Juice Content Research Articles

Low-Cost Electrochemical Determination of L-Ascorbic Acid Using Screen-Printed Electrodes and Development of an Electronic Tongue for Juice Analysis

Low-cost electrochemical methodologies for the determination of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the analysis of juices are developed based on its electro-oxidation on carbon screen-printed electrodes. A novel chronoamperometric methodology is developed for the quantification of L-ascorbic acid in fruit juices. The proposed method stands out for its simplicity and rapidity, demonstrating its efficacy in determining L-ascorbic acid content in various fruit juices. Notably, the results obtained with this chronoamperometric approach are compared with those yielded by chromatography, with no significant differences between the two methods being found. Additionally, an electronic tongue is developed for the differentiation of juices based on the square wave voltammetric signals.

Genetic Characterization and Fruit Quality Analysis of New Mandarin Hybrids

Mandarin fruits with good physicochemical quality are desired for the fresh fruit market. The ease of crosses among citrus taxa has been used to expand genetic variability and select new varieties for different fruit markets. With the aim of selecting new commercial varieties, eleven hybrids obtained from the cross between Murcott tangor and Ponkan mandarin were grafted on Rangpur lime rootstock and evaluated for genetic and phenotypical characteristics. It was observed that there are significant differences in the fruit shape, content, and organoleptic characteristics in juice and differential responses to Alternaria alternate, the causal agent of the Alternaria brown spot (ABS) disease. The phenotypic and molecular characterization showed two groups of hybrids, those that resemble Ponkan and others with characteristics closer to the parental Murcott. There are significant differences in the period of fruit maturation among the hybrids and their parents. Considering the parents stand out as the main commercial varieties in the Brazilian mandarin fresh fruit market, these new hybrids have great potential for commercial acceptance and could be an excellent option to extend the period of supply of mandarins. Genetic and phenotypical information will be fundamental for the registration and/or protection of new varieties, which are essential steps that precede the commercial release to the producer.

Research on technological process for production of muskmelon juice (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract The effects of hydrolysis of muskmelon pomace on fruit juice recovery efficiency, transmittance, total phenolic content, total ascorbic acid content, total flavonoid content, and total carotenoid content have been studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of pectinase enzyme in the hydrolysis process, specifically looking at the effects of pH, temperature, time, and enzyme concentration on the production of effective muskmelon juice. Additionally, the optimal mixing ratio of ingredients such as melon juice content, Brix level, citric acid, and additives (pectin, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose [CMC], xanthan gum) was investigated to create a high-quality muskmelon juice product. The results showed that using a pectinase enzyme concentration of 0.2%, a pH of 5.0, and a hydrolysis temperature of 45°C for 120 min resulted in a muskmelon juice product with a hydrolyzed juice content of 20%, a Brix level of 12%, and a citric acid addition rate of 0.04%. The addition of xanthan gum at a rate of 0.03% also contributed to the desired flavor and color of the juice. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of effective muskmelon juice processes.

Amending clayey and sandy soils with nano - bio phosphorous for regulating tomato growth, biochemical, and physiological characteristics

Phosphorus is a critical nutrient that significantly enhances tomato production, so maintaining an adequate level of phosphorus plays an essential role in enhancing the growth of tomato by being present in the soil. This study assessed the impact of soil texture and phosphorus content on tomato plant properties using a factorial, complete, randomized design with four replications. Treatments included clayey and sandy soils with varying phosphorus sources: non-phosphorus (P0), calcium phosphate (CaP1 and CaP2), and nano-hydroxyapatite (PN1 and PN2), where 1 indicates a concentration of 0.12 g and 2 indicates a concentration of 0.23 g per 5-kilogram pot of fertilizer. Results indicated that treatments significantly influenced yield parameters such as average fruit weight, juice content, antioxidant activity, and fruit volume. In the clayey soil, CaP2 treatment had a superior effect on yield, average fruit weight, and shoot fresh weight. In comparison with sandy conditions, CaP2 produced a 50% increase in fruit number, 29% increase in average fruit weight, and 91% increase in fruit yield. The treatments then impacted the shoot fresh weight and root length, while the phosphorus concentration appeared to be more dependent on soil type than on phosphorus sources. Similar to the CaP1 and CaP2 treatments, the PN1 treatment in clay soil also resulted in the highest fresh and dry weights of tomato shoots when compared with the control group. Generally, the findings from this study suggest that the use of CaP2 can serve as a reliable method to improve the growth, yield, and fruit quality of tomatoes, especially in clayey soil environments. However, nano-based phosphorous sources need to be tested more to see if they can improve tomato performance in a range of soil conditions. Also, further research should look into the long-term effects of phosphorous interventions on soil health and sustainability.

