Introduction. The Brazilian Savannah presents a wide vegetable diversity that produces fruit that have unique characteristics and should be better characterized and exploited. The agricultural-economic exploration of the fruits from the Savannah contributes to income generation and may play an important role in improving human nutrition. The aim of our research was to evaluate the physical characteristics (diameter, height and mass), chemical composition (moisture, ash, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber, titratable acidity, soluble solids and pH), occurrence and content of vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene), vitamin E (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols and tocotrienols) and folates (tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate) in pequi from the Savannah of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Materials and methods. Analyses of carotenoids and vitamin C were carried out by HPLC-DAD, and vitamin E and folates by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results. The pulp of cooked pequi presented high contents of dietary fiber (9.9 g·100 g–1), lipids (33 g·100 g–1), carotenoids (8.11 mg·100 g–1), vitamin C (14.33 mg·100 g–1), vitamin A (514.38 RAE·100 g–1) and total energy (317.19 kcal·100 g–1). Contents of folates and vitamin E were 5.1 μg·100 g–1 and 110.52 μg·100 g–1, respectively. Conclusion. The pulp of cooked pequi presents a high energy value, as well as elevated contents of dietary fiber and lipids. It is a good source of vitamin C and an excellent source of vitamin A. The nutritional value and the wide availability of pequi make it an important tool for the reduction of food and nutritional insecurity.

Introduction. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) is a kind of tropical fruit with high commercial value in international trade. However, harvested rambutan fruits suffer from a short shelf life and show rapid postharvest deterioration problems due to spintern browning and flesh decay. Materials and methods. Rambutan fruit (cv. ‘Baoyan 5’) were harvested in 2009 and 2010. Changes in some chemical components and the physiology of fruits were investigated at different storage temperatures (25 °C and 10 °C) and with different packing materials (regular low-density polyethylene and anti-moisture polyethylene bags). Results and discussion. Changes in the development of the browning index, and contents of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and vitamin C greatly decreased during low temperature storage (10 °C); moreover, low temperature storage (10 °C) could maintain a significantly higher level of superoxide dismutase activity and lower values of malondialdehyde and cell membrane permeability. The effects of packing material were different according to the different storage temperatures. At 10 °C, the beneficial effects of anti-moisture polyethylene bags on fruit quality and physiology were observed. However, at 25 °C, fruit packed with regular low-density polyethylene proved to be of better quality than those packed with anti-moisture polyethylene bags. Conclusion. The overall results suggest that packing with anti-moisture polyethylene bags and storage at 10 °C were the most suitable conditions to maintain quality and to extend the storage life of rambutan fruit.

Introduction. The aim of our research was to optimize the number of young mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Arumanis’) fruits that could be maintained per panicle and to improve the criteria for the selection of fruit to be maintained in loco to allow a high yield to be achieved. Materials and methods. The factors investigated were the number of young fruits maintained per panicle (either 2, 4 or 6), while the criteria of young fruits to be maintained were: the number of biggest fruit, fruits attached at the base of the panicle, and fruits distributed evenly from the base to the top of the panicle. Results. Our study shows that maintaining six young fruits per panicle gave the highest weight of harvested mango fruits per plant (33 kg) and the lowest weight per fruit (466 g). Maintaining the biggest mango fruit on the panicle resulted in the highest weight per fruit (496 g). Conclusion. Increasing the number of young fruits maintained per panicle from 2 to 6 linearly increased the weight of fruits per plant, although it decreased the weight per fruit linearly.

