Horticulturae

Roses (genus Rosa), renowned for their economic significance and aesthetic appeal, face multifaceted challenges in cultivation due to biotic and abiotic stressors. To address these challenges, this study explores the role of osmolytes, particularly polyamines, proline and glycine betaine, as well as antioxidant capacities and condensed tannins, in enhancing stress tolerance in roses. Despite the genetic diversity inherent in roses, the metabolic aspect of stress tolerance has been underexplored in breeding programs. This paper investigates the intraspecific variability among 22 rose cultivars, focusing on osmolyte content (proline and glycine betaine), individual polyamines (putrescine, spermine and spermidine), as well as antioxidant activities, measuring radical scavenging capacity against 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS^•+) and NO^• radicals. Employing a targeted metabolomic approach, we quantified the levels of individual polyamines in both the petals and leaves of rose cultivars. This was achieved through high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescent detection following a derivatization pretreatment process. Within the evaluated cultivars, “Unique Aroma”, “Andre Rieu”, “Aroma 3”, “Frayla Marija” and “Trendy Fashion” stood out for their significantly elevated levels of total foliar polyamines. The predominant polyamine detected at both petal and leaf levels was putrescine, with concentrations ranging from 335.81 (“Zora Frayla”) to 2063.81 nmol g⁻¹ DW (“Unique Aroma”) at the leaf level. Following putrescine, foliar spermidine levels varied from 245.08 (“Olivera Frayla”) to 1527.16 nmol g⁻¹ DW (“Andre Rieu”). Regarding antioxidant capacity, the leaf extracts of rose cultivars “Zora Frayla” and “Natalija Frayla” were prominent by showing 68.08 and 59.24 mmol Trolox equivalents (TE) g⁻¹ DW, respectively. The results highlight the intricate biochemical variability across rose cultivars and show that osmolytes, such as glycine betaine, proline and polyamines, and other biochemical markers can be used as reliable criteria for the selection of rose cultivars that are more resilient to biotic stress factors, especially powdery and downy mildew. Bridging fundamental research with practical applications, this study aims to contribute to the development of stress-tolerant rose cultivars adaptable to dynamic environmental conditions. Full article

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) derived from waste materials are promising for sustainable practices in agricultural production. This study evaluated the effects of PH enzymatically derived from anchovy by-products on the root system architecture (RSA) and aboveground development of potted primrose. The plants were treated with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/L concentrations of PH by drenching with 100 mL/pot at two-week intervals and irrigated once a week with 100 mL/pot during winter and twice weekly during spring. The results revealed that the 1.5 g/L treatment statistically significantly improved dry weight and leaf area, while the highest leaf chlorophyll content was observed with the 1.0 g/L treatment. The treatments did not influence leaf and flower numbers. Treatment with 1.0 g/L produced the most substantial improvement in root surface area, projected area, volume, length, tips, and forks. Additionally, the study employed machine learning (ML) algorithms, including GP, RF, XGBoost, and an ANN-based MLP. The input variables (root surface area, projected area, volume, length, tips, and forks) were assessed to model and predict the root traits. The ML and ANN algorithms’ R-squared rates were noted in the following order: MLP > GP > RF > XGBoost. These outcomes hold significant implications for enhancing primrose growth. Full article

Fermented Chinese mustard greens are popular fermented vegetable foods in Guangdong Province, China. In this study, the quality characteristics and microbial composition of fermented Chinese mustard greens from different regions, including Shantou (ST), Meizhou (MZ), Yunfu (YF), and Guangzhou (GZ), were evaluated. The colour and texture of fermented Chinese mustard greens were significantly different from those of ST, MZ, YF, and GZ. L* values were 48.62, 42.30, 32.43, and 34.02 in the stem parts of ST, MZ, YF, and GZ, respectively. The chewiness value was greater in GZ (131.26 N) than in MZ (53.25 N), YF (39.99 N), and GZ (24.22 N) zones. The microbial community structure determined by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) demonstrated that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Campilobacterota were the predominant phyla. Lactobacillus was the most predominant microorganism in the MZ and GZ samples and accounted for a greater proportion of the microorganisms in the ST and YF samples. In addition to Lactobacillus, the relative abundances of Cobetia and Weissella were greater in the ST group, while those of Halomonas and Pediococcus were greater in the YF group. There was a significant correlation between the microbial composition and quality indices (colour and texture) among the samples from the four regions. The quality of the fermented Chinese mustard greens in MZ and GZ was significantly different from that of other samples in ST and YF. The Lactobacillus genus (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus selangorensis) in MZ and GZ contributed to changes in colour (b*, C*, L*, a*) and texture (firmness and chewiness). This study provided a comprehensive correlation between quality and microbial composition of fermented Chinese mustard greens from different regions in Guangdong Province. The evaluation and correlation between quality and microbiota are helpful for guiding future improvements in fermentation processes and manufacturing high-quality fermented Chinese mustard greens. Full article

