Gotowa bibliografia na temat „Nectarine”

In this study, we described some tree and fruit characteristics of a novel white nectarine type. The genetic diversity within this white nectarine population was investigated using six enzyme systems and its isozyme variation was also compared with common peach and nectarine cultivars. The results demonstrated that there was a significant variation within the white nectarine population in terms of plant and fruit characteristics probably due to the repropagation of the white nectarines using seedlings by growers. This variation was also verified by isozyme polymorphisms. Plants characteristics of white nectarines were similar to the trees of common peach or nectarine cultivars. However, the white nectarines produce less yield than the common peach or nectarine cultivars and they have small fruit with white-cream color and small flesh ratio making their fruit less attractive. We believe that the white nectarines have high market value and consumer acceptance because of its unique flavor which was confused with taste of either plums or apricots. So far, no standard white nectarine cultivar has been reported. This is the first report characterizing some plant and fruit characteristics of white nectarines which could be used for breeding of standard white nectarine cultivars with high yield and fruit characteristics while keeping its unique flavor. In addition, the white nectarines represent a novel source of germplasm for improvement of peaches and nectarines.

Abstract ‘Sungem’ nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] (Fig. 1) was released to provide an early ripening nectarine for commercial markets. All nectarines released by the Univ. of Florida begin with the prefix “Sun”. ‘Sun-gem’ is expected to be successful for homeowners, consumer harvest, local markets, and commercial growers with large acreage.

Abstract ‘Sunhome’ nectarine is released by the Univ. of Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. All nectarines released by the Univ. of Florida begin with the prefix of “Sun”. The suffix “home” indicates the intended use of flower, fruit, and foliage in the home yard and garden. ‘Sunhome’ closely resembles ‘Sunred’ nectarine in all respects, except that the spring foliage of the former is red.

The nectarine is an important fruit, which is attacked by Drosophila suzukii in Europe and the United States but there are no reports of it attacking nectarines in China. Here, we determined the oviposition preference of D. suzukii six on intact and sliced nectarine varieties in China and how physical and physiological indexes of the fruit correlate with these preferences. D. suzukii were allowed to oviposit on two early–, two middle– and two late–maturing varieties of nectarine—Shuguang and Chunguang, Fengguang and Zhong you 4, Zhong you 7 and Zhong you 8, respectively and the number of larvae also followed the order. The firmness, soluble solids content and the nutritional components of the amino acid, protein, soluble sugar and pectin contents of each variety were measured. D. suzukii preferred the early Shuguang variety, followed by the early Chunguang variety and then the middle Zhong you 4 and Fengguang varieties. Taken together, results show that D. suzukii shows preferences for earlier rather than later varieties of nectarines in China and that these preferences are related to the fruit’s physical and physiological traits. Results suggest that mixed cultivation of early–, middle– and late–maturing nectarine varieties should be avoided in order to prevent fly dispersal and infestation by D. suzukii.

Chilling injury is a physiological disorder caused by cold storage in peaches and nectarines. The main symptom of chilling injury is mealiness/wooliness, described as a lack of juice in fruit flesh. In this work, we studied two nectarine varieties (Andes Nec-2 and Andes Nec-3) with contrasting susceptibility to mealiness after cold storage. A non-targeted metabolomic analysis was conducted by GC-MS to understand if changes in metabolite abundance are associated with nectarine mealiness induced by cold storage. Multivariate analyses indicated that in unripe nectarines, cold storage promoted a higher accumulation of amino acids in both varieties. Interestingly, for ripe nectarines, cold storage induced an accumulation of fewer amino acids in both varieties and showed an increased abundance of sugars and organic acids. A pathway reconstruction of primary metabolism revealed that in ripe nectarines, cold storage disrupted metabolite abundance in sugar metabolism and the TCA cycle, leading to a differential accumulation of amino acids, organic acids, and sugars in mealy and juicy nectarines.

Recent studies have shown the superiority of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology over many standard protocols for pathogen detection. HTS was initiated on fruit tree accessions from disparate sources to improve and advance virus-testing procedures. A virus with genomic features resembling most closely that of the recently described Nectarine stem-pitting-associated virus, putative member of genus Luteovirus, was found in three nectarine trees (Prunus persica cv. nectarina), each exhibiting stem-pitting symptoms on the woody cylinder above the graft union. In these samples, HTS also revealed the presence of a coinfecting virus with genome characteristics typical of members of the genus Marafivirus. The same marafivirus- and luteovirus-like viruses were detected in nonsymptomatic nectarine and peach selections, indicating only a loose relationship between these two viruses with nectarine stem-pitting disease symptoms. Two selections infected with each of these viruses had previously tested free of known virus or virus-like agents using the current biological, serological, and molecular tests employed at the Clean Plant Center Northwest. Overall, this study presents the characterization by HTS of novel marafivirus- and luteovirus-like viruses of nectarine, and provides further insights into the etiology of nectarine stem-pitting disease. The discovery of these new viruses emphasizes the ability of HTS to reveal viruses that are not detected by existing protocols.

Pubescence in peach fruit is controlled by the Gg locus, with the homozygous recessive being the glabrous-skinned nectarine. The roughskin character in peach causes the loss of all long hairs on the epidermis of the fruit. Under a microscope short stubs are visible. The fruit is rough to the touch and appears dull rather than shiny as a nectarine would appear. A pleiotropic effect is lack of hairs on the dormant leaf and flower buds, making them noticeably shiny to the naked eye, unlike normal peaches and nectarines. The roughskin character appeared in 3 of 70 seedlings from the cross of Pekin × Durbin. The remaining seedlings all produced normal peaches. Sibling F2 progenies segregated for peach and nectarine, and in one case, for roughskin as well, indicating the cross was valid. Results from numerous crosses and F2 populations indicate this character is controlled by a single recessive gene, which is hereby designated rs. Nectarines homozygous for this gene have glabrous buds, but otherwise appear normal. The origin of the mutation is unclear. Selfed seedlings of Pekin and Durbin have not expressed the recessive form of the gene. Possibly a limb of the Pekin tree (now gone) used for the crosses had mutated to the recessive form at one or both loci. The homozygous roughskin progeny would have then been inadvertent self-pollinations rather than hybrids, since none of them segregated for nectarine.

Abstract The tolerance of six cultivars of nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nectarina (Ait.) Maxim.] to methyl bromide (MB) quarantine treatments was determined. A treatment, 48 g MB/m3 for 2 hr at 21C, which controlled codling moth [Cydia pomonella (L.)], caused no significant phytotoxic response in any of the cultivars. The threshold for injury at the above time and temperature was ≈64 g MB/m3 in ‘Summer Grand’, ‘May Grand’, ‘Fantasia’, and ‘Firebrite’; between 48 and 64 g MB/m3 in ‘Red Diamond’; and between 80 and 96 g MB/m3 in ‘Spring Red’. All fumigated nectarines were significantly firmer than the control fruit after storage for 7 days at 2.5C, but subsequently ripened satisfactorily; soluble solids content of the fruit was not affected by the fumigations used in this study. Inorganic bromide residues in fruit treated with the 48 g·m−3 dosage at 21C or above ranged from 3.5 to 7.2 ppm, well below the U.S. tolerance of 20 ppm. Organic bromide residues were <0.01 ppm within 48 hr after treatment.

Abstract In this experiment, the growth of peach and nectarine trees was determined to be related to the cultivar. ‘Inka’ peach trees grew weaker than ‘Harbinger’ trees. The ‘John Rivers’ nectarine was characterized by stronger growth than the ‘Harko’. The amount of crops produced by the trees was related to the cultivar and the meteorological conditions during winter and spring. ‘Inka’ produced higher yields and bigger fruits as compared to ‘Harbinger’. The ‘Harko’ cultivar provided significantly higher yields than the ‘John Rivers’ only in 2006. Peach and nectarine fruit production in the Sandomierska Plateau in the years 2004 − 2007 was risky. In 2006, damage to the flower buds during winter caused no crop yield in young peach trees and the older ones of the ‘Harbinger’ cultivar. A minor reaction to the temperature drop, down to -26.8oC, was found for nectarines in comparison with peach trees. In 2007, the spring frost injured flower pistils and caused a lack of crops from the studied cultivars.

