Abstract:During 2011,when we conducted a survey of the varietal resources of Elaeagnus moorcroft-ii,a 19-year-old Yafeng tree was found in the Shelterbelt beside a cotton field in Shaya County,Aksu Region,and its father and mother were unidentified.After regional trials in Atushi,Hotan,Moyu,and Wensu,its characteristics are stable.In 2022,the State Forestry and Grassland Bureau granted the first batch of new plant variety rights to the list of Yafeng,and in 2023,it passed the recognition of good va-rieties by the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.The average height of Yafeng is 5 m,the diameter at breast height is 18 cm,the main trunk is grayish brown,and the branches are brownish red,without thorns.The leaves are simple and alternate,oblong-ovoid,entire,and obtuse,with an average leaf length of 7.25 cm and width of 2.2 cm.Yafeng belongs to the E.moor-croftii yellow fruit series of large-fruited and early-maturing varieties.The skin of the fruit is thin,deep yellow,the surface of the fruit is bright with few scales covered,the flesh of the fruit is fluffy,and the taste is sweet and delicate,with astringent flavor.The fruit is long ellipsoid,with short stalk,average longitudinal diameter of 2.89 cm,transverse diameter of 1.80 cm,and average single fruit mass of 2.03 g;the yield of single plant can reach 10-12 kg in full-fruiting period,and the edible rate is 78.03％.The ker-nel is long ovate,with an average diameter of 2.2 cm longitudinally and 0.55 cm transversally,full and plump,with an average weight of 0.45 g per kernel.The fruit contains 124 mg·kg-1 calcium,254 mg·kg-1 magnesium,38.6 mg·kg-1 iron,10.0 mg·kg-1 zinc,5.96 mg·kg-1 copper,7.2 mg·100 g-1 ascorbic acid,32.0 g·100 g-1 fructose,21.4 g·100 g-1 glucose,766 mg·100 g-1 total phenols,4.5 g·100 g-1 ash and,43.9 g·100 g-1 starch.This variety in Shaya region of Xinjiang begins to sprout in mid-March,the leaves grow by the end of March,the first flowering period is in mid-April and full bloom period is in early May,sets fruit at the end of May,fruits mature in late September,and leaf fall is from early to mid-November.Yafeng is highly adaptable and can tolerate salinity,barrenness,drought and cold.Protection forest cultivation mode can adopt 1.5 m × 2 m,or 2 m × 2 m spacing.Orchard or piece of forest cultiva-tion mode,can use 4 m × 5 m or 3 m × 6 m spacing.Yafeng branching ability is strong,lateral branch growth is fast,bud notching,de-budding and branch thinning need to be strengthened.Irrigation is need-ed 4 to 6 times throughout the year.From May to June,nitrogen and potash fertilizers should be mainly applied,and from July to August,phosphorus fertilizer should be applied as the main component of the compound fertilizer.Early control of pest and disease damage is necessary,if any,during the growth of the tree.It can overwinter and be cultivated in an upright position in both southern Xinjiang and the northern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains,and is suitable for use as a breeding parent for dry fruit vari-eties.

Abstract:[Objective]Manilkara zapota is a tropical fruit with high economic value and development potential.In order to enrich the fruit germplasm resources in the southern region of Guangxi,this study conducted observations and evaluation on the growth status of the M.zapota introduced from Vietnam and the fruit quality at different harvesting periods.The aim of this work was to clarify the adaptability and suitable harvesting period of the Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota in Nanning,Guangxi,and pro-vide a useful basis for its introduction and cultivation in the southern region of Guangxi.[Methods]Plants of Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota introduced from Vietnam were used as experimental mate-rials.The introduction and cultivation experiment were carried out in the Fruit Germplasm Resources Nursery of the Guangxi Subtropical Crops Research Institute.The botanical characteristics,flowering and fruiting habits,fruit growth pattern and yield of the Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota were ob-served.The botanical characteristic indicators included plant height,stem circumference,crown width,leaf length,leaf width,petiole length,flower length,flower width,seed length,seed width and seed thickness.The observation of flowering and fruiting habits included the budding stage,initial flowering stage,full-bloom stage,flower withering stage and fruit ripening stage.The observation of the fruit growth pattern was carried out by measuring the transverse diameter and longitudinal diameter of the fruits once every 30 days.In order to determine the appropriate harvesting period of the Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota,samples were collected 290 days,310 days,330 days and 350 days after flower-ing,respectively.The samples were placed at room temperature for 5 to 7 days for ripening,and then their quality indicators were determined.The quality indicators included the single fruit mass,soluble solids,soluble sugar content,total phenol content,vitamin C content and titratable acid content.The to-tal soluble solids were determined with an ATAGO hand-held saccharometer.The soluble sugars were determined by thermal titration with Fehling reagent.Vitamin C were determined by the 2,6-dichloroin-dophenol titration method.The titratable acids were determined by acid-base titration.The total phenols were determined with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.[Results]The Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota exhib-ited normal growth,blooming and fruit-bearing in Nanning.The average plant height of 7 years-old trees was 301.40 cm,the crown width from east to west was 293.00 cm,the crown width from north to south was 307.20 cm,and the stem circumference was 26.60 cm.The fruits were oval-shaped,with an average single fruit mass of 96.83 g.The fruit peel was rough,tan in color,and was attached with scurf that could be easily shed.The pulp was yellowish-white,rich and sweet in taste,soft and delicate,with few stone cells,and each fruit had 1 to 3 seeds.The tees bloomed twice a year,with the first flowers blooming from early April to the end of June,and the second batch from early August to the end of Oc-tober.The trees began to bear fruit in the third year after transplantation.The average yield per plant in the first year of fruiting was 3 kg,and the average yield per plant in the seventh year was 26.71 kg.The trees could still grow normally in an environment with a minimum temperature of 6 ℃.The first batch fruit growth curve was"S"shape,that is,the growth was slow in the initial stage,there were two rapid growth stages in the middle stage,and the growth slowed down until maturity in the final stage,and the growth and development period of the fruit was about 330 days.The mass of single fruit,the content of soluble solids,and the content of soluble sugar showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing during ripening.The content of vitamin C and the content of titratable acid decreased continuously.The content of total phenols fluctuated in the early stage,then gradually increased towards the mature stage,and subsequently decreased again.The first batch fruits harvested 330 days after flowering had the high-est single fruit mass(105.94 g),soluble solids content(20.8％),soluble sugar content(247.72 mg·g-1)and total phenols content(4.34 mg·g-1),a relatively high vitamin C content(149.04 μg·g-1),a low con-tent of titratable acid(0.96％).[Conclusion]The Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota could adapt to the environmental conditions in Nanning,Guangxi,and complete the normal growth and development cy-cle.During the period of introduction and trial planting,it demonstrated the characteristics of strong growth vigor,early production,and excellent fruit quality,and showed good prospects for populariza-tion in the southern region of Guangxi.In addition,the suitable harvesting period of the Vietnamese large-fruited M.zapota in Nanning would be 330 days after flowering.

Abstract:[Objective]With the improvement of residents' quality of life,consumers' demand for fruit has gradually changed from basic consumption to quality,individuation,and diversification.The inter-ests of consumers are no longer limited to the basic nutritional value of fruit,but more concerned about its sensory properties,such as taste,aroma,appearance,and so on.In the fruit market with prominent consumption-driven and diversified demands,accurately grasping the attention and preference differenc-es of different consumer groups on sensory attributes and traits of fruits is of vital significance for the production side to adjust product results,optimize product configuration,and enhance market competi-tiveness.This study aimed to investigate the importance consumers place on various sensory attributes and their specific preferences,providing empirical insights for optimizing fruit variety selection,im-proving product characteristics,and guiding targeted marketing strategies.Additionally,by focusing on consumer perceptions,this research seeked to generate a comprehensive data set that would support more informed decision-making for stakeholders across the fruit industry,ensuring that product develop-ment would be closely aligned with evolving market demands.Fruits,as an essential source of nutrition that meets people's aspirations for a better life,play a crucial role in implementing the broad food per-spective and holistic health strategy.Therefore,the development of the fruit industry must adhere to a market-oriented approach,and technological research in the industry should fully consider market de-mands and consumer preferences.[Methods]This study selected apples,pears,grapes,peaches,straw-berries,and durians as research subjects.The survey utilized a five-point Likert scale to collect first-hand data on consumers'evaluations of the importance of sensory attributes and their specific trait pref-erences.In the first stage,respondents rated the importance of key sensory attributes,including sweet-sour flavor,texture,flesh juiciness,color,and aroma.In the second stage,participants with high atten-tion to specific attributes further detailed their preferences for those traits.Statistical analyses,including descriptive statistics and clustering methods,were applied to quantify consumer evaluations and identi-fy patterns in sensory preferences.Moreover,the survey sample encompassed a broad demographic spectrum across various age groups,geographic regions,and socio-economic statuses to ensure repre-sentativeness.The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were confirmed through pilot studies and iterative refinements,thereby guaranteeing the robustness and reproducibility of the collected data.[Re-sults]The findings revealed that sweet-sour flavor,flesh texture,and flesh juiciness were the most criti-cal sensory attributes influencing consumer choices,while external attributes such as color and aroma exhibited greater variability in importance.Consumers generally favored fruits with a sweeter taste,deli-cate texture,and abundant juice.Specifically,sweet-sour flavor and flesh texture were the most impor-tant sensory attributes of fruits such as apples,pears,and peaches.Berry fruits are typically small,juicy,and contain multiple seeds.Consumers particularly valued the sweet and sour taste,pulp texture,flesh juiciness,color,and aroma types of strawberries and grapes.However,significant heterogeneity was ob-served in preferences for external attributes:For instance,preferences for fruit color varied depending on the fruit type,and the importance of aroma was more pronounced in specific fruits such as durians and strawberries.Detailed trait analysis further indicated that consumers generally favored fruits exhibit-ing pronounced sweetness,a delicate yet well-balanced texture,and abundant juice.In fruits like apples,pears,and peaches,a harmonious balance of sweet and sour flavors combined with optimal textural qualities played a pivotal role in shaping consumer preferences.High flesh juiciness consistently corre-lated with perceptions of freshness and superior quality,reinforcing its significance as a key selection criterion.In contrast,external sensory attributes such as color and aroma were subjected to considerable individual variability,reflecting differences in aesthetic and olfactory preferences across fruit types.[Conclusions]This study obtained the degree of consumers' attention to different sensory attributes of apples,pears,grapes,peaches,strawberries,and durians,and at the same time obtained the sensory traits that consumers paid more attention to,which would provide the data basis for breeders,producers,and sellers to breed,produce,and sell the above fruits.The conclusions could provide data support for the fruit industry to optimize variety structures,improve product characteristics,and implement targeted marketing strategies.Moreover,the results would support the breeding and development of new fruit va-rieties that align with consumer expectations,thereby improving market acceptance and promoting the sustainable development of the fruit industry.These insights would provide a robust foundation for stakeholders across the fruit industry.For producers and marketers,the findings would offer clear guid-ance for refining product characteristics and optimizing variety structures in order to better meet con-sumer expectations.For breeders,the delineated sensory trait targets could inform the development of new fruit varieties designed to enhance market acceptance.Overall,the study underscored the impor-tance of integrating consumer feedback into the product development cycle to achieve improved market responsiveness and competitive advantage.Future research should explore regional and cultural varia-tions in sensory attribute preferences,as well as examine the impact of emerging consumer trends on fruit selection.

