Postharvest Conditions Research Articles

Influence of grains postharvest conditions on mycotoxins occurrence in milk and dairy products

Abstract Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some filamentous fungi, which can cause toxic effects in humans and animals. The purpose of the study was to report the influence of postharvest conditions of grains and animal feed on the occurrence of mycotoxins in milk and dairy products which are widely consumed worldwide and have several health benefits for consumers. Among the most toxic mycotoxins are aflatoxins (AFs), with AFB1 being the most toxic and present in grains and cereals used in the feeding of dairy cows. After ingestion, AFB1 is converted to AFM1, which is excreted in milk, being a source of direct contamination to consumers of this product and dairy products. Thus, knowledge about this substance and the care that can be taken to reduce the consumption of contaminated food is a matter of great importance concerning public health and food safety. This review reports that the temperature and humidity at which the grains are stored, are the main conditions that can be controlled during storage, aiming to reduce the growth of fungi and the production of mycotoxins. This work reinforces that the continuous control of mycotoxins in milk and dairy products is of vital importance to obtain a safe product. Besides, strategies to mitigate the development of fungal contamination have been carefully revised to prevent the formation of these toxic substances.

Properties of Nonwoven Fabrics Containing Immobilized Superabsorbent Polymer Particles for Air Conditioning in Grain Dryers

HighlightsThe SAP fabric adsorbed up to 1.05 times its dry weight, at room temperature SAP fabric had up to three times more adsorption capacity compared with silica gel.SAP fabric moisture adsorption rate trends are best predicted using logarithmic models.The fabric maintains high permeability in comparison with other desiccants, an average pressure drop of 0.10 millibar for 10 layers of SAP was recorded at 0.5 m/s air velocity.SAP fabric adsorption capacity remained unchanged after several cycles of regeneration by oven drying at 105°C.Abstract.In sub-Saharan Africa, maize and other cereal grains are normally sun-dried after harvesting. Post-harvest preservation techniques and conditions greatly contribute to the loss of the produce mainly due to mycotoxins infestation. There is lack of affordable and adequate technical facilities for post-harvest preservation of the produce. This research presents the findings of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) fabric properties, a material that is proposed for use in hybrid solar drying technology. The objective of the study was to determine the moisture adsorption capacity of SAP fabric. The experiments were carried out in an air conditioning unit, in each experiment the inlet air temperatures were maintained at a constant level of 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C, the inlet air relative humidity was varied between 50% and 90% in 10 unit intervals. It was found that the SAP Fabric had a high adsorption capacity of up to 105% of its dry weight at an air temperature of 20°C and 90% relative humidity. The adsorption rate trends are best predicted using logarithmic models which showed high initial moisture adsorption decreasing gradually to the equilibrium moisture content. The pressure drop across 3, 6, 10, and 15 layers was between 0.09 to 0.12 millibars, which showed that SAP fabric is a highly porous desiccant. There was no noticeable change in moisture adsorption capacity of the SAP when oven-dried at 105°C to regenerate it. It was established that SAP fabric is effective for use in drying air. Keywords: Air conditioning, Desiccant, Grain drying, Non-woven fabric, Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP).

Ameliorating the Effect of Mycotoxins in Poultry Feeds Using Plant Extracts

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungal origin that tends to contaminate agricultural commodities before or under post-harvest conditions. They are mainly produced by fungi in the genera, Aspergillus sp. (Aspergillaceae: Eurotiales), Penicillium sp. (Trichocomaceae; Eurotiales) and Fusarium sp. (Nectriaceae: Hypocreales). When ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, mycotoxins causes sickness or death in humans and animals. Natural substances that can prevent AFB1 toxicity to human and animal health with minimal cost will be a great advantage. Traditional medicinal plants are currently used for their antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity. Aspergillus parasiticus strain NRRL 2999 was used to produce Aflatoxin, as it is one of the highly toxigenic fungus available. Inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts of plants was enhanced upon gradual increase in their concentrations. Among them, the ethanol extracts of Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) completely arrested the fungal growth and inhibited the growth significantly, even at lower concentrations (1%) in comparison with other extracts and the negative control. Hence, the present work has been carried out to find the aflatoxin antifungal activity of the plant extracts Albizia lebbeck (Fabaceae: Fabales), Syzgium aromaticum (Myrtaceae: Myrtales) and Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) against aflatoxin contaminated poultry feed. In conclusion, the present study serves as a base and arises a futuristic need for efficient cost effective sampling and analytical methods that can be used for detection and control of mycotoxins in poultry feed.

