scholarly journals Specialty Melon Cultivar Evaluation under Organic and Conventional Production in Florida

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 905-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjing Guan ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Danielle D. Treadwell ◽  
Michael R. Alligood ◽  
Donald J. Huber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Conventional Field

Interest in producing specialty melons (Cucumis melo) is increasing in Florida, but information on yield performance, fruit quality, and disease resistance of specialty melon cultivars grown in Florida conditions is limited. In this study conducted at Citra, FL, during the 2011 Spring season, 10 specialty melon cultivars were evaluated, in both certified organic and conventionally managed fields, including: Creme de la Creme and San Juan ananas melon (C. melo var. reticulatus), Brilliant and Camposol canary melon (C. melo var. inodorus), Ginkaku and Sun Jewel asian melon (C. melo var. makuwa), Arava and Diplomat galia melon (C. melo var. reticulatus), and Honey Pearl and Honey Yellow honeydew melon (C. melo var. inodorus). ‘Athena’ cantaloupe (C. melo var. reticulatus) was included as a control. ‘Sun Jewel’, ‘Diplomat’, ‘Honey Yellow’, and ‘Honey Pearl’ were early maturing cultivars that were harvested 10 days earlier than ‘Athena’. ‘Athena’ had the highest marketable yield in the conventional field (10.7 kg/plant), but the yield of ‘Camposol’, ‘Ginkaku’, ‘Honey Yellow’, and ‘Honey Pearl’ did not differ significantly from ‘Athena’. Under organic production, ‘Camposol’ showed a significantly higher marketable yield (8.3 kg/plant) than ‘Athena’ (6.8 kg/plant). ‘Ginkaku’ produced the largest fruit number per plant in both organic (10 fruit/plant) and conventional fields (12 fruit/plant) with smaller fruit size compared with other melon cultivars. Overall, the specialty melon cultivars, except for asian melon, did not differ significantly from ‘Athena’ in terms of marketable fruit number per plant. ‘Sun Jewel’, ‘Diplomat’, and ‘San Juan’ showed relatively high percentages of cull fruit. ‘Honey Yellow’, ‘Honey Pearl’, and ‘Sun Jewel’ exhibited higher soluble solids concentration (SSC) than ‘Athena’ in both organic and conventional fields, while ‘Brilliant’, ‘San Juan’, and ‘Ginkaku’ also had higher SSC than ‘Athena’ under organic production. ‘Honey Yellow’, ‘Sun Jewel’, ‘Brilliant’, and ‘Camposol’ were less affected by powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera xanthii) and downy mildew (caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis) in the conventional field. ‘Honey Yellow’ and ‘Camposol’ also had significantly lower aboveground disease severity ratings in the organic field compared with ‘Athena’, although the root-knot nematode (RKN) (Meloidogyne sp.) gall rating was higher in ‘Honey Yellow’ than ‘Athena’.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Watermelon Varieties under Organic Production Practices in Georgia

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
George E. Boyhan ◽  
Suzanne O’Connell ◽  
Ryan McNeill ◽  
Suzanne Stone
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Production Practices ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Solids Content

Organic production is a fast-growing sector of agriculture in need of variety evaluations under their unique production systems. This study evaluated 16 watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) varieties for their performance characteristics under organic production practices. Plants were grown on plastic mulch-covered beds on land that had been certified organic in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. Six of the entries were F1 hybrids; the remaining entries were open-pollinated (OP) varieties. Of the 10 OP varieties, three were considered heirloom varieties, including Cream of Saskatchewan, Georgia Rattlesnake, and Moon & Stars. ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ was the highest yielding variety and had the greatest average fruit weight. Along with ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’, ‘Nunhems 800’, ‘Nunhems 860’, ‘Orangeglo’, and ‘SSX 8585’ were included in the top five yielding varieties. The top five yielding varieties had fruit size that averaged more than 20 lb. Fruit size correlated with rind thickness, with lighter fruit having thinner rind (Pearson’s correlation, r = 0.779), which is not unexpected. ‘Sangria’ had the greatest average soluble solids content at 11.2%, which was greater than all entries with soluble solids less than 10%.

scholarly journals COMPARISON OF GIRDLING TECHNIQUES FOR EARLY SEASON FRESH-SHIPPING NECTARINES

