Solids Content Research Articles

Entropy Analysis in Magnetized Blood-Based Hybrid Nanofluid Flow via Parallel Disks

Magnetized hybrid nanofluid combined with ferrite and silver in a blood-based liquid presents their vital role in several aspects such as artificial heart pumping system, drug delivery process, the flow of blood in the artery, etc. This is because the high heat transportation rate of the nanofluid is caused by the inclusion of nanoparticles. The current investigation is based on the characteristic of particle concentration comprised of Fe3O4 and Ag in the base liquid blood that passed in between two infinite parallel disks filled with porous matrix. The electrically conducting fluid associated to maximum of 1.5% of volume concentration from each of the solid particles affects the flow phenomena. However, the impact of thermal radiation vis-à-vis the heat dissipation provides efficient heat transport properties with the inclusion of the effective thermal conductivity assumed from the Hamilton-Crosser model. The proposed conductivity model describes the role of particle shapes on the enhanced thermal properties. Further, numerical treatment is obtained for the transformed designed problem following similarity rules that are used for the conversion of the governing equations into their non-dimensional form. The computation of various flow profiles leads to get the entropy generation due to the irreversibility processes. Along with the fluid velocity and temperature distributions, the study is carried out for the entropy as well as the computation of Bejan number and afterwards the simulation of the shear and heat transportation rate are also depicted graphically. The main finding of the proposed study is that solid particle concentrations have a substantial impact to increasing fluid velocity in magnitude, resulting in a narrower wall thickness at both channel walls. Thermal radiation was shown to be more effective at increasing entropy generation and Bejan value.

Direct ink writing of WC-Co composite with flexible green bodies

Direct ink writing of 3D WC-Co with conformable green bodies was achieved benefiting from the highly flexible WC-Co paste with high solid loading. Rheology properties of the paste, microstructure of the 3D structure was investigated. Organic-based paste of WC-8Co with a high solid content of 91 wt% were prepared, which exhibited shear thinning behavior and had a high storage modulus, two key parameters for ensuring the smooth printing. After secondary molding, 3D WC-Co green bodies with overhanging structure and no cracks were confirmed through secondary treatment of twisting or bending. Sound 3D structures with uniform and dense microstructure were obtained after debinding and sintering in vacuum. This work showed a facile route for the fabrication of 3D bone cemented carbides by direct ink writing with flexible green bodies.

Determining the impact of pre-pressing pretreatments applied to sugarcane on the aroma compounds and quality characteristics of sugarcane juice.

The study examined the effects of three pretreatments, blanching (5, 10, and 30min), ultrasound (15, 20, and 30min), and steam blanching (10, 20, and 30min) on sugarcane, assessing their impact on sugarcane juice quality parameters and aroma compounds. The control had the highest soluble solid content, while the ultrasound-15min (US-15min)-treated sample had the lowest, affecting pH, total acidity, and color values significantly. Color analysis showed lower L* values and less greenish tones in treated samples. The implemented pretreatments effectively reduce the browning index, with the US-20min treatment showing the most significant reduction compared to the control sample. All pretreatments deactivated polyphenol oxidase. Carbon isotope analysis yielded significant results. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering linked 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) with total phenolic content. The study also highlights significant variations in aroma compound profiles among pretreated sugarcane juice samples, with blanching for 10 min showing notable increases in specific compounds like 2-heptanone and nonanol. Hierarchical clustering showed similarities between blanching-30min and US-30min, contrasting with the control. Blanching-10min had a positive impact on sugarcane juice quality. In conclusion, the study emphasized how pretreatments affect physicochemical properties and aroma compounds in sugarcane juice. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The research findings suggest that blanching and ultrasound pretreatments can be used by the food industry to improve sugarcane juice quality by reducing browning, enhancing color, and altering aroma profiles. These pretreatments could extend the shelf life and appeal of sugarcane juice, making it more attractive to consumers while maintaining its nutritional properties.

