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Understanding changes in volatile compounds and fatty acids of Jincheng orange peel oil at different growth stages using GC–MS

XIE Jiao, CAO Qi, WANG Wen-jun, ZHANG Hong-yan, DENG Bing

2023, 22 (7): 2282-2294. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.05.015

Abstract （123） PDF in ScienceDirect

Jincheng orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) is widely grown in Chongqing, China, and is commonly consumed because of its characteristic aroma contributed by the presence of diverse volatile compounds. The changes in aroma during the development and maturation of fruit are indicators for ripening and harvest time. However, the influence of growth stages on the volatile compounds in Jincheng orange remains unclear. In addition, volatiles originate from fatty acids, most of which are the precursors of volatile substances. On this basis, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was performed to elaborate the changes in volatile constituents and fatty acids as precursors. This study tested proximately 60 volatiles and 8 fatty acids at 9 growth and development stages (AF1–AF9). Of those compounds, more than 92.00% of total volatiles and 87.50% of fatty acids were terpenoid and saturated fatty acids, respectively. As shown in the PCA plot, the AF5, AF6, and AF9 stages were confirmed as completely segregated and appeared different. In addition, most of the volatiles and fatty acids first increased at the beginning of the development stage, then decreased from the AF6 development stage, and finally increased at the AF9 maturity stage. Moreover, the highest contents of terpenoid, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and saturated fatty acids in Jincheng orange peel oil were d-limonene, linalool, octanal, cyclohexanone, and stearic acid during development stages, respectively. Our results found that the growth stages significantly affected the volatile constituents and precursors in Jincheng orange peel oil.

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Manual thinning increases fruit size and sugar content of Citrus reticulata Blanco and affects hormone synthesis and sugar transporter activity

LIU Cong, LI De-xiong, HUANG Xian-biao, Zhang Fu-qiong, Xie Zong-zhou, Zhang Hong-yan, Liu Ji-hong

2022, 21 (3): 725-735. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63502-X

Abstract （205） PDF in ScienceDirect

Manual fruit thinning (MFT) in fruit trees has been previously shown to increase fruit size and enhance fruit quality, but the effect of MFT on Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, efforts were made to elucidate how MFT influences the fruit quality of Ponkan. The results showed that MFT substantially increased fruit size and elevated fruit total soluble solids in comparison with the fruit from the unthinned trees (used as control). Expression analyses demonstrated that mRNA abundance of three important sugar transporter genes, including CrSUT1, CrSTP1 and CrTMT1, was evidently elevated in the flesh of thinned fruit when compared with those of the control. In addition, MFT prominently up-regulated the transcript levels of various auxin and gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and signaling genes, including CrYUC6, CrAUX/IAA, CrGA20ox1 and CrGA3ox1. Concurrently, the contents of endogenous IAA and GA₃, measured at 90 d after fruit thinning, were notably elevated in the fruit from trees with the thinning treatment relative to the control, although no difference was detected in the two groups before the thinning manipulation. Taken together, these results indicate that manual fruit thinning could greatly improve fruit quality, which may be attributed to promoting fruit expansion due to the increased auxin levels and expediting sugar accumulation through the up-regulation of sugar transporter genes.

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Fractionation of soil organic carbon in a calcareous soil after long-term tillage and straw residue management

LI Teng-teng, ZHANG Jiang-zhou, ZHANG Hong-yan, Chrisite PHRISITE, ZHANG Jun-ling

2022, 21 (12): 3611-3625. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2022.08.072

Abstract （162） PDF in ScienceDirect

No tillage (NT) and straw return (S) collectively affect soil organic carbon (SOC). However, changes in the organic carbon pool have been under-investigated. Here, we assessed the quantity and quality of SOC after 11 years of tillage and straw return on the North China Plain. Concentrations of SOC and its labile fractions (particulate organic carbon (POC), potassium permanganate-oxidizable organic carbon (POXC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)), components of DOC by fluorescence spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and the chemical composition of SOC by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were explored. Treatments comprised conventional tillage (CT) and NT under no straw return (S0), return of wheat straw only (S1) or return of both wheat straw and maize residue (S2). Straw return significantly increased the concentrations and stocks of SOC at 0-20 cm depth but no tillage stratified them with enrichment at 0-10 cm and a decrease at 10-20 cm in comparison to CT, especially under S2. Labile C fractions showed similar patterns of variation to that of SOC, with POC and POXC more sensitive to straw return and the former more sensitive to tillage. Six fluorescence components of DOC were identified comprising mostly humic-like substances with smaller amounts of fulvic acid-like substances and tryptophan. Straw return significantly decreased the fluorescence index (FI) and autochthonous index (BIX) and increased the humification index (HIX). No tillage generally increased HIX in topsoil but decreased it and increased the FI and BIX below the topsoil. The chemical composition of SOC was: O-alkyl C>alkyl-C>aromatic-C>carbonyl-C. Overall, NT under S2 effectively increased SOC and its labile C forms and DOC humification in topsoil and microbially-derived DOC below the topsoil. Return of both wheat and maize straw was a particularly strong factor for promoting soil organic carbon in the plough layer, and the stratification of SOC under no tillage may confer long-term influence on carbon sequestration.