Traditional phenotyping relies on experts visually examining plants for physical traits like size, color, or disease presence. Measurements are taken manually using rulers, scales, or color charts, with all data recorded by hand. This labor-intensive and time-consuming process poses a significant obstacle to the efficient breeding of new cultivars. Recent innovations in computer vision and machine learning offer potential solutions for accelerating the development of robust and highly effective plant phenotyping. This study introduces an efficient plant recognition framework that leverages the power of the Segment Anything Model (SAM) guided by Explainable Contrastive Language–Image Pretraining (ECLIP). This approach can be applied to a variety of plant types, eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual phenotyping. To enhance the accuracy of plant phenotype measurements, a B-spline curve is incorporated during the plant component skeleton extraction process. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated through experimental results, which show that the proposed framework achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) of less than 0.05 for the majority of test samples. Remarkably, this performance is achieved without the need for model training or labeled data, highlighting the practicality and efficiency of the framework. Full article

Different fertilization systems, methods and techniques result in differences in plant nutrition, with variations in the mineral element contents in the leaves and values of physiological, yield, and production quality indices. This results in large datasets that are often relatively difficult to interpret. Starting from these aspects, the present study analyzed data on the state of plant nutrition (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content in leaves, in % of dry matter; Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn content in leaves, in mg/kg of dry matter), physiological indices (chlorophyll leaf content—Chl; leaf area—LA), yield (kg/vine, t/ha), and grape berry quality (sugar and acidity content in berries) of the ‘Burgund mare’ grape cultivar in relation to organic, mineral and foliar fertilization. According to a PCA multivariate analysis, four groups of components were obtained: PC1 including five factors, with positive action in the case of K (r = 0.963), P (r = 0.770) and Cu (r = 0.752), and negative action in the case of Mg (r = −0.940) and Mn (r = −0.759); PC2 including three factors, with positive action for Chl (r = 0.938), LA (r = 0.938) and Ca (r = 0.722); PC3 including one factor (N), with negative action (r = −0.916); and PC4 including two factors, with positive action for Fe (r = 0.869) and Zn (r = 0.761). Based on the one-sample t test (parametric) and the Wilcoxon test (non-parametric) and a threshold value of α = 0.05, the differences between the index values for fertilization variants T2–T13 compared with those for the control variant (T1) were verified. Significant differences were recorded in PC1 for P, Mg and Cu; in PC2 for Chl, LA and Ca; and in PC3 for N. Insignificant differences were recorded in PC1 for K and Mn and in PC4 for Fe and Zn. In the case of the productivity elements and quality indices, significant differences were recorded. Full article

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.) is a perennial herbaceous medicinal plant species that has not yet been thoroughly researched in terms of the influence of growing conditions on its morphological characteristics, flower yield, and the content and quality of its essential oil (EO). The plant material was harvested in the subsequent two production years at three localities in Southeast Serbia, differing in soil type (Alluvial soil, Rendzina, and Calcomelanosol). Based on two-year average values, the best results were obtained from plants grown on Rendzina, including the yield of fresh flowers (1850.2 g/m²), the highest plant height (49.3 cm), the number of branches (4.1), leaves (11.6), and flower heads (3.6), the flower diameter (1.6 cm), and the essential oil content (1.6%). The major EO constituent obtained from the plants growing on Rendzina and Calcomelanosol was 3-methyl pentyl angelate (20.8% and 15.2%, respectively). In the EO obtained from the plants growing on Alluvial soil, the major EO constituent was isobutyl angelate (13.0%), while the content of 3-methyl pentyl angelate was close to it (12.2%). The outcomes of this study provide guidelines for further research related to the cultivation of a Roman chamomile genotype on various soil types in a hilly region of Southeast Serbia, where most cultivated plants cannot be grown. Full article

