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Plant tissue culture biotechnology offers a sustainable way to adapt to climate change by propagating disease-free plants with the desired traits. This study investigated stakeholders' agronomic, social and economic evaluation of tissue culture plants (TCPs). It unravels micro-level outcomes and indicators that determine TCPs evaluation through a systematic literature review. The 35 articles examined show an imbalance of studies in the three evaluation streams, with social studies on horticultural crops, especially bananas in developing countries, dominating. The results of the TCPs evaluation vary considerably between stakeholders. The main determinants of evaluation are TCPs attributes. TCPs are very knowledge-intensive and costly to establish and manage. Therefore, customising of TCPs to local conditions and closer collaboration between stakeholders are essential for successful implementation. Advisory services, social entrepreneurship and networks are needed to create knowledge-sharing platforms and ecosystems. While single-stream evaluations reveal TCPs superiority over conventionally propagated crops, it is suggested that an integrated assessment be undertaken to combine social, economic, and agronomic indicators and evaluate the technology simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript focuses on the development of Fruit Storage Chamber (FSC) equipped with nano-TiO2 and its modular prototype to improve the value of bamboo-based FSC by its photocatalytic and feasibility aspects. Its effects on fruit shelf life and ripening-related gene expression were studied. Cavendish bananas were stored in FSC equipped with nano-TiO2 and modular FSC for treatments. Relative expression level of ethylene biosynthesis-related (MaACS1, MaACO1) and polyphenol oxidase (MaPPO4, MaPPO5) genes were examined. The dynamics of ripening variables throughout the storage period were illustrated in regression lines, followed with hypothesis testing. Banana quantity showed no significant changes upon storage in FSC equipped with nano-TiO2. Physical appearance indicated a ripening delay of up to two days on nano-TiO2 treatments compared to control. Ethylene production rate and ethylene related gene expression were not significantly altered. Browning index was more maintained in nano-TiO2 treated samples, supported by the observation of slower increase of MaPPO4 and MaPPO5 relative expressions compared to control. The findings highlight the suppression of fruit ripening related gene expression and the maintenance of fruit quality in treated samples compared to control, indicating the potential use of nano-TiO2 to prolong banana shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research determines the optimal rotary dryer design for banana waste drying with Biot number. When banana waste is adequately dried, it can be repurposed into valuable resources. Based on the proposed banana plant waste rotary dryer, drying efficiency is significantly improved compared to conventional dryers as attributed to design calculations and simulation. Here, the design process involves the three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design of individual parts, subassemblies, and main assembly, accompanied by detailed illustration drawings, and optimization of rotary dryer flight design. Biot number is crucial in the design calculations of the diameter and length of the dryer. The Design of Experiments (DoE) and computational fluid dynamics simulations are also used. Proper drying, facilitated by the proposed rotary dryer, enables efficient repurposing of banana waste into animal feed, biofuel, bioplastics, and other nanotechnology applications, contributing to sustainable waste management practices and a promising solution to environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eupatorium odoratum is known for its ability to resist nematode infestations that attack the root systems of banana plants. An aqueous extract of the leaves and stems of E. odoratum (named EEOL) represents a natural solution that we investigated for its potential to control the harmful nematode, Radopholus similis, in Cavendish banana plants. Our research into EEOL's efficacy spanned two distinct environments: a micro plot experiment model and a field model. Various concentrations of EEOL were examined to assess its efficacy in alleviating R. similis infestations and in mitigating their adverse effects on Cavendish banana plants. In the micro plot experiment model, the concentration of the original solution, diluted at ratios of 1:30×, 1: 16×, 1: 8×, 1: 4×, and 1: 2×, ranged from 1.76 to 28.16 mg · ml-. In the field model, the corresponding rates varied from 6.03 to 96.54 l · ha-. Key parameters, including infection rates, root necrosis indices, plant growth metrics, percentage of fallen trees, and harvest yields, were meticulously monitored and assessed. The results demonstrated that EEOL significantly reduced infection rates (p < 0.05), decreased root necrosis indices (p < 0.05), and promoted increased plant height, pseudostem circumference, and leaf area (p < 0.05) in both models. Furthermore, it lowered the percentage of fallen trees (p < 0.05) and enhanced harvest yields (p < 0.05) in the field model. Notably, observations in the field model revealed that EEOL, particularly at a dosage of 96.54 l · ha-1, exhibited effectiveness equivalent to the conventional chemical nematode control method, fenamiphos (p > 0.05). The study's findings underscore the promising potential of EEOL in effectively managing R. similis