Citrus Sinensis Var Research Articles

In silico characterization of the Limonene synthase gene in citrus species under freezing tolerance

Bitterness in citrus fruit extract is caused by changes and transformations in limonoids and the production of limonene, a bitter-tasting substance. Limonene synthase enzyme is responsible for producing limonene. This study examined the effect of low-temperature stress on the expression of the limonene synthase gene in four different citrus species: Miyagawa mandarin (Citrus unshiu), Thomson Navel Orange (Citrus sinensis var. Thomson navel), Ruby Star grapefruit (Citrus paradisi var. Ruby star), and Lisbon lemon (Citrus limon var. Lisbon). These species were grafted on two-year-old sour orange rootstocks. The experiment was carried out as a factorial in the form of a completely random design. Three temperatures were used for the cold treatment (−8, −4, 4 °C). The expression sequence of the Limonene synthase gene was predicted using bioinformatic software such as PLANT Care and PlantPan. The results showed significant variation in the frequency of amino acids in the LS gene. Leucine (11.36) and glutamic acid (7.57) had the highest frequency. The analysis of the Limonene synthase gene promoter revealed different Cis-element regions such as response elements to light, hormones, and abiotic stresses on the promoter of these genes. The gene promoter had many regions related to binding sites of MYB transcription factors, response regions to hormones, cold (Dehydrin with 15 cis-regulatory elements), and drought, emphasizing the role of this gene in abiotic stress response. The gene expression patterns of the Limonene synthase showed that the highest and lowest expression occurred at − 4 °C in Lisbon lemon (−132.28), Ruby Star grapefruit (−70.06), Thomson Navel Orange (−2.88), and Miyagawa Mandarin (−3.88), confirming the role of this gene in abiotic and biotic stress response.

Proteomics and Metabolic Patterns of Hyalomma dromedarii Ticks Treated with Citrus sinensis var balady Peels’ Oil Extract

Proteomics and Metabolic Patterns of Hyalomma dromedarii Ticks Treated with Citrus sinensis var balady Peels’ Oil Extract

Effectiveness of botanical insecticides on larval stage of red palm weevil Rhynchophorous ferrugineus and survival of entomopathogenic nematodes

Botanical oils are considered ecofriendly compounds with insecticidal characteristics. In this study, the effects of basil (Ocimum basilicum), camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), lemon (Citrus limon), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), black pepper (Piper nigrum), and orange (Citrus sinensis var balady) oil extracts on the survival of four entomopathogenic nematode strains belonging to the Steinernema and Heterorhabditis genera, as well as their impacts on Rhynchophorus ferrugineus egg hatching and larvae, were assessed. The results for the camphor, lemon, black pepper, and orange oils were promising as 50 μL/mL of each resulted in 0%, 0%, 16%, and 0% hatchability for the R. ferrugineus eggs, respectively. Furthermore, the mortality of R. ferrugineus larvae was up to 95% with the similar concentrations and an exposure time of 48 h, for the other investigated oils. Various morphohistopathological alterations were found in the cuticle; outer cuticle folds swelling or shrinkage and subcuticular muscle degeneration, as well as midgut; fat globules in the epithelial lining with marked degeneration and/or necrosis, of the R. ferrugineus larvae when compared with those of controls replicates. Mortality percentage of infective juveniles (IJs) of Steinernema carpocapsae (S2) was significantly lower than Heterorhabditis marelatus (D1), Steinernema riobravae (Sr) and Steinernema carpocapsae (All) when using camphor oil compared to the other oils (50%). From the obtained observations on oils lethal effects, the target of developing integral biocontrol product formulated from combinations of essential oils and nematode with insecticidal properties against R. ferrugineus (not nematode survival) is possible; a sustainable and ecofriendly product for pest management.

Comparative Untargeted Metabolic Profiling of Different Parts of Citrus sinensis Fruits via Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Multivariate Data Analyses to Unravel Authenticity.

