Green Fruit Research Articles

"Green Fruit" - Intelligent Traceable Agricultural Product Production and Marketing Platform Based on Blockchain Technology

"Green Fruit" - Intelligent Traceable Agricultural Product Production and Marketing Platform Based on Blockchain Technology

Application of ethanol alleviates heat damage to leaf growth and yield in tomato.

Chemical priming has emerged as a promising area in agricultural research. Our previous studies have demonstrated that pretreatment with a low concentration of ethanol enhances abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and cassava. Here, we show that ethanol treatment induces heat stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) plants. Seedlings of the tomato cultivar 'Micro-Tom' were pretreated with ethanol solution and then subjected to heat stress. The survival rates of the ethanol-pretreated plants were significantly higher than those of the water-treated control plants. Similarly, the fruit numbers of the ethanol-pretreated plants were greater than those of the water-treated ones. Transcriptome analysis identified sets of genes that were differentially expressed in shoots and roots of seedlings and in mature green fruits of ethanol-pretreated plants compared with those in water-treated plants. Gene ontology analysis using these genes showed that stress-related gene ontology terms were found in the set of ethanol-induced genes. Metabolome analysis revealed that the contents of a wide range of metabolites differed between water- and ethanol-treated samples. They included sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. From our results, we speculate that ethanol-induced heat stress tolerance in tomato is mainly the result of increased expression of stress-related genes encoding late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination enzymes, and activated gluconeogenesis. Our results will be useful for establishing ethanol-based chemical priming technology to reduce heat stress damage in crops, especially in Solanaceae.

Aplikasi Konsentrasi ZPT GA3 yang Berbeda untuk Peningkatan Kuantitas dan Kualitas Buah Jambu Air Madu Deli Hijau (Syzygium aqueum)

This study aims to determine the best concentration of ZPT GA3 to increase the quantity and quality of green deli honey water guava fruit. This research was carried out in Pancakarya Village, Ajung District, Jember Regency which was carried out from December 2021 to February 2022, with an altitude of 50 m above sea level. This study used a non-factorial randomized block design (RAK), with 5 different spraying treatments, repeated 5 times, a total of 25 research objects. The treatment studied was the concentration of GA3 (P) namely: P0 = Control, P1 = Concentration of 5 ppm , P2 = Concentration of 10 ppm, P3 = Concentration of 15 ppm, P4 = Concentration of 20 ppm. The data collected was analyzed by variance (Anova), if it was significantly different, it was continued with the BNT test at the 5% level using SPSS 20 For Windows. In determining the fruit to be sprayed using a random system. The results showed that the concentration of ZPT GA3 in the P4 treatment (concentration 20 ppm) gave optimal results for the sugar content of the fruit. GA3 concentration treatment gave results that were not significantly different for the parameters of fruit length, fruit diameter, number of perdompol fruit, fruit perdompol weight and unit weight of fruit.

Sustainable Approaches to Prolonging Shelf Life in Green Mature Tomato Fruit

Green mature tomato fruits demonstrate better transportability compared to fully matured ones. This approach has the potential to play a significant role in diminishing postharvest losses and enhancing the accessibility of nutritionally rich fruit in developing countries. The instability of electricity and insufficient cold storage facilities is recognized for fading the shelf life of various fruits and vegetables. However, post-harvest interventions, including tomatoes, can extend perishable products' shelf life. Firstly, tomato fruits were harvested at the green mature stage and stored at 33℃ for 0, 10, 20, and 30 days, followed by a shift to 25℃. Subsequently, ten fruits were subjected to various treatments: A - control (25℃), B - 33℃ with 30-40% RH, C - 33℃ with 50-60% RH, and D - 33℃ with 80-90% RH. Different relative humidity (RH) levels were achieved using saturated salts, specifically MgCl2.6H2O, Mg (NO3)2.6H2O, and KCl+KNO3 for treatments B, C, and D, respectively. The evaluation encompassed parameters such as ethylene production, CO2 release, fruit firmness, weight loss, and color development. A higher temperature, such as 33℃, may be considered advantageous for the storage of green mature tomato fruit. Evidently, tomatoes were successfully stored for over 55 days at this temperature. Across all relative humidity (RH) conditions, there was more noticeable color development in fruits stored at 25°C compared to those stored at 33°C. Among the various RH conditions, fruits stored at 33°C with 80-90% RH experienced the least weight loss, although fruit firmness gradually declined over time. Storing green mature tomato fruit at 33°C with 30-40% RH resulted in the lowest ethylene production compared to 25°C and other RH conditions. Consequently, certain practical benefits of green mature tomato fruit under elevated temperatures and diverse relative humidity (RH) conditions are suggested. However, further detailed research may be necessary to explore potential metabolic changes.

