Fresh-cut Research Articles

Extending More than One Week the Shelf Life of Fresh-Cut Lettuce Using Vinegar Enriched in Bioactive Compounds Encapsulated in α-Cyclodextrins.

Fresh-cut salads are highly appreciated by consumers due to their healthy and convenient nature. Fresh-cut (FC) lettuce is one of the best-selling FC products due to its freshness and low preparation time for salads. However, FC lettuce is very perishable and, in addition, has been recently associated with severe foodborne illness alerts. Alternative natural sanitizing treatments to conventional sodium hypochlorite are needed. The antimicrobial activity of vinegar has been well-known since ancient times. In addition, bioactive compounds from plant byproducts are widely recognized for their antioxidant properties. This work aimed to evaluate the use of a novel and encapsulated vinegar powder enriched with bioactive compounds from fruit byproducts with high antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to preserve the physicochemical (titratable acidity, total soluble solids, weight loss, and color), microbial (psychrophiles, enterobacteria, lactic-acid bacteria, molds, and yeasts), and sensory quality of FC lettuce at 4 °C for up to 10 days. Small to no differences were observed in terms of physicochemical quality (≈0.1% titratable acidity; 2.3-3.3% total soluble solids; <1% weight loss) in comparison to control samples through storage. Vinegar treatments reduced by 2-4 log CFU g-1 the microbial loads after 10 days. In addition, a synergistic sensory antibrowning effect (greener and less yellowish appearance, showing -a* and -b*) between organic acids and the released polyphenols from the encapsulated plant byproduct extracts was observed. Hence, the enriched encapsulated vinegar represents an effective green alternative to conventional sanitizers to maintain the quality of FC lettuce through storage time.

Utilizing Laser-Induced Fluorescence to Evaluate the Efficiency of Carbon Dioxide and Diode Lasers in Dentin Sealing after Tooth Preparation: An in-vitro Study.

Adhesive dentistry has made it feasible to design restorations with high aesthetic qualities and little invasiveness. However, the freshly cut dentin after the tooth preparation needs to be sealed to prevent its contaminations, bacterial leakage, and hypersensitivity. Consequently, the immediate dentin sealing (IDS) method has been advised. This study examines different dentinal tubule sealing methods via CO2 laser, diode laser (980-nm) and a two-step self-etch adhesive system applied directly to the fresh cut dentin preceding the placement of the provisional phase. The sealing efficiency of each laser and bond system was evaluated based on the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) properties and image analysis by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the obtained LIF spectra were evaluated using partial least square progression. A two-step adhesive containing a high concentration of S-PRG fillers produced a thick layer that was not perfectly uniform at all sites due to uneven filler distribution in the bond with totally and partially closed dentinal tubules. However, the peaks of the LIF spectra dropped after applying laser because of its sealing effectiveness. Accordingly, CO2 and diode lasers have strong evidence in dentinal tubule sealing and a definitive treatment modality for dentinal hypersensitivity. Moreover, IDS with an adhesive system is superior in occluding dentinal tubules in a biomimetic manner based on its filler content and bioactive properties.

Influence of Treatment of Fresh Cut Apples by Microwave Radiation some Properties of Their Juices During Storage

Influence of Treatment of Fresh Cut Apples by Microwave Radiation some Properties of Their Juices During Storage

Shelf Life Extension of Fresh Cut Carrot by the Application of Cinnamon Extract Infused Edible Coating

The consumer demand for fresh cut fruits and vegetables is increasing rapidly owing to fast paced life style changes. The main problem with fresh cut fruits and vegetables is deterioration in term of color, taste, firmness etc. To solve these issues, researcher and processors have been using edible coatings to maintain quality of fresh cut commodities. Objective: To assess the potential effects of cinnamon extract infused edible coating formulated for shelf life extension of fresh cut carrots. Methods: Cinnamon extract was added as an antioxidant, aimed to aid in shelf life extension of fresh cut carrots. Cinnamon extract was obtained in an aqueous medium. The treatments were stored at 5oC for 21 days for shelf life study. The treatments were assessed for weight loss%, %acidity, TSS, firmness, color and ascorbic acid content at 7 days. Results: Coated treatments had better quality after storage period in term of wt. loss %, firmness and color, as compared to non-coated control treatments. Conclusions: Result suggests that edible coating enhanced with antioxidants have the potential to extend shelf life of fresh cut fruits and vegetables.

