EFFECT OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING ON QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF STRAWBERRY FRUITS DURING COLD STORAGE

This study was carried out during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons at a private farm located at Tokh district, Qalubia Governorate. Strawberry fruits ˝festival cultivar˝ to study the effect of active (7.5% O2 +15% CO2 or 10% O2 +10% CO2) and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on preserving the quality parameters and extend the shelf life of fruits during storage at 0˚C plus shelf life at 10˚C.The results showed that active MAP inhibit the weight loss and decay percentage, maintained fruit texture, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity (TA) and decrease in color development during storage and shelf life. Passive MAP was less effective in reducing the loss of fruits texture, TA and ascorbic acid content. Untreated MAP (control) gave the highest values of weight loss and decay percentage and lowest values of texture, becoming more red and poor appearance after 15 days of storage at 0˚C + 2 days at 10˚C. The results showed also that the optimum gas composition of MAP tests for strawberry was 7.5% O2 +15% CO2. No decay was observed in active MAP at 7.5% O2 +15% CO2 during the storage period plus shelf life. Furthermore, it also retarded texture, color, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content. Finally, the study concluded that storage of strawberry fruits at active MAP of 7.5% O2+ 15% CO2 improved storability of fruits, and maintained fruit quality and gave fruits with good appearance till of 15 days at 0˚C + 2 days at 10˚C without decay. The shelf life of strawberry after harvest can be extended to 3 days at 0˚C + 2 days at 10˚C by this treatment

Does a plant detect its neighbor if it is kin or stranger? Evidence from a common garden experiment

Unlike vagile organisms, plants perform a wide range of phenotypic responses to cope with environmental stresses. A special case of interaction with external factors is the ability of plants to recognize genetic relatedness of neighbour plants, actually well known as kin recognition. The present work aimed to provide a valuable contribution to the field of kin recognition in plants through a common garden experiment. To avoid bias involved in pot experiments, we perform an experiment in unconstrained root growth conditions comparing the development of coupled kin, non-kin and solitary plants of Xanthium italicum. Biometrics of plants with different genetic relatedness were measured, then architecture and competitive interaction were assessed using the relative interaction index (RII) for above and belowground portions of plants. X. italicum showed different allocation depending on the neighbourhood. Root biomass was declined in plants growing with kin compared to non-kin coupled plants, while plants coupled with kin allocated more shoot than roots compared to solitary plants. RII explains phenotypic response of decreased competition in roots rather than in shoots. Despite high values of RII for the aboveground portion, the architectural analysis of shoot, number, angle and length of branches and roots reveals dramatic but indistinctive change in the structure of plants growing near kin or non kin compared to a solitary plant. These results confirm phenotypic responses of kin recognition in unconstrained environment

Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Onion Seed Storage under Modified Atmosphere Packages

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Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Onion Seed Storage under Controlled Atmosphere

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Foliar Nutrition and Post-Harvest of Onion Seed: effects of storage temperatures, storage period and foliar nutrition

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Improved shelf-life and consumer acceptance of fresh-cut and fried potato strips by an edible coating of garden cress seed mucilage

Coatings that reduce the fat content of fried food are an alternate option to reach both health concerns and consumer demand. Mucilage of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seed extract (MSE) was modified into an edible coating with or without ascorbic acid (AA) to coat fresh-cut potato strips during cold storage (5 °C and 95% RH for 12 days) and subsequent frying. Physical attributes such as color, weight loss, and texture of potato strips coated with MSE solutions with or without AA showed that coatings efficiently delayed browning, reduced weight loss, and maintained the texture during cold storage. Moreover, MSE with AA provided the most favorable results in terms of reduction in oil uptake. In addition, the total microbial count was lower for MSE-coated samples when compared to the control during the cold storage. MSE coating also performed well on sensory attributes, showing no off flavors or color changes. As a result, the edible coating of garden cress mucilage could be a promising application for extending shelf-life and reducing the oil uptake of fresh-cut potato strips

Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Onion Seed Storage under Modified Atmosphere Packages

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere storage techniques to reduce the oxygen around the food arelargely used for the preservation of fresh produce. There have been great technological advances in this area of preservation, particularly asit refers to improving the quality and shelf-stability of highly perishable food products, such as produce. Two successive winter seasons of2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were conducted under sandy soil conditions to study the effect of spraying with 12 commercial compounds ononion seeds storage under modified atmosphere packages. Germination percent of seeds decreased in 5°C than storage in room temperature.Germination percent of seeds was gradually decreased with increasing the storage period. Packaging treatments had a significant effect ongermination percent of seeds. All the packaging treatments had the higher germination percent than the paper package (control). The highestgermination percent after 12 months of storage was recorded for the treatment with non perforated polypropylene in room temperatureand polyethylene and non perforated polypropylene in 5°C. Catalase activity decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The nonperforated polypropylene package had the highest catalase activity. The treatment with non perforated polypropylene had the highest catalaseactivity after 12 months of storage in both room and 5°C temperatures. Peroxidase activity of seeds was gradually decreased with increasingthe storage period. The highest peroxidase activity after 12 months of storage was recorded in non perforated polypropylene in both storagetemperatures