Abstract:Wanyun walnut is a new late-maturing,high-yielding cultivar selected from a live population of Juglans sigillata Dode.It was initially selected in 2009 for its large fruit size,high yield,late fruit rip-ening period,special colour of the green skin,branch epidermis,and leaf blades.The Parental trees were grown in Dahuashan Group,Bashi Village,Bashi Town,Yunlong County,Dali Prefecture,Yunnan Province.After 14 years of comparative varietal trials and regional adaptability tests within Dali from 2009 to 2023,the new cultivar was finally selected in 2023.And in January 2025,it passed the registra-tion of new cultivars of horticultural plants in Yunnan.This cultivar was strong and healthy,with purple-grey to dark purple-grey epidermis of branches and trunks,and strong sprouting force.The leaves were pinnately compound,number of leaflets were(7-)9-11(-13),and terminal leaves were not degraded.The leaflets were broadly lanceolate,olive green in colour,leathery,entire,apex blunt.The mixed buds were obtuse-conical,the bud scales did not open;the male buds were naked,cylindrical,scale-like,the male buds twinning rate was about 30％.It was a monoecious,androgynous species.The male inflorescences were catkins with an average of 99.8 florets and yellow anthers.The female flowers were single,two or clustered,with a light yellow-green stigma which was 2-lobed and pinnately reflexed.The green fruit was broadly ellipsoid,with an average petiole length of 40.33 mm,covered with light yellow tomen-tum,and with an inconspicuous papilla at the apex.There was a longitudinal groove at the correspond-ing part of the nut suture.The nut was square-rounded,the shell surface was deeply incised,the sutures more elevated,the tip bluntly pointed,both shoulders flat.The nut size was large,the mean value of three diameters was 41.82 mm,the average mass of single fruit 22.33 g,the average shell thickness 1.23 mm.inner fold wall was leathery,the whole kernel could be taken,the average kernel yield was 50.63％,the kernel was yellowish-white,full,the average weight of single kernel was 11.69 g,the taste was fragrant and sweet.The protein content was 15.6％,the fat content was 66.6％.It started flowering and fruiting 3 years after top grafting.The average number of fruits per fruiting branch was 1.9-2.2.The bud burst was in mid to late March,the male flowers opened in early to mid-April,the female flow-ers opened in mid to late April,and the fruits ripened in late September to mid-October in Dali area.It was resistant to barrenness,strong resistance to diseases and insects,and could avoid late frost.It would be suitable for promoting cultivation in the area with an altitude of 1800-2400 m,mean annual tempera-ture of 10-16 ℃,annual rainfall of 800-1200 mm,and active accumulated temperature of≥10 ℃ was greater than 3000 ℃.The planting spacing would be 8m × 8m or 7m × 9m(10 plants per 666.7 m2).

Abstract:The Xinchi pear originated from a chance discovery of a seedling tree of Laiyang Chili in Shengjinbo Village,Guanshui Town,Muping District,Yantai City,in 2009.In 2011,scions were grafted onto 6-year-old Zhongli 1 pear trees for observation.In 2012,they were grafted onto Pyrus betulaefolia rootstocks for propagation,and an orchard was established in 2013.The variety was certified and named Xinchi in 2014,with the new orchard commencing fruit production in 2016.Comparisons were made between the new orchard and top-grafted trees during 2017-2019,confirming stable fruit traits such as average single fruit mass,natural calyx shedding rate,and soluble solid content.A new plant va-riety right was granted(CNA20201003780)in September 2023.The branches of Xinchi pear are dark brown and have a smooth surface.The one-year-old branches are orange-brown.The bark is clean,with large,white,oblong lenticels that are small and sparse,and there are no thorns.The cultivar exhibits sep-arate leaf and flower buds,and the leaf buds are pointed.Young leaves are reddish-brown,ovate,large,and long.The petioles are 3.42 cm long and 0.13 cm thick.Mature leaves are green,with sharp serrated margins and awned teeth,an abruptly pointed leaf apex,and a rounded leaf base.The Xinchi pear has an ovoid shape,with an average single fruit mass of 385.6 g(maximum 540.0 g),similar to Laiyang Chili.Its skin is yellow-green with a rough texture and prominent lenticels.The stem cavity is deep,and the calyx cavity is also deep,with a natural calyx shedding rate of up to 96％,far exceeding that of natu-ral Laiyang Chili(9.5％),which significantly reduces labor and time costs for manual calyx removal.The flesh is white,fine,and crisp,with small and sparse stone cells,abundant juice,and has flesh recov-ery of 74％.At maturity,the peeled flesh has a hardness around 7.7 kg·cm-2,and the soluble solids con-tent exceeds 13.7％.It has a rich flavor and superior quality.Xinchi pear trees are vigorous with a semi-spreading growth habit.They exhibit moderate branching ability,primarily bearing fruit on short branches,and have a high capacity for continuous fruiting.The fruit development period of the Xinchi pear is 155 days,ripening in mid-September in Yantai area,which is 10-15 days earlier than the Lai-yang Chili.The Xinchi pear has moderate drought resistance and strong disease resistance.The fruit has excellent storage performance,can be stored for 5 to 7 months in ordinary cold storage.They thrive best in sandy loam soil with good fertility and irrigation in Shandong.For orchard establishment,vigorous seedlings are selected.The recommended planting spacing is(3-4)m ×(4-5)m.Recommended polli-nizers include Cuiyu and Sucui 1.The preferred tree form is central leader with spaced-out layers.Or-ganic fertilizers should be applied as a priority.The main diseases of Xinchi pear are pear scab,pear rust,pear ring rot,and pear black spot.Major pests include pear psylla,pear aphids,Comstock mealy-bug,and pear fruit borers.The use of highly toxic and high-residue pesticides is prohibited in pest con-trol,with preference given to biological and low-toxicity,low-residue pesticides.

Abstract:[Objective]Sweet cherry(Prunus avium L.)is a popular fruit tree known for its unique fla-vor and rich nutrition.However,with the development of logistics cold chain transportation and the rise of e-commerce,the sales of sweet cherries have expanded to all parts of the country.The existing main varieties can no longer meet the needs of the national market development.The market demand is shift-ing towards bright fruit color,high hardness,excellent flavor,high quality,and storage and transporta-tion resistance.Tianshui area has unique natural environmental conditions suitable for planting sweet cherry.In this study,the growth characteristics and quality features of different cultivars planted in this area were investigated in order to screen the excellent sweet cherry cultivars suitable for local planting.[Methods]Under the same planting management mode,the phenology of 8-year-old and early-or mid-season sweet cherry trees of Heizhenzhu,Chelan,Luyu,Sparkle,Glenred,Brooks,Скороспелка,Cai-yu and Hanxiang growin Tianshui area were investigated.Periods of budding,the beginning of flower-ing,full bloom,the end of flowering,fruit ripening and defoliation were recorded according to the Spec-ification and Data Standards for Cherry Germplasm Resources Description.Leaf morphological charac-teristics including color,shape,tip,base,edge,hairiness on lower side,and gland shape,color,number and size were also observed.Fruit flesh firmness was measured using a fruit hardness tester(probe di-ameter:6.0 mm),while peel firmness was determined using a texture analyzer at three points on each fruit surface.A colorimeter was used to measure the L*,a*,and b* values at three locations on each fruit surface.A handheld refractometer was employed to determine the soluble solids content.The titrat-able acid content was measured following the method in GB/T 12456-2008.The membrane leakage or relative electrical conductivity,total sugar,total phenol,and vitamin C contents of each sweet cherry cultivar were also determined.[Results]Morphological characteristics,biological features,appearance quality,functional nutrient content,fruit shape index and single fruit quality varied among cultivars.The tree types of the test cultivars were all common,and the tree bodies of Chelan,Luyu,Glenred and Скороспелка were open,and Heizhenzhu and Brooks were semi-open,while Sparkle,Caiyu and Hanx-iang were upright.Sparkle,Brooks,and Caiyu had relatively stronger growth potential;Chelan andСкороспелка had relatively weaker growth potential.The skin color of the branches of Brooks was light brown,and that of the rest was brown.The leaf color of most sweet cherry cultivars was rich green,and the color and shape of the leaf glands was red and reniform,respectively.However,Caiyu had green leaf glands and Hanxiang had circular leaf glands.The fruit shape of Sparkle,Glenred and Brooks was reniform,while that of the rest cultivars was heart-shaped.Brooks and Hanxiang had the highest single-fruit weight;Glenred had the heaviest pit weight and lowest flesh recovery,while Chelan had the lightest pit weight and highest flesh recovery.The sweet cherries were all brightly colored.The peel color of Heizhenzhu and Glenred was purple red;that of Chelan and Hanxiang black purple;Luyu and Caiyu had a yellow background with a reddish hue;and the others were red.In contrast to the red flesh of most cultivars,Caiyu had a milky white flesh color.All the cultivars were sour-sweet and tasty and rich in nutrients.Glenred and Hanxiang had the highest titratable acid and total sugar and relatively high soluble solids;Скороспелка and Hanxiang had the highest phenolic and vitamin C contents;Brooklyn had the lowest vitamin C content;and Скороспелка had very low total sugar and soluble sol-ids.[Conclusion]There are differences in tree and fruit morphological characteristics,leaf traits,ap-pearance quality,functional nutrient content,fruit shape index,and single fruit quality among the 9 test-ed sweet cherry varieties.In the shallow mountains of Tianshui area about 1200 m above sea level,Chelan,Sparkle,Glenred,Brooks and Hanxiang with large fruit,beautiful color,delicious taste,high flesh recovery,and good nutritional quality,have a great potential economic value and are suitable for the development of planting.Among the yellow varieties,Luyu has a better overall performance and can be developed appropriately in areas with few yellow varieties in the market.Although Caiyu is more distinctive,with its yellow skin and milky white flesh,its overall performance is average in Tians-hui area.Like Heizhenzhu and Скороспелка,it is not recommended for large scale planting.

