Higher Consumer Preference Research Articles

A Comparison of Nine Primocane Fruiting Raspberry Cultivars for Suitability to a High-Elevation, Arid Climate

ABSTRACT A replicated trial, planted in 2011, compared nine primocane-fruiting raspberry cultivars for suitability to commercial production in the U.S. Intermountain West. Factors evaluated included annual yield, fruit size, fruiting season, consumer preference, leaf chlorophyll content, and cane infestation by raspberry horntail, a common insect pest of raspberries in northern Utah. ‘Joan J’ was the highest yielding cultivar, averaging 3.32 kg per row meter, followed by ‘Polana’, ‘Autumn Bliss’, and ‘Dinkum’ with 2.53, 2.01, and 1.34 kg·m−1, respectively. ‘Autumn Bliss’ and ‘Joan J’ were the earliest to fruit with a harvest midpoint 4 and 2 days before ‘Polana’, respectively. Leaf chlorophyll concentration (CCl) was highest in ‘Joan J’ and ‘Autumn Treasure’, averaging 30.9 and 27.0 CCl, respectively. All cultivars exhibited similar susceptibility to raspberry horntail, with differences in infestation rates related to the location in the field. A survey of farmers’ market customers found the highest consumer preference for ‘Autumn Bliss’, ‘Dinkum’, and ‘Vintage’. Only the earliest cultivars gave commercially viable yields for the high elevation valleys of the Intermountain West region of the U.S.

Improved Phenolic Compositions and Sensory Attributes of Red Wines by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mutant CM8 Overproducing Cell-Wall Mannoproteins

The objective of this study was to improve the quality attributes of red wines by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BCRC 21685) mutant CM8 with overexpression of high-mannose mannoproteins, with respective to phenolic compositions, colorimetric parameters, and consumer sensory attributes. The CM8 was mutated by ethyl methane sulfonate and showed the ability of overproducing cell wall mannoproteins selected by killer-9 toxin-containing YPD plates. Kyoho grapes were used as raw materials. It is interesting to find that the cell wall mannoproteins isolated from CM8 mutant possessed a significantly higher mannose content in the polysaccharide fraction (81% w/w) than that did from parent strain (66% w/w). The red wines made of winter grapes and CM8 (CM8-WIN) showed significantly greater total tannins, flavonols, and anthocyanins levels, as well as higher color, higher flavor, and higher consumer preference than those by its SC counterpart (SC-WIN). The characteristics of the red wines studied were further elucidated by principal component analysis. Conclusively, using CM8 starter could effectively endow the red wine with high-quality attributes via the interactions of high-mannose mannoproteins with wine compounds.

Study on fish marketing system of some fish species in Hobiganj District, Bangladesh

The study was conducted on fish marketing system of Hobiganj sadar upazila to look out the existing marketing channels of some fresh fish species and to explore marketing cost and income of wholesalers and retailers in the study areas. The present investigation was carried out for a period of July 2019 to November 2019 mainly in three different markets of Hobiganj sadar town of Bangladesh. A total of 60 fish traders were selected randomly and data were collected through direct interview utilizing a well-structured questionnaire. The study pointed that in supply chain about only 5% customers received fish from fish farmers directly and rest 95% fishes arrived to the consumer levels through intermediaries. About 60% fish species were come locally and 40% came from different portions of the country. Fish of most priceable and high consumer preference were Air and Ilish due to its good taste on the other hand Tilapia and Pungas were the less priceable and low consumer preference fish in the surveyed areas because of their bad odour and low taste. The net margin of piker, wholesaler and retailer were 690 Tk. ($8.14), 350 Tk. ($4.13), 830 Tk. ($9.79) quintal-1 whereas gross margin was 900 Tk ($10.62), 500 Tk. ($5.90) and 1000 Tk. ($11.80) quintal-1, respectively and these were satisfactory for their daily livelihood. Traders faced numerous problems such as poor drainage, security, electricity, icing, personal expense, unhygienic environment and transportation etc. To develop the facilities of fish marketing is crucial by improving fish transport facilities, establish ice factory and to introduce fish quality monitoring unit.

