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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 September 2022) | Viewed by 21075

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tomas Necas

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Guest Editor

Department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice, Mendel university in Brno, Valticka 337, 69144 Lednice, Czech Republic
Interests: fruit and horticultural cultures and nursery; genetic resources and fruit breeding; detection of plant pathogens and importance of fruit for nutrition

Prof. Dr. Josef Balík

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Guest Editor

Post-Harvest Technology of Horticultural Products, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: post-harvest technologies of horticultural products and their quality management; production of wines; alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages; fruit and vegetable processing and storage procedures; sensory analysis

Dr. Ivo Ondrášek

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Guest Editor

Department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel university in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: fruit crops; genetic resources and fruit breeding; minor fruit species

Dr. Tomáš Kiss

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Guest Editor

Department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel university in Brno, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: detection techniques for plant pathogens; genetic resources and fruit breeding; beneficial microorganisms in plant production

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The efficient sustainable production of plant-based food resources is an important milestone for the entire agricultural sector in the context of ongoing climate change. In the near future, these climate changes will become a critical and limiting factor in agricultural production in many parts of the world. Effective approaches in this evolving, sustainable production and research direction can represent revolutionary contributions in the improvement of crop and food production and the reduction of the ecological impact on the valuable environment. It is very important to find a comprehensive solution for individual sectors of agricultural production so that, as a whole, the entire agricultural sector is sustainable both at the input and the output and with maximum respect for the environment in all places of our planet.

This Special Issue targets modern, gentle, and precise approaches in the production of agricultural and horticultural crops; effective pathogen diagnosis; plant protection; and breeding and introduction of low-input crops, resistant varieties, or varieties and species with low ecological burden in the new growing environment. From technical areas, contributions of topics such as sustainable ecological crop processing and food production, environmentally friendly technological elements such as the use of renewable resources and ecological structural elements in crop and food production (solar energy, photovoltaics, waste utilization, ecological buildings, and greenhouses), and automation and robotics usable in the agricultural sector are welcome.

Research contributions which in essence bring progress in this area are acceptable. Contributions bringing comprehensive solutions to the described problem are welcome, as are those presenting significant or revolutionary solutions to partial aspects of crop production or food production and related fields.

Dr. Tomas Necas
Prof. Dr. Josef Balík
Dr. Ivo Ondrášek
Dr. Tomáš Kiss
Guest Editors

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Keywords

sustainable trends in crop production
ecological practices of plant production
diagnostic procedures for plant pathogens
perspective trends in horticultural production
new genotypes to minimize the effects of globalization
production of promising species and varieties to ensure food self-sufficiency

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Leaf Area Size on the Main Composition in Grape Must of Three Varieties of Vitis vinifera L. in an Organic Vineyard

by Miroslav Horák, Josef Balík and Monika Bieniasz

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313298 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

The concentrations of sugars and acids are very important for the quality and the stability of wines. In addition, the proportion of the two main acids, i.e., tartaric acid and malic acid, is a significant factor for wine taste and stability. Over a period of three seasons in an organic vineyard, the influence of leaf area on the concentration of total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), the concentration of tartaric acid and malic acid, and their mutual proportions were monitored. Vines of three varieties (‘Rhine Riesling’, ‘Pinot Gris’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’) were treated using three different treatments (proportion of leaves removed 0%, 40%, and 70%). All varieties exhibited positive correlations between leaf area and TSS. In terms of relationships between TA and leaf area, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ was the most sensitive variety. The highest differences between the individual variants were found for this variety. The tartaric to malic acid ratio displayed a significant seasonal effect, which was mostly more important than leaf area reduction. The size of the leaf area mainly affected the accumulation of sugars in the grapes, while content and ratio of acids was not affected so significantly. Therefore, leaf area regulation is one of the ways to optimize the composition of grapes in organic vineyards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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12 pages, 3556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Viticulture on Traditional ‘Baran’ Training System in Eastern Turkey

by Muhammed Kupe, Sezai Ercisli, Mojmir Baron and Jiri Sochor

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10236; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810236 - 14 Sep 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2491