Differences between seven authentic samples of Citrus sinensis var. Valencia peel (albedo and flavedo) and juices from Spain and Uruguay, in addition to a concentrate obtained from Brazil, were investigated by untargeted metabolic profiling. Sixty-six metabolites were detected by nano-liquid chromatography coupled to a high-resolution electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (nLC-ESI-qTOF-MS) belonging to phenolic acids, coumarins, flavonoid glycosides, limonoids, terpenes, and fatty acids. Eleven metabolites were detected for the first time in Citrus sinensis and identified as citroside A, sinapic acid pentoside, apigenin-C-hexosyl-O-pentoside, chrysoeriol-C-hexoside, di-hexosyl-diosmetin, perilloside A, gingerol, ionone epoxide hydroxy-sphingenine, xanthomicrol, and coumaryl alcohol-O-hexoside. Some flavonoids were completely absent from the juice, while present most prominently in the Citrus peel, conveying more industrial and economic prospects to the latter. Multivariate data analyses clarified that the differences among orange parts overweighed the geographical source. PCA analysis of ESI-(-)-mode data revealed for hydroxylinoleic acid abundance in flavedo peel from Uruguay the most distant cluster from all others. The PCA analysis of ESI-(+)-mode data provided a clear segregation of the different Citrus sinensis parts primarily due to the large diversity of flavonoids and coumarins among the studied samples.

Comparative GC Analysis of Valencia orange Ripe and Unripe Peel Essential Oils, Nano-formulation, Anti-Helicobacter Pylori and Anti-inflammatoryEvaluation: in vitro and in silico

Peptic ulcer associated with H. pylori infection and antibiotics resistance warranted the execution of the foregoing study to produce natural and safe alternatives. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil derived from the ripe and unripe peel of Citrus sinensis var. Valencia grown in Egypt was investigated besides its anti-Helicobacter pylori and COX-2 inhibition actions. Ripe mature peels displayed a higher oil yield than unripe ones (0.8 and 0.6%, respectively). Twenty-nine compounds were identified in all samples with volatile monoterpenes as the predominant class, (88.90% and 90.62% in fresh ripe peel (P1) and dried ripe peel (P2), respectively, however unripe fresh orange peel (P3) showed a lower quantity (83.95%). D-Limonene was the major compound in P1 and P2 (85% and 88 %, respectively), while 73% were found in P3. In comparison to standard Clarithromycin (MIC90 = 1.95 ± 0.002 μg/ml), the nano-hexosomal formula of P1 reduced H. pylori action more than P1 alone with MIC90= 1.95 ± 0.0029 μg/ml and MIC90= 3.90 ± 0.006 μg/ml for formulated and unformulated P1, respectively. An anti-inflammatory assay via COX-2 inhibition revealed that the formulated P1 is more potent (IC50= 0.85 μg/ml) than P1 alone (IC50= 2.04 μg/ml) in comparison with Celecoxib® (IC50= 0.28 μg/ml). To unravel the mechanism of the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity, an in silico study on D-Limonene has been performed, using H. pylori urease enzyme, which revealed that D-Limonene showed promising binding scores. Thus, Valencia orange peel essential oil offers a natural, cheap, and relatively safe candidate to combat Helicobacter pylori infection.

Bioactivity of Leaf Extract of Phyllantus amarus against Fungal Pathogens Associated with Sweet Orange Rot Disease

This study was carried out to determine disease incidence and control of fungal pathogens associated with rot of sweet orange using Phyllantus amarus leaf extract. Forty sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis var. Valencia) were collected from the markets and taken to the laboratory. Isolation and identification of the fungi were carried out using standard procedures and the efficacy of the leaf extracts of Phyllantus amarus was determined on the isolated fungi. The result of this study showed that four pathogens (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillum expansum and Rhizopus stolonifer) were identified to be associated with the rot. Rot incidence was upto of 35%. Pathogenicity confirmed the characteristic features similar to the original diseased samples. The effect of the leaf extract of Phyllantus amarus on the isolated fungi shows that the rate of inhibition increases with increase in concentration of the P. amarus extract, The P. amarus extract was effective against A. flavus had the highest zone of inhibition (10.667). The inhibition zone was lesser for R. stolonifer among the pathogens (8.333). Sweet orange should be consumed after harvest or can be stored in refrigerator for period of 1=2 weeks. The fruit should be discarded if any alteration in color or taste of the fruit is noticed as this can be hazardous to human health.

