Fruit Content Research Articles

MdbZIP44–MdCPRF2-like–Mdα-GP2 regulate starch and sugar metabolism in apple under nitrogen supply

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is regarded as an essential macronutrient and is tightly associated with carbon (C) metabolism in plants. The transcriptome data obtained from this study showed that the expression level of the apple basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) MdbZIP44 was up-regulated in ‘Oregon Spur Delicious’ (Malus domestica Borkh.) apple fruits under nitrogen supply. MdbZIP44 bound to the promoter of Mdα-GP2 gene and inhibited its expression, thereby promoting starch accumulation and decreasing glucose content in apple and tomato fruits. Besides, overexpression of MdbZIP44 promoted sucrose accumulation by regulating the activities of sucrose metabolism-related enzymes and the expression of sugar metabolism-related genes in apple callus and tomato fruits. Furthermore, biochemical assays indicated that MdbZIP44 directly interacted with MdCPRF2-like, another bZIP gene in apple. Meanwhile, this study found that MdCPRF2-like, along with the MdbZIP44 and MdCPRF2-like complex, could activate the expression of Mdα-GP2, respectively. In conclusion, this study provides a new reference for potential mechanisms underlying that MdbZIP44–MdCPRF2-like–Mdα-GP2 regulates starch and sugar metabolism under nitrogen supply.

Medicinal, Nutritional and Health Benefits, Pharmacological Properties of KIWI – A Review

Global health and treatment approaches aim to combine complementary and alternative medicine with evidence-based medicine to better comprehend the human body’s metabolic processes. The kiwi fruit frequently referred to as the "Chinese gooseberry" belongs to the Actinidiaceae family and is classified as Actinidia genus andspecies deliciosa. Kiwi fruit has seen a significant increase in demand recently because of its high vitamin C content.Kiwi fruit is also a great source of antioxidants, carotenoids, iron, and dietary fiber. These could help regulate blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, promote wound healing, and enhance intestinal health. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin help the body eliminate free radicals and may shield the body from a number of illnesses and inflammations. Contributing significantly to the flavonoid and phenolic contents in kiwi fruit, it is a primary source of phytochemicals such as caffeic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid, salicylic acid, ferulic acid, and protocatechuic acid. Numerous pharmacological qualities, such as anti-diabetic, anti- tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antioxidant activity, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemic, and many more, have been linked to kiwi fruit and its constituents. In addition to these, kiwi fruit is traditionally used to treat microbiological infections, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, edema, and renal issues. The fiber in kiwi fruit promotes the fruit's ability to retain water, which helps to shorten transit times and preserves the person's gastrointestinal health. Studies are also being conducted on the homeostatic balance, weight maintenance, and insulin and glucose balance in relation to kiwi fruit consumption. Keywords: Actinidia deliciosa, Chinese gooseberry, Hypoglycemia, Kiwi, Cancer

Lipidomic Profiling and Pharmacological Activities of Ficus drupacea Oil: Comparative Study Between Conventional vs. Green Solvent.

Ficus drupacea is a medicinal tree found in temperate regions. Various parts of this plant had been used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments such as root powder applied externally for skin infections. Analysis was carried out on the bioactive lipids extracted from Ficus drupacea fruit using both petroleum-based solvent (Hexane) and an environmentally friendly solvent Dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The results showed that DMC extraction yielded a high oil content in Ficus drupacea fruit (6.51 %). When examining the fatty acid composition using GC-FID analysis, Ficus drupacea oil extracted with DMC contained significant proportions of essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (32.317 %), oleic acid (20.946 %), palmitic acid (25.841 %), etc. Additionally, DMC extraction resulted in higher levels of total phenolics in Ficus drupacea fruit oil compared to hexane. Moreover, DMC extracted oil exhibited stronger antioxidant properties, such as radical scavenging, anti- arthritic, photoprotective activity while displayed similar anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activity as hexane-extracted oil. In summary, these findings demonstrate that DMC is an efficient and safer alternative to conventional solvent hexane for extracting oils from Ficus drupacea fruit. It is rich in bioactive compounds essential for human nutrition, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, with enhanced biological activities.

