory was more abundant than that obtained by hand-squeezing. These compounds were found to be stable even under heat treatment conditions (121°C, 15 min) in acidic solution.   

Characterisation of fruit-specific genes, especially those associated with fruit maturation and ripening, is not only necessary for isolating specific promoters but also for understanding the molecular mechanisms of fruit development and ripening. By applying cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphisms (cDNA-AFLP), the current work was aimed at identifying the transcripts differentially expressed in peel and juice vesicles of immature and ripe orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit. A total of 66 primer combinations were used in cDNA-AFLP screening, which generated products ranging in size from approximately 100 to 800?bp. Products were analysed on 3.5% Amresco 3:1 HRB agarose gels and 27 differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were cloned and sequenced. For 22 TDFs, the sequ...

High volumes of copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide and copper oxychloride were sprayed under natural conditions onto mature orange trees to compare the retention on citrus leaves and fruit over a period of 56 days by means of copper residue analyses and a spray deposition assessment protocol using fluorometry, photomacrography and digital image analyses. Rainfall and increase in fruit size were also recorded to determine if it had an influence on weathering of copper residues. Initial retention following application of the different fungicides differed on Valencia leaves and fruit: applications with cuprous oxide retained significantly more copper residue and fluorescent pigment, while copper hydroxide retained higher copper and pigment levels on Navel leaves and fruit. Nonetheless, persisten...

Abstract in spanish Se estudió el efecto de la aplicación de auxina (AIA) y de sustancias inhibidoras de la actividad (PCIB) y el transporte de auxina (TIBA, NPA y HFCA) en el desarrollo del tejido vascular del pedicelo y el crecimiento del fruto de Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Salustiana. Se emplearon frutos de 19 y 30 mm de diámetro (a los 55 y 65 días luego de antesis) y se aplicaron las sustancias directamente al pedicelo. El NPA provocó una disminución en el crecimiento de los (more) frutos sin alterar el desarrollo del pedicelo y no se observó efecto significativo al aplicar la antiauxina PCIB o el inhibidor del transporte TIBA. El inhibidor HFCA afectó la diferenciación del xilema, los frutos tratados fueron significativamente más pequeños, y el efecto fue mayor cuando se aplicó a frutos de menor diámetro. La aplicación de la auxina AIA inhibió el desarrollo del tejido vascular del pedicelo y afectó significativamente el crecimiento del fruto. Los resultados ratifican la vinculación entre las auxinas, el desarrollo del tejido vascular del pedicelo y el crecimiento del fruto. Abstract in english The effect of application of IAA, antiauxin (PCIB), and auxin transport inhibitors (HFCA, TIBA and NPA) on vascular development of pedicel and fruit growth was studied in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Salustiana. Substances were applied on pedicels of fruits having 19 and 30 mm in diameter (55 and 65 days after anthesis). NPA depressed fruit growth although no effect was detected on pedicel development. No effect was observed on pedicel or fruit growth after TIBA and PC (more) IB applications. The inhibitor HFCA altered the vessel differentiation pattern and fruits were significantly smaller, being higher the effect on the smaller fruits. IAA applications caused inhibition of pedicel vascular tissue development, and induced formation of smaller fruits. These results confirmed the relationship among auxins, pedicel vascular tissue development, and fruit growth.