Analyses of phylogenetics, starch granule morphology and consumer preference of Canna indica L. grown in Sri Lanka

Canna indica is a tuber crop which has many medicinal values. In Sri Lanka, C. indica tubers are consumed in rural areas and mainly available in street-markets of Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy Districts. In the present study, we assessed the phylogenetics of C. indica, starch granule morphology and consumer preference of C. indica tubers in comparison to the popular tuber crops. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on the sequence polymorphism at rbcL, atpB gene, trnL-trnF and trnH-psbA marker-loci with respect to the ornamental Canna spp. in Sri Lanka and the previously published sequences of Canna spp. The starch granules were isolated and observed under optical and scanning electron microscopes. The diameter and the surface area of the starch granules were measured under the optical microscope and subjected to analysis of variance. As C. indica tubers are consumed as boiled tuber pieces in Sri Lanka, the consumer preference analysis was conducted using the boiled tuber pieces C. indica, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Manihot esculenta, Solanum tuberosum, and Ipomoea batatas. The phylogenetic tree based on rbcL marker revealed that C. indica in Sri Lanka is slightly divergent from the other Canna spp. Only the polymorphism of the atpB gene can be used to differentiate C. indica from the ornamental Canna sp. in Sri Lanka. The morphological analysis of starch granules revealed that C. indica has the biggest scallop-seashell shaped starch granules compared to other tuber species. The boiled C. indica tubers were accepted better than that of X. sagittifolium, rated equally to the tubers of S. tuberosum and M. esculenta, and rated less than I. batatas. The hardy and fibrous nature of C. indica tubers must be the major limiting factors for achieving the highest consumer preference highlighting the need of breeding for better texture in tubers

Industrial livestock production: A review on advantages and disadvantages

Development of livestock production in many parts of the world has shown to be growing more towards an industrialised type of farm animal rearing operations. These involve raising farm animals in densely populated environment, commonly termed as a factory livestock farming. Such an operation is actually aimed at yielding a very large scale of farm animal products by means of intensification in animal rearing systems. This is becoming a global trend in practicing farm animal productions nowadays. The transformation of livestock production from a family small scale animal husbandry to a large scale of corporate business has been mainly driven by three major interrelated factors, these are i) a prediction on a rapid world‘s human population growth, ii) demographic factors, particularly age structure and urbanization, and iii) socio-economic status improvement. The total world‘s population has been estimated to reach 9.1 billion in 2050, where 70 percent of rural inhabitants are going to shift mostly living in urban areas and with their better incomes than previously earned and are also predicted to increase by 2 percent annually. Indications in changing urban lifestyle has then been shown affecting on shifted food consumption patterns more to semi-processed and/or pre-prepared-ready to eat foods of which their main component deriving from livestock product origin. As the trend has been commonly shown in many urban areas, where their working hours are becoming longer than there used to be. In an actual fact, that has been happening for the last two decades, particularly in regions used to be identified as developing countries, such as in Southeast Asia, Sub Saharan Africa, West Asia and North Africa. Consequently, an increase rate in meat consumption has been estimated at over 4 percent per annum. Moreover, that change has become a sequential driving factor for the rapid growth in the meat production sector. As higher consumer preference in chicken meat than that in other types, global broiler production is holding supremacy over the other meat complex. A special highlight on Brunei Darussalam poultry industry development will also be addressed here, particularly to focusing on an industry dynamic based on data posted in country‘s agricultural statistics for the year of 2013 [1]. At that time when the country was reported to fulfil its self-sufficiency in chicken meat with a consumption per capita per year reached 58.5 kg. The figure was accounted as being the second highest chicken meat consumption per capita per year in the world after Hong Kong. In line with the global trend in livestock production, continuous growing demands for the products had also led to intensification in livestock farming in the Southeast Asia region. As far as the factory livestock farming as has gone more common operations up to now, and yet there might have been more and more questionable arguments over negative impacts arising, particularly in regards to animal welfare, human health and environmental degradations will be seemingly left hard to answer as most vast scientific empirical assessments required, nonetheless the matter may only open for discussions.