Study on Antioxidant Activity of Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) Juice Fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum B1765

Purple sweet potatoes are a source of anthocyanins, which are antioxidants. However, the anthocyanin compounds in purple sweet potatoes are naturally bound in glycosidic form, so their potential as antioxidants is still limited. Fermentation is one method that can be used to degrade glycosidic bonds to liberate free phenolics so that it can increase the antioxidant potential of purple sweet potato. This research aims to study the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), pH, total titratable acid (TAT), phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant activity of sweet potato juice (Ipomoea batatas) fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum B1765 starter culture for 0.2, 4,6,8,10,12 and 14 hours. Total LAB was measured using the Total Plate Count (TPC) method, pH was measured using a pH meter, TAT was measured using acid-base titration, total phenolic content (TPC) was measured using the Folline-Ciocalteu method, anthocyanin content used the differential pH method and antioxidant activity was measured using the radical scavenging method 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) which is expressed in IC50 values. The results showed that fermentation time affected (p<0.05) total LAB, pH, TAT, phenols, anthocyanin levels, and antioxidant activity in purple sweet potato juice. Total BAL increased to reach an optimum of 2.6 x 108 CFU/mL within 6 hours. However, until the end of fermentation for 14 hours, there was still a decrease in pH to 3.73, an increase in TAT reaching 0.426%, an increase in total phenolics up to 324.21 mg GAE/g, a reduction in anthocyanin levels (13.68 mg/L) and an increase in antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 47 .05 ppm which is classified as very strong. This product meets the Indonesian National Standards for fermented drinks and can potentially be a source of antioxidants.

Influence of Heat Treatment and Lactic Acid Fermentation on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Pumpkin Juice.

Pumpkin is a highly nutritious plant, rich in valuable nutrients that benefit human health. Due to the high perishability of this fruit, the production of pumpkin juice is a practical way to use it effectively. Recently, fermented vegetable juices have been used as a dairy alternative due to their nutritional and potential probiotic properties. This study investigated the fermentation of pumpkin juice using different strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), with and without heat treatment. The effects of fermentation on microbial growth, pH, acidity, extract, sugars, carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant properties were analyzed. The heat-treatment process did not greatly impact the dry matter content, pH, acidity, extract, or sugar content. However, it led to a reduction in carotenoid and polyphenol levels. During fermentation, there was a consistent decrease in pH and an increase in total acidity, with no noticeable differences between bacterial strains regarding their influence on these parameters. The study revealed that there were no distinctions between LAB strains in their effects on pH, acidity, and carotenoid content in fermented pumpkin juice. Nonetheless, both L. sakei and L. plantarum proved to be effective in the fermentation process, with L. sakei demonstrating greater adaptability. The expected pH, acidity, and sugar content changes were consistently observed throughout the fermentation process. Overall, results confirm the efficacy of the used Lactobacillus strains in fermenting pumpkin juice and highlight the potential impact of heat treatment on the nutritional composition of the juice. The purpose of thermal processing of pumpkin juice, which is conducted with lactic acid fermentation, is crucial for the food industry. It extends the product's shelf life, improves its nutritional and taste profiles, and guarantees its microbiological safety.