Effect of essential oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), orange (Citrus sinensis var. Valencia) in the vapor phase on the antimicrobial and sensory properties of a meat emulsion inoculated with Salmonella enterica

The demand for healthier meat products is increasing remarkably and natural antimicrobial agents such as essential oils (EOs) are required, which can be applied in the vapor phase. For this experiment, the effectiveness of essential oils of oregano, thyme, and orange in the vapor phase on the microbiological and sensory characteristics of sausages inoculated with Salmonella enterica and stored at 4°C during 72 hrs and 144 hrs, were studied. Oregano EO with 2000 ppm was the most effective treatment against Salmonella enterica with a logarithmic reduction of 1.97 Log10 CFU/g compared to thyme 1.36 Log10 CFU/g and orange 1 Log10 CFU/g) after 144 hrs. In relation to the general acceptance level, the meat product exposed to the orange EO in vapor phase presented the highest approval by the judges nevertheless, however, were the ones that showed the least reduction in the microbial population. Finally, the results showed that the addition of essential oil in the vapor phase to meat products exerted a bactericidal effect with higher EOs concentrations and some also caused alterations in the sensorial properties of the product.

Effect of imidazolium ionic liquids as microwave absorption media for the intensification of microwave-assisted extraction of Citrus sinensis peel essential oils

Ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction (MAE-IL) has been applied for the separation of essential oils (EOs) from Citrus sinensis var. Valencia peels. Two imidazolium ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium acetate ([C2mim]OAc) and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([C4mim]Cl), were investigated for extraction efficiency, thermal behavior of the process, and chemical composition of the EOs obtained. During extractions, two different concentrations of ionic liquids (ILs) were studied (5% or 10 %), and the proposed MAE-IL was evaluated in comparison with usual microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) using water as solvent. Results indicated that both concentrations of ILs influenced EO extraction, thermal behavior, and chemical composition. However, [C2mim]OAc was more efficient, increasing extraction velocity by 10 times, enhancing extraction efficiency of EOs (39 %), and increasing the presence of oxyterpene compounds in the EOs. However, the great ability of ILs to interact with microwaves had an impact on the thermal history of the sample, reaching almost 110 °C, promoting the presence of compounds related to thermal effect.

Phytochemical Characterization of Herbal Tea from Oranges Peels (Citrus sinensis var Blonde) Marketed in Abidjan

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) is the most widely consumed citrus fruit in Côte d'Ivoire. They are rich in bioactive compound. Also, their peels or flavedo rejected during consumption have a high content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and essential oils. However, in Côte D'Ivoire, studies are limited to the characterization of orange peel (Citrus sinensis). Our study therefore aims to determine the phytochemical composition of herbal teas obtained from the orange peel (Citrus sinensis) in order to contribute to their valorisation as herbal teas. The Citrus sinensis zests were collected in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) in Adjamé community. An herbal tea was produced and subjected to phytochemical and physicochemical tests. The results showed that the moisture content of the different batches varies from 14.13±0.41 to 7.2%±0.2; the oven-dried batches showed the lowest value. In addition, the ash content remains statistically different between batches. The herbal teas studied had an average ash content of 6.53%. The pH values negatively correlated to acidity range from 3.92±0.2 to 3.21±0.15. Also, these herbal teas contain several secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins. This study shows that herbal teas made from orange peel contain several phytochemicals including antioxidants. In addition, their high ash content suggests a high mineral content. Therefore, orange peels can be used in the form of herbal teas as a dietary supplement.

