Health-Related Composition and Bioactivity of an Agave Sap/Prickly Pear Juice Beverage.

In this study, a beverage made from a combination of Agave sap (AS) and prickly pear juice (PPJ) was analyzed for its nutrients and bioactive and potentially health-promoting compounds. The beverage was evaluated for its ability to act as an antioxidant, regulate glycemic properties, and undergo gut bacterial fermentation in vitro. The major mono- and oligosaccharides present in the beverage were galacturonic acid (217.74 ± 13.46 mg/100 mL), rhamnose (227.00 ± 1.58 mg/100 mL), and fructose (158.16 ± 8.86 mg/mL). The main phenolic compounds identified were protocatechuic acid (440.31 ± 3.06 mg/100 mL) and catechin (359.72 ± 7.56 mg/100 mL). It was observed that the beverage had a low glycemic index (<40) and could inhibit digestive carbohydrases. The combination of ingredients also helped to reduce gas production during AS fermentation from 56.77 cm3 to 15.67 cm3. The major SCFAs produced during fermentation were butyrate, acetate, and propionate, with valerate being produced only during the late fermentation of the AS. This beverage is rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and dietary fiber, which will bring health benefits when consumed.

Herbivore-Dependent Induced Volatiles in Pear Plants Cause Differential Attractive Response by Lacewing Larvae.

Biological control may benefit from the behavioral manipulation of natural enemies using volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Among these, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) provide potential tools for attracting or retaining predators and parasitoids of insect pests. This work aimed to characterize the VOCs emitted by pear plants in response to attack by Cacopsylla bidens (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a major pest in pear orchards, to compare these with VOCs induced by a leaf chewing insect, Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and to evaluate the behavioral response of Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) to HIPVs from pear plants damaged by either herbivore. The results demonstrated that plants damaged by the pear psylla emitted VOC blends with increased amounts of aliphatic aldehydes. Leafroller damage resulted in increased amounts of benzeneacetonitrile, (E)-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene, ß-ocimene and caryophyllene. In olfactometer bioassays, larvae of C. externa were attracted to herbivore-damaged plants when contrasted with undamaged plants. When plant odors from psylla-damaged were contrasted with those of leafroller-damaged plants, C.externa preferred the former, also showing shorter response lag-times and higher response rates when psylla-damaged plants were present. Our results suggest that pear plants respond to herbivory by modifying their volatile profile, and that psylla-induced volatiles may be used as prey-specific chemical cues by chrysopid larvae. Our study is the first to report HIPVs in pear plants attacked by C. bidens, as well as the attraction of C. externa to psyllid-induced volatiles.

Protocol for in vitro rooting of Pyrus comunnis rootstocks / Protocolo de enraizamento in vitro de porta-enxertos de Pyrus comunnis

Effective protocols for in vitro rooting for woody fruit trees are still a challenge for in vitro seedling production, especially when there is a need to insert new cultivars or rootstocks. These protocols are essential to accelerate studies in plant breeding programs and for seedling distribution. This study evaluated the use of 6-Benzylaminopurine (IBA) in in vitro rooting of Pyruscomunnis rootstocks, clones 'OHxF87' and Pyrodwarf. Explant exposure times (0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours) to 20 mg L-1 IBA were tested for in vitro rooting. The exposure to IBA resulted in rooting rates above 80%, surpassing some results reported in the literature. The 24-hour treatment provided 81,81% survival, leading to an average growth of five roots with 19 mm length, for 'OHxF87' rootstock. The same exposure time resulted in the highest survival rate (75%) and the highest mean root number, seven roots per plant with 10 mm length, for 'PDW' rootstock. Root formation did not occur in the absence of synthetic auxin. Therefore, it can be concluded that a 24-hour exposure at 20 mg L-1 IBA was sufficient to promote in vitro rooting in 'OHxF87' and Pyrodwarf rootstocks'.