Peach and nectarine (Prunus persica ) production has an important place in the world, being the most important fruit after apple crops in the European Union. Because the fruits are perishable, it is desirable to valorize them as juice. Seven peaches and three nectarines cultivars grown in the N-W part of Romania were investigated for quality parameters, volatile profile, total phenols content and antioxidant capacity. The volatile composition of peach and nectarine cultivars was determined via the ITEX/GC-MS technique, the main volatile compounds belonging to alcohols and aldehydes. Another objective was to obtain the pasteurised juices from these fruits and to investigate the best time of pasteurisation in order to identify the most valuable cultivar from the perspective of total phenols content and its antioxidant capacity. For a better interpretation of results and a proper discrimination between cultivars, according to the total phenols content and antioxidant capacity, the multivariate analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were applied. The peach cultivars showed the highest content in total phenols compared with nectarine. From peach cultivars, the highest concentration was recorded in ‘Southland’ (47.49 ± 0.14 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW) and from nectarine cultivars in ‘Romamer’ (16.28 ± 0.83 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW). The highest antioxidant capacities were recorded in ‘Southland’ peach in the case of both methods (DPPH and FRAP). The results showed that ‘Southland’ peach and ‘Romamer’ nectarine pasteurised juices are the best from the point of view of total phenolic compounds content with high antioxidant capacity.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The macro-element uptake and distribution by higher density central leader ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees was studied through the sequential excavation of trees. A large portion, 41.5%, of the nitrogen manifested in the new growth from dormancy up to pit-hardening, originated from nitrogen reserves in the permanent structure. The permanent structure was also an important source of phosphorous reserves. Of the phosphorous in the fruit, leaves and new shoots at pit-hardening, 35.0% came from reserves in the permanent structure. Potassium did not act as an important reserve in the nectarine trees and was taken up throughout the season. From pit hardening to harvest the fruit represented the most important sink for potassium. Calcium and magnesium, like potassium, did not play significant roles as reserves in the nectarine tree and must be available for uptake from the beginning of the season for new growth and development as well as fruit quality. The micro-element uptake and distribution was also studied through the sequential excavation of the same ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees. Little scientific data is available on this topic. Manganese and iron was found to act as important reserves in the tree with 46.2% of manganese and 59.5% of the iron found in the new growth at pithardening coming from reserves translocated from the permanent structure. Zinc and boron reserves also play a role in nectarine trees, but to a lesser extent than manganese and iron. The seasonal mineral nutrient demand of the same ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees was determined through the sequential excavation of trees and losses and fixation was calculated. Guidelines regarding nutritional requirements per ton of fruit produced per hectare by higher density nectarine orchards are respectively 3.82kg nitrogen, 0.35kg phosphorous, 4.43kg potassium, 1.53kg calcium, 0.52kg magnesium, 32.45g sodium, 9.44g manganese, 37.46g iron, 3.24g copper, 13.95g zinc and 10.52g boron. Sodium is not commonly considered to be essential to higher plants, but was included in the trial. Nutrient solutions with four different EC (electrical conductivity) levels were applied to ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees under pulsating drip fertigation for three periods of different lengths, before harvest. Raising the nutrient solution EC to positively affect fruit quality is a technique widely utilised in the vegetable industry. This technique did, however, not have similar positive effects on nectarine fruit grown under a pulsating drip fertigation system. Good production practices such as accurate nutrition and irrigation as well as the correct horticultural inputs should be the primary focus of producers who wish to alter or improve the fruit quality of their crop.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voedingbestuur strategieë in nektarien boorde Die makro-element opname en verspreiding deur hoër digtheid sentrale leier ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is bestudeer d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings van volledige bome en die ontleding van monsters. ‘n Groot hoeveelheid, 41.5%, van die stikstof wat tydens pitverharding in die nuwe groei teenwoordig was, is d.m.v. translokasie vanuit die permanente struktuur van die boom afkomstig. Die permanente struktuur was ook ‘n belangrike bron van fosfaat reserwes. Teen pitverharding was 35.0% van die fosfaat in die nuwe groei afkomstig vanuit die permanente struktuur. Bevindings het getoon dat kalium nie as ‘n reserwe in die nektarien bome opgetree het nie en dié element is deur die groeiseisoen opgeneem. Vanaf pitverharding tot en met oestyd was die vrugte die sterkste setel van aanvraag vir kalium. Kalsium en magnesium het, soos in die geval van kalium, nie ‘n belangrike rol as reserwe vertolk nie. Beskikbaarheid van hierdie elemente vir opname vanaf die begin van die groeiseisoen is dus baie belangrik vir nuwe groei en ontwikkeling asook vrugkwaliteit. Die mikro-element opname en distribusie van dieselfde ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is ook bestudeer d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings en analise van volledige bome. Min wetenskaplike literatuur oor hierdie onderwerp is beskikbaar. Bevindings het getoon dat mangaan asook yster baie belangrike reserwes in die nektarien boom is. Tydens pitverharding was 46.2% van die mangaan en 59.5% van die yster wat in die nuwe groei teenwoordig was, afkomstig vanaf reserwes uit die permanente struktuur van die boom. Verder het sink en boor ook as reserwes opgetree, maar tot ‘n mindere mate as mangaan en yster. Die seisoenale behoeftes aan minerale voeding van dieselfde ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is bepaal d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings en analise van volledige bome asook die bepaling van verwyderingsverliese en vaslegging. Voedingsriglyne is vasgestel i.t.v. die hoeveelheid voedingstof wat per hektaar benodig word om een ton nektariens te produseer. Die riglyne is as volg: 3.82kg stikstof, 0.35kg fosfaat, 4.43kg kalium, 1.53kg kalsium, 0.52kg magnesium, 32.45g natrium, 9.44g mangaan, 37.46g yster, 3.24g koper, 13.95g sink en 10.52g boor. Natrium word nie in die algemeen as ‘n essensiële plantvoedingselement beskou nie, maar is by die berekeninge ingesluit. Voedingsoplossing met vier verskillende vlakke van EG (elektriese geleiding) is vir drie periodes van verskillende lengtes aan ‘Donnarine’ nekarien bome toegedien. Die verhoging van die EG van voedingsoplossings ten einde kwaliteit te verbeter is ‘n tegniek wat met groot suskses in die groentbedryf toegepas word. Hierdie tegniek het egter nie soortgelyke positiewe effekte op die nektarien vrugkwaliteit gehad nie. Produsente wat hul vrugkwaliteit wil verbeter behoort primêr te fokus op goeie produksiepraktyke soos akkurate voeding en besproeiing asook die korrekte tuinboukundige insette.

Orientador: Fernanda Elizabeth Xidieh Murr
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos
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Doutorado
Engenharia de Alimentos
Doutor em Engenharia de Alimentos

