Scientia Horticulturae最新文献

{"title":"Shading enhanced microclimate variability, photomorphogenesis and yield components in a grapevine agrivoltaic system in semi-arid Mediterranean conditions in Puglia region, southeastern Italy","authors":"Andrea Magarelli, Andrea Mazzeo, Salem Alhajj Ali, Giuseppe Ferrara","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114311","url":null,"abstract":"Agrivoltaics (AV) emerged for its dual land use function as renewable energy source of strategic importance to the global low-carbon transition, climate resilient system and food crops production. A two-year study on grapevines grown under photovoltaic panels was conducted in Puglia region, southeastern Italy, focusing on microclimatic modifications, physiological responses, and yield performance under varying shading conditions. comparing full sun (FS) to either low shade (LS) or high shade (HS) vine treatments under AV. Quantitative analyses revealed spatial and temporal variability in the microclimatic conditions for the vines. In the HS position, soil moisture was 16% higher compared to the FS treatment, while soil temperatures were moderately stabilized. Wind parameter modifications between day and night also influenced relative humidity and air temperature, with a strong night cooling effect of up to 3.5 °C. Furthermore, high diffusive radiation fraction and an altered spectrum profile in wavelength peaks intercepted within the AV canopy enhanced photomorphogenic processes such as increased stem length, leaf expansion and chlorophyll index, while also shade improved midday water status and maximum photosystem II activity. Considerable variations on stomatal conductance were revealed on daily basis in response to the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) gradient, blue to green and blue to far-red ratios, especially in LS leaves by up to 30% increase. Regarding productivity, the LS achieved optimal cluster weight (1.15 kg/vine) and anthocyanin content (15.27 mg/g), although HS reduced sugar accumulation to 19.1°Brix compared to 26.3°Brix in FS conditions. These findings underscore that tailored applications that include site-specific designs to local microclimatic conditions and respecting crop-specific layout criteria, reverse the negative effects of shading sensitivity while ensuring beneficial impacts on grapevine growth, optimizing crop yield, and maintaining sufficient energy output even with low-input technological solution.","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"223 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic fertilizer substitution synergistically improves the fruit-soil-bacteria system in Newhall navel orange under long-term management","authors":"Zhonglan Yang, Mengmeng Yan, Ying Xiao, Fengxian Yao, Jinping Lai, Lihong Xu, Xia Zhuang, Yulin Zhang, Tianlai Ouyang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114326","url":null,"abstract":"The Newhall navel orange (<ce:italic>Citrus sinensis</ce:italic> Osbeck cv. Newhall) is one of the most popular citrus varieties globally. Substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers is regarded as a key agronomic measure to promote the green cultivation of citrus. However, insufficient data on relevant field effects hindered the optimization of the organic substitution model in Newhall navel orange cultivation. Here, based on an 8-year field experiment, we used fermented liquid rapeseed cake fertilizer as the type of organic fertilizer to explore the long-term effects of substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers of different nitrogen contents on the fruit-soil-bacteria system of Newhall navel oranges, aiming to evaluate the interrelated responses of the rhizosphere microecology and fruit quality of Newhall navel orange to the fertilizer substitution strategy. The results showed that rhizosphere soil properties (pH, available nutrients, organic carbon fractions, and enzyme activities), microbial characteristics (bacterial diversity and richness), and fruit quality (soluble solids, vitamin C, and sugar content) exhibited positive responses to long-term organic substitution. Microbial biomass carbon and dissolved organic carbon showed significant positive effects on fruit soluble solids, vitamin C, and total sugar content. Long-term organic substitution significantly enhanced the activity of rhizosphere carbohydrate-active enzymes, with Proteobacteria played a positive role in regulating carbon metabolism. Comprehensive analysis of all indicators indicated that 50 % organic nitrogen substitution is an appropriate proportion for promotion in Newhall navel orange production. These observations provide a basis for establishing an effective fertilization model for Newhall navel oranges.","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overexpression of PavGRF5 in sweet cherry negatively regulates cold stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis","authors":"Fali Chen, Yaan Wen, Hong Deng, Runrun Yu, Jin Tang, Qixue Fu, Yulin Shao, Guang Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114328","url":null,"abstract":"Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are essential for the growth, development, and stress responses of organisms. However, studies on GRF genes in sweet cherry (<ce:italic>Prunus avium</ce:italic> L.) remain limited, and the underlying mechanisms by which they respond to low-temperature stress are still unclear. <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> was found to be down-regulated under cold stress induction. In this study, we cloned <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic>, a GRF family member significantly suppressed under low-temperature stress, and conducted genetic transformation experiments in <ce:italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</ce:italic> to investigate its functional role in response to cold stress. Our results