Perforated Polyethylene Bags Research Articles

Effect of different packaging materials on banana ripening and shelf-life in Dang, Nepal

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of different packaging materials on the shelf life and banana quality (cv G9) at the laboratory, Campus of Live Sciences, Tulsipur, Dang, Nepal. The different packaging materials were used as high-density non-perforated polyethylene bags, low-density non-perforated polyethylene bags, low-density perforated polyethylene bags, fiber bags, jute bags, paddy straw with cardboard, and a control treatment (in open trays). The research was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The bananas were packed in different packaging materials after being treated with a 250 ppm ethephon solution. Parameters such as peel color, physiological weight loss, pulp-to-peel ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and Benedict test were assessed at two-day interval. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed highly significant differences for all the recorded parameters except TA. Unpackaged fruits lost 22.92% of their weight, while fruits packed in high-density non-perforated polythene (HDNP) and low-density non-perforated polythene (LDNP) bags lost 13.27% and 6.15%, respectively. Peel colour development from green mature to yellow was observed first in bananas packed in low-density perforated polyethylene (LDPP) bags followed by open trays, jute bags, and paddy straws. The lowest pulp-to-peel ratio was observed in HDNP and LDNP bags. It can be concluded that packaging bananas in high-density and low-density non-perforated polyethylene bags resulted in longer shelf life. The sweetness, aroma, and mouthfeel of bananas in jute bags, fiber bags, and paddy straws were highly accepted. Thus, LDPP bags were found effective in early ripening and uniform yellow colour development on bananas.

Effect of Light and GA3 on Germination of Purple Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) Seeds

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of light and GA3 on the germination of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis sims) under agro climatic condition of Prayagraj. The perforated polythene bags of 4 x 5 cm size (150 gauges thickness) were used for sowing. The bags were filled with a mixture of farmyard manure (FYM), sand and soil in the ratio of 1:1:1. Pre-sowing-dip method was adopted for seed treatment.The treatments included application of [T0: Shade net(light 20,100), T1: GA3 200 ppm + light 24,500 lux,T2:GA3 200 ppm + light 30,100 lux,T3: GA3 250 ppm + light 24,500 lux,T4:GA3 250 ppm + light 30,100 lux, T5: GA3 300 ppm + light 24,500 lux,T6: GA3 300 ppm + light 30,100 lux,T7:GA3 350 ppm + light 24,500 lux, T8: GA3 350 ppm + light 30,100 lux]. The experiment was laid in randomized block design with nine treatments and was replicated three times. Treatment T8 performed best in term day to 1st germination(20.01), day to 50% germination(26.68), day to complete germination(35.25),germination percentage(89.09), seed vigour index (1400.48),seedling height(10,20,30,40 days) (10.37,11.50,13.69,16.25), number of leaves (10,20,30,40 days) (3.00,4.78,6.22,9.45), shoot length (10,20,30,40 days) (4.68,4.97, 5.05,5.20), root length(10.66), shoot: root(0.62),stem girth(2.70),chlorophyll content (43.37) and survivality percentage(83.65).

The effect of treatment pomegranate peel extract and calcium on the storage ability of broad beans (Vicia faba L.)

After harvesting the crop of broad beans grown in one of the orchards in Al-Hartha region, Basrah, Iraq for the agricultural season 2023-2024, the pods were separated to obtain the seeds by removing the pod, then the seeds were divided into three parts. A part of the seeds was treated by dipping in pomegranate peel extract at a concentration of 3 ml l‾¹ for 5 minutes,. The second part of seeds was dipped in calcium at a concentration of 2 ml l‾¹ for 5 minutes. The last part was dipped in distilled water only for 5 minutes. After the seeds dried, they were packed in perforated polyethylene bags (8 holes of 5 mm diameter ) with an amount of 1 kg per bag and stored at a temperature of 4 °C for two weeks. The experiment was carried out as factorial experiment consisting of two factors, using Complete Rondomize Design (CRD) with 3 replicates. The results showed that 2 ml l‾¹ calcium treatment was the best in reducing the weight loss of seeds and recording the highest percentage of total soluble solids and protein, while the treatment of pomegranate peel extract was superior to the rest treatments in recorded the highest vitamin C. The results also showed that the two mentioned treatments did not record any significant decay after two weeks of storage compared to the control treatment. The weight loss of seeds, the percentage of decay, and the total soluble solids increased with increasing storage period, while the protein percentage and vitamin C concentration decrease with increasing storage period.