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Most South African peach and nectarine production areas lack in adequate winter chilling. To address these issues, a conventional breeding programme was started, to develop new and improved stone fruit cultivars with special emphasis on climatic adaptation and pomological attributes. This study was conducted to test the accuracy of the scientific method called the phenological method of classification, currently used by the breeding programme to classify the selections in the second phase of evaluation according to chilling requirement. During April 2000 and May 2001 and continuing until the next spring, 20 oneyear- old shoots of 30 peach and nectarine selections were harvested fortnightly from an evaluation orchard on Bien Donné Experiment Farm, Simondium, Western Cape (34° S). All selections were previously categorised as high (>800 Utah chilling units [CU]), medium (400-800 CU) or _low «400 CU) chilling requirement based on phenologic observations. According to the preliminary classification of the selections included in this study, six selections were classified as high, three as medium and 21 as low chilling requirement. Two replicate bundles of shoots of each selection were prepared and forced at 25° C with continuous illumination until no further changes in bud burst occurred for a period of five days after which the shoots were then discarded. CU in the orchard were calculated according to the Utah and Infruitec models. The hours below 12° C and 7° C were also calculated. For each selection the number of days until 20% vegetative and reproductive bud break was plotted over day of year, Utah CU, Infruitec CU, hours below 12° C, and hours below 7° C, and expressed as a parabolic function. Similarly, the inverse of the number of days until 20% bud break or the rate of bud growth was also plotted against all the above variables. The area under these parabolas was statistically analysed using the CANDISC procedure of SAS Release 8.1. The groupings of the CANDISC procedure were more or less consistent with the preliminary groupings obtained with the phenoligical classification method. On 16 May 2000 and 15 May 2001, 100 one-year-old shoots of the same peach and nectarine selections were harvested from the evaluation orchard on Bien Donné Experiment Farm, covered in wet paper towelling and black plastic bags and placed in a cold room kept at a temperature range between 4° C and 7° C. Two replicate bundles of 10 shoots of each selection were prepared fortnightly and forced at 25° C with continuous illumination until no further changes in bud burst occurred for a period of five days after which the shoots were then discarded. CU accumulated in the cold room at each transferral date was calculated according to the Utah model. For each selection the number of days until 20% vegetative bud break was plotted over Utah CU, and expressed as a parabolic function. Similarly, the inverse of the number of days until 20% bud break or the rate of bud growth was also plotted against the above variables. The area under these parabolas was statistically analysed using the CANDISC procedure of SAS Release 8.1. Once again, the groupings of the CANDISC procedure were more or less consistent with the preliminary groupings obtained with the phenoligical classification method. Due to the nature of the scientific method used in this study, there is room for a certain margin of experimental error to occur, which could account for the misclassifications by the CANDISC procedure, when performed on the 2001 season's data. It can be concluded that the phenological method of classifying the selections, as currently used in the breeding programme, is consistent with the results of the scientific method described here. Therefore, it is recommended that the phenological method be used in future to classify the selections according to chilling requirement (CR), as this method is less time consuming and less costly to perform. Finally the outcome of the analysis of one season's data was used as calibration data against which the other season's data was tested and the consistency of the results, using one set of discriminant functions, was tested. It can be concluded that a unique set of discriminant functions is necessary for each winter season to accurately classify selections according to CR with the CANDISC procedure.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Studie van dormansie en koue behoefte van perskes en nektariens Gebrekkige winterkoue is 'n gegewe in die meeste Suid-Afrikaanse perske en nektarien-produksie-streke. Om die gevolge hiervan aan te spreek, is 'n konvensionele teelprogram tot stand gebring om verbeterde steenvrug cultivars te ontwikkel met voortreflike pomologiese eienskappe en wat aangepas is by die plaaslike klimaatstoestande. Hierdie studie is geloods om die akkuraatheid van die wetenskaplike metode, genoem die fenologiese klassifikasie metode, soos tans deur die teelprogram gebruik, waarvolgens seleksies volgens kouebehoefte geklassifiseer word, te toets. Vanaf April 2000 en Mei 2001 tot en met die daaropvolgende lente, is 20 eenjaar-oue lote van 30 perske en nektatrien seleksies twee weekliks in 'n fase 2 evaluasie boord op Bien Donné Proefplaas, te Simondium in die Wes- Kaap (34° S) versamel. AI die seleksies was vooraf op grond van fenologiese waarnemings geklassifiseer in kategorieë van hoog (>800 Utah koue-eenhede [CU]), medium (400-800 CU) of laag «400CU) ten op sigte van kouebehoefte. Hiervolgens val ses van die seleksies wat in die studie ingesluit is in die hoë-, drie in die medium- en 21 in die lae kategorie. Lote van elke seleksie is voorberei en in twee herhalings gebondel, waarna dit geforseer is teen 25° C met deurlopende beligting totdat geen verdere knopbreek vir 'n periode van vyf dae voorgekom het nie, waarna die lote verwyder is. CU in die boord is volgens die Utah en Infruitec modelle bereken. Die aantal uur onder 12° C en onder 7° C is ook bereken. Die aantal dae wat dit elke seleksie geneem het om 20% vegetatiewe en 20% reproduktiewe knopbreek te bereik is bereken en geplot teenoor die dag van die jaar, Utah CU, Infruitec CU, aantal uur onder 12° C en aantal uur onder 7° C en uitgedruk as 'n paraboliese funksie. Die inverse van die aantal dae tot 20% knopbreek, of die tempo van knopbreek, is op soortgelyke wyse geplot teenoor al bogenoemde veranderlikes. Die oppervlakte onder die parabole is statisties ontleed met behulp van die CANDISC prosedure van die SAS program (Vrystelling 8.1). Die groeperings wat met die CANDISC prosedure verkry is het grootliks ooreengestem met die groeperings volgens die fenologiese klassifikasie metode. Op 16 Mei 2000 en 15 Mei 2001, is 100 eenjaar-oue lote van dieselfde perske en nektarien seleksies in die evaluasie boord op Bien Donné versamel, toegedraai in klam handdoekpapier, in swart plastiek sakke geplaas en in 'n koelkamer geplaas waarvan die temperatuur konstant gehou is tussen die grense van 4° C en T" C. Twee herhalings van 10 lote elk, van elke seleksie, is twee weekliks voorberei en geforseer by 25° C met deurlopende beligting totdat geen verdere knopbreek vir 'n periode van vyf dae plaasgevind het nie, waarna die lote verwyder is. Op elke oordragdatum is die aantal CU, wat in die koelkamer geakkumuleer het, volgens die Utah model bereken. Die aantal dae wat dit elke seleksie geneem het om 20% vegetatiewe knopbreek te bereik is bereken en geplot teenoor die Utah CU en uitgedruk as 'n paraboliese funksie. Die inverse van die aantal dae tot 20% knopbreek , dus die tempo van groei, is op soortgelyke wyse bererken en geplot teenoor bogenoemde veranderlikes. Die oppervlak onder die paraboliese funksies is statisties ontleed met behulp van die CANDISC procedure. Die groeperings van die CANDISC prosedure het weereens grootliks ooreengestem met die groeperings wat met die fenologiese metode van klassifikasie verkry is. Weens die aard van die wetenskaplike metode wat tydens hierdie studie gebruik is, kom daar 'n sekere mate van eksperimentele fout voor, wat moontlik die misklassifikasies van die CANDISC prosedure kan verklaar, wanneer dit op die 2001 seisoen se data uitgevoer word. Die gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word dat die resultate van die fenologiese metode, soos dit tans deur die teelprogram gebruik word, ooreenstem met die resultate wat deur die wetenskaplike metode, wat hier beskryf word, verkry is. Dus word daar aanbeveel dat die fenologiese metode in die toekoms gebruik word om die seleksies te klassifiseer volgens koue behoefte (CR), aangesien hierdie metode minder tyd in beslag neem en goedkoper is om uit te voer. Laastens is die resultaat van die analise van een seisoen se data gebruik as kalibrasiedata waarteen die data van die ander seisoen getoets is om so ooreenstemmendheid van die resultate te toets as slegs een stel diskriminant funksies gebruik word. Die slotsom was dat 'n unieke stel diskriminantfunksies nodig is vir elke winter seisoen om die seleksies akkuraat met behulp van die CANDISC prosedure volgens koue-behoefte te klassifiseer.

