Physalis Research Articles

INDUCCIÓN DE VARIABILIDAD EN EL VIGOR DE PLÁNTULA, CARACTERES MORFOLÓGICOS Y AUTOINCOMPATIBILIDAD DE PLANTAS M1 DE TRES VARIEDADES DE Physalis ixocarpa Brot. MEDIANTE RAYOS GAMMA 60Co

<p><strong>Background. </strong>The husk tomato (<em>Physalis ixocarpa</em> Brot. ex Horm.) is an obligated allogam species with gametophyte auto-incompatibility, which impedes the generation of endogamic lines by auto-fecundation to obtain hybrids. <strong>Objective.</strong> To evaluate the effect of six doses of <sup>60</sup>Co gamma rays (from 0 to 300 Gy) applied to seeds, over seedling vigor, growth and reproductive features of M<sub>1</sub> plants of three husk tomato varieties (Manzano, Verde Puebla, and San Miguel). <strong>Methodology.</strong> The 18 treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design with five replications for the variables related to seedling vigor and 10 replications for the morphological and reproductive plant variables. <strong>Results.</strong> The radiation decreased emergency and survival of seedlings, height, and length of roots of M<sub>1</sub> seedling. Regarding the growth of M<sub>1</sub> plants, the doses of 100 and 300 Gy stimulated only height, the other doses had the same response as the control. Irradiation did not change self-incompatibility, as no fruit produced seed. <strong>Implications.</strong> The study allows to determine the sensitivity of the peel tomato to irradiation, by subjecting seeds to different doses of gamma rays and assess whether it is possible to obtain outstanding individuals in force and flowers that present self-fertilization, considering all the advantages of this type of pollination (form lines, to generate hybrids). <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The M<sub>1</sub> plants of the varieties Manzano and Verde Puebla excelled in growth; but those of San Miguel presented more self-pollinated flowers. The three varieties resulted sensitive to radiation; but growth variables varied depending on the variety and dose of radiation.<strong></strong></p>

Characterization of the antioxidant activity, carotenoid profile by HPLC-MS of exotic colombian fruits (goldenberry and purple passion fruit) and optimization of antioxidant activity of this fruit blend

The consumption of antioxidants can prevent chronic non-communicable diseases and the exotic Colombian fruits, goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) and purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. Edulis Sims), are rich in bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to characterize and optimize the antioxidant activity of these fruits blend. The fruits were classified according to their maturity stages, the freeze-dried extracts were physiochemically characterized, and polyphenols, carotenoids and antioxidant activity were quantified, and an experimental mixture design was applied to optimize the antioxidant activity of the bend. For the goldenberry the maturity stage 3 had higher iron-reducing capacity and higher content of polyphenols. Meanwhile, for the purple passion fruit, this maturity stage had higher antioxidant activity by all methodologies and a higher concentration of polyphenols; the ultrasound-assisted extraction showed statistical differences for polyphenols, ABTS and FRAP. Antioxidant activity showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between samples (TBARS (3.98 ± 0.14 and 7.03 ± 0.85 μM-MDA/g), ABTS (36.53 ± 2.66 and 29.4 ± 4.88 μMTrolox/g), DPPH (36.53 ± 2.66 and 23.90 ± 0.96μMTrolox/g), ORAC (23.02 ± 0.36 and 32.44 ± 0.94 μM Trolox/g) and total polyphenols (5, 29 ± 0.34 and 9.12 ± 0.37mgGA/g). Some of the carotenoids identified by HPLC-MS in both fruits were lutein, α and β-carotene, phytoene and lycopene. The optimum bend was goldenberry 0.83 and purple passion fruit 0.17.

Antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemical composition of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae)

Background: The high morbidity and mortality associated with microbial infections and the ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics due to inappropriate use and resistance warrant alternative stratagems. Aim: We investigated the antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, and qualitative phytochemical composition of the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Physalis peruviana L. (Solanaceae) based on its ethnomedicinal information. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated using the disk diffusion technique. The brine shrimp lethality assay method was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the study extracts on brine shrimp nauplii. Qualitative phytochemistry of the study extracts was performed using standard procedures. Results: The two extracts did not possess antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa and were either inactive or slightly inactive against the other microbes at concentrations of ≤ 50 µg/ml. Notably, the aqueous extract exhibited high to very high activities against E. coli and S. aureus and very high to remarkable activities against B. cereus. The methanolic extract showed remarkable activity at concentrations of ≥200 µg/ml against E. coli, moderate to very high against S. aureus, high to very high against B. cereus, and moderate to high against C. albicans. The aqueous extract's minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 50 μg/ml (E. coli and B. cereus), 100 μg/ml (S. aureus), and 200 μg/ml (C. albicans). The minimum bactericidal concentration concentrations (MBCs) of the aqueous extract were 100 μg/ml (E. coli and B. cereus), 200 μg/ml (S. aureus), while the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) for C. albicans was 400 μg/ml. The MICs of the methanolic extract were 25 μg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus and 100 μg/ml for C. albicans, and the MBCs were 100 μg/ml for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. cereus, and the MFC for C. albicans was 200 μg/ml. The aqueous was non-toxic, while the methanolic extract was slightly toxic to brine shrimp nauplii, indicating their relative safety. Various phytochemicals were detected in the study extracts, depicting broad pharmacologic activity, including antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: The aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of P. peruviana may serve as a source of efficacious and safe novel antimicrobial agents upon further evaluation.

Development of an antimicrobial packaging system for fresh cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruits

An active antifungal packaging system combined with modified atmospheres (MAP) was proposed to preserve cape gooseberry. Initially, the antifungal effect of oregano essential oil, cinnamaldehyde, and 2-nonanone in the vapor phase was evaluated in vitro to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Botrytis cinerea. Next, the better antifungal compound was included inside an active packaging system adsorbed in powdered bentonite. 100 ± 1 g of fruits were introduced in sealed polylactic acid (PLA) packages with a 0.058 mm perforation in the center forming a MAP and stored at 6 °C and 75 % RH determining fungal deterioration and changes in quality properties. From the in vitro tests, it was determined that cinnamaldehyde was the component with the highest antifungal capacity with a MIC of 2,38 µg per cm3 of headspace air. With the active packages combined with MAP, it was possible to obtain up to 42 days of shelf life.

Controlling Fusarium wilt of cape gooseberry by microbial consortia.

The use of microbial consortia has become a promising alternative for the management of various diseases. In this study, 18 artificial consortia were designed, consisting of five bacteria, five fungi, and a mixture of five fungi and five bacteria; from a collection of microorganisms isolated from the rhizosphere of cape gooseberry plants grown in two soils potentially suppressive against Fusarium oxysporum. When evaluated under greenhouse conditions for their biocontrol activity on cape gooseberry plants, one consortium was selected for their high efficacy (over 90%) in the control of vascular wilt caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. physali. This was constituted by ten microorganisms, the bacteria Paenibacillus peoriae, Bacillus subtilis, Lysinibacillus sp., Bacillus simplex, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis; and the fungi Beauveria bassiana, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Trichoderma gamsii, Trichoderma ghanense, and Trichoderma lignicola. On the other hand, four of the consortia evaluated in the presence of the pathogen mitigated the deleterious effect produced by the pathogen on plant growth, expressing higher dry weights, both in the aerial and root parts. This work represents the first report on using these mixtures of microorganisms to control vascular wilt produced by F. oxysporum. However, further studies are needed to determine their activity in cape gooseberry fields.

