Isolation and Identification of Anthracnose Pathogen from Fruit of Red Fuji Apple

The fruits of Red Fuji apple with anthracnose symptoms were collected and submitted to tissue isolation and culture. One strain of anthracnose pathogen （numbered as Acgl） was obtained, and it was identified by both morphological and molecular biological methods. According to the morphological characteristics of the colony and conidia and the results of rDNA-ITS sequence analysis, the Acgl strain was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Analysis on Fuji Apple Tree Structures and Related Factors under Different Pruning Modes

To determine the correlations between the tree structuresof Fuji apple with different pruning modes and each factor, the data about 3 tree structures which were free spindle short shoot, free spindle long shoot and slenderspindle short shoot in Xingtang County of Hebai Province were investigated, then by SPSS anal- ysis, the correlations between the taperingness and each growth factor of inserted small branch were compared. The results showed that the taperingness of central trunk of free spindle dwarf-shoot Fuji apple treeshad negative correlations with each factor of inserted small branch, while the taperingness of central trunk of free spin- dle long-shoot Fuji apple treeshad positive correlations with each factor of inserted small branch, the taperingness of central trunk of slenderspindle short-shootFuji ap- ple treeshad negative correlation with total thickness of inserted small branch, but had positive correlations with other factors. This study can provide a scientifictheo- retical basis for the pruning technology of high-density planting trees grafting by dwarfing self-rooted rootstock.

Multivariate analysis between meteorological factor and fruit quality of Fuji apple at different locations in China

China has the largest apple planting area and total yield in the world, and the Fuji apple is the major cultivar, accounting for more than 70％ of apple planting acreage in China. Apple qualities are affected by meteorological conditions, soil types, nutrient content of soil, and management practices. Meteorological factors, such as light, temperature and moisture are key environmental conditions affecting apple quality that are difficult to regulate and control. This study was performed to determine the effect of meteorological factors on the qualities of Fuji apple and to provide evidence for a reasonable regional layout and planting of Fuji apple in China. Fruit samples of Fuji apple and meteorological data were investigated from 153 commercial Fuji apple orchards located in 51 counties of 11 regions in China from 2010 to 2011. Partial least-squares regression and linear programming were used to analyze the effect model and impact weight of meteorological factors on fruit quality, to determine the major meteorological factors influencing fruit quality attributes, and to establish a regression equation to optimize meteorological factors for high-quality Fuji apples. Results showed relationships between fruit quality attributes and meteorological factors among the various apple producing counties in China. The mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures from April to October had the highest positive effects on fruit qualities in model effect loadings and weights, followed by the mean annual temperature and the sunshine percentage, the temperature difference between day and night, and the total precipitation for the same period. In contrast, annual total precipitation and relative humidity from April to October had negative effects on fruit quality. The meteorological factors exhibited distinct effects on the different fruit quality attributes. Soluble solid content was affected from the high to the low row preface by annual total precipitation, the minimum temperature from April to October, the mean temperature from April to October, the temperature difference between day and night, and the mean annual temperature. The regression equation showed that the optimum meteorological factors on fruit quality were the mean annual temperature of 5.5-18°C and the annual total precipitation of 602-1121 mm for the whole year, and the mean temperature of 13.3-19.6°C, the minimum temperature of 7.8-18.5°C, the maximum temperature of 19.5°C, the temperature difference of 13.7°C between day and night, the total precipitation of 227 mm, the relative humidity of 57.5-84.0％, and the sunshine percentage of 36.5-70.0％ during the growing period （from April to October）.

Measurement of sugar content in Fuji apples by FT-NIR spectroscopy

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.