Relationships between Anthocyanin Content and Some Pomological and Colour Characteristics of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) Fruit

The analytical method used to determine the total monomeric anthocyanin content of fruits is costly and labour-intensive. Researchers are endeavouring to develop prediction models to determine anthocyanin content in a simpler and more accurate way. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between anthocyanin and some fruit characteristics (width, length, weight, L, a, b, chroma, hue) in black mulberry (Morus nigra) fruit. With the outputs of the study, it is aimed to provide preliminary information for the models to be developed for anthocyanin estimation in future studies. The study material, black mulberry fruits, was collected from a single black mulberry tree in Kemalpaşa village of Tokat province in 2022. Harvesting of the fruits continued for two weeks as raw, semi-ripe and ripe. A total of 586 fruits were individually evaluated and the weight, width, length, colour parameters (L*, a*, b*, b*, chroma, and hue) and total monomeric anthocyanin contents of each fruit were determined. Then, Pearson correlation coefficients between the variables were determined. Stepwise regression analysis was used to find the appropriate model to explain the change in the dependent variable anthocyanin with independent variables (length, width, weight, L, a, b, chroma, hue). After the multiple regression model was established, residual analysis was performed to see the outliers in the full model and to check the accuracy of the model. As a result of the study, it was observed that anthocyanin content could be predicted by colour parameters up to a certain maturity stage. This relationship was found to weaken at the ripeness stage when the fruit colour turns black.

Use of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) as a green extraction of antioxidant polyphenols from strawberry tree fruit (Arbutus unedo L.): An optimization study

Strawberry tree fruits (Arbutus unedo L.) are being studied as an underutilized wild fruit, rich in various bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. The main objective of this study was to optimize the extraction process using a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) to obtain the highest polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of strawberry tree fruits as determined by different in vitro assays (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS). For this purpose, extraction with NADES was performed in three steps. Among twenty different NADES systems screened for extraction in the first step of solvent screening, two solvents that gave the best results (N6: Betaine–glycerine–water with a molar ratio 1:2:1 and N9: Choline chloride–glycerine with a molar ratio 1:2) were screened in the next step. For these two solvents, two separate Face-centered central composite designs with S/L ratios (10–20-30 g NADES/g sample), temperature (40–55-70 °C), and extraction time (60–120-180 min) were used by response surface methodology (RSM), with total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as the target responses. Based on the software multi-response optimization prediction, the optimal conditions for N6 and N9 were: 1:30 S/L ratio, 65 °C temperature and an extraction time of 150 min, and 1:20 S/L ratio, 56 °C and 180 min, respectively. The optimal parameters were verified experimentally and the main polyphenols were quantified by HPLC-DAD.

Non-Destructive Detection of Golden Passion Fruit Quality Based on Dielectric Characteristics

This study pioneered a non-destructive testing approach to evaluating the physicochemical properties of golden passion fruit by developing a platform to analyze the fruit’s electrical characteristics. By using dielectric properties, the method accurately predicted the soluble solids content (SSC), Acidity and pulp percentage (PP) in passion fruit. The investigation entailed measuring the relative dielectric constant (ε′) and dielectric loss factor (ε″) for 192 samples across a spectrum of 34 frequencies from 0.05 to 100 kHz. The analysis revealed that with increasing frequency and fruit maturity, both ε′ and ε″ showed a declining trend. Moreover, there was a discernible correlation between the fruit’s physicochemical indicators and dielectric properties. In refining the dataset, 12 outliers were removed using the Local Outlier Factor (LOF) algorithm. The study employed various advanced feature extraction techniques, including Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV), Permutation Importance based on Random Forest Regression (PI-RF), Permutation Importance based on Linear Regression (PI-LR) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). All the variables and the selected variables after screening were used as inputs to build Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Categorical Boosting (Cat-Boost) models to predict the SSC, Acidity and PP in passion fruit. The results indicate that the PI-RF-XGBoost model demonstrated superior performance in predicting both the SSC (R2 = 0.9240, RMSE = 0.2595) and the PP (R2 = 0.9092, RMSE = 0.0014) of passion fruit. Meanwhile, the GA-CatBoost model exhibited the best performance in predicting Acidity (R2 = 0.9471, RMSE = 0.1237). In addition, for the well-performing algorithms, the selected features are mainly concentrated within the frequency range of 0.05–6 kHz, which is consistent with the frequency range highly correlated with the dielectric properties and quality indicators. It is feasible to predict the quality indicators of fruit by detecting their low-frequency dielectric properties. This research offers significant insights and a valuable reference for non-destructive testing methods in assessing the quality of golden passion fruit.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the underlying mechanism of drought treatment on anthocyanin accumulation in postharvest blood orange fruit

