Handling Of Fruits Research Articles

Inhibition of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Control of Postharvest Anthracnose Disease on Mango Fruit Using Propionic Acid Combined with Bee-Carnauba Wax Emulsion

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is the most significant postharvest disease of mangos and negatively affect handling and marketing of mango fruits in Vietnam. A mixture of bee-carnauba wax and propionic acid has successfully inhibited linear growth and spore germination of C. gloeosporioides (in vitro) and prevented anthracnose diseases of mango fruits (in vivo). A complete reduction in mycelial growth and spore germination was observed when a mixture of 0.09% propionic acid and 8% bee-carnauba wax was used. Similar results were shown on mango fruits treated with 0.12% propionic acid which obtained a highly protective effect against anthracnose disease. The results of this study revealed that propionic acid could be used as a safe fungicide alternative against anthracnose disease, which causes economic losses during transportation, marketing and storage.

Exploring Produce Industry Attitudes: Relationships between Postharvest Handling, Fruit Flavor, and Consumer Purchasing

As part of a larger project to show how fresh fruits and vegetables with enhanced flavor can be successfully handled to improve consumer satisfaction without compromising food safety, key informant interviews were conducted with fruit industry leaders dealing with melons (Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus), peaches and nectarines (Prunus persica), pears (Pyrus communis), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa), and blueberries (Vaccinium sp.). The interview was designed to collect information on industry attitudes and practices related to postharvest handling of more mature fruit, harvest timing, preconditioning, cold chain management, and shipping and handling procedures throughout the supply chain. The current analysis focuses on two key questions from the interviews: 1) To what extent do industry experts believe that better fruit handling and shipping procedures contribute to better taste quality in fruit? 2) To what extent do industry experts believe that better fruit quality will lead to more consumer purchasing? In response to the first question, the majority of respondents (70%) agreed that postharvest handling affects fruit flavor with the most cited themes related to agreement being gentle handling, cold chain management, and harvest timing. Of the respondents who expressed disagreement most acknowledged the importance of postharvest handling, but felt other factors were also important, mainly the variety grown, the shelf life requirements, and the growing conditions. For the second question, 95% of respondents agreed that increased taste quality of fruit would mean increased purchasing and consumption. The primary theme related to agreement was that consumers would repeat purchase after positive eating experiences. Other important factors were the price point of fruit, retail display, product identity, and fruit appearance. With increasing consumer attention to fruit quality and a generally accepted belief among industry representatives that fruit flavor and quality drives consumer demand, there is an opportunity to shift industry practices toward postharvest handing that is conducive to consistently delivering better-tasting fruit to consumers.

Mechanized Harvest of Southern Highbush Blueberries for the Fresh Market: An Introduction and Overview of the Workshop Proceedings