The process of making green melinjo fruit peel extract powder drink with the addition of egg white and palm sugar as material from Indonesia local resources

An instant powder drink made from green melinjo fruit peel extract with egg white and palm sugar is expected to become diversify food also beneficial for health. Palm sugar contains secondary metabolite compounds which function as antioxidants for powder drinks and sustainability of food for supporting food security. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the addition of egg white and palm sugar on the characteristics of green melinjo fruit peel extract powder drink. This study used a CRD (Completely Randomized Design) factorial method with 2 factors, such as egg white percentage of 25%, 30% and 35%, and palm sugar percentage of 5%, 10% and 15%. The results showed that the addition of egg white had a highly significant (P <0.01) effect on antioxidant activity, dissolving rate, and total flavonoids. The addition of palm sugar had a highly significant (P <0.01) effect on antioxidant activity, dissolving rates, and total flavonoids. The result showed that the best treatment was M3S3 (35% egg white and 15% palm sugar), which gave the hinger total flavonoid content (12.9133 mg EQ/g) and higher dissolving rate (54.6667 g/second).

PERBANDINGAN TOTAL SENYAWA FLAVONOID EKSTRAK ETANOL KULIT DAN BIJI BUAH OKRA HIJAU (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Green okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. Green okra fruit contains many secondary metabolites, one of which is flavonoids, which have potential as antioxidants to stabilize free radicals. This study aims to determine and compare the total flavonoid content of seeds and skin, so that it can be ascertained which part of the fruit has the highest total flavonoid content. The okra fruit extraction process was carried out by maceration with 70% ethanol solvent. Phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography tests were performed on green okra seeds and skin extracts. The total flavonoid content was determined using the colorimetric-aluminum chloride method with UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The results of the phytochemical screening showed that the ethanol extract of green okra fruit peels contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and steroids, while the ethanol extract of green okra fruit seeds contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. The results of the thin layer chromatography test showed that the ethanol extract of green okra fruit skin and seeds contained a flavonoid compound as quercetin. The results of the total flavonoid content of the ethanol extract of green okra fruit skin : okra fruit seeds were 6.4589 mg QE/g extract ± 0.86 : 27.7583 mg QE/g extract ± 0.36. Based on statistical results with an Independent T test using SPSS, the significance value (2-tailed) of both samples was &lt; 0.05, which means that there is a real difference between the total flavonoid compounds of skin ethanol extract and ethanol extract of green okra fruit seeds.

Development of Pulverized Balimbing (Averrhoa Carambola) Fruit: A Potential Food Enhancer

The balimbing (Averrhoa carambola) fruit is known for its unique star shape and reach in golden color. The fruit varies widely in its composition during maturation. Hence, this study aimed to develop a pulverized Balimbing (A. carambola) as a potent food enhancer. This study also determined the level of sourness of a pulverized A. carambola fruit sour spice at different maturity levels (unripe and ripe). Phytochemical screening was done in the Balimbing (A. carambola) fruit to determine its chemical components, secondary metabolites, and toxicity. The study utilized a descriptive research method. This design was deemed appropriate because in this study, the researcher could set up an experiment to determine the level of pH value of the pulverized A. carambola at different maturity levels, ripe and unripe. The experiment was conducted to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the pulverized Balimbing. The set-up consisted of two maturity levels: unripe and ripe. Each maturity level has three replicates. Each replicate contains a mass of 20 grams. All the replicates were evaluated for their quantitative characteristics, such as pH level. Findings revealed that A. carambola fruit differs in its pH concerning its maturity levels, with an average pH in mature green fruit (unripe) and ripe A. carambola fruit, respectively. It was found that the developed A. carambola food enhancer showed a very acceptable result in terms of texture, appearance, and flavor/taste. At the same time, its aroma was described as acceptable. Further, the moisture, strip, and pH of A. carambola show significant differences with respect to its maturity levels (ripe and unripe) at 0.01 significance level.