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 590c-590
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Day ◽  
Ted M. DeJong
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
The Other ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Fruit Maturity ◽  
Alternative Techniques ◽  
Tree Performance ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Girdling has been shown to increase fruit size and soluble solids concentration and advance fruit maturity. Performed improperly, girdling can also have a debilitating effect on trees. To minimize this, growers often use alternatives to the standard complete girdle. However, the efficacy of these alternative techniques has not been evaluated. Three methods of girdling: 1) complete girdle of all scaffolds, 2) complete girdle of all but one “nurse” scaffold, and 3) spiral (overlapping) girdle of all scaffolds, were compared to ungirdled trees to determine their effect on fruit and tree performance. All of the girdling treatments increased fruit size and marketable yield, and advanced maturity over ungirdled trees. Fruit on ungirdled nurse limbs were similar in size to fruit on ungirdled trees, while the fruit on the remaining girdled limbs were slightly larger than fruit on the trees which had all scaffolds girdled. Overall fruit size and yield of trees with a nurse limb were similar to the other girdle treatments.

scholarly journals Higher Temperatures Decrease Fruit Size in Strawberry Growing in the Subtropics

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Christopher Menzel
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Small Fruit ◽  
Solids Content

Five strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars were grown in Queensland, Australia to determine whether higher temperatures affect production. Transplants were planted on 29 April and data collected on growth, marketable yield, fruit weight and the incidence of small fruit less than 12 g until 28 October. Additional data were collected on fruit soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) from 16 September to 28 October. Minimum temperatures were 2 °C to 4 °C higher than the long-term averages from 1965 to 1990. Changes in marketable yield followed a dose-logistic pattern (p < 0.001, R2s = 0.99). There was a strong negative relationship between fruit weight (marketable) and the average daily mean temperature in the four or seven weeks before harvest from 29 July to 28 October (p < 0.001, R2s = 0.90). There were no significant relationships between SSC and TA, and temperatures in the eight days before harvest from 16 September to 28 October (p > 0.05). The plants continued to produce a marketable crop towards the end of the season, but the fruit were small and more expensive to harvest. Higher temperatures in the future are likely to affect the economics of strawberry production in subtropical locations.

scholarly journals Daminozide, Root Pruning, Trunk Scoring, and Trunk Ringing Effects on Fruit Ripening and Storage Behavior of `McIntosh' Apple

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Elfving ◽  
E.C. Lougheed ◽  
R.A. Cline
Keyword(s):  
Ethylene Production ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Starch Hydrolysis ◽  
Root Pruning ◽  
Full Bloom ◽  
Ethylene Evolution ◽  
Flesh Firmness ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Storage Behavior

A midsummer foliar daminozide (DZ) application (750 mg a.i./liter) to `Macspur McIntosh'/M.7 apple trees (Malus domestics Borkh.) reduced preharvest drop and retarded flesh firmness loss and starch hydrolysis when tested at harvest; DZ also reduced fruit ethylene production at harvest and after 19 weeks of storage at 0.5C. Root pruning at full bloom (May) resulted in increased soluble solids concentration (SSC) and firmer flesh and less starch hydrolysis at harvest, but not consistently each year. Full-bloom root pruning reduced the incidence of stem-cavity browning and brown core, but again not each year. Full-bloom root pruning did not influence ethylene evolution at harvest but did reduce post-storage ethylene evolution in two of three seasons. Full-bloom root pruning generally was less effective than DZ in altering fruit behavior, while root pruning later than full bloom had virtually no effect. Trunk scoring or ringing increased SSC and retarded loss of flesh firmness before harvest and following storage, but had little effect on starch hydrolysis. Scoring or ringing decreased incidence of some disorders and reduced post-storage ethylene evolution, although these treatments had little effect on ethylene production at harvest. Trunk scoring influenced some fruit characteristics more strongly than DZ. Fruit size was not affected by any treatment in any year. Chemical name used: butanedioic acid mono (2,2 -dimethylhydrazide) (daminozide).

scholarly journals Plant Population Affects Yield and Fruit Size of Pumpkin

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1076-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Reiners ◽  
Dale I.M. Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Growth Habit ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Plant Population ◽  
Lower Yield ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
Row Width

