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Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and is a model plant used to study the ripening of climacteric fleshy fruit. During the ripening process of tomato fruit, flavor and aroma metabolites, color, texture and plant hormones undergo significant changes. However, low temperatures delayed the ripening process of tomato fruit, inhibiting flavor compounds and ethylene production. Metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses of tomato fruit stored under low temperature (LT, 5°C) and room temperature (RT, 25°C) were carried out to investigate the effects of storage temperature on the physiological changes in tomato fruit after harvest. The results of transcriptomics changes revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in tomato fruit ripening, including several kinds of transcription factors (TFs) (TCP, WRKY, MYB and bZIP), enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism [beta-galactosidase (β-GAL), pectinesterase (PE) and pectate lyase (PL), cellulose and cellulose synthase (CESA)], enzymes associated with fruit flavor and aroma [acetyltransferase (AT), malic enzyme (ME), lipoxygenase(LOX), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and hexokinase (HK)], genes associated with heat stress protein 70 and genes involved in the production of plant hormones such as Ethylene responsive factor 1 (ERF1), Auxin/indoleacetic acids protein (AUX/IAA), gibberellin regulated protein. Based on the above results, we constructed a regulatory network model of the effects of different temperatures during the fruit ripening process. According to the analysis of the metabolomics results, it was found that the contents of many metabolites in tomato fruit were greatly affected by storage temperature, including, organic acids (L-tartaric acid, a-hydroxyisobutyric acid and 4-acetamidobutyric acid), sugars (melezitose, beta-D-lactose, D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate, 2-deoxyribose 1-phosphate and raffinose) and phenols (coniferin, curcumin and feruloylputrescine). This study revealed the effects of storage temperature on postharvest tomato fruit and provided a basis for further understanding of the molecular biology and biochemistry of fruit ripening.

Tilapia is a freshwater fish group with a sustainable prospect but suffers off-notes appearing during cooking processes. To promote pleasant odorants by thermal cooking processes, tilapia fillets were cooked in different ways (roasting, microwave-heating, boiling and steaming). Their aroma profiles were analysed with special focus on off-notes and umami-enhancing odorants by principal component analysis, and correlated with the heating time, colour, moisture and water activity by partial least squares regression analysis. Results showed that the “green” and “earthy” off-notes were highly correlated with the boiling process (excess of water, short heating time), while most of the umami-enhancing odorants had a high association with the roasting process (low water content, long heating time, better Maillard reaction). This study indicated that roasting is the most adapted cooking process promoting Maillard-derived aromas, umami-enhancing aromas and meanwhile, reducing off-notes. This research helps in understanding the off-note generation in tilapia and promoting desirable umami-enhancing odorants.

Background: The red and cream bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) are generally grown in Thailand. Bambara groundnut seeds must be cooked before consumption. However, the differential effects of processing methods on the antioxidant activity of red and cream bambara groundnut seeds remain unknown. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity affected by the steaming, boiling, and dry heating processes of red and cream bambara groundnut seeds. Methods: Red and cream bambara groundnut seeds were treated with steaming, boiling, and dry heating processes, and the antioxidant compounds, superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (SOSA), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity were evaluated. Results: Compared to the raw sample of red bambara groundnut seeds, all processing methods decreased total phenolic and tannin content. Only the steaming process caused a significant reduction in total flavonoid content. All processing methods increased SOSA in the sample of red bambara groundnut seeds. Out of all the processes, the boiling process produced the highest SOSA. However, only the steaming process caused an increase in the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of red bambara groundnut seed samples. For cream bambara groundnut seeds, only the dry heating process significantly reduced total phenolic, tannin, and flavonoid content compared to the raw sample. All processing methods decreased the SOSA in the sample of cream bambara groundnut seeds. Only the steaming process caused a significant increase in hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Conclusion: All processes caused an increase in SOSA in red bambara groundnut seeds, however, caused the loss of SOSA in cream bambara groundnut seeds. In both red and cream bambara groundnut seeds, steaming was more efficient than raw, boiling, or dry heating for hydroxyl radical scavenging activities.

The cell wall is a non-starch polysaccharide and consists of various bioactive moieties. In addition, it has many functional and nutraceutical properties. The main purpose of this present research was to extract the cell wall from different cereal bran and to characterize it for nutritional and bioactive properties. In addition, the effects of the cereal bran cell wall (CBCW) on functional and rheological properties of wheat flour were elucidated. For this purpose, the cell wall was extracted from different cereal bran (maize, oat, and wheat) via an enzymatic method and characterized for its monosaccharides and phenolic acids contents. Additionally, the rheological properties of wheat flour with the addition of CBCW were determined using the farinograph and mixograph. The results showed that the cell wall contents in oat bran (43.31 ± 1.41%) were higher than those in wheat (41.53 ± 0.09%) and maize bran cell walls (37.31 ± 1.05%). The maize bran cell wall has higher arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucuronic acid contents, followed by oat and wheat bran cell walls. Furthermore, the oat bran cell wall contained higher total phenolic acid contents as compared to maize and wheat bran. Nevertheless, the ferulic acid content was high in the maize bran cell wall. Moreover, incorporation (2%) of CBCW significantly improved the rheological properties of wheat flour. The water absorption (66.04 ± 0.23%), dough stability (4.54 ± 0.6 min), peak height (66.02 ± 0.03BU), and mixing tolerance index (70.02 ± 0.07%) were high in wheat flour with the addition of oat bran cell walls followed by wheat and maize bran cell walls. Furthermore, the dough development time (6.75 ± 0.25 min) was the highest in the control sample and the lowest mixing time was observed in C4 (5.41 ± 0.12 min), while the softness of dough (139.4 ± 0.02%) was decreased more significantly through the oat cell wall than wheat and maize. Conclusively, CBCW contained different bioactive moieties that have numerous positive effects on the rheological and functional properties of wheat flour.

The core objective of this research work was to determine the nutritional and bioactive profile of raw and fermented (black) garlic. For this purpose, different varieties of garlic i.e., desi and farmi were procured from local market of Faisalabad, Pakistan. In addition, desi raw garlic (DRG) and farmi raw garlic (FRG) were converted into desi fermented (black) garlic (DFG) and farmi fermented garlic (FFG) through fermentation in incubator at 60°C and 70–80% humidity level for 30 days. Moreover, nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of raw and fermented (black) garlic were also elucidated. Results showed that moisture content of garlic was rapidly reduced, whereas crude protein, crude fiber, crude ash, and carbohydrate contents were significantly improved after fermentation. In addition, protein contents of DRG and FRG garlic were 8.57 ± 0.21 and 6.38 ± 0.05 g/100 g whilst 9.5 ± 0.35 and 8.1 ± 0.06 g/100 g, in DFG and FFG, respectively, after fermentation. Additionally, carbohydrate contents were also increased up to 30–40% after fermentation. Mineral contents such as potassium, sulfur, aluminum, iron, sodium, magnesium, zinc, and copper were also increased after fermentation. Furthermore, garlic fermentation significantly reduced pH level. Antioxidant activity showed that total phenolic contents (TPC) of DRG & FRG were 2421.3 & 2128.5 mg GAE/kg while 2886.7, & 2529.8 mg GAE/kg for DFG and FFG, respectively. Total flavonoid contents of DRG and FRG were 124 & 101 mg RE/100 g, whereas DFG and FFG were 191 & 121mgRE/100 g. FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS values were higher in DRG and DFG as compared to FRG and FFG. Conclusively, fermented (black) garlic showed a higher nutritional profile, mineral content, as well as antioxidant activity as compared to raw garlic. C-1: Avoid % for concentration, use more clearly; for examples g/100 g raw materials, g/100 g dry-solids, g/100 g extract, g/100 g oil???) Check all???

