Growth simulation and yield prediction for perennial jujube fruit tree by integrating age into the WOFOST model

Mathematical models have been widely employed for the simulation of growth dynamics of annual crops,thereby performing yield prediction,but not for fruit tree species such as jujube tree(Zizyphus jujuba).The objectives of this study were to investigate the potential use of a modified WOFOST model for predicting jujube yield by introducing tree age as a key parameter.The model was established using data collected from dedicated field experiments performed in 2016-2018.Simulated growth dynamics of dry weights of leaves,stems,fruits,total biomass and leaf area index(LAI) agreed well with measured values,showing root mean square error(RMSE) values of 0.143,0.333,0.366,0.624 t ha^-1 and 0.19,and R2 values of 0.947,0.976,0.985,0.986 and 0.95,respectively.Simulated phenological development stages for emergence,anthesis and maturity were 2,3 and 3 days earlier than the observed values,respectively.In addition,in order to predict the yields of trees with different ages,the weight of new organs(initial buds and roots) in each growing season was introduced as the initial total dry weight(TDWI),which was calculated as averaged,fitted and optimized values of trees with the same age.The results showed the evolution of the simulated LAI and yields profiled in response to the changes in TDWI.The modelling performance was significantly improved when it considered TDWI integrated with tree age,showing good global(R2≥0.856,RMSE≤0.68 t ha^-1) and local accuracies(mean R2≥0.43,RMSE≤0.70 t ha^-1).Furthermore,the optimized TDWI exhibited the highest precision,with globally validated R2 of 0.891 and RMSE of 0.591 t ha^-1,and local mean R2 of 0.57 and RMSE of 0.66 t ha^-1,respectively.The proposed model was not only verified with the confidence to accurately predict yields of jujube,but it can also provide a fundamental strategy for simulating the growth of other fruit trees.

Overview of Relation between Mineral Nutrient Elements and Growth and Development of Fruit Trees

Mineral nutrition is the material basis for growth and development,yield and quality of fruit trees. It exerts a great effect on the growth and development,fruit quality,yield,and resistance of fruit trees. On the basis of reading a large number of references both at home and abroad,this paper elaborated the relationship between mineral nutrient elements and growth and fruit yield and quality of fruit trees,so as to make proper fertilizer mixing,balance the fertilizer application,promote growth and development of fruit trees,and increase the yield of fruit trees and improve the fruit quality.

Molecular Phylogeny of the “True Citrus Fruit Trees” Group (Aurantioideae, Rutaceae) as Inferred from Chloroplast DNA Sequence

The genus Citrus L. has a long controversial taxonomy history, and a well-resolved molecular phylogeny of the ＂true citrus fruit trees＂ group in the future will provide new information for advancing breeding techniques and developing better conservation strategies. In the present study, three cpDNA fragments （TrnL-TrnF, PsbH-PetB, and TrnS-TrnG） of 30 genotypes chosen from the six genera of the ＂true citrus fruit trees＂ group were analyzed. A molecular phylogenetic tree of the ＂true citrus fruit trees＂ group ＂~as reconstructed based on plastid DNA sequences. The results confirmed that the ＂true citrus fruit trees＂ group was monophyletic, and thereby the group was divided into genera as previously suggested based on morphological characters. The cpDNA data also suggested that Poncirus might be the first genus separated from the other five genera in the group. The genus Fortunella were of hybrid origin and Citrus might be as its putative paternal parent. The genera Microcitrus, Eremocitrus, and Clymenia were possibly monophyletic and their common ancestor might branch out from Citrus. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships within the Citrus genus were discussed.