Introduction. Algerian oases are characterized by a diversification of local fruit species and cultivars. However, this diversity is subject to erosion. To preserve the genetic heritage, we undertook the first work on the inventory of fruit species crops in the region of Touggourt in south-eastern Algeria. Materials and methods. Our working methods were based on surveys carried out on farms in the Oued Righ region according to a questionnaire that met our objectives. For this, we divided the study region into three zones and in each zone we selected ten farms for the inventory of fruit species cultivated. Results and discussion. The results of our investigations allowed us to identify thirteen species, including four species with a wide distribution (pomegranate tree, apricot tree, fig tree and vine). The local genetic diversity of these species is little known. The varieties or cultivars inventoried have local names given by the farmers in the region according to certain morphological characteristics of the fruit. We surveyed five cultivars for the fig tree, two cultivars for the pomegranate tree, two cultivars for the vine, and two apricot tree cultivars. The study of the biodiversity of fruit trees in the Oued Righ region showed high richness of the species and cultivars; some are local and others are endemic to the region. Better knowledge of genetic diversity will begin with tests of behavior and characterization of the different genotypes encountered to dispel the ambiguities and to highlight the actual composition of populations or varieties of different species.

Introduction. Carotenoids have been described as possessing several important functional properties and health benefits. These properties make these compounds ideal for the always increasing functional food industry as well as for promoting the consumption of the natural products in which they are contained. Here, we report the first characterisation of the non-saponified carotenoid composition in fresh peach fruits and commercial peach juice and jam. Materials and methods. Fully mature yellow-fleshed peach fruits produced in Sicily were purchased at a local market; they were peeled and the pulp was analysed. Commercial peach juice and commercial peach jam from three different known manufacturers were also purchased at the local market. Both the juice and jam analysed were produced by local manufacturers from the same kind of fresh fruit studied in this work. After carotenoid extraction with organic solvents, the samples were analysed by a direct HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS methodology. Results and discussion. Three free carotenoids (zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene) and three monoesters of β-cryptoxanthin were identified and detected in all the samples analysed. Interestingly, the carotenoid profile remained the same in all the samples, and it was not affected by the peach processing occurring during the production of the peach juice and jam. Moreover, small differences were observed in the relative contents of the identified components among the samples investigated.

Introduction. Bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, is a damaging disease of stone fruit worldwide. The effects of rootstock, temperature and incubation duration on bacterial canker in peach were assessed using both field and laboratory inoculation assays. Materials and methods. Both field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effects of rootstock, temperature and incubation duration on disease severity in peach. All inoculations were achieved with P. syringae pv. syringae strain B3A. Bacterial inoculations were applied to 1-year-old shoots of peach trees [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. After inoculation, the inoculated shoots were allowed to incubate either under field conditions or in a cold room at different temperatures [constantly at 0 °C, constantly at 14.4 °C, and in a fluctuating temperature regime of 12 h at 0 °C (night) and 12 h at 14.4 °C (day)] for excised shoots. The lesions were determined 1 to 6 weeks after inoculation to determine the effect of incubation duration. Results and discussion. The field experiment using peach grafted on three rootstocks (Nemaguard, K119-50 and P30-135) showed that shoots on Nemaguard developed the longest lesions and shoots on K119-50 the shortest among all three rootstocks. Shoots on Nemaguard had significantly lower bark calcium and higher nitrogen concentrations than those on K119-50 and P30-135. A negative correlation was found between lesion length and bark calcium concentration and the [calcium / nitrogen] ratio. Laboratory experiments with excised shoots on Nemaguard, K119-50, P30-135, Lovell and Guardian rootstocks growing in a second orchard showed inconsistent results. Shoots from Nemaguard developed significantly smaller lesions than those on K119-50 and P30-135. Shoots on Guardian and Lovell also developed significantly smaller lesions than those of shoots on K119-50 and P30-135. Temperature fluctuation during incubation (0 °C to 14.4 °C) had no effect on shoot lesion length compared with those incubated constantly at 14.4 °C, but produced significantly longer lesions than shoots incubated constantly at 0 °C. These inconsistent results suggest that, in the absence of major predisposing factors (i.e., ring nematodes or low soil pH), rootstocks may play a minor role in peach susceptibility to bacterial canker even under favorable disease development conditions.