Some morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes in the pear fruit (Pyrus communis var. Williams Bon Chrétien) during development and following harvest

1961 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Bain

Morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes occurring in the developing fruit of Pyrus communis var. Williams Bon Chretien were studied at frequent intervals, from blossom until after commercial maturity, in three successive seasons. Morphological changes were shown by increase in measurements of volume, long and short axis, and the width of the cortex (flesh), the morphology of the fruit being interpreted by the receptacular theory, Anatomical changes were given by the duration and distribution of cell division, differentiation of tissues, cell size, and cell number. Physiological changes were expressed as changes in fresh weight, dry weight, and moisture content for the whole fruit, and separately for the flesh, peel, and core in the second and third seasons. Total and reducing sugars, starch, titratable acidity, and total and protein nitrogen were estimated per gram of dried flesh at each sampling. Respiration rates for whole fruit were measured by the Pettenkofer method. Physiological changes could not be expressed on a per cell basis because of the complex structure of pear tissue. Data presented on the basis of the number of days from blossom showed two distinct stages in fruit growth. Stage I, the first 42-56 days of development, corresponded to the main cell division period and was characterized by more rapid morphological but slower physiological changes (except for increase in protein nitrogen) than Stage 11, the remainder of the time on the tree. Comparable trends were found in the three seasons, but drought reduced growth rate in the first season. Some ripening changes were followed on removal from the tree and after periods of cold storage at 0°C.

1958 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Bain

Measurements of fruit radius and peel and pulp width, as well as determinations of fresh weight, dry weight, moisture content total and protein nitrogen content, and respiration rate were made throughout two growing seasons on Valencia oranges from the Gosford district of New South Wales. Soluble solids, sugar, and acid were also determined in the juice. Anatomical changes during development were investigated throughout one season. Development could be divided into three stages, corresponding with changes in growth rate and coinciding on a calendar basis in both seasons. Stage I varied in length according to the date of the blossom, but was completed by mid December. This was the cell division stage; by mid December cell division was completed in all tissues except the outermost cell layers. Increase in fruit size at this stage was mainly due to increased peel thickness. Stage 11, a period of very rapid growth from mid December to mid July, was the critical period for growth and was distinguished as the cell enlargement period, rapid morphological and physiological changes occurring in the absence of cell division. The growth of the pulp was responsible for most of the increase in fruit size during Stage 11; the peel reached a maximum width early in this stage and then became thinner with very little subsequent change in thickness as the pulp continued to increase in size. Stage 111, the maturation period, lasted from mid July until the fruit was ripe, or approximately 7 months. Fruit continued to grow for as long as it was left on the tree but at a very reduced rate compared with Stage 11. Ripening occurred during Stage 111.


1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
BK Singh ◽  
CF Jenner

The association between endosperm cell number and grain dry weight, and the dependence of endosperm cell division on the availability of organic nutrients, have been investigated in wheat. Two different procedures were used to vary the supply of nutrients to the grains during the phase of cell division. Detached ears were cultured in solutions of sucrose (0-60 g 1-1) and glutamine (0.125-0.75 g N 1-1), or intact plants were exposed to high (560 �mol m-2 s-1) or low (55 �mol m-2 s-1) photon irradiance. Cell number per endosperm, and grain dry weight, were both responsive to the concentration of nutrients in the external medium, and to the level of photon exposure. Average dry weight per cell was relatively independent of the level of nutrition or of photon exposure until cell division had ceased but, in the later stages of grain-filling, dry weight per cell in the cultured ears displayed a dependence upon the concentration of nutrients in the external medium. Amounts of sucrose, other soluble carbohydrates and soluble amino nitrogen were extracted from the grains and, on a per grain basis, the amounts of all fractions varied in response to variation in the level of nutrients supplied to the ears, and to photon exposure. However, concentrations of these nutrients in the developing grains, calculated on a dry weight or water basis, were not associated with the rate of cell division in the grains. While the evidence gathered supports the notion that growth (in cell number, and dry weight) of the developing endosperm is controlled inter alia by the provision of organic nutrients, the nature of the controlling mechanism is obscure. It seems that cellular division is not affected directly by nutritional supply through a mechanism involving the concentration of substrates for energy and protein synthesis within the developing grain.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 2227-2231 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. A. Lott

Various structural and physiological changes in squash cotyledons were followed as a function of germination time. Temperature, to which squash plants are very sensitive, was kept constant at 31 °C but light conditions were varied.In light-germinated plants (16 h light/day) the cotyledons changed from storage organs to greatly enlarged photosynthetic leaves, within 5 days. Incorporation of major amounts of thymidine-2-14C throughout the cotyledons occurred only during the enlargement phase.Dark-germinated plants, in which the cotyledons enlarged very little, produced a long, stout hypocotyl. No major incorporation of thymidine-2-14C into the cotyledons occurred, suggesting that little cell division occurs in the cotyledons of dark-germinated squash plants.Fresh- and dry-weight changes in the cotyledons were consistent with the changes in morphology of light- and dark-germinated plants. The cotyledons of plants which were dark-germinated for 6 days and then placed in 16 h light per day did not reach the fresh weight per cotyledon or dry weight per cotyledon level attained by cotyledons from plants germinated, from the beginning in 16 h light per day.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (16) ◽  
pp. 1780-1788 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lue-Kim ◽  
P. C. Wozniak ◽  
R. A. Fletcher

