Hypobaric treatment augments the efficacy of 1-MCP in apple fruit.

This research aimed to extend the postharvest shelf life of Royal Gala apple during cold storage and maintain its market value in simulated retail conditions. Apples were treated with hypobaric pressure (50 kPa for 4 h) followed by 1-MCP (0.5 µL L-1, 0.7 µL L-1, and 1.0 µL L-1) treatment for 24 h individually and in combinations, stored at (1 ± 1 °C, 85 ± 3% RH) for 120 d and analyzed for different quality parameters (Peel color, firmness, weight loss, TSS, acidity, ethylene production rate, and respiration rate) at each 30 d interval, followed by a 20 d simulated retail condition at 20 ± 3 °C with 4 d interval. Results indicated that all 1-MCP concentrations were more effective in retaining quality compared to individual hypobaric treatment. However, a synergistic effect was observed by combining 1-MCP with hypobaric treatment. Among the combined treatments, 1.0 µL L-11-MCP + 50 kPa more effectively and significantly retained quality during cold storage. Furthermore, the apples were more juicy, tasty, and attractive in color than others in simulated conditions. Addition of hypobaric treatment to 1-MCP might reduce endogenous ethylene in fruit by outward diffusion and blocking further ethylene synthesis by the action of 1-MCP. However, in-depth study is required for further understanding the phenomena.

Pigment Produced by Glycine-Stimulated Macrophomina Phaseolina Is a (-)-Botryodiplodin Reaction Product and the Basis for an In-Culture Assay for (-)-Botryodiplodin Production.

An isolate of Macrophomina phaseolina from muskmelons (Cucumis melo)was reported by Dunlap and Bruton to produce red pigment(s) in melons and in culture in the presence of added glycine, alanine, leucine, or asparagine in the medium, but not with some other amino acids and nitrogen-containing compounds. We explored the generality and mechanism of this pigment production response using pathogenic M. phaseolina isolates from soybean plants expressing symptoms of charcoal rot disease. A survey of 42 M. phaseolina isolates growing on Czapek-Dox agar medium supplemented with glycine confirmed pigment production by 71% of isolates at the optimal glycine concentration (10 g/L). Studies in this laboratory have demonstrated that some pathogenic isolates of M. phaseolina produce the mycotoxin (-)-botryodiplodin, which has been reported to react with amino acids, proteins, and other amines to produce red pigments. Time course studies showed a significant positive correlation between pigment and (-)-botryodiplodin production by selected M. phaseolina isolates with maximum production at seven to eight days. Pigments produced in agar culture medium supplemented with glycine, beta-alanine, or other amines exhibited similar UV-vis adsorption spectra as did pigments produced by (±)-botryodiplodin reacting in the same agar medium. In a separate study of 39 M. phaseolina isolates, red pigment production (OD520) on 10 g/L glycine-supplemented Czapek-Dox agar medium correlated significantly with (-)-botryodiplodin production (LC/MS analysis of culture filtrates) in parallel cultures on un-supplemented medium. These results support pigment production on glycine-supplemented agar medium as a simple and inexpensive in-culture method for detecting (-)-botryodiplodin production by M. phaseolina isolates.

Supplementation of garlic and coriander seed powder: Impact on body mass index, lipid profile and blood pressure of hyperlipidemic patients.

Garlic and coriander play an obligatory role in the metabolism of lipids leading to the reduction of CVD development. We hypothesized that garlic, coriander and their mixture improves the lipid profile, BMI and blood pressure of CVD patients. Eighty patients were partitioned into 4 groups, each group consisting of twenty patients. The groups were randomly assigned to three supplements i.e. garlic powder (GP), coriander seed powder (CSP) and mixture (1:1 dry weight basis) of GP and CSP at a dose rate of 2 g/day. The fourth group was kept as placebo. The patients were examined for serum lipid profile, BMI and blood pressure at the start (0 day), 20, 40 and 60th day of supplementation. The initial 40 days were the intervention period whereas the last 20 days were the follow up period. The results indicated that all the supplements significantly (p<0.05) influenced the BMI, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and systolic blood pressure of the patients. Among the supplements, GP had the highest influenced on BMI, TC, LDL and HDL whereas the impact of GP-CSP and CSP was more pronounced on TGL and blood pressure of the patients, respectively. All the parameters decreased with supplementation except HDL, which increased with the consumption of supplements. It was concluded that consumption of garlic, coriander and their mixture at a dose rate of 2 g/day is improving the lipid parameters of the patients.