Influences of Different Sowing Dates with Application of GA3 on Germination and Seedling Growth of Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) in Subtropical Condition Prayagraj

The present investigation was carried out to find influences of different sowing dates with application of GA3 on germination and seedling growth of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) in subtropical condition Prayagraj. The experiment was conducted in a Complete Randomized Design with three replications during August-March (2022-23) at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh India. The 10 treatments comprised of five dates of sowing i.e., T1: 20 August 2022 with seed treatment from GA3 @100ppm, T2: 20 August without seed treatment from GA3, T3: 5 September 2022 with seed treatment from GA3 @ 100 ppm, T₄: 5 September without seed treatment from GA3, T5: 20 September 2022 with seed treatment from GA3 @100ppm, T6: 20 September 2022 without seed treatment from GA3. T7: 5 October 2022 with seed treatment from GA3 @100ppm, T8: 5 October 2022 without seed treatment from GA3, T9: 20 October 2022 with seed treatment from GA3 @100ppm, T10: 20 October 2022 without seed treatment from GA3. From all the above treatments the highest percentage of germination was recorded from T7: 93.33% followed by T8: 90% and T10: 91.66% and vegetative growth of seedling was higher in T7 followed by T8 and T9. All the treatments are sown in nursery through seed propagation after that transplanted in main field level for observe germination parameters and vegetative growth of Cape gooseberry seedling influenced by different sowing dates.

A powdered mix of cape gooseberry-based pulp, seed, and peel: Optimization of formulation and spray-drying process

BACKGROUND: Cape gooseberry (CG) is a fruit with nutritional and sensory attributes that generate significant consumer interest. Consumption patterns of this fruit must be in line with the diversification of its value-added products to be offered to new markets. OBJECTIVE: The research aim was to optimize the encapsulants formulation and the spray-drying (SD) process for developing of a powdered mix (PMCG) of CG based pulp, seed and peel, using the response surface methodology (RSM). METHODS: A RSM was used, with a face-centered central composite experimental design (α= 1). The independent variables (IV) were gum arabic (GA) (1 – 3% w/w), maltodextrin (MD) (11,5 – 13,5% w/w), air inlet temperature (AIT) (130 – 160 °C), air outlet temperature (AOT) (75 – 85 °C), and atomizer disc speed (ADS) (18000 – 22000 rpm). The dependent variables (DV) of the PMCG were moisture, solubility, hygroscopicity, wettability (We), color coordinates L* and b*, total phenols (TP), antioxidant capacity, and yield. RESULTS: The experimental optimization presented a desirability of 68.0%, with GA and MD levels in the PMCG of 2.2 and 10.1% p/p, respectively, and process conditions of AIT = 160 °C, AOT = 77.8 °C and ADS = 21450 rpm. The IV with the most significant effect on the DV was the MD. It was observed that the increase in MD decreases the PMCG moisture content, hygroscopicity, and the content of bioactive compounds, but increases the solubility and the values of L* and b*. The SD process was an effective technology that allowed obtaining PMCG with excellent quality attributes. CONCLUSIONS: In the process, greater use was made of the structure of the CG (pulp, seed, and peel), which gave high CG solids to the PMCG obtained and allowed more effective use of the fruit and higher economic viability in the SD process.

Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of Physalis peruviana cultivated with recycled paper as mulch

The application of soil mulching has been widely used to increase crop production; however, few research studies have comprehensively evaluated the use of recycled paper as soil mulch and its effects in relation to water savings and crop coefficients. The objective was to evaluate the effects of mulching with recycled paper on evaporation and evapotranspiration of Physalis peruviana and to determine the crop coefficients in its development stages. The study was carried out in two cultivation cycles at the Lysimetric Station of Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The experiments were set up in a randomized block design with four replicates, where four lysimeter treatments were applied: P. peruviana cultivation without recycled paper mulch (C); P. peruviana cultivation with recycled paper mulch (CP); lysimeter with only recycled paper mulch (P); and lysimeter cultivated with Bahiagrass (G). Irrigation and drainage volumes in each lysimeter were measured daily to calculate crop evapotranspiration (ETc), reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and, therefore, the crop coefficients (Kc). In addition, crop phenology, fruit characteristics, gas exchange, yield and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were also evaluated. For the first cultivation cycle, over 218 days, the values of water consumption in the lysimeters C, CP, P and G were 405, 291, 88 and 444 mm, respectively. For the second cycle, over 206 days, the values of water consumption were 416, 279, 94 and 331 mm, respectively. Recycled paper significantly reduced water consumption, especially in the initial and late-season stages, also reducing Kc values. The Kc values for P. peruviana were 0.25, 0.55, 1.05 and 0.46 in cultivation with mulch and 0.45, 0.85, 1.35 and 0.48 in cultivation without mulch for the initial, development, mid-season and late-season stages, respectively. NDVI can be used to estimate the Kc values of P. peruviana. Recycled paper mulch reduced water consumption by 30.6% and increased gas exchange and yield of P. peruviana in cycles 1 and 2, respectively.