The potential of calcium nanoparticles in posthaverst conservation of fresh-cut seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

In fresh cut (FC) watermelon, texture loss on the flesh leads to tissue softening and greater water soaking, reducing the shelf life. This study was assessed the effect of calcium nanoparticles (NP) [CaO-NP and Ca(OH)2-NP] at three concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mg L−1) compared to control (water) and CaCl2 (1 %, w/v), on FC seedless watermelon. Treatments were applied by 3-min immersion and stored for 12 d at 5 ± 1 °C. Quality, oxidative stress and softening variables were determined every four days. The postharvest quality variables for all treatments were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), followed by cluster analysis, using the first three dimensions obtained from PCA (explaining 71.68 %). The PCA results showed that visual quality (VQ) was the most influential variable. The treatments with Ca(OH)2-NP positively affected FC watermelon while the treatments with CaO-NP showed a negative correlation. Furthermore, the PCA analysis showed a negative correlation between visual quality and the variables juice leakage (JL) and weight loss (WL). Cluster analysis showed that Ca(OH)2-NP treatments at 8 and 12 d were globally closer to the control at 0 d followed by all treatments applied at 4 d of storage. In general, positive effects were observed in the FC seedless watermelon treated with 100 and 150 mg L−1 Ca(OH)2-NP, compared to the FC seedless watermelon treated with CaO-NP in the same concentrations, in the parameters of water soaking, lipid peroxidation and in the PME activity after 12 d of storage. FC seedless watermelon treated with 100, 150 and 200 mg L−1 Ca(OH)2-NP showed 2.2, 4.4 and 3.2 times less water soaking, respectively, compared to the values observed in the same concentrations of CaO-NP. A similar trend was observed in the values of lipid peroxidation parameters and PME activity, where 2.5, 3.2 and 2.7 times less lipid peroxidation and 1.2, 1.4 and 1.8 times lower PME activity were observed. No differences were detected in CAT and POD activities between CaO-NP and Ca(OH)2-NP treatments. In general, the best quality results were obtained in the FC seedless watermelon fruit treated with the different concentrations of Ca(OH)2-NP.

Determining the Potential of Lavender as Cut Flower: Enhancing Vase Life with Different Vase Solutions

Lavender, renowned for its pleasant aroma and beautiful spike structure, is a popular decorative plant often utilized in dried form for vase arrangements. However, its potential as a fresh cut flower has been relatively underexplored. This study aimed to assess the potential of lavender as a cut flower and investigate the impact of various vase solutions on its vase life. Two different lavender species türü (Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula hybrida) were subjected to seven different vase solutions: control (water), two different doses of silver nitrate (AgNO3), salicylic acid, sodium hypochlorite, lavender essential oil, and vinegar. The effects of these solutions on vase life and overall quality were evaluated. Results indicate that lavender holds significant potential as a cut flower when placed in appropriate vase solutions. Among the solutions tested, silver nitrate treatments exhibited the longest vase life in both species, extending vase life up to threefold compared to the control, while also limiting microbial activity within the vase and preserving flower color. This study underscores the importance of selecting suitable vase solutions to maximize the vase life and aesthetic appeal of lavender as a cut flower.

Effectiveness of sodium alginate-based coating on the preservation of Da xanh pomelo fresh-cut

Pomelo (Citrus maxima (Burm. f.) Merr) fresh cut has a highly sensitive fruit and has a short shelf life after peeling. The fruits represent high potentials for local consumption and international export. The objective of the study was to focus on the effects of different concentrations of sodium alginate (1%, 1.5% and 2%) combined with fixed concentrations of calcium chloride (2%) and ascorbic acid (2.5%) to biologically active compounds and allowable microbial content on the surface pomelo fresh cut slices. The results showed that the presence of coating has improved several important quality parameters of the fruit. Specifically, the combination of AL (2%) + AA (2.5%) + calcium chloride (2%) Ascorbic acid (AA) has effectively maintained the total polyphenol content and the total ascorbic acid of the pomelo slice samples, thus exhibiting higher DPPH scavenging activity, as compared to control samples. Furthermore, the pomelo coated with alginate showed good conditions for consumption with minimal microbial degradation and describe good acceptance after 6 days of storage.