Protocolos eficazes de enraizamento in vitro de frutíferas lenhosas ainda são um desafio para produção de mudas in vitro, especialmente quando há necessidade de inserção de novas cultivares ou porta-enxerto. Esses protocolos são essenciais para acelerar estudos nos programas de melhoramento genético e também para distribuição posterior das mudas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a utilização da 6-Benzilaminopurina no enraizamento in vitro de porta-enxerto Pirus comunnis, clones 'OHxF87' e Pyrodwarf. Para o enraizamento, foi testado o tempo de exposição dos explantes ao AIB. Para tanto, foram utilizados 20 mg L-1 do fitohormônio nas horas 0, 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas. A exposição ao AIB resultou em taxas de enraizamento acima de 80%, superando alguns resultados encontrados na literatura. Para o porta-enxerto 'OHxF87', o tratamento de 24 horas proporcionou 81,81% de sobrevivência, promovendo em média cinco raízes com comprimento de 19 mm. O mesmo tratamento para o porta-enxerto 'PDW' resultou na maior taxa de sobrevivência (75%), bem como no maior número médio de raízes, sete raízes por planta, com comprimento de 10 mm. Na ausência de auxina sintética, a formação de raízes não ocorreu. Assim sendo, podemos concluir que o tempo de exposição de 24 horas a 20 mg L-1 de IBA foi suficiente para promover o enraizamento de porta-enxertos Pyrus communis de 'OHxF87' e 'PDW'.

In-hive learning of specific mimic odours as a tool to enhance honey bee foraging and pollination activities in pear and apple crops.

The areas devoted to agriculture that depend on pollinators have been sharply increased in the last decades with a concomitant growing global demand for pollination services. This forces to consider new strategies in pollinators' management to improve their efficiency. To promote a precision pollination towards a specific crop, we developed two simple synthetic odorant mixtures that honey bees generalized with their respective natural floral scents of the crop. We chose two commercial crops for fruit production that often coexist in agricultural settings, the apple (Malus domesticus) and the pear trees (Pyrus communis). Feeding colonies with sucrose solution scented with the apple mimic (AM) or the pear mimic (PM) odour enabled the establishment of olfactory memories that can bias bees towards the flowers of these trees. Encompassing different experimental approaches, our results support the offering of scented food to improve foraging and pollination activities of honey bees. The circulation of AM-scented sucrose solution inside the hive promoted higher colony activity, probably associated with greater activity of nectar foragers. The offering of PM-scented sucrose solution did not increase colony activity but led to greater pollen collection, which is consistent with pear flowers offering mainly pollen as resources for the bees. Results obtained from apple and pear crops suggest that the offering of AM- and PM-scented sucrose solution increased fruit yields. This preliminary study highlights the role of in-hive olfactory learning to bias foraging preferences within pome fruit crops.

Dynamics of Major and Trace Elements in Water-Soil-Tree Interaction: Translocation in Pyrus malus in Chihuahua, Mexico Using ICP-OES and Its Health Risk Implications.

The transference of metals from water irrigation and soil to plants is a possible pathway of contamination for the trophic chain. This research is focused on the distribution of 16 analytes in the water-soil-tree (Pyrus malus) interaction in an agricultural region in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico from August 2019 (first sampling) to August 2020 (second sampling). The apple variety under investigation was Golden Delicious; it was found that the trace elements of As (0.18-0.34 mg·kg-1) and Cd (0.11-0.14 mg·kg-1) in the apple were above the corresponding permissible limit, according to FAO/WHO, and Cr (0.08-0.86 mg·kg-1) was below the limit. Furthermore, the health risk implications were estimated by the Hazard Quotients (HQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR). For carcinogenic risk, As, Cd, and Cr exceeded the risk limit (CR > 10-4). This investigation as well provides a link for similar research around the globe. Major and trace elements detection was performed with the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique, along with a prior homogenization of samples and microwave acid digestion. To obtain the statistical behavior, an analysis of variance and correlation was performed.