infestations and improving the yield and quality of Cavendish banana plants. The aqueous extract of the stem and leaves of E. odoratum emerged as an effective nematode management solution for banana cultivation, in both the micro plot experiment and field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nowadays, farmers are facing a lot of problems for the disposal of banana pseudostem waste after the harvesting of banana. Banana pseudostem is a rich source of fiber, which is an alternative source of other natural and synthetic fibers. The banana fibers are biodegradable, and they are expected to be in great demand in the international market. For the textile industry, fibers were extracted using chemical and mechanical methods, but it leads to damage and affects the quality of fibers. So, this study mainly focused on biosoftening of banana pseudostem fiber using crude enzyme produced from Aspergillus niger which is one of the most predominant fungus which can synthesize industrially applicable enzymes and which can soften the surface of banana pseudostem fiber. Through this, biosoftened banana pseudostem fiber can be produced, and the disposal problem of banana pseudostem can be rectified in an eco-friendly manner. Result: The present study was undertaken for the biosoftening of banana pseudostem fiber using crude enzymes isolated from fungal strain. The fungal isolates were subjected to enzyme screening such as cellulase, pectinase, chitinase, peroxidase, and polygalacturonase. The maximum production of enzyme was observed in F2 strain, and it was subjected to crude enzyme production and purification using dialysis and column chromatography. The collected best enzyme fractions were selected for the biosoftening of banana pseudostem fiber. The banana pseudostem fiber was treated with crude enzymes at the time duration of 2, 4, 24, and 48 h. After the treatment, the treated and untreated fibers were evaluated for the mechanical properties and chemical constituent's analysis. The results revealed that the chemical contents were high during 2- and 4-h-treated fibers. After that, chemical constituents were reduced due to the removal of debris by the action of enzymes. The mechanical properties such as breaking load, breaking extension, tenacity, and diameter of fiber were best in the fibers treated for 2 and 4 h. After 4 h due to the removal of chemical constituents the breaking load and tenacity, diameter will be reduced. SEM results proved that the fiber treated at 4th h showed smooth and softened fiber. Conclusion: This study proved that the crude enzymes isolated from the Aspergillus niger can be effectively soften and increase the quality of banana pseudostem fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carved out of the jungle by American big business, Penn Museum's project at Tikal to restore massive pyramids and showcase Maya civilization was a direct outgrowth of government, military, and corporate connections. The story of Pennsylvania in the Petén is about American involvement in developing tourism, infrastructure, research stations, training, and the making of Guatemalan heritage citizens. It is also about increasing US government vigilance south of the border after the 1954 CIA-backed coup, whether in forging anti-communist alliances or commercial concessions. Philanthropists supporting Tikal were themselves representatives from US banking, oil, agriculture, aviation, and tourism sectors, making it impossible to disentangle archaeology from industrial and political adventurism. Extractive economies involving archaeology, oil, chicle, and bananas all ferried equipment and products back and forth to the Petén via American boats and planes, along dirt roads and airstrips built by American firms. Sold as the first great city of the Americas and costing almost a million dollars, the resurrection of Tikal underlines the ineluctable dependencies between security, espionage, international politics, corporations, conservation, and donor economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mordants are materials used to fix long periods of colour on selected fabrics or fibres. The current research aimed to dye natural fibres like palm leaf (Borassus flabellifer L.), korai grass (Cyperus pangorei L.), banana fibre (Musa accuminata L.), screw fine fibre (Pandanus), sisal fibre (Agave sisalana Perrine), and pineapple fibres (Ananas comosus L.) with Calendula officinalis plant flower dye. The dye was fixed to the selected fibre material with the help of different mordants. The Calendula officinalis flower dye produced different colours, like black, brown, orange, sandal, yellow, etc., on the dyed materials. The different colour formations on the dyed materials are based on the mordents used to fix the dye. The mordants tonify the different colours in the same dyestuff of Calendula officinalis flower dye. Mordant-based dyed natural fibres have good fastness properties against light and water. Calendula officinalis dyes have potential activity against the skin infection-causing organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The ongoing concern surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily stems from continuous mutations in the genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), leading to the emergence of numerous variants. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) in the S1 subunit of the S protein of the virus plays a crucial role in recognizing the host's angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor and facilitating cell membrane fusion processes, making it a potential target for preventing viral entrance into cells. This research aimed to determine the potential of banana lectin (BanLec) proteins to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 attachment to host cells by inter-acting with RBD through computational modeling. Materials and methods The BanLecs were selected through a sequence analysis process. Subsequently, the genes encoding BanLec proteins were retrieved from the Banana Genome Hub database. The FGENESH online tool was then employed to predict protein sequences, while web-based tools were utilized to assess the physicochemical properties, allergenicity, and toxicity of BanLecs. The RBDs of SARS-CoV-2 were modeled using the SWISS-MODEL in the following step. Molecular docking procedures were conducted with the aid of ClusPro 2.0 and HDOCK web servers. The three-dimensional structures of the docked complexes were visualized using PyMOL. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate and validate the interactions of the complexes exhibiting the highest interactions, facilitating the simulation of their dynamic properties. Results The BanLec proteins were successfully modeled based on the RNA sequences from two species of banana (Musa sp.). Moreover, an amino acid modification in the BanLec protein was made to reduce its mitogenicity. Theoretical allergenicity and toxicity predictions were conducted on the BanLecs, which suggested they were likely non-allergenic and contained no discernible toxic domains. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that both altered and wild-type BanLecs exhibited strong affinity with the RBD of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further analysis of the molecular docking results showed that the BanLec proteins interacted with the active site of RBD, particularly the key amino acids residues responsible for RBD's binding to hACE2. Molecular dynamics simulation indicated a stable inter-action between the Omicron RBD and BanLec, maintaining a root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of approximately 0.2 nm for a duration of up to 100 ns. The individual proteins also had stable structural conformations, and the complex demonstrated a favorable binding-free energy (BFE) value. Conclusions These results confrm that the BanLec protein is a promising candidate for developing a potential therapeutic agent for combating COVID-19. Furthermore, the results suggest the possibility of BanLec as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent and highlight the need for further studies to examine the protein's safety and effectiveness as a potent antiviral agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Banana production is increasingly under threat due to harsh weather conditions as a result of climate change and different diseases. As such there is a need for the preservation and the characterization of the banana cultivar population for the purposes of crop improvement. The identification of collected banana germplasm in Zimbabwe was conducted based on the Inter-transcribed spacer region as well as morphology. The study was conducted with the aim of distinguishing one cultivar from another towards genetic conservation as well as banana improvement. Results ITS 1 and ITS 4 region targeting primers were used to amplify the DNA from twelve cultivars as well as sequence. Blast results identified five Musa groups which are Musa balbisiana (BB), Musa ABB, Musa AB hybrid, Musa acuminata (AAA), and Musa acuminata subsp. Malaccensis (AA). Phylogenetic analysis was done on the sequences under study and a maximum likelihood tree was generated to determine relationships between the sequences. Further identification was done using the inflorescence, bract, and male bud and fruit characteristics of each cultivar complementing the molecular evaluation. Conclusion Genetic and morphological identification of locally grown bananas was therefore successful. An important step towards identifying pure lines suitable for breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awad Halabi's monograph breaks new ground in uncovering the societal changes contained within Palestine's most popular Muslim festival. Focused mainly on the Mandate period, the book charts the festival's reinvention in the early twentieth century as a major vehicle for Palestinian social and political protest. Far from constituting a platform for purely elite concerns, Halabi demonstrates the multiple ways that subaltern actors expressed their concerns and priorities through the festival's rituals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dynamis is the property of Dynamis - Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Granada and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Banana blood disease (BBD), caused by Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis (Rsc), is a major threat to banana production in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to assess the resistance of cultivated and wild banana accessions to Rsc and investigate the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein genes, namely PR3 and PR10, in disease-resistant bananas. Bacterial isolates were isolated from infected bananas in Yala Province, Thailand, and their pathogenicity and phylotype were confirmed, along with Rsc-specific PCR. Rsc-resistance banana screening was conducted on 16 banana accessions, including cultivated and wild types, using representative Rsc isolates. 