Thesis (PhD(Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Postharvest decay of stone fruit in the Western Cape province of South Africa is caused primarily by Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) and Monilinia laxa (brown rot). Little is known about the relative importance and seasonal occurrence of the two pathogens in nectarine and plum orchards, the mode of penetration of fruits by M laxa, latency and subsequent disease expression by the latter pathogen. These aspects were investigated in this study. By sampling from the Unifruco Quality Evaluation Scheme and from 11 stone fruit orchards, observations were made over a 3-year period of the occurrence of grey mould and brown rot in the major stone fruit regions. Botrytis cinerea was found to be the most important pathogen causing blossom blight and postharvest decay on stone fruit. The pathogen was most prominent on early- and mid-season culti~ars. Brown rot was exclusively caused by M laxa and no evidence was found that M fructicoZa had been introduced into the region. Monilina laxa was most prominent on the later maturing cultivars. Botrytis cinerea blossom infection did not contribute directly to postharvest decay. Both surface inoculum and latent infection consistently occurred on fruit in each orchard, although at fluctuating levels. Disease expression on developing fruit was not governed by the amount of B. cinerea occurring on fruit surfaces, but by the ability of fruit to resist disease expression. The amount of B. cinerea on fruits was generally higher during spring than during summer. Monilinia laxa occurred sporadically on the blossoms of late-maturing cultivars. Immature fruit were generally pathogen-free and disease expression occurred on maturing fruit only. These findings suggest that conidia of M laxa are generally produced in orchards when fruits are approaching maturity and can penetrate and infect maturing fruit only. The behaviour of airborne M laxa conidia was subsequently studied on nectarine (cultivar Flamekist) and plum (cultivar Laetitia) fruit. For these studies, an inoculation method that simulates natural infection by airborne conidia was used. Fruit at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest, harvest stage and after cold storage (nectarines 4 wk at -o.soC followed by 1 wk at 23°C at ±56% RH; plums 10 days at .....().5°C,18 days at 7.5°C followed by 1 wk at 23°C at ±56% RH) were dusted with dry conidia of M laxa in a settling tower. The fruits were incubated for periods ranging from 3 to 48 h at high relative humidity (2':93%, humid fruit) or covered with a film of water (wet fruit). Behaviour of the solitary conidia was examined with an epifluorescence microscope on skin segments stained in a differential stain containing fluorescein diacetate, aniline blue and blankophor. The ability of solitary conidia to colonise the fruit surface, penetrate fruit skins and to induce disease expression was determined by using a differential set of tests. For these tests, fruit were surface-sterilised (30 s in 70% ethanol) or left Unsterile. From each group, fruit were selected for isolation (skin segment test), immersed in a 3% paraquat solution (paraquat-treated fruit test) or left untreated (sound fruit test). 1be findings demonstrated that solitary conidia of M laxa behaved consistently on plum and nectarine fruit surfaces: appressorium formation and direct penetration was not observed on any of the fruit surfaces and germ tubes penetrated fruit predominantly through stomata, lenticels and microfissures in the fruit skin. The monitoring of airborne conidia revealed subtle effects of the fruits on the behaviour of solitary germlings, which could not be seen when using conidial suspensions. On both fruit types, no deleterious effect was seen on conidial and germling survival when fruit were kept humid at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest and harvest. However, conidial and germling survival were drastically reduced by prolonged wet incubation of fruits. The findings on disease expression in the skin segment, paraquat-treated fruit and sound fruit tests clearly showed that the skin of both nectarine and plum fruits were not penetrated at the pit hardening stage, latent infections were not established and fruitsreacted resistant to disease expression. These facets on both fruit types were furthermore unaffected by wetness. The barrier capacity of the fruit skin of the two stone fruit types however differed drastically later in the season. On nectarine, fruit skins were more readily penetrated and disease expression became more pronounced when fruit approached maturity. Penetration and disease expression on ripening nectarine fruit were furthermore greatly influenced by wetness. Maturing plum fruit, on the other hand, did not display the drastic change in the barrier capacity of fruit skins as observed on nectarine. The influence of wetness on infection and disease expression was also less pronounced than on nectarine. In fact, plum fruit remained asymptomatic in the sound fruit test after inoculation and humid incubation at the 2 wk before harvest stage, harvest stage and after cold storage. Plum fruit at these stages only developed disease after a prolonged period (~12 h) of wet incubation. The paraquat fruit test revealed that these fruits became more susceptible to latent infection, but they were not as susceptible as nectarine. Collectively, these findings indicate that M. laxa fruit rot epidemics on plum and nectarine are driven by inoculum levels on fruit approaching maturity and by weather conditions prevailing during the preharvest and harvest period. However, the barrier capacity of plum skins is considerably more effective than that of nectarine fruit. Wounds would therefore play an important role in the epidemiology of M. laxa on plum fruit. Infection of fresh wounds by airborne M. laxa conidia, and by conidia and germlings that have established on fruits, was therefore investigated. Plum fruit (cultivar Laetitia) at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest, harvest stage and after cold storage were dusted with dry conidia of M. laxa in a settling tower.- Infection of rionwounded fruit and of fresh wounds by \ the airborne conidia on dry, humid and wet plum fruit surfaces, and by conidia and germlings that have been established on fruits under the wetness regimes was then investigated. Nonwounded immature and mature fruit remained mostly asymptomatic, whereas nonwounded cold stored fruit decayed readily. Wounding drastically increased infection by airborne conidia. Immature fruits were less susceptible to wound infection by the airborne conidia than mature fruits. Conidia dispersed freshly were more successful in infecting fresh wounds than conidia that were deposited, or germlings that established, on fruit surfaces 4 days prior to wounding. This decrease in infectivity was especially pronounced on humid and even more on wet incubated fruit. This study clearly showed that in order to reduce. the incidence of brown rot, inoculum levels on fruit approaching maturity should be reduced by sanitation practices and fungicide applications. Furthermore, it is essential to protect fruits, especially. near-mature fruits, from being wounded.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: EPIDEMIOLOGIE VAN MONILINIA LAXA OP NEKTARIEN EN PRUIM: INFEKSIE VAN VRUGTE DEUR KONIDIA OPSOMMING Naoesverrotting van steenvrugte in die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika word hoofsaaklik veroorsaak deur Botrytis cinerea (vaalvrot) en Monilinia laxa (bruinvrot). Min is bekend oor die relatiewe belang en seisoenale voorkoms van hierdie patogene in nektarienen pruimboorde, asook oor die infeksieweg, latensie en daaropvolgende siekte-uitdrukking van M laxa. Hierdie aspekte is in dié studie nagevors. \ \ Monsters IS oor 'n 3-jaar periode van die Unifruco Kwaliteitsevalueringskema, en ook van 11 steenvrugboorde verkry. Die voorkoms van vaalvrot en bruinvrot in die hoof steenvrugareas is so bepaal. Botrytis cinerea was die belangrikste patogeen wat betref bloeiselversenging en naoesverrotting. Verder was hierdie patogeen ook meer prominent op die vroeë- en middel-seisoen kultivars. Bruinvrot is uitsluitlik deur M Iaxa veroorsaak en geen aanduiding omtrent die moontlike voorkoms van M fructicola in Suid-Afrika is waargeneem nie. Monilinia laxa was meer prominent op die laat-seisoen kultivars. Botrytis cinerea bloeiselinfeksie het nie direk bygedra tot naoesverrotting nie. Beide oppervlakkige inokulum en latente infeksie het deurgaans, maar wel teen wisselende hoeveelhede, op vrugte in die onderskeie boorde voorgekom. Siekte-uitdrukking op ontwikkelende vrugte is egter nie beinvloed deur die hoeveelheid B. cinerea op die vrug nie, maar eerder deur die vermoë van die vrug om siekte-uitdrukking te onderdruk. Die hoeveelheid B. cinerea op vrugte was verder hoër gedurende lente as gedurende somer. Monilinia laxa het slegs sporadies op die bloeisels van laat-seisoen kultivars voorgekom. Groen vrugte was in die algemeen vry van die patogeen en siekte-uitdrukking het slegs op ryp vrugte plaasgevind. Hierdie bevindinge dui daarop dat M laxa in boorde hoofsaaklik op ryper vrugte geproduseer word. Hierdie swam infekteer ook net ryp vrugte. Die gedrag van luggedraagde M laxa conidia is bestudeer op nektarien- (kultivar Flamekist) en pruimvrugte (kultivar Laetitia). 