Crunch!Apples are a sweet and delicious fruit.There are over 7,500 different kinds!The fruit is usually red,but it can be green or other colors.Applesaren't expensive.They make a great snack.You can eat a whole ap...Crunch!Apples are a sweet and delicious fruit.There are over 7,500 different kinds!The fruit is usually red,but it can be green or other colors.Applesaren't expensive.They make a great snack.You can eat a whole apple.You can slice it,too.They're also good with other foods.Do you like apples?展开更多
In addition to the cashew nut, which is the main product, the cashew tree also produces the cashew apple which is considered a by-product. The cashew apple has a high nutritional potential. Indeed, it is rich in vitam...In addition to the cashew nut, which is the main product, the cashew tree also produces the cashew apple which is considered a by-product. The cashew apple has a high nutritional potential. Indeed, it is rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, dietary fibers, vitamins, sugars and mineral elements where are essential for human nutrition. In addition to its nutritional quality, the cashew apple has technological advantages: the edible part of the fruit is between 85% and 100% higher than that of other traditional tropical fruits, and its juicy and sweet flesh is free of seeds or pits. In addition, very large volumes are available. As a result, the development of this fruit represents a considerable economic challenge. This paper first presents the cultivation of cashew trees and the bibliography of the work done on cashew juice. The favorable conditions for cashew tree cultivation and the planting method were presented. Then, the study highlights the work done on the physicochemical characteristics of cashew apples, the effect of the growing area, the variety and the stage of maturity on its characteristics. It also shows the influence of the processing steps on the nutritional value and organoleptic quality of the cashew apple;as well as the methods of clarification, stabilization, concentration and dehydration. Some uses of cashew apple were reviewed: beverage, food, substrate, bioethanol, nutraceutical, food additive and agro materials.展开更多
To develop nondestructive acidity prediction for intact Fuji apples, the potential of Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) method with fiber optics in interactance mode was investigated. Interactance in the 800 nm...To develop nondestructive acidity prediction for intact Fuji apples, the potential of Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) method with fiber optics in interactance mode was investigated. Interactance in the 800 nm to 2619 nm region was measured for intact apples, harvested from early to late maturity stages. Spectral data were analyzed by two multivariate calibra- tion techniques including partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) methods. A total of 120 Fuji apples were tested and 80 of them were used to form a calibration data set. The influences of different data preprocessing and spectra treatments were also quantified. Calibration models based on smoothing spectra were slightly worse than that based on derivative spectra, and the best result was obtained when the segment length was 5 nm and the gap size was 10 points. Depending on data preprocessing and PLS method, the best prediction model yielded correlation coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.759, low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.0677, low root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.0562. The results indicated the feasibility of FT-NIR spectral analysis for predicting apple valid acidity in a nondestructive way.展开更多
To evaluate the potential of FT-NIR spectroscopy and the influence of the distance between the light source/detection probe and the fruit for measuring the sugar content (SC) of Fuji apples, diffuse reflectance spectr...To evaluate the potential of FT-NIR spectroscopy and the influence of the distance between the light source/detection probe and the fruit for measuring the sugar content (SC) of Fuji apples, diffuse reflectance spectra were measured in the spectral range from 12500 to 4000 cm^-1 at 0 mm, 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm distances. Four calibration models at four distances were established between diffused reflectance spectra and sugar content by partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The correlation coefficients (R) of calibrations ranged from 0.982 to 0.997 with SEC values from 0.138 to 0.453 and the SECV values from 0.74 to 1.58. The best model of original spectra at 0 mm distance yielded high correlation determination of 0.918, a SEC of 0.092, and a SEP of 0.773. The results showed that different light/detection probe-fruit distances influence the apple reflective spectra and SC predictions.展开更多
[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid （ALA） on the content of total flavonoids and relative expression levels of chalcoue sythase （CHS） and chalcone isomerase （CHI） ge...[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid （ALA） on the content of total flavonoids and relative expression levels of chalcoue sythase （CHS） and chalcone isomerase （CHI） genes in young apples to determine the appropriate ALA concentration and processing time. [Method] Before thinning, young apples were treated with 0 （ CK）, 100,200,300 and 400 mg/L ALA. At 12 d after ALA treatment, the content of total flavonoids in young apples was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples were determined by qPCR. [ Result ] When ALA concentration was 0 - 300 mg/L, the content of total flavonoids and relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples were improved with the increase of ALA concentration. As ALA concentration rose to 400 rag/L, various indicators showed a downward trend. Moreover, the content of total flavouoids and relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples treated with different concentrations of ALA were improved significantly, which reached the maximum at 9 d and declined since 12 d. [ Conclusion] Compared with CK, spraying young apples with 300 mg/L ALA at 6 -9 d before thinning was conducive to improving the content of flavanoids in thinned young apples.展开更多
Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pestic...Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically modified organisms, but there are only a few regulations regarding heavy metal concentrations in soils. Thus a not negligible uptake of metals from the soil where the apple trees are grown may occur. Furthermore inorganic copper compounds being traditional fertilizers for apple trees are not considered as synthetic fertilizers, thus they are still used in organic apple farming for soil or foliar application. Thus also apples produced by organic agriculture may contain toxic elements, such as cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead. The concentrations of these elements were determined in whole apples, as well as in the flesh and peel in order to estimate the possible risk for human health. Prior to analysis using ICP-AES samples underwent a microwave assisted digestion. The LODs obtained are below the recommended maximum levels in vegetables/fruits by WHO. In all samples no Cu, Cr, and Pb could be detected. Only Ca was found in the peel of about a third of samples investigated in concentrations between LOD and LOQ （1-3 μg/g）.展开更多