Water availability and calcium propionate affect fungal population and aflatoxins production in broiler finisher feed during storage.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of calcium propionate, water activity (aw) and incubation time on the total fungal count and aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) production in the broiler finisher feed. The feed was added with calcium propionate (5 g kg(-1)), adjusted to 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw and stored for 28 days at 25°C, analysing for mould growth and aflatoxins production every 7 days. Analysis of variance indicated that all the factors (preservative, aw and storage time) alone and in combination significantly (p < 0.001) affected the total fungal count and aflatoxins production in the feed. Minimum total fungal counts (1.99 × 10(2) CFU g(-1)) were observed in calcium propionate feed at 0.85 aw on day 1 and the highest (4.36 × 10(9) CFUs g(-1)) in control sample at 0.95 aw on day 28 of storage. During the storage period, AFB1 content in control samples increased from 11.35 to 73.44, from 11.58 to 81.81 and from 11.54 to 102.68 ng g(-1), whereas in preserved feed the content of B1 increased from 11.47 to 37.83, from 11.54 to 49.07 and from 11.20 to 53.14 ng g(-1) at 0.85, 0.90 and 0.95 aw, respectively. Similar patterns were noted for AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 contents. All the aflatoxins readily increased over storage time; however, the increase was much slower in preserved feed that contained a lower amount of available water. This study reveals that calcium propionate addition to poultry litter along with water activity amelioration is an effective tool for controlling mould incidence and aflatoxin production in poultry feed.

The effect of substrate, season, and agroecological zone on mycoflora and aflatoxin contamination of poultry feed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

To study the effects of and interactions among feed types, seasons, and agroecological zones on the total fungal viable count and aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1), and G2 (AFG2) production in poultry feed, an experiment was conducted using three-factorial design. A total of 216 samples of poultry feed ingredients, viz. maize, wheat, rice, cotton seed meal (CSM), and finished products, that is, starter and finisher broilers' rations, were collected from Peshawar, Swat, and D. I. Khan districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, during the winter, spring, summer, and autumn seasons of the year 2007/2008. Analysis of variance showed that there was a complex interaction among all these factors and that this influenced the total fungal viable count and relative concentrations of the aflatoxins produced. Minimum total culturable fungi (6.43 × 10³ CFUs/g) were counted in CSM from D. I. Khan region in winter season while maximum (26.68 × 10³ CFUs/g) in starter ration from Peshawar region in summer. Maximum concentrations of AFB1 (191.65 ng/g), AFB2 (86.85 ng/g), and AFG2 (89.90 ng/g) were examined during the summer season whereas the concentration of AFG1 was maximum (167.82 ng/g) in autumn in finisher ration from Peshawar region. Minimum aflatoxins were produced in the winter season across all the three agroecological zones.

Effect of calcium propionate and water activity on growth and aflatoxins production by Aspergillus flavus.

The efficacy of calcium propionate at 2 different doses (0.5% and 1%) against growth and aflatoxins production by Aspergillus flavus (A-2092) was investigated in vitro on Czapek yeast extract agar at different levels of water activity (a(w)) in the range of 0.94 to 0.996a(w). A. flavus spores germinated on all calcium propionate and a(w) treatments; however, 1% calcium propionate at 0.94 a(w) delayed the germination process for up to 10 d. The growing rate of mycelia was slower (0.28 mm/d) at 1% calcium propionate and 0.94 a(w). Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) were also produced minimally (36.1, 1, 1.86, and 1.01 ng/g of media, respectively) at the aforementioned dose rate of calcium propionate and water activity. It was concluded that addition of calcium propionate and a(w) amelioration can prove effective tools for suppressing the germination, growth rate, and aflatoxins production by A. flavus in substrate.

Mould incidence and mycotoxin contamination in maize kernels from Swat Valley, North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

Mould incidence and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination as well as proximate composition and minerals content of maize kernels from Swat Valley, North West Frontier Province of Pakistan was studied during the year, 2007. Results indicated that the mean moisture content of the kernels was within the recommended safe storage levels of 15%. Across the whole valley, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus were the most predominant fungal genera identified and amongst the mycotoxigenic species, Aspergillus flavus had the highest incidence. AFB1 content ranged from none to 30.92 microg/kg with the average values of 14.94 and 16.22 microg/kg for Upper and Lower Swat regions, respectively. Similar trend was observed for OTA with the contamination level ranged from <0.001 to 7.32 microg/kg. A significant numbers of samples contained AFB1 and OTA levels above the safe limits as recommended by the USFDA and EU but on the average the results were within the safe limit. These results indicate that maize consumers in Swat Valley may be exposed to the danger of aflatoxins and ochratoxins poisoning. Thus, there is a need for policy makers to establish and enforce maize quality standards and regulations related to moulds and mycotoxins across the area.

Comparative studies on storage stability of ferrous iron in whole wheat flour and flat bread (naan).

Whole wheat flour was fortified with premix containing ferrous sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and folic acid (20.0:20.0:1.5 ppm) and was stored at ambient temperature for 60 days. Naans (flat bread) were prepared from 0 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm and 75 ppm ferrous iron-fortified flour samples at 10-day intervals and were analyzed for physicochemical constants and sensory evaluation. It was observed that flour containing 75 ppm ferrous sulfate contained the highest iron residues. The total iron in flour samples showed no significant difference, while ferrous iron significantly decreased in fortified flour (0.53-3.08%) and in the naans (0.42-3.48%) because of its oxidation to ferric iron during storage. The phytic acid content decreased (0.886-0.810%) significantly during the same storage period. Iron levels affected some sensory characteristics significantly (P < or =0.05), including color, texture, flexibility, chewability and overall acceptability of the naans, but not taste and flavor. The sensory attributes of naans illustrated that naans containing 50 ppm ferrous iron are more acceptable than those prepared with 75 ppm ferrous iron.