Physiological Loss Research Articles

Post Harvest Management Techniques of Few Selected Crops in Assam, India

Reducing agricultural loss or waste is the ultimate goal of post-harvest management techniques. Post-harvest management has become crucial in the present environment of growing population and declining agricultural land and other resources. Ensuring food security in a manner that is safe for both humans and the environment is currently the world's top priority. The FAO estimates that in order to feed the nine billion people on the planet by 2050, food production would need to rise by seventy percent. Therefore, a deep comprehension of the roles played by agro-ecosystems is necessary. A vast number of agricultural products has been produced in recent years, yet there has been a lack of advancement and uptake of post-harvest technologies, leading to significant post-harvest losses. Agricultural crops have 16–36% post-harvest losses each year due to microbiological, physiological, and mechanical losses. Because most products are highly perishable, they require much more care and strategies to ensure that value addition and processing are encouraged. The value chain for processing has become essential to enhancing national food security and promoting food safety. The value chain in agriculture crops post-harvest management includes pre-harvest variables, harvesting, market preparation (pre-cooling, sorting, grading, packaging, and on-farm storage), transportation, storage, value addition/processing, and by-product waste management. The chapter focuses mostly on few selected fruit, vegetable, and cereal crops while discussing current advancements in post-harvest technology and food crop value addition.

Effects of Hexanal Based Formulation on Shelf Life of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassaDuch.)

We evaluated the role of ‘Enhanced Freshness Formulation’ (EFF) having hexanal as the main component on shelf life enhancement of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cv. Sweet Charlie. Hexanal based Enhanced Freshness Formulation was sourced from Centre for Agricultural Nanotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. After crop harvest, a laboratory experiment in completely randomized design was done at ambient temperature (about 22-30°C) with 5-treatments (dipping of freshly harvested berries in hexanal of varying strengths)viz., 1 % hexanal for 2.5 min (V1), 1% hexanal for 5 min (V2), 2% hexanal for 2.5 min (V3) and 2% hexanal for 5 min (V4). Undipped berries were considered as control treatment (V5). Fruit firmness, shelf life, physiological loss in weight, decay loss and anthocyanin content were studied. The study revealed that dipping the berries in 2% hexanal for 2.5 min proved most effective to prolong the shelf life of strawberry. Maximum shelf life (5.90 days) and fruit firmness (5.88 N mm-1) were obtained in the most efficacious treatment, thereby extending the marketing period.

Effect of pre-harvest application of potassium nitrate, naphthalene acetic acid and ethephon on ripening and shelf-life of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda

The current study, effect of pre-harvest application of potassium nitrate (KNO3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and ethephon on ripening and shelf-life of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda was undertaken at the Fruit Research Farm, Dr B R S Agri at Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab. The experiment was carried out on an eight-year-old guava tree of the Allahabad Safeda. The trees were sprayed with various doses of chemicals, KNO3 (1.0, 1.5, 2.0%), NAA (200, 300, 400 ppm) and ethephon (200, 400, 600 ppm) during the third week of November. The fruits were harvested at the hard ripe stage on 19 December, placed in Corrugated fibre box (CFB) of 4 kg capacity and stored at ambient temperature. In ambient storage, guava fruits were remain acceptable for up to 6 days of storage without any adverse effect on fruit quality. KNO3 (1.5 and 2.0%), NAA (300 ppm) and ethephon (200 ppm) recorded a reduction in physiological loss of weight and spoilage and KNO3 (2.0%) maintaining fruit firmness (7.64 kg/cm2), palatability rating (8.00) throughout the storage period. However, the highest storage life and good-quality fruits was recorded with the application of KNO3 (1.5, 2%) during ambient storage. At lower concentrations, ethephon also helps to enhance the ripening of fruits, contrast to this fruits treated with NAA delayed the fruit senescense.

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.