[Objective] The aims were to explore the relationship between the contents of fruit mineral elements and quality features of the ＇Fuji＇ apple, screen major mineral elements of the fruit affecting fruit quality featu...[Objective] The aims were to explore the relationship between the contents of fruit mineral elements and quality features of the ＇Fuji＇ apple, screen major mineral elements of the fruit affecting fruit quality features, and set up optimum proposals of fruit mineral elements for good fruit qualities, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the reasonable orchard soil and foliar fertilizer applications to increase fruit quality and reduce the physiological diseases related to the ＇Fuji＇ apple. [Methods] The fruit mineral elements and quality indicators of ＇Fuji＂ apples were in- vestigated and analyzed, which were collected from the 153 commercial apple or- chards of ＂Fuji＇ apple located in 51 counties. The variable importance for projection （VlP） of partial least squares regression （PLS） method was used to analyze the model effect and weight analysis impact of the fruit mineral element contents to fruit quality, screen out major factors of fruit mineral elements influencing the different fruit qualities, and set up the regression equation of the fruit qualities and major fruit mineral elements. Linear programming was used to obtain optimum proposals of the fruit mineral elements to achieve good ＇Fuji＇ apple qualities. [Results] The mineral elements content and quality characteristics in ＂Fuji＇ apple fruit had great differences in the different produce regions in which the maximum content of nitro- gen, iron, zinc and boron in the ＇Fuji＇ fruit were12.06, 6.17, 7.7, and 10.08 times greater than the minimum respectively, and the differences for titratable acid and the SSC/TA ratio were 2.33 and 2.16 times respectively. The correlation analysis between the fruit mineral element contents and qualities showed that the nitrogen content of fruit had a significantly negative correlation with the soluble solid content, SSC/TA ratio and red color area, while the calcium and iron contents in the fruit were in significantly positive correlation with the soluble solid content and SSC/TA ratio. The model effect and weight analysis showed that the content of nitrogen and iron in the fruit had a greater influence on the integral fruit quality, followed by phosphorus, potassium and calcium. The variable importance for projection （VlP） technology of PLS found that the mean fruit weight was primarily affected by nitro- gen, phosphorus and potassium, and the soluble solid was primarily affected by ni- trogen, calcium and iron, while the red color area was primarily affected by nitro- gen, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. The regression equation between fruit quality and mineral element contents showed that the mean fruit weight had a greater pos- itive effect coefficient with the content of phosphorus and potassium, and a greater negative effect coefficient with the content of nitrogen in the fruit. Moreover, the sol- uble solid had the largest negative effect coefficient with nitrogen and largest posi- tive effect coefficient with calcium and iron in the fruit. [Conclusion] The maximum content of soluble solid and titratable acid were 1.5 times more than the minimum, and nitrogen, iron, zinc and boron were 6 times more than in the ＇Fuji＇ apple fruit in the different produce regions. Therefore, it is a key technological measure to improve the overall qualities of the ＂Fuji＇ apple by decreasing the content of nitrogen, and increasing the contents of iron, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in the fruit.展开更多
In this paper,an automated system and methodology for nondestructive sorting of apples are presented.Different from the traditional manual grading method,the automated,nondestructive sorting equipment can improve the ...In this paper,an automated system and methodology for nondestructive sorting of apples are presented.Different from the traditional manual grading method,the automated,nondestructive sorting equipment can improve the production efficiency and the grading speed and accuracy.Most popular apple quality detection and grading methods use two-dimensional(2D)machine vision detection based on a single charge-coupled device(CCD)camera detect the external quality.Our system integrates a 3D structured laser into an existing 2D sorting system,which provides the addition third dimension to detect the defects in apples by using the curvature of the structured light strips that are acquired from the optical system of the machine.The curvature of the structured light strip will show the defects in the apple surface.Other features such as color,texture,shape,size and 3D information all play key roles in determining the grade of an apple,which can be determined using a series of feature extraction methods.After feature extraction,a method based on principal component analysis(PCA)for data dimensionality reduction is applied to the system.Furthermore,a comprehensive classification method based on fuzzy neural network(FNN),which is a combination of knowledge-based and model-based method,is used in this paper as the classifier.Preliminary experiments are conducted to verity the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed sorting system.展开更多
[ Objective] The study aimed to determine tebuconazole residue in apples and vegetables using matrix solid phase dispersion-gas chro- matography （MSPD-GC）. [ Method] The effects of extraction and determination condi...[ Objective] The study aimed to determine tebuconazole residue in apples and vegetables using matrix solid phase dispersion-gas chro- matography （MSPD-GC）. [ Method] The effects of extraction and determination conditions on the detection of tebuconazole left in apples and veg- etables were analyzed, and the optimum extraction conditions were determined. [ Result] The recovery rate of tebucenazole was the highest when the ratio of a sample to florisil dispersant was 1 ： 4, and the mixture of hexane and acetone （ 1 ： 1 ） with total volume of 8 ml was as the eluant. Under the optimum conditions, the relative standard deviation （RSD） of the method was 4.9% -7.6%, and the detection limit was 0.1 tJg/g, while the re- covery rate of tebuconazole changed from 86.7% to 95. 2% . [ Conclusion] The method was simple, accurate, sensitive and applicable to the de- termination of tebuconazole in aaricultural Droducts.展开更多
