Application of ascorbic acid in maintenance of minimally processed product quality of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Physiochemical changes of minimal processing of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) were studied by treating with different concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) and stored at different storage temperatures. Result showed that there were significant differences in fresh weight, firmness, ascorbic acid content, titratable acidity (TA), and soluble solid content (SSC), during increasing period of storage in both ambient and cold storage of minimal processed jackfruit. Treatment of different concentration of AA showed significant in fruit firmness, pulp fresh weight and AA content of minimal processed jackfruit kept under ambient temperature. Minimal processed jackfruit keeps under ambient storage exhibit greater fruit weight loss and softening as compared with cold storage. However, the AA content of minimal processed jackfruit increased in ambient storage and it was greater after one day treatment than cold storage fruit

Growth performance of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in response to oil palm by-product media and controlled release fertilizer

A study was carried out to optimize the best ratio of empty fruit bunch (EFB) of oil palm as soilless culture media for growth performance of roselle, to investigate the optimum level of slow-release fertilizer for biomass production and to measure the interaction between different ratio of media and rate of fertilizer on growth of roselle. As treatment 4 different media (M1 = Top soil, M₂ = 1 Top soil: 1 sand, M₃ = 2 Top soil: 1 EFB: 1 Sand, M₄ = 3 Top soil: 2 EFB: 1 Sand) and 4 different control released fertilizer (CRF) rates (F₁ = Control (80 kg/ha NPK), F₂ = 40 kg/ha Kamila, F3 = 80 kg/ha Kamila and F₄ = 120 kg/ha Kamila) were applied in this experiment. Media treatment M1 indicated a good response in number of branches, stem diameter, total number of calyxes and shoot dry weight compared to other 3 media. While M₃ and M₄ gave better respond on total leaf area and nutrient content (N, P and K) in plant tissue of roselle. Whereas for different rates of fertilizer applied, treatment F₃ (80 kg/ha Kamila CRF) exhibited the better performance on growth of roselle plants. Significant differences were observed for N, P and K nutrient uptake in fertilizer treatments compared to media treatments