Transcriptome analysis of green and purple fruited pepper provides insight into novel regulatory genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a valuable horticultural crop with economic significance, and its purple fruit color is attributed to anthocyanin, a phytonutrient known for its health-promoting benefits. However, the mechanisms regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in pepper have yet to be fully elucidated. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was utilized to analyze the transcriptome of fruits from three purple-fruited varieties (HN191, HN192, and HN005) and one green-fruited variety (EJT) at various developmental stages. To determine the relationships between samples, Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC) and principal component analysis (PCA) were calculated. Differential expression analysis was performed using the DESeq2 package to identify genes that were expressed differently between two samples. Transcription factors (TF) were predicted using the iTAK program. Heatmaps of selected genes were generated using Tbtools software. The unripe fruits of HN191, HN192, and HN005, at the stages of 10, 20, and 30 days after anthesis (DAA), display a purple color, whereas the unripe fruits of variety EJT remain green. To understand the molecular basis of this color difference, five transcriptome comparisons between green and purple fruits were conducted: HN191-10 vs EJT-10, HN191-20 vs EJT-20, HN191-30 vs EJT-30, HN192-30 vs EJT-30, and HN005-30 vs EJT-30. Through this analysis, 503 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Among these DEGs, eight structural genes related to the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and 24 transcription factors (TFs) were detected. Notably, one structural gene (MSTRG.12525) and three TFs (T459_25295, T459_06113, T459_26036) exhibited expression patterns that suggest they may be novel candidate genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. These results provide new insights into the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple pepper fruit and suggest potential candidate genes for future genetic improvement of pepper germplasm with enhanced anthocyanin accumulation.

Extracellular production of antifungal peptides from oxidative endotoxin-free E. coli and application.

Antifungal peptides (AFPs) can be used as novel preservatives, but achieving large-scale production and application remains a long-term challenge. In this study, we developed a hybrid peptide MD (metchnikowin-drosomycin fusion) secreted into Escherichia coli supernatant, demonstrating strong inhibitory activity against Aspergillus flavus and Botrytis cinerea. The fusion tag did not impact its activity. Moreover, an endotoxin-free and oxidative leaky strain was developed by knockingout the trxB, gor, and lpp genes of endotoxin-free E. coli ClearColi-BL21(DE3). This strain facilitates the proper folding of multi-disulfide bond proteins and promotes the extracellular production of recombinant bioactive AFP MD, achieving efficient production of endotoxin-free MD. In addition, temperature control replaces chemical inducers to further reduce production costs and circumvent the toxicity of inducers. This extracellularly produced MD exhibited favorable effectiveness in inhibiting fruit mold growth, and its safety was preliminarily established by gavage testing in mice, suggesting that it can be developed into a green and sustainable fruit fungicide. In conclusion, this study provides novel approaches and systematic concepts for producing extracellularly active proteins or peptides with industrial significance. KEY POINTS: • First report of extracellular production of bioactive antifungal peptide in Escherichia coli. • The hybrid antifungal peptide MD showed strong inhibitory activity against Aspergillus flavus and Botrytis cinerea, and the activity was not affected by the fusion tag. • Endotoxin-free oxidative Escherichia coli suitable for the expression of multi-disulfide bond proteins was constructed.

