Antioxidant Composition of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Beverage Blended with Black-Carrot Juice

An investigation was undertaken to study guava beverage blended with black-carrot juice, during 2011-2012. Enzyme-assisted processing of guava significantly improved the juice yield, total soluble solids, titratable acidity pH, ascorbic acid and sugars by using pectinase enzyme. The blending of guava beverage with black carrot juice significantly improved the functional properties of the guava RTS. Anthocyanin and ascorbic contents of blended guava RTS with black-carrot juice decreased with advancement of storage condition and period

Nutraceutical Composition of Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) Juice: Effect of Enzyme-Assisted Processing

An investigation was undertaken to study the effect of pre-press maceration treatment with cell-wall degrading enzyme, pectinase, on antioxidant composition of ber juice, during 2011-2012. Enzyme-assisted processing significantly (p<0.05) improved antioxidant composition of ber juice. Ber juice extracted using pectinase had richer nutraceutical composition than in the Control. There was an overall increase of 43% in juice yield, 30% in total phenolics and 37% in total flavonoids with use of pectinase. In vitro total antioxidant activity (AOX) in ber juice was 19.58μmol Trolox/ml in Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 13.44μmol Trolox/ml in Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) assay. There was 41-65% increase in total AOX of ber juice extracted with the enzyme overstraight pressed juice. Results indicated that tailoring of the enzyme can yield antioxidant-rich juice products

Effect of Polyamines on Storability and Quality of Pomegranate Fruit (Punica granatum L.) Cv. Bhagwa

Pomegranate cv. Bhagawa fruits harvested at adequate stage of maturity were dipped in aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of the polyamines putrescine (1mM, 2mM and 3mM) and spermidine (0.5mM, 1mM and 1.5mM), along with Tween-20 as a surfactant, for 5 minutes. The fruits were then stored at 5°C and 8°C temperature with under 90-95% relative humidity. Polyamine-treated fruits showed reduced chilling-injury, weight loss and respiration rate during storage at these 5°C and 8°C temperatures. An increasing trend in total soluble solids (TSS) content, and a decreasing trend in acidity were found in polyamine-treated fruits during storage at 5°C and 8°C temperature. Maximum reduction in chilling-injury was obtained with putrescine (2mM) at both the storage temperatures. Control fruits stored at 5°C and 8°C temperature rapidly developed chilling-injury developed symptoms of brown discoloration of skin and weight-loss in pomegranate fruits

Studies on Graded Levels of NPK on Growth and Yield of Parthenocarpic Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse Condition

The present study highlights on graded levels of NPK on growth and yield of parthenocarpic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition. The graded level of NPK applied in parthenocarpic Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition. The results in nutshell indicated that the growth, yield, quality, nutrient availability, nutrient uptake were significantly influenced by application of 125% NPK RDF of cucumber crop. The growth parameters viz., plant height 74.44, 99.18, 131, 153 and 194.58 cm at 30 DAT, 45 DAT, 60 DAT, 75 DAT and 90 DAT, Number of primary branches 8.24, 10.96, 15.40, 17.60 and 20.02 at 30 DAT, 45 DAT, 60 DAT, 75 DAT and 90 DAT,  leaf area 163, 242.33, 307, 387.33 and 492.33 cm2 30 DAT, 45 DAT, 60 DAT, 75 DAT and 90 DAT, internodal distance, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit diameter, dry matter content, chlorophyll – a, chlorophyll – b and total chlorophyll content, number of leaves significantly increased with application of 125 % RDF with 7 days of intervals. Significantly higher number of fruits plant-1, number of primary branches, fruit yield plot-1, Leaf area and fruit yield ha-1, with application of 125 % RDF with 7 days of intervals. The improvement in quality parameters were recorded with application of 125 % RDF with 7 days of intervals. followed by treatments T6, T7, (100 % RDF with 2 and 7 days of intervals upto 90 DAT) and T8 (125% of RDF 2 days of interval up to 90 DAT)