Sweet Banana Research Articles

Serological Detection of Cucumber Mosaic Virus and Capsicum Chlorosis Virus in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Germplasm

A survey was conducted on the basis of symptomatology for the screening of germplasm under insect proof glasshouse conditions in the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. YSPUHF, Nauni, Solan to identify the sources of resistance in pepper crop. The most prominent symptoms were mosaic, mottling, leaf narrowing, stunted growth, mosaic with chlorotic lesions, formation of rings with necrotic lesions and mosaic with mottling. Forty-eight varieties or breeding lines were screened for the presence or absence of virus through DAS-ELISA. The study revealed that nineteen varieties or breeding lines tested positive and twenty-nine tested negative for virus infection. Sweet Banana variety recorded the least O.D. value followed by SB and UHF-Cap-30 whereas, UHF-Cap-22 was most susceptible variety with maximum O.D. value. Mixed infection of CMV and capsicum chlorosis orthotospovirus (CaCV) was recorded with six varieties or breeding lines during germplasm screening. This study signifies the presence of mixed infection with chlorotic lesions like symptoms and importance of DAS-ELISA in screening of pepper germplasm against CMV and CaCV.

Comparative Biology of Guava Fruit Fly <i>Bactrocera correcta</i> (Bezzi)

Fruit flies are polyphagous insect pests, infesting various fruits and vegetables. The host preference and biology of guava fruit fly Bactrocera correcta (Bezzi) were studied on 17 hosts. Biological parameters such as incubation period, maggot and pupal period, maggot and pupal weight, pupal recovery, adult emergence, total fecundity and adult longevity were studied. All biological parameters were significantly influenced by the host fruits. The results showed that the total developmental period was longer on pomegranate (26.7± 2.1 days), ber (26.1± 2.4 days) and custard apple (25.1± 1.5 days); while shorter period was observed on sweet banana (20.1± 1.6 days). Pupal recovery was maximum on sweet banana (93.33%) and lowest on mango (Totapuri) (42%). The adult emergence was also more on sweet banana (90%) and survived for longer period. Sweet banana was preferred for oviposition followed by guava, papaya, and sapota.

Impact of ripening stage on the nutritional and antioxidant potential of fruit consumed by diabetics at the Abidjan Anti-Diabetic Centre

Diet can play an important role in the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Fruit is packed with essential nutrients and health-promoting micronutrients. What's more, the nutritional value of fruit can vary depending on its ripeness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of ripe and very ripe fruits (sweet bananas, papayas, Kent mangoes, apples, and oranges) regularly consumed by diabetics at the Abidjan Diabetes Center. To this end, the physicochemical (pH, acidity and mineral composition) and biochemical (proteins, lipids, citrates, polyphenols, flavonoids etc.) characteristics of the five fruits were determined at ripe and very ripe stages using standardized methods. The results indicate that the ripening process affects the biochemical composition of the fruit at different stages. A decrease in titrable acidity, vitamin C, protein, lipid, total carbohydrate, energy, and mineral contents was observed. An increase in the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidant activity was observed. Compared to oranges, papayas had more flavonoids (155.7 ± 0.7 mg/100 g) and polyphenols (465.4 ± 3.1 mg/100 g). Oranges, on the other hand, had more vitamin C (47.97 ± 3.6 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (44.2 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), calcium (38.60 ± 2.06 mg/100 g), and zinc (0.15 ± 0.02 mg/100 g). Similarly, ripe bananas were richer in potassium (406.2 ± 3.13 and 301.2 ± 4.04 mg/100 g), sodium (2.30 ± 0.06 mg/100 g), manganese (0.38 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), and iron (0.37 ± 0.01 mg/100 g). In conclusion, these results could help diabetics make informed food choices and manage degenerative diseases.

Taxonomic Study on the Six Species of Genus Magnolia

Magnolia, a genus comprising approximately 225 species of trees and shrubs in the family Magnoliaceae. Magnolia plants can be evergreen or deciduous and bear alternate smooth-margined leaves. In this paper six species of magnolia were studied based on morphological observations of taxonomically relevant traits. Among these, four species—Magnolia alba, Magnolia champaca, Magnolia grandiflora, and Magnolia liliifera—are previously documented, while two species, Magnolia figo, a 3–4 m tall shrub with a sweet banana scent, and Magnolia coco, are newly recorded additions to the flora of Bangladesh. This study focused on the leaf descriptions viz. average breadth and length, average size, fresh weight, and dry weight of leaves of the six species with their brief taxonomic description, morphology features, and identifiable pictures. In terms of relative average leaf size (RALS), Magnolia alba has the largest, while Magnolia figo has the smallest. M. champaca exhibits the highest water content, and M. coco has the highest dry matter percentage at approximately 47.03%. The conservation status of these species was evaluated, with four classified as Least Concern (LC) and two as Data Deficient (DD). The addition of Magnolia coco and Magnolia figo brings the total number of Magnolia species in Bangladesh to fourteen. Overall, this study on Magnolia will help future research projects, conservation efforts, and management activities by enhancing the understanding of the various uses of these species. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(2): 158-165, 2024