Golden berry leaf extract containing withanolides suppresses TNF-α and IL-17 induced IL-6 expression in HeLa Cells.

Inflammation, characterized by the overexpression of IL-6 in various tissues, has been reported as a symptom of coronavirus disease 2019. In this study, we established an experimental system for overexpression of IL-6 in HeLa cells stimulated by TNF-α and IL-17, along with identification of anti-inflammatory materials and components from local agricultural, forestry, and fishery resources. We constructed a library of extracts from natural sources, of which 111 samples were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities. The MeOH extract of Golden Berry (Physalis peruviana L) leaf was found to exhibit strong anti-inflammatory properties (IC50=4.97µg/mL). Preparative chromatography identified two active constituents, 4β-hydroxywithanolide E (4β-HWE) (IC50=183nM) and withanolide E (WE) (IC50=65.1nM). Withanolides are known anti-inflammatory ingredients of Withania somnifera, an Ayurvedic herbal medicine. P. peruviana leaves containing 4β-HWE and WE should be considered as useful natural resources for anti-inflammatory products.

Flash vacuum expansion, a low-cost and energy-efficient alternative process to produce high-quality fruit puree: Application to Physalis peruviana

Goldenberry has great potential for the development of high-quality products due to its attractive sensory attributes, bioactive compounds, and health benefits. However, postharvest losses are high due to the lack of processing technologies that can both be adapted to rural conditions in producing countries to generate high-quality products. Flash vacuum expansion coupled with vacuum pulping is a new process that can meet these requirements. In the process, the steam holding time (30, 40, and 50 s/130 kPa) and flash vacuum expansion (5 ± 1.2 kPa) were studied. The logarithmic reduction of microbial load and some quality indicators were analyzed during the process and during storage to assess the shelf life of fruit purées. The FVE process with 40 s steam blanching led to a microbial reduction of over 6 log colony forming units (CFU)/g, increased yield and β-carotene content, and preserved most of the AA content (4–12%). Based on the half-lives of the quality indicators, the shelf life of the purées was between 16 d (20 °C) and 90 d (4 °C). The energy consumption was estimated at approximately 0.30 kWh/kg of product. These results demonstrate that the FVE process, although it includes heat treatment, allows a short exposure to heat of the whole fruits to obtain a high-quality puree with an adequate shelf life in a single step, with a relatively low equipment investment and moderate energy consumption.

Mono- and Multicomponent Biosorption of Caffeine and Salicylic Acid onto Processed Cape Gooseberry Husk Agri-Food Waste.

There is an increasing need to find cost-effective and sustainable solutions for treating wastewater from contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). In this regard, cape gooseberry husk-typically an agri-food waste-is investigated for the first time as a potential biosorbent for the removal of model pharmaceutical contaminants of caffeine (CA) and salicylic acid (SA) from water. Three different preparations of husks were investigated and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, zeta potential, and point of zero charge measurements. The activation of the husk led to an increase in the surface area, pore volume, average pore size, and adsorption favorability. The single-component adsorption of SA and CA onto the three husks was investigated at different initial concentrations and pH values to determine the optimal operating conditions. The maximal removal efficiencies of SA and CA reached up to 85 and 63%, respectively, for the optimal husk which also offers a less energy-intensive option in its activation. This husk also exhibited high rates of adsorption that exceeded other husk preparations by up to four times. It was proposed that CA interacts electrostatically with the husk, while SA binds through weak physical interactions (e.g., van der Waals and H-bonding). In binary systems, CA adsorption was highly favored over SA adsorption, owing to its electrostatic interactions. The selectivity coefficients αSACA varied with initial concentration and ranged between 61 and 627. The regeneration of husk was also successful resulting in its re-use for up to four full consecutive cycles, further demonstrating the efficiency of cape gooseberry husk use in wastewater treatment.

