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Botryosphaeriaceae species causing stem blight and dieback of blueberries in Serbia
No full textIn the main growing areas in Serbia, plants with symptoms of stem blight were sampled in
nine orchards with American highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), cultivar ‘Duke’,
with high disease incidence, and 153 samples were taken. A total of 128 Botryosphaeriaceae
isolates were characterized on the basis of morphology, sequence analysis, multilocus
phylogeny based on ITS, TEF1-α and TUB2 sequences and pathogenicity, and belonged
to one of the four species Neofusicoccum parvum, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata
and Lasiodiplodia iraniensis. Both D. seriata and L. iraniensis were detected for the first time
on blueberries in Serbia, and L. iraniensis was detected for the first time on blueberries
worldwide. Comparative morphological and TEF1-α sequence analyses allowed a clear separation
of L. iraniensis from the phylogenetically closely related L. fujianensis, L. thailandica
and L. endophytica. Of the nine blueberry cultivars ‘Aurora’, ‘Barbara Ann’, ‘Bluecrop’,
‘Bluejay’, ‘Draper’, ‘Duke’, ‘Huron’, ‘Patriot’ and ‘Spartan’ inoculated with L. iraniensis
(isolate 421-19), the cultivar ‘Duke’ was the most susceptible. In our study, the majority
of orchards were in their second or third year of production, implying that the planting
material is likely to be the source of infection, emphasizing the importance of pathogen-free
planting material
Characterization of self-incompatibility genotypes in 48 sweet cherry cultivars and 21 promising hybrids bred in the Balkan region
No full textSweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) exhibits gametophytic self-incompatibility, controlled by at least two multi-allelic, linked genes located at the S-locus. During bloom, pollination with compatible genotypes is essential to ensure sufficient commercial fruit production. Although numerous cultivars and landraces have been S-genotyped, limited data are available on sweet cherry material developed through breeding efforts in the Balkan countries. Therefore, this study was undertaken primarily to identify S-genotypes of 69 sweet cherries, comprising 44 released cultivars, 17 candidate cultivars or promising hybrids, and eight parental genotypes developed or utilized in breeding programmes across Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. We used PCR method for detection of S-alleles, combined with DNA fragment analysis and S-RNase sequencing to evaluate sweet cherry genotypes. We identified a novel S-RNase allele, named S39, in the Romanian sweet cherry cultivar ‘Amar Maxut’ and 10 different known S-RNase alleles (S1–S6, S9, S12, S13 and S22), which allowed classification of 69 genotypes into 21 known incompatibility groups (IGs), a ‘0’ group of universal pollen donors, and an ‘SC’ group of self-compatible genotypes. The pedigrees of released cultivars and promising hybrids were discussed based on the polymorphism of the S-locus. This study expands our knowledge of new universal pollen donors, self-compatible genotypes and S-locus combinations, while resolving uncertainties in previous S-genotyping and providing valuable insights for breeders and growers
Influence of blueberry mosaic disease on polyphenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of highbush blueberry ‘Duke’ fruits
No full textBlueberry mosaic virus (BlMaV) is a persistent pathogen that alters host physiology; however, its impact on secondary metabolism in blueberry fruits remains poorly characterized. In this study, the phenolic profile of the cultivar ‘Duke’ was systematically examined in healthy and BlMaV-infected plants over two successive years. Using UHPLC Q-ToF MS, a total of 46 phenolic compounds were detected, spanning flavonols, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins. Comparative analyses revealed consistent shifts in metabolite abundance between healthy and infected samples. Several flavonol aglycones and phenolic acid derivatives accumulated in infected fruits, whereas multiple anthocyanins and glycosides were reduced. To further explore metabolic relationships, color correlation analysis highlighted distinct co-variation patterns among compound classes. Principal component analysis clearly separated infected and healthy fruits, confirming that viral infection was the dominant source of variation, surpassing the influence of harvest year or environmental factors. Nevertheless, the antioxidant capacity remained unchanged, regardless of the presence of the virus or the variation in environmental conditions. These results provide novel biochemical evidence that BlMaV infection reshapes the phenolic composition of blueberries and lays the groundwork for future studies on the metabolic consequences of viral stress in fruit crops