Genome-Wide Identification of GH17s Family Genes and Biological Function Analysis of SlA6 in Tomato.

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs), enzymes that break down glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and between carbohydrates and non-carbohydrates, are prevalent in plants, animals, microorganisms, and other organisms. The tomato is a significant crop that contains the GH17 gene family. However, its role in tomatoes has yet to be fully investigated. In this study, we identified 43 GH17 genes from the tomato genome, distributed unevenly across 12 chromosomes. We further analyzed their gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, promoter elements, and expression patterns. The promoter element analysis indicated their potential roles in response to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as phytohormone effects on growth and development. The expression studies across different tomato tissues revealed that 10 genes were specifically expressed in floral organs, with SlA6 prominently expressed early during bud formation. By using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, SlA6 knockout plants were generated. Phenotypic characterization showed that pollen viability, pollen tube germination, fruit weight, and seed number were significantly reduced in the Sla6 mutant, but the soluble solids content (TSS) was significantly higher in the Sla6 mutant, suggesting that SlA6 affects pollen development and fruit quality.

Study on performance regulation of electro-mechanical properties 3D printed BaTiO3/HA porous structure composite ceramic

BaTiO3/Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 composite ceramic is an outstanding representative of piezoelectric biomaterials, with excellent biocompatibility and piezoelectric effect, and has potential applications in the field of bone tissue repair. In this work, vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology was used to fabricate triply periodic minimal surface structure BaTiO3/Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 composite ceramic bone tissue scaffolds with different pore sizes and porosity, and their mechanical and electrical properties were studied. First, the ceramic slurry configuration process was optimized to obtain a ceramic slurry with high solid content (45 vol%) and excellent rheological properties. Then the effect of sintering temperature on microstructure, relative density, mechanical properties, and electrical properties is discussed. The results show that when sintering at 1300 °C, the BaTiO3/Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 composite ceramic has the highest relative density (99.18 %), the highest compressive strength (44 MPa), large relative dielectric constant (379–389), and low dielectric loss. The polarization electric field strength of the BaTiO3/Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 composite ceramic was set to 15 kV/cm through the test of the hysteresis loop. Finally, based on multi-physics coupled finite element simulation, the effects of different porosity and different pore sizes on stress distribution and piezoelectric potential were analyzed, and the relationship between them was explored through experiments. The results show that as the porosity increases and the pore size decreases, the mechanical properties of the scaffold decrease significantly, and its compressive strength ranges between 1.67 and 4.26 MPa; as the porosity increases and the pore size increases, the piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of the scaffold showed a decreasing trend, and its d33 ranged between 2 and 9 pC/N. The mechanical and electrical properties of the scaffold meet the performance requirements of cancellous bone. In summary, this work provides a strategy for the application of customized BaTiO3/Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 composite ceramic scaffolds in new-generation orthopedic implants.

Compositional changes and physiological activities of fresh ginseng extracts prepared at various temperatures in subcritical water

BackgroundSubcritical water (SW) is regarded as an effective conversion technology for lignocellulosic biomass. The effect of SW on ginseng are limited to evaluate the ginsenoside composition of red ginseng, and there is little information on the effects of SW on fresh ginseng. MethodsThe general characteristics of ginseng extracts (GE) prepared with SW were evaluated in terms of brix, reducing sugar and residual solid content, and compositions of GE was estimated using chromatography. For utilization of GE as a bioactive food, the ginsenoside composition, antioxidative activity, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, prebiotic potential and taste attributes were measured. ResultsIncreasing SW temperature decreased residual solid content of ginseng and the soluble compounds of GE were yielded by SW at 250 °C. Despite that ginsenoside content decreased with SW temperature, a steep increase in Rg5 was observed at 200 °C. The SW at 200–250 °C manifested the highest antioxidant activities and ACE inhibitory activity of GE. However, the GE prepared at greater than 250 °C completely lost prebiotic potentials. Based on electronic-tongue, umami taste was enhanced by SW at 200 °C, but sweetness and bitterness were dominated at 250–300 °C. ConclusionThe results demonstrated that SW has a potential application to convert lignocellulosic wastes generated from ginseng roots into bioactive food resource, and SW at ∼200 °C can be potentially used to enhance the physiological activities of GE.

