Climate change has had a significant impact on apple phenology and fruit quality worldwide. Similarly, a decline in fruit quality has been observed in major apple-producing areas of Korea. It is predicted that the ideal cultivation areas for apples would need to shift toward higher latitudes due to these changes. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of climate change on apple cultivated in a higher-latitude region. To achieve this goal, we investigated the flowering and harvest times of apples. Additionally, we measured fruit weight, soluble solid content, and titratable acidity over a period of 20 years in a higher-latitude region in Korea. Subsequently, we examined the relationship between temperature, phenology, and fruit quality through the use of linear regression and correlation analysis methods. The 20-year meteorological data revealed a consistent rise in temperatures. Consistent with this trend, we found a significant advancement in budbreak and flowering dates for the two major apple cultivars grown in a higher latitude in Korea. Furthermore, the increase in temperatures has positively influenced fruit quality, indicating that climate change has an impact not only on phenology, but also on the quality of apples in Korea. Considering the projected gradual increase in temperature, our findings strongly support that higher-latitude regions in Korea have the potential to become optimal locations for apple cultivation.

Labor shortages and uneven terrain in orchards present significant challenges to autonomous navigation. This study proposes a navigation system that integrates Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data to enhance localization accuracy and map stability through Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). To minimize distortions in LiDAR scans caused by ground irregularities, real-time tilt correction was implemented based on IMU feedback. Furthermore, the path planning module was improved by modifying the Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm. The enhanced RRT generated smoother and more efficient trajectories with quantifiable improvements: the average shortest path length was 2.26 m, compared to 2.59 m with conventional RRT and 2.71 m with A* algorithm. Tracking performance also improved, achieving a root mean square error of 0.890 m and a maximum lateral deviation of 0.423 m. In addition, yaw stability was strengthened, as heading fluctuations decreased by approximately 7% relative to the standard RRT. Field results validated the robustness and adaptability of the proposed system under real-world agricultural conditions. These findings highlight the potential of LiDAR–IMU sensor fusion and optimized path planning to enable scalable and reliable autonomous navigation for precision agriculture.

Apple harvesting faces increasing challenges owing to rising labor costs and the limited seasonal workforce availability, highlighting the need for robotic harvesting solutions in precision agriculture. This study presents a 6-DOF robotic arm system designed for harvesting in dwarf hedge-planted orchards, featuring a lightweight perception module, a task-adaptive motion planner, and an adaptive soft gripper. A lightweight approach was introduced by integrating the Faster module within the C2f module of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) v8n architecture to optimize the real-time apple detection efficiency. For motion planning, a Dynamic Temperature Simplified Transition Adaptive Cost Bidirectional Transition-Based Rapidly Exploring Random Tree (DSA-BiTRRT) algorithm was developed, demonstrating significant improvements in the path planning performance. The adaptive soft gripper was evaluated for its detachment and load-bearing capacities. Field experiments revealed that the direct-pull method at 150 mN·m torque outperformed the rotation-pull method at both 100 mN·m and 150 mN·m. A custom control system integrating all components was validated in partially controlled orchards, where obstacle clearance and thinning were conducted to ensure operation safety. Tests conducted on 80 apples showed a 52.5% detachment success rate and a 47.5% overall harvesting success rate, with average detachment and full-cycle times of 7.7 s and 15.3 s per apple, respectively. These results highlight the system’s potential for advancing robotic fruit harvesting and contribute to the ongoing development of autonomous agricultural technologies.

The study was conducted to confirm the possibility of producing alcohol beverages from Dae-hong peaches. Upon examining the quality characteristics of distilled soju using Dae-hong peaches, the alcohol content was 1.12 to 1.16 times higher than that from the atmospheric distillation method. Soju with 20 % peach extract content had the highest alcohol content and the lowest volatile acid content, indicating a low possibility of causing irritating odors. Acetaldehyde was 1.3-1.94 times lower in vacuum-distilled soju, and methanol was not detected in all samples. The absorbance value of furfural, a burnt component generated during distillation is high in atmospheric distillation, which can cause irritating odors. Upon examining the volatile fragrance components, isoamylalcohol and 1-propanol were found to be the main components, both of which were the highest in the treatment group with 20 % peach extract content. The electronic nose analysis revealed that this group showed the most opposing flavor patterns to the control group, and when distilled under reduced pressure with 20 % addition of Dae-hong peaches can produce high-quality soju.

This study examined the physiological development of the red-fleshed peach cultivar ‘Daehong’ at different stages of fruit maturation to determine the optimal harvest time. Fruit samples were collected at five intervals—50, 80, 100, 120, and 140 days after full bloom (DAFBs)—and evaluated for external attributes (weight, size, and color) and internal attributes (soluble solids, sugar–acid ratio, firmness, sugars, and organic acids). Internal quality parameters, including soluble solids content and firmness, reached commercially acceptable levels at 120 DAFB. Sucrose was the predominant sugar, increasing steadily during maturation, while malic acid levels declined, resulting in an improved sugar–acid balance. Respiratory activity and ethylene production peaked at 140 DAFB, marking the onset of full ripening. Additionally, Hunter a* values and anthocyanin content increased progressively, intensifying the red coloration of the fruit. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that overall fruit quality was highest between 120 and 140 DAFB; however, reduced firmness at later stages suggests that delayed harvesting could impair postharvest storability. Considering both physiological indicators and climate variability, harvesting ‘Daehong’ peaches when growing degree days (GDDs) approach 1800 °C is recommended, as this provides a more consistent and objective maturity index than DAFB alone.

We conducted a comparative analysis of the peel and flesh of the low-acidity nectarine cultivar ‘Yellow Dream,’ a recently developed peach variety gaining popularity in Korea for its edible peel and ease of consumption, to evaluate its nutritional and functional values. This analysis examined nutritional composition, mineral content, antioxidant activity, and cosmetic benefits such as whitening and anti-wrinkle effects, compared to existing clingstone peach cultivars. ‘Yellow Dream’ has an average fruit weight of 186.5±44.7 g, which is comparable to early-maturing clingstone cultivars such as ‘Chiyomaru’ (yellow flesh) and ‘Yumi’ (white flesh). It consistently achieves a sugar content above 11 °Brix while exhibiting notably low acidity, approximately 0.4%, unlike traditional nectarine varieties known for their pronounced sourness. Compared to the other cultivars, ‘Yellow Dream’ demonstrated significantly higher levels of crude protein and carbohydrates, particularly in its peel, which contained over 1.5 times the crude protein content of ‘Yumi’ and ‘Chiyomaru.’ The peel also exhibited elevated levels of minerals, polyphenols, and flavonoids, along with stronger antioxidant activity as measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. These findings suggest that ‘Yellow Dream,’ with its edible skin, is a rich source of bioactive compounds and nutrients. Its peel demonstrated superior tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitory activities, highlighting its potential as a whitening and anti-wrinkle agent. Notably, its collagenase inhibitory activity in both the peel and flesh was the highest among the tested cultivars, making it a promising raw material for cosmetics and functional health foods for whitening and wrinkle prevention.