Decontamination methods of tanks to spray 2,4-D and dicamba and the effects of these herbicides on citrus and vegetable species

In agriculture, the development of plants resistant to 2,4-D and dicamba tends to result in increased use of these herbicides in agricultural areas and consequently increases the risk in susceptible species. The aims of the present study are to assess the effects of 2,4-D and dicamba on citrus (Citrus sinensis var. Pêra Rio), lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Stella) and tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum var. Santa Clara) and determine the best method for spray tank decontamination after applying such herbicides. All the experiments followed a completely randomized design with five replications. To study the effects of 2,4-D and dicamba on sensitive plants, experiments were performed on the following cultivated species: citrus, lettuce and tomato. Each species was subjected to 2,4-D (D, 670 g a.i. ha-1) and dicamba (D, 560 g a.i. ha-1) applied at doses of 0 D, 1 D, 0.5 D, 0.12 D, 0.03 D, 0.007 D and 0.001 D (of commercial doses (Ds)). In another experiment, the following methods were adopted to clean tanks used to spray 2,4-D and dicamba at commercial doses: wash with water (1x), water (2x), water (3x), water + 96% alcohol (1:1), water + detergent (2.5%) or no washing. The tanks were filled with water after treatment. The young tomato plants were used as bioindicators. Regarding plant sensitivity, citrus plants exhibited low potential for suffering losses due to 2,4-D and dicamba drift. The plants tolerated a dose of 0.12 D for both herbicides. Lettuce and tomato were extremely sensitive to 2,4-D and dicamba. Lettuce tolerated 2,4-D at a dose of 0.007 D but showed phytotoxicity symptoms; the tolerated dicamba dose was 0.03 D. Only the 0.03 D dose of 2,4-D was tolerated by tomato. Although the tomato plants presented phytotoxicity symptoms, the tolerated dicamba dose was 0.007 D. For the tank cleaning experiment, the spray tank cleaning by thoroughly washing in water (2x) was the most appropriate method to clean tanks used to spray 2,4-D. Washing with water (2x, at a minimum), water + alcohol (1:1) or water + detergent was equally effective to clean tanks filled with dicamba. Therefore, the study shows that the application of 2,4-D and dicamba in areas close to young Citrus sinensis plants should be avoided given that vegetable species, such as lettuce and tomato, do not tolerate the minimum drift of these herbicides. Double washing with water would be the most economical and effective method of cleaning tanks used to house these herbicides.

The effects of rootstocks on performances of three late-ripening navel orange varieties

Selection of rootstock is very important for citrus production. Besides its major role on resistance, the rootstock also can affect fruit production and quality. Currently, the main concerns on selection of rootstock for citrus production are compatibility and resistance, due to less information on the impacts of rootstock to the performance of scion varieties. This study aims to provide information on performances of navel orange varieties on different rootstocks. Three late-ripening navel orange varieties (Citrus sinensis var. Powell, Chislett and Banfield) grafted on seven rootstocks (Swingle citrumelo (C. paradisi×P. trifoliata), Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis×P. trifoliata), X639 (C. reticulata×P. trifoliata), MXT (C. sinensis×P. trifoliata), Hongju (C. reticulata), Ziyang Xiangcheng (C. junos) and trifoliate orange (P. trifoliata)) were used as plant materials for comprehensive comparison of the performances on tree growth, fruit yield and quality in 21 scion–stock combinations. Investigation was carried out in these combinations in field nine years after planting. Vigorous growth of all the three late-ripening navel orange varieties was observed on Carrizo citrange with the largest canopy volume at 33.34 m3 and the highest yield at 29.43 kg per tree, but a low yield efficiency at 2.87 kg m−3. On the contrary, those on trifoliate orange had the smallest canopy volume at 10.79 m3 and the lowest fruit yield at 12.51 kg per tree, but the highest yield efficiency at 3.95 kg m−3. Rootstocks did not show significant effects on fruit size, fruit shape index, peel thickness and the edible rate of the fruits, but fruit quality was significantly affected by the rootstocks. Fruits from the trees grafted on trifoliate orange presented the best quality with significantly higher total soluble solids (TSS) content than those on Ziyang Xiangcheng and Hongju, and also the highest ratio of TSS/titratable acidity (TA). The TA content was observed from the fruits on X639 at 0.59 g 100 mL−1. Vitamin C (Vc) content of fruits on Hongju was the highest at 49.25 mg 100 mL−1. Growth vigor of the trees was positively correlated with fruit yield at an extremely significant level. The canopy volume was negatively correlated with yield efficiency, but positively correlated with compatibility index. Results of this study indicated that the rootstock has great impacts on the growth vigor of the tree, yield efficiency and quality of the fruit. In order to achieve good quality and yield efficiency for navel orange production, less growth vigor rootstock such as trifoliate orange is highly recommended.

