Soil-management strategies in organic almond orchards: implications for soil rehabilitation and nut quality

The implementation of soil conservation measures is essential to promote sustainable crop production in the Mediterranean region. In an organic rainfed almond orchard located in Lanjarón (SE, Spain), a study carried out during 2016–2021 analyzed the influence of different soil management strategies (SMSs) (TT, traditional tillage; NT, no tillage; VF, cover of Vicia faba; VS, cover of Vicia sativa; VS-VE, cover of Vicia sativa and Vicia ervilia) on some selected physical (bulk density, available water content, and aggregate stability), chemical (pH, electrical conductivity, soil-organic content, N, P, K, and micronutrients), and biological (microbial activity) soil properties, relevant to soil health, and their implications for yield and almond quality (physical and chemical). Our results showed that the SMS with legume cover improves soil properties, which had a favorable effect on soil health. The mean almond yield was not significantly affected by the SMS applied, being 315.9, 256.4, 229.1, 212.5, and 176.6 kg ha−1 year−1 for TT, VF, VS-VE, VS, and NT, respectively. Regarding the almond nut quality, the strategy based on implementation of legume cover increased the almond antioxidant activity and the total polyphenol content, which would improve their nutritional value. Here we showed how the use of sustainable SMSs improved the soil properties compared to traditional tillage in rainfed organic almonds, allowing the long-term sustainability of agroecosystems while at the same time obtaining higher nutritional quality almonds

Antioxidant Activity, Color, Carotenoids Composition, Minerals, Vitamin C and Sensory Quality of Organic and Conventional Mandarin Juice, cv. Orogrande

The effects of organic farming on antioxidant activity, CIE L*a*b* color, carotenoids composition, minerals contents, vitamin C and sensory quality of Orogrande mandarin juices were studied. Independent of the farming type, mandarin juices can be considered as good source of some important nutrients, such as potassium and antioxidant chemicals, for example, b-cryptoxanthin. Organic farming of mandarins resulted in juices with higher antioxidant activity, total carotenoids concentrations, minerals (Ca, K and Fe) contents, vitamin C content, more appealing and intense orange color and better sensory quality. For instance, organic Orogrande juice contained significantly (p<0.001) higher total carotenoids content (22.7±0.3 mg/L) than conventional juice (15.7±0.4 mg/L); a similar pattern was observed for the antioxidant activity, with values being 0.076±0.004 and 0.053±0.003mM Trolox m/L in organic and convectional juices, respectively. A trained panel stated that organic Orogrande juices had higher intensities of orange color, fresh mandarin and floral aromas than conventional juices.Ciencias de la Alimentació

Influence of Different Drying Techniques on Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity and Colour of Ziziphus jujube Mill. Fruits

This study was to present the effect of different parameters of combined methods of drying such as vacuum-microwave (VMD: 480, 120 W), hot air (CDD: 70, 60, 50 &deg;C) and combined methods as pre-drying by CD and finish drying by VMD (CD-VMD: 60 &deg;C + 480/120W) in order to avoid a rapid increase in temperature at the critical moisture content of ca. 1 kg/kg dm (dry mass). Control samples were prepared by freeze-drying (FD). Drying kinetics, including the temperature profile of dried material, as well as on some quality factors of the finished product as phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and color were evaluated. The increase in air temperature during CD as well as the increase in material temperature during VMD deteriorated dried product quality in terms of the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and color. Dried jujube fruits have a long shelf life and therefore may be a fine alternative to fresh fruit all year round

Physicochemical Properties of Dried Apple Slices: Impact of Osmo-Dehydration, Sonication, and Drying Methods

Apple slices of the Elise variety were previously osmo-dehydrated in erythritol, xylitol, and sucrose for 2 h. In some parts of the experiment, 30 min of ultrasound pre-treatment (US) were applied. Afterwards, fruit samples were dried by convective (CD), microwave-vacuum (VM), and a combined method (CD/VM, mix two of them). The main aim of the research was to characterize an impact of osmotic dehydration, sonication pre-treatment, and drying method on the physicochemical properties of the dried apples. The use of sugar alcohols (xylitol, erythritol) in the production of dried apples did not badly affect the taste of the obtained dried products; it enabled a noticeable cooling/refreshing effect felt in the mouth when consuming a snack, and enabled the production of dried snacks with lower calorific value. Polyol residues in the product were at a level that was safe for consumers. The most popular convective drying was long lasting, whereas the VM drying method allowed for the shortest drying time, amounting to 76 min; moreover, additional application of ultrasounds reduced this time to 36 min. The combined drying method allowed the total duration of the process to be reduced 2&ndash;4.5 times. Ultrasound applied during osmotic dehydration did not significantly affect attributes of the descriptive sensory analysis for the obtained dried apples. The best hygroscopic properties, ensuring the storage stability of the dried product, showed dried apples previously osmo-dehydrated in erythritol and sucrose solutions

