• Title/Summary/Keyword: fruit crops

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Using Sustainable Agriculture to Improve Human Nutrition and Health

  • Cullum, Christine-Mc
    • Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.18-25
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this article is twofold: 1) to provide nutrition professionals with the history of how the concept of sustainable diets was introduced to the nutrition profession and 2) to describe how different sustainable agricultural practices offer potential for improving human nutrition and health. The idea of connecting sustainable agriculture With the promotion of human nutrition and health is not new. It is a concept that was introduced to the nutrition profession more than 20 years ago. To foster healthful, sustainable diets, consumers need to choose more whole foods. From the standpoint of nutrition and health, whole foods are naturally higher in fiber and lower in fat, sodium, sugar and additives compared to highly processed foods. From the standpoint of agricultural sustainability, whole foods bypass the high-energy costs of food processing and transportation. Organic farming systems offer potential benefits to human health through reducing farmers' exposure to pesticides and by increasing the total phenolic content in selected food crops. Participation in farmers' market nutrition programs and gardening has been associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake. Gardening may also be a way to increase access to fresh produce in low-income populations that do not have access to nutritious food outlets and to increase physical activity. Further research is needed to assess the human nutrition and health benefits of other types of sustainable agriculture strategies and to investigate the links among different agricultural practices with nutrient and total phenolic content in a wider variety of important food crops.

Conservation and Utilization of Insect Pollinators for Promotion of Agricultural Production in Bangladesh

  • Amin, Md. Ruhul;Hossain, Md. Shamim;Suh, Sang Jae;Kwon, Yong Jung
    • Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.171-174
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    • 2014
  • Agriculture in Bangladesh is slowly transforming to the production of high-value fruit and vegetable crops to satisfy the nutrient requirements of their large size population, and this transformation is creating new challenges as regards improving and maintaining the productivity and crop quality. The country has a declining trend of insect pollinators due to habitat loss, land use changes, monoculture-dominated agriculture, and the excessive and indiscriminate use of pesticides. Such pollinator deficiencies can cause reduced yields, thereby threatening the subsistence of marginal farmers. In Bangladesh, growers enjoy free pollination services from the naturally occurring insect populations. While honeybees pollinate mustard, onions, and melons, many other hymenopterans, coleopterans, hemipterans, dipterans, and thysanopterans also visit the crop fields, making these insects significant for the food security, environment, and economy of the nation. Therefore, attention should be given to public policy, research, and human resource development that promotes knowledge and appreciation of the conservation and utilization of insect pollinators.

Current Status and Future Prospects of White Root Rot Management in Pear Orchards: A Review

  • Sawant, Shailesh S.;Choi, Eu Ddeum;Song, Janghoon;Seo, Ho-Jin
    • Research in Plant Disease
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.91-98
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    • 2021
  • The current social demand for organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly approaches for farming, while ensuring the health and productivity of crops is increasing rapidly. Biocontrol agents are applied to crops to ensure biological control of plant pathogens. Research on the biological control of white root rot disease caused by a soil-borne pathogen, Rosellinia necatrix, is limited in pears compared to that in apple and avocado. This pathogenic fungus has an extensive host range, and symptoms of this disease include rotting of roots, yellowing and falling of leaves, wilting, and finally tree death. The severity of the disease caused by R. necatrix, makes it the most harmful fungal pathogen infecting the economical fruit tree species, such as pears, and is one of the main limiting factors in pear farming, with devastating effects on plant health and yield. In addition to agronomic and cultural practices, growers use chemical treatments to control the disease. However, rising public concern about environmental pollution and harmful effects of chemicals in humans and animals has facilitated the search for novel and environmentally friendly disease control methods. This review will briefly summarize the current status of biocontrol agents, ecofriendly methods, and possible approaches to control disease in pear orchards.

Insecticidal Activity and Repellent Effects of Methylcinnamate Separated from Alpinia galangal on Ricania sp. (갈색날개매미충(Ricania sp.)에 대한 양강근 유래 Methylcinnamate의 살충 및 기피 효과)

  • Park, Bueyong;Jeong, In-Hong;Park, Se-Keun;Jeon, Sung-Wook;Lee, Sang-Bum;Lee, Sang-Ku;Lee, Sung-Eun
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.57-63
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    • 2019
  • Ricania sp. is a pest to many crops in Korea. This pest prefers fruit crops especially, blueberry and apple trees. We tested the possibility of Ricania sp. control using of methylcinnamate. In the laboratory bioassay, the mortality of methylcinnamate against Ricania sp. adult with 100 and 250 time diluted solution was 36.6% and 13.3% respectively. While repellent that the use of methylcinnamate resulted rate of 43.3% with 100 time diluted solution and 40.0% in 250 time diluted solution. Insecticidal and repellent effect in semifield bioassay were higher than those in laboratory bioassay. From this result, methylcinnamate might have synergic effect for Ricania sp. management. The result of this study showed a possibility of Ricania. sp. control using methylcinnamate.