Abstract in portuguese O trabalho foi conduzido em um pomar de citros localizado no Setor de Fruticultura do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa-UFV/Viçosa-MG, no período de março a setembro de 2004. O objetivo foi avaliar a influência do potencial hídrico das folhas e do solo sobre o florescimento da tangerineira 'Poncã', laranjeira 'Serra d'Água'e limeira ácida 'Tahiti' nas condições climáticas de Viçosa-MG. A temperatura do ar (ºC) e a precipitação pl (more) uviométrica (mm) foram avaliadas diariamente durante o período experimental. O potencial hídrico no solo e nas folhas foi avaliado em dois horários (7:00 às 8:00 h manhã e 13:00 às 14:00 h tarde). As cultivares utilizadas foram laranjeira 'Serra d'Água'(Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.), tangerina 'Poncã' (Citrus reticulata Blanco) e limeira ácida 'Tahiti' (Citrus latifolia Tanaka.), enxertadas sobre limoeiro 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osb.). Observou-se que o potencial hídrico foliar dos citros diminuiu sob condições de altas temperaturas e déficit hídrico no solo, entretanto, varia em função dos cultivares, observando-se os maiores valores para a limeira 'Tahiti'. O florescimento ocorreu após um período de baixas temperaturas seguido por uma redução do potencial hídrico do solo. A limeira ácida 'Tahiti' é mais precoce, quando comparada com a tangerineira 'Poncã' e a laranjeira 'Serra D'Água'. Abstract in english This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of leaf and soil water potential on flowering of 'Ponkan' mandarin, 'Tahiti' acid lime, and 'Serra d'Água' orange trees under the climate conditions of Viçosa State de Minas Gerais. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Viçosa-UFV, in an orchard located in the Fruit crop Sector of the Crop Sciences Department in the period of March to September of 2004. Were evaluate daily during the experimenta (more) l period the air temperature (ºC) and the pluvial precipitation (mm). The soil and the leaf water potential ware analyzed at 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., and from 1:00 to 2 p.m. Were used the 'Serra d'Água' orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb) and 'Ponkan' mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and 'Tahiti' acid lime (Citrus latifolia Tanaka.) trees grafted on 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia Osb.). The leaf water potential of citrus decreased under conditions of high temperature and hydric deficit in soil, however, changes in function the cultivars, being observed the largest values for the 'Tahiti' lime. The flowering happened after a period of low temperatures and soil water potential. 'Tahiti' acid lime was more precocious when compared to 'Ponkan' mandarin and to 'Serra d'Água'orange.

In the present study, the full-length cDNA sequences of PSY, PDS, and ZDS, encoding the early carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in the carotenoid pathway of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), were isolated and characterized for the first time. CpPSY contained a 1311-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 436 amino acids, CpPDS contained a 1659-bp ORF encoding a polypeptide of 552 amino acids, and CpZDS contained a 1713-bp ORF encoding a polypeptide of 570 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CpPSY shares homology with PSYs from Citrus, tomato, pepper, Arabidopsis, and the monocot PSY1 group, while CpPDS and CpZDS are most closely related to orthologs from Citrus and tomato. Expression analysis revealed fluctuations in CpPSY, CpPDS, and CpZDS transcript abundance and a non-coordinated regulation between the former and the two latter genes during fruit development in albedo and juice vesicles of white ('Duncan') and red ('Flame') grapefruits. A 3× higher upregulation of CpPSY expression in juice vesicles of red-fleshed 'Flame' as compared to white-fruited 'Duncan' was observed in the middle stages of fruit development, which correlates with the well documented accumulation pattern of lycopene in red grapefruit. Together with previous data, our results suggest that the primary mechanism controlling lycopene accumulation in red grapefruit involves the transcriptional upregulation of CpPSY, which controls the flux into the carotenoid pathway, and the downregulated expression of CpLCYB2, which controls the step of cyclization of lycopene in chromoplasts during fruit ripening. A correlation between CpPSY expression and fruit color evolution in red grapefruit is demonstrated. PMID:21594623

Summary The cultivation and dissemination of alien ornamental plants increases their potential to invade. More specifically, species with bird-dispersed seeds can potentially infiltrate natural nucleation processes in savannas. To test (i) whether invasion depends on facilitation by host trees, (ii) whether propagule pressure determines invasion probability, and (iii) whether alien host plants are better facilitators of alien fleshy-fruited species than indigenous species, we mapped the distribution of alien fleshy-fruited species planted inside a military base, and compared this with the distribution of alien and native fleshy-fruited species established in the surrounding natural vegetation. Abundance and diversity of fleshy-fruited plant species was much greater beneath tree canopies th...

