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Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti PutraMalaysia, 43400 UPMSerdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.26

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Abstract: Papaya is a climacteric fruit, naturally fragile and cannot resist low temperature. Thus, prolonging the postharvest life of papaya fruit for long distance transportation is highly desirable to increase its commercialisation. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) has been widely used to delay ripening and senescence of horticultural produces. The objective of this study was to determine characteristics of 'Eksotika' papaya treated with 1-MCP and optimum concentration of 1-MCP in prolonging postharvest life of papaya. Papayas were treated with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 uL L" of 1-MCP for 7 days at 21?C/90% relative humidity (RH). Then, the fruits were allowed to ripen at 26?C/70% RH. 1-MCP did not affect L*, C*, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C and weight loss of papaya. The h^o and firmness of papaya treated with 30 uL L" of 1-MCP showed significant high values as compared to other concentrations. Similarly, visual quality evaluation also showed that fruits treated with 30 uL L" of 1-MCP retained green colour for 9 days and by day 13, no disease infection and shriveling was found in these fruits as compared to other concentrations. There is potential to prolong postharvest life of Eksotika papaya using 1-MCP.

Guilan University, Faculty of Agriculture, Horticultural Department, Rasht, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.27

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Abstract: A study of the nitrate uptake of Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae var. italica), grown with different amount of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) was conducted in 2006 on open field at the University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. The experiment was arranged in complete randomized block design with four treatments (0, 25, 50 and 100 Mg. ha^-1 MSWC) and four replications. The results revealed that under prevailing local conditions, total yield of the broccoli was higher when fertilized with MSWC and low when compost was not applied to the planted area. The plants with the highest compost application (100 Mg ha^-1) gave significantly highest yield at 37.03 Mg ha^-1 which was statistically different from other treatments. The significant differences were found also on marketable yield with an exception at lowest compost treatment. The lowest amount of nitrate (0.197 % in DM) in broccoli edible part was with application of 50 Mg. ha^-1 compost.

Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka 599-8531, Japan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.28

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Abstract: Three varieties of carrot (Daucus carota L.), 'Tokinashigosun', 'Hitokuchi' and 'Kurodagosun' were cultured hydroponically with rockwool blocks (56^8^30 cm high) in a greenhouse for 90 days. Two types of rockwool block, with holes and without holes were used in the study. Rockwool blocks with holes had seven rooting holes (10 cm in depth and 2.5 cm in diameter) 8 cm apart, which were filled with vermiculite for promoting root development. Rockwool blocks without holes were used as the control for comparison. Two rockwool blocks were placed side by side in a plastic box (58x18x18 cm high) and 14 plants were grown in each plastic box. The rockwool blocks were automatically sub-irrigated with a nutrient solution containing 35 ppm total N, 14 ppm P, 59 ppm K, 23 ppm Ca, 10 ppm Mg, 0.62 ppm Fe, 0.12 ppm Mn, 0.06 ppb B, 0.02 ppm Cu, 0.04 ppm Zn and 0.01 ppm Mo. The solution was added to the plastic boxes twice a day to keep the depth of the solution at 15 cm. The fresh and dry weights of the storage roots were 2 to 3 times greater in the rockwool blocks with holes than those without holes in each variety. The storage roots produced in the rockwool blocks with holes were 2 times longer than without holes in all the varieties. The diameter of storage roots was also greater in rockwool blocks with holes than without holes. Greater weights of the whole-plant and percent harvest index were obtained in the rockwool blocks with holes than in the without holes in all the varieties. Carbon dioxide concentration inside the rockwool blocks at a depth of 8 cm from the top surface and 1 cm beside the storage roots were lower in the rockwool blocks with holes (0.08%) than in the without holes (0.11%). Carbon dioxide gas diffusion coefficient in the rockwool media was greater in the rockwool blocks with holes than in the without holes. The hardness of the growing media was lower in the rockwool blocks with holes containing vermiculite than in the without holes. Therefore, better aerating conditions inside the rockwool blocks with holes containing vermiculite and lower hardness of the media would partly account for the better growth of storage roots in the rockwool blocks with holes than in the without holes in all the tested varieties.