The primary phycotoxic effects of various concentrations (5–50 μM) of cadmium sulfate (CdSO4) on synchronous cultures of Chlorella ellipsoidea were determined during a 14-h light and a 10-h dark incubation cycle. At a concentration of 5 μM CdSO4 there was a slight stimulation in cell number, chlorophyll level, and dry weight whereas at higher concentrations (10–40 μM) a linear decrease in these parameters was evident. At even higher concentrations, 50 μM and above, cytolysis occurred. Inhibition of chlorophyll concentration and dry weight was greater the longer the cultures were exposed to cadmium. Cell division was completely arrested when toxic levels of cadmium were administered any time throughout the duration of the light phase. However, the severity of toxicity of cadmium, when applied during the dark phase, increased with the length of time of exposure. Cadmium toxicity also resulted in disturbances in cell division. Treated cells became larger than control cells. Unequal sporulation, microcolony and incipient microcolony formation, swelling, increased photolucence, and disruption of mitochondria occurred following treatment of cultures with toxic levels of cadmium. A further toxic effect of cadmium might relate to an increase in membrane permeability. Treatment of cultures with increasing concentrations of cadmium resulted in intracellular cadmium exceeding extracellular cadmium levels. The primary toxic effect of cadmium on synchronous cultures of C. ellipsoidea was attributed to a lack of cell division probably related to insufficient synthesis of chlorophyll and dry weight components as well as to a disruption of membrane integrity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5739
Author(s):  
Joo Yeol Kim ◽  
Hyo-Jun Lee ◽  
Jin A Kim ◽  
Mi-Jeong Jeong

Sound waves affect plants at the biochemical, physical, and genetic levels. However, the mechanisms by which plants respond to sound waves are largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of sound waves on Arabidopsis thaliana growth. The results of the study showed that Arabidopsis seeds exposed to sound waves (100 and 100 + 9k Hz) for 15 h per day for 3 day had significantly longer root growth than that in the control group. The root length and cell number in the root apical meristem were significantly affected by sound waves. Furthermore, genes involved in cell division were upregulated in seedlings exposed to sound waves. Root development was affected by the concentration and activity of some phytohormones, including cytokinin and auxin. Analysis of the expression levels of genes regulating cytokinin and auxin biosynthesis and signaling showed that cytokinin and ethylene signaling genes were downregulated, while auxin signaling and biosynthesis genes were upregulated in Arabidopsis exposed to sound waves. Additionally, the cytokinin and auxin concentrations of the roots of Arabidopsis plants increased and decreased, respectively, after exposure to sound waves. Our findings suggest that sound waves are potential agricultural tools for improving crop growth performance.


Processes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keren Toledo-Madrid ◽  
Tzayhrí Gallardo-Velázquez ◽  
Guillermo Osorio-Revilla

The aim of this study was to microencapsulate an optimized extract of purple cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus indica), rich in phenolic compounds (PC), betacyanins (BC), and betaxanthins (BX), with antioxidant capacity (AC), by two methodologies: combined water-in-oil-in water double emulsions-spray drying (W/O/W-SP) and conventional spray drying, studying the effect of spray drying (SP) on PC and AC. Optimal extraction conditions for bioactive compounds were: 52 °C, for 30 min, using aqueous ethanol (40%) as the solvent, with a 0.85 desirability function, obtaining 17.39 ± 0.11 mg GAE/gdw (gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry weight) for PC, 0.35 mg BE/gdw (betanin equivalents per gram of dry weight) for BC, and 0.26 mg IE/gdw (indicaxanthin equivalents per gram of dry weight) for BX. The best combination of temperatures for conventional SP and W/O/W-SP was 160–80 °C obtaining the highest retention and encapsulation efficiencies for PC. For conventional SP, results were: 107% and 100% PC and AC retention efficiencies (RE-PC and RE-AC), respectively, with 97% of PC encapsulation efficiency (EE-PC), meanwhile for the W/O/W-SP results were: 78% and 103% RE-PC and RE-AC, respectively, with 70% of EE-PC. Microcapsules obtained with W/O/W-SP maintained their structure and integrity and showed a considerable reduction in globule size in the reconstituted W/O/W emulsions due to the spray drying stress. Despite having lower EE-PC than conventional SP, spray dried W/O/W emulsions seems to be a promising controlled-delivery vehicle for antioxidant compounds.


