Effects of harvest time and growth conditions on storage and post-storage quality of fresh peppers (capsicum annuum L

Abstract Studies were carried out to see the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on extending postharvest longevity of mid-season, late-season and greenhouse grown pepper fruits stored at 8 and 20ºC. Also, effects of MAP on post-storage quality of peppers stored at 20ºC were determined. Significant varietal differences in water loss and turgidity were observed in ambient atmosphere at each storage temperature. 'Keystone' (bell pepper) fruits had the lowest weight and turgidity loss followed by 'NuMex R Naky' (long green) and 'Santa Fe Grande' (yellow wax). Storage life for late-season field harvested peppers placed in ambient atmosphere was 10 to 14 days at 8ºC, whereas it was less than 7 days at 20ºC. Late-season field harvested peppers lost their quality at 8ºC primarily due to disease (fungal decay) and at 20ºC due to wilting and disease. Greenhouse grown peppers lost their quality after approximately 10 days at 8ºC and 5 days at 20ºC due to high water loss. MAP reduced postharvest water loss, maintained turgidity of fruits and delayed red colour development and disease. Compared to non-packaged fruits MAP extended postharvest life for another 7 days at 8ºC and 10 days at 20ºC as compared to non-packaged fruits held at these temperatures. Postharvest water loss and turgidity were similar for fruits stored in packages with and without 26-guage holes at 8 and 20ºC. Packaging was successful in extending the postharvest storage life of both mid-season field picked and greenhouse grown peppers. Packaging did not affect post-storage quality of fresh peppers as after removal of packaging fruits started dehydrating like the ones kept in open trays

Growth Response, Water Relations and K/Na Ratio in Wheat Under Sodium and Calcium Interactions

A study was conducted in the glass house to observe the role of K/Na ratio and moisture contents on the growth of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .cv. Lu-26) under NaCl stress. The plants were grown under hydroponic conditions at two salinity levels of 0 and 50 mM as NaCl. Calcium as CaSO4. 2H2O was applied at 3 and 6 mM to the pots of salinity. The plants were harvested after 30 days of growth. The treatments showed a highly significant (p< 0.01) effect on the growth and ionic relations. Fresh weight of shoot and root increased by 44 and 41 % respectively, with increased application of CaSO4 from 3 to 6 mM in the saline medium. Dry mass was increased by 46% at 50 mM of NaCl with the application of 6 mM of CaSO4.2H2O. Relative water content in the root decreased with the application of CaSO4.2H2O in saline treatment as compared to non-saline treatment. The increased K/Na ratio had a pronounced effect on the increase of dry mass of shoot by 72% at 6 mM than 3 mM of CaSO4.2H2O application in the saline medium

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE OF TURMERIC OIL: A REVIEW

Turmeric (Curcuma longa ) is a medicinal plant of the family Zingiberaceae widely growing throughout India. Turmeric oil is secondary metabolite of turmeric and obtained by steam distillation of its rhizomes. Turmeric oil a lipophilic fraction from turmeric, exhibits several therapeutic potentials. Turmeric oil chiefly comprises arturmerone and β-turmerone. During more recent decades broad spectrums of therapeutically interesting pharmacological properties of turmeric and its secondary metabolites have been reported. Recent several efforts made to explore the pharmacological profile and mechanism of action of turmeric revealed exceptionally broad spectrums of pharmacological activity profiles of turmeric oil. It is now well recognized that additive or synergistic interactions between diverse combinations of phytochemicals are involved in health benefits of vegetarian diets and herbal remedies and that regular consumption of appropriate combinations of some such edible phytochemicals with every day meals could as well be used for prevention and cure of different health problems. Critical analysis of available preclinical and clinical information on turmeric oil strongly suggests it is pharmacologically polyvalent and possess several pharmacological properties. Aim of this communication is to summarize and critically analyze such data, and to point out some possibilities for more rationally exploiting their therapeutic potential for discovering novel therapeutic leads, or for obtaining pharmacologically better standardized phyto-pharmaceuticals