Response surface optimization for development of Dragon fruit based ready to serve drink

Dragon fruit based ready to serve drink (RTS) was formulated using dragon fruit (60-80% v/v), grape juice (0-10% v/v) and sugar syrup (2-6% v/v). The juice concentrations were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) following box-behnken design (BBD) for obtaining blended RTS drink with higher functional and nutritional characteristics like total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenol content, colour and sensory evaluation. Results showed that there was significant (P<0.01) effect of incorporating grape juice and sugar syrup which further improved the organoleptic properties of the blended RTS.Optimum juice percentages obtained for the best blend formulation were,dragon fruit (70%), grape juice (5%) and sugar syrup (3%), respectively. The beverage was observed to be acceptable in terms of its nutritional value and overall acceptability

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Not AvailablePresent study hypothesized that washing of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) with aqueous solution of H2O2 retains their postharvest quality in terms of weight loss, maturity, color, flavor, taste, disease incidence and overall acceptability during storage. To test this hypothesis, fresh button mushrooms were washed with aqueous solution of H2O2 at different concentrations (3, 4 and 5%) for 2 minutes and stored under two temperature conditions namely; low (5°C) and room temperature (25-35°C). Results evidenced that washing treatments with different concentrations of H2O2 were found effective in retaining the quality of stored button mushrooms for extended period (4-14 days) when compared with unwashed button mushrooms (3 days). With the advancement in storage period, significant increase in weight loss, maturity index and microbial growth of button mushrooms was observed. Among all the treatments, washing with 5% H2O2 followed by storage at 5°C temperature was found to be the most effective in controlling the weight loss, maturity index, microbial growth and overall quality of button mushrooms for up to a period of 14 days.Not Availabl

Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications(Latest Elsevier Publication journal)

Not AvailableIn this work, nanostarch was extracted from cereal (maize) and tuber (potato and cassava) crops by an enzymatic process and characterized. Simultaneously, the conventional acid hydrolysis process was carried out to produce nanostarch. These nanostarches were characterized by different techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The smallest size was achieved in the case of maize starch, 18 ? 3 nm by acid hydrolysis and 162 ? 23 nm by the enzyme hydrolysis. The nanostarch yields by enzymatic process were 18, 29 and 41 wt% for maize, potato and cassava starches, respectively. Significant reduction in the crystalline region of starch was observed after enzyme hydrolysis, as analyzed by relative crystallinity using XRD spectra. The reduction of amorphous region in nanostarch decreased its melting enthalpy as demonstrated by DSC. Enzyme hydrolyzed nanostarch could find its potential application as fillers not only for their reinforcing properties in biocomposites but also for its renewability and biodegradability

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Not AvailableMulching has several benefits in production of vegetables. Organic mulching is very popular in Indian agriculture which offers advantages more similar to other forms of mulching. it dose not have harmful effect on environment and it Is ecofriendly. It conservers moisture and increase the yield of vegetable cropsNot Availabl

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Not AvailablePresently, one of the major global challenges is to ensure food security to the ever-growing population whilst ensuring the sustainable development. According to FAO, 70% increase in food production is needed to make the food available to the world population which will reach 9 billion by 2050. Huge amounts of food are lost every year worldwide due post-harvest damages caused due to physical factors (mechanical injuries), physiological factors (Wilting, shriveling, chilling injury) or some pathological factor(decay due to fungi or bacteria). These causes in many instances are interrelated i.e. mechanical injury may promote the chances of post-harvest decay in most of the cases. Post-harvest losses are approximately 20-50% in developing countries and 10-15% in developed countries. Vegetables are the most important supplement to human diet as they provide the essential minerals, vitamins and fibre required for a balanced diet. India’s climatic and soil condition provide an excellent platform for the cultivation of a wider variety of vegetables.ICAR sponsored 21 days summer schoo