Evaluation of limb autotomy as a promising strategy to improve production performances of mud crab ( Scylla olivacea ) in the soft‐shell farming system

Soft-shell crab, a newly moulted crab having non-calcified and hydrated soft exoskeleton, farming has been increasing tremendously in recent years throughout the world due to its high market price and consumer preferences. However, high aggressiveness and cannibalistic behaviour of mud crab limit its culture to an individual chamber system which ultimately makes the soft-shell mud crab farming space and labour-intensive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve the efficiency of soft-shell crab production by autotomy of the claw and/or walking legs to reduce the moulting duration and intensify the culture system through double stocking in the existing individual chamber culture system. To achieve our objectives, a series of experiment were conducted at both indoor and on-farm levels by removing the claw and/or walking legs of Scylla olivacea for two consecutive moulting cycles. Results showed that both claw ablation significantly (p < .01) shortened the moulting duration and increased the carapace width, weight gain, specific growth rate, feeding efficiency and yield parameter compared to the non-ablated crabs more prominently at 1st moulting than the 2nd moulting in both indoor and on-farm trials. Ablation of all walking legs while keeping the claw intact did not significantly influence (p > .05) the moulting duration and carapace width, but significantly (p < .01) improved the specific growth rate, weight gain, feeding efficiency and yield parameters at 1st moulting compared to the non-ablation and unilateral three walking leg ablation groups. However, ablation of all appendages (both claw and walking legs) showed significant (p < .01) improvements of carapace width, weight gain, specific growth rate, feeding efficiency and yield parameters, and shortened the moulting duration up to 23 days from 34 days during 1st moulting and up to 27 days from 40 days at 2nd moulting. The survivals of different autotomized mud crabs were statistically non-significant (p > .05) to the non-autotomized crabs in various indoor and on-farm trials. Besides improving the production performances, ablation of bilateral claw and all appendages allowed to double the stocking density in the existing individual chamber-based soft-shell crab farming that enhanced the production about threefold higher than the existing individual chamber-based culture system. Finally, our results suggest that autotomy could be a promising technology for the commercial farming of soft-shell mud crab in near future.

Effect of Size and Drying Time on the Rehydration and Sensory Properties of Freeze-Dried Snails (Achatina achatina).

Snails, a delicacy in most tropical communities, are highly perishable and seasonal. Employed preservative methods are highly temperature dependent, adversely affecting their nutritional value and sensory properties. This study was aimed at determining the effect of size and drying time on the rehydration and sensory properties of freeze-dried snails. Snails were sized into three categories with average weights: 7.59 g (quarter-sized), 14.41 g (half-sized), and 30.71 g (whole), and freeze-dried for 15, 20, and 25 h. The moisture content and percent rehydration of the dried samples were determined by standard methods and sensory properties assessed by an in-house panel of 30 using a 5-point hedonic scale. The moisture content of the fresh and freeze-dried samples ranged from 65.80 to 75.20% and 3.25 to 10.24%, respectively. Freeze-dried samples had higher percent rehydration (27 to 102%) than the control; smoked snails (21 to 32%). Size had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the rehydration ability of the samples with the half-sized and freeze-dried for 15 h samples having the highest. The freeze-dried samples generally had higher consumer preference than the control in all attributes assessed. The findings show that freeze-drying snails (approximate weight of 14.4 g) for 15 h could be a consumer-preferred alternative preservative method for extending the shelf life of snails.

Development of a vegetable salad dressing and evaluation of its nutritional, physicochemical and sensory properties

The nutritional, physicochemical and sensory properties of a vegetable salad dressing prepared from four oil types that were vegetable oil, sesame oil, soy bean oil and olive oil along with vinegar, wheat flour, curry leaf powder, pepper, salt, sugar, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) vitamin E, and egg yolk were explored. Best recipe was selected by conducting a sensory evaluation using nine-point hedonic scale. Vegetable oil incorporated salad dressing was selected as the best recipe. Total soluble solids (TSS), percentage titratable acidity (%TA), pH and microbiological properties of the selected recipe were analysed using standard methods. Sensory parameters including colour, aroma, taste, texture and overall acceptability were evaluated using 10 trained panelists for the selected product for five weeks at two weeks interval. Final product contained 55.2% moisture, 23.3% fat, 8.3% ash and 5.7% crude protein. TSS, %TA and pH of the final product were 18, 0.33% and 4.08, respectively. No significant (P&gt;0.05) changes were observed in all the sensory properties and tested physicochemical properties up to the 5th week of the storage period. Microbial counts were less than the standard minimum limits. The highest consumer preference was observed in the 3rd week after preparation. According to the results, the developed vegetable salad dressing can be safely stored at room temperature for five weeks without chemical preservatives.

