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Inheritance of the presence/absence of seeds in Annona squamosa is mediated by a single fully recessive gene and is caused by a deletion of the INNER NO OUTER (INO) locus. For some fruits, seedless varieties are desirable for consumption and processing. In the sugar apple tree (Annona squamosa L.), the seedless trait in the Thai seedless (Ts) and Brazilian seedless (Bs) accessions was associated with defective ovules and an apparent deletion of the INNER NO OUTER (INO) ovule development gene locus. Segregation analysis of F2 and backcross descendants of crosses of Bs to fertile wild-type varieties in this species with a multi-year generation time showed that seedlessness was recessive and controlled by a single locus. Comparison of whole genome sequence of a wild-type plant and a third accession, Hawaiian seedless (Hs), identified a 16 kilobase deletion including INO in this line. Ts and Bs lines were shown to have an identical deletion, indicating a common origin from a single deletion event. Analysis of microsatellite markers could not preclude the possibility that all three seedless accessions are vegetatively propagated clones. The sequence of the deletion site enabled a codominant assay for the wild-type and mutant genes allowing observation of complete cosegregation of the seedless/defective ovule phenotype with the INO deletion, showing maximal separation of less than 3.5 cM. The observed deletion is the only significant difference between the wild-type and Hs line over 587 kilobases, likely encompassing much more than 3.5 cM, showing that the deletion is the cause of seedless trait. The codominant markers and obtained progenies will be useful for introgression of the seedless trait into elite sugar apple lines and into other Annonas through interspecific crossings.

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The study examines the impact of potassium management on the sustainability of custard apple agri-horticulture, focusing on the Quantity/Intensity relationship which is crucial for soil fertility and potassium availability to plants. A long-term field experiment with a custard apple-based agri system was started in the wet season of 2009 with seven different intercrops and one custard apple mono-crop at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, within the Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka. The soil, classified as Typic Kandiustalf, was analyzed for its physical and chemical properties, revealing a sandy clay loam texture with low organic carbon and moderate levels of available potassium. The study found that custard apple yields were highest when grown alone, particularly with finger millet and chili intercrops, and lowest with foxtail millet. Soil analysis showed minor differences in particle size and bulk density, with variations linked to crop type and depth. Chemical analysis indicated that custard apple affects cation exchange capacity, especially when combined with field bean, enhancing soil nutrients. Surface soils had more water-soluble and exchangeable potassium with cowpea, and more non-exchangeable potassium with finger millet. Potassium decreased with depth, except for lattice and total potassium. The results Q/I relationship of K showed that CRe0K values ranged from 16 to 32 × 10−3 (mol litre−1)1/2 whereas, PBCK ranged from 10.4 to 14.1 (cmol kg−1)/(mol L−1)1/2. Studies indicate that for custard apple farms, especially in rainfed zones, legume intercropping with frequent potassium application is advantageous to maintain the sustainable long-term yield of custard apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria brown spot is a leaf disease of annonaceous plants recently assigned to Alternaria alternata, a species in section Alternaria. Given the diversity in Alternaria section Alternaria and the economic importance of annonaceous plants for Brazilian fruit producers, we sought to identify the aetiological agents of Alternaria brown spot in Brazil and evaluate their aggressiveness and host associations. In addition, we compared different methods of species delimitation within section Alternaria. According to several species delimitation methods, the causal agents of Alternaria brown spot in Brazil were assigned A. alternata (clades 2 and 5), A. longipes‐like (A. gossypina and Alternaria sp. [LM 353]), A. tomato‐like (Alternaria sp. [LM 281; LM 295; LM 267], Alternaria sp. [LM 269; LM 294; LM 306] and Alternaria sp. [LM 272]), A. jacinthicola and a new species, A. annonacearum. All lineages were pathogenic to sugar apple and soursop, though less aggressive on the latter, irrespective of the host from which they were isolated. This study brings information that may help both researchers and fruit producers to distinguish Alternaria brown spot from other fungal diseases on annonaceous plants and ultimately develop better management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA water-soluble extract of custard apple leaves (CALEX) was obtained and characterized using detailed spectral analytical techniques. A comprehensive corrosion mitigation performance study was undertaken to examine the CALEX as efficacious inhibitor for mild steel (MS) in a 5% HCl solution employing weight loss (WL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements. Weight loss study was conducted over the temperature range of 298–328 K at the CALEX concentration range of 10–100 ppm. With the increase in CALEX concentration in the HCl solution the inhibition efficiency (%I.E.) increased but declined with increase in temperature. EIS revealed that the Rct value increases and PDP showed the mixed-type inhibition mechanism. Surface analysis presented amelioration in the surface morphology of CALEX treated MS, revealing establishment of absorptive protective film by the different organic compounds present in CALEX. XPS technique was used to understand the chemical makeup and bonding state of the CALEX molecules with the MS surface. The contact angle measurement suggested improved hydrophobicity for the CALEX inhibited MS sample compared to uninhibited sample. The adsorption of compounds present in CALEX was observed to be in line with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Pro‐Gly‐typed cyclopeptide, cyclosenegalin A, was firstly isolated from Annona senegalensis and Annona scleroderma. In this study, we reported synthesis the cycloheptapeptide with a combination of solid‐ and solution‐phase synthetic methods. This study also compared the effectiveness of β‐turn inducer type I and II in cyclosenegalin A to facilitate the cyclization process. The synthesis of cyclosenegalin A were prepared using two different sequences of linear peptides for cyclization. First sequence employed β‐turn type I inducer (Ser‐Ala‐Val‐Thr) as turning point and second sequence employed β‐turn type II inducer (Thr‐Pro‐Gly‐Leu). The successful cyclization was obtained using the linear sequence of NH2‐Ala‐Val‐Thr‐Pro‐Gly‐Leu‐Ser‐OH with β‐turn type II. The final product was obtained in 8.2 % yield with PyBOP/DIEA act as coupling agent. The synthetic cyclosenegalin A were characterized with HR‐ToFMS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY, and ROESY. The synthetic product was also evaluated for its antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity and repellence of aqueous extract of Sarcomphalus joazeiro (Mart.) Hauenschild (Rhamnaceae) leaves and hexane extract of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) seeds in different concentrations were evaluated on Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). To determine the toxicity, banana leaf