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Early maturing peach (Prunus persica) cultivars can fetch good market value but face a lot of post-harvest problems that lead to the post-harvest losses. The 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can provide new insights into plant ethylene responses and extend the shelf life and quality of fruits. Therefore, fruits of peach cultivar ‘Early Grand’ were dipped in various concentrations of 1-MCP (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 µg l–1), stored for 40 days at 8 ±2°C with 50% relative humidity and analyzed the fruits for physicochemical attributes at 10 days interval. The highest concentration of 1-MCP at 0.9 µg l–1 significantly improved the activity of antioxidants, catalase, free radical scavenging assay and total phenols. However, the peach fruits treated with 1-MCP at 0.6 µgL–1 was effective in retaining the ascorbic acid, lowering the weight loss and fruit decay. Therefore, peach fruits can be treated with 1-MCP (0.6 µg l–1) solution for prolonging its shelf life up to 40 days under low temperature.

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine adsorption and movement of carbofuran in aqueous surfactant-free and surfactant [(cationic, cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), non-ionic, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij-35) and anionic, sodium dodecyl benezene sulphonate (SDBS)] solutions of different critical micellar concentrations (1/2 × CMC, 1.0 × CMC, and 2 × CMC) in four different Indian soils using batch shake and soil thin layer chromatography (soil TLC) techniques. The measured equilibrium adsorption isotherms were in agreement with the Freundlich equation. Higher adsorption of carbofuran in both systems was observed on FRI silt loam (FSL) soil followed by Alampur silt loam (ASL), Kalai loam (KL), and Bhoran sandy loam (BSL) soils, as anticipated from Freundlich constant KF and distribution coefficient KD, in surfactant-free systems and KF* and KD* in surfactant-soil-water systems. The adsorption of carbofuran in surfactant-soil-water systems followed the order cationic > anionic > non-ionic at all...

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the adsorption/desorption equilibrium of carbofuran between four divergently textured soils and distilled water and an aqueous solution of 0.01 mol L−1 β-cyclodextrin using a batch equilibrium technique. The determined adsorption isotherms for silt loam soils were of L-shaped, for sandy loam soil S-shaped, in agreement with a Freundlich isotherm. In the presence of β-cyclodextrin, the adsorption of carbofuran to the four soils was lower than with distilled water. Positive hysteresis was observed in all soils with distilled water, negative hysteresis when using a solution of β-cyclodextrin as desorbent. The results indicate the potential use of β-cyclodextrin for remediation of pesticide-contaminated soils.

Cinnamate is the product of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL). This compound, a precursor of phenolics in plants, has been shown to be phytotoxic. Cinnamate inhibits PAL activity in cucumber seedlings. DL-phenylalanine has the same effect on the enzyme but does not affect growth. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide are phytotoxic and inhibit PAL. Production of a double-peg has been noticed in the seedlings, grown in the presence of actinomycin D. Light stimulates PAL activity in the seedling.