Analysis of Safety Wind Speed and Snow Depth for Single-Span Plastic Greenhouse according to Growing Crops (재배작물별 단동비닐하우스의 안전풍속 및 적설심 분석)

  • Lee, Jong-Won
    • Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.280-285
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    • 2013
  • This study supplies basic data to develop a greenhouse model for reducing the damage to single-span greenhouses caused by strong winds and heavy snow. Single-span plastic greenhouses are predominantly used for growing crops in Korea. Thus, the safety wind speeds for single-span greenhouses were calculated and compared with the actual wind speeds and snow depths over a period of 8 years in different regions to analyze the structural safety of single-span greenhouses. The unit wind load and unit snow load were applied to different designs of single-span greenhouse according to the cultivated crop to achieve a structural analysis. As a result, the maximum section force for the wind and snow load was greatest for leaf and root vegetables, where the safety wind speeds for single-span greenhouses according to the cultivated crop were 17.7 m/s(leaf vegetables), 20.2 m/s (fruit vegetables), and 22.3 m/s (root vegetables). Thus, the single-span greenhouses were not found to be safe for the wind load in most regions, except for Hongcheon, Icheon and Sungju. Plus, the safety snow depths for single-span greenhouses according to the crop were 8.8 cm (leaf vegetables), 9.4 cm (fruit vegetables), and 11.8cm (root vegetables). Thus, when comparing the safety snow depths with the actual snow depths, the single-span greenhouses were not found to be safe. Therefore, to improve the safety of single-span greenhouses, the structures need reinforcement by reducing the interval between rafters or increasing the size of the pipes. However, additional research is needed.

Pre-dispersal Seed Predation by a Granivorous Bird, the Masked Grosbeak (Eophona personata), in Two Bird-dispersed Ulmaceae Species

  • Yoshikawa, Tetsuro;Kikuzawa, Kihachiro
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.137-143
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    • 2009
  • Pre-dispersal seed predation by a granivorous bird, the masked grosbeak (Eophona personata, Fringillidae), was investigated in two bird-dispersed trees, Celtis sinensis and Aphananthe aspera (Ulmaceae). The objectives of this study were to 1) measure direct damage of predation by grosbeaks on plant crops, 2) reveal the temporal pattern of predation within each tree species and its causal factors, and 3) test whether foraging grosbeaks hinder foraging of frugivorous birds, thereby indirectly impacting the reproduction of both tree species. A substantial amount of fruit and seed crop was consumed by grosbeaks (24.3% in Celtis; 55.5% in Aphananthe), and only 17.7% (Celtis) and 16.7% (Aphananthe) were removed by frugivorous birds. At the study site, the grosbeak population size fluctuated greatly during the fruiting seasons of both plant species. As for Celtis, predated seed density also fluctuated temporally, and the local population size of grosbeaks was responsible for predated seed density. In Aphananthe, predation was not fully explained by grosbeak populations or plant phenology, but its peak coincided with that of grosbeak population. These results suggest that predispersal seed predation by granivorous birds can have large negative impacts on the bird-dispersed plants. Changes in local population size of granivorous birds can influence predatation and can affect reproductive success of the bird-dispersed plants available to the birds.

Identification, Characterization, and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum Species Causing Anthracnose of Peach in Korea

  • Lee, Dae Min;Hassan, Oliul;Chang, Taehyun
    • Mycobiology
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    • v.48 no.3
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    • pp.210-218
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    • 2020
  • Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the major fruit crops in South Korea, along with apple, persimmon, and Asian pears. Peach anthracnose is a continuing threat to growers and is accountable for enormous economic loss. In July 2018, anthracnose of peach appeared at different peach orchards in Gyeongsangbuk-do region, Korea. The typical anthracnose symptoms (brown, circular, and necrotic lesions) were observed on the fruits. Anthracnose of peach was surveyed in different peach orchards of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and 20 fungal isolates from 19 diseased fruits were collected. Multigene phylogenetic analyses coupled with morphological characteristic analysis approaches were used for identifying the fungal species isolated from diseased fruits. This study confirmed three Colletotrichum species. Based on the results, Colletotrichum siamense are reported for the first time as causal agents of peach anthracnose alongside C. fructicola and C. fioriniae, which has been reported previously. Pathogenicity assays were performed for the three isolates representing all the species identified, and Koch's postulates on detached healthy peach fruits were verified. All the identified species were pathogenic on peach fruits as the typical anthracnose symptoms were reproduced. Significant variations in the virulence were observed among fungal species on peach fruit.