BackgroundAnthocyanins are the most important compounds for nutritional quality and economic values of blood orange. However, there are few reports on the pre-harvest treatment accelerating the accumulation of anthocyanins in postharvest blood orange fruit. Here, we performed a comparative transcriptome and metabolomics analysis to elucidate the underlying mechanism involved in seasonal drought (SD) treatment during the fruit expansion stage on anthocyanin accumulation in postharvest ‘Tarocco’ blood orange fruit.ResultsOur results showed that SD treatment slowed down the fruit enlargement and increased the sugar accumulation during the fruit development and maturation period. Obviously, under SD treatment, the accumulation of anthocyanin in blood orange fruit during postharvest storage was significantly accelerated and markedly higher than that in CK. Meanwhile, the total flavonoids and phenols content and antioxidant activity in SD treatment fruits were also sensibly increased during postharvest storage. Based on metabolome analysis, we found that substrates required for anthocyanin biosynthesis, such as amino acids and their derivatives, and phenolic acids, had significantly accumulated and were higher in SD treated mature fruits compared with that of CK. Furthermore, according to the results of the transcriptome data and weighted gene coexpression correlation network analysis (WGCNA) analysis, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL3) was considered a key structural gene. The qRT-PCR analysis verified that the PAL3 was highly expressed in SD treated postharvest stored fruits, and was significantly positively correlated with the anthocyanin content. Moreover, we found that other structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were also upregulated under SD treatment, as evidenced by transcriptome data and qRT-PCR analysis.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that SD treatment promotes the accumulation of substrates necessary for anthocyanin biosynthesis during the fruit ripening process, and activates the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes during the postharvest storage period. This is especially true for PAL3, which co-contributed to the rapid accumulation of anthocyanin. The present study provides a theoretical basis for the postharvest quality control and water-saving utilization of blood orange fruit.

Influence of Irrigation Water Acidity, Chemical Fertilizer and Propagation Method on the Contents of Nutrient Elements of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Festival

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of the reproduction method and acidity of irrigation water and chemical fertilization plus their interactions on the strawberry fruit of the cv. Festival indicators. The percentage of total soluble solids, total acidity, total sugars, ascorbic acid content, and nitrate content were estimated. Results showed the superiority of the method of propagation using the plant tissue culture technique. The ascorbic acid content was 32.73 mg.100 g-1 fresh mass for the method of propagation by runners. Also, the water treatment with pH 5.5 was superior for the total sugars content in fruits 6.72% and the content of ascorbic acid 32.71 to 73 mg.100 g-1 fresh mass compared to the control treatment. As for the triple interaction, the method of propagation with runners and pH water 5.5 and the fertilizer recommendation of macro-elements outperformed in the percentage of T.S.S and carbohydrate content in the strawberry fruits reached 11.70% and 10.41%, respectively, but the total acidity decreased to 2.37 mg.g-1 for the same combination. In contrast, the highest content of ascorbic acid in fruits 44.81 mg.100 g -1 of fresh mass was recorded by using the propagation method of tissue culture technique. Moreover, the lowest nitrate content was 11.19 mg. 100 g -1 dry mass when using the propagation method of runners and pH of irrigation water at 6.5 plus the fertilizer recommendation of macro-elements.