1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. FOWLER ◽  
R. K. DOWNEY

Self-pollinated seed from normal and erucic acid free plants of summer rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) was harvested at weekly intervals from pollination to maturity. Oven-dried whole seeds and their component parts were weighed and analyzed for oil content and fatty acid composition. Oil and dry matter accumulation followed sigmoidal patterns, most of the deposition occurring between 14 and 35 days after pollination (DAP). The relative contribution of the testa, endosperm and embryo to dry weight and oil content of whole seeds changed significantly during seed development. Oil content of the developing embryo varied from 22 to 44%, and the testa from 1.6 to 13%, although at maturity only 6 to 8% oil was found in the testa and adhering aleurone. The nucleate endosperm oil content was estimated to be low and in the order of 2 to 2.5%. In 7- to 14-day-old seeds the dry weight, oil content and fatty acid composition were largely determined by the testa and endosperm. From 14 to 21 DAP the testa and embryo were dominant and after 21 DAP the embryo was the controlling influence on the seed characteristics studied.Oils of the testa, nucleate endosperm and embryo differed in fatty acid composition. In seeds free of erucic acid, the ratios of the 18 carbon fatty acids of the embryo and testa remained nearly constant from 21 DAP to maturity. This suggested that the variation in fatty acid composition as well as oil content during seed development in this material was due to disproportionate changes in the contribution of the testa, nucleate endosperm and embryo. However, in developing seeds capable of producing erucic acid a change in the ratio of fatty acid synthesis occurred in both the testa and embryo.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-213
Author(s):  
Mariana Oaldje-Pavlovic ◽  
Ana Alimpic-Aradski ◽  
Aleksandra Savic ◽  
Smiljana Jankovic ◽  
Milena Milutinovic ◽  
...  

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of methanolic extracts of peel, flesh and mixed peel, and flesh, as well as the cytotoxic activity of mixed peel and flesh extracts obtained from fruits of six traditional pear varieties (Vidovaca, Lubenicarka, Karamanka, Jeribasma, Loncara and Takisa), one commercial variety (Williams Bartlett) and a wild pear (Pyrus communis) from Serbia. The tested extracts showed strong antioxidant activity regarding the prevention of ?-carotene bleaching and high ?-glucosidase inhibition, and no significant cytotoxic potential, with the exception of the Williams Bartlett and Pyrus communis extracts. Overall, the most potent fruit part was shown to be the peel. The most active variety in all of the applied antioxidant and antidiabetic assays was Takisa, while the wild pear, P. communis, was the most effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, several methanolic extracts of pear fruit are promising candidates for further studies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological conditions associated with the effects of oxidative stress, such as diabetes and even colorectal cancer.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalya Drohomyretska

Hemomicrocirculatory system – is a complex structure that reacts in every pathological process even before the clinical period and takes the first blow. The study of microhemocirculation will provide an opportunity to solve the important for practical medicine questions of pathogenesis of many diseases, as for the prevention and treatment of regional disorders of blood circulation.The objective of the research is to study the state of the hemomicrocirculatory bed (HMCB) of adventitia of varicose veins of the small pelvis (VVSP) in women with chronic inflammatory processes of the organs of the small pelvis (CIPOSP).Materials and methods of research. To evaluate the restructuring of the HMCB of adventitia of VVSP, the operating material of 12 women of reproductive age was used. Mainly, there were pieces of the ovarian vein. The study of the HMCB in the vein wall was performed by the non-injecting method of silver impregnation according to V.V. Kupriyanov. To standardize the results, the condition of the HMCB of adventitia of the venous wall in norm was studied in 5 women of reproductive age, who died as a result of various traumas.Results of the research. After the performed studies, the structural-morphological changes of the HMCB of the adventitia of the small pelvis veins were revealed. The dilation of capillaries, postcapillaries, postcapillary venules was observed. The diameter of the vessels of the HMCB of the ovarian vein adventitia was: venule – 94.21 ± 1.38 μM in comparison with the norm – 48.78 ± 1.60 μM (p<0.001); post-capillary venules – 46.76 ± 1.04 μM in comparison with the norm – 28.29 ± 1.1.01 μM (p<0.001); the capillaries were 11.22 ± 0.14 μM in comparison with the norm – 8.24 ± 0.16 μM (p<0.05), arterioles – 29.02 ± 0.76 μM in comparison with the norm – 25.19 ± 1.15 μM (p<0.01). The architectonics of the arterioles is almost unchanged. Lumen of venules is filled with formed elements. The structure of capillaries is polymorphic. The capillary net was localized and concentrated or was formed as a thick planar net, the capillaries were expanded. There were arterio-venulous anastomoses. Endothelial nuclei are shortened. In some preparations, the diameter of the arterioles corresponded to the diameter of the collection venules.  Conclusions:1. The first discovered by us changes in HMCB of adventitia of varicose veins of the small pelvis in women with CIPOSP can be one of the pathogenetic links of the development and progression of the varicose vein itself, which in turn aggravates the course of chronic inflammation.      2. The timely appointment of drugs that improve microcirculation will enable to prevent the development of dystrophic changes in the vein wall, improve the course of chronic inflammatory processes and reduce or completely eliminate the syndrome of “chronic pelvic pain”.


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