Abstract:[Objective]The study aimed to investigate the effects of different pollination cultivars on the fruit quality of Yuluxiang pear(Pyrus bretschneideri Rehder)and identify suitable pollinizers for cultivation.[Methods]Eight years old Yuluxiang pear trees were used as test materials,the impacts of seven pollination cultivars on internal quality,external quality,and volatile compounds of the fruits were studied.Correlation analysis was performed on the measured indices,and principal component analysis(PCA)was applied for comprehensive evaluation.[Results]Different pollination cultivars had impact on the external fruit quality of Yuluxiang pear.Among them,fruits pollinated with Xueqing had the largest fruit length and single fruit weight,measuring 80.80 mm and 315.87 g,respectively.Al-though different pollination combinations affected the sugar-acid content of Yuluxiang fruits,they did not influence the solid-acid ratio.Different pollination cultivars also had a significant impact on the stone cell and lignin content of Yuluxiang fruits.Among these,the fruits resuited from pollination with Huangguan had the highest lignin and stone cell content,1.80％and 8.37％,respectively,while those from pollination with Xueqing had the lowest content,1.54％and 4.17％,respectively.The fruits from pollination with Xueqing had the highest a* redness and b* yellowness values,showing a higher degree of coloration compared with the fruits from other pollination cultivars.The fruits from pollination with Suli had lower values than those from other pollinater.The Yuluxiang fruits pollinated with Xueqing and Suli had higher fruit hue angle(h°)values(186.79 and 185.54,respectively),while thoae pollinated with Dunzili had the lowest value(176.62).The anthocyanin content of Yuluxiang pear fruits pollinated with Xueqing was highest(0.08 mg·kg-1),while thoase pollinated with Huangguan,Yali,and Dunzili had lower values(0.059 mg·kg-1,0.061 mg·kg-1,and 0.060 7 mg·kg-1,respectively).The vitamin C(VC)content of Yuluxiang pear fruits pollinated with Xueqing and Mianli was higher(0.32 mg·kg-1 and 0.29 mg·kg-1),significantly higher than that of other pollination treatments.A total of 23 volatile sub-stances were detected in the fruits of Yuluxiang pear pollinated with 7 different cultivars,among them the main volatile substances in Yuluxiang pear fruit were hexanal and m-xylene.Principal component analysis(PCA)was used to comprehensively evaluate 25 physiological indicators.The correlation anal-ysis results showed that the longitudinal diameter,transverse diameter,and single fruit weight were sig-nificantly and positively correlated with each other.Soluble solids showed a strong positive correlation with the color indices a* and b*.Lignin content was highly significantly positively correlated with stone cell content.The ratio of solid acids and starch content showed a significant negative correlation with the ester and olefin volatile substances.Through principal component analysis,5 principal compo-nents were extracted from the 25 quality indicators of the fruits pollinated with 7 pollination cultivars,with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 97.18％.[Conclusion]Through correlation analysis and principal component analysis,the core indicators for evaluating the fruit quality of Yuluxiang pear were selected,including fruit length and diameter,stone cells,lignin,color indicators,starch,and volatile compounds such as ketones and hydrocarbons.Xueqing could be used as the most suitable pollination variety for Yuluxiang pear in Hebei Province dut to beneficial effect on fruits.

Abstract:Apple(Malus domestica Borkh.)represents a globally significant fruit crop whose health ben-efits extend far beyond basic nutrition,largely attributable to its rich and diverse polyphenolic profile(APs).These secondary metabolites are mainly concentrated in the peel but are also present in the flesh,exhibiting potent biological activities,particularly remarkable antioxidant capacity.Considerable hetero-geneity exists in the polyphenolic composition among apple cultivars,primarily determined by genetic factors.Heritage cultivars,such as Antonovka and Bramley's Seedling,consistently exhibit higher total polyphenol content(TPC)-often two to five times higher than widely cultivated commercial dessert ap-ples such as Golden Delicious,Gala,and Fuji.Polyphenols are disproportionately concentrated in the peel,accounting for up to 70％-90％of total fruit phenolics.Red-skinned cultivars,such as Red Deli-cious and Idared,contain particularly high peel concentrations of flavonols,mainly quercetin glyco-sides,whereas cultivars like Granny Smith,Reinette,and Cripps Pink(Pink Lady®)often show higher flavan-3-ol levels in the flesh.The major classes of apple polyphenols include flavan-3-ols,flavonols,di-hydrochalcones,phenolic acids,and anthocyanins.Flavan-3-ols,comprising monomers such as cate-chin and epicatechin as well as oligomers and polymers(procyanidins),are the most abundant class in many apples,especially Dabinett and Kingston Black.Flavonols are dominated by quercetin glyco-sides,predominantly located in the peel,with red-skinned cultivars generally exhibiting higher levels than yellow-or green-skinned types.Dihydrochalcones,unique to the Malus genus,are represented mainly by phloridzin(phloretin-2'-O-glucoside),often constituting a significant portion of the phenolic profile,particularly in the flesh and seeds.Chlorogenic acid(5-O-caffeoylquinic acid)is the principal phenolic acid,present in both peel and flesh,with high concentrations in cultivars such as Honeycrisp and Braeburn.Anthocyanins are present only in red-fleshed or red-skinned varieties,including the Red-love series and Pink Pearl,and are primarily composed of cyanidin-3-O-galactoside.Efficient,selec-tive,and sustainable recovery of APs while preserving their structural integrity and bioactivity is crucial for both research and industrial applications.Conventional solvent extraction methods,using methanol,ethanol,acetone,or their aqueous mixtures,remain foundational,with optimization typically targeting solvent type and concentration,temperature,extraction time,solid-to-liquid ratio,and pH.Although maceration and Soxhlet extraction are widely employed,they are time consuming and solvent-intensive.Advanced non-conventional techniques,such as ultrasound-assisted extraction,micro wave-assisted ex-traction,pressurized liquid or accelerated solvent extraction,supercritical fluid extraction,and enzyme-assisted extraction have been developed to improve the extraction efficiency,reduce solvent consump-tion,and minimize thermal degradation.Emerging green solvents,including natural deep eutectic sol-vents and ionic liquids,offer biodegradable,low-toxicity alternatives.Multi-parameter optimization strategies,such as response surface methodology,are widely applied to maximize yield,enhance recov-ery of target compounds,reduce co-extraction of undesired substances,and ensure scalability and stabil-ity of the extracts.The potent and multifaceted bioactivities of APs have promoted their integration into diverse sectors.In the nutraceutical and functional food industry,APs are incorporated into dietary sup-plements,fortified beverages,and health foods for their antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,cardiovascular-protective,anti-diabetic,anti-proliferative,and neuroprotective effects.In pharmaceuticals,they are in-vestigated as lead compounds?or adjunct therapies for chronic diseases,leveraging multi-target mecha-nisms and favorable safety profiles,with purified isolates such as phloridzin receiving particular atten-tion.Polyphenol profiles also serve as biochemical markers in horticulture and breeding for germplasm characterization and marker-assisted selection.Their antimicrobial properties enhance food safety and shelf-life,while in cosmetics,APs provide skin protection against photoaging and oxidative stress,in-hibit melanogenesis,promote collagen synthesis,and support wound healing.Additionally,APs are ex-plored as natural feed additives in animal husbandry,improving gut health,immunity,growth perfor-mance,oxidative stability of products,and potentially reducing methane emissions in ruminants.Other emerging applications include biomaterials,edible coatings,plant biostimulants,and green synthesis of nanoparticles.Despite these advances,there are still some challenges,including limited bioavailability,incomplete mechanistic understanding,potential synergistic effects,and the need for advanced delivery systems such as encapsulation and nanoparticles.Sustainable and integrated processing,clinical valida-tion,regulatory harmonization,and the development of novel nutrient-dense cultivars are also crucial.Circular economy approaches,including valorization of pomace and peels,would further enhance eco-nomic and environmental benefits.Apple polyphenols represent a treasure trove of bioactive com-pounds with profound significance for human health and diverse industrial applications.Understanding the intricate interplay between genetic diversity,structural complexity,optimized recovery technologies,and targeted applications is fundamental.Interdisciplinary research bridging basic science,applied tech-nology,and industrial needs is essential to overcome current challenges,unlock new opportunities,and fully harness the health-promoting and economic potential of this ubiquitous and valuable fruit.