Citral-thymol based synergistic shellac coatings enhanced shelf life of Kinnow fruit stored under low temperature conditions

Microbial spoilage incurs the main cause of reduced shelf life of Kinnow during storage and transportation. This study aimed to evaluate the postharvest application of plant-derived citral and thymol-based shellac wax coatings on ‘Kinnow’ mandarin under controlled conditions (5–7 °C, 90–95 % relative humidity (RH)) over a 75-day storage period. The fruit were coated with shellac wax (SH) supplemented with citral (1.0 %, CSH), thymol (1.0 %, TSH) and citral-thymol combined formulation (1.0 %, CTSH (1:1)). Rheology studies revealed that the Herschel–Bulkley model was the best fit for all coating solutions, ensuring desirable spreadability and adhesion. The CTSH-coating outperformed all other treatments by reducing mean spoilage to 0.46% as compared to commercial shellac (6.71%) over a period of 75 days under cold store conditions. The treated fruit could control the physiological weight loss to 5.73 % as compared to commercial SH coatings (7.62 %) for 60 days. The study concluded that CTSH-coated Kinnow fruit can be stored up to 60 days under cold store conditions at 5–7 °C and 90–95 % RH with acceptable fruit quality (sensory score 7.83). The activities of cell wall degrading enzymes such as Pectin methylesterase (PME) and cellulase were also found to be retarded, contributing to prolonged shelf life. Therefore, these coatings may offer a green substitute to the synthetic analogues, with no health side effects for extending the postharvest shelf life of Kinnow up to 60 days under cold store conditions.

Postharvest Application of Different Coatings to Improve the Quality and Storage Stability of Papaya Fruit (Carica papaya L.) Cv. Red Lady

The Present investigation was carried out on title “Study on different post-harvest treatment for improving shelf life and quality of Papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady”. The Experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design with 10 treatments viz. T0-Control, T1- Ethrel 500 ppm, T2- Ethrel 700 ppm, T3- Aloevera gel 1.0%, T4- Aloevera gel 1.5%, T5- Corn Starch 1.0%, T6- Corn Starch 1.5%, T7- Cassava Starch 1.0%, T8- Cassava Starch 1.5%, T9- (Corn Starch 1.5% + Cassava Starch 1.5%) and their three replications, during the year 2023. Aloevera gel 1.5% treated fruits showed the better results followed by the Aloevera gel 1.0%. This coating reduced the transpiration rate and slowed down the ethylene production and formed a layer on the surface of papaya fruits which helped in protection from microorganisms, fungus resulting in the increase in shelf life of fruits and storage quality. The Papaya fruits treated with Corn Starch 1.5% was also found to be significantly good treatments over the Control in respect of storage quality and shelf life of Papaya fruits during the storage. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that Aloevera gel 1.5% was found to be most appropriate treatment in papaya cv. Red Lady. Therefore, it can be used in Papaya cv. Red Lady for physiochemical traits ie., Physiological loss in weight, Decay percent, Fruit Firmness, Sensory Evaluation, Visual Appearance, TSS.

Association between Physico Biochemical Parameters of Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Umran under Cold Storage

Aim: The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between the physical and biochemical attributes of Indian jujube or ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cultivar Umran, affected by treatments applied after harvest and stored under cold storage conditions. Place and Duration: This investigation was conducted at Horticulture Department of SKN Agriculture University, Jobner in the month of February to March, 2019. Methodology: The fruits treated with calcium chloride (CaCl2) (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) and gibberellic acid (GA3) (20, 40 and 60ppm) while being maintained in cold storage. The experiment was carried out utilizing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of seven treatments and three replications. The study evaluated multiple attributes of fruits, such as physiological weight loss, marketability, pulp percentage, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugars and reducing sugars. Results: The correlation analysis revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the weight of the fruit and various quality measures, such as marketability (r = 0.959), pulp percent (r =0.846), total soluble solids (r =0.947), titratable acidity (r =0.998), ascorbic acid (r =0.991), total sugars (r =0.980) and reducing sugars (r =0.963). While, a strong negative association was observed between the fruit's weight and PLW (r =-0.947). The linear regression model provides additional evidence for this relationship revealed that changes in fruit weight were responsible for a substantial amount of the differences observed in the evaluated quality attributes. The values of the coefficients of determination (r²) varied between 0.747 and 0.996. Conclusion: The strong correlations and regression model provide valuable insights for improving post-harvest handling and storage practices, leading to enhanced preservation of fruit quality during cold storage.