demonstrated that <ce:italic>Arabidopsis</ce:italic> lines overexpressing <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> exhibited impaired growth under low-temperature conditions. Compared with the wild type (WT), these transgenic lines exhibited significantly elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>O<ce:inf loc=\"post\">2</ce:inf>), as well as increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the activities of key antioxidant enzymes-including peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)-were markedly reduced in transgenic plants. Consistently, the contents of osmoprotectants such as proline, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars were also significantly decreased. We employed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and antisense oligonucleotides (AsODN) to suppress the expression of the <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> gene in sweet cherry. Our findings demonstrated that <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> expression was significantly downregulated in the silenced lines, whereas the expression of low-temperature positively regulated genes in sweet cherry were markedly increased. Transcriptional activation assays revealed that PavGRF5 does not possess intrinsic transcriptional activity. Using yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation assays, we confirmed a direct physical interaction between PavGRF5 and PavGIF1. Notably, cold stress suppressed the expression of both PavGRF5 and PavGIF1, potentially alleviating the negative regulatory effects of the PavGRF5–PavGIF1 module during the low-temperature response in sweet cherry. We cloned the <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> promoter, which contains a cis-acting element responsive to low-temperature. Analysis of <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> promoter activity revealed Ruby reporter gene expression at the stem–leaf junctions of transgenic <ce:italic>Arabidopsis</ce:italic> seedlings. Taken together, our findings elucidate a negative feedback regulatory mechanism involving <ce:italic>PavGRF5</ce:italic> in the response to low-temperature stress, offering novel insights into the molecular basis of abiotic stress tolerance in sweet cherry.","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inheritance analysis of sugar and organic acid components in blueberry hybrid progenies","authors":"Li Chen ,&nbsp;Tongji Lou ,&nbsp;Kexin Dong ,&nbsp;Mei Dong ,&nbsp;Haiyue Sun ,&nbsp;Jiali Che ,&nbsp;Shufang Yang ,&nbsp;Jing Li ,&nbsp;Yadong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114345","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114345","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Blueberry is a small berry species of high economic value that has experienced rapid development in recent years. The composition and content of sugar and acid are critical determinants of fruit flavor. To investigate the genetic principles of sugar and acid components in blueberry fruits, three varieties with distinct flavor profiles were pairwise crossed, and the content of sugar and acid components in all progeny and parents was determined. The results showed that the glucose content was higher than that of fructose, and the combined proportion of these two sugars exceeding 95 %. Citric acid and quinic acid were identified as the major acids, and the parents and offspring could be categorized into two primary groups: a citric acid-dominant group and a quinic acid-dominant group. The variation coefficient of the main acids (38.95 % and 65.33 %) was higher than that of the main sugars (14.37 % and 16.55 %). The high <em>H²</em> values for glucose and fructose (0.80 and 0.83) suggested their genetic inheritance was relatively stable. Glucose and fructose exhibited similar inheritance patterns. The negative average R_Hm values and the relatively high LL values—63.5 % for glucose and 39.8 % for fructose—suggested a declining trend of these traits. Moreover, when a high-glucose or high-fructose variety was used as the maternal parent, the average glucose or fructose content in the offspring was higher than that observed in reciprocal crosses, indicating that the selection of maternal parent during the breeding process has important effects on these traits. Quinic acid also exhibited maternal inheritance, whereas citric acid and malic acid did not display this pattern of inheritance. In all combinations, the <em>Ta</em> value exceeded 1, and HM % ranged from 57 % to 81 %, indicating citric acid exhibited transgressive inheritance. The mixed major gene and polygene inheritance model analysis was performed. It was found that, the majority of the combined genetic models for glucose, fructose, and citric acid were found to be 2MG-AD, governed by two pairs of additive and dominant genes. Notably, the additive effect was more significant than the dominant effect, while the heritability of major genes exhibited substantial variation across different parental combinations. This study will establish a foundation for parental selection in hybridization and accelerate the process of blueberry breeding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114345"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the tissue-specific distribution patterns and potential molecular mechanisms in flavonoids between Citrus reticulata ‘Shiyue Ju’ and its mutant C. reticulata ‘Denglong Ju’","authors":"Qin Guan ,&nbsp;Doudou Huang ,&nbsp;Lan Zhang ,&nbsp;Zongyou Lv ,&nbsp;Wansheng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Citrus reticulata</em> ‘Shiyue Ju’ (STJ) and its mutant <em>C. reticulata</em> ‘Denglong Ju’ (DLJ) are characterized by distinct phenotypes and varying levels of nutritional components. Flavonoids, known for their significant bioactive properties in citrus, have not been systematically elucidated between these two cultivars. The present study employs comparative metabolomics to comprehensively analyze flavonoid profiles across STJ and DLJ tissues, revealing the identification of 129 flavonoid compounds predominantly represented by flavones, flavanones, and flavonols. 