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a globally significant vegetable and relies on cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines for hybrid seed production. The NWB CMS type is favored over Ogura CMS for its ease in maintainer screening. Despite its varied mitochondrial configurations and unvalidated sterile gene, we re-sequenced the mitochondrial genome of NWB CMS Tibet A and verified the function of the sterility gene via genetic transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. The mitochondrial genomes of Tibet A could be assembled into circular DNA molecules, with a mitochondrial genome size of 239,184 bp. Our analysis indicated that the specific orf463a was the CMS-associated gene in Tibet A, sharing sequence consistency with the CMS gene in DCGMS and NWB CMS YB-A. Collinearity analysis showed that the mitochondrial genomes of NWB CMS Tibet A, DCGMS, and NWB CMS YB-A share the same mitotype, with structural variations due to recombination via 9731 bp long repeat sequences and 508 bp short repeat sequences. Driven by the Ap3 promoter, transgenic Arabidopsis with orf463a exhibited male sterility, confirming the gene’s potential role in CMS. In this study, we assembled a new isomeric form of NWB CMS mitochondrial genome and proved the function of the candidate sterile gene. Full article

Bamboo forest healthcare tourism is a practical and sustainable management model that utilizes the medicinal functions of bamboo. However, the mechanism and potential functions of bamboo’s healthcare functions are still unclear. In this study, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are the core factor of bamboo forest healthcare were analyzed. The foliar VOCs of eight bamboo species, including Pleioblastus amarus (Keng) P. C. Keng, Pleioblastus maculatus (McClure) C. D. Chu et C. S. Chao, Pleioblastus juxianensis T. H. Wen, C. Y. Yao et S. Y. Chen, Acidosasa chienouensis (T. H. Wen) C. S. Chao et T. H. Wen, Pseudosasa amabilis (McClure) P. C. Keng ex S. L. Chen et al., Pseudosasa amabilis (McClure) Keng f., Phyllostachys rubromarginata McClure, and Phyllostachys hirtivagina G. H. Lai were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Screening compounds by aroma vitality value (OAV) determined the key aromas. The results showed that a total of 40 VOCs were identified from the leaves of the eight bamboo species. The compounds with relatively high content were (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-Hexen-1-ol, 1-Hexanol, (E, E)-2,4-Hexadienal, Limonene, and so on. The commonality of different bamboo species was that the dominant groups consisted of alcohols and aldehydes. The significant differences in leaf VOCs among species presented classification. Pleioblastus amarus, Acidosasa chienouensis, Pseudosasa amabilis, and Phyllostachys rubromarginata were noticeably clustered together. The aroma of bamboo leaves is a combination of grassy, fruity, and piney notes by 24 VOCs. The key aroma from Pleioblastus amarus is leaf alcohol, which contributes to the grassy scent, while the piney aroma is dominant in Pseudosasa amabilis and Phyllostachys rubromarginata. The study provides a reference value for enriching the chemical information of subtropical bamboo and developing the functional potential of bamboo forest healthcare tourism. Full article

This study reports the performance of seven Valencia (Citrus sinensis) selections grafted to four Trifoliata (Poncirus trifoliata) rootstocks in the Riverina region of south-east Australia. Six of the Valencia selections (numbered as Valencia 1 to 6) were from orchards in the Riverina region, and the seventh was a standard commercial variety ‘Keenan’ (control). Three of the four Trifoliata rootstock selections (‘Zao Yang’, ‘Tanghe’, and ‘Donghai’) were imported from the People’s Republic of China, and the fourth was the ‘Tri22’ (control) selection used commercially in Australia. ‘Valencia 5’ produced the highest cumulative (162 kg/tree) yield over the five harvest seasons and increased levels of Total Soluble Solids (TSS, 1.7 °Brix) compared with the current industry standard, ‘Keenan’. Trees grafted to ‘Zao Yang’ produced higher yields than any of the other Trifoliata selections, again outperforming the current industry standard, ‘Tri22’. The new combination of ‘Valencia 5’ scion on ‘Zao Yang’ rootstock represents an opportunity to significantly improve orchard productivity, particularly for juice production. ‘Valencia 6’ on Zao Yang’ had the highest percentage (58%) of fruit >75 mm in diameter compared with other scion/rootstock combinations and creates an additional opportunity for fresh market production. Significant differences in tree size, growth rates, and productivity were identified. Results from this evaluation have resulted in the commercialisation of ‘Valencia 5’ and ‘Valencia 6’ scions and ‘Zao Yang’ rootstock as three new citrus varieties for sweet orange production in Australia. Full article