Review of Research on Nutritional Physiological Mechanism and Nutritional Diagnosis of Magnesium in Fruit Trees

Magnesium is an essential nutrient element for the growth and development of fruit trees.It not only participates in photosynthesis of plants,but also promotes physiological and biochemical reactions such as carbohydrate and protein synthesis,enzyme activation,and reactive oxygen species(ROS)metabolism.Magnesium deficiency in fruit trees will directly influence the growth and development of trees and the improvement of fruit quality.This study mainly reviews the nutritional and physiological mechanism of magnesium in plants and the nutritional diagnosis of magnesium deficiency in fruit trees,in order to provide a theoretical basis for further research on magnesium nutrition in fruit trees,and accordingly provide a certain reference for the application of magnesium fertilizer.

Control effect of boring pests on fruit trees by high-pressure injection of pesticides

This research is to control the pests inside fruits and buds by injecting pesticides into the tree with the high-pressure injector. The soluable pesticides injected into the trunk can transported insides to every part of the tree to kill pests. The change of pesticides inside the tree was observed. The result showed that injecting pesticides once a year could kill above 80% of the pests which happened once annually. The effect of injection lasts longer than that of applying the pesticide outside. The pesticides injected into the tree are not affected by environment and do not kill natural enemies directly,and the residual amount of pesticides is below the international standard level.

Second Bloom of Fruit Trees and Preventive Measures

Second bloom of fruit trees refers to the flowering and fruit-bearing of fruit trees after autumn harvest, which seriously influences the yield and economic benefits of fruit trees. By analyzing the causes of second bloom, remedies are given to make scientific preventive measures and realize high-quality and high-yield cultivation of fruit trees.

Indigenous Fruit Trees of Tropical Africa: Status, Opportunity for Development and Biodiversity Management

Tropical fruit trees constitute important biological resources in the global agrobiodiversity context. Unlike the tropical fruit trees of American and Asian origin, indigenous fruit trees (IFT) of tropical Africa have scarcely achieved the status of international recognition in commodity markets and research arena outside Africa. This paper presented a critical review of the status of IFT in the Tropical African sub-regions (of West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands) in relation to the introduced naturalised fruit trees from tropical America and Asia, threats to the diversity and sustainable use of IFT, analysis of the opportunities and challenges of developing IFT, as well as targets for crop improvement of the rich IFT of Tropical Africa. Domestication programme via relevant vegetative propagation techniques for priority IFT of the sub-regions was examined and advocated, in addition to the adoption of complementary conservation strategies, including Field GeneBanks in the management of the continent’s IFT diversity.

Managing irrigation of fruit trees using plant water status

Optimum growth and production of fruit crops is strongly linked to managing irrigation water. Various method of estimating tree water requirements have been utilized such as direct and indirect soil, water, and climatic measurements. Due to differences in fruit tree anatomical and morphological structures and their adaptation to excess and deficit soil water content, such estimates of irrigation water requirements may be more suitable for herbaceous plants but not as accurate for trees. Studies on temperate and tropical fruit trees, using apple (Malus domestica) and star-fruit (Averrhoa carambola), respectively, showed that tree water potential is highly correlated to soil water status. Irrigation based on climate data (ET) and monitoring of soil water resulted in no significant differences in soil or tree water status of orchard-grown fruit trees under temperate and subtropical climatic conditions. The results indicated the need for better understanding and utilization of tree physiological parameters for management of irrigation water of fruit crops. This will ultimately lead to achieving optimum yield and fruit quality while conserving water resources.

Advances in Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms of Fruit Trees under Low Temperature Stress

The most recent research findings on the tolerance of fruit trees to cold stress are reviewed from a molecular perspective,including the perception and transduction of low temperature calcium signaling,CBF-dependent molecular regulatory mechanisms,non-CBF-dependent molecular regulatory mechanisms,and so forth.The objective is to provide a reference basis for further improving the cold resistance of fruit trees and cultivating new varieties of hardy plants.