EXPLORING KAMALAM FRUIT (HYLOCEREUS SPP.): CULTIVATION, NUTRITIONAL VALUE, AND HEALTH BENEFITS. A REVIEW

This review aims to cover the cultivation techniques, nutritional content, and health advantages of Kamalam fruit. Kamalam fruit plants exhibit remarkable adaptability and thrive in slightly heavy-textured soils. Typically, these plants are propagated through stem cuttings. After approximately 15–18 months of planting, flower buds emerge, taking about 28–30 days to bloom. Kamalam fruit is renowned for its nutritional richness, being a valuable source of minerals, glucose, fructose, dietary fiber, and various vitamins. It contributes to fortifying the human immune system and is utilized in managing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, while also assisting in maintaining a healthy body weight. The yield and nutritional content of Kamalam fruit can fluctuate based on factors such as species, cultivation practices, geographic location, and harvest timing. Notably, the peel of Kamalam fruit shows significant potential as a natural dye. The number of commercial growers in various countries is steadily rising, driven by the attractive prices their products fetch in the market. At present, there is limited information available on the production aspects of Kamalam fruit. Research across different facets of cultivation and the health benefits of this fruit holds the promise of maximizing advantages for growers and consumers worldwide, thereby expanding the Kamalam fruit market.

Microwave drying vs hot-steam-air drying of seedless noni fruit: drying performance and post-drying quality

Noni fruit contains several beneficial compounds for health, including scopoletin as its active component. The fruits contain a high moisture content, generally above 80%, rendering them to rot quickly. The drying process can potentially increase the fruit’s shelf life as it reduces the moisture content, stop the enzymatic reactions/microorganism activities and inhibit the quality degradation. This study compared the drying performance and post-process quality of noni fruit slices from the microwave and hot-steam-air drying at 50°C and 60°C. The drying performance parameters were time and rate. Several post-drying quality parameters stipulated in Indonesia pharmacopoea standard, such as scopoletin, total ash, and insoluble-acid ash contents, were observed. The results show the drying rate of noni fruit ranged from -3.51 x 10−3 % min−1 (for microwave-drying) to -2.45 x 10-5 % min−1 (for hot-steam-air drying at 50°C). Noni fruits from hot-steam-air drying at 60°C had the highest scopoletin content (22.47 mg kg−1) and the lowest total ash content (4.78%). Microwave-dried noni fruit had the lowest insoluble-acid ash content (0.02%). Drying methods significantly affected the drying rate, total ash content, and insoluble-acid ash content of noni fruit. Treatment scoring shows microwave- and hot-steam-air drying at 60°C are potential options for drying noni fruit.

Effects of Potassium-Containing Fertilizers on Sugar and Organic Acid Metabolism in Grape Fruits.

To identify suitable potassium fertilizers for grape (Vitis vinifera L.) production and study their mechanism of action, the effects of four potassium-containing fertilizers (complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate) on sugar and organic acid metabolism in grape fruits were investigated. Potassium-containing fertilizers increased the activity of sugar and organic acid metabolism-related enzymes at all stages of grape fruit development. During the later stages of fruit development, potassium-containing fertilizers increased the total soluble solid content and the sugar content of the different sugar fractions and decreased the titratable acid content and organic acid content of the different organic acid fractions. At the ripening stage of grape fruit, compared with the control, complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate increased the total soluble solid content by 1.5, 1.2, 3.5, and 3.4 percentage points, decreased the titratable acid content by 0.09, 0.06, 0.18, and 0.17 percentage points, respectively, and also increased the total potassium content in grape fruits to a certain degree. Transcriptome analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the berries showed that applying potassium-containing fertilizers enriched the genes in pathways involved in fruit quality, namely, carbon metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and fructose and mannose metabolism. Potassium-containing fertilizers affected the expression levels of genes regulating sugar metabolism and potassium ion uptake and transport. Overall, potassium-containing fertilizers can promote sugar accumulation and reduce acid accumulation in grape fruits, and potassium sulfate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate had the best effects among the fertilizers tested.

La2O3 Nanoparticles Can Cause Cracking of Tomato Fruit through Genetic Reconstruction.