Although open-central canopy(OCC)is popular in apple(Malus×domestica)orchards in Loess Plateau of China,its relevant photosynthetic mechanisms have not been elucidated.In this study,changes in photosynthetically ...Although open-central canopy(OCC)is popular in apple(Malus×domestica)orchards in Loess Plateau of China,its relevant photosynthetic mechanisms have not been elucidated.In this study,changes in photosynthetically active radiation(PAR),gas exchange,chlorophyll fluorescence quenching and fruit quality in apple trees were measured in OCC and compared with those in the conventional condensed round and large canopy(RLC).Results showed that light intercepted at different orientations was 44%higher by OCC than that by RLC.The improved light environment within OCC remarkably increased leaf maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pnmax)and significantly decreased stomatal limitation.Under high light,the ratio of photorespiratory rate to gross photosynthetic rate(Pr/Pg)in OCC was higher than that in RLC.Moreover,reversible component in non-photochemical quenching(r(qE))was increased,while irreversible component(r(qI))was decreased in OCC than in RLC.As a result,the fruit quality in OCC was greatly boosted as evidenced by the significantly increased single fruit weight,fruit flesh firmness and fruit soluble solid contents and the sharply decreased fruit titratable acid contents.PAR intercepted by the canopy and the fruit soluble solid contents,leaf Pnmaxor single fruit weight were positively correlated,while PAR or Pnmaxwas negatively correlated with the fruit titratable acid contents.Accordingly,the improved crown light environment and the enhanced leaf photosynthetic performance and photoprotective capacity in OCC led to the boosted fruit quality.展开更多
The fruit growth evolution on 35 tagged 'Fuji' apple trees was studied in three successive growing seasons from 1994 to 1996 to explore a new method for forecasting the fruit diameter at harvest during early g...The fruit growth evolution on 35 tagged 'Fuji' apple trees was studied in three successive growing seasons from 1994 to 1996 to explore a new method for forecasting the fruit diameter at harvest during early growing season. Daily fruit growth rate (DFGR) (based on fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, fruit fresh weight, or fruit volume) during the early growing season, 30 - 50 d after full bloom (DAFB), or during mid-growing season (60-120 DAFB), displayed a strong positive linear correlation with the fruit diameter at harvest, and the correlation between the fruit diameter at harvest and DFGR during early and mid-growing season was much better than that between the fruit diameter at harvest and either fruit diameter at a given time or the relative growth rate during early or mid-growing season. The fruit diameters obtained in the field were compared with the mean fruit diameters estimated based on different criteria, such as DFGRs (based on fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, fruit fresh weight, or fruit volume) during early and mid-growing season, and fruit diameter at 120 DAFB. Results showed that daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB was the best criterion for forecasting fruit diameter at harvest. There was no significant difference in mean fruit diameter between the value measured in the field at harvest and that estimated based on the daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB (equations for forecasting: y = 153.571 x + 73.492) either for the individual trees or for different vigor groups of trees. Daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB can be used as the basis for forecasting fruit diameter at harvest.展开更多
This paper proposes a novel grading method of apples,in an automated grading device that uses convolutional neural networks to extract the size,color,texture,and roundness of an apple.The developed machine learning me...This paper proposes a novel grading method of apples,in an automated grading device that uses convolutional neural networks to extract the size,color,texture,and roundness of an apple.The developed machine learning method uses the ability of learning representative features by means of a convolutional neural network(CNN),to determine suitable features of apples for the grading process.This information is fed into a one-to-one classifier that uses a support vector machine(SVM),instead of the softmax output layer of the CNN.In this manner,Yantai apples with similar shapes and low discrimination are graded using four different approaches.The fusion model using both CNN and SVM classifiers is much more accurate than the simple k-nearest neighbor(KNN),SVM,and CNN model when used separately for grading,and the learning ability and the generalization ability of the model is correspondingly increased by the combined method.Grading tests are carried out using the automated grading device that is developed in the present work.It is verified that the actual effect of apple grading using the combined CNN-SVM model is fast and accurate,which greatly reduces the manpower and labor costs of manual grading,and has important commercial prospects.展开更多
Apple cultivation has special requirements for climatic conditions. The period from May to August is a key period for apple growth.During this period,extreme weather occurs frequently,such as extreme high temperature,...Apple cultivation has special requirements for climatic conditions. The period from May to August is a key period for apple growth.During this period,extreme weather occurs frequently,such as extreme high temperature,strong wind,hail,and floods. This paper introduced these extreme weathers and came up with some corresponding management measures.展开更多
One of the largest and most important pesticides groups are Demthylation inhibitors, a class of single-side fungicides, used for the control of fungal diseases on fruit. The aim of this study was to investigate the fa...One of the largest and most important pesticides groups are Demthylation inhibitors, a class of single-side fungicides, used for the control of fungal diseases on fruit. The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of myclobutanil after its application in Starking and Golden Delicious cultivars. The apple trees were treated with maximum and minimum levels of recommended doses. The samples were collected randomly in different interval days after application. For identification and quantification of myclobutanil residues in apple fruit liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique was performed. The highest values of myclobutanil residues were found at the 1^st day after treatment and by the time the residue levels were decreased. Thus, the level of myclobutanil residues ranges from 0.928 mg kg^-1 to 0.019 mg kg^-1 and from 2.085 mg kg^-1 to 0.086 mg kg^-1 in Starking treated with the minimum and maximum doses respectively. Also, in the Golden Delicious cultivar the level of myclobutanil residues ranges from 0.878 mg kg^-1 to 0.026 mg kg^-1 and from 1.760 mg kg^-1 to 0.092 mg kg^-1 with the minimum and maximum applied doses at 1^st and 40^th day after application, respectively. Therefore, the samples treated with maximum recommended dose did not reach the MRL (0.6 mg kg^-1) before the 14th day after application, whereas the samples treated with minimum recommended dose reached MRL before 7th day after application. Therefore, the application of myclobutanil guarantees food safety for the consumer not only in minimum doses but even in maximal doses as well.展开更多