Chloroplast simple sequence repeat (cpSSR) markers in Citrus were developed and used to analyze chloroplast diversity of Citrus and closely related genera. Fourteen cpSSR primer pairs from the chloroplast genomes of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and Arabidopsis were found useful for analyzing the Citrus chloroplast genome (cpDNA) and recoded with the prefix SPCC (SSR Primers for Citrus Chloroplast). Eleven of the 14 primer pairs revealed some degree of polymorphism among 34 genotypes of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus and some of their hybrids, with polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranging from 0.057 to 0.732, and 18 haplotypes were identified. The cpSSR data were analyzed with NTSYS-pc software, and the genetic relationships suggested by the unweighted pair group method based on arithmetic means (UPGMA) dendrogram were congruent with previous taxonomic investigations: the results showed that all samples fell into seven major clusters, i.e., Citrus medica L., Poncirus, Fortunella, C. ichangensis Blanco, C. reticulata Swingle, C. aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle and C. grandis (L.) Osbeck. The results of previous studies combined with our cpSSR analyses revealed that: (1) Calamondin (C. madurensis Swingle) is the result of hybridization between kumquat (Fortunella) and mandarin (C. reticulata), where kumquat acted as the female parent; (2) Ichang papeda (C. ichangensis) has a unique taxonomic status; and (3) although Bendiguangju mandarin (C. reticulata) and Satsuma mandarin (C. reticulata) are similar in fruit shape and leaf morphology, they have different maternal parents. Bendiguangju mandarin has the same cytoplasm as sweet orange (C. sinensis), whereas Satsuma mandarin has the cytoplasm of C. reticulata. Seventeen PCR products from SPCC1 and 21 from SPCC11 were cloned and sequenced. The results revealed that mononucleotide repeats as well as insertions and deletions of small segments of DNA were associated with SPCC1 polymorphism, whereas polymorphism generated by SPCC11 was essentially due to the variation in length of the mononucleotide repeats. PMID:15805086

Abstract in portuguese Alguns viróides reduzem o crescimento dos citros e podem ser usados para o controle do tamanho das plantas objetivando a instalação de pomares adensados que podem ter maior produtividade que os pomares com espaçamentos convencionais. Para estudar o efeito da inoculação de viróides no desenvolvimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade dos frutos de pomeleiro 'Marsh Seedless' (Citrus paradisi Macf.) enxertado em trifoliata [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], foi instala (more) do um experimento em Janeiro de 1991, em Bebedouro, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos e duas plantas por parcela: viróides dos citros (CEVd + CVd-II + CVd-III) e (CVd-II + CVd-III) e testemunhas: enxertia de duas borbulhas sadias (testemunha) e sem enxertia (testemunha absoluta). A inoculação foi feita no campo, seis meses após o plantio, por enxertia de borbulhas. Ambos isolados reduziram o crescimento das árvores (diâmetro do tronco, altura da planta diâmetro e volume da copa). As árvores não inoculadas produziram mais que as inoculadas nas onze colheitas realizadas, mas as produtividades foram similares. A qualidade dos frutos foi afetada pela inoculação de viróides, mas não de maneira restritiva. O uso de isolados ananicantes severos não deve ser recomendado para plantios de alta densidade de pomelo enxertado em trifoliata. Abstract in english Some viroids reduce citrus tree growth and may be used for tree size control aiming the establishment of orchards with close tree spacing that may provide higher productivity than conventional ones. To study the effects of citrus viroids inoculation on vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of 'Marsh Seedless' grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) grafted on trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.], an experiment was set up in January 1991, in Bebedouro, São Pa (more) ulo State, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four treatments with two plants per plot: viroid isolates Citrus Exocortis Viroid (CEVd) + Hop stunt viroid (HSVd - CVd-II, a non cachexia variant) + Citrus III viroid (CVd-III) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd - CVd-II, a non cachexia variant) + Citrus III viroid (CVd-III) and controls: two healthy buds (control), and no grafting (absolute control). Inoculation was done in the field, six months after planting by bud grafting. Both isolates reduced tree growth (trunk diameter, plant height, canopy diameter and volume). Trees not inoculated yielded better (average of eleven harvests) than inoculated ones but the productivity was the same after 150 months. Fruit quality was affected by viroids inoculation but not in a restrictive way. The use of such severe dwarfing isolates for high density plantings of grapefruit on trifoliate orange rootstock is not recommended.