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely used in the pretreatment of biomass. However, the effects of residual ILs on the enzymolysis and fermentation of biomass are still unknown. Therefore, a large quantity of water-washing is usually followed after biomass pretreatment to eliminate the inhibition of residual ILs on subsequent hydrolysis and fermentation steps. In this work, the effect of choline glycine ([Ch][Gly]) concentration on the activity of cellulase and Bacillus sp. strain P38 was systematically investigated to explore the impacts of residual ILs on enzymolysis and fermentation. The results confirmed that the activities of them were almost not inhibited in low concentrations (less than 0.5 wt%) of [Ch][Gly]. Under optimal pretreatment conditions, the maximum cellulose digestibility was 99.23%. Enzymatic hydrolysate was suitable for l -lactic acid fermentation without appreciable inhibition, and the highest sugar-acid conversion rate of 96.33% was obtained by simplified detoxification. This work provides an economic route to produce fermentable sugar and l -lactic acid, which shows an industrial application prospect in lignocellulosic biorefinery.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of hot water treatment to tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum cv. TA234) genetically modified with silencing of the TomloxB gene. Unmodified and genetically modified tomato fruits were immersed in water at 40°C for 10, 20 and 30 seconds. Subsequently, fruits were stored at 25°C for 18 days. Physiology was assessed and electrolyte leakage, lipoxygenase and polygalacturonase activities were monitored. Treatment applied to the genetically modified tomatoes at 40°C for 30 seconds, resulted in slower ripening, decreased metabolic activity and maintained the attributes in optimal conditions for longer time, increased the postharvest life of the genetically modified tomatoes until 18 days. Lipoxygenase and polygalacturonase activities were partially inhibited.

Onions are a significant source of organosulfur compounds with promising biological effects. However, the effects of different cooking methods on organosulfur composition and biological properties in onions remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the composition of organosulfur compounds and the antiplatelet effect of six different onion varieties processed using different cooking methods (boiling, stir-frying, and steaming).The organosulfur compounds were quantified by measuring the S-Alk(en)ey-L-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs) contents utilizing and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed no significant differences in ACSOs contents among onion varieties. However, ‘Guigum' (GG) and ‘Turbo’ (TB) varieties showed the highest amount of ACSOs at 100.6 and 98.0 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), respectively. Total ACSOs contents in the other four varieties were 62.7∼72.4 mg/100g FW, showing similar contents. Stir-fried (without the addition of water) onions retained the highest content of total ACSO, followed by steamed treated onions. However, with the boiling method, sulfur compounds were eluted and lost in the cooking water, resulted in a 46.8% loss of ACSOs. Onion extracts showed significant inhibition of the collagen-induced aggregation of rat blood platelets. The highest effect of platelet aggregation was observed in stir-fried onion extracts, whereas the lowest was in boiled extracts. Results demonstrated that stir-frying is an effective cooking method to retain the highest amount of health-beneficial organosulfur compounds in onion.

Honey is a sweet natural product synthesized from nectars of flowers by different types of honey bees. It has been used as medicine in different cultures. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of honey samples from different sources against selected clinical and standard microorganisms. Antimicrobial activities of the honey samples against selected standard and clinical microorganisms were done using agar disc and agar well diffusion methods. The highest diameter of inhibition zone against clinical and standard strains was recorded for Meliponula beccarii honey (MBH) (16 ± 3 mm) followed by Apis mellifera fresh honey (AMFH) (15 ± 2 mm) and Apis mellifera market honey (AMMH) (11 ± 3 mm) by well diffusion method. The mean inhibition zone recorded by the disc diffusion method were generally lower than that of the well diffusion method. However, none of the honey samples inhibited Candida albicans. The mean Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (%) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (%) against all the tested bacteria were 9.9 and 53.6 by MBH, 11.0 and 56.2 by AMFH, and 15.4 and 64.3 by AMMH, respectively. The fresh honey samples directly collected from the hives and honey samples from stingless bees showed higher antimicrobial effects against the tested pathogenic bacteria. This implies that honey could be used as an alternative therapy against diseases caused by the bacterial pathogens.

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the fermentation factors of blackened jujube vinegar (BJV). Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, sensory evaluation, and volatile compounds were studied with the methods of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicated that the optimal fermentation conditions was the acetic acid inoculation amount of 15%, the fermentation temperature of 30.44°C, and the initial alcohol content of 6.45% vol. During fermentation processing, there was a delay in the start of BJV fermentation and the fermentation rate was lower than red jujube vinegar (RJV). There was a significant difference in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content between these two (P < .05), and BJV is 3.55 times that of RJV. The content of polysaccharides in BJV and RJV decreased significantly and the trend was the same. The 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) content of BJV decreased rapidly with the process and reached a very low level finally. The antioxidant activity of BJV was significantly higher than that of RJV in terms of 2,20 -azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (P < .05). From sensory evaluation, the aroma and taste of BJV were better than those of RJV. There were no significant differences in the categories and quantities of volatile compounds between them. Volatile acid of BJV was less than that of RJV with the value of 72.91% and 81.15%, respectively, meanwhile, volatile esters of BJV (19.11%) was significantly higher than that of RJV (9.28%), for these reasons, sensory of BJV was softer, richer ester fragrance, and RJV was more stimulating.

The monitoring of carcass surface contamination along the slaughter line enables verification of slaughter operation hygiene and the use of good manufacturing practices. Pork meat is a common source of human nontyphoidal salmonellosis, one of the most frequently reported foodborne illnesses worldwide. This study was conducted to gather data on microbial loads before and after evisceration on the surfaces of swine carcasses in two slaughterhouses. The presence of Salmonella enterica was evaluated only after evisceration on carcass surfaces and in livers and floor drains (environmental samples) because pigs are common carriers of this pathogen. The contamination of carcass surfaces was evaluated by delimitation of surface area with sterilized templates (100 cm2), and surface samples were collected with gauze swabs. Total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli were enumerated. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in counts of mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and E. coli were found on the external carcass surfaces, with higher counts after evisceration. The neck and abdominal areas had higher levels of mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and E. coli and a high prevalence of Salmonella. Salmonella was detected in only one of the studied slaughterhouses; 19 (7.3%) of 259 analyzed carcass samples were positive for Salmonella, and Salmonella was detected in two livers and two floor drains. A total of 52 Salmonella isolates (44 from carcasses, 5 from livers, and 3 from drains) were recovered. Three Salmonella serovars (Typhimurium 4,5:i- , Wernigerone, and Derby) were identified, and 53.8% of the 52 isolates were multidrug resistant. The results reveal the need for continuous improvement of slaughtering operations and implementation of good manufacturing practices to ensure the safety of pork produced in Portugal. Highlights: Higher counts of indicator microorganisms were obtained after swine evisceration; Salmonella was detected in 7.3% of swine carcass surface samples; Three Salmonella serovars were identified: Typhimurium 4,5:i− , Wernigerone, and Derby; Of the 52 Salmonella isolates, 53.8% were multidrug resistant. This work was funded by project UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). The authors are grateful for scientific collaboration under FCT project UID/Multi/50016/2019 and the financial support for J. Barbosa from a postdoctoral fellowship from FCT (SFRH/BPD/113303/2015) info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Insects, a staple feed for wild birds and free ranging poultry, have a relatively high protein quality and are a promising feed for commercial poultry. Replacing soybean meal with insect derived feeds potentially reduces dependency on feed imports, increasing the sustainability of egg production – but only if maintaining or enhancing their nutritional quality. This study investigated egg fatty acid (FA) profiles from replacing soyabean meal with Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) meal (HIM) for laying hens. A three-week trial with 30 organic Lohman Selected Leghorn hens between 64-74 weeks old was repeated with four flocks at the end of their first laying cycle. In all replicate trials, ten birds were randomly allocated to each of three diets: (1) control with 360 g soybean/kg and no HIM; (2) H12 with 120 g HIM and 156 g soybean/kg; and (3) H24 with 240 g HIM/kg and no soybean. Complete replacement of soya (H24) increased saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and decreased total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) PUFA concentrations in eggs. The intermediate H12 diet (replacing 33% soya) gave similar n-3 and MUFA concentrations to control eggs but significantly increased SFA and reduced total PUFA. However, birds moderated the transfer of high intakes of potentially damaging C12:0 and C14:0 into eggs and although differences in eggs were highly significant and great (relative to very low levels in control eggs) concentrations were substantially lower than in insect meal itself and some commonly consumed foods.