Apple fruit as a biological suppressant for potato tuber sprouting during ambient storage

In many countries, potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a crucial carbohydrate-rich crop and staple food. However, sprouting during storage can adversely affect the quality of the harvested tubers. To maintain the postharvest quality, this study assessed the potential of apple fruit as one of the biological suppressants for potato tuber sprouting at ambient storage. Potato tubers were obtained from four commercial farms. Thereafter, they were stored in a brown paper alone (control) or with apple fruit at ±23 °C for 30-day period. Potato tubers were evaluated for their weight loss, sprouting percentage, decay and soluble sugars during storage duration. Tubers stored with apple fruit had significantly (P < 0.05) reduced physiological weight loss after 30-day storage compared to the control. The results indicated that sprouting was significantly lower on tubers stored with fruit compared to the control. Sucrose, glucose and fructose increased in tubers stored with apple fruit compared to the control, especially in tubers obtained from Jamba and Leeubult. Tubers stored with apple fruit decayed significantly compared to the control in tubers from Jamba and Leeubult. Furthermore, dry matter and starch content were significantly lower tubers stored with apples compared to the control. In conclusion, apple fruit could serve as an effective sprout suppressant for potatoes at ambient storage. Therefore, apple fruit can be adopted as an alternative sprout suppressant to synthetic ethylene gas and various chemicals such as Chloropropham.

Maize starch-PVA nanocomposite biodegradable antimicrobial packaging films for enhancement of shelf-life of Agaricus bisporus

Nanocomposite antimicrobial packaging can effectively cater to the postharvest losses of button mushrooms. This study aimed for fabrication of novel antimicrobial biodegradable packaging films using a double composite system comprised of nano-clay-essential oil (EO) composite blended with maize starch (MS) /Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymers which was plasticized with glycerol. The results confirmed superior water barrier properties with the lowest film solubility (16.52 %) and water holding capacity (13.55 %) in MS+ PVA+ Nano-bentonite-basil EO blend film. The surface morphology of this blend film appeared smooth, was thermally stable with the lowest mass loss (97.92 %), and exhibited the highest tensile strength (182.15 Kg/cm2) which makes it suitable for food packaging applications. Furthermore, all the prepared films were fully degraded in the soil after 147 days except the control cling film. The addition of EOs enhanced the antimicrobial activity of starch blend films with the highest inhibition against Gram-positive microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes). Packaging of freshly harvested button mushrooms with nanocomposite blend film enhanced the shelf-life up-to 14 days of storage under refrigerated conditions (4 °C) with the lowest physiological weight loss (4.69 %) and highest firmness (1.5 Kg F). Nutritional qualities and ROS-mitigating enzymatic activity of mushroom fruiting bodies were also maintained through packaging. This innovative nanocomposite packaging films could provide a green, environment-friendly, and antimicrobial system to combat the shorter shelf life of button mushrooms.

Foliar application of nutrient formulation enhances the post-harvest quality of tuberose (Agave amica Medik.) cv. Arka Prajwal

A study was conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture Laboratory to investigate the influence of various nutrient formulations on the post-harvest quality of tuberose using a knapsack sprayer and drone. The treatments involved spraying macro and micronutrients along with growth regulators at different concentrations. Throughout the experiment, all parameters were recorded at 2 days intervals. Drone spray of MN mixture + 0.5 % poly feed + 0.6 % humic acid + 150 ppm GA3 recorded the maximum plant post-harvest quality attributes over other treatments. It showed increased post-harvest quality attributes, including relative water content percentage of flower (95.15 %), physiological loss of weight percentage of flower (14.83 %), shelf life at room temperature (3.79 days) and vase life (12.45 days). Additionally, the treatment was found to be the best for parameters of water uptake (38.45 g) and percentage of floret opened (27.02). Plots treated with drone spray of MN mixture + 0.5 % poly feed + 0.6 % humic acid + GA3 at 150 ppm showed a reduced rate of transpiration loss of water (14.89 g) and electrolyte leakage (12.52). The experimental findings demonstrated that foliar application of nutrients along with growth regulators at different concentrations using drones improved the post-harvest quality of tuberose.

Effect of 1-MCP and KMnO4 treatments with different packaging on quality preservation of golden delicious apples

