The effect of terroir on volatilome fingerprinting and qualitative attributes of non-irrigated grapes reveals differences on glycosylated aroma compounds.

Background: 'Xynisteri' is considered as the reference white grape cultivar in Cyprus with remarkable adaptation to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions and appreciable oenological properties that renders it as an appropriate cultivar for studies within a global context due to climate change. To this aim, two distinct non-irrigated plots with different climatic conditions, soil properties and levels of rainfall were selected; Koilani [KO, altitude 800 m, 76% calcium carbonate (CaCO) content, pH 7.97, average temperature: 16.

Next generation chemical priming: with a little help from our nanocarrier friends.

Plants are exposed to multiple threats linked to climate change which can cause critical yield losses. Therefore, designing novel crop management tools is crucial. Chemical priming has recently emerged as an effective technology for improving tolerance to stress factors.

Assessing the biodiversity and the impact of pollinators on carob production.

As the current climate crisis intensifies, drought resistant crops are becoming more important due to their ability to withstand the increasingly hotter and drier summers. Such crops are valuable for pollinators as they provide food resources for wild and managed species. The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.

The beneficial effect of leaf removal during fruit set on physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices and volatile organic compound profile of the Cypriot reference cultivar 'Xynisteri'.

Background: 'Xynisteri' is the reference Cypriot white cultivar that, despite its significant societal and economic impact, is poorly characterized regarding its qualitative properties, while scarce information exists regarding its aroma profile. In the current study, the effect of leaf removal during fruit set (BBCH 71) on 6-year cordon-trained, spur-pruned grapevines was assessed and an array of physiological, biochemical, and qualitative indices were monitored during successive developmental stages (BBCH 75, BBCH 85, BBCH 87, and BBCH 89). Grapes were additionally monitored for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile during the advanced on-vine developmental stages (BBCH 85-BBCH 89) with the employment of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier-transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectra and electronic nose (E-nose) techniques.

A comprehensive review on carotenoids in foods and feeds: , applications, patents, and research needs.

Carotenoids are isoprenoids widely distributed in foods that have been always part of the diet of humans. Unlike the other so-called food bioactives, some carotenoids can be converted into retinoids exhibiting vitamin A activity, which is essential for humans. Furthermore, they are much more versatile as they are relevant in foods not only as sources of vitamin A, but also as natural pigments, antioxidants, and health-promoting compounds.

Elaboration of novel and comprehensive protocols toward determination of textural properties and other sensorial attributes of canning peach fruit.

Peach (Prunus persica) products are destined for fresh consumption or are being consumed after processing in various forms. Despite its huge economic importance, no standardized protocols to define sensorial attributes and mechanical properties of canned peaches exist. Thus, the aim of the current study was dual and included the setting up of a list of sensorial descriptors and the elaboration of a toolkit to evaluate the textural properties of canned peaches using large deformation mechanical testing.

Dissection of the incidence and severity of purple spot physiological disorder in loquat fruit through a physiological and molecular approach.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruit marketability is affected by the incidence and severity of purple spot (PS), a pre-harvest physiological disorder showing an evident skin discoloration with depressed surface. Despite its impact in limiting the cultivation and economic potential of loquat, the etiology of this disorder is still poorly understood. To this end, our study aimed to investigate and disclose possible mechanisms underlying PS development.

Primary Metabolism in Fresh Fruits During Storage.

The extension of commercial life and the reduction of postharvest losses of perishable fruits is mainly based on storage at low temperatures alone or in combination with modified atmospheres (MAs) and controlled atmospheres (CAs), directed primarily at reducing their overall metabolism thus delaying ripening and senescence. Fruits react to postharvest conditions with desirable changes if appropriate protocols are applied, but otherwise can develop negative and unacceptable traits due to the onset of physiological disorders. Extended cold storage periods and/or inappropriate temperatures can result in development of chilling injuries (CIs).

Genotype-dependent regulation of vitamin E biosynthesis in olive fruits as revealed through metabolic and transcriptional profiles.