Background: Age is an important risk factor for the mortality rate in the COVID-19 disease, and mostly, hospitalised patients over 60 years with chronic diseases are at high risk of death due to this disease. Along with preventive measures, proper nutrient intake might be helpful in maintaining a healthy state or reduce the severity of the COVID-19 disease in the elderly. Methods: The search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Science using the following terms: COVID-19, coronavirus, elderly, elderly nutrition. Results: The requirement for some macro and micronutrients, especially the nutrients that support the immune activity, increases in this disease. During the pandemic, the daily energy requirement for the elderly is 27-30 kcal/kg, while the protein intake is at least 1g/kg, and the ratio of fat and carbohydrate is 30:70 or less than 50:50. The daily intake of vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, zinc and selenium can also be increased due to their supporting function in the immune system. Probiotics include Bifidobacterium longum MM-2, Lactobacillus plantarum 06CC2, Lactobacillus bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus M21, and the consumption of prebiotics in diet enhances the immune function. Additionally, flavonoids, such as baicalin, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, luteolin, resveratrol and quercetin, improve immunity by reducing oxidative stress in the elderly. Conclusion: Adequate and balanced nutrition diet should be applied during the pandemic; in addition to this, micronutrient deficiencies should also be overcome in the elderly at every stage of life.

Abstract: Plantains are termed as ‘culinary bananas’ due to the fact that they are only consumed after cooking or other forms of processing. Providing good nutritional value and versatility in diet, it is considered an important commercial crop and an efficient dietary staple in Africa. However, irrespective of geographical locations and economic status of diverse ethnic groups, plantains are consumed extensively due to their easy availability and preparation. They are prepared and consumed in numerous forms between the green and yellow stages of maturity and ripeness. The nutritional composition of plantains provides several health benefits and therapeutic applications, making it preferable for consumption. They are processed for the further development of a variety of products like biscuits, baby foods, bread, etc. The present review aims to enlist various traditional dishes and the value-added products prepared from plantains after processing. It also highlights other diverse uses of plantain where all the parts of the crop are functional and demonstrate its potential in future scope.

Salmonella is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne zoonoses in humans. Thus, the development of strategies to control bacterial pathogens in poultry is essential. Peanut skins, a considerable waste by-product of the peanut industry is discarded and of little economic value. However, peanut skins contain identified polyphenolic compounds that have antimicrobial properties. Hence, we aim to investigate the use of peanut skins as an antibacterial feed additive in the diets of broilers to prevent the proliferation of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). One hundred sixty male hatchlings (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to (i) peanut skin diet without SE inoculation (PS); (ii) peanut skin diet and SE inoculation (PSSE); (iii) control diet without SE inoculation (CON); and (iv) control diet with SE inoculation (CONSE). Feed intake and body weights were determined at weeks 0 and 5. On days 10 and 24 posthatch, three birds per pen (24 total) from each treatment group were euthanized, and the liver, spleen, small intestine, and ceca were collected. The weights of the liver, spleen, and ceca were recorded. Organ invasion was determined by counting SE colonies. Each pen served as an experimental unit and was analyzed by using a t test. Performance data were analyzed in a completely randomized design by using a general linear mixed model to evaluate differences. There were no significant differences (P0.05) in weekly average pen body weight, total feed consumption, bird weight gain, and feed conversion ratio between the treatment groups. There were no significant differences in SE CFU per gram for fecal, litter, or feed between the treatment groups CONSE and PSSE. However, for both fecal and litter, the PSSE treatment group tended (P ≤ 0.1) to have a lower Salmonella CFU per gram compared with the CONSE treatment group. The results indicate that peanut skins may have potential application as an antimicrobial feed additive to reduce the transmission or proliferation of SE in poultry environments or flocks.

The main objective of this study was to assess responses of mid-early (Spunta) and mid-late (Bellini) potato cultivars to different temperature regimes during subsequent stages of potato growth. The impact of high temperature (25/22°C day/night), low temperature (18/16°C day/night) and intermediate temperature (20/18°C day/night) was evaluated for different growth stages. Data were obtained for photosynthesis, carbohydrates in leaves, stems and tubers as well as production parameters. Enzyme activities were determined for sucrose-phosphate synthase in leaves, acid invertase in stems and acid and neutral invertases in tubers. Gene expression levels of relevant sugar metabolizing enzymes was quantified.A detailed correlation analysis revealed a strong impact of the expression level of sugar metabolizing enzymes in leaves on the final number of tubers per plant.Whereas total tuber yield increases with temperature, the number of tubers per plant was highest under low temperature conditions. Our data suggest an important role of the temperature on the length of the different growth stages.

We evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of different ratios of Desmodium intortum (DI) and black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on sensory traits and physicochemical qualities of broiler chicks meat. Three formulations: T1:75%BSFL:25%DI; T2:50%BSFL:50DI, and T3:25BSFL:75% DI as a protein source were tested. A conventional feed was used as the control diet. On day 42, the chickens were slaughtered, and thigh muscles were used for sensory and physicochemical evaluations. T1 was preferred for its flavour and tenderness, T2 for its juiciness and T3 for its colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability scores. In terms of physical properties, all three types of meat had significantly lower moisture content and a higher water holding capacity than the control. T3 had the lowest moisture content, cooking loss and pH, whereas the meat from control diet had the highest cooking loss and pH. No significant differences were found in terms of meat lightness; however, meat from control diet showed the highest redness value, and T3 had the highest yellowness value. Dietary inclusion of DI-BSFL affected the fatty acid and cholesterol profiles of the meats. A holistic Principal Component Analysis indicated that the tested meats were distinct in their sensory and physicochemical properties. These variations in physicochemical properties may account for the difference in organoleptic perception, especially for T3. Further research should focus on feed modulation in relation to consumers’ preference and potential health benefits.

