Decoding the fruit microbiome:A climate smart strategy to manage postharvest decays

There is an urgent necessity to shift our diets toward those rich in fruits and vegetables and at reduce postharvest losses of perishables.Approximately 20%-50%of fruits and vegetables are lost due to poor postharvest handling and pathogen infections in developing countries while it was estimated as 5%-35%in developed countries. Fresh fruits have evolved with a plethora of microorganisms having important roles in maintaining fruit health. However, little information is available on the dynamics, structure, and functional capacities of underpinning fruit microbiomes. The present review discussed environmental conditions favoring fruit-harbored antagonists and their different modes of action for suppressing postharvest pathogens in fruits. It also provides information on omics technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS),metaproteomics, metatranscriptomic, and metabolomics studies to characterize fruit microbiomes. With the advent of NGS and meta-omics technologies, microbiome research could bring remarkable development and understanding in succeeding biological treatments. In addition, they may provide us with a fundamental understanding of microclimate requirements for fruit microbiome establishment and microbiome shifts during post-harvest storage, which would be advantageous in developing composite biocontrol treatments for post-harvest decay management.

Effects of INA on postharvest blue and green molds and anthracnose decay in citrus fruit

As a synthetic functional analog of salicylic acid, 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid(INA) is effective in inducing the host disease resistance of a plant against a pathogen. The effects of INA on controlling postharvest blue and green molds and anthracnose decay and defense-related enzymes on citrus fruits were investigated, and the ascorbic acid of naturally infected citrus flavedo was also measured. Results showed that 1.0 mmol L^(–1) INA treatments significantly reduced blue and green molds and anthracnose decay development on both wound-inoculated fruit and naturally-infected fruit compared with the control fruit. The treatment effectively enhanced the β-1,3-glucanase(GLU), chitinase(CHI), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL) and peroxidase(POD) activities and the polyphenol oxidase(PPO) in flavedo. The results presented here suggest that INA might be used as a chemical fungicide substitution to control postharvest diseases in citrus fruits.

Synergistic Influence of Pre-Harvest Calcium Sprays and Postharvest Hot Water Treatment on Fruit Firmness, Decay, Bitter Pit Incidence and Postharvest Quality of Royal Delicious Apples (<i>Malus x domestica</i>Borkh)

Experiments were conducted to observe the effect of pre-harvest calcium (Ca) applied as calcium chloride (1% W/V) and postharvest hot water treatment (HWT) on “Royal Delicious” apples. For this, apples were divided in 4 lots viz., untreated (neither Ca nor HWT), Ca alone (pre-harvest 3 sprays of CaCl2 (1.0% w/v) in the orchard), HWT (42℃ for 2 h). Apples of all four lots were stored in cold storage maintained at 0℃ ± 1℃ and 90% - 95% relative humidity for 6 months. After storage, fruits were removed to ambient conditions for 5 days, and then observations on decay area and incidence, bitter pit incidence, fruit Ca content, lipoxygenase (LOX) and antioxidant (AOX) activity, fruit firmness and fruit quality parameters were recorded. After 6 months in cold storage plus 5 day at 22℃ ± 2℃ and 70% + 4% RH, apples, which received Ca as pre-harvest spray or those which received postharvest hot water treatment or Ca + HWT had significantly lesser decay area (decay lesions) caused by Penicillium expansum or Botrytis cinerea than untreated ones (control). Ca + HWT treatment was significantly more effective on B. cinerea than P. expansum. Untreated apples exhibited higher incidence of bitter pit (18.2%) than those treated with Ca or HWT or both. Fruit Ca content (2.92% DM) were significantly lower and conversely the LOX activity (6.9 μmoles min–1×g–1FW) was higher in untreated apples. Similarly, total phenolics and AOX activity were also lower in the untreated apples than Ca or HWT treated. HWT or Ca treated apples have beneficial effects on fruit firmness, peel colour and quality parameters like TSS and ascorbic acid content. Thus, it is concluded that pre-harvest sprays of calcium chloride with postharvest HWT is highly useful for “Royal Delicious” for reducing decay loss, maintaining firmness, high levels of antioxidants and fruit quality.