Utilización de subproductos de naranja (Citrus sinensis var. valencia) en la alimentación para rumiantes

This study was aimed to elaborate a bull fattening supplement with Valencia orange by-products (Citrus sinensis var. valencia) in the north of Veracruz state. It was performed in a Livestock Production Unit (UPP) from the Municipality of Álamo-Temapache, Veracruz. Geographically located at North latitude: 20 ° 55 '19 ", West latitude 97 ° 41' 44. This place is found at 40 meters height above sea level with an average annual temperature of 19-36 ° C. 40 Zebu x Swiss bulls, with 300 kg weight approximately, were housed and assigned under a completely randomized design in four treatments, and ten repetitions (n = 10). T1 (control) fresh forage; T2: formulated concentrate based on orange bagasse + fresh forage; T3: concentrate formulated with orange peel + fresh forage; T4: concentrate formulated with orange silage + fresh forage. Food was offered twice a day "ad libitum" considering 3.0 % (NRC) of the live weight during the 90 days of the experiment, with two weightings at the beginning and at the end. The average daily gain (P<0.05) was 2.97 kg/animal and the cold carcass yield was 55.3%, to the animals that received a by-product supplementation based on orange silo (T4) 13.3% PC it promoted higher performance in fattening cattle.

Facile and eco-benign synthesis of Au@Fe2O3 nanocomposite: Efficient photocatalytic, antibacterial and antioxidant agent

The development of eco-benign experimental procedures for the synthesis of nanomaterials is a fundamental developing branch of green nanotechnology. In this paper, green synthetic route was followed to synthesize novel Au@Fe2O3nanocomposite using Citrus sinensis fruit extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The as synthesized Au@Fe2O3nanocomposite was successfully characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT1R) spectrophotometry and Zeta potential. UV–vis spectroscopy showed two SPR peaks for Fe2O3 and coated Au at 290 and 520 nm respectively. XRD confirmed the crystallinity of Au@Fe2O3. Au@Fe2O3 nanocomposite showed better antioxidant activity to effectively scavenge DPPH. The Au@Fe2O3 has been also tested for antibacterial activity which showed an effective antibacterial activity against multi drug resistant E.coli and Bacillus subtilis. Furthermore, Au@Fe2O3 also demonstrated better photo catalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation. We proposed that the existence of organic acids (citric acids) also played a significant role in the stabilization of Au@Fe2O3, and plant (Citrus sinensis Var Kozan yerly) containing such component may be more effective for the green synthesis of Au@Fe2O3 nanocomposite. The findings of this study prove the overwhelming therapeutic and photocatalytic potential of bio-inspired Au@Fe2O3nanocomposite which can be a novel candidate for the effective remediation of microbes and toxic organic pollutants.