Human biomonitoring (HBM) represents the most accurate approach for assessing the exposure to mycotoxins, but traditional matrices fail to provide information about long-term exposure due to the rapid excretion rates and short half-lives of mycotoxins. Hair emerges as a promising matrix considering that contaminants can form stable links with hair components, such as keratins and melanin. Hence, the aim of the present study was to monitor the presence of up to ten mycotoxins (aflatoxins and Fusarium mycotoxins) in human hair samples (n=100) through a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to Q-TOF high resolution mass spectrometry. A prevalence of 43% at concentrations ranging from 2.7 to 106.1 ng/g was observed, being enniatins and aflatoxin B1 the most prevalent compounds. Co-occurrence of up to three mycotoxins was observed in 42% of the positive samples. Retrospective untargeted analysis of hair samples tentatively identified up to 128 mycotoxins and related metabolites. These results confirm the accumulation of toxicologically relevant mycotoxins in hair matrix, thus standing as a suitable matrix for assessing long-term exposure.

In the Great Lakes region of North America, Gibberella ear rot (GER), caused by Fusarium graminearum, affects grain quality due to the accumulation of mycotoxins. GER severity is strongly influenced by environmental conditions; however, agronomic practices can also influence disease severity and mycotoxin accumulation. In this study, three separate small-plot experiments were conducted at Ridgetown, ON, Canada during 2019 and 2020 under an inoculated-misted system to determine Fusarium mycotoxin accumulation as affected by: (1) plant population density; (2) in-row-plant developmental variability; and (3) the effect of integrated Bt refuge genetics. In this study, DON concentrations were at least 49% higher in maize at 113,600 plants/ha compared to 79,000 plants/ha. Moreover, mycotoxin accumulation was higher in plants that were delayed developmentally in the crop row; total DON concentrations were at least 310% higher in late silked plants adjacent to early silked plants. Results of the plant population density and in-row-plant developmental variability suggest that the main driver for mycotoxin accumulation was stress induced by plant competition rather than environmental conditions; this highlights the importance of avoiding plant competitive stress as a strategy to reduce the risks of mycotoxin accumulation. In this study, there was no statistical difference in DON accumulation between the Bt component and the non-Bt component in each of the four hybrids tested; however, there was evidence that hybrids varied in susceptibility, including the Bt and non-Bt components that were paired commercially in a bag of seed maize. Reducing mycotoxins in maize requires integrated management, which includes agronomic considerations. These results indicate that mycotoxins are favoured with high plant populations and plant-to-plant variability in the row, especially in susceptible hybrids.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a possible human carcinogen commonly found in various agricultural commodities worldwide. While this potent nephrotoxin tends to survive common food processes and contaminate food products, certain process with higher temperature treatments may reduce OTA contents. Roasting has been suggested as a possible method to reduce OTA in coffee beans with up to 90% reduction, which may be applied to other food commodities. In this study, the possible influence of fibres on the reduction of OTA was investigated with brown and white rice with 2.2 and 6.7% of total dietary fibre content, respectively, roasting at two different temperatures (160 and 200 °C) for up to 30 min. The results showed that the rate and extent of OTA reduction were dependent on time, temperature, and rice type; greater than 60% of OTA reduction were achieved at 200 °C for 30 min for white rice and 37% for brown rice at the same conditions. No significant differences in reduction were observed between the samples roasted at 160 °C for 30 min and 200 °C for 15 min for both the white and brown rice, while white rice roasted at 160 °C for 15 min during roasting may be affected by the presence of fibre and/or fat in the cereal grains.

Aspergillus and Fusarium are fungal genera that include toxigenic and pathogenic species, able to suffuse farmers’ crops and secrete an array of small molecular weight secondary metabolites which can cause health complications to humans and animals when ingested. In sub-Sahara Africa, contamination and persistence of these fungi is increased by the tropical climatic conditions which are ideal for the fungi to thrive. This study evaluated the incidence, regional distribution and toxigenic potential of Aspergillus and Fusarium species occurring in maize kernels from Eastern, Western, Coastal and the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Maize kernels were collected from 16 households in each agro-ecological zone. Single spore technique was used to isolate pure cultures of Aspergillus and Fusarium which were identified morphologically. Further, molecular analysis was done using the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) region of the ribosomal DNA for Aspergillus and the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) for Fusarium. The potential of the isolated fungi to produce mycotoxins was probed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the aflatoxin regulatory aflaR gene in Aspergillus, and the fumonisin backbone structure gene FUM1 in Fusarium. Among the potentially aflatoxigenic A. flavus species isolated, 55% were from Eastern, 27% from the Coastal zone, 13% from Lake Victoria zone and 5% from Western Kenya. Among the potentially fumonisin producing F. verticillioides isolated, 45% were from the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zone, 30% were from Western, 15% from Eastern Kenya and 10% from the Coastal agro-ecological zone. This study adds data on potential mycotoxin hotspots in Kenya useful in employing targeted and regional mycotoxin mitigation strategies in efforts to avert future mycotoxicoses outbreaks in Kenya.

Conflicting findings have been reported regarding the effects of almond consumption on inflammatory markers. This study aimed to summarize the current literature to determine whether almonds can affect inflammatory markers. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science up to March 2021. Randomized clinical trials that compared almond with no almond consumption were included. The outcomes of interest were changes in circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, TNF-α, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) concentrations. The random-effects model was used to find the mean differences. In total, 18 trials with 847 participants were eligible for the current analysis. Participants’ ages ranged from 26.3 to 69.6 y. Combining 16 studies, almond consumption significantly reduced serum concentrations of CRP [weighted mean difference (WMD): −0.25 mg/L; 95% CI: −0.43, −0.06 mg/L; I(2) = 0.0%; P-heterogeneity = 0.633]. However, the beneficial effect of almond intake only occurred at doses

Background: One of the oldest known edible fruits, the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), is now widely consumed worldwide. Its fruits and seed are rich in many bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, and the scientific interest in this plant has been constantly growing in recent years. Introduction: Pomegranate fruit and its juice have been shown to have health benefits relating to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are used in alternative medicine as adaptogens and ergogens, protecting against many neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, liver, and skin disorders. Methods: Given the amount of evidence, this narrative review does not seek to supply a comprehensive summary of all study findings but rather focuses on human clinical trials related to the last five years. In this regard, we have performed a check in MEDLINE, and clinical trials presented in this time are summarized. Result: Pomegranate consumption as a table fruit or juice, which is high in polyphenols, is thus recommended in human diet for its health benefits.The consumption of pomegranate fruit symbolizes a promising therapeutic approach to avert many chronic syndromes. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for bigger, more thoroughly planned human clinical trials to continue research into the potential particular effects of pomegranate fruit, as well as to determine the ideal dose and duration of pomegranate juice supplementation.