Bioassay and Identification of Root Exudates of Three Fruit Tree Species

A laboratory bioassay was designed to determine the aileiopathic potential of root exudates of three fruit tree species on apple germination. The results showed that root exudates of apple （Malus pumila L.） and peach （Prunus persica L.）, each at concentrations of 0.02 and 0.2 mg/L, inhibited germination and radicle growth of apple seeds by 56.7%, 60.7%, 51.5%, and 59.3%, respectively. The corresponding shoot growth inhibition rate was 49.5%, 46.7%, 36. 4%, and 44%, respectively. Root exudates of jujube （Ziziphus jujuba Mill.） had no significant effect on apple seeds. Qualitative determination of root exudates of apple, peach, and jujube tree was developed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The root exudates of apple seedlings mainly contain organic acids, glycol, esters, and benzenphenol derivatives. Peach root exudates contained phenolic acids and benzenphenoi derivatives in addition to two unidentified compounds. The root exudates of jujube did not contain any phenolic acids.

A novel method for extracting skeleton of fruit treefrom 3D point clouds

Tree skeleton could be useful to agronomy researchers because the skeleton describes the shape and topological structure of a tree.The phenomenon of organs’mutual occlusion in fruit tree canopy is usually very serious,this should result in a large amount of data missing in directed laser scanning 3D point clouds from a fruit tree.However,traditional approaches can be ineffective and problematic in extracting the tree skeleton correctly when the tree point clouds contain occlusions and missing points.To overcome this limitation,we present a method for accurate and fast extracting the skeleton of fruit tree from laser scanner measured 3D point clouds.The proposed method selects the start point and endpoint of a branch from the point clouds by user’s manual interaction,then a backward searching is used to find a path from the 3D point cloud with a radius parameter as a restriction.The experimental results in several kinds of fruit trees demonstrate that our method can extract the skeleton of a leafy fruit tree with highly accuracy.

Effects of Different Density-reducing Methods on Canopy Microenvironment, Tree Growth and Fruit Quality in Closed Apple Orchard

In order to optimize and transform closed mature apple orchards with standard rootstocks and improve the quality of fruit,taking a closed Red Fuji apple orchard as the test object,the effects of different density-reducing methods(deinterlacing,removing every other plant in each row,removing every other plant every other row)on the canopy microenvironment,tree structure,leaf photosynthesis and fruit quality were studied.The results showed that different density-reducing methods significantly reduced the orchard coverage and increased the crown transmittance.Among them,the deinterlacing treatment was the best in improving the population structure of the closed orchard,as it reduced the orchard coverage rate by 55.68 percentage points and the canopy transmittance by 82.38 percentage points,compared with the control(CK).Different density-reducing methods all could significantly reduce the branch amount in the closed orchard and optimized the branch composition.The three density-reducing methods decreased the number of branches per plant by 18.96%,12.41%and 19.58%,respectively,compared with the CK.And compared with the CK,the proportion of short branches and leafy branches to the total branches was increased by 17.13%,14.27%and 7.37%,respectively,and the proportion of long branches and developmental branches to the total branches was decreased by 24.47%,18.04%and 10.79%,respectively.The effects of the different density-reducing methods on the temperature,relative light intensity,SPAD and leaf photosynthetic rate in canopies all followed an order of deinterlacing>removing every other plant in each row>removing every other plant every other row>CK,while those on the relative humidity showed an order of deinterlacing>removing every other plant in each row>removing every other plant every other row>CK,while those on the relative humidity showed an order of deinterlacing<removing every other plant in each row<removing every other plant every other row<CK.The average single fruit weight(238.3 g),coloring index(89.2),smoothness index(83.2),soluble solid content(15.1%)and high quality fruit rate(82.4%)of the deinterlacing treatment were higher than those of other treatments,and the values were 18.2%,11.4%,5.85%,26.9%and 25.2%higher than the CK,respectively.The use of dein￣terlacing to reduce density is the best for improving the microenvironment of closed apple orchards and improving the photosynthetic efficiency and fruit quality.