Abstract:[Objective]Ruby Green pomelo[Citrus grandis(L.)Osbeck],a recently introduced cultivar from Thailand,is characterized by green peel and red flesh at maturity.Its trees exhibit vigorous growth and a short juvenile phase before fruiting.Its fruit is characterized by desirable flavor,strong resistance to storage and transport stress,and advantageous off-season productivity,a high import price per single fruit(200-300 yuan per fruit),and broad market prospects,which has set off a"boom"in domestic planting.However,significant regional differences in fruit quality and economic viability have been ob-served in Guangxi,where subtropical and South Asian monsoon climates(hot-humid summers,mild-dry winters,and hot and humid all year round)pose challenges to standardized cultivation practices.The purpose of this study is to clarify the regulation mechanism of climate factors on the quality forma-tion of Ruby Green pomelo,determine the key climate-sensitive indicators,and simultaneously build a comprehensive quality evaluation model for pomelo by screening the core quality traits.[Methods]The field investigation and sampling after the introduction of Ruby Green pomelo were carried out in seven representative orchards in Guangxi(Nanning,Yulin,Baise,Hechi,etc.),with a total of 7 sam-pling points,and 35 resources of Ruby Green pomelo were collected.The meteorological data of tem-perature,rainfall,illumination time,and relative humidity were collected throughout the whole develop-ment stage of fruit.Sensory evaluation of 35 fruits was carried out by a tasting panel composed of 20 members,and 24 quality indexes of all fruits were evaluated,including morphology(peel thickness,fruit weight),soluble solid content(SSC),titratable acidity(TA),solid-acid ratio,nutrients(vitamin C,Ca,Mg)and secondary metabolites(limonin and nomilin).Correlation analysis was used to quantify the relationship between climate variables and quality indicators.Principal component analysis(PCA)transformed the data into seven core components(eigenvalues＞1)by dimensionality reduction,which explained the cumulative variance of 82.70％.A weighted evaluation model(F)is established to grade and rank the suitability of each region.[Results]Although the seven sampling points were located in a subtropical monsoon climate,there were differences in microclimate in each orchard.We obtained accu-rate orchard meteorological data for analysis through the intelligent agriculture cloud platform of Jiejia-run Company( comprehensive score ranking of sensory evaluation of Ruby Green pomelo is:YouJiang(YOQ)＞HuanJiang(HNJ)＞BaMa(BMA)＞RongXian(ROG)＞YongNing(YNG)＞BoBai(BBA)＞LongAn(LGA).The results of sensory evaluation were influ-enced by water content,bitterness,and the sugar-to-acid ratio of fruit,but also easily influenced by indi-vidual taste preference.Correlation analysis shows that temperature played a dominant role in quality regulation.The average temperature(＞25 ℃)during fruit expansion period strongly increased the number of fruit capsules(r=0.970,P＜0.01),but it induced the accumulation of limonin in the case of more extreme temperatures,which affected the sweetness and sourness of the fruit.Soluble solid con-tent was positively correlated with the duration of light during maturity(r=0.509).Rainfall negatively reg-ulated TA(r=-0.724,P＜0.01)and promoted the synthesis of nomilin(r=0.776,P＜0.01),indicating the biphasic effect of water stress.Among the mineral elements,calcium was negatively correlated with average temperature(r=-0.884,P＜0.01),and magnesium positively correlated with rainfall(r=-0.821,P＜0.01).Potassium and zinc showed no climate sensitivity(P＞0.05).Among the seven sampling points,the dominant areas of YOQ,HNJ and LGA had the highest comprehensive score(F=0.05-0.32),and were characterized by the balance of heat and water resources(effective accumulated tempera-ture＞750 Ac(℃·d)/month and rainfall of 1200-1450 mm).The single fruit weight of YOQ was the largest,and its juice yield(79.12％)was relatively high.The fruit of HNJ performed well in SSC(11.61° Brix),solid-acid ratio(25.47)and vitamin C content(66.58 mg·100 g-1).Although the fruit of LGA is seedless,its titratable acidity was very high(0.86 mg·L-1).Principal component analysis(PCA)gave priority to seven quality components:nutrient elements(0.92),peel thickness and titratable acidity(0.87),fruit size(0.84),soluble solid content and fruit shape(0.81),bitterness(0.78),capsule number(0.75)and seed character(0.70).The model confirmed the relationship between climate and fruit quali-ty,and the comprehensive score showed that HNJ,YOQ and LGA ranked the highest.[Conclusion]The synergistic effect of temperature,light and relative humidity is the key to fruit quality formation of Ruby Green pomelo.Based on principal component analysis,the key quality parameters include fruit nutrient elements,peel thickness and titratable acidity,fruit size,fruit shape and soluble solid content,nomilin and limonin abundance,capsule number and seed characteristics.The comprehensive evalua-tion results also show that the ranking of comprehensive performance in each place is:HNJ＞LGA＞YOQ＞ROG＞YNG＞BMA＞BBA.To sum up,it is suggested that standardized planting schemes should be adopted in areas with high comprehensive scores to promote the improvement and stability of fruit quality,so as to obtain geographical indication certification.The future research must integrate soil-microorganism interaction and field cultivation management into the"climate-soil-management"cou-pling model,and adopt artificial intelligence algorithm to improve the prediction accuracy of the com-prehensive evaluation model.This study provides scientific basis for the adaptability of introduction of green pomelo in subtropical areas.

Abstract:Pandongfei is a new variety selected from the abundant Torreya resources in Panan County,Zhejiang Province.According to the ploidy determination results obtained by flow cytometry,Pandong-fei is a triploid.The crown of the parent tree is spire-shaped,with an open and vigorous growth habit.After grafting propagation,about 30 progenies in the local area have started to bear fruit.The shape,ma-turity period,and flavor of the seeds are consistent with those of the parent tree,showing stable genetic performance.Among them,the characteristics of the offspring are consistent and stable.The leaves are linear-lanceolate,dark green on the upper side,light green on the underside,2.2 cm long,0.37 cm wide and 0.07 cm thick,with longer leaf tips.The female flower bud of Pandongfei is a mixed bud,usually differentiated from the top lateral bud of the fruiting mother branch.The seed is nucleate,enveloped in a fleshy arillus.When ripe,the arillus gradually changes from green to light yellow-green.The seed is extra-large,elongated oval,with an average fresh single seed weight of 17.4 g,a longitudinal diameter of 4.26 cm,a transverse diameter of 2.53 cm,and a seed shape index of 1.69.The arillus is very thick,with an average thickness of 0.57 cm,and a fresh core rate of 27.91％.The seed kernel is long elliptical,with an average fresh single kernel weight of 4.8 g,a dry single kernel weight of 3.3 g,a longitudinal di-ameter of 3.83 cm,a transverse diameter of 1.49 cm,a kernel shape index of 2.58,a shell thickness of 0.12 cm,and a dry kernel rate of 54.07％.The seed kernel is long elliptical,with an average dry single kernel weight of 1.8 g,an oil content of 52.7％,a soluble sugar content(w,same as below)of 1.29％,and a protein content of 12.1％.After roasting,it exhibits easier shell removal compared to Xifei,char-acterized by a crisp and refreshing texture,intense aroma,and superior commercial qualities.When it is cultivated at an elevation of 300 meters in Pangan County,Zhejiang Province,its seed maturation peri-od occurs in mid-September,slightly later than that of Xifei grown at comparable altitudes in adjacent regions.Pandongfei and Yushanguofei have extra-large seeds,but the main difference is that the num-ber of eyes on the surface of Pandongfei seeds is generally 2,while that of Yushanguofei is 2-5,with the proportion of seeds with more than 3 eyes being 41.9％.Both the seed shape index and kernel shape in-dex of Pandongfei are higher than those of Yushanguofei.The oil content of Pandongfei kernel is 52.7％,which is higher than that of Yushanguofei(48.1％).However,the rates of seed core extraction and kernel extraction from seeds are lower than those of Yushanguofei.This variety is high-quality,ear-ly-maturing,and stress-resistant.It prefers shade and moisture at the beginning of its growth and is not suitable for growth in low-altitude areas with intensive sunlight.After starting to bear fruit during the vegetative growth period,it needs sufficient sunlight to maintain growth,so it is appropriate to supple-ment lighting and increase the intensity and duration of lighting.It has good disease and pest resistance.According to surveys,the probability of diseases and pests occurring in its seedlings,saplings,and adult trees is small,and there are generally no diseases under standard management.It is suitable for cultiva-tion in mountainous areas at altitudes of 200-800 meters in Panan County,Zhejiang Province,with the same requirements for climate,soil,and other environmental conditions as well as cultivation tech-niques as Xifei.After grafting propagation,a certain amount of progeny has been cultivated in Zhejiang Province,with stable genetic expression and a small portion beginning to bear fruit.The characteristics of Pandongfei include high oil content in the seed kernel,easy removal of the skin after frying,crisp tex-ture,and excellent quality.As a triploid variety,it is a new variety with high quality,early bearing,and strong stress resistance.

