• Authors:
    • Ghanbari, A.
    • Moradi, H.
    • Rabiei, V.
    • Hamedani, M.
    • Azimi, M. R.
  • Source: Biharean Biologist
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Blood orange ( Citrus sinensis) cv. Tarocco, grown in the north of Iran, was harvested at the mature stage and stored at 8, 15 or 22°C for various duration. During the storage period, weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TA), pH, ascorbic acid, total phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin and L-phenylalanin ammonia-lyase enzyme (PAL) activity were determined. The highest increase in pH, anthocyanins in the pulp and rind, flavonoids and PAL activity after 85 days of storage at 8°C were 3.6, 12.4 mg/L, 15. 8 mg/L, 142.6 mg/L and 2.5 MOL/g FW.min -1, respectively, and TSS, TA, fruit weight and ascorbic acid content decreased for fruit stored at different temperatures. Antioxidant capacity and total phenols increased during the first 45 days of storage at 8°C by 38% and 631.6 mg/L respectively. Also the results indicated a significant correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds ( P≤0.01).
  • Authors:
    • Ibrahium, M. I.
    • Hegazy, A. E.
  • Source: World Applied Sciences Journal
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different organic solvents such as, methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, acetone, hexane and ethyl acetate for extraction of (flavonoids and polyphenolic) compounds(TFC and TPC respectively) from the orange peel. Also, the effect of these solvents on the yield percentage, chelating activity, antioxidant/radical scavenging capacity and reducing power ability of the produced extracts were investigated. The results revealed that all extracts of the orange peel exhibited variable antioxidant activity. Specially, the ethanolic extract showed the highest (p
  • Authors:
    • Ollitrault, P.
    • Urban, L.
    • Dhuique-Mayer, C.
    • Curk, F.
    • Hussain, S.
    • Luro, F.
    • Morillon, R.
  • Source: Scientia Horticulturae
  • Volume: 134
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Two autotetraploid (4*) trifoliate orange ( Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) rootstocks and the corresponding diploid (2*) rootstocks were compared for their impact on clementine "Commune" ( Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan) production and on rootstock/scion physiology. Cumulative fruit yield, fruit quality (sugars, organic acids, carotenoids, hesperidin) and scion physiology (stem growth, leaf starch, sugars, chlorophyll content, phenolic content and gas exchange parameters) were investigated. The cumulative fruit yield over 11 years was lower in 4* rootstock/clementine associations and correlated with reduced vigor of the clementine scion. Fruit quality criteria were not affected by the ploidy level of the rootstocks, with the exception of hesperidin content, which was higher with 4* than 2* rootstock/clementine associations. Leaf chlorophyll and phenolic contents were higher with 4* than 2* rootstock/clementine associations. In leaves, the rate of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance was much higher with 2* rootstocks; however, the maximum electron transport rate was lower when compared to the 4* rootstocks. Similarly, leaf starch and sugar contents were much higher with 4* than 2*. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the use of 4* rootstocks dramatically changes both tree physiology and fruit yield, without promoting large changes in fruit quality criteria.
  • Authors:
    • Singh, M.
    • Jhala, A. J.
  • Source: Weed Technology
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Soil-applied herbicides are commonly used for broad-spectrum residual weed control in Florida citrus. Groundwater contamination from some soil-applied herbicides has been reported in citrus growing areas in Florida. Indaziflam is a new soil-applied herbicide recently registered for broad-spectrum weed control in Florida citrus. There is no information available on leaching behavior of indaziflam in sandy soil. Experiments were conducted to compare leaching of indaziflam with five commercially used residual herbicides in a Florida Candler soil under simulated rainfall of 5 or 15 cm ha -1. Herbicide movement down soil columns was measured by visually evaluating injury and harvesting aboveground biomass of the bioassay species annual ryegrass. Ryegrass was not injured and plant biomass was not affected beyond 30 cm when indaziflam at a recommended rate of 73 g ai ha -1 was leached through the soil column. Leaching of indaziflam increased with increasing amounts of rainfall. For example, indaziflam leached up to 12.20.8 cm (values are expressedSD) and 27.22.6 cm at 5 and 15 cm ha -1 rainfall, respectively. The herbicide ranking from high to low mobility at 15 cm ha -1 of rainfall was bromacil=norflurazon>indaziflam>simazine=pendimethalin>diuron. Overall results suggested that indaziflam leaching was limited in Florida Candler soil in this study; however, field experiments are required to confirm the leaching of indaziflam under natural rainfall situation.
  • Authors:
    • Joshi, K. G.
    • Syed, I.
    • Kazi, S. S.
  • Source: African Journal of Agricultural Research
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 29
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Field experiment was conducted for two successive years on sweet orange to evaluate the effect of multi-micronutrient on yield and quality attributes of sweet orange grown on Inceptisols of Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India. The result indicates that the number of fruits per tree increased with the application of balanced dose of NPK along with multi-micronutrient from 426 to 554. Similarly, weight of fruit per tree was ranged from 72.42 kg/tree in control to 143.80 kg/tree in the treatment receiving multi-micronutrients through soil. Productivity was also enhanced from 20.06 to 39.83 t/ha due to application of multi-micronutrients along with recommended NPK. The quality of the fruits in terms of juice, TSS, fruit girth, ascorbic acid content, reducing and non-reducing sugar increased with the application of multi-micronutrient and NPK either applied through soil or fertigation, whereas, acidity of the fruit juice was found highest in untreated control as compared to balance nutrient application.