'Khai Kasetsart 2' exhibited resistance (R), followed by 'Raksa' with moderate resistance (MR). The expression of PR3 and PR10 genes was analyzed in the resistant 'Khai Kasetsart 2' and susceptible 'Hin' bananas, revealing distinct expression patterns. PR3 showed rapid upregulation on day 1 after inoculation (DAI), while PR10 exhibited sustained upregulation from 1 to 7 DAI in the resistant cultivar. These findings indicate the involvement of PR proteins in the defense response against Rsc and hold promise for future breeding and disease management strategies in bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development and progress of human society and the continuous enhancement of people's health awareness, lactic acid bacteria inhibitors as a natural biopreservative have an irreplaceable position, with the advantages of high efficiency, broad spectrum, stability, safety and other characteristics. This paper studied the antibacterial effect of 23 lactic acid bacteria; the strains with the best antibacterial effect was identified by 16S rDNA method as being Lactobacillus rhamnosus L57 and was applied to banana storage. Our study showed that Lactobacillus rhamnosus L57 has a broad spectrum, inhibiting Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio alginolyticus and Bacillus nato. Excluding the interference of organic acids, hydrogen peroxide and extracellular polysaccharide, the salting out of ammonium sulfate preliminarily determined that the proteins or peptides are the antibacterial substances in the antibacterial agent. Physicochemical properties showed that the microorganism had good antibacterial activity after trypsin, pepsin and papain, with good tolerance to pH, temperature and UV light, and the pH optimal range of 2.0-4.0. The mixture of freeze-dried powder of L. rhamnosus L57, chitosan and natamycin was used for banana preservation, with the proportion of freeze-dried powder of 1.25%, chitosan 1.5% and natamycin 0.03%. The preservation period was extended by 4 days compared with the absence of either bacteriostatic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Genetic barcoding is a promising tool to identify cryptic cacao pollinators. • Dipteran pollinator diversity is higher than previously assumed. • Genetic barcoding can be used to trace individuals to their breeding habitats. • Banana pseudostems, understory weeds, decaying cacao pod husks, and cacao leaf litter are potential breeding habitats for cacao pollinators. Determining the main pollinators and the factors that control their abundance is a prerequisite for improving the production of many crops, including the globally important cash crop cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). Yet, the identity and the breeding habitats of cacao pollinators remain controversial since they are very difficult to identify morphologically due to their small size. It is known that tiny midges are involved in cacao pollination, but their diversity and ecology remain obscure. Here, we combined the collection of flower visitors, the use of emergence traps, and DNA barcoding to assess the diversity of dipteran cacao flower visitors and link them to five candidate breeding habitats in an agroforestry system in central Nicaragua. We detected 59 lineages of dipteran flower visitors, including Cecidomyiidae, Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Sciaridae, suggesting that dipteran cacao pollinator diversity may be much higher than previously assumed. Five lineages could be genetically traced back to specific breeding habitats. We conclude that the presented approach can be a promising tool to reliably delineate potential pollinator species and their breeding habitats, which can inform management strategies to promote cacao pollination. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CYP71 belongs to cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase superfamily, which is functionally diverse and participates in shikimic acid pathway and the secondary metabolism of tryptophan. We identified 58 MaCYP71s and 14 MbCYP71s from the Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla, and investigated the biological function of the banana CYP71 gene family. Analysis of conserved domain motifs showed that MaCYP71 was more conservative than MbCYP71. Through cluster analysis, MaCYP71 could be divided into 11 subgroups, and MbCYP71 could be divided into 4 subgroups. The expansion of the MaCYP71s might result from the combined actions of tandem and segmental duplications 17% of the MaCYP71 were found to be potentially responsive to low temperature. Exon skipping was the main alternative splicing events of MaCYP71. According to FPKM value and qPCR analysis of MaCYP71 at low temperature, the expressions of MaCYP71A1-4, MaCYP78A6-2, MaCYP78A5-5, and MaCYP78A6-3 at 4°C and 0°C were significantly higher than those at 28°C, which reflected their possible association with response to low-temperature stress. Fifteen members of MaCYP71 family were mainly regulated by miRNA (miR398 and novel_7. 15). MaCYP71s were targeted by 26 lncRNA genes, of which 13 lncRNAs were upregulated in expression at 4°C. From the above studies, it was suggested that MaCYP71 play a vital role in response to low-temperature stress in banana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated a new strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 35a14, from banana stems in Okinawa. This strain did not belong to any industrial yeast groups in a phylogenetic tree and produced high levels of alcohol. Furthermore, awamori, an Okinawa's traditional distilled alcoholic beverage, brewed with an l-leucine overproducing mutant derived from 35a14 showed a high concentration of isoamyl acetate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural sector is one of the main sectors in India. Productive growth and high yield production of fruits is important and required for the agricultural industry. Application of computer vision and image processing has aid agriculture to boost yield rating, disease spotting, irrigation, fruit classification and maturity grading. Computer vision and image processing approach can be used to lower the time utilization and has made it economical. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is a type of artificial neural network used in image identification and processing that is mainly planned to process pixel data. This paper utilized a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify bananas into raw or ripe without requiring labour. Bananas were classified by their colour appearance in the CNN classification and not only this it can be also used to classify many other types of fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Listy Cukrovarnicke a Reparske is the property of VUC Praha a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Banana fruit undergoes rapid metabolic changes following ripening that limit shelf life and marketability. The response of pre-climacteric 'Williams' bananas to exogenous 1% procyanindin (PN) and 1% chitosan (CT) either alone or in combination treatments during ripening at ambient conditions was evaluated. PN and CT treatments retained quality and delayed senescence as shown by greener peel, higher firmness and titratable acidity (TA), but lower total soluble solids (TSS) and TSS/TA ratio, weight loss, browning and electrolyte leakage than the control. Total phenol (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) in both peel and pulp increased up to 6 days, then decreased and was higher in treated fruit than the control. Vitamin C content in fruit pulp decreased up to 3 days, then increased and was higher in treated fruit than the control. Radical scavenging capacity (RSC) of peel and pulp increased up to day 6, then decreased and was higher in treated fruit than the control. The treated fruit exhibited lower polyphenoloxidase (PPO), and hydrolytic enzymes but higher peroxidase (POD) activities in both peel and pulp than control. The combined treatment of PN and CT could be used to extend the shelf life of 'Williams' bananas for up to four more days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Musa basjoo Sieb polysaccharide (MBSP) is the active ingredient of Musa basjoo Sieb. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily characterize the structural properties of MBSP, and to explore its ameliorating effect LPS-induced macrophage RAW264.7 inflammation and its therapeutic effect on DSS-induced zebrafish colitis. The data indicated that the average molecular weight of MBSP was 393.4 kDa, which was an acidic heteropolysaccharide composed of seven monosaccharides. In the LPS-induced macrophage RAW264.7 inflammation model, we found that MBSP significantly reduced the level of inflammatory mediators (p < 0.001). The release of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α was reduced by 48.21%, 65.45%, and 86.49%, respectively. And MBSP modulated intracellular ROS levels. This might be related to the activation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway by MBSP. Additionally, MBSP significantly improved the oxidative stress status of UC zebrafish. SOD, CAT, GSH-Px were increased by 50.58%, 39.07% and 65.86%, and MDA, MPO were decreased by 26.00% and 50.98%, respectively (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, MBSP was also found to be effective in improving UC by activating the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway in vivo. In conclusion, the present study characterized the structural properties of MBSP from various aspects, confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of MBSP in vitro , and further verified the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of MBSP using UC zebrafish as an animal model. The results of this study provide a reference for the development and application of MBSP in the field of treating inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B A name, by itself, may convey some descriptive information about the taxon to which it is applied but is not, by itself, sufficient to serve as a description. b " Hassemer & al. (in Taxon 69: 1-4. 2020) addressed many kinds of features that are adequate to describe a taxon. A review of these provisions makes it clear that the validating description is either the description in the protologue or the previously and effectively published description referenced in the protologue. (320-324) Proposals to clarify the term "description", define "validating description" and clarify two Examples (Article 38) It is well known that a description is required to publish the name of a new taxon under Art. [Extracted from the article]

