Perspectives on utilization of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables

It is known that in developing countries, a large quantity of fruit and vegetable losses results at postharvest and processing stages due to poor or scarce storage technology and mishandling during harvest. The use of new and innovative technologies for reducing postharvest losses is a requirement that has not been fully covered. The use of edible coatings (mainly based on biopolymers) as a postharvest technique for agricultural commodities has offered biodegradable alternatives in order to solve problems (e.g., microbiological growth) during produce storage. However, biopolymer-based coatings can present some disadvantages such as: poor mechanical properties (e.g., lipids) or poor water vapor barrier properties (e.g., polysaccharides), thus requiring the development of new alternatives to solve these drawbacks. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in the food processing industry, providing new insights about postharvest technologies on produce storage. Nanotechnological approaches can contribute through the design of functional packing materials with lower amounts of bioactive ingredients, better gas and mechanical properties and with reduced impact on the sensorial qualities of the fruits and vegetables. This work reviews some of the main factors involved in postharvest losses and new technologies for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables, focused on perspective uses of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings.María L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACYT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support (CONACYT Grant Number: 215499/310847). Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) is recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/ BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project ‘‘BioInd Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and AgroFood processes,’’ REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – FUNCAP, CE Brazil (CI10080-00055.01.00/13)

La première armée de la Loire

par le Général Louis d' Aurelle de PaladinesGeschenkexlibris-Etikette: "Aus der Bibliothek von Oberstdivisionär Eugen Bircher Aarau der Bibliothek der Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule geschenkt" Exemplar der ETH-BI

Prospects of isolated microspore culture for haploid production in Anemone coronaria L.

The aim of this study was to establish a procedure to obtain haploid plants from microspore cultures of Anemone coronaria L., an important ornamental crop known worldwide due to its commercial value in the cut flower industry. Microspores were isolated from two genotypes of A. coronaria: ‘Blue’ (plants obtained through one cycle of selfing) and ‘Lilac’. The effect of different treatments to interrupt the gametophytic development of microspores and promote sporophytic development was evaluated. High temperature, culture media composition and developmental stage of microspores at the moment of isolation were the assessed factors. Achieved microspore-derived embryo formation was 0.53% for ‘Blue’ and 0.06% for ‘Lilac’. Different treatments were tested for microspore-derived embryo germination. Organic supplements had a positive effect on triggering germination, while growth regulators were needed to complete the development of the plantlets. Germination percentage was 2.13 and 2.41 for ‘Blue’ and ‘Lilac’, respectively. The ploidy analysis revealed the existence of haploid and doubled haploid plants of both genotypes. We identified 18 haploid plants and 9 doubled haploid plants of ‘Blue’, and 4 haploid plants and 3 doubled haploid plants of ‘Lilac’