  • Authors:
    • Naserian, A. A.
    • Kordi, M.
  • Source: African Journal of Biotechnology
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 63
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The effect of wheat bran (WB) as a silage additive on chemical composition, in situ degradability and in vitro gas production of citrus pulp silage (CPS) was investigated. The whole fresh citrus pulp was manually chopped and used as untreated or treated with 6, 12, or 18 g WB/kg fresh citrus pulp for ensiling. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized design that showed experimental treatments had no significant effect on DM% of silages but with increasing WB, crude protein (CP%) linearly and quadratically increased (P0.05). Result showed that with increasing WB, NDF concentration linearly increased (P0.05). Result showed that with increasing WB, NDF concentration linearly increased (P0.05). Result showed that with increasing WB, NDF concentration linearly increased (P0.05). Result showed that with increasing WB, NDF concentration linearly increased (P0.05). Result showed that with increasing WB, NDF concentration linearly increased (P0.05). The fractional degradation rate (c) with increasing of WB significantly increased (P0.05). The fractional degradation rate (c) with increasing of WB significantly increased (P0.05). Potential gas production (b) and fractional rate of gas production (c) demonstrated a linear and quadratic relationship (P
  • Authors:
    • Sil, A. C. da
    • Azevedo, F. A. de
    • Correa, F. E.
    • Kupper, K. C.
  • Source: Scientia Horticulturae
  • Volume: 134
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The objective of this research was to study the viability of Bacillus subtilis (ACB-69) to control the casual agent in postbloom fruit drop, Colletotrichum acutatum under field conditions. During the 2007/2008 crop season, B. subtilis was tested in 5% (5*10 8 cfu ml -1) and 10% (1*10 9 cfu ml -1) concentrations on 'Pera' sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) plants grafted on Rangpur lime ( Citrus limonia Osb.), in Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The same treatments were repeated in the 2008/2009 crop season with and without adding a carbon source (molasses 5%) to 'Valencia' sweet orange plants grafted on Rangpur lime. Additional experiment was conducted to determine the most appropriate flower growth stage to apply the biocontrol agent. The biological products were applied with an air assisted sprayer in all experiments with the intention of evaluating the practicality of this type of sprayer. A weekly application of B. subtilis (5*10 8 cfu ml -1) reduced the quantity of symptomatic flowers by 47% while the chemical treatment only had an 18% reduction. On the other hand, B. subtilis (10% or 1*10 9 cfu ml -1) applied weekly or applied one week before to the "green bud bloom" stage (like a preventive control) provided a greater average number of effective fruits (ANEF). The addition of a carbon source at the time of application, did not favor the antagonistic activity of bacteria. In controlling postbloom fruit drop, the best time to apply B. subtilis was observed in the open flower stage when the percentage of symptomatic flowers was evaluated. However, when the bacterium was applied in all flowering stages there was a greater average number of effective fruits. The use of air assisted sprayer helped implement the antagonistic on a commercial scale.
  • Authors:
    • Larbi, P. A.
    • Salyani, M.
  • Source: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
  • Volume: 87
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: An expert system (ES) has been developed to assist citrus spray applicators in planning and evaluating their sprayer operations. The ES is partitioned into two parts: (1) spray planning (procedures and calculations for sprayer calibration as well as suitability of spraying under given weather parameters) and (2) spray evaluation (estimation of overall spray deposition, ground fallout, and drift as percentages of the total spray discharged at orchard scale). The first part is based on established procedures and the second part is built on the previously developed spray deposition model. The latter includes a "What-If" analysis function that gives feedback on changes in input variables and the corresponding outputs. Testing of the ES revealed that the trends in the outputs, reflecting the effects of application rate, travel speed, foliage density, and percent missing trees were in general agreement with literature. The ES was evaluated by five individuals with diverse experience in spray applications. Overall, the ES was found useful for calibration and evaluation of spray applications in citrus.
  • Authors:
    • Chen, S.
    • Yue, X. J.
    • Feng, R. J.
    • Hong, T. S.
    • Li, J. N.
  • Source: Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 10
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: To realize automatic control of integral control of water and fertilization under drip irrigation for citrus with independent water tank and liquid fertilizer tank, a timing control device powered with battery for controlling drip irrigation and fertigation was developed. The device was composed of two solenoid valves which were used to control the order and time of water or liquid fertilizer flowing into the drip irrigation pipe network respectively. To extend battery life, sleep mechanism and power management technology were used with the quiescent current of the device less than 11.2 A. The device was tested in actual application for six consecutive months, and the results showed that the controller was stable and reliable, and the battery voltage dropped only from the initial value of 9.35 to 8.50 V. The device was simple to use, and it can control not only the drip irrigation integration of water and fertilizer, but water drip irrigation. In addition, the rotation irrigation can be carried out by combining multiple devices, and then can control a larger irrigation area. So the device developed in this research is practical and has good promotion prospects.
  • Authors:
    • Mennone, C.
  • Source: L'Informatore Agrario
  • Volume: 68
  • Issue: 27
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: in Italian; see: http://www.informatoreagrario.it/BDO/BDO_popupAbstract.asp?D=107647