Abstract:Zaohong No.1,a new sour jujube cultivar,was bred from a wild jujube population located in Neiqiu County,Xingtai City.This variety was selected through a comprehensive evaluation of traits such as high yield,superior quality,and stress resistance.Based on the selection criteria of strong stress resistance,high quality,and high yield performance of jujube fruit,the primary selection,re-selection and final selection processes were conducted through thorough information gathering and reporting to the masses.In October 2013,the primary-selection superior plants of the most prominent excellent types were identified.Between 2020 and 2022,adaptability tests for these varieties were conducted over three consecutive years at three locations:Xianxian County,Qingxian County,and the West Gar-den of Yunhe District in Cangzhou City,Hebei Province.The findings from these tests were ultimately submitted for examination in 2023.The average height of wild jujube trees is 1.58 m,with a crown width of 1.6 m × 2.3 m.The trunk is erect,and the secondary branch,which bears fruit,is curved and extended in a zigzag pattern.The bark is purple-brown,and the needles are elongated and well-devel-oped,averaging 21.3 mm in length.The leaves are lanceolate with sharp and serrated margins.The fruit is oblate,small,and smooth,featuring a concave top and a light red peel,and the average fruit weight is 1.28 g,while the maximum weight of a single fruit could reach up to 3.20 g.Its flesh is a combination of green and white,characterized by a lower juice content,a loose texture,and a sour-sweet flavor.The edible rate of Zaohong No.1 is 68.33％.The fruit stone is large and oblate,with a shell content of 92.40％and a kernel rate of 9.72％.The levels of the main effective components in Semen Ziziphi Spi-nosae were notably high,with total saponins measuring at 0.087％and spinosin at 0.097％.The fruit growth period for this variety lasts 95 days,culminating in maturation in late September in Cangzhou City,Hebei Province(longitude 116.83° E,and latitude 38.33° N).The flower buds exhibit an oblate pentagonal shape.This variety is resistant to jujube fruit-cracking(JFC)and jujube rust.The average in-cidence of JFC was 2.75％,and the disease index of jujube rust is 4.04.This variety is suitable for phar-maceutical use.Zaohong No.1 is well-suited for cultivation in the Hebei plain jujube area,as well as in other regions conducive to jujube growth.It blooms and produces fruit in the same year,demonstrating high productivity.The average yield per 666.7 m2 is 978.56 kg,which represents a 14.33％increase compared to the control variety Yinji No.5 jujube.The orchard can be established by directly planting resistant seedlings and employing high grafting and head-replacement techniques.The primary tree shapes include an open center system and a small canopy sparse layer system.Before winter,it is advis-able to apply base fertilizer and irrigate before soil freezes.Water-soluble nitrogen and potassium fertil-izers should be applied at the fruit setting and fruit expansion stages.It is important to promptly remove wintering disease residues and to effectively prevent and control pests such as green bugs,red spiders,jujube gall midges,and jujube turtle wax scales.

Abstract:[Objective]The study aimed to investigate the genetic variation of fruit quality traits in the hybrid progeny derived from a cross between Yuluxiang(Pyrus bretschneideri)and Akizuki pear(Pyrus pyrifolia),in order to provide a theoretical reference for pear crossing breeding and parent selection.[Methods]When the fruits were ripe,30 pears were randomly picked from each tree of hybrid strain and parental plant from four directions,and 23 descriptive traits such as fruit shape and 13 numerical quality trait indexes such as fruit weight were observed and determined,with three replications for each index.Twenty-three descriptive traits and 13 numerical quality traits were investigated for heritability and correlation analyses using the maternal parent Yuluxiang,the paternal parent Akizuki,and 175 hy-brid progeny as materials.Excel 2019 and SPSS 23.0 were used to organize and analyze the data ob-tained from the investigation,and calculate its mean,standard deviation,kurtosis,skewness and other parameters,to observe the genetic variation.Excel 2019 was used to draw its corresponding frequency distribution histogram,and SPSS 23.0 was used to test for normal distribution and draw a normal distri-bution Q-Q plot;and to make correlation analysis between traits.[Results]The descriptive traits of 23 fruits showed 92 traits segregation,in which the inheritance of 10 traits,namely,fruit shape,over color,depth of stalk cavity,width of stalk cavity,arris/fossa on fruit surface,attitude of sepals,relief of area around eye basin,flesh texture,amount of stone cells and juiciness of flesh were inclined to the parent Akizuki,and the inheritance of 6 traits,namely,bulge on the base of stalk,degree of fruit skin smooth-ness,ground colour,dot obviousness,flavor and aroma,was more in favor of the parent Yuluxiang.And the parents performed consistently in 7 traits,namely,attitude of stalk in relation to axis of fruit,persis-tency of sepals,depth of eye basin,width of eye basin,flesh color,flesh texture type and astringency.The traits of fruit shape and fruit flavor were separated greatly,both appeared 8 kinds of segregation,fruit shape included oblate,globose,long globose,ovate,obovate,conical,cylindrica and spindle-shaped,the hybrid progeny were mainly oblate and globose.The hybrid progeny was mainly sweet and light sweet.The coefficients of variation for the 13 numerical quality traits ranged from 6.28％(fruit shape index)to 46.69％(titratable acid content),the heritability ranged from 49.18％(Single fruit mass)to 241.26％(flesh firmness),and the heterosis rate ranged from-50.82％(Single fruit mass)to 141.26％(flesh firmness),in which flesh firmness had the highest heritability and positive dominance rate,the strongest additive effect,and outstanding hybrid dominance,which could improve fruit storability to a certain extent,while fruit weight had the lowest heritability and dominance rate,which was highly sub-jected to the influence of environmental conditions.In addition,the fruit weight,fruit length and fruit di-ameter showed obvious degeneration and tended to be low heritability,while the mean values of flesh firmness and fruit stalk length were higher than the median value of parents and tended to be high heri-tability,and the long fruit stalk of Yuluxiang was more likely to inherite to the progeny.The mean val-ues of the stalk thickness and fruit shape index were lower than the median value of the parents,which tended to be less heritable,and the fruit shape was greatly influenced by the parent Yuluxiang.The mean values of titratable acid content were slightly larger than the median value of the parents,but the ratio of those below the low values was much greater than that above the high values,showing a general tendency towards low heritability,and were significantly influenced by the parental Yuluxiang.The solu-ble sugar content,soluble solids content,solid-acid ratio and sugar-acid ratio were greatly influenced by the parent Akizuki,and the soluble sugar content and soluble solids content tended to be inherited in a high degree,while the titratable acid content,solid-acid ratio and sugar-acid ratio tended to be inherited in a low degree.[Conclusion]The 23 fruit descriptive traits showed different degrees of variation.Among the 13 numerical quality traits,9 traits such as fruit length and fruit diameter conformed to nor-mal distribution,and the fruit weight,titratable acid content,sugar-acid ratio and solid-acid ratio were skewed.The fruit weight,fruit length,fruit diameter,core size,fruit shape index,flesh firmness,stalk length,stalk thickness,titratable acid content,soluble solids content,solid-acid ratio,sugar-acid ratio and soluble sugar content were characterized by the inheritance of quantitative traits,and there was trait segregation with different degrees.This experiment would provide a basis for breeding new varieties.

Abstract:[Objective]Grass cultivation is a contemporary and effective soil management strategy for orchards.Its success depends on the careful selection of suitable grass species and the implementation of scientifically sound management practices.By planting legumes or grasses between the rows of fruit trees and managing them appropriately,a harmonious coexistence between the grasses and fruit trees can be established.This approach enhances soil nutrient levels,which in turn positively impacts the growth of fruit trees and the quality of their produce.However,in the current pomegranate farming in-dustry,the majority of farmers still rely on clear-cutting for orchard management.This practice de-grades the soil environment,negatively affecting the growth and development of fruit trees and ultimate-ly reducing fruit quality.In recent years,grass cultivation in orchards has gained increasing popularity both domestically and internationally.This technique serves as an effective orchard management model,reducing the impact of weeds while helping to maintain soil moisture.To identify grass species suitable for the local climate and cultivation conditions,this study investigated the effects of different grass spe-cies on soil properties and fruit quality in pomegranate orchards in Binchuan County,Yunnan Province.[Methods]This study implemented grass cultivation in soft-seeded pomegranate orchards to assess the impact of different green manure species on fruit quality,soil nutrient content,soil enzyme activity,and soil microbial abundance.The pomegranate variety used in the experiment was Huaguang.The experi-mental design included six treatments:VS(Vicia sativa),LP(Lolium perenne),TR(Trifolium repens),VV(Vicia villosa),NG(natural grasses),and CK(clear tillage)as the control.Each treatment was culti-vated and managed over a two-year period.Soil samples from the pomegranate orchards were collected under each of the six treatments.The pH value,organic matter content,nutrient content,enzyme activi-ty,and microbial counts were analyzed in the rhizosphere soil samples.One-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to examine differences in the rhizosphere soil environment among the six cultiva-tion and management treatments.Uniformly sized pomegranate fruits were harvested two weeks prior to ripening.The weight,longitudinal and transverse diameters,fruit shape index,titratable acidity,solu-ble solids content,and solid-acid ratio of individual fruits were measured.One-way ANOVA was also employed to compare the external and internal quality of pomegranate fruits across the six cultivation and management treatments.The six cultivation and management modes were ranked based on evalua-tions of soil habitat and fruit quality,with the highest-ranked mode identified.Correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between fruit quality and environmental factors,thereby reveal-ing the underlying mechanisms through which the environmental factors influence fruit quality.[Re-sults]Grass cover can improve the orchard environment,yet different grass species exhibit varying reg-ulatory effects on it.Compared with CK,most grass treatments,except for NG,can enhance soil nutri-ent levels.Among them,the TR treatment showed the most significant improvement(P＜0.05).The pH value of orchard soil was adjusted to neutral,reaching the soil pH value suitable for cultivating soft-seeded pomegranate.The soil organic matter content,hydrolyzable nitrogen content,effective phospho-rus content,quick-acting potassium content,exchangeable calcium content,sucrase activity,bacterial counts,and actinomycete counts were significantly higher than those of CK.Specifically,these parame-ters increased by 38.02％,41.12％,42.51％,94.51％,39.84％,25.47％,60.19％,and 60.66％,respective-ly.The LP treatment performed best in increasing soil exchangeable magnesium content,and alkaline phosphatase activity by 24.33％and 21.20％,respectively,compared to CK.In comparison of CK,all grass treatments except for natural grassing altered both the intrinsic quality and external quality of the fruit.Moreover,cultivation of different grasses had different effects on fruit quality.Among them,the TR treatment exhibited the most significant improvements in fruit weight,soluble solids content,and ti-tratable acidity,with respective increases of 28.14％,14.13％,and 32.72％.Based on the comprehensive impact assessment results,the TR treatment ranked first in enhancing the orchard soil environment and fruit quality.Correlation analysis showed that soil pH was significantly and negatively correlated with soil nutrient content,soil enzyme activity,and soil microbial quantity,and fruit quality was significantly and positively correlated with soil microbial quantity.Cultivation of grass in orchards can change soil water holding capacity,adjust the soil pH,increase the retention capacity of soil,soil enzyme activity,and soil microbial quantity,ultimately improving fruit quality.[Conclusion]Trifolium repens living mulch in pomegranate orchards significantly elevated soil organic matter,hydrolytic N,available P,quick-acting K,exchangeable Ca,invertase activity,and counts of bacteria and actinomycetes compared with other treatments.Concomitantly,fruit quality peaked under Trifolium repens:average fruit mass reached 425.34 g,transervse diameter 100.90 mm,total soluble solids 17.77％,and titratable acidity 0.72％-all markedly higher than others.Living mulch enhanced soil nutrients,enzyme activity and mi-crobial biomass,ameliorating the soil habitat and advancing fruit quality.Thus,white clover is the most suitable cover crop for pomegranate orchards in Binchuan County,Yunnan.