Impact of Potassium Pre-Harvest Applications on Fruit Quality and Condition of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cultivated under Plastic Covers in Southern Chile Orchards.

In rainy locations, sweet cherry is cultivated under plastic covers, which are useful to prevent fruit cracking but decrease cherry quality such as firmness and acidity. Here we evaluate the impact of pre-harvest K foliar applications on harvest and post-harvest fruit quality and condition of sweet cherry cultivated under plastic covers in southern Chile orchards. The study was performed on two commercial orchards (cv. Regina), located in different regions, during two consecutive seasons. In all cases, a conventional K regime (four sprays) was compared to an intensive K regimen (seven sprays). Results showed that cherries from the most southern region revealed lower acidity but higher soluble solids content weight and size. The intensive K regime improved the firmness and acidity of fruits of covered trees at harvest and post-harvest. Moreover, we found that condition defects were higher in fruits from un-covered trees and that trees grown under intensive K regime showed lower levels of cracking at harvest and pitting at post-harvest compared to trees treated with the conventional K regime. Otherwise, pedicel browning was inconsistently affected by K sprays. Our results revealed that an intensive K regime could improve the quality and condition of fruits at harvest and post-harvest in covered orchards of sweet cherry cv. Regina; however, the impacts can significantly vary depending on season and locality.

Peppermint Essential Oil and Its Major Volatiles as Protective Agents against Soft Rot Caused by Fusarium sambucinum in Cera Pepper (Capsicum pubescens).

Cera pepper (Capsicum pubescens) is an exotic fruit considered as a rich source of nutraceuticals with known benefits for human health and also an economic resource for local producers in Mexico. The present investigation reports on the in vitro and in situ antifungal activity of the essential oil from Mentha piperita and its two major volatiles (menthol and menthone) against Fusarium sambucinum, which is a causal agent of soft rot in cera pepper. The application of these components in pepper fruits previously infected with F. sambucinum caused a significant delay (p<0.05) in the emergence of soft rot symptoms. This effect was reflected in the maintenance of pH and fruit firmness during a period of 10 days. The nutrimental content of the fruits (protein, fiber, fat and other proximate parameters) was conserved in the same period of time. The nutraceutical content of these fruits was estimated by the quantification of seven carotenoids (violaxanthin, cis-violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene), ascorbic acid and capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin). According to our results, the essential oil from M. Piperita and its major volatiles exerted a preservative effect on these metabolites. Our findings demonstrated that the essential oil of M. Piperita and its major volatiles represent an ecological alternative for the control of fusariosis caused by F. sambucinum in cera peppers under postharvest conditions.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antifungal Activities of Nine Commercial Essential Oils against Brown Rot in Apples