Abstract

Erzincan plain is one of the most fascinating regions in Turkey for plant biodiversity. The area is very rich in terms of gene, species and ecosystem diversity. Having a number of natural habitats, mountains, etc., the region is one of the richest regions in Turkey for plant endemism as well. In northern parts of the region, in particular in Üzümlü, Bayırbağ and Pişkidağ districts, grape production dominates agriculture production and the famous ‘Karaerik’ grape cultivar has been cultivated for a long time on the very special traditional ‘Baran’ training system to avoid cold damage that occurs in winter months. The cultivar is harvested between 1 September and 1 October according to altitude in the region. The cultivar is well known in Turkey and there is a great demand for this cultivar in Turkey due to its perfect berry characteristics. In this study, yield, marketable product, cluster weight, cluster form, organic acids, specific sugars and sensory characteristics of the ‘Karaerik’ grape cultivar grown in three altitudes (1200 m a.s.l., 1400 m a.s.l. and 1600 m a.s.l., respectively) in Üzümlü district were investigated. For each altitude, grape clusters were sampled from ten vineyards and an average sample was formed. Marketable product, cluster weight, cluster form, organic acids and specific sugars were determined on those samples. Yield was determined as per decare. Sensory characteristics of samples were determined by five expert panelists. Results showed that the cluster weight was the highest in lower altitude and increasing altitude formed a more conical cluster form compared to winged cylindrical clusters at lower altitudes. The highest yield (740 kg per decare) was obtained in 1200 m a.s.l. and was followed by 1400 m a.s.l. (682 kg per decare) and 1600 m a.s.l. (724 kg per decare), respectively. Altitude strongly affected sugar and organic acid composition and ratio in berries of the ‘Karaerik’ grape. Fructose and tartaric acid were the main sugar and organic acid at all altitudes and were found between 10.04–14.02 g/100 g and 2.17–3.66 g/100 g, respectively. Sensory scores were also the highest at lower altitudes and decreased parallel to altitude increase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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10 pages, 707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Methyl Jasmonate, Cytokinin, and Lavender Oil on Antioxidant Enzyme System of Apricot Fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.)

by Seyda Cavusoglu, Nurettin Yilmaz, Firat Islek, Onur Tekin, Halil Ibrahim Sagbas, Sezai Ercisli, Eliška Rampáčková and Tomáš Nečas

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8565; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158565 - 31 Jul 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2902

Abstract

Various treatments are carried out in order to extend both the shelf life and storage life of fresh fruit and vegetables after harvest and among them non-toxic for humans, environmentally and economically friendly alternative treatments are gained more importance. In the current study, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), cytokinin, and lavender oil which are eco-friendly and safe for human health were applied on apricot fruit. The treated fruit were stored at 0 °C and 90–95% relative humidity for 25 days and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of apricots after treatments were studied. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was observed that 5 ppm cytokinin and 1000 ppm lavender oil treatments of apricot fruit gave better APX and CAT enzyme activity, respectively. In addition, better SOD enzyme activity in fruit was obtained with MeJA + lavender oil treatments. As a result, it can be emphasized that the product quality of apricot fruit is preserved as both the eco-friendly application of MeJA, cytokinin, and lavender oil separately from each other and the treatment of combinations between these compounds activate the enzymatic antioxidant defense systems of apricot fruit after harvest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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14 pages, 1845 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity among Some Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Genotypes by SSR Markers

by Murat Guney, Salih Kafkas, Hakan Keles, Mozhgan Zarifikhosroshahi, Muhammet Ali Gundesli, Sezai Ercisli, Tomas Necas and Geza Bujdoso

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126830 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3634