Green synthesis, characterization, and biochemical properties of waste walnut (Juglans regia L.) inner shell-based silver nanoparticles

Sustainability is important for future ecology and the increase of waste in recent years negatively affects sustainability. The management of waste and using them in the technology field could be a solution for sustainability. Nanotechnology is a developing technology to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of matter with the size of 1-100 nm. Nanoparticles could be synthesized by different methods such as physical, biological, and chemical methods. The green synthesis (biological synthesis) method is the most preferred method according to chemical and physical methods because it is eco-friendly, energy-saving, cheaper, less waste-producing, easy to scale, sustainable, and biologically compatible. Walnut is a versatile fruit with its leaves, dry and green fruit, timber, inner/outer shell, and outer peel. Its inner shell and outer peel are not used as food and they are waste. In this study, a waste walnut inner shell was used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (WS-AgNPs). WS-AgNPs were synthesized by green technique, characterized, and biochemical properties were determined. WS-AgNPs were given a maximum absorbance at 460nm with 46-51nm size and they inhibited urease enzyme by 82.16 ? 1.30 % percentage. It was clear that herbal-based wastes could be used in nanotechnology and they have the potential to be used in medicine.

Efficacy of novel insecticides against piercing sucking insects and their natural enemies on sweet pepper plants under field conditions.

Piercing sucking pests attacking sweet pepper plants cause significant losses to its yield. Considering the undesirable effects of synthetic pesticides, field studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of new pesticides against piercing sucking insect pests of sweet pepper, as well as, their effects on some predators and pepper yield along two seasons of 2021-2022. The obtained results indicated that all tested pesticides effectively suppressed the sucking insect populations (aphids, white fly, thrips) 1,7,14 and 21 days after treatment along two sprays during two seasons. Imidacloprid proved to be the superior one over all other treatments where it recorded mean reduction% (98.91 and 97.27%) & (94.8 and 95.19%), (86.23 and 76.64%) & (80.92 and 88.55%) and (77.68 and 78.44%) & (90.70 and 68.57%) in white fly, aphids and thrips, respectively at 1st and 2nd sprays at 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. As for side effects of tested insecticides on natural enemies, Dimethoate induced the highest decrease (60.85 and 69.33%) & (54.02 and 63.41%), (65.52 and 64.74%) & (59.23 and 58.38%) and (64.24 and 59.48%) & (61.66 and 60.8%) on Chrysoperla carnea, Paederus alfierii and Coccinella spp at 1st and 2nd sprays at 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. On contrary, Spintoram induced the lowest effects on Chrysoperla carnea, Paederus alfierii and Coccinella spp, recording decrease percent (25.41 and 19.84%) & (15.02 and 12.50%), (11.94 and 11.24%) (16.99 and 18.02%) and (18.73 and15.07%) & (18.35 and18.38%) at1st and 2nd sprays at 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. With respect to the effect of tested insecticides on pepper yield, all tested insecticides increased the yield of green pepper fruits compared with control. Imidacloprid achieved the highest fruit yields along two seasons 6.43 and 6.52 (ton / fed.4200 m2) with increase percent 34.53 and 36.04% in yield over control at 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively.

Sisvan food intake markers from six to 23 months: critical analysis and validation.

To explore the internal structure and analyze evidence of measurement invariance of the Sisvan form of food intake markers of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) for children aged six to 23 months. Sisvan microdata from 2015 to 2019 were used. After analyzing sample adequacy, exploratory factor analysis was carried out considering factor loadings (≥ 0.30 and < 0.85), communality (> 0.20), model fit indices - Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) > 0.90, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.08. A critical analysis of the form items was performed to adjust the parameters. Measurement stability was investigated between age groups, macro-regions and longitudinally by multi-group confirmatory factor analysis in configural, metric, and scalar invariance models. Configural invariance was accepted if RMSEA < 0.08 and TLI and comparative fit index (CFI) > 0.90. Metric and scalar invariances were accepted if ΔRMSEA < 0.015 and ΔCFI < 0.01, compared to the previous model. After critical analysis, items were grouped (vegetables and leafy greens; meat or eggs and liver) and excluded (salty food; porridge with milk; rice, potatoes, yams, cassava, flour, or pasta). The exploratory model comprised three factors: healthy complementary feeding (fruit; vegetables; orange or dark green leafy vegetables or fruits; meat, offal, or egg; beans), ultra-processed (yogurt; hamburger and/or sausages; sweetened drinks; instant noodles, packet snacks, or salty cookies; sandwich cookies, sweets, or treats), and milk feeding (breast milk; other milk), with satisfactory factor loadings, communalities and fit (TLI: 0.918, RMSEA: 0.071). The reformulated instrument was stable in the invariance models tested. With the incorporation of the modifications to the Sisvan form, the food intake markers subsidize a more adequate interpretation of the feeding situation of children aged six to 23 months.