Klijavost polena i dužina polenovih cevi u in vitro uslovima kao indikatori uticaja temperature na genotipove trešnje
No full textThis study evaluated the effects of temperature on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth in eight sweet cherry genotypes (‘Burlat’, ‘Canetova’, ‘Dolga Šiška’, ‘G-2’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Lapins’,‘Rita’, and ‘Sunburst’) over two consecutive years (2022–2023). Experiments were conducted at 17°C and 20°C to assess genotypic variability and adaptability under changing climatic conditions. Results revealed considerable variability among genotypes: pollen germination ranged from 9.3% (‘Kordia’) to 53.9% (‘Lapins’), while pollen tube length varied from 180.8 μm (‘Dolga Šiška’) to 669.3 μm (‘Lapins’). Germination was generally higher at 17°C than at 20°C, contrary to expectations. ‘Lapins’, ‘Canetova’, and ‘G-2’ maintained stable pollen germination and tube growth across years, highlighting their potential as reliable pollenisers. In contrast, ‘Dolga Šiška’ and ‘Sunburst’ showed drastic reductions under less favourable conditions, confirming their sensitivity to environmental stress. Analysis of variance indicated that genotype was the dominant factor for pollen tube growth, while strong genotype × year interaction was the main determinant of pollen germination. These findings demonstrate that pollen performance is a valuable indicator of reproductive resilience, and they identify genotypes suitable for orchard planning to secure fruit set and yield stability under climate change.U ovom istraživanju ispitivan je uticaj temperature na klijanje polena i rast polenovih cevčica u in vitro uslovima kod osam genotipova trešnje (Burlat, Canetova, Dolga Šiška, G-2, Kordia, Lapins, Rita i Sunburst) tokom dve godine (2022–2023). Eksperiment je sproveden u uslovima konstantnih temperatura (17°C i 20°C) radi procene varijabilnosti genotipova i njihove adaptabilnosti na različite temperaturne uslove. Rezultati su pokazali značajne razlike među genotipovima: klijavost polena se kretala od 9,3% (Kordia) do 53,9% (Lapins), dok je dužina polenovih cevi varirala od 180,8 μm (Dolga Šiška) do 669,3 μm (Lapins). Klijavost polena je generalno bila bolja na 17°C nego na 20°C. Genotipovi Lapins, Canetova i G-2 pokazali su stabilne rezultate za klijavost polena in vitro i dužinu polenovih cevčica tokom obe godine ispitivanja, što ukazuje na njihov potencijal kao pouzdanih oprašivača. Nasuprot tome, Dolga Šiška i Sunburst su imale drastično smanjenje oba parametra u godini sa nepovoljnijim uslovima, što potvrđuje njihovu osetljivost na temperaturni stres. Analiza varijanse je pokazala da je genotip bio dominantan faktor za porast polenove cevčice, dok je na klijavost polena najveći uticaj imala interakcija genotip × godina. Ovi nalazi potvrđuju da je performans polena in vitro vredan indikator reproduktivne otpornosti i ukazuju na genotipove trešnje pogodne za planiranje zasada radi obezbeđivanja oplodnje i stabilnosti prinosa u uslovima klimatskih promena.Dr Ivana Glišić je glavni i odgovorni urednik časopisa Voćarstvo (Journal of Pomology)
Biocontrol potential of Bacillus spp. for sustainable postharvest management and quality enhancement in plum production
No full textPostharvest losses, primarily due to fungal pathogens, pose a significant challenge to agriculture worldwide. Traditional chemical fungicides have been the mainstay for controlling postharvest decay, but their growing restrictions in many regions call for innovative and sustainable alternatives. Bacillus species have emerged as a promising biocontrol solution, with demonstrated antagonistic effects against pathogens like Monilinia laxa, making them highly relevant in agricultural engineering innovations.This study investigates the biocontrol potential of Bacillus spp. for managing postharvest rot in plums, focusing on their physiological and biochemical properties, such as resistance to extreme environmental conditions and their ability to produce plant growth-promoting enzymes. The most effective Bacillus isolate (MEI) was selected for field trials to evaluate its impact on the quality and storability of plums, which is crucial for improving agricultural productivity and reducing postharvest losses.Field experiments with Čačanska Lepotica plums inoculated with Monilinia laxa demonstrated that the preventive application of MEI reduced postharvest rot incidence by approximately 6.67% on day 3 and 13.33% on day 5, while the curative treatment achieved a 12.45% reduction compared to Aleox, a 3.76% increase compared to Neon, and a 37.15% reduction compared to the Control (distilled water). In terms of fruit quality, preventive MEI treatments significantly enhanced both antioxidant capacity (up to 44.72% compared to Aleox) and total phenolic content (up to 36.00% compared to Neon), demonstrating the potential of Bacillus spp. to not only control postharvest diseases but also improve the nutritional quality of the produce.These findings suggest that Bacillus spp. offer an innovative biocontrol strategy that addresses the practical challenges of postharvest disease control and enhances fruit quality, supporting the broader goals of sustainable and efficient agricultural practices