La2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have shown great potential in agriculture, but cracking of plant sensitive tissue could occur during application, resulting in a poor appearance, facilitating entry for insects and fungi, and increasing economic losses. Herein, exocarp cracking mechanisms of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit in response to La2O3 NPs were investigated. Tomato plants were exposed to La2O3 NPs (0-40 mg/L, 90 days) by a split-root system under greenhouse condition. La2O3 NPs with high concentrations (25 and 40 mg/L) increased the obvious cracking of the fruit exocarp by 20.0 and 22.7%, respectively. After exposure to 25 mg/L La2O3 NPs, decreased thickness of the cuticle and cell wall and lower wax crystallization patterns of tomato fruit exocarp were observed. Biomechanical properties (e.g., firmness and stiffness) of fruit exocarp were decreased by 34.7 and 25.9%, respectively. RNA-sequencing revealed that the thinner cuticle was caused by the downregulation of cuticle biosynthesis related genes; pectin remodeling, including the reduction in homogalacturonan (e.g., LOC101264880) and rhamnose (e.g., LOC101248505), was responsible for the thinner cell wall. Additionally, genes related to water and abscisic acid homeostasis were significantly upregulated, causing the increases of water and soluble solid content of fruit and elevated fruit inner pressure. Therefore, the thinner fruit cuticle and cell wall combined with the higher inner pressure caused fruit cracking. This study improves our understanding of nanomaterials on important agricultural crops, including the structural reconstruction of fruit exocarp contributing to NPs-induced cracking at the molecular level.

Sensor-Based Fertigation Management Enhances Resource Utilization and Crop Performance in Soilless Strawberry Cultivation

The use of wireless sensors for real-time sensing of substrate water status and electrical conductivity could be an effective tool for precision irrigation management in soilless cultivation. In this research, the effects of timer-based (TB) compared to smart sensor-based irrigation (SB) were investigated. The highest consumption of fertilizers and water were recorded in TB, with nutrient solution and total applied water savings of 38% and 26%, respectively, in SB. The highest yield was obtained in SB treatment, with a total and marketable yield decrease of 7% in TB, with no differences in terms of the total soluble solids content, dry matter, firmness, juice pH and titratable acidity of the strawberry fruits. The higher yield, combined with water and nutrient saving in SB, allowed water use efficiency (fresh weight of marketable fruits per liter of total water applied) to be increased by 46% and nutrient productivity (fresh weight of marketable product per gram of nutrient supplied via nutrient solution) by 74%. The study confirms that sensor-based, compared to empiric fertigation management, ameliorates the sustainability of open, free-drain, soilless cultivation of strawberry, leading to better resource use without compromising crop performance and fruit quality.

Prediction of Soluble-Solid Content in Citrus Fruit Using Visible-Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging Based on Effective-Wavelength Selection Algorithm.

Citrus fruits were sorted based on external qualities, such as size, weight, and color, and internal qualities, such as soluble solid content (SSC), acidity, and firmness. Visible and near-infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral imaging techniques were used as rapid and nondestructive techniques for determining the internal quality of fruits. The applicability of the VNIR hyperspectral imaging technique for predicting the SSC in citrus fruits was evaluated in this study. A VNIR hyperspectral imaging system with a wavelength range of 400-1000 nm and 100 W light source was used to acquire hyperspectral images from citrus fruits in two orientations (i.e., stem and calyx ends). The SSC prediction model was developed using partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Spectrum preprocessing, effective wavelength selection through competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and outlier detection were used to improve the model performance. The performance of each model was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). In the present study, the PLSR model was developed using only a citrus cultivar. The SSC prediction CARS-PLSR model with outliers removed exhibited R2 and RMSE values of approximatively 0.75 and 0.56 °Brix, respectively. The results of this study are expected to be useful in similar fields such as agricultural and food post-harvest management, as well as in the development of an online system for determining the SSC of citrus fruits.