Definisanje činilaca značajnih za optimizaciju i upravljanje tehnološkim procesom dozrevanja zelenog ploda banana

This paper has a purpose of defining factors affecting process optimization and improvement of green banana fruit ripening technology, not only on the territory of the Republic of Serbia where the research was performed, but wider, as well. On the sample of 144 fruit ripening treatments, according to the three-factor experiment with three main parameters (the land of origin, process temperature and concentration of ripening gas) the influence of factors significant for production process and end fruit quality was examined. Out of the group of 72 internal and external indicators, 13 variables with the highest influence on process efficiency and optimization were selected and formed. By implementing various tests ("ShapiroWilk", Kruskal-Wallis H non parametric test, ANOVA analysis) on the basis of key confirmatory factor analysis as well, 4 factor groups were attained. The first group F1 consists of internal ripening process factors and it illustrates 29.4% variance, and at this percentage, it is significant for process optimization. The second group F2 consists of by-products or post-factors incurred after processing, explaining 17.1% variance. The third group F3 are external ripening factors with variance explanation of 15.1%. At the end, the fourth group F4, where there are other factors significant for processing and optimization of ripening process, with 9.2% variance. The research has shown that in 71% of cases, with adequate management and regulation of certain factors an optimization and efficiency of banana ripening process can be influenced, whilst acquiring satisfactory fruit quality and attaining profit. The paper leaves possibilities for further theoretic research and it is of a great significance for companies inside which banana fruit processing are being held in controlled environments.

PHYTOSANITARY STATE OF WALNUT (JUGLANS REGIA L.) IN THE GREEN PLANTINGS OF THE DNIPRO СITY

Walnut is a promising element of the greening system of the Ukraine urbanized landscapes due to its resistance to environmental pollution, durability, fast growth, fruit qualities, etc. The aesthetic value and health-improving functions of Juglans regia trees in the city can be significantly weakened due to the destruction of the leaves by arthropod phyllophages and diseases. In the presented work, an analysis of the phytosanitary status of J. regia trees in green areas of Dnipro was carried out, the main leaf diseases were determined, a complex of insects and mites – phyllobionts of walnut trees, was established, and the level of their harmfulness was assessed. The research was conducted during the growing season of 2021 once a decade on 12 experimental sites, which differed in the conditions growth of J. regia trees growth. The study object was the walnut leaves and unripe fruits. 75 J. regia trees were examined. On average the damage degree to J. regia trees leaves by diseases is 46.9 %. The damage level by brown spot is 8.3 times higher than the similar indicator for white mould. The influence of anthracnose causative agent (Marssonina juglandis) often extends to walnut green fruits. The overall level of leaf damage by arthropod phyllophagous is 79.6 %. Among the types of damage are dominate the change in the leaves color due to sucking insects feeding (58.5 %) and gall-formation (53.8 %) as a result of the gall mites (Aceria erinea, A. tristriata) vital activity. The walnut arthropod phyllobionts taxonomic composition in the green areas of Dnipro city was determined. 16 species in 11 families and 4 orders were identified. The share of Hemiptera is 62.5 %, Lepidoptera – 18.8 %, Trombidiformes – 12.5 %, Thysanoptera – 6.2 %. Six species of entomophages were also identified. Two especially dangerous invasive species – Metcalfa pruinosa and Halyomorpha halys, were found on J. regia trees in some plots of the Dnipro city right bank territory. The most common and harmful species are the following: Aceria erinea, A. tristriata, Panaphis juglandis, Caloptilia roscipennella; potentially threatening – Halyomorpha halys, Metcalfa pruinosa.