Effect of Pit and Soil Types on Growth and Development, Nutrient Content and Fruit Quality of Pomegranate in the Central Deccan Plateau Region, India

To enhance pomegranate production on marginal gravelly lands, standardized planting techniques were evaluated in an 8-year-old orchard. Trenching, wider pit excavation, pit digging, and auger digs with dimensions of 1 and 2 m were employed. Utilizing native soil from barren land, with or without spent wash, and mixing it with black soil up to 1 m deep, growth parameters, leaf nutrients, fruit production, and fruit quality were assessed. The trench and wider pit methods outperformed others, yielding greater above-ground biomass (>70.3 kg tree−1), root biomass (>24.5 kg, tree−1), and cross-sectional area (>3.30 m2 tree−1). These methods also produced longer roots (>4.0 m tree−1) and higher leaf phosphorus (>0.28%) and potassium (>1.81%) levels, fruit juice content (>48.50%), and total soluble solids (>16.05°) compared to other planting methods. This resulted in higher and more sustainable fruit yield production under the trench and wider pit planting methods (>7.21 t ha−1). Similarly, the native and black soil mixture produced healthy fruit trees, improved fruit quality, and sustainably higher fruit yield over the native soil alone. In summary, the trench and wider pit methods (2–3 m3), combined with a soil mixture, are recommended for sustainable, high-quality fruit production in shallow gravelly terrains, thereby improving food security and the livelihoods of farmers in arid regions.

Evaluation of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) Genotypes for Growth, Yield and Quality Traits

A study on evaluation of acid lime genotypes for growth, yield and quality traits was carried out at Citrus Research Station, Vannikonenthal, Manur Taluk and Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu during the year 2021–2023. Twenty five acid lime genotypes were selected for the experiment. Observation on quantitative traits such as tree height (m), tree spread (m), canopy spread (m2), tree girth (cm), leaf lamina length (mm), number of fruits/tree, mean fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit volume (cc), number of seeds per fruit, yield/tree (kg) and qualitative traits such as total soluble solids (°Brix), acidity (%), juice content (ml), fruit juice percentage (%) and ascorbic acid content (mg/100g) were recorded. The present study results revealed that genotype SCA 19 recorded the highest values for the traits such as tree height (3.49 m), tree spread (3.58 m2 E-W; 3.74 m2 N-S), canopy spread (6.57 m3), leaf lamina length (58.40 mm) and tree girth (13.66 cm). However, genotype SCA 06 registered the lowest tree spread character. In the case of yield traits, genotype SCA 19 registered the highest values in number of fruits per tree (1080), mean fruit weight (58.75 g), yield per tree (57.89 kg per tree), number of seeds (9.10), fruit length (8.50 cm), fruit girth (4.90 cm) and fruit volume (54.81 cc). Regarding quality traits, SCA 19 observed the highest values viz., TSS (6.71˚Brix), acidity (6.78 %), ascorbic acid content (26.50 mg/100 g), fruit juice percentage (52.1 %) and juice content (46.0 ml). Hence, acid lime genotype SCA 19 recommended for further evaluation in different parts of Tamil Nadu.

Effects of Cultivar Factors on Fermentation Characteristics and Volatile Organic Components of Strawberry Wine.

Strawberry wine production is a considerable approach to solve the problem of the Chinese concentrated harvesting period and the short shelf life of strawberries, but the appropriative strawberry cultivars for fermentation are still undecided. In this study, the strawberry juice and wines of four typical strawberry cultivars named Akihime (ZJ), Sweet Charlie (TCL), Snow White (BX), and Tongzhougongzhu (TZ) were thoroughly characterized for their physicochemical indicators, bioactive compounds, and volatile organic components (VOCs) to determine the optimal strawberry cultivars for winemaking. The results showed that there were significant differences in the total sugar content, pH, total acid, and other physicochemical indexes in the strawberry juice of different cultivars, which further affected the physicochemical indexes of fermented strawberry wine. Moreover, the content of polyphenols, total flavonoids, vitamin C, and color varied among the four strawberry cultivars. A total of 42 VOCs were detected in the strawberry juice and wines using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and 3-methyl-1-butanol, linalool, trans-2-pinanol, hexanoic acid, and hexanoic acid ethyl ester were the differential VOCs to identify the strawberry wine samples of different cultivars. Overall, strawberry cultivar ZJ had a relatively high VOC and bioactive compound content, indicating that it is the most suitable cultivar for strawberry wine fermentation. In addition to determining the relatively superior fermentation characteristics of cultivar ZJ, the results may provide a theoretical basis for the raw material quality control and quality improvement of strawberry wine.

