Honey is a concentrated aqueous solution of sugars, especially glucose and fructose, and minor amounts of dextrin, enzymes, volatile oils, organic acids, ethers, and minerals. Honey samples vary in quality according to various factors, such as climate diversity, geographical characteristics, floral supply period, and packaging and storage conditions, which can compromise the quality of the hive's final product. The assessment of honey quality is a major concern that has gained interest internationally because honey has always been subjected to various fraudulent practices which become more sophisticated in the present day. Consumers, beekeepers, and regulatory bodies are interested to have reliable analytical tools and information to allow the detection of adulterated honey. The UV-VIS spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy techniques are two analytical methods used to analyze the honey quality nowadays, with hydroxymethylfurfural being used as a standard for testing honey's freshness. The present study was conducted to assess the quality of some floral honey samples (rapeseed, acacia, and polyfloral honey) produced in Argeș, Călărași, Giurgiu, and Teleorman counties from the south of Romania. Differences between honey botanical and geographical origins were analyzed and highlighted with One-way ANOVA (p˂0.05), followed by Duncan`s Multiple Range Test. Our results indicated that honey is a valuable source of bioactive compounds.
Fertilization is a basic condition of agriculture, as a branch of sustainable development. It is often recommended to supplement mineral nutrition with organic product administration because, through their bio-stimulating effect, it potentiates mineral nutrition. Under these conditions, between 2020 and 2022, a bifactorial study was carried out on three apple cultivars (5-7 years after planting), grown at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti-Maracineni, in a high-density orchard. The influence of five foliar and one soil fertilizers, on the background of standard mineral fertilization, over the mineral elements and chlorophyll content of the foliar apparatus for 'Red Braeburn', 'Jonagold Boerekamp', and 'Jonagold Novajo' cvs. was studied. Indicators of growth, fruiting processes, and fruit quality were also assessed. The foliar diagnosis results indicated that the level of mineral elements (N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe) was within the limits of normality established for apple leaves, except for manganese, which accumulated in slightly excess (108.8, compared to 100.0 ppm). On average, during the experiment, the fertilization variants significantly increased the foliar level of mineral elements such as K, Cu, and Fe, compared to the control. Regarding the growth-fruiting processes, the mean of the tree trunk cross-sectional area annual growth was 6.6 cm2. Given that the percentage of fruit set fluctuated around 66.9%, a fruit yield of 66.8 t/ha was obtained. On average, the percentage of fruit set increased significantly by 16.9-19.5% when CropMax (0.2%), M1 (0.5%), and M2 (0.5%) products were applied, and fruit yield by 19.3-21.2% for Poly-Feed (1%) and Fertisol (2 kg/tree). The fruit weight ranged from 72.3 to 443.2 g, with an average of 166.5 g. The average values recorded for firmness, juice pH and total soluble content were 76.4 units HPE-II- FFF Bareiss, 3.6, and 12.7°Brix respectively. All fertilization treatments significantly increased the average weight of the fruit, by 6.2-9.2%, compared to the untreated variant. The results of the study certify the favorable effect of supplementing the fertilization plans with the studied products, containing biostimulators that enhance and harmonize the physiological processes of the apple in a high-density system.
The present paper studied the influence of organic biostimulators and fertilizers, administrated in three applications between 70-75 BBCH, on growth and fruiting processes of three apple cultivars grown in five and six years high-density orchards at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing, Maracineni, Arges (southern part of Romania). During 2020-2021, the increase of the trunk cross-sectional area registered an average of 5.25 cm2 (0.02-21.19 cm2), and the fruit yield averaged 55.64 t/ha (0-166.98 t/ha). The mean values recorded for the fruit weight and pulp firmness, were 173.22 g (74.13-558.76) and 76.50 units Bareiss HPE-II-FFF (53.60-89.10), while the pH of the fruit juice and total soluble solids fluctuated around 3.55 (3.09-4.68) and 13.3 ⁰Brix (9.45-18.20). Foliar treatment with Cifamin BK (1.5 l/plant) significantly increased fruit yield by 49.5% compared to the untreated variant. Fruit weight increased in all three fertilization treatments on ´Decosta Jonagold de Coster´ and ´Red Braeburn´. Organic biostimulators and fertilizers improved pulp firmness on ´Golden Reinders Delicious´, juice pH on ´Decosta Jonagold de Coster´ and total soluble content on ´Red Braeburn´. The results of the study showed that, on the mineral nutrition background, Cifamin BK and Biohumus treatments in apple orchards improved fruit yield and quality.