Histopathological and Toxicological Studies on Zebra Fish Using White‐Fruited and Green‐Fruited Varieties of Momordica charantia

Momordica charantia is well known for its medicinal properties. It has exhibited various pharmacological activities, such as antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Although this plant is used worldwide as a vegetable and medicinal ingredient in herbal medicines, its toxicity studies have not been conducted to date. This study attempts to understand its toxicity. The present study examined the activity of two enzymes, acetylcholinesterase and succinate dehydrogenase, as well as histopathological variations in the liver, intestine, and gills of zebrafish. The results of the acetylcholinesterase assay showed that the concentrations of 40 mg/L and 60 mg/L of the four extracts (leaf and fruit extracts of both varieties) exhibited increased enzyme activity. Interestingly, the leaves of the green fruit variety at a concentration of 60 mg/L showed the highest activity, with a value of 2.824 ± 0.0682 micromoles/min compared to the control value of 1.8347 ± 0.0046 micromoles/min. On the other hand, the succinate dehydrogenase assay revealed that the concentrations of 40 mg/L and 60 mg/L of the extracts decreased the enzyme activity. The highest inhibition was observed in the concentration of 60 mg/L of the leaves of the white‐fruited variety and the green‐fruited variety, with values of 1.884 ± 0.0482 micromoles/min compared to the control value of 2.747 ± 0.0046 micromoles/min. The studies on histopathological changes also demonstrated abnormalities in the brain, liver, intestine, and gills of zebrafish after the exposure to the extracts of M. charantia. The severity of the damage varied from low to high concentraions. In general, this study sheds light on the safety profile of Momordica charantia and highlights its potential toxicity in animal models. The findings suggest that more research is needed to fully understand the toxicity of this plant and its implications for human use.

Evaluation of CGMS-based chilli F1 hybrids for morphometric, fruit quality and yield traits

Chilli is a significant vegetable cum spice crop having broader applications in the food, phytogenic feed,cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries. To meet the demand, there is a need to develop F1 hybrids withtolerance/ resistance to major threatening diseases and higher yields. The present investigation was conductedto study the diversity of morphometric, fruit quality and yield traits and their reaction to chilli leaf curl diseaseamong thirteen CGMS-based high-yielding F1 hybrids. The hybrids Arka Nihira, Arka Yashasvi, H-25, H-26, andArka Tanvi excelled for most of the traits contributing to yield enhancement. The yield increment potential inthese hybrids is attributed to high morphometric and fruit biometric. In relation to the local check (HPH-3351),hybrid Arka Nihira exhibited enhanced green fruit yield by about sixty-two per cent. The cluster plot partitionedthese hybrids into four primary groups, revealing genetic similarities and differences among the hybrids. Further,a character association study indicates that traits such as days to 50 per cent flowering, plant spread, fruitgirth, and the number of fruits per plant can be leveraged as indirect selection indices for green fruit yield whileselecting a commercial hybrid cultivar in chilli breeding programs. The hybrids, Arka Nihira and Arka Tanvi, inparticular, have the potential to be commercial cultivars in terms of yield, agronomic characteristics, and leafcurl disease tolerance in shallow basaltic soils of the Deccan plateau of Indi

Relative toxicity of some newer insecticide molecules against vector and sucking pest complex of okra

Sucking pest like leaf hoppers or jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida)) and vectors i.e., whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)) are regarded as one of the major biotic stresses in okra cultivation in India. Apart from direct sucking the plant sap and thereby devitalizing the crop through their specially adapted mouthparts, many of them also act as vectors for important plant diseases like okra yellow vein mosaic and okra enation leaf curl disease. To control these sucking pests and vectors, several newer insecticide molecules were tested under open field conditions during Kharif seasons of 2021 and 2022. Based up on the two years of pooled data, among the tested insecticides, Tolfenpyrad 15% EC @ 2 ml/L was the best molecule in reducing leaf hopper population in okra (5.40 per leaf) with 63.49% reduction over control (PROC). The next best molecule was flupyradifurone 17.09% SL (5.70 jassids per leaf with 61.46 PROC). In the case of whitefly, flupyradifurone 17.09% SL was the most promising during both years with percent population reductions of 69.90 over control. The next best molecule in the list was tolfenpyrad 15% EC with 67.08 PROC. Interestingly, Imidacloprid-treated plots had the highest leaf hopper (10.39 per leaf) and whitefly (9.55 per leaf) population among all treatments indicating its low activity against these sucking pests of okra. The highest healthy green fruit yields (152 q/ha) were obtained from the plots treated with tolfenpyrad 15% EC with a maximum cost-benefit ratio of 1:2.19 followed by dinotefuran 20% SG (1:2.16) and acetamiprid 20% SP (1:2.15).