Kiwifruit decline syndrome (KiDS) has affected kiwifruit orchards for more than ten years in the Mediterranean area, severely compromising productivity and causing extensive uprooting. The affected plants go through an irreversible and fast wilting process. The problem has not been solved yet, and a single cause has not been identified. In this work, we carried out a survey on ten five-year-old healthy kiwifruit cv. Hayward plants cultivated in an area strongly affected by KiDS are characterised by a rising temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Five plants were located in a KiDS-affected orchard. Our goal was to assess the hydraulic conductance of asymptomatic plants in a KiDS-affected area where rising climate change stress is underway. Our hypothesis was that a rising temperature and VPD could impair xylem functionality, leading the plants to develop strategies of tolerance, such as vessel narrowing, or stress symptoms, such as cavitation or implosion, inducing a higher risk of KiDS onset. Hydraulic conductance was investigated using a physiological and morphological approach to detect trunk sap flow; trunk growth and daily diameter variations; leaf gas exchanges and temperature; stem water potential; and the root xylem vessel diameter and vulnerability to cavitation. A strong xylem vessel narrowing was observed in all plants, with the highest frequency in the 30–45 µm diameter class, which is an indicator of long-term adaptation to a rising VPD. In some plants, cavitation and implosion were also observed, which are indicative of a short-term stress response; this behaviour was detected in the plants in the KiDS-affected orchard, where a high leaf temperature (>39 °C), low stomatal conductance (<0.20 mol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹) and transpiration (<3 mmol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹), low stem water potential (<−1 MPa), high vulnerability to cavitation (3.7 μm mm⁻²), low trunk sap flow and high daily stem diameter variation confirmed the water stress status. The concurrence of climate stress and agronomic management in predisposing conditions favourable to KiDS onset are discussed, evidencing the role of soil preparation, propagation material and previous crop. Full article

In the pursuit of maximizing onion (Allium cepa) yield and quality, farmers often face the challenges of unfavorable ecological conditions and inadequate agronomic practices. Therefore, our two-year study investigated the effects of biostimulants (BTs) of plant growth on bulb yield and the bioactive compounds of directly seeded onion. Four treatments were applied: control (C), seaweed extracts (BT1), humic and fulvic acid (BT2), and Trichoderma spp. (BT3). The results demonstrated a significant increase in bulb yield with BT1 (↑ 18.7%), BT2 (↑ 18.0%), and BT3 (↑ 24.3%). Intriguingly, all BTs markedly reduced phenolic content across both years. Additionally, BT1 and BT3 elevated flavonoid levels (↑ 16.8% and ↑ 16.7%, respectively), while BT2 decreased them (↓ 24.2%). Notably, in 2021, DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS tests indicated a significant reduction in antioxidant capacity compared to C. Our study underscores the important role of BTs in enhancing yield, influencing secondary metabolites and contributing to environmental sustainability in onion cultivation. Full article

Climate variabilities continue to hinder sustainable food production with an increasing need to use resources such as water and soil efficiently. The quest for these efficiencies in agriculture systems drives innovations among farmers. However, limited data on farm practices, such as irrigating with fishpond water and their effects on soil health, hinder their adoption as climate-smart innovations. In a nearly twenty-year-old vineyard with two distinct irrigation practices (irrigation with recycled fishpond water and irrigation with ditch water), this study was carried out as an exploratory study to investigate the influence of recycling fishpond water on soil health parameters and yield. Soil samples were taken from two different irrigation fields in summer and winter for lab analysis on soil health parameters (organic matter and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, microbial biomass, and microbial respiration). Averages over the two seasons of field measurements indicate that long-term irrigation using recycling fishpond water increased the measured soil health parameters (organic matter (13%), organic carbon (30%), nitrogen (17%), phosphorus (46%), microbial biomass (18%), and microbial respiration (56%)) in both summer and winter months when compared to fields receiving just ditchwater irrigation. Using water in a way that can improve soil health increases biodiversity and improves the efficiency of our limited water resources in semi-arid agricultural lands, and this strategy is a climate-smart tool that can help reduce water risks in dry agricultural regions such as Arizona. Full article