A chromosome-level genome assembly for Chinese plum‘Wushancuili'reveals the molecular basis of its fruit color and susceptibility to rain-cracking

Chinese plum(Prunus salicina Lindl.)originates from China and makes a large contribution to the global production of plums.The P.salicina‘Wushancuili'has a green coloration and high fruit quality and is economically important in eliminating poverty and protecting ecology in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir.However,rain-induced cracking(rain-cracking,literally skin cracking caused by rain)is a limitation to‘Wushancuili'fruit production and causes severe losses.This study reported a high-quality‘Wushancuili'genome assembly consisting of a 302.17-Mb sequence with eight pseudo-chromosomes and a contig N50 of 23.59 Mb through the combination of Illumina sequencing,Pacific Biosciences HiFiⅢsequencing,and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology.A total of 25109 protein-coding genes are predicted and 54.17%of the genome is composed of repetitive sequences.‘Wushancuili'underwent a remarkable orthoselection during evolution.Gene identification revealed that loss-of-function in four core MYB10 genes results in the anthocyanin deficiency and absence of red color,revealing the green coloration due to the residual high chlorophyll in fruit skin.Besides,the occurrence of cracking is assumed to be closely associated with cell wall modification and frequently rain-induced pathogen enrichment through transcriptomic analysis.The loss of MYB10 genes might render fruit more susceptible to pathogen-mediated cracking by weakening the epidermal strength and reactive oxygen species(ROS)scavenging.Our findings provided fundamental knowledge regarding fruit coloration and rain-cracking and will facilitate genetic improvement and cultivation management in Chinese plums.

INTERFACE BEHAVIOR AND DECAY RATES OF COMPRESSIBLE NAVIER-STOKES SYSTEM WITH DENSITY-DEPENDENT VISCOSITY AND A VACUUM

In this paper,we study the one-dimensional motion of viscous gas near a vacuum,with the gas connecting to a vacuum state with a jump in density.The interface behavior,the pointwise decay rates of the density function and the expanding rates of the interface are obtained with the viscosity coefficientμ(ρ)=ρ^(α)for any 0<α<1;this includes the timeweighted boundedness from below and above.The smoothness of the solution is discussed.Moreover,we construct a class of self-similar classical solutions which exhibit some interesting properties,such as optimal estimates.The present paper extends the results in[Luo T,Xin Z P,Yang T.SIAM J Math Anal,2000,31(6):1175-1191]to the jump boundary conditions case with density-dependent viscosity.

Ploidy and fruit trait variation in oil-tea Camellia:Implications for ploidy breeding

Plant polyploidy often occurs in conjunction with higher yield and superior quality.Therefore,obtaining polyploid germplasms is a significant part of breeding.The oil-tea Camellia tree is an important native woody plant that produces high-quality edible oil and includes many species of Camellia with different ploidies.However,whether higher ploidy levels in oil-tea Camellia trees are related to better traits remains unclear.In this study,the ploidy levels of 30 different oil-tea Camellia strains in three different species in the Sect.Paracamellia were determined by flow cytometry and chromosome preparation,and the phenotypic characteristics and fatty acid compositions of the fruits were examined by field observations and laboratory analyses.The correlations between the ploidy level of oil-tea Camellia and the main traits of the fruit were investigated.Our results showed that 10 Camellia lanceoleosa strains were diploid,10 Camellia meiocarpa strains were tetraploid and 10 Camellia oleifera strains were hexaploid.Hexaploid C.oleifera had larger fruit size and weight,more seeds per fruit,greater seed weight per fruit,higher oil content and greater yield per crown width than tetraploid C.meiocarpa and diploid C.lanceoleosa,but their fruit peel thickness and fresh seed rate were significantly lower,and these traits were significantly correlated with ploidy level.In addition,in terms of fatty acid composition,hexaploid C.oleifera had a higher oleic acid content than tetraploid C.meiocarpa and diploid C.lanceoleosa,but their linoleic acid,linolenic acid and arachidonic acid contents were lower.The contents of palmitic acid,stearic acid and total unsaturated fatty acids were not significantly correlated with ploidy level.In conclusion,certain correlations exist between the main characteristics of oil-tea Camellia fruit and the ploidy level,and increasing the ploidy level led to an increase in fruit yield with no effect on oil composition.The discovery of variations in the main characteristics of oil-tea Camellia fruit with different ploidies will facilitate germplasm innovation and lay a foundation for ploidy breeding and mechanistic research on fruit traits.

