Structure of V-ATPase from citrus fruit

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Empirical evidence of the mediterranean fruit fly movement between orchard types

Understanding species movement in the agroecological system is an important theme in ecology. A mark–release–capture experiment was conducted to study the dispersion behaviour of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.; Diptera: Tephritidae; Medfly) in northern Israel. Four pairs of pear and citrus orchards were selected for the field experiments. Sterile flies dyed with different colours were released in three seasons during 2015 and 2016, based on the phenological stages of the hosts. The total number of captured marked sterile flies per trap (FT) was approx 300 in both April and August. In November, FT values decreased by about 35% to approximately 200. The wild Medfly that were also captured showed an opposite trend, from an FT of 1.8 and 6.4 in April and August, respectively, to an FT of about 330 in November. Marked sterile flies were captured in both the release and the neighbouring orchard sites. We found that the Medfly migrates from pear to citrus orchards during spring and from citrus to pear during summer, when there are no fruit-bearing trees in the orchards. However, during November, when the wild Medfly population prevails in the area, a clear pattern of migration is hard to identify, perhaps because of a possible interaction with the wild fly's population.     

β-Citraurin epoxide,a new carotenoid from valencia orange peel

A new minor carotenoid, β-citraurin epoxide (3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-8′-apo-β-caroten-8′-al) and several isomers of violaxanthin (5,6,5′,6′-diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-caroten-3,3′-diol) have been identified in Valencia orange peel. The previously reported occurrence of apo-10′-violaxanthal (3-hydroxy- 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-10′-apo-β-caroten-10′-al) and apo-12′-violaxanthal (3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro- 12′-apo-β-caroten-12′-al) has been confirmed, and their syntheses are described. The quantitative determination of the carotenoids has also been performed.     

Citrus Honeys from Three Different Regions of Turkey: HPLC-DAD Profiling and in Vitro Enzyme Inhibition,Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Properties with Chemometric Study

The objectives of the present study are to compare the phenolic profiles and biological activities of 15 citrus honey samples from three different locations in Turkey using a chemometric approach. The HPLC-DAD analysis was used to determine phenolic profiles. Nineteen phenolic compounds were identified. Gallic acid (107.14–717.04 μg/g) was recorded as the predominant compound. AF (Antalya-Finike) had the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS⋅⁺ (IC₅₀: 18.01±0.69 mg/mL), metal chelating (IC₅₀: 6.20±0.19 mg/mL) and CUPRAC (A_0.50: 12.05±0.68 mg/mL) assays, while it revealed the best anti-inflammatory activity against COX-2 (17.28±0.22 %) and COX-1 (43.28±0.91 %). AM (Antalya-Manavgat) was the most active in β-carotene-linoleic acid (IC₅₀: 10.05±0.19 mg/mL), anti-urease (38.90±0.69 %), anti-quorum sensing and antimicrobial activities. AKO1 (Adana-Kozan-1) in DPPH⋅ (IC₅₀: 34.25±0.81 mg/mL) assay, AKU1 (Antalya-Kumluca-1) in tyrosinase inhibition activity (37.73±0.38 %) assay, AKU2 (Antalya-Kumluca-2) in AChE (10.55±0.63 %) and BChE (9.18±0.45 %) inhibition activity assays showed the best activity. Chemometric tools were applied to the phenolic compositions and biological properties. PCA and HCA ensured that 15 citrus honey samples were grouped into 3 clusters. The results showed that myricetin, kaempferol, vanillin, protocatechuic acid, rosmarinic acid, rutin, vanillic acid, gallic acid, catechin and p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid are phenolic compounds that can be used in the classification of citrus honeys.     

The introduction of cultivated citrus to Europe via Northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula

The circumstances concerning the diffusion of the main cultivated citrus from their places of origin in Asia are studied here, showing that the citron (’Citrus medica L.) was the only one knew in Ancient times in Europe, while the lemon (C. limon [L.] Osbeck), lime (C. aurantiifolia [Christm.] Swingle), pomelo (C. maxima [Burm.] Merr.) and sour orange (C. x aurantium L.) were introduced to Europe by the Muslims via the Iberian Peninsula and Sicily, and that the grapefruit (C. paradisi Macfad.), mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco) and sweet orange (C. x aurantium L.) arrived to the West between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries as a result of the trade with the British and Portuguese colonies.     

Increases in densities of the citrus red mite,Panonychus citri [Acarina: Tetranychidae], in association with the Argentine ant,Iridomyrmex humilis [Hymenoptera: Formicidae], in southern California citrus

We monitored the activities of the Argentine ant,Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr), in 3 citrus orchards during 1984 and 1985. We also monitored densities of citrus red mite,Panonychus citri (McGregor), the adult spider mite destroyer,Stethorus picipes Casey [Col.: Coccinellidae], and the predatory mite,Euseius tularensis Congdon [Acarina: Phytoseiidae] during the same period in ant-present and ant-free plots in each orchard. I. humilis was excluded for at least 9 months from trees pruned 60 cm from the ground following a basal application of 1 or 2 % chlorpyrifos 4 EC. Autumn densities ofP. citri in these ant-free plots were significantly lower than those in the plots infested withI. Humilis. S. picipes appeared to be the most important predator, maintaining lowP. citri densities on citrus in southern California in the absence ofI. humilis activity.S. picipes densities increased numerically in response to the early spring and late autumn increases in the density ofP. citri populations. However, in the presence ofI. humilis activity, effective predation was apparently inhibited. Densities ofE. tularensis were unaffected by the presence ofI. humilis, nor didE. tularensis respond to spring or autumn increases in the density ofP. citri populations in any of the orchards.