Use of Halosarcia i ndica (Willd.) Paul G. Wilson Extracts for Low Salted Dried Fish Production

Halosarcia indica (Willd.) Paul G. Wilson (Chenopodiaceae) is an underutilized, succulent herb freely distributed in coastal areas. Although the plant is rarely used for human consumption, there is scattered information of its usage as a natural salt. Therefore, the present study was aimed to incorporate H. indica as a source of natural salt for the production of herbal salted dried fish to develop a cottage industry in coastal areas of Sri Lanka. Well matured, authenticated, H. indica plants were harvested and cleaned well. Then materials were ground and extracts were freeze-dried. Authenticated Oreochromis niloticus fish were harvested from an institutional research pond. Cleaned and sliced samples were treated with 10% of herbal extract and 10% common salt before drying. The treated fish were oven dried at 60±5C for 14 hours. Dried fish were screened for their physical, chemical and biological quality parameters using standard protocols. Sensory attributes were evaluated using institutional sensory panel. Results revealed that dried fish prepared with herbal salt exhibited the significantly higher TPC (3.44±0.19), TAC (2.77±0.097), rehydration, fiber, protein, ash and fat contents. Also, HSDF (Herbal salted dried fish) demonstrated low microbial count, water activity and higher consumer preference for almost all organoleptic attributes. Since herbal salted dried fish possess all favorable quality characteristics and higher consumer preference, H. indica has potential use for value added dried fish production in cottage industries along coastal areas of Sri Lanka.

Improving Maize Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Using Spectral Properties of Leaves for Need-based Nitrogen Management

There is a spiral increase in maize consumption in Ghana due to high population growth and changing consumer preferences. However, maize yield in the country is declining partly due to poor soil fertility and fertilizer management, resulting in low nitrogen use efficiency. A field experiment was therefore conducted at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, University of Ghana, Kpong during the 2016 cropping season to evaluate the effect of nitrogen management options on growth, yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replicates. Variety and nitrogen (N) management were the main and sub plot factors, respectively. The varieties were; 1. Aburohemaa (V1) 2. Abontem (V2) 3. Obaatanpa (V3). 4. Omankwa (V4), while the nitrogen management levels included; 1. no N application (control, N0), 2. Conventional practice, Conv (150 kg N ha-1) 3. Leaf Colour Chart, LCC (75 kg N ha-1) and 4. Soil Plant Analysis Development meter, SPAD (75 kg N ha-1). The results revealed that LCC and SPAD meter in maize nitrogen-based management reduced nitrogen fertilizer input by 50% without significantly affecting the growth, grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize. Maize varieties significantly differed in terms of growth rate, yielding potential, N uptake and N use efficiency. The study recommended LCC to maize farmers since it is relatively cheap, easy to use and saved 50% N fertilizer input.

An Explanation of the Underdevelopment of China’s Service Sector from the Perspective of Demand

ABSTRACT The share of the service sector in China is significantly lower than that in most countries at the same level of income. Figures reveal that an insufficiency in both consumer and producer demand may be one of the reasons. We find that the demand insufficiency mainly stems from high consumer preferences for saving and China’s export-oriented trade structure. These excessive saving tendencies limit consumer demand for service products and thus hamper the development of consumer services in China. The rapid development of the processing trade also impedes the interrelation between the domestic manufacturing and service industries, reduces the effective demand for local producer services from the manufacturing industry, and ultimately restricts the growth of the producer service industry in China.

Differential Game Analysis of Optimal Strategies and Cooperation in Omni-Channel Organic Agricultural Supply Chain

