Degree Of Ripeness Research Articles

Coupled bio-solar photocatalytic treatment for reclamation of water polluted with pharmaceutical and pesticide residues. Impact on tomato irrigation

Reusing reclaimed water for crop irrigation can mitigate water scarcity in agriculture; however, contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides in wastewater pose risks. This study investigated the impact of a coupled bio-solar photocatalytic treatment on the reclamation of water polluted with seven pharmaceuticals and seven pesticides for irrigation of two tomato crop cycles. Pollutant residues were removed using natural sunlight and TiO2/Na2S2O8 in a pilot plant located in Murcia, Spain. Efficient removal (> 96%) of all target pollutants was achieved in the effluent after coupled treatment. Reclaimed water was then used to irrigate the tomato crops, and several yield and quality parameters were analysed to evaluate the effects on the harvested tomatoes. No significant differences were observed in the total yield, number and mean fruit weight, size, pericarp firmness, external colour, and nutritional data between the crops irrigated with reclaimed, control, and polluted water. However, differences in the degree of ripeness were observed. None of the investigated pollutants was detected above the limit of quantification in tomato samples irrigated with reclaimed water, except for venlafaxine (0.028µgkg-1) in the second crop cycle. When the crop was irrigated with polluted water, different pollutant residues were detected in soil (10) and tomato (4) samples. The results suggest that coupled bio-solar photocatalytic treatment is an effective method for reclaiming water polluted with pharmaceutical and pesticide residues, and the reclaimed water can be safely used for tomato irrigation without compromising crop yield and quality.

Assessment of the degree of ripeness of oriental persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki L.) by tensor stress

The object of the study is persimmon fruits, which occupy an important place among subtropical crops and have a wide development prospect. Since these fruits are difficult to process, they are mainly used fresh. The usefulness of these fruits is associated with their chemical composition. This composition includes biologically active substances, microelements, various mono- and polysaccharides, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, etc. The complexity of the technological processing of persimmon fruits is associated with its astringent taste, which is determined by the amount of polyphenolic compounds. In general, the strength of raw materials is manifested not only in the degree of ripeness, but also in its technological processing processes, which are the object of the study. From this point of view, the hardness of persimmon fruits acts as a subject of study. Data on the property of fruits and vegetables associated with the stress-hard state is a solution to the problems that arise when expanding the range of finished products. For example, it has been established that at the stage of commercial ripeness, the hardness of persimmon fruits is no more than 12.3 kg/cm2. And this indicator changes downwards over time, i.e. to 1.5÷2.0 kg/cm2. Consequently, the possibility of using fruits for the production of various food products is expanding. The study of raw materials according to the laws of solid state physics is explained by its polymer structure. Therefore, the ripening of raw materials depends on the monomerization of this structure. In such decomposition, a condition is created for the combination of various mono-substances, for example, in persimmon fruits, monophenols combine with monosaccharides, which results in a decrease or disappearance of the tart taste of the raw material. Therefore, determining the degree of raw material ripeness by changes in stress will allow to predict its destruction in advance.

Bromatological analysis and quantification of calcium oxalates in tender prickly pear flour from different Opuntia cultivars

The average consumption of Opuntia spp. (tender prickly pear) per person in Mexico is 6.3 kg per year due to the convenience of its valuable nutraceutical properties and medicinal benefits and their high concentrations of calcium, fiber, minerals, calcium oxalates, and antioxidants. The Opuntia spp. is used in a wide range of applications, and the food industry has developed flours derived from it as a substitute. The objective of this study was to know the chemical and nutritional qualities of Opuntia (tender prickly pear) prickly pear flour using three Opuntia types, Jalpa, Villanueva and Oreja de Elefante. The tender prickly pear was classified into four ranges of fresh weight, No. 1 (<150 g), No. 2 (150-300 g), No. 3 (300-600 g), and No. 4 (>600 g). The results were subjected to statistical analysis (ANOVA) and mean comparisons using the Tukey method. The chemical and nutrient composition varied according to the variety of prickly pear and tender prickly pear and their stage of ripeness, which correlates with the mass of the cladodes. Results showed that as the weight and degree of ripeness increased, the fiber concentration also increased in the Oreja de Elefante cultivar, having a higher concentration of 9.06% compared to the other cultivars. The calcium oxalates had a negative relationship with age in all Opuntia cultivars. The cultivars showed a higher density of crystals in the upper part and a reduction in crystal density in the basal part, with the Villanueva cultivar having the highest in the upper part with 58.50 calcium oxalate crystals and the middle part with 45.69 calcium oxalates; however, for the basal part the Oreja de Elefante cultivar had the highest concentration with 36.00 calcium oxalate crystals.