T he development of mechanical devices to assist in harvesting cultivated blueberries (Vaccinium species and hybrids) began in the late 1950s. In 1958, U.S. Department of Agriculture engineers located at Michigan State University developed handheld shakers that were used with fabric-lined catch frames as aids for harvesting processed blueberries (Hedden et al., 1959; Monroe and Levin, 1966). These devices substantially increased worker productivity and reduced harvest costs by 55% (Monroe and Levin, 1966). By 1963, 35% of the Michigan crop and 20% of the New Jersey crop were harvested in this fashion. Later Monroe and Levin (1966) described their early attempts to develop a continuous over-the-row blueberry harvester, which required a driver and two additional workers. Testing of over-the-row harvesters began in the late 1950s and by 1966 over-the-row harvesters were available commercially in the United States. Eck (1988) reported that over 100 such machines were in use in the United States by 1971. One of the earliest commercial models, the Harvey Harvester, was featured in an article entitled ‘‘Fantastic New Farm Machines’’ in Popular Mechanics in 1970 (Lamm, 1970). Over time, various harvesters were developed that used different methods to remove ripe berries from canes and they were generally classified as slappers, sway shakers, and rotary shakers (Brown et al., 1996; Mainland, 1993). In their review, Dale et al. (1994) provide a detailed account of blueberry harvester designs up through the early 1990s. Over-the-row harvesters were reported to increase worker productivity by almost 60 times and reduce the cost of harvesting by up to 85% (Brown et al., 1996). However, numerous problems were soon identified with harvesting blueberries mechanically. The primary ones were 1) ground loss of otherwise marketable fruit, 2) detachment of immature berries, 3) reduced berry firmness and quality, and 4) increased postharvest decay and reduced storage life. Machine harvest necessitates increased handling of fruit during grading and sorting, and on blueberries most postharvest decay occurs at the detachment point—the newly exposed stem scar (Ballinger et al., 1978). When both fungal spores and moisture are present on packing lines, this extra handling can greatly increase postharvest decay caused by fungi (Alternaria, Colletotrichum) due to the exposure (rolling) of berries over contaminated surfaces (Cline, 1996). In the first comprehensive report directly comparing the effects of machine and hand harvesting on highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), Mainland et al. (1975) found that losses of marketable fruit of ‘Wolcott’, ‘Jersey’, ‘Morrow’, and ‘Murphy’ were from 19% to 44% greater for machine harvesting than for hand harvesting. Machine-harvested fruit were 10% to 38% softer than hand-harvested fruit, and soft berries were difficult to identify and remove during grading. Moreover, after 7 d of storage at 21 C, there was 11% to 41% more postharvest decay for the machine-harvested fruit. They concluded that the inability to remove bruised fruit during grading and sorting presented serious problems for maintaining quality during storage. Similar reductions in marketable yield from mechanical harvesting were reported in Michigan by Howell et al. (1976). In general, increased berry softening and decay during storage have been widely reported in association with mechanical blueberry harvesting (Ceponis and Cappellini, 1979; Dale et al., 1994; Howell et al., 1976; Mainland et al., 1971, 1975; Milholland and Jones, 1972). Ballinger et al. (1973) studied factors affecting blueberry firmness and emphasized the importance of careful harvesting and handling procedures, noting that blueberries are easily bruised, leading to softening and subsequent decay during storage. In a review of the literature, Morris (1983) stated that ‘‘decay of machineharvested blueberries during postharvest holding is perhaps the biggest problem of the industry.’’ Reductions in berry firmness and marketable yield were also found for machine-harvested rabbiteye blueberry (V. virgatum). Using the rabbiteye blueberry cultivar Tifblue, Austin and Williamson (1977) reported increased ground loss of marketable fruit, reduced fruit firmness, and more than twice the amount of unmarketable fruit from machine harvesting vs. hand harvesting. Increased berry softening following machine harvesting was also noted for ‘Climax’ and ‘Woodard’ (Miller and Smittle, 1987) and ‘Brightwell’ (NeSmith et al., 2002), although depending on cultivar, the softer machine-harvested fruit may still be considered marketable as fresh fruit. NeSmith et al. (2002) proportionally attributed the causes of ‘Brightwell’ rabbiteye berry softening to the following harvest activities: 20% to 30% loss of firmness due to

A destructive new disease of Syzygium samarangense in Thailand caused by the new species Pestalotiopsis samarangensis

A new fungal species, Pestalotiopsis samarangensis, was isolated from fruit rot in Syzygium samarangense from markets in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces, Thailand. Initially small, circular, black, slightly sunken spots developed on fruits. Later, the spots enlarged rapidly, became sunken, and resulted in a soft decay of the fruit flesh. Molecular analysis of the ITS, β-tubulin, and tef1 combined gene sequences distinguish P. samarangensis from other species in the genus. Pathogenicity testing proved that wounding triggers the disease symptoms and thus careful handling of fruits during transport and storage helps to prevent the disease.

Manipulación diferencial de frutos de Brosimum alicastrum por parte de primates y su efecto sobre la oferta para mamíferos consumidores secundarios

Despite their importance, little is known about the effect that flashing massive production of fruits has on primary and secondary consumers. A series of experiments were conducted at Palo Verde, Costa Rica, in order to analyze: 1) the explosive fruit production of a tree of Brosimum alicastrum (Moraceae); 2) fruit handling by: mantled howler monkeys ( Alouatta palliata ) and white-faced capuchins ( Cebus capucinus ); and 3) visitation of fruits on the ground by potential mammalian secondary consumers. In three days fruits of B. alicastrum available on the branches fell from 10.000 to 1000. We documented a differential primate handling of Brosimum fruits, represented by a significantly greater proportion of naked seeds (F=2.83; p =0.049) dropped by A. palliata ; and a significantly greater proportion of complete and partially consumed fruits (F=20.65; p=0.000918) dropped by C. capucinus . Treatments, consisting of footprint traps with naked seeds and complete fruits used as bait, were explored by four mammalian potential secondary consumers: white tail deer, Odocoileus virginianus ; collared peccary ,Tayassu tajacu , white nosed coati, Nasua narica , and the agouti, Dasyprocta punctata . Tayassu tajacu had the greater number of footprint tracks on both types of fruits offered; on the other hand, footprints of N. narica were only recorded in treatments with complete fruits, while footprints of O. virginianus were only recorded on treatments with naked seeds.