After harvest, numerous plant pathogenic fungi can infect fresh fruits during transit and storage. Although synthetic fungicides are often used to manage postharvest fruit diseases, their application may lead to problems such as the development of fungicide resistance and residues on fruits. In the present study, the antifungal potential of nine commercial essential oils (EOs) extracted from Eucalyptus radiata ssp. radiata, Mentha pulegium, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum compactum, Lavandula angustifolia, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus vulgaris, Citrus aurantium, and Citrus sinensis were tested against the apple brown rot fungi Monilinia laxa and Monilinia fructigena at different concentrations in vitro (against mycelial growth and spore germination) and in vivo (on detached apple fruit and in semi-commercial postharvest conditions). In addition, fruit quality parameters were evaluated and the composition of the EOs was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In vitro results showed significant antifungal activity of all tested EOs on both fungal species. EOs from S. aromaticum were the most effective, whereby inhibition percentages ranged from 64.0 to 94.7% against M. laxa and from 63.9 to 94.4% against M. fructigena for the concentrations 12.5 and 100 µL/mL, respectively, with an EC50 of 6.74 µL/mL for M. laxa and 10.1 µL/mL for M. fructigena. The higher concentrations tested of S. aromaticum, T. vulgaris, C. aurantium, and C. sinensis EOs significantly reduced spore germination, brown rot incidence, and lesion diameter. Evaluation of the treatments during storage for 20 days at 4 °C on apple fruit quality parameters demonstrated the preservation of the fruit quality characteristics studied (weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, firmness, and maturity index). FT-IR spectra obtained from all tested EO samples presented characteristic peaks and a high diversity of functional groups such as O–H groups, C–H bonds, and C–C stretching. The EOs examined here may have the potential for controlling postharvest fungal diseases of fruit such as brown rot.

Application of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Treatment Differently Affects Physicochemical Characteristics of Tomato Fruits during Post-harvest Storage

The quality of tomato fruit, from harvest to human consumption, requires a lengthy period for shipping, storing, and marketing. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a good candidate because it is a natural substance produced by plants to defend themselves against stress conditions. In this study, the effect of post-harvest GABA treatments at 0 (control), 5 mM and, 20 mM on the physical and biochemical properties and the polysaccharide content of tomatoes during 28 days of storage were investigated. Our results indicated that 5 mM of GABA treatment increased firmness and shelf-life by maintaining the integrity of fruits compared to control and 20 mM of GABA treated fruits. The fruits treated with 5 mM of GABA decreased the amount of WSP and the expression of cell wall related genes Pectate lyase (PL) and Polygalacturonase (PG). There was not a clear difference in colour index (CI) values among all treated groups at the end of post-harvest storage. Moreover, the tomato fruits treated with 5 mM GABA also showed somewhat less ethylene production, respiration rate and expression level of two ethylene synthesis genes ACS2 and ACS4 towards the end of storage. These results suggested that treatment with 5 mM GABA could be a beneficial strategy for maintaining the morphological and biochemical quality of tomato under post-harvest storage conditions.

Metabolomics Study at the Postharvest Conditions of Cold Storage and Fungicide (Imazalil Sulfate) Treatment in Navel Oranges and Clementine Mandarins.

Millions of citrus products are wasted every year due to postharvest fungal infections. To minimize fungal infections, packhouses utilize aqueous applications of fungicides to prevent infections that occur during harvest. The most prominent fungal pathogens of citrus fruit are commonly treated with imazalil sulfate (IMZ) due to its efficacy for controlling these pathogens at low cost and ease of handling. However, little is known on how it alters the tissues in the citrus fruit physiology. In this study, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics study is utilized to investigate the role of IMZ treatment in the juice, albedo, and flavedo tissues of two citrus commodities (navels and clementines). The experimental design consists of (a) fresh fruits at harvest, (b) raw fruits stored at 4 °C for 10 days, and (c) raw fruits treated with IMZ and stored at 4 °C for 10 days. Twenty-seven metabolites were identified, and several changes of metabolite composition due to either cold storage or IMZ treatment for both the spatial (albedo, flavedo, or juice) and temporal levels (days and storage) were found. The results show a notable difference between metabolomics profiles across the types and tissues, particularly significant changes on the albedo tissues of clementine. Furthermore, the pathways derived from the metabolomics profiles of the cold storage and the IMZ treatment are complementary to each other. Thus, the utility of metabolomics as a quality control tool in the citrus industry has the potential for broader applications to understand fruit growth and development.

The Relation between Drying Conditions and the Development of Volatile Compounds in Saffron (Crocus sativus).

