APS_JANUARY2024

I ndex

47

U

X X-disease

150

V Vaccinium corymosum Vaccinium darrowii Vaccinium floribundum Vaccinium myrtoides

Y Yao, Shengrui

188 188 176 176 149 136

14

Yield

226

Yield efficiency

14, 226

Velvet apple Vitis vinifera

Z Zhao, R.H. Zheng, M. Zhu, Yanmin

136 136

W Warmund, M.R.

51

28

Wu, J.Y.

136

About the Cover: Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica , is sometimes known as Japanese medlar or Japanese plum. It is an evergreen tree in the Rosaceae family and is susceptible to fire blight (Erwinia amylovaora). Loquat is native to southeastern and central China and is grown at longitudes between 20°to 35°N, in southern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and parts of North, Central, and South America. Although the trees are grown in subtropical to tropical regions, they can tolerate temperatures as low as -12° C. Loquat is commercially grown in subtropical and Mediterranean areas, and it is a minor crop California. Mature trees are about 7 to 10 m tall with an upright canopy. Flowers are borne on 10- to 20-cm long terminal panicles of 30 to 100 or more flowers. The fruits are pomes, in clusters of 4 to 30. Fruit size can be improved by fruit thinning. The edible fruit are oval to pear-shaped, 2 to 5 cm long and weigh about 30 to 40 g. The peel is smooth, light yellow to orange. The juicy pulp is white to light yellow to orange with 7 to 17% soluble solids, and the flavor is sweet or slightly acid. The fruits contain 1 to 10 dark brown seeds. Photo by Johnathan Crane