Okra: Breeding and Genomics

Okra is an important vegetable crop cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the world and in the warmer regions of the temperate zones. Its commercial cultivation is distributed exclusively across the various developing countries in Asia and Africa. The commonly cultivated okra is reported to a tetraploid species and has a very large and complex genome which hampers its speedy genetic improvement utilizing modern omics technology. Breeding methodologies suitable for self-pollinated crops have been often utilized for the genetic improvement of okra such as plant introduction, pure line selection, hybridization followed by selection, mutation breeding and heterosis breeding. Pedigree selection and heterosis breeding has been used by okra breeders which resulted in the development of lots of varieties and hybrids in India. In modern-day okra breeding along with high yield potential, multiple tolerance to YVMV, OELCV, sucking pest and borer, easy to harvest, dark green fruit color and ideal plant type are the major target traits. During the last few decades, different public sector institutions has developed and released as many as 33 improved varieties/hybrids for the benefit of the farming community across the country. Few of these varieties/hybrids have already made a noteworthy impact in okra production in India. This article reviewed the current status of okra breeding including genetic resources, cytogenetic relationship, breeding objectives, varietal development, resistance breeding, biotechnological intervention and its future improvement strategies.

The influence of Morinda citrifolia fruit maturity level, parts and storage length on total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and ethylene gas emission

Different parts of noni plant (Morinda citrifolia) were analyzed for total phenols, total ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity at three different maturities. Results showed higher total phenols content (TPC) in seeds (9.63–12.48) than in pulp (4.47–8.69), and leaves (3.55–6.51 mg GAE/g−1 DW). Ascorbic acid content ranged between 0.21–0.90, 0.23–0.97 and 0.30–0.69 mg g−1 for pulp, skin and leaves respectively. Immature fruits had higher TPC and higher antioxidant activity than mature ripe fruits and leaves. Total ascorbic acid content was highest (P < 0.05) in the seeds (1.31–1.79 mg g−1). Mature ripe fruits should be harvested for high ascorbic acid contents. For functional benefits and medicinal use, mature green fruits are recommended for the best antioxidant potential and phenol content. Longer storage resulted in higher ethylene biosynthesis which correlated inversely to total phenols content (-0.92) and antioxidant activity (-0.92). Further compositional and in vivo analyses of noni plant parts is suggested.

Investigation on structural, optical and anti-bacterial properties of organic additives iron oxide prepared by chemical route method

Technology and Nanoscience have a remarkable impact on environmental challenges. Scientists are moving away from harmful chemical approach and toward eco-friendly, accessible, efficient, and affordable green chemical methods for synthesizing nanoparticles. This article provides a feasible way to make iron oxide using an Avicennia marina dry fruit, seeds, leaves and green fruit extract. Structural, optical and morphological properties of the manufactured iron oxide nanoparticles have been evaluated using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD,) Ultra violet visible spectroscopy (UV–Visible), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope spectroscopy (SEM) and antibacterial activity. The formation of FeO NPs and their crystallinity has been confirmed by XRD, average particle size of FeO NP of dry fruit, seeds, leaves and green fruit are 7.1335 nm, 9.295 nm, 9.680 nm and 10.128 nm respectively. FT-IR spectrum shows the surface functionalization and vibrational phases of the bonds in FeO NPs. Band gap energies decreasing as crystallite size increases, according to UV visible results band gap energies of dry fruit, seeds, leaves and green fruit are 3.16 eV, 2.57 eV, 2.99 eV and 2.52 eV respectively. The antibacterial properties of the produced nanoparticles against Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria, Erwinia spp, Escherichia coli bacteria has been investigated. Iron oxide nano particles has been utilized for antibacterial activity because of their less toxicity, high stability and biocompatibilities. The result shows the produced FeO NPs were minimize on bacterial colony.