To maintain the continuous genetic variation and increase the genetic gain, appreciable germplasm diversity and its comprehensive characterization is necessary to further utilize gene sources for pre-breeding. The diversity of pepper forms, cultivation traditions and diverse fruit usages are typical for Balkan countries. Considering this rich diversity, 21 pepper accessions from the Balkan region were evaluated for morphological, biochemical, and insect resistance traits during 2018 and 2019 at Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Among the studied accessions, the highest productivity was observed in pumpkin shape K1115 and kapia type K1081 accessions, with 0.74 kg and 0.70 kg per plant, respectively. Concerning fruit quality, the highest total polyphenols and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were observed in pumpkin shape K712 (203.44 mg GAE/100 g FW) and K1103A (11.49 µmol Fe²⁺/g FW) accessions, respectively. Concerning insect resistance, 38% of studied accessions showed no infestation of green peach aphid. The kapia type K697 accession was seen as the most reliable resistance source, as it was not infested by aphids and had the least thrips (20% on plants) and cotton bollworm (6.67% on plants and 8.34% on fruit) damage. Based on examined traits, accessions were identified for enhanced fruit quality and promising insect resistance and have been included in further pre-breeding efforts. Full article

Launaea sarmentosa is a valuable medicinal plant with adaptability in saline areas, but it is still unclear how it responds to salinity. For the first time, the present study examined the plant’s changes under different soil salinities generated by 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl in order to elucidate its responses in terms of growth, photosynthesis, water uptake, osmotic adjustment, ion homeostasis, and oxidative stress defense to salinity. The results showed that the plant’s growth was enhanced by 50 mM NaCl with an 18.07% increase in dry biomass compared to the control, whereas higher salinity levels reduced its growth with a 6.39–54.85% decrease in dry biomass. The plant’s growth response indicates that it had tolerance to salinity levels up to 400 mM NaCl. The accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophylls (a + b) and carotenoids, was enhanced under salinity, except for a reduced accumulation under 400 mM NaCl. Relative water content decreased while proline content increased in the salt-stressed plants. Moreover, the salt-stressed plants reduced their K⁺ and NO₃⁻ content along with increases in Na⁺ and Cl⁻ content. The high salt stress level also caused oxidative stress in the plants, which was revealed through the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content. In addition, the salt-stressed plants had increased total phenolic content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. These physiological and biochemical changes suggest that L. sarmentosa evolved adaptive mechanisms in photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, ion homeostasis, and antioxidant defense for growing under salt stress. Full article

This study investigates the impact of soaking, germination, and roasting under various conditions on the phenolic content, antioxidant activities, and fatty acid profile of sunflower seeds of striped and black oil seed varieties. Ferulic acid emerged as the predominant phenolic acid across all samples. The study highlights the influence of different treatments and processing conditions on the levels of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Results revealed that soaking striped seeds for 24 h and roasting black oil seeds for 6 min exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Antioxidant activities varied, with striped seeds soaked for 24 h demonstrating the highest ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values, while black oil seeds roasted for 6 min exhibited superior 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. Oleic acid and linoleic acid were identified as major fatty acids in all processed samples, with striped seeds germinated for 24 h and black oil seeds germinated for 48 h displaying the highest concentrations. Soaking led to a reduction in both unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in both varieties. Roasting further influenced fatty acid concentrations, with a significant increase in striped seeds after 5 and 6 h of roasting, followed by a gradual decrease. Our findings suggest that incorporating appropriate processing methods, such as soaking striped seeds for 24 h and roasting black oil seeds for 6 min, enhances the potential health benefits of sunflower seeds. Full article

Coconut cultivation faces serious challenges caused by pests and diseases, whose targets are often not reached by conventional application methods such as spraying and soil application. New control strategies, such as vegetative endotherapy, have emerged, but knowledge gaps persist regarding many aspects, especially in pesticide translocation within palm trees, which is crucial for an efficient practical field application. This study investigated the translocation of a mixture of commercial insecticides and fungicides—difenoconazole, imidacloprid, thiabendazole, cyproconazole, thiamethoxam, spirodiclofen, and carbosulfan—applied via pressurized and nonpressurized endotherapeutic methods to coconut stems. This assessment aimed to quantify the concentrations of pesticide translocation through the stem, from the application site to the plant canopy. Due to the difficulty of applying the solution to the instrument used for pressurized endotherapy, the solution had to be diluted and used at a lower volume. In experimental field conditions, stem samples were assessed at 50 and 100 cm above the application point following endotherapy treatments conducted over a period ranging from 2 to 45 days. The analyses were performed using LC-MS/MS. In the pressurized method, the highest concentrations were observed for difenoconazole (1684 µg kg⁻¹), imidacloprid (1278 µg kg⁻¹), and thiabendazole (781 µg kg⁻¹). Conversely, in the nonpressurized method, the highest concentrations were recorded for imidacloprid (5803 µg kg⁻¹), followed by difenoconazole (3660 µg kg⁻¹) and thiabendazole (2598 µg kg⁻¹). To address the issue with formulation conditions in the pressurized method and to allow a comparison between the two application methods, we simulated extrapolated results for comparison with the nonpressurized method. This evaluation aimed to evaluate both methods under similar formulation conditions (volume and concentration). The results predicted that if the solution had not been diluted, the pressurized method would present the best translocations, mainly near the plant canopy, except for carbofuran. All pesticides were translocated independently of their physical–chemical properties or formulation. No pesticide residues were detected in the coconut water and pulp up to 120 days after the endotherapy application. Full article