平邑甜茶高位嫁接丽嘎拉苹果树冠层内枝类结构和果实品质、产量的分布

【目的】掌握以平邑甜茶为砧木,采用高位嫁接方式的丽嘎拉苹果树冠层内枝类结构、果实产量和品质的分布特点,为辽宁寒地苹果园建设中应用该种栽培模式,提升果品质量、优化栽培措施提供参考。【方法】以丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶、丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)和丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(低接)苹果树为试材,按照冠层分格的方法,将试验树从地面到顶部分成4个冠层,比较不同冠层高度内枝类结构、果实产量和品质的分布差异。【结果】丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)苹果树高、冠径、覆盖率生长速度高于丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶,丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)树体外观表现为“小脚”现象,而丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶表现为“大脚”现象。丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)苹果树枝量、短枝比例高于丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(低接)和丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶。丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)、丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(低接)和丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶枝量分布集中区域为冠层高度>2.00~3.00 m、>3.00 m和>1.00~2.00 m,占全树枝量比例的43.51%、45.37%和47.96%。相同冠层高度内,丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)果实单果质量、果形指数、硬度、可滴定酸含量、色差L和a值高于丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶。随着冠层高度的增加,丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)、丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(低接)和丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶果实硬度、可滴定酸含量呈现下降趋势,而固酸比和色差值(L、a、b)呈现上升趋势。丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(高接)和丽嘎拉/平邑甜茶(低接)果实产量主要分布在冠层高度>2.00 m的空间区域,占全树产量的69.79%和75.55%,而丽嘎拉/GM256/平邑甜茶为>1.00~3.00 m,占比全树产量的74.59%。【结论】以平邑甜茶为砧木,采用高位嫁接的丽嘎拉苹果树枝条数量多、短枝比例高、外观色泽好,树体枝量和果实产量分布集中区域为冠层高度>2.00~3.00 m,该冠层生产的苹果单果质量大、果形指数适中、可溶性固形物含量高。

光谱技术在果树叶片营养诊断上的应用研究进展

光谱技术具有分析速度快、操作简单、多元素同时监测、不需要消耗化学药品、自动化程度较高等特点,其可以实现作物单株和大样本的营养诊断和分析。综述了光谱技术在果树叶片大量元素(N、P、K)、中微量元素(Ca、Mg、Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn)营养诊断上的应用研究进展,并讨论了该领域今后进一步的研究方向。

新型灌溉技术在果树中应用的研究进展

果树是我国农业中重要的支柱产业,而我国水资源匮乏是影响果树生产的瓶颈问题。近年,研究学者根据果树的需水特性、生长发育规律、栽培环境条件等因素,研制多种新型节水灌溉技术,并得到较好的试验印证效果,该文将国内外有关新型灌溉技术在果树中的研究进行综合阐述,并对今后新型灌溉技术进行展望,以期将新型灌溉技术更好地服务于果树生产、提高果园管理水平提供借鉴。

免套袋栽培富士苹果果实品质与树体结构相关性分析

为明确免套袋栽培富士苹果果实品质与树体结构、枝类组成比例的相关性,以山东省31个果园的“富士”苹果为试材,研究外观品质、内在品质与树高、干径、冠径、枝类组成比例等参数的相关性。结果表明,单果重、果形指数与树高呈显著负相关,代表红色的a值与树高呈极显著负相关,与冠幅和树冠体积呈显著正相关,着色指数与树高呈显著负相关,与冠幅呈显著正相关,光洁度指数与冠幅呈显著正相关,和树冠体积呈极显著正相关;内在品质硬度、可溶性固形物、可溶性糖、V C及钙含量与树体结构无显著相关性,可滴定酸含量与冠幅、树冠体积呈极显著负相关,花青素含量与干高呈极显著负相关。代表黄色的b值与枝长呈显著负相关,与叶丛枝比例呈显著正相关;可溶性固形物含量与枝长呈极显著负相关,与叶丛枝比例呈极显著正相关,与长枝比例呈显著负相关,可滴定酸含量与枝长呈显著负相关,与叶丛枝比例呈显著正相关,V C含量与主枝数呈显著正相关,与枝长呈极显著负相关,花青素含量与枝条数呈显著正相关。分析认为,初盛果期(<12 a生)富士果园,树高、干高、冠幅等树体结构指标对果实外观品质的影响大于对内在品质的影响,而枝类组成比例对内在品质的影响大于对外观品质的影响。