discs were immersed in the extract solutions and infested with adult females of R. indica. Mortality was assessed after 72 hours. Repellence was evaluated on banana leaf discs treated or not with the extract solutions. After 72 hours, mortality ranged from 24% to 72% for the S. joazeiro extract and from 33.75 to 96.25% for the A. muricata extract. Concentrations of 20% and 25% (m/v) of S. joazeiro extract, and 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.00% (v/v) of A. muricata extract were considered toxic because the mortality caused by them (62%, 72%, 33.75%, 40%, 66.25%, 88.25%, and 96.25%, respectively) differed from the untreated (16% and 1.25%, respectively). No S. joazeiro extract concentration caused repellence, but concentrations of 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1% (v/v) of A. muricata extract were repellent to the mite. Both evaluated extracts have potential for use in the management of R. indica due to their toxicity, especially that of A. muricata, which is also repellent to the mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El avance del conocimiento del ámbito costero bético está definiendo un panorama heterogéneo y variable generado a partir de la implantación del modelo productivo, comercial y fiscal romano. Las políticas territoriales y la inclusión de la península en las redes mercantiles trajeron consigo un profundo cambio en los modelos de explotación de los recursos naturales. El nuevo sistema se sustentó en una jerarquización del territorio y la creación de una estructura portuaria con los principales núcleos urbanos a la cabeza (Gades, Baelo Claudia, Iulia Traducta, Carteia, etc.), generándose en torno a éstos un poblamiento especializado en la producción y dependiente de los primeros. Los sucesivos estudios parecen apuntar a una serie de diferencias territoriales que permiten definir distintas áreas o distritos portuarios con características poblacionales y evolutivas propias. En el caso del área del Estrecho de Gibraltar, la preponderancia tradicional de Gadir como referente comercial en las rutas atlánticas marcará en buena medida el desarrollo de toda su área de influencia durante el periodo romano. En este sentido, los enclaves costeros identificados en la actual provincia gaditana presentan unas características en cuanto a su desarrollo, patrones y ritmos de ocupación y producción que la diferencian de otras áreas béticas como pueden ser la actual costa onubense y malagueña, propiciando la identificación del litoral gaditano como un área o distrito portuario.

(The organisation of the prefecture of annona during the principate): Standing at the head of the grain administration, the equestrian prefect (praefectus annonae) was responsible during the early Empire for the process of supplying the capital with grain – the main staple of the Eternal City’s inhabitants’ diet. The article outlines the organisational background to the whole project, as well as the personal involvements of various emperors because of the political importance of the process of supplying Rome with grain.

Annona senegalensis Pers., (wild custard apple), is a shrub used traditionally to treat respiratory and skin diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated its anti-malaria, anti-snake envenomation and anti-cancer activities. However, its toxicological profile remains limited, particularly in male and female animals. This study aims to evaluate the safety of crude aqueous methanol extract of Annona senegalensis stem bark (AMEAS) through acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies. The stem bark of A. senegalensis was collected, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using 70% methanol. Phytochemical screening, elemental analysis, and acute toxicity evaluation were carried out on AMEAS. Sub-chronic toxicity study was conducted on Wistar rats of both sexes at different doses administered orally for 28 days. Elemental analysis revealed the presence of heavy metals and essential mineral elements with the highest contents being calcium (59.88%) and potassium (25.39%). Acute toxicity testing showed no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg, suggesting an LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, no mortality or significant harmful effects were observed. The blood glucose decreased from 13.68 mMol/L at 250 mg/kg to 10.71 mMol/L at 1000 mg/kg, much lower than the distilled water group (17.06 mMol/L). In conclusion, the extract appeared to be well-tolerated, with no obvious adverse effects. AMEAS is rich in Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K). It has been shown to have LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg and is assumed to be safe. On repeated use, AMEAS may cause hypoglycemia and weight loss which may be useful in managing diabetes and obesity respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate diagnosis of plant diseases is crucial for crop health. This study introduces the EDA–ViT model, a Vision Transformer (ViT)-based approach that integrates adaptive entropy-based data augmentation for diagnosing custard apple (Annona squamosa) diseases. Traditional models like convolutional neural network and ViT face challenges with local feature extraction and large dataset requirements. EDA–ViT overcomes these by using a multi-scale weighted feature aggregation and a feature interaction module, enhancing both local and global feature extraction. The adaptive data augmentation method refines the training process, boosting accuracy and robustness. With a dataset of 8226 images, EDA–ViT achieved a classification accuracy of 96.58%, an F1 score of 96.10%, and a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 92.24%, outperforming other models. The inclusion of the Deformable Multi-head Self-Attention (DMSA) mechanism further enhanced feature capture. Ablation studies revealed that the adaptive augmentation contributed to a 0.56% accuracy improvement and a 0.34% increase in MCC. In summary, EDA–ViT presents an innovative solution for custard apple disease diagnosis, with potential applications in broader agricultural disease detection, ultimately aiding precision agriculture and crop health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first documented instance of Sri Lanka's endemic Macaca sinica (toque macaque) foraging on invasive Annona glabra (pond apple). We observed a troop of toque macaques (∼15) consuming A. glabra in a mangrove forest in Negombo lagoon in western Sri Lanka. This behaviour highlights the need to understand species interactions in the design of effective invasive species interventions for mangrove management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectic enzymes are an eco-friendly alternative to improve extraction processes for the food industry. The objective of the research was to obtain pectinase from the pulp of soursop (Annona muricata L.) and cherimoya (Annona cherimola L.), as an alternative to reduce agro-industrial waste in Colombia; involving the study of the factors influencing the protein content of the enzymes extracted from different stages and types of fruits, the conditions for enzymatic activity, and the potential application in the food industry, particularly in extraction processes and juice clarification. A factorial design 23, spectrometric and potentiometric techniques evidenced that the protein content depends on factors such as fruit stage (suitable "s" and unsuitable "u" fruits for consumption) and fruit type (soursop and cherimoya). The higher protein content was obtained by the precipitation method in comparison to ion exchange chromatography. Cherimoya fruit