Effect of Foliar Nutrition on Post-Harvest of Onion Seed under Sandy Soil and Saline Irrigation Water Conditions

Foliar application has been determined to be an effective nutrients delivery strategy in vegetable and fruits. The enhancement of vegetable and fruit yields affected by foliar nutrients application has been recognized in previously conducted studies with perennial tree crops. The efficiency of foliar nutrition is dependent on soil, climate, fertilizer and the amount of nitrogen used. There is no sufficient information concerning cooperation of foliar nutrition with all nutrients form as well as the rates of these nutrients fertilization in vegetableand fruit crops. Two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were conducted under sandy soil conditions to study the effect of spraying with 12 commercial compounds on inflorescences diameter, flower stalk length, number of seed stem /plant, weight of 1000 seed, germination percentage, seed yield, moisture content, catalase , peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde content of onion seeds. The plantssprayed with union Zn, union Mn, union feer, shams k, elga 600, boron, and amino x had the highest vegetative growth parameter, germination percent and enzyme activity. The plants sprayed with union Zn, union feer, shams K, magnesium, caboron, hummer and amino X had the highest seed yield ha-1. The seeds were stored for one year to study the effect of different commercial compounds and storage temperatures on germination, moisture content and change in antioxidant enzymes activities of onion seeds during the storage period. Storage at cold temperature showed higher germination percent, moisture content and lower malondialdehyde content than storage at room temperature. The treatment with union Zn, union feer, union Mn, boron, elga 600, caboron, amica, hummer and amino x had the highest germination percent

Effect of Foliar Nutrition on Post-Harvest of Onion Seed under Sandy Soil and Saline Irrigation Water Conditions

Foliar application has been determined to be an effective nutrients delivery strategy in vegetable and fruits. The enhancement of vegetable and fruit yields affected by foliar nutrients application has been recognized in previously conducted studies with perennial tree crops. The efficiency of foliar nutrition is dependent on soil, climate, fertilizer and the amount of nitrogen used. There is no sufficient information concerning cooperation of foliar nutrition with all nutrients form as well as the rates of these nutrients fertilization in vegetableand fruit crops. Two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were conducted under sandy soil conditions to study the effect of spraying with 12 commercial compounds on inflorescences diameter, flower stalk length, number of seed stem /plant, weight of 1000 seed, germination percentage, seed yield, moisture content, catalase , peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde content of onion seeds. The plantssprayed with union Zn, union Mn, union feer, shams k, elga 600, boron, and amino x had the highest vegetative growth parameter, germination percent and enzyme activity. The plants sprayed with union Zn, union feer, shams K, magnesium, caboron, hummer and amino X had the highest seed yield ha-1. The seeds were stored for one year to study the effect of different commercial compounds and storage temperatures on germination, moisture content and change in antioxidant enzymes activities of onion seeds during the storage period. Storage at cold temperature showed higher germination percent, moisture content and lower malondialdehyde content than storage at room temperature. The treatment with union Zn, union feer, union Mn, boron, elga 600, caboron, amica, hummer and amino x had the highest germination percent

Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Onion Seed Storage under Controlled Atmosphere

Storage of fresh fruits and vegetables prolongs their usefulness. The principal goal of storage is to preserve the commodity inits most useable form for the consumer. The extension of storage life and the improvement of quality of fresh fruits and vegetables canbe supplied by harvesting at proper maturity, control of post-harvest diseases, chemical treatments, refrigeration, controlled and modifiedatmospheres. Two successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 were conducted under sandy soil conditions to study the effectof spraying with 12 commercial compounds on onion seeds and storage under controlled atmosphere. The germination percentages were85.50, 86.85, 83.75 and 82.15 for CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4, respectively. Water content of onion seeds was significantly increased withdecreasing storage temperature in all controlled atmospheres. Water content values were 4.48, 4.40, 4.55 and 4.54 for CA1, CA2, CA3 andCA4, respectively. There were significant decreases in water content with increasing exposure periods. The lowest water content was recordedfor the exposure periods of 120 and 240 days. Catalase and peroxidase activities were decreased with the decreasing of storage temperature,whereas malondialdehyde content was increased. The exposure for 120 days recorded the highest catalase activity. The highest value ofperoxidase (11.72) was recorded for CA2. Peroxidase activity increased as exposure period increased until 120 days and then decreased.Cold storage temperature (5°C) showed the highest malondialdehyde content followed by room temperature. The CA2 showed the lowestmalondialdehyde content compared with other controlled atmospheres. The exposure period of 120 days had the lowest malondialdehydecontent