Effects of Postharvest Hot Water and Hot Air Treatments on Storage Decay and Quality Traits of Kumquat （Fortunella japonica Lour. Swingle, cv. Ovale） Fruit

Heat treatments such as hot-water dipping （HWD）, hot water rinsing and brushing （HWRB）, and hot air treatment （HAT） have been applied on a wide range of horticultural crops to control postharvest decay and to maintain quality characteristics. In this study we compared the influence of hot-water dipping （HWD） for 2 rain at 50℃and hot air treatment （HAT） at 37 ℃ for 30 hours, on postharvest performance of kumquat （Fortunellajaponica Lour. Swingle, cv. Ovale） fruit. Decay development, transpiration rate （fruit weight loss）, external appearance, and nutritive （sugars and organic acids） and functional properties （ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, and total antioxidant activity） were evaluated over 21 days＇ simulated shelf-life at 17 ℃. Untreated fruits were used as control. There was no visible damage to the fruit following HWD or HAT and after storage. However, while HWD and control fruit maintained their fresh appearance during the first 14 days of storage and were rated as fairly fresh after the 21 days, HAT fruits had lost their gloss and no longer appeared fresh. HWD did not affect fruit weight loss while HAT induced significant weight loss with respect to control. HAT did not significantly affect decay incidence after 14 days＇ storage but effectively reduced decay after 21 days＇. HWD notably reduced decay development after 14 and 21 days of storage and proved significantly more effective than HAT. Neither HWD nor HAT significantly affected the nutritive and functional properties of fruit. Thus, present results indicate that while HWD can be applied on kumquats to control postharvest decay without impairing the quality traits, HAT conditions （treatment time and temperature） should be optimized, due to adverse effects to fruit quality.

Biodiversity and Enzyme Activity of Indigenous Cellulolytic and Amylolytic Bacteria in Decayed Mangrove Stem Waste Product at Waai Seashore, Ambon Island

Mangrove （Sonneratia spp.） could be found at Waai seashore, Ambon island. The remainder of the mangrove stem will be decayed and become the waste product. Some indigenous bacteria species that live in the decayed mangrove stem waste product have cellulolytic and amylolytic characters. This research was done to： （1） identify and determine the cellulolytic bacteria species; （2） identify and determine the amylolytic bacteria species; （3） determine the cellulolytic bacteria species that have the highest cellulase activity; （4） determine the amylolytic bacteria species that have the highest amylase activity. This research was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, State University of Malang, Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University and Chemistry Laboratory, Muhammadiyah Malang University. In the experiment, 25 g sample were grinded and diluted in 225 mL nutrient broth to get 101 suspension. Then the suspension was diluted gradually until 101~. The suspension was inoculated on nutrient agar medium with 0.1 mL each, and incubated in 37 ~C during 24 h. Each bacteria colony was isolated and identified to know whether it was cellulolytic or amylolytic bacteria. Afterward, the cellulase activity as well as the amylase activity was analyzed. The research results show that： （1） there are four cellulolytic bacteria species, i.e., Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus pumilus, Planococcus citreus and Bacillus cereus; （2） there are four amylolytic bacteria species, i.e., Bacillus firmus, Nitrobacter sp., Bacillus mycoides and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; （3） Bacillus cereus has the highest cellulase activity; （4） Nitrobacter sp. has the highest amylase activity.