This paper aims to investigate the optimal strategies for both centralized and decentralized modes in a two-echelon omni-channel organic agricultural supply chain (OASC) which consists of one farmer cooperative and one online retailer. Furthermore, the contracts of cooperation between the members in OASC are discussed. Based on both theory differential game and bi-level programming, we utilize the Nerlove–Arrow model and Stackelberg model to examine five cases of decision modes for both agents in the OASC. Then, we achieve the optimal strategies where the specified sets of organic growing effort, organic traceability technology effort, propaganda input, and service input can guarantee the maximization of the related profits. As a result, we could obtain the values of the corresponding optimal profits. For the centralized decision mode, the farmer cooperative and the online retailer make decisions with the goal of maximizing the overall profits of the OASC. Meanwhile, for the decentralized decision mode with four different cases, each member will independently make a decision with the goal of maximizing his own profit respectively. In detail, as for the fully decentralized decision mode, no contracts exist in OASC; regarding the decentralized decision mode with an information traceability cost sharing contract, two members pay the information traceability cost together; and for the decentralized decision mode with a revenue sharing contract, two members share the revenue together; as to the decentralized decision mode with a comprehensive contract, there are two cooperative ways that information traceability cost sharing and revenue sharing can be achieved. In addition, we also considered factors such as the consumer preferences of organic products and the cross influence between channels in models. Finally, through sensitivity analysis and comparison of optimal strategies and profits, we found that: (1) high consumer preferences of organic products and high cross influence between channels are profitable; and (2) the choice of contract is influenced by the relative size of the offline marginal income ratio and the online marginal income ratio.

Quality attributes of novel carrot genotypes

Carrot is rich sources of natural antioxidants. In the present experiments few novel genotype were evaluated for their antioxidant content. Antioxidant activity was measured using four in vitro assays viz. ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant power (CUPRAC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays (TEAC). Additionally five colour attributes were evaluated. Among carrot genotypes, significant difference (p<0.05) was observed with respect to antioxidant composition and antioxidant activity. Total phenols and total flavonoids varied from 12.59 to 290.18 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight (fw) and 4.91 to 109.2 mg CE/100 g fw respectively. High positive correlation between phenolics and antioxidant activity suggested that phenolics might be predominant antioxidant in carrot. Although black genotype had highest antioxidant potentiality, it had relatively poor consumer preference. On the other hand dark red and dark orange genotype have high consumer preference despite of its poor antioxidant potentiality.

Structural performance of fish market in Bogura district, Bangladesh

One of the most important blossom trades in the economy of Bangladesh is fish marketing. To understand the current practices of fish market and marketing systems in Bogura district of Bangladesh, an investigation was conducted based on existing marketing system and economic features of marketing activities and inefficiencies. Fish marketing is almost exclusively maintained by the private sector and large number of intermediaries such as local traders, agents/suppliers, and retailers are involved in the distribution process of fish marketing. Data were collected from 45 fish traders through questionnaire interviews and participatory rural approach methods during December 2011 to May 2012 from three different fish markets named as Fateh Ali Fish Market, Godarpara Fish market and Khandar Fish market of Bogura district. The daily supply of fish in Fateh Ali Fish market, Godarpara Fish market and Khandar Fish market were estimated at 6.75 tons, 0.765 tons and 0.495 tons, respectively. Present supply and requirement of the fish showed a wide gap and virtually most of the fish (85%) is imported from outside where the local supply of fish is only 15%. There is a high consumer preference for Indian major carps i.e. rohu, catal, mrigal and exotic carps silver carp, grass and common carp, tilapia, pangas etc. The price of fish depends on market structure, species, quality, size, weight and season that’s why a well-systematized marketing setup is crucial for reasonable price for fishes. The study revealed that almost all traders in three markets made a considerable amount of profit and broadly improved their food consumption facilities, standards of living, purchasing power, choice and ability as an economic sector. However concerns arise about the sustainable marketing system due to higher transport costs, poor transport facilities, inadequate supply of ice, lack of money for business, and poor institutional support. It is an urgent issue to establish ice factory, improvement of transport facilities, provision of governmental, institutional and banking assistance, introduction of fish quality control measures and training of fish market operators for improved their marketing system. Therefore, the present study emphasizes the fundamental marketing system, market flow of fish, availability of fish in these three markets, and market related constraints in Bogura district, Bangladesh.&#x0D; Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.5(3): 399-410, December 2018

Effects of genomic selection for intramuscular fat content in breast muscle in Chinese local chickens.

