Effect of Postharvest Application of Carvone on Potato Tubers Grown from True Potato Seed (TPS)

AbstractDormancy duration is an important quality aspect of both ware and seed potato tubers and may be extended by the application of chemical sprout suppressants. The replacement of these synthetic compounds by essential oils with sprouting-inhibitory properties may contribute to the sustainable cultivation of potato.The aim of this study was to examine how the postharvest application of carvone affects potato tubers grown from true potato seed (hybrid CIP IP 88008). Ten days after harvest, tubers were placed in air-tight glass containers and carvone was applied repeatedly (300mL/1000kg tubers) while untreated tubers were used for the control. The containers were stored at 5, 10 and 20°C and opened every two days for 10minutes for aeration. The number of sprouts per tuber, rate of respiration, fresh weight loss and concentration of glucose, fructose and sucrose in tuber tissue from the buds (‘eyes’) and the parenchyma were recorded.Carvone application did not affect bud dormancy duration at 5°C and buds did not sprout even after 98 days’ storage. At 10 and 20°C, carvone application prolonged dormancy, but at 20°C a high percentage of rotted tubers (40%) was observed. At all storage temperatures, carvone reduced weight loss but increased the rate of tuber respiration. Carvone application did not affect sugar content at 5οC, but after 68 days of storage at 10οC the concentration of fructose increased and sucrose decreased. However, after 4 months of storage no differences in sugar concentration were recorded.It is concluded that carvone application can effectively prolong bud dormancy during storage at 10οC. Even though the concentration of reducing sugars and the tuber respiration rate increased, there were no negative effects on the quality aspects of tubers (concentration of glucose, fructose and sucrose) after long term storage

Development of a risk score for early saphenous vein graft failure: An individual patient data meta-analysis

Objectives: Early saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion is typically attributed to technical factors. We aimed at exploring clinical, anatomical, and operative factors associated with the risk of early SVG occlusion (within 12 months postsurgery). Methods: Published literature in MEDLINE was searched for studies reporting the incidence of early SVG occlusion. Individual patient data (IPD) on early SVG occlusion were used from the SAFINOUS-CABG Consortium. A derivation (n = 1492 patients) and validation (n = 372 patients) cohort were used for model training (with 10-fold cross-validation) and external validation respectively. Results: In aggregate data meta-analysis (48 studies, 41,530 SVGs) the pooled estimate for early SVG occlusion was 11%. The developed IPD model for early SVG occlusion, which included clinical, anatomical, and operative characteristics (age, sex, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, serum creatinine, endoscopic vein harvesting, use of complex grafts, grafted target vessel, and number of SVGs), had good performance in the derivation (c-index = 0.744; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.701-0.774) and validation cohort (c-index = 0.734; 95% CI, 0.659-0.809). Based on this model. we constructed a simplified 12-variable risk score system (SAFINOUS score) with good performance for early SVG occlusion (c-index = 0.700, 95% CI, 0.684-0.716). Conclusions: From a large international IPD collaboration, we developed a novel risk score to assess the individualized risk for early SVG occlusion. The SAFINOUS risk score could be used to identify patients that are more likely to benefit from aggressive treatment strategies

Smart Tourism Destinations: Can the Destination Management Organizations Exploit Benefits of the ICTs? Evidences from a Multiple Case Study

Recent developments of ICTs enable new ways to experience tourism and conducted to the concept of smart tourism. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies and its combination with innovative organizational models fosters cooperation, knowledge sharing, and open innovation among service providers in tourism destination. Moreover, it offers innovative services to visitors. In few words, they become smart tourism destinations. In this paper, we report first results of the SMARTCAL project aimed at conceiving a digital platform assisting Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in providing smart tourism services. A DMO is the organization charged with managing the tourism offer of a collaborative network, made up of service providers acting in a destination. In this paper, we adopted a multiple case studies approach to analyze five Italian DMOs. Our aims were to investigate (1) if, and how, successful DMOs were able to offer smart tourism services to visitors; (2) if the ICTs adoption level was related to the collaboration level among DMO partners. First results highlighted that use of smart technologies was still in an embryonic stage of development, and it did not depend from collaboration levels

Greenhouse seed production of two dwarf green bean cultivars in relation to the duration of irrigation

As good quality irrigation water becomes increasingly scarce in the Mediterranean region, especially in coastal areas where greenhouses are located, methods of economizing water consumption are essential. Therefore, the effect of the duration of irrigation on the quality and yield of seed of two cultivars of dwarf green bean ('Larma' and 'Montano', Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied during fall and spring in Greece. Seeds were sown on 11 Sept. 2000 (fall crop) and 23 Feb. 2001 (spring crop) in peat compost and when the plants had two expanded leaves (11 and 20 days after sowing, respectively), they were transplanted to the soil of an unheated, plastic-covered greenhouse. The following irrigation treatments were applied: 1) irrigation for the entire duration (control), 2) irrigation until the first pods were dry, 3) irrigation until approximate to50% of the pods had filled, and 4) irrigation till flowering. Fall cultivation was not suitable for seed production due to low yield and reduced seed quality. By contrast, the spring crop had a higher yield, seed size and good germination. Stopping irrigation of the spring crop at the drying of the first pods achieved an approximate to20% saving in water without significantly affecting seed yield or quality. Earlier discontinuation of irrigation to achieve greater savings of water caused a reduction in yield, but did not affect seed quality

Nitrogen application affects yield and postharvest quality of okra (Hibiscus esculentus L. cv. 'Boyiatiou')

Abstract In Greece and Turkey, okra (Hibiscus esculentus L.) is cultivated for small pods (≤4-5 cm), which are highly perishable after harvest. In this experiment, okra was cultivated at 4 levels of N (30, 150, 300 and 450 mg l -1 ) within the irrigation water. Pod yield was highest at 300 mg l -1 N. High N increased the nitrate content and decreased dry matter without affecting pod colour (P<0.05). When pods were enclosed in polyethylene and stored for up to 10 days at 7 or 10 o C fresh weight decreased by 7% and 11-12% respectively, and by 20% and 28% respectively during 3 days subsequent shelf-life at 22 o C. Weight loss after 10 days at 7 o C and during shelf-life was higher in pods from 300-450 mg l -1 N and was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in % dry matter. The loss of chlorophyll during storage (i.e. increase in a*) rose with storage time and N application level, accompanied by a decrease in b*. The nitrate concentration within the pods decreased with storage irrespective of N level. It is concluded that the rate of N application affects not only the production but also the quality of okra during storage. For the production of small-sized pods N application should not exceed 300 mg l -1 . Although pods from high N levels (300-450 mg l -1 N) lose more weight, dry matter and chlorophyll than those from the lowest N level (30 mg l -1 N), they may nevertheless be stored satisfactorily for up to 10 days at 7 o C, which permits a 3 day ambient shelf-life