'n Inokulasie-metode wat natuurlike infeksie deur luggedraagde konidia simuleer, is vir hierdie studies gebruik. Vrugte van die pitverharding-, twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, asook koud-opgebergde vrugte (nektariene, 4 weke by -o.soe gevolg met 1 week by 23°C en ±56% RH; pruime, 10 dae by -O.5°e, 18 dae by 7.Soe gevolg deur 1 week by 23°C en ±56% RH), is met droë konidia in 'n inokulasietoring geïnokuleer. Die vrugte is vir periodes wat gewissel het van 3 tot 48 h geïnkubeer by hoë relatiewe humiditeit (~93% RH, vogtige vrugte), of dit is bedek met'n film water (nat vrugte). Die gedrag van die enkelspore (konidia) op die vrugoppervlak is met 'n epifluorisensiemikroskoop bestudeer. Skilsegmente is gekleur in 'n kleurstof, bevattende fluorisein diasetaat, analien-blou en blankofor. Die vermoë van die enkelspore om die vrugoppervlak te koloniseer, te penetreer en om siekte-uitdrukking te induseer, is met 'n differensiële stel toetse bepaal. Vir hierdie toetse is die vrugte oppervlakkig gesteriliseer (30 s in 70% etanol), of nie-steriel gelaat. In elke groep is vrugte geneem vir isolasie (skilsegment-to\~ts), of gedoop in "n 3% parakwat-oplossing (parakwat vrugtoets), of\, onbehandeld gelaat (onbehandelde vrugtoets ). Die. bevindinge het op die soortgelyke gedrag van M laxa enkelspore op die verskillende vrugsoorte gedui: appressoria en direkte penetrasie is nie waargeneem nie, en kiembuise het die vrugte hoofsaaklik deur huidmondjies, lentiselle en mikro-krakies .in die vrugskil gepenetreer. Deur luggedraagde spore te bestudeer, is sekere subtiele effekte van die vrug op die gedrag van enkelspore op die vrugoppervlak waargeneem. Op beide vrugtipes is geen nadelige effek op konidiurn- en kiembuisoorlewing opgemerk wanneer die vrugte onder hoë vogtoestande geïnkubeer is. Konidiurn- en kiembuisoorlewing is egter drasties verlaag hoe langer die vrugte onder nat toestande geïnkubeer is. Die bevindinge van die skilsegment-, parakwat en onbehandelde vrugtoetse het duidelik daarop gewys dat die vrugskil van nektarien en pruim nie gepenetreer is tydens die pitverhardingstadium nie, latente infeksies is nie gevorm nie, en die vrugte was bestand teen siekte-uitdrukking. Hierdie fasette op beide vrugtipes is ook nie beinvloed deur inkubasie-natheid nie. Die beskermingskapasiteit van die vrugskil van hierdie steenvrugtipes het egter drasties verskil later in die seisoen. Nektarien-vrugskille is meer geredelik gepenetreer en siekte-uitdrukking het toegeneem met rypwording. Penetrasie en siekteuitdrukking is verder in 'n groot mate deur inkubasie-natheid bevoordeel. Rypwordende pruime het egter nie so In drasties verandering in die beskermingskapasiteit van die vrugskil getoon nie. Die invloed van inkubasie-natheid op infeksie en siekte-uitdrukking was ook minder opsigtelik as op nektarien. Pruimvrugte van die twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, en , koud-opgebergde pruime, wat onder hoë vog geïnkubeer is, het simptoomloos in die onbehandelde vrugtoets gebly. Vrugte van hierdie stadia het slegs simptome ontwikkel na periodes van langer as 12 h onder nat toestande. Die parakwat-behandelde vrugtoets het egter gewys dat die pruimvrugte meer vatbaar vir latente infeksies raak, maar steeds nie so vatbaar soos die nektarienvrugte nie. Gesamentlik dui hierdie bevindinge daarop <41tM laxa bruinvrot epidemies op pruim en nektarien afhanklik is van inokulumvlakke op rypwordende vrugte, asook die weerstoestande gedurende die vooroes- en oesstadia. Die beskermingskapasiteit van pruim vrugskille was egter aansienlik meer effektief as dié van nektarien vrugte. Wonde op vrugte sal dus 'n groter rol speel in die epidemiologic van M laxa op pruim. Infeksie van vars wonde deur luggedraagde M laxa konidia, en deur konidia en kiembuise wat reeds op die vrugoppervlak gevestig is, is gevolglik bestudeer. Pruimvrugte (kultivar Laetitia) van die pitverharding-, twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, asook koud- \ \ opgebergde vrugte is in 'n inokulasie-toring geïnokuleer met droë M laxa konidia. .Infeksie , , van nie-gewonde vrugte en van vars wonde deur luggedraagde konidia op droë, vogtige en nat pruim vrugoppervlaktes, asook deur konidia en kiembuise wat reeds op die vrugoppervlak onder hierdie toestande gevestig is, is bepaal. Nie-gewonde groen tot ryp vrugte het meestal simptoomloos gebly, terwyl koud-opgebergde ryp vrugte wel verrot het. Wonde .het die hoeveelheid infeksie deur luggedraagde spore drasties vermeerder. Konidia wat geïnokuleer is op vrugte met vars wonde, was meer in staat om hierdie wonde te infekteer as konidia en kiembuise wat 4 dae voor wonding gevestig is. Hierdie afname in infektiwiteit was meer sigbaar op die vogtige, maar veral die nat vrugte. Hierdie studie het duidelik gewys dat inokulumvlakke op rypwordende vrugte verlaag moet word deur sanitasie-praktyke en fungisiedtoedienings. Dit is verder belangrik om vrugte, veral rypwordende vrugte, teen wonding te beskerm.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The control of excessive vegetative growth is important in deciduous fruit orchards. Currently the plant growth regulator prohexadione-calcium (p-Ca) is used to control apple shoot growth in the Untited States of America and some European countries. The effect of P-Ca on the shoot and fruit growth of apples (Malus domestica B.), pears (Pyrus cummunis L.), plums (Prunus sa/icina L.) and nectarines (Prunus persica L.) was evaluated. Inhibition of shoot growth can effect fruit growth. Therefore I did a literature review on the fruit growth of pome- and stone fruit. Split pit, a physiological disorder associated with an increased fruit growth rate in stone fruit, was also investigated. During the course of the 2001 / 2002 season two trials were conducted in the Villiersdorp area of the Western Cape on 'Golden Delicious' and 'Granny Smith' apple trees. Single and multiple applications of P-Ca at different rates, with and without the surfactant Dash®, were applied. One of these trials was continued during the 2002 / 2003 season. In the 2001 / 2002 season, P-Ca reduced shoot growth in both trials on 'Golden Delicious'. The shoot growth of 'Granny Smith' was reduced in both trials where PCa was applied three or four times. There was an improvement in the fruit size of 'Golden Delicious' in both trials, but there was no improvement in the fruit size of 'Granny Smith'. In the 2002 / 2003 season, the single P-Ca application did not reduce shoot growth. Unfortunately 'Golden Delicious' was harvested before any data were obtained. Once again P-Ca had no effect on the fruit size of 'Granny Smith'. Dash® did not improve the effect ofP-Ca. In the 2002 / 2003 season we replicated one trial on five different pear cultivars in the Wolsely area of the Western Cape. Single and multiple applications of P-Ca at different rates were compared to a girdling treatment (2 weeks after full bloom). 'Early Bon Chretien', 'Rosemarie', 'Flamingo', 'Forelle' and 'Packham's Triumph' pear trees were used and Dash®was added to all 0f the treatments. P-Ca reduced shoot growth in all of the pear cultivars. Girdling reduced shoot growth only in 'Forelle'. P-Ca increased fruit set of 'Early Bon Chretien', 'Rosemarie' and 'Forelle', however, this was associated with a reduced fruit size of 'Early Bon Chretien' and 'Rosemarie'. Girdling did not increase fruit set, but increased fruit size of 'Flamingo' and 'Early Bon Chretien'. P-Ca reduced return bloom of 'Packham's Triumph' and 'Forelle', whereas girdling increased return bloom in all the cultivars except 'Packham's Triumph'. In the 2002 / 2003 season, trials were also conducted on 'Pioneer' and 'Songold' plums and 'May Glo' nectarine in the Wemmershoek and Stellenbosch area of the Western Cape. Single applications at different rates of P-Ca were applied. Dash® was added to all of the treatments. The higher rates of P-Ca reduced the shoot growth of 'Pioneer'. P-Ca only reduced shoot growth of 'Songold' initially and but did not reduce shoot growth of 'May Glo'. P-Ca had no influence on fruit size of 'Pioneer', 'Songold' or 'May Glo'. P-Ca did not aggravate the occurrence of split pit. In conclusion, P-Ca reduced shoot growth in apples and pears when applied at the appropriate rates. Although P-Ca reduced shoot growth of 'Pioneer' plum, more research needs to be done on stone fruit to optimise timing and rate of P-Ca applications.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beheer van oormatige lootgroei is van kardinale belang in vrugtebome. Tans word die plantgroeireguleerder proheksadioon-kalsium (P-Ca) gebruik om die lootgroei van appels te beheer in die Verenigde State van Amerika en sekere lande in Europa. Die effek van P-Ca op lootgroei en vruggrootte is in proewe op appels (Malus domestica B.), pere (Pyrus cummunis L.), pruime (Prunus salicina L.) en nekatriens (Prunus persica L.) geëvalueer. Aangesien lootgroei inhibisie moontlik vruggroei kan vesnel, is 'n literatuurstudie oor die vruggroei van kern-en steenvrugte gedoen. Die ontwikkelling van gesplete pit by steenvrugte ('n fisiologiese defek geassosieer met versnelde vruggroei) is ook ondersoek. Gedurende die 2001 / 2002 seisoen is P-Ca in twee afsonderlike proewe in die Villiersdorp area van die Wes Kaap geëvalueer. Enkel en veelvuldige toedienings van verskeie konsentrasies P-Ca, met en sonder die benatter Dash", is op 'Golden Delicious' en 'Granny Smith' bome toegedien. Een proef is herhaal gedurende die 2002 / 2003 seisoen. In die 2001 /2002 seisoen het die P-Ca behandelings in beide proewe die lootgroei van 'Golden Delicious' verminder. Die lootgroei van 'Granny Smith' is in beide proewe verminder waar P-Ca 3 of 4 keer toegedien is. Die vruggrootte van 'Golden Delicious', maar nie 'Granny Smith' nie, is in beide proewe deur die P-Ca verbeter. In die 2002 / 2003 seisoen kon die enkeltoedienings van P-Ca nie die lootgroei verminder van 'Golden Delicious' of 'Granny Smith' nie. 'Golden Delicious' is geoes voor enige inligting oor die vruggrootte ingesamel kon word. Weereens het PCa geen invloed op die vruggrootte van 'Granny Smith' gehad nie. Dash® het nie die effek van P-Ca verbeter nie.In die 2002 / 2003 seisoen is proewe met P-Ca gedoen op 5 verskillende peer kultivars in die Wolsely area van die Wes Kaap. P-Ca is teen verskillende konsentrasies, met enkel en veelvuldige bespuitings toegedien en vergelyk met 'n ringelerings behandeling (2 weke na volblom). 'Early Bon Chretien', 'Rosemarie', 'Flamingo', 'Forelle' en 'Packham's Triumph' bome is gebruik en die benatter Dash® is by al die behandelings gevoeg P-Ca toedienings het lootgroei verminder in 'Early Bon Chretien', 'Rosemarie', 'Flamingo', 'Forelle' en 'Packham's Triumph'. Ringelering kon slegs die lootgroei van 'Forelle' verminder. P-Ca het die vrugset van 'Early Bon Chretien', 'Rosemarie'en 'Forelle' verhoog. Die toename in vrugset het gelei tot 'n afname in die vruggrootte van 'Early Bon Chretien' en 'Rosemarie'. Ringelering het die vruggrootte van 'Flamingo' en 'Early Bon Chretien' verbeter. P-Ca het 'n afname in die hoeveelheid reproduktiewe knoppe in die volgende seisoen, van 'Packham's Triumph' en 'Forelle' veroorsaak. Ringelering het 'n toename in die hoeveelheid vegetatiewe knoppe in die volgende seisoen gehad vir al die kultivars, behalwe 'Packham's Triumph'. Geduerende dieselfde seisoen is daar ook proewe gedoen op 'Pioneer' en 'Songold' pruime en 'May Glo' nektarienbome in onderskeidelik die Wemmershoek en Stellenbosch areas van die Wes Kaap. Bome is met enkel toedienings van verskillende konsentrasies P-Ca behandel en die benatter Dash® is by al die behandelings bygevoeg. Die hoër dosisse P-Ca het die lootgroei van 'Pioneer' verminder. P-Ca kon slegs die aanvanklike lootgroei op 'Songold' verminder en kon nie lootgroei van 'May Glo' beperk nie. P-Ca het geen invloed op die vruggrootte van 'Pioneer', 'Songold' of 'May Glo' gehad nie. P-Ca het nie die voorkoms van gesplete-pit vererger nie. Om saam te vat kan gesê word dat P-Ca lootgroei op appels en pere goed beperk teen die regte konsentrasies. Alhoewel P-Ca lootgroei suksesvol beheer het op 'Pioneer', moet daar meer werk gedoen word op steenvrugte.