Vitamin E is a general term used to describe a group of eight lipophilic compounds known as tocochromanols. These vitamin E variants are chemically categorised into two classes formed by α-, β-, γ- and δ- tocopherols and tocotrienols isoforms, respectively. The present study describes the concurrent regulation of genes and metabolites orchestrating vitamin E biosynthesis in olive drupes of five distinctive Greek olive cultivars.

Leaf removal at veraison stage differentially affects qualitative attributes and bioactive composition of fresh and dehydrated grapes of two indigenous Cypriot cultivars.

Background: The effect of leaf removal on postharvest performance of dehydrated grapes has been poorly analyzed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leaf removal at veraison stage on the metabolites of fresh and dehydrated grapes of two indigenous Cypriot cultivars ('Mavro' and 'Xynisteri'), which are destined for the production of 'Commandaria', a protected designation of origin (PDO) premium sweet wine.

Results: Leaf removal led to a reduction of soluble solids, titratable acidity, aroma potential and most of the phenolic groups in the musts of both cultivars.

Genomic Sequencing of Japanese Plum ( Lindl.) Mutants Provides a New Model for Rosaceae Fruit Ripening Studies.

It has recently been described that the Japanese plum "Santa Rosa" bud sport series contains variations in ripening pattern: climacteric, suppressed-climacteric and non-climacteric types. This provides an interesting model to study the role of ethylene and other key mechanisms governing fruit ripening, softening and senescence. The aim of the current study was to investigate such differences at the genomic level, using this series of plum bud sports, with special reference to genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis, signal transduction, and sugar metabolism.

Antioxidant Phytochemicals in Fresh Produce: Exploitation of Genotype Variation and Advancements in Analytical Protocols.

Horticultural commodities (fruit and vegetables) are the major dietary source of several bioactive compounds of high nutraceutical value for humans, including polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins. The aim of the current review was dual. Firstly, toward the eventual enhancement of horticultural crops with bio-functional compounds, the natural genetic variation in antioxidants found in different species and cultivars/genotypes is underlined.

Metabolic fingerprinting of must obtained from sun-dried grapes of two indigenous Cypriot cultivars destined for the production of 'Commandaria': A protected destignation of origin product.

Grapes's sun-dried process is one of the most critical steps in the production of 'Commandaria', a dessert wine product that is exclusively produced in Cyprus and derived from must obtained from two indigenous grape cultivars, namely 'Mavro' and 'Xynisteri'. Despite its significant economic importance, no data regarding the primary and secondary metabolites of the aforementioned cultivars exist. Thus, in the current study, the effect of sun drying process on the qualitative attributes and phenolic profile of 'Mavro' and 'Xynisteri' musts was dissected.

Deciphering the interplay among genotype, maturity stage and low-temperature storage on phytochemical composition and transcript levels of enzymatic antioxidants in Prunus persica fruit.

The aim of this study was to understand the antioxidant metabolic changes of peach (cvs. 'Royal Glory', 'Red Haven' and 'Sun Cloud') and nectarine fruits (cv. 'Big Top') exposed to different combinations of low-temperature storage (0, 2, 4 weeks storage at 0 °C, 90% R.

Metabolic and transcriptional elucidation of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in peel and flesh tissue of loquat fruit during on-tree development.

Background: Carotenoids are the main colouring substances found in orange-fleshed loquat fruits. The aim of this study was to unravel the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway of loquat fruit (cv. 'Obusa') in peel and flesh tissue during distinct on-tree developmental stages through a targeted analytical and molecular approach.

Regulation of On-Tree Vitamin E Biosynthesis in Olive Fruit during Successive Growing Years: The Impact of Fruit Development and Environmental Cues.

The term vitamin E refers to a group of eight lipophilic compounds known as tocochromanols. The tocochromanols are divided into two groups, that is, tocopherols and tocotrienols, with four forms each, namely α-, β-, γ-, and δ-. In order to explore the temporal biosynthesis of tocochromanols in olive ( cv.

