Improvement of the shelf-life status of modified atmosphere packaged camel meat using nisin and olea europaea subsp. laperrinei leaf extract

The impact of combined biopreservation treatment with Olea europaea subsp. laperrinei leave extracts (laper.OLE) and nisin on the quality attributes of camel steaks packaged under high O2 (80%) and CO2 (20%) atmosphere was investigated during refrigerated (1 ± 1 ¿C) long-term storage. As measured by reversed phase HPLC/DAD analysis, oleuropein is the phenolic compound most present in the chemical composition of laper.OLE (63.03%). Camel steaks treated with laper.OLE had a lower concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RSs) in the course of 30 days of storage. Surface metmyoglobin (MetMb) increased at a reduced rate in laper.OLE-treated samples compared to control samples. Neither modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) nor biopreservation treatments significantly altered the tenderness of camel steaks, expressed in terms of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), as compared to control samples. After 30 days of storage, psychrotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. counts were significantly lower in camel steaks treated with a combination of laper.OLE and nisin than in untreated steaks. Moreover, samples treated with laper.OLE received higher scores on bitterness acceptability. In sum, the use of combined biopreservation methods could be a sustainable solution for the preservation and promotion of the quality characteristics of camel meat in arid regions

Agriculture biologique en algerie: potentiel et perspectives de developpement

L’agriculture algérienne standard souffre d’une sous compétitivité durable et d’une faible intégration aux marchés extérieurs. Les politiques traditionnelles et les plans de développement agricole successifs n’ont produit que de maigres résultats au regard des potentialités et des besoins du pays. Face à un tel constat, l’agriculture biologique peut s’avérer comme une alternative intéressante pour valoriser les ressources locales, d’autant plus que le marché mondial ne cesse de croître, pour faire face aux crises alimentaires. La durabilité, la rentabilité de cette agriculture et la proximité des marchés en croissance (Europe) sont également des facteurs favorables à l’épanouissement de ce modèle agricole en Algérie. Cet article tente de répondre à la question du potentiel et des perspectives de cette agriculture biologique en Algérie.Mots clés : Agriculture biologique, Potentiel, Perspectives, AlgérieCode JEL : Q01, Q18, R58

Extrait de feuilles d’olivier; tests in vitro vis-à-vis de Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis et Pseudomonas aeruginosa; application sur la viande de dinde

International audienc

Mycotoxigenic fungi contaminating greenhouse-grown tomato fruit and their alternative control

Tomato fruit represent a valuable but perishable commodity due to postharvest fungal spoilage. In the present investigation, greenhouse-grown tomatoes were analysed, particularly for the contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi. Collected isolates were characterized by morphological features and sequencing of barcoding genes. Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium proved to be the most represented genera. Particularly, Alternaria strains were mostly A. alternata morphotype alternata, genetically able to produce alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether. Aspergillus strains were divided into yellow and black aspergilli; the former included the species A. westerdijkiae, A. ochraceus, and A. occultus, able to produce ochratoxin A (OTA), the latter included an A. welwitschiae strain, genetically able to produce OTA and fumonisins. Most Penicillium strains were represented by P. olsonii, not able to produce regulated mycotoxins. Commercial Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and biostimulant formulations were tested for controlling those pathogens and related decays. Potassium bicarbonate and the combination peracetic acid+hydrogen peroxide proved to completely prevent fungal growth. The same formulations were tested on tomato fruit against A. alternata morphotype alternata, which proved to be the most aggressive pathogen. Tests confirmed potassium bicarbonate and the combination peracetic acid+hydrogen peroxide as effective against disease incidence and severity, particularly when applied by dipping. These promising results support their use in larger-scale trials

Virgibacillus natechei sp nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from sediment of a saline lake in southwest of Algeria

A novel, Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, oxidase- and catalase-positive designated FarD(T) was isolated from sediments of a saline lake located in Taghit, 93 km from Bechar, southwest of Algeria. Cells were rod-shaped, endospore forming, and motile. Growth occurred at 15-40 A degrees C (optimum, 35 A degrees C), pH 6.0-12.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 1-20 % NaCl (optimum, 10 %). Strain FarD(T) used glucose, mannitol, melibiose, d-mannose, and 5 ketogluconate. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and three phospholipids; MK-7 is the predominant menaquinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso C-15:0, anteiso C-17:0, C-20:0, and anteiso C-19:0. The DNA G+C content was 42.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence indicated that strain FarD(T) had as its closest relative Virgibacillus salinus (similarity of 96.3 %). Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, and taxonomic characteristics, strain FarD(T) is proposed as a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus within the order Clostridiales, for which the name V. natechei is proposed. The type strain is FarD(T) (=DSM 25609(T) = CCUG 62224(T))

Tomato fruit: friend or foe? Lessons learnt on emerging safety issues

Tomatoes are a star ingredient of the Mediterranean diet and evoke a powerful association with health benefts related to the content of benefcial compounds as lycopene. However, their consumption might hide some threats related to the contami nation by fungi able to produce toxic metabolites. In fact, in a recent investigation, samples of fresh and dried tomatoes pro duced in the Apulia region (southern Italy) and sent to Euro pean markets proved to be contaminated by Alternaria spp. and related mycotoxins. These fnding prompted the assess ment of the contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi of tomatoes cultivated in a conducive (warm and humid) environment as the greenhouse, which is growing in popularity to counter act seasonality and extreme weather events. It was found that Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were the most repre sented genera. Particularly, Alternaria strains were mostly A. alternata morphotype alternata, able to produce alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether. Aspergillus strains included species A. westerdijkiae, A. ochraceus, and A. occultus, able to produce ochratoxin A (OTA), and A. welwitschiae, able to pro duce OTA and fumonisins. The majority of Penicillium strains was represented by P. olsonii, not able to produce regulated mycotoxins. Commercial formulations were tested in order to control those pathogens and related decays. Potassium bicar bonate and the combination peracetic acid+hydrogen peroxide proved to prevent fungal growth completely. The same formu lations applied by dipping on tomato fruit against A. alternata, the most aggressive pathogen, were efective against disease incidence and severity. These promising results support their use in larger-scale trials