Crop Management System Consisting of Biodegradable Mulching Film + Drip Irrigation Increases Yield and Quality of Flue-Cured Tobacco

Mulching is one of the most recommended practices in agriculture due to its positive effects on the plant/soil system. Very few experiments have been conducted to date to investigate the effect of mulching, with both organic and inorganic materials, on tobacco. The main aim of this study was to test the synergic effect of a soil-biodegradable (according to standard EN17033) mulching film (the commercial Mater-Bi®, Novamont SpA, Novara, Italy) and drip irrigation (M-D) compared with that of bare soil and sprinkler/drip irrigation (first/second part of the growing season; BS-SD) on a tobacco crop (Nicotiana tabacum L., flue-cured Virginia) grown in the Tiber Valley (the tobacco cultivation district of Central Italy). BS-SD represents the standard practice applied by tobacco growers in the study area. The plants grown under the M-D management system grew more and developed faster than the plants grown under BS-SD conditions. Under the M-D system, yields increased in comparison with the BS-SD conditions (+29%, on average). The gross revenue obtained via the M-D-cured products also increased (+63%, on average) thanks to higher prices assigned by expert evaluators on the basis of the extrinsic quality traits (color, structure and texture, degree of ripeness, elasticity, lamina integrity, handling defects, and vein incidence). The economic value of the cured products increased with the leaf crowns; it was the lowest in the basal (B) leaves and the highest in the middle-upper (MU) leaves. The intrinsic quality traits of the cured leaves (total N and nitrate contents, alkaloids, and reducing sugars) also confirmed that the best quality was found in the M-D-cured products, as determined by expert evaluation. Interestingly, the reducing sugar (RS) contents of tobacco obtained using the M-D management system were 2.5-, 1.1-, and 0.9-fold greater than those under the BS-SD conditions (B, M, and MU products, respectively). An additional commercial value of the cured products was thus obtained with the M-D crop management system due to RS, an intrinsic quality trait considered by manufacturing industries.

Algorithm for Determination of Pepper Maturity Classes by Combination of Color and Spectral Indices

Abstract The aim of the present work is to propose methods and tools for classifying sweet pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity based on color and spectral characteristics extracted from color images on the surface of the vegetables. The investigated pepper is two varieties of sweet - red Banji and yellow Liri. Five groups were formed, depending on the degree of maturity, and 16 color and 11 spectral indices were calculated for each of the groups. By successively using the ReliefF and PLSR methods, a selection of informative features and subsequent reduction of the vector formed by them was carried out, thereby aiming to increase the predictive results and minimize the time for data processing. The obtained classification errors between the individual stages of ripening vary according to the type of pepper and depending on which of the two types of maturity the fruits are in - technical or biological. For red sweet pepper, the separation inaccuracy obtained using a discriminant classifier with a quadratic separation function is in the range of 8 - 19%, while for yellow it is from 5 to 23%. The results obtained in the present work for the classification of pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity would support decision-making in selective harvesting and overall more accurate and efficient management of the harvesting process from the point of view of precision agriculture. The work will continue with studies related to the prediction of various compounds indicating changes in the color of peppers, including chlorophylls, carotenes and xanthophylls. In this way, it is possible to increase the accuracy in determining the degree of ripeness, since in pepper the color does not always follow the same pattern of change from green to yellow to orange to red.

