Introduction. In Mexico, the Myrtillocactus fruit production levels are substantial, yet fruits are often under-used. Although the focus of interest is on their potential as food colourings, the fruits deserve more attention for their other food properties but information on their physico-chemical composition is scarce. To offer a baseline for the development of Myrtillocactus cultivation, we reviewed the information so far available. Botanical description. Four Myrtillocactus species have been identified and reported in the literature. They differ in shape, colour and other phenotypic characteristics. In Mexico, the predominant species is M. geometrizans, but M. schenckii also grows abundantly throughout the arid and semi-arid lands of the country. Cytological analyses performed on M. geometrizans showed that the plant is diploid (2n = 22). Agronomic aspects. Myrtillocactus species belong to the Cactaceae family. Because of their Crassulacean acid metabolism, they are able to grow in the arid and semi-arid highlands of Mexico. Myrtillocactus species have been propagated asexually by explants or cloning. Under controlled conditions, in vitro micropropagation from apical and basal explants gives rise to high yields. For cultivation, attention should be paid especially to minimum winter temperatures. Description of fruits and biochemical characterisation. The edible fruit is globular, with diameters reaching 1.5 cm. The pulp is gel-like, ranging in colour from glowing red to bluish. Chemical characterisation has mainly focused on betalain compounds, the predominant ones of which are betanin and betaxanthins. Contents are reported to be about 2.3 mg betalain·100 g–1of pulp. Colour appears to be more stable than for red beets. Human consumption and commercial importance. In the production season (June to September), the fruits are found in all public markets in the states where they are grown. They are eaten either fresh or in processed forms. The commercialisation of the fruit is restricted mainly to rural production areas in certain states of Mexico. Conclusions. Our review establishes that published information on Myrtillocactus species is scarce and incomplete. The plant is under-utilised, despite its nutritional properties and commercial potential. Because they adapt easily to severely dry conditions, the Myrtillocactus species merit much more research.

Introduction. Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) is an exotic fruit species little known in Brazil and which needs basic studies about plant nutrition, propagation and physiology. Emphasizing the co-existence of juvenile and adult stages in the pitaya canopy, the plant is generally propagated by cuttings. Materials and methods. A completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications was adopted. Each treatment was represented by the part of the canopy from which the cutting was taken (upper, middle and lower cutting and cuttings from young plants). The following variables were registered: % cuttings with roots, % of live cuttings, root density, root diameter, root area, root length and root dry mass. Results were submitted to variance analyses, Tukey’s test at 0.01 probability error and simple correlation analysis. Results and discussion. The results indicated that the position from which the cutting is taken had a quantitative effect on rooting formation of pitaya cuttings. Juvenile cuttings presented 35% more cuttings with roots than adult cuttings. Root density, root area, root length and root dry mass depended on juvenility, the highest results being registered for juvenile cuttings, independently of the variable. Conclusion. Juvenile and adult stages co-exist in the pitaya canopy. Juvenility is an important rooting factor for red pitaya cuttings.

Introduction. Saline soils may exert a different effect on seed germination and seedling growth. Materials and methods. The seeds of two rootstocks of pistachio (Pistacia vera), Ghazvini and Badami-e-zarand, were incubated at 20 °C in the dark in a 150 mM NaCl solution or in 150 mM NaCl solutions amended with (50, 100 and 150) mM CaSO4. Seeds were planted in pots containing a mixture of garden soil, sand and compost (1/3 v/v) to investigate the effect of calcium sulphate on plants grown under salt stress. Irrigation water treatments were control (deionised water alone); salinity stress (150 mM NaCl); salinity with 50 mM CaSO4; salinity with 100 mM CaSO4; and salinity with 150 mM CaSO4. Results and discussion. In all treatments, both the final germination percentage and the final percentage of seeds with emerging seedlings longer than 20 mm were higher in the Ghazvini rootstock than in the Badami-e-zarand rootstock. Both the final germination percentage and the final percentage of seeds with emerging seedlings were significantly increased with increasing CaSO4 concentration, except at the highest CaSO4 concentration. The plants grown under 150 mM NaCl produced less dry matter and had lower chlorophyll content than those grown without NaCl. Supplementary CaSO4 only at (50 and 100) mM concentrations ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on plant dry matter and chlorophyll content. Sodium (Na) concentration in plant tissues increased in both leaves and roots of plants under the NaCl treatment alone. The Ghazvini rootstock had much lower Na. Additions of CaSO4 significantly lowered the concentration of Na in both leaves and roots. The Ghazvini rootstock was more tolerant to salinity than the Badami-e-zarand rootstock. The accumulation of Na in leaves and roots indicates a possible mechanism whereby cv. Ghazvini copes with salinity in the rooting medium, and/or may indicate the existence of an inhibition mechanism of Na transport to leaves. Concentrations of Ca and K were lower in the plants grown at high NaCl concentration than in those under the control treatment, and, for the cv. Ghazvini, these two element's concentrations were increased in both leaves and roots for the plants with calcium sulphate treatment; for the cv. Badami-e-zarand, these concentrations were increased in only the roots.

