SCREENING AND GROWTH KINETIC STUDIES OF WILD CHLOROPHYCEAN FRESH WATER MICROALGAL SPECIES FOR BIOMASS AND BIOFUEL APPLICATIONS

Objective: Microalgae are studied for decades for various products such as, protein rich animal/fish feed, lipids, pigments, neutra ceuticals, therapeutic agents, primary products and biomass. Lipid content was prime target in most of the research programs for production of biodiesel as an alternate to fossil fuel. Chlorophycean microalgae has the potential to meet all these requirements. The objective of this study was to collect and identify chlorophycean microalgae from various water bodies of Jharkhand State of India and to estimate their total lipid content.Methods: Wild cholorophycean fresh water species from Jharkhand were collected and studied for biomass, total lipid, carotenoids and chlorophyll content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data were obtained for further verification of lipid estimation in all the species. Light microscopy as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed to identify the species.Results: The observation revealed two groups of micro algae, among these Scenedesmus sp and Chlorella sp. Showed highest lipid accumulation of 45.1 and 41.5 % respectively, while Legerhemia sp. Showed highest biomass production (21.2 g/l). Productivity/day for an 80K L pond system was calculated by extrapolation of results; that changed the choice of organism to Desmodesmus sp.Conclusion: The microalgae collected from highly polluted sites were efficient enough to yield high lipid (AKS-1/AKS-8) and biomass (AKS-6). The laboratory scale study was extrapolated with mass scale culture data and the choice of organism changed to AKS-16 from AKS-1/AKS-8 (for high lipid content) or AKS-6 (for high biomass).Â

An Exogenous Pre-Storage Melatonin Alleviates Chilling Injury in Some Mango Fruit Cultivars, by Acting on the Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant System

Melatonin (MT) treatment (100 M, 2 h) was applied to four mango fruit cultivars (‘Langra’, ‘Chaunsa’, ‘Dashehari’, and ‘Gulab Jamun’), before being stored at 5 1 C for 28 d, in order to alleviate chilling injury (CI). Maximum CI reduction was observed in ‘Langra’ mangoes, and minimum in ‘Gulab Jamun’ mangoes. This positive effect on quality preservation was associated with an increased concentration of endogenous MT, which prevented the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2 ) and stimulated non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids), possibly due to higher activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and tyrosine ammonia lyase. Increased antioxidant activity was also documented in MT-treated ‘Langra’ mangoes, according to four different assays (DPPH, TEAC, FRAP, and CUPRAC) and higher activity of six antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase). In contrast, ‘Gulab Jamun’ mangoes showed minimal or no positive effects on the aforementioned variables in response to the exogenous MT application. ‘Chaunsa’ and ‘Dashehari’ mangoes had some intermediate effects on their antioxidant system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and alleviation of CI, when treated with exogenous MT.We conclude that exogenous MT exerts a cultivar-dependent stimulating effect on the antioxidant system of mangoes, which results in an increase in the fruits’ resistance to low temperature

Solanaceous Fruits

Catface is expressed as malformation and the cracking of fruit at the blossom-end. Tomatoes showing this disorder usually present deep clefts that may cover the pericarp to varying degrees. Puffiness is used to refer to fruit usually showing flat or angular sides. Internally, tomato locules may be partially full of gel or even empty and the fruit may be hollow to different degrees depending on the severity of the disorder. Cracking is the splitting of the fruit epicarp caused by mechanical tissue failure. Internal cell layers could also be affected once the fruit cuticle and epidermis collapse. Varieties differ greatly in their susceptibility to cracking, so selecting tolerant genotypes is one of the most effective practices to reduce the problem. Uneven or nonsynchronic ripening in a gradient across the latitudinal axis is a common phenomenon in many fruits. Sunscald results from the combined damage caused by high temperatures and radiation and consequently normally occurs on the sun-exposed sides of fruit.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de AlimentosLaboratorio de Investigación en Productos Agroindustriale

Content of bioactive compounds and their contribution to antioxidant capacity during ripening of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cv Esmeralda

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cv Esmeralda is a commercially important fruit with many bioactive compounds like vitamin C, β-carotene, phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which have been reported only for fruits of commercial maturity. Our objective was to evaluate changes in concentration of main pineapple bioactives, their contribution to total antioxidant capacity and enzyme activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) during pineapple ripening. Fruits were grouped into four ripening stages (RS) according to their weight, size and percentage of yellow skin color (RS1: 100% green, RS2: up to 30% yellow, RS3: 30% - 75% yellow, RS4: 75% - 100% yellow). Vitamin C content initially increased, and decreased at RS4; β-carotene, phenolics and antioxidant capacity increased gradually. Phenolics contributed over 40% of antioxidant capacity, followed by vitamin C and β-carotene. Major phenolic compounds identified were gallic acid, catechin and epicatechin. PAL and POD activity increased with ripening and correlated with concentration of phenolics. No PPO activity was quantified. We concluded that ripening of pineapple cv Esmeralda alters the concentration of bioactive compounds. Phenolic compounds, particularly gallic acid, exert the most antioxidant capacity during all RS, even if other compounds have higher concentrations