The induction of variation in chrysanthemums using gamma radiation under in vitro conditions is an effective technique in ornamental plants. The purpose of this study is to obtain new mutants by isolating desirable properties from the three-colored single chrysanthemum mutant using in vitro cultures. Bud explants were cultured four times, the plantlets were acclimatized, and 520 plants were planted in outdoor conditions. Observations of the mutants were collected during flowering time, and 97 of the mutants were compared to the control group. Plants with pink, white, and chimeric flowers were obtained. Mutant plants with white flowers constituted the majority of the population followed by plants with variegated flower colors. The population is divided into six clusters, based on the plant height, plant diameter, flower number, flower diameter, number of flower colors, ray flowers’ number, leaves’ number, stem weight, and lengths and widths of leaves. The population decreased in plant height, flower number, and stem weight, while other features increased compared to the control group. Thus, a new population with similar characteristics to the parent plant was obtained from a single mutant. Chrysanthemum plants exposed to mutagens showed major changes in flower parts as well as other parts of the plant. Full article

Banana is a typical tropical fruit that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, and consumed daily because of its superior nutritional profile. This study aimed to investigate the changes in bananas’ physicochemical properties and nutritional composition from ripening stages 1 to 9. The analysis included color (peel and flesh), texture, total starch content, resistant starch content, free sugar content, minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus), and vitamin content. At the same time, the browning enzyme activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase, oxalic acid, and tannin were also measured. In this study, the banana peel gradually changed from dark green to light green to yellow during the ripening process, eventually appearing with many black spots, while the pulp color changed from white to light yellow and decreased in brightness. The pulp became softer with a prolonged ripening period, which was inconsistent with the time point of peel color change (ripening period 4–5). However, total starch content decreased from 74% to 31%, resistant starch originally at 32% gradually decreased to 5%, and free sugar content gradually increased with increasing ripening period. Vitamin C content and PPO activity decreased significantly during the ripening period, while other vitamins and minerals did not change significantly. In contrast, oxalic acid, tannin content, and peroxidase activity were negatively correlated with the ripening period. Therefore, this study reveals the changes in the nutrient content of bananas at different ripening stages, which may provide helpful information for researchers and producers to identify suitable raw materials for producing stable and high-nutrition-value banana-related foods during the peak raw material abundance seasons while reducing business risk. Full article

Apostasioideae, the early divergent subfamily of Orchidaceae, comprises Apostasia and Neuwiedia genera with approximately 20 species. Despite extensive research on Apostasioideae, previous studies have struggled to resolve taxonomic issues, particularly concerning the position of species within this subfamily. Here, we sequenced and annotated plastomes of Apostasia fujianica and Neuwiedia malipoensis, unveiling their phylogenetic relationships and shared plastome features with the other five published plastomes. We identified and analyzed the length, GC content, repeat sequences, and RSCU values of the chloroplast genomes. It is noteworthy that the chloroplast genome of N. malipoensis stands out as the largest among all known chloroplast genomes within the Apostasioideae subfamily, primarily due to contributions from both the LSC and SSC regions. Furthermore, our analysis revealed three unique structural rearrangements located approximately 10k–47k bp (ycf3–trnS-GCU) and 58k–59k bp(accD) in the LSC region and 118k–119k (ndhI) bp in the SSC region of the chloroplast genomes across all five species within the Apostasia genus, which presents a potential avenue for identifying distinctive chloroplast genetic markers, setting them apart from other orchid plants. And a total of four mutational hotspots (rpoC2, atpH, rps4, ndhK, and clpP) were identified. Moreover, our study suggested that Apostasia and Neuwiedia formed a monophyletic group, with Apostasia being sister to Neuwiedia. Within the Apostasia genus, five species were classified into two major clades, represented as follows: (A. odorata (A. shenzhenica and A. fujianica) (A. ramifera and A. wallichii)). These findings hold significance in developing DNA barcoding of Apostasioideae and contribute to the further phylogenetic understanding of Apostasioideae species. Full article