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Effects of INA on postharvest blue and green molds and anthracnose decay in citrus fruit

JING Jia-yi, ZHANG Hong-yan, XUE Yao-bi, ZENG Kai-fang

2020, 19 (5): 1396-1406. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63169-0

Abstract （111） PDF in ScienceDirect

As a synthetic functional analog of salicylic acid, 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) is effective in inducing the host disease resistance of a plant against a pathogen. The effects of INA on controlling postharvest blue and green molds and anthracnose decay and defense-related enzymes on citrus fruits were investigated, and the ascorbic acid of naturally infected citrus flavedo was also measured. Results showed that 1.0 mmol L^–1 INA treatments significantly reduced blue and green molds and anthracnose decay development on both wound-inoculated fruit and naturally-infected fruit compared with the control fruit. The treatment effectively enhanced the β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), chitinase (CHI), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) activities and the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in flavedo. The results presented here suggest that INA might be used as a chemical fungicide substitution to control postharvest diseases in citrus fruits.

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Developing sustainable summer maize production for smallholder farmers in the North China Plain: An agronomic diagnosis method

CHEN Guang-feng, CAO Hong-zhu, CHEN Dong-dong, ZHANG Ling-bo, ZHAO Wei-li, ZHANG Yu, MA Wen-qi, JIANG Rong-feng, ZHANG Hong-yan, ZHANG Fu-suo

2019, 18 (8): 1667-1679. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)62151-3

Abstract （138） PDF in ScienceDirect

With an increasing population and changing diet structure, summer maize is increasingly becoming an important energy crop in China. However, traditional farmer practices for maize production are inefficient and unsustainable. To ensure food security and sustainable development of summer maize production in China, an improved, more sustainable farmer management system is needed. Establishing this system requires a comprehensive understanding of the limitations of current farming practice and the ways it could be improved. In our study, 235 plots from three villages in the North China Plain (NCP) were monitored. Maize production on farms was evaluated; our results showed that the maize yield and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN) were variable on smallholder farms at 6.6–13.7 t ha^–1 and 15.4–88.7 kg kg^–1, respectively. Traditional farming practices also have a large environmental impact (nitrogen surplus: –64.2–323.78 kg ha^–1). Key yield components were identified by agronomic diagnosis. Grain yield depend heavily on grain numbers per hectare rather than on the 1 000-grain weight. A set of improved management practices (IP) for maize production was designed by employing a boundary line (BL) approach and tested on farms. Results showed that the IP could increase yield by 18.4% and PFPN by 31.1%, compared with traditional farmer practices (FP), and reduce the nitrogen (N) surplus by 57.9 kg ha^–1. However, in terms of IP effect, there was a large heterogeneity among different smallholder farmers’ fields, meaning that, precise technologies were needed in different sites especially for N fertilizer management. Our results are valuable for policymakers and smallholder farmers for meeting the objectives of green development in agricultural production.

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Science and Technology Backyard: A novel approach to empower smallholder farmers for sustainable intensification of agriculture in China

JIAO Xiao-qiang, ZHANG Hong-yan, MA Wen-qi, WANG Chong, LI Xiao-lin, ZHANG Fu-suo

2019, 18 (8): 1657-1666. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62592-X

Abstract （162） PDF in ScienceDirect

Sustainable feeding of the growing population in China without ecological destabilization is a grand challenge. In this populous country where agriculture is dominated by smallholder farming, developing innovative technology and translating scientific knowledge into action for smallholder farmers is a crucial step in addressing this challenge. Here, we present a novel approach for technology innovation and dissemination to achieve sustainable intensification in the fields of smallholder farmers. The Science and Technology Backyard (STB) is a hub in a rural area that links knowledge with practices to promote technology innovation and exchange. In this study, the framework and functions of STB are introduced, and the key implications for sustainable intensification across millions of smallholder farmers are explicitly stated: (i) develop innovative technology based on stated demands of farmers; (ii) disseminate technology by innovative social service models though combined top-down approaches with bottom-up measures to enable smallholders in rural areas. This paper provides a perspective on transformation of small-scale agriculture toward sustainable intensification in China and useful knowledge applicable to other developing countries.

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