This study explored the impact of three packaging materials (wooden boxes, corrugated fiber boxes, shrink-wrapped boxes) combined with two ethylene scrubbers (1-MCP, KMnO4) on the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples. While previous research has extensively studied the effects of packaging and ethylene inhibitors independently, the novelty of this work lies in its combined evaluation of these factors under ambient storage conditions over an extended period of 160 days. The study specifically addresses a research gap by directly comparing the efficacy of 1-MCP and KMnO4 within different packaging environments, offering insights into their combined influence on key quality parameters such as firmness, juice yield, rot incidence, physiological loss in weight (PLW), acidity, and total soluble solids (TSS). Findings revealed that 1-MCP-treated apples, particularly when shrink-wrapped, experienced minimal reductions in firmness and juice yield, with significantly lower rot incidence and physiological loss in weight (PLW) compared to KMnO4-treated and control apples. Additionally, while acidity and juice content naturally declined over time, and TSS initially increased before decreasing, 1-MCP-treated apples exhibited more stable quality attributes. The study also noted a slower decline in organoleptic quality with 1-MCP and shrink-wrap packaging. The research concludes that the combination of 1-MCP treatment and shrink-wrap packaging most effectively extends the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches to post-harvest management. This study provides a novel framework for improving storage techniques, particularly for ambient conditions where shelf life extension is most challenging.

Studies on Pre-harvest Spray of Alpha-NAA on Potato Crop in Relation to Enhance Potato (&lt;i&gt;Solanum tuberosum&lt;/i&gt; L.) Tubers Storage

The present investigation on a pre-harvest spray of alpha-1-naphthalene acetic acid (alpha-NAA) on potato crops in relation to improving the storage ability was undertaken in the Botany Department of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India on Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘Kufri Chandermukhi’. Sprout initiation was observed in tubers on the 20&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; day, with 4.0 x 10&lt;sup&gt;-4&lt;/sup&gt; M application of alpha-NAA during storage. In control, it was prominently noticed on the first observation made on the 10&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; day (0.8 mm), whereas in the treated one, it was very small. These treatments were able to check the percentage of sprouting. Rottage was observed after the 40&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; day of storage. The decline in starch content was less in the treatment group than in the control group up to the 20 days, but a reverse trend was witnessed after that compared with initial values. The starch contents were significantly higher in treated tubers than untreated in most stages. After 40 days, per cent cumulative physiological weight loss values were 9.20, 9.62, and 10.33% in 4.0 x 10&lt;sup&gt;-4&lt;/sup&gt; M alpha-NAA, 5.5 x 10&lt;sup&gt;-4&lt;/sup&gt; M alpha-NAA, and control, respectively.

Assessment of Physiological and Qualitative Traits of Cucumber Genotypes under Ambient Conditions

Background: With the advancement of storage period the crispness or firmness of greenhouse cucumber gradually decreased and usually had a shelf life counting from only 3 to 5 days at the ambient conditions. Methods: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the status of quality deterioration during post-harvest handling of different genotypes of greenhouse cucumber under ambient conditions. The basis of evaluation was based on the analysis of several physiological and qualitative traits including, physiological loss in weight (%), firmness (Newton), total soluble solids (°Brix), titratable acidity (%), total chlorophyll and total carotenoid content (mg/100 mg fresh weight). Result: Among cucumber inbred lines, the genotype, BRGCU-4 was observed with minimum moisture loss and highest firmness values, while the BRPCU-8 found to be best in retaining highest TSS and acidity and BRPCU-3 exhibited highest chlorophyll content during the storage period of a week. Moreover, hybrids of BRGCU-4 × BRPCU-6, followed by BRGCU-4 × BRPCU-8 were much better in retaining moistures and firmness, while the BRPCU-3 × BRPCU-6 hybrids recorded for highest chlorophyll andcarotenoid content. Therefore, these genotypes were found to be suitable for transportation, marketing and storage at ambient conditions.

Varietal Response to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Bulb Yield, Storability, and Production Economics of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The field experiment was conducted in the Rabi season of 2021-22 in the research farm of the Regional Research Center, Raiya (Jhajjar) of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal, Haryana to examine the impact of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, bulb yield and self-life of two indigenous onion varieties was examined. The treatment combinations comprised seven treatments along with one control that was arranged in a randomized block design (factorial) with four replications and two varieties namely Hisar Onion-2 and Hisar Onion-4. The results of the study showed that bulb yield-related parameters such as average fresh weight of bulbs (82.39 g), yield per plot (26.74 kg), and yield per hectare (29.71 t) were recorded maximum in the treatment T6. However, the better storage life of bulbs was estimated in treatment control which was at par with treatment T3 i.e., physiological loss in weight (20.23%), sprouting (3.14%), and rotting (11.43%) were observed minimum after 120 days of storage period. Hisar onion-4 was found superior in all the bulb yield and shelf-life parameters in comparison to Hisar Onion-2. Treatment consisting of 50% recommended dose of NPK + 50% RDN supplied through Vermi-compost recorded maximum net return (Rs.1, 97,942) and benefit-cost ratio (2.25). Therefore, it can be inferred that the combined use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers contributes to the improved shelf life of onion bulbs and enhances the long-term production potential of the soil.