Introduction. The raphia palm tree is found in abundance in the southern part of Nigeria, especially in the southeastern part. It is grown mainly for its production of palm wine. It also bears fruits (Raphia hookeri) whose pulp is considered edible in some parts of the country and not edible in other parts. Materials and methods. Conventional methods of analysis were used to investigate the vitamin, phytochemical and toxic element composition of the pulp and seed of the fruit. Results. The investigation shows that the pulp has higher concentrations of vitamin E (1.04 mg·100 g–1), niacin (0.2 mg·100 g–1), alkaloid (5 g·kg–1), saponins (3.6 g·kg–1), flavonoids (4 g·kg–1) and phenols (4.1 g·kg–1) than the seed, but the seed has higher values of vitamin A (0.16 mg·100g–1), thiamine (0.07 mg·100 g–1), riboflavin (0.07 mg·100 g–1), nitrates (3.05 mg·100 g–1) and nitrites (0.29 mg·100 g–1), and of the toxic elements: lead (0.03 µg·g–1), mercury (0.04 µg·g–1), arsenic (0.23 µg·g–1) and cadmium (0.04 µg·g–1) than the pulp. Conclusion. The pulp and seed of R. hookeri are non-toxic and can serve as food as well as in medicine.

Introduction. This protocol aims at evaluating (a) the efficacy of new fungicides for the control of post-harvest diseases, (b) the efficacy of various application methods for the chemical control of post-harvest diseases, and (c) the quality of the fungicide solution during the same packing day where this solution is recycled. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. Materials required and details of the eighteen steps of the protocol (fruit sampling and inoculum preparation, wound anthracnose study, quiescent anthracnose study, and crown-rot study) are described. Results. Comparison between untreated control bananas and bananas treated with fungicide allows the calculation of the fungicide treatment efficacy.

Introduction. This rearing technique is applicable to migratory nematodes (e.g., Pratylenchus spp. and Radopholus similis) for mass production of nematodes for experimental purposes, conservation of nematodes, and direct studies of nematodes’ multiplication or reproduction mechanisms. The principle of the method applied, key advantages, starting plant material and time required are presented. Materials and methods. Necessary laboratory materials, and details of the nine steps required for the preparation of carrot discs, preparation of nematodes, inoculation of nematodes and collection of nematodes out of petri dishes are described. Possible troubleshooting is explained. Results. Several thousands of nematodes can be extracted out of one carrot disc after 6–8 weeks of culture, depending on nematode species and geographical population.

Introduction. This protocol aims at monitoring the development of Black Leaf Streak (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) disease of banana plants in order to control this disease with a minimum of fungicide applications. A good timing of fungicide application will result in lower cost of control, lower risk of fungicide resistance and lower environmental negative impact. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. Details of the six steps of the protocol allowing banana plot preparation, data collection, stage of evolution of the disease (SED) calculation, and timing of fungicide applications are described. Possible troubleshooting is mentioned. Results. Weekly observation of selected banana plants allows filling in a data sheet used for the calculation of the SED. A graphic representation of the weekly evolution of this SED can then be used for timing of fungicide spraying decisions.

Introduction. This protocol aims at (i) analysing the nature of host-parasite interactions (resistance or susceptibility), and (ii) studying the variability of the pathogenicity of different pathogen populations (intra/inter-specific) with regard to both virulence and aggressiveness using artificial inoculation with Mycosphaerella fijiensis or Mycosphaerella musicola on plants and banana leaf pieces. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material and time required for the method are presented. Materials and methods. Laboratory materials required and details of the sixteen steps of the protocol (conidial inoculum preparation, artificial inoculation on banana plants and artificial inoculation on banana leaf pieces) are described. Possible troubleshooting is discussed. Results. Typical symptoms of the different diseases are obtained after artificial inoculation.