Department of Plant Pathology, UAS, Dharwad-05, Department of Horticulture, UAS, Dharwad-05

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.29

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Abstract: During summer 2005 out of 50 genotypes screened for tomato leaf curl virus under field conditions, none of the lines tested were resistant, however, six genotypes showed mild infection and nine genotypes showed moderate infection. In the second season, i.e., 2006 only Nandi and Vybhav showed moderate resistant reaction, along with the new commercial hybrids Hy-558, Hy-530, NS-563 and NS-719. The variety Vybhav was found superior over other varieties against the disease. The presence of virus in the symptomatic hosts was confirmed by ELISA and PCR. The plant height of the genotypes contributes to maximum extent (52.21 %) to the divergence followed by yield per plant and per cent disease incidence (10.86 % each), but the vector population contributed least (0.97 %). As a result of D² clustering, the commercial hybrids possessing lot of diversity fall in to four different clusters, cluster II had got six entries, cluster III 3 entries, cluster IV 6 entries and cluster V only one entry wheras cluster I had 50 entries.

Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Iran; Center of Natural Resources research, Alborz- Karaj, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.30

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Abstract: Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae causes canker, leafspots and necrosis of the bark of cherry, plum, and peach fruit trees. Symptoms caused by this pathogen on leaves, blossoms, and fruit, reported as common else where, are rare in Guilan cherry orchards. In this research, during survey from cherry, plum, and peach orchards in different areas of Guilan province (Talesh, Hashtpar, Astaneh-Ashrafieh and Lahijan), samples were taken from infected tissues of disease trees. For isolation of bacteria causing disease, infected tissue were crushed in bacteriological saline (0.85% w/v NaCl) and 100uL of juice was cultured on nutrient agar (NA) and King's B medium. Strains of bacteria rod-shaped, gram negative and aerobic bacterium were isolated. The strains produced Levan on media including sucrose. All strains made Hypersensitive Reaction (HR) on tobacco and geranium leaves. All of the isolated bacteria were oxidase, nitrate, tween 80 hydrolysis, indole and starch hydrolysis negative and could not rot potato tuber slices, produced H₂S, and grew at 36?C. The isolates could use citrate and urease. The isolates produced acid from sorbitol, galactose, myo-inositol, manitol, xylose, maltose and sucrose. Their gelatin test were positive. Based on morphological, physiological, biochemical, pathogenicity properties and total cellular protein profiles (SDS-PAGE), the predominate pathogenic type was identified as P. s. pv. syringae. This is the first report of the existence of P. s. pv. syringae on stone fruit trees in Iran.

F.C.A (UNMDP)-E.E.A.INTA, Balcarce, Agronomy Department, c.c.276,7620 Balcarce, Buenos Aires province, Argen?tina

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.31

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Abstract: In the 2004 and 2005 seasons, experiments were carried out at INTA Balcarce, Argentina on potato cultivars Kennebec, Innovator and Shepody, with different susceptibility to Rhizoctonia solani Kuehn. A randomized block design with four replications was created. Visual observations during the crop cycle were carried out in order to record the number of healthy and infected plants, with symptomatology of stem canker produced by R. solani. After harvest, the potatoes in each block were washed and weighted, the total yield recorded and the marketable and "seed" potatoes were classified into healthy, cracked or malformed tubers. The best results on the reduction of infected plants were obtained with the highest dose of fluazinam (as Frowncide 50SC) and pencycuron (as Monceren 25SC). Commercial and "seed" tuber yields in the Spunta cultivar showed no significant differences among treatments, but with the Shepody cultivar, when the severity of the disease was high (2004) both fungicide treatments surpassed the untreated check. When the severity of the disease was low (2005), all chemical treatments registered higher commercial and "seed" tubers yields than the untreated check. In Kennebec and Spunta cultivars, all the treatments - except the lowest dose of fluazinam - accomplished a higher quantity of healthy tubers and surpassed the untreated check; although only the highest doses showed the highest yield of healthy tubers, showing a positive relationship with respect to the applied dose. Only the highest doses of fluazinam considerably reduced diseased tuber incidence in comparison to the untreated check.

Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.32

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Abstract: The study was carried out to investigate the effect of ethanol (ET) at different concentrations on longevity and senescence delay in bougainvillea flowers. The treatments were water (control), 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 70% ET. Positive response was found in case of 4, 8 and 10% of ET after a certain period of treatment application. Dry weight was higher in lower concentrations of ethanol and lower in higher concentrations. Flower longevity was 2 days longer in 4, 8 and 10% ET than in water control and other concentrations of ethanol. Petal wilting and abscission occurred 2 days later in 4, 8 and 10% ET than in control. Perianth abscission also appeared 2 days later in 4, 8 and 10% ET than in control. However, petal discoloration (color change) was later in control, 2, 4, 8 and 10% than in 20, 30, 40, 50 and 70% ET. The results showed that flower vase life was significantly affected by ethanol concentrations as well as longevity was longer in 4, 8 and 10% ET than in water control and other concentrations.

Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.33

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Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exogenous putrescine on postharvest life and quality of sweet cherry fruit, cultivar "Surati-e Hamedan" at 2?C. Fruits were treated with 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mM putrescine as well as distilled water (Control) for 10 minutes, then transferred into the fridge (2?C). The rate of ethylene production, weight loss, tissue firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and pH of fruits were determined 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 d after the beginning of storage. Parameters associated with ripening processes, including softening and loss of titratable acidity, significantly decreased by application of putrescine. Soluble solids content of cherries also increased by the putrescine treatment. In addition, cherries treated with higher concentrations of putrescine showed lower rate of ethylene production. Weight loss of the fruits was affected by putrescine in a concentration dependent manner, while putrescine did not affect pH of fruit juice.

Scientist, Department of Pomology, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, HP-173 230 India; Research Officer(R & D Agriculture), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Lmited (GOI), Chembur, Mumbai-74, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.34

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Abstract: The present investigation was undertaken with the objective to find out the nutritional status of mango orchards cv. Dashehari located in north- western Himalayan region of India and to establish the relationship of soil microflora especially, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and Azotobacter with growth, fruit yield, and soil and leaf nutrient contents. The study revealed that the correlation between AM spore population and shoot extension growth, leaf area, fruit yield, available Cu and Zn content and leaf N, P, Cu, Zn and Mn contents was found to be positive and significant, whereas, the relationship with soil as well as leaf K content was negative but significant. Azotobacter count was positively and significantly correlated with fruit yield, soil organic carbon (OC) and leaf Fe content, while, it was negative and significant with leaf K content. The relationship of per cent root colonization with soil OC and available N content of orchard soil was found to be positive and significant, and with shoot extension growth, leaf area, fruit yield, electrical conductivity, available P, K, Cu, Zn and Mn content and P, K and Cu contents of leaf, it was negative but non-significant.

Department ofBiology, Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Leibniz Insti?tute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Plant Reproductive Biology, Correnstrasse 3, D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.35