Raman spectroscopy as a tool for characterisation of quality parameters in Norwegian grown apples during ripening

This study shows for the first time the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy as a non-destructive method to follow the ripening process of apple fruits. Two different varieties of apples were studied: ‘Aroma’ and ‘Elstar’. By visual inspection, Raman spectra showed that the starch content was higher in ‘Elstar’ apples compared to ‘Aroma’. The degradation of starch over time could be detected in the Raman spectra, indicating that the method can be used to monitor the ripening process. The ripeness markers starch index, soluble solids content (SSC), and the sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose were determined with traditional destructive methods. Cross validated calibration models based on Raman spectroscopy were obtained for all quality parameters, and test set validation offered good results, with R2 in the range 0.4–0.86 for ‘Aroma’ and 0.4–0.95 for ‘Elstar’, respectively. The regression coefficients showed that the calibrations relied on Raman bands associated with starch and different sugars. The results suggest that Raman spectroscopy in the future could be used to determine the optimal time of harvesting and to sort apples into different degrees of ripeness.

Compositional Characteristics of Currant Juices Prepared by Different Processes and Other Selected Currant Products

The quality of black/red currant products, which are valuable components of a healthy diet, depends on many aspects, e.g., natural variability, climatic conditions, degree of ripeness, processing technology, and recipe. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the harvest year (2020 and 2021) and different processes (with or without prepress enzymatic treatment) on the chemical composition of 38 laboratory-prepared black/red currant (BC/RC) juices and to compare them with 19 selected commercial products, using 20 compositional and quality markers. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed for BC in sucrose, Dp-3-glu, and Cy-3-glu content within the different processes, as well as fructose and ascorbic acid content within the harvest year (p < 0.05). The greatest differences between BC and RC juices were observed in ascorbic acid content (1567 mg/kg in BC and 261 mg/kg in RC), citric acid content (34.6 g/kg in BC and 23.2 g/kg in RC), and in the anthocyanin profile. The major anthocyanins of the currant products were identified as Dp-3-rut (39.1–50.4%), Cy-3-rut (30.1–39.1%), Cy-3-glu (3.6–18.2%), and Dp-3-glu (9.4–13.5%) in BC and Cy-3-glu (59.3–67.2%) and Cy-3-rut (14.2–19.8%) in RC. The chemical composition of commercial products was found to be highly variable and dependent on the recipe used.

Fuzzy Classification of the Maturity of the Orange (Citrus × sinensis) Using the Citrus Color Index (CCI)

The orange (Citrus sinensis) is a fruit of the Citrus genus, which is part of the Rutaceae family. The orange has gained considerable importance due to its extensive range of applications, including the production of juices, jams, sweets, and extracts. The consumption of oranges confers several nutritional benefits, including flavonoids, vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and dietary fiber. It is crucial to acknowledge that the primary quality criterion employed by consumers and producers is maturity, which is correlated with the visual quality associated with the color of the epicarp. This study proposes the implementation of a computer vision system that estimates the degree of ripeness of oranges Valencia using fuzzy logic (FL); the soluble solids content was determined by refractometry, while the firmness of the fruit was evaluated through the fruit firmness test. The proposed method was divided into five distinct steps. The initial stage involved the acquisition of RGB images. The second stage presents the segmentation of the fruit, which entails the removal of extraneous noise and backgrounds. The third and fourth steps involve determining the centroid of the fruit, and five regions of interest were obtained in the centroid of the fruit of the Citrus Color Index (CII), ranging from 3 × 3 to 11 × 11 pixels. Finally, in the fifth step, a model was created to estimate maturity, °Brix, and firmness using Matlab 2024 and the Fuzzy Logic Designer and Neuro-Fuzzy Designer applications. Consequently, a statistically significant correlation was established between maturity, degree Brix, and firmness, with a value greater than 0.9, using the Citrus Color Index (CII), which reflects the physical–chemical changes that occur in the orange.