Improvements in living standards have resulted in consumers having higher expectations for chicken meat quality. This is particularly true in Asia, where there is high consumer preference for local breeds. Nothing is presently known about the effectiveness of using genomic selection (GS) strategies in chickens to genetically improve meat quality traits that cannot be measured in living potential parents. In this study, 724 Beijing-You chickens were used as a training population; all were genotyped using Illumina 60K SNP chips, and intramuscular fat content in breast muscle (IMFbr ) was measured. Birds in the GS line were selected based on genomic estimated breeding values, IMFbr being the sole trait. Genetic progress in one generation was compared to that from conventional family-based selection, and both were evaluated against random-bred controls. Results showed that relative to the random-bred controls, IMF percentage was improved 9.62% using GS, comparable to the 10.38% improvement using family-based selection. We quantified the effectiveness of GS when applied to a meat quality trait with low heritability in chickens. We plan to introduce custom SNP chips, appropriate for native chicken breeds in China, to assist in applying GS in local breeding and accelerate genetic gain.

Nutritional composition of different size groups of catfish Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822) from river Ganga

The freshwater catfish Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822) (Family: Bagridae) inhabits the tropical rivers and estuaries and contributes to the capture fisheries production in the Indian subcontinent. It enjoys high consumer preference as a valuable food fish due to its muscle texture, good taste and lesser intramuscular spines; however, basic nutritional information on the species is not available. In the present study, we report the proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral composition of different size groups of R. rita. Proximate analysis showed that the fish is rich in protein and low in fat. The protein content (19.55%) was found to be the highest in medium size fishes. Leucine, phenylalanine and glutamic acid are the predominant amino acids in all size groups and leucine (18.67 g 100 g-1 protein) and glutamic acid (10.55 g 100 g-1 protein) contents were significantly high in medium size fishes. The macro-minerals potassium (13800 ppm) and phosphorous (14100 ppm) were significantly high in the medium size group, whereas calcium (1900 ppm) was highest in large size group. The micro-minerals iron and zinc were present in significantly higher amount in the medium size fishes. R. rita is important as a rich source of protein, essential amino acids (leucine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid) and micro elements (Zn, Fe). Comparative nutritional evaluation of different size groups showed that the medium size fish (weighing 500-800 g) were nutritionally superior to the other groups.

Nutrigenomic studies on hilsa to evaluate flesh quality attributes and genes associated with fatty acid metabolism from the rivers Hooghly and Padma

The Indian shad hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), a commercially important food fish rich in oils, enjoys high consumer preference in the South Asian countries owing to its unique flavour and culinary properties. The present study was undertaken with the primary objective of determining the flesh quality attributes of hilsa in terms of nutritive value (gross chemical composition, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral composition), pH, water holding capacity (WHC) and expression of genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and flesh quality. Additionally, comparative studies on the flesh quality attributes in hilsa from two distributaries of river Ganga i.e. Hooghly and Padma were also carried out. A high WHC (>80%) suggested juicy and tender nature of hilsa meat. The protein content was 18–21% in hilsa from both the rivers and essential amino acid lysine, valine and functional amino acids leucine and arginine were significantly higher in Hooghly hilsa (P<0.05). The predominance of umami taste amino acids, glutamic acid and aspartic acid and sweet taste amino acids, serine, glycine and alanine in hilsa from both the rivers could be the contributing factors to its unique flavour. The fat content in hilsa from river Hooghly and Padma were found to be 9.94 and 7.84%, respectively. The concentration of flavouring fatty acids like saturated fatty acids (SFA) (myristic acid) and omega (ω)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) were significantly higher in Hooghly hilsa (P<0.05). Among the genes associated with fatty acid metabolism studied, expression of cluster of differentiation (CD36), acetyl CoA oxidase (ACO), fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor beta (PPARβ), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and desaturase were significantly higher in Padma hilsa (P<0.05), and the change was <2 fold. Comparative gene expression profiling of flesh quality genes (actin, GAPDH, LDH, TPI) showed similar levels of expression in hilsa from both the rivers (P<0.05). The nutrigenomic information generated on various flesh quality attributes of hilsa has enriched the knowledgebase. Further, from comparative nutrient analysis on hilsa from river Hooghly and Padma, it was observed that Hooghly hilsa is superior in terms of oil content, ω-3 PUFAs EPA and DHA and essential amino acids; however, the expression profile of genes associated with flesh quality were found to be similar. Thus, within the scope of the present study, Hooghly hilsa (medium size category, 500–700g size) was found to be nutritionally superior.