A novel histone methyltransferase gene Cg SDG40 positively regulates carotenoid biosynthesis during citrus fruit ripening

The flesh color of pummelo(Citrus maxima)fruits is highly diverse and largely depends on the level of carotenoids,which are beneficial to human health.It is vital to investigate the regulatory network of carotenoid biosynthesis to improve the carotenoid content in pummelo.However,the molecular mechanism underlying carotenoid accumulation in pummelo is not fully understood.In this study,we identified a novel histone methyltransferase gene,CgSDG40,involved in carotenoid regulation by analyzing the flesh transcriptome of typical white-fleshed pummelo,red-fleshed pummelo and extreme-colored F1 hybrids from a segregated pummelo population.Expression of CgSDG40 corresponded to flesh color change and was highly coexpressed with CgPSY1.Interestingly,CgSDG40 and CgPSY1 are located physically adjacent to each other on the chromosome in opposite directions,sharing a partially overlapping promoter region.Subcellular localization analysis indicated that CgSDG40 localizes to the nucleus.Overexpression of CgSDG40 significantly increased the total carotenoid content in citrus calli relative to that in wild type.In addition,expression of CgPSY1 was significantly activated in overexpression lines relative to wild type.Taken together,our findings reveal a novel histone methyltransferase regulator,CgSDG40,involved in the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in citrus and provide new strategies for molecular design breeding and genetic improvement of fruit color and nutritional quality.

Behavior of Decayed Spruce (Picea abies) during Kraft Pulping

This study indicated that by applying an improved classification system to decayed large-diameter Norway spruce(Picea abies)wood,its use as raw material for kraft pulping without loss of pulp quality could be essentially increased.This is based on the fact that although the cooking yield of decayed spruce material which has been sorted according to these new recommendations is somewhat lower and Kappa number higher than those of sound wood material,the greatest part of the decayed stem(the outer part of the stem)contains long-fiber wood material which produces pulp of good quality.Therefore,large-diameter spruce logs can also be separately used,for example,in the manufacture of reinforcement pulp.

Nutraceutical Potentiality of Fruits of Red Variety of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl.

The red fruits of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich) Engl. are widely consumed by the populations of northern Congo for their sweet and tangy flavor as well as for their characteristic smell. The objective of this study was to show the food potential of the fruits of this plant for their valorization. Organic solvent extracts were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening to determine the nutrients and phytonutrients of this fruit. Raw juice was extracted by trituration without adding water and subjected to physicochemical and biochemical analyses in order to determine its quality and its antiradical activity. The raw juice obtained is moderately acidic (pH 3.28), very cloudy and colored (turbidity of 1019 NTU). It has a dry matter content of 3.771% ± 0.013% reflecting the 70% dominance of water in the weight of the fruit and the presence of dissolved organic matter in its juice. Energy nutrients (sugars, amino acids), carotenoids, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes and sterols have been highlighted as nutrients with therapeutic potential commonly called phytonutrients of this fruit. The juice presented a dominance in polyphenols (134.8500 ± 0.0023 mg gallic acid/100 g) than in carotenoids (5.100 ± 0.010 mg carotene/100 g), high levels of mineral macroelements (calcium: 3570.00 ± 2.05 mg and potassium: 4576.00 ± 9.49 mg) and trace elements (copper: 11.13 ± 0.10 mg, iron: 3.02 ± 0.03 mg and zinc: 2.57 ± 0.08 mg). These compounds exhibited good antioxidant activity. The presence of these nutrients and phytonutrients in these fruits is interesting for the proper functioning of certain organs and the prevention of certain diseases. This fruit is therefore an energizing and functional food that can compete with conventional fruits whose juices are marketed.