Characterization and functional analysis of gerbera plant defensin (PDF) genes reveal the role of GhPDF2.4 in defense against the root rot pathogen Phytophthora cryptogea

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida), a major fresh cut flower crop, is very susceptible to root rot disease. Although plant defensins (PDFs), a major group of plant antimicrobial peptides, display broad-spectrum antifungal and antibacterial activities, PDF genes in gerbera have not been systematically characterized. Here, we identified and cloned nine PDF genes from gerbera and divided them into two classes based on phylogenetic analysis. Most Class I GhPDF genes were highly expressed in petioles, whereas all Class II GhPDF genes were highly expressed in roots. Phytophthora cryptogea inoculation strongly upregulated all Class II GhPDF genes in roots and upregulated all Class I GhPDF genes in petioles. Transient overexpression of GhPDF1.5 and GhPDF2.4 inhibited P. cryptogea infection in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves. Transient overexpression of GhPDF2.4, but not GhPDF1.5, significantly upregulated ACO and LOX gene expression in tobacco leaves, indicating that overexpressing GhPDF2.4 activated the jasmonic acid/ethylene defense pathway and that the two types of GhPDFs have different modes of action. Prokaryotically expressed recombinant GhPDF2.4 inhibited mycelial growth and delayed the hyphal swelling of P. cryptogea, in vitro, indicating that GhPDF2.4 is a morphogenetic defensin. Moreover, the addition of GhPDF2.4 to plant culture medium alleviated the root rot symptoms of in vitro-grown gerbera seedlings and greatly reduced pathogen titer in P. cryptogea-inoculated gerbera roots in the early stages of treatment. Our study provides a basis for the use of GhPDFs, especially GhPDF2.4, for controlling root rot disease in gerbera.

Utilizing Xanthan Gum Coatings as Probiotic Bacteria Carriers to Enhance Postharvest Quality and Antioxidants in Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe and Honeydew (Cucumis melo L.) Melons.

Due to spoilage microflora and browning, minimally processed fresh-cut fruits have a short shelf life, and over the years, studies have shown the potential of using edible coatings to extend the shelf life and improve the safety of fresh-cut fruits. Recently, there has been a rise in research on the incorporation of probiotics in edible coatings due to the bespoke health and biopreservation benefits they impart. Therefore, in this study, lactobacillus strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 75 and Bifidobacterium longum) were incorporated into a xanthan edible coating to enhance color retention, sensory properties, antioxidant retention (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, total phenols), and antioxidant activity (FRAP antioxidant power, ABTS scavenger activity) of fresh-cut cantaloupes and honeydew cucumis melo L. melons during cold storage at 5 C and 85% RH for five days. The edible coating was prepared by mixing 0.5% xanthan gum, 1% glycerol, and 2% citric acid solution with L. plantarum 75 (LAB 75) and Bifidobacterium longum bacteria separately, and the final lab count for each strain was made to be 8.0 log CFU/mL. Stable probiotic coatings with ζ-potential of between -39.7 and -51.4 mV and a PdI of 1 were developed, and the incorporation of the probiotic bacteria into the coating was justified using FTIR analysis. The probiotic coatings showed a typical pseudoplastic behavior, in which the viscosity curves fall as the shear rate increases. Thermal stability analysis showed a continuous and multi-step weight reduction in this work, illustrating how the edible coating components interact. The survival of both Lactobacillus strains was recorded on day 5. Both freshly cut melons coated with xanthan and loaded with Lactobacillus strains retained a sufficient quantity of probiotics at the end of storage, while L. plantarum 75 (7 log CFU/g for cantaloupe and 8 log CFU/g for honeydew) retained the highest viability compared to B. longum (6 log CFU/g for cantaloupe and 7 log CFU/g for honeydew). In comparison to the coated and uncoated control samples, the inclusion of L. plantarum 75 in xanthan coatings significantly retained the color properties, pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids), ascorbic acid, total phenols, and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS). The overall acceptability of fresh cuts of cantaloupe and honeydew melons coated with xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 was higher than that of other treatments. Thus, xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 coating is most suitable for reducing postharvest losses in fresh cuts of honeydew melons and cantaloupe, which will help preserve antioxidant and bioactive properties. The xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 coatings exhibited the highest preservation impact; therefore, it can be recommended for the fresh-cut industry.