Development of Enteric Diclofenac Sodium Microparticles Through a Spray-Drying Process Facilitated by Different Aqueous Dispersion Systems

The objective of this study was to prepare enteric diclofenac sodium microparticles using an aqueous dispersion system via spray-drying. Two aqueous-based solvent systems, phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution, were employed as the feed dispersion media in the spray-drying process based on the solubility characteristics of Eudragit® L100. At a drug-to-polymer ratio of 1:1, the optimal solids concentration in the feed dispersion was determined to be 2% w/v, as it enabled an approximately 5-30 µm smooth-surfaced spherical microparticle with a high production yield. Diclofenac sodium was efficiently encapsulated within the microparticles, existing as solid dispersion in a partially amorphous form. Notably, the spray-drying conditions utilized in this study obviated the need for further heating for microparticles prepared using ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution, as the residual ammonium could be completely eliminated during the spray-drying process. The two-stage biorelevant drug release profile of enteric microparticles demonstrated their ability to inhibit drug dissolution under acidic conditions while facilitating drug release under basic conditions. The phosphate buffer-based microparticles exhibited greater protection efficiency under acidic conditions compared to ammonium hydrogen carbonate-based systems, despite residual alkaline salt being present in the microparticles. These results validate the potential of the developed microparticles for use as an enteric drug delivery system.

Melatonin Prolongs the Postharvest Storability of Strawberry Fruits through Reduced Oxidative Stress and Improved Enzyme Activity

Strawberry fruits are popular among consumers because of their unique flavor and reported health benefits. However, microbial growth and oxidative stress that occur in postharvest storage cause strawberry fruits to have a relatively short postharvest life, which reduces consumer acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin application on the enzymatic activity and postharvest quality of strawberry fruits that are stored at 4 ± 0.5 °C. A total of 288 fruits with four replicates for each of the three treatments (control, 200 μM melatonin, and 500 μM melatonin) were used. Several quality metrics were regularly assessed at 3-day intervals during the 18-day storage trials. The results suggested that the exogenous melatonin application significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes at the physiological level, including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase which led to reductions in weight loss, the decay incidence, and the malondialdehyde level. The use of melatonin successfully delayed changes in the soluble solids concentration, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, and fruit firmness. The results indicated that applying 500 μM melatonin to strawberries would be a useful strategy for increasing their shelf life.

Preparation of spherical NiO-8YSZ composite powder through spray drying

Homogeneous sphere NiO-8YSZ composite powder with a narrow size distribution is significant for the fabrication of high-quality solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anodes. In this study, spray drying was used to prepare evenly distributed and spherical NiO-8YSZ composite particles used for the fabrication of SOFC anodes. The result showed that the particles prepared with a solid content of 65 wt %, atomizing pressure of 60 kPa, drying temperature of 180 °C, and sintering at 1200 °C for 2 h exhibited the best holistic quality with high sphericity (90 % over 0.84), narrow size distribution (D10 = 27.78 μm, D90 = 45.49 μm), high collection rate (70 %), and low content of unstable phases. The influence of these main parameters on the quality of the prepared particles was investigated and discussed as well. It was found that the solid content and the atomizing pressure demonstrated opposite effects on the particle size, with the former showing a positive correlation and the latter showing a negative correlation. The drying temperature decided the agglomeration degree of the prepared powder, which was involved in the presence of grape-like particles. In addition, the collection rate appeared to be positively correlated with the solid content and the atomizing pressure. The atmospheric plasma sprayed coating fabricated using the sprayed-dried powder prepared with the optimal parameters demonstrated significantly improved micromorphology and structure when compared with the coating fabricated using the mechanical mixed composite powder, which proved the prominent advantage of the powder produced through this spray drying method. All these progresses were considered good instructions for the studies on powder granulation and its applications in manufacturing high-quality coating materials.