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC): Production, Postharvest Handling, Nutrition, and Biological Activity

Acerola is a cherry-like tropical fruit that is very popular in Central America, the Caribbean countries (especially in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti), and Brazil. This fruit, which has a red color at complete maturity, is valued mostly for its vitamin C content. Recent research showed that in addition to vitamin C, acerola fruit may be a good source of phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, nonanthocyanin phenolic compounds, and dietary carotenoids. Because these compounds are known as bioactive due to their strong antioxidant capacity, acerola fruit is attracting the attention of food researchers and the exotic fruit market. One of the problems faced by acerola growers and processors is that acerola fruit is highly perishable at complete maturity, resulting in serious quality losses during and after harvest. Therefore, the harvest and the postharvest handling are very important to obtain fruits with acceptable quality. The first part of this review is a complete analysis of the available information on the production and the postharvest handling of acerola fruit. In the second part of this paper, information regarding the chemistry, nutrition, and potential biological activity of acerola fruit is reviewed and put into perspective.

Horticultural Research and Education Opportunities in Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the most populated countries in the world and is rich in plant biodiversity. The country’s hot humid climate is conducive to the production of many tropical horticultural crops. There are many plant species indigenous to Indonesia that have potential as horticultural crops but which have not been fully evaluated and therefore remain underused. Many of these plants have market potential and may have value for human health and nutrition. Furthermore, horticulture has been identified as one of the priority areas for collaboration between U.S. and Indonesian universities and for Indonesian agricultural development. Accordingly, we are presently working with three Indonesian universities to facilitate agricultural development related to horticulture by: 1) strengthening their curriculum related to plant biodiversity; 2) conducting research aimed at identifying bioactive compounds in underused plants that may have benefit to human health; 3) establishing university-led outreach education programs that lead to a better understanding of plant biodiversity and use; and 4) fostering enterprise based on underused Indonesian plant species. Other untapped agricultural research and development opportunities exist in the postharvest handling of tropical fruits and vegetables. Overall, the climate for collaboration between U.S. and Indonesian academic institutions is quite favorable from both a political and a scientific perspective.

Financial and managerial efficiency of Punjab Mandi Board in marketing of fruits and vegetables

The present study is an attempt to assess the financial and managerial efficiency of Punjab Mandi Board in handling of fruits and vegetables. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select the markets based on volume of market arrivals. The secondary data on various parameters such as market arrivals, market fee, income, expenditure, etc were collected from the headquarters of Punjab Mandi Board and the selected market committees. The financial and managerial performance of the Mandi Board and sample market committees was efficient. Among the market committees, the large markets were performing more efficiently as compared to small and medium markets.

Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Arabic Gum-Coated Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Fruits during Storage

The effects of gum arabic surface coating (5–20% aqueous gum solution) on physicochemical and sensory properties of mature red tomato fruits during 16 days of storage at 10 ± 1C were investigated. The firmness of uncoated fruits was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower, while weight loss was higher than coated ones. Uncoated tomatoes had higher total soluble solids, low acidity and fluctuating pH values. The values of L and b of the fruits decreased, while that of a increased during storage. The hue angle of the fruits significantly decreased, but total color change significantly increased during storage. The chroma and browning index of fruits increased slightly, while the color index increased significantly. Gum coating showed a better retention of all these physical, chemical and optical parameters of stored tomatoes. Panelists' results showed that gum-coated tomato fruits have acceptable sensory quality. Practical Applications Tomato is an important food commodity from nutritional and commercial point of view; however, freshly harvested tomato fruits have shorter shelf life in the market. Strategies to preserve its physicochemical and sensorial characteristics have significance for grower, processor and seller. We observed that gum arabic coating effectively preserved different quality attributes of tomato fruits for 16 days while stored at even more than normal refrigeration temperature. Our findings are valuable for those involved in tomato fruit handling and processing.