Insect farming has potential to help alleviate food insecurities, which are increasing globally. Insect farming can also help reduce landfill loading with food loss and waste, which is nearly 33% of all food produced globally. Farming of detritivore insect species, those that can consume decaying organic material including manures, increases the economic and environmental sustainability of the insect agriculture industry. The green fig beetle (Cotinis mutabilis, Scarabaeidae) is a native to the Sonoran Desert in the United States and Mexico. This study explored the effects of ten organic waste diets differing in the ratios of four waste types, dairy cow manure, mushroom spent substrate, spent brewer’s grain, and leaves, on the growth and survivorship of the larvae. Results show that this species yielded highest grub peak weights when fed a diet containing spent beer grains. However, these grubs also had low survivorship. Highest food efficiency conversions were found in grubs that were fed a diet dominated by spent mushroom media. Manure-based compost yielded poor growth and survivorship in these grubs, despite observations of wild beetles laying eggs in compost. A correlation between diet density and peak weight of the grubs suggests that a low-density diet is a more suitable substrate. Scarabs are found world wide and can become an important component in the insect as food and feed industry.

To determine the effect of the replacement of a dietary vegetable oil with the silkworm oil on the rabbit meat quality, two experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil), and the control diet with total replacement of sunflower oil by silkworm oil (SWO). Rabbits received the control diet from 5 to 7 weeks of age, followed by the two experimental diets until slaughter at 10 weeks of age. Physical traits, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of the hind leg meat were considered. A seven-day shelf-life at retail display of the loin meat evaluated water holding capacity, pH, L*a*b* colour, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) attributed to time and to dietary treatment within time. Experimental diets did not modify any of the considered traits measured on the hind leg meat, with exception of the hind leg weight, heavier in the SWO group (P

Waxy rice has a long history of being cultivated and consumed in China. In this study, the effect of different factors including α-amylase activity, protein, and amylopectin structure on the pasting properties of four waxy rice varieties were investigated. Rice flours were divided into four groups (Vietnam indica (VI), Jiangxi indica (JI), Anhui japonica (AJ), and Dongbei japonica (DJ) group) and treated with AgNO3 solution, DL-dithiothreitol (DTT), or protease (n = 3). Results suggested that both α-amylase activity and protein significantly decrease the pasting viscosity of waxy rice flours. Chain length distribution of amylopectin as measured by high performance ion exchange chromatography (HPAEC-PAD) showed that starch with a higher ratio of short chain leads to a higher pasting viscosity. X-Ray diffractograms showed that the crystal type of all the four varieties of rice starches were characteristic A-type. Relative crystallinity of each rice starch was further calculated, and higher crystallization resulted in a higher viscosity. Our study would provide a fundamental knowledge of the relationship between different factors and waxy starch pasting properties, as well as be a reference for controlling the quality of waxy rice starch-based food products.

Barley is the major raw material for the malting and brewing industries. Seed germination is a fundamental process for malting and is affected by physical and chemical factors, especially plant hormones. It is well recognized that the phytohormones gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) are the primary hormones that antagonistically regulate barley germination. Other plant hormones, including auxin (IAA), ethylene (ET), brassinosteroid (BR), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), cytokinins (CTKs), and strigolactone (SLs) also regulate seed germination by mediating the ABA/GA balance. In this study, the effects of eight hormones added during barley germination were investigated. An efficient design of the experimental method was employed to assess the effect of eight factors (α-amylase, β-amylase, limit dextrinase, β-glucanase, wort sugar profile, FAN, and β-glucan content) on epicotyl and root elongation. Almost all studied phytohormones played a significant role on barley epicotyl elongation. GA, ET, BA (benzylaminopurine), and zeatin (ZEA) exerted an increased effect, while ABA, SA, and BR showed a decreased effect for α-amylase, β-amylase, limit dextrinase, and β-glucanase activity. Results showed that in addition to GA and ABA, that SA, ET, BR, BA, ZEA, and JA also had significant effects on malt quality. The balance between these phytohormones is vital to the malting quality of barley. Future applications of these results could improve current recognition about the effects of phytohormones on malting and provide concrete ideas for enhancing malt quality.

Summary The quest to develop a performant starter culture mixture to be applied in cocoa fermentation processes started in the 20th century, aiming at achieving high-quality, reproducible chocolates with improved organoleptic properties. Since then, different yeasts have been proposed as candidate starter cultures, as this microbial group plays a key role during fermentation of the cocoa pulp-bean mass. Yeast starter culture-initiated fermentation trials have been performed worldwide through the equatorial zone and the effects of yeast inoculation have been analysed as a function of the cocoa variety (Forastero, Trinitario and hybrids) and fermentation method (farm-, small- and micro-scale) through the application of physicochemical, microbiological and chemical techniques. A thorough screening of candidate yeast starter culture strains is sometimes done to obtain the best performing strains to steer the cocoa fermentation process and/or to enhance specific features, such as pectinolysis, ethanol production, citrate assimilation and flavour production. Besides their effects during cocoa fermentation, a significant influence of the starter culture mixture applied is often found on the cocoa liquors and/or chocolates produced thereof. Thus, starter culture-initiated cocoa fermentation processes constitute a suitable strategy to elaborate improved flavourful chocolate products.

This study investigated the ameliorating effect of exogenous proline on some physiological responses of salt acclimated and non-acclimated Aloe vera plants against subsequent salt stress (EC 21 dS/m). Compared to control, salinity decreased leaf growth and relative water content (RWC), leaf contents of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, K/Na ratio, photosystem performance index (PIabs), while promoted leaf contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), maloendialdehyde (MDA) and Na, which subsequently induced oxidative stress. However, foliar applied proline was effective in alleviating the deleterious effects of salinity. Maximum amelioration of salt stress by exogenous proline was found only in salt-acclimated plants, which was attributed to the reduced leaf Na accumulation together with enhanced K content. Proline pretreatment improved plant relative water content, which was correlated with enhancement in leaf proline concentration. We showed that application of proline on salt-acclimated stressed plants alleviated the damage to PSII functioning induced by salinity, contributing to the improvement of the oxygen-evolving complex efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fo) and the quantum yield of electron transport (ΦEo). This improvement of PSII activity was achieved by higher carotenoids and phenolic accumulation. Additionally, proline treatment reduced the accumulation of H2O2 and MDA, indicating that proline pretreatment was more effective in lowering oxidative damage in salt-exposed acclimated plants, which was associated with the activation of SOD, CAT and APX enzymes. Thus, proline pretreatment could protect salt acclimated Alo vera plants against subsequent salt stress through improving K/Na ratio and water relations attributes as well as enhancing antioxidant systems, resulting in better photosynthesis under salt stress.

Aims The purpose of this study was to functionalize an ovine stretched cheese belonging to 'Vastedda' typology with red grape pomace powder (GPP) of Nero d’Avola cultivar and to characterize the microbiological, physicochemical, phenolic profile and sensory characteristics of the final cheeses. Methods and Results Before cheeses production, GPP was characterized for its microbiological profile, antibacterial activity and polyphenolic content. No colonies of bacteria and yeasts were detected in the GPP. GPP showed a large inhibition spectrum against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Three classes of polyphenolic compounds belonging to flavan-3-ols, flavonol and phenolic acids were identified. Two cheeses [0 and 1% (w w−1) of GPP] were produced with pasteurized ewe's milk and commercial starter cultures. Plate counts and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis demonstrated the ability of the starter strains to drive the fermentation process in the presence of GPP. GPP enrichment resulted in an increase of protein, phenolic compounds, sensory traits and reduced fat. Conclusions GPP addition to cheese represents an optimal strategy for the valorization of winemaking by-products and to obtain polyphenol-enriched cheese. Significance and Impact of the Study This study allowed to achieve an ovine cheese with specific physicochemical, nutraceutical and sensorial characteristics able to enlarge the functional dairy product portfolio.