The impact of solid particles and oil characteristics on the separation efficacy of oil sludge ultrasonic treatment

This study assesses the efficiency of ultrasonic treatment on oil sludge, with a specific focus on the impact of particle size and content, crude oil viscosity, and the interactions between crude oil and solid particles. The findings indicated that lower solids content correlates with increased oil recovery. For example, oil recovery rose from 15.09 % to 34.34 % as the solid content changed from 80 % to 40 % (200∼300 mesh). Furthermore, the study underscores the significant role of cavitation, particularly in the aqueous phase, and its dependency on fluid viscosity. Elevated viscosity raises the cavitation threshold of the medium, hindering the occurrence of cavitation effects and weakening the microjet. Acoustic energy attenuation during treatment should be emphasized, and both the propagation medium and the distance have an effect on the acoustic energy, which can be weaken by changing the ultrasonic irradiation method or by adjusting the size of the reaction unit. These findings provide valuable guidance for the ultrasonic treatment of oil sludge for optimizing crude oil recovery.

Assessment of the Biochemical Methane Potential of Wastewater and Sludge Cake from a Poultry Slaughterhouse

Objectives : This study evaluates the potential for resource recovery through anaerobic digestion of organic waste generated in a poultry slaughterhouse, specifically focusing on poultry slaughterhouse wastewater and sludge cake obtained from in-house wastewater treatment.Methods : Basic characteristics (total solids, alkalinity, etc.), total nitrogen/ammonia nitrogen, and elemental analysis (macro and trace elements) were performed to determine the properties of the samples and calculate theoretical methane potential. Experimental methane potential was determined through BMP tests, with parameters such as lag period (λ) and maximum methane production rate (CH 4 mL/g VS/d) obtained using the modified Gompertz equation.Results and Discussion : The wastewater exhibited low organic matter concentration (1.79 g VS/kg; 3.74 g COD/L), while the sludge cake showed high total solids content (TS 170.8 g/kg) and organic matter concentration (131.5 g VS/kg; 220 g COD/L). Elemental analysis revealed that the C/N ratio was 9.17 for the sludge cake and 8.24 for the wastewater, indicating high nitrogen content. Methane production modeling using the modified Gompertz equation revealed a lag period of 7.5 days and T80 (time to produce 80% of total methane) of 21 days for wastewater, and a lag period of 2.4 days and T80 of 14 days for sludge cake.Conclusion : Wastewater and sludge cake from poultry slaughterhouses show significant potential as substrates for anaerobic digestion. However, the wastewater has low organic matter content, and the sludge cake, while high in organic matter, has low moisture and high ammonia levels. Therefore, it may be appropriate to co-digest these two substrates, or to co-digest the sludge cake with other substrates that have low nitrogen content and high water content. These findings provide fundamental data for the anaerobic digestion of slaughterhouse waste and highlight the need for further research on co-digestion and continuous processes.

Characterisation of pure goat and admixed goat-buffalo milk khoa: Physico-chemical, texture, microstructure and storage stability

Khoa is a traditional Indian dairy product having semi-solid consistency, obtained by evaporating milk to 55–60 % total solids in an open pan. In present study, effect of admixing goat and buffalo milk in different proportions (100 G, 75G25B, 50G50B and 25G75B; B-Buffalo milk, G- Goat milk percentage (v/v)) on physico-chemical, textural, color and microstructural characteristics of Khoa was evaluated. Compositional parameters of goat and buffalo milk as well as all Khoa variants differed significantly (P < 0.05). L* values decreased and b* values increased with increasing goat milk proportion in Khoa, highlighting their yellowness. Goat milk Khoa (100 G) had the lowest yield (12.76 %) while goat and buffalo milk admixed in the 25:75 ratio had the highest yield (20.87 %). All samples had significantly different (p < 0.05) textural attributes during storage at 5 and 25 °C. An increase in browning (hydroxymethyl furfural value) and oxidation (peroxide and free fatty acids value) was observed for all samples during storage. Microstructure images were supported by textural and total solid content findings. This study will help dairy industries in utilization of goat milk in dairy products and would enhance the income of goat milk-based dairy farms by increasing the returns on goat milk.

