Horticultural Science - In Press
Integrated nutrient management improves soil fertility, leading to improve the productivity and quality of Aonla (Emblica officinali L.)Original Paper
Soustav Datta, Susmita Dey, Sk Md Asif, Sarthak Bhattacharya, Suddhasuchi Das, Chinmoy Mandal, Kamal Kr. Mandal, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis, Samy Sayed, Ahmed Gaber, Akbar Hossain
Aonla (Emblica officinali L.) is one of the most nutritious fruits and an excellent source of vitamin C. Chemical fertilizers and insecticides used indiscriminately have negative effects on soil fertility, yield and quality of produce. Given this background, a study was conducted from 2019 to 2021 at the Regional Research Substation, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in Sekhampur, West Bengal, India, to examine the impacts of managing organic and inorganic nutrients for achievable production of aonla and preserving soil fertility in Red and Lateritic Regions of West Bengal-India. Treatments were: T1: RDF: 600-300-600 g NPK plant-1 (Control); T2: 20 kg FYM + 400-200-500g NPK plant-1; T3: 10kg Vermicompost + 400-150-450g NPK plant-1; T4: 40g Azotobacter + 550-300-600g NPK plant-1; T5: 50g PSB + 600-250-600g NPK plant-1; T6: 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 550-250-600g NPK plant-1; T7: 10 kg FYM + 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 350--500g NPK plant-1; T8: 10kg Vermicompost + 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 350-100-450g NPK plant-1. All treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and repeated three times. The observations revealed that greatest increases in plant growth parameters, maximum fruit physicochemical characteristics, maximum yield/tree ratio and soil nutrient status were observed with the implementation of treatment T6. Finally, aonla (cv. ‘NA-7’) orchards in Sekhampur, West Bengal, benefit from treatment T6, which improves the soil nutrient status and increases fruit quality and yield.
Species-specific responses of vegetable seedlings to inoculation with beneficial soil yeastsOriginal Paper
Banina Vázquez, Liliana Godoy, Samuel Contreras, Francisco Albornoz
Transplanting vegetable seedlings from nursery to field conditions often induces physiological stress, compromising crop establishment and yield. Beneficial bacteria or filamentous fungi are used to reduce transplant shock, but yeasts have received little attention. This study evaluated the potential of two soil yeasts, Yarrowia lipolytica (YL) and Solicoccozyma terrea (ST), to enhance seedling growth in lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and broccoli in a first experiment and then, in a second experiment, to assess the potential of both yeasts to mitigate transplant stress in tomato and cucumber. During seedling production, ST increased tomato fresh weight, root length, and root volume by 14.4%, 9.6%, and 17.4%, respectively, whereas YL increased tomato dry weight by 16.4%. In broccoli, ST increased root length from 71.8 cm in the control to 77.5 cm. In cucumber seedlings, ST increased fresh biomass by 8.2%. Lettuce showed minimal response, likely due to lower rhizosphere colonization. After transplanting, tomato plants inoculated with either yeast strain showed greater photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation during the first 12 days after transplant, averaging 20.96 versus 17.88 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ in the control. Both yeasts improved leaf water potential during the early after transplant period, with particularly strong effects of ST in cucumber. These findings demonstrate that yeast-based biostimulants can enhance seedling vigor and resilience to transplant stress, although efficacy depends on plant-microbe compatibility.
Examination of the suitability of pollenizers for three sweet cherry cultivars and molecular S-genotyping of cv. ‘Liliana’Original Paper
Agnieszka G³owacka, Anna Lisek, El¿bieta Rozpara, Witold Danelski
The experiment was carried out in the Experimental Orchard of the National Institute of Horticultural Research in Skierniewice. The aim of the work was to select pollenizers of three sweet cherry cultivars: ‘Liliana’ (Poland), ‘Jacinta’ and ‘Sandra’ (both from Czech Republic), which are promising for cultivation in Poland. Each of the cultivars was studied in the years 2021-2025 both under open pollination and cross-pollination. Three different cultivars with flowering times that are the same as or similar to the pollinated cultivars were evaluated as pollenizers. Assuming that more than 20% of the flowers should develop into fruit, a good pollenizers for the cultivar ‘Liliana’ were ‘Jacinta’ and ‘Burlat’. A fruit set of 10–20% provides the potential for a moderately high yield; therefore, ‘Liliana’ and ‘Burlat’ were moderately effective pollenisers for the cultivar ‘Sandra’. ‘Summit’ should not be chosen as pollenizer for this cultivar, because the low fruit set percentage does not guarantee satisfactory yields. It was difficult to choose the best pollenizer for the ‘Jacinta’ cultivar, because fruit set was low in the pollination combinations used and generally did not exceed 10%. In addition, the aim of the work was to identify the S-alleles of the cultivar ‘Liliana’ using the PCR method, applying two pairs of consensus primers for introns I and II of the S-RNase gene and, in order to confirm the result, primers specific to the alleles of the S-RNase and SFB genes. This made it possible to identify the S1S6 alleles in the tested cultivar.