Saffron is derived from the stigmas of the flower Crocus sativus L. The drying process is the most important post-harvest step for converting C. sativus stigmas into saffron. The aim of this review is to evaluate saffron’s post-harvest conditions in the development of volatile compounds and its aroma descriptors. It describes saffron’s compound generation by enzymatic pathways and degradation reactions. Saffron quality is described by their metabolite’s solubility and the determination of picrocrocin, crocins, and safranal. The drying process induce various modifications in terms of color, flavor and aroma, which take place in the spice. It affects the aromatic species chemical profile. In the food industry, saffron is employed for its sensory attributes, such as coloring, related mainly to crocins (mono-glycosyl esters or di-glycosyl polyene).

Physical-chemical characterization and sensory evaluation of coffees submitted to different post-harvest processing

Coffee is one of the agricultural products whose processing requires special attention, in order to maintain its qualities preserved, in the post-harvest, different grain patterns can be obtained due to the adoption of techniques and the use of equipment that enable the separation of fruits by maturation stage, thus enabling the formation of more homogeneous coffee batches when compared to the coffee batch without this separation (fruit mixture). The chemical composition of the coffee bean depends on genetic and environmental factors and pre and post-harvest management conditions. The presentwork aimed to characterize the physical-chemical attributes of the different coffee patterns obtained during the post-harvest of the fruits. Thirteen patterns were obtained, being: mix of dried fruits in high wind, mix of dried fruits in low wind, more mature green, natural float, natural raisin, float, natural cane green, natural ripe, natural ripe fermenting in water, natural ripe dried fermented, peeled, ripe peeled and pulped, in three random repetitions. The evaluated attributes were: Brix, total titratable acidity, pH, and ash content. The Natural Mature (MN) treatment was the best processing evaluated, as it provided the highest Brix value and the lowest titratable acidity value. The mature peeled, pulped mature, and natural mature treatments showed better sensory values, so they are recommended for post-harvest management to obtain a good drink quality.

Effect of Elevated Temperature on Tomato Post-Harvest Properties.

The fleshy fruit of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a commodity used worldwide as a fresh or processed product. Like many crops, tomato plants and harvested fruits are susceptible to the onset of climate change. Temperature plays a key role in tomato fruit production and ripening, including softening, development of fruit colour, flavour and aroma. The combination of climate change and the drive to reduce carbon emission and energy consumption is likely to affect tomato post-harvest storage conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of an elevated storage temperature on tomato shelf life and fungal susceptibility. A collection of 41 genotypes with low and high field performance at elevated temperature, including different growth, fruit and market types, was used to assess post-harvest performances. A temperature increase from 18–20 °C to 26 °C reduced average shelf life of fruit by 4 days ± 1 day and increased fungal susceptibility by 11% ± 5% across all genotypes. We identified tomato varieties that exhibit both favourable post-harvest fruit quality and high field performance at elevated temperature. This work contributes to efforts to enhance crop resilience by selecting for thermotolerance combined with traits suitable to maintain and improve fruit quality, shelf life and pathogen susceptibility under changing climate conditions.

A REVIEW: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EDIBLE COATING INCORPORATED WITH RED MACROALGAE (Kappaphycus alvarezii) EXTRACT ON THE POST HARVEST QUALITY OF FRUITS

Fruits and vegetables are the main fresh produce that receive high demand among consumers because of the nutritional properties to boost the human health. However, not all fruits and vegetables are durable due to the ongoing release of ethylene even when harvested. Damaged produce will not be accepted by the customer and will cause post-harvest losses. It was estimated that about 30% of fruits and vegetables are damaged or affected by microorganisms, insects, pre- and post-harvest conditions during transportation and improper storage conditions. Edible coating is an effective approach for fruit preservation. It provides good barrier properties towards carbon dioxide, oxygen, and moisture vapor and at the same time beneficial for the environment and human health. The aim of this review is to investigate the potential of red macroalgae (Kappaphycus alvarezii) as an edible fruit coating. This edible red macroalgae abundant in Sabah is widespread around the world due to their carrageenan properties. Carrageenan is normally used as the main edible coating material due to its thickening stability and natural antioxidant. The carrageenan film from these algae is able to replace synthetic packaging and is more environmentally friendly. The abundant source of this algae in Sabah will ensure sustainability and cost effectiveness besides increasing the socio-economy of the local community. Red macroalgae has potential to be used as a bio preservative in fresh produce as it shows better quality characteristics in physicochemical properties of fruits such as weight loss, colour and firmness.