The influence of different fertigation levels on the functional quality characteristics of three different strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) varieties cultivated under protected conditions

The strawberry, a member of the Rosaceae family, is one of the most significant fruit crops due to its widespread cultivation and the high appreciation it garners for its distinctive aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture and delightful sweetness. A field study was conducted during 2021-2022 to assess “the influence of different fertigation levels on the functional quality characteristics of 3different strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassaDuch.) varieties cultivated under protected conditions”. The study employed a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, encompassing 12 treatment combinations, replicated3times.The application of 100% RDF of NPK significantlyimpacted the functional quality characteristics of strawberries. The findings indicate that the highest values for total soluble solids (11.00 ºBrix), total sugars (7.70%), reducing sugars (5.40%), non-reducing sugars (2.31%), TSS: acidity ratio (14.28), juice content (45.32%), fruit pH (3.79%), antioxidants (0.19%), phenols (1.20%), fruit volume (12.89 cm3), fruit firmness (1.68 kg/cm2), specific gravity (1.04 g/cc)and shelf life (2.24 days) were observed under the fertigation level F3 (100% RDF of NPK).Additionally, minimum acidity (0.77%) and minimum physiological loss in weight (5.36 g) were also recorded at this fertigation level. The aim of this study is to enhance fruit production, increase yields and extend the shelf life of strawberries. By exploring factors such as fertigation levels and cultivars, this study provides valuable insights that promote sustainable and efficient practices. These findings hold promise for shaping the future of strawberry cultivation, facilitating increased yields and prolonged preservation.

Implementing Internet of Things for Real-Time Monitoring and Regulation of Off-Season Grafting and Post-Harvest Storage in Citrus Cultivation: A Case Study from the Hilly Regions of Nepal

Citrus fruit cultivation, especially mandarin oranges, is crucial to the economy of Nepal’s hilly regions due to their ideal geoclimatic conditions. Despite its economic importance, the sector faces several challenges, such as inadequate grafting techniques, low-quality saplings, and ineffective post-harvest storage. This paper explores these issues and proposes innovative solutions through the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. To address these challenges, we identified key areas for improvement. First, we focused on extending grafting practices during the off-season to ensure a higher success rate and better-quality saplings. Second, we examined different post-harvest storage methods to determine their effectiveness in terms of shelf life, decay loss, and quality of fruit. In addition to exploring post-harvest strategies, this paper provides preharvest recommendations for farmers, emphasizing methods to enhance fruit quality and longevity through effective pre-storage practices. Our IoT-based approach introduces off-season grafting in polyhouses and advanced monitoring for post-harvest storage. The results are promising: We achieved grafting success rates of 91% for acid lime and 92% for local mandarin orange varieties. Additionally, our research compared different post-harvest storage methods for mandarin oranges, including room, cellar, and cold chamber. We assessed these methods based on shelf life, physiological weight loss, and the total soluble solids (TSS) to titratable acidity (TA) ratio. The cold chamber proved to be the most effective method, offering superior conditions for storing mandarin oranges. The IoT-based monitoring system played a crucial role in maintaining optimal temperature, humidity, and gas content within the cold chamber, resulting in reduced post-harvest losses and extended shelf life. These findings highlight the transformative potential of IoT technology in mandarin orange cultivation and post-harvest storage.

Differential Efficacy of Storage Temperature and Postharvest Treatment on Shelf Life and Quality of Avocado Fruit (Persea americana Mill.).

Avocado fruit is a rich source of phytonutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, carbohydrates, polyphenols and unsaturated fatty acids. However, due to its climacteric nature, fruits are highly susceptible to storage temperature, resulting in poor shelf life and reduced quality. In the present study avocado fruits (Accession CHES-HA-I/I) were stored at different low temperatures (5, 9 and 12°C with 90-95% relative humidity, RH) to identify optimum low temperature for cold storage. In a further experiment, avocado fruits were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, 500ppb) and chitosan (0.5%) to extend the shelf life with better fruit quality. The results showed that storage temperatures had significant effect on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant activities of fruits. Lower physiological loss in weight (PLW), reduced respiration and ethylene production, and higher carbohydrates, protein and fat content were recorded in fruits stored at 9°C as compared to 12°C. Similarly, maximum antioxidant properties in terms of free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) was found in avocado fruits stored at 9°C. It was also noticed that chilling injury was developed in fruits stored under 5°C. In addition, exogenous application of 1-MCP significantly reduced respiration and ethylene production rate at 9°C and extended the shelf life up to 42days with better fruit quality and more antioxidant activities. However, chitosan treated and control fruits had shelf life up to 28 and 21days respectively, with minimum nutritional content. From this study it is concluded that a storage temperature of 9°C and 1-MCP treatment significantly enhanced the shelf life of avocado fruits with better fruit quality as compared to other storage temperatures (5 and 12°C) and postharvest treatment (chitosan).