Volatile compounds in hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha , Hamilton) as detected by static headspace gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Tenualosa ilisha (Hilsa) is a commercially important food fish in countries around the Bay of Bengal and enjoys high consumer preference for its unique flavor and culinary properties. Fish flavors, an important factor for consumer acceptance are largely characterized by the volatile compounds. Static headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to investigate the volatiles in hilsa. A total of 41 compounds were identified: 12 alcohols, 1 ketone, 2 aldehydes, 4 furans, 3 acids, 7 esters, 5 alkadienes, 3 alkynes, 3 aromatic compounds, and 1 epoxide derivative. Principal component analysis showed gradual changes in the volatile composition with increasing storage time. The volatile substances present in hilsa which could be contributing to its flavor were identified. 2,4-Pentadiene-1-ol, 3-ethyl-(2Z), and 2,4-hexadienal were identified as possible freshness indicators and 7-Heptadecyne-17-chloro and 2-methyl-1, 5 hexadiene as possible spoilage indicators which could be useful in assessing the quality of the fish. Practical applications Hilsa is a commercially important food fish and is known for its unique flavor and culinary properties; the flavor is perhaps attributed to the volatile compounds present. Hilsa is transported for import/export purpose in large scale in ice packaging, especially in South East Asian countries; therefore, there is a need to access the quality of frozen fish during ice storage, both freshness and spoilage. In this context, the volatile compounds in hilsa could be useful in characterizing its unique flavor as well as freshness and spoilage status during transport/storage. Static headspace GC-MS combined with a statistical multivariate approach could be a useful method to identify volatile compounds and characterize fish freshness and spoilage. As the consumers are now more conscious about food safety and quality issues; freshness and spoilage markers would be useful in quality management in fish trade.

Assessment of the Bacterial Quality and Toxic Heavy Metal Residues of Frozen Fish Fillet In Kaferelsheikh Markets

Fish has high consumer preference due to its inherent nutritive value, taste and easy digestibility. It is one of the most important sources of animal protein available and has widely been accepted as a good source of animal protein and other elements for maintaince of healthy body. The present study was planned to estimate the quality and heavy metal residues of the frozen fish fillet for that aim, a total of 50 frozen fish fillet samples from market retail from different origins in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. Bacteriological and Chemical analysis was done for frozen fish fillet. The results revealed that total bacterial count, coliform count and total psychtrophic count were 32.04x107 ± 5.75x107, 14.35x103±5.26x103 and 8.08x108±13.46x108 respectively. The Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 23 samples (46%) detection of Staph. aureus enterotoxin by using multiplex PCR indicates that only 9 (39.1%) strains from the 23 isolates were positive for enterotoxin production, 6 (26%) isolates produce Sea; 2(8.7%) isolates produce Seb; one (4.3%) isolate Sec; and one (4.3%) isolate produce Sed enterotoxin.. On the other hand, E.coli was detected in 5 samples (10%) of the examined sample, and the serological identification of the obtained isolates revealed the presence of the following serotypes 1(0.2%) for EPEC (O153:H2), 2(0.4%) for ETEC (O126:H21) and 1(0.2%) for EHEC (O55:H7), 1(0.2%) for EHEC (O121:H7). While in heavy metal residues were found that mean values of Mercury, Lead and Cadmium were 0.5992±0.102, 0.1596±0.037 and 0.059±0.019 mg/kg respectively. The obtained results indicate that consumption of frozen fish fillet may cause a public health hazard to the consumer. Measures to control the quality of frozen fish fillet during handling and processing should be taken.

Participatory and molecular marker assisted pure line selection for refinement of three premium rice landraces of Koraput, India

ABSTRACTThe Jeypore-Koraput tract in Odisha, India, known to be the secondary center of origin of rice, still houses a large number of rice landraces. The low yielding local landraces, despite high consumer preference, are gradually facing extinction due to lack of purity and admixtures resulting in poor marketability of the produce. The study is an attempt to purify Kalajeera, Machhakanta, and Haladichudi, three highly popular landraces, whose field populations displayed high levels of genetic variability. A molecular marker assisted pure line approach combined with the farmer participation in the selection process resulted in selection of relatively high yielding pure lines of Kalajeera (5), Haladichudi (11), and Machhakanta (1), after four cycles of selection. The high promise shown by the selected pure lines suggest that farmer participatory approach can effectively complement the breeding approaches in refinement of elite landraces of rice.