Effects of cholesterol-lowering probiotic fermentation on the active components and in vitro hypolipidemic activity of sea buckthorn juice.

Sea buckthorn has lipid-lowering properties and is widely used in the development of functional foods. In this study, a probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lp10211) with cholesterol-lowering potential and acid and bile salt resistant was screened for the fermentation of sea buckthorn juice. Changes in the active ingredients, such as sugars and phenolics, before and after fermentation, as well as their in vitro lipid-lowering activities, were compared. The contents of reducing and total sugars decreased substantially after fermentation. Lp10211 primarily utilized fructose for growth and reproduction, with a utilization rate of 76.9%. The phenolic compound content of sea buckthorn juice increased by 37.06% after fermentation and protected the phenolic components from degradation (protocatechuic and p-coumaric acids) and produced new polyphenol (shikimic acid). Enhanced inhibition of pancreatic lipase activity (95.42%) and cholesterol micellar solubility (59.15%) was evident. The antioxidant properties of the fermentation broth were improved. Notably, Lp10211 preserved the color and reversed browning in sea buckthorn juice. The collective findings indicate that fermentation of sea buckthorn juice by Lp10211 may enhance the functional components and lipid-lowering activity of sea buckthorn, which may provide a new approach for the development of lipid-lowering foods.

The humic acids influence on the quantity and quality of table grape varieties under the Absheron peninsula conditions

Humates are widely used in viticulture, including ecological viticulture. Humic stuffs benefit the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the grape harvest and can reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This article presents the results of tests on the foliar application of various doses of the “Rostok” fertilizer in the conditions of the Absheron zone of Azerbaijan on local varieties of table grapes – traditional Tabrizi and a selection variety of Scientific Research Institute of Viticulture and Wine-making Ganjavi, grown in the Ampelographic collection of the institute, located on the Absheron peninsula. Fertilizer was applied in three doses – 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 liter per hectar. Under the influence of the fertilizer, such elements of yield as the vigor of shoot growth, the number of opened buds, fruitful shoots, the number of berries in a bunch, the weight of a bunch, as well as the sugar content of berry juice increased. Fertilizer application had a positive effect on eliminating signs of leaf chlorosis. No toxic effect on the vegetative organs of the grape plant, on its development, or on the beneficial insect fauna of the vineyard was noted. Based on the data obtained, as well as calculations of economic efficiency, a four-fold application of fertilizer (twice before flowering, once after, once during veraison) at the rate of 1 liter per hectare was recommended for widespread use in wine-growing farms.

Effect of vacuum combined with ultrasound on color protection of pomegranate juice

AbstractPomegranate juice is prone to color fission during processing and storage due to the instability of anthocyanins, resulting in significant economic losses. This study aims to inhibit the browning of pomegranate juice during processing using the combined technology of vacuum and ultrasound for maintaining its color as much as possible. Pomegranate juice was treated with vacuum (0.5 MPa) and ultrasound (300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 W; 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 min), respectively, to investigate the effects on the color, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin/polyphenol content, and polyphenol oxidase activity of pomegranate juice. The results showed that the combined treatment of vacuum and ultrasound had a better effect on improving the total anthocyanin content of pomegranate juice than vacuum or ultrasound treatment alone. Vacuum combined with ultrasound can reduce the browning during pomegranate juice processing, increasing browning inhibition rates by 46.01% and 46.19%; reduce the activity of PPO enzyme and increase the inhibition rate of PPO enzyme activity by 35.58%; maintain a high total phenolic content, increasing the total phenolic content of pomegranate juice by 29.27% and 33.79%, respectively; and improve the ABTS scavenging rates by 2.89% and 1.92%, and increase DPPH scavenging rates by 1.35% and 3.01%. Moreover, vacuum ultrasound treatment had no significant effect on the odor of pomegranate juice. Vacuum combined with ultrasonic treatment is beneficial for protecting the color of pomegranate juice and improving its antioxidant performance during the processing. Therefore, combined technology of vacuum and ultrasound would be a promising method for future food processing.Practical applicationsThis study provides a simple and novel method for protecting the color of pomegranate juice during processing. The combination of vacuum and ultrasound has a certain protective effect on the color of pomegranate juice during processing, and also provides new ideas for color protection research.