Encompassing potential preventive controls using GFSI, USDA National Organic Program, FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food and FSMA Intentional Adulteration in ready-to-eat organic leafy green salad: A case study from Thailand

This qualitative research work continues from the previous research of Surareungchai S. et al. (2021 and 2022) Simplify product safety and quality risk analysis of raw materials for conventional, soilless culture and organic salads. The previous work focused on raw materials risk assessment and risk management for conventional, soilless culture and organic salads. This current work focuses on the complete processing of ready-to-eat organic leafy green salad from receiving until delivery, to develop practical guidance of product safety, product fraud and product quality issue risk analysis and produce preventive control plans by covering overall product integrity (product safety, product quality and product authenticity (non-fraudulent product or product fraud avoidance) together with product legality) as Global Food Safety Initiative (e.g. BRCGS Food Safety, International Featured Standard for Food, Safe Quality Food and Food Safety System Certification), USDA National Organic Program, FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food and FSMA Intentional Adulteration Final Rule. The case study run in this research was a Thai volunteer ready-to-eat organic leafy green fresh cut multi-standard implementing small enterprise production scale validation and verification phase using the previous practical fruit and vegetable 4 × 4 risk matrix model, 4 × 4 fraud risk matrix model and 4 × 4 quality issue risk matrix model. The result showed that the previous risk matrix models can be used for fruit and vegetable raw materials. Some severity scores can be applied to other input materials apart from the fruit and vegetable group. Occurrence scores from the previous models were changed to be useable with other input materials and during in-processing steps, corresponding to lower score ranking scales from the risk matrix models. And preventive control plans were represented as critical control point, critical quality point, critical organic point and actionable process step by considering process, allergen, sanitation, supply chain and other controls e.g., organic product fraud or food defense preventive measures. The results show that the single format of risk assessment and preventive control plan from this work, can be helpful to entrepreneurs for multi-standard implementing for overall product integrity (product safety, product quality, and product authenticity (non-fraudulent product or product fraud avoidance) control.

Effect of chitosan coating, carbon dots and ultrasound treatment on microorganisms and physicochemical quality of fresh-cut lettuce.

The effect of chitosan (CH) coating, carbon dots (CDs) and ultrasound (US) treatment on microorganisms and the physicochemical quality of fresh-cut (FC) lettuce was investigated. FC lettuces were treated by US and dipped into CD/CH coating, then packed and stored for 15 d at 4 °C. Results presented that CD/CH coating exhibited a superior effect on the depressing growth of aerobic plate count, mould and yeast, the decrease of respiratory rate, the inhibition of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities, the maintenance of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll contents, the reduction of mass loss, the restriction of water distribution in US-treated FC lettuce. This exhibited that CD/CH coating effectively kept the microbial and physicochemical quality of FC lettuce.

Study on fresh processing key technology and quality influence of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix based on multi-index evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the fresh processing technology of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix using a multi-index evaluation. This study comprehensively evaluated the fresh processing technology of sliced Cut Ophiopogonis Radix by investigating the cutting methods, cutting thickness, and drying conditions, and referring to The Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 edition. The appearance traits, internal quality (extract, total saponins, total flavonoids, total polysaccharides), and drying efficiency were used as evaluation indexes. The physical attributes of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix were found to vary based on the processing techniques employed. The shape, surface characteristics, texture, and color were observed to differ across the different methods. Notably, the apparent quality of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix was superior in samples processed using A1B1C1, A1B2C2, and A3B1C3 techniques. Drying time and energy consumption of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix produced by the A1B2C2 and A2B1C2 processes were less than those of other treatments, making them the optimal process for fresh processing Cut Ophiopogonis Radix. The impact of the cutting method and thickness on the extract was found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). However, the drying method was observed to have a significant impact on the extract (P < 0.05). The cutting method, Cut thickness, and drying method did not affect the total saponin content (P > 0.05), but they had significant effects on the total polysaccharide and flavonoid contents (P < 0.01). Total polysaccharides were most affected by the cutting method, while total flavonoids were most affected by the drying condition. Based on the characteristics and internal quality, the fresh processing technology for Cut Ophiopogonis Radix was determined: fresh Ophiopogonis Radix was sliced to a thickness of 2-4 mm and dried at 55°C or a low temperature. The feasibility of Cut Ophiopogonis Radix is improved through its fresh processing. According to the evaluation indices, it is recommended to utilize the novel processing technique involving "fresh Ophiopogonis Radix" with fresh cuts, a cut thickness ranging from 2 to 4 mm, and drying at a temperature of 55℃ or through low-temperature drying. The Cut Ophiopogonis Radix exhibited favorable appearance and internal characteristics, thereby furnishing a scientific basis and innovative insights for the production of ophiopogon decoction slices.