Changes in quality parameters and bioactive components of seedless lime fruit (Citrus latifolia) during cold storage

The postharvest maintenance quality of fruits is significant for industrial applications. The present study was conducted to evaluate of quality parameters and bioactive components of seedless lime (Citrus latifolia) fruit during cold storage. Lime fruits were packed in perforated polyethylene bags, which were then put into a perforated expanded polystyrene box, and stored in a cool chamber, at 10°C. Quality parameters including skin color, weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), juice percentage, technological index, titratable acidity (TTA), reducing and total sugars of the fruits were measured during 56 days of storage. The total phenolic content of the juices was measured using a colorimetric method of Folin-Ciocalteu. Ascorbic acid and major flavonoids of the fruits such as hesperidin and eriocitrin were quantified using HPLC-PDA methods. The results showed that cold storage kept the greenness of the fruit’s skin for up to 28 days. A minor weight loss (< 5%) was also recorded in the first 28 days of storage. The technological index of the fruits, reducing total sugars and TSS slightly increased, whereas TA somewhat decreased. Bioactive components such as phenolic and ascorbic acid contents were kept stable (p>0.05) in the first 21 days of storage but considerably reduced after 28 days of storage. A decrease in hesperidin and eriocitrin was also recorded from 21 days of storage but at a lower rate compared to that of phenolic and ascorbic acid contents. Altogether, a simple, convenient cold storage method using a perforated polyethylene bag and expanded polystyrene box can retain the quality and bioactive components of lime fruits for at least 21 days. The findings are significant for the food industrial application of storage lime fruits for fresh utilization or juice processing.

Shelf-life and post-harvest quality of tomato (Lycopesicon esculentum Mill.) varieties to different packaging materials at Mersa, North Wollo, Ethiopia

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) has a short shelf life at ambient conditions and is a highly perishable crop. Extreme post-harvest losses occur as a result of the wrong packaging materials. However, by employing the right packing materials, tomato varietals can have longer shelf lives. Globally rising fresh tomato demand has forced the development of essential mechanisms, including packaging materials, to improve shelf life. The current study was initiated to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of tomato varieties in response to packaging materials at Mersa, North Wollo, Ethiopia, during 2021 cropping season. Three replications of a completely randomized design were used to test three tomato varieties (Roma VF, Oval red and Woyno) and seven packing materials [closed carton (CC), open carton (OC), closed wooden box (CWB), open wooden box (OWB), perforated polyethylene bag (PPB), non-perforated polyethylene bag (NPPB) and control (C)] at room temperature (20-22°C). According to the findings, there is a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect between packaging materials and varieties on a number of parameters, including physiological weight loss, decay percentage, disease incidence, total soluble solids (TSS), tomato fruit PH, juice color score, overall acceptability, marketability percentage, and shelf life. Non-perforated polyethylene plastic experienced the highest physiological weight losses of 79.88% and 79.63% after 18 days of storage. Roma VF variety showed the greatest weight loss. In addition, PPB showed the lowest decay percentage (20%) and maximum marketability (20%) during the 18th day of storage. At the end of storage, NPPB with Roma VF and Woyno varieties had a substantially (100%) larger decay loss of tomato fruits. NPPB has been linked to the highest disease incidence (20%). Roma VF and Oval red recorded the highest pH tomato fruit’s color and overall acceptability score on PPB. It can, thus, be concluded that packaging of tomato fruits in PPB can extend shelf-life with better-quality of the produce. However, to develop plausible recommendation, the study should be repeated in multi-location with more packaging methods and varieties over seasons.