Analysis of Aroma Volatile Compounds in Fuji Apple Using SPME with Different Fiber Coatings

The aroma volatile compounds in Fuji apple were isolated by solid-phase microextraction( SPME),and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry( GC-MS). The results showed that the optimal retention time of the heating up of capillary columns was 5 min. Of the seven fibers used in this work,DVB/CAR/PDMS was found to be the most suitable to extract the aroma volatile compounds in Fuji apple. A total number of 43 volatile compounds were identified according to their retention time on capillary columns and their mass spectra,including eleven esters,ten alcohols,ten aldehydes,seven alkenes,two anhydrides,one ketone,one phenol and one ether. This detection method will provide a new foundation for analysis of volatile compounds in apple were identified.

Effect of Metaxenia on Sugars and Organic Acids and Taste Quality of Bagged Fuji Apple Fruits

In order to provide reference for the selection of appropriate pollination varieties facilitating the improvement of the flavor quality of bagged Fuji apple, the metaxenia effects of 5 pollination varieties on sugars, organic acids and flavor quality of bagged Fuji fruit were studied. The results showed that the 5 pollination varieties had significant metaxenia effects on sugars, organic acids and flavor quality of bagged Fuji fruit. For the sugar components, the fruits pollinated with Golden Delicious and Jinxiuhaitang showed higher glucose contents, and the fruit pollinated with Gala had the highest sucrose content; the fruits pollinated by Gala, Golden Delicious and Ruby exhibited higher malic acids, and the oxalic acid content and the succinic acid content were higher in the fruits pollinated with Jinxiuhaitang and Ruby ; and the fruit pollinated with Gala had the highest total sugar content, and the total acid content was higher in the fruits pollinated by Jinxiuhaitang and Ruby. The sugar-acid ratio was higher in the fruits pollinated with Gala and Golden Delicious, and the lowest in the fruit pollinated with Ruby. The senso- ry evaluation of fruits showed that the fruit pollinated with Ruby tasted sour-sweet, while the fruits pollinated with other 4 pollination varieties were sour and sweet moderately.

Detection of Chlorpyrifos Residues in Akesu Red Fuji Apple based on Near Infrared Spectrum

[Objective] The paper was to explore a method for detecting chlorpyrifos residues in red Fuji apple. [Method] The original spectral data of apple samples sprayed with different volume fractions of chlorpyrifos were collected using near infrared spectrometer at the band of 4 000-10 000 cm^（-1）. The original spectra were pre-treated by a variety of methods, and partial least squares（PLS） model was established for predictive analysis. [Result] Near infrared spectrum showed sensitivity to apple samples sprayed with different volume fractions of chlorpyrifos, but had low precision on pesticide-free samples. Data of blank control group were further eliminated for modeling prediction. The results showed that the results were the best when pre-treated with first derivative（FD）： R=0.987 9; the square error of prediction（SEP） was 0.173 6; the root-mean-square error of cross-validation（RMSECV） was 0.120 5; and the precision was 0.923 4. [Conclusion] Near infrared spectrum can better predict chlorpyrifos residue, providing a new method for detecting chlorpyrifos residues in Akesu red Fuji apple.

Effect of Metaxenia on Volatile Compounds in Bagged Apple Fruit of Fuji

In the present study, the effect of pollen grain sources on volatile com- pounds in bagged apple fruit of Yan Fuji 3, grown at two experiment sites and pol- linated by pollens of other five cultivars was evaluated, to select appropriate poll- enizer cultivars for Fuji, and to provide a theoretical basis for improving the flavor and aroma of bagged apple fruit of Fuji. The results proved the significant metaxe- nia effect of the five pollenizer cultivars on volatile compounds of bagged apple fruit of Fuji. The numbers of both volatile compounds and characteristic aroma com- pounds in bagged apple fruit pollinated by Golden Delicious were larger and those of the fruit pollinated by Gala were smaller at both experiment sites. However, there were differences in the numbers of volatile compounds and characteristic aroma compounds among the fruits pollinated by Starkrimson, Jinxiuhaitang and Ruby at both experimental sites. The differences were caused by 12 compounds that only existed at a low level in certain samples. All of them were not the aroma contribu- tors except ethyl 2-methylbutyrate. The content of alcohols in bagged Fuji fruit was largely increased by Starkrimson and Ruby pollination; the content of aldehydes was obviously increased by Golden Delicious, Starkrimson and Gala pollination; the con- tents of esters and terpenes were significantly increased by Golden Delicious, Starkrimson and Ruby pollination. Jinxiuhaitang pollination showed no significant ef- fects for improving the content of four categories of volatile compounds. The metax- enia of the pollenizer cultivars on volatile compounds in bagged Fuji fruit was stable at the two experimental sites.