Reproductive performance of three plum cultivars budded on different rootstocksOriginal Paper
Anton Ivanov Yordanov, Sava Georgiev Tabakov, Todor Donkov Donkov
IIn the autumn of 2015, an experimental orchard was established to investigate the influence of following clonal rootstocks: GF 677, GXN15 (Garnem), Ishtara, Wavit (Prudon) and Myrobalan seedling (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.), on the vegetative and reproductive traits of European plum cultivars Chachanska lepotica, Stanley and Jojo. The study was conducted over a period of seven years (2018–2024) near the city of Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria. The results of the study show that under the influence of the rootstock GF 677, the cultivars included in the study have the highest cumulative yield per tree for the period. The rootstock GF 677 demonstrated the highest productivity in terms of the crop efficiency coefficient relative to the trunk cross-sectional area in all three cultivars included in the study. The crop efficiency coefficient relative to the crown volume is highest under the influence of the rootstock Ishtara in combination with Stanley cultivar, while for the other two cultivars - Chachanska lepotica and Jojo this indicator is highest in combination with the rootstock GF 677. The weakly growing rootstocks Wavit and Ishtara allow the densest planting of trees per unit area and the highest theoretical cumulative yield per unit area can be expected. During the study period, no clear trend was identified regarding the influence of the rootstocks on the average weight of the fruits.
Effects of soil textures and irrigation levels on the photosynthetic physiological characteristics of pear treesOriginal Paper
Pengpeng Wang, Lu Lin, Hao Chen, Yanlong Li, Zhenxu Liang, Qinghua Wang, Jun Liu, Zhiqiang Li, Mingde Sun, Songzhong Liu
Soil moisture conditions are primary limiting factors governing foliar photosynthetic capacity in plants. Nevertheless, comprehensive investigations into how irrigation regimes modulate plant–water relations and photosynthetic performance across varying soil textural classes remain insufficient. This study evaluated the interactive impacts of three soil textures (Clay soil, Sandy soil, and Loam soil) and three irrigation levels (100% full irrigation (FI), W1; 75% FI, W2; and 50% FI, W3) on soil water content (SWC), leaf water potential (ΨW), leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetic traits and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of pear trees. Significant disparities in SWC were observed among the soil textures, following the order: Clay soil > Loam soil > Sandy soil. Both ΨW and LAI increased with increasing irrigation levels. The Clay soil -W2, Loam soil -W2 and Sandy soil -W1 treatments markedly improved the foliar net photosynthetic rate and the efficiency of light energy capture and photochemical conversion. Correlation analysis revealed that ΨW and LAI were key determinants of photosynthetic efficiency. These findings provide a reliable theoretical basis for predicting the physiological and photosynthetic responses of fruit trees under combined variations in soil texture and irrigation management.