presented a higher protein content of 326 ± 26 mg by precipitation, however, the soursop samples evidenced higher enzymatic activity, 2.2 ± 0.1 U/mL. The pectinase obtained was an acidic enzyme of type pectin methylesterase with an enzymatic activity of 27.0 ± 0.9 U/mL, under the optimal conditions of pH 4 and temperature of 40 °C. The application in blackberry juice evidenced a decrease in the absorbance and pH changes. From the current research, the pulp of soursop and cherimoya was proven as a cheap source to obtain pectinase with enzymatic activity for juice clarification, and this process is an alternative to reduce the negative impact on the environment and an economical source for the local producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is an emerging threat to global food and nutritional security. The tropical fruits such as mango, bananas, passionfruit, custard apples, and papaya are highly sensitive to weather changes especially; changes of monsoon onset and elevated temperature are influencing crop growth and production. There is a need for more specific studies concerning individual crops and regional variations. Long-term effects and interactions of weather parameters and increased concentration of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, with phenological stages of the plant, pests, and diseases remain understudied, while adaptation strategies require further exploration for comprehensive understanding and effective mitigation. Few researchers have addressed the issues on the effect of climate change on tropical fruits. This paper focuses on the impact of abiotic (temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, evaporation, carbon dioxide concentration) and biotic (pest and pathogens dynamics) factors affecting the fruit crop ecosystem. These factors influence flowering, pollination, fruit set, fruit yield and quality. This review paper will help develop adaptive strategies, policy interventions and technological innovations aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on tropical fruit production and safeguarding global food and nutritional security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by the unrestrained proliferation and dissemination of abnormal cells. The issue continues to be a notable public health concern on a global scale, with millions of new cases and fatalities being reported annually. Despite significant advances in cancer treatment, it remains a major challenge due to the high cost and toxicity of current therapies. Phytochemicals naturally found in plants are crucial resources for developing novel drugs and potential cancer therapies. The clinical efficacy of these anti-cancer agents has been demonstrated against diverse neoplastic cell lines. Additional investigation in this field can result in improved cancer therapies. Among many other plants effective against cancer, this literature review explores the anti-cancer properties of Annona muricata, a plant commonly known as soursop, which is a tropical plant species native to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and West Africa known for its edible fruit which has some medicinal merits, but also some toxicological effects. Annona muricata has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes, including cancer treatment. Acetogenins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and other active compounds are only a few of the phytochemicals that this review cites as being present in A. muricata. The review also looks into A. muricata’s biological abilities to fight lung, liver, prostate, colon, pancreas, and breast cancers. The toxicity of A. muricata and possible adverse effects are also covered in the review. The review also looks at the usage of nanoparticles with A. muricata as a cancer treatment. Overall, this literature review provides valuable insights into the potential anti-cancer properties of A. muricata and its potential as a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Annona squamosa is used in folk medicine to treat pain and arthritis. Palmatine is an alkaloid isolated from several plants, including A. squamosa leaves. The aim of the present study was to investigate the analgesic, anti-arthritic, and anti-inflammatory potential of the methanolic extract of A. squamosa (EMAS) and palmatine. Methods: The chemical profile of EMAS was evaluated by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI/MS). EMAS and palmatine were evaluated in carrageenan-induced pleurisy, zymosan-induced joint inflammation, formalin-induced nociception, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in experimental models in mice. A cytotoxicity test of EMAS and palmatine was performed using a methylthiazolidiphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) bromide assay. Results: The analysis of the chemical profile of the extract showed the presence of palmatine, liriodenine, and anonaine. Oral administration of EMAS and palmatine significantly reduced leukocyte migration and oxide nitric production in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy model. EMAS and palmatine reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, leukocyte migration, and edema formation in the joint inflammation induced by zymosan. In the formalin test, palmatine was effective against the second-phase nociceptive response, mechanical hyperalgesia, and cold allodynia. In addition, palmatine reduced mechanical hyperalgesia induced by TNF. EMAS and palmatine did not demonstrate cytotoxicity. Conclusions: The present study showed that A. squamosa and palmatine are analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents, and that the anti-hyperalgesic properties of palmatine may involve the TNF pathway. Palmatine may be one of the compounds responsible for the anti-hyperalgesic and/or anti-arthritic properties of this medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A concise overview on the isolated bioactive compounds from different Annona plant part. • Annona extracts have been shown to exert significant biological and pharmacological activities of isolated compounds with mechanism of its action. • On the current preclinical evidence an association between bioactive component intake with a special focus on human chronic disease prevention. The use of plant derived bioactive substances as a key therapeutic agent to treat various diseases has gained great impetus recently. Annona fruits are currently gaining attention from those who are interested in eating foods that promote health because of its phytochemical composition, whose actions have not before been investigated. A comprehensive search was conducted on scientific databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus etc to retrieve the relevant literature on Annona species include Annona squamosa, Annona muricata, Annona reticulata, Annona glabra, Annona crassiflora, Annona cherimola, Annona montana, Annona purpurea, Annona senegalensis, Annona dioica and Annona atemoya , their bioactive compounds, biological activity, pharmacology and mechanism from January 2002 to February 2024. According to the available literature data bioactive phytocompound have proven to be a potential alternative to synthetic drugs especially because of their antioxidant, antibacterial and in vitro anticancer properties. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on Annona genus with mode of action on various disease. The literature accessible on this plant species was systematically analysed to extract evidence regarding its phytochemicals, including phenolic, ascorbic acid, fatty acids, essential oils, alkaloids etc. Moreover, the considerable data will be useful for pharmaceutical researchers and other industries looking for up-to-date understandings. Specifically, we provide a concise overview on the isolated bioactive compounds from different Annona part and occurrence of the main classes of compounds as well as on the current preclinical evidence an association between bioactive component intake with a special focus on human chronic disease prevention like neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, hyperglycaemic and cancer. Additional investigations are necessary to uncover the underlying mechanisms of its actions and conduct clinical trials to verify its effectiveness and safety in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out at Horticultural Research station, AICRP on arid fruit crops, Rekulakunta, Ananthapuramu for approximation of growth parameters like tree height, leaf length, leaf breadth, petiole length and leaf thickness for custard apple selections to be get informed with eventuality of vegetative parameters of that particular custard apple selection. Wide range of variation was observed among the seventy-five selections of custard apple with respect to growth parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Custard apple plants traditionally propagated by seeds result in significant fruit variability. Vegetative propagation provides true-to-type crops with shorter juvenile phases. This study aimed to standardize softwood grafting techniques for three custard apple cultivars, namely Arka Sahan, Island Gemand Balangar, under three different propagation environmental conditions: open field, shade house, and mist house. The experiment was conducted following a factorial completely randomized design with nine treatments replicated three times. Results indicated that cv. Arka Sahan exhibited the shortest duration for initial sprouting (8.53 days) and produced the highest number of sprouts per graft (3.83), girth at graft union (11.86 mm), length of sprouted shoot (29.50 cm), internodal length of sprouted shoot (3.13 cm), number of leaves per graft (28.00), graft success (97.77%), survivability (92.55%), total chlorophyll content (61.66 SCMR Values), stomatal conductance (350.66 mmol m-2s-1) and leaf area per graft (1134.52 cm²), when placed under mist house conditions. This was followed by cv. Island Gem under mist house conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of Annona squamosa (AS) are known for their anti-diabetic properties, although the specific active principles and mechanisms of action remain unidentified. To explore these properties further, various extracts of AS leaves were prepared, including hexane, chloroform, butanol, hexane-washed methanol, total methanol extract, and water decoction. These extracts were characterized and tested for their inhibitory effects on pancreatic á-amylase activity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Among the extracts, the hexane extract demonstrated the lowest IC50 value of 0.925 mg/mL, prompting further investigation in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. The hypoglycemic response of this extract was correlated with its inhibitory activity against a-amylase in pancreatic homogenates. Different doses of the hexane extract were administered and compared with standard drugs such as acarbose and glimepiride. The results indicated that the hexane extract significantly reduced elevated glucose levels by 41.18±2.46% at a dosage of 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) and by 78.10±1.57% at 400 mg/kg BW. Additionally, it increased serum insulin levels from 8.56±1.42 µU/mL (in the experimental control group) to 16.26±1.20 µU/mL at the higher dosage of 400 mg/kg BW. The extract also inhibited á-amylase activity by 76.69±2.52% at 100 mg/kg BW and by 86.67±2.30% at 400 mg/kg BW. In comparison, glimepiride-treated rats exhibited a significant increase in serum insulin levels without a corresponding inhibition of a-amylase activity. Conversely, acarbose-treated rats showed significant inhibition of a-amylase but did not experience a notable rise in serum insulin levels. These findings suggest that the hexane extract of Annona squamosa leaves acts as both an insulin secretagogue--enhancing insulin secretion--and an inhibitor of pancreatic a-amylase in the small intestine. Consequently, this extract could be beneficial for managing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were made on the monitoring and management of fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) by installing different combinations of colour and shape of methyl eugenol based parapheromone traps during pre-harvest (September to October 2021) and post-harvest period (January to February 2022) in Arka Sahana custard apple ecosystem at the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. In the pre-harvest period, the data revealed that yellow colour with cylindrical shape trap attracted the highest mean number of fruit flies (300.30 ± 32.58), followed by transparent bottle trap (69.44 ± 46.21), yellow colour with sphere shape trap (64.63 ± 28.69) and white colour trap with trapezoidal shape (60.56 ± 39.64) which were on par with each other. The transparent trap with trapezoidal shape captured significantly the lowest number of fruit flies (28.75 ± 8.73). During the post-harvest period the maximum mean number of fruit flies were was attracted to yellow coloured traps with cylindrical and sphere shapes with 39.63 ± 9.29 and 31.75 ± 6.66, respectively. This was followed by transparent bottle trap (20.00 ± 6.33). The lowest mean numbers of fruit flies were captured in white colour (9.63 ± 2.76) and transparent colour (7.31 ± 2.44) traps with trapezoidal shapes, which showed lower trapping efficiency in the custard apple ecosystem. In the study bio-efficacy of five different insecticides treated along with jaggery, the results at 5, 10 and 15 days after treatments revealed that Acetamiprid + jaggery (65.04, 67.36 and 69.29%, respectively) and dinotefuran + jaggery (61.89, 62.25 and 63.55%, respectively) were found superior chemicals in reducing the mean per cent fruit infestation by the fruit flies. However, deltamethrin + jaggery (43.82, 43.86 and 47.45%, respectively) was found to be the least effective insecticidal treatment in reducing the mean per cent fruit infestation as compared to other chemical treatments in the custard apple ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's most significant crop for food and oilseeds is groundnut. A final crop yield requires high-quality seeds with uniform field emergence that happens quickly. One of the key methods for improving the quality of seeds and promoting early crop seedling establishment is seed priming. Treatments for seed priming may aid in healthy crop establishment and prevent yield loss. To improve groundnut seed quality, experiments were conducted to standardize several seed priming treatments using botanicals. Groundnut seeds were soaked for 4, 6, and 8 hours with botanical priming agents viz., custard apple leaf extract, basil leaf extract, and chicory leaf extract at the concentration of 1, 2, and 3% along with hydropriming and control. The results revealed that the seed-to-solution ratio of 1:1 soaked for 6 hours recorded the maximum seed quality characters. Irrespective of soaking duration, seeds primed with holy basil leaf extract @ 2% recorded the maximum seed quality attributes followed by 1% chicory leaf extract outperformed other treatments by recording higher imbibition rate, germination percentage, longest seedling length, maximum dry matter production, and vigor index of groundnut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims to find a viable substitute fuel for diesel and control pollutants from compression ignition engines. Therefore, in the present investigation, an attempt has been made to study the effect of 20% proportion of five different biodiesel diesel blends in diesel engine. The 20% proportion of biodiesel such as Jatropha, Pongamia, Mahua, Annona and Nerium and 80% of diesel is denoted as J20, P20, M20, A20 and N20 are used in the present investigation. The experimental results showed that the different biodiesel blends' brake thermal efficiency is slightly lower compared to neat diesel fuel. However, the N20 blend has shown improvement in performance and reduction in exhaust emissions compared to other biodiesel diesel blends. From, the experimental work, it is found that biodiesel can be used up to 20% and 80% of a diesel engine without any major modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The aqueous extract of Annona muricata leaves contains high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols. • A remarkable reduction in tumor size was discovered using a mouse model of mastocytoma in Dba/2 mice. • The aqueous extract of Annona muricata has anti-tumor properties. • The in vivo study demonstrated a correlation between the reduction of oxidative stress and the anti-tumor properties following the treatment of Dba/2 mice with the aqueous extract of Annona muricata orally. The medicinal plant Annona muricata of the Annonaceae family, also called Graviola, native to the Andean highlands of Peru and Ecuador but also widespread in Chile, California, Florida, southern Africa and various Mediterranean countries, has various beneficial properties for health and has been the subject of several studies for its anti-tumor activity. In this work, a phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of Annona muricata by using HPLC technique to evaluate the content of total polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins, was performed. In addition, for the first time, an evaluation of the effect of the aqueous extract on a Dba/2 transgenic mouse model carrying a P815 tumor, was established. Following the administration of oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg for 30 days, a decrease in the volume and weight of the tumors was detected. Furthermore, a correlation between the reduction of oxidative stress and the anticancer properties of Annona muricata, was demonstrated. In conclusion , the aqueous extract of Annona muricata may provide a new therapeutic approach to manage unwanted growth of mastocytoma (P815 tumor) by targeting oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent utilization of natural superdisintegrants in the development of fast-dissolving tablets (FDTs) is becoming increasingly common. The starch from the Annona muricata (soursop) fruit was isolated and assessed for its potential as a new natural superdisintegrant for formulating FDTs. The acute and sub-acute toxicity of the isolated soursop starch and the dosage level in the final formulation were investigated. In the acute toxicity study, Swiss mice were given orally the maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg of soursop starch. In the sub-acute toxicity study, 50, 300, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg doses were administered to Wistar rats for 28 days. The results showed that soursop starch did not induce any behavioural changes, signs of toxicity, or mortality at the 2000 mg/kg dose in mice during the acute toxicity study. Similarly, in the 28-day oral toxicity study, soursop starch did not cause any toxicity or alterations in behavioural parameters up to the 2000 mg/kg dose in Wistar rats. Also, no significant changes were observed in haematological, biochemical, or histopathological parameters in rats administered soursop starch. Overall, the findings from the oral acute and sub-acute toxicity assessments in mice and Wistar rats at the maximum dose of 2000mg/kg reveal that the starch derived from soursop pulp is relatively safe to use for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annona Senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae) is a medicinal plant used to treat many pathologies, including inflammatory diseases and pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Annona Senegalensis leaves aqueous extract in mice and rats. The analgesic activity was evaluated using the acetic acid (1%) induced writhing test and formalin (1%) test. The anti-inflammatory activity was performed using the carrageenan and the dextran induced hind paw oedema in rats. The extract induced a significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent decrease in abdominal contortions compared with control mice. The maximum inhibition was 63.36% at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Only the late phase of formalin induced nociception was significantly inhibited by the extract with a maximum inhibition value of 56.96% at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. In the anti-inflammatory investigation, the aqueous extract of the leaves of Annona Senegalensis produced a significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent decrease in edema induced by carrageenan and dextran. The maximum inhibition was 57.14% obtained at the fifth hour at the dose of 200mg/kg for the carrageenan test. For the dextran test, the maximum inhibition was 59.80% obtained at the second hour at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Our results show that Annona Senegalensis has peripheral analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It could therefore be an advantage in alternative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of colorants in wastewater poses threats to aquatic organisms and can adversely affect the well-being of nearby residents. This study explores the effectiveness of using custard apple leaves to address water contamination caused by a colorant SADBS (Sodium 2-anilino-4-(2,4-dinitroanilino)benzene-1-sulfonate). Effect of the custard apple leaves on SADBS adsorption from water was studied by using parameters such as adsorbent amount, initial concentration and contact time, pH of solution. Under optimum conditions (the initial colorant concentration: 100 mg/L), about 91% of the colorants from the standard solution were eliminated. (pH value: 7.1, adsorbent quantity: 0.5 g, contact period: 60 min). The study's data were examined using Langmuir isotherm as well as Freundlich isotherm. The use of custard apple leaves as an adsorbent for SADBS is noteworthy. The desorption study also exhibited that about 93% of custard apple leaves were recovered by the process of applying acid-base treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nata in pieno XVII secolo a Verona, l’arte dei biavaroli fatica a ritagliarsi un proprio spazio autonomo di manovra. Se da un lato, infatti, il governo cittadino appoggia la nascita di nuove corporazioni – caldeggiata, a metà xviii secolo dagli anziani delle Arti – dall’altra le organizzazioni già esistenti guardano con sospetto alla possibile erosione di una serie di prerogative e vantaggi sino a questo momento loro riservate. È il caso, in particolare, di pistori (fornai) e molinari (mugnai), corporazioni che fino a questo momento avevano gestito in esclusiva la vendita di legumi e cereali, affidata ora – almeno in parte – alla nuova corporazione. Attraverso suppliche, processi, richieste di precisazioni, la nuova arte prova con fatica a definire il proprio ambito, in un contesto urbano – quello che segue alla terribile pestilenza degli anni Trenta del xvii secolo – in fase di ridefinizione e riorganizzazione.