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Not AvailableIn this work, nanostarch was extracted from cereal (maize) and tuber (potato and cassava) crops by an enzymatic process and characterized. Simultaneously, the conventional acid hydrolysis process was carried out to produce nanostarch. These nanostarches were characterized by different techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The smallest size was achieved in the case of maize starch, 18 ± 3 nm by acid hydrolysis and 162 ± 23 nm by the enzyme hydrolysis. The nanostarch yields by enzymatic process were 18, 29 and 41 wt% for maize, potato and cassava starches, respectively. Significant reduction in the crystalline region of starch was observed after enzyme hydrolysis, as analyzed by relative crystallinity using XRD spectra. The reduction of amorphous region in nanostarch decreased its melting enthalpy as demonstrated by DSC. Enzyme hydrolyzed nanostarch could find its potential application as fillers not only for their reinforcing properties in biocomposites but also for its renewability and biodegradability.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCrop management determinants that manipulate population, diversity and function of soil microbiome are crucial for managing plant health and soil quality, nutrients cycling, ecosystem functioning, and plant-soil feedback. Herein, the objectives of the present preliminary investigation were to assess the impact of plastic film (black and silver) and organic (wheat straw) mulching on the different rhizosphere microbial population, plant growth, and mineral uptake in tomato crop. The measurement of rhizosphere microbial population and plant growth attributes was performed at the vegetative and reproductive growth stages of the tomato crop, while, mineral uptake analysis was carried out at the vegetative stage using the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The result of experiments revealed that soil mulching favored microbial abundance in the crop rhizosphere, improved plant growth parameters and mineral uptake in tomato plants. The highest bacterial (6.75 ± 0.16 log10) colony-forming units per gram of soil (CFUg−1), and phosphorous solubilizing organisms (5.47 ± 0.02 log10 CFUg−1) population was found in silver mulch while wheat straw (as organic mulch) resulted in the higher fungal (4.64 ± 0.04 log10 CFUg−1), actinomycetes (5.68 ± 0.06 log10 CFUg−1) and rhizobial count (3.77 ± 0.07 log10 CFUg−1) during the vegetative growth. Consistently, the rhizosphere microbial population at the fruiting stage was also found higher in either colored plastic film or organic mulch treatment. Soil mulching also led to the substantial improvement in the plants shoot length, shoot girth and the number of secondary branches both at the vegetative and fruiting stage. ICP-OES analysis of mulched plant revealed the better mineral uptake in different parts of plants. The highest concentration for P (4535.67 ± 92.87 mgkg−1), K (11933.33 ± 338.35 mgkg−1), Mg (10263.33 ± 63.86 mg kg−1) and micronutrients uptake values for Fe (1167.67 ± 16.14 mg kg−1), Mn (133.83 ± 2.15 mg kg−1), and Cu (40.11 ± 0.87 mg kg−1) were observed in the silver film mulch treatment. Likewise, tomatoes from soil mulched conditions also recorded the highest uptake of the analyzed mineral nutrients. The present study revealed that soil mulching could be an effective technique for favorably altering beneficial soil microflora and enhancing mineral uptake in crop plants and thus for improving soil quality and productivity in a sustainable mannerNot Availabl

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Not AvailableFungal diseases result in significant losses of fruits and vegetables during handling, transportation and storage. At present, post-production fungal spoilage is predominantly controlled by using synthetic fungicides. Under the global climate change scenario and with the need for sustainable agriculture, biological control methods of fungal diseases, using antagonistic microorganisms, are emerging as eco-friendly alternatives to the use of fungicides. The potential of microbial antagonists, isolated from a diversity of natural habitats, for post-harvest disease suppression has been investigated. Post-harvest bio control systems involve tripartite interaction between microbial antagonists, the pathogen and the host, affected by environmental conditions. Several modes for fungistatic activities of microbial antagonists have been suggested, including competition for nutrients and space, mycoparasitism, secretion of antifungal antibiotics and volatile metabolites and induction of host resistance. Post-harvest application of microbial antagonists is more successful for efficient disease control in comparison to pre-harvest application. Attempts have also been made to improve the overall efficacy of antagonists by combining them with different physical and chemical substances and methods. Globally, many microbebased biocontrol products have been developed and registered for commercial use. The present review provides a brief overview on the use of microbial antagonists as postharvest biocontrol agents and summarises information on their isolation, mechanisms of action, application methods, efficacy enhancement, product formulation and commercialisation.Not Availabl