A review on post-harvest technology of an underutilized vegetable bitter tomato (Solanum aethiopicum L cv. gilo) of Northeastern region of India

Northeastern region of India is endowed with variety of local vegetables that are highly nutritious and health-promoting. One of which is Solanum aethiopicum L which has a bountiful source of nutrients and bioactive chemicals. It has several pharmacological benefits and are used in indigenous medicine to treat various conditions. Nonetheless, the crop is highly perishable with a short shelf life (35days) which significantly contributes to postharvest losses. Techniques used to extend the shelf life of the crop are freezing, drying and refrigeration. The crop can be stored at low temperatures about 10-12oC. Fruits kept in perforated polyethylene bags had the longest shelf life. Important materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene are commonly used and coating can be applied to increase the crop’s shelf life. The crop has a huge potential in making value added products like pickles, dehydrated products and many more. However, concerns related to postharvest and production of the crop have not received equal attention due to scant research with the crop being neglected and underutilized due to lack of awareness and limited market. Considering the crop offers many advantages, popularization of the crop is essential but adapting to the bitter taste and flavor of the fruit could be challenging for the consumers. Consumer attitudes, views, and willingness to pay for products that have undergone particular post-harvest procedures require further investigation. Proper cultivation techniques, processing, value addition and marketing are required to surpass these hurdles.

Suitability of some growing media for cashew seedling growth and development in the nursery

Abstract. Using the right growing media is pivotal for cultivating high-quality seedlings. While topsoil remains a prevalent choice in nurseries, there is a growing need to explore its effectiveness in cashew seedling production and find potential alternatives that might reduce our dependence on it. A three-month experiment was undertaken at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria’s nursery. The setup followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) incorporating ten treatment variations, each replicated thrice. These treatments involved two cashew nut types, Jumbo and Medium, and five distinct growing media: 100% Topsoil, 100% Sawdust, 75% Topsoil + 25% Sawdust, 50% Topsoil + 50% Sawdust, and 25% Topsoil + 75% Sawdust. For the procedure, each of these media was filled into perforated polythene bags measuring 30cm x 15cm, with one seed planted per bag. Data collected were on % emergence, morphological, shoot and root data. Data were subjected to ANOVA using SAS (version 2010) statistical package and means were separated using DMRT at (P≤0.05). Findings revealed no notable variance in percentage mean emergence at four weeks post-planting or in leaf count at the twelve-week mark. Control treatments (100% topsoil) for jumbo and medium had the shortest plant height, lowest number of leaves, seedling vigour, fresh root weight and taproot length. 100% topsoil as a growing medium for raising cashew seedlings should be discouraged as the experimented growing media offered statistically the same or improved emergence, morphology, and root growth development.

Effect of different bagging materials on guava fruit physiology and its quality attributes

Guava fruit is a very nutritious and fairly rich source of minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber thus medicinally rich to cure stomach-related problems. Thus it's a need of hour to produce quality fruits without any internal or external defects or disorders as well as fruits should be free from chemical residues. The problem to produce the desired quality of fruits can be overcome by the use of pre-harvest bagging technology. Thus an experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of different bagging materials on fruit appearance and quality. The findings revealed that the maximum increase in fruit mass (36.38%), fruit length (20.64%), fruit grade (30.23%), ascorbic acid content (7.36%) and TSS (48.65%) were observed as compared to the control in perforated polythene bags bagged at 30 days after fruit set (PEBD2), newspaper bagged at 30 days after fruit set (NPBD2), perforated polythene bagged at 15 days after fruit set (PEBD1) and butter paper bagged at 15 days after fruit set (BPBD1), respectively, whereas maximum reduction in fruit scar (93.78) recorded in newspaper bagged at 15 days after fruit set (NPBD1). Findings indicated that physio-chemical attributes of bagged fruits positively altered with no scar on fruit skin and without pest infestation thus ensuring better fruit quality, optimum production and consumer acceptance. Thus, bagging is cost-effective technology, warrants physiologically improved quality fruit production with consumer satisfaction.