Sensory evaluation and quality attributes of selected apple cultivarsOriginal Paper
Marjan Kiprijanovski, Nikola Saraginovski
The paper presents the results of the laboratory measurement of specific physical and chemical parameters that determine quality as well as the sensory evaluation of apple fruits. In the experiment, 12 cultivars of apple, including Idared and Golden Delicious, which are commonly grown, as well as Mondial Gala, Honeycrisp, Modi, Suncrisp, Kandycrisp, Pinova, Cameo, Braeburn, Fuji Ki-Ku 8, and Pink Lady, which are newly introduced in the production region, were included. Physicochemical parameters of the fruits (weight, length, diameter, soluble solid content, titratable acids, and firmness) were measured in the laboratory after harvesting, and in addition, soluble solid content and firmness were measured after storage of fruits at the end of December and at the end of February. The sensory evaluation was performed in 3 terms in the season - on October 30, December 29, and February 28, while the potential consumer assessed apples by their appearance (shape, size, colour) and then by their eating quality attributes (texture, aroma, juiciness, crispness, taste). Significant differences in the physico-chemical properties of the fruits among cultivars, as well as at different measurement times, were determined. The analysis of sensory properties revealed differences in the expression of individual characteristics among the examined cultivars. In certain cultivars, a significant difference was found between their ratings for appearance and taste, as well as among different terms of evaluation. Generally, commonly grown cultivars get very low sensory grades, especially for taste compared with newly introduced cultivars.
Comparison of Sugar and Organic Acid Content in Asian and European Pear CultivarsOriginal Paper
Joná¹ Fiala, Michal Kum¹ta, Petr ©nurkoviè, Tomá¹ Neèas
Soluble sugars and organic acids are key determinants of pear fruit quality, directly influencing sweetness, acidity and overall flavour perception. The present study evaluated the sugar and organic acid composition of selected Asian and European pear (Pyrus spp.) cultivars harvested over multiple seasons (2016–2021). Individual sugars and organic acids were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and cultivar differences were analysed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test. A Flavour Index (FI), calculated as the ratio of total sugars to total organic acids, was used to characterise sweetness–acidity balance. Fructose was the dominant sugar in all cultivars, followed by glucose and sucrose, while malic acid represented the predominant organic acid. Considerable inter-cultivar variability was observed in both absolute concentrations and metabolite proportions. FI values effectively differentiated cultivars according to their flavour profile. Comparison with published literature confirmed that the measured sugar and acid concentrations fall within expected ranges for Pyrus spp., while highlighting species- and cultivar-specific differences. The results demonstrate substantial biochemical diversity among pear cultivars and confirm that combined evaluation of sugars, organic acids and FI provides a robust framework for fruit quality assessment. These findings are relevant for cultivar selection aimed at fresh consumption, breeding programmes and pear processing, including perry production.
Promotion of plant growth through root-zone CO₂ enrichment in a semi-dry fog aeroponic systemOriginal Paper
Yosuke Hikosaka, Takuma Fujisawa, Ryohei Koyama, Yuichi Uno, Michio Kanechi
Root-zone CO₂ enrichment has been proposed as a promising approach to enhance plant growth and biomass accumulation in soilless culture systems. However, its effects under semi-dry fog aeroponics and the mechanism of CO₂ translocation from roots to shoots remain unclear. Here, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were cultivated in a semi-dry fog aeroponic system, where roots were exposed to a highly aerated environment with ultrafine nutrient mist. Plants were supplied with root-zone CO₂ at 3% concentration during the daytime for three weeks, and growth parameters, photosynthetic performance, root respiration, and CO₂ concentration changes in the shoot chamber were evaluated. Root-zone CO₂ enrichment significantly increased tomato shoot dry weight and root fresh weight by 30% and 21%, respectively. In leaf lettuce, it significantly enhanced root fresh and dry weights by 16.5% and 27.2%, while significantly decreasing the shoot/root (T/R) ratio. Root respiration rates were not significantly affected by the treatment. The 12.7% increase in dissolved CO₂ in root exudates and the elevated CO₂ concentration in the shoot chamber indicated possible CO₂ translocation from roots to aerial tissues. Root-zone CO₂ enrichment up to 3% can promote plant growth and biomass accumulation without impairing root function under semi-dry fog aeroponics, offering a strategy for CO₂ utilization in soilless horticultural systems.