Strategy to increase the growth of sweet banana varieties of chili (Capsicum sp) using Gamma Ray Radiation

Chili (Capsicum sp) is a herbaceous plant from the eggplant family and is thought to originate from Mexico, Central America, and the Andes region in South America. This research was carried out from November 2023 to May 2024. Sweet Banana Variety Chili Seeds were sent to the Isotope Application Center and Radiation (PAIR), National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) Jl. Lebak Bulus Raya No.49 Cilandak-South Jakarta. Irradiated seeds were planted in the Green House of Labuhanbatu University, Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra. The design used was a non-factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 replications. The experiment used a single factor, namely gamma rays, on sweet banana variety chili seeds with 4 treatment levels: Control (0 Gy), 100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy. In this study, 20 plant units were observed. Based on the results of observations of the growth of sweet banana variety chili seedlings, seedling growth was different in each treatment, and most of the seedlings were only able to survive at an irradiation level of 100 Gy. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the gamma-ray radiation factor was significantly different from the number of leaves (strands) in the 2nd week after planting, but was not significantly different 4 weeks after planting. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the gamma-ray radiation factor was significantly different 2 weeks after planting, a further DMRT test was carried out at a level of 5%.

Banana Peel: A potential waste product with numerous pharmacological activities

Plants have been used as a traditional medicine for generations. Recently the pharmaceutical industries are showing a great interest in using plant extracts in pharmaceutical product development due to the uses of the plants in the treatment of various diseases. Banana is a world-wide edible fruit which comes from south-east Asia. It belongs to the genus Musa and is of two types, sweet banana, and plantain. It has many different species in the world, which are divided into 50 groups. The scientific names of cultivated bananas are Musa accuminata, Musa balbisiana and Musa paradisiaca belonging to the family Musaceae. The present review discusses the various pharmacological activities of the banana peel.

Analysis of Attitude and Consumer Preferences to Purchase Decisions of Banana Fruit in Traditional Markets Pangkalpinang City

This study examines consumer perceptions of the qualities considered in purchasing decisions and consumer preferences for purchasing bananas in traditional markets in Pangkalpinang. This research was carried out in a predetermined traditional market in Pangkalpinang City. This study used a survey method as its primary research design. Purposive sampling was used, and the sample size was 100 respondents. The attributes of bananas analyzed were tasted, fruit skin color, fruit size, and number of fruit per comb. The analytical method used is Fishbein Multiattribute analysis and Conjoint analysis. The results showed that consumer attitudes toward the attributes that were most considered in purchasing bananas were attributes of fruit skin color (21.57) which was very positive—taste (16.27), which was a positive value. Fruit size (15, 87) is a positive value, and the number of fruit per comb (6,41) is negative. Consumer preferences in purchasing bananas at the traditional Pangkalpinang City market are bananas with a yellow-green skin color, a sweet banana taste, a length of > 14 cm, and many pieces per comb with> 16 details. The sequence of importance values explains the attributes of bananas that the consumer pays the most attention to when buying bananas: the color of the banana peel, the taste of the banana, the size of the banana, and the number of bananas per comb.

Ebb and flow versus constant water level on the sweet banana chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) production in an aquaponic system

Bell siphons are used in aquaponic systems to create rising and falling water levels in plant culture beds that facilitates water exchanges and elevates dissolved oxygen (DO) although this may also remove nutrient rich organic debris from the plant culture bed. Sweet banana chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants were aquaponically grown until maturity and then further cultured in a media-filled bed with or without a bell siphon for one month in triplicate. Water quality was measured throughout as well as the total chili number, weight, mineral composition and sugar levels. Channel catfish (30 individuals/replicate; initial weight = 289 g ± 10.2) were fed twice/day for 5 days/week. Results showed that a bell siphon significantly increased DO in both the fish and plant culture tanks, but dissolved nitrogen and pH were similar. Fish growth, survival and feeding efficiency were similar among treatments. The total count (982 and 747) and weight of chilies (7450 and 7413 g) were similar without or with a bell siphon, but individually, chilies were significantly heavier with a bell siphon. Soluble and insoluble sugars were unaffected but among the tested minerals, sodium, potassium, calcium and zinc were significantly elevated in chilies cultured without a bell siphon. The lower mineral content was likely due to the bell siphon removing excess organic debris from the media-filled plant culture bed that would otherwise be mineralized. Based on these findings and under the culture conditions, bell siphons may not provide benefits to plant production and the lower DO may be mitigated by providing additional aeration in the plant culture bed.