Antibacterial activity, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of corn starch films containing orange essential oil

The incorporation of antimicrobial compounds into natural polymers can promote increased shelf life and ensure food safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity, morphological, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of corn starch films containing orange (Citrus sinensis var. Valencia) essential oil (OEO). The corn starch films were prepared using the casting method. OEO and the corn starch films incorporated with OEO showed higher antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The addition of OEO to the films increased the morphological heterogeneity and contributed to the reduction of the tensile strength and elongation of the films, and it increased the moisture content, water solubility, and water vapor permeability. The water vapor permeability and partial or total solubility of a film in water prior to consumption of a product are of interest when the film is used as food coating or for encapsulation of specific molecules.

Antimicrobial and functional properties of the proteins extracted from lemon, orange and grapefruit seeds press meals

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activities and functional properties of the proteins extracted from lemon (Citrus limon var. Kutdiken), orange (Citrus sinensis var. Dortyol...

Study of Antifungal, Anti-aflatoxigenic, Antioxidant Activity and Phytotoxicity of Algerian Citrus limon var. Eureka and Citrus sinensis var. Valencia Essential oils

The inhibitory influence of Citrus limon var. Eureka and Citrus sinensis var. Valencia essential oils (EOs) on the growth of Aspergillus flavus and AFB1 production was evaluated. The EOs were characterized by limonene (54.95% and 82.6%, respectively) as predominant component. Citrus limon EO at 1.75 mg/mL and Citrus sinensis at 2 mg/mL could totally inhibit fungal growth as well as AFB1 production. The Citrus EOs revealed wide spectrum of fungitoxicity against some isolated fungi in terms of MIC and MFC. On the other hand, the antioxidant activity was also assessed where IC50 and β-carotene/linoleic acid inhibition percentage of Citrus limon and Citrus sinensis oils were 1570.10 and 752.26 μg/mL, 36.19 and 55.56%, respectively, while the total phenolic were 16.90 and 10.53 μg/mg, respectively. Additionally, the EOs showed their non phytoxicity on wheat seeds. These findings demonstrated that EOs could be good alternatives to protect food.

Investigation on the Utilization Possibility of Orange (Citrus sinensis var. Valencia) Oil Extracted by Microwave Pretreatment-Improved Steam Distillation as Natural Flavoring Agent Based on its Characteristics Analysis

The main objective of the present study was to determine some of the physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of essential oil extracted from orange peel using microwave pretreatment-improved steam distillation method in order to utilize it as a natural flavoring agent. Microwave pretreatment of orange peel preceded steam distillation process, which carried out under a set of defined conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of orange peel undergone 15 seconds with a temperature of 60°C (320W) microwave pretreatment was used to study the potential of this pretreatment. With GC and GC-MS, the quantity and quality of the oil compounds were characterized in particular of which relative to the flavor. Sensory evaluation was determined by a panel of experienced people and consumer evaluation. Comparisons were made to orange oil provided in literature in terms of yield, physical, chemical and sensory characteristics. The study showed an effective commercially and environmentally friendly technique termed as microwave pretreatment-improved steam distillation method. SEM images provided evidence as to a greatly expand in the oil glands by microwave pretreatment without any rupture which subsequently correlated with extraction time reduction. Moreover, the set of defined conditions that applied in the steam distillation step considerably maintained the chemical and sensory properties of the oil distilled. The extracted oil possesses physical, chemical and sensory characteristics that offer this oil special interest as a natural flavoring agent. Further, the productivity was 0.52% and it was useful to add a small amount of this oil (0.2%) for adding orange flavor as it in original fruit. Based on orange oil flavor profile characterized by GC-MS and sensory evaluation, flavor compounds deterioration, development boiled odor and off-flavor compounds were prevented due to the adjustment in the extraction process. Orange peel oil steam distilled was highly appealing in flavor and overall acceptability.

