‘Perfection’ apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.) were treated with 1 ml l 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP) for 4 h at 20°C then stored at 0 or 20°C. The onset of ethylene production was delayed and respiration rate was reduced following MCP treatment. MCP treatment resulted in less firmness and titratable acidity loss during storage at both temperatures and delayed production of volatile alcohols and...

The present study describes possible changes in plasma levels of anterior pituitary hormones induced by bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) seeds in young female rabbits in vivo. Prunus armeniaca L. is an important medicinal edible plant species commonly known as “apricot”. The apricot is a member of the Rosaceae and subfamily Prunoideae. It is one of the most delicious and commercially traded...

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) was a thriving tree crop in California during the first half of the 20th century, with nearly 100,000 A under production at its peak in 1926 Foytik [1]. Since that time, production acreage has declined steadily to its current level of approximately 10,000 A. Harvested apricot volume in California has averaged just over 54,000 T annually over the last three reported ye...

Development, imaginal survivorship, adult longevity and fecundity of the predatory phytoseiid mite Euseius (Amblyseius) finlandicus Oudemans reared on seven different plant pollens were determined in the laboratory. The rationale behind these experiments was to assess the nutritional value and the possible effect on development and population dynamics of the mite. Mites were kept individually o...

Male sterility is defined as the deviant condition in normally bisexual plants when no viable pollen is formed (Frankel and Galun, 1977). Male sterility has been exploited as an effective tool to aid hybrid seed production in many crops. Using this trait, seed producers can transform one inbred from a planned hybridization into a “female” line, thereby ensuring seed of hybrid origin on the male...

The purpose of this research is to facilitate the mechanical harvesting of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) for industry. A tractor-trailed harvester was built to catch the fruits detached from apricot (cv. Búlida) trees by vibratory systems. This machine is a low profile catcher that can move under the trees in high-density canopies where umbrella-type harvesters cannot. The trailer is able to w...

Inorganic copper is used as a broad-spectrum fungicide and bacteriocide on a variety of agricultural crops. After application, the copper residue typically accumulates in the upper 15 cm of soil. Data from the California Pesticide Use Reports were used to estimate the augmentation of copper in the soil that resulted from pesticide applications for the six years from 1993 to 1998 on 12 crops tha...