Different fungi alter apples in the post-harvest period, causing considerableeconomic losses and risks to consumer health due to the mycotoxinsthat some of these fungi produce. The control of these fungal alterationsi...Different fungi alter apples in the post-harvest period, causing considerableeconomic losses and risks to consumer health due to the mycotoxinsthat some of these fungi produce. The control of these fungal alterationsin apples is mainly dependent on the use of chemical fungicides, the effectivenessof which has been well proven. However, this use is subject torestrictions due to growing concerns about risks to human health and theenvironment and the continued development of pathogen resistance to commonlyused fungicides. A new approach to control post-harvest fungi hasbeen implemented through the application of plant extract.It is estimatedthat there are more than 250,000 higher plant species on Earth that can beevaluated for their antimicrobial bioactive chemical compounds. In recentdecades, researchers have evaluated plant extracts and essential oils againstfungi responsible for post-harvest apple rot. Interesting results have beenobtained. The purpose of this project is to summarize and discuss the resultsof in vitro and in situ experiments of different literatures concerning the effectsof compounds derived from plants on the control of fungi responsiblefor rotting apples in storage.展开更多
Our study consists of a careful literature review carried out with the aim of better understanding the models developed in the field of biocontrol of postharvest fungal rot in apples(PHFRA)over the past two decades.It...Our study consists of a careful literature review carried out with the aim of better understanding the models developed in the field of biocontrol of postharvest fungal rot in apples(PHFRA)over the past two decades.It aims,more specifically,to shed light on the progress made by examining the products developed,their nature,their target pathogens,their effectiveness,theirs modes of action and the stage of their development.The post-harvest biocontrol of apples has made remarkable progress during the last twenty years of research.Several products(yeasts,bacteria,filamentous fungi and actinomycetes)have been selected.Some,are already marketed,others are at different stages of development.However,several points limit the optimal use of microbial antagonists in the bio-management of post-harvest apple rots as an alternative to chemicals.It is,in fact,still necessary to develop appropriate formulations of these microbial biocontrol agents,to better study their mechanisms of action,to test them under commercial conditions and against a broad spectrum of pathogens and hosts.However,although sometimes considered less effective than chemical treatments,biocontrol products based on microorganisms have major advantages for an application in an integrated post-harvest apple protection strategy.展开更多
The grading judgment for apples is related to a variety of factors including,size,shape,color,texture,and scars.Traditional manual sorting methods are time consuming and labor intensive.In addition,the accuracy of the...The grading judgment for apples is related to a variety of factors including,size,shape,color,texture,and scars.Traditional manual sorting methods are time consuming and labor intensive.In addition,the accuracy of the method is easily subjective,not repeatable,error-prone,and affected by the sorting environment.This paper presents a complete and automated grading system for apples.The system uses a single-chip microcomputer as the controller of the system,and a PC as the graphics processing unit.It also includes a conveyor,drive motor,frequency converter for motor control,photoelectric sensors,air compressor,and air jets for ejecting the graded apples.The classification algorithm is implemented by using a convolutional neural network(CNN).In order to eliminate contact damage of apples,the system specifically uses air jets as actuators to eject the graded apples into the corresponding bins.At the same time,in order to ensure that an apple triggers the correct ejecting actuator,this paper designs a jet controller with proper logic.展开更多
Sustainable alternative farming systems are gaining popularity worldwide because of the negative effects of conventional agriculture on global climate change and the environmental degradation caused by intensive use o...Sustainable alternative farming systems are gaining popularity worldwide because of the negative effects of conventional agriculture on global climate change and the environmental degradation caused by intensive use of synthetic inputs.The green farming system in China is an integrated production strategy that focuses on reducing chemical fertilizer use while increasing organic manure inputs.Despite their rapid growth as more sustainable systems over the past decades,green farming systems have not been systematically evaluated to date.We used apple production as a representative case to assess the sustainability of green farming systems.Across major apple-producing regions in China,green farming reduced the application of chemical fertilizer nitrogen(N)by 46.8%(from 412 to 219 kg ha^(−1))and increased that of manure N by 33.1%(from 171 to 227 kg ha^(−1))on average compared with conventional systems enhancing N use efficiency by 7.27-20.27%and reducing N losses by 8.92%-11.56%.It also slightly lowered yield by 4.34%-13.8%in four provinces.Soil fertility was improved in green orchards through increases in soil organic matter,total N,and available major nutrients.Our cradle-to-farm-gate life-cycle assessment revealed that green farming helped to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 12.6%,potentially contributing to a reduction of 165239 t CO_(2) eq annually in major apple-producing areas.In addition,green farming achieved 39.3%higher profitability($7180 ha^(−1) year−1)at the farmer level.Our study demonstrates the potential of green production of apples for the development of sustainable agriculture in China.These findings advance our understanding of sustainable alternative farming systems and offer perspectives for the sustainable development of global agriculture.展开更多
文摘Crunch!Apples are a sweet and delicious fruit.There are over 7,500 different kinds!The fruit is usually red,but it can be green or other colors.Applesaren't expensive.They make a great snack.You can eat a whole apple.You can slice it,too.They're also good with other foods.Do you like apples?