Antifungal Activity of Black Caraway and Anise Essential Oils Against Penicillium digitatum on Blood Orange Fruits

ABSTRACTEssential oils are distilled liquids generally extracted from the stems, leaves, flowers, or other parts of a plant. In this study, antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum of black caraway (Carum carvi) and anise (Pimpinella anisum) essential oils was investigated at different concentrations (0, 200, 400, 600,and 800 μL.L−1) on blood orange (Citrus sinensis var. Moro) in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro experiment results showed that two used the essential oils had strongly fungicidal effects, so that, the growth of P. digitatum was completely inhibited by the application of black caraway and anise oils. Anise and black caraway oils completely inhibited P. digitatum growth at the concentrations of 600 μL.L−1. In vivo experiment resulted in the complete inhibition of P. digitatum growth by anise and black caraway essential oils on blood orange fruits at any applied concentrations compared to the controls. In addition, at higher concentrations of 600 μL.L−1 showed the positive effects of the two oils on fruit quality features, including total soluble solids, antioxidant and anthocyanin contents, titrable acidity, and pH and weight loss percentages. Therefore, the infections of blood orange fruits were inhibited by P. digitatum oils, and their storage life was increased as well. The antifungal effects of the essential oils applied both on the fruit postharvest in vivo and in vitro were corroborated by the results obtained in this research. Thus, application of these plant essential oils could be used as biodegradable and eco-friendly agent for disease management of green mold during blood orange fruit production.

Extraction and characterisation of lemon, orange and grapefruit seeds press cake proteins

The aim of this study was to characterise the proteins of lemon (Citrus limon var. Kutdiken), orange (Citrus sinensis var. Dortyol) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisivar. Beyaz) seeds extracted from their defatted press cakes. The press cakes were collected from the cold oil pressing of the seeds which were pre-treated by different techniques. Ultrasound-assisted alkaline (pH=9.0) extraction and isoelectric point (pH=4.0) precipitation procedure yielded around 34.47-80.95% proteins. The extracted seed proteins were in good quality for colour and antioxidant capacity. The extracted-lyophilised proteins were more soluble at pH 11-12 and below 2. The viscosity of the protein dispersions ranged from 3.67 to 25.70 cP. Sixteen amino acids were quantified in the samples, while asparagine, cysteine, hydroxyproline and tryptophan were absent. Thermal denaturation temperature and enthalpy change of denaturation were reported for the first time. The gel electrophoresis indicated four distinct protein bands at around 10...

Introduction and characterization of charged functional domains into an esterified pectic homogalacturonan by a citrus pectin methylesterase and comparison of its modes of action to other pectin methylesterase isozymes

One of the four pectin methylesterase types isolated from Citrus sinensis var. Valencia fruit was used to demethylesterify a model homogalacturonan (HG) to 30%, 50% and 70% degree of methylesterification (DM) at pH 4.5 and 7.0, respectively. Introduced demethylesterified blocks (DMBs) were released by a limited endo-polygalacturonase (EPG) digestion, separated and quantified by HPAEC. Average DMB size (BS¯) and number of such blocks per molecule (BN¯) differed depending on final DM and reaction pH (P < 0.05). BS¯ and BN¯ were significantly higher in 30% DM HG than 50 and 70 DMs. pH 4.5 series showed significantly larger BS¯ compared to pH 7.5 series (P < 0.01). Distribution of DMBs released by limited EPG digest was predicted by mathematical modeling and in silico modeled processive (degree of processivity = 10), multiple attack mode of action best explains the experimental block distributions. Absolute degree of blockiness (DBabs) obtained from exhaustive EPG digestions, displayed a linear relationship with DM regardless of reaction pH (P < 0.001). Significant correlation coefficients between BS¯, BN¯, DBabs, and DM manifested the effectiveness of the block information gained from both EPG digestion to estimate DMB distribution pattern (P < 0.05). However, comparison of block distribution information of three isozymes revealed that difference in block pattern could be manifested by parameters from limited EPG digest (BS¯, BN¯) but not by those from exhaustive digest (DB/DBabs). The results suggested the possibility to control BS¯ and to customize specific population of demethylesterified pectin molecules using PME isozymes from Valencia orange.