Delayed Luminescence in Monitoring the Postharvest Ripening of Tomato Fruit and Classifying According to Their Maturity Stage at Harvest

Ripening is an irreversible phenomenon involving several physiological, biochemical and organoleptic changes that affect the nutritional value, colour, texture and taste of fruit. Amongst the physical non-destructive technologies, Delayed Luminescence (DL) has been reported able to provide valid information on the functional status of living biological systems, reflecting changes in quality parameters following the occurrence of certain metabolic processes. In this study, we followed up and analysed the variations in the colour and DL signals emitted by tomato fruit as a function of their ripening degree. Four lots of tomato fruit, similar to each other for cultivar and geographical origin, were considered. Tomatoes were harvested at various maturity stages and stored in the dark at room temperature. The changes in DL emission trends were monitored at different times after harvesting for a period of about 20 days and correlated with the a*/b* colour ratio, which is normally used as an indicator of fruit ripeness degree. Results highlighted that the emission intensities, as well as the parameters by fitting DL decay curves, were strongly dependent on harvest maturity, varying significantly even as fruit ripeness progressed after their harvesting. Significant differences were also found between DL signals emitted by field-ripened tomatoes at the beginning of storage and those emitted by postharvest-ripened tomatoes at the end of the storage period. Delayed Luminescence may be used as a fast, reliable and sensitive tool for evaluating, more generally, the sensorial quality of fruit during postharvest storage.

Application of gaussian filter and extraction features for quality control of fruit raw materials in the puree industry

The purpose of research in using Android-based raw material quality control applications in fruit puree factories is to enhance the industry's precision, uniformity, and efficiency. This application is developed to implement digital image processing utilizing two distinct methods: Gaussian filters and feature extraction. The implemented application captures guava data using the camera of an Android phone and subsequently resizes the image to dimensions of 600x600 pixels. Subsequently, the image colors are recovered by employing a Gaussian filter that operates on normalized Red-Green-Blue values. A minimum of 120 photos of red guava fruit from the raw material of one of the puree companies were subjected to image processing procedures. The application solely focuses on the color and texture of the fruit's skin, ensuring that the sample remains undamaged while adhering to hygienic guidelines. The ripeness degree of guava fruit is determined by employing an image classification algorithm with the K-nearest neighbor method. The application validation using K-fold cross-validation achieved an accuracy of 90.0% and a precision of 90.27% when applied to color imagery. When feature extraction was used, the accuracy was 83.3%, with a precision of 83.4%. Color extraction provides a more precise method for identifying ripe guava. The utilization of guava fruit ripeness detection in the quality control of raw materials for the puree sector has been simplified and made more user-friendly through the development of an Android-based application. Officers are not obligated to possess specialized expertise regarding the quality of raw materials.

Pomegranate Juice Clarification Using Ultrafiltration: Influence of the Type of Variety and Degree of Ripeness

Fruit consumption guarantees the supply of most of the necessary nutrients for a complete and balanced diet, as it is a relevant source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In particular, pomegranate has very interesting medicinal properties, such as an anti-inflammatory effect and the protection of the cardiovascular system, among others. During pomegranate juice production, it appears cloudy and must be clarified to remove suspended solids such as colloids and high-molecular weight tannins. The membrane clarification process is a cost-effective alternative to the conventional methods, resulting in a high-quality product. In this work, the clarification of pomegranate juice using the Triple System Model F1 membrane module was carried out for the Mollar and Wonderful varieties with early and late maturity. Three ultrafiltration membranes with different molecular weight cut-off and different chemical compositions were used. The rejection coefficient and permeate flux (which represent the selectivity of the membranes and the process efficiency, respectively) were measured. GR-40PP showed the best results in terms of membrane selectivity and process efficiency, achieving adequate physicochemical juice parameters. Regarding the comparison of the maturity degree, in general terms, the Mollar variety showed better results. Ripe pomegranates showed greater selectivity, while the process efficiency was higher for the early samples.

Optoelectronic system for measuring the sugar content in citrus fruits

The color of oranges originates from carotenoids, which are natural pigments ranging from yellow to red color and is indicative of the sugar level and degree of ripeness. During the degreening process, the fruit quality can deteriorate, which is manifested as insufficient ripeness and sugar (sucrose) content. Therefore, in this study, we have designed a low-cost, easy-to-use optoelectronic system to measure the sugar content in orange and lemon juice. The system consists of a U-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) and a visible multispectral sensor. The device identifies variation in the absorption of the evanescent field of the POF when it comes in contact with orange juice. The response of the multispectral sensor in the wavelength range of 450–650 nm is digitally captured, improving the efficiency and accuracy of the measurements. To validate the multispectral sensor measurements, the sugar contents are compared with those obtained using a visible spectrum analyzer and refractometer.

