Plum pox virus (PPV) is the causal agent of Sharka disease. Since its discovery, Sharka has been considered as a calamity in plum orchards. PPV is present worldwide in many Prunus species, causing great economic losses. In highly susceptible plum varieties, such as Požegača, PPV causes a premature fruit drop and reduces fruit quality, which leads to total yield loss. Eight PPV strains (PPV-M, P...

The influence of harvesting date on some physicochemical properties of nectarine (Prunus persica var. Red gold) fruit including fruit weight, pigment content, total carbohydrate, total phenol and antioxidant activity were studied. Fruits were harvested in four different stages; a) two weeks after fruit set, b) pit hardening, c) three weeks after pit hardening and 6 weeks after pit hardening. Re...

The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a key pest of peaches, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, in North America. We evaluated the effectiveness of two widely used trap types (pyramid versus Circle traps) and commercially available synthetic lures for monitoring the pest in two peach orchards in Alabama during 2008 and 2009. The lures evaluated alone or in ...

Plum fruit has a short shelf life with a rapid deterioration in quality after harvest. The primary goal of this study is to investigate and compare the effect of putrescine and salicylic acid on quality properties and antioxidant activity of plum during storage. The plum fruits (cv. 'Santa Rosa') were harvested at the mature ripe stage, and dipped in different concentrations of putrescine (1, 2...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of Prunus domestica L. extracts on fetuses and neonatal skeletal systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 32 pregnant mice (Mus musculus) received vehicle and plum hydroalcoholic extract at gestational days 1-18 and during the entire gestational period as well as 10 days postpartum, respectively. A total of 30 nonpregnant mice were fed plum hydroalcoholic ex...

Ingestion of a foreign body is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction. Ingested foreign bodies will usually pass without clinical sequelae, however on occasion can contribute to significant morbidity. Here we present an unusual case of small bowel obstruction and perforation as a result of accidental ingestion of a nectarine pit.

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important apple, Malus domestica Borkh., pest that significantly hinders sustainable apple production in eastern North America. The potential for host plant resistance to plum curculio among apple germplasm has never been rigorously evaluated. Thus, studies were conducted to assess the susceptibility of a number o...

Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), plum curculio, is a serious direct pest of North American tree fruit including, apples, cherries, peaches and plums. Historically, organophosphate insecticides were used for control, but this tool is no longer registered for use in tree fruit. In addition, few organically approved insecticides are available for organic pest control an...