In Part II of this review on citrus fruits, the literature on chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation are critically considered. Sweet oranges, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are generally used for processing. The literature on chemical components of citrus fruit which include sugars, polysaccharides, organic acids, nitrogenous constituents and lipids; carotenoids which contribute to color; vitamins and minerals and flavonoids; limonoids, some of which impart bitterness to the juice; and the volatile components which contribute to aroma were reviewed in section A. Chilled and pasteurized juices, juice concentrates, and beverages are the important products manufactured commercially, and to a limited extent powdered citrus juices, canned segments, and marmalades. The literature on the manufacture of these products also as new types of juice and oil extractors; TASTE and other types of evaporators; tank farms to store juice and concentrate in bulk; aseptic filling in bulk containers and retail packs; alternate flexible and rigid containers other than glass and tin; and recovery of volatile flavoring constituents during juice processing are some of the important technological developments in the recent past and have been discussed in this section. Bitterness in citrus juices and its control, composition of cloud, and its stability and changes during storage have been reviewed. Essential oils, pectin, frozen and dried juice sacs, dried pulp and molasses, flavonoids, seed oil, and meal are the important byproducts, the manufacture of which is given in essential details. Generally, consumers judge the product on the basis of its sensory attributes. The quality of finished product is dependent upon the raw materials used and control of processes. In section C, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards for different products, physicochemical and microbiological parameters prescribed as indices of quality of fruit, juice, concentrate, and other products; composition of essential oils; and aroma concentrates are discussed in relation to sensory quality. Analytical methods for compounds affecting quality, and methods for detection of adulteration in different citrus products are briefly reviewed. The importance of sensorily evaluating quality of citrus products to select and develop quality control indices is emphasized. Areas where further research are required are indicated. A comprehensive bibliography is provided to aid further study and research. PMID:6380950

Abstract in spanish Se evaluó la producción y calidad de frutos de un cultivar de mandarino (Citrus reticulata Blanco), tres de naranjo (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) y dos de limonero (Citrus limon L. Burmann) sobre diferentes portainjertos en una zona fría, Quillón, Chile, en su tercera temporada de crecimiento. Hubo una moderada influencia de los portainjertos sobre la calidad de fruto, pero no en producción. Así Troyer indujo una menor calidad en mandarino Clementina que Carrizo y Cit (more) rumelo, sin embargo, no fue significativo debido a la escasa producción por árbol en esta temporada. En naranjos Newhall, el patrón Rubidoux provocó una mayor producción que Troyer y Carrizo, este último indujo un mayor contenido de sólidos solubles. Salustiana sobre Carrizo alcanzó un mayor contenido de jugo y grosor de pericarpio, pero con menor producción que Troyer. Carrizo y Rubidoux no influyeron sobre la calidad en naranjo cv. Valencia. Citrumelo indujo una mayor producción que Flying Dragon en limonero cv. Limoneira 8A, esto debido a que este último patrón presenta un menor tamaño de árbol debido a su carácter enanizante. El cultivar de limonero Génova injertado sobre Macrophylla se vio seriamente afectado por heladas, siendo el único tratamiento con este problema. Abstract in english Fruit yield and quality were evaluated on one mandarin cultivar (Citrus reticulata Blanco), three orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) cultivars and two lemon (Citrus limon L. Burmann) cultivars on different rootstocks in a cold region (Quillón, Chile) in their third season of growth. There was a moderate influence of rootstocks on fruit quality, but not on yield. Thus, Troyer induced lower fruit quality in mandarin cv. Clementina than Carrizo and Citrumelo, nevertheless, (more) it was not significant due to the scarce production per tree in this season. In orange cv. Newhall, Rubidoux induced higher yield than Troyer and Carrizo, the latter induced a higher soluble solid content. Salustiana on Carrizo achieved greater juice content and a thicker pericarp, but with less production than Troyer. Carrizo y Rubidoux did not influence the quality of orange cv. Valencia. Citrumelo induced just a higher yield than Flying Dragon in lemon cv. Limoneira 8A being due to the latter having a smaller tree size due to its dwarfing character. The lemon cv. Génova grafted on Macrophylla was seriously affected by frost, being the only treatment with this problem.