L'objectiu dels programes de millora genètica del préssec és generar varietats adaptats a les condicions agronòmiques locals i satisfer els requeriments del consumidor. Això últim implica millorar la qualitat del fruit. L'estratègia seguida per molts milloradors es basa en la selección de descendents de creuaments on s’espera segregació per a caràcters fenotípics. Es tracta d’un mètode costós tant en temps com en diners a causa del período de juvenilitad del presseguer (2-3 anys) i també als recursos que suposa el mantener les plàntules en el camp durant el procés d’avaluació i selecció. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi va ser el desenvolupament de marcadors moleculars per a la seva aplicació en la selecció assistida per marcadors (SAM) de tres caràcters del fruit: baixa acidesa, fruit pla i pell glabra. En els dos primers capítols estudiem el locus del carácter subàcido (D) i el fruit pla (S) i hem realitzat l’anàlisis d’associació en les seves respectives regions genòmiques. Per a ambdós caràcters s'han generat i validat marcadors moleculars (SSRs i SNPs) que poden ser directament aplicats a SAM. L'estudi de l’haplotipus subàcid ens va permetre identificar diversos gens candidats. Aquestes resultats ens suggereix l'existència d'un únic origen de l’al·lel subàcido. L'anàlisi del locus S ens va permetre identificar dues INDELs altament associats amb el fruit pla. Aquests polimorfismes es van observar en regió codificant del gen ppa025511m, concretament en el segon exò del gen. Aquesta associació va ser avaluada en un ampli panell de varietats i en una població obtinguda a partir del creuament de dues parentals de fruits plans. L'anàlisi de la seqüència completa d'aquest gen va permetre la identificació de la supressió d'un fragment de 9Kb que afecta la regió 5’UTR del gen així com al primer exò, a l’intró i a una petita part del segon exò. La funció d'aquest gen va ser validada en un mutant tipus “sport” generat espontàneament en un arbre de la varietat plana ‘UFO4’. Es tracta d'un mutante quimèric mb una mutació que només afecta a les cèl·lules de la segona capa meristemàtica (LII), que genera la polpa del fruit. L'amplificació per PCR de l’INDEL d'aquest gen en la polpa del mutant rodó va revelar un canvi a l’al·lel pla. Malgrat que l‘alelo pla és dominant, els fruits plans han de presentar-lo en hetericigosis per a ser viables. Aquest fet amb la reversió a la forma rodona del mutant d’UFO4 suggereixen que aquest al·lel pot actuar com dominant negatiu. En el tercer capítol seqüenciem el genoma de 5 varietats de préssec i els seus respectius mutantes nectarina. Es van a estimar la variabilitat somática i la mutació causal de la pell glabra. La metodología empleada per al processament de les lectures i la identificació dels petis polimorfismes va generar un excés de falsos polimorfismes, possiblement causats per alineaments erronis de les seqüències repetitives del genoma. Mitjançant l'ús d'un filtrat més restrictiu es va reduir aquest valor. Els valors de diversitat nucleotídica i d’heterozigositat van ser similars als observats per Aranzana et al., (2012) i Verd et al., (2013). L’analisi del locus G va mostrar una menor π i una major Ho. Sota dues possibles hipótesis per a l’estudi l’al·lel causal del caràcter nectarina vam identificar diversos gens candidats amb funcions relacionades amb el desenvolupament de la paret cel·lular. No obstant això cap d'ells va resultar ser PpeMYB25 on recentment s’ha descrit una inserció de 7Kb asssociada al carácter nectarina (Vendramin et al., 2014). La insuficient cobertura de seqüenciació en la regió genómica del locus G pot haver estat la causa de la no identificació d’aquest polimorfisme en les nostres seqüències.
The aim of current breeding programs is to provide new fruit varieties adapted to the local agronomic conditions and to satisfy the requirements of the consumers. This last fact implies to improve the fruit quality. The strategy followed by most breeding programs is based on performing controlled crosses to select those individuals showing the target traits. Although this approach has succeed in the production of most of the varieties available today, it is time consuming and costly due the time required to obtain fruits (2-3 years) and the resources needed to keep the seedlings in the field during the evaluation and selection processes. The objective of this thesis was to develop molecular markers useful in marker assisted selection (MAS) for three important agronomical traits in peach fruits: low acidity, flat shape and glabrous skin (nectarine trait). In the first two chapters of this document we have used region-based association analysis to study the architecture of the locus responsible for either sub-acid (D) and flat fruits (S). In both cases the study has provided markers (SSR and SNPs) ready to be applied for MAS in peach breeding programs. The study of the length of the sub-acid haplotype, which is maintained more than 24Kbp long, allowed to hypothesize about a unique origin of this trait and to identify candidate genes. Similarly, the analysis of the S locus allowed the identification of two linked INDELs in the second exon of the gene ppa025511m highly associated with the flat shape of the fruit. The association was tested in a broad panel of varieties and in the offspring of a crossing population between two flat peaches. The sequencing analysis of the whole gene allowed the identification of a big deletion, of about 9Kbp, affecting its 5’ UTR, its first exon and its intron. The function of the gene was validated in a round sport mutant from a flat peach (UFO-4). This mutant was chimeric; the mutation only affected cells of the second layer (LII) of the meristerm, which generates the flesh of the fruit. A PCR amplification of the gene and the use of specific primers for the INDEL revealed a mutation in the flat allele in the flesh of the chimeric mutant, which produced the reversion to the round shape. The obligated heterozygosis of the flat allele and the reversion to the wild shape suggest a dominant negative (DN) mechanism. In the third chapter we sequenced the whole genome of 5 peach varieties and 6 sport nectarines derived from them. We estimated the overall somatic variability and studied the causal mutation from hairy fruit to glabrous. The reads processing and SNP calling revealed an excess of false variants that was especially evident in the analysis of the sport mutants. One of the main causes for the false variants was the misalignments of repetitive regions. The use of more restrictive SNP calling filters reduced the excess of false variants. The nucleotide diversity and heterozygosity of the varieties was similar to the one reported for peach (Aranzana et al., 2012; Verde et al., 2013). The analysis of the variations in the G locus region showed lower and higher Ho. To look for the causal allele for the nectarine trait we postulated two possible causes for the new mutation. These data provided several candidate genes involved in the cell wall development, however none of them was the gene PpeMYB25, where a big insertion of 7Kb in its second exon has recently been described as linked with the trait (Vendramin et al., 2014). This was probably due to an insufficient sequencing coverage in this genomic region.