Efficacy of Packaging on the Quality and Shelf Life of Guava (Psidium Guajava)

The effectiveness of packaging materials on the quality and shelf life of local and hybrid varieties of guava was evaluated under refrigerated and room temperature. The treatment consisted of packaging with polythene, a perforated polyethylene bag, and control (without packaging. Different quality parameters such as physiological weight loss, decay loss, color and overall acceptability score, percentage of marketability, moisture content, total solid content, ash content, protein content, pH, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content were examined. The results showed that the vitamin C, pH content reduction rate is comparatively lower in the case of hybrid guava stored in perforated polythene packaged at refrigeration temperature compared to other treatments. An increase in titratable acidity content was recorded lowest in the case of deshi variety packaged with polythene stored at refrigeration temperature whereas hybrid variety packaged with perforated polythene stored at room temperature showed a higher rate of increase. Physiological weight loss and decay loss were recorded lowest for the sample packaged with a perforated polythene bag under the refrigerated condition while the control sample stored at normal room temperature showed the highest rate. Marketability of perforated polythene packaged fruits was recorded highest when that of the control one under normal room temperature was recorded the lowest. Performances of perforated polythene packaging system under the refrigerated temperature may be recommended for the longest shelf life and the highest quality of guava.

Effect of Cold Shock Pretreatment Combined with Perforation-Mediated Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Storage Quality of Cucumbers.

This study evaluated the application of cold shock combined with perforation-mediated passive modified atmosphere packaging technology (CS-PMAP) for cucumber preservation through physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional qualities. The effectiveness of CS-PMAP in maintaining the quality of fresh cucumbers was studied; cucumbers were pretreated with cold shock and then packed into perforated polyethylene bags (bag size of 20 × 30 cm; film thickness of 0.07 mm; and two holes in each bag with a diameter of 6 mm), while the cucumbers without cold shock were considered as the control. Storage of the samples was performed at (13 ± 2) °C for 20 days to determine the quality changes in terms of gas composition, weight loss, skin color, texture, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The CS-PMAP showed a significant improvement in maintaining firmness, TSS, ascorbic acid, and flavor profile of cucumbers; the control samples without cold shock showed higher weight loss and MDA levels. Results of this study confirmed that CS-PMAP has potential use in the storage of cucumbers.

Morphological characterization and response of red flower rag leaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth S. Moore) to organic and inorganic fertilizers and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

Red flower rag leaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides) is one of the underutilized vegetables consumed globally. Pot trials were conducted to characterize 15 morphologically distinct accessions of C. crepidioides and assess the effects of treatment combinations of eggshell, NPK 15:15:15, poultry manure and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus(Glomus mosseae) as soil amendments on growth and yield-related characters of C. crepidioides. Thereafter, 48 seedlings of the best performing accession were transplanted into perforated polythene bags filled with 7 kg of heat-sterilized soil. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Treatment combinations were incorporated into in the polythene bags 1 week after transplanting, while control plants received no amendments. The results showed that accession NH/GKB-15 had the highest plant height (29.83 cm), stem length (27.67 cm), number of leaves (15) and length of internode at node 3 (1.13 cm) and node 4 (1.17 cm). The growth and yield characters of this best performing accession (NH/GKB-15) in response to soil amendments showed that poultry manure produced the tallest plants (55.17 cm), longest and widest stems (48.35 and 0.66 cm), longest and widest leaves (16.39 and 6.26 cm, respectively), and higher number of inflorescence (2.13). With NPK 15:15:15 the seedlings did not survive. Poultry manure should therefore be utilized for better plant nutrition and faster growth of C. crepidioides seedlings as well as for safer consumption of the leafy vegetable.

Value Addition, Packaging and Storage of Aonla in India

The product Aonla (Emblica officinalis Geartn), the king of arid fruits, popularly known as “Indian gooseberry”, is a small-sized minor subtropical fruit grown widely in North India. India ranks first in the world in aonla area and production volume. It is considered to be a “wonder fruit for health” because of its unique properties. Uses. Aonla fruit is very useful in treating many diseases such as diabetes, cough, asthma, bronchitis, headache, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, skin diseases, leprosy, jaundice, scurvy, diarrhoea and cancer. Packaging. Different packaging materials such as nylon net, perforated polyethylene bags, ventilated corrugated fibre boxes, gunny bags, wooden crates, etc., can be used for prolonging the storage life of fruit. Storage. Refrigerated storage helps in enhancing the storage life of fruit. Value addition. There are numerous products such as aonla squash, candy, jam, chutney, etc., which are pre- pared from aonla fruit. Inclusion of these products in the diet definitely helps in improving the nutritional value of Indian meals. Discussion. The low cost of the products as well as good sensory, nutritional and shelf life qualities mean that processed aonla products are appropriate for commercialization. In order to obtain a good income from aonla, it must be sold immediately in the market; if not, to make profit, proper storage facilities should be available.