Phenological patterns in a natural population of a tropical timber tree species, Milicia excelsa (Moraceae): Evidence of isolation by time and its interaction with feeding strategies of dispersers

Population genetic structuring over limited timescales is commonly viewed as a consequence of spatial constraints. Indirect approaches have recently revealed reproductive isolation resulting from flowering time (so-called isolation by time, IBT). Since phenological processes can be subject to selection, the persistence of flowering asynchrony may be due to opposing selective pressures during mating, dispersal, and regeneration phases. Our study aimed to investigate phenology, fruit handling by animals, and their interaction in a timber tree species, Milicia excelsa. We analyzed phenological data collected over 6 years on 69 genotyped trees in a Cameroonian natural rainforest complemented by data from germination trials and field observations of dispersers. Initiation of flowering was correlated with variation in temperature and relative humidity, but was also affected by genetic factors: pairwise differences in flowering time between nearby individuals correlated with kinship coefficient, and earliness of flowering remained stable over time. A decrease in mean seed production per fruit with increasing flowering time suggests selection against late bloomers. However, germination rate was not affected by seed collection date, and the main seed disperser, the bat Eidolon helvum, seemed to increase in abundance at the end of the reproductive season and preferred trees in open habitats where early and late bloomers are expected. The pairwise approach performs well in detecting IBT. The persistence of different mating pools in such a case may result from a trade off between selective forces during the mating and seed dispersal processes.

Storage behavior of mango as affected by post harvest application of plant extracts and storage conditions

The use of plant extracts could be a useful alternative to synthetic fungicides in the post harvest handling of fruits and vegetables. The aim of this study was to access the efficacy of extracts obtained from four plants (neem, Pongamia, custard apple leaf and marigold flowers) on the extension of shelf life of mango fruits cv. Dashehri under two storage conditions (Cool store and ambient condition). The fruits were treated with 2 concentrations of each plant extracts (10% and 20%) were placed in perforated linear low density poly ethylene bags and stored in storage conditions viz., cool storage and ambient condition, respectively. The treatment of neem leaf extract in combination with cool storage gave encouraging results. Up to the end of the storage study the treatment combination of 20% neem leaf extract and cool store completely inhibited the pathogens, and no spoilage was observed. There was minimum physiological loss in weight (6.24%), minimum girth reduction (0.62%), maximum ascorbic acid content (29.96mg/ 100g of pulp), maximum acidity (0.19%), minimum pH (5.28), maximum total soluble solids (20.96%), maximum total sugars (12.50%), reducing sugars (4.12%) and non- reducing sugars (7.96%) and best organoleptic score (7.93/10) in this interaction. The inhibitory effect of neem leaf extract was ascribed to the presence of active principle azadirachtin.

Brief communication: A preliminary study on the influence of physical fruit traits on fruit handling and seed fate by white‐handed titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens)

Callicebus and the pitheciins are closely related; however, differences in their diets and dental morphology suggest that they differ in the use of mechanically protected food. We describe physical traits of fruits consumed by white-handed titi monkeys (Callicebus lugens) and determine their influence on fruit part selection and immediate seed fate after fruit handling. We tested two hypotheses about the effects of mechanical fruit traits on fruit part selection and seed fate: (1) fruits selected for seed consumption are harder than fruits selected for their fleshy parts and (2) consumed seeds are softer than seeds with other fates. In addition, we analyzed the influence of other physical fruit traits on fruit part selection and seed fate. C. lugens included 69 species in its diet, from which it mainly consumed their fleshy parts. It also consumed seeds, alone or with fleshy fruit parts, but most of them ended up close to parent trees after being dropped or spat out. The first hypothesis was supported while the second was rejected, indicating that C. lugens tends to rely on hard fruits for obtaining seeds, while seed hardness had no influence on fruit part selection and seed fate, contrasting with the pattern reported for Pithecia and Chiropotes in other studies. Ripeness was the most influential factor for fruit part and seed fate discrimination. Results suggest a tendency to sclerocarpic foraging in C. lugens when feeding on seeds.