For the first time, this study shows the nanoarchitectonic process to obtain an acetogenin-enriched nanosystem (AuNPs-Ac) using an aqueous extract from Annona cherimola Mill (ACM) composed of gold nanoparticles embedded in an organic matrix that acts as stabilizing agent and presents anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxical effect against HepG2 cell line, promoting apoptosis. The synthesis of AuNPs-Ac was confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis, showing metallic gold as the only phase, and the scanning transmission microscope showed an organic cap covering the AuNPs-Ac. Fourier-transformed infrared suggests that the organic cap comprises a combination of different annonaceous acetogenins, alkaloids, and phenols by the presence of bands corresponding to aromatic rings and hydroxyl groups. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography has demonstrated the presence of annonacin, a potent acetogenin, in the extract of ACM. An in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of ACM and the AuNPs-Ac was performed using the albumin denaturation method, showing a nonlinear response, which is better than sodium diclofenac salt in a wide range of concentrations that goes from 200 to 400 μ g ml−1 with both samples. The viability assay was studied using trypan blue, treating IMR90 and HepG2 at different concentrations of AuNPs-Ac. The results defined a median lethal dose of 800 μ g ml−1 against HepG2 through apoptosis according to the ratio of caspase-cleaved 9/alpha-tubulin evaluated. It was also demonstrated that the nanosystem presents a higher cytotoxic effect on the HepG2 cell line than in IMR90, suggesting a targeted mechanism. In addition, the nanosystem performs better than using only the extract of ACM in the anti-inflammatory or antiproliferative test, attributed to their higher surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colon cancer is a major public health problem. The present study was conducted to determine the inhibitory effect of Annona muricata leaves on carcinogenesis and inflammation in the colorectal preneoplasia development of mice. Methods: The study was experimental research that conducted in Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia. The effect of Ethanol Insoluble Fraction of Annona muricata water extract (EIFAM) was examined on the preneoplastic lesions. EIFAM was administered orally in three different doses (200 mg/kgBW (low dose), 400 mg/kgBW (medium dose), and 800 mg/kgBW (high dose)) in each group of mice per day until the mice were terminated. The expression of Caspase, COX-2, and β-catenin were observed in the epithelial cells of colon mucosa crypts. Analysis of the data was done using the ANOVA method. Results: Histological assessment using Hematoxylin Eosin Staining was done in a blinded fashion to avoid bias. Our results indicate that multiple organ dysplasia was induced with azoxymethane (AOM) in male Swiss Webster mice. The effect of A. muricata extract administration showed significant result only on heart. The activity of caspase showed no significant effect on all organs when treated with the extracts as compared to untreated group. The effects of the extract on various organs’ inflammatory markers varies. COX-2 lowering effect of high doses is significant in the liver. The medium dose has significant catenin lowering effect on jejenum, colon, and brain. While the medium and high dose have significant catenin lowering effect on duodenum, heart, and kidney respectively. Conclusions: Ethanol-insoluble fraction of Annona muricata (EIFAM) leaves water extract has a potential inhibitory effect of Annona muricata leaves on carcinogenesis and inflammation in the colorectal preneoplasia development of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Annona squamosa L. (Sugar Apple) belongs to the Annonaceae family. Different parts of Annona squamosa L. have various medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antiulcer, and analgesic activity. Objective(s): To determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-gout properties of flavonoid extract of Annona squamosa L. fruit in the in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Methodologies: Annona squamosa L. fruit was extracted by maceration process using 70% ethanol solution and evaporated at 40oC. The ethanolic extract of Annona squamosa L. fruit was screened for the chemical tests of amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins. The antioxidant activity of Annona squamosa L. fruit extract undergoes the total phenolic compound (TPC), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory (XOI) assay used for antigout property. Results: A 190 g of Annona squamosa L. fruit obtains 48.60 g of ethanolic extract. Chemical tests for carbohydrates, amino acids, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids have positive results while chemical tests for alkaloids, and phenols have negative results. The total phenolic content (TPC) is 8.106 mg GAE/g of Annona squamosa L. fruit. The EC1 value for the FRAP assay of Annona squamosa L. fruit is 2.1307 mg/mL. The IC50 values for DPPH and XOI assays of Annona squamosa L. fruit are 4.1154 mg/mL and 4.4745 mg/mL, respectively. Annona squamosa L. fruit extract shows an increase in antioxidant activities and xanthine oxidase inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Annona squamosa L.fruit has the potential to be a source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-gout properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annona Squamosa L. (Sugar Apple) belongs to the family of Annonaceae and it is a tropical and native species of Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Central America, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Mexico, Peru, South America, and West India. Different parts of Annona Squamosa L. have been studied throughout the years for its benefits in health, medicinal and traditional uses related to the composition of various chemical compounds present in the sugar apple. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Annona Squamosa L. have been researched in various research and studies for its effectiveness in treating ailments and illnesses through in vitro and in vivo assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soursop leaves (Annona muricata) contain various secondary metabolite compounds with pharmacological benefits. This study foccused on the activity and chemical components cytotoxic active fraction of soursop leaf dichloromethane extract. From maceration of 535.8 g dried sample of A. muricata leaves we obtained extracts of n-hexane (18.4 g; 3.43 %). dichloromethane (11.4 g; 2.23 %). and methanol (48.7 g; 9.95 %). The dichloromethane extract was separated for its chemical components using gravity column chromatography resulting in 9 combined fractions. Toxicity screening test was done based on Bhrine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) and cytotoxic test using MTT method 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. The highest toxicity and cytotoxic test results were found in DMD 1 dichloromethane extract of A. muricata leaves with LC50 of 19.05 µg/mL and IC50 of 824.09 µg/mL. The results of DMD 1 gravity column re-chromatography produced 6-combined subfractions with the best separation pattern on DMD 1.4 and the results of GC-MS chromatogram analysis showed 29 peaks with the main component of fatty acid compounds namely Carbonic acid. but-2-yn-1-yl octadecyl ester (70.46 %). Potential anticancer compounds found were Phytol; 2-Hydroxy-1.1.10-trimethyl-6.9-epidioxydecalin and 2-Piperidinone. N-(4-bromo-n-butyl). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dengue vector Aedes aegypti is exceptionally threatening worldwide as it causes a primary viral disease (dengue), even though the vector species has other viral loads. This study was aimed at investigating the Annona reticulata extract with respect to the larvicidal activity against the 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, the toxicity on a non-target aquatic organism (Chironomus costatus), and the biochemical marker enzymes in the mosquito larvae. Among various solvent tested, ethyl acetate as extraction solvent showed the highest mortality (100%) at 200 ppm against Aedes aegypti with no adverse effect on the non-target aquatic organism tested. Besides, the ethyl acetate extract showed significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (19%), α- and β-carboxylesterases (47.2 & 70.3%, respectively), glutathione S-transferase (35.2%), and alkaline phosphatase (22.3%). Moreover, the protein (13.7%) and acid phosphatase (11.2%) were reduced without being significant in the quantitative analyses. In qualitative analyses, we also observed that all enzyme patterns showed differential expression upon exposure to the ethyl acetate extract against the 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti at a lethal concentration (LC50: 72.5 ppm) for 24 h. These findings precisely showed that the Annona reticulata active extract (using ethyl acetate) can be used as an alternative in pest and vector control management contributing towards not spreading infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The postharvest handling of Annona muricata L. has several critical points in its productive process. This fruit, having a tropical character, tends to ripen quickly and receive damages in its physicochemical and physiological structure, causing a decrease in its quality, so this review aimed to identify quality parameters, such as technological processes in postharvest in order to increase the shelf life, descriptive methodology based on the PRISMA method was used, having as results, that the information has more boom in 2019 and 2022, being America the point where more data have been collected on the postharvest of A. muricata, the optimum degree of maturity for harvesting is in ET3, while the evaluation of the organoleptic quality is based on factors such as size, colour, weight and hardness, the physicochemical evaluation with a moisture (81.16%), acidity, pH (4), ash and °brix (17.65), The physiological characteristics are linked to the production of ethylene, and for its preservation several methods can be implemented, such as the application of controlled atmosphere, thermal regulations, etc. In the province of Pastaza there is no record of production, but according to the data obtained, this fruit has a high productive potential. It is concluded that the most recommendable preservation methods are ethylene inhibitors combined with wax emulsion, applied at a concentration of 1-MCP of 1500 NLL-1 for 12 h, combined with candelilla or beeswax diluted in a ratio of 15:85 in H 2 O in a storage of 16 °C and modification of atmospheres in flexible polystyrene trays at a temperature of 12 °C alternating with 14 °C in a storage room, leading to an increase of shelf life from 15 to 22 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the effect of growing media on germination and seedling vigour of custard apple. Topics include growing media that have been found beneficial to influence germination and growth of seedling, observations recorded on five randomly selected seedling plants, and the potential of farm yard manure (FYM) with cocopeat to retain soil moisture, enhance nutrient levels, and enhance soil structure.

Crop diseases pose significant threats to agriculture, impacting crop production. Biotic factors contribute to various diseases, including fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. Recent advancements in deep learning present a novel approach to the detection and recognition of these crop diseases. While considerable research has focused on identifying and recognizing crop diseases, fungal disease-affected crops have received relatively less attention and also detecting disease on different region datasets. This paper is about spotting fungal diseases in crops across different regions with diverse climates. It emphasizes the need for tailored detection methods, addressing the risk of mycotoxin production by fungi, which can harm both humans and animals. Detecting fungal diseases in apple, guava, and custard apple crops such as spot, scab, rust, rot, leaf spot, and insect ate. In the proposed work, the modified ResNeXt variant of the convolution neural network (CNN) technique was employed to predict 3 major crop classes of fungal disease. Initially, using Inception-v7 and ResNet for fungal disease in crops did not yield satisfactory results. A modified ResNeXt CNN model was proposed, showing improved fungal disease prediction. The novel model underwent a comparison with established methodologies. The suggested model draws upon a benchmark dataset consisting of 14,408 images capturing fungal diseases, categorized into three distinct classes: apple, custard apple, and guava. Experimental outcomes show that the proposed mutated ResNeXt model outperformed the state-of-the-art approaches. The model achieved 98.92% accuracy and high performance across recall, precision, and F1-score (above 99%) for the benchmark dataset, which gained encouragement and was comparable with the state-of-the-art approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit highly valued for its unique flavor, nutritional value, and health-promoting properties. The ripening process of soursop involves complex changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation, which have been studied using various omics technologies. Transcriptome analysis has provided insights into the regulation of key genes involved in ripening, while metabolic compound analysis has revealed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. However, the integration of transcriptome and metabolite compound data has not been extensively explored in soursop. Therefore, in this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and phenolic compound profiles of soursop during ripening. The integration analysis showed that the genes and phenolic compounds were mainly involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathways during soursop ripening. Further, the phenolic compounds Kaempferol 3-Q-galactoside, Procyanidin C1, Procyanidin trimmer C1, and m-Coumaric, as well as the genes Ubiquitin-like protein 5 (UBL5_ARATH), ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FTSH8 (FTSH8_ORYSJ), Zinc transporter 4 (ZIP4_ARATH), Thioredoxin-like 3-1 (TRL31_ORYSJ), Mitogen-activated protein kinase YODA (YODA_ARATH), R-mandelonitrile lyase-like (MGL_ARATH), 26s protease regulatory subunit 6A homolog (PRS6_SOLLC), Cytochrome P450 72A13 (C7A13ARATH), Cytochrome P450 84A1 (C84A1_ARATH) and Homoserine O-trans-acetylase (MET2-ORYSJ) were correlated and differentially accumulated and expressed, respectively. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying soursop ripening and may contribute to the development of strategies for improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of this important fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical deciduous forests (TDFs), plants have developed various strategies to tolerate desiccation during the dry season. One strategy is osmotic adjustment, which includes the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Annona lutescens, a species that inhabits TDFs, increases and accumulates liriodenine alkaloid in its roots during the dry season. In this study, we evaluate the possible role of this molecule as an osmolyte and in pH homeostasis. We performed growth analyses and determined liriodenine concentrations during water stress in Annona lutescens seedlings grown under controlled temperature, water, and light conditions. We also calculated their osmotic adjustment based on pressure–volume curves and performed solubility tests along a pH gradient. Osmotic adjustment was compared between control plants (irrigated) and plants subjected to 15, 25, and 35 days of water stress. Osmotic adjustment was dramatically higher in plants subjected to 35 days of water stress compared to the control. The solubility of liriodenine was 