Effect of Preharvest Application of CPPU and Perforated Packaging on the Postharvest Quality of Red-Fleshed Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus sp.) Fruit

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the preharvest application of forchlorfenuron (CPPU) and perforated polyethylene bag packaging (PPE) on maintaining the postharvest quality of red-fleshed cv. ‘Da-Hong’ pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus sp.) fruit. On the flowering day, 100 mg·L−1 CPPU was sprayed on the bracts and water was used as the control. After harvest, all fruits were divided into three package treatments, which were packed without bags, packed with and without PPE bags, and stored at 5 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 21 days, followed by 7 days at 20 °C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity without bags for quality evaluation. Significantly higher bract thickness (2.26 vs. 1.44 mm), longer fruit length (120.5 vs. 109.04 mm), and greater firmness (1.56 vs. 1.04 kg·cm−2) were recorded for the CPPU treated fruit at harvest. Preharvest application of CPPU with perforated packaging resulted in significantly greener bracts, a lower yellow index, fewer chilling incidences, and a lower decay ratio, but there was a slight decrease in respiration rate during cold storage at 5 °C for 21 days. However, all criteria reached the threshold when fruits were transferred to 20 °C for 7 days. In conclusion, preharvest CPPU application plus perforated packaging is the best combination for the long-term storage of red-fleshed pitaya fruit at 5 °C.

Impact of household refrigeration parameters on postharvest quality of fresh food produce

The main phenomena involved in the food refrigeration process are heat and mass transfer. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of refrigeration system parameters on food quality during postharvest storage. Experiments were conducted where the mean air temperature, air temperature fluctuation, air velocity, thermal oscillation period and humidity ratio were controlled, to quantify the food mass transfer, cooling rates and sensorial acceptance. The food sample under evaluation was lettuce packed in perforated polyethylene bags. A standardized test (IEC 63169:2020) was performed under the same experimental conditions for comparison. Food cooling rate was influenced by air velocity and a gradual increase (0.1–1.1 °C) in food temperature was observed during storage. A temperature increase from 3.0 to 7.0 °C, raised the mass loss of the food by 8.8%, which was directly influenced by the driving force provided by the humidity. Higher temperature fluctuations led to negative results in the sensorial analysis, with less freshness and higher consumption rejection. • An experimental facility was designed to simulate household refrigerator operation. • Domestic refrigerated storage conditions for food preservation were evaluated. • A standardized test, based on IEC 63169:2020, was performed for comparison. • Food cooling kinetics, mass transfer and sensorial parameters were assessed.

Shelf life extension of peach palm heart packed in different plastic packages

ABSTRACT Peach palm heart (Bactris gasipaes) is a highly perishable product and, therefore, studies on extending its shelf life are quite necessary. Considering the high demand of this vegetable, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of using different plastic packages in order to extend the shelf life of the peach palm heart in natura. Stipes were collected from plants grown on family farms located in the municipality of Seropédica-RJ. Stipes were peeled, sanitized and packed at the Post-harvest Laboratory in Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). In this experiment, the following treatments were applied: a control without package (C), unperforated polyethylene bag (UPB), perforated polyethylene bag (PPB), microperforated polyethylene bag (MPPB), and styrofoam tray + plastic film (STPF). The material was stored in a cold chamber under controlled temperature (5±2oC) for 24 days and then at room temperature (28±2oC) on the 25th day. Physical, chemical and visual evaluations were carried out for 25 days, with samples submitted to evaluations at 0 (initial characterization), 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 25 days of storage. Microbiological evaluations were performed for 18 days, with samples submitted to evaluations at 0, 8, and 16 days of storage. The results indicate that using plastic package combined with refrigeration was efficient in extending the shelf life of in natura peach palm hearts, by reducing fresh mass loss, maintaining visual quality and reducing sample contamination. The PPB, UPB and MPPB packages showed good performance considering the shelf life extension of the packed vegetable. Thus, we recommend the acquisition of cheaper packages, so that smallholder farmers could obtain higher profitability.