Liquid fermented fish (Nam pla ra) is a traditional local condiment and popular consumption in Thailand. According to previous research, tilapia frame could be used as a raw material for the production, but the amount of protein received is still below the standard. In addition, there is no information of additives in curing process on consumer preferences. In this research, response surface methodology was used to study the influence of extracted protein from soybean meal (5–15%) and salt (15–20%) contents on chemical characteristics of Nam pla ra after 4 months of fermentation. The amount of roasted rice and roasted rice bran addition in curing process on sensory preferences were also studied. The results showed the linear effect of extracted protein and salt contents on NaCl content (P

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of bread as substrate for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis, establishing a valorization strategy for surplus bread, repurposing it within the food chain. Methods and Results Surplus bread was fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to produce GABA. Pediococcus pentosaceus F01, Levilactobacillus brevis MRS4, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum H64 and C48 were selected among 33 LAB strains for the ability to synthesize GABA. Four fermentation experiments were set up using surplus bread as such, added of amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes, modifying the pH or mixed with wheat bran. Enzyme-treated slurries led to the release of glucose (up to 20 mg g−1) and free amino acid, whereas the addition of wheat bran (30% of bread weight) yielded the highest GABA content (circa 800 mg kg−1 of dry weight) and was the most suitable substrate for LAB growth. The selected slurry was ultimately used as an ingredient in bread making causing an increase in free amino acids. Conclusions Besides the high GABA concentration (148 mg kg−1 dough), the experimental bread developed in this study was characterized by good nutritional properties, highlighting the efficacy of tailored bioprocessing technologies as means to mitigate food wastage. Significance and Impact of Study Our results represent a proof of concept of effective strategies to repurpose food industry side streams.

Sugar composition not only affects fruit flavor but is also an important determinant of fruit taste and consumer preference. In this study, changes in the sugar content and sugar-metabolizing enzymes were investigated from different sections of various fruit development phases of ‘Hongshuijing’ pitaya (Hylocereus monacanthus). Genes related to sugar metabolism were also screened by transcriptome analyses. The results indicated that glucose was the major sugar in mature pitaya fruit, and was mainly regulated by vacuolar acid invertase (VAI) and sucrose synthase (SS) (degradative direction). Sugar accumulation varied in pulp between different sections of the pitaya fruit. VAI, neutral invertase (NI) and SS (degradative direction) are crucial enzymes for sugar accumulation in pitaya. The expression of 17 genes related to sucrose metabolism and obtained from seven databases [NCBI non-redundant protein database (Nr), NCBI non-redundant nucleotide sequence database (Nt), EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG), The Protein Families (Pfam), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Swiss-prot, and Gene Ontology (GO)] were analyzed in different pitaya pulp sections. HpVAI1 had the highest relative expression level on the 29th day after pollination (DAP). Positive correlations were found between HpVAI1 expression and VAI activity; HpNI4 and NI activity; HpSS2, HpSS5, and SS activity (synthetic direction), indicating that HpVAI1, HpNI4, and HpSS2 and HpSS5 were involved in the regulation of VAI, NI, and SS (synthetic direction), respectively. HpVAI1 and HpNI4 regulated sucrose degradation and the accumulation of glucose and fructose, while HpSS2 and HpSS5 regulated sucrose synthesis. These results suggest that HpVAI1 plays a key role in sugar metabolism during fruit development of ‘Hongshuijing’ pitaya. The results of this study provide new information about sugar metabolism in pitaya fruit that could help improve fruit quality and the breeding of new cultivars.

The health benefits of nuts reported throughout the literature are extensive and well established for reducing the risk of, and managing several chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cognition. Despite their comparable nutrient profile to nuts, seeds are often not assessed in clinical and epidemiological studies. Interestingly, dietary guidelines and recommendations often refer to "nuts and seeds" collectively, even though they are not consistently examined together in nutrition research when determining associated health benefits. The purpose of this review is to call for future nutrition research to consider combining nuts and seeds. This review provides justification for this proposal by summarizing current definitions for nuts and seeds and highlighting the similarities or dissimilarities in their nutrient compositions. Following this, we summarize current evidence on the health benefits of nuts and seeds, research gaps that should be addressed, and considerations for future research using both epidemiological and interventional study designs.

The concept of “ethno-microbiology” is to understand the indigenous knowledge of the Indian people for production of culturally and organoleptically acceptable fermented foods by natural fermentation. About 1000 types of common, uncommon, rare, exotic and artisan fermented foods and beverages are prepared and consumed in different geographical regions by multi-ethnic communities in India. Indian fermented foods are mostly acidic and some are alkaline, along with various types of alcoholic beverages. A colossal diversity of microorganisms comprising bacteria mostly belongs to phylum Firmicutes, filamentous moulds and enzyme- and alcohol-producing yeasts under phyla Ascomycota and Mucoromycota, and few bacteriophages and archaea have been reported from Indian fermented foods. Some microorganisms associated with fermented foods have functionalities and health promoting benefits. “Ethno-microbiology” of ethnic Indian people has exhibited the proper utilisation of substrates either singly or in combination such as fermented cereal-legume mixture (idli, dosa and dhokla) in South and West India, sticky fermented soybean food (kinema and related foods), fermented perishable leafy vegetable (gundruk and related foods), fermented bamboo shoots (soibum and related foods) and fermented fish (ngari and others) in North East India, and fermented meat and sausage-like products in the Indian Himalayas, fermented coconut beverage (toddy) in coastal regions, and various types of naturally fermented milk products (dahi and related products) in different regions of India. This review has also highlighted the “ethno-microbiology” knowledge of the people involving the consortia of essential microorganisms in traditionally prepared amylolytic starters for production of cereal-based alcoholic beverages. The novelty of this review is the interpretation of ethno-microbiological knowledge innovated by ethnic Indian people on the use of beneficial microorganisms for food fermentation to obtain the desired fermented food products for consumption.

To determine the suitability of different sorghum cultivars (grown in Indonesia) for the manufacturing of acceptable food products, their properties must first be characterised. During sorghum processing, polishing may affect the final nutritional value and quality of the product. This study is aimed at determining the effects of sorghum variety and polishing frequency on nutritional value. This was achieved by using a factorial randomised block design with two factors: sorghum variety (Bioguma, Numbu, and Super) and polishing frequency (once, twice, or thrice). Tannin content, antioxidant capacity, levels of dietary fibre and resistant starch, and fat, ash, and carbohydrate content varied according to sorghum cultivar. Compared to other sorghum varieties, the Super cultivar contained the highest levels of antioxidants, dietary fibre, fat content, protein, resistant starch, and tannins (although high tannin content could be lowered by polishing grains up to three times). The frequency of polishing affected tannin and ash levels in all three sorghum varieties. Polishing frequency also affected the antioxidant capacity of polished sorghum grains. The findings from this study should be considered when determining appropriate applications for various sorghum-based food products.