Fouling-resistant Na-ZSM-5 zeolite membrane for fruit juice concentration in forward osmosis process

To evaluate the potential of Na-ZSM-5 membrane for liquid food concentration, the concentration of fruit juice by a tubular Na-ZSM-5 membrane was demonstrated in forward osmosis operation. Apple, orange, and pineapple juices were successfully concentrated, maintaining their quality without contamination by a draw solution based on a molecular sieving effect of the zeolite membrane. For example, the sugar content of apple juice increased from 10.7 to 17.1 oBrix after 24 h of dehydration. The fouling resistance of Na-ZSM-5 membrane was evaluated using a 10 g L-1 pectin solution and cellulose suspension. Na-ZSM-5 membrane showed stable dehydration performance for fruit juice concentration over 120 h without fouling due to pectin or cellulose. In addition, the membrane exhibited high heat resistance, with no deterioration up to 353 K. We showed that Na-ZSM-5 membrane is a potential material for fruit juice concentration because of its superior heat, acidity, and fouling resistances.

A comparative analysis of red and white dragon fruit pulp and juice characteristics.

To ascertain their potential applications in the food industry, dragon fruit varieties, namely H. undatus and H. polyrhizus, were thoroughly analyzed for their physical, nutritional, and phytochemical properties. The focus was on pulp and juice, emphasizing color, mineral content, proximate analysis, and phytochemical constituents. Red flesh dragon fruit displayed a bright pink color, a slightly smaller length (9.1 cm), and a larger diameter (8.3 cm) compared to white flesh dragon fruit (9.9 cm length, 7.53 cm diameter). Red flesh dragon fruit also exhibited higher circumference and weight. White flesh dragon fruit demonstrated superior juice yield (36.23 %) compared to red flesh dragon fruit (35.28 %). Red flesh dragon fruit had higher levels of total sugar (8.45 %), protein (1.36 %), and ascorbic acid (19.83 mg/100g) in its pulp. It also showed elevated mineral content of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Conversely, white flesh dragon fruit had higher fat content (0.65 %) and carbohydrate content (9.76 %) in its pulp. White flesh dragon fruit displayed brighter color characteristics with higher L*, a*, and b* values. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of betacyanin in red flesh dragon fruit (30.87 mg/100g) but not in white flesh dragon fruit. Red flesh dragon fruit exhibited significantly higher total phenolic content in pulp (49.67 mg GA/100g) and juice (41.25 mg GA/100g) than white flesh dragon fruit. These findings highlight substantial differences (P < lt; 0.05) between red and white flesh dragon fruit in physical, nutritional, and phytochemical aspects, offering valuable insights for their incorporation into diverse food products, such as beverages and ice cream.

Effect of 1-MCP and KMnO4 treatments with different packaging on quality preservation of golden delicious apples