54% at pH 4.5, and when liriodenine was in contact with malic acid solutions, the pH increased slightly. The highest concentration of liriodenine was in the roots, with a significant increase from 540.855 μg g−1 after 15 days of water stress to 1239.897 μg g−1 after 35 days. Our results suggest that liriodenine plays an important role in the response to water stress as an osmolyte and in pH homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to investigate Annona fruit pulp effects on the levels of various physiological biomarkers linked with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus after disease induction in mice, as well as indications of oxidative stress and male hormones. The rats were separated into four groups, three of which were given Alloxan (90 mg/kg body weight) to induce diabetes, while the fourth served as a negative control. The first group of diabetic mice received no therapy, the second received metformin (600 mg/kg body weight) and the third received Annona fruit puree. The mice were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, to acquire blood and tissue samples from the liver, kidneys and spleen. The first untreated group showed a drop in insulin, good fats (High-density lipoprotein-HDL), antioxidant markers (Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase –(CAT)), testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone-FSH, as well as an increase in glucose and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Giving diabetic mice in groups 2 and 3 metformin and Annona puree improved the physiological markers levels, bringing their values closer to normal. The results indicated that the treatment with Annona fruit pulp had more protective effects than metformin. The histological findings confirmed the role of Annona fruit in improving the health indicators and the structural condition of the vital organs represented in the liver, kidneys and spleen of diabetic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse studies have showed that the pesticides can cause important damages in ecosystem. Therefore, the development of bio pesticides through nanotechnology can increase efficacy and limit the negative impacts in the environmental that traditionally seen through the use of chemical pesticides. Nanoparticles obtained from plants' extracts can be used for effective pest management as a combined formulation of metal and some other organic material present in the plants. In the present study, our evaluated biosynthesis of nanoparticles of copper used two plant extracts (Acacia cornigera and Annona purpurea), and the Taguchi method was adopted for the synthesis optimization of the following variables of biosynthesis: temperature, pH, extract concentration, and reaction times to maximize the insecticidal activity on Tribolium castaneum. Our results showed that the nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using Acacia cornigera and Anona purpurea extract under optimum conditions under Taguchi L 9 orthogonal design, where copper nanoparticles were obtained with a size of 63–153 nm for using A. cornigera extract, 87–193 nm for A. purpurea extract, and a zeta potential of 9.6 mV and −32.7 mV, respectively. The nanoparticles of copper from A. cornigera showed effective insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum, and 90% mortality compared to the 76.6% obtained from nanoparticles of copper from A. purpurea. The results suggest that Cu-nanoparticles derived from both plants could be used as a biocontrol agent of Tribolium castaneum, a pest of stored grain with great economic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annona hybrid Arka Sahan has become a commercially important fruit in recent times and it needs an assisted pollination to get good size. Studies on floral biology of Annona hybrid Arka Sahan revealed that major bloom occurs during March-April. Most of the flowers start opening during the afternoon and continued till 7.00 pm, while, pollen dehiscence mainly occurred in early morning in the following day. The maximum stigma receptivity was recorded on the day of anthesis. Completely pendulous petal was more common in Arka Sahan flowers resulting improper pollination. The minimum number of beetles and bees were observed between 7.00 to 8.00 am. Pollen germination and viability were lower at anthesis (5.8% and 44%, respectively) and declined as the day progressed. The pendulous nature of petals eventually brings some un-pollinated stigmas potentially resulting in delayed selfing leading to misshaped fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve phyto products and two forms of cow dung were evaluated during 2021- 22 in the Entomology Research Laboratory, M S Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Gajapati District of Odisha for their efficacy against Rhyzopertha dominica (F) in stored paddy. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with each treatment replicated thrice. Individual treatments comprised 20 g disinfested paddy seeds treated with test products @ 5g/ kg seed separately and an untreated check and inoculated with 20 adults /treatment. All the treatments were effective in suppressing the R. dominica, with maximum adult mortality (92.1%) being in black pepper powder followed by custard apple seed powder (88.4%) at 28 days after release. The least population buildup (2 adults), grain damage (3.3%), and weight loss (2.7%) were observed with black pepper powder treated paddy at 120 days after storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits of the cherimoya tree (Annona cherimola Mill.) were consumed by native cultures in Central America, from where the crop was disseminated to South America in pre-Columbian times. Despite its historical significance and cultivation in subtropical regions worldwide, cherimoya remains an underutilized crop, particularly in its area of origin where the conservation of its genetic diversity is under threat. In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the research performed on this fruit tree over the past two decades, shedding light on its current status in terms of commercial production and germplasm conservation efforts in the main cherimoya producing countries in the Americas and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin is a prominent chemotherapeutic agent that can induce significant damage to normal cells. Therefore, it is important to develop agents that protect normal cells without influencing the chemotherapeutic effect of cisplatin. The present study was conducted to explore the protective effects of Annona muricata leaf polysaccharides (ALPS) against cisplatin‑induced toxicity in macrophages. Apoptosis was assessed in macrophages and lung cancer cells to investigate the cytoprotective effect of ALPS, their effect on the production of cisplatin‑induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP). Cisplatin, when used alone or in combination with ALPS, showed significant toxicity against A549 and H460 lung cancer cells. However, cisplatin‑induced cytotoxicity was suppressed by cotreatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with ALPS. ALPS significantly inhibited the upregulation of Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c and caspases‑3, ‑8 and ‑9. Moreover, ALPS resulted in the cleavage of PARP and downregulation of Bcl‑2 levels in a concentration‑dependent manner, which ultimately led to a reduction in the apoptotic and necrotic populations of cisplatin‑treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The suppression of the apoptotic signaling pathways was mediated through the reduction of ROS and MTP loss in cisplatin‑treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, ALPS alleviated cell damage by suppressing the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways in cisplatin‑treated bone marrow‑derived macrophages. Together, these findings suggested that ALPS may alleviate the toxic side effects of chemotherapeutic agents and act as a potential candidate for use as an effective adjuvant therapy.