Electrolyzed fertilizer solution (EFS) was produced by passing an irrigation solution through an electrolization chamber in order to suppress fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (Foc4) infecting banana plantlets. In the laboratory, EFS was prepared by electrolyzing solutions containing different amounts of potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. The results indicated a significant reduction in the conidial densities of Foc4 which was from 106 spores · ml-1 to a maximum of 101.3 spores · ml-1 and depended on the concentration of components in the input flow. Eventually the EFS produced from the lowest one was chosen to treat banana plantlets. Greenhouse experiments gave contradictory results of inoculated plantlets irrigated with or without EFS. The untreated banana plantlets virtually showed symptoms of infection such as discoloration of cross-cut corms, rapid wilting and dying within 60 days, while the treated ones kept their shapes and grew normally. The drastic fall in the microbial population in the rhizosphere of treated plants confirmed the activity of oxidation agents which is the major mechanism of disease suppression. The results suggest that further studies of EFS in the field as a potential technique in fighting Panama wilt in the banana industry are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effective wetting and deposition of pesticide droplets on the leaf surface significantly affect the control of pests and diseases, and its mainly affected by the leaf surface properties and pesticide formulation properties. This article aims to investigate the wettability regulation mechanism and dynamic wetting properties of banana leaves, in order to intelligently design appropriate pesticide formulations. The micro-morphology of the banana leaves exhibits a micro-nano dual-scale structure with different microstructures and roughness on the adaxial side and abaxial side. Correspondingly, the wettability on the adaxial side of the banana leaf with higher roughness (R q = 71.1 nm) is always better than that on the abaxial side (R q = 42.5 nm). The droplet contact performance of droplets exhibits a strong concentration dependence of surfactants, which regulate the inter-species differences in the wettability of different pesticide formulations on both sides. Besides, the dynamic wetting process of pesticide droplets exhibits strong time dependence, by using a time series method to establish an AR (2) model, precise simulation and prediction of the contact angle changes on the adaxial side (R 2 = 0.9560) and abaxial side (R 2 = 0.8903) during the dynamic wetting process were achieved. The dynamic wetting model provides new insights into the spreading and deposition processes of droplets on leaves. This work provides a favorable reference for the study of the dynamic balance between wetting and adhesion properties of pesticide spray on leaf surfaces. [Display omitted] • The regulation mechanism of surfactant on the wettability on leaves was revealed. • A time-dependent dynamic wetting model was established. • Provide guidance for the design of formulations to achieve the desired wettability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accumulating advanced glycation end-products (AGE) changes proteins' structural and functional properties and elicits many detrimental effects. This study focuses on identifying the phytometabolites present in the bioactive fraction (BF) of Musa balbisiana seed extract by GC-MS/MS. In addition, the potential of BF in mitigating methylglyoxal-induced oxidative stress and AGE formation in HepG2 cells was investigated using western blot and RT-qPCR techniques. The identification of non-targeted phytometabolites revealed the presence of 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-coumaric acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol, and catechin. BF protected fructose-induced protein glycation by reducing crosslink aggregate formation. Furthermore, BF pretreatment alleviated methylglyoxal-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells by increasing the glyoxalase system and preventing AGE formation, thereby downregulating the expression of AGE receptor (RAGE). BF modulated the oxidative stress by upregulating PGC-1α expression, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis through activation of SIRT1 and TFAM. These findings suggest that Musa balbisiana seed can be a functional food for managing AGE and oxidative stress. [Display omitted] • Bioactive fraction of Musa balbisiana seed (BF) is enriched with sterols and phenols. • Glycation-induced loss of protein structure and function regained by BF treatment. • BF counteracts cellular oxidative stress by upregulating SIRT1/PGC-1α/TFAM. • BF ameliorates glycation by preventing AGE-RAGE interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana is a popular fruit commonly eaten in its ripe stage. However, the consumption of green bananas has been underscored. Furthermore, the increased interest in functional food products indicates the use of green banana biomass (GBB) as a promising natural food ingredient both industrially and in homemade recipes. Thus, this study presents the current status of the research carried out on GBB application as an ingredient to improve the nutritional and technological properties of food products. GBB has been incorporated into a wide range of foods, including meat and dairy products, pasta, sauces, sweets, and snacks. GBB provides extra sources of valuable components, like resistant starch, and may also be a suitable fat replacer, meeting consumer demand for healthier foods. Moreover, it may confer technological advantages, which are mainly related to food texture (e.g. high water holding capacity, thickening potential) and yield. Regarding the sensory aspects, GBB addition has shown a minor impact on flavor and aroma, with changes in color attributes. Although GBB-based food products have been well accepted by consumers and GBB presents a unique combination of advantages, further studies must be performed aiming at the proper development of novel food products, without ignoring the possible technological and sensory alterations that may occur and reduce the acceptance when compared to the traditional ones. [Display omitted] • Green banana biomass (GBB) is a promising functional food ingredient. • GBB versatility allows its application in a wide range of food products. • Improved food texture and nutritional quality may be achieved by adding GBB. • GBB causes minor impact on flavor and aroma, but reduces food luminosity. • There are numerous opportunities for the development of GBB-based food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid hydrogel based on Banana Pseudo Stem, an agricultural waste material, has been developed as an adsorbent for use in wastewater treatment. The Biochar obtained from Banana Pseudo Stem was modified by graft copolymerization with N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (HEAAm). The graft copolymer was made by microwave irradiation of an aqueous mixture containing BPSBC, N-hydroxyethylacrylamide (HEAAm), N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), and potassium peroxodisulphate (KPS). The magnetite (Fe 3 O 4) nanoparticles have been incorporated into the gel by in-situ diffusion of Fe2+ and Fe3+ followed by a reaction with ammonia solution. FTIR, SEM, EDS, TGA, VSM, BET, and XRD techniques were used to characterize the gel and its nanocomposite. The swelling process appeared to be a second-order kinetic process and the mechanism of water transport is found to be non-Fickian. The hybrid gel and nanocomposite were evaluated for the adsorptive removal of cationic dyes using Methylene Blue (MB) and Crystal Violet (CV) as model dyes. The adsorption capacities of the graft copolymer gel for MB and CV were 200 mg g−1 and 183 mg g−1 respectively. A considerable increase in adsorption capacities was observed in nanocomposite formation, with adsorption capacity values of 235 and 202 mg g−1 for MB and CV respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model provide the best fit of the dye sorption data. Thermodynamic studies revealed adsorption to be a spontaneous and endothermic process. Effective desorption under acidic conditions illustrated the possibility of reuse of the developed adsorbent materials in repeated cycles during the wastewater treatment process. • The magnetite nanoparticles have incorporated into BPSBC hydrogel by in-situ diffusion of Fe2+ and Fe3+. • Swelling studies in aqueous buffer solutions are found to be second-order kinetics and non-Fickian diffusion process. • Pseudo Second order kinetic and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were the best models befitting the adsorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista NERA is the property of Revista NERA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study has been undertaken with an objective of evaluating the efficacy of a physical elicitor, photosensitisation, and its combining effects with ozone in defence mechanism and retention of postharvest quality of banana (Musa acuminata Cavendish). The results revealed that the fruit treated with photosensitisation (T1) showed the tendency of slow ripening with retention of nutritional quality characteristics like total phenolic contents and pH throughout the storage period. Polyphenol oxidase activity exerted by the fruit treated with T1 was significantly lower than that of control. The antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, lipoxygenase and catalase were found to get increased in fruit treated with T1. The polygalacturonase activity expressed by the fruit treated with T1 was lowest than that of any other treatment. The fruit treated with T1 were remained marketable and consumer acceptable till 15 d of storage period with retention of its nutritional quality, while fruit kept in control set were acceptable till 9 d of storage. From the above findings, it may be concluded that the treatment of photosensitisation could trigger the defence mechanism against microbes and activates the antioxidant enzymes which leads to maintain nutritional quality of banana after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost activated carbon from the banana stem (ACBS) was produced to contribute to environmental preservation in removing methylene blue from wastewater. It is originated from abundant agricultural waste and produced at moderate pyrolysis temperature and short pyrolisis time. In the ACBS production, the banana stem was impregnated with H 3 PO 4 solution as the activating agent and followed by pyrolysis at 400 °C for a rapid time of 15 min. The treatment significantly improved the ACBS surface area to 837.453 m2/g. The influence of the ACBS dose and initial concentration of dye solution at various contact times were investigated in this study. The utilization of ACBS in low doses exhibited high removal efficiency of methylene blue (0.05 to 0.3 g/100 mL). It can remove methylene blue completely in 90 min of adsorption with an initial concentration of 50 g/mL. High removal efficiencies are still also demonstrated at higher initial concentrations with 99.762% removal for the initial concentration of 200 g/mL. Equilibrium adsorption data had the best agreement to the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. It is predicted that ACBS has a maximum adsorption capacity of 101.01 mg/g. ACBS is an environmentally benign and favorable adsorbent in methylene blue removal and also effective for repeated usage up to 6 consecutive times with no desorption step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cavendish banana is an important export product of many countries, while postharvest banana classification also impacts plantation income. The quality inspection standard classifies Cavendish banana into three groups based on fruit size as