Abstract:[Objective]Rapid and non-destructive acquisition of plant spatial information and plant number of pitaya is an important prerequisite for accurate monitoring its growth and adjusting regional planting structure.Traditional field measurement is costly and inefficient,however,hyperspectral re-mote sensing is simple to operate and the data is more sensitive to vegetation,so it has become an effec-tive means for non-contact acquisition of vegetation spatial information at a large scale.[Methods]The DJI M600 low-altitude UAV equipped with Pika XC2 sensor was used to collect hyperspectral remote sensing images of pitaya growing areas in Shangguan town,Guanling county,Guizhou province.Differ-ent regions were divided according to surface complexity and the spectral curves of major surface ob-jects were calculated using Envi 5.3.After Savitzky-Golay second-order smoothing,first derivative spectrum(FDS)and continuum removal spectrum(CRS)were derived to explore the potential of hyper-spectral image data,and a feature selection method was proposed to eliminate redundant variables by defining dimension reduction strategy from feature distance.Based on artificial neural network(ANN),support vector machine(SVM)and random forest(RF)machine learning models,different ground ob-jects in the study area were divided,and the plant number was calculated by combining the projected ar-ea of pitaya measured on the surface.[Results]The results were as follows:(1)The reflectance of the primary hyperspectral curve of pitaya was lower in the visible wavelength region and higher in the near infrared wavelength region,and the reflectance between them was connected by red edge;The spectral reflectance of pitaya and other ground objects were different in different spectral types.The primary spectrum was located in the"red valley"and"high reflective platform",the first derivative spectrum was located in the"red edge"and"green peak",and the continuum removal spectrum was located in the"red valley"and"green peak".(2)The feature selection algorithm defined by the feature distance had a better dimensionality reduction effect,and the number of feature bands was proportional to the surface complexity.The number of feature bands of pitaya ranged from 2 to 9 under different spectral types in each region,and the dimensionality reduction ratio was all above 97％.The spectral transforma-tion could effectively reduce the number of feature bands and the distance between features.The charac-teristic bands of different spectral types in each region were mainly concentrated in the"red valley","red edge"and"near infrared"regions.(3)The classification accuracy of ground objects and the extrac-tion accuracy of plant number were inversely proportional to the surface complexity.Among all classifi-cation models,the accuracy of CRS-RF models was the best,and the overall classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient were above 84％and 0.87,respectively,indicating that the training set and the result set were completely consistent.CRS-RF models had the best effect on the number of pitaya,and the ac-curacy in different regions was above 83.33％.[Conclusion]The combination of continuum removal transformation and random forest algorithm can accurately identify pitaya plant information,which can provide technical reference for obtaining the spatial information of pitaya plants in karst area at a large scale.In practical application,it is only necessary to input hyperspectral remote sensing image of the study area into the trained CRS-RF model,and then the space position and plant number of pitaya in the corresponding region can be output.

Abstract:China's fruit industry,an important constitute of agricultural economics,contributes signifi-cantly to nutrition security,farmer livelihoods,and rural revitalization.This significance is quantitative-ly underscored by the national fruit production which reached 327 million tons in 2023.However,per-sistent challenges,including ongoing threats from diseases and pests,substantial postharvest wastage occurring along the industrial chain,and low rates of mechanization adoption within orchard opera-tions,impose constraints upon the industry's upgrading and sustainable development.To systematically bridge the evident gap between academic research and practical industry demands,this study strategical-ly integrated two methodological approaches,bibliometric analysis and multi-stakeholder surveys,aim-ing to achieve three specific and interconnected objectives:firstly,to evaluate China's current statues in the scope of the global research landscape while concurrently identifying key industry bottlenecks;sec-ondly,to assess the degree of alignment between scientific outputs generated through research activities and the practical demands articulated by industry development;and thirdly,to propose actionable priori-ty pathways capable of guiding the industry toward smarter and more sustainable transformation mod-els.Our methodological approach involved conducting a thorough bibliometric analysis encompassing a substantial corpus of 60 761 SCIE-indexed scholarly articles published globally within the timeframe spanning January 2015 through July 2024.This quantitative examination was systematically executed utilizing the Web of Science database accessed via the InCites Benchmarking & Analytics platform alongside the specialized visualization software VOSviewer(version 1.6.19.0),enabling detailed analy-ses,including keyword co-occurrence network mapping,thematic clustering identification,and longitu-dinal trend evaluations tracking shifts over the decade.Concurrently,to capture grounded perspectives directly from the fruit field,we administered and subsequently analyzed 314 rigorously validated ques-tionnaires distributed across a representative range of key industry stakeholders.This included scientists from the national modern agricultural industry technology system(constituting 48.3％of respondents),orchard manager or association(18.7％),governmental policymakers(11.2％),field technicians(14.6％),commercial enterprise representatives involved in the fruit sector(3.1％),and additional rele-vant contributors(4.0％).China plays a leading role in the science of fruit tree research,evidenced by the remarkable output of 19 635 SCIE publications that represent 32.32％of the total global scholarly output in this domain,coupled with an even more substantial citation impact totaling 323 090 citations which constitutes 36.81％of all global citations.This leadership position is further solidified by demon-strating significant and consistent annual growth,escalating from a base of 996 publications in 2015 to 3311 publications in 2022.Simultaneously,China's contribution to globally influential research is high-lighted by its production of 248 ESI highly cited papers,representing a dominant 63.59％global share,which are predominantly focused on anthocyanin biosynthesis,fruit firmness,and deep learning.Clus-ter analysis identified seven core research themes:bioactive compounds/quality regulation,molecular mechanism of fruit development/stress response,pest-pathogen management and pathogen interaction,postharvest physiology and storage technology,flavor metabolomics and detection,smart phenotyping,and oxidative stress/nutrition.These themes centered on key species like apple,citrus,grape,and peach.Emerging research areas included multi-omics and machine learning.Surveys revealed a pronounced re-search-industry misalignment.Bibliometrics indicated a dominant academic focus on fundamental ques-tions(e.g.,molecular regulation)and emerging technologies(e.g.,smart detection),whereas industry surveys identified critical bottlenecks:inadequate postharvest processing capacities(15.6％),inadequate labor-saving cultivation techniques(11.0％),and limited cultivar diversity(10.1％).Based on nation-wide surveys,breeding and promotion of varieties(14.6％),pest and disease control(9.8％),and R & D in labor-saving mechanization(9.6％)ranked as the top three urgent technological problems,with scien-tists similarly emphasizing cultivar development(14.8％)and R & D in labor-saving mechanization(11.6％).Technology-specific demands revealed strategic shifts in germplasm innovation toward high-quality,strong resilience,and machine-adaptability traits over yield maximization;seedling production required breakthroughs in efficient virus-free techniques for seedlings,efficient virus detection,and mechanized grafting and production techniques;cultivation management necessitated essential advanc-es in simplified cultivation,high-quality cultivation,high-yield cultivation,and eco-friendly techniques.Over the past decade,China's fruit research has achieved remarkable progress in fundamental studies and high-impact research outputs.It leads in both total SCIE publications and highly cited papers,dem-onstrating substantially enhanced international influence and innovation capacity.However,critical technological bottlenecks exist.These include inadequate postharvest processing capacities and under-developed mechanization systems,which hinder the transformation of research achievements.Mean-while,a partial misalignment exists between current research priorities and industrial needs,compound-ed by underdeveloped applied technology frameworks and suboptimal knowledge transfer pathways.Future efforts should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration integrating genetics,cultivation manage-ment,and agricultural engineering to strengthen mechanization innovation.We propose focusing on ma-chine-adaptability as the pivotal breakthrough.Specifically,this entails developing mechanization-com-patible cultivars with corresponding cultivation techniques.Moreover,we should establish a closed-loop mechanism connecting"basic research-applied technologies-industry extension"to propel China's fruit industry toward high-quality,smart,and sustainable development.