文摘In addition to the cashew nut, which is the main product, the cashew tree also produces the cashew apple which is considered a by-product. The cashew apple has a high nutritional potential. Indeed, it is rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, dietary fibers, vitamins, sugars and mineral elements where are essential for human nutrition. In addition to its nutritional quality, the cashew apple has technological advantages: the edible part of the fruit is between 85% and 100% higher than that of other traditional tropical fruits, and its juicy and sweet flesh is free of seeds or pits. In addition, very large volumes are available. As a result, the development of this fruit represents a considerable economic challenge. This paper first presents the cultivation of cashew trees and the bibliography of the work done on cashew juice. The favorable conditions for cashew tree cultivation and the planting method were presented. Then, the study highlights the work done on the physicochemical characteristics of cashew apples, the effect of the growing area, the variety and the stage of maturity on its characteristics. It also shows the influence of the processing steps on the nutritional value and organoleptic quality of the cashew apple;as well as the methods of clarification, stabilization, concentration and dehydration. Some uses of cashew apple were reviewed: beverage, food, substrate, bioethanol, nutraceutical, food additive and agro materials.
基金Projects (Nos. 30370371 and 60468002) supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China
文摘To develop nondestructive acidity prediction for intact Fuji apples, the potential of Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) method with fiber optics in interactance mode was investigated. Interactance in the 800 nm to 2619 nm region was measured for intact apples, harvested from early to late maturity stages. Spectral data were analyzed by two multivariate calibra- tion techniques including partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) methods. A total of 120 Fuji apples were tested and 80 of them were used to form a calibration data set. The influences of different data preprocessing and spectra treatments were also quantified. Calibration models based on smoothing spectra were slightly worse than that based on derivative spectra, and the best result was obtained when the segment length was 5 nm and the gap size was 10 points. Depending on data preprocessing and PLS method, the best prediction model yielded correlation coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.759, low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.0677, low root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.0562. The results indicated the feasibility of FT-NIR spectral analysis for predicting apple valid acidity in a nondestructive way.
基金Project (No. 30270763) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘To evaluate the potential of FT-NIR spectroscopy and the influence of the distance between the light source/detection probe and the fruit for measuring the sugar content (SC) of Fuji apples, diffuse reflectance spectra were measured in the spectral range from 12500 to 4000 cm^-1 at 0 mm, 2 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm distances. Four calibration models at four distances were established between diffused reflectance spectra and sugar content by partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The correlation coefficients (R) of calibrations ranged from 0.982 to 0.997 with SEC values from 0.138 to 0.453 and the SECV values from 0.74 to 1.58. The best model of original spectra at 0 mm distance yielded high correlation determination of 0.918, a SEC of 0.092, and a SEP of 0.773. The results showed that different light/detection probe-fruit distances influence the apple reflective spectra and SC predictions.
基金Supported by Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System of China(GK661001)
文摘[ Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid （ALA） on the content of total flavonoids and relative expression levels of chalcoue sythase （CHS） and chalcone isomerase （CHI） genes in young apples to determine the appropriate ALA concentration and processing time. [Method] Before thinning, young apples were treated with 0 （ CK）, 100,200,300 and 400 mg/L ALA. At 12 d after ALA treatment, the content of total flavonoids in young apples was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples were determined by qPCR. [ Result ] When ALA concentration was 0 - 300 mg/L, the content of total flavonoids and relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples were improved with the increase of ALA concentration. As ALA concentration rose to 400 rag/L, various indicators showed a downward trend. Moreover, the content of total flavouoids and relative expression levels of CHS and CHI genes in young apples treated with different concentrations of ALA were improved significantly, which reached the maximum at 9 d and declined since 12 d. [ Conclusion] Compared with CK, spraying young apples with 300 mg/L ALA at 6 -9 d before thinning was conducive to improving the content of flavanoids in thinned young apples.