Diabetes is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated pathology, with a worldwide prevalence estimated to double by 2030. A major effort has been launched to find therapeutic means to improve health conditions of diabetic patients. Recent data show that supplemental natural antioxidants represent a potential strategy as adjunct therapy. Despite the major role of adipocytes in the etiology of diabetes, little is known about the effect of natural antioxidants on adipocyte response to oxidative stress. Using a diabetes-like oxidative stress model, the potential protective effect of antioxidative flavedo, albedo, and pulp extracts of (1) tangor Elendale ( Citrus reticulata × Citrus sinensis ) and (2) tangelo Minneola ( C. reticulata × Citrus paradisis ) was investigated on human adipocytes. Besides the retardation of free-radical-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes, non-cytotoxic concentrations of tangelo and tangor flavedo extracts significantly reduced the levels of protein carbonyls in response to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) generated by albumin glycation in SW872 cells. Flavedo extracts lowered carbonyl accumulation in H(2)O(2)-treated adipocytes, while tangelo and tangor flavedo, albedo, and pulp extracts suppressed ROS production in SW872 cells with or without the addition of H(2)O(2). Our results clearly show that Mauritian Citrus fruit extracts represent an important source of antioxidants, with a novel antioxidative role at the adipose tissue level. PMID:20882960

Among the citrus plants, “Tahiti” acid lime is known as a host of G. mangiferae fungi. This species is considered endophytic for citrus plants and is easily isolated from asymptomatic fruits and leaves. G. mangiferae is genetically related and sometimes confused with G. citricarpa which causes Citrus Black Spot (CBS). “Tahiti” acid lime is one of the few species that means to be resistant to this disease because it does not present symptoms. Despite the fact that it is commonly found in citric plants, little is known about the populations of G. mangiferae associated with these plants. Hence, the objective of this work was to gain insights about the genetic diversity of the G. mangiferae populations that colonize “Tahiti” acid limes by sequencing cistron ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. It was verified that “Tahiti” acid lime plants are hosts of G. mangiferae and also of G. citricarpa, without presenting symptoms of CBS. Populations of G. mangiferae present low-to-moderate genetic diversity and show little-to-moderate levels of population differentiation. As gene flow was detected among the studied populations and they share haplotypes, it is possible that all populations, from citrus plants and also from the other known hosts of this fungus, belong to one great panmictic population. PMID:18160454

Abstract in portuguese A presença de intumescências em frutos de tangerina Cleópatra (Citrus reshni) observadas em Limeira (SP), foram associadas ao Citrus tatter leaf (CTLV-Cl), um isolado do virus do acanalamento do lenho da maceira (Apple stem grooving virus, ASGV). O CTLV-Cl foi transmitido mecanicamente para as principais hospedera experimentais do CTLV. Chenopodium quinoa e C. amaranticolor reagiram com lesões locais e sintomas sistêmicos, enquanto as demais reagiram ligeiramente dif (more) erente do relatado para CTLV. Um par de primers desenhados para CTLV e ASGV amplificaram um fragmento de 801 pb, conforme o esperado, a parteir de plantas herbaceas infetadas com o CTLV-Cl. Particulas do tipo capillovirus foram observadas ao microscópio eletrônico, em folhas de Chenopodium quinoa e C. amaranticolor experimentalmente infetadas. Abstract in english A citrus tatter leaf isolate (CTLV-Cl) of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) has been found to be associated with a fruit rind intumescence in Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reshni) in Limeira (SP). The CTLV-Cl was mechanically transmitted to the main experimental herbaceous hosts of CTLV. Chenopodium quinoa and C. amaranticolor reacted with local lesions and systemic symptoms while other test plants reacted somewhat differently than what is reported for CTLV. A pair of primers (more) designed for specific detection of ASGV and CTLV amplified the expected 801 bp fragment from the CTLV-Cl-infected plants. Typical capillovirus-like particles were observed by the electron microscope in experimentally infected C. quinoa and C. amaranticolor leaves.