The roles of WRKY transcription factors in Malus spp. and Pyrus spp.

The WRKY transcription factor gene family is known to be involved in plant defense against pathogens and in tolerance to different environmental stresses at different stages of development. The response mechanisms through which these genes act can be influenced by different phytohormones as well as by many trans- and cis-acting elements, making this network an important topic for analysis, but still something complex to fully understand. According to available reports, these genes can also perform important roles in pome species (Malus spp. and Pyrus spp.) metabolism, especially in adaptation of these plants to stressful conditions. Here, we present a quick review of what is known about WRKY genes in Malus and Pyrus genomes offering a simple way to understand what is already known about this topic. We also add information connecting the evolution of these transcription factors with others that can also be found in pomes.

Biocontrol Efficacy of the Vishniacozyma Victoriae in Semi-Commercial Assays for the Control of Postharvest Fungal Diseases of Organic Pears.

Vishniacozyma victoriae NPCC 1263 was selected for this work because of the active antagonistic effect over several fungi in postharvest organic pears. Yeast biomass production was carried out in a 15 L stirred-tank bioreactor with 12 L of working volume at 20 °C and 300 rpm and 0.64 vvm of aeration. The selected production medium was based on cheese whey powder and salts. The present study aims to evaluate the possibility of using an inexpensive growth substrate for production of added value products (yeast biomass), this innovation also requires evaluate biocontrol efficacy of yeast against fungal diseases of pears in semi-commercial assays. The yeast biomass was collected, cold stored for 60 days (Treatment 1) and 15 days (Treatment 2) and sprayed on the pears in semi-commercial level testing assays. After 180 days of postharvest conservation, significant reduction of fungal infection by Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea and Cladosporium sp. was observed. The Treatment 1 reduced total diseases incidence by 71%, instead Treatment 2 reduced it by 92%. The effect of spray application on the yeast viability with different cold storage was tested. These work provides information on the bench-scale bioreactor yeast production using a new low-cost medium, viability and biocontrol efficacy of Vishniacozyma victoriae in controlling common diseases affecting pears in semi-commercial assays.

Evaluation of cryotolerant yeasts for the elaboration of a fermented pear beverage in Patagonia: Physicochemical and sensory attributes.

The production of pome fruits as pears and apples, as well as their derived industries, is of great economic importance in North Patagonia. The elaboration of fermented beverages as cider or perry has evidenced a substantial diversification during the last years, with the evaluation of different fruit varieties, yeast starters and technological changes. In this work, two cryotolerant yeasts belonging to the species Saccharomyces uvarum were evaluated at laboratory and pilot scale in sterile and no-sterile pear must. One of the strains was originally isolated from apple chicha (strain NPCC1314) and the other from apple cider (strain NPCC1420) in Patagonia. Both physicochemical and sensory features of the fermented products were evaluated. Both strains were able to successfully complete the fermentations, although strain NPCC1420 showed the better kinetic properties including a faster sugar consumption than the strain NPCC1314. Both strains showed excellent implantation capacity, but the fermented products showed different chemical profiles. The perry fermented with the strain NPCC1314 was characterized by better sensory attributes as assessed by trained panelists and a greater acceptance for untrained public than the same fermented with the strain NPCC1420. The two strains were able to consume sorbitol, both in pear must and in agar-plates supplemented with sorbitol as the sole carbon source. This ability is described for the first time in S. uvarum, at least for the two strains evaluated in this work.