Studies on the Comparative Effects of Cow Dung, Goat Dung and Poultry Manure in the Restoration of Gully Eroded Soil Using Amaranthus hybridus as Test Plant

Gully erosion presents a serious challenge to the fertility of the agricultural soil. This experiment was conducted at the permanent site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University behind botany laboratory. The efficacy of cow dung, goat dung and poultry manure on the restoration of gully eroded soil was tested. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five treatments replicated thrice. Five kilogram of eroded soil was mixed uniformly with 1.5 kg of the different manure treatments. This treatment or amendment include goat dung, poultry mature, cow dung mixed with goat dung and poultry manure weighing 0.5 kg respectively to make up the 1.5 kg required treatment. Also another one was set without treatment to serve as control. Each of these treatments was replicated thrice making a sum total of 15 perforated polythene bags. Stem height, leaf area, number of leaves and stem girth of the test plant (A. hybridus) were checked and measured weekly as the plant germinates and grows. Collection of soil analysis of the samples to determine the amounts of carbon and nitrogen was carried out at the end of the practical. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the significance of treatment. It was observed that the highest carbon and nitrogen content were observed from gully eroded soil treated with Cow dung mixed with goat dung and poultry manure (0.205±0.001 and 1.397±0.006) while the least was observed from the control (0.065±0.000 and 0.673±0.001) respectively. There was a significant difference in the effect of the different treatments on all the parameters checked except on the stem girth and number of leaves. The inference of this study suggests that the mixture of cow dung, goat dung and poultry droppings can be used to restore the fertility of gully eroded soil.

Effect of chemicals on shelf-life of jamun (Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels) fruits

The present experiment was conducted at Department of Fruit Science and Horticulture Technology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during the year 2018-19 to determine effect of post-harvest treatments of chemicals on shelf-life of jamun fruits cv. CISH J 42. Eight treatments were taken with different chemicals and growth regulator concentrations CaCl2 1%, CaCl2 1.5%, Ca (NO3)2 1%, Ca (NO3)2 1.5%, GA3 50 ppm, GA3 100 ppm followed by perforated polythene packaging, polythene packaging without any chemical and control. This experiment revealed that fruits treated with 1.5% CaCl2 and kept in perforated polyethylene bag, showed reduced in physiological loss in weight (59.364%), spoilage losses (58.333%), maintained the marketable quality (41.667%) and rendering them acceptable up to period of 6 days as compared to control (2 days) when stored under ambient condition.

English

Dried seeds of Monodora myristica were obtained from Oba market in Edo State, ground into fine powder and stored in an air tight plastic container at room temperature until when used. Essential oils were extracted using steam distillation and characterised using the gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique. Microbial isolates obtained from smoke dried fish samples purchased from Oba Market, Benin City, Edo State. Fish samples were put in perforated polythene bags kept in plastic baskets and stored for four (4) weeks. Identification and characterisation of isolates were carried out following standard microbiological procedures. The antimicrobial activity was determined using agar well diffusion method. Data obtained were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 95% confidence level. The result showed that M. myristica oil contained twenty-five components which were mainly monoterpene hydrocarbons constituents consisting of limonene (17.6%), α-phellandrene (16.3%), α-pinene (12.2%), β-myrcene (11.2%), 3-Thujene and β-Linalool (7.3%). The oil showed bacteriocidal activity at minimum ihhibitory concentration/minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) of 150 mg/mL against Staphylococcus epidermidis PM221, Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665, Bacillus subtilis 6051-HGW and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAU2 and fungicidal activity at MIC/minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 300 mg/mL against Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus species. In view of the aforementioned, the expressed antimicrobial activity is a demonstration of the efficacy of the oil against fish spoilage organism and use in the fishery industry. Key words: Chemical compositions essential oils, antimicrobial activity, Monodora myristica, agar well diffusion method, Clarias gariepinus.