Main determinants of the fruits consumed by diabetic patients managed at the Antidiabetic Center of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Fruit, commonly eaten raw, contains contain some nutrients good for diabetics health. Since most fruits taste sweet, it was interesting to investigate the dietary behaviour of diabetics towards fruits in the main diabetic center in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Of a total of 846 patients surveyed of the antidiabetic center in Abidjan, 73.3% awared of the health benefits of fruit for diabetics. 48.5%, awared fruit contained free sugar considered harmful for them. Regarding frequency and fruit, 29.8% of them consumed at least one fruit one or two days and 62.2% preferred to consume whole fruits rather than fruit juices (9.7%) while almost half (44.6%) consumed them much more after the meal. As for their amount, the majority of respondents consumed an average of 1 (20.57%) or 2 (69.50%) pieces of fruit at each intake and paid attention to their degree of ripeness (58%). The most consumed fruits were orange (61.5%), apple (57.4%), sweet banana (46.1%), papaya (39.6%), and mango (29.6%), contained between 2.21 and 9.02% total free sugars and between 0.52 and 1.33% total fiber. A large proportion of diabetic patients regularly consumed them at ripe (37.1%) or very ripe (32.7%) stage, ingesting a significant amount of fast sugar. Fruit consumption should be promoted to diabetics to enable them making more healthy choices.

Chemical Characterization of Some Fruits and Vegetables Used as Substrates for the Production of Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Black soldier fly larvae feed on different organic materials. The nutritional composition of these larvae depends on the feeding substrate. The objective of this study is to determine the composition of macronutrients and micronutrients of fruits and vegetables used as substrate for the production of larvae. To do this, various fruits and vegetables were obtained from fruit and vegetable retailers of Carena in the commune of Plateau (Abidjan). These are the releases of sweet banana, watermelon, avocado, cucumber, papaya and orange. They were packed in a cooler, closed and transported to the experiment site. Samples of these fruits and vegetables were taken and chemically analyzed. It was determined metabolizable energy, the content of moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, cellulose, ash, minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, and magnesium) and vitamin C. The results showed that sweet banana and watermelon are rich in protein respectively 2.20% ± 0.00 and 1.93% ± 0.00. The sweet banana is also rich in ash (4.80% ± 0.00) and mineral elements such as sodium (17.35 mg ± 3.68) and magnesium (30.8 mg ± 4.40). Avocado is energetic (161 ± 1.02 kcal). It is rich in fat (43.5% ± 0.01), potassium (339 mg ± 22.3) and phosphorus (52 mg ± 3.02). Orange and papaya are rich in vitamin C respectively 70 mg ± 3.00 and 64 mg ± 2.00. Watermelon and cucumber have a high water respectively 93.91% ± 1.00 and 91.4% ± 1.01. The have also a high cellulose content respectively 11.41% ± 0.01 and 11.1% ± 0.01. This study has shown that the fruits and vegetables used are excellent substrates. They are rich in macronutrients and micronutrients useful for the growth of black soldier fly larvae.

Supplementing aquaponics with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass tea: Effects on the production and composition of sweetpotato slips and sweet banana peppers

In this 10-week study, sweet banana chili plants (Capsicum annuum) and sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas) slips were cultured with or without media and with or without black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) frass tea supplementations in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Each treatment was triplicated with 30 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) juveniles and plant growth was periodically monitored and harvested. Water quality and minerals were measured throughout the study and at final sampling, the mineral/phenol/antioxidant capacity was measured in the sweetpotato leaves, sugar content was measured in the sweet chilies and final sizes/survival of catfish were recorded. BSFL frass tea additions had no significant effect on water quality. Such additions also had no adverse effect on catfish growth, feeding efficiency or liver histology. However, BSFL frass tea significantly elevated water calcium, potassium and phosphorus levels at weeks 1, 5 and 10 while magnesium was significantly higher on weeks 5 and 10. BSFL frass tea significantly elevated manganese in sweetpotato leaves, but no increase in production, possibly due to BSFL frass having no effect on water iron levels that were undetectable throughout the study. Similarly, BSFL frass tea had no effect on chili production but did significantly elevate total sugar content. Sweetpotato slip and chili production were significantly increased in media and without media, respectively. Overall, results show that leafy growth was significantly better with media, fruiting was significantly better without media, and BSFL frass tea enhanced the nutritional quality of the aquaponic products without compromising fish production or water quality.