Abstract

The food needs for increasing population, climatic changes, urbanization and industrialization, along with the destruction of forests, are the main challenges of modern life. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate plant genetic resources in order to cope with these problems. Therefore, in this study, a set of ninety-one walnut (Juglans regia L.) accessions from Central Anatolia region, composed of seventy-four accessions and eight commercial cultivars from Turkey, and nine international reference cultivars, was analyzed using 45 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) markers to reveal the genetic diversity. SSR analysis identified 390 alleles for 91 accessions. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19 alleles with a mean value of 9 alleles per locus. Genetic dissimilarity coefficients ranged from 0.03 to 0.68. The highest number of alleles was obtained from CUJRA212 locus (Na = 19). The values of polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.42 (JRHR222528) to 0.86 (CUJRA212) with a mean PIC value of 0.68. Genetic distances were estimated according to the UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Average), Principal Coordinates (PCoA), and the Structure-based clustering. The UPGMA and Structure clustering of the accessions depicted five major clusters supporting the PCoA results. The dendrogram revealed the similarities and dissimilarities among the accessions by identifying five major clusters. Based on this study, SSR analyses indicate that Yozgat province has an important genetic diversity pool and rich genetic variance of walnuts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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11 pages, 1686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Protein and Antioxidant Content in Apricot Kernels as a Sustainable Additional Source of Nutrition

by Eliška Rampáčková, Martina Göttingerová, Pavel Gála, Tomáš Kiss, Sezai Ercişli and Tomáš Nečas

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4742; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094742 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4552

Abstract

Apricot fruits are a favorite for consumption; however, their kernels are a rich source of nutritionally interesting substances, too. Nevertheless, in processing of apricots, the kernels remain often unused. In this study, 32 cultivars of different origin were analyzed for their protein content and content of secondary metabolites (phenolics and flavonoids). The weight and taste of kernels were assessed and these data were summarized for an evaluation of the attractiveness of the studied apricot kernels. Results showed that the protein content of kernels ranged from 14.56% to 28.77% and did not depend on the origin or weight of kernel, or taste. In addition, total phenolic (63.5–1277.3 mg GAE/100 g DW) and total flavonoid (0–153.1 mg CE/100 g DW) contents and antioxidant capacity (483.4–2348.4 mg TE/100 g DW) were measured in kernels. In conclusion, the Czech hybrids LE-5959, LE-5500 and French cultivar Koolgat are prospective for kernel processing and consumption because of their high protein content and sweet taste. Hybrid LI-3-6, originating in China, showed high protein content as well but because of bitter taste could be useful rather in medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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11 pages, 375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes of Fruit and Vegetable Farmers towards Organic Farming in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

by Dilip Nandwani, Dinesh Jamarkattel, Khem Raj Dahal, Ritikshya Poudel, Suman Giri and Toya Nath Joshi

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3888; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073888 - 1 Apr 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4343

Abstract

Organic farming is increasingly popular among the farmers of Kathmandu valley. However, the organic growers have been facing issues in production, organic certification, and product marketing. To date, little is known about the challenges faced by the organic growers in Kathmandu valley. This study aimed to explore the status of organic farming, attitudes of farmers towards organic farming, their suggestions for improvement, and strengthening the value chain of organic products. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Lalitpur, Nepal during December 2019 with 37 organic growers directly or indirectly involved in organic farming. The results showed that organic growers face challenges in marketing and institutional recognition. Challenges in product certification and marketing were reported by 45.95% of the total interviewed organic growers while following organic practices (transitional organic). Our study suggested that reducing the cost of production through easy access to organic inputs like organic seeds, fertilizers, and biopesticides are highly desired by the growers. Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) or group certification along with collective marketing could be the policy implications to address the issues. Organic farming in Kathmandu valley is limited to a niche market; however, due to increasing consumer demand for safe, fresh, and local food, the popularity of organic products is extending to other regions within the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Technologies and Methods to Ensure Sustainable Crop Production)

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