Plant growth regulators to increase fruit set and yield of 'Rocha' pear trees in Southern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different aminoethoxyvinilglycine (AVG), thidiazuron (TDZ) and prohexadione calcium (P-Ca) rates sprayed at different timings on fruit set, yield, and fruit quality of 'Rocha' pear trees in different climatic conditions of Southern Brazil. The study was performed in two commercial orchards located in São Joaquim, SC (2015/2016) and Antônio Prado, RS (2016/2017). Plant material consisted of 'Rocha' pear trees grafted onto Pyrus calleryana and quince rootstock 'BA29' in São Joaquim and Antônio Prado, respectively. Treatments consisted of AVG, TDZ and P-Ca sprayed at different rates and timings. Trunk cross-sectional area increase, fruit set, thinned fruit, fruit per tree, yield, average fruit weight, projected yield, yield efficiency, fruit length, fruit diameter, L/D ratio, seed number, flesh firmness, and soluble solids content were assessed. Fruit set and yield were consistently increased by AVG in all experiments. Fruit set was not affected by P-Ca and was significantly decreased by TDZ. However, yield was positively affected by P-Ca 100 mg L-1 sprayed at full bloom + 7 days after full bloom and TDZ 10 mg L-1 at full bloom. Fruit size was consistently increased by TDZ.

Cladosporium species causing "Cladosporium rot" on "Bosc" pear fruit in Argentina.

"Cladosporium rot" on "Bosc" pear fruit during cold storage causes significant economic losses and has been reported in recent years in the productive valleys of Río Negro and Neuquén. The species involved were not determined. During 2016-2017, "Bosc" pears (Pyrus communis) in cold storage chambers exhibited external brownish black circular spots caused by Cladosporium spp. The objective of this work was to determine the Cladosporium species that caused the above mentioned symptoms. The morphological and molecular analyses of the partial sequence of the actin gene (ACT) supported the identification. Cladosporium macrocarpum, Cladosporium subtilissimum and Cladosporium floccosum were determined as the species involved in the disease. Although Cladosporium has been reported to cause pear rot, this is the first report to identify these species as causal agents of this fruit disease.

Insect Pollination, More than Plant Nutrition, Determines Yield Quantity and Quality in Apple and Pear.

Agricultural yield is the result of multiple factors and ecological processes (e.g., pollination, fertilization, pest control). Understanding how the different factors interact is fundamental to designing management practices aimed to increase these yields, which are environmental friendly and sustainable over time. In this study, we focus on insect pollination and plant nutrition status, since they are two key factors that influence crop yield. The study was carried out in Northwest Patagonia Argentina, which is an area of intensive production of pears and apples of global importance, during the harvest seasons 2018 and 2019. The plant nutrition was estimated from leaf chlorophyll content. Biotic pollination benefits were evaluated by comparing fruit quantity (fruit to flower ratio) and quality (weight, size, and sugar concentration) from approximately 25 flowers exposed to pollinators and 25 flowers excluded to them per tree (a total of 160 apple trees and 130 pear trees). In addition, we estimated the visitation rate of pollinators to flowers and related it to fruit quality in apple. Despite different floral characteristics, we found in both crops a positive effect of insect pollination in both the quantity and the quality of the fruits. Interestingly, the nutrition of the trees, although variable, did not affect either the quantity or the quality of the fruits. Despite the weak effect of nutrition, we found no interaction between pollination and plant nutrition (i.e., additive effects). These results highlight the importance of agricultural practices that promote pollinators on farms.

Cinética da secagem de amostras de pera com geometrias distintas em secador solar (Pyrus L. ) / Drying kinetics of pear samples with different geometries in solar dryer

O objetivo do estudo foi realizar a desidratação de amostras de pera através da secagem solar e obter as respectivas curvas de secagem. As amostras foram submetidas à desidratação em dois tipos de geometrias, circulares com 1cm de espessura e em cubos com 1cm de comprimento. Os dados experimentais das curvas de secagem para as duas condições foram ajustados ao modelo matemático de secagem baseado na Segunda Lei de Fick. Os resultados mostram que a umidade do fruto é de aproximadamente 85%. As amostras apresentaram peso constante a partir de 18 horas de experimento para a geometria plana e a partir de 30 horas para a geometria cilíndrica. O coeficiente difusivo, obtido através da aplicação da Segunda Lei de Fick, para geometria plana foi de 6,4 x 10(-4)m2/s e para a geometria cilíndrica de 3,35 x 10(-4) m2/s.(AU)