Effect of Storage Temperatures on Phenotypic and Gene Expression of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes

Introduction: Maize is an important cereal grown globally across wide range of altitude and latitude. Temperature is one of the factors that affect the viability of maize under storage conditions.
 Aim: This study, therefore, assessed the effect of different temperature storage levels on the morphological characters and molecular variability of maize genotypes.
 Materials and Methods: The seeds of maize genotypes: TZLCOMP4C3, EVDT-W200STRCO, POP66SR/ACR94, POOL18SR QPM, TZM 132, TZM 1291, EVDT- Y2008 STR and TZM 1326 obtained from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) Ibadan were stored at different temperature conditions of -80°C, -20°C, 5°C, 50°C, and 25°C for 6 hours. The stored maize was sown in perforated polythene bags containing 7 kg of soil and replicated thrice in a complete randomized design. The molecular variability was also investigated on the maize genotypes stored under the varying temperatures. The effect of storage temperature was significantly higher at 50°C for all growth characters but was not significant at -80°C.
 Results: The genotypic effect on the growth characters was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in TZM 132 with plant height (99.09 cm), leaf length (46.54 cm), leaf width (3.05 cm), number of leaves (6.25) and stem length (50.12 cm). The contribution of principal component axis (PCA) showed that PC 1 had the height variation with a proportion of 47.17% and eigen value of 2.83 across the growth characters. Molecular evaluation showed that EVDT-W200STRCO had the highest DNA concentration of 4885.7 ng/μl at storage temperature of 25°C, while EVDT-W200STCO at -20°C recorded the least DNA concentration of 26.60 ng/μl. The highest DNA concentration across the maize varieties were recorded at -20°C (POOL18SR QPM, TZM 132 and TZM 1326), 5°C (TZLCOMP4C3), 25°C (EVDT-W200STRCO and EVDT- Y2008 STR) and 50°C (POP66SR/ACR94 and TZM 1291). OPB 10 had the highest allelic no, gene diversity and polymorphic information content of 15, 0.97 and 97.0% respectively. The genetic distance matrix established relationship among the stored maize genotypes.
 Conclusion: Maize seeds can therefore be stored at temperature range of -20°C to 50°C depending on the variety, without losing its viability and molecular constituents.

Prolonging the shelf life of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) using Aloe vera gel at ambient temperature

The edible coating is one of the promising aspects in the preservation of climacteric fruits like papaya. Among the various edible coating, Aloe vera gel has drawn serious attention to the scientific community as one of the promising bio-preservatives due to its human health benefit and antimicrobial properties. The packaging of fruits using polythene bag is already a common practice. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of no packaging and packaging with both perforated and unperforated polythene, together with Aloe vera gel coated and uncoated papaya fruits on post-harvest ripening behaviour and physicochemical properties when stored at room condition (25 ± 2 °C temperature and 80–85 % relative humidity). The results showed that Aloe vera gel coating alone delayed colour development during storage compared to the control (no packaging without Aloe vera gel). After 12 days of storage (DAS), the weight loss and moisture content of fruits treated with only Aloe vera gel were 11.7% and 89.9% respectively, whereas in control, the weight loss was 25.2% and moisture content was 87.1%. Moreover, soluble solids concentration (SSC) and disease severity were reduced as around 3% and 29% respectively, for coated compared to uncoated fruits. Similar to Aloe vera gel coating, packaging of papaya fruits with only both types of polythene bag showed better performance compared to control but not as much as Aloe vera gel coating alone. In addition, if the fruits are coated with Aloe vera gel as well as packed with polythene bag their edible quality drastically reduces once the fruits reach their peak climacteric or ripening stage, although these results were more severe with unperforated polythene compared to perforated polythene bags. These findings also suggest that Aloe vera gel as an edible coating could be used commercially for extending the storage life of papaya fruits for up to 14 days, while packaging of Aloe vera gel-coated papaya fruits in polythene bags must be avoided during, storage, transportation, and marketing. In addition, this is in accordance with the need to avoid the use of non-recycled plastic material due to its pollution effects on ecosystems worldwide.