The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil and roots of strawberry and apple plants after the application of mineral fertilizers and beneficial microorganismsOriginal Paper
Edyta Derkowska, Beata Sumorok, Lidia Sas-Paszt, Krzysztof Górnik, S³awek G³uszek
Based on the results of two-year field studies (2019-2020), the influence of beneficial soil fungi (Aspergillus niger, Purpureocillium lilacinum), beneficial soil bacteria (Bacillus sp., Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Paenibacillus polymyxa) and their combined use with three mineral fertilizers on the colonization of roots of strawberry cultivar 'Marmolada' and apple cultivar 'Sampion' by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) occurring in the soil was determined.The effect of these treatments on the number of AMF spores in the rhizosphere soil was also assessed. It was found that the combined use of beneficial bacteria consortium and Polifoska 6 fertilizer, as well as bacteria alone, significantly increased the colonization of strawberry and apple roots by AMF and the number of their spores in rhizosphere soil. The combined use of Super fos dar 40 fertilizer with bacterial consortium and the consortium applied alone in 2020, increased the number of AMF spores in the rhizosphere soil. The results obtained may contribute to the development of environmentally friendly methods of fruit plant production through the use of new biofertilizers containing native soil microorganisms.
Evaluation of Different Tomato Genotypes using Biochemical and Trichome Related Traits from IndiaOriginal Paper
RAJAN VISHAL PRAVINKUMAR, RAVISH CHOUDHARY, SANGITA YADAV, HUSSAIN ZAKIR, PRAVIN KUMAR SINGH, SEZAI ERCISLI, FIRAT ISLEK, SHIV KUMAR YADAV
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. Eight types of trichomes, glandular or non-glandular, have been identified in tomato species. Information on trichome variation at the seedling stage in cultivated genotypes is limited and a gap exists for biochemical profiling (sugars for fruit quality and acyl sugar for insect-pest resistance).In the present study, thirty-two diverse tomato genotypes were evaluated for trichomes at seedling stage and biochemical traits. Four trichomes types, including Type I, IV, VI and a novel type of branched trichome (Type IX) were observed. Significant differences were found among the genotypes for trichomes density with the range of 11.9 to 19.1 trichomes mm-1. Reducing and non-reducing sugar content (%)ranged from 1.78% to 4.82% and 1.95% to 4.62%, respectively among the genotypes. Total sugar content (%) was found in the range of 3.90% to 9.44%. The acyl sugar content (μmolcm-2) was found significantly different among the genotypes with the range of 387 to 1875 μmolcm-2. To our best of knowledge, a novel type of trichome (Type-IX) was found in four promising genotypes namely, H406, H414, 396 TLCV and 904111 and had significantly higher trichome density which may be involved in defence against the insect-pests during seedling stage. Genotypes, i.e., H405, H415, 396TLCV, 814916 and 904111 showed the highest density as well as acyl sugar, dominated by Type VI followed by Type IV trichomes. These genotypes serve as promising donors for insect-pest resistance breeding and seedling-stage screening approach.
Evaluating the chemical profile of bourbon rose essential oil across different flowering seasons and harvesting stagesOriginal Paper
Vivek Bhanwala
TThe present work depicts the impact of pruning time, flowering seasons and harvesting stages on hydro-distilled bourbon rose essential oil. The study was conducted at the Medicinal, Aromatic and Potential Crop Section, CCSHAU, Hisar (India). This experiment involved three-year-old rose plants which were subjected to two pruning times (October and November), two flowering seasons (winter and spring) and two harvesting stages (bud and full bloom). The findings indicate the positive impact in terms of spring season full blooms from November pruned plants on the physical and chemical properties of rose essential oil. Notably, specific gravity and ester values reached their highest levels during the winter flowering season. In turn, rose volatile oil samples were analysed through Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, with 30 chemical constituents being identified. The analysis also showed nerol, citronellyl propionate and 2-nonadecene as having the highest percentage areas. In addition, these constituents contribute to some major classes, with alcohols and terpenes being recorded with the highest relative amounts. The study suggests that improved physical and chemical properties in bourbon rose essential oil underscores the importance of experimental treatments. These results can also serve as a foundation for further research, contributing to advancements in the aromatic plant industry while enhancing the commercial viability of bourbon rose cultivation.