Studies of the Variability of Primary Metabolites in the Epicarp, Mesocarp and Seed of Dacryodes edulis Fruit at Taste Maturity

The fruits of Dacryodes edulis are rich in biologically active substances, which makes them of great interest in terms of validation. In this study, we targeted the primary metabolites in the epicarp, the mesocarp and the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis at taste maturity, which were selected for their nutritional quality and its appreciation throughout the Gulf of Guinea area, which is very popular because of its large size, texture and special taste. The evaluation of total carbohydrates, total lipids and soluble proteins in the epicarp, mesocarp and seed of the fruit at taste maturity was made from spectrophotometer measurements. The overall analysis of the results of the present study shows that total carbohydrates, total lipids and proteins accumulate more in the seed with respectively 251.33 ± 1.15 mg/g DM;9.92 ± 0.201 mg/g DM and 55.075 ± 0.024 mg/g DM. Likewise, the results indicate low concentrations of total carbohydrates and total lipids in the epicarp with respectively 245 ± 1 mg/g DM and 4.77 ± 0.047 mg/g DM, on the other hand, it is the mesocarp which presents the lowest content of soluble proteins: 28.075 ± 3.231 mg/g DM. This variation could be linked to the nature of the compartment, more particularly to the storage location. This comparative study could lead to the valorization of the seed of the fruit of Dacryodes edulis for its richness in metabolites and arouse significant interest in nutrition.

Generalized Quantum Measurement in Spin-Correlated Hyperon-Antihyperon Decays

The rapid developments of quantum information science(QIS)have opened up new avenues for exploring fundamental physics.Quantum nonlocality,a key aspect for distinguishing quantum information from classical one,has undergone extensive examinations in particles’decays through the violation of Bell-type inequalities.Despite these advancements,a comprehensive framework based on quantum information theory for particle interaction is still lacking.Trying to close this gap,we introduce a generalized quantum measurement description for decay processes of spin-1/2 hyperons.We validate this approach by aligning it with established theoretical calculations and apply it to the joint decay of ΛΛ pairs.We employ quantum simulation to observe the violation of Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt inequalities in η_(c)/χ_(c0)→ΛΛˉprocesses.Our generalized measurement description is adaptable and can be extended to a variety of high energy processes,including decays of vector mesons,J/ψ,ψ(2S)→ΛΛ,in the Beijing Spectrometer Ⅲ(BESⅢ)experiment at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider(BEPC).The methodology developed in this study can be applied to quantum correlation and information processing in fundamental interactions.

Genome wide association analysis identifies candidate genes for fruit quality and yield in Actinidia eriantha

Quality and yield are the primary concerns in kiwifruit breeding,but research on the genetic mechanisms of fruit size,shape,and ascorbic acid(ASA)content is currently very limited,which restricts the development of kiwifruit molecular breeding.In this study,we obtained a total of 8.88 million highly reliable single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)markers from 140 individuals from the natural hybrid offspring of Actinidia eriantha cv.‘White’using whole genome resequencing technology.A genome-wide association study was conducted on eight key agronomic traits,including single fruit weight,fruit shape,ASA content,and the number of inflorescences per branch.A total of 59 genetic loci containing potential functional genes were located,and candidate genes related to single fruit weight,fruit length,ASA content,number of inflorescences per branch and other traits were identified within the candidate interval,such as AeWUSCHEL,AeCDK1(cell cycle dependent kinase),AeAO1(ascorbic oxidase)and AeCO1(CONSTANS-like 4).After constructing an RNAi vector for AeAO1 and injecting it into the fruit of cv.‘Midao 31’to interfere with the expression of the AeAO1 gene,the results showed that the activity of ascorbic oxidase in the fruit of‘Midao 31’significantly decreased,while the content of ASA significantly increased.This study provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of variation in A.eriantha fruit traits,which may benefit molecular marker-assisted breeding efforts.

Detection of Adenovirus in Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, Wastewater and Manure from Irrigated Farms in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Enteric viral pathogens are responsible for numerous epidemics associated with the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetable, whether raw or minimally processed. The aim of the present study was to assess agricultural practices and the presence of adenovirus (AdV) in fruits and vegetables, manure and irrigation wastewater sampled in the urban and peri-urban perimeters of Ouagadougou. A total of 286 samples including 30 lettuces, 42 tomatoes, 30 carrots, 30 strawberries, 74 manures and 80 wastewater samples were collected from four market garden sites in and around Ouagadougou. Nested PCR was performed with specific primers to detect adenoviruses (AdVs). A face-to-face survey was carried out using a questionnaire on market garden production practices. Overall, adenoviruses prevalence was 5.9% [IC95, 3.2% - 8.7%] in all samples analyzed. It was specifically 7.14% (3/42) from tomatoes, 6.7% (2/30) from lettuces, 20% (6/30) on strawberries and 7.5% (6/80) in irrigation water. The survey showed that irrigation water came from untreated sources (dam, well, canal) and then 52% of farms used untreated manure. No farms have implemented measures to limit access by domestic and wild animals. This work shows the presence of human adenoviruses in surface irrigation water and fresh produce, which is of concern when fresh produce is consumed raw. To reduce the public health risks associated with consuming these foods, it is essential to follow good hygiene and cultivation practices.