CLIMATIC FACTORS CHARACTERIZING THE MOISTURE SUPPLY OF THE TERRITORY AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE QUALITY INDICATORS OF GRAPES

The study of scientific problem, to which this research is devoted, is due to planetary climate change, manifested in an increase in the average annual air temperature, rapid changes in winter and summer temperatures, and a lack of precipitation.
 For today, there is a serious problem of adapting plants to climate change due to an increase in water deficiency in many regions of the world. Climate change creates significant uncertainty in the potential adaptability of grape plants, as well as in the prospects for viticulture development in general.
 The study and generalization of territorial distribution of climatic factors that characterize a particular region, as well as their effect on the quality characteristics of raw materials and finished products, are attractive from the point of better understanding and forecasting the potential impact on agricultural systems. The obtained data consumption will allow improving the forecast of climate change consequences in the medium term, and in relation to particular terroirs.
 The goal is to study the effect of climatic factors that characterize the moisture supply of the territory on the quality indicators of grapes.
 Materials and methods. The objects of the study were grapes of white and red cultivars, different in agroecological aspect, and growing in micro regions of Crimea. To identify the effect of factors characterizing the moisture supply of the territory on the quality indicators of raw materials for winemaking products, the amount of precipitation from the beginning of growing season to the harvesting, the amount of precipitation for the last month before harvest, and hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov were selected. The assessment of grapes was carried out according to the indicators of carbohydrate-acid complex (mass concentration of sugars, titratable acids, pH value, profile of organic acids), as well as the glucoacidimetric indicator revealing the degree of grape ripeness.
 Results and conclusion. Climatic factors characterizing the moisture supply of viticultural and winemaking regions of Crimea were assessed. The studies carried out made it possible to reveal variations in the concentration of carbohydrate-acid complex components depending on the changing ability of environmental factors. A significant precipitation deficiency was observed on the Peninsula. According to the value of hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov (did not exceed 1), most of the territory was classified as an arid or very arid zone. A correlation between the hydrothermal coefficient and mass concentration of grape sugars (r=-0.63) was established for red grapevine cultivars. The data obtained indicate that an increase in the amount of precipitation during growing season contributes to a moderation of sugar accumulation in grapes. Similar pattern was not established for white grapevine cultivars. There was a direct correlation of the mass concentration of malic acid on the amount of precipitation in the last month before harvest (r=0.78).

Classification of Palm Fruit Ripeness Level Using Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) Method

The implementation of Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) to classify the ripeness of oil palm fruits is investigated in this study. In addition, this study provides a comprehensive set of procedures ranging from data collection and pre-processing to training and testing of the LVQ model, and finally, the proposed method has been validated by testing it on previously unseen data. Three feature extraction methods, specifically Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), Hue, Saturation, and Value (HSV), and t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), were assessed for their performance. The results show that the chosen feature extraction method strongly influences the classification performance. The accuracy of the model employing t-SNE features is notably the highest at 50%, indicating its efficacy in identifying the ripeness level of palm fruits by extracting pertinent features. On the other hand, the GLCM feature has a 40% accuracy in the test data, suggesting that although it captures information on texture, it may not comprehensively encapsulate ripeness characteristics. Additionally, the HSV feature achieves an accuracy of 45%, which is less precise than that of t-SNE. To conclude, this study elucidates the appropriateness of various feature extraction techniques in categorizing the degree of ripeness in palm fruits. The t-SNE feature extraction model stands out as the most efficient option, exhibiting greater precision in comparison to other methodologies.