High-solid digestion – A comparison of completely stirred and plug-flow reactor systems

High-solid digestion (HSD) for biogas production is a resource-efficient and sustainable method to treat organic wastes with high total solids content and obtain renewable energy and an organic fertiliser, using a lower dilution rate than in the more common wet digestion process. This study examined the effect of reactor type on the performance of an HSD process, comparing plug-flow (PFR) type reactors developed for continuous HSD processes, and completely stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs) commonly used for wet digestion. The HSD process was operated in thermophilic conditions (52 °C), with a mixture of household waste, garden waste and agricultural residues (total solids content 27–28 %). The PFRs showed slightly better performance, with higher specific methane production and nitrogen mineralisation than the CSTRs, while the reduction of volatile solids was the same in both reactor types. Results from 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed a significant difference in the microbial population, potentially related to large differences in stirring speed between the reactor types (1 rpm in PFRs and 70–150 rpm in CSTRs, respectively). The bacterial community was dominated by the genus Defluviitoga in the PFRs and order MBA03 in the CSTRs. For the archaeal community, there was a predominance of the genus Methanoculleus in the PFRs, and of the genera Methanosarcina and Methanothermobacter in the CSTRs. Despite these shifts in microbiology, the results showed that stable digestion of substrates with high total solids content can be achieved in both reactor types, indicating flexibility in the choice of technique for HSD processes.

Enzymatic synthesis of structured lipids rich in α‐linolenic acid: impacts of triacylglycerol profile on physicochemical characteristics

SummaryMedium‐ and long‐chain triacylglycerols rich in α‐linolenic acid (ALA‐MLCT) are a kind of functional structural lipids that provide ω‐3 fatty acid and faster energy supply to human body. To improve the functional and nutritional properties of vegetable oils, we proposed an effective strategy for the synthesis of ALA‐MLCT by enzymatic interesterification of coconut oil and flaxseed oil. Lipase UM1 exhibited the highest interesterification activity compared with commercial Lipozyme RM IM, Lipozyme TL IM and Novozym 435. MLCT (76.59%) and ALA‐MLCT (45.03%) were obtained under the optimum reaction conditions: substrate molar ratio (coconut oil/flaxseed oil) 1:1, temperature 40 °C, Lipase UM1 loading 25 U g‑1. Furthermore, we identified 14 characteristic triacylglycerols molecules between enzymatic interesterification and physical blend by orthogonal partial least squares‐discrimination analysis (OPLS‐DA) model. The content of triunsaturated type triacylglycerols in enzymatic interesterification product (11.29%) was lower than that of physical blend (36.25%). Enzymatic interesterification product had lower solid fat content and 2.44 times oxidative stability than physical blend. These findings provide an effective strategy for the synthesis of functional ALA‐MLCT and advance the understanding of the relationship between triacylglycerols composition and physicochemical characteristics.

Microstructural evolution, enhanced mechanical properties, and complex shapes design in high solid content alumina ceramics through additive manufacturing