(1)H NMR Metabolic Fingerprinting to Probe Temporal Postharvest Changes on Qualitative Attributes and Phytochemical Profile of Sweet Cherry Fruit.

Sweet cherry fruits (Prunus avium cvs. 'Canada Giant', 'Ferrovia') were harvested at commercial maturity stage and analyzed at harvest and after maintenance at room temperature (storage at ∼20°C, shelf life) for 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days, respectively. Fruit were initially analyzed for respiration rate, qualitative attributes and textural properties: 'Canada Giant' fruit were characterized by higher weight losses and stem browning index, being more intense over the late stages of shelf life period; meanwhile 'Ferrovia' possessed appreciably better performance even after extended shelf life period.

Temporal analysis reveals a key role for VTE5 in vitamin E biosynthesis in olive fruit during on-tree development.

The aim of this work was to generate a high resolution temporal mapping of the biosynthetic pathway of vitamin E in olive fruit (Olea europaea cv. "Koroneiki") during 17 successive on-tree developmental stages. Fruit material was collected from the middle of June until the end of January, corresponding to 6-38 weeks after flowering (WAF).

Ozone-induced kiwifruit ripening delay is mediated by ethylene biosynthesis inhibition and cell wall dismantling regulation.

Ozone treatments are used to preserve quality during cold storage of commercially important fruits due to its ethylene oxidizing capacity and its antimicrobial attributes. To address whether or not ozone also modulates ripening by directly affecting fruit physiology, kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. 'Hayward') were stored in very low ethylene atmosphere at 0°C (95% RH) in air (control) or in the presence of ozone (0.

Phytochemical content, antioxidants and cell wall metabolism of two loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) cultivars under different storage regimes.

Changes in quality, phytochemical content and cell wall metabolism of two loquat cultivars (Eriobotrya japonica cvs. 'Morphitiki', 'Karantoki') under different storage regimes were studied. The fruit were harvested at commercial maturity stage and analyzed after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 days maintenance at room temperature (RT, ∼ 20°C) or after cold storage (14 days at 4°C) and additional ripening at RT for 1, 3 and 5 days, respectively.

Sodium hydrosulfide induces systemic thermotolerance to strawberry plants through transcriptional regulation of heat shock proteins and aquaporin.

Background: Temperature extremes represent an important limiting factor to plant growth and productivity. The present study evaluated the effect of hydroponic pretreatment of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. 'Camarosa') roots with an H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS; 100 μM for 48 h), on the response of plants to acute heat shock treatment (42°C, 8 h).

Establishment of a rapid, inexpensive protocol for extraction of high quality RNA from small amounts of strawberry plant tissues and other recalcitrant fruit crops.

Strawberry plant tissues and particularly fruit material are rich in polysaccharides and polyphenolic compounds, thus rendering the isolation of nucleic acids a difficult task. This work describes the successful modification of a total RNA extraction protocol, which enables the isolation of high quantity and quality of total RNA from small amounts of strawberry leaf, root and fruit tissues. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of GAPDH housekeeping gene from isolated RNA further supports the proposed protocol efficiency and its use for downstream molecular applications.

Berry antioxidants: small fruits providing large benefits.

Small berry fruits are consumed because of their attractive colour and special taste, and are considered one of the richest sources of natural antioxidants. Their consumption has been linked to the prevention of some chronic and degenerative diseases. The term 'berry fruits' encompasses the so-called 'soft fruits', primarily strawberry, currants, gooseberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry and cranberry.

Cell wall modifications and ethylene-induced tolerance to non-chilling peel pitting in citrus fruit.

Non-chilling peel pitting (NCPP), a storage disorder resulting in the formation of depressed areas in the peel of many citrus cultivars, is reduced by ethylene treatments. We hypothesized that this effect may be associated with biochemical changes of cell wall components. Therefore, we extracted cell wall material from albedo and flavedo tissues of 'Navelate' oranges stored in air, conditioned with ethylene (2μLL(-1)) for 4 days and subsequently transferred to air, or continuously stored in an ethylene-enriched atmosphere (2μLL(-1)).