What Kigali\u2019s open-air markets reveal about achieving food and nutrition security: the role of African indigenous crops

BackgroundHousehold dietary diversity in Rwanda remains low and significantly contributes to the double burden of malnutrition. Rwanda has one of the highest under five stunting rates globally, and malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health issues; therefore, factors that shape food and nutrition security are of utmost concern. Globally, the variety of foods available in open-air markets has been shown to affect dietary diversity. Furthermore, the consumption of indigenous foods can contribute to a diverse diet and improve nutrition status. At present, there are limited data on foods available for purchase in open-air markets in Africa. Therefore, this study was designed to provide data on food availability in the largest open-air markets of Rwanda’s most populated city, Kigali, and to highlight which foods indigenous to Africa can be purchased.MethodsAll consumables were inventoried between October and December of 2020 in three open-air markets of Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Consumables were organized by the site of domestication and the nutritional contents of some African indigenous crops were compared to similar non-indigenous items.ResultsA variety of raw and processed consumables was available in the open-air markets inventoried; however, only 25.8% of available species are indigenous to Africa. All Rwanda’s staples, including sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, maize, banana, and cassava, are endemic to other continents. Indigenous plant species, which are often drought-resistant and more nutritious, for example, Africa’s pineapple fruits (Myrianthus holstii), could not be purchased in Kigali’s open-air markets. Pineapple fruits are richer in iron, vitamin C, protein, and vitamin A than banana, which is the most consumed fruit in Rwanda.ConclusionsGiven rapid population growth, limited arable land, and erratic climate patterns, policies to conserve and promote indigenous species, especially those already adapted to harsh environmental conditions, should be enacted in Rwanda. The cultivation of native vegetables and fruits in home gardens, and the conservation of edible wild species, can improve dietary diversity and enhance food and nutrition security across the entire country.

Ancient West-Coastal Bantu Banana Vocabulary: Testing Linguistic Method for Reconstructing Musa History in Africa

Lexical data has been key in attempts to reconstruct the early history of the banana (Musa sp.) in Africa. Previous language-based approaches to the introduction and dispersal of this staple crop of Asian origin have suffered from the absence of well-established genealogical classifications and inadequate historical-linguistic analysis. We therefore focus in this article on West-Coastal Bantu (WCB), one specific branch within the Bantu family whose genealogy and diachronic phonology are well established. We reconstruct three distinct banana terms to Proto-West-Coastal Bantu (PWCB), i.e. *dɪ̀‑ŋkòndò/*mà‑ŋkòndò ‘plantain’, *dɪ̀‑ŋkò/*mà‑ŋkò ‘plantain’ and *kɪ̀‑túká/*bì‑túká ‘bunch of bananas’. From this new historical-linguistic evidence we infer that AAB Plantains, one of Africa’s two major cultivar subgroups, already played a key role in the subsistence economy of the first Bantu speakers who assumedly migrated south of the rainforest around 2500 years ago. We furthermore analyze four innovations that emerged after WCB started to spread from its interior homeland in the Kasai-Kamtsha region of Congo-Kinshasa towards the Atlantic coast, i.e. dɪ̀‑kòndè ‘plantain’, kɪ̀‑tébè ‘starchy banana’, banga ‘False Horn plantain’, and dɪ̀‑tòtò ‘sweet banana’. Finally, we assess the historical implications of these lexical retentions and innovations both within and beyond WCB and sketch some perspectives for future lexicon-based banana research.