34 flavonoids were significantly accumulated in the peel of STJ, while another 39 flavonoids were notably enriched in the peel of DLJ. Our findings demonstrate that the distinct tissue-specific flavonoid profiles likely underpin the significant separation observed between STJ and DLJ. Transcriptomic analysis identified critical genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis pathways: <em>OMTs</em> and <em>UGTs</em>. Notably, the intense pigmentation observed in the peel of DLJ appears to be linked to the pronounced upregulation of <em>PAL</em> and <em>ANR</em> genes. Additionally, the integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that two genes (LOC18034981 and LOC18037750) might play vital roles in the differential flavonoid production observed between STJ and DLJ. This study establishes a molecular foundation for elucidating the biosynthesis of flavonoids in these two citrus species while offering novel insights into enhancing citrus fruit quality as functional food resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114315"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phosphorus fertilizer thresholds matching snap bean nutrient demands in Florida Spodosols","authors":"M.J.I. Shohag,&nbsp;Elena Máximo Salgado,&nbsp;Marina Curtis Gluck,&nbsp;Nurjahan Sriti,&nbsp;Guodong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient essential for plant growth and development; however, its bioavailability is often limited in Florida Spodosols due to high soil acidity, low organic matter content, and strong sorption to aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides—particularly Al, which is often present at concentrations significantly higher than Fe. This study aimed to determine the optimal P fertilizer rate required to maximize snap bean (<em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em> L.) productivity while minimizing environmental risks in these challenging soil conditions. Field trials were conducted over two consecutive fall seasons (2022 and 2023) using a randomized complete block design. Treatments included five P₂O₅ rates (0, 45, 90, 134, and 179 kg ha⁻¹) in the first year and two additional rates (224 and 269 kg ha⁻¹) in the second year. Data on plant biomass, pod yield, chlorophyll content, P uptake, and soil P availability were collected and analyzed. Results showed that increasing P rates improved plant performance metrics, with diminishing returns observed beyond a certain threshold. Pearson’s correlation and principal component analyses revealed strong positive relationships among P application, crop physiological responses, and soil P dynamics. Using three response models—Mitscherlich-Bray, quadratic, and quadratic linear plateau—the estimated critical P₂O₅ threshold was 202 kg ha⁻¹, with an optimal range of 191–218 kg ha⁻¹. These findings support the development of science-based, site-specific P best management practices to enhance snap bean yield while mitigating environmental risks in subtropical agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114334"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive transcriptomics analysis reveals the molecular resistance mechanisms of Guanggan (Citrus reticulata) against Phytophthora parasitica infection","authors":"Yuanda LV ,&nbsp;Bo Jiang ,&nbsp;Yanyan Ma ,&nbsp;Xiaomeng Li ,&nbsp;Lina Hu ,&nbsp;Jie Yu ,&nbsp;Huaxue Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Phytophthora</em> spp. are devastating oomycete pathogens cause severe diseases such as root rot and gummosis, posing a significant threat to global citrus production. Despite their economic impact, the molecular mechanisms underlying citrus-<em>Phytophthora</em> interactions remain poorly understood, limiting the development of resistant cultivars. <em>Citrus reticulata</em> var. Guanggan (GG), a semi-wild citrus genotype, has demonstrated remarkable resistance to <em>Phytophthora</em> infection, making it a valuable resource for disease resistance research. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of the resistant GG and a susceptible citrus variety, <em>C. sunki</em> var. Ziyang’xiangcheng (XC), following <em>P. parasitica</em> infection. Our results revealed distinct genotype-specific responses, with dynamic differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in key defense pathways, including plant-pathogen interaction, hormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein processing. Notably, GG exhibited earlier and stronger induction of defense-related genes, such as <em>chitinase, CaMs</em>/<em>CMLs, PR1</em> and <em>EDS1</em>. Functional validation via transient overexpression of eight candidate DEGs (e.g., <em>Ciclev10029431m</em> (<em>PR1</em>), <em>Ciclev10028964m</em> (<em>chitinase</em>), and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis related genes) in <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em> significantly enhanced resistance to <em>P. parasitica</em>, confirming their role in <em>P. parasitica</em> defense. These findings demonstrate the GG’s multi-layered defense strategy, integrating early pathogen recognition, phytohormone signaling, secondary metabolite production, and protein homeostasis. This study identifies key genetic targets for breeding <em>Phytophthora</em>-resistant citrus varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114378"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silicon partitioning and accumulation in agronomic biofortification of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Sabrosa grown in soilless system","authors":"Annalisa Somma ,&nbsp;Lucia Bonelli ,&nbsp;Massimiliano D’Imperio ,&nbsp;Francesco Fabiano