Genome-wide identification of the CONSTANS-LIKE(COL)family and mechanism of fruit senescence regulation by PpCOL8 in sand pear(Pyrus pyrifolia)

Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai‘Whangkeumbae'is a sand pear fruit with excellent nutritional quality and taste.However,the industrial development of pear fruit is significantly limited by its short shelf life.Salicylic acid(SA),a well-known phytohormone,can delay fruit senescence and improve shelf life.However,the mechanism by which SA regulates CONSTANS-LIKE genes(COLs)during fruit senescence and the role of COL genes in mediating fruit senescence in sand pear are poorly understood.In this study,22 COL genes were identified in sand pear,including four COLs(Pp COL8,Pp COL9a,Pp COL9b,and Pp COL14)identified via transcriptome analysis and 18 COLs through genome-wide analysis.These COL genes were divided into three subgroups according to the structural domains of the COL protein.Pp COL8,with two B-box motifs and one CCT domain,belonged to the first subgroup.In contrast,the other three Pp COLs,Pp COL9a,Pp COL9b,and Pp COL14,with similar conserved protein domains and gene structures,were assigned to the third subgroup.The four COLs showed different expression patterns in pear tissues and were preferentially expressed at the early stage of fruit development.Moreover,the expression of Pp COL8 was inhibited by exogenous SA treatment,while SA up-regulated the expression of Pp COL9a and Pp COL9b.Interestingly,Pp COL8 interacts with Pp MADS,a MADS-box protein preferentially expressed in fruit,and SA up-regulated its expression.While the production of ethylene and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)were increased in Pp COL8-overexpression sand pear fruit,the antioxidant enzyme(POD and SOD)activity and the expression of Pp POD1 and Pp SOD1 in the sand pear fruits were down-regulated,which showed that Pp COL8 promoted sand pear fruit senescence.In contrast,the corresponding changes were the opposite in Pp MADS-overexpression sand pear fruits,suggesting that Pp MADS delayed sand pear fruit senescence.The co-transformation of Pp COL8 and Pp MADS also delayed sand pear fruit senescence.The results of this study revealed that Pp COL8 can play a key role in pear fruit senescence by interacting with Pp MADS through the SA signaling pathway.

Pear genomes display significant genetic diversity and provide novel insights into the fruit quality traits differentiation

The pear(Pyrus spp.)is well known for diverse flavors,textures,and global horticultural importance.However,the genetic diversity responsible for its extensive phenotypic variations remains largely unexplored.Here,we de novo assembled and annotated the genomes of the maternal(PsbM)and paternal(PsbF)lines of the hybrid‘Yuluxiang'pear and constructed the pear pangenome of 1.15 Gb by combining these two genomes with five previously published pear genomes representing cultivated and wild germplasm.Using the constructed pangenome,we identified 21224 gene PAVs(Presence-absence variation)and 1158812 SNPs(Single Nucleotide Polymorphism)in the non-reference genome that were absent in the PsbM reference genome.Compared with SNP markers,PAV-based analysis provides additional insights into the pear population structure.In addition,some genes associated with pear fruit quality traits have differential occurrence frequencies and differential gene expression between Asian and European populations.Moreover,our analysis of the pear pangenome revealed a mutated SNP and an insertion in the promoter region of the gene PsbMGH3.1 potentially enhance sepal shedding in‘Xuehuali'which is vital for pear quality.PsbMGH3.1 may play a role in the IAA pathway,contributing to a distinct low-auxin phenotype observed in plants by heterologously overexpressing this gene.This research helps capture the genetic diversity of pear populations and provides genomic resources for accelerating breeding.