Correlation Analysis between Quality Characteristics and Fruit Mineral Element Contents in 'Fuji' Apples

[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.

Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene treatment on the quality of red‘Fuji’apples fruit during short-term storage

Objectives:The aim of this study is to determine the mechanism through which 1-methylcyclopropene(1-MCP)affects the quality of red'Fuji'apples,which were stored for a short duration.Materials and Methods:Red‘Fuji’apples were treated with 1-MCP(1.0μl/L),stored at 25℃for0,12,24,48,72,and 96 h,and ethylene pro-duction was measured.An integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis was performed on apples stored for 24 h.Results:The release of ethylene was significantly delayed from red‘Fuji’apples subjected to 1-MCP treatment.By performing an integrated transcriptome and metabolome analyses,we identified 117 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)and 44 differentially accumulated metabol-ites(DAMs).By performing functional enrichment analysis,we found that DEGs were involved in the following pathways;carbon metabolism(LPD2,gpmA,LTA2,ACC,PSAT1,MdCAS2),phytohormone signal transduction(EBF 7),amino acid metabolism(MdACS-1),fatty acid metab-olism(LOX1.5,KCS4,KAST),energy metabolism(Lhcb1,Lhcb6,PsbY,GPDHC1,PUMP5I,metabolic pathways(TRE1,HEXO1)and cell wall metabolism(CSLG2).Thus,these DEGs were involved in the ripening of fruits,and they controlled the quality of fruits at the post-harvest stage.The metabolites were enriched with DAMs.These were found to be individually involved in the metabolic pathway,secondary metabolite bio-synthesis,phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,flavonoids,and flavonol synthesis.Conclusions:The results indicate that 1-MCP inhibits the biosynthesis of ethylene and suppresses energy metabolism.Moreover,it also downregulates metabolic pathways and the enzymatic genes related to fruit quality.Therefore,1-MCP delays the ripening of fruits at the post-harvest stage.This study helps us understand how 1-MCP treatment affects the ripening and quality of fruits.

Flavonols Induced by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Are Involved in Regulation of Stomatal Opening in Apple Leaves

Flavonols, the main flavonoids in plant leaves, have newly been proposed as a H2O2 scavenger in guard cells. However, whether 5-aminolevulinic acid(5-ALA) is involved in regulating stomatal movement of apple(Malus × domestica Borkh. ‘Fuji') leaves through flavonol accumulation remains unclear. In this study, using diphenylboric acid 2-amino ethyl ester(DPBA, a flavonol fluorescent dye) and a laser scanning confocal microscope,we observed that 5-ALA pretreatment significantly improved flavonol accumulation in guard cells of apple leaves, especially around the nucleus.Then we demonstrated that 5-ALA pretreatment inhibited ABA-induced stomatal closure via decreasing reaction oxygen species(ROS) accumulation in guard cells. Pretreatment with quercetin or kaempferol, two main kinds of flavonols in plants, also inhibited ABA-induced stomatal closure by decreasing ROS content in the guard cells. Furthermore, exogenous flavonols could suppress H2O2-induced stomatal closure in apple leaves.Taken together, we conclude that ALA-induced flavonol accumulation in guard cells is involved in the inhibitory effect of ALA on ABA-induced ROS accumulation and stomatal closure in apple leaves.