Montesano ,&nbsp;Federica Blando ,&nbsp;Pietro Santamaria ,&nbsp;Francesco Serio ,&nbsp;Maria Gonnella","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strawberry (<em>Fragaria</em> × <em>ananassa</em> Duch.) is a globally significant horticultural crop, appreciated for the nutritional profile of its fruits. This study investigated uptake, accumulation, and effects of silicon (Si) supplementation through nutrient solutions (50 and 100 mg L⁻¹ K₂SiO₃) in Sabrosa (known by the trade name ‘Candonga’) strawberries grown in a soilless system. Si was taken up and translocated dose-dependently, with the highest accumulation in roots and leaves and lower levels in fruits and stems. Si supplementation significantly increased fruit Si content, with a three-fold and five-fold increase at 50 mg L⁻¹ and 100 mg L⁻¹ doses, respectively, compared to the control. Despite the significant Si accumulation, no dose influenced growth, yield, or key fruit quality parameters, including firmness, dry matter, total soluble solids, and nutraceutical profile. Although mineral interactions were observed, with reductions in Ca, Mg, and K content in plant tissues and increased B in fruits and Al in roots only at 50 mg L⁻¹, this did not affect fruit nutritional or organoleptic qualities. Given the increased electrical conductivity associated with higher Si doses, 50 mg L⁻¹ is recommended as an effective biofortification dose. The lack of response suggests that strawberry is able to tolerate considerable Si enrichment without alterations to its agronomic performance or fruit biochemical traits. These findings provide novel insights into the potential for Si biofortification of strawberries, highlighting a unique opportunity to enrich fruits with Si for human health benefits without compromising crop productivity or quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114322"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144763914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of oxalic acid on the postharvest physiology and enzymatic browning of fresh-cut potato slices during storage","authors":"Yaqi Zhao ,&nbsp;Chao Xu ,&nbsp;Wenlin Shi ,&nbsp;Taishan Huang ,&nbsp;Shuzhi Yuan ,&nbsp;Xiaozhen Yue ,&nbsp;Xiaodi Xu ,&nbsp;Bihong Feng ,&nbsp;Jinhua Zuo ,&nbsp;Qing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fresh-cut potatoes, rich in minerals, vitamins, and polyphenolic antioxidants, are widely consumed for their convenience. The present study investigated the impact of soaking fresh-cut potato slices in a 5.0 g L^-1 oxalic acid solution on their subsequent quality and shelf-life. Results showed that oxalic acid treatment, compared to the control, significantly delayed browning and reduced ethylene production and respiration rates in fresh-cut potatoes. The oxalic acid treatment maintained firmness, starch, and ascorbic acid, with enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation. Oxalic acid inhibited phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) expression, delaying browning and enhancing antioxidant activity. Therefore, the application of oxalic acid maintained the sensory and nutritional quality of fresh-cut potatoes, and prolonging their shelf life by approximately 24 h based on sensory quality thresholds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114306"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144757357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genotypic differences in morphological and physiological traits of genus Pyrus and clonal pear rootstocks under prolonged drought stress","authors":"Ali Rezaei ,&nbsp;Kazem Arzani ,&nbsp;Hamid Abdollahi ,&nbsp;Ali Mokhtassi-Bidgoli ,&nbsp;Nima Ahmadi","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genetic potential of wild <em>Pyrus</em> species provided useful opportunities to breeders for identifying drought-tolerant pear rootstocks within the world fruit trees germplasm. This study aimed to explore the drought tolerance mechanisms of wild <em>Pyrus</em> species as seedling rootstocks and some clonal pear and quince rootstocks under well-irrigated and drought-stress conditions. The rootstocks used included 11 <em>Pyrus</em> species as seedlings, 'Pyrodwarf' (<em>P. communis</em>), and 2 cydone 'EMA', and 'BA29′ (<em>Cydonia oblonga</em>) as clonal rootstocks. Nine-month-old ungrafted seedlings and clonal rootstocks were divided randomly into two similar-sized groups with about 25 internodes. The control group was irrigated every 3 days (WI) while the drought-stressed group (DS) was subjected to 21 days of water stress and received no irrigation. Soil moisture was monitored during the experiment, and morphological and physiological parameters were recorded after 21 days of applying treatments. Results revealed significant genetic variation in drought tolerance across the rootstocks used in terms of the physiological and morphological criteria. Drought stress significantly (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.01) reduced plant height, internode length, leaf relative water content, and carotenoid content, although the amount of proline was increased in comparison to well-irrigated rootstocks. Drought stress also reduced the quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), indicating impaired photosynthetic efficiency. Root length increased in most rootstocks under drought stress, but root dry weight decreased. In conclusion, growth and root parameters are highlighted as valuable indicators for identifying drought-tolerant pear rootstocks. Moreover, the substantial variation that exists among the collected species from different geographic origins represents a promising and valuable genetic resource for future pear breeding programs with specific pear breeding objectives for improving drought-resistant rootstock.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114338"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}