This study explored the impact of three packaging materials (wooden boxes, corrugated fiber boxes, shrink-wrapped boxes) combined with two ethylene scrubbers (1-MCP, KMnO4) on the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples. While previous research has extensively studied the effects of packaging and ethylene inhibitors independently, the novelty of this work lies in its combined evaluation of these factors under ambient storage conditions over an extended period of 160 days. The study specifically addresses a research gap by directly comparing the efficacy of 1-MCP and KMnO4 within different packaging environments, offering insights into their combined influence on key quality parameters such as firmness, juice yield, rot incidence, physiological loss in weight (PLW), acidity, and total soluble solids (TSS). Findings revealed that 1-MCP-treated apples, particularly when shrink-wrapped, experienced minimal reductions in firmness and juice yield, with significantly lower rot incidence and physiological loss in weight (PLW) compared to KMnO4-treated and control apples. Additionally, while acidity and juice content naturally declined over time, and TSS initially increased before decreasing, 1-MCP-treated apples exhibited more stable quality attributes. The study also noted a slower decline in organoleptic quality with 1-MCP and shrink-wrap packaging. The research concludes that the combination of 1-MCP treatment and shrink-wrap packaging most effectively extends the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches to post-harvest management. This study provides a novel framework for improving storage techniques, particularly for ambient conditions where shelf life extension is most challenging.

Effect of fermentation with single and co-culture of lactic acid bacteria on Chinese Elaeagnus angustifolia juice: Evaluation of bioactive compounds and volatile profiles

Chinese Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) is a homologous food and medicine that is rich in bioactive substances, and most EA is currently treated as an abandoned resource. In this study, various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were used to ferment EA juice to improve its content of bioactive compounds and the aroma profile to develop a nutritious and acceptable EA beverage. The growth characteristics, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and aroma profiles of the EA juice after fermentation by pure and mixed LAB were measured. The results of pure LAB fermentation showed that Lactobacillus rhamnosus (BL) had strong adaptability in EA juice, and Lactobacillus fermentium (BF) had the greatest ability to improve its probiotic function. 1-nonanol, 3-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-, 2-tridecanone, pentanoic acid, and 10-octadecenal could be the typical aroma substances of coculture-fermented EA juice. This is the first study in which EA processing by LAB fermentation has been investigated. The results proved that the fermentation of EA by mixed BL and BF could be a promising method for the high-value utilization of EA.

Fruit and Seed Development of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle ‘Pan Rampai’ Cultivar

The ‘Pan Rampai’ cultivar of Mexican lime is highly consumed for its lime aroma and high juice content. However, occasional instances of low juice content could be found, potentially due to premature harvesting. Moreover, the seed development of the ‘Pan Rampai’ lime has never been investigated. Hence, this study was aimed to explore the development process of the ‘Pan Rampai’ lime fruit, focusing on its fruit weight, juice weight, juice content, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit rind thickness, total soluble solids, titratable acid, TSS/TA ratio, and vitamin C content over the period of 11 to 18 weeks after flowering (WAF). Additionally, we examined the seed development by observing seed width, length, thickness, and germination percentage. Our findings revealed that fruit weight, juice weight, juice content, fruit diameter, and fruit length exhibited a consistent increase throughout the fruit development stages, while the fruit rind thickness decreased. Seed width and thickness remained relatively stable over 11 to 18 WAF, whereas seed length gradually increased. The study of germination percentage indicated that seed germination was mature from the 15th WAF, coinciding with the appearance of the secondary wall of seed coat. There results provide crucial insights into the optimal harvesting periods for juice (from 17 WAF) and seed (from 15 WAF) for the ‘Pan Rampai’ lime cultivar.

Ecofriendly treatments to improve pomegranate trees production and tolerance to climate change

BackgroundPomegranate is capable of growing in different agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical to sub-tropical. Where vegetative growth, nutritional and physiological status of pomegranate plants oscillate at high temperatures waves in the summer season. While we can overcome the cracking and sunburn of fruits, which are the main problems confronting pomegranate cultivars due to their significant impact on the quality of fruits.MethodsThe present research was conducted over the course of two consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022. The study focused on ten-year-old trees that were cultivated in sandy soil inside a private orchard situated 70 km away from Cairo on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road in Egypt (30o13′31.4″N30o39′09″E). The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of Wonderful pomegranate trees with some nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Cu), amino acids and irradiated licorice on vegetative growth, fruit physical, quality and chemical and leaf chemical parameters. A randomized full-block design with three duplicates was employed in the study. Using the recently computed least significant difference values at the 5% level, averages were compared.ResultsThe results indicated that foliar spraying with nutrients, amino acids and licorice extract (irradiated or not) alone or in combination significantly increased the vegetative growth and leaf total chlorophyll content compared to the control. Also, they significantly increased fruit length, diameter, weight, and number/tree and thus yield. As compared to the control, all treatments significantly reduced the number of sunburned and cracked fruits leading to decrease the percentage of un-marketable fruits. The juice content of anthocyanin, total sugars and total soluble solids increased significantly in response to all treatments compared to the control while the acidity% greatly reduced. When these treatments were used instead of the control, the content of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the leaves was also positively increased.ConclusionsIn conclusion, foliar spraying of “Wonderful” pomegranate trees with a mixture of nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, Cu) and amino acids or irradiated licorice extract can be considered as a suitable management of the problem of sunburned or cracked fruits while improving the physical and chemical fruit quality with increased productivity.

FORMULATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY TEST OF THE PREPARATION CROWN ETHANOL EXTRACT SHOWER GEL PINEAPPLE (Apineapple comosus (L.) Merr) AGAINST BACTERIA Staphylococcus aureus

Antibacterial bath soap is in great demand by the public. This is because it is believed to cleanse the skin and can also treat or prevent diseases caused by bacteria. One of the natural ingredients that are efficacious as a natural anti-bacterial is pineapple crown. Pineapple crown extract has secondary metabolites namely alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and triterpenoids/steroids. The purpose of this study was to determine the formulation of liquid bath soap preparations with the use of pineapple crown ethanol extract (ananas comosus (l.) Merr) as liquid bath soap and to determine the potential of pineapple crown ethanol extract liquid bath soap (ananas comosus (l.) Merr) to have antibacterial properties against staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The type of research carried out is an experimental method. The work procedure consists of sample preparation, sample identification, simplisia making, characteristic examination, phytochemical screening, extract making, making liquid shower soap preparations, evaluating liquid shower soap preparations and antibacterial activity tests against staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Pineapple crown ethanol extract is formulated in a shower soap preparation whose formulation uses concentrations of 3%, 5% and 7%. The results of the characterization of pineapple crown simplisia showed a moisture content of 9.50%, water-soluble juice content of 19.88%, soluble juice content in ethanol 13.30%, total ash content of 6.76%, acid insoluble ash content of 1.19%. The results of phytochemical screening testing show pineapple crown contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, triterpenoids/steroids.

Quality improvement of lime fruit (Citrus aurantifolia) between packaged and unpackaged conditions combined with different storage temperatures

Background: The use of limes is increasingly widespread worldwide, both as fresh fruit for consumption and for making juice or other drinks. Lime is also used in making jams and candies. The essential oil obtained from the skin is widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries for medicines, perfumes, soaps, body lotions, and detergents. However, during fruit storage, the respiration and metabolic activity in lime fruits is directly related to the increase in ambient temperature, which makes the fruit dry out. Improving the shelf life of lime against post-harvest stress while maintaining the sensory and nutritional qualities of fresh produce can be achieved through low-temperature storage and the use of packaging. This study aims to improve the quality of lime by knowing the difference between the provision of packaging and not-given packaging combined with different storage temperatures. Method: The experimental design used a single-factor completely randomized design with storage type treatment, which includes room temperature without packaging (control), room temperature with packaging, low temperature without packaging, and low temperature with packaging. Observations of non-destructive characteristics include weight loss, respiration rate, and fruit peel color. Observations of destructive characteristics include juice content, fruit peel softness, Soluble Solid Contents (SSC), Total Acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, and ascorbic acid content. Finding: Low temperature treatment without packaging provides the best results in delaying weight loss, respiration rate, and SSC/TA ratio. The control treatment provided the best results for peel softness, juice content, and ascorbic acid. Conclusion: Low temperature treatment without packaging is recommended for the storage of lime fruit to extend its shelf life. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study examines the combined effects of low temperature and newspaper packaging on extending the shelf life of lime fruits, addressing a significant gap in postharvest storage research for non-climacteric fruits such as lime.