Vaccinum corymbosum is one of the species highly valued for the taste and dietary value of its berries. The new blueberry cultivars obtained in the breeding activity have high productivity, resistance to diseases and pests, and large and easily removable fruits. The success of the extension of blueberry crops depends on the adaptability of the cultivars to soil conditions and regional climate changes. A study was carried out at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti-Maracineni, in the period 2019-2022, and was focused on the vegetative growth and fruiting processes, berries quality, and evaluated the disease and pest behavior of 13 new blueberry cultivars, currently in their 4th year ('Top Shelf', 'Blue Ribbon', 'Calypso' and 'Valor'), respectively 6 years from planting ('Duke', 'Bluejay', 'Draper', 'Liberty', 'Elliott' and 'Aurora'). The ripening period of the new cultivars covered a period between the second decade of June (12.06.2020, 'Duke') and the end of August (27.08.2021, 'Aurora', 'Last Call' and 'Elliott'). Depending on the age of fruit ripening, the cultivars were divided into very early ('Duke'), early ('Huron'), early-middle ('Blue Ribbon', 'Draper', 'Bluejay'), middle ('Top Shelf', 'Valor', 'Calypso'), late ('Cargo' and 'Liberty') and very late ('Last Call', 'Elliott' and 'Aurora'). At the end of the four years of study, the analysis of the data recorded for the vegetative growth and fruiting processes indicated that, for the younger plants (4th year after planting), for an average bush volume of 0.41m3 (0.14- 0.84 m3) berry yield fluctuated around 7.27 t/ha (1.66-16.59 t/ha). The cultivars with superior vigor were 'Valor', 'Last Call', and 'Cargo' (0.49-0.53 m3), the most productive being 'Cargo', with approximately 13.6 t /ha. For blueberry in the 6th year after planting, where the average volume of the bush was 0.53 m3 (0.19-0.82 m3), the fruit production was 6.89 t/ha (1.87 -14.4 t/ha). The cultivars with superior vigor were 'Bluejay', 'Aurora' and 'Liberty' (0.59-0.62 m3), and in terms of productivity, 'Duke' (9.13 t/ha) and 'Liberty' stood out (9.92 t/ha). For plants of the same age (3 and 4 years after planting), the average berry weight fluctuated around 2.25 g (0.7-5.72 g), the firmness recorded an average of 43.95 (15.9-77.50 units), while juice pH and total soluble substance content showed average values of 3.44 (2.24-5.72) and 13.32˚Brix (7.9-23.40). The highest berry weight was determined for 'Top Shelf' cultivar (2.9 g). The cultivars 'Aurora' and 'Last Call' stood out for their superior content of total soluble solids (17.14 and 16.01˚Brix), and the cultivars 'Blue Ribbon' and 'Top Shelf' for their high fruit pH (4.18 and 3.69). Last but not least, the high firmness of the fruits highlighted the Aurora and 'Blue Ribbon' cultivars (57.90 and 52.28 HPE-II-FFF Bareiss units). Regarding the phytosanitary status of the studied shrubs, increased sensitivity to diseases of the 'Huron' cultivar was highlighted (ISV 2.9%), especially to the attack of Phytophthora spp. (1.6%attack degree), which influenced significantly plant survival. At the end of the study period, we can recommend the cultivars 'Duke', Liberty', and 'Cargo' for cultivation in similar pedoclimatic conditions, the first standing out for its earliness and productivity, and the last two for their high fruit production.
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