留树贮藏对椪柑果实品质和呼吸强度的影响

【目的】探明椪柑留树贮藏果实的品质变化特征,为延长椪柑鲜果供应期提供理论依据。【方法】以留树贮藏椪柑果实为研究对象,以室温贮藏果实为对照,利用液相色谱技术、气相色谱和色度计等果实品质检测方法,研究留树贮藏方式对椪柑果实可溶性固形物、果皮色泽、总糖、有机酸和异味等品质和呼吸强度的影响。【结果】椪柑果实留树贮藏40~80 d可溶性固形物含量高于对照,其中60和70 d时分别显著高于对照14.06%和17.28%;总糖在20、40、50和70 d分别比对照低23.31%、6.24%、17.65%和18.82%;留树贮藏10~80 d时柠檬酸含量分别是对照的1.26~1.92倍;红色饱和度a^(*)值降低(30~80 d)2.13~5.03,果皮颜色偏黄,呈橘黄色;除贮藏40 d外,留树贮藏呼吸强度均较对照高1.16%~127.54%;贮藏80 d时异味的代表性物质乙醇含量达峰值(293.28μg/g),室温贮藏是留树贮藏的3.29倍。【结论】生产中建议留树贮藏最佳时间在1月中下旬至2月初春节前后,留树贮藏椪柑果实能够保持色泽橘红,固酸比适宜,风味浓郁,效益好。

基于可视化的果树移栽机作业特性研究

针对我国自动果树移栽机移栽准确率和效率较低的问题,基于可视化技术对果树移栽机的作业特性进行研究。果树移栽机的主要组成包括控制系统、机器视觉和传感器系统、旋耕装置、开沟部件、覆土装置、移栽装置和传输系统。为了实现果树移栽机的自动化运行,保证移栽质量,针对移栽机械手的结构进行了优化,使其能够适应不同的幼苗,并对其作业特性进行研究。同时,对移栽作业的图像处理过程进行了优化,使其能够有效识别坏苗并剔除。为了验证该果树移栽机的性能,进行了坏苗识别试验和树苗移栽试验,结果表明:果树移栽机可以有效识别坏苗,并高质量地完成树苗移栽。

Improved observation of colonized roots reveals the regulation of arbuscule development and senescence by drought stress in the arbuscular mycorrhizae of citrus

Citrus is the typical mycorrhizal fruit tree species establishing symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, arbuscule development and senescence in colonized citrus roots, especially in response to drought stress, remain unclear, which is mainly due to the difficulty in clearing and staining lignified roots with the conventional method. Here, we improved the observation of colonized roots of citrus plants with the sectioning method, which enabled the clear observation of AM fungal structures. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of one week of drought stress on arbuscule development and senescence with the sectioning method. Microscopy observations indicated that drought stress significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonization (F%and M%) although it did not affect plant growth performance. Fluorescence probes (WGA 488 and/or Nile red) revealed that drought stress inhibited arbuscule development by increasing the percentage of arbuscules at the early stage and decreasing the percentages of arbuscules at the midterm and mature stages. Meanwhile, drought stress accelerated arbuscule senescence, which was characterized by the increased accumulation of neutral lipids. Overall, the sectioning method developed in this study enables the in-depth investigation of arbuscule status, and drought stress can inhibit arbuscule development but accelerate arbuscule senescence in the colonized roots of citrus plants. This study paves the way to elaborately dissecting the arbuscule dynamics in the roots of fruit tree species in response to diverse abiotic stresses.