Effect of carboxymethyl cellulose enriched with seabuckthorn (Hippophaerhamnoides L.) leaf extract edible coatings on the quality of fresh cut “Maharaji” apple

Enzymatic browning and microbial spoilage limits the shelf life of fresh-cut apples. Seabuckthorn leaf extract (ST), having effective anti-browning and antimicrobial properties, is incorporated into carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) coating and investigated for improving the shelf life of fresh-cut ‘Maharaji’ apple. In this study, apple slices were immersed in distilled water (control), CMC (1.0%), CMC (1%) + ST (0.5%), CMC (1%) + ST (1.0%), CMC (1%) + ST (1.5%) and CMC (1%) + ST (2.0%) and then stored at 4°C for 10 days. Composite coatings of CMC and ST significantly decreased the browning index by inhibiting the polyphenol enzyme activity, reducing the microbial spoilage compared to control or CMC alone without affecting the quality parameters like firmness, soluble solids, titrable acidity and sensory attributes. Among all the treatment combination, these findings suggest that apple slices appeared to be better preserved with CMC (1%) + ST (1.5%) coating for 10 days at 4°C. Therefore, Seabuckthorn leaf extract incorporated into carboxymethyl cellulose edible coating could be a promising approach to inhibit the browning process, microbial growth and increase the shelf life of fresh-cut apples.

Optimisation of edible coating conditions using statistical Response Surface Methodology for shelf life extension of fresh-cut guava

AbstractIn the present study, six different edible coatings were evaluated to assess their microbicidal efficiency on pre-treated disinfected fresh cut guava. Among all coatings viz. alginate, pectin, carboxy methylcellulose, carrageenan, and starch, chitosan showed significant microbial growth inhibition and preservation of physico-chemical characteristics of fresh cut guava. Further, optimisation of coating parameters i.e. concentration (% w/v) and dipping time (min) was performed using Response Surface Methodology. It revealed that the fresh-cut guava dipped in 1% (w/v) chitosan for 3 min had desirability level of 91% and extension of its shelf life up to 9 days, as compared to 5 days shelf life of uncoated fresh-cut guava, maintaining all its physico-chemical parameters and microbial growth under the permissible level. Validation of optimised conditions was conducted at 5.0 kg scale that resulted in firmness of 1.90 (kg), 2.6 g/100 g sugars content, 8.0 °Brix total soluble solids content, 3.4 pH, 4.1 log CFU g−1 total plate count, 3.1 log CFU g−1 yeast and moulds count, and 3.1 log CFU g−1 total coliforms count on fresh-cut guava at 9th day of refrigeration storage. Shelf life analysis revealed that chitosan coated fresh cut guava can stay fresh till 10th day under refrigeration with maintaining all its nutritive, microbiological, and sensory properties in the acceptable range.

Effect of Different Storage Temperatures on Quality Changes of Ready-to-Eat Fresh-cut Fruit Trays

Objective: To ensure the storage quality and food safety of ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruits trays, the growth changes of microbial hygiene indicator bacteria (colony count, coliform, mold yeast) in ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruit trays under different temperature conditions were analyzed to assess their food safety risks and to seek the optimal storage time. Methods: The tropical fruits (dragon fruit, mango, papaya, watermelon, sainfoin) were washed, peeled and cut into pieces to produce ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruit trays, which were stored at different temperatures (6°C, 10°C and 15°C), sampled regularly to detect the number of microbial indicators and plotted the growth curves using the national standards for food microbiological testing. Results: It showed that under the storage environment of 6°C, the growth trend of microbial hygiene indicators was not obvious, the contamination level was low, the sensory changes were small, the preservation effect was good, and the shelf life could be within 24h; under the environment of 10°C, the growth trend of hygiene indicators showed a gradual increase, and the sensory quality changed more after 10h, and the best storage time was within 10h. The best storage time is 10h; while 15°C environment, the growth of hygienic indicator bacteria is too fast, sensory in 6h after the color becomes lighter, oozing juice, so 15°C is not recommended for long time storage of ready-to-eat fresh cut fruit plate, in 6h consumption is a safer preservation time frame.