A network perspective on posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder symptoms

ABSTRACT Background: Comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) is surrounded by diagnostic controversy and although various effective treatments exist, dropout and nonresponse are high. Objective: By estimating the network structure of comorbid PTSD and BPD symptoms, the current study illustrates how the network perspective offers tools to tackle these challenges. Method: The sample comprised of 154 patients with a PTSD diagnosis and BPD symptoms, assessed by clinician-administered interviews. A regularised partial correlation network was estimated using the GLASSO algorithm in R. Central symptoms and bridge symptoms were identified. The reliability and accuracy of network parameters were determined through bootstrapping analyses. Results: PTSD and BPD symptoms largely clustered into separate communities. Intrusive memories, physiological cue reactivity and loss of interest were the most central symptoms, whereas amnesia and suicidal behaviour were least central. Conclusions: Present findings suggest that PTSD and BPD are two distinct, albeit weakly connected disorders. Treatment of the most central symptoms could lead to an overall deactivation of the network, while isolated symptoms would need more specific attention during therapy. Further experimental, longitudinal research is needed to confirm these hypotheses. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03833453.

Efficacy of Plant Growth Regulators on Quality and Yield of Cucumber cv. Malini under Shade Net Conditions

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different plant growth regulators on quality and yield of cucumber cv. Malini under shade net conditions. The experiment was carried out with 10 treatments GA3 at 75 ppm, 150 ppm and 250 ppm, Ethrel at 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 300 ppm, Salicylic acid at 75 ppm, 150 ppm and 250 ppm and control (water spray) in 3 replications. The quality parameters like total soluble solids, texture of the fruit, Physiological loss in weight (PLW%) after harvesting and total yield harvested (q/ha) etc. were significantly influenced by plant growth regulators. Among all treatments GA3 at 250 ppm recorded with maximum fruit yield (165.17 t/ ha), Whereas for quality parameters treatment GA3 at 150 ppm found superior for total soluble solids (5.88̊ Brix) and minimum physiological loss in weight after harvesting (1 DAH, 5 DAH and 10 DAH) was recorded in GA3 at 250 ppm. And the fruits with ethrel treatment were found with smooth texture and the remaining were with rough texture.

Modern methods for assessing blood loss in childbirth and diagnosing postpartum hemorrhage: A review

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Russia and worldwide. Accurate calculation of circulating blood volume (CBV) and personalized estimation of the extent of blood loss (EBL) play vital roles in the early diagnosis of PPH. Visual assessment of BL in childbirth is an available diagnostic method, but it has a high error rate compared to the gravimetric method. A dynamic assessment of the shock index (SI) as an indicator that reflects hemodynamic disorders early enough can be used as an additional diagnostic method for PPH and a test that allows predicting the need for transfusion of blood products. Aim. To review current literature on the assessment of BL in childbirth and the diagnosis of PPH. Materials and methods. The search for publications by Russian and foreign authors was carried out in the information electronic databases PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and eLibrary from 2016 to January 2024 using the keywords "obstetric blood loss," "PPH," and "SI." Results. When assessing the CBV, its correlation with the body mass index was revealed. Subjective methods for the PPH assessment have a large margin of error, which does not depend on the experience and seniority of the healthcare provider. The gravimetric method is more accurate, but it can underestimate the clinical situation when physiological blood loss is exceeded. Dynamic assessment of SI is an early marker of hemodynamic disorders and makes it possible to identify patients with a high risk of adverse outcomes more reliably than other parameters. Conclusion. In order to provide timely and adequate emergency medical care for excessive obstetric blood loss, a personalized approach should be used to calculate the EBL, taking into account the woman's body mass index, as well as a systematic assessment of the BL, including at least the extent of blood loss and monitoring of the SI.