Field studies were conducted in 1996 on two pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars, `Howden' (vining-type growth habit) and `Wizard' (semi-bush growth habit), at two locations to determine the effect of plant population and row width on marketable yield. Increasing plant populations from 2990 to 8960 plants per hectare resulted in significantly greater fruit number and yield at both locations and for both varieties. Average fruit size declined at the highest populations. Increasing row width from 1.8 to 3.6 m resulted in a slight but significant decrease in number of fruit per hectare with no effect on other yield parameters. At one location, the effect of row width on yield and number of fruit per hectare depended on the population. At low populations, row width did not influence yield or fruit number; at high populations, wide rows produced lower yield and fewer fruit than narrow rows. The results demonstrate that growers may increase pumpkin yield by increasing plant populations but should use narrower row widths and wider in-row spacing. Growers who choose higher populations should ensure that all inputs are optimized to reduce potential plant-to-plant competition and use regionally adapted cultivars.

scholarly journals 700 PB 312 EFFECT OF PRE-HARVEST CALCIUM APPLICATIONS ON FIRMNESS, DECAY, AND MINERAL DISTRIBUTION IN STRAWBERRY FRUIT

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 533c-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Makus ◽  
J. R. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
Fruit Firmness ◽  
Pulp Tissue ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Harvest Dates ◽  
Supplemental Calcium ◽  
Fruit Decay ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Supplemental calcium supplied foliariy as Ca glutarate, soil incorporated as gypsum, fertigated as CaNO3, in 3-way combination, or none at all, had no effect on fruit firmness, as measured by shear, reduced fruit decay by as much as 23%. over controls (1986-1988), and generally improved fruit Ca levels only in the combination treatment of 904 kg/ha. Fruit raw product quality (pulp pH, acidity, soluble solids concentration, and Hunter color values) were not consistently affected, although there were significant interactions between cvs Fern and Cardinal, harvest dates, holding time, and years. Supplemental Ca reduced fruit size, but tended to increase yield. In 1988, individual fruits were partitioned into upper/lower, dermal/interior, and upper/lower seeds (6 parts), Ca was the third most abundant mineral nutrient in receptacle tissue, but most abundant in seeds. Highest Ca levels were found (descendingly) in the seed, dermal, and interior pulp tissue, Ca was higher in the upper (stem) end. Differences in fruit Ca levels between cvs were found in the seeds and not the receptacle. No clear relationship was observed between fruit firmness, decay, and Ca level.

scholarly journals Tree Fruit Reflective Film Improves Red Skin Coloration and Advances Maturity in Peach

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond R. Layne ◽  
Zhengwang Jiang ◽  
James W. Rushing
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Prunus Persica ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Fruit Samples ◽  
Skin Coloration ◽  
Experimental Treatments ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Replicated trials were conducted during the summers of 1998 and 1999 at commercial orchards in South Carolina to determine the influence of ground application of a metalized, high density polyethylene reflective film on fruit red skin color and maturity of peach (Prunus persica) cultivars that historically have poor red coloration. At each site there were two experimental treatments: 1) control and 2) reflective film (film). Film was applied 2 to 4 weeks before anticipated first harvest date by laying a 150-cm (5-ft) wide strip of plastic on either side of the tree row in the middles. Treatment areas at a given farm ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 ha (0.5 to 1.0 acre) in size and each treatment was replicated four times at each site. At harvest, two 50-fruit samples were picked from each plot per treatment. All fruit were sized and visually sorted for color (1 = 0% to 25%, 2 = 26% to 50%, 3 = 51% to 75%, and 4 = 76% to 100% red surface, respectively). A 10-fruit subsample was selected following color sorting and evaluated for firmness and soluble solids concentration (SSC). All cultivars tested (`CVN1', `Loring', `Bounty', `Summer Gold', `Sunprince', `Cresthaven' and `Encore') experienced significant increases in percent red surface when film was used in 1998 and 1999. This color improvement ranged from 16% to 44% (mean = 28%). On average, fruit from film were 4.2 N (0.9 lb force) softer and had 0.3% higher SSC than control fruit. Growers harvested more fruit earlier and in fewer harvests for film. Fruit size was not affected by film. Reflected solar radiation from film was not different in quality than incident sunlight. Film resulted in an increase in canopy air temperature and a reduction in canopy relative humidity during daylight hours.

scholarly journals Effect of Mid-day Reduction of High Electrical Conductivity Treatment on the Yield and Quality of Greenhouse Cherry Tomato

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 460-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann S. Buck ◽  
Chieri Kubota ◽  
Merle Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Cherry Tomato ◽  
Cumulative Yield ◽  
Total Soluble Solids ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Cultivar Selection

Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) plants were grown hydroponically with three different regimes of electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution to develop an effective EC management method to enhance the fruit quality. The EC treatments examined were 1) continuous high EC [4.7 dS·m−1 (HE)], 2) continuous low EC [2.8 dS·m−1 (LE)], and 3) high EC combined with midday (1030–1530 hr) low EC [midday reduction of high EC (MDR)]. The research was conducted to obtain preliminary information on the effect of EC treatments on the yield and fruit quality for 15 weeks of harvest under semiarid greenhouse conditions. Harvested fruit were sorted to several quality grades, including the “premium” grade based on fruit size, color, and total soluble solids. The number of fruit per truss was significantly higher in cultivar L308 than in cultivar L907 and in the LE treatment than in the HE or MDR treatment. The fruit size decreased over time regardless of EC treatment and cultivar. Cumulative yield of 15 weeks was greater in the LE treatment (26.3 kg·m−2) than in the HE treatment (22.1 kg·m−2) for ‘L907’, and there were no significant differences between the three EC treatments for ‘L308’ (24.1–28.1 kg·m−2). The cumulative yield in the MDR treatment was similar to that in the LE treatment regardless of cultivar. When quality attributes such as total soluble solids concentration measured for randomly sampled fruit were considered, cumulative premium-grade yield was the greatest for the HE treatment (12.9 or 17.6 kg·m−2) and was the smallest for the LE treatment (1.4 or 12.1 kg·m−2), regardless of cultivar. The cumulative yield of premium-grade cherry tomatoes in the MDR treatment was not significantly different from that in the HE treatment for ‘L308’ but was 11% less than that in the HE treatment for ‘L907’. Therefore, together with cultivar selection, the MDR treatment may be a potential alternative to a more commonly practiced continuously high EC treatment in semiarid greenhouses with limited environmental control capacity in which increasing the nutrient EC to increase quality is desired without significantly decreasing yield.

scholarly journals Morphological and Physiological Changes during Fruit Growth and Maturation of Seven Melon Cultivars

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1025-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Miccolis ◽  
Mikal E. Saltveit
Keyword(s):  
Cucumis Melo ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Flesh Color ◽  
Santa Claus ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
General Decline ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

External color, length, diameter, fresh weight, C02 production, internal C2HA concentration, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), flesh color, and seed cavity diameter were measured during fruit growth and maturation of seven melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L., Inodorus Group, Naud. cv. `Amarelo', `Golden Beauty Casaba', `Honey Dew', `Honey Loupe', `Juan Canary', `Paceco', and `Santa Claus Casaba') of known age. There was no increase in C02 production either during ripening (e.g., loss of firmness and increased SSC) or with increasing C2H4 levels in fruit from any of the seven cultivars. There was a significant decline in respiration only at the second sampling date, which ranged from 14 to 18 days after anthesis. Respiration measured 1 week later was substantially higher and was followed by a general decline. This post 14- to 18-day rise in respiration was not a climacteric since it occurred well in advance of other ripening characteristics, e.g., loss of firmness, increase in SSC, or rise in internal C2H4. The increase in internal C2H4. coincided with or followed attainment of full fruit size, while flesh softening and the rapid rise in SSC preceded the rise in internal C2H4, concentration. Respiration declined from 67 to 18 ml CO2/kg per hour by day 43 in all cultivars, except `Honey Dew' and `Honey Loupe'. Respiration in `Honey Loupe' remained above 23 ml CO2/kg per hour and showed a rise to 32 ml/kg per hour on day 53. Respiration in `Honey Dew' did not fall below 18 ml CO2/kg per hour until day 53. As with internal C2H4 levels, there was no correlation between changes in and any marked change in the other signs of ripening that were measured.

scholarly journals Weather Affects Seedless Watermelon Yield, But Not Fruit Size or Quality

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 748E-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Elkner* ◽  
David H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
Seedless Watermelon

Medium-sized triploid watermelons were evaluated in southeast Pennsylvania in 2002 and 2003 to determine the best adapted cultivars for this region. The 2002 season was unusually hot and dry, while 2003 was unusually cool and wet. Yields and fruit quality were compared for the eight cultivars that were grown both seasons to determine the effect of weather on seedless watermelon. Cooler temperatures reduced total fruit number and total yield but not average fruit weight or soluble solids. Researchers evaluating triploid watermelons over several seasons can compare size and °Brix among cultivars, but will need to be cautious when predicting total yields.

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