Harvest Handling and Postharvest Conditions for Optimum Nutrient Quality in Mango: Minerals and Vitamins

Good practices at harvest and postharvest could be useful in obtaining nutritious mango with high minerals and vitamins. The present study evaluated effect of harvest handling and postharvest conditions on the level of minerals and vitamins using standard methods. Ripe, half-ripe and unripe mangoes were harvested on parent plant and on ground around parent plant. The half-ripe and unripe mangoes were further divided to include heat ripened mangoes. The mango samples were separately stored naturally at 25±3oC and heat ripened at 37±5oC for 0 to 10 day after harvest (dah). The results show Ijebu-Mamu mangoes could cater for reference dietary intake of Vit C. Mango harvested on parent plant has highest level of minerals and vitamins than those picked on ground. Ripe mango has highest level of minerals, half ripe mango presented highest level of vits. B1 and B2 and unripe mango has highest level of Fe and Vit. C. Heat caused increased level of minerals and reduced level of vitamins. The minerals show increased level from 0 to 4 or 6 dah while vitamins reduced from 0 till 10 dah. High level of minerals and vitamins was obtained with optimum integrated harvest and postharvest condition of half-ripe mango naturally ripened at 6 dah. The present results highlight effects of the assessed harvest handling and postharvest conditions and their co-optimization that might be necessary for high minerals and vitamins in mango.

Evaluation of humidity retention in refrigerator storage systems by application of a food simulant

Vegetables lose quality after harvest mainly due to water-related weight loss. In households, vegetables are usually stored in refrigerators, typically providing temperatures from 0 – 14°C and relative humidity ranges from 20 – 100 %. Weight loss is related to the storage humidity conditions. As a consequence, storage systems providing humidity-controlled conditions are decisive for the evaluation of the freshness performance of refrigerators. To evaluate the impact of storage zones on the fresh weight loss of stored goods, the international standard IEC 63169:2020 “Electrical household and similar cooling and freezing appliances – Food preservation” has been released. It uses a cellulose based food simulant, overcoming influences of cultivar and post-harvest handling conditions of real vegetables. This publication compares the weight loss of spinach and the food simulant in chilled storage conditions at three ranges of relative humidity. Different cultivars and pre-handling modifications of the spinach were used to determine the impact of product parameters on weight loss. A round robin test was performed to analyse the applicability of the IEC 63169:2020. The results prove the applicability of the standard to analyse the impact of humidity controlled storage on weight loss: It is shown that pre-handling has an impact on spinach's weight loss, which is overcome by the food simulant. For all tested conditions, the weight loss behaviour from spinach and the food simulant is correlating in test durations up to 72 h. The round robin test shows that the test method of IEC 63169:2020 provides repeatable and reproducible results.

Effects of Wounding Stress and Storage Temperature on the Accumulation of Chlorogenic Acid Isomers in Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Wounding stress is an effective strategy to increase the content of bioactive compounds in horticultural crops. Potato tubers subjected to wounding stress accumulate chlorogenic acid (CGA) and CGA isomers (neo-CGA and crypto-CGA), which are phenolics that prevent and treat different chronic and degenerative diseases. In this study, the effects of wounding stress and storage temperature (10 °C and 20 °C for 168 h) on the accumulation of CGA isomers in potatoes were evaluated. Results indicated that CGA accumulation was favored when wounded potatoes were stored at 20 °C for 120 h, obtaining a 1923.1% higher concentration when compared with samples before storage. Furthermore, wounded potatoes stored at 10 °C for 120 h showed the highest neo-CGA increase in concentration (712.2%). Likewise, the highest crypto-CGA concentration (84.9% higher than control samples) was quantified in wounded potatoes stored at 20 °C for 144 h. Based on the results from both the present study and previous reports, a strategy that summarizes effective postharvest stress conditions that induce the accumulation of specific CGA isomers in potatoes is presented. The tissue with an increased content of bioactive compounds could be used as raw material to produce functional foods or could be subjected to downstream processing to produce dietary supplements.