Manufacturing industrially profitable high solid-loading ceramic materials with finely designed complex shapes is an exciting yet challenging in sustainable additive manufacturing. Here, we propose a resin strategy to achieve a high solid-loading content of 62 vol% alumina slurry for 3D printing high-quality complex shapes using digital light processing (DLP) technology. Remarkably, both high solid-loading content and tuned sintering temperature emerge as key factors in ensuring optimal print quality and mechanical performance. With this strategy, the ceramic slurry containing 62 vol% exhibits lower shear rate and improved layer adhesion. The burnout treatment was designed based on the DSC-TGA results, followed by sintering in an air atmosphere. Comprehensive physical measurements were achieved, alongside precise structural characterization at multilength scales in situ. In depth exploration of post-sintering analysis revealed no changes in phase composition or chemical bonding. The optimum overall performance of sintered specimen exhibited shrinkage of 8.3 %, 8.8 %, and 11.5 % in the X, Y, and Z directions, with a bulk density of 3.76 g/cm3. Mechanical testing demonstrated superior flexural strength of 247.23 MPa, nanoindentation hardness of 30.9 GPa, and modulus of 428.35 GPa. This high-precision printing strategy may significantly contribute to understanding the structure-property relationship of DLP-3D printed Al2O3 ceramic and opening avenue for the applications of high-strength parts in demanding environments.

Fluorescence hyperspectral imaging technology combined with chemometrics for kiwifruit quality attribute assessment and non-destructive judgment of maturity

Dry matter content (DMC), firmness and soluble solid content (SSC) are important indicators for assessing the quality attributes and determining the maturity of kiwifruit. However, traditional measurement methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and destructive to the kiwifruit, leading to resource wastage. In order to solve this problem, this study has tracked the flowering, fruiting, maturing and collecting processes of Ya'an red-heart kiwifruit, and has proposed a non-destructive method for kiwifruit quality attribute assessment and maturity identification that combines fluorescence hyperspectral imaging (FHSI) technology and chemometrics. Specifically, first of all, three different spectral data preprocessing methods were adopted, and PLSR was used to evaluate the quality attributes (DMC, firmness, and SSC) of kiwifruit. Next, the differences in accuracy of different models in discriminating kiwifruit maturity were compared, and an ensemble learning model based on LightGBM and GBDT models was constructed. The results indicate that the ensemble learning model outperforms single machine learning models. In addition, the application effects of the ‘Convolutional Neural Network’-‘Multilayer Perceptron’ (CNN-MLP) model under different optimization algorithms were compared. To improve the robustness of the model, an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA) was introduced by modifying the acceleration factor. Overall, the IWOA–CNN–MLP model performs the best in discriminating the maturity of kiwifruit, with Accuracytest of 0.916 and Loss of 0.23. In addition, compared with the basic model, the accuracy of the integrated learning model SG-MSC-SEL was improved by about 12%–20 %. The research findings will provide new perspectives for the evaluation of kiwifruit quality and maturity discrimination using FHSI and chemometric methods, thereby promoting further research and applications in this field.

Effect of solid content, particle size, and deflocculant on rheological properties of kaolin suspensions

In this research, two different particle sizes of kaolin were selected, and their rheological properties were characterized by steady-state and dynamic rheological tests. Stress relaxation in the flow curves was a novel finding; redefinition and interpretation of flow curves were the focus of our research. Two methods were used and compared for determining the yield stress. The results showed that suspensions with higher solid content and smaller particle size showed more compact inter-particle interactions, exerting multiple stress relaxation and a strong yield and viscoelastic characteristic. The thixotropic properties were also strongly affected by solid content and particle size, and the differences were reflected in the structural recovery capability. Finally, the effects on rheological properties by introducing deflocculant were studied; the stress relaxation disappeared gradually, and storage modulus and yield stress increased.Moreover, kaolin suspensions with smaller particle sizes required more deflocculant for adsorption and electrical neutralization, confirming that more positively charged edges were exposed after fragmentation. This study has provided an excellent approach to control and adjust the rheological properties of kaolin suspensions in industrial applications.