Abstract:[Objective]Kiwifruit(Actinidia chinensis)is a deciduous species of the Actinidiaceae fami-ly.Zhongmi 2,a mid-maturing cultivar,exhibits high yield potential but is highly susceptible to soft rot disease in postharvest storage.This study aimed to identify the causal pathogens of soft rot in Zhongmi 2 kiwifruit,and to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides against the disease,for providing a reference for its effective management.[Methods]Firstly,we investigated the occurrence situation and observed the symptoms of kiwifruit soft rot in the field.Then,the pathogens were isolated by the tissue isolation method.They were disinfected with 0.5％NaClO for 1 min.Small pieces of the diseased tissue edge were placed on potato dextrose agar(PDA)(200 g potato extracts L1,2％glucose,and 2％agar)medi-um.After culturing for 5 days at 25 ℃,a mycelial plug was collected from the growing edge of each colony and transferred to a new PDA plate followed by incubation at 25 ℃ for 7 days.Emerging colo-nies were transferred several times by the hyphal tip method until and pure cultures were obtained.The morphological characteristics of the isolates were observed,and the size of conidia was measured to complete the morphological identification.Genomic DNA extraction kit was used to extract the DNA of the pathogenic fungi.The rDNA internal transcribed spacer(ITS),elongation factor 1-α(EF-1α)and be-ta-tubulin(TUB)were amplified and sequenced.The obtained multi-gene splicing sequence was spliced according to the order of ITS-EF-1α-TUB,and the phylogenetic tree was constructed using the neigh-bor-joining method in MEGA 11.0 software for molecular biological identification.And the pathogenici-ty of the isolates was tested based on Koch's postulates.The selected isolates were screened for their pathogenicity on kiwifruits according to their morphological and molecular data.The pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed by growing these isolates on kiwifruit fruit under laboratory conditions.Brief-ly,kiwifruit were washed two times using sterile dH2O and dried in a transfer hood.From each isolate,mycelial plugs with a diameter of 5 mm were obtained from the edges of 5-day-old colonies and added to the surface of each kiwifruit,with control fruit being inoculated using fungi-free PDA.Three repli-cates each composing 10 fruit were prepared for each treatment.Following the inoculation,fruit were transferred to a sterilized plastic box and were incubated at 25 ℃.After the typical symptoms were formed,the diseased parts were separated again.Finally,thirteen fungicides were selected for field trials on the prevention and control of soft rot in Zhongmi 2 kiwifruit in 2023 and 2024.The fruit were col-lected from each treatment and stored at room temperature,and the disease incidence and control effi-ciencies were calculated after 15 and 30 days of storage.[Results]A total of 79 isolates were obtained from 82 diseased samples.Group Ⅰ included 44 isolates that showed cultural and conidial morphology typical of Diaporthe sp.on PDA plates.They formed white colonies with thin mycelia and produced two types of conidia.The α-conidia were fusiform,hyaline,and single-celled,with lengths ranging from 5.6 to 8.7 μm and widths from 2.4 to 3.1 μm.The β-conidia were filiform,hyaline,and single-celled,with lengths ranging from 18.7 to 33.6 μm and widths from 1.1 to 2.1 μm.Group Ⅱ included 35 isolates that displayed cultural and conidial morphology typical of Botryosphaeria sp.on PDA plates.They formed white to gray colonies that developed moderate aerial hyphae,and conidia were fu-siform,hyaline,and aseptate,with lengths ranging from17.3 to 27.6 μm and widths from 5.3 to 9.1 μm.Combined with the morphological characteristics of the pathogen and the phylogenetic analysis based on ITS,EF-1α and TUB gene sequences,two species were identified as the pathogens causing kiwifruit soft rot in the study.They were Diaporthe eres and Botryosphaeria dothidea.Pathogenicity tests con-firmed that re-isolation from inoculated symptomatic tissues yielded strains identical to the original in-oculants.In 2023 field trials,five fungicides(10％difenoconazole water dispersible granules(WG),75％trifloxystrobin·tebuconazole WG,25％pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate(SC),40％flusi-lazole emulsifiable concentrate(EC)and 43％tebuconazole SC)showed control effect exceeding 85％after 15 days of storage and maintained efficacy above 75％after 30 days of storage.Similar results were observed in 2024:under non-individually packaged storage,these five fungicides achieved control effect of＞84％at 15 days and＞74％at 30 days.However,when kiwifruits were stored with individu-al packaging,the effect improved to＞87％at 15 days and＞80％at 30 days,demonstrating slightly su-perior performance compared to non-packaged storage.[Conclusion]The study indicated that the pathogens causing kiwifruit soft rot were identified as D.eres and B.dothidea.Five fungicides(10％di-fenoconazole WG,75％trifloxystrobin·tebuconazole WG,25％pyraclostrobin SC,40％flusilazole EC and 43％tebuconazole SC)exhibited significant field control effect.Furthermore,individual packaging during storage enhanced fungicide performance,suggesting its potential as a complementary strategy for postharvest disease management.These findings provide critical insights for optimizing integrated control measures against kiwifruit soft rot.

Abstract:[Objective]Donald crabapple(Malus'Donald Wyman')has experienced widespread out-breaks of leaf spot disease within four consecutive years in Dalian region,resulting in substantial defoli-ation and plant mortality.This disease poses a serious threat to the cultivation,management,and orna-mental value of Donald crabapple.The primary objective of this study was to identify the fungal patho-gen responsible for the leaf spot disease.Furthermore,a series of chemical fungicide screenings were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides against the pathogen,with the aim of provid-ing a scientific basis for the effective prevention and control of Malus'Donald Wyman'leaf spot dis-ease.[Methods]The field sampling and pathogen isolation field surveys were conducted in multiple lo-cations across Dalian city,Liaoning Province,China,including roadsides and scenic areas with concen-trated plantings of Malus'Donald Wyman'.Symptomatic leaves were collected during the summer and autumn seasons of 2023 and 2024 from Tongniuling and Daheishan scenic areas in Jinpu New District,Dalian city.The collected samples were placed in sterile plastic bags and transported to the laboratory for pathogen isolation.Leaf tissues with clear lesion boundaries were selected,and 5 mm × 5 mm sec-tions were excised from the junction between diseased and healthy tissues.The samples were surface-sterilized by immersion in 75％ethanol for 30 seconds,followed by 3％sodium hypochlorite solution for 30 seconds,and subsequently rinsed 2-3 times with sterile distilled water.The sterilized tissues were placed into potato dextrose agar(PDA)medium and incubated at 25 ℃ in complete darkness for 5-7 days.The emerging fungal colonies were subcultured and purified through hyphal tip transfer.The puri-fied isolates were stored at 4 ℃ for further use and were also maintained on PDA medium supplement-ed with streptomycin to suppress bacterial contamination.All fungal cultures were incubated at 25 ℃ in the dark until colonies were fully developed.Pathogenicity was confirmed through wound inoculation assays conducted under aseptic laboratory conditions.The purified fungal isolates were cultured on PDA plates at 26 ℃ in darkness for 7 days prior to inoculation.The healthy leaves were surface-cleaned with ultrapure water,wiped with 75％ethanol,and rinsed three times with sterile water before being dried using sterile tissue paper.Wounding was performed with sterile insect pins under a laminar flow hood.The mycelial plugs(8 mm in diameter)were excised from the colony margin using a sterile cork borer and placed on the wounded sites.The sterile PDA plugs served as negative controls.The inoculat-ed leaves were incubated at 25 ℃ under dark conditions for 5 days.Each treatment was conducted with nine replicates,and symptom development was monitored and recorded throughout the incubation peri-od.Preliminary identification of the isolated pathogen was conducted by observing the morphological characteristics of reproductive structures under a light microscope.For molecular identification,the ge-nomic DNA was extracted from the purified isolates,and the internal transcribed spacer(ITS),actin(ACT),and large subunit(LSU)gene regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).PCR products were purified and sequenced by Shanghai Sangon Biotech Co.,Ltd.The obtained sequences were analyzed and aligned using BioEdit software.A multi-locus phylogenetic tree was constructed us-ing the maximum likelihood(ML)method implemented in RAxML software to confirm species identi-ty.An in vitro mycelial growth inhibition assay was employed to evaluate the sensitivity of the isolated pathogen to various fungicides.Eleven commercial fungicides were tested,formulated as suspension concentrates,aqueous solutions,emulsifiable concentrates,wettable powders,microemulsions,and wa-ter-dispersible granules.The mycelial discs were inoculated onto PDA plates amended with the respec-tive fungicides at designated concentrations and incubated at 25 ℃ in darkness.The colony diameters were measured after incubation to assess fungal growth inhibition.[Results]The ITS,ACT,and LSU gene fragments of strain SH0019 were amplified and sequenced,yielding fragments of 542 bp,218 bp,and 1291 bp in length,respectively.BLAST analysis against the GenBank database revealed that the nu-cleotide sequence identities of the rDNA ITS,ACT,and SSU regions of strain SH0019 with Alternaria alternata were 99.81％,99.04％,and 100％,respectively.A concatenated multi-locus phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood(ML)method implemented in RAxML,based on the GTR+nucleotide substitution model.The phylogenetic analysis showed that strain SH0019 clustered to-gether with A.alternata.Combined with the morphological characteristics and molecular data,the strain SH0019 was identified as A.alternata.The artificial inoculation experiments were conducted on seven test plant species.The pathogenicity determination results of this pathogen on the following sev-en Malus plants(Malus'Indian Magic',Malus'Radiant',Malus'Flame',Malus micromalus,Malus halliana,Malus baccata,Malus mandshurica)showed that A.alternata could infect five host plants.It had the strongest pathogenicity to Malus'Donald Wyman'and the weakest effect to Malus halliana,while it did not obviously infected Malus baccata and Malus mandshurica.Although strain the SH0019 exhibited pathogenicity across different Malus species,the lesion size varied among the species,with the smallest average lesion diameter(4.3 mm)observed on Malus halliana,indicating differences in host resistance levels.The fungicide sensitivity tests were conducted using 11 fungicides.The mycelial growth inhibition assay showed that among the single agents tested,iprodione and prochloraz exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects against the strain SH0019,with EC50 values of 1.735 mg·L-1 and 5.495 mg·L-1,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of the other fungicides.In contrast,man-cozeb demonstrated the weakest activity,with an EC50 of 222.923 mg·L-1.Further screening of fungi-cide combinations revealed that the 50％benzyl·difenoconazole formulation exhibited the highest inhib-itory activity,with an inhibition rate of 71.65％and an EC50 value of 0.179 mg·L-1.The inhibitory effect of 50％benzyl·difenoconazole was superior to that of 43％tebuconazole and 25％difenoconazole sin-gle formulations.[Conclusion]The causal agent for the leaf spot of Malus'Donald Wyman'was iden-tified as Alternaria alternata based on Koch's postulates,morphological characteristics,and multi-lo-cus sequence analysis of ITS,ACT,and SSU genes.Among the tested fungicides,benzyl·difenocon-azole demonstrated the highest antifungal activity and may serve as an effective candidate for control-ling the disease although the field trials should be conducted to further testify the efficiency of the chem-icals before practical application.