文摘Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically modified organisms, but there are only a few regulations regarding heavy metal concentrations in soils. Thus a not negligible uptake of metals from the soil where the apple trees are grown may occur. Furthermore inorganic copper compounds being traditional fertilizers for apple trees are not considered as synthetic fertilizers, thus they are still used in organic apple farming for soil or foliar application. Thus also apples produced by organic agriculture may contain toxic elements, such as cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead. The concentrations of these elements were determined in whole apples, as well as in the flesh and peel in order to estimate the possible risk for human health. Prior to analysis using ICP-AES samples underwent a microwave assisted digestion. The LODs obtained are below the recommended maximum levels in vegetables/fruits by WHO. In all samples no Cu, Cr, and Pb could be detected. Only Ca was found in the peel of about a third of samples investigated in concentrations between LOD and LOQ （1-3 μg/g）.
基金Supported by the Special Funds for Forestry Industry Research in Public Welfare(201404720)the National Science and Technology Support Program(2014BAD16B02-3)the Science and Technology Innovation Ability Construction Projects of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science(KJCX20150403)~~
文摘[Objective] The aims were to explore the relationship between the contents of fruit mineral elements and quality features of the ＇Fuji＇ apple, screen major mineral elements of the fruit affecting fruit quality features, and set up optimum proposals of fruit mineral elements for good fruit qualities, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the reasonable orchard soil and foliar fertilizer applications to increase fruit quality and reduce the physiological diseases related to the ＇Fuji＇ apple. [Methods] The fruit mineral elements and quality indicators of ＇Fuji＂ apples were in- vestigated and analyzed, which were collected from the 153 commercial apple or- chards of ＂Fuji＇ apple located in 51 counties. The variable importance for projection （VlP） of partial least squares regression （PLS） method was used to analyze the model effect and weight analysis impact of the fruit mineral element contents to fruit quality, screen out major factors of fruit mineral elements influencing the different fruit qualities, and set up the regression equation of the fruit qualities and major fruit mineral elements. Linear programming was used to obtain optimum proposals of the fruit mineral elements to achieve good ＇Fuji＇ apple qualities. [Results] The mineral elements content and quality characteristics in ＂Fuji＇ apple fruit had great differences in the different produce regions in which the maximum content of nitro- gen, iron, zinc and boron in the ＇Fuji＇ fruit were12.06, 6.17, 7.7, and 10.08 times greater than the minimum respectively, and the differences for titratable acid and the SSC/TA ratio were 2.33 and 2.16 times respectively. The correlation analysis between the fruit mineral element contents and qualities showed that the nitrogen content of fruit had a significantly negative correlation with the soluble solid content, SSC/TA ratio and red color area, while the calcium and iron contents in the fruit were in significantly positive correlation with the soluble solid content and SSC/TA ratio. The model effect and weight analysis showed that the content of nitrogen and iron in the fruit had a greater influence on the integral fruit quality, followed by phosphorus, potassium and calcium. The variable importance for projection （VlP） technology of PLS found that the mean fruit weight was primarily affected by nitro- gen, phosphorus and potassium, and the soluble solid was primarily affected by ni- trogen, calcium and iron, while the red color area was primarily affected by nitro- gen, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. The regression equation between fruit quality and mineral element contents showed that the mean fruit weight had a greater pos- itive effect coefficient with the content of phosphorus and potassium, and a greater negative effect coefficient with the content of nitrogen in the fruit. Moreover, the sol- uble solid had the largest negative effect coefficient with nitrogen and largest posi- tive effect coefficient with calcium and iron in the fruit. [Conclusion] The maximum content of soluble solid and titratable acid were 1.5 times more than the minimum, and nitrogen, iron, zinc and boron were 6 times more than in the ＇Fuji＇ apple fruit in the different produce regions. Therefore, it is a key technological measure to improve the overall qualities of the ＂Fuji＇ apple by decreasing the content of nitrogen, and increasing the contents of iron, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in the fruit.
文摘In this paper,an automated system and methodology for nondestructive sorting of apples are presented.Different from the traditional manual grading method,the automated,nondestructive sorting equipment can improve the production efficiency and the grading speed and accuracy.Most popular apple quality detection and grading methods use two-dimensional(2D)machine vision detection based on a single charge-coupled device(CCD)camera detect the external quality.Our system integrates a 3D structured laser into an existing 2D sorting system,which provides the addition third dimension to detect the defects in apples by using the curvature of the structured light strips that are acquired from the optical system of the machine.The curvature of the structured light strip will show the defects in the apple surface.Other features such as color,texture,shape,size and 3D information all play key roles in determining the grade of an apple,which can be determined using a series of feature extraction methods.After feature extraction,a method based on principal component analysis(PCA)for data dimensionality reduction is applied to the system.Furthermore,a comprehensive classification method based on fuzzy neural network(FNN),which is a combination of knowledge-based and model-based method,is used in this paper as the classifier.Preliminary experiments are conducted to verity the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed sorting system.
基金Supported by the Practice Innovation Training Program of Undergraduates in Jiangsu Province,China
文摘[ Objective] The study aimed to determine tebuconazole residue in apples and vegetables using matrix solid phase dispersion-gas chro- matography （MSPD-GC）. [ Method] The effects of extraction and determination conditions on the detection of tebuconazole left in apples and veg- etables were analyzed, and the optimum extraction conditions were determined. [ Result] The recovery rate of tebucenazole was the highest when the ratio of a sample to florisil dispersant was 1 ： 4, and the mixture of hexane and acetone （ 1 ： 1 ） with total volume of 8 ml was as the eluant. Under the optimum conditions, the relative standard deviation （RSD） of the method was 4.9% -7.6%, and the detection limit was 0.1 tJg/g, while the re- covery rate of tebuconazole changed from 86.7% to 95. 2% . [ Conclusion] The method was simple, accurate, sensitive and applicable to the de- termination of tebuconazole in aaricultural Droducts.