Introduction: Rice husk nanosilica has a porous, amorphous structure with a surface containing silica (SiO2). Silica interacts with calcium ions to form hydroxyapatite and can induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which harm microorganisms. Aims: To determine the effect of rice husk nanosilica on the increase in dentin hydroxyapatite and its antimicrobial effects against S. Mutans. Methods: Nine dental cavity samples were divided into 3 groups: group 1, normal dentin; group 2, demineralised dentin and group 3, demineralised dentin treated with rice husk nanosilica. The samples were analysed using XRD to evaluate the formation of dentin hydroxyapatite, and the results were statistically evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. An antimicrobial test was conducted using an MTT assay to analyse the viability of S. mutans after exposure to 2% nanosilica rice husk, and the results were statistically evaluated using a t-test. Results: There was an increase in the amount of dentin hydroxyapatite after the application of rice husk nanosilica compared with the control group (normal dentin), and 2% rice husk nanosilica had an antimicrobial effect (p

BACKGROUND: Blueberry fruits contain large amounts of phenolic compounds derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. Their biosynthesis is complex, involving many enzymes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the content of phenylpropanoid-derived compounds and identify key genes involved in the phenylpropanoid metabolite pathway during half-highbush blueberry fruit development. METHODS: Phenylpropanoid metabolite contents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry. Gene expression was examined through reverse-transcription PCR. RESULTS: Phloretin, chlorogenic acid, total flavonol, quercetin, catechin, and proanthocyanidin contents were highest in small-sized green fruits; myricetin and epicatechin contents were highest in pink fruits; and lignin and anthocyanin were highest in blue fruits. Genes from the 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) family regulate the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid metabolites. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) are key genes in the lignin biosynthetic pathway. Flavonol synthase (FLS) is a key gene affecting total flavonols and the quercetin biosynthetic pathway. PAL and chalcone isomerase (CHI) are key genes in the epicatechin and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways, respectively. CONCLUSION: Phenylpropanoid metabolites are regulated by multiple genes from the same or different families. Enzymes in different metabolic pathways compete for precursors to form a complex regulatory network for phenylalanine metabolism.

BACKGROUND: The strawberry is an important commercial crop, the improvement of its yield and quality is an imperative task. OBJECTIVE: The present research aimed to study the effect of colored netting and foliar application of amino acids on the physiological characteristics of strawberries subjected to different irrigation intervals. METHODS: The study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three factors including colored net at 4 levels (no netting, green, red, and yellow netting), organic acids at 4 levels (control, humic acid, glutamine, and arginine), and three levels of irrigation intervals (2, 4, and 6 days) in the greenhouse of Lahijan Agricultural Research Station, Iran. RESULTS: The results showed that the highest leaf number, shoot weight, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were related to yellow netting. The highest fruit yield, anthocyanins, and flavonoids were observed in the treatments of no-netting, green netting, and red netting, respectively. Data for the effect of organic acids showed that the glutamine-treated plants exhibited the highest yield, the humic acid-treated plants displayed the highest anthocyanin and carotenoid content, and the arginine-treated plants demonstrated the highest vitamin C content. The irrigation interval of 6 days caused to the lowest leaf number, flower and fruit number, shoot weight, fruit yield, and carotenoid content. Data for the trilateral effect of ‘netting×organic acid×irrigation’ showed that the highest flower number and fruit yield were obtained from ‘green netting×glutamine×4 days’, the highest anthocyanin content was obtained from ‘green netting×humic acid×2 days’, and the highest chlorophyll content was obtained from ‘green netting×control×6 days’. The treatment of ‘yellow netting×control×2 days’ was related to the highest flavonoid content. CONCLUSIONS: The application of colored nets provides the strawberry with more optimal vegetative and reproductive growth.

BACKGROUND: SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are a class of plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in plant development. However, the majority of SPL genes in strawberry are functionally uncharacterized. OBJECTIVE: To understand the biological functions and elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of SPL genes in strawberry development. METHODS: The FvSPL1 gene from woodland strawberry was cloned and the phylogenetic tree was analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Subcellular localization, transcriptional activity, DNA binding ability and regulatory mechanisms of FvSPL1 were analyzed through biochemical and genetic approaches. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis with SPL genes from Arabidopsis, tomato and chrysanthemum indicated that FvSPL1 clustered in the same group as those of the miR156 target site located at the 3′-untranslated region. Further biochemical analysis indicated that FvSPL1 was exclusively localized in the nucleus. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that FvSPL1 could specifically recognize the GTAC motif. Transcriptional activity analysis showed that FvSPL1 is a transcriptional activator that could activate the expression of the FvAP1 gene. Finally, transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing the FvSPL1 gene exhibited significantly early flowering. Taken together, our study indicated that FvSPL1, similar to its orthologs in Arabidopsis, mainly functions in regulating plant flowering. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into the mechanism of flowering in strawberry, and contribute to the understanding of strawberry flowering time manipulation which will facilitate the molecular breeding of strawberries.

BACKGROUND: Vine nutrition affects the composition of grapes, but how it impacts the aroma of grapes is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to investigate the effect of different fertilizers: chemical fertilizer (CF), sheep manure-based organic fertilizer (OF), 50% organic fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer (O + C), 25% organic fertilizer + 25% chemical fertilizer [1/2(O + C)], and soil conditioner (SC) on the aroma accumulation of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. METHODS: The treatments were applied and samples were collected in 2019 at weekly intervals from August 7 to September 22. The grapes’ chemical characteristics and volatile compounds were analyzed. RESULTS: The chemical results showed that the treatments had a positive effect on grapes, with a strong preference for the 1/2(O + C) treatment. Grape aroma results showed that the concentrations of grape aromas in O + C-treated samples were lower than the other treatments. The OF treated samples had comparatively high (24.8%) volatile concentrations during maturity compared to other treatments, including the control (15.9%). Throughout development, samples treated with OF (17.4%) and CF (15.7%) had higher volatile concentrations than samples treated with SC (14.4%), 1/2(O + C) (12.8%), and O + C (12.4%). However, compared to SC-treated samples, samples treated with 1/2(O + C) increased the accumulation of terpenes and esters. The principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that samples treated with OF were strongly correlated to carbonyls, terpenes, and esters during maturity. CONCLUSION: The type and ratio of fertilizer used had a significant impact on the aroma profile of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Bananas (Musa spp.) enriched in resistant starch displayed multiple health benefits for diabetes. Here, we showed that banana starch administered to diabetic rats improved animal depressive-like behaviours of mood disorders. Four weeks of banana starch diet to high-sugar, high-fat, and STZ-induced diabetic rats lowered their blood insulin resistance, but increased their plasma HDL cholesterol and 5-HT levels, compared to the control groups of rats. The banana starch diet reconstructed the gut microbiota and increased their metabolite of butyrate, as well as increased the activity of superoxidase in diabetic rats. Furthermore, Banana starch intervention significantly increased the exhaustion time of the diabetic rats, and almost restored it to the normal state of control groups in their swimming and tail suspension tests. Together, our results indicated the modulation of the gut-microbiota-brain axis as a possible mechanism that enables the banana starch diet as a potential therapeutic way for diabetes-associated mood disorders.