Effect of a New Chemical Formula on Postharvest Decay Incidence in Citrus Fruit

Postharvest diseases caused by Geotricum candidum (sour rot), Penicillium digitatum (green mould), and P. italicum (blue mould) are the most important negative factors affecting handling and marketing of citrus fruits in Egypt. A new formula containing stevia leaf powder and a mixture of the three commercial chemical active ingredients: ketoconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole has been successfully applied. Either chitosan or water wax were used as carriers, against fruit mould pathogenic fungi under laboratory and storage conditions. Results of the in vitro test showed that a complete reduction in linear fugal growth was observed when the ingredients of the new formula were used individually at a concentration of 400 μg/ml each, while a mixture of all the tested chemicals had a superior effect with all fungal growth completely inhibited with the use of the mixture at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Similar results were recorded on citrus fruits which were coated with the suggested formula of chitosan or wax containing chemical com- pounds as a semi applicable technique using navel orange peel discs. Furthermore, the obtained results were confirmed using in vivo testing on navel orange and lime fruits, under artificial inoculation conditions of the pathogenic fungi within a storage period extend- ed for four weeks. The proposed approach provides the treated agricultural products with long acting protection against microbial invasion and even association. This formula could be used as a fungicide alternative for protecting the agricultural products which have high moisture contents. The formula can be used against mould pathogens to prolong the healthy shelf life of the agricultural products. Such a treatment is safe, cheap, easily applied, and without residues which are harmful to people and the environment.

Dietary breadth of frugivorous birds in relation to their feeding strategies in the lowland forests of central Honshu, Japan

Variation in the dietary breadth of frugivorous birds, i.e. variation in the degree of dietary specialization, is a key factor for understanding the construction of the architecture of diffused fruit–bird interactions. However, little information is available on the dietary breadth of frugivorous birds in a community and the avian attributes influencing it. In this study, we evaluated and compared the dietary breadth of 23 frugivorous birds (including both seed dispersers and seed predators) in relation to their feeding strategies (depending on which the birds were categorized into four types as gulpers, grinders, crushers and peckers) and other avian attributes. In particular, we hypothesized that feeding types with long fruit‐handling time (i.e. crushers and peckers) have a narrow dietary breadth. Our analysis was based on the data obtained through long‐term volunteer monitoring in the lowland forests of Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. We evaluated the dietary breadth of the birds while controlling for differences in sampling efforts and seasonal variation in the available fruit assemblages among the birds. Our analysis revealed that there was a large variation in dietary breadth among the birds, even after controlling for differences in sampling efforts and seasonal variation in the available fruit assemblages. Feeding strategies of the birds defined their dietary breadth to some degree, but we found little support for the hypothesis that fruit handling determines dietary breadth. We also observed a large variation in dietary breadth among the gulpers, which act mainly as seed dispersers for plants, and this variation could not be explained fully by other avian attributes. Our results showed that variation in the dietary breadth of frugivorous birds is partly determined by their feeding strategies and suggested that other unknown factors may play a role in determining dietary breadth variation and in structuring fruit–bird interaction networks.

A review of shelf-life extension studies of Nigerian indigenous fresh fruits and vegetables in the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute

The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute has been conducting research in technology development suitable for post-harvest handling of Nigerian indigenous fruits and vegetables for extension of the shelf-life of these commodities, retention of nutrients and aesthetics of fresh produce in storage, enhancement of the nutritional status and earning capacity of both the rural and urban poor through proper handling, storage, marketing and consumption of fruits and vegetables; and production of the best quality fruits/vegetables for local and export markets over three decades. The research work carried out and the technologies developed for handling of Nigerian indigenous fruits/vegetables post-harvest for the farm, market and domestic levels of storage are discussed subsequently. These indigenous fruits and vegetables are prone to chill injury when kept at low temperatures. However, storage structures developed by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute over the years, such as the evaporative coolers and cooler baskets which could record some temperature drop from the ambient, have been used in extending the shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables. Packing (wrapping) materials have also showed promise in extending shelf life of Nigerian indigenous fresh produce. The season and time of harvest also play an important role in storage of fruits and vegetables. Garden eggs have very short shelf-life of 7 days during the dry harmattan months in Nigeria. Fresh fluted pumpkin Telfairia occidentalis ‘ugu’ leaves can only be kept for 6 days at 29.1°C and 64.5% relative humidity beyond which physiological breakdown of tissues lead to deterioration and total loss. Fresh pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) fruits, individually wrapped with waxed paper (TIXO) kept at ambient conditions in plastic crate, have a shelf-life of 17 days as compared to fresh pawpaw fruits in evaporative coolers for 7 days. In hot dry weather of the Northern parts of Nigeria, oranges stored in evaporative cooler (EC) Metal-in-Brick wall have a shelf-life of 10 weeks. Adoption of these technologies will play a very vital role in post-harvest loss reduction in fresh fruits and vegetables along the food chain, increase income and improve nutrition for all stakeholders. The interventions to maintain food quality and safety for reduction of postharvest losses in Nigerian indigenous fruits and vegetables through Research activities in NSPRI for three decades are the focus of this review paper. Key words: Postharvest, technologies, fruits, vegetables, shelf-life.

INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO POSTHARVEST DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN CALIFORNIA CITRUS PACKINGHOUSES

INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO POSTHARVEST DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN CALIFORNIA CITRUS PACKINGHOUSES

Food Science Education Publications and Websites

Food product development usually lies in the domain of the food scientist. In 1996, the Research Chefs Association introduced the concept of Culinology®– the blending of culinary arts and food science. The result has quickly changed the way America's food industry develops new food products. A Culinology® degree incorporates elements from both the culinary arts and food science disciplines, enabling the student to understand the science behind the food while mastering the culinary arts. As a new academic discipline, Culinology® has the potential to revolutionize the food industry, and its practitioners will define the future of food. Michael Cheng, CHE, Director/Associate Professor, Culinology and Hospitality Management, Associate Graduate Faculty, Southwest Minnesota State Univ., Marshall, MN 56258. The enrollment of international students in U.S. colleges and universities is increasing. Because these students are exposed to new foods and the potential risks these food pose for these students, the authors wanted to determine the best ways to provide students with safety training and information. An electronic group method was used to engage students in discussions on food safety concerns and training needs and the students’ preferred method for receiving this information. A group of 29 undergraduate and 29 graduate students participated in the study. Three discussion questions were asked: 1) What types of foods have you discovered in the United States that are quite different from the foods in your home country?, 2) What type of food safety information would you like to receive?, and 3) How would you prefer to receive food safety information. Participants noted “ … foods … discovered … had less natural flavor and freshness because of the use of “too many” additives and preservatives.” (p. 748). Participants also wanted information on “ … safe handling and preparation of salads, fresh vegetables, and fruits” (p. 748) as well as information on shelf-life of frozen and refrigerated foods and concerns on chemical effects. Delivery methods of safety information included packaging and labels, “ … interactive websites and emails … .” (p. 748), and “ … ”school curriculum, awareness, and training programs … .” (p. 748). Auburn Univ. (AU), in Alabama, has a designated Dept. of Poultry Science. Redlands Community College (RCC), in El Reno, Okla., has an innovative animal science program but no poultry. Collaboration between the 2 institutions has given RCC students an opportunity to learn about the poultry industry virtually. RCC utilizes Eagle Island to augment classroom presentations and encourage critical thinking. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to schedule real life food processing facility tours. Eagle Island exists in the virtual world of Second Life and exists to share space, provide interaction in real time and persist around the clock for global accessibility. The Island has been built based on actual poultry and egg facilities, with creative liberties taken. Marcia Owens Kloepper, AUFSI Technology Coordinator, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849-5416 Place-based science education encompasses the meanings and sense of attachment local residents feel for places. One university science methods class in north-western Spain prepared lesson plans related to local culinary production and practices, to expand the narrow vision of food usually offered in science classes in terms of anatomical, physiological, or biochemical aspects of digestion and nutrition. In addition, students designed environmental research projects responding to 3 questions: How is it made?, How does it work?, and What skills are demanded? Most projects were related to local traditional knowledge, such as flour milling, meat curing, cheese making, and cabinetry. Such investigations served to integrate aspects of the natural, social, and cultural environment to foster a critical pedagogy of place. Renée DePalma Ungaro, Depto. de Pedagoxía e Didáctica, Faculdade de Ciencias da Educación, Univ. da Coruña, Campus de Elviña, s/n, A Coruña Spain. (Pedro Membiela, Univ. of Vigo, Spain was the instructor for the course described). The authors describe a case-based laboratory for upper-level chemistry and biochemistry majors using an actual case from the FDA laboratory involving possible alteration of orange juice concentrate to claim fresh-squeezed orange juice. The case-based approach to teaching involves brief cases and allows for student ownership through independent work, creating increased student confidence. This case-based laboratory was very positively received by the students. Using the “Food – a fact of life” website (http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/) the authors provide a brief report on how the British Nutrition Foundation disseminates accurate information on healthy eating and cooking to primary and secondary school teachers. The site includes teaching notes and learning objectives, recipes, interactive games and tutorials, and activity sessions.