Fruit production is strongly dependent on irrigation water in Spain. In contrast with annual crops, fruit producers are concerned not only with current year yields but also with future years' production or even with the potential loss of a strong investment in the case of death of the plantation. According to climate change predictions, extreme precipitation events -- floods and droughts -- are likely to increase in the future. This means that there might be a potential demand for hydrological drought insurance among fruit producers. This study tests whether hydrological drought has effectively affected fruit yields in the last 30 years in Spain. Water management decisions are taken in Spain according to drought indicators, called State Indices, established in the Drought Action Plans in the different river basins in Spain. These indicators are mainly based on reservoir stocks and inflows in regulated sub-basins and on river flows in non-regulated sub-basins. However, in some cases they are also based on ground water stocks and on water transfers between basins depending on the case. We analyze the relationship between the State Indices at their lowest levels and the yields of non-citrus fruit (apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums and cherries) in the most important producing areas in Spain (Cuenca del Ebro, del Segura, del Júcar y del Guadiana). Preliminary results in some of the regions suggest that hydrological drought has caused some yield decrease, but it has not been so far so strong as to compromise fruit plantations. Keywords: Hydrological drought, drought indicators, fruit yields, Spain

Prospective epidemiological studies have reported that a higher fruit and vegetable intake is associated with a lower risk of CHD. The aim of the present study was to examine associations between fruit and vegetable consumption, in particular the subgroupings citrus fruits, apples and cruciferous vegetables, and the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). During a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 1075 incident ACS cases were identified among 53 383 men and women, aged 50-64 years at recruitment into the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort study in 1993-7. Fruit and vegetable intake was estimated from a validated FFQ, and ACS incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, a tendency towards a lower risk of ACS was observed for both men and women with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. For men, we found an inverse association for apple intake (IRR per 25 g/d: 0.97; 95 % CI 0.94, 0.99). This association was also seen among women, albeit borderline significant. However, a higher risk was seen among women with higher fruit juice intake (IRR per 25 g/d: 1.04; 95 % CI 1.00, 1.08). The present results provide some support for previously observed inverse associations between fresh fruit intake, particularly apples, and ACS risk.

Regulatory constraints and environmental and human health concerns have promoted the search for alternative bio-control strategies of fire blight, a destructive disease of rosaceous plants which produces serious losses in apple and pear orchards all over the world. The aim of this study was to establish the antimicrobial activity of Citrus maxima essential oil against Erwinia amylovora. An agar diffusion method was used for the screening of the inhibitory effect of Citrus maxima essential oil on bacterial strains growth. The quantitative inhibitory effect of pomelo oil on in vitro biofilm development was established by a microtiter colorimetric assay. In order to investigate the ability of pomelo oil to interfere with bacterial adherence and subsequent biofilm development on leaves obtained from different pomaceous fruit trees species and cultivars: Pyrus (Napoca, Williams), Malus (Golden Delicious) and Cydonia (Aromate), leaves were immersed in pomelo oil for 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes before exposing them to bacterial colonization. The architecture of bacterial biofilms developed on leaf surface was analyzed using Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM). Our results showed that Citrus maxima essential oil inhibited the development of bacterial biofilms on leaves, pomelo oil being more active on Cydonia (Aromate) leaves when the leaves were treated for 5 minutes. The results obtained from this study may contribute to the development of new bio-control agents as alternative strategies to protect fruit trees from fire blight disease. PMID:20583476

Huanglongbing (HLB), considered the most serious citrus disease in the world, is associated with the nonculturable bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (Las). Infection of citrus by this pathogen leads to reduced plant vigor and productivity, ultimately resulting in death of the infected tree. It can take up to two years following initial infection before outward symptoms become apparent, making detection difficult. The existing knowledge gap in our understanding of Las and its pathogenesis leading to HLB has stymied development of treatments and methods to mitigate the pathogen's influence. To evaluate the influence of Las on fruit quality in both symptomatic and asymptomatic fruit, and gain further insight into the pathogenesis of the disease, a 1H NMR metabolomics investigation, complemented with physicochemical and analyte-specific analyses, was undertaken. Comparison of the juice obtained from oranges gathered from Las+ (symptomatic and asymptomatic) and Las- (healthy) trees revealed significant differences in the concentrations of sugars, amino and organic acids, limonin glucoside, and limonin. This study demonstrates differing metabolic profiles in the juice of oranges from Las+ and Las- and proposes how Las may be able to evade citrus defense responses. PMID:22698301