Mechanisms of Action of Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals in Colorectal Cancer Prevention.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and its incidence is expected to increase by almost 80% by 2030. CRC apparition is related to poor diet, mainly due to low consumption of phytochemicals present in fruits and vegetables. Hence, this paper reviews the most promising phytochemicals in the literature, presenting scientific evidence regarding potential CRC chemopreventive effects. Moreover, this paper reveals the structure and action of CRC mechanisms that these phytochemicals are involved in. The review reveals that vegetables rich in phytochemicals such as carrots and green leafy vegetables, as well as some fruits such as pineapple, citrus fruits, papaya, mango, and Cape gooseberry, that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties can promote a healthy colonic environment. Fruits and vegetables in the daily diet promote antitumor mechanisms by regulating cell signaling and/or proliferation pathways. Hence, daily consumption of these plant products is recommended to reduce the risk of CRC.

Studies on correlation, heritability and genetic advance in Cape-gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) under sub-tropical condition of Bihar

Aim: The present investigation was undertaken to assess the per se performance, correlation, heritability and genetic advance of temperate genotypes of Cape-gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) under sub-tropical condition of District, Nalanda, Bihar (India). Methodology: About 4-6 leaf stage seedlings of 18 temperate genotypes of Cape-gooseberry were arranged in the field in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Each plot consisted 3.00 m x 2.00 m with spacing of 60 cm and 45 cm between and within rows, respectively. Recommended package of practices were applied to raise a good crop. The data were recorded on ten randomly selected plants for eight characters viz., plant height, number of fruit bearing branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit weight, total soluble solids and fruit yield per plant at maturity, and finally data were subjected to statistical analysis to derive valid conclusion. Results: Significant variation was observed for yield and all the yield traits studied except for plant height. High heritability was observed for fruit weight (0.85) and Total solble solids (0.87). Genetic advance was high for branches per plant (25.87), fruit yield per plant (23.21) and fruit weight (22.57). The fruit yield per plant was strongly positively associated with number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and Total soluble solids at genotypic level. Interpretation: Exhisting variability can be utilized for improvement of the crop. Number of branches per plant and number of fruits per plant are governed by additive genes. Heterosis breeding can be rewarding for the trait having high heritability coupled with low genetic advance. Strong genotypic correlation indicated that yield can be enhanced by giving due weightage to number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids during selection. Key words: Cape-gooseberry, Correlation, Genotypes, Genetic advance, Heritability, Yield

Effect of particle size on sensory and bioactive properties of chocolates with Physalis peruviana L and Vaccinium spp

Chocolates are considered functional foods and are consumed worldwide. The objective was to evaluate the effect of particle size and the inclusion of Physalis peruviana L (Goldenberry) and Vaccinium spp (Andean blueberry) on sensory attributes, color, total phenols, and anthocyanins in dark and milk chocolate. The attributes of gloss, surface, breakage, melting, grittiness, odor, fruit scents, aftertaste, sweetness, mouthfeel, bitterness, and astringency were evaluated for sensory evaluation. To measure color, the CIELAB system was used. Phenols were evaluated using spectrophotometry and anthocyanins using the pH differential method. According to principal components analysis (PCA), dark chocolates with the inclusion of goldenberries had the best sensory scores (Øp =10-20 µm); the results for the correlations were 0.97 for surface and melting, 0.98 for surface and aftertaste, 1.0 for aftertaste and astringency, and -0.92 melting and odor. Milk chocolate with the inclusion of goldenberries (Øp =10- 20 µm) was superior in attributes such as fruit scents, sweetness, grittiness, gloss, odor, aftertaste, and mouthfeel. At the same time, there was a correlation between melting and aftertaste of -0.92 and between melting and mouthfeel of -0.94, odor with fruit scents and sweetness were 0.96 and 0.98, and fruit scents with aftertaste and sweetness were 0.94 and 0.99. Dark and milk chocolates with the inclusion of goldenberries (Øp =10-15 µm) were slightly superior in the phenol content, while chocolates with the inclusion of Andean blueberries (Øp =10-20 µm) had greater anthocyanin contents.