Cinética da secagem de amostras de pera com geometrias distintas em secador solar (Pyrus L. ) / Drying kinetics of pear samples with different geometries in solar dryer

O objetivo do estudo foi realizar a desidratação de amostras de pera através da secagem solar e obter as respectivas curvas de secagem. As amostras foram submetidas à desidratação em dois tipos de geometrias, circulares com 1cm de espessura e em cubos com 1cm de comprimento. Os dados experimentais das curvas de secagem para as duas condições foram ajustados ao modelo matemático de secagem baseado na Segunda Lei de Fick. Os resultados mostram que a umidade do fruto é de aproximadamente 85%. As amostras apresentaram peso constante a partir de 18 horas de experimento para a geometria plana e a partir de 30 horas para a geometria cilíndrica. O coeficiente difusivo, obtido através da aplicação da Segunda Lei de Fick, para geometria plana foi de 6,4 x 10(-4)m2/s e para a geometria cilíndrica de 3,35 x 10(-4) m2/s.

Secondary metabolite profiles of small-spored Alternaria support the new phylogenetic organization of the genus.

The group of the small-spored Alternaria species is particularly relevant in foods due to its high frequency and wide distribution in different crops. These species are responsible for the accumulation of mycotoxins and bioactive secondary metabolites in food. The taxonomy of the genus has been recently revised with particular attention on them; several morphospecies within this group cannot be segregated by phylogenetic methods, and the most recent classifications proposed to elevate several phylogenetic species-groups to the taxonomic status of section. The purpose of the present study was to compare the new taxonomic revisions in Alternaria with secondary metabolite profiles with special focus on sections Alternaria and Infectoriae and food safety. A total of 360 small-spored Alternaria isolates from Argentinean food crops (tomato fruit, pepper fruit, blueberry, apple, wheat grain, walnut, pear, and plum) was morphologically identified to species-group according to Simmons (2007), and their secondary metabolite profile was determined. The isolates belonged to A. infectoria sp.-grp. (19), A. tenuissima sp.-grp. (262), A. arborescens sp.-grp. (40), and A. alternata sp.-grp. (7); 32 isolates, presenting characteristics overlapping between the last three groups, were classified as Alternaria sp. A high chemical diversity was observed; 78 different metabolites were detected, 31 of them of known chemical structure. The isolates from A. infectoria sp.-grp. (=Alternaria section Infectoriae) presented a specific secondary metabolite profile, different from the other species-groups. Infectopyrones, novae-zelandins and phomapyrones were the most frequent metabolites produced by section Infectoriae. Altertoxin-I and alterperylenol were the only compounds that these isolates produced in common with members of section Alternaria. None of the well-known Alternaria toxins, considered relevant in foods, namely alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN) or altenuene (ALT), were produced by isolates of this section. On the other hand, strains from section Alternaria (A. tenuissima, A. arborescens, and A. alternata sp.-grps.) shared a common metabolite profile, indistinguishable from each other. AOH, AME, ALT, TEN, and TeA were the most frequently mycotoxins produced, together with pyrenochaetic acid A and altechromone A. Alternaria section Alternaria represents a substantial risk in food, since their members in all types of crops are able to produce the toxic metabolites.