Effect of drying methods on quality of Indian gooseberry (<i>Emblica officinalis </i>Gaertn.) powder during storage

727-732Indian gooseberry or aonla is a very rich source of ascorbic acid. Its ascorbic acid lost during the process of drying. Therefore effect of 4 different drying methods investigated on ascorbic acid and other quality factors under storage. Drying methods viz., sun drying, oven drying, microwave drying and fluidized bed drying, significantly affect the quality and ascorbic acid content of dried aonla powder. Among 4 drying methods, fluidized bed drying found best. At the start of experiment dried powder with fluidized bed drying had highest ascorbic acid content (272.74 mg / 100 g), total sugars (39.41 g / 100g), reducing sugar (33.69 g / 100g), and lowest content of tannin (8.8 g / 100g), browning index (0.02 OD at 440 nm) and acidity (9.94 g / 100g). The quality parameters deteriorated under storage irrespective of the drying method and ascorbic acid steadily lost during 90 days of storage. However, powder making with fluidized bed drying was acceptable even after 90 days of storage and contains 205.5 mg / 100g ascorbic acid. It is recommended that aonla can be dried with fluidized bed drying at a temperature of 65oC with air velocity of 90 m/min

Modulatory Effects of Exogenously Applied Polyamines on Postharvest Physiology, Antioxidant System and Shelf Life of Fruits: A Review

Polyamines (PAs) are natural compounds involved in many growth and developmental processes in plants, and, specifically in fruits, play a vital role regulating its development, ripening and senescence processes. Putrescine (PUT), spermine (SPE), and spermidine (SPD) are prominent PAs applied exogenously to extend shelf life of fruits. They also originate endogenously during developmental phases of horticultural crops and simultaneously affect the quality attributes and shelf life. Their anti-ethylene nature is being exploited to enhance the shelf life when exogenously applied on fruits. In growth and development of fruits, PA levels generally fall, which marks the beginning of senescence at postharvest phase. PUT, SPE and SPD treatments are being applied during postharvest phase to prolong the shelf life. They enhance the shelf life of fruits by reducing respiration rate, ethylene release and enhance firmness and quality attributes in fruits. PAs have a mitigating impact on biotic and abiotic stresses including chilling injury (CI) in tropical and sub-tropical fruits. PAs are environment friendly in nature and are biodegradable without showing any negative effect on environment. Biotechnological interventions by using chimeric gene constructs of PA encoding genes has boosted the research to develop transgenic fruits and vegetables which would possess inherent or in situ mechanism of enhanced biosynthesis of PAs at different stages of development and thereby will enhance the shelf life and quality in fruits. Internal and external quality attributes of fruits are improved by modulation of antioxidant system and by strengthening biophysical morphology of fruits by electrostatic interaction between PAs and phospholipids in the cell wall

Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica Roem.)

The performance, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation and path analysis for yield and yield contributing characters namely total yield per vine (kg), number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit (g), average length of fruit (cm), average diameter of fruit (cm), days to anthesis of first male flower, days to anthesis of first female flower, node number at which first female flower appeared, days to maturity, number of primary branches, vine length (cm), specific gravity (g/cc), number of seeds per fruit and total soluble solids (oBrix) of 20 sponge gourd genotypes were studied. Significant variations were observed for all the characters in all the genotypes used in the experiment. Highest genotypic and phenotypic variations were observed for total yield per vine followed by number of seeds per fruit, average weight of fruit and total soluble solids. Number of seeds per fruit, average weight of fruit and specific gravity showed high heritability with high genetic advance. Total yield per vine was found to be positively and significantly correlated with number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit and number of seeds per fruit. Path coefficient analysis revealed that average diameter of fruit, number of primary branches, number of fruits per vine, average weight of fruit and total soluble solids showed positive direct effects on total yield per vine. Hence, selection for these traits for improving yield per vine in sponge gourd is suggested.Keywords: Sponge gourd, direct and indirect effects, genotypes, genetic variability, path analysis, heritability, traitsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 539-54

Gasification of Crop Residue Briquettes in an Open Core Down-draft Gasifier

Gasification of crop residue briquettes was studied in an open core, throatless, down-draft gasifier of 1800 MJ.h-1 capacity. Briquettes of 25, 35 and 55 mm diameters were prepared using sugarcane baggase, cotton stalk and ground nut shell, separately, in a piston press briquetting machine. Series of experiments were conducted to study performance of the gasifier in terms of fuel consumption rate, calorific value of producer gas and gasification efficiency using briquettes of selected crop residue. The performance was compared with the performance data already available for babul wood. The gasifier was found working satisfactorily with the babul wood and briquettes of all the three crop residues of three sizes. The gasification efficiency was highest for groundnut shell briquettes, followed by babul wood, sugarcane baggase briquettes and cotton stalk briquettes. The study revealed that clinker formation was lower and calorific value of the gas higher for gasification of smaller sized biomass briquettes