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Abstract: Effects of seed sterilization, storage time, and temperature as well as extent of seeding survival and establishment under glasshouse versus nursery conditions were studied for E. kebericho. Seeds sterilized for 9 and 5 minutes in 70 % ethanol and in 10% sodium hypochlorite, respectively, germinated best (95.2 ? 1.2%) on Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 10 g L^-1 phytoagar. Further increases or decreases in sterilization time decreased germination percentage and increased contamination, respectively. Unsterilized seeds (control) were completely contaminated before the emergence of radicle as a result of fungal growth. Seed germination percentage declined with increasing storage time and dropped from 94.6 ? 0.4 % to 32.2 ? 1.2% in 15 months. 25 ^oC was an optimal temperature for best germination (94.6 ? 2.4%) of seeds. Seeds sown in pots containing a mixture of sand, nursery soil, and animal manure in a ratio of 0.5: 2.5: 0.5 respectively, germinated significantly (P< 0.05) compared to other soil ratios. Increase in sand or animal manure ratios decreased germination, while increase in nursery soil increased percentage and rate of germination. High percentage (96.0 ? 0.5%) germination was obtained with the seeds sown in nursery soil-surface mixed additives compared with the control. Seedlings of nursery bed origin survived best compared to those in vitro or pot origin seedlings. Ultimately, seedlings growth with vigorous and orthotropic developmental pattern was obtained under nursery conditions, compared to those in the glasshouse, which showed stunted and plagiotropic developmental pattern. The study found that seeds stored for less than 5 months, and at 25 ^oC, were the most suitable for in vitro and ex vitro propagation of E. kebericho.

Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Argentina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET). Argentina.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.19

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Abstract: Changes in ascorbic acid contents, microbial population and sensory attributes of cut Romaine lettuce subjected to thermal shocks were investigated. Immersion of cut lettuce in the thermal baths produced reduction in the ascorbic acid contents between 190 and 300 g kg^-1, with the greater losses corresponding to the higher bath temperatures. However, the rate of ascorbic acid degradation during refrigerated storage was independent of the thermal treatment and all samples presented a sharp decrease during the first day of storage and a gradual decrease thereafter. Thermal shocks did not reduce the initial microbial population. During storage, an increment in microbial counts was observed, being more notorious in samples that had been exposed to the highest shock temperature (50 ?C). The thermal treatment at 50 ?C was the only one to delay the onset of midrib and edge browning up to four days of refrigerated storage. This midrib and edge browning was considered to the most relevant to the overall visual quality of the product.

Scuola Superiore S. Anna di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento, Piazza Martiri della Liberta 33, 56100 Pisa, Italia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i02.20

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Abstract: The aim of the research was to study the morphological and histochemical evolution of the bud meristems of 'Lavinia' nectarine cultivar. Moreover, the effectiveness of Release LC (a gibberellin chemical compound) in controlling the rate of flower bud differentiation was also evaluated. During a two-year period, the Release LC was applied in postharvest to avoid problems of possible chemical residues on marketable fruits. To determine the effect of treatment, several biological parameters such as initial flower and vegetative bud number, flower bud drop, evolution of the flower bud phenological stages, rate of bloom and fruit set were recorded. To establish the floral differentiation stage, the meristematic apices were collected before and after treatment and microscopically observed. The thin sections were analysed using histological (apex size, developmental stages of meristematic apex, co-axial stage), and histochemical (RNA fluorescent staining) techniques. In 'Lavinia' cv., the critical phase of the meristematic apex evolution occurred from May to June (60 and 90 days after full bloom): the presence of triple apices increased rapidly, the co-axial phase was achieved, the width and height of the meristematic dome increased markedly and the RNA appeared by a weak staining. As regards the flower bud differentiation control by exogenous treatments with Release LC, the different results obtained in our experiments indicate that the efficacy of treatment strictly depends on the growth stage of a meristematic apex.

College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i01.03

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Abstract: Fruit growth of the gynoecious cucumber 'NK x AN8' was measured non-destructively to clarify whether the presence of fruit at lower nodes caused the abortion of fruit at upper nodes. When only one fruit per plant was allowed to grow, fruit growth could be divided into two phases: slow exponential and fast exponential. Phase change from slow to fast occurred when cumulative temperatures (CTs) after anthesis reached 38 and 54?C d for pollinated and parthenocarpic fruit, respectively. The CT was calculated as the sum of the differences between daily temperatures and 5?C. When fruit at nodes 4 and above were allowed to grow, the first growth phase was prolonged. Furthermore, parthenocarpic fruit aborted frequently when the sum of the relative growth rate (RGR) with respect to the CT (the sum of RGRs) for fruit at lower nodes exceeded 0.1 g g^-1 (?C d)^-1. Pollination with pollen of the monoecious cucumber '028' strongly suppressed fruit abortion; a large number of fruits could develop to a commercial size even when the sum of RGRs for fruit at lower nodes exceeded 0.1 g g^-1 (?C d)^-1. These results suggested that fruit abortion is more related to the existence of actively growing fruit than to the absolute amount of dry mass accumulation in the fruit.