Classification of six banana ripeness levels based on statistical features on machine learning approach

<span>Banana plants are often cultivated because they have many benefits. In producing, we need to maintain the quality of bananas by looking at banana ripeness levels before being distributed to markets. The level of banana ripeness is related to marketing reach. If the marketing reach is far, bananas should be harvested when the ripeness level of bananas is still relatively low. A system that can classify the degree of ripeness of bananas can help overcome this problem. In this study, our dataset includes 6 ripeness levels of bananas, more than in previous related studies. Furthermore, we use the statistical features extraction method to find the parameters that affect the level of banana ripeness, considering the texture and color of the banana peel which determines the level of ripeness visually. The extraction used is features extraction based on a histogram, then we employ four features, i.e., mean, skewness, energy descriptor, and smoothness, generated from the image dataset. In the next stage, we perform classification based on the features that have been obtained. In this study, we use Naive Bayes classifier and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms. Based on the result of this research, the best performance is the Naive Bayes classifier, with an accuracy is 86.67%, a weighted average precision of 83.55%, and a weighted average recall of 86.67%.</span>

FEATURES OF GROWING VEGETABLE BEANS IN THE OPEN GROUND

The cultivation of green beans is restrained, first of all, by the lack of adapted elements of cultivation technology. In order to realize the biological potential of green beans in the soil and climatic conditions of the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, the varietal characteristics of the plant and compliance with the elements of technology are important, namely: pre-sowing preparation of seed material, the timing of sowing in open ground, and the fight against pests. In the State register of plant varieties suitable for distribution in Ukraine, 68 varieties suitable for cultivation in open and closed soil are registered. All varieties are characterized by a high content of important biochemical compounds and are divided by the degree of ripeness into early, medium and late. Modern farms are interested in the use of promising varieties, and therefore there is a need for their brief detailing. In the forest-steppe zone of the right bank of Ukraine, the varieties Ros, Slavia, Galactica, Lastivka, and White Yas should be considered the most promising for growing green beans. The specified varieties contain a high protein content, and therefore their introduction into production can ensure the collection of protein at the level of 0.57-1.11 t/ha with a total yield of 2.0-4.0 t/ha, provided that the main elements of the technology are observed. Sowing dates are determined, first of all, by the temperature and humidity of the soil. The first term is established after the end of spring frosts, when the temperature of +10...+12 ºС is reached at a depth of 8-10 cm in the soil. In the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, beans are approximately sown on May 5-15, in Polissia - on May 5-20, in the steppe zone - on April 20-May 15. For rapid seed germination and intensive plant growth and development, the best soil moisture is 75-80% RH. With a lack of moisture, the seeds germinate slowly, seedlings will be uneven, the growth and development of plants slows down, and in dry weather, dwarf plants are formed. Obtaining high-quality products is possible with proper control of weeds, pests and diseases. The most common diseases of beans are anthracnose, root rot, fusarium, alternaria, and bacteriosis. The primary element in the fight against diseases is to observe crop rotation and sowing with high-quality seeds. If necessary, spraying is carried out during the growing season with preparations based on azoxystrobin or tebuconazole. Among the biofungicides, you can use FitoHelp or MycoHelp. The main pest of green beans is considered to be bean weevil, to prevent the spread of which crops should be treated with insecticides with the active substances lambda-cyhalothrin or bifenthrin at the beginning of flowering and after 8-10 days, or use bioinsecticides Actoverm formula or Actoverm 1.8%.

Antioxidant Edible Films Based on Pear Juice and Pregelatinized Cassava Starch: Effect of the Carbohydrate Profile at Different Degrees of Pear Ripeness.

Edible films based on fruit and vegetable purees combined with different food-grade biopolymeric binding agents (e.g., pectin, gelatin, starch, sodium alginate) are recognized as interesting packaging materials that benefit from the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of biopolymers as well as the sensory and nutritional properties of purees. In the current contribution, edible antioxidant films based on pear juice and pregelatinized cassava starch were developed. In particular, the suitability of using pregelatinized cassava starch for the non-thermal production of these novel edible films was evaluated. In addition, the effects on the films' properties derived from the use of pear juice instead of the complete puree, from the content of juice used, and from the carbohydrate composition associated with the ripening of pears were all studied. The produced films were characterized in terms of their total polyphenol content, water sensitivity, and water barrier, optical, mechanical and antioxidant properties. Results showed that the use of pear juice leads to films with enhanced transparency compared with puree-based films, and that juice concentration and carbohydrate composition associated with the degree of fruit ripeness strongly govern the films' properties. Furthermore, the addition of pregelatinized cassava starch at room temperature discloses a significant and favorable impact on the cohesiveness, lightness, water resistance, and adhesiveness of the pear-juice-based films, which is mainly attributed to the effective interactions established between the starch macromolecules and the juice components.