Esse trabalho teve dois objetivos distintos, quantificar e caracterizar os danos pós-colheita em frutos de ameixa e nectarina na Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo (CEAGESP) e testar produtos que possam ser utilizados no controle das doenças pós-colheita podridão parda (Monilinia fructicola) e podridão mole (Rhizopus stolonifer) nestes dois frutos. Durante a safra 2003 e 2004, foram realizados 20 levantamentos de quantificação de danos em frutos de nectarina e 11 em frutos de ameixa. Em cada levantamento foram avaliados 1% do total de caixas comercializados em cinco permissionários da CEAGESP. A amostragem foi estratificada por variedade, calibre e procedência dos frutos, sendo quantificados danos mecânicos, fisiológicos e doenças pós-colheita. Para o controle da podridão parda e mole, o efeito curativo e protetor do CaCl2, cera e luz UV-C, em diferentes concentrações e o efeito curativo do tratamento com ozônio foram avaliados. A incidência de danos na CEAGESP em frutos de ameixa variou de 5 a 47%, e em nectarina entre 14 e 54%, considerando as safras 2003 e 2004. Tanto em ameixa como em nectarina os danos mais freqüentes foram os mecânicos, com variação de 2 a 25% em frutos de ameixa e de 7 a 30% em frutos de nectarina. Danos fisiológicos variaram de 1 a 22% e de 2 a 18% em frutos de ameixa e nectarina, respectivamente. Danos provocados por doenças variaram de 0 a 13% em frutos de ameixa e de 1 a 9% em frutos de nectarina. Entre os patógenos mais constatados figuraram fungos do gênero Rhizopus, Monilinia, Geotrichum, Cladosporium, Fusarium e Alternaria, além de bactérias. Correlação entre a incidência de frutos com dano mecânico e a incidência de frutos doentes foi constatada na safra 2004, nos dois frutos. Em ameixa, a variedade Gulfblazer apresentou maior incidência a danos mecânicos e fisiológicos. Não foi observada diferença na incidência de danos mecânicos e de doenças, entre as variedades de nectarina avaliadas na safra 2003. Na safra 2004, a incidência de danos mecânicos e fisiológicos foi superior na variedade Sunraycer comparada às demais variedades. Em relação aos produtos testados, no geral, CaCl2 a 1%, mostrou potencial de controle das duas doenças nos dois frutos, aplicado como protetor ou curativo. A cera ECF 124 a base de carnaúba foi o produto mais eficiente, com redução de até 70% das duas doenças em ambos os frutos, principalmente quando aplicada de maneira protetora, a 9%. As doses (1,4 e 5,2 kJm-2) de UV-C testadas não controlaram as doenças com resultados praticamente iguais à testemunha (dose 0,0 kJm-2). A presença de ozônio não reduziu nenhuma das doenças em nenhum dos dois frutos avaliados.
This study had two distinct objectives, to quantify and characterize the postharvest damages in plums and nectarines in the wholesale market of São Paulo (CEAGESP), and to test products that can be used in the control of the postharvest diseases such as the brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) and soft rot (Rhizopus stolonifer) in these two fruits species. Twenty assessments in nectarine and eleven in plums were carried out in 2003 and 2004. In each year 1% of the total of boxes commercialized in five outlets of CEAGESP was assessed, considering mechanical and physiological damages and postharvest diseases. The selection of samples was conducted through stratified sampling, taking fruit cultivar, place of origin and fruit size as the stratification criteria. Curative and protective control measures of brown and soft rot were analyzed testing CaCl2, wax and UV-C light, in different concentrations. The ozone was studied only as curative treatment. The incidence of damages in plums at CEAGESP ranged from 5 to 47%, and in nectarines from 14 to 54%. Either in plums or in nectarines, postharvest mechanical injuries were the most frequent damages, varying from 2 to 25% in plums and from 7 to 30% in nectarines. Physiological damages ranged from 1 to 22% and from 2 to 18% in plums and nectarines, respectively. Postharvest diseases ranged from 0 to 13% in plums and from 1 to 9% in nectarines. The most frequent postarvest pathogens were Rhizopus, Monilinia, Geotrichum, Cladosporium, Fusarium and Alternaria, besides bacteria. A correlation between the incidence of mechanical damages and the incidence of postharvest diseases in 2004 in both fruits was noticed. Cultivar Gulfblazer (plum) showed more incidence of mechanical and physiological damages than Reubennel. No differences were observed in the incidence of mechanical and physiological damages among the cultivars of nectarines assessed in 2003. No difference in the susceptibility to postharvest diseases among the nectarine cultivars Sunred, Sunripe, Sunraycer and Colombina in 2003 was verified. In 2004 cv. Sunraycer showed incidence of mechanical damages significantly higher than the other varieties. Regarding the products tested, as a whole, CaCl2 at 1% showed potential of controlling the two diseases in both kind of fruits, applied as a protective or curative measure. The carnauba wax (ECF 124) was the most efficient product, with a reduction of up to 70% of both diseases in both kind of fruits, mainly when applied as a protective agent, at 9%. The doses (1,4 e 5,2 kJm-2) of UV-C tested did not control the diseases with results practically similar to the reference dose (0,0 kJm-2). The presence of ozone did not reduce either of the diseases in any of the fruits evaluated.