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Resource Centre, Allalasandra, Bangalore 560 065, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i01.04

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Abstract: In periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), pink, white and red-eyed (white corolla with red centre) are three common corolla colours, which are due to epistatic interaction between two genes R and W. Violet corolla, which is not found commonly in natural populations, is reported to be due to another gene B which blues the pigment in pink genotypes (R- W-). Recently, another gene O and its allele O^m have been reported to determine two uncommon corolla colours, orange-red and magenta corolla, respectively. Since, the relationship between genes determining violet, orange-red and magenta corolla was not known, a strain possessing violet corolla and white eye (VI) was crossed with strains possessing orange-red corolla and white eye (OR) and magenta corolla and white eye (MJ-1) to study: (i) the relationship between genes involved in the production of violet, orange-red and magenta corolla, (ii) to study the possibility of producing novel corolla colours and (iii) to determine the validity of the gene interaction models proposed earlier. The F₁ plants of both crosses, VI x OR and VI x MJ-1, had violet corolla. The F₂ generation of the cross VI x OR segregated into plants with (i) violet corolla, (ii) pink corolla, (iii) orange-red corolla, and (iv) white corolla in the ratio of 45:12:3:4, while the progeny of the backcross F₁ x OR segregated into three types of plants, (i) violet corolla, (ii) pink corolla, and (iii) orange-red corolla in the ratio of 2:1:1. The F₂ generation of the cross VI x MJ-1 segregated into five kinds of plants viz., (i) violet corolla, (ii) pink corolla, (iii) magenta corolla, (iv) rose corolla, and (v) white corolla in the ratio of 144:48:12:36:16, while the progeny of the backcross, F₁ x MJ-1 segregated into four types of plants viz., (i) violet corolla, (ii) magenta corolla, (iii) rose corolla and (iv) pink corolla in the ratio of 1:1:1:1. The results suggested that genes involved B, R, W, O/O^m and J were inherited independently and that the gene B blued the corolla pigment in B-RRwwO- genotypes but not in B-RRwwO^m-jj and B-RRwwO^m-JJ genotypes. No new corolla colours were observed in the studied crosses due to the interaction between genes governing violet, orange-red and magenta corolla. The observed segregation for different corolla colours in the studied crosses was same as that expected from independent segregation and known interactions between the genes involved, validating the earlier proposed models.

Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India, Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i01.05

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Abstract: Tomato (L. esculentum Mill), a popular vegetable in tropics is an excellent source for vitamin A, C, carotenoids and other health related components. It tops the list of industrial crops because of its outstanding processing qualities. It is valued for both its fresh and processed forms. Biochemical analysis in different wild species, varieties and hybrids of tomato showed the wild species, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium LA 1593 to be a rich source for lycopene specific genes. Partial cDNA of lycopene specific Phytoene desaturase gene TNAU P was isolated from L. pimpinellifolium LA 1593 by RT-PCR technique. Sequence analysis of the partial cDNA showed 99.6% similarity with already available Phytoene desaturase gene from L. esculentum. Also, the sequence showed considerable homology with Phytoene dehydrogenase, Zeta carotene desaturase and Phytoene desaturase genes from Gentian, Oryza, Momardica, citrus and pea. The high intensity of the amplified product in L. pimpinellifolium coupled with 99.6 % homology to L. esculentum inferred that the level of expression of Phytoene desaturase is more in L. pimpinellifolium. Isolation of Phytoene desaturase genes can be further exploited to produce transgenic plants with increased content of lycopene by transferring the genes from wild species to cultivars.