Effect of adding foxtail millet flour (FMF) (10, 20, and 30% w/w) to refined wheat flour (RWF) on physicochemical and rheological properties of dough was studied. Qualitative properties of Brotchen bread including moisture, ash, crude fibre, specific volume, and colour of the breads were evaluated. Adding FMF to the flour increased crude fibre, fat, ash, and protein contents and reduced falling number, damaged starch and wet gluten contents, and sample lightness. Consistograph test indicated that addition of the FMF decreased water absorption capacity, maximum pressure, and tolerance, however, drops in pressure at 250 and 450 s became greater. Alveograph test revealed that with adding FMF, dough resistance to extension and dough strength decreased but an increase in dough extensibility was obtained at FMF30%. Increasing the amount of FMF resulted in a decrease in the volume of the bread, and the FMB (foxtail millet bread) 30% had the highest browning index and b*. The FMB20% had the highest resilience and springiness, while higher level of foxtail (30%) increased chewiness.

The wheat flour baguette bread is one of the most important foods throughout the world. Therefore, improving the quality of this type of white bread has always been of interest. In this study, the effect of xylanase and pentosanase enzymes on the rheological properties of dough and baguette bread characteristics was investigated. Adding xylanase and/or pentosanase had led to improve rheological properties of the dough. Using 0.2 gr pentosanase in 100 g flour significantly strengthened the gluten network of the dough. Also, this treatment had the lowest extensibility and the highest resistance ratio number. The treatment containing 0.6 g xylanase and 0.1 g pentosanase in 100 g flour had a higher moisture content on the first, third, and fifth days of storage time. Regarding the color of the crust of the produced bread, it was found that the addition of both enzymes at higher levels, especially in enzyme mixtures, decreased the brightness of the bread crust. Due to the organoleptic features of breads, adding xylanase and pentosanase enzymes could improve the volume and crumb texture of the bread, but no significant difference was observed in baking uniformity, physical shape, taste, and odor of bread crumbs. In conclusion, the findings in this study indicated that the type of enzymes added and enzyme levels affected dough rheology, bread properties, and quality of the baguette bread significantly.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a deadly environmental constraint that damages productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum) around the globe. One of the major challenges is to develop resistance against PVY. Emerging clustered regularly short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas systems have the potential to develop resistance against PVY. In the current research, CRISPR-Cas13 has been exploited to target multiple strains of PVYN, PVYO, and PVYNTN. Multiple genes PI, HC-Pro, P3, Cl1, Cl2, and VPg genes of PVY were targeted by CRISPR/Cas13a. Multiplex gRNA cassettes were developed on the conserved regions of the PVY-genes. Three independent CRISPR/Cas13 transgenic potato lines were developed by applying an optimized concentration of trans-ribo zeatin and indole acetic acid at callus development, rooting, and shooting growth stages. The level of resistance in transgenic plants was confirmed through double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative PCR. Our results have shown that efficiency of PVY inhibition was positively correlated with the Cas13a/sgRNA expression. Finding provides the specific functionality of Cas13 with specific gRNA cassette and engineering the potential resistance in potato crop against multiple strains of PVY.

The traffic in international animal products can become a public health hazard when legal import sanitary procedures are not followed. In Brazil, due to its extensive border area, the importation of animal products is a common practice in many areas, especially in Rio Grande do Sul, a state that borders Argentina and Uruguay. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of veterinary drug residues (antibiotics and antiparasitics) in animal products consumed in Rio Grande do Sul. The presence of residues of veterinary antibiotics and antiparasitics was assessed in 189 meat (beef, pork, and chicken), processed dairy, and meat product samples bought in Argentina (n = 90) and Uruguay (n = 99). Residues of these veterinary drugs were detected in 50 (26.45%) of the samples; 28 samples (14.81%) had antibiotic residues, and 22 samples (11.64%) had antiparasitic residues. Of the 50 positive samples, 40% (15 from Argentina and 5 from Uruguay) had residues above the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Of these 20 samples, 12 had antiparasitic residues above the MRLs (11 beef samples had ivermectin and 1 pork sample had ivermectin and doramectin) and 8 had antibiotic residues above the MRLs (2 pork and 2 sausage samples had doxycycline, 2 cheese samples had doxycycline and chlortetracycline, 1 poultry meat sample had chloramphenicol, and 1 cheese sample had monensin). Because of the potential toxic effects on humans and the potential for pathogens to develop antibiotic resistance, the presence of these residues above the MRLs is a potential risk to public health. The negative impact of consumption of imported animal products can be reduced by implementation of an effective surveillance system and educational campaigns for the general population.

The impact of water application method on bacterial survival at or after the final irrigation was evaluated in bulb onions during commercially relevant field drying (curing). A three-strain rifampin-resistant cocktail of Escherichia coli was introduced to onions via a single overhead spray application in two separate trials (5.22 [trial 1] or 2.40 [trial 2] log CFU per onion) 2 to 3 days after the final irrigation. Onions were lifted from the soil 8 days after spray inoculation and, in some cases, foliage was removed (topping); onions remained in the field for an additional ca. 2 weeks (total ca. 3 weeks of curing). E. coli populations declined on the onions in the first 4 h after spray inoculation. E. coli was recovered from 38 (48%) or 28 (35%) of 80 whole-onion enrichments at the end of curing in trials 1 or 2, respectively. Topping did not significantly impact the percentage of E. coli-positive onions detected at the end of curing. From 8 h to 21 days, E. coli populations on positive onions ranged from 1 CFU per onion to 7 log CFU per onion in both trials, representing a potential risk of E. coli growth with overhead application of contaminated water at the end of onion production. In trial 2, additional rows of onions were inoculated via a 22-cm subsurface or surface drip irrigation line (1.94 log CFU/mL for 2.5 h). E. coli was detected in 0 (subsurface) and 4 (surface) of 50 whole-onion enrichments 3 h after the initiation of drip irrigation. Positive onions were detected at days 1 (4 of 50) and 7 (1 of 50) with subsurface drip inoculation, and at days 1 (7 of 50), 7 (2 of 50), and 14 (2 of 50) with surface drip inoculation. E. coli was not detected in whole-onion enrichments at the end of curing when inoculated by subsurface (0 of 50) or surface (0 of 50) drip irrigation. Application of contaminated water through drip irrigation, when coupled with field curing, results in low rates of contamination of bulb onions at the time of harvest.

Abstract: Wastage of food is a big concern for the world. In summers, several fruits are available like watermelon, muskmelon, etc. Muskmelons are fruits that are consumed all over the world. Around 32 % of muskmelon is wasted; it includes 5 % seeds and 27 % peel of the total weight. Seeds of muskmelons have great nutritional benefits. They have a very large number of bioactive compounds like tocopherols, phospholipids, and sterols. Muskmelon seeds have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimer, and diuretic properties and can be used to treat or prevent many diseases. Therefore, muskmelon seeds can be used as a functional food.

Abstract: The flavour in mature cheese results from a complex series of biochemical events that occur in the curd during ripening. More than 500 varieties of cheese are produced in the world, and each of them possesses its typical sensory characteristics. Flavour depends on milk variety, starter bacteria used in cheese-making and ripening. Amino acids and free fatty acids (FFA) act mainly as precursors of a series of catabolic reactions, still not well understood. These reactions lead to the production of aroma compounds such as esters, fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, lactones, and sulphur. Enzymes involved in all these processes are derived from milk, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria (NSLAB), rennet, or fungi. In cheese industrial production, the milk pasteurization process leads to the removal of endogenous bacteria; therefore it is necessary to add exogenous enzymes to enrich and standardize cheeses flavour. Here, we reviewed some exogenous enzymes used in industrial cheeses production or which have interesting potential in cheese making and ripening.