Enzymatic Characterization of Pectinex XXL,a Pectinase Produced by Aspergillus niger,and Its Application in Fruit Juice Production

Pectinex XXL,a commercially prepared pectinase,was investigated for its potential application in the fruit juice industry.Polygalacturonic acid was used as the substrate for determining the enzymatic properties of Pectinex XXL using the DNS method.According to the results,the optimal pH for Pectinex XXL activity was 4.5,and the enzyme was stable in the pH range of 3.0~4.5.The optimal pH and pH stability range are consistent with those of some tropical and subtropical fruits.The optimal temperature for Pectinex XXL activity was 60℃,and the enzyme remained stable after one hour in a water bath set at 40℃.Additionally,the enzymatic activity was not inhibited in the presence of 1 mmol/L of Na^(+),Mg^(2+),Ba^(2+),Co^(2+),Zn^(2+),and Fe^(2+),whereas it was slightly inhibited in the presence of 2 mmol/L of K^(+)and Fe^(2+)and partially inhibited in the presence of 1 and 2 mmol/L of Ca^(2+)and Mn^(2+),demonstrating its good stability in acids and excellent thermal catalytic performance.Based on the above experimental results,depectinization experiments were performed on plantain and cherry tomato juices using different amounts of Pectinex XXL.After one hour reaction with 16 U/mL of the enzyme,the yields of the plantain and cherry tomato juices were substantially increased by 119.03%and 15.97%,respectively,while their light transmittance was remarkably enhanced by 37.65%and 12.35%,respectively.Furthermore,the enzyme reduced the viscosity of the plantain and cherry tomato juices by 88.29%and 29.50%,respectively.The juice production experiments confirmed that this enzyme can significantly improve the yield and light transmittance of plantain juice,while effectively reducing its viscosity.These findings indicate the potential of Pectinex XXL in the industrial production of plantain juice.

Transcriptome and metabolome analysis of preharvest internal browning in Nane plum fruit caused by high temperature

The preharvest internal browning of Nane plum fruit,with no visible effects on the appearance of the fruit,has become a serious problem in recent years in its production area in Guangdong Province,China.This study investigated the effects of environmental factors,including temperature,on Nane plum internal browning.Plum orchards at different elevations with different incidences of internal browning were selected.Using fruits with different internal browning incidence levels,the internal browning mechanism was analyzed with transcriptome and metabolome analyses.The results revealed decreased internal browning at high altitudes.Shading treatment significantly reduced internal browning,whereas bagging and insect-proof net-covering treatments significantly increased internal browning.Because bagging and net coverings increase the local ambient temperature,the findings suggest that high temperature is an important factor influencing the internal browning of Nane plum.The metabolome experiments showed that with increased internal browning,the levels of phenolic hydroxyls such as catechol increased,with simultaneous increases in hydrogen peroxide content and oxidase activity.It can be speculated that the oxidation of phenolic hydroxyl substances is the main cause of the preharvest browning of Nane plum.Transcriptome analysis revealed the increased expression of calcium signaling-related and downstream effector genes and indicated an important role of calcium in internal browning,possibly due to its increased content in the fruit.Further,with increasingly serious internal browning,genes related to photosynthesis were down-regulated,while genes related to senescence were up-regulated,thus suggesting the up-regulation of the process of cell senescence during internal browning.In conclusion,heat stress should be eliminated to reduce preharvest internal browning in Nane plum.

MINIMIZERS OF L^(2)-SUBCRITICAL VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SPATIALLY DECAYING NONLINEARITIES IN BOUNDED DOMAINS

This paper is concerned with the minimizers of L^(2)-subcritical constraint variar tional problems with spatially decaying nonlinearities in a bounded domain Ω of R~N(N≥1).We prove that the problem admits minimizers for any M> 0.Moreover,the limiting behavior of minimizers as M→∞ is also analyzed rigorously.