Abstract:Pear is one of the main deciduous fruit trees with the longest cultivation history and the most extensive distribution in China.As the most important origin of Pyrus L.in the world,it is rich in vari-ety resources and is also the world's largest pear producing country.The National Horticulture Germ-plasm Resources Center Pear Branch Center(Zhengzhou)was established in 1978.It covers an area of 30 acres and is located in Zhengzhou,Henan Province.Its geographical location is 113°42′ E and 34°48′N,with an altitude of 110.4 m,an annual average temperature of 14.0 ℃,an average annual precipita-tion of 636.7 mm,an annual sunshine of 2 385.5 hours,and a frost-free period of 213 days(semi-arid monsoon continental climate)and the geographical location is superior.The Pear Branch Center(Zheng-zhou)primarily engaged in the collection and preservation,identification and evaluation,sharing and utilization,germplasm innovation,service to the industry,and science education of pear germplasm re-sources.It is one of the important preservation nurseries of pear germplasm resources in China.At pres-ent,a total of 560 pear germplasm resources of 14 species are preserved.It provide resource sharing to universities,research institutes,government departments,and enterprises,and receive more than 1000 visitors or trainees annually,as well as the demonstration and promotion of new varieties,new technolo-gies and new patterns.The collection,preservation,identification,and evaluation of germplasm resourc-es are important foundations for the development and scientific research of the pear industry.The team of Pear Branch Center(Zhengzhou)has completed the collection of basic phenotypic data and image da-ta of flowers,fruits and annual branches of pear germplasm resources through systematic evaluation of germplasm resources.Some quality traits of the germplasm resources,such as soluble sugar acid,poly-phenols,fruit spots,browning,sepals,texture and so on,were accurately evaluated.On the basis of these works,a number of specific resources with high sugar content(Soluble solids more than 16％),suitable processing(pear juice remains un-browned 4 days at room temperature),accessions with high resistance to decay were identified,which provided a germplasm resource basis for the genetic improve-ment of varieties.In order to adapt to the structural adjustment of agricultural modernization and the changes to the supply and demand of the pear market,the team of Pear Branch Center bred a batch of excellent varieties,such as Zhongli No.1,Hongxiangsu and Meirensu using the rich pear germplasm re-sources once being the main varieties in the industry.The team have also bred some new pear varieties such as Qiyuesu,Zaobaimi and Zaosumi,contributing a lot to the industrial development and Rural Re-vitalizatio,vinning a number of national,provincial and ministerial awards.Some excellent varieties,characterized by early maturity and red skin,such as Danxiahong,Hongsumi,Hongsubao,Zaohongyu,and Zhonglijinfu have been successfully licensed.Based on the rich germplasm resources of Pear Branch Center(Zhengzhou),the basic research work such as the DNA fingerprint of pear germplasm re-sources,the construction of trait evaluation criteria,molecular marker development,genome sequenc-ing,excellent gene mining and other works were carried out.Three generations of high-quality Hongx-iangsu genome,the genome chromosome level assembly of Hongxiangsu pear and the high-quality ge-nome assembly of Danxiahong with haplotype-resolved telomere-to-telomere(T2T)accuracy were completed.The evaluation criteria of pear flesh browning and fruit spot traits were established.The mo-lecular markers related to red shoot,full red skin,fruit size,pulp browning,fruit peel spot,annual branches,leaves and other traits were developed,and the candidate genes regulating pear red/green skin,flesh browning,fruit spot development and other traits were found.All them findings have laid a foundation for molecular breeding and important characters research of pear.This team integrated the efficient cultivation technology for quality pear which were selected as the main agricultural technology in 2019.These new varieties and technologies have made important contributions to the structural ad-justment of pear varieties,rural revitalization and sustainable development of the pear industry in Chi-na.In this paper,the research progress of germplasm collection and preservation,characteristic germ-plasm screening,germplasm innovation and utilization in the National Horticulture Germplasm Re-sources Center Pear Branch Center(Zhengzhou)over the past decade were reviewed,and the main prob-lems and suggestions were proposed.to give a clue for the effecient utilization of pear germplasm re-sources and pear industrial development in China.

Abstract:China has a long history in melon cultivation and accumulated remarkable diversity in melon germplasm across its diverse agroecological regions.As the genetic foundation for crop improvement,melon germplasm collection serve as critical assets supporting molecular breeding programs,genomic studies,and commercial cultivar development in the horticultural sector.China has established a medi-um-to long-term conservation,distribution,and utilization strategic framework for melon germplasm.The National Mid-term Genebank for Watermelon and Melon(Zhengzhou)was established in 2001.It mainly conserve the seed of watermelon and melon germplasms.The primary responsibilities include collection,conservation,reproduction,identification,innovation and distribution for these germplasm resources,which ensures the mid-term conservation of melon germplasm resources.As of December 2024,the National Mid-term Genebank for Watermelon and Melon(Zhengzhou)has collected and con-served 2206 melon germplasm resources from 89 different countries in the world.These melon germ-plasm resources have catalyzed advancements in the breeding of new varieties,and fundamental re-search domains,such as genomic evolution and domestication origins,trait-specific marker develop-ment(such as quality and disease resistance,stress resistance,and so on).These measures have contrib-uted to the cultivar structural optimization of and the promotion of sustainable development of the mel-on industry.This review presents an overview of the development history and progress of the melon germplasms conservation.And innovative utilization and intend s to offer the theoretical and practical references for enhancing the utilization efficiency of melon germplasm resources and upgrading of the industry in China.

Abstract:Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus,2n=22)is a member of the Citrullus genus of the Cucurbita-ceae,and is native to Africa.After its introduction to China,watermelon gradually spread throughout the country and numerous local varieties emerged.The watermelon area and production in China rank first in the world.In 2023,the watermelon planting area in China was about 1.49 million hectares,with a yield of about 63.96 million tons(FAO),accounting for 49.14％and 60.95％of the global total,re-spectively.China is also the world's largest consumer of watermelon.In 2023,the per capita consump-tion of watermelon in China was 43.99 kilograms(FAO),which was 3.39 times the global level.Water-melon germplasm resources are the material basis for new variety breeding and scientific research,which provide an important guarantee for industry development.China attached great importance to the investigation,collection,and preservation of watermelon germplasm resources.China has established a medium-to long-term preservation,distribution,and utilization system for watermelon germplasm re-sources.The National Mid-term Genebank for watermelon and melon(Zhengzhou)was established in 2001 and mainly conserved the seeds of watermelon and melon resources.The primary responsibilities included collection,preservation,reproduction,identification,innovation and distribution of these germ-plasm resources.By December 2024,the National Mid-term Genebank for Watermelon and Melon(Zhengzhou)had collected and preserved 2600 watermelon accessions from 46 different countries in the world.These watermelon germplasm resources promoted the establishment of DUS testing stan-dards for watermelon,breeding of new varieties,and basic scientific researches,such as genomics and origins,molecular markers,quality,disease resistance and so on.The achievements of these researches have contributed to crop improvement of watermelon and the promotion of the sustainable industry.This review presents an overview of the development history of the watermelon germplasms protection and summarizes the progress made since 2001 regarding watermelon germplasm collection and preser-vation,as well as their innovative utilization in China.Since 2001,the National Mid-term Genebank for watermelon and melon(Zhengzhou)has provided more than 1000 watermelon accessions to 57 national or provincial research institutions,25 agricultural or comprehensive colleges,and 42 breeding compa-nies,distributed in 25 provinces of China.The top five were Heilongjiang Province,Hunan Province,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,Henan Province and Zhejiang Province.However,less than 20％of these watermelon accessions received feedback from the utilization,and new variety breeding was rare.Most new watermelon varieties are hybrid varieties,and the selection of backbone parents in-volves multi parent hybridization followed by multiple generations of self-pollination,making it diffi-cult to trace the source of excellent traits.Moreover,the new variety involves intellectual property rights,which creates a difficult feedback situation.Therefore,we propose future research directions and focus on the watermelon germplasm resources,aiming to provide a reference for the effective utiliza-tion and industrial development of watermelon germplasm resources in China.