Quality management in the import and sale of tropical and subtropical fruits

An analysis of the dynamics of the market for fruits imported to Russia has been carried out. The market volume, exporters, and sales volume of tropical fruits in Russia have been studied. The factors shaping the quality of tropical fruits are considered. When ensuring logistics, customs clearance, and storage in distribution centers, it is necessary to take into account the actual degree of maturity of climacteric fruits and manage technological regimes at all stages of product distribution, with regard to the physiological state of the product. The work studies the influence of temperature conditions of storage and ripening of avocado fruits on the duration of storage of fruits and the intensity of the processes responsible for their ripening. The values of respiration intensity and ethylene concentration during storage of avocado fruits, which make it possible to determine the degree of ripeness of the fruit and control the duration of their storage, have been established.

Red and golden tomato administration improves fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in rats by modulating HNF4α, Lepr, and GK expression.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by lipid accumulation within hepatocytes exceeding 5% of liver weight, is strongly related to metabolic disorders, obesity, and diabetes and represents a health emergency worldwide. There is no standard therapy available for NAFLD. Lifestyle intervention, including phytonutrient intake, is key in preventing NAFLD development and progression. We used a rat model of NAFLD to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with red tomato (RT) and golden tomato (GT)-a patented mix of fruit with varying degrees of ripeness and particularly rich in naringenin and chlorogenic acid-after steatosis development. We assessed the effects on body weight, metabolic profile, and hepatic steatosis. We found a correlation between the amelioration of all the parameters and the liver gene expression. Our results showed that, together with the reversion of steatosis, the consumption of RT and GT can cause a significant reduction in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose, and homeostasis model assessment index. Meanwhile, we observed an increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol according to the amelioration of the general lipidic profile. Regarding hepatic gene expression, we found the upregulation of Gk and Hnf4α involved in metabolic homeostasis, Lepr involved in adipokine signaling, and Il6 and Tnf involved in inflammatory response. Taken together, our results suggest that dietary intake of red and golden tomatoes, as a nutraceutical approach, has potential in preventing and therapeutics of NAFLD.

Harvesting cereals at Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq and the introduction of farming in Northeastern Iran during the Neolithic.

Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq is the only Neolithic site in Northeastern Iran, characterised by aceramic and ceramic levels corresponding to an occupation of 1500 years from the eighth to the end of the sixth millennium BCE. The Western and Eastern Mounds represent the oldest and longest occupation among the sites identified East of the Zagros, providing a unique context to explore the origin and spread of farming outside the core area of the Eastern Fertile Crescent. We present data about the first harvesting activities in the Northeastern Iranian Central Plateau by applying usewear and microtexture analysis through confocal microscopy on sickle gloss blades. Our results indicate a community of pioneer farmers who settled down in the area carrying with them both domestic cereals as well as advanced techniques of cereal cultivation. We demonstrate that most of the tools were used for harvesting cereals in a fully ripened state collected near the ground, indicating a well-established cereal cultivation strategy. The use of straight shafts with parallel inserts in Tappeh Sang-e Chakhmaq, as known in some sites in the Zagros, suggests the dispersal of farming practices and technologies from the Eastern Fertile Crescent north-eastward across Iran. We observe an evolution in the degree of ripeness of harvested cereals along the first four levels of occupation of the Western Mound, where semi-ripe harvesting is relatively important, suggesting that domestic cereals to be harvested before full maturity were introduced into the village. From the topmost of the Western Mound and along the occupation of the Eastern Mound, ripe harvesting is dominant, showing a well-established cultivation strategy of fully mature cereal. This shift could indicate an in-situ evolution towards a better-established agricultural technology, including harvesting riper crops, that would have resulted in higher yields, as cereals were collected when the grain was fully formed.