基金supported by Chinese National Key R&D Program(Grant No.2016YFD0201118)Shanxi Province Key R&D Program(Grant No.201903D211001-24-1)+2 种基金Agricultural Sci-Tech Innovation Project Program of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Grant No.YGC2019TD08-2)Agricultural Sci-Tech Innovation Research Program of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Grant Nos.YCX2020402,YCX2020302)Prior Support Program of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Grant No.YCX2018D2YS04)。
文摘Although open-central canopy(OCC)is popular in apple(Malus×domestica)orchards in Loess Plateau of China,its relevant photosynthetic mechanisms have not been elucidated.In this study,changes in photosynthetically active radiation(PAR),gas exchange,chlorophyll fluorescence quenching and fruit quality in apple trees were measured in OCC and compared with those in the conventional condensed round and large canopy(RLC).Results showed that light intercepted at different orientations was 44%higher by OCC than that by RLC.The improved light environment within OCC remarkably increased leaf maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pnmax)and significantly decreased stomatal limitation.Under high light,the ratio of photorespiratory rate to gross photosynthetic rate(Pr/Pg)in OCC was higher than that in RLC.Moreover,reversible component in non-photochemical quenching(r(qE))was increased,while irreversible component(r(qI))was decreased in OCC than in RLC.As a result,the fruit quality in OCC was greatly boosted as evidenced by the significantly increased single fruit weight,fruit flesh firmness and fruit soluble solid contents and the sharply decreased fruit titratable acid contents.PAR intercepted by the canopy and the fruit soluble solid contents,leaf Pnmaxor single fruit weight were positively correlated,while PAR or Pnmaxwas negatively correlated with the fruit titratable acid contents.Accordingly,the improved crown light environment and the enhanced leaf photosynthetic performance and photoprotective capacity in OCC led to the boosted fruit quality.
文摘The fruit growth evolution on 35 tagged 'Fuji' apple trees was studied in three successive growing seasons from 1994 to 1996 to explore a new method for forecasting the fruit diameter at harvest during early growing season. Daily fruit growth rate (DFGR) (based on fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, fruit fresh weight, or fruit volume) during the early growing season, 30 - 50 d after full bloom (DAFB), or during mid-growing season (60-120 DAFB), displayed a strong positive linear correlation with the fruit diameter at harvest, and the correlation between the fruit diameter at harvest and DFGR during early and mid-growing season was much better than that between the fruit diameter at harvest and either fruit diameter at a given time or the relative growth rate during early or mid-growing season. The fruit diameters obtained in the field were compared with the mean fruit diameters estimated based on different criteria, such as DFGRs (based on fruit diameter, fruit dry weight, fruit fresh weight, or fruit volume) during early and mid-growing season, and fruit diameter at 120 DAFB. Results showed that daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB was the best criterion for forecasting fruit diameter at harvest. There was no significant difference in mean fruit diameter between the value measured in the field at harvest and that estimated based on the daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB (equations for forecasting: y = 153.571 x + 73.492) either for the individual trees or for different vigor groups of trees. Daily growth rate of fruit diameter during 30 - 50 DAFB can be used as the basis for forecasting fruit diameter at harvest.
文摘This paper proposes a novel grading method of apples,in an automated grading device that uses convolutional neural networks to extract the size,color,texture,and roundness of an apple.The developed machine learning method uses the ability of learning representative features by means of a convolutional neural network(CNN),to determine suitable features of apples for the grading process.This information is fed into a one-to-one classifier that uses a support vector machine(SVM),instead of the softmax output layer of the CNN.In this manner,Yantai apples with similar shapes and low discrimination are graded using four different approaches.The fusion model using both CNN and SVM classifiers is much more accurate than the simple k-nearest neighbor(KNN),SVM,and CNN model when used separately for grading,and the learning ability and the generalization ability of the model is correspondingly increased by the combined method.Grading tests are carried out using the automated grading device that is developed in the present work.It is verified that the actual effect of apple grading using the combined CNN-SVM model is fast and accurate,which greatly reduces the manpower and labor costs of manual grading,and has important commercial prospects.
文摘Apple cultivation has special requirements for climatic conditions. The period from May to August is a key period for apple growth.During this period,extreme weather occurs frequently,such as extreme high temperature,strong wind,hail,and floods. This paper introduced these extreme weathers and came up with some corresponding management measures.