Rootstock selection for ‘Swatow’ Mandarin trees grown at different locations throughout the Brazilian subtropics

Evaluating citrus rootstocks is of paramount importance in determining their suitability for a certain region and promoting resilience in orchards by increasing the genetic pool, thereby potentially contributing to a more strategic establishment of new plantings. This long-term field study (2000–2013) aimed to evaluate different rootstocks for ‘Swatow’ mandarin grown at two locations (Paranavaí and Londrina) in the Brazilian subtropics. Nine rootstocks were evaluated, including ‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Volkamer’ lemon, ‘Caipira DAC’ sweet orange, ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarins, ‘Trifoliate’ orange, ‘Carrizo’, and ‘Fepagro C-13’ citranges. Trees were assessed for vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, density, and yield estimates. The experimental design was a randomized block arranged in a 9 × 2 setting (rootstock × location) with 6 replicates and 4 trees per plot. ‘Swatow’ trees grew more vigorously in Londrina than Paranavaí, particularly for ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ pairings. Tree vigor was reduced with ‘Trifoliate’, resulting in higher tree density estimates and yield efficiency. This rootstock, along with ‘Rangpur’, ‘Swingle’, and ‘Carrizo’ provided superior yield to the scion. All tested rootstocks conferred good fruit quality. Fruits were larger and heavier in ‘Sunki’ pairings, showing higher soluble solids (SS) content, along with ‘Caipira DAC’, ‘Trifoliate’, ‘Swingle’, and ‘Carrizo’ at both locations. Our findings confirm the suitability of ‘Trifoliate’ orange, ‘Carrizo’ citrange, or ‘Caipira DAC’ orange rootstocks as promising candidates for ‘Swatow’ mandarin cultivation in humid subtropical and analogous regions. Further investigations are invoked to improve the horticultural performance of ‘Swatow’ mandarin trees grafted onto these rootstocks.

The Effect of Putrescine and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Treatments on Fruit Quality Characteristics of Strawberry (Kabarla cultivar) During Cold Storage

Strawberry is a fruit species that must be harvested at full ripening and at the same time has an extremely short shelf life and deteriorates rapidly. Therefore, it is important to extend the shelf life after harvest. In this study, putrescine and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were applied during cold storage in order to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of strawberry fruit. The commercial ripening fruit were treated with 1 mM putrescine and stored in MAP for 20 days. The quality characteristics such as weight loss, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, fruit color, organic acid and phenolic content were measured and analyzed on days 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 of storage. At the end of 20 days of the cold storage, the highest weight loss was in control treatment (%). The decrease in soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) values during cold storage was slowed down by MAP and putrescine treatments. Organic acids and phenolic compounds were significantly affected by storage time and MAP and putrescine treatments. After 20 days of the cold storage, citric acid (748.91 mg 100 g -1) and malic acid (258.34 mg 100 g-1), which were determined as basic organic acids, were highest in putrescine treatment. Shikimic acid (0.77 mg 100 g-1) and isocitric acid (112.58 mg 100 g-1) as phenolic compounds were highest in MAP and MAP+ putrescine treatments, respectively. These results releaved that the application of putrescine and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) during cold storage significantly extends the market life of strawberries by preserving their quality attributes.

Evaluation of chitosan as clarification aid in production of sour cherry juice and its effect on quality during storage.

The present study was aimed to develop a novel clarification aid using chitosan, replacing the existing clarification techniques/methods which has a predominant importance in the production of sour cherry juice. The effectiveness of chitosan as clarification aid was compared with existing clarification aids, during the storage of the sour cherry juice at 4ºC and 25ºC for six months. Based on preliminary experiments, sour cherry juices were prepared and turbidity, pH, titration acidity, soluble solids content, total anthocyanin, total phenols and antioxidant capacities were estimated from juices prepared from chitosan-based clarification aid and other clarification aids, and comparative analysis was done. Sour cherry juices produced with chitosans as clarification aid showed at least as good properties as the commercial mixture, especially when evaluated in terms of phytochemical properties such as total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and total antioxidant capacity, at both 4 and 25℃ storages. Chitosan, obtained from recycling waste, has been successfully used to clarify sour cherry juice instead of commercial chemical mixtures. Chitosan has been validated as a valuable alternative to commercial clarification aids.