Proteomic and Phenotypic Analyses of a Putative YggS Family Pyridoxal Phosphate-Dependent Enzyme in Acidovorax citrulli

  • Lynn Heo;Yongmin Cho;Junhyeok Choi;Jeongwook Lee;Yoobin Han;Sang-Wook Han
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.235-244
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    • 2023
  • Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) in cucurbit crops, including watermelon. However, there are no effective methods to control this disease. YggS family pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme acts as a coenzyme in all transamination reactions, but its function in Ac is poorly understood. Therefore, this study uses proteomic and phenotypic analyses to characterize the functions. The Ac strain lacking the YggS family pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme, AcΔyppAc(EV), virulence was wholly eradicated in geminated seed inoculation and leaf infiltration. AcΔyppAc(EV) propagation was inhibited when exposed to L-homoserine but not pyridoxine. Wild-type and mutant growth were comparable in the liquid media but not in the solid media in the minimal condition. The comparative proteomic analysis revealed that YppAc is primarily involved in cell motility and wall/membrane/envelop biogenesis. In addition, AcΔyppAc(EV) reduced biofilm formation and twitching halo production, indicating that YppAc is involved in various cellular mechanisms and possesses pleiotropic effects. Therefore, this identified protein is a potential target for developing an efficient anti-virulence reagent to control BFB.

Characteristics of the Body Shape of Korean Woman Farmers by Crops (주 재배 작목별 한국 여성 농업인 체형 특성)

  • Baek, Yoon-Jeong;Lee, Kyung-Suk
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.32 no.10
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    • pp.1584-1594
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    • 2008
  • This study was to research the characteristics of the body shape of Korean woman farmers by the major crops. Four hundred ninety-five Korean woman farmers from 9 different area such as Kumi, Damyang, Iksan, Injae, Chungju, Choongju, Haman, Whasung, and Whasoon volunteered for this study. Their major crops were the rice, the pepper, the water melon, the strawberry, the wild rocambole, the sweet persimmon, the grapes, the mushroom, and the chrysanthemums. Twelve body angles were measured from archived the somatotype photographs of the front, the side, and the back. Questionnaires of SF-36 and the farmer's symptom, and the farm-work related movements were surveyed. The results were as follows; 1. Farmers had lower health levels in physical role limit, pain, vitality, and physical function than other occupational workers. 2. Most farmers acted the high-risk ergonomics motions when they worked in the farm. 3. There were significantly different on the both shoulder angles, the hip tangential line slope, the hip breadth angel, in frontal ankle-knee angle, the bending back angle, the dropping breast slope, the abdominis media angle, under the abdominis media angle, the glutea angle, under the glutea angle, and the sideward knee angle(p<.05). 4. Farmers cultivating the low plants such as the water melon, the strawberry, and the wild rocambole showed more banded vertebralis and side knee angles. Farmers cultivating the red pepper showed the dropping the left shoulder and O shape legs. Farmers cultivating the fruit trees such as the sweet persimmon and the grapes showed the less banded side knee angles than other farmer groups. 5. On comparing the same age, farmers showed the older's body shape in earlier and much more than the old living in the city.

Comparison of Fruit Characteristics of 'Fuji'/M.26 in Response to Ethephon Treatment and Combined Treatment of Ethephon and CaCl2 During Maturing Stages (Ethephon 단용처리와 Ethephon 및 염화칼슘 혼합처리에 따른 사과 'Fuji'/M.26의 성숙기 과실특성 비교)

  • Sewon Oh;Seong Ho Moon;Keum-Il Jang;Junsoo Lee;Daeil Kim
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.36 no.5
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    • pp.517-526
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    • 2023
  • The harvest time of the late-ripening 'Fuji' apple (Malus × domestica) is variable, depending on the coloration of the fruit skin. Ethephon, a plant growth regulator, promotes the ethylene production and induces physiological responses associated with fruit maturation in climacteric fruit crops, such as apples. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ethephon treatment on fruit characteristics after fruit enlargement, with the objective of proposing an economical and stable harvest control method for 'Fuji'/M.26 apples. Fruit characteristics were assessed at 10-days intervals following the application of 100 mg/L ethephon and mixture of 100 mg/L ethephon and 0.5% CaCl2 at 145 days after full bloom (DAFB). Starch contents of ethephon-treated (ET) and ethephon with CaCl2-treated (EC) apples began to decrease from 155 DAFB, and the starch contents of ET and EC at 10 days before harvest were similar to those of control at harvest time. Red coloration of fruit skin in EC was lower compared to ET but higher than control. The average fruit firmness was low in ET, while the control and EC exhibited similar levels of firmness. Fruit sugar acid ratios did not show significant differences between treatments. However, the titratable acidity of EC was significantly lower than that of the control at 10 days before harvest. Moreover, fruit sugar acid ratio of ET and EC at 10 days before harvest in 2021 was similar to their sugar acid ratio at harvest time. Therefore, it was thought that fruit maturation and skin coloration could be accelerated by 10 days from the harvest time through the combined treatment of 100 mg/L ethephon and 0.5% CaCl2 at the end of fruit enlargement in 'Fuji'/M.26.