Controle do vigor em pereira 'Abate Fetel' por meio da poda radicular / Vigor control in 'Abate Fetel' pear by root pruning

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de poda radicular sobre o crescimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade de frutos de pereira Abate Fetel. O experimento foi conduzido durante as safras 2007 e 2008. Os tratamentos consistiram em: poda radicular a 20 cm da planta, 35 cm e controle sem realização de poda radicular. A poda radicular apresentou controle do vigor e na manutenção de características vegetativas, no entanto, não influenciou os índices produtivos e físico-químicos dos frutos. Conclui-se que a poda radicular promove controle do vigor em pereira Abate Fetel.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different levels of root pruning on the vegetative growth, yield and quality of fruits of ‘Abate Fetel’ pear. The experiment was conducted during the cropping seasons of 2007 and 2008. The treatments consisted of: root pruning at 20 cm of the plant, 35 cm and control without root pruning. Root pruning showed vigor control and maintenance of vegetative characteristics, however, it did not influence the productive and physical-chemical indices of the fruits. It is concluded that root pruning promotes vigor control in ‘Abate Fetel’ pears.

Controle do vigor em pereira 'Abate Fetel' por meio da poda radicular / Vigor control in 'Abate Fetel' pear by root pruning

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de poda radicular sobre o crescimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade de frutos de pereira Abate Fetel. O experimento foi conduzido durante as safras 2007 e 2008. Os tratamentos consistiram em: poda radicular a 20 cm da planta, 35 cm e controle sem realização de poda radicular. A poda radicular apresentou controle do vigor e na manutenção de características vegetativas, no entanto, não influenciou os índices produtivos e físico-químicos dos frutos. Conclui-se que a poda radicular promove controle do vigor em pereira Abate Fetel.(AU)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different levels of root pruning on the vegetative growth, yield and quality of fruits of ‘Abate Fetel pear. The experiment was conducted during the cropping seasons of 2007 and 2008. The treatments consisted of: root pruning at 20 cm of the plant, 35 cm and control without root pruning. Root pruning showed vigor control and maintenance of vegetative characteristics, however, it did not influence the productive and physical-chemical indices of the fruits. It is concluded that root pruning promotes vigor control in ‘Abate Fetel pears.(AU)

Eugenia Klotzschiana O. Berg Fruits as New Sources of Nutrients: Determination of their Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition

Abstract: The Cerrado is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and Brazil's second largest biome. Many native species of the Brazilian Cerrado provide fruits that have unique sensory characteristics and high nutritional value. This study aimed at characterizing the pulp of Eugenia klotzschiana O. Berg, concerning its proximal composition, bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity. The pulp under study had high moisture (89.47 g kg-1) and caloric (96.07 kcal kg-1) values whereas its contents of protein (0.59 g kg-1) and lipids (2.35 g kg-1) were low. The cerrado pear pulp also had high iron content (16.5 mg kg -1) and dietary fiber (6.45 g kg-1), besides 0.034-0,055 mg kg-1 carotenoids, 8.66 mg kg-1 ascorbic acid and 0.66 mg kg-1 total chlorophyll. Total phenolic compounds (333.41-566.33 mg EAG kg-1) and flavonoids (225-50 mg EQ kg-1) were found by extraction methods named Method 1 (water) and Method 2 (acetone+methanol), respectively. Thus, the cerrado pear can be an alternative to improving nutrient intake and to providing sustainable use of the native flora in the Cerrado.

Boron foliar application, branch girdling and plant growth regulators on yield and fruit quality of 'Garber' pear trees.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of boron foliar application, branch girdling and plant growth regulators on the performance of pear trees cv. Garber. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of different boron rates (220, 440, 660 and 880 mL 100 L-1), branch girdling, and the plant growth regulators Promalin® (benzyladenine + gibberellins AG4+7) (560 mL 100 L-1) and Biozyme * TF (200 mL 100 L-1). The percentage of fruit set, stem length, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh firmness, soluble solids and yield were assessed. The greatest fruit set was observed with Promalin® in both years and also boron and Biozyme * TF in the second year. The use of Promalin® increased peduncle length, fruit height but negatively affected soluble solids. Yield was also increased by this plant growth regulator and boron. Concluding, Promalin® improves fruit set, yield, and fruit quality and boron positively influence yield.