large, medium and small. Most factories classify bananas manually which is time-consuming and also prone to errors. To expedite and enhance this process, a new fast and reliable method is proposed for classifying Cavendish banana gradings. The dataset contained 415 records, which were divided into five classes: L1, L2, L3, L4, and Reject. This study proposes employing a Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) to address imbalanced data by synthesizing the minority class to generate new minority sample data. Then a Random Forest classifier based on fruit length and fruit diameter parameters is implemented to efficiently classify Cavendish banana grading. Performance of the proposed method was assessed using 10-fold cross-validation. Compared to other machine learning techniques, results revealed that our approach delivered excellent performance with highest classification accuracy of 97.88%. Accuracy of 95.38% was achieved for an unseen testing dataset, illustrating superior performance to the other methods. We finally demonstrate a web application of the Cavendish banana grade classification system that was developed from the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serendipita indica (S. indica) is an endophytic root fungus that sustains the growth and enhances tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little is known on the symbiosis mediated high temperature stress (HT) tolerance regulated at microRNAs (miRNAs) level. In this study, we have elucidated the impact of miRNAs in regulating the S. indica-mediated heat tolerance in the leaves of 'Tianbao' banana (Musa acuminata cv.). The small RNA (sRNA) sequence analysis of the leaves of 'Tianbao' banana inoculated and exposed to HT of 45°C established a set of 278 differentially abundant miRNAs in response to HT stress. These included 185 known miRNAs differentially expressed (DE) and 93 novel miRNAs. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the DE miRNAs were significantly associated with nutrient sources uptake, secondary metabolism, growth regulators, auxin-responsive factor, signal transduction pathways. In summary, our study revealed that miRNA play important regulatory roles during the banana-HT tolerance by regulating the genes involved in heat shock protein, peroxidase, transcription factor, phenylalanine, sucrose synthase, protein kinase, 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll. Our result unravelled a framework for future functional analysis of selected miRNAs and their targets in response to HT stress, which may contribute towards the future development of S. indica application to plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research essay empirically assessed the accounting and valuation framework adopted for bearer plants, such as bananas in Cameroon. The study adopted a qualitative research approach to assess the accounting and valuation process for bananas as a type of bearer plant in Cameroon. The study utilized both a secondary analysis and a survey to evaluate and decipher how the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) accounts and values the bananas that it produces and exports to the world. From the secondary analysis, the study found the major global producers/exporters of bananas and ranks Cameroon at a global level. Furthermore, the findings of the field survey conducted among the relevant stakeholders made several novel and remarkable findings on how the CDC accounts for and values its bananas. This study contributes to the existing knowledge by seeking to appraise the accounting and valuation framework adopted for bearer plants such as bananas. Specifically, the study found, contrary to the earlier studies, that bananas are adequately accounted for and fairly valued. Nonetheless, the study recommends that CDC and GEL’s own internal assessments should not become a benchmark for accounting interpretation. Furthermore, it recommends that operational cash flows should be compiled monthly to facilitate auditing consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana peel-derived porous carbon from natural biowaste had been prepared with different annealing temperatures at 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 °C. The as-prepared carbon powders were carefully characterized with XRD, SEM, TEM, EIS, and XPS measurements and their antibacterial activities were tested toward Escherichia coli (E. coli - ATCC 25922). It was found that 600 °C as-prepared porous carbon exhibited the most significant inhibitor against E. coli colonies' growth. It was found that the natural potassium chloride in the banana peel-derived porous carbon played an essential role in preventing the bacterial growth. Furthermore, the as-prepared nanosized porous carbon also directly contacted the bacterial cell wall, which seriously affected the cellular activities, including the metabolic processes and transfer of substances in the cell interfaces. Therefore, the synergistic effect between natural potassium chloride and porous carbon gave rise to antimicrobial activity. The generated electron and hole from low thermal-induced excitation in porous carbon and released electron from potassium significantly deactivated the bacteria activity. The bactericides of banana peel-derived porous carbon were investigated at 37 °C without light illumination and the mechanism of antibacterial growth was elucidated and proposed in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contaduría y Administración is the property of Facultad de Contaduria y Administracion-Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)