Enhancement of Shelf Life of Jackfruit Bulbs through Edible Coating: A Mini Review

Jackfruit (Artopus heterophyllus) is an important fruit crop grown in india. This highly nutritious fruit contains carbohydrate, protein, fibre, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine and riboflavin, fructose, glucose and sucrose and fatty acids of palmitic, oleic, stearic, linoleic, lauric, arachidic acids. It is highly perishable and loses its flavor, texture and turns into brown colour. The fruit softening makes it more susceptible to bruising and mechanical injury and result in rapid decomposition. Minimally processed jackfruit bulbs can provide convenience for consumers and an appropriate post-harvest technology for enhancement of shelf-life. Jackfruit is commonly available for consumers as a fresh cut product because of the convenience in its utilization. Fresh-cut produce are mostly preferred by the consumers in today's food market. Scientists and industrialists have taken numerous efforts to extend the shelf life of jackfruit bulbs and preserve their nutritional quality through post-harvest technologies and processing methods. Edible coatings can be applied to minimally processed fruits, with the goal of increasing their shelf life. It is the best postharvest treatment to preserve fruits quality to extend the shelf life of fruits both at ambient conditions and low temperature preservation. Physiological changes cannot be inhibited completely but it can be delayed by using edible coatings. In this review effects of edible coating on physiological and physicochemical parameters, as well as effects on shelf life and sensory attributes are discussed. Evidence shows that minimal processing technique of edible coating is a feasible option that can be used on jackfruit bulbs, which preserve quality and sensory attributes by reducing metabolic reactions like respiration rate and ethylene production.

The Effect of Passiflora foetida L. Leaves Decoction on Blood Pressure Profile and Its Correlation with the Demographics of Hypertensive Patients

Passiflora foetida L. is an endemic herb species located in Kalimantan and is typically administered among the local population to maintain cardiovascular health. Previous studies examining its effectiveness remain limited. This study aimed to examine the effects of the P. foetida L. leaves decoction on adult blood pressure and its correlation with the demographics of hypertensive patients. A quasi-experiment was conducted by assigning the passion leaves decoction to 26 people randomly divided into two groups (13 individuals each) in two stages. The decoction was prepared by boiling 10 fresh cut leaves (6-7 g) in 400 mL water and letting half of the water volume evaporate. The decoction was freshly prepared daily for each respondent. The first group was administered the decoction at the initial stages of the study; while the second group was administered placebo. The treatment dose of 100 mL was administered twice (at 9 AM and 5 PM) for a period of seven days. The second stage was carried out three weeks following completion of the initial stage and placebo and decoction were administered to the first and second groups, respectively. Blood pressure data were analyzed using paired t-tests. The correlation between blood pressure and the demographics of hypertensive patients was analyzed using Kendall's Tau-b and Spearman's test. We demonstrated that the passion leaves decoction significantly reduced blood pressure in hypertensive patients (p&lt;0.01). The decoction was shown to improve the blood pressure profile of hypertensive patients, reducing the number of hypertensive patients with second-degree hypertension prevalence from 57.69% to 7.69% and 30.77% to 7.69% for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Our findings also demonstrated that the decoction eliminated the correlation between age, occupation, body weight status, and blood pressure. The P. foetida leaves decoction can potentially be developed as an herbal tea to maintain blood pressure among hypertensive patients across the globe.

Enhancing postharvest quality of fresh-cut plums with chitosan-grape seed oil edible coatings

Edible coatings are traditionally used to improve food appearance and conservation due to their environmentally friendly nature. In this study fresh cut (halved and pitted) plum (var. Stanley) fruits were coated by chitosan grape-seed-oil (GsO) nanoemulsion. Physical, physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial properties were examined 3 times during 9 d refrigeration storage. The control probes wasted their safety and quality after the 4th d. The coated probes preserved their quality and safety to the end of the storage period. The fruits with chitosan coating showed smaller microbiological contamination but the chitosan GsO coated fruits showed higher values in the sensorial parameters. The coated samples preserved their sensorial parameters up to 80% on the 9th d.