Carcinogenic Properties of Aflatoxins in Maize Production and Recent Technologies Involved

Aflatoxins are the carcinogenic, mutagenic and highly toxic secondary metabolite, which is produced by two species of fungus such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus mostly. These two types of fungus contaminate the cereals crops such as maize, cotton, rice and spices. These are naturally occurring toxins all over the world. There are 20 different types of aflatoxins but out of six have significance importance for instance, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, AFM1 and AFM2. Most commonly, AFB1 and AFB2 are present in the maize crops and M1 and M2 present in the milk and dairy products. Even the small amounts of aflatoxins, which may cause the harmful effects in human and liver stocks. They cause many acute, subacute and chronic diseases such as hepatic carcinoma in human. Aflatoxins can pose a significant economic burden. It caused up to 25-30 % approximately destroy the crops all over. Aflatoxicosis detection from the humans as well as animals is very tough because variation may occur, or sign and symptoms may be change due to the suppressor of immune system that cause many chronic diseases. These aflatoxins are determined and analyzed by the many techniques such as chromatographic techniques mostly HPLC, immunoassays, fluorescence spectroscopy and many biosensors which are very essential to check the quality, quantity and concentration of aflatoxins present in food and feeds. So that, there are many methods to limit the growth of aflatoxins from the grain in pre-harvest, during harvest and post-harvest conditions or also control the environmental conditions and managed the proper storages of the grains that may diminish the aflatoxins levels. Furthermore, they are many techniques and biological control methods are used to control the growth and activities of fungus species that cause the toxicity in food and feeds and protect the grains for the uses of human and animals.

Carcinogenic Properties of Aflatoxins in Maize Production and Recent Technologies Involved

Aflatoxins are the carcinogenic, mutagenic and highly toxic secondary metabolite, which is produced by two species of fungus such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus mostly. These two types of fungus contaminate the cereals crops such as maize, cotton, rice and spices. These are naturally occurring toxins all over the world. There are 20 different types of aflatoxins but out of six have significance importance for instance, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, AFM1 and AFM2. Most commonly, AFB1 and AFB2 are present in the maize crops and M1 and M2 present in the milk and dairy products. Even the small amounts of aflatoxins, which may cause the harmful effects in human and liver stocks. They cause many acute, subacute and chronic diseases such as hepatic carcinoma in human. Aflatoxins can pose a significant economic burden. It caused up to 25-30 % approximately destroy the crops all over. Aflatoxicosis detection from the humans as well as animals is very tough because variation may occur, or sign and symptoms may be change due to the suppressor of immune system that cause many chronic diseases. These aflatoxins are determined and analyzed by the many techniques such as chromatographic techniques mostly HPLC, immunoassays, fluorescence spectroscopy and many biosensors which are very essential to check the quality, quantity and concentration of aflatoxins present in food and feeds. So that, there are many methods to limit the growth of aflatoxins from the grain in pre-harvest, during harvest and post-harvest conditions or also control the environmental conditions and managed the proper storages of the grains that may diminish the aflatoxins levels. Furthermore, they are many techniques and biological control methods are used to control the growth and activities of fungus species that cause the toxicity in food and feeds and protect the grains for the uses of human and animals.