Determination of 301 pesticide residues in tropical fruits imported to Turkey using LC–MS/MS and GC-MS

This study was carried out to detect pesticide residues in tropical fruits. QuEChERS method was validated to determine 301 different pesticides in high water content commodities and high acid content commodities by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Matrix effects were determined for all pesticides in banana, blueberry, lime, mango, and pineapple. Signal suppression and enhancement were observed depending on the analyte/matrix combination within the scope of the study. Tropical fruits imported from Brazil, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Poland, Chile and Thailand were collected from the markets in Aksaray, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Konya, Nevşehir, Sivas and Tokat provinces of Turkey. The method was used to analyze 48 tropical fruits, including banana, blueberry, golden berry, lime, mango, tamarind, and pineapple. Pesticide residues were detected in one sample (16.66%) of golden berry, 4 samples (57.14%) of mango, 5 samples of (83.33%) blueberry, 9 samples (90%) of lime, and 6 samples (100%) banana. Pineapple and tamarind samples did not contain any pesticide residue. Imazalil sulfate was most commonly detected pesticide (8 lime samples). The pesticide residue levels all tropical fruit samples were found below to EU-MRLs.

The Investigation of Oven and Vacuum Oven Drying Kinetics and Mathematical Modelling of Golden Berries

Golden berry (Physalis peruviana) is a fruit that is natively cultivated in the Andean region. Due to its significant nutritional and functional properties, golden berry has been gradually attracting worldwide attention. In this study, oven and vacuum oven drying of golden berries were performed at 60, 70 and 80 °C. Throughout the experiments, the drying kinetic parameters of effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) and activation energy (Ea) were investigated. Moreover, mathematical modeling of drying data was established with the most known modeling equations presented in literature. Experiments revealed that the drying times decreased with increasing temperature and with vacuum addition. The highest and lowest drying times were encountered as 480 minutes in oven drying at 60 °C, and 195 minutes in vacuum oven drying at 80 °C, respectively. Deff values were calculated between 1.95×10-10-3.80×10-10 m2/s and 2.20×10-10-5.45×10-10 m2/s for oven and vacuum oven drying, respectively. Ea values, on the other hand, were found as 32.81 kJ/mol for oven drying and 44.30 kJ/mol for vacuum oven drying. Among the fourteen mathematical models applied to drying curve data, Midilli &amp;amp; Kucuk model provided the best fit for both oven and vacuum oven drying.

Modelling of ultrasonic assisted osmotic dehydration of cape gooseberry using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)

In the present investigation, the cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) was preserved by the application of osmotic dehydration (sugar solution) with ultrasonication. The experiments were planned based on central composite circumscribed design with four independent variables and four dependent variables, which yielded 30 experimental runs. The four independent variables used were ultrasonication power (XP) with a range of 100–500 W, immersion time (XT) in the range of 30–55 min, solvent concentration (XC) of 45–65 % and solid to solvent ratio (XS) with range 1:6–1:14 w/w. The effect of these process parameters on the responses weight loss (YW), solid gain (YS), change in color (YC) and water activity (YA) of ultrasound assisted osmotic dehydration (UOD) cape gooseberry was studied by using response surface methodology (RSM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The second order polynomial equation successfully modeled the data with an average coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.964 for RSM. While for the ANFIS modeling, Gaussian type membership function (MF) and linear type MF was used for the input and output, respectively. The ANFIS model formed after 500 epochs and trained by hybrid model was found to have average R2 value of 0.998. On comparing the R2 value the ANFIS model found to be superior over RSM in predicting the responses of the UOD cape gooseberry process. So, the ANFIS was integrated with a genetic algorithm (GA) for optimization with the aim of maximum YW and minimum YS, YC and YA. Depending on the higher fitness value of 3.4, the integrated ANFIS-GA picked the ideal combination of independent variables and was found to be XP of 282.434 W, XT of 50.280 min, XC of 55.836 % and XS of 9.250 w/w. The predicted and experimental values of response at optimum condition predicted by integrated ANN-GA were in close agreement, which was evident by the relative deviation less than 7%.