The relationship between carotenoid accumulation and the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes during fruit maturation was investigated in three citrus varieties, Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.), Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), and Lisbon lemon (Citrus limon Burm.f.). We cloned the cDNAs for phytoene synthase (CitPSY), phytoene desaturase (CitPDS), ?-carotene (car) desaturase (CitZDS), carotenoid isomerase (CitCRTISO), lycopene ?-cyclase (CitLCYb), ?-ring hydroxylase (CitHYb), zeaxanthin (zea) epoxidase (CitZEP), and lycopene ?-cyclase (CitLCYe) from Satsuma mandarin, which shared high identities in nucleotide sequences with Valencia orange, Lisbon lemon, and other plant species. With the transition of peel color from green to orange, the change from ?,?-carotenoid (?-car and lutein) accumulation to ?,?-carotenoid (?-car, ?-cryptoxanthin, zea, and violaxanthin) accumulation was observed in the flavedos of Satsuma mandarin and Valencia orange, accompanying the disappearance of CitLCYe transcripts and the increase in CitLCYb transcripts. Even in green fruit, high levels of ?,?-carotenoids and CitLCYe transcripts were not observed in the juice sacs. As fruit maturation progressed in Satsuma mandarin and Valencia orange, a simultaneous increase in the expression of genes (CitPSY, CitPDS, CitZDS, CitLCYb, CitHYb, and CitZEP) led to massive ?,?-xanthophyll (?-cryptoxanthin, zea, and violaxanthin) accumulation in both the flavedo and juice sacs. The gene expression of CitCRTISO was kept low or decreased in the flavedo during massive ?,?-xanthophyll accumulation. In the flavedo of Lisbon lemon and Satsuma mandarin, massive accumulation of phytoene was observed with a decrease in the transcript level for CitPDS. Thus, the carotenoid accumulation during citrus fruit maturation was highly regulated by the coordination of the expression among carotenoid biosynthetic genes. In this paper, the mechanism leading to diversity in ?,?-xanthophyll compositions between Satsuma mandarin and Valencia orange was also discussed on the basis of the substrate specificity of ?-ring hydroxylase and the balance of expression between upstream synthesis genes (CitPSY, CitPDS, CitZDS, and CitLCYb) and downstream synthesis genes (CitHYb and CitZEP).

Pepper species of the genus Capsicum have been cultivated over centuries, producing both pungent and sweet fruit; the pungency is caused by alkaloids called capsaicinoids. Among the five cultivated species, Capsicum chinense is one of the most popular, being native to the Amazon basin. This species is characterized by a wide variety of fruit sizes, shapes and colors, with different capsaicinoid content. In addition, fruits are rich in vitamins A and C. Despite the importance of this plant as a spice and its medicinal uses, research on its genetic variability and potential for breeding programs is still incipient. We investigated the genetic control of some traits through diallel analysis with the objective of introgressing these traits into cultivated varieties. For the diallel analysis, the progeny of crosses between peppers with pungent and sweet fruits, together with the parents, were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. The fruits were harvested and analyzed for the traits total fresh fruit mass, total dry fruit mass, percentage dry matter, total soluble solids, vitamin C content, fruit pungency, and number of seeds per fruit. Genetic variability was detected for all traits. In the diallel analysis, the additive-dominant model was considered to be adequate for total fresh fruit mass, percentage dry matter, total soluble solids, and vitamin C content. Additive genetic effects and dominance were found for all traits; consequently, breeding for improvement of these fruit traits would be viable. PMID:20092041

Bergamot is a common Italian citrus fruit, cultivated almost exclusively to produce essential oils; the juice is considered a waste product, which represents a serious environmental and economic problem for the industries. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate bergamot juice through its chemical characterization and its use to enrich and fortify fruit juices. To investigate this, apples and apricots were used for the laboratory-scale production of fruit juice, following both the traditional industrial recipe and those with the addition of bergamot juice at 10% or 20%, together with or in order to replace the synthetic additives normally used in the industrial process (ascorbic acid and citric acid). The ascorbic acid content and the antioxidant activity were measured during the differen...