文摘One of the largest and most important pesticides groups are Demthylation inhibitors, a class of single-side fungicides, used for the control of fungal diseases on fruit. The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of myclobutanil after its application in Starking and Golden Delicious cultivars. The apple trees were treated with maximum and minimum levels of recommended doses. The samples were collected randomly in different interval days after application. For identification and quantification of myclobutanil residues in apple fruit liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique was performed. The highest values of myclobutanil residues were found at the 1^st day after treatment and by the time the residue levels were decreased. Thus, the level of myclobutanil residues ranges from 0.928 mg kg^-1 to 0.019 mg kg^-1 and from 2.085 mg kg^-1 to 0.086 mg kg^-1 in Starking treated with the minimum and maximum doses respectively. Also, in the Golden Delicious cultivar the level of myclobutanil residues ranges from 0.878 mg kg^-1 to 0.026 mg kg^-1 and from 1.760 mg kg^-1 to 0.092 mg kg^-1 with the minimum and maximum applied doses at 1^st and 40^th day after application, respectively. Therefore, the samples treated with maximum recommended dose did not reach the MRL (0.6 mg kg^-1) before the 14th day after application, whereas the samples treated with minimum recommended dose reached MRL before 7th day after application. Therefore, the application of myclobutanil guarantees food safety for the consumer not only in minimum doses but even in maximal doses as well.
文摘Different fungi alter apples in the post-harvest period, causing considerableeconomic losses and risks to consumer health due to the mycotoxinsthat some of these fungi produce. The control of these fungal alterationsin apples is mainly dependent on the use of chemical fungicides, the effectivenessof which has been well proven. However, this use is subject torestrictions due to growing concerns about risks to human health and theenvironment and the continued development of pathogen resistance to commonlyused fungicides. A new approach to control post-harvest fungi hasbeen implemented through the application of plant extract.It is estimatedthat there are more than 250,000 higher plant species on Earth that can beevaluated for their antimicrobial bioactive chemical compounds. In recentdecades, researchers have evaluated plant extracts and essential oils againstfungi responsible for post-harvest apple rot. Interesting results have beenobtained. The purpose of this project is to summarize and discuss the resultsof in vitro and in situ experiments of different literatures concerning the effectsof compounds derived from plants on the control of fungi responsiblefor rotting apples in storage.
文摘Our study consists of a careful literature review carried out with the aim of better understanding the models developed in the field of biocontrol of postharvest fungal rot in apples(PHFRA)over the past two decades.It aims,more specifically,to shed light on the progress made by examining the products developed,their nature,their target pathogens,their effectiveness,theirs modes of action and the stage of their development.The post-harvest biocontrol of apples has made remarkable progress during the last twenty years of research.Several products(yeasts,bacteria,filamentous fungi and actinomycetes)have been selected.Some,are already marketed,others are at different stages of development.However,several points limit the optimal use of microbial antagonists in the bio-management of post-harvest apple rots as an alternative to chemicals.It is,in fact,still necessary to develop appropriate formulations of these microbial biocontrol agents,to better study their mechanisms of action,to test them under commercial conditions and against a broad spectrum of pathogens and hosts.However,although sometimes considered less effective than chemical treatments,biocontrol products based on microorganisms have major advantages for an application in an integrated post-harvest apple protection strategy.
文摘The grading judgment for apples is related to a variety of factors including,size,shape,color,texture,and scars.Traditional manual sorting methods are time consuming and labor intensive.In addition,the accuracy of the method is easily subjective,not repeatable,error-prone,and affected by the sorting environment.This paper presents a complete and automated grading system for apples.The system uses a single-chip microcomputer as the controller of the system,and a PC as the graphics processing unit.It also includes a conveyor,drive motor,frequency converter for motor control,photoelectric sensors,air compressor,and air jets for ejecting the graded apples.The classification algorithm is implemented by using a convolutional neural network(CNN).In order to eliminate contact damage of apples,the system specifically uses air jets as actuators to eject the graded apples into the corresponding bins.At the same time,in order to ensure that an apple triggers the correct ejecting actuator,this paper designs a jet controller with proper logic.
基金Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China,the China Green Food Development Center(GXTC-C-19050052 to F.Z.)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32302680 to D.L.).
文摘Sustainable alternative farming systems are gaining popularity worldwide because of the negative effects of conventional agriculture on global climate change and the environmental degradation caused by intensive use of synthetic inputs.The green farming system in China is an integrated production strategy that focuses on reducing chemical fertilizer use while increasing organic manure inputs.Despite their rapid growth as more sustainable systems over the past decades,green farming systems have not been systematically evaluated to date.We used apple production as a representative case to assess the sustainability of green farming systems.Across major apple-producing regions in China,green farming reduced the application of chemical fertilizer nitrogen(N)by 46.8%(from 412 to 219 kg ha^(−1))and increased that of manure N by 33.1%(from 171 to 227 kg ha^(−1))on average compared with conventional systems enhancing N use efficiency by 7.27-20.27%and reducing N losses by 8.92%-11.56%.It also slightly lowered yield by 4.34%-13.8%in four provinces.Soil fertility was improved in green orchards through increases in soil organic matter,total N,and available major nutrients.Our cradle-to-farm-gate life-cycle assessment revealed that green farming helped to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 12.6%,potentially contributing to a reduction of 165239 t CO_(2) eq annually in major apple-producing areas.In addition,green farming achieved 39.3%higher profitability($7180 ha^(−1) year−1)at the farmer level.Our study demonstrates the potential of green production of apples for the development of sustainable agriculture in China.These findings advance our understanding of sustainable alternative farming systems and offer perspectives for the sustainable development of global agriculture.