Addition of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato and Iron-Rich Beans Improves Sensory, Nutritional and Physical Properties But Reduces Microbial Shelf Life of Cassava-Based Pancake (Kabalagala) Designed for Children 2-5 Years Old

ABSTRACT Innovative use of locally available food resources to develop products of enhanced nutritional quality is one of the strategies believed to alleviate deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as vitamin A and iron that are endemic among children 2–5 years in developing countries such as Uganda. New cassava-based pancake (kabalagala) formulae composed of orange-fleshed sweet potato, iron-rich beans, cassava and sweet banana were developed to target vitamin A and iron needs of children 2–5 years in Uganda. The new products had better sensory appeal and nutrient density, had better physical properties during storage, were stable to oxidative rancidity but had lower microbial shelf-life compared to the original pancake formula (composed of cassava and sweet banana). Notwithstanding bioavailability constraints, theoretical nutritional computation revealed that serving 100 g (approximately four pieces) of the new products would contribute approximately 99–102% of vitamin A and 110–119% of iron requirements of the targeted children.

Review: When Banana Ruled, by Mathilde Damoisel

Review: <i>When Banana Ruled</i>, by Mathilde Damoisel

Effect of mulching and planting density on production of sweet banana pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The present experiment was carried out at Dr Y S Parmer University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Kharif 2019 to study the effect of mulching and planting density on production of Sweet Banana pepper in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. The twelve treatment combinations comprised of combination of four different mulches (M) viz., no mulch (M0), pine needle mulch (M1) black-plastic mulch (M2), silver-black plastic mulch (M3) with three planting densities (P) viz., 60 cm×60 cm (P1) 60 cm×45 cm (P2) and 60 cm×30 cm (P3). The observations were recorded on growth yield and quality traits, fruit rot incidence (%), weed count, fresh and dry weight of weeds, soil moisture and temperature. The treatment combination silver-black plastic mulch with plant spacing of 60 cm×30 cm (M3P3) was found superior over all other treatment combinations for most of the growth and yield parameters, quality traits, fruit rot incidence and weed control as well as performed well in improving soil moisture and temperature. This treatment combination also had maximum benefit: cost ratio of 4.21:1. Hence silver-black mulch in combination with 60 cm×30 cm spacing can be recommended for commercial cultivation of Sweet Banana pepper in North Western Himalayan regions after multi-locational testing.

Bacterial communities in the gut of wild and mass-reared Zeugodacus cucurbitae and Bactrocera dorsalis revealed by metagenomic sequencing

BackgroundInsect pests belonging to genus Bactrocera sp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose major biotic stress on various fruits and vegetable crops around the world. Zeugodacus and Bactrocera sp. are associated with diverse bacterial communities which play an important role in the fitness of sterile insects. The wild populations of melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) and Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) were collected from pumpkin and mango fields, respectively. The laboratory populations of Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis were mass-reared on bottle gourd and sweet banana, respectively. Bacterial communities present in the gut of wild and mass-reared mature (~ 12 days old) and newly emerged (< 1 h after emergence) male and female adults of Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis were assessed. We used Illumina HiSeq next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene to profile the gut bacterial communities of wild and mass-reared mature and newly emerged Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis adults.ResultsWe found diverse bacterial composition in the gut of wild and mass-reared Z. cucurbitae (ZC) and B. dorsalis (BD) with varied relative abundance. Few taxonomic groups were common to both the species. The most dominant phyla in all samples of Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis adults were Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The phylum Proteobacteria occurred more in wild Z. cucurbitae (~ 87.72%) and B. dorsalis (~ 83.87%) as compared to mass-reared Z. cucurbitae (64.15%) and B. dorsalis (~ 80.96%). Higher relative abundance of Phylum Firmicutes was observed in mass-reared fruit fly than wild adults. Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast and Actinobacteria were also present with very low relative abundance in both wild as well as mass-reared melon fly and Oriental fruit fly. Enterobacteriaceae (61.21%) was dominant family in the gut of both wild and mass-reared adults. Providencia and Lactococcus were dominant genera with varied relative abundance in wild as well as in mass-reared mature and newly emerged fruit fly adults of both species. Some of the genera like Morganella and Serratia were only detected in mass-reared mature and newly emerged Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis adults. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) showed that fruit fly adult samples were grouped based on species and age of the adults while no grouping was observed on the basis of sex of the adult fruit fly.ConclusionsThe gut bacterial communities associated with wild and mass-reared mature and newly emerged adults of Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis showed variation that depends on species and age of the insects. Understanding the gut microbiota of wild and mass-reared Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis using high throughput technology will help to illustrate microbial diversity and this information could be used to develop efficient mass-rearing protocols for successful implementation of sterile insect technique (SIT).