Nectarines suffer low temperature disorders (LTD)when stored for more than 2 - 3 weeks at temperatures below 8 degrees C. LTD take the form of flesh bleeding and browning, loss of juiciness, development of mealiness and failure to ripen normally.It has been shown previously that adding about 15% CO2 to the storage atmosphere at 0 degrees C can delay the development of LTD in some cvv. of peaches and nectarines. The initial aim of this research was to explore the genetic basis of the differences among cultivars in the responses to high CO2.After much investigation, it was shown that both genetic and seasonal factors are involved in the development of LTD in nectarines. The development of LTD is a form of chilling injury since they only occur at temperatures below 8 degrees C. but there was no evidence of of a direct role for ethylene in either causing or delaying LTD. It was proposed that storage at low temperatures causes a metabolic imbalance resulting from changes in the amounts or activities of proteins associated with normal ripening. Proposals were presented to further examine protein expression using storage conditions that affect the rate of development of LTD.

Peach and nectarine production worldwide is increasing; however consumption is flat or declining because of the inconsistent eating quality experienced by consumers. The main factor for this inconsistent quality is mealiness or woolliness, a form of chilling injury that develops following shipping periods in the global fruit market today. Our research groups have devised various postharvest methods to prolong storage life, including controlled atmosphere and delayed storage; however, these treatments only delay mealiness. Mealiness texture results from disruption of the normal ripening process involving disassembly of cell wall material, and creates a soft fruit texture that is dry and grainy instead of juicy and smooth. Solving this problem is a prerequisite for increasing the demand for fresh peach and nectarine. Two approaches were used to reveal genes and their associated biochemical processes that can confer resistance to mealiness or wooliness. At the Volcani Center, Israel, a nectarine cultivar and the peach cultivar (isogenetic materials) from which the nectarine cultivar spontaneously arose, and at the Kearney Agricultural Center of UC Davis, USA, a peach population that segregates for quantitative resistance to mealiness was used for dissecting the genetic components of mealiness development. During our project we have conducted research integrating the information from phenotypic, biochemical and gene expression studies, proposed possible candidate genes and SNPs-QTLs mapping that are involved in reducing peach mealiness susceptibility. Numerous genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and its signal transduction, cell wall structure and metabolism, stress response, different transcription factor families were detected as being differentially accumulated in the cold-treated samples of these sensitive and less sensitive genotypes. The ability to produce ethylene and keep active genes involved in ethylene signaling, GTP-binding protein, EIN-3 binding protein and an ethylene receptor and activation of ethyleneresponsive fruit ripening genes during cold storage provided greater resistance to CI. Interestingly, in the functional category of genes differentially expressed at harvest, less chilling sensitive cultivar had more genes in categories related to antioxidant and heat sock proteins/chaperones that may help fruit to adapt to low temperature stress. The specific objectives of the proposed research were to: characterize the phenotypes and cell wall components of the two resistant systems in response to mealiness- inducing conditions; identify commonalities and specific differences in cell wall proteins and the transcriptome that are associated with low mealiness incidence; integrate the information from phenotypic, biochemical, and gene expression studies to identify candidate genes that are involved in reducing mealiness susceptibility; locate these genes in the Prunus genome; and associate the genes with genomic regions conferring quantitative genetic variation for mealiness resistance. By doing this we will locate genetic markers for mealiness development, essential tools for selection of mealiness resistant peach lines with improved fruit storability and quality. In our research, QTLs have been located in our peach SNPs map, and proposed candidate genes obtained from the integrated result of phenotypic, biochemical and gene expression analysis are being identified in our QTLs as an approach searching for consistent assistant markers for peach breeding programs.

The overall goal of the research was to understand the processes involved in the development of woolliness in peaches and nectarines. Four specific hypotheses were proposed and in the course of the research evidence was gathered t support two of them and to not support two others. The hypotheses and a summary of the evidence are outlined below. 1. That woolliness arises from an imbalance between the activities of the cell wall pectin degrading enzymes. Using 'Flavortop' nectarines and 'Hermoza' peaches as model systems, storage regimes were manipulated to induce or prevent woolliness. The expression (mRNA abundance), protein content (Western blotting), and activity of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin esterase (PE) were followed. Expression of the enzymes was not different, but activity and the ratio between PG and PE activities were quite different in fruits developing woolliness or ripening normally. This was also examined by looking at the substrate, the pectin moiety of the cell wall, and i woolly fruit there were more high molecular weight pectins with regions of non-methylated galacturonic acid residues. Taking an in vitro approach it was found a) that PE activity was stable at 0oC while PG activity decreased; b) incubating the calcium pectate fraction of the cell wall with PE extracted from peaches caused the polymers to form a gel characteristic of the visual woolly symptoms in peaches. 2. That continued cell wall synthesis occurs during storage and contributes to structural changes i cell walls and improper dissolution and softening after storage. We tried to adapt our technique of adding 13C-glucose to fruit discs, which was used successfully to follow cell wall synthesis during tomato ripening. However, the difference in sugar content between the two fruits (4% in tomato and 12% in peach) meant that the 13C-glucose was much more diluted within the general metabolite pool. We were unable to see any cell wall synthesis which meant that either the dilution factor was too great, or that synthesis was not occurring. 3. That controlled atmosphere (CA) prevents woolliness by lowering all enzyme activities. CA was found to greatly reduce mRNA abundance of the cell wall enzymes compared to regular air storage. However, their synthesis and activity recovered during ripening after CA storage and did not after regular air storage. Therefore, CA prevented the inhibition of enzyme activation found in regular air storage. 4. That changes in cell wall turgor and membrane function are important events in the development of woolliness. Using a micro pressure probe, turgor was measured in cells of individual 'O'Henry' and 'CalRed' peaches which were woolly or healthy. The relationship between firmness and turgor was the same in both fruit conditions. These data indicate that the development and expression of woolliness are not associated with differences in membrane function, at least with regard to the factors that determine cell turgor pressure. In addition, during the period of the grant additional areas were explored. Encoglucanase, and enzyme metabolizing hemicellulose, was found to be highly expressed air stored, but not in unstored or CA stored fruit. Activity gels showed higher activity in air stored fruit as well. This is the first indication that other components of the cell wall may be involved in woolliness. The role of ethylene in woolliness development was also investigated at it was found a) that woolly fruits had decreased ability to produce ethylene, b) storing fruits in the presence of ethylene delayed the appearance of woolliness. This latter finding has implication for an inexpensive strategy for storing peaches and nectarines.

The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a native pest of North America, predominantly affecting stone and pome fruits, such as peaches, apricots, nectarines and apples. Its damage, caused by oviposition and larval feeding, leads to scarring, premature fruit drop and deformities, posing significant economic challenges to orchard production. Control methods, including chemical treatments and biological control using entomopathogenic nematodes, have proven challenging due to the development of the pest inside the fruit and unpredictable population dynamics. While classical biological control efforts have not been undertaken due to the limited distribution of the pest, several parasitoid species have been identified as potential natural enemies. However, their effectiveness in controlling plum curculio remains uncertain, with variable rates of parasitism reported across different studies and locations. Further research is needed to assess the potential of parasitoids and other natural enemies for managing plum curculio populations effectively.