Activity of extracts from wild edible herbs against postharvest fungal diseases of fruit and vegetables

The use of plant extracts could be a useful alternative to synthetic fungicides in the management of rot fungi during postharvest handling of fruit and vegetables. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of extracts obtained from nine wild edible herbaceous species ( Borago officinalis, Orobanche crenata, Plantago coronopus, P. lanceolata, Sanguisorba minor, Silene vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, and Taraxacum officinale) against some important postharvest pathogens, i.e. Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia laxa, Penicillium digitatum, P. expansum, P. italicum, Aspergillus carbonarius, and A. niger. Phenolic composition of all extracts was evaluated by HPLC. Several derivatives of caffeic acid, of the flavones apigenin and luteolin, and of the flavonols kaempferol and quercetin, were identified. Extracts from S. minor and O. crenata showed the highest efficacy in all the trials. In particular, S. minor completely inhibited in vitro the conidial germination of M. laxa, P. digitatum, P. italicum, and A. niger and strongly reduced those of B. cinerea; O. crenata extract showed a lower but still significant reduction of conidial germination on all the tested fungi. Moreover, the extracts from both species were effective in reducing the germ tube elongation also when a slight inhibition of conidial germination was observed. In many cases, a dose effect was observed, with an increase of antifungal activity as the phenolic concentration increased. In trials performed on wounded fruit, S. minor extract completely inhibited brown rot on apricots and nectarines; O. crenata extract strongly reduced grey mould, brown rot, and green mould on table grapes, apricots and nectarines, and oranges, respectively. The inhibition efficacy of extracts was ascribed to the presence of some caffeic acid derivatives and/or flavonoids. HPLC phenolic analyses provided useful information to identify the possible active compounds.

PHOMOPSIS sp. ASSOCIATED WITH POST-HARVEST FRUIT ROT OF KIWIFRUIT IN ITALY

Kiwifruit is a very important commercial crop in Italy, the most important producer of the fruit worldwide, followed by China and New Zealand. The relatively rapid expansion of the area given over to kiwifruit has resulted in the spread of various diseases including those developing post-harvest. Stored kiwifruit showing post-harvest symptoms of inner rot with disorganized, soft and lighter green tissues, known as stem end rot, were investigated. Phomopsis isolates recovered from symptomatic tissues were examined morphologically, by DNA sequencing and pathogenicity tests, but could not be identified at the species level. Nevertheless, as reported for Diaporthe actinidiae, they were able to induce a soft rot decay that was artificially reproduced only on wound-inoculated fruit. ITS sequences had 98 to 100% identity with Phomopsis spp. from grapevine (N6), Rosa sp., blueberry (P. vaccinii) and Norway spruce (Diaporthe conorum), but were clearly distinct from D. actinidiae. These results call for extreme caution in fruit handling, as they suggest that only wounded fruits are susceptible to infection by this Phomopsis sp.

Glucose Monitoring After Fruit Peeling: Pseudohyperglycemia When Neglecting Hand Washing Before Fingertip Blood Sampling

OBJECTIVETo examine whether hand contamination with fruit results in a false blood glucose (BG) reading using capillary fingertip blood sample.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThe study subjects were healthy volunteers with normal glucose tolerance test. Capillary BG samples were collected from the fingertip after peeling orange, grape, or kiwi fruit, followed by no action, washing hands with tap water, or rubbing the fingertip with an alcohol swab, then analyzed with glucose monitors.RESULTSThe BG levels measured after peeling any of the fruits, followed by washing hands, were similar to the control subjects (no fruit handling), but the levels after fruit peeling, followed by no washing, were abnormally and significantly high, even when the fingertip was cleaned once or five times with an alcohol swab before blood sampling.CONCLUSIONSTo avoid overestimation of blood glucose using portable monitors, the hands should be washed before monitoring capillary BG, especially after fruit has been handled.