Fruit Weight and Primary Metabolites Content of Plum Fruits as Affected by Planting Density
No full textAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dense planting (4×1 m; 4×2 m and 5×3 m) on the fruit weight and contents of primary metabolites (soluble solids, total sugars, invert sugars, total acids, and pH) in the fruits of eight plum cultivars (‘Čačanska Rana’, ʻČačanska Lepotica’, ‘Timočanka’, ‘Krina’, ‘Mildora’, ʻČačanska Najbolja’, ʻČačanska Rodna’ and ‘Stanley’). During the three-year experimental period, results showed variability in fruit weight and chemical composition between different cultivars and planting densities. The highest fruit weight was recorded at the planting distance of 4×2 m in cultivars ʻČačanska Rana’, ʻČačanska Lepotica’, ʻKrina’, ʻMildora’ and ʻČačanska Najbolja’, while the cultivars ʻTimočanka’, ʻČačanska Rodna’ and Stanley’ had the highest value at the standard distance of 5×3 m. Regarding primary metabolites, in all tested cultivars, the accumulation and synthesis of soluble solids and sugars in the fruit increased with increasing planting density, while pH and total acids showed the opposite trend. The present results indicated that different planting densities have an important effect on fruit weight and plant metabolism, promoting the synthesis and accumulation of primary metabolites in the fruits, thus positively affecting the quality and commercial value of the fruit
Molecular detection and characterization of cherry virus A in sweet cherry, apricot and plum in Serbia
No full textCherry virus A (CVA) is a graft transmissible virus that infects cherries and other stone fruit species. One hundred six trees of sour and sweet cherry, plum, apricot, and peach from 22 locations in Serbia were tested for the presence of CVA. RT-PCR analysis of 106 samples revealed the CVA presence in 13 samples, including eight sweet cherries, three apricots, and two plums. Sequence analysis of the partial movement protein gene confirmed that Serbian isolates share 89.07–100% nucleotide identities with CVA sequences in GenBank. Our CVA isolates from apricots and plums share 100% nucleotide sequence identity with isolates from Australia, Hungary, Russia, and the Czech Republic. Isolates from sweet cherries showed 100% identity with isolates from Canada, China, India, and the Czech Republic. Phylogenetic analyses based on the ML method showed that the Serbian CVA isolates belonged to three out of six identified groups. No clear grouping of isolates based on geographical origin was evidenced, but there is a strong association between groups and host plants. Our results reveal the presence of CVA for the first time in apricots and plums in Serbia
Degree of deterioration of the chemical composition of apricot fruits caused by Sharka disease
No full textThe objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Sharka disease on fruit weight, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of apricot fruit cv. ‘Precoce de Thyrinte’. During two consecutive years, the presence of PPV-M strain was determined on leaves and fruits. This strain decreased the content of soluble solids content (SSC), invert (IS), reducing (RS), sucrose (SU) and total sugars (TS), pigments (chlorophylls and total carotenoids), total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), ripening (RI) and sweetness indexes (SI) in infected trees. The effect of PPV-M strain on pH juice and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was not significant but increased ash content and both malic and citric acids. In general, a significantly greater deterioration in fruit quality was observed in the rainy 2023 year. However, the significant effect interaction viral status × year indicated the complex nature of the deterioration in fruit quality depending on PPV-M infection and weather conditions during fruit development and its maturity.Ausmaß der Verschlechterung der chemischen Zusammensetzung von Marillen durch ScharkaErkrankung. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss der Scharka-Krankheit auf das Fruchtgewicht, die chemische Zusammensetzung und die antioxidative Aktivität der Marillensorte Precoce de Thyrinte zu untersuchen. Über zwei aufeinanderfolgende Jahre hinweg wurde das Vorkommen des PPV-MStammes (Plum pox virus, M-Stamm) an Blättern und Früchten nachgewiesen. Dieser Virusstamm verringerte den Gehalt an löslichen Feststoffen (SSC), Invertzucker (IS), reduzierenden Zuckern (RS), Saccharose (SU) und Gesamtzuckern (TS) sowie an Pigmenten (Chlorophyllen und Gesamtcarotinoiden), Gesamtphenolen (TPC), Gesamtflavonoiden (TFC), Reifungsindex (RI) und Süßeindex (SI) bei infizierten Bäumen. Der Einfluss des PPV-M-Stammes auf den pH-Wert des Fruchtsaftes und die Gesamtantioxidative Kapazität (TAC) war nicht signifikant, jedoch stieg der Aschegehalt sowie der Gehalt an Äpfel- und Zitronensäure an. Insgesamt wurde im niederschlagsreichen Jahr 2023 eine signifikant stärkere Qualitätsminderung der Früchte beobachtet. Die signifikanten Effekte der Interaktion zwischen Virusstatus und Jahr verdeutlicht die Komplexität der Qualitätsveränderung, die sowohl von der PPV-M-Infektion als auch von den Witterungsbedingungen während der Fruchtentwicklung und -reife abhängig ist
Характеристики на сливовата ракия Čačanska Rodna от дървета, заразени с вируса Plum Pox
No full textThe paper presents the results of the examination of the characteristics of variety Čačanska Rodna fruits and brandies from plum pox virus (PPV) infected and uninfected trees. The fruits were processed into brandy in a slightly modified traditional way. In addition to the chemical composition and sensory characteristics, the yields of plum distillates from fruits picked from infected and uninfected trees were also determined. Although fruits from infected trees, depending on the year, were harvested 2 to 8 days earlier than fruits from healthy trees, they contained a high concentration of total sugars, which allows for economical processing of plums. Among the tested chemical characteristics of plum brandies obtained from fruits picked from trees with different PPV statuses, only the contents of total esters, total aldehydes, and methanol were slightly different in both years. Sensory characteristics of the plum brandies, produced from fruits that have been picked both from the infected and uninfected trees, were very similar.Статията представя резултатите от изследването на характеристиките на плодовете и ракиите от сорт Čačanska Rodna от заразени и незаразени с вируса на шарка по сливата (PPV) дървета. Плодовете са преработени в ракия по леко модифициран традиционен начин. В допълнение към химичния състав и сензорните характеристики бяха определени и добивите на сливови дестилати от плодове, на заразени и здрави дървета. Въпреки че плодовете от заразените дървета, в зависимост от годината, се берат от 2 до 8 дни по-рано от плодовете на здравите дървета, те съдържат висока концентрация на общи захари, което позволява икономична преработка на сливите. Сред изследваните химични характеристики на сливовите ракии, получени от плодове, набрани от дървета с различен статус на PPV, само съдържанието на общи естери, общи алдехиди и метанол се различава леко през двете години. Сензорните характеристики на сливовите ракии, произведени от плодове, набрани както от заразени, така и от незаразени дървета, са много сходни
Fruit weight and primary metabolites content of plum fruits as affected by planting density
No full textAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different dense planting (4×1 m; 4×2 m and 5×3 m) on the fruit weight and contents of primary metabolites (soluble solids, total sugars, invert sugars, total acids, and pH) in the fruits of eight plum cultivars (‘Čačanska Rana’, ʻČačanska Lepotica’, ‘Timočanka’, ‘Krina’, ‘Mildora’, ʻČačanska Najbolja’, ʻČačanska Rodna’ and ‘Stanley’). During the three-year experimental period, results showed variability in fruit weight and chemical composition between different cultivars and planting densities. The highest fruit weight was recorded at the planting distance of 4×2 m in cultivars ʻČačanska Rana’, ʻČačanska Lepotica’, ʻKrina’, ʻMildora’ and ʻČačanska Najbolja’, while the cultivars ʻTimočanka’, ʻČačanska Rodna’ and Stanley’ had the highest value at the standard distance of 5×3 m. Regarding primary metabolites, in all tested cultivars, the accumulation and synthesis of soluble solids and sugars in the fruit increased with increasing planting density, while pH and total acids showed the opposite trend. The present results indicated that different planting densities have an important effect on fruit weight and plant metabolism, promoting the synthesis and accumulation of primary metabolites in the fruits, thus positively affecting the quality and commercial value of the fruit