Structure, survival, and species diversity in a tropical dry forest submitted to coppicing

The Caatinga is a tropical dry forest. Rational exploitation of Caatinga wood resources consists of sustainable forest management under coppice systems. Therefore, the recovery of the timber stock for the next cycle will depend on the regrowth and survival capacity of the exploited species, as well as on the future structure of the forest. The objective of this work was to characterize the survival, structure, and diversity of Caatinga submitted to coppicing under sustainable forest management comparing pre- and post-harvest conditions. Permanent plots were installed in a Caatinga in the municipality of Floresta-PE, Brazil, in 2013, and measured 2 years after clearcutting. Height and circumference at the base (CAB) of the stumps and shoots were obtained for two situations: pre-cut (grouping by live and dead stumps) and (ii) post-cut (shoots on only live stumps). In addition, all individual shrub-tree species (CAB ≥ 4 cm) not included in the post-cut situation were identified, measured (CAB and height total) and tagged as persisting (6 cm ≤ CAB) or growing (6 < CAB ≤ 4 cm) in 2015. The survival and mortality of the stumps were quantified, as well as changes in the horizontal structure and floristic diversity. There was a decrease in the number of species 2 years after cutting, mainly due to the loss of Croton rhamnifolius H. B. K. and Sapium glandulatum (Vell.) Pax and predominance of Cenostigma bracteosum (Tul.) E. Gagnon & G. P. Lewis, Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., and Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl., resulting in a greater number of individuals of a few species. The outstanding regrowth capacity of these three species indicates that the forest remnant under study may eventually consist of populations with a predominance of species capable of coppicing.

Phenolic Components and Health Beneficial Properties of Onions

Onions are a widely cultivated and consumed vegetable, and contain various bioactive components, which possess various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties. As the major bioactive constituents in onions, it is essential to study phenolic compounds and the heath beneficial properties of onion and its by-products. The bioactivity of phenolic components in onions can be affected by many factors, including the genotype, different growing environments and food processing methods. Currently, most reviews have focused on an investigation of the chemical compounds or bioactivity of raw onions, but there is a paucity of studies concerning whether pre-harvest (i.e., genotype and growing environment) and post-harvest (i.e., storage) factors can impact its phenolic compounds. This review provides knowledge and guidance to agricultural production on producing high-quality onions and to the food industry on developing functional foods to reduce some chronic diseases such as diabetes. It also promotes research interest in studying bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables considering different pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions.

Light Intensity Alters the Behavior of Monilinia spp. in vitro and the Disease Development on Stone Fruit-Pathogen Interaction.

The development of brown rot caused by the necrotrophic fungi Monilinia spp. in stone fruit under field and postharvest conditions depends, among others, on environmental factors. The effect of temperature and humidity are well studied but there is little information on the role of light in disease development. Herein, we studied the effect of two lighting treatments and a control condition (darkness) on: (i) several growth parameters of two Monilinia spp. (M. laxa and M. fructicola) grown in vitro and (ii) the light effect in their capacity to rot the fruit (nectarines) when exposed to the different lighting treatments. We also assessed the effect of such abiotic factors in the development of the disease on inoculated nectarines during postharvest storage. Evaluations also included testing the effect of fruit bagging on disease development as well as on ethylene production. Under in vitro conditions, lighting treatments altered colony morphology and conidiation of M. laxa but this effect was less acute in M. fructicola. Such light-induced changes under in vitro development also altered the capacity of M. laxa and M. fructicola to infect nectarines, with M. laxa becoming less virulent. The performance of Monilinia spp. exposed to treatments was also determined in vivo by inoculating four bagged or unbagged nectarine cultivars, indicating an impaired disease progression. Incidence and lesion diameter of fruit exposed to the different lighting treatments during postharvest showed that the effect of the light was intrinsic to the nectarine cultivar but also Monilinia spp. dependent. While lighting treatments reduced M. laxa incidence, they enhanced M. fructicola development. Preharvest conditions such as fruit bagging also impaired the ethylene production of inoculated fruit, which was mainly altered by M. laxa and M. fructicola, while the bag and light effects were meaningless. Thus, we provide several indications of how lighting treatments significantly alter Monilinia spp. behavior both in vitro and during the interaction with stone fruit. This study highlights the importance of modulating the lighting environment as a potential strategy to minimize brown rot development on stone fruit and to extent the shelf-life period of fruit in postharvest, market, and consumer’s house.