Comparative analysis of peg-induced in-vitro drought stress responses in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivarsOriginal Paper
Çağlar Kaya
In this study, the morphological and biochemical responses of three commercial strawberry cultivars (‘Camarosa’, ‘Albion’, and ‘Sweet Charlie’) were compared under in-vitro drought stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG). The results revealed that, under severe stress conditions (10% PEG), ‘Camarosa’ exhibited the highest shoot (9.57) and root numbers (8.89), while its rooting rate was (8.39%) at moderate stress (5% PEG). ‘Albion’ had the greatest leaf number (9.26) at 0% PEG, and reached maximum leaf length (9.10 cm) and fresh biomass (9.46 g) at 5% PEG. In contrast, ‘Sweet Charlie’ showed pronounced reductions in both growth and biochemical parameters as PEG concentration increased, with shoot number decreasing to (3.13) and biomass reduced by more than 40% at 10% PEG. Biochemically, ‘Albion’ showed the highest SOD activity (9.54 U mg-1) at 5% PEG and CAT activity (9.73 U mg-1) at 10% PEG. ‘Sweet Charlie’, on the other hand, displayed the most pronounced oxidative damage under high PEG, with elevated MDA (12.7 nmol g-1 FW) and proline (9.12 μmol g-1 FW) accumulation. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 56.4% of the total variance, highlighting that ‘Albion’ stood out for its high antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, GR, SOD), while ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Sweet Charlie’ were able to maintain higher SPAD and relative water content (RWC) under severe stress. However, increased MDA and proline levels in ‘Sweet Charlie’ indicated heightened stress sensitivity. The PCA biplot further demonstrated that antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GR, SOD) were closely associated with ‘Albion’, while physiological parameters such as SPAD and RWC were more related to ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Sweet Charlie’. In conclusion, the in-vitro screening method using PEG is an effective and reliable tool for rapid assessment of drought tolerance in strawberry genotypes. These findings indicate that ‘Albion’, with its superior morphological and biochemical resilience, is a promising candidate for future breeding programs.
Changes in some nutritional components and physiological indices during the cutting process of Acer griseum cuttings
Junyang Song, Yingxue Shen, Sucheng He
Acer guiseum, a distinct endangered species native to China, is celebrated for its striking autumn foliage. The profound physiological dormancy of its seeds hampers both natural regeneration and industrial applications. This research examines the changes in nutritional components and physiological indices during the cutting process of Acer guiseum, offering insights for foundational research and practical applications in propagation by cuttings for this and similar species. Utilizing one-year-old branches of Acer guiseum as experimental material, this study assessed the variations in nutritional components and physiological indices among cuttings subjected to NAA treatment and a control group. It delved into the internal changes in substances within the cuttings throughout the process, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for its propagation via cuttings. Despite all treated and control group cuttings failing to successfully induce rooting, valuable data on nutritional components and physiological indices were collected during the process. The findings reveal a persistent decrease in the levels of starch, soluble sugar, soluble protein, catalase (CAT) activity, and a-amylase (α-AL) activity in the cuttings. Peroxidase (POD) activity exhibited a “decrease-increase-decrease-increase” pattern, failing to sustain high activity throughout the process. Increases were noted in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and lipase (LPS) activity, which are indicators of lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, reduction in cellular physiological functions, and cellular aging. Traditional cutting methods proved ineffective in inducing rooting in Acer guiseum cuttings. The observed reduction in nutritional substances and changes in enzyme activity during the cutting process are likely contributing factors to the unsuccessful propagation of Acer guiseum through cuttings.
The nutrient requirement of Holcoglossum amesianum affects the formation of PLBs and the mortality of seedling based on micromorphological observationOriginal Paper
Qian Wu, Jianwei Yang, Shuxian Ren, Menglu Hu, ZongYan Li
Holcoglossum amesianum is an endangered orchid species because of its habitat destruction and overexploitation. But there is no research on the biology of H. amesianum, particularly relevant to nutrient requirement in seed germination. This study aimed to improve protocorm-like-bodies formation rate and seedling survival rate in vitro reproduction of H. amesianum by determining seeds nutritional requirements and screening optimal combinations of medium and organic additives. The results demonstrated that Hyponex medium with 30 g/L Banana Homogenate and 20 g/L Apple Homogenate as well as N6 medium with 30 g/L Banana Homogenate exerted significant effects on seed germination. However, these two mediums have had adverse effects on protocorm-like-bodies survival. The half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium with 20 g/L Apple Homogenate exhibited the Banana Homogenate higher seed germination rate and the lowest mortality rate of seedling, which can be assumed that H. amesianum is a high nutrient requirement species.