An exceptional sedimentary record of initial rifting on the East African Plateau in the Miocene: Lessons from depositional cyclicity and palaeoenvironmental proxies

AbstractKnowledge about the initial tectonic and depositional dynamics, as well as the influence of early rifting on climate and environmental evolution remains speculative to a large extent, because sediments are usually deeply buried. Within the East African Rift System, inversion tectonics uplifted a few of these successions to the surface hence presenting rare windows into the pre‐rift depositional history. One such example, an exceptional 700 m long and up to 60 m high fresh road cut provided the opportunity to study in detail initial rift successions of the southern Albertine Rift (Western Uganda). This focusses on the basal and poorly known Middle to Late Miocene in order to unravel the climatic, environmental, hydrological and tectonic evolution of the initial Albertine Rift. A large and robust multi‐proxy dataset was gathered comprising 169 m of stratigraphic thickness, which spans from 14.5 to 4.9 Ma according to a revised lithostratigraphic model. Fieldwork comprised logging of the sedimentary record, spectral gamma ray, magnetic susceptibility and 2D wall mapping with photomosaics. Additionally, the sections were sampled for bulk mineral and clay mineral analysis. The succession exposes a suite of lithofacies and architectural elements detailing the evolution of a fluvio‐lacustrine system. Five depositional environments were identified which show an overall back‐stepping trend from an alluvial plain to a delta plain and finally palustrine/shallow lacustrine conditions. Mesoscale base‐level cycles, preservation potential of architectural elements, and stacking pattern exhibit limited accommodation space. However, it increases over time. This overall trend indicates increasing tectonic subsidence, which can be explained by flexural downwarp within the pre‐rift phase and in the upper part grading into fault‐controlled crustal extension of the syn‐rift phase, which more and more disrupted a large‐scale river system. From the Middle Miocene up to the early Pliocene, this study revealed that palaeoclimate trends become marked by increasing and more fluctuating Th concentrations, loss of feldspar, intercalated lenses of hydroxosulphate minerals, and a shift from smectite‐dominated to kaolinite‐dominated clays. These signals are all interpreted as detrital except for the hydroxosulphates, and they mirror the increasing intensity of chemical weathering and stripping of soils in the catchment. A trend towards increasing humidity is supported by an increase in lacustrine sediment facies and a lake‐level rise. Nevertheless, intercalation of hydroxosulphate, ferricretes and pedogenised horizons prove ongoing seasonality and dry intervals. Finally, based on a revised stratigraphic model a sequence stratigraphic correlation of the outcrop's depositional cycles with basin‐scale cycles is presented. According to these cycles, transition from the pre‐rift to the syn‐rift stage is marked by an unconformity and a tectonic pulse in the latest Miocene. However, the response of fluvial supply, the depositional system as well as climate conditions are less punctuated and characterised by gradual trends and temporal delays. The long pre‐rift phase (ca 10 Myr) and the gradual transition to the syn‐rift phase is in accordance with the active rifting model, which is based on thermal thinning of the lithosphere by asthenospheric upwelling.

Ethylene: Management and breeding for postharvest quality in vegetable crops. A review.

Ethylene is a two-carbon gaseous plant growth regulator that involved in several important physiological events, including growth, development, ripening and senescence of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops. The hormone accelerates ripening of ethylene sensitive fruits, leafy greens and vegetables at micromolar concentrations, and its accumulation can led to fruit decay and waste during the postharvest stage. Several strategies of crops management and techniques of plant breeding have been attempted in the last decades to understand ethylene regulation pathways and ethylene-dependent biochemical and physiological processes, with the final aim to extend the produce shelf-life and improve the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables. These investigation approaches involve the use of conventional and new breeding techniques, including precise genome-editing. This review paper aims to provide a relevant overview on the state of the art related to the use of modern breeding techniques focused on ethylene and ethylene-related metabolism, as well as on the possible postharvest technological applications for the postharvest management of ethylene-sensitive crops. An updated view and perspective on the implications of new breeding and management strategies to maintain the quality and the marketability of different crops during postharvest are given, with particular focus on: postharvest physiology (ethylene dependent) for mature and immature fruits and vegetables; postharvest quality management of vegetables: fresh and fresh cut products, focusing on the most important ethylene-dependent biochemical pathways; evolution of breeding technologies for facing old and new challenges in postharvest quality of vegetable crops: from conventional breeding and marker assisted selection to new breeding technologies focusing on transgenesis and gene editing. Examples of applied breeding techniques for model plants (tomato, zucchini and brocccoli) are given to elucidate ethylene metabolism, as well as beneficial and detrimental ethylene effects.