Effects of physalis rugose mosaic and groundnut ringspot viruses, in single and double infections, on the development, yield and postharvest fruit characteristics of Physalis peruviana plants

AbstractPhysalis peruviana (Solanaceae), originating from the Andean region of South America, is an exotic plant cultivated in Brazil that produces edible fruit. Five viruses have been reported to naturally infect the Physalis plants in Brazil, of which, two have been drawing attention for the severity of their infections: sobemovirus, physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV) and orthotospovirus, groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of single and double infections of PhyRMV and GRSV on the development, yield and postharvest fruit characteristics of P. peruviana plants. We found that both viruses caused severe systemic symptoms in infected plants, and double infection even led to plant death. Plant height and aerial dry weight were significantly affected by PhyRMV and GRSV infections. Double‐infected plants were the most affected, exhibiting average height and aerial dry weight reductions of 70.9% and 89.7%, respectively. Moreover, PhyRMV‐ and GRSV‐infected plants showed average fruit yield reductions of 66.4% and 85.2%, respectively, compared to healthy plants. Notably, double‐infected plants did not produce any fruit. The fruits produced by infected plants were smaller than those produced by healthy plants. Viral infections also affected postharvest characteristics, such as titratable acidity, total soluble solids (°Brix), phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activity. Both viruses affected the pulp firmness and palatability, but not the colour of the fruits. Therefore, effective disease management strategies against these viruses are necessary to prevent economic losses.

Nutritional and antioxidant profile of the Physalis fruit grown in three Andean regions of Peru.

Physalis peruviana L. fruit contains nutritional and bioactive compounds of immense importance to public health and represents a potential ingredient for the development of functional foods and beverages. This study aimed to determine the chemical and nutritional composition as well as the antioxidant capacity of the P. peruviana L. fruit grown in Peru in three areas of the Central Andean region. Proximal and physicochemical analyses and estimation of mineral content, vitamin C, total carotenoids, total polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] and 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] assays) were performed using standardized methods. The fruits were collected from three regions of the Peruvian Andes (Ancash, Cajamarca, and Cusco). The results showed that the content of potassium (306.54-327.60 mg/100 g) and iron (12.93-14.47 mg/kg) was prominent. The Physalis fruit had high levels of vitamin C (47.20-52.20 mg/100 g), total polyphenols (68.17-83.40 mg equivalents of gallic acid/100 g), and carotenoids (1.12-1.73 mg β-carotene/100 g). Higher values for antioxidant capacity were obtained with the ABTS method (896-1003.33 μmol Trolox/100 g) than with the DPPH method (290-309 μmol Trolox/100 g). This study confirms that the P. peruviana fruit has properties that could provide important health benefits and that it could be used for the development of functional foods and food supplement.

Integrated nutrient management in cape gooseberry

Excessive use of inorganic fertilizers may lead to health hazards, ecological vulnerabilities and deteriorationof soil health. Hence, the present experiment was conducted to substitute the mineral fertilizers with biofertilizersin cape gooseberry by maintaining the yield potential and soil fertility status. Cape gooseberry plants were treatedwith Azotobacter, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) @ 10 g plant-1each with a reduced dose of recommended fertilizer (RDF) from 100 to 60%. The highest yield was recorded with90% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB treatment, which was statistically at par with 60% RDF + Azotobacter, PSBand KSB treatment. Fruit weight was also increased significantly in 60-90% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSBtreated plants. The best quality fruits were obtained in 60% or 90% RDF + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB treated plants.From the experimental findings, it can be concluded that the integrated nutrient module comprised of 60% RDFof NPK + Azotobacter, PSB and KSB @ 10 g plant-1 proved best treatment to improve the production of qualityfruits in cape gooseberry.