β-Aminobutyric Acid Effectively Postpones Senescence of Strawberry Fruit by Regulating Metabolism of NO, H2S, Ascorbic Acid, and ABA

Current researchis focused on the influence of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on the metabolism of nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ascorbic acid, and abscisic acid (ABA) in strawberry fruit. The increases in ion leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in strawberry fruit and the degradation of chlorophyll in the sepals of the fruit were markedly inhibited by BABA at 20 mM. BABA-immersed fruit exhibited lower activities and expressions of polygalacturonase (PG), pectinmethylesterase (PME), and ethylene biosynthetic enzymes compared to the control. Furthermore, BABA immersion evidently upgraded the metabolic levels of NO and H2S, including the enzymatic activities and intermediary contents of metabolites, which collectively enhanced the levels of endogenous NO and H2S contents in strawberry fruit. The high enzymatic activities and gene expressions of the AsA biosynthesis pathway jointly maintained AsA accumulation in the BABA-treated sample. The application of BABA led to a decrease in ABA concentration, which was associated with reduced activities and gene expression levels of key enzymes participating in ABA metabolism. Our experimental observations showed that immersion with BABA may be a highly promising means to delay senescence and reduce natural decay in strawberry fruit, and the alleviation in senescence using BABA may be attributed to the modulation of NO, H2S, AsA, and ABA metabolism.

Effects of TrPLDs on the pathogenicity of Trichothecium roseum infected apple fruit

Phospholipase D plays a critical regulatory role in the pathogenicity of filamentous fungi. However, the molecular mechanism of PLD regulating the pathogenicity of filamentous fungi has not been reported. In this research, the previously constructed TrPLD1 and TrPLD2 (TrPLDs) mutants were used as test strains. Firstly, the function of TrPLDs in Trichothecium roseum was studied. Then, the effects of TrPLDs on the pathogenicity of T. roseum and the quality of the inoculated apples were verified. The results suggested that the deletion of TrPLD1 delayed the spore germination of ΔTrPLD1 and inhibited germ tube elongation by down-regulating the expressions of TrbrlA, TrabaA and TrwetA. By down-regulating the extracellular enzyme-coding gene expressions, ΔTrPLD1 inhibited the degradation of apple fruit cell wall and the change of fatty acid content during infection, reduced the cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of apple fruit, thereby maintaining the integrity of fruit cell membrane, and reduced the pathogenicity of ΔTrPLD1 to apple and kept the quality of apple. However, ΔTrPLD2 did not have a significant effect on the infection process of apple fruit by the pathogen.

The Nutraceutical and Functional Food Potentials of Dry Doum Palm Fruit (Hyphaene thebaica)

Doum palm fruit is one of the underutilized fruits and is mainly used by the local people without knowing the nutritional value and the pharmacological components associated with the fruit parts. Thus, this research was designed to evaluate the proximate composition, antioxidant activity and phytochemical content of doum palm fruit. The fruit sample was obtained from the farm and market and was portioned into six; the epicarp, mesocarp, epicarp and mesocarp blend obtained from the farm and market were all converted into flour. Proximate analysis was done using the standard method, antioxidant activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pierylhyrazyl DPPH method after water and solvent (ethanol) extraction of the samples at different concentrations: 50 %, 60 %, 70 % and 100 % ethanol and 100 % water, which were used for the six different flours for each that makes it up to 30 samples. While phytochemicals were identified using LC-MS. Results showed that samples collected from the farm had higher proximate composition than the ones obtained from the market. Samples from the farm showed higher antioxidant activity at 595.30 and 62.59 mgGAE/g for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively; 0.078 and 2008.9 IC50 (µg/ml) for the DPPH and Reducing power showed by the Samples from the farm. The phytochemical constituents showed that samples from the farm have more bioactive compounds than those obtained from the market. Compounds such as Phytoene, Liriodenine Xanthophylls e.t.c were detected. Thus, the findings proved the presence of a considerable amount of nutraceutical and phytochemical constituents in the dry doum palm fruit. Therefore, it can be further studied to look for ways to benefit from its rich potential in managing various ailments.

