fruits

Kazak apple research key to preventing blue mold

harminka — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:16:11 -0500

Blue mold, caused by the fungus Penicillium expansum, is the scourge of apple breeders and producers throughout the world, causing extensive losses to stored apples. As the familiar saying goes, one bad apple really can spoil the whole bunch—good fruit stored in containers with decaying fruit often absorbs a moldy odor and flavor.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Is Low among Black Men

harminka — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:53:03 -0500

Despite efforts to stress the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, daily consumption of these foods among men remains low, particularly among black men, according to researchers at Columbia and Temple universities, the University of Pennsylvania and the National Cancer Institute.

Scientists see health-determining air paths in fruit

harminka — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:51:19 -0500

Pears and apples contain air pathways to “breathe”. The pathways are microscopically small structures for oxygen supply and are key elements in determining the fruit’s health. Researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) have visualized them for the first time, therefore proving their hypothesized existence.

High-tech harvester cuts labor costs, maintains quality of Southern blueberry crops

harminka — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:51:33 -0500

To meet increasing consumer demands for healthy, high-quality fruit, commercial growers in the United States are ramping up production of blueberries. Domestic production of this tiny antioxidant-packed "super food" has increased in seven Southeastern states, accounting for almost one-third of the U.S. acreage of two of the most popular types of blueberries.

Southern farmers realize profits from highbush blueberries

harminka — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:43:26 -0500

Southern highbush blueberries are emerging as an important fruit crop in Georgia, but experienced farmers say the fruit can be a challenge to grow. To determine if the blueberry shows true promise as a profitable crop, researchers at the University of Georgia recently studied the economics of these tiny berries.

New recommendations for grape growers

harminka — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:07:38 -0500

The inland areas of the Pacific Northwest, where rainfall averages only 4 to 12 inches per year, present growing challenges for vineyard owners and wine grape producers. The arid conditions in this part of the country have not been conducive for vineyard owners who produce and market high-quality wine grapes.

First draft of transgenic papaya genome yields many fruits

harminka — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:29:45 -0500

A broad collaboration of research institutions in the U.S. and China has produced a first draft of the papaya genome. This draft, which spells out more than 90 percent of the plant’s gene coding sequence, sheds new light on the evolution of flowering plants.

Crop scientists discover gene that controls fruit shape

harminka — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:51:46 -0500

Crop scientists have cloned a gene that controls the shape of tomatoes, a discovery that could help unravel the mystery behind the huge morphological differences among edible fruits and vegetables, as well as provide new insight into mechanisms of plant development.

Why pears may become brown during commercial storage

harminka — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:17:40 -0600

Internal browning of pears stored under low oxygen conditions is related to restricted gas exchange inside the fruit, according to a study published March 7th in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology. Researchers at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium suggest a computer model that can be used to improve long-term storage of fruit under controlled atmospheres.

Purple pigments and obesity

harminka — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:38:46 -0600

Scientists in Arkansas are reporting new evidence that natural pigments responsible for the beautiful blue/purple/reddish color of certain fruits and vegetables may help prevent obesity.

Consumption of fruits may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease

harminka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:24:26 -0600

Apples, bananas, and oranges are the most common fruits in both Western and Asian diets, and are important sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A new study in the Journal of Food Science explores the additional health benefits of these fruits and reveals they also protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

African fruits could help alleviate hunger, bolster rural development

harminka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:14:12 -0600

Africa's own fruits are a largely untapped resource that could combat malnutrition and boost environmental stability and rural development in Africa, says a new report from the National Research Council.