Effect of Hexanal as a Post-harvest Treatment to Extend the Shelf-life of Banana Fruits (Musa acuminata var. Sweet Banana) in Kenya

The short shelf-life of fruits in the tropics continues to be a pressing problem for farmers and other value chain actors. Hexanal is a naturally occurring compound that has received attention as a novel postharvest compound preservative. This study was conducted to determine the effect of hexanal on enhancing the postharvest shelf-life and quality of ‘sweet banana’ fruits. Two hexanal concentrations (2% and 3%) were applied as either a pre-harvest spray or a post-harvest dip. Fruits were obtained from two different agro ecological zones of Kenya (AEZs II and IV). The treated fruits were kept under ambient room conditions of 25 ± 1°C and RH 60 ± 5% to ripen. Hexanal treatment maintained the fruits quality and prolonged the shelf-life by 6 days in the dipped fruits, 6 and 3 days in the sprayed fruits from the drier AEZ IV and colder AEZ II respectively compared to the untreated controls. Hexanal treatments significantly (P = .05) delayed or reduced the rate of most of the physicochemical parameters analysed irrespective of the concentration and mode of application used. Fruit firmness was significantly (P = .05) maintained up to day 6 and 9 of storage in the treated fruits compared to the controls which softened drastically as from day 3 and 6 in the sprayed and dipped fruits respectively. Hexanal treatment delayed ethylene and respiratory peaks by 3 days in both modes of application and significantly delayed progression of other ripening related changes such as 0Brix, titratable acidity, simple sugars and vitamin C. Sensory evaluation showed no significant differences in the various quality attributes analysed between the hexanal treated and control fruits. The results of this study indicate that, use of hexanal is a potential technology that could be adopted by banana farmers to enhance post-harvest shelf-life without compromising on quality.

Life cycle assessment of products from agro-based companies in Uganda

Despite the fact that life cycle assessment (LCA) is a very vital tool, it has not been used in Uganda most likely because very little is known about it. In an attempt to initiate and promote LCA in Uganda, a partnership among Makerere University, selected agro-based companies, and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) was initiated with the broad aim of promoting life cycle thinking for improved agricultural products competitiveness on regional and international market. Specifically, the study focused on assessing and quantifying the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of selected products. Life cycle assessment tool was used to quantify environmental impacts including global warming, ecological toxicity, human toxicity, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion. A detailed, process-based gate-to-gate (core process) LCA approach in accordance with ISO 14040, 14044 (ISO 2006a, b), PCR 2012:07 CPC 013 Fruits and nuts together with PCR 2011:08, CPC 2143 Fruit juices was conducted. The functional units have been redefined to; 1 litre of packaged juice ready for consumption and 1 kg of packaged dried fruits including the non-edible parts. Calculations at the farm stage involved calculations of net emission from land cover changes using; ΔC = Ʃ (activity data * emission factor). Calculations of N2O from manure management were obtained. Carbon dioxide emissions mainly result from the change of tree cover to crop fields and use of fossil fuel. The other impact categories (ecological toxicity, human toxicity, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion) were brought about by the packaging material used. Results also showed that energy consumption was highest at the agricultural stage of dried pineapples processing and production/factory life cycle stage of sweet bananas. The main challenge during assessment was lack of records. There is need for avoiding or minimizing the conversion of forest-covered land into agricultural land use due to the high-carbon emissions associated with the change, and for switching to renewable energy sources. There is need for a national database to support LCA efforts.

Alimentos tradicionais enquanto estratégia de soberania alimentar: o caso do município de Baturité – Ceará – Brasil

Um povo para ser livre precisa ser soberano, sendo que essa soberania perpassa pela alimentação. É sobre esta temática que a pesquisa estabeleceu um levantamento de estratégias de soberania alimentar organizadas, especificamente, no Município de Baturité - Ceará. Foram realizadas 12 entrevistas semiestruturadas com representações de movimentos sociais e da sociedade civil. A metodologia etnográfica possibilitou que fossem levantadas estratégias como: casas de semente, quintais produtivos, feiras agroecológicas, PAA, bem como a identificação de quatro alimentos tradicionais reconhecidos pela população. São eles: 1º doce de banana em pasta; 2º bolo pé de moleque; 3º baião de dois de fava e 4ª pirão de Fava. Definiu-se o doce de banana em pasta, devido sua colocação no rol das respostas; onde durante 1 mês ocorreu a aplicação de testes de aceitabilidade junto à 100 crianças. Na avaliação, 69% das crianças relataram “gostei extremamente” o que demonstrou que o doce foi aceito positivamente, demonstrando viabilidade para uma possível inserção na merenda escolar, contribuindo para a redução do desperdício do fruto e para valorização da agricultura local.