Carnauba wax-based edible coatings retain quality enhancement of orange (Citrus sinensis cv. Moro) fruits during storage

Fruit coatings serve a dual purpose in preserving the quality of fruits. Not only do they act as a barrier against water evaporation and fungal infiltration, but they also enhance the fruit’s visual appeal in the market. Yet, their influence on the fruit’s quality components, which play a crucial role in determining its nutritional value, taste, and overall flavor, has remained relatively unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carnauba wax coating on the quality of Moro oranges during storage. The selected fruits were meticulously chosen for uniformity in size. The experiment involved applying carnauba wax, a commonly used type among local producers, at four different concentrations: 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. These treatments were applied during various storage periods, including immediately after fruits were harvested and after 40 and 80 days. Following the application of these treatments, the oranges were stored in a controlled environment (morgue) at a temperature of 4 ± 1 °C. Subsequently, several physicochemical parameters of both the fruit flesh and skin were examined. The results unveiled a decline in the overall ascorbic acid content of the fruits. In terms of phenol content, a general decreasing trend was observed after harvesting. At each sampling interval during storage, the phenol content in uncoated fruits consistently exceeded that of their waxed counterparts. Significant reduction in fruit weight was observed throughout the storage period. Both vitamin C and total acidity levels in the fruit exhibited decreases during the storage period. As time passed, fruit firmness gradually declined, while fruit decay increased during the 40- and 80-day storage periods for untreated Moro oranges. The anthocyanin content showed an increasing trend. The study also unveiled a decline in the antioxidant capacity of citrus fruits during storage. Strong significant positive correlations were observed between total phenol content and key parameters, such as antioxidant activity (0.941**), MDA (0.364*), vitamin C content, and total carbohydrate content (0.475**). Skin radiance showed a perfect correlation with chroma and hue (1.000**). Principal component analysis revealed that the first principal component accounted for 34.27% of the total variance, out of a total of five principal components that explained 77.14% of the variance. Through cluster analysis, the variables were categorized into three distinct groups; one associated with weight loss and another with ion leakage. Considering these findings, carnauba wax-based coating emerges as a promising solution for preserving Moro oranges. It effectively mitigates fruit weight loss and helps maintain fruit firmness during storage, making it a valuable tool for fruit preservation.

Development of craft drinks with oat milk and fruit and berry powders

Consumption of plant-based milk is growing every year, especially among allergy sufferers and lactose intolerant people. The development of beverages based on it with the addition of nutrients and improved taste properties is a trend among soft drink manufacturers. The purpose of the article is to develop recipes for craft drinks with oat milk and powders from freeze-dried fruits and berries, as well as to determine their sensory and physicochemical characteristics. The research was conducted using the method of expert evaluation of the sensory characteristics of drink compositions, the calculation method for calculating the nutritional and energy value of drinks, qualimetry methods for calculating a comprehensive indicator of drink quality, methods for determining the physicochemical characteristics of drinks, the Color Detector & Catcher mobile application for determining the colour of drinks using the RGB additive colour model, and methods of statistical data processing using Mathcad 14 software. For drinks based on plant-based milk, it is proposed to use powders from freeze-dried fruits and berries as a recipe components. Freeze-dried plant powders preserve the colour, smell and taste of natural raw materials, as well as their nutrients. Model compositions of drinks with oat milk and powders made from freeze-dried mango, blueberries, strawberries, bilberries and raspberries were developed. The best drink compositions with high sensory properties (taste and smell, colour, appearance and consistency) were identified by an expert evaluation method. The density and active acidity of the developed drink compositions were investigated and their nutritional and energy values were calculated. It was found that the density of drinks increases with the increase in the content of fruit and berry powders, and the pH of drinks decreases. It has also been found that an increase in the content of freeze-dried fruit and berry powders in a drink leads to an increase in the content of protein and carbohydrates. Fruit and berry powders fortify drinks with nutrients and diversify their taste and aroma. The proposed drinks can be recommended for implementation in food industry enterprises, craft food production facilities and restaurants

Comparative seasonal analysis of IC50, total antioxidant capacity, phenolics, and flavonoids of some vegetable plants from the aquaponics system

Seasonal factors such as temperature, solar UV-light intensity, and daylight length can induce changes in the water quality properties and, hence, the nutritional compositions of plants. This comparative study was carried out for the consecutive four (4) seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) to determine the influence of seasonal variations on the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TPC) of the red chili fruit (RCF), red tomato fruit (RTF), green leafy spinach (GLS), and green leafy lettuce (GLL) collected from a coupled commercial aquaponics system. The IC50, TAC, TPC, and TFC concentration levels indicated a significant (P