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the synthetic auxin 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pirydiloxyacetic acid (3,5,6-TPA) on photosynthetic activity, photosynthate transport to the fruit, and fruitlet abscission to further explain the physiological basis of auxin-mediated citrus fruit thinning. Applying 15?mg l?1 3,5,6-TPA to trees during the fruit cell division stage significantly increased fruitlet abscission of Clementine mandarin. On treated trees, abnormal foliar development and photosynthetic damage were observed at the same time as 3,5,6-TPA reduced fruitlet growth rate. Briefly, treatment reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations and modified chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, that is, reduced the quantum yield (?PSII) of the noncyclic electron transport rate, dimin...

To induce haploid plants in Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. ‘Banpeiyu’, we evaluated the effect of pollination with soft X-ray-irradiated pollen on fruit set and seed development, and carried out ovule culture. When ‘Banpeiyu’ pummelo pistils were pollinated with X-ray-irradiated pollen of ‘Fukuhara’ sweet orange [C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck], the exposure doses affected the fruit set. The number of seeds per fruit was also affected by the exposure dose, and tended to decrease as the dose increased; however, all developed seeds obtained from these crosses were diploid. In the ovule culture of ‘Banpeiyu’ pummelo, six embryoids shown haploidy were obtained in all treatments. One haploid plantlet with 9 chromosomes was regenerated from an embryoid in a culture of ovules established 40 days after pollination with 400 Gray (Gy)-irradiated pollen of ‘Tosa-buntan’ pummelo (C. maxima). This haploid was suggested to be derived from ‘Banpeiyu’ pummelo by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) analysis.   

The effects of elevation, rootstock, and soil depth on the nutritional quality of mandarin oranges from 11 groves in California were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy by quantifying 29 compounds and applying multivariate statistical data analysis. A comparison of the juice from oranges in groves with deeper soil and trifoliate rootstock versus those with shallow soil and C-35 rootstock revealed differences in the concentrations of 4-aminobutyrate, ethanol, phenylalanine, succinate, and isoleucine. A comparison of fruit from trees grown at higher versus lower elevation revealed that those at higher elevation had higher concentrations of amino acids, succinate, and 4-aminobutyrate and lower concentrations of sugars and limonin glucoside. Such differences indicate that rootstock, soil depth, and differences in elevation influence the fruit nutrient composition. This study highlights how metabolomics coupled with multivariate statistical analysis can illuminate the metabolic characteristics of citrus, thereby aiding in the determination of the grove identity and fruit quality during orange production. PMID:21332232

This work considers the possibility for using laser ablation in food technologies. It was found for the fruits and vegetables under study that laser ablation provided an efficient peeling of the materials while preserving the organoleptic properties, such as freshness, naturalness, and texture. After a laser treatment of citrus fruit (oranges and lemons), the fruits were peeled and pectin was extracted from the peels via a classical type of extraction in HCl water solution. The pectins obtained were assayed for yield, degree of esterification, polyuronic content, molecular weight, gel strength and other physico-chemical properties. For all samples it was found that laser pretreatment of the materials led to an increase in pectin yield, gel strength and purity, at an insignificant reduction...

Reverse-phase HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection was used for the simultaneous separation and determination of naturally occurring adrenergic amines (octopamine, synephrine and tyramine) in fruits and dry extracts of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara and in herbal medicines derived therefrom. Synephrine was the main component in fruits (0.10-0.35%) and in dry extracts (3.00-3.08%) and was present in the range 0.25-0.99% in herbal medicines. Flavanones were analysed in the same samples using a reverse-phase HPLC technique which allowed the identification and quantification of neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin and hesperetin. C. aurantium fruits and derivatives contained mainly glycosylated flavanones: in particular, naringin and neohesperidin were found to be the major flavonoids and their concentrations ranged from 1.80 to 26.30 and from 3.90 to 14.71 mg/g, respectively. The levels of aglycones were very low in all samples tested. PMID:15311840