Arsenic speciation in Japanese rice drinks and condiments

Rice has been demonstrated to be one of the major contributors to inorganic arsenic (i-As) intake in humans. However, little is known about rice products as additional source of i-As exposure. In this study, misos, syrups and amazake (a fermented sweet rice drink) produced from rice, barley and millet were analysed for total arsenic (t-As) and a subset of samples were also analyzed for As speciation. Rice based products displayed a higher i-As content than those derived from barley and millet. Most of the t-As in the rice products studied was inorganic (63-83%), the remainder being dimethylarsinic acid. Those who regularly consume rice drinks and condiments, such as the Japanese population and those who follow health conscious diets based on the Japanese cuisine, could reach up to 23% of the World Health Organization's Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake of i-As, by only consuming these kinds of products. This study provides a wide appreciation of how i-As derived from rice based products enters the human diet and how this may be of concern to populations who are already exposed to high levels of i-As through consumption of foods such as rice and seaweed.AquaTRAIN Marie-Curie Network funded under the European Commission. Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) Marie Curie Actions, Human Resources & Mobility Activity Area, Research Training Network

Evaluation of Dosidicus gigas Skin Extract as An Antioxidant and Preservative in Tuna Pâté

A strategy for food preservation, based on a methanol&ndash;HCl squid skin extract (Dosidicus gigas) (JSSE), was evaluated at two concentrations in yellowfin tuna fish p&acirc;t&eacute;s, which were stored at 4 and 8 &deg;C for 20 day. The JSSE was characterized by determining its antioxidant and mutagenic activities. A yellowfin tuna p&acirc;t&eacute; was elaborated, with and without the addition of the JSSE. An affective sensory analysis was performed to establish consumers&rsquo; preferences. During a 20-day storage period, the water activity (aw), pH, color difference (&Delta;E*ab), microbiological analysis, lipid oxidation and sensory quality attributes were evaluated, and the results were compared with the results of the butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and control treatments. The JSSE showed antioxidant activity against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●+) and 2,2&prime;-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS●) radicals and did not induce mutation, according to the Ames&rsquo; Salmonella test, nor chromosomal abnormalities, according to the onion root-tip cell assay. The consumer analysis demonstrated a higher preference for the p&acirc;t&eacute; with the added JSSE in seven out of the eight evaluated attributes. During storage, the JSSE neither had an impact on aw nor pH, maintained lower &Delta;E*ab values, inhibited the microbial activity and lipid oxidation (unlike the control p&acirc;t&eacute;), and preserved the sensory quality attributes, unlike the BHA and control treatments. This study showed that the JSSE has biologically active pigments that can act as antioxidants and antimicrobials in yellowfin tuna fish p&acirc;t&eacute;s

Geographical variation in inorganic arsenic in paddy field samples and commercial rice from the Iberian Peninsula

This study investigated total arsenic and arsenic speciation in rice using ion chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (IC-ICP-MS), covering the main rice-growing regions of the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. The main arsenic species found were inorganic and dimethylarsinic acid. Samples surveyed were soil, shoots and field-collected rice grain. From this information soil to plant arsenic transfer was investigated plus the distribution of arsenic in rice across the geographical regions of Spain and Portugal. Commercial polished rice was also obtained from each region and tested for arsenic speciation, showing a positive correlation with field-obtained rice grain. Commercial polished rice had the lowest i-As content in Andalucia, Murcia and Valencia while Extremadura had the highest concentrations. About 26% of commercial rice samples exceeded the permissible concentration for infant food production as governed by the European Commission. Some cadmium data is also presented, available with ICP-MS analyses, and show low concentration in rice samples

Effects of organic farming on minerals contents and aroma composition of Clemenules mandarin juice. European Food Research and Technology

Abstract Consumers demand organic products because they believe that the organic products are more flavorful and respectful to the environment and human health. The effects of organic farming on the minerals contents and aroma composition of Clemenules mandarin juices were studied. Minerals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, Mg, K, and Na) were quantified using atomic absorption-emission spectroscopy, while volatile compounds were extracted using the dynamic headspace technique and were identified and quantified by GC-MS. In general, organic farming produced a mandarin juice with a higher quality than that produced by conventional agricultural practices. Higher concentrations of both minerals and positive volatile compounds were found in the organic juice, while the formation of off-flavors was higher in the conventional juice, although threshold values were not reached